The race for California's 17th congressional district seat would have been a slam-dunk only 2 election cycles ago. Following the implementation of Proposition 14, the nonpartisan top two primary system, and redistricting, it may not be the case. Incumbent Mike Honda (D-San Jose) is facing off against an up and coming Democrat, who may have been easily swept under the rug through a Democrat-only primary. Likewise, Representative Honda hasn't had a serious challenger in more than a decade and is currently serving his seventh term in the legislature.

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Recently, citizens have recognized the degree to which the government encroaches on our personal lives, specifically on the Internet.

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The surveillance war rages on.

On Wednesday, U.S. Representative Scott Peters (D-San Diego) introduced a Congressional Resolution calling for further diplomatic efforts to free Army Sergeant Bowe Robert Bergdahl. Bergdahl is currently the only American prisoner of war (POW) being held in Afghanistan.

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As in any diverse democracy, we are constantly confronted with disagreement and tough decisions on every level of governance. Anticipating the diversity of opinions, our Founding Fathers set in place the tools necessary to resolve conflict, aiming to give all members of society a voice in the political process.

In a time when partisan gridlock has plagued the political system and divided the nation, Americans of every party affiliation agree on at least one thing: television is their primary source for news.