The name\'s Giovanni...

I'm a lifelong Democratic activist, writer and history/communication student at Pacific Union College, a small liberal arts college in Napa Valley, California. I was born in Tokyo, Japan but I've lived in the United States most of my life, mostly in Charlottesville, Virginia. This is my personal site and opinions expressed here are mine alone.
Running for CCD Communications Director

Running for CCD Communications Director

Giovanni Hashimoto for CCD Communications Director

I’m proud to be running for communications director of California College Democrats (CCD) alongside some fabulous College Democrats on the CCD Forward Together 2013-2014 slate led by current chief of staff, Nicolas Kitchell, for president. I’ve been involved in Democratic politics for years and am currently president of College Democrats at Pacific Union College, which I helped founded last year, and I’m really excited about this opportunity to serve my fellow students statewide. I have no doubt that I will be able to use my wideranging experience in political communications, public relations and social media to raise CCD’s profile. I hope I can earn your support.

January 23, 2013 0 comments Read More
You Don’t Wanna Keep Up With the Kardashians

You Don’t Wanna Keep Up With the Kardashians

Kim Kardashian

This is the script for a persuasive speech I gave this week for my Public Speaking class. The prompt required me to pick a show and argue that it is the worst show on TV. I chose Keeping Up With the Kardashians, so here’s my attempt at establishing that it is the worst show on TV in four minutes. Hi Everyone. My name is Giovanni, thanks for listening to me talk today. I’m going to tell you which TV show I consider to be the worst. There’s obviously a lot of competition for this title. After all, if you flip through the [...]

December 18, 2012 0 comments Read More
My Election Forecast: Obama Electoral College Wave

My Election Forecast: Obama Electoral College Wave

Election 2012

After over a year of campaigning and the horserace, I believe President Obama will win tomorrow with the closest of popular vote margins (with a total within half a point of 50.5 percent) and a more convincing electoral college split of 303-235. Here’s how I get there: given what most people consider 201 safe Obama electoral votes and 191 safe Romney votes, that leaves 146 to be seen on election day. I see New Hampshire (4), Pennsylvania (20), Michigan (16), Wisconsin (10), Nevada (6) or Iowa (6)—all states the president won in 2008—going for Obama given polling in those states. [...]

November 6, 2012 1 comment Read More
Oversharing: A Student Blog for PUC.edu

Oversharing: A Student Blog for PUC.edu

Giovanni Hashimoto introducing Assemblyperson Mariko Yamada

From the department of over sharing, here’s my post last week for Pacific Union College’s student blog. Enjoy: It’s already the fourth week of the fall quarter! It feels like school just started but we’re already in the swing of things here on the hill. The weather is cooling down and sweaters and other winter clothes are appearing around campus. For me, week four was full of interesting opportunities and the usual things that keep college students busy. Last Friday, my student club, College Democrats, hosted Assemblyperson Mariko Yamada on campus for a meet and greet. I spent a few [...]

October 26, 2012 0 comments Read More
Paul Ryan Would Devastate College Access

Paul Ryan Would Devastate College Access

Paul Ryan: Mitt's Choice for VP

Since Mitt Romney announced that Paul Ryan would be his running mate earlier today, much has been said about what even Newt Gingrich described as “radical,” “right wing social engineering” that he advocates. Aside from cosponsoring a bill to ban many forms of birth control, wanting to dismantle social security, end medicare as we know it and supporting subsidies for oil companies, Ryan also has quite the record onagainst college affordability. Here’s a review of the highlights: Eliminates the in-school interest subsidies for undergraduate students Eliminates the student aid eligibility expansions enacted by the College Cost Reduction and Access Act (CCRAA), including [...]

August 11, 2012 1 comment Read More