2012 Presidential Campaign

[Dutch]

Originally Posted by miked

Are you saying the republicans had a dictatorship under Bush when they controlled the WH, congress, and the senate?

No, I'm referring more to the long-term ramifications of the Republican Party continuing to fall flat on it's face and it's inability to articulate anything beyond "Jesus Saves!". They just don't have much substance left anymore.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

The notion that things were better 60 years ago is a myth. Just people looking for things to complain about when they don't have anything to really complain about.

I think, for the most part, it comes from a more innocent place than that. As we get older, we see things through more rose-colored glasses. The goods of the past are magnified and the bads forgotten.

SI

[mckerney]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

I think, for the most part, it comes from a more innocent place than that. As we get older, we see things through more rose-colored glasses. The goods of the past are magnified and the bads forgotten.

SI

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[stevew]

[Hacky 80s comedian guy].

We need to go back in time to one day before women were allowed to drive.

[/Hack]

[sterlingice]

Is this the TDS clip when he goes through each decade trying to find the "good old days?"

SI

[mckerney]

Yep.

[RainMaker]

I think there were things from the past that were better. People seemed more self-reliant and hardworking for instance. But I think the time we live in is superior to the past in so many ways that "the good ole days" is a myth. Not one of us would want to go back and live in the 50's after experiencing today.

For instance, I can get almost any type of food at a relatively affordable price anytime I want. I can travel in incredibly safe fashion almost anywhere I want with relative ease. Basic essentials are provided for me and the rest of the population (defense, roads, streetlights, fire, safety, etc). My doctor has access to a lot of kickass technology that can help diagnose problems and fix them. And while I'm enjoying that stuff, I get to carry around a powerful computer in my hand that doubles as a phone so that I can communicate with anyone, anywhere for practically nothing.

No matter if it's Bush, Obama, Santorum, whoever. Today is much better than it was 50 years ago. Heck, it's much better than it was 10 years ago. Not just from a convenience standpoint, but from a human rights one too. Race issues are much better. A guy can get arrested for beating the shit out of his wife. It still boggles my mind that 30 years ago domestic abuse wasn't considered much of a problem. Or that 60 years ago we were fighting to keep schools segregated.

[JPhillips]

This won't help, Mitt.

It’s very easy to excite the base with incendiary comments. We’ve seen throughout the campaign if you’re willing to say really outrageous things that are accusative, attacking of President Obama, that you’re going to jump up in the polls. I’m not willing to light my hair on fire to try and get support. I am who I am.

[SirFozzie]

The republicans are just doing their best to keep the earth from tilting off axis, so they're counteracting all the left turns at Daytona with Right turns....

[larrymcg421]

Olympia Snowe announced her retirement. Not good news for Republican chances of regaining the Senate.

[JPhillips]

Big surprise with Snowe. I guess she wasn't up to fighting off a Tea Party nut in a primary.

[cartman]

They've now called both Arizona and Michigan for Romney.

[Solecismic]

I would say this is a huge night for Romney, but it's merely the night the media will finally accept he's the Republican nominee - something we've known for several months now.

I think CNN is in mourning. They were convinced Santorum would win Michigan. Wolf Blitzer is on suicide watch.

It's hard to care, though, one way or the other. It's not like any candidate or either party can fix the budget mess or undo the messes we've made in Iraq and Afghanistan.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by larrymcg421

Olympia Snowe announced her retirement. Not good news for Republican chances of regaining the Senate.

Maybe she's hoping for a cabinet post with Malleable Mitt.

[JediKooter]

Originally Posted by Solecismic

I would say this is a huge night for Romney, but it's merely the night the media will finally accept he's the Republican nominee - something we've known for several months now.

I think CNN is in mourning. They were convinced Santorum would win Michigan. Wolf Blitzer is on suicide watch.

It's hard to care, though, one way or the other. It's not like any candidate or either party can fix the budget mess or undo the messes we've made in Iraq and Afghanistan.

These messes would be a lot easier to clean up if both sides weren't more concerned with 'one upping' the other party, just to 'one up' the other party. Every last one of them needs to be fired.

[M GO BLUE!!!]

A major problem the GOP has is that the candidates are all weak at best (that can be said for both parties though)

My mother last night said that she didn't make it to the polls, but it wouldn't have mattered anyway as she was going to vote for John Paul.

John Paul.

[Ben E Lou]

Originally Posted by M GO BLUE!!!

A major problem the GOP has is that the candidates are all weak at best (that can be said for both parties though)

My mother last night said that she didn't make it to the polls, but it wouldn't have mattered anyway as she was going to vote for John Paul.

John Paul.

To be fair, John Paul's reign WAS similar in length to the time several different candidates have spent as GOP front-runners. Maybe she just got confused. *shurg*

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

Big surprise with Snowe. I guess she wasn't up to fighting off a Tea Party nut in a primary.

The "Tea Party nut" actually dropped out last week.

[cartman]

Romney Thanks State He Was Born And Raised In For Just Barely Giving Him Enough Votes To Beat Total Maniac | The Onion - America's Finest News Source

[albionmoonlight]

Bob Kerry throws his hat in the ring in NE.

Between this and the Snowe news, the Dems chances of losing the Senate have to have been cut in half in just the past 24 hours.

[larrymcg421]

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight

Bob Kerry throws his hat in the ring in NE.

Between this and the Snowe news, the Dems chances of losing the Senate have to have been cut in half in just the past 24 hours.

I'm not sure I see Kerrey winning there, but he will at least force the GOP to pay attention to the state.

[stevew]

Originally Posted by Ben E Lou

To be fair, John Paul's reign WAS similar in length to the time several different candidates have spent as GOP front-runners. Maybe she just got confused. *shurg*

Lol. I wonder if John Paul and William Henry Harrison get mocked in heaven for their lengthy leadership.

[rowech]

Originally Posted by M GO BLUE!!!

A major problem the GOP has is that the candidates are all weak at best (that can be said for both parties though)

My mother last night said that she didn't make it to the polls, but it wouldn't have mattered anyway as she was going to vote for John Paul.

John Paul.

Hopefully he remembered to adjust the volume on his alarm clock.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by M GO BLUE!!!

A major problem the GOP has is that the candidates are all weak at best (that can be said for both parties though)

My mother last night said that she didn't make it to the polls, but it wouldn't have mattered anyway as she was going to vote for John Paul.

John Paul.

Going a different direction with bad jokes, was she also a strong supporter of VP candidate George Ringo?

SI

[larrymcg421]

The Senate killed the Blunt amendment today. Manchin, Casey, Nelson were the only Dems to support it. Snowe was the only GOP to oppose it. (Big blunder by Scott Brown).

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by larrymcg421

The Senate killed the Blunt amendment today. Manchin, Casey, Nelson were the only Dems to support it. Snowe was the only GOP to oppose it. (Big blunder by Scott Brown).

Brown's in trouble. He realizes he's fighting for his life up here against Elizabeth Warren and he's doing whatever he can to furiously try to tack more as a moderate.

That being said - I imagine he's doomed to failure. Otherwise I might have to move to a state with more sense.

[SirFozzie]

DT: To move to a state with more "sense" (as you put it) then MA, you'd have to go to Europe. :P

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by SirFozzie

DT: To move to a state with more "sense" (as you put it) then MA, you'd have to go to Europe. :P

I can think of worse things. Although all the smoking there is disgusting.

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

That being said - I imagine he's doomed to failure. Otherwise I might have to move to a state with more sense.

Brown's up 10 points in the latest polling.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by Ronnie Dobbs2

Brown's up 10 points in the latest polling.

Not according to the polls that I've seen. I don't remember when those were from though.

Aaah. Yeah...maybe I was thinking of older polls. I still don't see how Brown can survive though. This state needs to get its head out of its ass.

Massachusetts: Early February Poll Showed Scott Brown Up in Senate Race | At the Races

Looks pretty tossuppy according to Roll Call. I like the "likely voters" response if I'm cherry-picking.

And we'll see how Brown's vote on this Blount thing affects him.

[ISiddiqui]

Last poll was Brown +5, but Brown is still looking ok

RealClearPolitics - Election 2012 - Massachusetts Senate - Brown vs. Warren

And this vote isn't going to matter worth a damn in November. Political junkies assign way too much to crap like this.

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

From today:

Boston Globe

A second poll is showing Republican US Senator Scott Brown leading Democrat Elizabeth Warren by 9 to 10 points, a sign of potential concern for Warren after months of polling showed a closer race.

[Swaggs]

I imagine Massachusetts will be an interesting down ticket race if Romney wins the Republican nomination.

It is one of Obama's best states, as far as approval rating, and I imagine that there would be very few swing voters (because both Obama and Romney would presumably have such high voter identifications there) and a very high turnout. On the flip side, Romney has very low approval rates there.

I could certainly see a high turnout of voters, that might otherwise stay home, coming out to vote against Romney. And that could trickle down ticket and make the difference in a close race.

[M GO BLUE!!!]

I absolutely love this. Because, obviously when around black people you must be hip and conform to what they love. And what better than "who let the dogs out?"

[JonInMiddleGA]

Mildly interesting little dustup in Michigan over the allocation of delegates. To be honest, I didn't realize that it initially came out 15 each for Romney & Santorum, until a little presto chango of the rules made it 16-14 for Malleable Mitt.

http://blogs.ajc.com/jamie-dupree-wa...e-controversy/

[albionmoonlight]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Mildly interesting little dustup in Michigan over the allocation of delegates. To be honest, I didn't realize that it initially came out 15 each for Romney & Santorum, until a little presto chango of the rules made it 16-14 for Malleable Mitt.

Michigan Delegate Controversy | Jamie Dupree Washington Insider

I would imagine that the sense of "the fix is in" for Romney based on something like this hurts marginally more than the addition of one extra delegate helps.

I'm not saying that Romney had anything to do with the result or that it was or was not the right result. Just that, if I were the Romney campaign, I would rather it have just stayed 15-15 as opposed to give any ammunition to the establishment/elitist meme.

[SirFozzie]

Considering the narrative of the day before was Romney surrogates demanding (on an official campaign press conference call) that Santorum "give back" some of the delegates he won because he robocalled Democrats and thus skewed the results, it shows Mitt is desperate.

Romney will still win, the Ricky wave has hit the breakwater and is going down quickly, but it just reinforces everything that the Republican party does not WANT Romney as candidate, but may have to have Romney forced down their throats by default.

[JPhillips]

I can't believe that the likely GOP nominee will only carry one southern state.

[mckerney]

Originally Posted by M GO BLUE!!!

I absolutely love this. Because, obviously when around black people you must be hip and conform to what they love. And what better than "who let the dogs out?"

I still can't believe his, “I like those fancy raincoats you bought. Really sprung for the big bucks," line. For someone who needs to shake the image that he's out of touch with most people because of how wealthy he is he's really bad at it.

[SackAttack]

In fairness, that video was taken four years ago. He *may* have gotten better since then. Not much, clearly, but maybe a little.

[Ben E Lou]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

I can't believe that the likely GOP nominee will only carry one southern state.

I'm only about 60-70% sure that he'll beat Obama in Georgia. And I'd say there's an outside chance he loses South Carolina as well.

[mckerney]

Santorum backs nullifying existing gay marriages


"Just because public opinion says something doesn't mean it's right," he said in the NBC interview. "I'm sure there were times in areas of this country when people said blacks were less than human."

Yeah, there were even times when people wanted laws about who blacks could and could marry, crazy stuff.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by mckerney

Santorum backs nullifying existing gay marriages


"Just because public opinion says something doesn't mean it's right," he said in the NBC interview. "I'm sure there were times in areas of this country when people said blacks were less than human."

Yeah, there were even times when people wanted laws about who blacks could and could marry, crazy stuff.

For a lawyer he sure has a piss-poor grasp of the law (not that I'm surprised).

What a bigoted asshat.

[mckerney]

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

For a lawyer he sure has a piss-poor grasp of the law (not that I'm surprised).

What a bigoted asshat.

And even disregarding that he was a lawyer, probably one of the worst analogies he could have come up with. Not really surprising after his outrage over his complete misunderstanding of JFK's speech though.

[Solecismic]

Originally Posted by mckerney

Santorum backs nullifying existing gay marriages


"Just because public opinion says something doesn't mean it's right," he said in the NBC interview. "I'm sure there were times in areas of this country when people said blacks were less than human."

Yeah, there were even times when people wanted laws about who blacks could and could marry, crazy stuff.

Is he forgetting that it wasn't that long ago that his opinion matched public opinion on this issue? He's remarkably live-for-the-moment for a guy who wants to be our president.

What I don't understand, and I don't mean to aggravate our more religious board members, is why, out of the thousands of smaller passages in the Bible that one could focus on as not matching modern society in America, is denying equality for gay people so incredibly important?

I understand the abortion issue, though I don't agree. But the gay issue makes no sense to me.

[Crapshoot]

Originally Posted by Ben E Lou

I'm only about 60-70% sure that he'll beat Obama in Georgia. And I'd say there's an outside chance he loses South Carolina as well.

Are you serious? Do you say that because of the likely AA turnout, or because evangelicals / hard-core types (like JIMGA) won't turn out for Romney?

I mean, in the wave year that was 2008 with absurd turnout, McCain (not beloved by those groups) won by 5 points and while overall demographics favor the Dems, I'd be shocked to see Obama win (like 1% chance). So I'm curious about the reasoning.

[JPhillips]

Looking at polling it seems that today will end all doubt as to whether Romney will win. He's got momentum in Ohio and even Tennessee. He won't come close to a sweep, but he'll win maybe twice as many delegates as Santorum.

Now he gets to figure out how to recover from his -15 net favorability rating.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Crapshoot

Are you serious? Do you say that because of the likely AA turnout, or because evangelicals / hard-core types (like JIMGA) won't turn out for Romney? I mean, in the wave year that was 2008 with absurd turnout, McCain (not beloved by those groups) won by 5 points and while overall demographics favor the Dems, I'd be shocked to see Obama win (like 1% chance). So I'm curious about the reasoning.

FWIW, from the AJC

More interesting is the portion of the CNN poll that looks at a general election contest with President Barack Obama. Asked whether they would vote for the Republican nominee or the incumbent Democrat in November, 1,775 registered Georgia voters were split, 48 to 48 percent.

The state will probably come down to turnout. Just enough depressed voters on one side, just enough motivated voters on the other ... yeah, I'd say it's probably closer than you'd think.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

Looking at polling it seems that today will end all doubt as to whether Romney will win. He's got momentum in Ohio and even Tennessee. He won't come close to a sweep, but he'll win maybe twice as many delegates as Santorum.

If Romney wins Tennessee, its primary over.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I know you've all been awaiting it with baited breath, so here's my Super Tuesday blog post. Only one vote possible | Jon's Three Cents