Romney ready for Obama's '47 percent' attacks: aide (via AFP) Mitt Romney is prepared to fend off attacks during Wednesday's debate by President Barack Obama on the Republican's derisory remarks about the 47 percent of Americans who pay no federal income tax, a Romney aide said. Romney has been hounded over a video secretly recorded at a May fundraiser in … [Read more...] about Romney Ready for Obama’s ’47 Percent’ Attacks: Aide
Polls Show the Obama Romney Race Steadily Tightens: Back to Pre-Convention Levels
Several new polls show President Barack Obama's post-convention "bounce" is starting to wear off -- as is the impact of some of Republican challenger Mitt Romney's terrible September of fumbles and gaffes. The race is now back to a real horse race again -- right in time for the high-stakes debate Wednesday night which has almost been obscured by partisan expectations games … [Read more...] about Polls Show the Obama Romney Race Steadily Tightens: Back to Pre-Convention Levels
Media Look At The Election And The Supreme Court
As many of you know I am not one to buy in to the whole media conspiracy theory but sometimes I do see stories that make me wonder. An article up today on Yahoo paints a quasi horrified picture of the US Supreme Court should Mitt Romney wins the Presidency. Now you certainly cannot deny that there is a good chance that the next President will appoint one or more justices … [Read more...] about Media Look At The Election And The Supreme Court
The Inordinate Power of the Swing States to Decide the Presidency
It seems obscene; the presidency of the United States decided by a small group of states and a small segment of the population because of the Electoral College system. For those of us living in Connecticut, the presidential race appears to be occurring in another country that we can follow on the TV news or read about in the papers. Aside from visits for fund-raising, Obama … [Read more...] about The Inordinate Power of the Swing States to Decide the Presidency
Romney and Foreign Policy Plattitudes
Romney goes to The Wall Street Journal to present us with a foreign policy statement. Like all Romney policy statements it is devoid of substance and loaded with neoconservative platitudes and talking points. In this period of uncertainty, we need to apply a coherent strategy of supporting our partners in the Middle East—that is, both governments and individuals who share our … [Read more...] about Romney and Foreign Policy Plattitudes
Afghanistan: ‘It Should Be Over…’ (UPDATES)
Richard Hayes, Mitt Romney’s Trash Collector, Featured in New Ad Slamming 47 Percent Remark
Even Mitt Romney's garbage man, Richard Hayes, is taking offense to his 47 percent insult. Yeah, Richard Hayes is the dude who picks up trash at Romney's ocean-front mansion in La Jolla, Calif. Labor union AFSCME is out with a new spot, featuring Hayes saying how hard he works in his job everyday and that "we're kind of the invisible people:" My name is Richard Hayes, and I … [Read more...] about Richard Hayes, Mitt Romney’s Trash Collector, Featured in New Ad Slamming 47 Percent Remark
Women at the polls 2012
A lot of the political discourse and speculation in the 2012 election season is about the women's vote. There seem to be a lot of questions about why women tend to favor the Democratic Party over the Republican Party by large margins. I'll give you a clue. Women are humans and have the same penchant for genius and foibles that male humans have. Unfortunately they also still … [Read more...] about Women at the polls 2012
Gallup Poll: Obama Beats Romney as Better for Middle-Income Americans
A new Gallup Poll finds that more Americans by a wide margin think middle class earners will be in better shape after four years of Barack Obama than four years of Romney -- a poll that underscores Romney's task when he participates in a 90 minute debate Monday night: More Americans believe middle-income earners would be better off in four years if President Barack Obama … [Read more...] about Gallup Poll: Obama Beats Romney as Better for Middle-Income Americans
China Must ‘Strive to Influence’ American Presidential Elections (Huanqiu, People’s Republic of China)
There are times when the work we do makes me sit back and wipe my eyes. When it comes to foreign governments commenting on U.S. elections, this article from Beijing's state-run media is as unusual as it is brash. And given the ease with which anonymous money can be injected into U.S. elections since Citizens United, it should give all of us pause. So - with all of the … [Read more...] about China Must ‘Strive to Influence’ American Presidential Elections (Huanqiu, People’s Republic of China)
President Paul Ryan? Think About it
There were many reasons a majority of Americans (including this writer) voted for Barack Obama rather than John McCain in 2008. But one big one was McCain's choice of a running mate — Sarah Palin. The Alaska governor was so obviously, so manifestly unqualified to be President of the United States in the event President McCain died or became incapacitated, that the very thought … [Read more...] about President Paul Ryan? Think About it
Obama Throws Down Gauntlet to Romney on Debate
Obama throws down gauntlet to Romney on debate (via AFP) US President Barack Obama prepared Monday for his first debate with Mitt Romney, saying the clash was about security for hard-working Americans, not rhetorical "zingers." Obama heaped pressure on his foe, who is angling for a dramatic turnaround for his ailing campaign in Wednesday's showdown, before… … [Read more...] about Obama Throws Down Gauntlet to Romney on Debate
Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez: “If I Was from The United States, I Would Vote for Obama”
QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I hope this doesn't harm Obama, but if I was from the United States, I'd vote for Obama." -- Venezuela's Hugo Chavez. Chavez also told Reuters: "Obama is a good guy ... I think that if Obama was from Barlovento or some Caracas neighborhood, he'd vote for Chavez," the president told state TV, referring to a poor coastal town known for the African roots of … [Read more...] about Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez: “If I Was from The United States, I Would Vote for Obama”
Losing Candidate Or Losing Party?
As Republicans bemoan the growing lead Barack Obama has over Mitt Romney in the polls, they are turning on Romney, calling him a bad candidate. That's passing strange. Romney has espoused all the party's current positions -- even if they are contrary to positions he has held in the past. Richard Cohen writes in The Washington Post that -- even if Romney is a robotic … [Read more...] about Losing Candidate Or Losing Party?
‘The Good War’ Has Gone Terribly Wrong
Really disturbing news out of Afghanistan that may be being overlooked with all the Presidential election news going on. The New York Times reported in August that the number of U.S. soldiers killed in Afghanistan has more than doubled since Pres. Obama took office. From Michael Yon: "Afghan forces are infested with Taliban suicide killers. Two more “green-on-blue” … [Read more...] about ‘The Good War’ Has Gone Terribly Wrong
Debate Countdown, as Romney Fades
WASHINGTON - It began on the USS Wisconsin, but has turned into a sinking proposition, which I wrote about when the moment crystallized. Nate Silver now gives Romney a 15% chance of winning. This gloom bathes the entire polling universe. Five weeks to Election Day, President Barack Obama is within reach of the 270 electoral votes needed to win a second term. Republican Mitt … [Read more...] about Debate Countdown, as Romney Fades
Obama Seizes The Foreign Policy High Ground From The GOP & Isn’t Letting Go: Report From 20 Paws Ranch
Today's column was going to be about the presidential campaign having entered a period of statistical probability; that is, what you see is what you will get on Election Day. By this measure, Mitt Romney has been toast for the last week or so as swing state after swing state has swung into the Obama column. That subject seemed . . . uh, a little too predictable, as well as … [Read more...] about Obama Seizes The Foreign Policy High Ground From The GOP & Isn’t Letting Go: Report From 20 Paws Ranch
Defining the Debate Game
[ WASHINGTON -- In this week's debate, Mitt Romney has too much to do. President Obama has a great deal to lose. Romney's is the most difficult position. Obama's is the most dangerous. Romney needs to use the Denver encounter to reverse the slide he has found himself in since the party conventions. While Republican partisans claim that many of the public polls … [Read more...] about Defining the Debate Game
As US Supreme Court Opens, All Eyes on Chief Justice John Roberts
As US Supreme Court opens, all eyes on Chief Justice John Roberts (via The Christian Science Monitor) The US Supreme Court begins its 2012-2013 term on Monday with a blunt question: Which version of Chief Justice John Roberts will show up at the high court this year? Will it be the hard-charging conservative who struck down election-season speech restrictions on … [Read more...] about As US Supreme Court Opens, All Eyes on Chief Justice John Roberts
Reason to Hope: A New Deal for Religion and Science
Live your life as if there are no miracles and everything is a miracle. – Albert Einstein A spate of bestsellers—The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins; The End of Faith by Sam Harris; and God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything by the late Christopher Hitchens—argues that religion, as we’ve known it, no longer serves the needs of our scientific, cosmopolitan … [Read more...] about Reason to Hope: A New Deal for Religion and Science