Today's installment of campaign-related news items that won't necessarily generate a post of their own, but may be of interest to political observers:
* Citing severe weather forecasts and public safety, Democratic National Convention organizers have scrapped plans to hold Thursday night's event outdoors. President Obama will instead speak at the Time Warner Cable Arena.
* The new CNN poll shows Mitt Romney getting an underwhelming two-point bump from last week's Republican convention. Gallup still shows the former governor with no bump at all.
* The Democratic convention featured a tribute video for Ted Kennedy. Pay particular attention to the portion of the video featuring Mitt Romney, which seemed to enrage the RNC last night.
* Romney and the Republican National Committee continue to raise money at an extraordinary clip, raising about $100 million in August -- the third month in a row their fundraising totals have reached nine digits.
* In Michigan, PPP now shows incumbent Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D) leading former Rep. Pete Hoesktra (R) by nine, 50% to 41%.
* Famed Lowell boxer Micky Ward, the inspiration for the character in "The Fighter" movie, was prepared to endorse Sen. Scott Brown (R) this week in Massachusetts. Ward changed his mind after learning that Brown "is anti-union and ... against gay marriage."
* In North Carolina, former Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory (R) appears to be cruising to an easy win in this year's gubernatorial race, leading Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton (D) by 15 points in a statewide poll.
* And there's a special-election primary today in former Rep. Thad McCotter's (R) Michigan district.
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How unfair to indict Mitt by his own words, not even edited to sound different.It is surprising Mitt did not try to buy that record as well.
He must have developed that smug look on his face later, after years of thinking he was better than...why Republicans refuse to see his condescending mannerisms, makes me beleive they are still suffering from PTBD(Post traumatic Bush disorder).
"Multiple choice"! Ha ha ha ha ha!
Anything that pisses off the GOP I consider a good thing!
They've been manufacturing fake outrage at invisible "offenses" for so long, they act like they've got a glass jaw. They cry a little and expect Dems to back off on the poor bully babies.
And for much of the time, the Dems do, which is just pathetic.
That's why I got such a kick out of Ted Strickland last night at the #DNC, when asked if he wasn't "too tough" on the GOP, couldn't help himself, and owned up to deliberately holding back, going EASIER on them than he could have done.
Or as Rachel said after, Strickland admitted he "forgot his brass knuckles, here, let me do it again."
http://video.msnbc.msn.com/msnbc/48905626/#48905626
That debate should be shown again and again.It shows the History behind Romneys' decision to flip-flop on every issue. He was using the old trick Rubber and Glue also, but he hadn't perfected that one yet, he just copied and agreed with everything Ted Kennedy said. Romney is using this to some extent now by actually saying that his plan for Medicaire and Social Security will save those programs.....but, I think we know better than to beleive a man who has had a real problem telling the truth about anything. I wonder what happened in this mans' life that has caused him to lie incessantly. It probably had a lot to do with something that smelled green. He was afflicted a long time ago with a disease called Greed.
Like Scrooge, Mitt's worst nightmare is the "Ghost of Debates Past".
Let us hope that Ted Kennedy appears in a LOT of commercials this Fall!
What a great tribute to Ted Kennedy. I dare say he was the greatest thing that has ever happened in the United States Congress. I'm glad he didn't run for President in '84; he had the wisdom to see that he could more good for the country over a longer period by staying in the Senate.
Virginia getting ready to vote in a Republican governor, eh? Get ready for voter ID laws/voter suppression, union busting, tax cuts for the wealthy at the expense of everyone else, irrational refusal of federal funds that could boost the quality of life and create jobs, internal scandals, and privatization of everything in sight. If McCrory proves this prediction wrong, I'd be happy to live with that.
Too late, we already have that - except for the refusal of federal funds.
Remember, we have Governor Ultrasound right now and Cooch as the Attorney General - what could be worse?
Virginia WILL NEVER turn down government money, especially defense money. NOVA lives off of DC money and then there is the Newport News -Norfolk - Virginia Beach strip of naval and air force bases, not to to mention all the other military bases all over the state!!!
Wow...goose bumps.
I had the privledge to visit The Mission Cathedral after Ted's funeral. To sit at the front of the church, in the very same pews that just an hour or so before, sat the Obama's and Clinton's was amazing. Although, I was there to say prayers for Ted and to thank God for him and all he did for US.
Re: Scott Brown or What's the Matter with Massachusetts
Massachusetts is a blue state, overwhelmingly in support of President Obama, sometimes called the bluest of the blue states. Why then do the people of Massachusetts want to simultaneously elect President Obama and provide opposition to Obama's optimal policies in the form of Scott Brown?
I say vote for the party - the Democratic Pary - not the man. Alternatively, vote for the man, President Obama, and give him the support he desperately needs in the Senate by voting in his supporters, those that will enact his policies.
Scott Brown will only provide opposition, and more dysfunctional and unfair law as he pursues special carve-outs for banks and the 1% of the kind that have brought us to where we are today.
Brian in Chicago: To answer your question; I'm thinking the result of Scotty's win was because of the candidate who opposed him in the race. It was Martha Coakley, a long time pol in MA. I voted for her, but people in MA thought there was corruption in her background. Ultimately, they didn't vote for Scotty, they just didn't vote for Martha.
The thought of Scotty sitting in for Ted Kennedy is sickening. If Elizabeth Warren doesn't take that seat back...... ohhhhh, they''ll have to peel me off the cieling ((-:
And McCotter's folly continues to cost my state money. But at least it makes Republicans look foolish.
The reindeer herder, his write-in challenger in the August primary, and three other GOP wannabes are costing Michigan $650K for the right to play US Rep for six weeks of lame-duck congress.
If McCotter had resigned earlier, this primary would have been held in August with the other. If he had waited a few weeks longer, the seat could have remained vacant until January. What a mess.
Hey Rachel, i missed the first lady's speech last night. In your post speech 'analysis' did you bring up the fact that she only felt proud to be an American only TWO times in her life? Will you bring this up tonight in your convention 'analysis' ?
How many times did Ann Romney say she was proud to be an American?
ZERO. In fact, she only referred to herself as American once, and didn't mention Mitt as being American at all.
http://dailycaller.com/2012/08/30/transcript-of-ann-romneys-remarks/
Wyatt - you obviously didn't think that one through - which presidential candidate attended a nomination party for him aboard a yacht flying a Cayman Islands flag? Which candidate dodges US taxes by stashing his money overseas? Which candidate built a significant portion of his wealth by backing companies who ship American jobs offshore? Which candidate avoided any mention of our troops?
Answer: the candidate with an R in front of, and behind, his name.
It always amazes me that Reps yell over any reference to Romney stupidisms-as in Ted Kennedys video-and yet their entire convention was devoted to nasty talk and lies about Pres Obama. I was very proud of the whole convention last night and of the energy and love the delegates and speakers have for our Pres! First Lady was fantastic! I hope O realizes his work has not been done in vain. That we see how hard he has worked against a do-nothing congress and the great things he has accomplished. I would prefer however that MSNBC leave off the Republican commentators. We see them everywhere else, I want to see Democratic discussions.
Fascinating that the same people who were so appalled at Mitt Romney travelling with his dog in a kennel on a roof and sat in misty eyed wonder at a tribute to a man who, among MANY other things, let a woman die in a car while he snuck back to his hotel for a little abili and shuteye. Talk about a war on women.
RACHEL !!!!!!!!
WTF????
Every idiot I talk to thinks Obama is responsible for the $16 TRILLION debt.
FIX THIS ASAP!!!!!!
THE RNC's Debt Clock has brainwashed people.
MR. PRESIDENT YOU WILL LOSE IF...
You do not stand up for the lies the right is making on the National debt.
They are accusing you of spending $5 TRILLION during your term.
I know for a fact that they are all GOP policies that caused it.
Fixing the GOP screw ups is not your spending is theirs.
Stimulus to save the GOP screw ups are LOANS not spending.
INTEREST on the GOP TRILLIONS of debt is NOT yours to be responsible for.
MR. President,
The $16 TRILLION is GOP Policies of the past 32 years.
Stand up for your record and denounce those accusations.
Use their debt clock against them.
Let's add up the debt under Reagan and the Bushes.
We can't blame Reagan for the debt's increase until his first budget took effect, October 1, 1981. Then, for 12 years until Sept. 30, 1993, the Republicans ballooned the debt. Later, George W. Bush took over.
Under Reagan and Bush: $3.4 Trillion increase in the debt.
Under George W. Bush: $6.1 Trillion.
Total: $9.5 Trillion. (without counting interest)
But wait, there's interest on that debt ...
The debt went up during Clinton's years only because of $2.2 Trillion interest on the Reagan-Bush debt. Otherwise Clinton would have paid off most the remaining WWII debt. G.W.Bush got sand-bagged by Reagan.
Just like a mortgage, the debt earns interest, and so the Reagan-Bush-I debt grew during the Clinton years. The average debt interest rate in those years was about 6.5%, which would increase it over 50% without compounding, but with compound interest the total debt – including interest – increased by $2.2 trillion.
Total Republican debt from above: $9.5 trillion
Interest on Reagan-Bush debt under Clinton: $2.2 trillion
Interest on $11.7 trillion after G. W. Bush: $0.3 trillion
Grand Total Reagan-Bushes Debt: $12 trillion (as of Sept. 30, 2010).
If the Republicans had not run up this $12 Trillion debt, we could easily have pulled out of the Great Recession.
The rest on the debt have been the ongoing and "unbudgeted" tax discounts, GOP created wars, corporate loopholes, etc.
And, the INTEREST per year for those GOP generated TRILLIONS.
PASS THIS TO OBAMA.
You're wasting your breath. That's fine, though. I waste plenty of my own here.
My point is this: If Obama was going to stand up for himself, -or for our interests, or for anything, he would have done it by now. At this point, after 4 years of being a whipping boy who "just takes it", I have to conclude Obama was never one of us.
If he *was* one of us, Obama would have stood up for our issues, push would come to shove, and Eric Cantor or Mitch McConnel would be missing some front teeth.
Didn't happen, did it? No. In fact, Obama has not even raised his voice. That makes me angry.
To Campaign Members Concerned with Winning NC:
I am a soldier and volunteer for the campaign efforts here at Fort Bragg who just got the news that the president’s speech will be moved to a smaller venue because of a supposed threat of rain. I along with thousands of others are no doubt disappointed, but of greater concern to me is the lack of forethought and enthusiasm killing message a poorly thought out conciliatory call sends not only to me, but to the thousands of other Obama supporters.
As a member of the military I understand that conditions can quickly change, but you have to be aware that to cancel this event outright is dismissive of the thousands of people across this state who had already spent money, made arrangements and allowances to hear the president. Please rethink plans for only a pandering phone call which most people won’t access, and begin work at once for a follow-up visit or speech in the future specifically targeting the majority of local voters you’ve now excluded.
I personally aided in distributing hundreds of tickets at my local office here in Fayetteville to supporters all of whom who are now discouraged. In a state which Mr. Obama only won in 2008 by 14,000 votes, this poor decision with only a minimal attempt announced so far to address the residents of NC is disheartening and unwise - if conventions serve the two part fold of rallying troops and mobilizing support of the base, this decision has just failed to do so for 50,000 plus people who will be shut out of the event now. Of course this won’t change my vote or my months long period of volunteer efforts, but at the end of the week the delegates and media will return home while thousands of volunteers and voters will be left here with a bad taste in their mouths.
Honestly? – pretty damn weak. Come up with a better plan.
Campaign members concerned with winning North Carolina:
I am a soldier and volunteer for the campaign efforts here at Fort Bragg who just got the news that the president’s speech will be moved to a smaller venue because of a supposed threat of rain. I along with thousands of others are no doubt disappointed, but of greater concern to me is the lack of forethought and enthusiasm killing message a poorly thought out conciliatory call sends not only to me, but to the thousands of other Obama supporters.
As a member of the military I understand that conditions can quickly change, but you have to be aware that to cancel this event outright is dismissive of the thousands of people across this state who had already spent money, made arrangements and allowances or volunteered for many shifts to hear the president. Please rethink plans for only a pandering phone call which most NC voters won’t access, and begin work at once for a follow-up visit or speech in the future specifically targeting the majority of local voters you’ve now excluded.
I personally aided in distributing hundreds of tickets at my local office here in Fayetteville to supporters all of whom who are now discouraged. In a state which Mr. Obama only won in 2008 by 14,000 votes, this poor decision with only a minimal attempt announced so far to address the residents of NC is disheartening and unwise - if conventions serve the two part fold of rallying troops and mobilizing support of the base, this decision has just failed to do so for 50,000 plus people who will be shut out of the event now. Of course this won’t change my vote or my months long period of volunteer efforts, but at the end of the week the delegates and media will return home while thousands of volunteers and voters will be left here with a bad taste in their mouths.
Honestly? – pretty damn weak. Come up with a better plan.
The two days of rousing speeches, personalities, political policies and
Ideologies, emotional positive Energies, and excellent productions displayed
within the 2012 Democratic Convention held in North Carolina thus far this
week has evoked many strong and passionate responses from me (and
others) throughout these two evenings. And has made this American Citizen
rev-up with renewed vigor and Faith in America and We the People of America and
the World.
This Tear Of……
This Tear rolling away from the Orb of my Eye
Holds another Orb of
Imaginings
The blue-green gemstone - Planet Earth
I Am a Land-Child, a
Water-Child of the Earth
The spinning Orb within This Tear
rotates
Revealing North America -
The United States of America -
My
HomeLand
I Am an Air-Child, a Fire-Child of America
Of the Planet
Earth
This Tear - an undulating current of Emotion -
Of the Heart and
Mind
Manifested within This Physical Being
Is an Expression of Joy -
Of Pride -
Of Hopeful and Inclusive Patriotism
And Present and Future
EnVisionings
American Hopeful and Inclusive Present and Future
EnVisionings
Planetary Hopeful and Inclusive Present and Future
EnVisionsings
This Tear of the Salt of the Earth
And Oceanic Living Voices
Singing
In resonant and dissonant Harmonies
Throughout the Knowable Events
and Patterns -
The Seductive Mysteries of Time and Space
Is Mine -
Is
Ours -
Singularities United
A Tear of Joy -
Of Pride -
Of Hopeful
and Inclusive Patriotism
Manifesting brilliant Present and
Future
Nurturing and Sustaining
National and Planetary EnVisionings
Respectfully,
Leah Sellers