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:
* The Obama campaign released a new video overnight, contrasting Mitt Romney's "47 percent" video with the president's remarks on Univision, embracing the comments some reporters and Republicans saw as a "gaffe." Note to the tag line: "Do you want a president who thinks change comes from you? Or one who has totally written you off?"
* A new National Journal poll shows Obama leading Romney nationally by seven, 50% to 43%.
* In Iowa, the latest NBC/WSJ/Marist poll shows Obama leading Romney by eight, 50% to 42%.
* In Colorado, the latest NBC/WSJ/Marist poll shows Obama leading Romney by five, 50% to 45%.
* In Wisconsin, the latest NBC/WSJ/Marist poll shows Obama leading Romney by five, 50% to 45%, while PPP shows Obama up by seven, 52% to 45%.
* In Nevada, a new CNN poll shows a more competitive contest, with Obama leading Romney by three, 49% to 46%.
* Though Romney/Ryan hoped to compete in New Mexico, the campaign is now moving staff out of the state to work in Colorado and Nevada.
* The Republican Party is giving up on its efforts to convince Todd Akin to withdraw in Missouri's U.S. Senate race, and Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) hopes to rescue the right-wing congressman.
* And Republicans appear to be increasingly concerned about Indiana's U.S. Senate race, with Karl Rove's Crossroads GPS investing another $1 million in support of Richard Mourdock (R), and the National Republican Senatorial Campaign making another ad buy of its own.
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If we didn't need to keep the majority and we didn't really need to keep Akin out of the Senate, I would be tempted throw Claire McCaskill over the side. Her latest ad touts that she is the 50th senator on a scale of all one hundred senators from most liberal to most conservative. Republicans won't believe her and Democrats wonder if moderation in defense of the middle class isn't a vice. Apparently she has the same campaign advisors who screwed the pooch with Ike Skelton last cycle. God I wish Missouri had a real Democratic party. We could probably put Missouri in play for Obama.
By the way, expect Rove to restart the Akin campaign in 5....4....3....2....1.
That is a tuff one , and it does suck Ron , I was shocked Mo. almost went to Obama in 2008 , It would be great to get a good dem out of your state , maybe if you can keep her for the next cycle , it will help to get a good one elected in the next tho
Hold your nose and vote for the DINO!
Here, in
The Mississippi of the MidwestIndiana, we have the Teabagger Mourdock and a DINO on the ballot for senator. The DINO's 'platform' includes promises to not raise taxes on the 'Job Creators'. For governor, we have the total idiot Mike ("outdoor markets in Bagdad are as safe as outdoor markets in Indiana") Pence running against a nobody DINO. They are dueling on the basis of who will cut taxes for 'Job Creators' the most and cut state spending the most.Better, if only slightly, to have a DINO than a absolutely idiotic repuke.
The new romney ad in iowa says "obama is raising your taxes to pay for the aca " ,,then says romney wants to cut working class taxes ......And now Roves gps is going after our dem congressman Bruce Braley , at the end of the ad it says , " Bruce Braley also voted for the biggest gov take over since the aca ", then fails to mention just what that is (???).....They got nothing on the dem congressman , just like they got nothing on obama , so they just make up stuff
I always wondered why dems so often didn't own it when they were f$%&ing right. This seems to change, if the add is any indicator. Let the reps go berserk. Just own it, democrats!
Wow! Such good news and good numbers. We need to remain disciplined and fight the impulse of feeling too smug (although how can we not?) as we watch these numbers and others only improve within the next 46 days. We need to send the Romney campaign a gift basket.
You had a segment last night about election trouble in NC. There appears to be election trouble on the horizon within a county in metropolitan Atlanta. The election commissioner has been tossed in jail for violating probation for a previous DUI charge, and critics are calling for his resignation. The county elections committee has had voting outcome irregularities in the recent past, and his leadership has frequently been questioned. THIS close to an election, undetermined leadership going forward and past recent bungled voting-count history indicates possible delayed and questionable results for Atlanta in November.
http://www.ajc.com/ap/ap/alcohol/fulton-elections-chief-jailed-on-revoked-probation/nSGFx/
The Republican Party is giving up on its efforts to convince Todd Akin to withdraw in Missouri's U.S. Senate race, and Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) hopes to rescue the right-wing congressman.
Seems appropriate. Senator DeMented helping the demented.
Note to the tag line: "Do you want a president who thinks change comes from you? Or one who has totally written you off?"
We should remember that when the progressives went to FDR and proposed all the things that became the New Deal, he told them "go out and get the people to convince me I should do this."
This was one reason I was so upset when the first thing the Obama Administration did on taking office was to shut down OFA. Just as the Right was commencing work on their astroturf Tea Potty. Had all those people who were so enthused and so energetic in 2008 through OFA continued on, Obama would have had the public support he needed to force through a proper Stimulus and we'd have had a Public Option in the ACA, since even morons like Ben Nelson can take off their shoes and socks and count phone calls and letters. That was a big mistake on Obama's part, which is surprising since any community organizer knows that any success should be used as the basis for more organizing.
Anyway, I think we all know that now, which is good news. The next ten years are crucial if we're going to break Wall Street's stranglehold. It's going to take at least five House cycles and three Senate cycles of good hard work to get the kind of people in there who will take on the cabal of scum. The new American Revolution needs a "French accent" (the political equivalent of the guillotine for these people).
One demand should be to bring back the 91% rate on all income over $1 million per year and the abolition of the "carried interest" rule that allows Romney and his fellow hedge fund vultures to amass the kind of wealth they do. That is the political equivalent of the guillotine right there.
Re: #6
"That is the political equivalent of the guillotine right there."
Yes it is.....and is also more drastic than we need.
Yes, and that is why 360.org is planning events the day after the election. Just heard Van Jones speak and he said that is huge. Progressives have to keep the heat on.
Also, ending the business deduction for interest on their debt would spell the end for Vulture Capitalism. Bain Capital (et. al.) leverage the companies they take over with a 40 - 1 debt to equity ratio and then milk those companies for 'management fees' until they bleed to death.
What is effect of Voter Suppression in these states? Seems this should be analyzed with every news story. If we are up by 7 points, but 10 % of population is suppressed we still loose.
Good thing for Mitt that we still use the outdated electoral college, he might get a couple of states. Heck Florida will probably give him their electorate no matter how badly he loses the general election in Florida.
The whole goal of the Karl Rove 2004 'model' is too keep the poll numbers close enough that when the repukes steal a state or two the corporately owned media will not call them on it.
President Little George - Selected in 2000 / Stolen in Ohio in 2004...
I've seen the Indiana commercials--so 2010...
"Obamacare" is the villain!!! (But people see what it's actually doing, so like it)
"Failed Stimulus" (But people are glad the auto industry was bailed out)
The "scary other" not working as well as it used to
Too many years of the repukes and their corporately owned media enablers proclaiming the 'stimulus' a failure without the dumbocraps pointing out the truth that it kept the country from another out & out depression!
I thought Lugar endorsed the Dem. If he did then it is possible that Lugar has friends in the regular Republican organization who may throw the election to the Dem to deny Mourdock the seat. Karl Rove may be going nowhere with his ads.
Don't worry--it'll all reverse when the Fascist super-pacs start dumping their hundreds of millions of dollars into hate, anger, and fear ads.
This is a loooooong way from over. Get organized and get ready!
No sorry "folks", Mitt is strong here in Tampa, Florida, yes in Florida. In fact last night as the Presidential motorcade rolled into our neighborhood for a $20,000 per plate dinner I might add, Obama was faced with house upon house supporting Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan!!! And while they were dinning on food prepared by some famous chef and live music by Pearl Jam's front man Eddie Vedder, we were having pizza and wine and hanging with the secret service and the local police yucking it up. Get real people and see what's happening on the ground and get out of the liberal media fog. Obama needs to go!!!
Enjoy your pizza, sweetie. I'm enjoying the boos Ryan is getting at the AARP. Wonder how many Floridians are members...
Must be that lying liberal media that reports polling showing Obama ahead of Mittens in Florida by 5 - 7%...
Hear hear! Meanwhile I'm amazed there's no mention of
Gee, what a surprise.
Sh!tter, your desperation is ambrosia! Thanks. Even better is Mitt's desperation - he's bowing down to Obama and releasing "summaries" of tax returns today, thus guaranteeing another week of negative speculation about him. Poor Mitt, he's really a dolt, isn't he? You must be so proud!
You tell 'em shooter! I mean if your points had no merit surely some of us would jump to show you the errors.We know how much the right hates being fact checked or having snipets broadened to explain why they are in fact intentional misrepresentations of the complete work.
Oh well...
ODS is alive and well in Tampa, hoping Sandy in Tampa and Shooter are getting treatment for it, no one should have to suffer from such fantasy pain.
The Hispanic Vote and the Republican Party
Arizona Banned Mexican-American Studies Books
(Robert Cintli Rogrizues, Guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 18, January 2012) “First, the Tucson school district came for the Mexican American studies program. Now, it's come for its books
In the aftermath of the suspension of the Tucson Unified School District's Mexican American studies department, TUSD has confiscated and continues to confiscate MAS teaching materials. Besides artwork and posters etc, that includes books. This move came in response to an unconstitutional measure, HB 2281, which was specifically created to dismantle the highly successful MAS-TUSD department.
Amid a massive backlash, TUSD officials have backpedaled, claiming that the confiscation of the books that took place after the 10 January MAS suspension does not constitute a banned books list. While TUSD claims that only seven book titles were ordered boxed and carried off, the fact is that the confiscation – in some cases, in front of the students – involved more than the seven titles. But the seven books that are "not banned" (but merely "confiscated") are:
Critical Race Theory, by Richard Delgado and Jean Stefancic
500 Years of Chicano History in Pictures, edited by Elizabeth Martinez
Message to Aztlán, by Rodolfo Corky Gonzales
Chicano! The History of the Mexican Civil Rights Movement, by F Arturo Rosales
Occupied America: A History of Chicanos, by Rodolfo Acuña
Pedagogy of the Oppressed, by Paulo Freire
Rethinking Columbus: The Next 500 Years, by Bill Bigelow”
Republicans say they welcome “ALL” to the GOP. They want everyone that believes in conservative values to come and listen to the message of the Republican Party. “Hispanic-Americans” take heed as Mitt Romney comes to your town to espouse the benefits of voting for him, the Tuscson Unified School District has given you a glimpse into a Republican controlled House, Senate and Whitehouse. In freedom loving, First Amendment protecting “AMERICA”; books are being confiscated from our children and it is REPUBLICANS that are spearheading this movement.
These actions are not being taken against “UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS” but “YOU” my Hispanic-“AMERICAN” friends. They don’t want you to become “UPPITY” they don’t want you to know the contributions you have made to this Country. The GOP does not want you to know your unique history and how prominent you are in this County’s History.
They simply don’t want you to know that Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Nevada and California all were part of Nueva Espana (New Spain) until 1821, when Mexico won its independence from Spain. The rest is United States History, California to Texas become part of the United States in the early to mid-1800’s.
The Republicans in Arizona hysterically use the “La reconquista”, a radical movement calling for Mexico to “reconquer” America’s Southwest. Honestly, this is VERY INSULTING to Mexican-Americans and Hispanic Americans who love this Country every bit as much as Americans of Anglo heritage, French heritage, Irish, Italian, Afro-American heritage, Asian heritage and every other ethnic and racial group that make up this GREAT COUNTRY and melting pot. I don’t know a single Mexican American or Hispanic American that wants to be ANYTHING but “AMERICAN. We are Americans!
But on the topic of Immigration Reform, let me tell you the comments on the blogs from Republicans about “Immigration Reform” make it quite clear that Hispanics are not welcomed, here are a couple of example from an article titled: “Obama to Latinos: Romney ‘uncertain’ about immigration reform plans” here are Republican comments:
Cricket says: What Is “Immigration Reform”???...Code word for Amnesty??...because we have Immigration Laws that aren’t enforced…What do people want or expect from “Immigration Reforms”??
Donman says: look up Operation Wet Baack, then get back to us. If the laws were strictly enforced, then they would leave. Just look what happened in AZ and Alabama when they implemented their laws. There was a mass exodus from the states. So, YES!! It sure as hell can be done, and should be done.
This is the rhetoric Hispanics hear from Republicans whether they are Americans or un-documented, would you feel welcomed to the GOP?
The Republicans tell you that you are welcomed in the GOP, but only on election cycles, their Party is 97% White-Anglo, and trust me they want to keep it that way. Just listen closely to their rhetoric. Party leaders know that demographics are against them, but one leader was very honest when he didn’t’ know America was listening and I quote MITT ROMNEY, “latino’s could become a problem for the Republicans and the Nation”
No Mr. Romney Latino’s “MAY” become a “PROBLEM” for the GOP, but they will continues to be hard working, contributing citizens of America and they too will do what they can so that their children can participate in the AMERICAN DREAM…Latino’s will NEVER be a problem to this Nation! Do you hear me Mitt and do you get it GOP! Words every four years ain’t gonna cut it……the Democratic Party and President Obama have TRULY been WELCOMING! They get it! We have been here since Columbus!
I suspect that those of Mexican heritage whose families have lived in the United States for many generations and own property in Arizona will not be that eager to move to another state.
Mittens and the repuknican party are schizo about Latinos. Mitt and the wealthy funding wing of the party want 'guest workers' and 'illegals' to depress working class incomes. The masses of the repuke party hate those 'Mexicans' (whether they are from Mexico or Guatamala or El Salvador or elsewhere) because they have been told to hate and fear them. Hate and fear are all that the repukes have to sell to the ameriKan sheeple.
Same old repuke song & dance. N!ggers gonna take your job. Sp!cs gonna take your job. Muslims are gonna kill you. Divide (the peon classes) and conquer!
Is that the new "tan in a can" Willard that appeared yesterday????!!!
The way to stop the Republicans is for voter drives to register people. Every precinct has a voter list and it is easy to compare the list with every home in the area. That allows groups to organize the necessary transportation to register voters. Building the Dem party needs to be done on a block by block basis and this is very easy in the cities and large towns. When enough people are registered in the urban areas, it makes it possible to win local and state elections as well as congressional districts. But registering voters is not enough. Election days allow the local precinct captain to see who has not voted and send a volunteer to transport the voter. This is how it was and is done in Chicago. We have not had a Republican mayor since 1932.
"There's a storm coming, Mr. Wayne." - Catwoman/Selina Kyle in The Dark Knight Rises
More from Greg Palast's Billionaires & Ballot Bandits: "But, in 2010, incumbent Democrats were swept out on a diarrhetic tsunami of smear adds paid by new super-PACs, and tax-exempt social welfare organizations." (ie Dr. Evil/Rove's American Crossroads)
Batten the hatches-- that "diarrhetic tsunami" will be the true "Fast and Furious"!!!
I am so sorry for the ugly racial discourse. There is no place for that in a country of immigrants-or anywhere. I am thinking of starting a democratic anger management group because the Republican stuff is just simply so outrageous and we have to get to November without acting out in some kind of really weird way. I am on the edge a lot- and you sound like you are there too for good reason.
First the history books, next the science books. WTF are these people thinking?
I have been enjoying watching the self destruction of the Republican Party for the past year and a half now, this is a historic event, first time in 150 years that a major political party has self destructed. At the same time the right wing nut jobs are threatening violence if they do not get their way, just as the right wing nut jobs did 150 years ago. You've already got the Governor of Texas advising American soldiers to mutiny against their commander in chief, Republican Congressturds deliberately crashing the economy and punishing Americans in order to win the White House. At some point in time the Main Stream Media has got to realize what their incompetence over the past 30 years has resulted in.