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's latest television ad is pretty brutal, combining Mitt Romney's "47 percent" problem with Romney's plan to replace Medicare with vouchers.
* CNN's latest poll out of Ohio shows President Obama hanging on, leading Romney by four points. Among registered voters, the president's lead is 10 points.
* In New Hampshire, the latest WMUR Granite State Poll also shows Obama's hanging on, leading Romney by six points, 47% to 41%.
* In Nevada, a 8NewsNow/Review-Journal poll shows the president with the slimmest of leads, 47% to 46%.
* Though some far-right groups are advertising in the state, Minnesota will not be competitive for the Romney campaign -- Public Policy Polling shows Obama up by 10, 53% to 43%.
* In Missouri, Sen. Claire McCaskill (D) continues to hit Todd Akin (R), this time with three new ads featuring testimonials from sexual assault survivors who take issue with Akin's opposition to emergency contraception for rape survivors.
* In Indiana, the U.S. Senate race looks so competitive that Sen. Jim DeMint's (R-S.C.) super PAC is jumping in to bolster Richard Mourdock's chances.
* Planned Parenthood's political arm is hitting mailboxes in Virginia, targeting women voters in the Commonwealth.
* And former Sen. Larry Pressler, a Republican from South Dakota and Vietnam combat veteran, has thrown his support to President Obama.
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"Hanging on" by a mere four or six points....
Romney keeps blaming Obama on the economy but fails to mention which policies are at fault.
Ok CONS, let's do some ARITHMETIC...
First,
Name the “Obama” POLICIES and the AMOUNTS that you say added trillions to the debt.
Next,
ADD the total amounts and DEDUCT from the current $16 TRILLION.
The balance = GOP spending.
Remember the following…
Expenses to FIX the GOP failed policies like TARP and the stimulus are still GOP spending and NOT Obama's fault so DO NOT count those policies.
All expenses from the previous GOP administration’s unfunded policies that Obama added to his budget is also Republican spending.
INTEREST on the GOP TRILLIONS of debt is NOT for Obama to be responsible for either, it is GOP spending too. They own that interest.
Also,
The Bailouts are LOANS to “repair” more GOP screwed up policies, the GOP wanted those to be FREE of charge, a ”going away gift” to the Banks and Wall Street, from Bush.
Do not add policies before Reagan because there was NO DEBT PROBLEM before that, Reagan took office when the debt had ONE TRILLION and could have been tackled and fixed with comprehensive tax reform but he did not.
Entitlements are a tiny fraction of the debt and they always bring their own revenues thru payroll deductions as premium payments. Entitlements are NOT free, it’s paid into insurance.
Saying that the Democrats had a “majority” doesn't count either, because we all know the filibustering, obstructing, uncompromising, DO NOTHING GOP party of pledges to “NEVER bring revenues” has had the “CONTROL” and all those failed GOP policies were drafted by Republicans AND all those policies passed with GOP majorities of votes going back to Reagan.
The CONS will NEVER have policies or numbers to blame on the Democrats because they DO NOT exist. Look them up, I tried. Every single policy at fault are GOP owned, drafted and vigorously voted by them.
DO NOT get fooled into thinking it is Obama’s or the Democrat’s fault. It is time to stop that Myth.
Get ready. All you will get from the Republican Fox-Rush-bots is going to be more diversions and ridicules to change the subject, so be prepared for those.
This is NOT blaming the GOP or BUSH, this is ARITHMETIC !!!!
Reading these, I keep thinking how different they all would likely be, had Obama done a week ago tonight what he did a week ago tomorrow morning, after the horse was out of the barn.
I notice that the topic of Romney's tax returns have seems to gone away. Why? Just because Romney does not want to talk about them does not mean that Rachel and all the rest of the MSM should not be talking about them. Certainly Romney is hiding something. WHAT?
It is good to see the campaign has not forgotten how well the 47% ads were working before the debate; and, TCinLA - have faith - our guy was just amassing evidence for the evisceration of his closing arguments to come.
@ withay...
Is the optimism of your 'hope for change' from Obama warranted? I hope that we do not wake up in your dream world on the 7th of November and have a vulture elected as president.
Romney Declines To Take Position On NDAA AtTown Hall
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/oct/08/mitt-romney-foreign-policy-speech-text
Romney delivered an address on foreign policy today, titled 'The Mantle of Leadership' to the Virginia Military Institute
Romney makes the mistake of assuming that the Arab Spring is a cry from those countries for the United States to lead them. It isn't. They want to lead themselves into a democracy modeled by the USA. They don't want to rely upon us, they want to emulate us (with our blessings), while still preserving the good aspects of their Middle Eastern histories and customs. They want freedom, equality, and a pursuit of happiness, without the cruel dictators. They don't want US aircraft carriers, destroyers, and nuclear subs lurking in their waters. They don't want us to dictate their futures.
Romney also does not recognize the strength of our partnership with the European Union, concerning the world's involvement in the Arab Spring. He just keeps dismissing Europe, which can drastically erode our alliance with them. Is that a smart move? We need to continue to strengthen that world unity.
It is also good to see the campaign has not forgotten women's rights. Dress Big Bird up as a vaginal probe and move in for the bump in the polls.
Mitt has no platform. He his flip flopped on every issue but big bird. Why talk about big bird? That is the only thing we know where he stands that is different from P. Obama. Pro life or Pro choice, he is everything to everyone. He has something for everyone. Big Bird is a symbol for education. He wants to double the size of class rooms so he can lay off half the teachers and he wants to stop student loans.
His Foreign is the same as P. Obama's in most cases but he makes it sound like it is his idea and the President is doing something wrong. He can point his finger at problems that does not go our way. There is a world out there and we can't control everything or everybody.
Mitt has good hair, shiny shoes and he is a great salesman. The sad part is that people are buying it.
You can see my selling stock holders on the idea of selling off parts of a company and closing a few plants to make money for the stock holders. His guy is the bottom of the barrel scum and the general public can not see it.
Was the Obama ad "brutal"? I don't think so. I sign up for Medicare in 6 months. Seems more like "effective" to me. Not to mention "essential."
Every four years we get to see the tree shaken and the issues of the day fall on to the ground for all to walk across. With all that the challenging candiate has skewed and babble about with the accuracy of a hand full of rocks. I for one hope that President Obama awakens to a new term with renewed enthusiasm of support and strength.
Google "completely wrong" and check the images.
http://washington.cbslocal.com/2012/10/10/completely-wrong-google-image-search-results-full-of-romney-photos/
Obama has a number of ads that have been quite effective against Romney. But I have a better idea for an ad that would put a stake through Romney's and the Republicans heart. The Republicans have always used "patriotism" as a campaign theme. They have done flag waving and have implied on many occasions that the Dems are unpatriotic when they disagree and do not support a Republican president's programs on national security and wars.
Open with Romney talking about American exceptionalism, Obama's apologies to foreign countries and Romney singing America the beautiful. The voice over would be "Mitt Romney demonstrated his patriotism during the Vietnam war when he was in college by protesting for the war. But Mitt Romney promptly "deserted" his country to become a missionary in France rather than fight in the Vietnam war. Mitt Romney--the American patriot?"
The ad can also use his statements about Iraq, Afghanistan and Iran. This could put an end to Republican jingoism and flag waving during campaigns. It would have a big effect on veterans of all wars and some of the Republican armchair patriots. And Romney has no counter ad to hit Obama back because it is factually true.
GREAT idea. Anything to get the campaign moving again.
It's a GREAT ad - I hope they run it constantly everywhere. Just a personal note here on a subject nobody ever mentions. I'm 66 and ON Social Security, which is my only income. $614 a month x 12 = $7368. So the "$6000 MORE" per year is just a joke. I don't know it for a fact, but I imagine at least half of seniors, if not more, ONLY live on Social Security and it's not that much. We don't all live in senior retirement communities with golf courses; I live in a subsidized apartment building. I love it - it used to be an old schoolhouse. But they'd have to pay ME to live here if that $6000 a year really came into being!
@ JanH...
Good luck & best wishes.
1) Is the $614 a month net of Medicare cost deducted?
2) Do you have Medicare supplemental insurance and/or Part D insurance?
What few who are not retired realize is that there is an 'insurance cost' for Medicare of more than $200 a month. For my mother, $230 a month plus $330 a month for supplemental insurance plus $55 a month for Part D insurance totals to more than $600 a month.
I started receiving social security 3 months ago. Fortunately or unfortunately, I receive my health care thru the Veterans Administration so I have only co-pays that average about $50 a month.
I receive the max benefit from SS and a minor amount for a pension. I have Humana instead of Medicare which is $130 a month plus the Medicare part D. The Humana premium will continue to rise as I get older. Right now my net is about $1700 a month. You can't find any decent apartments in Chicago for less than $800 a month and that doesn't include utilities or food. If I had to pay more for insurance I would be barely living month to month. Any major medical problem with copays would wipe me out. I would have to choose between prescriptions and food or utilities and rent. Or ultimately end up at Cook County Hospital which is notorious for long waits for treatment for less than critical care.
Veteran and Mike - the $614 is just my social security. Medicaid pays the copay and part D. Illinois just cut the HECK out of Medicaid; completely took away one program that really helped, also limiting prescriptions for seniors to 4 a month. I retired at 62 which is one reason my SS is so low, but I knew that. I've had two COLA raises since, which at my low rate only puts me up about $25.
Mike - look for senior's subsidized housing. Rent is based on your income and there are lots of really nice ones. Check out The Schoolhouse in Gibson City. :)
I had Medicaid from Illinois for a while but after the budget cuts, I lost it and my prescription copays are over $100 a month. Gibson City is 4 counties away from me. The subsidized senior housing is impossible to get into in our area because there are too many seniors and so little housing. Inexpensive apartments are usually located in less than desirable neighborhoods. If the feds cut more from federal programs, seniors are going to have to pay a lot more for everything. The state cannot absorb the cuts.
Here in
The Mississippi of the MidwestIndiana, the political ads are running back to back to back to back on every local channel and all of the so-called news channels on cable. Rove's Crossroads operation seem to be every other ad. Needless to say, truth has no relevence.My sympathies to those residing in the battleground states that have been enduring this for a long time.
I would ad that the smaller amount of advertising directly from the campaign of the DLC/DINO/Repuke-Lite is not encouraging for a progressive. The pseudo-dumbocrap is running ads featuring his votes for a 'balanced budget amendment' and promising to vote to continue all tax cuts. Nauseating. Heads we lose, tails we lose.
Out here in the Indiana wilderness I think even a super pac is going to have some trouble selling Mourdock. There are a lot of Libertarians out here and they (oddly enough) aren't real fond of him. They may vote for him in the end but they definitely won't like it.
Even his tax cut is not a tax cut. I bet overall it will be a tax increase for the middle class after he eliminates deductions. A tax cut is when you pay less than you did the year before, does not matter how you get there. A tax increase is when you pay more taxes than you did last year. The bottom line on your tax form, you will be paying more taxes and the rich will be paying less.
What the corporately owned media never seem to point out is that Willard NEVER talks about the 'middle class'; he talks about the 'middle income'.
I am confident that Mittens intends to take care of the 'middle income'. He has defined 'middle income' as $200-$250 K a year, which is the range of income for the better 'corporate servants' for the wealthy.
Election AD-fatigue can be a good thing! Yes, you've read this right!
AD-fatigue (esp. over the GOPs ADs) can mean we've reclaimed common-sense, allowed ourselves permission to rediscover the overlooked art of "fact-finding" on the candidates; despite all of the well..... election-year noise.
With facts on our side, it's not long before more and more of us reconsider the Democratic Candidates; especially after we come to realize that the GOPs favorite modus-operandi is to short-circuit common sense!
We apologize most to those who live in 'closely contested House, and Senate Races in the 'Swing States' where the barrage of ADs would be the worst! Please convey the term "AD-fatigue" (along with a few laughs) to any closely contested district or state!
After all, a renewed sentiment of AD-fatigue might just boost Democratic voter turnout!
Thank-you
Romney tells us everyday that his credibility as president will be the same that it is as a professional candidate. That is very frightening and is another nail in the coffin for democracy, when the people with open eyes vote for a liar because they hate the other guy.
We thought Romney was from Wall Street, but he was manufactured by Madison Avenue, and now he is taking his marketing talents as a professional candidate to become our president. Beyond Manchurian!