2012 US General Election Discussions: Start to Finish

[Corkey]

I'm kind of hoping for scenario #3

[dreadgeek]

I'm kind of hoping for scenario #3

That is the one I strongly prefer. Since we have a two-party system, at present, I would prefer both parties to be healthy. Healthy parties can compromise, unhealthy parties can't. The GOP can't compromise and has clearly gone insane. They have *got* to ditch the fact-free crazies who are holding the party hostage.

Cheers
Aj

[Kobi]

I like the rationality in #3. Adding in, ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment would be imperative.

More and more, this particular election seems to be more ideological based as to who America is and what America stands for, rather than the usual and customary issues of the ecomony and stuff.

The GOP or the Gods Of Patriarchy and their promises for renewed and overt oppression of all beings they view as inferior are a scary bunch.

[dreadgeek]

I like the rationality in #3. Adding in, ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment would be imperative.

More and more, this particular election seems to be more ideological based as to who America is and what America stands for, rather than the usual and customary issues of the ecomony and stuff.

The GOP or the Gods Of Patriarchy and their promises for renewed and overt oppression of all beings they view as inferior are a scary bunch.



Yeah, they are. The thing that scares me the most about Santorum, Huckabee, et. al. is that they mean it. It isn't a posture, they aren't just saying what they think the base wants to hear. I know this sounds horrible but I have never wanted the right-wing populists who you see on TV to be a bunch of cynical grifters more than right now. I wish they didn't believe a word, then they could be trusted to stop. Cynical grifters don't want to break the world because then the game ends and they want to gravy train to never stop. True believers, however, are perfectly happy to break the world in pursuit of the purity of their goals. These people who are going to be intimidating black and Latino voters at the polls are going to believe themselves patriots. They will not believe themselves racists. It's not what they will consciously be thinking. They'll believe they are acting on the side of all that is Right and True and Good.

I actually am kind of glad that we're having the conversation about what we, the citizenry, believe our nation to be about. I wish we were having it across a broader spectrum and I could do without the racism but maybe, just maybe, this is their last hurrah. Not conservatism, that will always be part of the American strain as will populism. But this particular strain of right-wing populism may be seeing its swan song in the United States--at least for a while. I think, I hope, that Mittens' embrace of the birther madness will be a bridge too far. If it isn't and it is close, I'll be very, very disappointed in my fellow citizens. I hope we are a better nation than to let ourselves be devoured by the Tea Party whose vision of America is so harsh that dystopian doesn't even begin to cover it. Take the Gilded Age, add in the London of Charles Dickens, and cover liberally with a pre-Gallilean mindset about science. Cover in Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale". Season with Calvinist Old Time Religion. Bake in hot nation until done.

That doesn't sound at all appetizing to me.

Cheers
Aj

[Martina]

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/539401_10152034113550023_863388887_n.jpg

[Corkey]

AJ I can only hope you're right about the tea nuts, but it doesn't feel that way to me. It feels like the racist and holy rollers are out to destroy this country, and they don't care who they demolish in the process. It's almost as if they drank from the same stupid fountain and lost their minds en mass. I just hope against hope that there are more of us than them at this point.

[Martina]

Maybe. But I was so discouraged today listening to NPR. There was a brief story on offshore accounts and how mainstream using them is and how we can't seem to do anything about them because of how strong the Wall Street Lobby is.

That they should have a strong lobby is galling. That none of them is in jail or likely to go to jail is hard to stomach.

But that the wealth of the middle class, which has been reduced by a third, has to carry the entire nation because corporations and the rich legally dodge taxes -- that this is not a national scandal -- it's demoralizing.

And then listening to coverage of the Republican Wisconsin folks who have no better sense than to vote for these idiots. (also on NPR).

Not that Obama has anything to be proud of re these issues.

Anyway, not a hopeful day for me.

[Toughy]

The states that have a Republican Governor and a Republican Secretary of State are going to be very scary. Don't forget Penn and FL among others.

As to the electoral college. I have very mixed feelings. In order to win the popular vote a candidate would only have to focus on 10 to 15 population centers in the country. New Mexico, Wyoming, Montana, the Dakotas and all the rural non-urban parts of the country would never see a candidate...don't need them or their vote to win. Rural and urban are two very different things with very different needs and it would be a shame to dilute out those non-urban votes as unnecessary....Sure you can mandate voting but it worries me that parts of the voting public would be less informed than they are now (which is also scary). because of limited to no access to the candidates. I can't remember where I read the article talking about this, but it certainly gave me pause.

[DMW]

Hell yes, the states with the republican governors and sec. of state. Those are the worst when it comes to the new laws to block the vote in each state. and more concern...all of the redistricting of the counties that has already occured...and been worked on for years now... in order to increase the odds that the counties will go red. The electoral college needs to be done away with.

[UofMfan]

NGcPVRBts-o

[AtLast]

Yes, here we go. So difficult to understand in any manner how an adult can do the kind of crap. Align with Donald Trump and not realize how assinine you look?

This is going to be a long campaign from the end of the conventions to the election. For the sake of my blood pressure, I am going to have to limit my media coverage intake. Such critical issues/difficulties going on and we get a continued dog & pony show. Plain insulted as a citizen and voter.

I was wondering when Mittens would go full-on Birther. I didn't think it would be until late September but here we go...

Cheers
Aj

[Toughy]

I was looking for info on how many Catholics (I was watching Bill Moyers segment on the Nuns on a Bus) were Dems or Republican and found this:

http://religions.pewforum.org/

fascinating

[AtLast]

This is fascinating. The Catholic church has lost a hella number of followers due to priest sex abuse of children. It has traditionally been pretty Democratic by party mainly due to the focus on poverty and due to where high immigration rates have come from historically.

With so much crazy political extremism being coupled with organized Christian religions, I think many people in the US outside of the bible belt regions have just had it with the hypocrisy, control and power dynamics and plain meanness of what we see today in evangelical Christianity as it bullies its way via the GOP across the nation.

Even as a past practicing Catholic, I have never felt that religion or spiritual beliefs were mean't for anything other than personal use. I even remember a time when one just did not talk about their religion outside of their church, etc. It was something you shared with those you knew at a place of worship or maybe an event or benefit sponsored by the church you attended. Of course, as a kid, I lived in a situation and locale that was not fond of Catholics or immigrants. Consequently, my feelings/experiences may not reflect much of anything other than.... my experience.





I was looking for info on how many Catholics (I was watching Bill Moyers segment on the Nuns on a Bus) were Dems or Republican and found this:

http://religions.pewforum.org/

fascinating

[homoe]

A thing that scares me is that Jeb Bush seems to be everywhere these days! We hadn't seen him since he left office as Gov of Fl. If Romney loses in 2012 will the NRP look to Jeb in 2016?

[Toughy]

Anybody watching the Republican convention.....I'm gonna try. Interesting blog in The Nation

http://www.thenation.com/blog/169595/rnc-schedule-tokenism-extraordinaire#

RNC Schedule: Tokenism Extraordinaire

Ben Adler on August 28, 2012 - 1:36 PM ET

Tampa—Most Republicans oppose affirmative action, but their national convention is the apotheosis of the practice at its most tokenistic and least substantive. Whereas Democrats and liberals support policies that are meant to actually assist disadvantaged groups as a whole and to protect them from discrimination, Republicans have no interest in women or minorities except as window dressing for their discriminatory policies. It would be insulting for them to think it will actually work. In fairness, Republicans probably know they will not actually move many African-American or Latino votes by putting a handful of non-white speakers on the dais in Tampa. Rather, it is part of Mitt Romney’s general election strategy of the ricochet pander. Like his speech at the NAACP, the purpose is not to appeal to minorities but to socially moderate white suburban swing voters who want to be reassured that pulling the lever for the GOP does not make them bigots.
<snip>

[homoe]

Yes, I am dying to see what that asinine and tackless Chris Christie has to say tonight!

[BullDog]

Yes, I am dying to see what that asinine and tackless Chris Christie has to say tonight!

He's supposed to be their charismatic star? He looks and sounds like a used car salesman.

[Toughy]

I'm interested in Ann Romney.....I don't have any opinion of her so far

As for any of the white men yapping I will have to sit on my hands or I will break my TV

[Toughy]

so......if you have Current TV.........in Oakland Comcast it's channel 107.........

a whole new set of pundits who are from progressive talk radio PLUS our almost President Al Gore...

plus they are streaming tweets on different subjects around the Convention and talking about them....

I like listening to a different set of pundits........

[BullDog]

Well I understood the build up to Ann Romney was that she was going to bring the personal Mitt Romney to life. She is well spoken, but I don't feel I learned anything about him. He made her laugh and they don't brag about helping people (of course she had to tell us about it several times, lol) and she promises he will work hard. Shrug.

[tantalizingfemme]

I tried to watch it, but I had to turn it off about 2 minutes into Christie. I was proud of myself that I last that long....

The only time I saw Ann Romney show real emotion was when people were standing up and applauding her...she was in her glory... gross....

[Corkey]

I was very proud of myself and watched nothing :)
I have my sanity and my sunny disposition and am watching Create!
Our tv is intact!!

[BullDog]

I did just about lose it when Christie talked about education and what Republicans versus Democrats supposedly believe in. I thought his speech was mostly a commercial for himself.

I've watched other Republican conventions in years past, and the crowd at this one seems far more subdued. Maybe it's the acoustics of the building or something, but to me they just don't seem very enthusiastic.

I can't see this convention so far giving them any major boost with undecided voters, but who knows. I'm not an undecided voter.

[dreadgeek]

I did just about lose it when Christie talked about education and what Republicans versus Democrats supposedly believe in. I thought his speech was mostly a commercial for himself.

I've watched other Republican conventions in years past, and the crowd at this one seems far more subdued. Maybe it's the acoustics of the building or something, but to me they just don't seem very enthusiastic.

I can't see this convention so far giving them any major boost with undecided voters, but who knows. I'm not an undecided voter.

Last night watching Christie I was deeply and profoundly grateful that he wasn't the nominee this time out because I think he probably could beat Obama walking away. That said, I also think that the GOP seemed surprisingly subdued. There's no real enthusiasm for Romney and hating the black guy may not be enough to carry the day for them.

Cheers
Aj

[homoe]

I have to agree, Christie's speech did seem more like a commercial for himself than Romney. Even the pundits remarked how it took him like16 minutes to get around to mentioning ole Mitt's name! I liked Ann's speech well enough but don't all these political wives say just about the same thing more or less? I'll never forget Elizabeth Edwards saying what a great President her husband would make!

[homoe]

Tonight I’m curious to hear what Jeb Bush has to say!

[firegal]

Tonight I’m curious to hear what Jeb Bush has to say!

God help us! :seeingstars:

[Ravenouss]

I thought Rice was the rock star this evening. Great speech, very moving toward the ending when she spoke on "a personal note," and it made Paul Ryan sound like such an ordinary and unspiring man... (he's still speaking and I'm yawning).

[stephfromMIT]

Surprised a black, pro-choice, woman was allowed in the building, much less the podium!

[Kobi]

Surprised a black, pro-choice, woman was allowed in the building, much less the podium!



Tokenism comes to mind.

[Ravenouss]

Tokenism comes to mind.



I find it vey offensive that when people of color attain a stage in life it is considered "tokenism," or "affirmative action," whether by the right or the left.

She is an incredibly accomplished woman and one might disagree with her politics, but darn it, she earned that spot on that podium!

[Ravenouss]

Surprised a black, pro-choice, woman was allowed in the building, much less the podium!

This, however, is funny --

[stephfromMIT]

This, however, is funny --

Why is it funny? Is me saying it offensive IYO?

[Ravenouss]

Why is it funny? Is me saying it offensive IYO?

No, I sincerely thought it was a good non offensive joke!
Cheers!

[Corkey]

I find it vey offensive that when people of color attain a stage in life it is considered "tokenism," or "affirmative action," whether by the right or the left.

She is an incredibly accomplished woman and one might disagree with her politics, but darn it, she earned that spot on that podium!

She earned her spot in history, or herstory which ever way you prefer, but she is being used by men who could care less about her or those who have the same melanin in their skin as she. It puts it in the area of tokenism.

[Ravenouss]

She earned her spot in history, or herstory which ever way you prefer, but she is being used by men who could care less about her or those who have the same melanin in their skin as she. It puts it in the area of tokenism.

Corkey,
For me, to think of Condi Rice as someone that is being "used," would require that I believe her to be "naive." That is certainly the last qualifier that comes to mind when thinking of her.
Cheers

[Corkey]

Corkey,
For me, to think of Condi Rice as someone that is being "used," would require that I believe her to be "naive." That is certainly the last qualifier that comes to mind when thinking of her.
Cheers

No, she absolutely know she's being used, that is what is so icky about it.

[Ravenouss]

No, she absolutely know she's being used, that is what is so icky about it.

I wouldn't know that since I'm not inside her head, but who knows? You could be right!

I certainly have friends who think they can make a difference staying in places where they can make a difference than in a place where they are taken for granted.

Maybe I'm being influenced by Chris Matthew, whom I watched all night and despite him being a super liberal, he is still now drooling over her speech --- which by the way, was an electrifying one, particularly when compared with the dull, unspiring ones I heard tonight.

[Kobi]

I find it vey offensive that when people of color attain a stage in life it is considered "tokenism," or "affirmative action," whether by the right or the left.

She is an incredibly accomplished woman and one might disagree with her politics, but darn it, she earned that spot on that podium!


Im thinking you misunderstood my post. I find "tokenism" to be very offensive as well. Ms Rice is an accomplished woman, who happens to be a POC, and also pro choice. The GOP is anti women, anti choice, and anti POC ( see AJ's previous post). I was speaking to the irony involved, not the person.

[firegal]

Did you all hear ?...Ann romney say tonite her and Mitty were "a real marriage"

[Corkey]

I wouldn't know that since I'm not inside her head, but who knows? You could be right!

I certainly have friends who think they can make a difference staying in places where they can make a difference than in a place where they are taken for granted.

Maybe I'm being influenced by Chris Matthew, whom I watched all night and despite him being a super liberal, he is still now drooling over her speech --- which by the way, was an electrifying one, particularly when compared with the dull, unspiring ones I heard tonight.

I have no reason to watch the grandiose make stupid statements on behalf of women. The party will be just fine without my watching them spew their pompousness on the rest of the nation. Chris isn't my favorite quasi liberal, so his sputtering over her speech is neither here nor there.
They do not inspire, but are quick to find fault where none exists.

[Ravenouss]

Thanks for taking the time to clarify your point -- sorry if I sounded caustic.
Cheers

[Ravenouss]

I have no reason to watch the grandiose make stupid statements on behalf of women. The party will be just fine without my watching them spew their pompousness on the rest of the nation. Chris isn't my favorite quasi liberal, so his sputtering over her speech is neither here nor there.
They do not inspire, but are quick to find fault where none exists.

I haven't had a TV for long... so I don't know who is out there. A friend had told me to watch Chris and Rachel on CSNBC (maybe she's too much of middle of the road if she thought Chis, a quasi-liberal, was a radical leftist commentator! lol

[Ravenouss]

Did you all hear ?...Ann romney say tonite her and Mitty were "a real marriage"

Maybe she was clarifying that she was the "real" wife instead of the other 18 he could have? lol

I take my real marriage over hers any day...

[Corkey]

I haven't had a TV for long... so I don't know who is out there. A friend had told me to watch Chris and Rachel on CSNBC (maybe she's too much of middle of the road if she thought Chis, a quasi-liberal, was a radical leftist commentator! lol

Yea Rachel is much more even and balanced than Chris, but I do think Lawrence describes himself as a socialist.
Sometimes I want to smack the crap outta Chris but I know his heart is in the right place, even if his mouth engages before his brain.

[homoe]

One good thing about Paul Ryan...he's keeping fact checkers busy and employed:hangloose:

[Corkey]

One good thing about Paul Ryan...he's keeping fact checkers busy and employed:hangloose:

Sure wish he'd use them himself.

[Kobi]

One good thing about Paul Ryan...he's keeping fact checkers busy and employed:hangloose:


Does this mean he is making stuff up as he goes along?

[Kobi]

http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/vPyFPUUWgSLke0NRPTrG8A--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NTt3PTMxMA--/http://media.zenfs.com/en/blogs/theticket/Screen-shot-2012-08-30-at-11.35.26-AM.png

TAMPA--An older gentleman in a sparkling cowboy suit and matching hat made out of sequins gazed at a pair of buff male go-go dancers wearing tight jeans and skimpy tank tops that read "Freedom Is Fabulous." That was the scene at a local gay bar called "The Honeypot" on Tuesday night. More than 800 Republican delegates along with members of the local Tampa gay community and reporters clustered to listen to the colorful conservative gay group GOProud make the case for electing Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan.

GOProud often needles the older, more established gay conservative group, The Log Cabin Republicans, by emphasizing that GOProud is the "only" gay group to have endorsed Mitt Romney. The group hints that Log Cabin is the stodgy uncle figure in the very small world of gay conservative groups.


http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/freedom-fabulous-two-republican-gay-groups-waves-tampa-171129230--election.html

[Metro]

....I think my eyes just rolled right out of my head...

http://www.free-emoticons.co.uk/emoticons/Roll_eye/rolleye0008.gif (http://www.free-icons.co.uk/)

[Semantics]

Is anyone watching the RNC?

I'll never be able to watch The Outlaw Josey Wales again.

American exceptionalism- it's what's for dinner. :|

[The_Lady_Snow]

Is anyone watching the RNC?

I'll never be able to watch The Outlaw Josey Wales again.

American exceptionalism- it's what's for dinner. :|



"Gran Torino" has now become a web of lies and deceit!

[homoe]

While there is no doubt about it, Clint is a marvel when it comes to acting and directing movies, comedy and public speaking tho, not so much!

[Soon]

Is anyone watching the RNC?

I'll never be able to watch The Outlaw Josey Wales again.

American exceptionalism- it's what's for dinner. :|

I cannot bear to watch it. I get anxiety just seeing the listing on the screen when going through the channel guide. :blink:

[Soon]

from Gawker:
But by far the most amusing response to Eastwood's off-rocker one-man-show was from the President himself, who couldn't help but join in on the mirth-making with the following tweet:

http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/17xnwofy7l224jpg/original.jpg

[Soon]

Facts Take a Beating in Acceptance Speeches (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/31/us/politics/ryans-speech-contained-a-litany-of-falsehoods.html?_r=1&smid=tw-share)

[LeftWriteFemme]

Country's 'Most Powerful Lesbian' Delivers Attack on Romney During DNC




http://www.advocate.com/politics/election/2012/09/05/woman-called-most-powerful-lesbian-country-delivers-attack-romney

[Metro]

.... hopeful and eyes looking F O R W A R D ! ! !

[Sparkle]

Alright Sandra Fluke!

[Corkey]

Math for Dummies. Right on Clinton!

[Greyson]

Math for Dummies. Right on Clinton!

Yes, that was my favorite line tonight, "It's Arithmetic."

[Martina]

I was in the car and found myself nodding like a bobblehead to Clinton's speech.

[princessbelle]

Wasn't that just wonderful? They say President Clinton went 20 minutes over his prepared time line. We here in this house, were hanging on every word. He captivated the audience, it was apparent. What a wonderful speaker because he made sense, logic and seemed so candid. Taking time to really explain so many important points of this election.

Way to go!!! This is the best DNC ever!!!!!!

[Toughy]

I love me some Bill. I would vote for him again if he could run......

Something I noticed.....the Republicans did not ever really talk about their platform.......mmmm.....maybe because Romney doesn't even know it exists or what is in it.......

Both nights of the Democratic convention have been about their platform and what is in it. And about the "american dream'......I might puke if I hear that phrase again....but it is a great cliche when it's about (as Bill said) shared properity and shared responsibility. We are all in it together, not winner takes all.

The shock of the night for me was Christina Saralegui appearing....talk about your well known Telemundo/Univision star and a great counter to the Republicans always getting the Cuban vote......This convention has had a HUGE push at Latino/a voters and women.

I heard some pundit say this Convention was less than 50% white men for the first time ever......

[BullDog]

It's the Arithmetic, stupid.

The Republicans have cut taxes for the wealthy and raised defense spending since Reagan, which of course leads to big deficits. It truly is basic math. Why anyone thinks Republicans are better on economic issues astounds me. We have over 30 years of evidence that proves otherwise.

Clinton's speech was awesome, just exactly what Obama needed. No one in history can lay out policy like Clinton. He rebutted the Republicans on every issue and made the case that the economy is headed in the right direction under Obama.

Obama needs to have Clinton, Michelle Obama, Joe Biden, Julian Castro (sitting next to the First Lady tonight I noticed) and Deval Patrick out campaigning in the swing states after the convention.

I can't wait for the debates. I think Biden will take Ryan to school and Romney will just look stiff and awkward with no answers against Obama.

[Martina]

Watching the roll call just cause I like to see the process work. Even though it's canned and all, I do enjoy it. I was annoyed to see Ashley Judd though. I mean it's an illusion on my part that politicians aren't professional entertainers, but can we just PRETEND for a minute.

[Metro]

...."a future where NO ONE is forced to live in the shadow of intolerance."

—Joe Biden

[Novelafemme]

I can barely keep my eyeballs open, but I can't go to sleep without hearing President Obama's speech.

P.S. I may or may not have a big fat crush on First Lady Michelle.

[Greyson]

Honestly, I believe this is the most important presidential election in my lifetime. I know I am preaching to the choir here. Now is the time to make sure each and everyone of us votes and get our friends and family registared and to vote.

[BullDog]

I think President Obama (with great help from Clinton, Kerry and Biden) reminded everyone he is the President of the United States and Commander-in-Chief, and that is not a liability but a strength. He was able to paint his opponents as inexperienced and having no clear plans of their own of how to move forward. I think that was crucial.

I am really looking forward to the debates because I think Obama and Biden can shred them. I don't know if all of that will win the election for Obama and Biden, but it will be very interesting to watch.

The stakes really are very high, and I don't understand how anyone could be undecided at this point with just stark differences between the two candidates and parties.

[Gentle Tiger]

Do you think those who made the decision to say nothing about Afghanistan among other things during the RNC are kicking themselves?

And I agree Greyson, I think this will be the most important election in my life time so far.

[Martina]

I thought it was a good speech. I whooped and hollered some. But I don't think he hit it out of the park.

[DapperButch]

Do you think those who made the decision to say nothing about Afghanistan among other things during the RNC are kicking themselves?

And I agree Greyson, I think this will be the most important election in my life time so far.

Was that a rhetorical question? :D

[Gráinne]

The President's speech wasn't the barn-burner I thought it might be-that went to his wife, Clinton, and even Biden. But it was still a good speech, and overall this convention was better-run than the Republicans last week. Notice that no one remembers Romney's speech, but Clint Eastwood is the iconic image.

I personally think he was correct in moving the speech inside, but I admit that flap and the Jerusalem thing were ham-handed. Still, I think that will pass and overall they didn't lose any ground-and may well have gained some momentum.

Now it comes down to the debates, which I think the President still has an edge.

[Greyson]

Ohio is the largest swing state in terms of electorial votes up for grabs. Winning or losing this state could determine who will be the next president of the USA.



After Bucking Federal Judge On Early Voting, Ohio Secretary Of State Ordered To Appear In Court

By Aviva Shen on Sep 5, 2012 at 6:28 pm

Judge Peter Economus has set a hearing for September 13 to address Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted’s refusal to comply with the court’s ruling that the state must allow early voting on the three days leading up to the general election. Economus released a terse order Wednesday afternoon: “The Court ORDERS that Defendant Secretary of State Jon Husted personally attend the hearing.” The Obama campaign filed a motion earlier Wednesday asking the court to make Husted give way.

Husted issued a directive Tuesday stating that he would appeal the decision to restore early voting on those three days, claiming that changing the hours now would “only serve to confuse voters.” The directive “strictly prohibits county boards of elections from determining hours for the Friday, Saturday, Sunday, or Monday before the election.”

Lynn Kinkaid, Director of the Butler County Board of Elections, which originally voted to hold weekend hours before Husted’s directive restricted them, told ThinkProgress the board is powerless to act against the Secretary of State’s directive. “I can’t imagine we would disobey a court order…he must have a good reason for it,” Kinkaid said. “He’s the big boss. I’m not going to second-guess my boss.”

Husted fired two Montgomery County election board members after they defied his directive and voted to hold weekend voting hours. Two other Ohio counties have asked Husted to reevaluate the voting restrictions.

Kinkaid recalled huge turnout in Butler County, which voted for McCain in 2008, on the weekend before the election: “There was a lot of people out there. We had them lined up two people, down the hall, out the door, over into the churchyard a block or two away. People waited for three hours.” By Kinkaid’s estimate, poll workers worked 36 hours of overtime that weekend.

There are several pending lawsuits against Husted’s office, including a recent suit by his Democratic predecessor, Jennifer Brunner, over his directive to limit voting hours. On Tuesday, the two fired board of elections members called for Husted’s resignation over a redistricting ballot issue.

http://thinkprogress.org/election/issue/

[Novelafemme]

I thought he totally hit it out of the park!

He is so intensely articulate that his speeches sometime fall flat due to his affect. Last night was different in my eyes. He had more passion and even a little humor.

I still want to see him go all Bobby Kennedy on a crowd! That man could inspire a mountain to get up and cheer!

Did anyone else notice when he walked up to greet Michelle he gave her bum a little pat!!! I loved it! :)

[princessbelle]

I thought he totally hit it out of the park!

He is so intensely articulate that his speeches sometime fall flat due to his affect. Last night was different in my eyes. He had more passion and even a little humor.

I still want to see him go all Bobby Kennedy on a crowd! That man could inspire a mountain to get up and cheer!

Did anyone else notice when he walked up to greet Michelle he gave her bum a little pat!!! I loved it! :)

I did too Novelafemme!!!! I was worried to be honest. Not that he isn't a fantastic speaker, but wow, it was hard to top those that had spoke before him. I listened intently though. I hung on every word. He came across, to me, less humble (which was good for a change) and more policy driven. He threw out mockery instead of anger at the Republicans which was classy, and determined to get his record out there, which was needed. He has a very good record, it's just he hasn't show-boated much and so peeps don't realize it.

The entire convention was grade A+ in my book. Even though the majority of who watched, most likely, are already voting for him, it revved us up so that we can go out and talk about it to others.

Let's SPREAD THE WORD!!!!

I sure have been. :)

[Corkey]

Ohio is the largest swing state in terms of electorial votes up for grabs. Winning or losing this state could determine who will be the next president of the USA.



After Bucking Federal Judge On Early Voting, Ohio Secretary Of State Ordered To Appear In Court

By Aviva Shen on Sep 5, 2012 at 6:28 pm

Judge Peter Economus has set a hearing for September 13 to address Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted’s refusal to comply with the court’s ruling that the state must allow early voting on the three days leading up to the general election. Economus released a terse order Wednesday afternoon: “The Court ORDERS that Defendant Secretary of State Jon Husted personally attend the hearing.” The Obama campaign filed a motion earlier Wednesday asking the court to make Husted give way.

Husted issued a directive Tuesday stating that he would appeal the decision to restore early voting on those three days, claiming that changing the hours now would “only serve to confuse voters.” The directive “strictly prohibits county boards of elections from determining hours for the Friday, Saturday, Sunday, or Monday before the election.”

Lynn Kinkaid, Director of the Butler County Board of Elections, which originally voted to hold weekend hours before Husted’s directive restricted them, told ThinkProgress the board is powerless to act against the Secretary of State’s directive. “I can’t imagine we would disobey a court order…he must have a good reason for it,” Kinkaid said. “He’s the big boss. I’m not going to second-guess my boss.”

Husted fired two Montgomery County election board members after they defied his directive and voted to hold weekend voting hours. Two other Ohio counties have asked Husted to reevaluate the voting restrictions.

Kinkaid recalled huge turnout in Butler County, which voted for McCain in 2008, on the weekend before the election: “There was a lot of people out there. We had them lined up two people, down the hall, out the door, over into the churchyard a block or two away. People waited for three hours.” By Kinkaid’s estimate, poll workers worked 36 hours of overtime that weekend.

There are several pending lawsuits against Husted’s office, including a recent suit by his Democratic predecessor, Jennifer Brunner, over his directive to limit voting hours. On Tuesday, the two fired board of elections members called for Husted’s resignation over a redistricting ballot issue.

http://thinkprogress.org/election/issue/


Husted appeared before the Judge and BACKED DOWN! The order is rescinded and voters rights were returned.

[dreadgeek]

Husted appeared before the Judge and BACKED DOWN! The order is rescinded and voters rights were returned.

I love it when the judiciary does its job.

Cheers
Aj

[Corkey]

I love it when the judiciary does its job.

Cheers
Aj

One snag, Husted is appealing it. A@@ that he is.

[Reader]

"Gran Torino" has now become a web of lies and deceit!

Is anyone watching the RNC?

I'll never be able to watch The Outlaw Josey Wales again.

American exceptionalism- it's what's for dinner. :|

While there is no doubt about it, Clint is a marvel when it comes to acting and directing movies, comedy and public speaking tho, not so much!



Come on you guys, the empty chair thing was just one moment in an otherwise stellar career. Seriously, "The Bridges of Madison County" was a superlative film, by far his best work. It was well-written, made me cry at times and really left me wanting more; I've seen it a dozen times! It was so romantic, so touching and really very realistic. I even have it on DVD and it's almost worn out. Oh. Uh, wait, wait, I think I got confused. Yeah, I did. I meant to say "Dirty Harry", yeah, that's it. "Dirty Harry". I love that flick. I've worn that sucker out!

[BullDog]

Come on you guys, the empty chair thing was just one moment in an otherwise stellar career. Seriously, "The Bridges of Madison County" was a superlative film, by far his best work. It was well-written, made me cry at times and really left me wanting more; I've seen it a dozen times! It was so romantic, so touching and really very realistic. I even have it on DVD and it's almost worn out. Oh. Uh, wait, wait, I think I got confused. Yeah, I did. I meant to say "Dirty Harry", yeah, that's it. "Dirty Harry". I love that flick. I've worn that sucker out!

I don't know why you are comparing acting and speaking at a political party's convention. I have never been a fan of Eastwood's. That macho type completely turns me off. He definitely does need to stick to acting. I don't care what he has done in Hollywood he should have never have done what he did.

His schtick was pathetic and extremely derogatory to President Obama as well as the Office of the President. He owes a big apology to President Obama but will never give it.

Anyway, President Obama had the best reply, "this seat is taken."

[The_Lady_Snow]

Come on you guys, the empty chair thing was just one moment in an otherwise stellar career. Seriously, "The Bridges of Madison County" was a superlative film, by far his best work. It was well-written, made me cry at times and really left me wanting more; I've seen it a dozen times! It was so romantic, so touching and really very realistic. I even have it on DVD and it's almost worn out. Oh. Uh, wait, wait, I think I got confused. Yeah, I did. I meant to say "Dirty Harry", yeah, that's it. "Dirty Harry". I love that flick. I've worn that sucker out!


*sighs*

It's not surprising you would dismiss Eastwood's stupidity his disrespect to The POTUS. Here's why I said what I said:

I was a fan of Eastwood, I grew up as a kid watching his old westerns, and bawled like a baby at the end of Gran Torino. Paint me shocked and surprised when I hear that he is going to be a speaker at the RNC, I am going to risk being honest the pit of my stomach dropped and I thought oh fuck here we go, please don't let this man that you have enjoyed in cinema be that guy who is going to be just like the other guys who are gathered in the name of hate..

I don't know if you view or viewed the RNC like I do, I am going to guess you don't since I am a Latina, Woman, Feminist, and I am part of the LGBTQI umbrella. What I watched as I looked into the sea of white, is a whole lotta fucking racism, hate, zealotry and then this man, who as a kid you thought was cool, then as an adult touched you in a current film get up on a podium and then that man takes your nose and smears it in shit like you are some kind of bad dog.

That man stood up there and DISMISSED OUR POTUS in a disgusting, racist, white hate demeanor that I just was at a loss for words. I did not know if I should feel bad that this man was making an ass out of not only him, his party, his family and this country or slap him off the fucking podium and tell him to take his shit elsewhere. I watched this man become one more white face in a sea of hate, dismissively point to an empty chair while he had a *pretend conversation* with the POTUS who is a Man of Color.


I am 43 years old, I know and recognize racism at it's ugliest and what Eastwood did on behalf of his political party was just that. Racism, he is now to me a part of the problem.

He's just to *me* another white guy, who's fathered 7 children by 5 different women trying to tell me, a non white woman who's body is hers yet he and his party think differently. I am a queer woman who he dislikes because he is all worried about the sanctity of the nuclear family while he hikes his leg up and pisses kids out like they are candy in a pez dispenser and yet he has the nerve to do what he did?

Here's what happened in I forgot to seperate character from reality when dealing with idiots like him who use their careers to make hated political statements. He's not the old guy from Gran Torino, he's not the bad ass on The Good The Bad and The Ugly.

He's Clint Eastwood, old white senile man, a Republican who was used and let himself be used at the cost of his public image to spew out some hate. That right there is what over rides it for me, it's hard for me to be around, look at, hear a racist especially a romanticized racist once they show their asses. The only thing he did for me was make it clear, he's part of that sea of white that wants nothing to do with the likes of me.

All because I am a Latina, Woman, Queer, Feminist....

So yeah, seriously.....


Oh and while he is doing this on that god damn podium looking *DOWN* at an empty chair telling a Man of Color this and that. THAT right there is racism Reader, and that shit right there PISSES me off and DISGUSTS me to no end. Kinda like when someone is like really? Why you gotta be mad at the dude he's Dirty Harry.

I can't afford forgetting who he really is, I am a little embarrased that I did.

[Corkey]

I really don't care what an actor does on their own time n dime. But when they get up on the public political stage and insult The sitting President of the U.S. for the whole f*ing world to see, Buddy I have a huge problem with that. The whole Eastwood incident is a national shame on us, that this President is publicly insulted and it's called funny is abhorrent! No wonder the rest of the world thinks we are a bunch of adolescents, WE ARE!

[dreadgeek]

I really don't care what an actor does on their own time n dime. But when they get up on the public political stage and insult The sitting President of the U.S. for the whole f*ing world to see, Buddy I have a huge problem with that. The whole Eastwood incident is a national shame on us, that this President is publicly insulted and it's called funny is abhorrent! No wonder the rest of the world thinks we are a bunch of adolescents, WE ARE!

You know, it would bother me less if the GOP hadn't spent most of the last decade arguing, quite frankly, that the merest hint that one might be considering the possibility, of thinking about entertaining the idea of disagreeing with the Bush the Younger as tantamount to treason. Back in '03 or '04 if one said that Bush was wrong about any subject matter, the GOP would paint that person as being the real and true leader of Al Qaeda even if Mr. Bush said something demonstrably, factually untrue. Yet, now, that a Democrat is POTUS anything this side of some statement that would have the Secret Service at your door is patriotic dissent. When we once again have a Republican POTUS, we'll be told that just as between 2001 and 2009, merely thinking that they are wrong will be evidence that one hates mother, babies, puppies and ice cream.

If the GOP has decided that one should only respect a legitimate POTUS and legitimacy derives from being a Republican, then they should at least *say* that. I would respect the Republican party much more if they would simply have the courage of their convictions and say what everyone knows they mean which is this; the office of the President should be respected when it is occupied by a Republican but not when occupied by a Democrat.

Cheers
Aj

[dreadgeek]

Come on you guys, the empty chair thing was just one moment in an otherwise stellar career. Seriously, "The Bridges of Madison County" was a superlative film, by far his best work. It was well-written, made me cry at times and really left me wanting more; I've seen it a dozen times! It was so romantic, so touching and really very realistic. I even have it on DVD and it's almost worn out. Oh. Uh, wait, wait, I think I got confused. Yeah, I did. I meant to say "Dirty Harry", yeah, that's it. "Dirty Harry". I love that flick. I've worn that sucker out!

Quite honestly, I'm not going to let Eastwood's very strange, Grandpa Simpson ramblings get in the way of enjoying his movies. For the most part, I find the political utterances of all but a very small sliver of actors to be worthless and I wish they would shut up. That applies regardless of political leanings.

I think that there are very few playwrights of the last half-century that can best David Mamet's (Glengarry Glen Ross) dialog work and he recently (last five years or so) lost his damn mind and has become an Obama-hating right-wing populist masquerading as a conservative. I *still* watch his work because he can write dialog like no one else. I love Samuel L. Jackson but find most of his political pronouncements vapid even though he's of my political tribe, more or less so I certainly see what you're driving at.

Cheers
Aj

[Kobi]

The Republican presidential candidate came under fire from Republicans and Democrats on Wednesday for politicizing the outbreak of deadly violence in the Middle East, including the breaching of the American Embassy in Cairo and an attack on the American Consulate in Libya, which claimed the life of Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other diplomatic workers.

The danger for Romney is that his response to the Middle East attacks feeds into a consensus among the news media that his campaign to unseat Obama is in serious trouble. For the fourth time in recent months, prominent conservatives have gone public with fretting over the direction of Romney's campaign—a panic set off most recently by conservative radio host Laura Ingraham's suggestion Monday that if Romney can't beat Obama then the Republican Party should be "shut down." On Tuesday, the Wall Street Journal editorial board piled on, suggesting Romney could lose the election because he's been too vague when it comes to explaining his policies.

"Mistakes like this happen when a campaign begins to feel under pressure," Schmidt told Yahoo News. "The Democrats had a more successful convention, the president's opened up a lead in the polls, there's been a lot of criticism by conservative commentators about campaign strategy. … They acted too quickly, too rashly, too politically—looking obviously for a way to change the narrative, the dynamic in the race."

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/romney-under-friendly-fire-response-libyan-embassy-attack-213729383--election.html

[Gráinne]

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/09/secret-video-romney-private-fundraiser

[dreadgeek]

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/09/secret-video-romney-private-fundraiser

This is like pure schaudenfreude mainlined right into the body. Romney's had such a horrible week that I almost feel sorry for him. Almost.

Cheers
Aj

[chefhmboyrd]

what if....


all the money spent on these campaigns was applied to the National Debt?

:fastdraq:

[Miss Scarlett]

Got first robo-call of the season yesterday...answered office phone only to hear "Hello, this is Mitt..." that's all i heard...couldn't hang up fast enough...lol

[dreadgeek]

what if....


all the money spent on these campaigns was applied to the National Debt?

:fastdraq:

Wouldn't make a dent. Wouldn't even really show up. The national debt is at 14 trillion dollars, combined the campaigns are going to spend ~two billion all told. That's .007 (1/7000th) of the national debt. To put it in perspective, over the course of a year if you made, say, 50K last year it would amount to $7.15. Sure, on any given day 7.15 might be the difference between buying lunch out or eating something you took from home or it might be two extra gallons of gas in the car but over the course of the year, that works out to about $.60 a day. Do you notice $.60 a day? Probably not.

If we're going to actually make headway against the debt then we're going to have to do something about military spending (the 1000 pound gorilla in the budgetary room). Almost anything else we do, outside of simply eliminating Social Security and Medicare, would be like trying to scoop out the Pacific ocean with a Dixie cup.

Ironically, the investment we could make that would actually help the deficit go down eventually, is one of the things that there is very little public support for; public financing of political campaigns.

Cheers
Aj

[dreadgeek]

Got first robo-call of the season yesterday...answered office phone only to hear "Hello, this is Mitt..." that's all i heard...couldn't hang up fast enough...lol



What you didn't want to hear how if you aren't a millionaire you live only to collect your government check? I can't imagine why!

Cheers
Aj

[dreadgeek]

...chances are your week is going a *lot* better than the week Mittens is having! (Yes, I'm enjoying his meltdown, couldn't have happened to a more arrogant plutocrat.)

Cheers
Aj

[BullDog]

It appears Jimmy Carter's grandson had a helping hand in bringing the Romney tape to light. Now that is sweet!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/18/james-carter-iv-jimmy-carter-grandson_n_1894872.html?utm_hp_ref=elections-2012

[DMW]

please sign this petition
From CREDO
http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/ohio_election_protection/?p=ohio_election_protection&r=6949886&id=47013-5787607-gJHDBrx

Damn i wish i weren't so busy,

Credo says...

Don't let Republicans steal the election for Mitt Romney

Ohio has emerged as the latest front in the Republican scheme to derail democracy by disenfranchising millions of voters. Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted, a Republican, in a blatant partisan move to steal the election for Mitt Romney, is trying to put an end to early weekend voting before Election Day. This change in Ohio election practices specifically impacts minority and low income voters.1

It's not just Ohio. It's also Florida and Pennsylvania. Earlier this summer, CREDO Action members signed over 87,000 petitions and made over 1,600 phone calls urging Senator Patrick Leahy, the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, to hold Congressional hearings on brazen Republican efforts to steal the 2012 presidential election in other key battle ground states like Florida and Pennsylvania. With Republicans showing no sign of slowing down their tenacious efforts to steal the election, we're escalating our call for Senator Leahy to hold hearings to investigate the GOP effort to suppress the votes of millions of voters in key battleground states across the country.

Tell the Senate Judiciary Committee: Hold emergency hearings on Republicans' schemes to steal the presidential election in key battleground states.

[Miss Scarlett]

What you didn't want to hear how if you aren't a millionaire you live only to collect your government check? I can't imagine why!

Cheers
Aj

i know, right? What i'd love to see is those who believe that folks receiving government assistance are living the good life try to live for 6 months on that assistance...let them learn what it's like to buy food for a month on far less than the cost of one of their designer label suits, try to pay their bills and keep gas in their cars, and deal with the frustrations and roadblocks faced by Medicaid patients...would they change their tune? i hope so...

[dreadgeek]

i know, right? What i'd love to see is those who believe that folks receiving government assistance are living the good life try to live for 6 months on that assistance...let them learn what it's like to buy food for a month on far less than the cost of one of their designer label suits, try to pay their bills and keep gas in their cars, and deal with the frustrations and roadblocks faced by Medicaid patients...would they change their tune? i hope so...

In the novel I'm writing, one of the main characters is scion of a rich and aristocratic family. Her grandfathers (her mother's fathers), horrified at the mess their immediate offspring made of their lives, have a stipulation that at the age of 18 their progeny are cut off *completely*. They must spend the next ten years making their own way in the world without any assistance from the family. No money, no using family contacts, nothing other than what they can do for themselves. Only after that decade can they dip into the family funds. I would like to see rich families in the real world do something like that.

One of the best things my sister and I ever did, and the thing I credit most with preventing us from being really obnoxious, privileged, upper-middle class kids loosed upon an unsuspecting world, was enlist in the US Army. While my sister did, eventually, we were both in as ordinary grunts and so we were no longer hobnobbing with the hoi polloi but with working class folks. It was an education for both of us and we are only one generation removed from grinding poverty and my parents had wealth we were not in the celestial ranks occupied by the likes of Romney. Imagine if the Romney boys, at 18, found themselves completely cut off from their parent's money. I think that if they had to work their way through college or join the military as enlisted, they would have a very different perspective.

To hear Mittens talk as if he had scrabbled his way up the economic ladder turns my stomach because it is so obviously untrue.

Oh and arrgh, I hope ye be enjoying Talk Like a Pirate Day.

Cheers
Aj

[theoddz]

I have often thought to myself that, despite the fact that Mittens is filthy rich, he sure doesn't appear to be very bright. He has absolutely NO concept of what ordinary working people go through, trying to live ordinary lives. One would think that it would take some level of "smarts" to amass the kind of wealth Mittens has, but by Jeebuz, he sure appears to be about as stupid as a box of hammers.

I guess that's how one would discern between inherited/old money and someone who used their smarts and a goodly amount of sweat from their own brow to amass such wealth. To me, it only makes Mitt look more arrogant, more spoiled, more disgusting and..."Less intelligent" (stupid).

Theo :bouquet:

[Linus]

ypRW5qoraTw

This idea of only one kind of way of proving one's identity is definitely not thought out. That said, I was curious what Canada does and found this: http://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=vot&dir=ids&document=index&lang=e#one

What's interesting is the 2nd option if you can't meet the first. I've never had a driver's license (I've lived most of my life in cities where public transit was useful) and used the 2nd option all my life. It even includes options for the homeless identify themselves so they can vote.

[Linus]

Oh.. and if you ever wanted to know who to throw your hard earned $$ at when it comes to entertainment, this should help.

HAlcnuh5l1E

[Toughy]

http://www.examiner.com/article/mitt-romney-paid-for-son-s-surrogate-abortion-contract-right-to-kill-fetus

Mitt Romney's son, Tagg Romney, has been discovered to have engaged in a contract with a surrogate mother with the stipulations that if the child being carried was not up to the Romney's specifications, that the Romney family would have the final say if the child would be aborted or not.

I doubt seriously this is true........however the 'wow' factor is hard to pass up

I'm not familiar with this website. I have not fact checked this story. I so could not pass up the chance to post this story......because sometimes I am like that..............

[Linus]

http://www.examiner.com/article/mitt-romney-paid-for-son-s-surrogate-abortion-contract-right-to-kill-fetus

Mitt Romney's son, Tagg Romney, has been discovered to have engaged in a contract with a surrogate mother with the stipulations that if the child being carried was not up to the Romney's specifications, that the Romney family would have the final say if the child would be aborted or not.

I doubt seriously this is true........however the 'wow' factor is hard to pass up

I'm not familiar with this website. I have not fact checked this story. I so could not pass up the chance to post this story......because sometimes I am like that..............

Best way to find out how true (or somewhat true) something might be (IMO) is to do a search and see how many other places carry it: https://www.google.com/news?ncl=ddTcB1-_5GVuCwMHfteVh4z_a6gsM&q=tagg+romney+pregnancy&lr=English&hl=en

Apparently TMZ broke the story: http://www.tmz.com/2012/09/20/mitt-romney-son-tagg-abortion-clause-surrogate-birth-agreement-contract-bill-handel/

[Martina]

So far it's just blogs picking it up from TMZ. The most mainstream is the Daily Kos, and they've had it since the 21st. I wonder if the Press is going to give it a pass.

I hope not.

[Toughy]

I did my quick snopes lazy ass fact check and got nothing....

thanks to those doing my research...........really..............thanks..... ....

the fact check should be interesting.............

note to Romney folks.............I want folks to speak the truth.........if you say you did or said it then fuck.......own it........you just might get a tiny bit of respect...............my vote requires respect..........

[lusciouskiwi]

This just came up on my fb feed, hope it's not too big.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/601399_10151073145061275_1123189149_n.jpg

[DMW]

Don't have to have facebook to register to vote with this link. But, people can register with this and share it on the facebook.

http://www.facebook.com/OurTimeOrg/app_339209582820444

http://front.moveon.org/voters-not-victims/?rc=email924&id=52736-22254741-4rmmnHx&t=1

[Martina]

New Yorker article -- "The Mind of Mitt Romney (http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/10/01/121001fa_fact_lemann?currentPage=all)

Financial Times -- "Born to Run" (http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/352e3aa8-0db9-11e2-97a1-00144feabdc0.html#axzz28XU5xZcP)

This week's Time Magazine has a decent article called "The Mormon Identity," but it's not available online.

Interesting stuff. More reason for me to vote for his opponent. Worth reading though.

[Kobi]

Perhaps no other election has posed such a difficult personal decision for some conservatives: How do you vote if you're ideologically conservative, but you're benefiting, or stand to benefit, from the Affordable Care Act, often referred to as "Obamacare"?

"In 2008, health care was a very conceptual, a very theoretical issue," said Michael Traugott, a professor of political science and communication at the University of Michigan. "This year it's very concrete and real."

Some Republicans told CNN they would never vote Democrat, even though they might benefit from Obamacare, while others said they will switch their vote because of health issues.

"The real question is: Could defections in this group make a difference in states where the race is close, such as Virginia, Ohio or North Carolina?" Traugott said. "I think in those states it's so tight they could make a difference."

Several groups of people would fare very differently under Romney's health care plan than they do under Obamacare, such as those with preexisting conditions, which can range from anything from back pain to cancer. Between 20% and 50% of all Americans have a preexisting condition, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.

Obamacare tells insurance companies they can't say no to people with preexisting conditions, or charge them more because of their health issues. According to his website, Romney's health plan calls for "preventing discrimination" against people with preexisting conditions as long as they've maintained continuous insurance coverage in the past, but does not define what "continuous coverage" means.

Young Republicans could also fare differently under Romney's plan. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, some 3.1 million young adults now have health insurance because of Obamacare, which requires insurance companies to allow young adults to stay on their parents' policies up until the age of 26. Before Obamacare, insurance companies in many states took young people off their parents' policies at age 18 or 19.

Romney has vowed to repeal Obamacare. In the presidential debate, the former Massachusetts governor said the "private marketplace" is already taking care of young adults who want to stay on their parents' plans so the United States doesn't need a government mandate.

However, it's not clear that insurance companies will allow young adults to stay on their parents' insurance up until age 26 without a mandate. If Obamacare is reversed, insurance companies "will make their own decisions about the coverage options they provide," according to a statement from America's Health Insurance Plans.

'I feel torn'

Jon Campbell may become one of the Republican "defectors" Traugott says could make a difference in battleground states.

Campbell, 49, has voted Republican in nearly every presidential election since he cast his vote for Ronald Reagan in 1980, but this year might be different. For two years his 22-year-old stepdaughter, a self-employed dog trainer, didn't have health insurance. Then Obamacare kicked in and she was allowed onto her father's insurance.

"If something had happened to her during those two years it would have been a disaster," Campbell says.

The Olathe, Kansas, resident is leaning toward Obama, but not just because of his stepdaughter. Campbell's wife, Barbara, has diabetes and is in the final stages of breast cancer treatment. She's now on his insurance, but if he ever lost his job, his wife would be faced with trying to buy insurance on her own and would surely be rejected.

"I'm really torn," he said. "Because of Obama, I now have a wife who can get covered. But really, at heart, I'm a limited-government kind of guy."

Campbell said if the election were held today, he'd vote for Obama, but not without a lot of reservations.

"It's really an intriguing conundrum," he said.

'I'm born to be a Republican'

Like Campbell, Sara Nicastro feels conflicted about her vote. A popular diabetes blogger, Nicastro, 31, knew a woman who stopped taking her insulin regularly when she lost her insurance, and Nicastro thinks it might have contributed to her death. Nicastro said she herself would be "in a pickle" if she were ever laid off because insurance companies don't want to offer policies to diabetics.

Still, Nicastro, a lifelong Republican who lives in south Florida, will vote for Romney in November. She cares about other issues besides health -- most notably the economy -- and she's voted Republican in every election. She even remembers the excitement she felt when she shook Bob Dole's hand at a rally at her high school 16 years ago.

"The Republican party most closely matches the things I value and the beliefs I have," she said. "I'm pretty passionate about it."

Katherine Weaver, who also has diabetes, hasn't considered voting for Obama for even a minute.

"I'm born to be a Republican," she said.

Weaver, 52, knows it would be difficult if not impossible to buy insurance on her own because of her disease, but she said she's not worried because she has good insurance through her job as a public school teacher in Dallas, where she's worked for 20 years.

"It's very hard to get rid of teachers," she said. "I'm very protective of my job. I document everything I do."

Jill Thacker felt "weird" as she stood there in the 7-11 in Sanford, Florida, thinking about which cup to take.

She thought about her insurance, which covers her only if "I get hit by a bus." It's the only insurance she can afford given her preexisting condition.

She thought about how she's still paying off a $22,000 emergency room bill from last year.

She thought about her 25-year-old daughter, who's on her father's insurance only because of Obamacare.

But she also thought about how, in many fundamental ways, she just doesn't like Obama.

Then she reached for the blue cup with Obama's name on it.

"I really do feel conflicted," she said. "But for me, it's all about health care. It's my number one thing."



Read more: http://www.wcvb.com/health/Some-longtime-Republicans-torn-over-Obamacare/-/9848730/16885372/-/ck0ipd/-/index.html#ixzz28Zn3PCQe

[Linus]

I think the next debate should be done as follows:

https://i.chzbgr.com/completestore/12/10/4/XDeGLrPczEqfs-dGfGmv7Q2.png

[UofMfan]

bZxs09eV-Vc

[Martina]

Gallup changed to reporting likely voters today (as opposed to registered). Because of that, Obama was expected to loose his five point lead, and we'd see an even race. But they do poll daily, and today's poll has Romney with a two point lead.

My eye is twitching.

[dreadgeek]

Gallup changed to reporting likely voters today (as opposed to registered). Because of that, Obama was expected to loose his five point lead, and we'd see an even race. But they do poll daily, and today's poll has Romney with a two point lead.

My eye is twitching.

There is an old saying "never underestimate the ability of the Democrats to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory".

That said, this thing isn't over yet but I'm a bit concerned because it's closer than I would otherwise like it to be. I'd prefer Obama safely up by between 8 and 10 points simply to get us outside the margin of error.

Cheers
Aj

[Martina]

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2012/10/14/sunday-review/14COMIC/14COMIC-jumbo.jpg

[Martina]

http://s1.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20121014&t=2&i=663390429&w=&fh=&fw=&ll=460&pl=300&r=CBRE89D1QV100

Can you imagine getting a call and it actually being Obama on the line? I think he was calling volunteers to thank them. Not sure.

He's so cool. I am starting to have a bad feeling though. Good news is that he is ahead among those voting early, and he is gaining ground with seniors who do get out and vote. The Medicare ads are probably having an effect. Otherwise the momentum is still all Romney's, and that's bad since they are essentially tied. Scary days.

[Kobi]

Ann Romney will visit the women of ABC's "The View" solo Thursday, her husband no longer available to appear on the show he once referred to as "high risk."

"Governor Romney was supposed to be on with us this Thursday with Ann Romney," Walters said. "We were looking forward to it. Over the weekend, his people have said that he had scheduling problems, and would not be coming on with us, nor did not feel that he could reschedule. We are happy to have Mrs. Romney on with us, and are sorry that we won't have Governor Romney, and that's the situation."

In September, in leaked footage from a fundraiser Romney is heard saying that while "The View" is "fine," it is "high risk because of the five women on it, only one is conservative and four are sharp-tongued and not conservative."

Co-host Sherri Shepherd said at the time that she wasn't sure how Romney could be able to "handle the country" if he can't "handle four sharp-tongued women."

http://news.yahoo.com/romney-wont-face-view-181131618--abc-news-politics.html

------------------


I am not a View fan but this might be worth watching.

[Soon]

EY0HKBDhz9g#!

[Soon]

nEbUhm69LOg#!

[Martina]

I looked it up. There's nothing on Obama's schedule today except the morning briefing. I should hope not. No sightseeing! No football. No breaks of any kind. Don't even eat. Better you should be hungry tomorrow.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/-XoF-pE7P9wo/UHwaeTN5sFI/AAAAAAAApbE/mDXz0G8Btew/david%252520axelrod%252520anita%252520dunn%252520b o%252520debate%252520prep_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg ?imgmax=800

http://rlv.zcache.com/i_bark_for_barack_bo_the_first_dog_obama_button-p145911237688946592en8go_400.jpg

[Martina]

Romney has gained less than half a point in the last few days. I think the bounce happened. He still has the ground gained, but there is no more forward momentum from it.

Man, there is a lot of pressure on Obama tomorrow. He's still winning because of his slight lead in key swing states. I have been watching the Vegas odds too. Right now it's Obama 4/9 and Romney 7/4.

In a bizarre but also good note, Obama has a slight lead in Arizona. That's 11 electoral votes. That would be huge. We wouldn't need Virgina, which is iffy. Florida looks like it is gone. No surprise.

What concerns me, other than Obama's performance tomorrow, is voter suppression in Ohio. I remember during Bush-Gore, Republicans from other states bussed up to Ohio to intimidate voters in line. During Kerry-Bush, sending too few voting machines to Democratic districts resulted in those horrible lines. And there were machines in Youngstown, I think, that switched votes from Kerry to Bush automatically. Supposedly a malfunction.

And this year's brouhaha re early voting. And did you hear about these billboards? In minority neighborhoods around Cleveland. Clearly meant to intimidate.

http://mjcdn.motherjones.com/preset_16/voter_fraud_billboard.png

[Kobi]

I looked it up. There's nothing on Obama's schedule today except the morning briefing. I should hope not. No sightseeing! No football. No breaks of any kind. Don't even eat. Better you should be hungry tomorrow.




We can look up the Presidents daily schedule?

[Martina]

Yup.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/schedule

[Sparkle]

EVIrNxba0ls

Rosie Perez

Perez mocks the Republican nominee in a YouTube video posted Sunday — part of a series of humorous ads targeting Romney, entitled, “Actually ... the truth matters.”

The super PAC-powered campaign, which is backed by the Jewish Council for Education and Research and the American Bridge 21st Century, aims to spread “the truth, because the truth matters — even in politics,” according to the actually.org website.

The excerpt includes Romney saying it “would be helpful to be Latino” in his effort to win the election.

[Corkey]

She was on Maddow last night and was wonderful. Maddow got all kinds of flummoxed, it was cute.

[Martina]

http://obamadiary.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/5136459832_e7d86b0a2f.jpg?w=655

[Martina]

http://alt.coxnewsweb.com/shared-blogs/palmbeach/floridapolitics/upload/2008/10/obama_stumbles_into_a_mccains/IMG_1987%281%29.jpg

[Martina]

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/php/galleries/image.php/1144/6/6.jpg

[Martina]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/compost/post/joe-bidens-four-to-six-hours-a-day-with-the-president/2012/10/17/de481470-1894-11e2-9855-71f2b202721b_blog.html

Vice President Biden was proud of President Obama’s debate performance.

“You all saw the man that I have sat with every day on average four to six hours a day,” Biden said on Wednesday, Politico reported.

More revelatory than the fact that Biden was pleased with Obama’s performance was this news that Biden spends “on average four to six hours a day” sitting with the president. I would wager that even Obama was not aware of this.

Fortunately, I was able to probe deeper.

Here is how this went.

Day 1: “Great that you’re president, huh?” Joe Biden says, sitting down.

“Yeah,” President Obama says.

“We’ll be seeing a lot of each other, huh?” Joe says.

“Sure will, Joe.”

“We’ll spend four hours a day together, I bet. Literally.”

Obama laughs. “Literally,” he says. “Good one. Good night, Joe.”

Day 8: Biden and Obama watch a football game together for almost four hours. They enjoy it tremendously.

Day 24: Biden and Obama go fishing. Eight hours.

Day 390: Joe Biden strolls into the Oval Office and flings himself into a chair.

“Don’t you have somewhere to be, Joe?” Obama asks, after two hours have elapsed.

“Not really,” Joe says.

They sit there in silence for two more hours.

Day 700: Alarmed by Biden’s constant, average presence, Obama tries to turn the tables.

Biden is taking a long shower as the president comes dashing in and makes a big show of sitting down on the sink.

“How does it feel, Joe?” he asks. “Huh? How does it feel to have someone sitting there while YOU’RE trying to go about your day? Huh? You need to quit this thing right now.”

Biden climbs out of the shower and reaches for a towel. “Did you say something, Mr. President?” he asks. “I can’t really hear when I’ve got the water on. Good to see you.”

Day 703: Obama plays a round of golf. Biden insists on caddying, even though the president repeatedly tells him, “No, Joe, really, I’ve got it.”

Day 974: Biden knows that he will spend the next week on the campaign trail so he spends 18 full hours sitting with Obama, just to keep the average up.

“Joe, this is getting to be a problem,” Michelle says, somewhere around Hour 17, kicking him by mistake as she tries for more of the blanket.

Joe sits there in silence for another hour.

Day 975: “Joe, Michelle and I didn’t get any sleep last night,” Obama tries, gently, touching Joe’s shoulder as they head towards the motorcade.

“You don’t understand,” Biden says, gazing defiantly at him. “I am the Cal Ripken of sitting with you for four to six hours on average every day. Don’t take this away, Mr. President.”

Joe sits there silently for four more hours.

Day 1003:Michelle and Barack celebrate their anniversary at an intimate candlelight dinner in a restaurant. They have expressly warned the Secret Service not to let “Celtic” follow them.

Midway through the soup course, Obama gestures and knocks over a potted plant to reveal Biden sitting there, cleverly disguised as a large fern.

“Joe — ” the president begins, in a feeble, broken voice.

“Mind if I just sit here for a bit?” Joe asks, pulling up a chair. “I still had two hours to clock in, according to my spreadsheets.”

The president sighs. “Sure, Joe,” he says. “Not a problem.”

Michelle glowers at him.

Day 1189: Joe Biden sits behind President Obama in debate prep room. “You’re going to do great, Joe,” he says, repeatedly, grinning at the mirror.

“Joe, please,” the president says. “This is distracting.”

Joe points knowingly at the mirror. “This guy,” he says. “Some veep, huh?”

“Joe — ” the president begins, in a strangled voice.

“Want a back rub?” Joe asks.

“No.”

Joe sits there in silence for three hours.

Day 1200: President Obama, Malia, Sasha, and Michelle, along with Jill Biden, call a Family Conference.

“Joe,” President Obama begins, after a few false starts. “You are wanted and needed around here, but you have to stop sitting with me for hours every day. It’s giving us all the heebies.”

“Sure I will,” Joe says.

“Well, great,” Michelle says.

“That’s great, Joe,” Jill adds.

“I have homework,” Sasha says.

“I’ll come help you,” President Obama says, heading for the door.

“Me, too,” Joe cuts in. “I’m really good at algebra.”

Day 1217: President Obama, seated inside a barbed-wire “No Joe” perimeter with a large brown dog curled up in front of his desk, heaves a heavy sigh of relief at not having seen Biden in more than 20 hours. He is shaking all over. He drinks another Red Bull.

“Finally,” he says. “Finally. Joe’s finally taken the hint.”

The brown dog sits up and removes the head of its costume. “Did I hear someone mention me?” Biden asks, brightly.

Obama clutches the desk as the world swims before his eyes. “That’s it,” he murmurs. “That’s it, that’s it, that’s it! I’ve finally lost it!”

“Time for the first debate, sir,” a Secret Service agent announces, walking through several steel doors.

Day 1461, Wednesday: “You all saw the man that I have sat with every day on average four to six hours a day,” Joe Biden says.

Somewhere, President Obama starts shaking uncontrollably.

By Alexandra Petri | 05:30 PM ET, 10/17/2012

[Martina]

President Obama Accuses Opponent of Contracting “Romnesia (http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/10/president-obama-accuses-opponent-of-contracting-romnesia/)

Standing in front of a bleacher consisting entirely of women at George Mason University today, President Obama introduced a joking new line of attack designed to paint his GOP opponent’s pivot to the center as insincere and deceptive.

“Now that we’re 18 days out from the election, Mr. ‘Severely Conservative’ wants you to think he was severely kidding about everything he said over the last year,” the president said. “He told folks he was the ideal candidate for the Tea Party, now he’s telling folks, ‘What? Who me?’ He’s forgetting what his own positions are. And he’s betting that you will too.”

Continued the president, “he’s changing up so much and backtracking and side stepping we’ve got to name this condition he’s going through.

“I think it’s called…’Romnesia,’” the president said to cheers and laughter.

“I’m not a medical doctor, but I do want to go over some of the symptoms with you because I want to make sure nobody else catches it,” the president said in the battleground state of Virginia, where recent polls show Mitt Romney with momentum.

The crowd cheered ebulliently.

“We can fix you up!” said the president, who trails by seven points in the latest Gallup Daily Tracking Poll. “We’ve got a cure! We can make you well, Virginia!… This is a curable disease!”

“If you say you’re for equal pay for equal work but you keep refusing to say whether or not you’d sign a bill that protects equal pay for equal work, you might have Romnesia,” the president said, sounding not a little like comedian Jeff Foxworthy.

“If you say women should have access to contraceptive care but you support legislation that would let your employer deny you contraceptive care, you might have a case of Romnesia,” the president said. “If you say you’ll protect a woman’s right to choose but you stand up at a primary debate and say that you’d be delighted to sign a law outlawing that right to choose in all cases, then you’ve definitely got Romnesia.”

. . . the President said Romnesia extends to “other issues. If you say earlier in the year, ‘I’m going to give a tax cut to the top one percent’ and then in a debate you say ‘I don’t know anything about giving tax cuts to rich folks,’ you need to get a thermometer and take your temperature, because you probably have Romnesia.

“If you say that you’re a champion of the coal industry when, while you were governor, you stood in front of a coal plant and said ‘this plant will kill you’ -”

The crowd, for this one, chimed in “you probably have Romnesia,” prompting the president to laugh and say, “that’s some Romnesia.”

Said the president, “if you come down with a case of Romnesia and you can’t seem to remember the policies that are still on your website or the promises you’ve made over the six years you’ve been running for president, here’s the good news: Obamacare covers pre-existing conditions!”

[alexri]

I'm seeing a lot of chatter on independent and left newsites and facebook pages about Tagg Romney (son of Mitt) having purchased electronic voting machines that will be used in the 2012 elections in Ohio and other states. The news is that a Bain Capital investment team involved in H.I.G. Capital has taken over Hart Intercivic, the voting machine company.

Is anyone else hearing this? And if true how the heck is this legal?

[Martina]

Real Clear Politics and the Romney campaign seem to think he has North Carolina. I think he will get Florida and Virginia. That makes it all about Ohio. Like that's news. But with states like Pennsylvania and Michigan moving from 8 and 7 point Obama leads to 4 and 3, and the rest truly truly ties, it would be so easy for Obama to lose. Nate Silver still says the chances of Obama willing are 67.9 percent. And he thinks Obama will win both the popular and the electoral vote. But he projects a 1.1 percent lead in popular votes.

That's just too close to call.

I used to think Obama probably had it. I now think there's no way to know till election day unless something dramatic breaks.

It really is too close to tell right now. And then there is the fear that the Gallup poll could be picking something up that the rest aren't. If they are, Gallup doesn't know what it is. they truly do not know why they are getting Romney to poll 6 and 7 pts ahead nationally when no one else is. It's like a ghost in the room though.

[girl_dee]

I'm seeing a lot of chatter on independent and left newsites and facebook pages about Tagg Romney (son of Mitt) having purchased electronic voting machines that will be used in the 2012 elections in Ohio and other states. The news is that a Bain Capital investment team involved in H.I.G. Capital has taken over Hart Intercivic, the voting machine company.

Is anyone else hearing this? And if true how the heck is this legal?

i saw that and i wondered the same thing. there is SO much chatter on the internet that i am tuning all of it out, but that one takes the cake.

[girl_dee]

EVIrNxba0ls

Rosie Perez

Perez mocks the Republican nominee in a YouTube video posted Sunday — part of a series of humorous ads targeting Romney, entitled, “Actually ... the truth matters.”

The super PAC-powered campaign, which is backed by the Jewish Council for Education and Research and the American Bridge 21st Century, aims to spread “the truth, because the truth matters — even in politics,” according to the actually.org website.

The excerpt includes Romney saying it “would be helpful to be Latino” in his effort to win the election.

OMGOODNESS this is the best one yet. i love Rosie and i love this!

*if you had a vagina*.. omggods that's funny stuff.

[Martina]

I'm seeing a lot of chatter on independent and left newsites and facebook pages about Tagg Romney (son of Mitt) having purchased electronic voting machines that will be used in the 2012 elections in Ohio and other states. The news is that a Bain Capital investment team involved in H.I.G. Capital has taken over Hart Intercivic, the voting machine company.

Is anyone else hearing this? And if true how the heck is this legal?

Politico had it. I guess because it's about three companies removed, and it's the candidate's son. But I get you.

[Martina]

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/clear-channel-takes-down-anti-voter-fraud-billboards

Clear Channel Outdoor said on Saturday it will take down anti-voter fraud billboards that had come under criticism in the Cleveland area because they were placed in mostly Hispanic and African-American neighborhoods. The company said the billboards were paid for by an anonymous corporation in violation of Clear Channel's policies. Clear Channel said that the anonymous buyer preferred to take down the billboards rather than disclosing they company's name, according to the Cleveland Plain-Dealer.

[Tommi]

I'm seeing a lot of chatter on independent and left newsites and facebook pages about Tagg Romney (son of Mitt) having purchased electronic voting machines that will be used in the 2012 elections in Ohio and other states. The news is that a Bain Capital investment team involved in H.I.G. Capital has taken over Hart Intercivic, the voting machine company.

Is anyone else hearing this? And if true how the heck is this legal?


i saw that and i wondered the same thing. there is SO much chatter on the internet that i am tuning all of it out, but that one takes the cake.

Politico had it. I guess because it's about three companies removed, and it's the candidate's son. But I get you.

Subject: Tagg Romney Invested in Ohio Electronic Voting Machines

As the election gets closer, we hear more and more about the lies and deceptions, here's another troubling fact:

http://www.politicolnews.com/tagg-romney-invested-in-ohio-electronic-voting-machines/


and the Debate's on during MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL>

[princessbelle]

I know one thing...

If this election doesn't hurry up Bully will go over the edge. As if living with me isn't enough.

It's almost midnight and she is sitting at the computer with charts and grafts and notebooks and colored pencils, studying voter turnouts and state electoral votes and proposing outcomes.

Actually, it may already be too late. :|

[Martina]

good heavens!! She needs to share her results!!

[Daktari]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/oct/21/us-lame-election-show-narrow-margins?intcmp=239

I like this journalists writings in general.

In this article I love the paragraphs that summarizes his take on the two candidates thus:

"With just a fortnight to go before polling day, the "show" has been terrible. Democrats are running the same acts that they did last time, and hoping that nobody will notice. Concluding the first TV debate, President Barack Obama's closing argument was: "Four years ago I said that I'm not a perfect man and I wouldn't be a perfect president ... But I also promised that I'd fight every single day on behalf of the American people and the middle class, and all those who are striving to get in the middle class. I've kept that promise and if you'll vote for me, then I promise I'll fight just as hard in a second term." I tried my best. I want another go. It's hardly a pitch bursting with vision.

His opponent, Mitt Romney, is worse. He has visions a-plenty. In his crystal ball he sees a land of free-market unicorns galloping under tax-slashing, deficit-reducing rainbows where, if only government would get out of the way, prosperity would fall from the sky. Those are the visions that he will admit to, and insists that he has costed. The ones he won't take ownership of look like a black and white version of Mike Leigh's 2004 film about illegal abortion in 1950s London, Vera Drake, in a land full of ungrateful moochers."
(Gary Younge, Guardian 21.10.12)

[BullDog]

Well, unfortunately no matter how often I look at polls or read another article, they are all telling me it's a close race. :|

If my life depended on correctly choosing who would be the next president I would say Obama. I think he does still have the Electoral College advantage in several of the key swing states. It mostly boils down to Ohio. (see I have nothing new). Whoever wins Ohio will almost certainly be President, and I do think Obama still has the edge there.

My biggest concern is voter turnout. The Dems do seem to be doing well with early voting, so that should help. It's just that enthusiasm is way down from 2008.

My second biggest concern is in a very close race we will have Republican shenanigans- especially in Ohio.

I do think at this point that Obama will win but it is way too close for comfort!

[Tommi]

Close races are scary.

Polls are biased I believe, so I am trying to discount them. My friends and I have collected the mailers, the literature left on the doorknobs and fenc and perused it all. We have researched where the money comes from for candidates, ballot issues here and there. One of my friends sounds like she is doing just what Bully is. We all went over the Voter's Guide over the weekend, and spent hours looking up who , what and where on the Calif. issues

On voter day turnout****Seeing the electoral counts and then voter ballot recounts and feeling that something fishy somewhere will jump out attcha after the vote booths close.

CNN reports "47 young, female and undecided voters" this late in the game ..WOW


Mother Jones
7 Highlights You Missed From the Romney Video

http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2012/09/7-highlights-romney-secret-fundraising-video
"By now you've probably heard about the secret video we published exposing a bunch of real talk from Mitt Romney as he dined with rich Republican donors. But the hour-plus footage, which left the Romney campaign reeling and provoked a full-blown eruption of "chaos on Bullshit Mountain," is a real embarrassment of riches, as it were. Here are some telling moments that you may not have seen yet from Romney's unvarnished Q&A behind closed doors at the $50,000-per-plate fundraiser in Boca Raton on May 17:"

[chefhmboyrd]

early voting tomorrow
i am so ready for this election to be over.
there is NO WAY that Romney is gonna win....

[BullDog]

I do look at polls, but I look at them over time and for trends. There is always the margin of error and there is always some "statistical noise" going on, but I do not think they are meaningless.

I like Nate Silver and do read him every day. If you really want to geek out on the numbers, his article today is awesome.

http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/

His bottom line for today:

"There remains an outside chance that the race will break clearly toward one or the other candidate, after the third debate on Monday or because of some intervening news event, but the odds are strong that we will wake up on Nov. 6 with a reasonable degree of doubt about the winner. For that matter, we may wake up on Nov. 7 still uncertain about who won.

Nonetheless, stipulating that the race is clearly very close is not an adequate substitute for placing any kinds of odds on it at all. And the central premise behind why we see Mr. Obama as the modest favorite is very simple: he seems to hold a slight advantage right now in enough states to carry 270 electoral votes."

Silver currently shows Obama with a 67.7% to win.

[Martina]

The PBS video on called The Choice 2012 I watched last night made a good point -- similar to what Daktari quoted above. Obama isn't really running on his record because no one is happy with it. He is scaring people with the possibility of Romney. The more rational Romney looks, the less likely Democratic voters are to turn out. Romney was scary during the Republican primaries when he was playing to the base. Now he has morphed into Moderate Mitt as Clinton called him. And he is a good debater. So . . . .

This Clear Channel billboard thing in Ohio chilled me. Not that I think the billboards had that much of an effect. But that the company who paid for them chose to have them taken down rather than have their identity revealed. Someone has something to hide -- probably a connection to Romney. In any case, I think there are a lot of potential behind the scenes shenanigans in Ohio. The behavior of the Secretary of State, John Husted, around the early voting law is reason enough to be worried. I won't recount all this. Rachel Maddow has been following it closely, and I know most of you watch her. And Ohio has a documented history of election tampering.

If we have another stolen election, who are we as a nation? Oh well, I am running away with myself. But with a significant amount of wealth, education, and privilege, we are going to hand the democratic process in this nation over to the oligarchy -- cause we can't be bothered to insist on election reform?

OK. I gotta stop. I can be relied upon to veer off into one political rant or another given the slightest push. I am scared. I am volunteering this week and next just to calm my nerves.

Well, unfortunately no matter how often I look at polls or read another article, they are all telling me it's a close race. :|

If my life depended on correctly choosing who would be the next president I would say Obama. I think he does still have the Electoral College advantage in several of the key swing states. It mostly boils down to Ohio. (see I have nothing new). Whoever wins Ohio will almost certainly be President, and I do think Obama still has the edge there.

My biggest concern is voter turnout. The Dems do seem to be doing well with early voting, so that should help. It's just that enthusiasm is way down from 2008.

My second biggest concern is in a very close race we will have Republican shenanigans- especially in Ohio.

I do think at this point that Obama will win but it is way too close for comfort!

[Martina]

I also read Nate Silver every day, and I comb through the Real Clear Politics list of polls and their graphs, etc. And I play with one of those clickable electoral college maps somewhat obsessively. Not counting reading Politico and the papers. And it's not reassuring. Bulldog's summary is where I am. I think Silver is optimistic unfortunately. Based on what? I don't know.

What bothers me is that I heard someone talk about how many states have ended up actually coming in more than four points from how they polled. So we have swing states polling at 1 and 2 point differences. That doesn't mean anything. Heck we are calling four point leads as "leaning" when they may not mean a thing. Really a lot of states are in play. And anything could happen. Obama's ground game is good, but I can't possibly know if it will be enough. So I am scared.

Before the primaries, my mother, a lifelong Democrat, was disillusioned enough with Obama that she wasn't going to vote. Her disgust with Romney is what is getting her off her ass. Last time I talked to her she said, "Oh well, if Romney wins, it won't be the worst thing. He's not Bush. He won't get us in another war." She lives in Florida. She will vote cause she's an old lady and that's what old ladies do. And she will vote for Obama, but tracking her attitude toward the election has not been encouraging to me.

[BullDog]

I've been skeptical about Romney's "surge" after the first debate. Yes I know it was a disaster for Obama, but it just doesn't add up for me that the swing could be that big. Then I tell myself, you are just trying to convince yourself. I don't know, for me it doesn't add up. I know many people will disagree with me about that. I do think Obama has a bit of a lead. But it is too close when it only shows 1-2 points lead to be comfortable. I do agree with Martina about that. I think this is a Base Election- which means Democrats need to get out and vote. Yikes. OK I still think Obama is in a better position to win but not by much.

[Slater]

It's a little hard to go by the polls because of the question of who will actually vote. Those "likely voter" polls use different formulas to determine who is a likely voters and the tend to skew older because if you have a long history of voting you are more likely to vote. But we saw in 2008 a lot of people, especially in the African-American community, who were voting for the first time.

If voter turnout is good in Ohio, Obama will win it. While it's not impossible for Romney to win without Ohio, it's pretty unlikely. Romney has to have Florida. If Obama can take Florida, and I do not think he will unfortunately, that is pretty close to game-set-match. With a really strong voter turnout it could be a decisive victory for Obama as it was in 2008. But if turnout is low--hence all the voter suppression efforts by the Rs in PA and OH--Romney has a chance.

I think as a political party it should be time to do some soul-searching when your best electoral strategy is to make it harder for people to vote.

[Martina]

October 22, 2012
Poll Addict Confesses (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/23/opinion/books-poll-addict-confesses.html)
By DAVID BROOKS
Hello, my name is David, and I’m a pollaholic. For the past several months I have spent inordinate amounts of time poring over election polls. A couple of times a day, I check the Web sites to see what the polling averages are. I check my Twitter feed to see the latest Gallup numbers. I’ve read countless articles dissecting the flawed methodologies of polls I don’t like.

And do you know what I’ve learned from these hours of attention? That if the election were held today (which it won’t be), then President Obama would be a bit more likely to win. At the same time, there seems to be a whiff of momentum toward Mitt Romney. That’s it. Hundreds of hours. Two banal observations.

I have wasted a large chunk of my life I will never get back. Why? Because I’ve got a problem.

Look, I know in the cool light of rationality how I should treat polling data. First, I should treat polls as a fuzzy snapshot of a moment in time. I should not read them, and think I understand the future.

If there’s one thing we know, it’s that even experts with fancy computer models are terrible at predicting human behavior. Financial firms with zillions of dollars have spent decades trying to create models that will help them pick stocks, and they have gloriously failed.

Scholars at Duke University studied 11,600 forecasts by corporate chief financial officers about how the Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index would perform over the next year. The correlation between their estimates and the actual index was less than zero.

And, if it’s hard to predict stocks or the economy, politics is a field perfectly designed to foil precise projections.

Politics isn’t a game, like poker, with an artificially limited number of possible developments. National elections are rare, so we have ridiculously small sample sizes. Political campaigns don’t give pollsters immediate feedback, so they can gradually correct their errors. They have to wait for Election Day for actual results, and only the final poll is verifiable.

Most important, stuff happens. Obama turns in a bad debate performance. Romney makes offensive comments at a fund-raiser. These unquantifiable events change the trajectories of tight campaigns. You can’t tell what’s about to happen. You certainly can’t tell how 100 million people are going to process what’s about to happen. You can’t calculate odds that capture unknown reactions to unknown events.

The second thing I know is that if you do have to look at polls, you should do it no more than once every few days, to get a general sense of the state of the race. I’ve seen the studies that show that people who check their stocks once a day get lower returns than people who check them once a quarter because they get distracted by noise and make terrible decisions. I’ve seen the work on information overload, which makes people depressed, stressed and freezes their brains. I know that checking the polls constantly is a recipe for self-deception and anxiety.

I know all this. But do I obey? Of course not. I check every few hours. I’m motivated by the illusion of immanent knowledge. I imagine that somehow the next batch of polling will contain some magic cross-tab about swing voters in Ohio that will satisfy my voracious curiosity and allay this irritable uncertainty.

I’m also motivated by the thrill of premature celebration. Elections aren’t just about policy choices. They’re status competitions. When the polls swing your way, you feel a surge of righteous affirmation. Your views are obviously correct! Your team’s virtues are widely recognized! You get to see the humiliation and pain afflicting your foes.

When the polls swing the other way, well, who believes the polls anyway? Those idiots are obviously skewing the results. This has been a golden age for confirmation bias.

Finally, I’m motivated by the power of cognitive laziness. It’s hard to figure out how each candidate will handle the so-called budgetary fiscal cliff or the uncertainties involved with Iran. But the polling numbers are like candy. So clear and digestible! Just as the teenage mind naturally migrates from homework to Facebook, just as the normal reader’s mind naturally wanders from Toynbee to Twitter, so the political junkie’s brain has a tendency to slide downhill from policy to polling.

Look, I went into a profession — journalism — committed to the mission of describing the present. Imagine how many corrections we’d have to publish if we tried to predict the future. Yet, despite all that, every few hours, I’m on my laptop, tablet or smartphone — sipping Gallup, chugging Rasmussen, gulping Pew, trying to figure out how it will all go down.

Come on, David, think through the poll. This is the first day of the rest of your life.

Wait a second! The 7-Eleven Coffee Cup Poll is out! Just one more look. Obama is up big!

[Martina]

THis happened to a friend of a friend. So so disgusting. There is a high school girl living there. It's an implicit threat. It may be in Virginia -- the town -- but it's a college town. Don't the reactionary bastards expect there to be some liberals living there?

OH, TRIGGER ALERT. There is a picture of a dead animal carcass draped over an Obama sign.

http://www.newsleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012310220012

[Soon]

From the Article:
(http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/opinion/55019844-82/endorsement-romney-obama-president.html.csp)
More troubling, Romney has repeatedly refused to share specifics of his radical plan to simultaneously reduce the debt, get rid of Obamacare (or, as he now says, only part of it), make a voucher program of Medicare, slash taxes and spending, and thereby create millions of new jobs. To claim, as Romney does, that he would offset his tax and spending cuts (except for billions more for the military) by doing away with tax deductions and exemptions is utterly meaningless without identifying which and how many would get the ax. Absent those specifics, his promise of a balanced budget simply does not pencil out.

[Kobi]

http://news.yahoo.com/gay-gop-group-hesitantly-backs-romney-163823972--election.html

[Semantics]

Larry King is moderating a 3rd Party debate on CSPAN right now if anyone is interested. Participants are Gary Johnson (Libertarian Party), Jill Stein (Green Party), Virgil Goode (Constitution Party) and Rocky Anderson (Justice Party).

[girl_dee]

i did not know that Romney is 65, must be all that black dye.

[Semantics]

i did not know that Romney is 65, must be all that black dye.

He looks fifteen years younger. At least.

[girl_dee]

He looks fifteen years younger. At least.

Yeah when i read his son Tagg (where the HELL do they get these names?) was 42 i had to look it up!

[Soon]

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NdhqPO0UuTc/UIf-76YlqlI/AAAAAAAB6B4/8MCp7N4Wf2E/s400/worldobama.jpg

According to a BBC poll conducted in 21 countries, respondents who expressed a preference in the American election chose President Obama over Mitt Romney by a more than 5-1 margin.
The countries with the largest pro-Obama majorities were France (72 percent for Obama, 2 percent for Romney), Nigeria (66 percent for Obama, 11 percent for Romney), Canada (66 percent for Obama, 9 percent for Romney), the UK (65 percent for Obama, 7 percent for Romney) and Australia (67 percent for Obama, 6 percent for Romney). Romney received the most support in Kenya, where he registered an 18 percent approval rating, compared with Obama’s 66 percent. In Poland, Romney was also able to garner a bit more favor, with 16 percent supporting the Republican, compared to Obama’s 34 percent. Both candidates received relatively low scores in Pakistan, China, Malaysia and Japan. Pakistan was the only country where more respondents wanted to see Romney elected.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/files/2012/10/globescan-global-views-poll.jpg

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/files/2012/10/globescan-global-views-poll.jpg

[Martina]

Re Romney's youthfulness.

He has never smoked or had a drink. No caffeine. Lots of money for health care. And primates who are socially privileged tend to be healthier and live longer.

The stress from being so competitive has to be taking a toll though. But his family of origin was close, if somewhat more dysfunctional than the the family he created, and he is very loved and supported by his wife and children. He has every right to look a little younger than his age.

I also think that working for others keeps one young(ish). And misguided as many of his efforts have been, he has put in many many hours of his life "helping" others as a Bishop and in politics. I think that much of what he does, he does with an open heart. That it is based on patriarchal and elitist ideas (he has instructed women to give up their children for adoption rather than raise them as single parents), I guess, doesn't alter the fact that he experiences it as working for others.

I doubt that one could count the number of people he helped move or arranged for jobs for or sat with in the hospital. That's what Mormon leaders do, day in and day out. They also maintain an organization that calls on parents to disown their gay children. I have no use for their religious beliefs or their organization. But the fact is that they work work work work for others. It's impressive.

His dad had some fine qualities. He bucked Nixon when he was a member of the cabinet and tried to make genuine change to encourage racial integration of neighborhoods, not just schools. He was for fair employment and supported civil rights when other Republican governors paid those ideas lip service. And like his son, he worked worked worked worked worked. I know it's a cliche about Mormons, but it's one that the Romney family illustrates. I absolutely don't doubt that Mitt Romney experiences himself as sincere in spite of the fact that he has to rationalize a lot of shit (the destruction caused by Bain, the fact that he lies to the public on a daily basis). He believes in himself and what he is doing. That keeps you young.

He is an integrated human being. He's not shallow or deeply selfish (as Bush and his buddies were). He's deeply WRONG. But he is a person to be reckoned with. Obama made a mistake by not respecting him, and it cost Obama a lot. Hopefully, not the election.

[Martina]

Wow to Palin's "shuck and jive" comment. I know it's Palin, but jeez. The good thing is that it hurts Romney so soon before the election.

And Coulter's "retard" comment.

And Murdock, the Indiana candidate for the Senate, who made the comment that pregnancies resulting from rape are part of God's plan -- this a candidate Romney supported.

Not a great couple of days for Romney with women, African-Americans, and people with disabilities.
------------------------

Someone on the Ed Show was saying that this might hurt Romney in Virginia -- with women in the north and with African Americans. Polls in VA are very close. Losing VA would make it much harder for Romney. He could lose while taking Ohio and Florida if he loses Virginia.

Seriously, we could lose Ohio, Florida, Colorado, and New Hampshire and win if we got Virginia. This assumes (reasonably) that we have Nevada, Iowa, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.

[Martina]

I was just listening to a clip of Obama speaking in Colorado, and it sounds like he is losing his voice. Good. About time.

Seriously though, he was not holding back. Good to see.

[DMW]

Credo petition
"The Department of Justice must launch an immediate investigation into Hart Intercivic touch screen voting machines in Ohio, and take all actions necessary to block Republicans from stealing the 2012 presidential election with voting machines tied to the Romney family and campaign."


http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/romney_ohio/index_2012.html?utm_expid=16130742-25&r_by=49405-5787607-mllfIax&rc=confemail&utm_referrer=http%3A%2F%2F36ohk6dgmcd1n-c.c.yom.mail.yahoo.net%2Fom%2Fapi%2F1.0%2Fopenmail .app.invoke%2F36ohk6dgmcd1n%2F11%2F1.0.35%2Fus%2Fe n-US%2Fview.html%2F0

This is the main issue...i guess a trail of votes for verification was only assured or demanded in certain states. I grew weary from the wary of it all...i forget. Obviously, it never went federal and it is up to the individual states still. Of course...secretary of state of each state. Drives me nuts. Paper trail hard copy should be manditory across the country.
Smith said she's still not particularly concerned about Hart Intercivic. Her concern is over any equipment from any company that doesn't leave an auditable trail. "We need systems and rules in place that makes it irrelevant who owns the voting machines," she said. "Some of them are recountable and some of them are not. And that's the situation that's really unacceptable."

According to Verified Voting, there are 118 jurisdictions with as many as 7.8 million registered voters whose votes are counted by Hart Intercivic machines that produce no paper records whatsoever -- in other words, no way to make sure they've been counted properly. That includes jurisdictions in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/23/pro-romney-firm-voting-machines_n_2006697.html

[Martina]

Polls are a little better today. Still basically a tie in terms of popular vote. No telling. But Nate Silver increased the probability of an Obama win to 73 percent. When it was in the low sixties, I was not sleeping well.

[Kobi]

I never know how much stock to put in polls. It's a math thing with probability and variables and target audiences and margins of error all hinging on unpredictable people.

But, I am curious as to the polls showing Romney gaining with women and Obama gaining with men.

Anyone have an opinion why this is happening?

[Corkey]

Polls only drive up my BP, so I don't put too much stock in them. The only thing that matters is to vote.

[Allison W]

In the same vein as what DMW posted, apparently a retired NSA analyst has spent the last several years analyzing vote records and vote counts in his home state of Arizona and then the greater United States, and found very, very suspicious anomalies strongly favouring the GOP across the board.

http://www.laprogressive.com/gop-is-stealing-elections/#sthash.VAlnANuH.dpbs

[Martina]

But, I am curious as to the polls showing Romney gaining with women and Obama gaining with men.

Anyone have an opinion why this is happening?


In my opinion, it's because he is using the word "peace" every other second. He's pandering, and it's working.

[Allison W]

In my opinion, it's because he is using the word "peace" every other second. He's pandering, and it's working.

I'm a little ashamed to think that all it takes to gain with women is to say "peace" a lot, like it's the equivalent of shitting sunshine and rainbows.

[DMW]

NARAL petition... telling Romney to withdraw his endorsement of yet another
dude who wants to control a womans body. Maybe this will help with the polls...


http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/elections/2012/gop-presidential-candidates/mourdock-survey.html

Dear ,

Did you know that Mitt has endorsed a candidate who said that pregnancy from rape “is something that God intended to happen”?

Romney-Ryan's Endorsements

Tell Romney to take a stand for women and withdraw his endorsement.

I thought I had heard everything until a U.S. Senate candidate from Indiana, Richard Mourdock, said, “even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that God intended to happen.”

Who could be so callous as to deny a rape survivor the right to have full control over what happens to her body after such a traumatic experience?

What’s even more disturbing is that Mitt Romney endorsed this guy and appeared in a TV ad for Richard Mourdock.

I’ve called on Mitt Romney to withdraw his endorsement, and I know we can make a real impact if we can get 30,000 people to stand with me. Please add your name.

Romney’s campaign responded to the controversy saying that they did not agree with Mourdock’s comments—but Romney stopped short of withdrawing support for his campaign.

It is painfully clear that Mitt Romney places higher value in supporting his extreme anti-choice ally over supporting women who have survived a sexual assault.

Help me show Romney’s campaign and the media that Americans are appalled by his refusal to take a stand for women. Please add your name to our statement calling on Romney to withdraw his endorsement.

Thanks for speaking out.

Nancy Keenan

[Martina]

Ohio, state of my birth, don't let me down again.

It's just so close, and Ohio is . . . well, Ohio.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/oh/ohio_romney_vs_obama-1860.html

[BullDog]

Obama has steadily been holding a small lead in Ohio for a very long time and other states are looking pretty good as well- but of course a small lead is a small lead.

Now I am worried about this damn storm- of course people's safety first- but also Turnout! I am a nervous wreck that this could throw everything out of whack.

[Corkey]

Obama has steadily been holding a small lead in Ohio for a very long time and other states are looking pretty good as well- but of course a small lead is a small lead.

Now I am worried about this damn storm- of course people's safety first- but also Turnout! I am a nervous wreck that this could throw everything out of whack.

We can walk to our precinct so no worries, may need paper ballots but we're going to vote no matter.

[Kobi]

Are there any precedents for storms delaying elections?

[Corkey]

Are there any precedents for storms delaying elections?



I can't remember it ever being an issue. But that is when paper ballots were used.

[DapperButch]

We can walk to our precinct so no worries, may need paper ballots but we're going to vote no matter.


Same here...can walk. I did have this weird little panic thing happen...like what if something got lost and I am not registered and/or they moved my polling place and I don't know it?

Crazy thoughts from a scared Obama won't win, Butch. :praying:

[Martina]

3ACCHxF4Afc

[BullDog]

Corkey & Ami, Dapper & Tantalizing stay safe out there!

Oh and yes be sure to vote, glad to hear you can walk. Crawl if you have to, lol. Seriously though we are thinking of you.

One state I am a bit nervous about because of the storm is PA. As I understand it there is only in person voting on Election day itself. Correct me if I'm wrong Corkey. So if the weather is bad maybe it effects turnout? OK hopefully not.

I haven't heard about in person voting days for other states that could be effected by the storm yet.

Nate Silver analyzed Ohio today- being up 2.3 with 10 days to go. He seems pretty bullish about that. Woo hoo.

[Corkey]

Corkey & Ami, Dapper & Tantalizing stay safe out there!

Oh and yes be sure to vote, glad to hear you can walk. Crawl if you have to, lol. Seriously though we are thinking of you.

One state I am a bit nervous about because of the storm is PA. As I understand it there is only in person voting on Election day itself. Correct me if I'm wrong Corkey. So if the weather is bad maybe it effects turnout? OK hopefully not.

I haven't heard about in person voting days for other states that could be effected by the storm yet.

Nate Silver analyzed Ohio today- being up 2.3 with 10 days to go. He seems pretty bullish about that. Woo hoo.


There is early absentee for seniors and differently abled, but we're on those damn machines, so I hope they do have paper ballots. PA is fired up to vote, trust me Dems are gonna vote even if we have to stand in line all fricken day.

[BullDog]

There is early absentee for seniors and differently abled, but we're on those damn machines, so I hope they do have paper ballots. PA is fired up to vote, trust me Dems are gonna vote even if we have to stand in line all fricken day.

Yes I believe you Corkey! I lived in central NY for 10 years and Northeasterners are no wimps when it comes to weather. I hope the storm weakens and everyone stays safe.

I don't know why I torture myself with these things, but I did look up which states have early in person voting. Over 30 states do, but many along the eastern seaboard don't. :| Hopefully the bad weather will have passed by Election Day, but it would be nice for people to have more leeway.

[Soon]

From the Miami Herald which endorsed Obama:

"Romney has taken so many contradictory positions on important issues — abortion, immigration, even Obamacare (first he said he would repeal it; then he said he would keep the parts most people like) — that he could take any action he chooses once in office and claim that it fulfills a campaign promise he made at one point or another. He has run on his record, and he has run from his record.

That’s not an issue for the president. Not all Americans like what he stands for, but they know who he is. He has championed the middle class and has a larger, more tolerant notion of America that includes closing the inequality gap and evening the playing field, as exemplified by making an equal-pay-for-women bill the first law he signed. He has fought for the DREAM Act on behalf of the immigrant youths brought here by their parents, and he wants a Supreme Court that will continue to support Roe v. Wade. That’s crucial."

[DapperButch]

Corkey & Ami, Dapper & Tantalizing stay safe out there!

Oh and yes be sure to vote, glad to hear you can walk. Crawl if you have to, lol. Seriously though we are thinking of you.

One state I am a bit nervous about because of the storm is PA. As I understand it there is only in person voting on Election day itself. Correct me if I'm wrong Corkey. So if the weather is bad maybe it effects turnout? OK hopefully not.

I haven't heard about in person voting days for other states that could be effected by the storm yet.

Nate Silver analyzed Ohio today- being up 2.3 with 10 days to go. He seems pretty bullish about that. Woo hoo.

Thanks, BullDog. I am worried about this very large Weeping willow tree in my yard as it is close to the house. I will be here by myself, but have close neighbors.

Tantalizing is for sure overprepared at her house. Part of her job at work is disaster stuff, so she's got it going on! Tantalizing's 18 year old son will be there with her.

Yes, for Delaware there is no early voting. And I seriously would walk if I needed to. DE should be an easy win for Obama, anyway.

[Martina]

Listening to yesterday's Rachel Maddow show. Rachel went on a rant about Romney being willing to say any damned thing and then not correcting it when the truth is pointed out. Like saying that Jeep is going to close down and go to China.

Anyway, Rachel:

"It’s ok for your uncle who watches Fox News all day and yells at the TV to say, 'I saw that story somewhere.' But when you want to be President of the United States, you can’t keep proving that your first line of intelligence is the suffocating oxygen-free right wing blogosphere . . . . Stuff is not true just because you read it somewhere."

[BullDog]

Listening to yesterday's Rachel Maddow show. Rachel went on a rant about Romney being willing to say any damned thing and then not correcting it when the truth is pointed out. Like saying that Jeep is going to close down and go to China.

Anyway, Rachel:

"It’s ok for your uncle who watches Fox News all day and yells at the TV to say, 'I saw that story somewhere.' But when you want to President of the United States, you can’t keep proving that your first line of intelligence is the suffocating oxygen-free right wing blogosphere . . . . Stuff is not true just because you read it somewhere."

One of the most maddening things about all his lies is even when reporters or others find out he's lying, he tells his lies in front of big crowds- the debates, campaign speeches. The corrections are heard by much smaller audiences. So he gets away with murder.

[Martina]

Slight dip for Obama today, and now the storm.

Wondering how this will affect the ground game and then actual voting.

[DapperButch]

You know, there are moments when I am really, genuinely terrified as to what will happen if Romney wins office.

I mean, he is SCARY. Seriously. It is WHO he is that terrifies me the most. Not what he says, not what he thinks...it is actually the fact that we DON'T know what he think that is the really scary thing. Those kind of people are the dangerous ones.

Of one things I am certain...it can NOT good for women, POC, or the poor in our country.

Even his smile is creepy.

Yes, I know that I am speaking to the choir here, but does anyone else have those terrifying moments where it really REALLY hits them?

At least we knew with George W. he was an idiot...but Romney is way smart and due to that has more of any ability to do more damaging things...things that will set women WAY back...a very dangerous man he is.

[Kätzchen]

I cannot resist tonight and feel compelled to say what's on my mind... not only about the election, but the Press.

I will be *so* upset if Romney is voted into office - especially in light of past issues with voter balloting issues (fraud, tampering, intimidation, et al). Worse, it would appear that there is not one single person of executive power who will call out this type of blatant (or in some cases, it's well hidden) case of what I feel is a civil rights related issue. I wish it wasn't the end of my day so I could find the term I really want to use that describes this situation perfectly, but apparently I am tired.

But more importantly, this is what bothers me just as much as the former issue concerning Romney: It's that the Press seems to not care how news is reported or what constitutes news, in and of itself, or even prioritizing their news content in terms of not only reporting on election issues (as well as news in general) that is of paramount importance to every single person who lives within the jurisdiction of the US, but in terms of providing news that is honest, credible, legitimate and not what the news has been offering up as 'news.'

I find it unconscienable (did I spell that right?) that the public in general, it would seem, does not feel compelled to hold the journalistic press corps to a standard that is above reproach and that it would appear that counter-news agencies seem to not call out major corps press members for their less than stellar performance in news reporting.

I feel that the press and other social media outlets are culpable in manipulating press releases and publishing them as bonafide, legitimate, credible sources of news (information). I can't tell you how many times I have called into an editors desk and launched my own disapproval of their so-called process as a way of taking action; and encouraging others I know here at home, to make calls or write letters to Editors of news periodicals/publications, as well.

[Martina]

Slight bump for Obama today. Living and dying by these polls is ridiculous, but I do it to an extent.

I keep reading people saying that independents tend to break late for Republicans and that there is polling to show that they are breaking for Romney.

I also hear that they think turnout is going to be low -- unrelated to the storm. That's bad too for Dems.

Are there trends in the polls, or are people just steeling themselves in case the worst happens?

Those pictures of Obama with Gov. Christie and the folks from New Jersey have to help.

Re the battleground states, I was worried about Pennsylvania, but it looks like there wasn't that much flood damage. Fuck Virginia. If we win it, good. If not, meh. I don't think much hinges on it (though what do I know?) But it would be a blow to lose PA. New York and New Jersey are ours. If the vote turned out otherwise, it would have to be related to storm related errors. So, just give us those electoral votes and let those folks concentrate on digging out and drying out.

I can't wait for this damned election to be over.

[Slater]

My happy thought of the day is that Romney's position on FEMA could cost him Florida. It has been a dead heat there and talk like that has to scare the crap out of them. If Obama wins Florida, it's game over.

[Kobi]

My happy thought of the day is that Romney's position on FEMA could cost him Florida. It has been a dead heat there and talk like that has to scare the crap out of them. If Obama wins Florida, it's game over.



I cant read any Romney stuff these days. What is his, currently likely to change tomorrow, take on FEMA?

[DMW]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/31/colorado-4-year-old-is-ti_n_2048867.html


Adorable and sad at the same time.
Poor kid...she said it though...it should be so obvious.

[Martina]

Bloomberg endorsed Obama!! I don't know why I am so happy about that. It wasn't like New York wasn't going to go blue anyway. But I am.

*big grin*

[tonaderspeisung]

Bloomberg endorsed Obama!! I don't know why I am so happy about that. It wasn't like New York wasn't going to go blue anyway. But I am.

*big grin*


ok now i'm all kinds of suspicious

bloomberg - who i always thought he did not support obama politics - outright tells him not to come around for super storm photo ops - and he gives him his endorsement

christie - who had that rather unflattering toward obama leadership convention speech - he's all nicey nice and now offering overtly favorable and borderline overly effusive commentary on obama's abilities to jump into action and lead

something is a foot

[Corkey]

NJ will be voting from military trucks. So one question answered.

[Martina]

Polls are looking good. Fingers crossed.

[Kobi]

Got my first celebrity political call today.....from Matt Damon supporting Elizabeth Warren over Scott Brown for the Senate. Matt has good taste.

Wonder when Ben Afflect will be calling?

[Miss Scarlett]

OK, now I think I've seen it all...has anyone else seen the SuperPAC sponsored commercial set in China in 2030?

All the negative talk about China in this election is creeping me out. They're one of this country's biggest creditors, is all that talk really a good idea? Just wondering...

[Kätzchen]

I have my ballot ready to deliver by hand to the elections offices downtown on Monday. It took me nearly a half a month to wade through all the political construals that were provided in what seems to have been a tome of information.

And, like so many of us here, I am deeply concerned about the outcome of the current presidential election.

[DMW]

http://truth-out.org/news/item/12505-ohios-ballot-woes-could-delay-election-results-for-weeks

The Columbus Dispatch reported on Thursday that a data-sharing glitch and mistakes by election officials have caused thousands of absentee ballot requests to be rejected. While Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted maintains that this was a computer error, the Northeast Ohio Voter Advocates found an abnormally high rate of rejected absentee ballot requests in Cuyahoga County, a Democratic stronghold that includes Cleveland. The Cuyahoga Board of Elections determined that 865 ballot requests had been erroneously thrown out.

canvas ohio?....

[DMW]

OK, now I think I've seen it all...has anyone else seen the SuperPAC sponsored commercial set in China in 2030?

All the negative talk about China in this election is creeping me out. They're one of this country's biggest creditors, is all that talk really a good idea? Just wondering...

I know? the debt...but, they depend on us to buy from them.
China needs the US for their exports....we buy tons from them. That is our leverage.
The exports to china from US has risen...finally...

http://www.ustr.gov/countries-regions/china
https://www.uschina.org/statistics/tradetable.html

[DMW]

Saturday, November 3, 2012 6:45 PM
Hey, can you spare some time between now and Tuesday to get out the vote for Barack?

Our campaign's strength has always been in our grassroots organization. But that neighbor-to-neighbor outreach doesn't just happen -- it's driven by people like you.

And over these last few days, we're counting on you. Can you help out by making some calls using our online call tool?

I can't stress enough how much Barack needs you. Our actions over those last three days -- how many calls we make, how many doors we knock, how many voters we get to the polls -- will decide this election.

I've met volunteers all around the country over the past year and a half who have been organizing so hard they've practically worn out the soles of their shoes just to get us to this moment.

If you're one of them, thank you. And if you're joining in for these last days, thank you, too. That's what it takes to move our country forward. And that's what's going to give us four more years to finish what we started.

So sign up now to get out the vote by making calls to voters, on Election Day and before:

http://www.barackobama.com/call/times?utm_medium=email&utm_source=obama&utm_content=httpmybarackobamacomCallToolShifts&utm_campaign=em12_20121103_mo_ct2&source=em12_20121103_mo_ct2

http://my.barackobama.com/Call-Tool-Shifts

Or start calling right now:

http://my.barackobama.com/Start-Calling-Now

https://login.barackobama.com/login

This couldn't matter more.

Michelle Obama

[DapperButch]

Anxiety level from 1-10 about election:

985793887538956709349850932458730946853094583094+

[SelfMadeMan]

I'm right there with you Dapper! I am so nervous... I try not to let myself look at polls because they still show it to be neck and neck. I just don't know what I'll do if Romney were to be elected. People say it all the time, but I honestly would want to leave the country. I have never really feared a Presidential candidate like I do him. He's so backwards and has such a warped agenda. And after 8 years of Bush, and the fact that we're still not healed from the damage he did, Romney would just devastate the country on so many levels.
:seeingstars:

[ruffryder]

The Miami Herald endorsing Obama, Orlando Sentinel endorsing Romney.

I will look at this thread to see if there is any , however is there a poll somewhere based on races and their choice for President? In FL, there is a wide variety of hispanics and latin people and I believe they may lean towards Obama. When I was early voting the other day, a caravan of hispanics came through where we waiting in line in cars decked out with "Hispanics for Obama" honking. Later some came by walking with drums chanting "Obama" I also saw a tv news show about Asians also being divided between the two candidates and how the Asian population has grown so much in the U.S. These two candidates are focusing some of their ads to these two races for votes, they would be crazy not to!

As for endorsing, I kinda like Starbucks take on that. On their Facebook page they said,

" We respect and value the many things that make our customers and partners diverse, including different political beliefs. As a company, Starbucks has not endorsed or financially supported any presidential candidate or political party. Howard's political views are his own as a private citizen. He believes that voting is a personal choice and one of the most fundamental expressions of American citizenship that we have. He wants everyone to go to the polls on November 6 no matter who they support. "

[ruffryder]

the key states to win :

PA and OH

[Soon]

...just finished reading some encouraging articles on HP--dare I get my hopes up? :vigil:

[ruffryder]

something to keep in mind..

Not sure about other states but I know here in FL some absentee ballots were thrown out because people's signatures had changed from when they registered to vote to when they signed their ballot and mailed it out. Some people changed their signature in that time so those ballots got thrown out and those were sent a letter in the mail to redo it. :confused:

More than 400,000 voters in Central Florida have already voted, nearly a quarter of them.

The Fl Democratic Party had to sue to get a judge to extend the hours for early voting since the governor wasn't budging!! Also a cooler had to be denonated for fear of a bomb, closing one early voting site for hours, but turned out to be nothing.

[Semantics]

Got my first celebrity political call today.....from Matt Damon supporting Elizabeth Warren over Scott Brown for the Senate. Matt has good taste.

Wonder when Ben Afflect will be calling?


I got a call from Pat Boone yesterday.


He was calling on behalf of Linda McMahon (running in CT). I called her branch office immediately and asked them if Linda was aware that Pat Boone is a bigot who said that homosexuals are worse than terrorists.

The man who answered apologized and said he'd had no idea and that Linda McMahon supports the gay community.

Having an asshole like Pat Boone call is real supportive, right? :|

[Kätzchen]

Well, here we are, less than 48 hrs away from hearing the verdict.




Side note: I have yet to be called by anyone. But this probably has to do with me setting the parameters on who gets to call me. I don't like calls, so that probably figures in respectively to my own parameters being respectfully held in place. However, I have had a number of people who have paid visits to me at home. Each time a volunteer worker came to my house, usually late in the evening and fortunately I was home, I found them to be very respectful in their presentation of information and I always made a concerted effort to thank them for coming to my house and checking up on me and sharing with me items of relevancy. I plan to write to each respective candidate office and share positive feedback with them on each visit made on my behalf and to advocate this approach again, if necessary in up-coming voter elections issues. I find that grass roots organizational approaches are probably the best single method available, in organizing positive voter turnout; with voters being much more informed by having a personal conversation with people who are well versed on voter issues, rather than a call or being assailed by non-sustainable practices (mailbox full of pamphets, flyers, etc).

Leaving less of a carbon footprint is always better.

[Martina]

He's also a birther.

I got a call from Pat Boone yesterday.


He was calling on behalf of Linda McMahon (running in CT). I called her branch office immediately and asked them if Linda was aware that Pat Boone is a bigot who said that homosexuals are worse than terrorists.

The man who answered apologized and said he'd had no idea and that Linda McMahon supports the gay community.

Having an asshole like Pat Boone call is real supportive, right? :|

[Martina]

I got an email from Kiefer Sutherland. *swoon* He wants me to vote for Prop 34 to end the death penalty in California. I was going to anyway, but I might have changed my mind for him. He is one of the very few men I would do.

Mmm. Jack Bauer. I would email him back, but unfortunately his email address is info@voteyeson34.org

[Martina]

Okay, Rachel is scaring me. Why did she need to get on on a Sunday night just to scare me?

It's about the long lines and all the ways that Republicans have managed to discourage voting.

[BullDog]

Why Romney hasn't released his tax returns: He's been using a tax loophole (now defunct charitable remainder unitrust with old users grandfathered in) where he essentially uses a "charity" (in his case the Mormon church) for tax deferement, still gets annual payments from the trust, and the charity gets very little in return.

This doesn't seem to be getting much coverage- maybe because the story broke during Hurricane Sandy.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-29/romney-avoids-taxes-via-loophole-cutting-mormon-donations.html


"Setting up the trust, worth between $750,000 and $1.25 million in 2001, enabled Romney to take an upfront deduction for his charitable donation to the trust, while also earning annual payments worth 8 percent of the trust's assets. Unlike much of his own portfolio, Romney's charitable trust investments have been very conservative. (It's now just all cash.) As a result, according to Bloomberg, the trust earned only $48 last year, while paying out nearly $37,000 to the Romneys. Meanwhile, the principal, which goes to the charity upon Romney's death, has been dwindling as a result of those payouts, down to $421,000 in 2011."

http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2012/10/romneys-charitable-trust-not-very-charitable

[UofMfan]

Obama Responds to 10-Year-Old's Heartfelt Letter About Her Dads ~ HuffPo Jamie McGonnigal Founder, TalkAboutEquality.com (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jamie-mcgonnigal/obama-responds-to-10-year-olds-heartfelt-letter-about-her-dads_b_2074213.html)

[Novelafemme]

the key states to win :

PA and OH

I thought it was Florida and Ohio?

[Corkey]

It is Fl and OH, PA is not in play, Robme just want to pull a fake out. And PA is the only market not yet flooded with ads. We're kinda sick of his pandering.

[Novelafemme]

It is Fl and OH, PA is not in play, Robme just want to pull a fake out. And PA is the only market not yet flooded with ads. We're kinda sick of his pandering.

Thanks Corkey! That caught my eye because I had just read about FL and OH this morning. Thought perhaps I missed something. :)

[BullDog]

The first thing I will watch for is Virginia. Polls close at 7 pm EST. If Obama wins VA he can win without either OH or FL. Obama seems to have a small lead in the polls in VA. If he won VA, he would also need Wisconsin, Nevada and Iowa or NH- very doable. That is of course assuming he still gets PA, MI and MN and other expected blue states which shouldn't be a problem.

I think Obama will win OH. I hope he wins FL as a victory for democracy, but he can win without it. Salute to all the voters waiting in long lines to vote and standing up against voter suppression efforts in FL, Ohio and elsewhere.

Obama can still definitely win without VA, but if he does it could avoid everything hinging on Ohio and FL where if it is very close it will get ugly with all the Republican shenanigans, counting of provisional ballots, and potential recounts and lawsuits. Then again there is a good chance Obama will win a clear if still close margin in Ohio and avoid all that.

I do think Obama is going to win but I'm still a nervous wreck!

[princessbelle]

The first thing I will watch for is Virginia. Polls close at 7 pm EST. If Obama wins VA he can win without either OH or FL. Obama seems to have a small lead in the polls in VA. If he won VA, he would also need Wisconsin, Nevada and Iowa or NH- very doable. That is of course assuming he still gets PA, MI and MN and other expected blue states which shouldn't be a problem.

I think Obama will win OH. I hope he wins FL as a victory for democracy, but he can win without it. Salute to all the voters waiting in long lines to vote and standing up against voter suppression efforts in FL, Ohio and elsewhere.

Obama can still definitely win without VA, but if he does it could avoid everything hinging on Ohio and FL where if it is very close it will get ugly with all the Republican shenanigans, counting of provisional ballots, and potential recounts and lawsuits. Then again there is a good chance Obama will win a clear if still close margin in Ohio and avoid all that.

I do think Obama is going to win but I'm still a nervous wreck!

Which chart did you get this from? The one on the fridge? The one taped up in the hall? The ones in the office?

I know this election is important. More important i think for me because this is the first one i know every single way it can possibly go, thanks to the wallpaper of charts, red and blue state drawings, population sizes and the bright purple electoral votes, the times the polls close in EVERY state...hung everywhere.

But. I will be glad when President Obama kicks A, it will be good to get on with his plan for our bright future as women and as a country....

AND i can have my markers back. ;)

[Kätzchen]

Well, I just got back from my morning of errands:
first on the list was drop the ballot off downtown.

And let me tell you, things were all too quiet downtown.

I have to say, Bully, when I read your post just now about Romney, I can't help but think of the latest headline news were Apple paid less than 2% in taxes on their international accts. I'm all for taking down poorly written law pertaining to corporate law and tax law. But I take heart that faceless corporations are not really faceless. I can think of two perpetrators who sit side by side in my mind:

The Steve Jobs empire and the so-called empire of Romney.

Luke Skywalker, where are you???

What we need is the Empire of the People to strike back and send a very large, impossible to ignore, message that white-collar crime of this nature will not be tolerated any more. Period.

[princessbelle]

Speaking of the President...

Has anyone noticed how much weight he's lost lately? I can't imagine how much stress he is under, not to mention the traveling. But, i iz a little worried.

Maybe after the election, we can have he and Mechelle over for some country cooking.

I would definitely have to dig out my "good" dishes.

[macele]

Which chart did you get this from? The one on the fridge? The one taped up in the hall? The ones in the office?

I know this election is important. More important i think for me because this is the first one i know every single way it can possibly go, thanks to the wallpaper of charts, red and blue state drawings, population sizes and the bright purple electoral votes, the times the polls close in EVERY state...hung everywhere.

But. I will be glad when President Obama kicks A, it will be good to get on with his plan for our bright future as women and as a country....

AND i can have my markers back. ;)





i would keep her markers, ... find her construction paper (she knows she has got some.) and glitter (she knows she has got some.), ... and tell her i had to make victory posters and confetti!

[macele]

speaking of michelle. my niece said that she voted for obama at school because of his wife. she's all over nickelodeon.

[Kobi]

The first thing I will watch for is Virginia. Polls close at 7 pm EST. If Obama wins VA he can win without either OH or FL. Obama seems to have a small lead in the polls in VA. If he won VA, he would also need Wisconsin, Nevada and Iowa or NH- very doable. That is of course assuming he still gets PA, MI and MN and other expected blue states which shouldn't be a problem.

I think Obama will win OH. I hope he wins FL as a victory for democracy, but he can win without it. Salute to all the voters waiting in long lines to vote and standing up against voter suppression efforts in FL, Ohio and elsewhere.

Obama can still definitely win without VA, but if he does it could avoid everything hinging on Ohio and FL where if it is very close it will get ugly with all the Republican shenanigans, counting of provisional ballots, and potential recounts and lawsuits. Then again there is a good chance Obama will win a clear if still close margin in Ohio and avoid all that.

I do think Obama is going to win but I'm still a nervous wreck!



Makes note to tune in to channel Bulldog tomorrow for up to date info on the ins and outs of the election returns. Is there an app to get text updates?

[Soon]

:blink:

8Yb6QjyKyeo

[DMW]

Credo petition...85% there...http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/ohio_voting/?p=ohio_voting&r=6988906&id=50024-5787607-sXER1Sx
Tell Ohio's Secretary of State: Count every vote

With razor thin margins predicted in Ohio, the state's Republican Secretary of State took steps this weekend to modify vote counting procedures in a way that could invalidate thousands of provisional ballots.1

Previously, it was the responsibility of trained election workers to record identification information presented by voters who submit provisional ballots. But now Secretary of State John Husted has put that burden on voters to record this information (which can often be confusing to identify) on their provisional ballots -- paving the way for a significant number of ballots to be thrown out due to recording errors even though the voter presented a valid ID that was accepted by the pollworker.

Tell Ohio's Secretary of State: Count every vote -- rescind your administrative orders aimed at suppressing the vote in Ohio.

Husted, a Republican, has already been working to suppress the vote in his state. Many workers who have trouble getting to the polls during regular business hours on a Tuesday traditionally favor weekend early voting. Husted tried to end weekend early voting in Ohio by reducing the state's five weekends of early voting to zero. In response, the courts ordered him to maintain access to one weekend of early voting -- the weekend before the election -- open to Ohio voters, though allowing him to cancel the previous four weekends of access. As a result, voters at many early vote locations had to wait outside in the cold, in lines stretching outside the buildings and around city blocks.

And now, as the election in Ohio is reportedly a dead heat, and it's clear the state's 18 electoral votes could very well decide the presidency, Husted is taking additional steps to suppress the votes of Ohio citizens.

Republicans have a long tradition of partisan Secretaries of State like Ohio's Ken Blackwell and Florida's Katherine Harris who cared more about delivering their state's elections to Republicans than ensuring their state's citizens could cast a ballot that counts.

We cannot let John Husted join their ranks and use his position as the chief of elections in Ohio to swing his state's electoral votes to Mitt Romney.

Tell Ohio's Secretary of State: Stop the shenanigans and count every vote.

1. Andrew Cohen, "Ohio's Provisional Ballot Order: The Biggest Legal Story of the Weekend," The Atlantic, November 4, 2012.

[Medusa]

This voter intimidation shit they are pulling in Florida is about to make me bust a fucking vein.

[Martina]

If I weren't so dog tired from a long hard day edgeekating the next generation, I would be losing my fucking mind.

Bully, do you tweet?

[princessbelle]

If I weren't so dog tired from a long hard day edgeekating the next generation, I would be losing my fucking mind.

Bully, do you tweet?

Sorry Martina but Rachel is on. The human population, me, Bella, BFP and world hunger does not exist from 9-10pm eastern time in our house.

I will tell you this though...she has a flip phone *snickers. If she is gonna be so freaking dogmatic about all of this, with all of this secret (lol) information, she does need to have means to share.

Tomorrow is a big day.

Did i mention, after i vote of course, i'm going shopping? ALlllllllllllllll day!!!!!

[Martina]

Great Rachel quote: "Clean socks are a courtesy to everyone."

lol and her encouraging us to take fruit rollups and a space blanket to the polls. lol. I am so chuckling.

Second great quote: "CARBS! . . . pasta, people, pasta!"

[Corkey]

Great Rachel quote: "Clean socks are a courtesy to everyone."

lol and her encouraging us to take fruit rollups and a space blanket to the polls. lol. I am so chuckling.

Second great quote: "CARBS! . . . pasta, people, pasta!"


Don't forget the chair!!

[BullDog]

If I weren't so dog tired from a long hard day edgeekating the next generation, I would be losing my fucking mind.

Bully, do you tweet?

I had a Twitter account set up but haven't used it. Sounds fun! I am JulesWright1 at Twitter.

Based on Rachel's recommendation we are having pasta for dinner tomorrow night. :D

[princessbelle]

I had a Twitter account set up but haven't used it. Sounds fun! I am JulesWright1 at Twitter.

Based on Rachel's recommendation we are having pasta for dinner tomorrow night. :D

You have a twitter account? I'm impressed. May have even swooned a little there....

AND...

Yes we will have sketti tomorrow night, cause, well you know, that's what Rachel says to do. :|

For those of you facing long lines at the polls tomorrow and are taking chairs. Don't forget if you get real frustrated or loney and bored, you can take the lead from Clint and talk to it. I'm sure it will help pass the time.

[Martina]

She said to carbo load. That means start now. :)

Found you, Bulldog. I can't follow you, but I can see yer tweets.

[Martina]

I am eating yogurt covered pretzels. I think that counts. Feels carby.

[BullDog]

She said to carbo load. That means start now. :)

Found you, Bulldog. I can't follow you, but I can see yer tweets.

Cool. I don't know if I need to do anything to let people follow me, there are a few that are. I will tweet!

[Martina]

Figured it out. You are now have another follower. :)

[LeftWriteFemme]

couldn't resist posting this here, too......I already voted but I hope everyone who can gets out and votes!

jjXyqcx-mYY

[aishah]

are we there yet are we there yet are we are we are we are we there yet????

*bounces up and down*

[Gentle Tiger]

What a difference for years can make. In the last election I was on pins and needles because I was excited. This year I am in knots because of what is at stake.

[aishah]

What a difference for years can make. In the last election I was on pins and needles because I was excited. This year I am in knots because of what is at stake.

that's hilarious because i have the opposite experience almost. the last election, i felt so much violent tension around me leading up to it (partly because i was visibly muslim at the time and lived in a different area and due to the polarization and everything surrounding the election, there were times i felt scared to leave my house). this time i feel more hopeful and less terrified.

actually i think it's just mostly that i'm so ready for it to be over.

[firegal]

I,m with ya gentle tiger

Knots....yes! Less than 24 hours...Please Please let it be good news!

Our govenors race is a tough one too...the koch brothers invested alot in it.

make or break day tomorrow.

[Martina]

great picture

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2012/11/05/us/politics/20121105_Campaign_337-slide-22HG/20121105_Campaign_337-slide-22HG-hpMedium.jpg

[aishah]

_H1nGEadNtI

republican acquaintances on fb are bashing obama for having jay-z at his rally and maybe it wasn't the best political move but...this is today's jam.

[tantalizingfemme]

See you all at the polls!! :)

[alexri]

I am terrified today.

Four years ago, I felt the energy. I felt the excitement. You could just feel it. I had friends over for dinner to watch the election results. I went to bed struggling to fall asleep; there was so much enthusiasm, so much hope. There were so many Obama stickers, so many signs, and an incredible level of activism from people of all ages and races.

This time it feels totally different to me. I feel like the energy has been zapped out of many of us. I cringe at the thought of those who are believing the crazy claims coming from the right as truth. I fear a backlash.

I am scared. I can't watch the election coverage today. I feel like I'm watching a horror movie and I need you to tell me when it's over.

I'm off to go vote now. I don't want to look at the news until tomorrow morning.

[Miss Scarlett]

What a difference for years can make. In the last election I was on pins and needles because I was excited. This year I am in knots because of what is at stake.

Exactly how I feel about this year's election!

It makes my skin crawl that the ultra right wing of the GOP has grown so much over the last four years. They give me the impression that they are determined to take away the rights of women and minorities. That's pretty scary stuff.

I wonder how the women and minorities in the GOP can accept and support such a platform. It doesn't make sense.

I also suspect a great many R/R supporters can't explain why they support R/R beyond "He is not Obama."

[DapperButch]

I wish I had taken the day off, so that I could watch the coverage all day. Or AT LEAST didn't have a 5:30 meeting. What was I thinking?

At the same time, watching the coverage all day would be a excruciating if it was close.

[Gráinne]

All I can say is, if I were Queen of the Country, I would make it so politicians could only campaign for one month before any election. You could do all the debates within that time. I am so burned out on this election, I just want it over with.

[princessbelle]

Voting day is booming in this house. I sorta forgot to reset my alarm clock so when i woke up i thought it was 8. I jumped up and made coffee, turned on MSNBC and me and the dogs were bouncing on the couch.

I just KNEW Bully wouldn't want to be sleeping this late in the morning on election day. The babies and myself tried hard to let her sleep, honest!!!! But when i saw the polls they were broadcasting were a little discerning compared to yesterday, i figured i better see if she was still sleeping. We walked in quietly to the bedroom and whispered "Are you awake?" No answer. So, what else could i do? I whispered a little louder..."Are you awake????????" Oh of course she was!!!!

However, it was 7, not 8.

Gonna be a longgggggggggg day.

[Kobi]

Im just gonna plop here and wait for the Bulldog updates. Hope there are charts and graphs cuz my non math oriented brain gets visual stuff better.

The odd part about having voted early, is you dont have access to the energy at the polls.....which, considering this is a gop town, is not a bad thing.

Yet, I trust my gut and it is oddly calm given what all is at stake. Not sure if this means everything will be ok, or if it is just numb.

[Novelafemme]

I am anxious, nervous, hopeful, worried, etc.

GO'BAMA!!!

[Gaige]

I just voted FOR Marylands Civil Marriage Protection Act (House Bill 438). This act amends current law to allow gay and lesbian couples to obtain a civil marriage license. Fingers crossed that this passes.