2012 US General Election Discussions: Start to Finish

[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.
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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/...Fview.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/2012/1...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.

[Martina]

Originally Posted by Kobi

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.

[ruffryder]

the key states to win :

PA and OH

[Soon]

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

[Novelafemme]

Originally Posted by ruffryder

the key states to win :

PA and OH

I thought it was Florida and Ohio?

[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. "