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Subscribe to RSSA new FOX News poll has Mitt Romney back on top, but with just 23% (essentially unchanged from August). Perry is second with 19% (a 10-point drop from the last poll), followed by a rising Herman Cain 17% (up 11 points) and Newt Gingrich 11% (up 8 points). Michele Bachmann has dropped all the way down to just 3% (down 5 points from August and 12 points from July). President Obama beats Romney (45%-42%) and Perry (47%-39%). More Republicans than Democrats (39%-30%) say they are “extremely interested” in the next election with supporters of the Tea Party being the most interested – 53% say they’re extremely interested.
Politico contends: “Rick Perry needs an early knockout win. A long, drawn-out primary slog favors Mitt Romney.” More: “[I]f the nomination fight remains a Romney-Perry two-man race after Super Tuesday, among the likeliest scenarios is a long, expensive spring trek through Romney’s political heartland. Perry has just one clear path: To blow the doors off the race with early momentum, and never let up.”
“Florida officials indicated yesterday the key presidential primary state would push its election up to Jan. 31, a decision that would spark a rapid reshuffling of the GOP calendar, accelerate campaigning, and force candidates to once again spend their Christmas season stumping in Iowa and New Hampshire,” the Boston Globe writes. “Ignoring efforts by the national Republican Party to prevent a repeat of the chaotic and compressed 2008 primaries, states such as Florida are again jockeying to hold an influential early primary. In response, New Hampshire is again defending its tradition of holding the first-in-the-nation primary, vowing to push its contest to the earliest days of January or even December of this year, if that is what it takes to stay first.”
BACHMANN: In a speech yesterday before 12,500 students (by the school’s count) at the Liberty University basketball arena, per NBC’s Jamie Novogrod, Michele Bachmann drew on the phrase that seems to have become her new campaign slogan: “don’t settle.” Bachmann introduced the phrase last week, during events connected to the Florida GOP convention in Orlando. Then Bachmann brought it to Iowa on Monday, telling roughly 50 supporters in Cedar Rapids: “we don’t have to settle.” But the message seems to have evolved since then, becoming a statement of her political and life philosophy.
During her speech yesterday, Bachmann used the word “settle” -- or some form of the word -- 44 times. She used the word as a prescription for tough choices, including finding relationship with God, which she described as “the most important decision I made in not settling.” She used the word in terms of finding a spouse, and finding an occupation. She used it in terms of finding a college major, and she used it in terms of finding the will to avoid cutting class.
Traveling to Greenville, SC after her speech at Liberty University, Bachmann continued to lean heavily on her new phrase, “don’t settle,” NBC's Ali Weinberg reports. After doing a radio interview, Bachmann said that South Carolinians were telling her, “Michele, we don’t want to settle” and she implored voters to “have it all and not settle and choose the most conservative candidate in the race.” Bachmann also responded to a question about her citation of a story, apparently from a single Italian newspaper, that Hezbollah might be parking missiles in Cuba. “We’ve put the sources out for that,” was all she would say when asked whether her criteria for getting information would change if elected president. Bachmann finished the day at a private fundraiser in Moore, South Carolina, and has two more fundraisers in North Carolina today; one to raise money for the state's Republican Party and one at a private home.
Today, she heads to a fundraiser in Concord, N.C., followed by a roundtable event at the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, and another fundraiser in Pinehurst. Next week, starting Monday, Bachmann returns to Iowa for two days.
CAIN: He says he couldn’t support Rick Perry if he were the nominee. And he says, "African-Americans have been brainwashed into” voting for Democrats. And he claimed: "This whole notion that all African-Americans are not going to vote for Obama is not necessarily true," Cain said, adding, "I believe a third [of African-Americans] would vote for me, based on my own anecdotal feedback.” The latest NBC/WSJ polling shows President Obama with a 92%-5% approval rating among black voters.
CHRISTIE: The CNS News says Tony Perkins is questioning Christie. “Perkins said the New Jersey governor ‘has made questionable appointments’ to state offices and ‘has backing from individuals who are clearly on the other side of social issues,’” GOP12’s Heinze finds irony in that: “Fascinating, because Perkins gives a free pass to Rudy Giuliani, who -- by nearly every count -- is more socially liberal than Christie.”
PERRY: The LA Times: “Rick Perry's campaign is fighting back forcefully to defend his record and reassure supporters concerned about his shaky debate performances, sending the Texas governor's wife on the campaign trail to explain his position on immigration and holding telephone town halls in which the candidate himself engaged voters on those subjects.”
ROMNEY: The Washington Post’s Rucker: “Once again, there was another group of Republicans begging its latest dream date to run for president. And once again, there was Mitt Romney, in his fifth year of running for president, facing questions about why he never seems to be the one Republicans are swooning over.” Romney, it appears, is “sticking to his tortoise-beats-all-the-hares strategy.”
AP notes that Romney selling himself as “an outsider conflicts with the reality of his lengthy political resume: He has run for higher office four separate times, dating back to an unsuccessful Senate run in 1994. Since then he has crafted a political network, raised mountains of campaign cash and largely focused on life in the public sector. He's essentially been pursuing the presidency full time since leaving the governor's office almost five years ago. And, although he emphasizes his business background as just what the economically ailing country needs, Romney has not held a private-sector job with a regular paycheck in more than a decade.”
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The tea people GOP republican candidates are all just spitting in the wind. They have no ideas, no platform and their only agenda is who can be the nastiest.
They have an agenda that goes beyond their perceived nastiness, Mo.
What we see and hear through the media has nothing to do with that agenda, either.
It's enough to make a sane person 'unsettled'.
What is that agenda Richard? Are they keeping it a secret for a reason? It's funny they have an agenda but nobody knows what it is, other than to make President Obama a one term President, that's not an agenda Richard that's hate.
Making him a 1 term president is not hate. It is protecting the American people, which is why we elected them.
The 2010 election was not so much thinking we would change policy while BHO was in office (as he holds the Veto stamp). It was an election to block and impede his progress until we couldvote him out. The House is doing EXACTLY what we sent them there to do.
And I applaud their efforts and diligence.
ABO 2012
These Radical Right folks are a drag on America. Vote them out in 2012.
At least they dont have to contend with the record for the past 3 years. What does that leave Obama doing into the wind?
Also dsd, dont forget the previous 8, and even better the last few months in the house.
That's true dsdsherm, they have no record in the past three years. They haven't done anything, you know the do nothing tea people GOP republicans.
I dont forget the previous 8. That is what got us into the mess we are in today. Had those 8 not been so bad, we would not HAVE Obama.
But he certainly has made it worse, and opened the door for us to elect whatever cadidate we please. Glad we dont have to go for a moderate in order "appease" the independant. At this point we can nominate a far right loonie and win, as the independant has lost all faith in Obama. And the battleground states are swinging large in the TP direction. Obama is toast.
ABO 2012 (anybody but Obama)
dsdsherm, a true Fox (aka tea people GOP republican propaganda machine) believer.
The fact that you oppose a moderate in my opinion says it all. What is so wrong with a moderate who can actually take REAL steps to try to bring this nation to a compromise so we can actually move forward. I dont see how that is a problem.
Many peole of the right scream bloody murder when it comes to people on the far left, but are unwilling to accept the fact that those on the far right are atleast equally as dangerous to the country.
"my way or the highway" does not work when you are accounting for 100's of millions fo people
Because compromise is for people without the majority support. It has been compromise which continues programs which should be abolished, spends money better off saved, and has brought this country to the point of imploding on its own debt.
I want a TRUE conservative to enact legislation to reverse this destructive path we have been taking. A moderate is just a Liberal Light. I want full flavored conservative fiscal hawk.
And I dont care what you want. You have had your way. It dont work. Now it our shot to correct it.
And dont spew any of the Bush talk. He was not a conservative, he is the moderate you so long for. You really want him back? I dont.
We have lived under the my way or the highway mentality with Obama. To paraphrase.. "Republicans can come along, they just have to ride in the back".. That was when Dems had the full control. And now he has proven the policies dont work.
Time for someone else to ride in the back I say.
ABO 2012
So I see where your views lie, besides the ObamaCare rant I will relieve you from, name another large "My way or the highway" legislation that Obama has encumbered you with? In muchof his legislation Obama ends up including a lot of what the Republicans asked for, only to be slammed for it by both sides.
Bush moderate?
You know that thing we keep saying of how conservatives are pushing the right farther and farther... yeah there it is.
The present field of Republican-Tea Potty people running for President will lose, because they have nothing.
How about the stimulus? I dont believe there was much support for that legislation from our side. Cash for clunkers? GM bailout? Tax breaks for energy improvments on homes?
The left moves left, the right move right. I prefer to be on the side of right, and Bush and his TARP and bailouts was way too left of right for me.
Goverment has a role with free markets. It is to stay out of the way. These policies we keep implementing disrupt the natural progression of free markets.
And it is not tha I disagree with the premise of some of these ideas. If we were in a position of having the excess cash laying around and wanted to subsidize the buying of a more efficient vehicle, I can see its merits. For a couple months the Auto industry did well.
But the policy encouraged the purchase of either inefficient trucks, or foreign cars. There needed to be better guidlelines to ensure it was a benefit. And borrowing money to pay for it??
The issue is we keep implementing costly plans, and then borrow the money to pay for them. I say we examine every government expense/program and see if it is absolutely neccessary. I was recently unemployed, and had a limited income and savings. Every expense was scrutinized and evaluated. Many were eliminated until such time as we had excess sending ability to re-instate them.
I say the government do the same thing. Stop spending borrowed money on programs to "fix" something that has to heal itself over time. There is no quick fix for the economy. It is a product of excessive consumption and bad habits of the public at large (as well as some harmfull government policies). These cannot be fixed by throwing debt at them. In fact, debt and fiscal irresponsibility caused a lot of them. Our economy slowed because people could no longer re-finance their house and pull cash out and blow it. And because people did this, no one had equity when values started to decline. It was a lesson the American people had to learn, and hopefully they did. Some poeple had to lose their house, go bankrupt, lose jobs etc. It was inevitable. The econimic figure we lived under from the Clinton years through Bush's were all fiction. There was no growth, just the accumulation of debt on the housing credit card.
The government needs to pretend it is unemployed and evaluate expenses. The economy will require time to heal (it took over a decade of excessive spending to bring us down, it is not going to bounce back instantly) and the government needs to stay out of the way of this healing process.
All I ask is for a right thinking fiscal hawk to accomplish this and stop spending us into oblivion.
ABO 2012
Job1,
They have the ability to say they are not Obama. That should be plenty for the general public.
ABO 2012
GOP/TP are right there in the wilderness lost and they've not discovered that yet. maybe if they self examine themselves first before putting their candidate to sword, who knows, they might discover something about themselves and that the problem might not entirely be the candidates but their own extreme believes.........like applauding death sentence, mocking gay soldiers, killing of doctors who perform abortion why claiming they're pro-life, calling the President, Anti-Christ.
dsd - You are the majority only in your small mind. Small minded people think like you because they and you don't have the ability to see the bigger picture. First off extremism which is what you and your kind advocate is not where the majority of Americans are. And another point which you have made and endorsed is the notion that your kind have been elected to stop the progress of Obama. Well yes, they have and yes, President Obama has made progress. Isn't it just a little bit curious that the steady progress on unemployment and jobs created in the country started to come to a halt after the 2010 elections? Hmm! I wonder why??? Well I'll tell you because "your kind" elected in the 2010 "cukoo for cocoa puffs" brain freeze moment have done nothing to promote job growth or economic stability in this country. It's your fault and those that you elected for the regression this country is now facing and the downgrading of this country's credit. It falls 100% on Tea Party insanity. You and your kind will be soundly defeated in 2012 so take off your rose colored glasses because they're fogging up on you.
dsdsherm, you say the Tea Party does not need to appease moderates or independents. You are already irritating the mainstream Republicans, i.e the right. You know you don't have the votes of the left.
What does that leave you? Your own small vociferous Tea Party, the radical right.
In the end, it will get you nowhere
dsd, you say you don't care what we want? I have news for you, this is America, a democratic government where everyone gets a vote and everyone has a say.
By your statement you are an authoritarian and there is no place for you here.
Laurie,
I dont have time to address all issue, but lets take a few. BHO said his stimulus would keep unemployement below 8%. This was when they had House and Senate. DId it? What did the House to to prevent it?
The credit downgrade was Obama and Reid's fault. First, Obama spent us into the hole. The S&P were very clear on what the spending resolution needed to be in order to avoid the downgrade. The Republican house passed the cut cap and balance, which the S&P said would have avoided the downgrade. Reid blocked it in the Senate and Obama vowed to veto it anyway. So the responsibililty of this downgrade falls on the Dems, PERIOD. If they seriously wanted to avoid it, all they had to do was advance what the House had already passed.
I dont pretend to be in the majority. I expect when all is said it will be 50/50 or I may even be in the minority (as I am a bit extreme). But I do know that it wont matter. If everyone in Callifornia and everyone in NY voted for BHO, he would certainly have the majority. But if he still lost the previously mentioned Florida, Ohio, Virginia, Carolinas, Nevada, ect even 51%/49% he still loses. And he is polling so badly in these areas his party is worried.
Now, explain to me how you expect to defeat us? Which states that BHO did not carry last time will swing his way? Do you actually believe he carries all the ones I mentioned above?
I dont need glasses to see how this unfolds. Enlighten me on how you expect to achieve the results you declare above?
The system says he loses. And I cannot wait for the day. You can hope and dream all you want, it wont change reality, and cold hard facts.
ABO 2012
My HUGE problem with your reply to my post was that the FAR right will not do what you said. They will not "evaluate" every program see what are the losers and which are the winners, amending those that just need fixing and scrutinization. Instead they will slash all the left "welfare" policies whether they are winners or not. However only policies they introduce will recieve a fear evaluation.
After all that they will greatly boast about how much spending they reduce, ignore the fact that many Americans were left worse off. They will also point to the their own programs that are performing great. Went the democrats complain about what happened, they will simply say that they made concesions to (getting rid of SOME of their losers) and then start name calling and calling us cry babies.
A moderate would truly look at both programs for what they are and go on from there, but the polarization of the base makes this impossible. I mean both the far right and left go, like you, "my way or the highway" and refuse to make concession leaving both sides unhappy with the decisions made.
fielden,
That is correct, I dont care what you want. And yes it is a Democracy. But public opinion has put the majority of states against this administration and its policies and we want different ones. There was little we could do about the spending that we didnt want while it was implemented.
The spirit of compromise and trying to please all sides gets nowhere towards a solution. The divide between sides on how things should be are too great. When 1 side messes it up doing it their way, the other side typically gets a shot at fixing it.
Bush got us Obama. Obama will get us the candidate of our choice this time around. The good part is, Obama made it so bad, we really get our choice this time around. We dont have to try to appease with a moderate candidate "reaching across the ailse". We can go full bore right wing and still get them in. And if the Senate changes hands (which it appears it will as well) then we have the ability to do our agenda and hopefully fix this mess. This is how Democracy works. You mess up bad enough, the keys to the kingdom go to the other side.
ABO 2012
The facts show that the stimulus did indeed work. The problem was it wasn't large enough.
Let's Tax baby Tax.
Job1,
There are no facts, only speculation. Unemployment continued to rise while the stimulus was in place. Foreclosures kept happening. Home values continued to decrease. And now our debt is downgraded due to this extra debt to GDP ratio. Those are facts.
The speculation that it would have been worse without the stimulus is the best they can come up with and there are no facts to back this up. It was historically huge in amount of money spent, and all I hear is we didnt spend enough.
I would like to see these "facts" you speak of. Facts are in numbers that are tangible, not what they percieve they would have been.
And it was sold as a plan to keep unemployment under 8%. Did it? No? Then it was a failure.
ABO 2012
It has to be scary for Republicans to hear that
That means the same thing will happen nationally that happened in Maine in 2010 - the Tea Partiers choose the most right-wing candidate in the primaries, then, he only won the general because an Independent and a Democrat split 61% of the vote. Our Teapublican governor has proven to be deeply divisive as governor and Democrats are fired up to take back the legislature in 2012. Yeah, the Tea Party is on track to make Republicans a minority party going forward.
I would not suspect Maine to be a good example. This is a blue state and has little bearing on the national scale.
When you can point to Florida, Virginia, the Carolinas etc with a similar example and trends pointing to Obama having any hope against a can of soup in any of these states, then i would be concerned.
But as it is, these are the areas the election will be decided, and BHO is way behind. And his administration's policies continue to push it our direction. Boeing cant put a plant in SC because of the adminsitration alliance with labor? Great move Mr President. We appreciate the help in ensuring your defeat.
ABO 2012
I would call Maine a purple state, the coast is bue and the rural inland areas are red.
I think it's a given the South will vote Republican, doesn't it always? It's sad. Talk about voting against your best interests.
One thing that's differtent this election: teachers and other public workers will be fired up and ready to support the President as Republicans have made destroying unions a priority in their agenda. The Republicans have their Tea Party GOTV organization, but is that any match for firefighters, cops, teachers and snow plow drivers? We'll see who is the most motivated to protect their interests: Right-wing cranks or the Brotherhood.
We dont have snowplow drivers in the south, which is why it goes Republican I guess. It is the tipping point :-)
I think the turning point in the Republican favor will be the black vote (and dont go on a racist rant on me, as I am not one). The blacks motivated en mass to be part of the historic election of the first black president. They wanted to cast their vote for the first black man on the ballot. Right wrong or otherwise, it happened.
I do not think there will be the same motivation to Re-Elect the man. They cast their historic vote. But history says they do not motivate like that often. And I dont think a re-election campaign will bring them out like last time. Not being racist, just observant to voting history and speculating.
If htis comes true (and I believe it will) BHO will lose in a landslide.
Silliness.
California is THE blue state.
But we produce the likes of Bilbray and Issa in the house, two of the most conservative members on record.
Doesn't make us a 'purple state'. we're blue as the sky.
So is Maine, despite the few conservative representatives you send up. In a state poll, you guys are nowhere close to 'purple'.
dsdsherm
I've never been down South, so I really shouldn't presume to know the forces are at work there, however, I think it's interesting Florida's Teapublican governor Rick Scott is the least popular governor, among his own constituents, in the country. Can't help but wonder if that will fire up Democrats in that state to vote in 2012. A fired up base is a wonder to behold (and don't forget: the Republicans have targeted reducing teacher's benefits, and teachers vote.)
President Obama will win the Black Vote. That is for sure.
Jobs1,
I know he will win the black vote too (although I cant see why, as he has done nothing for them, other than be one of them) .
I just think the black vote will be much smaller as their base will lack motivation to show up en mass. The historical portion is over.., it is just another election now, and historically they have ignored elections en mass.
Amy,
Unless the Florida Governor is on the ballot, why would it fire up the Dem base? Is he up for re-election in 2012? (really, is he? I dont know) If not, then his popularity (which I have no knowlege of) will have no effect.
BHO is polling very bad in Florida among likely voters. And there is a huge TP presense. His approval rating is in the tank, and without this state alone his path to re-election becomes extremely unlikely. This battleground state, in conjuction with the Carolinas, Virginia, Ohio, Nevada, etc will be where the election is decided just like all past years. BHO carried these states last time around. It is increasingly unlikely he will this time. If the election were held today, he loses ALL of them.
Teachers voed last time as well, overwhemingly for BHO. This is nothing new. Unions voted last time, overwhelming for BHO. Again, not new.
Which group will he get to vote fro him that DID NOT vote for him last time around? And given the lack of historical nature, what will motivate the vote to be BIGGER than lst time?
I will tell you independents are flocking away from his fold. The TP will walk to the voting booth over hot coals and broken glass to vote him out. The opposition is VERY motivated.
What is the motivation to keep BHO from the other side? Again, last election it was a referendum on Bush and a historical election. The left was EXTREMELY motivated and I cannot see how you reproduce the numbers that were produced then for any given segment (teachers, unions, black, snowplow drivers). All these segments produce a lower vote tally this time around. No-one who didnt vote for him last time has been pursuaded to do so this time. Many who did vote for him are realizing the mistake and are motivated to correct their mistake. Many who did not vote as they didnt like McCain, will vote this time as they see the results of their actions. And in battleground states these factors are enough to swing the states.
He loses in a landslide, I see no other outcome.
ABO 2012
Ah.
The conservative dem caucus is also distancing themselves from Obama this time around.
That's a big deal. Most of the democratic base is not the progressives. And the educated democratic base is definitely not the progressives, teachers or unions. It's the tech and white-collar management groups who see 0 fiscal responsibility, broken promises in the things that mattered to us (he defunded NASA!!!! That's a big deal to us software guys), etc.
I'm not only 'not fired up' this time around, but actively hope he gets chopped in the primaries by Hillary or another Dem of worth.
Fat chance, so it looks like A) I'll vote (R) if I can stomache the candidate (I can't, except Paul) or B) I just won't vote this go-round.
Republicans are in bigger political trouble than they want to admit, they all but blew a chance of a lifetime, they have a year left but they have crippled themselves to do anything constructive for the average American. They tortured democrats in the midterms on the jobs issue and took control of the House. If they immediately came up with a jobs bill of their own, if had they came in and railed against the cost of the wars, subsidies for oil companies that don't need them, foreign aid, waste and fraud with regards to fiscal responsibility, they would be looking at an easy win for the oval office and they would have taken the senate as well, that ship has sailed on them. They came in and totally ignored the issue that brought them there which was jobs and shrinking income for most Americans, government debt is always a secondary issue to making your house payments and feeding your kids. They offered absolutely no solutions for unemployment other then the standard cut taxes and regulations for business and hope that will encourage them to hire people even though there is no increase in demand for goods and services to warrant new hires. Then they shot themselves in the other foot by only offering as a solution to the debt the gutting of SS and medicare, destroying 70 year old collective bargaining rights of the people who work for them in their voting districts, all their cuts were aimed at domestic programs that many Americans want and need at various times, all without any budge on any tax increases whatsoever on those who continue to post record profits to balance the approach on fiscal responsibility. They don't have a strong candidate for president because none of them are offering any thing other than more of the same. The tent is just not big enough, there are far more people worried about making ends meet at the end of the month, than there are people upset about possibly paying $200,000 in taxes on their $600,000 income as opposed to the $100,000 they currently pay, and every person who gets laid off is suddenly in need of the government services they claim to despise, and wish to eliminate, right after they get their unemployment check and food stamps, or do you still believe it is only liberal socialists that take that gubmint money to feed their kids. I can tell you this I don't know any democrats that are flipping republican, but I know plenty of working class people who have previously been persuaded to vote republican on single issues such as guns or abortion, who will now hold their nose and vote democrat in the next election because they decided that the single biggest issue for them is whether they keep their home and feed their kids. Frankly they are not the least concerned with abortion or the national debt once they are laid off, they like unemployment benefits, because they now need them, they like food stamps because they now need them, they like the idea of big government spending on a temporary fix to spur some job growth, because they are now in need of a job. The Waterloo strategy has been carried too far, republicans should have realized that as soon as they took control of the house that the Waterloo strategy would apply to them as well, they have responsibility too. In the end people will hold their nose maybe, but working people all over the nation will vote democrat, because the republicans have not done a single thing to make their situation better, and worse they are seen (right wrong or indifferent) as further adding to their problems. They have not given any working person any reason to believe they are going to try and help them in any way, and nothing turns a conservative republican into a liberal democrat faster than a pink slip. Political junkies on a blog can discuss budgets and bills and whatnot but the American voter will vote his own pocketbook every time, people will always vote to eat over ideology every time, just ask a conservative on SS, just ask a republican collecting unemployment, guess what they will tell you, I don't like but hell I have to eat. They might have time to flip flop on themselves and reverse the Waterloo strategy to some degree, but in making the cooking of Obama's goose their top priority they have cooked their own goose as well.
I agree with Forrest Grump, the class on 2010 House Republicans cost their Party 2012 because:
dsdsherm
I remember election day 2004, getting a ride home from work on a public bus, and I asking the driver who he voted for. He said "George Bush."
I asked him why and he said "my union is supporting Kerry, but I though Bush should have the chance to finish what he started. "
Flash forward to 2012 and who do you think that bus driver will vote for? Why in heck would he vote for a Republican candidate when Republicans diss unions, public workers and the middle class, in general. All I see the Republicans doing is protecting the low tax rate for the top 1%. I think that bus driver would give President Obama a second term.
Amy,
I think you and Forrest are both dipping into the Koolaide too much. Specifically, I say he loses previously blue states of Fl, Sc, Va, Oh, and Nv. His poll numbers there say a can of chicken noodle soup would beat him.
I further think Co, Nm, Pa, and Wi are in play ( all previously blue)
So, specifically, what state will he carry that he didnt previously, and which of these above mentioned does he have a chance at keeping this time around?
I am not going by what I think or what my friends tell me. I am going by poll numbers. If I were going by what I thought, I think it will be worse than the polls suggest in these states and those against BHO are motivated that they would walk over hot coals and broken glass to vote against him. I do not see the motivation on the opposing side and believe the historic aspect has passed so he cannot approach the same turnout. Look to the turnout of the 2010 election. Motivation.
And while we cannot point ot any legislation we have passed (as we could not get past the Senate or Obama anyway, see cut cap and balance), at least we dont have a 800+ Billion failure to point to.
So where is your path to vcitory? Specifics on state by state would be nice.
ABO 2012
Amy,
The top 1% of earners pay 38% of all income tax collected. This is low to you?
They only make 20% of the income, so I say they are already disproportionately taxed.
I make $50K so dont assume I am one of them. But right it right, and wrong is.... well..... left.
ABO 2012
teknishan,
And honestly, did you vote for BHO last go around? And how motivated were you to vote then?
ABO 2012
Amy,
You are furthring my point. In 2004, Maine was solidly blue. The bus driver's vote did not matter then, and wont in 2012 either.
The only ones who will matter are the states I keep listing, and no one thus far has any data to say I am wrong. (but a lot of people have an opinion I am wrong).
ABO 2012
dsdsherm,
Yeah, i voted a straight (D) ticket last cycle. I won't vote for BHO this cycle, even if it means I just don't vote for president. Most of the republicans are using the same neo-con platform that didn't work under Bush.
Regarding Bachmann's line, "don't settle" I would respectfully suggest that very conservative, Christian voters take her message to heart. Don't settle for someone who is obviously unqualified and not terribly bright just because she says the things you want to hear. I'm sorry to say that we elected someone less than terribly qualified last time. OK, last 3 times. Let's not do it again. It's not been working terribly well.
While I am not a Bachman fan, I do like her fire and her record on fiscal matters. While it was a vastly unpopular and heavily critcized vote, she held to her principals and voted against the debt ceiling "compromise"
I admire that. She knew she would be pointed out as "wanting to shut down the country and default" (which was a choice the Predident would have had to make, not anything the congress could have done), she knew the compromise was as bad as the current situation and would put us further towards ruin.
I do not see anything she has done that has made me believe her to be anything but bright. At least she does not pretend going further down this path can bring us back to prosperity. Better to make the hard choices now, as latter there may not be any choice.
I agree the last 3 or so of the countries leaders have been less than stellar. I dont view any of them as less than bright, just misguided or wrong on their thinking. I think Obama is a bright man. I think he is wrong, but dont think he is not bright.
But I remember the talk of Reagan being a simpleton. He sure seemed to get a lot right for being so stupid...
I dont think there is a simpleton in the group. And I dont discount Bachman, and like what she has to say and what she has done (from what little I know of her). If she were the candidate I would certainly vote for her. At least with her I know I will agree with her philosophy the majority of the time.
ABO 2012
Craziest Michele Bachmann Quotes Ever
Michele Bachmann Insane-O-Matic Quote Generator
''It is horrific to know that in the African American community, 50 percent of all African American pregnancies in the United States end in abortion, 50 percent. That is a genocide of African Americans of the United States. It should not be. There are Americans all across this country who would love to adopt African American babies, but they can't because 50 percent of all African American pregnancies today are ending in abortion.''
—Rep. Michele Bachmann, Feb. 2009
Craziest Michele Bachmann Quotes Ever
Michele Bachmann Insane-O-Matic Quote Generator
''Carbon dioxide is portrayed as harmful. But there isn't even one study that can be produced that shows that carbon dioxide is a harmful gas.''
—Rep. Michelle Bachmann, April, 2009
The joke is that there are people that would vote for this idiot Bachmann.
One more:
Craziest Michele Bachmann Quotes Ever
Michele Bachmann Insane-O-Matic Quote Generator
''But we also know that the very founders that wrote those documents worked tirelessly until slavery was no more in the United States. ... I think it is high time that we recognize the contribution of our forbearers who worked tirelessly -- men like John Quincy Adams, who would not rest until slavery was extinguished in the country.''
—Rep. Michele Bachmann, speaking at an Iowan's for Tax Relief event, Jan. 23, 2011 (The Founding Fathers did not work to end slavery, and John Quincy Adams was not one of the Founding Fathers)
Job1
Who would think anyone could be dizzier than failin Palin?
And Reagan wouldn't get the Republican general election nomination from today's GOP/Tea Party members.
All of you ABO (Anybody But Obama) supporters are the reason our Congress is so polarized these days. Do you truly think that putting more non-compromising, ideological purist, and pledge signing opportunist into the Congress and/or White House is somehow going to make America a better, more accepting, diverse nation?
Sorry, that idea won't sell with the majority of America who just happens to be in the Middle. (40% of registered voters now list their political affiliation as "Independent".)
SayitaintSo,
Do you truly think that putting more non-compromising, ideological purist, and pledge signing opportunist into the Congress and/or White House is somehow going to make America a better, more accepting, diverse nation?
No, only one of the 3. I dont care about accepting or diverse. I just want it better. And if we dig in and refuse to spend money we dont have, I have to assume it gets better. I WANT a pledge. I WANT a purist. I WANT a CONSERVATIVE. And I am NOT ALONE.
I think we accept too much and are plenty diverse already.
The only reason the independent percentage is going up to 40% is Dems and Republicans alike no longer identify with their party. I am sure a great percentage are TP members as they do not relate to the GOP and consider themselves independent. The GOP has not been conservative enough over recent years for them to affiliate themselves. John Boehner keeps them from calling themselves Republicans due to his establishment and business as usual actions. And Dems are not relating to the destructive policies of their party, so they refuse to be called Democrats.
Most of these independents have a preference due their ideology. The country is still a right of center alignment. The more left we go and prove the policies fail, the further right the dividing line.
If it were not so destructive, I would thank Obama for proving the policies of the left do not work. Until now, many theories floated around on left wing policies and if they would work. Now we know they dont work. He has been very good for conservatism through his failure. Even better than Carter (and I though he would NEVER be topped as a bad President)
ABO 2012
Jobs1,
The joke is that there are people that would vote for this idiot Bachmann
I am sure there are people in all 57 states that feel this way. Anyone in the spotlight will have quotes that are in error, taken out of context, or just wrong. BHO has his share as well.
Does that make him an idiot. Are you a joke for voting for him? I dont think so.
And I can see where she is going with a few of these misguided quotes. I just wish she were not going there.
If a candidate would stick with simplicity in what they wish to accomplish we would be better off. I dont care that 50% of black pregnancies end in abortion. I dont care what you think the founding fathers were working for. I dont even care about CO2 as long as we stop thinking we are killing the planet with it.
I do care how we are going to fund the government essential services and I care what we believe to be essential. Stop talking about issues that dont matter such as black abortions. Who cares? Slavery? Who cares? CO2, well that one is more of an issue, and I think legislation against its production is misguided. But as would rather just state I am against cap and trade. Why attempt to debate the issue. Simply state you do not beleive CO2 levels are a danger and that you do not wish to enact legislation to curb its production. The more issues that we attempt to address the less gets done on the important ones.
Again, she is not my candidate of choice, but if the choice were her or BHO? Easy choice there.
ABO 2012
Big deal 57 states is all you have. Bachmann will never be President, because she is a stupid flake.
Job1,
I guess that is the difference between you and I. I refuse to believe BHO is anything less than intelligent, despite his flaws, verbal slipups etc. I think his policies he believes in and do not believe he is actively trying to destroy the US. I think he is just wrong. I cant even bring myself to belittle Joe Biden (although he would make it quite easy to do). These are our elected officials and deserve respect, and even if I do not agree with them I will give the respect to this point. Bachmann is a congresswoman is she not?
Obviously you do not have the same objectivity. Bachmann may not become president, but I admire her effort to try and make a difference. And even if I beleived her to be "stupid" I would not verbalize it as I expect it may make me look equally so.
You missed the point. The 57 states was pointing to the fact they all make mistakes in speaking. Not to try to get to a point of comparing such mistakes. And namecalling either side is not a way to get a point across and is disrespectfull.
And I dont have an issue with calling you disrespectfull. I have proof.
ABO 2012
a
Craziest Michele Bachmann Quotes Ever
Michele Bachmann Insane-O-Matic Quote Generator
''The President of the United States will be taking a trip over to India that is expected to cost the taxpayers $200 million a day.''
—Rep. Michele Bachmann, grossly exaggerating the expense of Obama's trip, which cost a fraction of that ($200 million is more than the entire war in Afghanistan costs per day), Nov. 3, 2010
dsdsherm--what do you really mean when you say you just want a conservative? What does that mean to you? Allowing hedge fund managers to pay only 15% "income" tax ? Reducing Social Security so it is no longer a safety net for you and your parents and siblings? Reducing Medicare so you have an opportunity to go bankrupt because of medical bills? Reducing Medicaid so ailing seniors are booted out of nursing homes and the sick poor are back in the emergency room? This is what conservatism looks like to me. What does it look like to you?
opajack,
The hedge fund managers are paying 15% income tax on money that is already taxed previously. So a double tax on this? Sounds OK to me.
SS is broke, so your solution is to ignore the fact it is broke? Ignoring the fact that there is no money is no solution. How do you expect we continue to pay benefits out of an empty wallet? Keep printing and devaluating the currency? Conservatives are just pointing out the fact it is broke and unsustainable. Dems dont want to adress it at all. If we ignore the problem, how does it go away?
I suggest Medicare adn Medicaid are an issue that are not easily solved. Again, spending way more than it is taking in. I suggest a small co-pay. Why you ask? Glad you asked...
Those on Government assistance see everything as free. Got a sniffle? Go the the ER. Heck, it dont cost them anything. On food stamps? Lets get some T-bones potatoe chips and soda. I see it every day in the store. Carts loaded with high end food, junk food and goodies and out comes the EBT card. Carts with generics and canned goods? Shopper pays cash.
If there were a co-pay for care, the people on assistance would feel the pain of going to the doctor or ER like every other family WITH private insurance does. Maybe this would help, I dont know. But I do know entitlement programs generate waste and fraud. This has to be addressed. And the practice of people using it in an inappropriate manner should be addressed. I know it would be termed as meanspirited, but I would love to see food stamps have restrictions against soda, snack food, shrimp, lobster, prime rib etc. Maybe a max value per lb. it will pay for meat. I am tired of seeing items bought that I cannot afford by the EBT users.
Conservatives are pointing out that these programs will cease to exist if not addressed, or everyone must pay a heck of a lot more for them.
There are no easy answers, but at least we are willing to admit there is a problem and if we dont fix it now, we will implode later. Dems kick the can down the road to later.
As a conservative I see the need to rework the tax structure. The top 10% of wage earners paying 70% of American income tax is wrong. The bottom 50% paying nothing is wrong. The government has played Robbin Hood long enough. Everyone needs "skin in the game" to coin a phrase. Stop the earned income credit. Why are we paying low wage earners a tax refund they did not pay in? Bad enough they dont pay ANY taxes, we give them a refund of the taxes collected off of others. And in the meantime we continue to borrow money. Let people opt in or out of SS. You want SS? Then here is the cost per pay. Otherwise you better plan it yourself.
I do not plan on SS being there. I have my 401K and savings and IRA, and if I get SS, then great. If I dont, at least I am prepared.
The reason you are hearing things from Conservatives is we know these need addressed, and soon. What are you hearing from the other side other than rob from the rich and give to the poor and..... crickets.
ABO 2012
Yeah right 14 million plus people that are unemployed, and everybody that has paid into SS and medicare has had no skin in the game. The good news is that it is that kind of campaign rhetoric that is killing the republicans with an ever growing number of people of all ages, none more so than republicans that is why they are still waiting for superman, it is not the candidates they all carry the same message, that means it is not the messenger its the message people just can't seem to sign off on, not even the ones you always used to depend on.