2012 is no GOP version of Clinton-Obama primary

 

If there's been one familiar refrain among Republicans during this presidential primary, it's been that the hard-fought battle between Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum and other contenders hasn't hurt the party – arguably, it's even strengthened it.

"Don't always assume that a primary fight is a bad thing," Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus said Mar. 7 on CNN. "In fact, I think it's the opposite. I think it's going to be great for our party."

And frequently, as a point of reference, Republicans point to the long – and, at times, bitter – intra-party battle between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton in 2008 as evidence that an extended race to the nomination isn’t necessarily a hindrance to winning the White House.

But there are important differences between the two cycles. Some of them might serve as a warning sign for the GOP, such as less money and a more damaged brand. And some might give the party encouragement, like more enthusiasm among Republicans. 

Of course, an important caveat: In some ways, it’s difficult to compare 2008 (a race without an incumbent and with two history-making primary candidates) with 2012 (when there’s a sitting president in the Oval Office).

Bank accounts
At this point in the Democratic primary in 2008, Obama and Clinton had each heavily outraised Republicans’ fundraising haul through the first couple of months of 2012.

In February of 2008, just as the Democratic campaign had appeared to shift into a two-person race, the Obama campaign raised $55 million for the month, and had $39 million in the bank going into March. Clinton raised $35 million over the same time period, and had $29 million in cash on hand. (It’s worth noting, though, that much of Clinton’s money was reserved for the general election, and she couldn’t use in the primary season.)

Compare that to the money raised by Santorum and Romney over February, according to their own campaigns’ estimates (official numbers have not yet been filed with the Federal Election Commission). Romney raised $11.5 million in February and Santorum raised about $9 million. Romney had just $7.3 million in the bank at the end of the month, though, suggesting that his campaign is spending at a rate that could threaten to bleed him dry by November, especially if the primary continues for a while.

A discrepancy would suggest some diminished enthusiasm for the Republican candidates this cycle, at least at first glance.

But there are some important things to keep in mind: First, overall fundraising is down in 2012 versus 2008, in part due to the impact of a deep recession that onset after the 2008 primary.

More Republican money has also flowed to super PACs that support the various GOP candidates. These groups didn’t exist in the last Democratic primary, and one Romney super PAC alone, Restore Our Future, has already spent over $30 million this primary season.

The brand
Perhaps the most illuminating figures on the impact of the Republican primary campaign comes from a series of national NBC News/Wall Street Journal polls and the exit polling conducted of voters in key battleground state primaries.

By March of 2008, both Obama and Clinton enjoyed net-positive favorability ratings among the public at large (Obama: 51 positive, 28 negative; Clinton: 45 positive, 43 negative according to the March 2008 NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll).

Romney and Santorum haven’t fared as well with the general public, according to this month’s numbers, also taken from the most recent NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll. Romney has a 28 percent positive rating among U.S. adults, and a 39 percent negative rating. Santorum has a 26 percent positive rating, and a 39 percent negative rating. They each perform much better with Republican primary voters.

And in terms of the impact on each party’s brand, the Democratic Party had a 45 percent positive rating among registered voters in March of 2008, and a 35 percent negative rating. Four years later, the Republican Party has a 32 percent positive rating, and a 43 percent negative rating.

But the GOP’s ratings represent a recovery of sorts from the party’s depths in mid-2010, when the August NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll from that year had the Republican Party with just a 24 percent positive rating, and a 46 percent negative rating.

Republicans are also still dealing with the fallout from an unpopular two-term president in George W. Bush, who preceded Obama. The wars Bush had started are still winding down, and Obama still warns of a return to the policies of the years that preceded him, attacking Bush by implication.

The Bush years also left Republicans with a more fractious coalition with emerging fault lines of social issues and foreign and economic policy. Given those divisions, it might be tougher for any of these candidates to capture a broader swath of the electorate.

Enthusiasm, curbed
The figures from both primaries suggest that Democrats were happier with their choice of candidates than Republicans have been this cycle.

Fifty-seven percent of Republicans who voted in the Mar. 6 Ohio primary said in exit polls that they would be satisfied with Romney as the eventual nominee.

By comparison, 73 percent of Democrats who voted in the Ohio primary four years ago said they would be satisfied if Clinton won the nomination, and 66 percent of Democrats said the same of Obama that same cycle.

Nationally, 45 percent of Republican primary voters said in the March NBC/WSJ poll that they would support Romney with enthusiasm, and 42 percent said they would support Santorum with enthusiasm.

Four years ago, in the same national poll, 60 percent of Democrats said they would vote for Clinton with enthusiasm, and 52 percent expressed enthusiastic support for Obama.

But in 2008, Democrats weren’t being measured against an incumbent president like Republicans are this cycle. The differences between the candidates were also more stylistic in 2008 than ideological, especially compared to the 2012 race in which Republicans do battle over the extent of their conservatism.

But the Democratic primary four years ago also featured two political heavyweights in Obama and Clinton, each of whom were poised to make history simply by virtue of their nomination. Obama would become the first African-American presidential nominee, and later, the nation’s first black president. Clinton would have been the first woman to top a ticket, and the first woman president if she were elected.

And Republicans can take solace in the fact that Obama is now their greatest unifier. While there might not be tremendous enthusiasm for either of the two major remaining Republican candidates, there’s a great deal of interest within the GOP about beating Obama.

A mid-February Gallup poll found that Republicans, by an 8-point margin, were more likely to say that they were enthusiastic about voting this fall compared to Democrats. And among certain key portions of Obama’s 2008 coalition, especially younger and nonwhite voters, enthusiasm was down.

But a mid-March poll, also by Gallup, found that enthusiasm for Romney and Santorum within the GOP is down from 2008; Republicans are motivated this time by voting against Obama.

And the numbers in the January NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll suggest that while Santorum and Romney might not generate tremendous enthusiasm, they’re at least acceptable. Seventy-five percent of Republican primary voters said they would be “comfortable” with Romney as the nominee, and 65 percent said the same for Santorum.

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It was heated to a breaking point but there was love, enthusiasm and hope when Clinton/Obama ran to own the future while these GOP field, who are running to own the past, lack in everthing......visionless.

  • 118 votes
#1 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 2:29 PM EDT

The GOP keep "wanting their country back" which means "Let's go back to the 1950"s." You will have a hard time telling minorities that that was a great time for their grandparents. It was a great time to be a white man if you weren't too artsy, or liberal. Senator McCarthy would have his men making sure that you were out of a job. To look at the past as a way forward is lunacy. I don't want to go back there, yet many republicans think its a great idea. I think many boomer republicans think it was great because that's when they were kids, and most people look back on their childhoods as being carefree. As a child I can remember air raid drills, which succeeded in nothing more than scaring the crap out of kids. I can remember being in an all white school in an all white neighborhood reading about Sally, Dick and Jane. The fifties sucked, and so did Sally, Dick and Jane. I prefer a leaders with vision, and that is not the GOP, the "Me first!" party. So far the GOP candidates have shown us nothing but the same old same old. Every one of them must have hardening of the arteries. They will learn to their pain in November that they have no message for us, and offer us no future, so we will not offer them our votes. Obama- Biden 2012!

  • 149 votes
#1.1 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 3:42 PM EDT

Wayne--I'm not sure they don't mean the 1850s!

  • 102 votes
#1.2 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 3:50 PM EDT

The Republicans are running on several themes, not one of which is positive: "ABO - anyone but Obama" which certainly shows a lack of support of any of their candidates, "Take our country back" - to the 1850's (sorry Wayne) back when white men actually were in control women & minorities did what white men told them to do, "America must be true to is (EVANGELICAL) Christian roots" to the exclusion of 90% of the country, and the general destruction of the the old, the middle class, the poor, minorities, the disabled and women.

Anyone who votes for the Republican party in the general election truly is a genuinely unintelligent person.

  • 120 votes
#1.3 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 3:52 PM EDT

Wayne, well said.

  • 53 votes
#1.4 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 3:57 PM EDT

Thanks Jody! I always enjoy your comments!

@ Steeler Fan, The 1950's had lots of leftover hate from the 1850's, and it still hasn't gone away. The president is leading us into a new, promising era, and the GOP is leading us back to a very flawed past.

  • 70 votes
#1.5 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 4:05 PM EDT

Steeler Fan: sounds like you have been hearing the same BS from the GOP I have. :-D

  • 38 votes
#1.6 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 4:05 PM EDT

I think an Obama/Clinton ticket would be nice this November.

"ABO - anyone but Obama"

Apparently "anyone" in the Republican party is "no one competent." I cannot believe that the Repubs cannot come up with anyone better than Romney, Santorum or Gingrich. I don't think they could have picked anyone worse....but then again, their candidates are supposed represent the views and the values of their party so it all makes sense...

  • 55 votes
#1.7 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 4:50 PM EDT

Since right-wingers don't like hearing opposing views, I'll reference Ann Coulter. Coulter said that the GOP/TP candidates are running for themselves. Once you come to this most simple and fundamental realization, all the other variables such as enthusiasm, etc. are explained.

NO, the 2012 is no GOP version of the Clinton-Obama primary -- Not remotely.

Teapublicans, the day you end your self-serving, depressing world view with your Race to the Bottom, every man, woman, and child for his/herself, refusal to pay your damn taxes, hatred for your fellow man, conspiracy theory ignorance, delusional persecution complex, complete lack of civility and decency, you and your Party deserves only to be crushed and minimized.

  • 99 votes
#1.8 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 5:23 PM EDT

Excellent post, TruePat!

  • 38 votes
#1.9 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 6:04 PM EDT

Obama, and his proud parent, Hillary and Joe......what a team. Both Hillary and Joe sever well with President Obama. I think they are already a perfect team and I don't see it breaking up.

  • 24 votes
#1.10 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 6:17 PM EDT

I think the republicans are in great shape really. Nothing but an obverse "love fest" going on here. Newt is horrified with jealousy because He thinks Santorum and Romney may end up in bed together. Santorum is gloating with malicious gratification directed down toward Newt, declaring He's already copped a feel, but won't tell Newt from whom. Romney, meanwhile is piling up delegates, and has lost interest in both Newt and Rick. He's confused and looking for substance. Feels like a well used prostitute who was paid with worthless checks, and has yet to experience orgasm. Then too, there is the proverbial Dr. Ron Paul, who now grows impatient with the feeble efforts of the confederate states stategy in winning the American Civil war. All this is pure typical republicanism.

  • 30 votes
#1.11 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 9:30 PM EDT

The difference is that these clown shoes are not offering the general public anything. They are pandering to their base and as such doomed in the general election.

  • 44 votes
#1.12 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 9:31 PM EDT

Obama/Biden 2012

The only sane choice.

  • 61 votes
#1.13 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 9:48 PM EDT
Comment author avatarruss-2423574Expand Comment Comment collapsed by the community

yeah, real sane, no budget, 8 TRILLION IN DEBT, 20 percent unemployment and a president that has shwn nothing but contempt for the constitution. he should be in jail then hung for treason for what he did to this countries finances. DEBT MAN WALKIN!

  • 21 votes
#1.14 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 10:25 PM EDT

People seemed to have forgotten that all Kerry ran on was the "Anyone but Bush" campaign and he lost too. People want substance and solutions. Start providing GOP.

  • 23 votes
#1.15 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 10:34 PM EDT

The ABO will disappear after the nomination unless. The ABO is mostly each group reminding each other that they will be there for the party, regardless of the bitter fighting right now.

  • 4 votes
#1.16 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 10:41 PM EDT
Comment author avatarldoExpand Comment Comment collapsed by the community

Yep, the GOP primary WILL NOT HAVE a secret meeting as did Obama-Clinton's Bilderberg Group meeting in Virgina:

It has emerged that Obama’s press entourage were not informed of his secret meeting with Hillary Clinton in Northern Virginia until they were literally locked inside a plane that was taxiing down the runway on its way to Chicago.

The press reacted angrily to the way in which Obama’s campaign organizers covered up the meeting, which is now suspected by many to have been planned in conjunction with the secretive 2008 Bilderberg Group meeting of around 140 corporate and political luminaries.

http://www.infowars.com/press-let-rip-at-obama-spokesman-over-exclusion-from-secret-meeting/

Now, just exactly WHO dropped out of the race to be appointed Secretary of State ? And, for what reason ?

However, Mr. Obama made MANY promises during the 2008 campaign and has yet to fulfill the majority of them.

Yep, you got it.....this Democrat WILL NOT BE VOTING for Mr. Obama.

  • 20 votes
#1.17 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 10:42 PM EDT

Inadaze - the people vote for the candidate they feel the most comfortable with. Kerry came off just like Romney does to people. Bush, even though people didn't like him so well on all sides was more personable to people.

Glad you brought Kerry up. Romney reminds me of Kerry in that their is this indescribable feeling he really doesn't relate to us in the end.

  • 10 votes
#1.18 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 10:46 PM EDT
Comment author avatarldoExpand Comment Comment collapsed by the community

It was just reported that Mr. Obama is on the campaign trail AGAIN for the X'th number of times this past THREE YEARS and THREE MONTHS.

Yesterday, he had Mr. Biden out and about spewing the "Class Warfare" agenda again.

Maybe tomorrow, Mr. Reid will head out and "talk" about all the legislation he is hoarding and then say the Republicans are Obstructionists.

That is the winning ticket: The THREE Stooges.

  • 18 votes
#1.19 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 11:01 PM EDT

Good post Wayne. The Republicans are so hateful and phoney. I don't remember the Obama/Clinton match to be filled with such hate and lies. Yes, there were attack ad and disagreements but, as usual, we have come together and hopefully are working for another Obama win. I actually miss Bush. Watching his latest gaff on Letterman and the Daily Show was the highlight of each day. He was a goofball.

  • 19 votes
#1.20 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 11:02 PM EDT

Ido, very informative. May I ask; where are you getting your information? Based on your comments I now have a clear idea of the GOP's position in regards to the upcoming election. So, the Democrats have been campaigning, spewing and hoarding. Go figure. And our party's platform is what exactly. I mean I get the idea but what exactly do we stand for? I know we've got the jobs genie in a bottle and are just waiting to astonish the citizens of this country. We have the Catholic Church all wrapped up. We've got healthcare coupon reform in hand. All in all, we've got a winning hand don't you think. I'm a little worries about the many faces of Mitt. Rick's solid but he's bordering on alienating those that should be preparing for the Rapture. I just viewed an ad. President Obama is funding terrorists. That's gotta be bad. Who'd a known? Anyways, I know we're all going to band together in November. Yea, our team. Give me a G. Give me an O. Give me a P. Speaking of p, I gotta go.

  • 10 votes
#1.21 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 11:31 PM EDT
Comment author avatarldoExpand Comment Comment collapsed by the community

"All in all, we've got a winning hand don't you think."

Nah.....not a winning hand when the following Mr. Obama's DOMESTIC FAILURES OCCURRED (and will be avoided at all costs during the real campaign):

Stimulus #1 ($ 862,000,000,000 NO shovel ready jobs and Mr. Obama laughed at spending taxpayer dollars), Omnibus, Solyndra (and other solar panel companies) affair, Cash for Clunkers, Cash for Appliances, Weatherization program, Geotherminal Plant in Nevada, taxpayer money for an Electric car in Finland, DOJ and his "take everyone to court" agenda, DHS and the failed $ 30,000,000,000 Boeing virtual fence in addition to her "the borders have never been more secure", unconstitutional Mandated Universal Health Care Reform, to name a few. International affairs would take up too much room.

Yep, that "laser beam" on jobs fizzled out back in March 2009 but have to continue with the Class Warfare agenda by sending out Mr. Obama's scout....Mr. Biden.

Bottom line: One and GONE and that is why this Democrat will NOT BE VOTING for Mr. Obama's relection even though he said "I deserve to be re-elected."

  • 14 votes
#1.22 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 1:17 AM EDT

The BIGGEST difference is that President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton did NOT have super pacs. ; ] In fact the 60 some odd year old law that stood as such was still held to [bare].. ;] As we see now the GOP also has no resolute following or vision guided by a visionary no. They are ill equipped for anything other then all out harm for one another. Because of ignorance and hate. And due to this hate they feel for liberals who more then a few of them think is a "disease" they then MUST project it outward and beyond onto anything or one that is in front of them. Including one another. Because pandering provided with PIMPING is a felony crime. Yet in politics it is ?..? Expected? Hmm. Indeed.

Cheers

  • 7 votes
#1.23 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 2:12 AM EDT

ldo, As much as I enjoy reading your post, I still can't help but understand why you keep calling yourself a democrat when clearly you are looking at things from one side of the equation. If you were a TRUE democrat, you would see that even someone other than Obama would have a hard time implementing change when you have a republican base that made it public that they would reject ANYTHING Obama laid on the table, including their own policies. I will admit that his inability to "stand firm" in the interest of the country vice "compromise" with the republican party has dramatically slowed the recovery process BUT it HAS improved nonetheless. Jobs are being created and have been for the last 15+ months AND contary to belief, the unemployment rate IS dropping.

So my question to you as a democrat(if that's what you really are) from an independent, which one of these candidates running for office will do a better job that Obama has so far?

  • 26 votes
#1.24 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 3:20 AM EDT

There is one MASSIVE difference between 2008 and 2012, in 2008 democrats were trying to decide who they LIKED MORE, in 2012 repubs are try to decide who they DISLIKE THE LEAST.

  • 29 votes
#1.25 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 3:55 AM EDT
Comment author avatarelliot-3020456Expand Comment Comment collapsed by the community

CLINTON WAS THE FIRST BIRTHER

Galt 2012

  • 5 votes
#1.26 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 4:50 AM EDT

"In fact, I think it's the opposite. I think it's going to be great for our party."

Yes, like the way KISS dressed was good for circus people in clown makeup.

  • 8 votes
#1.27 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 5:09 AM EDT

@ CommonSense, well said concerning Ido. May I also add that the First Stimulus Ido mentions was actually passed by then President Bush, not President Obama. Pres. Obama passed the second stimulus.

Concerning jobs, the private sector has added jobs since 2009. Perhaps not at the speed Ido or others would like, but jobs have been added none the less. Meanwhile, some mention about the government getting bigger, yet the net number of jobs held by government has decreased since President Obama took office, not increased.

As far as Ido's comment about campaigning for 3 years and 3 months, name one President who didn't in the last 20 years during their first term. You cannot unless you are unable or incapable of looking at the entire picture objectively. The benefit of electing President Obama to a second term would be that he would not longer need to be in campaign mode, something former President Clinton and President Bush Jr. enjoyed.

Now, could President Obama get more positive measures accomplished during a second term? That depends. Since 2010, there have been more idealistic and less true moderate Congress members elected. In the last few years, we've lost more of those moderates, such as former Senator Evan Bayh and soon to be former Senator Olympia Snowe, people who understand that to improve this country, you cannot be idealogical 100% of the time. That is why nothing gets accomplished. We stop electing idealistic candidates and start electing more moderates, President Obama might be able to accomplish more. In addition, legislation might actually be written in Congress which would be more beneficial to all Americans and not just special interests. If more moderates had been in Congress during the Health Care Law debate, you would have seen a better bill.

Finally, the biggest difference between Ido and myself is despite the fact I may not agree with a candidate or elected official, I refer to them using their title, current or past. You disrespect yourself by not doing the same.

  • 24 votes
#1.28 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 5:36 AM EDT

THE 2004 race is a much better lens with which to view the 2012 race. Remember - the Democrats thought they could run a completely lackluster candidate and win just because he wasn't Bush. Many on the RIght seem to think Anybody but Obama will win. They will forced to drink the bitter cup the Demcodrrats were forced to drink 8 years ago. I remember Kerrry lost it for me when he agreed that invading Iraq was a good idea. Those were dark, dark days.

  • 6 votes
#1.29 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 5:46 AM EDT

Exactly right. Thus lies the contridiction of the GOP party in general. I know a few educated conservatives who after years of voting simply want nothing to do with the party. There's financial conservitives, then there's complete nut-jobs who want people like Santorum to run the country.

I only predict less and less support for the GOP party in the future. Don't get me wrong, there will always be financial conservatives, and they make decent arguements of how the economy should be run. But the GOP with it's moral contridictions just looks more and more silly as time goes on. I predict the rise of a new conservative party.

  • 19 votes
#1.30 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 6:57 AM EDT
Comment author avatarPhil-4041053Expand Comment Comment collapsed by the community

There seem to be a lot of liberal zombies posting today, obeying the pied piper call of Obama. He has done little to help this country and a lot to make it worse. Our biggest problem will be entitlements, which Obama loves to inflate to his benefit. The explosion of entitlements evidenced by published CBO numbers have eerie similarities to the Cloward/Piven strategy of 'recovery' While many liberals are derisive of people who mention Cloward/Piven as 'conspiracy theory nut jobs' you never hear those same liberals reject the theorists who formulated it, namely Cloward and Piven. Nay, they seem to embrace their lunacy and end goal of having a nation fully dependent on the liberal element to make decisions for everyone via mountains of rules and regulations. Actually Cloward/Piven did want reform to living wages etc but that has never turns out well either. We don't need pointy headed liberals who have a god attitude to live our lives for us. They don't really know how to live your life for you, they just think they do!

We are heading down the same road as Greece here folks, we cannot sustain the entitlements we have nor the additional liberal approved health care act expansion in entitlements either. Something will have to change, like Greece, entitlements will have to be reduced dramatically AND those 'evil' rich people will take a 50% cut in their wealth like the Greek bondholders were forced to accept. Where are the 'occupy' people now? They should all be all excited that the 'evil' rich bondholders got their investments wiped out!

Get the entitlement culture politicians out of office, they are destroying our country.

  • 7 votes
#1.31 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 7:40 AM EDT

Its amazing to think the republicans want to go back to the old ole' 1950"s - when they lost the majority for 40 years!

  • 6 votes
#1.32 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 8:10 AM EDT

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY EVERYONE!

Vote for an Irishman! Barack O'Bama! :)

OBAMA/BIDEN 2012

  • 18 votes
#1.33 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 8:24 AM EDT
Comment author avatarRumbleBee2470Expand Comment Comment collapsed by the community

If you voted for Obama in 2008 to prove you're not racist, you need to vote Republican in 2012 to prove you're not stupid. Simple as that. Obama is in no way, shape or form qualified to "lead" this country and we ALL know it.

  • 7 votes
#1.34 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 9:05 AM EDT

Happy St. Pats

Even the desperate spinning republicans and fake democrats who just don't get it.

Obama 2012

  • 10 votes
#1.35 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 9:08 AM EDT

As far as I can tell, Romney wants nothing more than power and the ability to get richer & richer. Santorum wants nothing more than to take away personal liberties and make this a 'Christian' Nation - something the founding fathers specifically banned in the Constitution. And I put Christian in quotes because haters like Santorum do NOT emulate the love of Jesus.

  • 16 votes
#1.36 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 9:22 AM EDT

ABO, pffffft!

It's NOBO (No One But Obama) - 2012

  • 14 votes
#1.37 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 9:36 AM EDT
Comment author avatarShaking my head-2479300Expand Comment Comment collapsed by the community

Wow, check it out. First National Bama Channel off shoot writes to dish the ongoing primary. Then all the Narwhal clowns and "volunteer" posters jump in with what they think they have gleened from big brother data gathering to convince the dumb masses. Yammer on but the facts are Obama's approval is down to 41%, people have caught on to his plan to turn American into a socialist nanny state where the workers are the slaves and his loyal voters get the benefits from raping the pockets of the workers. "Spread the wealth" my aunt fanny. Take everything from those people his mentors taught him to hate through recurring racism. Look at his bud the Professor who says racism will never go away, and is probably right since he and others like him want to keep it going, the preacher who would Damn America. Then we have rising gas prices intentionally I guess since his thugocracy once proclaimed we need to get to high prices to "wean us off oil dependence". Rant on about your fantasy world all you want, November quickly approaches, thank GOD.

  • 4 votes
#1.38 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 9:48 AM EDT

It really doesn't matter one way or another if the GOP is beating up on each other. The fact is, historically speaking, if the gas prices and unemployment do not come down. President Obama, like Carter, will be a one term President.

  • 1 vote
#1.39 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 10:22 AM EDT
Comment author avatarspider-737231Expand Comment Comment collapsed by the community

It's simply amazing to me how confident Obama's sheep are. Don't you folks read anything besides NBC or MSNBC? If you did, you'd discover how bad his poll stats actuall are, and getting worse daily as gas prices soar, the phony unemployment rate stagnates, and the debt soars to truly scary levels.

  • 4 votes
#1.40 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 10:57 AM EDT

Ido/ There is no point in you claiming to be a Democrat . It is obvious that you have never been anything but a right wing ignoramus. Not all right wingers are devoid of common sense,but they are the top 6% of this country and benefit from the Re-publican's pandering to them. The only party that even lightly develops laws to aid the majority of our citizens is,at this time ,the Democrats. We can't get out of this depression without a creation of more and better paying jobs for the workers and larger percentage taxes for the 1.4% of the rich. We also need to stop being the police of this planet and start to practice the old,but sane viewpoint,charity begins at home!

  • 7 votes
#1.41 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 11:21 AM EDT

If you did, you'd discover how bad his poll stats actuall are, and getting worse daily as gas prices soar, the phony unemployment rate stagnates, and the debt soars to truly scary levels.

I think I see your problem, spider. You're letting GOP fear-mongering rob you of your rationality.

Gas prices are outside the president's sphere of influence, although if he were a Republican, maybe Big Oil would drop the price in November to help him win re-election.

The fact is, President Obama is the most qualified, most experienced, most intelligent and most steady candidate in the race. Polls mean little at this point. Those of us not blinded by Fox propaganda envision a better future with Obama at the helm.

  • 18 votes
#1.42 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 11:22 AM EDT

@RumbleBee2470

If you voted for Obama in 2008 to prove you're not racist, you need to vote Republican in 2012 to prove you're not stupid. Simple as that. Obama is in no way, shape or form qualified to "lead" this country and we ALL know it

I voted for Obama because he was, by far, the best candidate in the general election and his choice of running mate didn't make me wonder if he'd had some sort of traumatic brain injury. As for being qualified to lead the country, I'm pretty sure we're looking for someone to be President of the United States, not President of the Torquemada fan club

  • 15 votes
#1.43 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 11:30 AM EDT

Obama's SHEEP?? Like the moron self serving gimmie all your money or I'll kill you phokuwecans? DUDE! you DESERVE to live in the 50's with polio, small pox and jim crow laws (with you of course on the crow side of them) Then MAYBE you would understand what's going on. Better yet since it's dooable, YOU can move to Afghanistan and live a life controlled by a teeny select few racially and theocratically fanatic lunatics.

  • 13 votes
#1.44 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 11:36 AM EDT

Don't you folks read anything besides NBC or MSNBC? If you did, you'd discover how bad his poll stats actuall are, and getting worse daily as gas prices soar, the phony unemployment rate stagnates, and the debt soars to truly scary levels.

No, but it's obvious where you get your information from.

  • 13 votes
#1.45 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 11:41 AM EDT

The fact is, historically speaking, if the gas prices and unemployment do not come down. President Obama, like Carter, will be a one term President.

Wrong!!! First off, the GOP has no one strong enough to win. Face it, it's empty suit Romney or religious zealot Santorum who's going to get the nomination. Neither can win and you know it. Secondly, the last two one term presidents, Carter and Bush I, had strong opponents running against them. And it's funny how you rwnj's never mention your last one time failure.

  • 11 votes
#1.46 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 11:47 AM EDT

But the GOP’s ratings represent a recovery of sorts from the party’s depths in mid-2010, when the August NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll from that year had the Republican Party with just a 24 percent positive rating, and a 46 percent negative rating.

Please recall that in November, 2010, the GOP won back the House and picked up Senate seats, a mere 4 months after being in the "depths".

Politics is very fluid and democrats premature celebration will haunt you.

This election will be a referendum on Obama, a failed president.

Gas Prices and the economy will loom large on election day.

  • 2 votes
#1.47 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 11:57 AM EDT

Gary 420

Please recall that in November, 2010, the GOP won back the House and picked up Senate seats, a mere 4 months after being in the "depths".

Gary, all you have to to is look at the history of the voting pattern of Americans. Obama, Bush2, and Clinton went from having some kind of majority in Congress to losing it at some point. People don't like when the same party controls 2/3 of the government.

This election we may see a reversal. Each month, week, day the Republicans come up with a new idea on how to pi$$ of the voter: birth control, viganal probing, porn (Santorum's latest), God, Gays, and everything else that does NOT relate to jobs! jobs! jobs!

  • 12 votes
#1.49 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 1:18 PM EDT

2008 the Democrats had two rock stars Obama & Clinton. The enthusiasm displayed for these candidates carried over to the General Election and resulted in a Democratic tsunami.

Fast forward to 2012. Four remaining repub candudates! Little enthusiasm for these duds and only hatred for the POTUS. I guess that works for the base but won't play well with the moderates, who will decide this contest. The results will speak volumes and a "repuke rebuke" is the prescribed cure.

Obama "Four more Years" 2012!

  • 12 votes
#1.50 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 1:39 PM EDT

Ah...dream on Gary 420 and the rest of you haters/dreamers. The polls are all different. Some have the POTUS at 50% favorability for the President. Sucks eh?

My biggest fear is that the GnOP will try to steal this election too..like they did in 2000. They must have confidence in "something" because they sure as hell don't have any viable candidates.

  • 8 votes
#1.51 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 1:40 PM EDT
Comment author avatarGary 420Expand Comment Comment collapsed by the community

eggberta,

Agree polls are all different. Some have Obama at 44% approval.

Your stealing the 2000 election comment was debunked 11 years ago.

Proof that liberals live in the past and can't stand the truth!

Santorum/Haley 2012!

  • 2 votes
#1.52 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 1:48 PM EDT

If you are deceiving yourself into believing Santorum has an ice cube's chance in hell of winning in November, Gary, then you are no one to be making claims about the truth.

  • 13 votes
#1.53 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 1:55 PM EDT

RumbleBee2470 - that stupid comment has been around the block several times. But, I've got one better for you, "if you didn't vote for Obama in 2008 it was clearly because you were racist (McCain/Palin??? Please) and if you don't vote for him in 2012 you're both a racist AND stupid (Romney, Santorum, Gingrich, Paul - Really????)!

  • 7 votes
#1.54 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 3:22 PM EDT

When President Obama and Hillary Clinton debated it was with class... The right wing are disgusting with their attacks with huge amounts of money from the super pac's... Also, I think Hillary is one class act... She get big numbers from me in the way she handled herself and what she has done since the election Of president Obama...

  • 10 votes
#1.55 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 4:30 PM EDT

True Patriot post #1.8

What Republican are you talking about when you want us to pay our damn taxes?

Tim Geitner is a democrat tax cheat and so is Warren Buffett who is contesting taxes approaching seven figures but thinks it is unfair that his secretary pays a higher percentage of her income in taxes. Does not talk about how meager her income is compared to his.

So tell us what Republicans are behind on taxes?

It is also time to stop the racist drivel. Not enough blacks voted to elect Obama by themselves. White people hand a big hand in that mistake.

  • 2 votes
#1.56 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 5:57 PM EDT

The biggest problem the Republicans have with the primaries - is - there are none of the candidates are Republican. If a real Republican, like Representative Rick Crawford - 1st District of Arkansas, were a candidate -- the Republican Party might have a chance.

As it is - everyone gets to choose between 'good' Obama or 'bad' Obama. Generic Republican is NOT a choice. The election is Obama's to win or lose ...

    #1.57 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 6:21 PM EDT

    @ gary420 -

    Unless you live in Florida, I would suggest you keep your mouth closed on the 2000 election. I am a retired veteran who was stationed overseas at the time, TOOK leave to come back and vote ONLY to find out that my district votes were "misplaced" at least that's what the voting officials stated in the city that I lived in. Come to find out it was in a lot of predominately "minority" areas where our ballots either didn't make it or were conveniently "thrown out". As a military man that took an oath to support and defend the constitution against all enemies FOREIGN and DOMESTIC, I was outraged that this would happen and NOT be allowed an opportunity to vote again as this was CLEARLY voter suppression, made me question WHAT side I was fighting for. If it was debunked, by WHO and where’s your source? Would LOVE to read it.

    • 7 votes
    #1.58 - Sun Mar 18, 2012 12:26 AM EDT

    Thank you russ-2423574 for proving the statements above you correct. Your rant verifies the concept that the republicans only has hatred, no substance.

    No vision is exactly the republican's problem.

    Nastalgia seems to be the only battle cry they have.

    You can't win a presidency telling people, "Remember when...".

    Trust me, they remember.

    • 3 votes
    #1.59 - Sun Mar 18, 2012 1:13 PM EDT

    LeftyLibDems sure are a hoot! They fool nobody but themselves and the ignorant. See them label Republicans as hate-mongers then look at the evidence from the LeftyLibDem media - calling Palin, Bachmann and others snarly, sexist names. Nothing the conservatives can match. Listen to them claim BO was the "best" candidate in 2008. Then ask them to list his credentials. Hear the LeftyLibDems accuse the Republicans of "anti-women" then ask them what the h*ll is that? We all know it's them pandering to another "evil" corporation as they generalize about corporate entities except this one is *special* - PP is an abortion factory which they support.

    LeftyLibDem arguments are oh-so-amusing...women's rights to reproduction are being !threaten!. Do you hear me? !Threatened! To the tune of 1400 abortions every day. So they whine instead "Give me birth control or give me death"! What clowns they have become with all their trash talk. Alas, the great travesty of the internet is the amplification of vapid opinions. To wit, they insipidly and simply resort to kindergarten style name calling. Tick, tick, tick....

      #1.60 - Mon Mar 19, 2012 12:09 AM EDT

      Thank you as well Steve D-514317 for compounding the point of conservative rants with no solution.

      Your rant has been duly noted and added to the "People throwing rocks from the sidelines" pile.

      We appreciate your lack of verified resources to prove your rant has any substance.

      We will set aside the fact that abortions have consistantly gone down since 1981. We'll refrain from mentioning the fact that Planned Parenthood or family planning has reduced abortion by preventing 2 million unintended abortions a year.

      http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/fb_induced_abortion.html

      Instead, we'll just listen to your "Silencing people's opinion" attack on the 1st amendment.

      • 1 vote
      #1.61 - Mon Mar 19, 2012 12:40 AM EDT

      Yep, the GOP primary WILL NOT HAVE a secret meeting as did Obama-Clinton's Bilderberg Group meeting in Virgina:

      Lies.

      Google "Koch Secret Meeting" and watch as the hidden world of conservative manipulation is revealed!

      • 1 vote
      #1.62 - Mon Mar 19, 2012 11:12 AM EDT
      Reply
      Comment author avatarBob in Virginia-5210392Expand Comment Comment collapsed by the community

      The one major difference between 2008 and 2012:

      In 2008, the liberal mainstream media loved both Obama and Hillary....

      In 2012, the mainstream media has snarked at Republicans nonstop.

      • 18 votes
      #2 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 2:30 PM EDT

      Bob,

      When the MSM gives your GOP candidates coverage you complain. When they don't give what you perceive is enough coverage you complain. Are you ever happy? For goodness sakes man, it is Friday, this weekend is St. Paddy's day, put a smile on, raise a pint! (And today is my daughter's birthday. A great gift would be for you to be pleasant and not complaining, just for a little bit)

      • 28 votes
      #2.1 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 2:37 PM EDT

      In 2012, the mainstream media has snarked at Republicans nonstop.

      It wouldn't be like this if the GOP acted like they had an ounce of common sense and stopped the crazy talk and flat out lies.

      • 34 votes
      #2.2 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 2:39 PM EDT

      phine,

      My only complaint, is they are not covering the candidates fairly, they are being unfair deliberately, and bragging about it when they descend to actually talk about it.

      Happy Birthday! 31 today correct? Why don't you go tip a couple and get away from all this tripe for a little while!

      My best wishes for a happy birthday!

      • 7 votes
      #2.3 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 2:41 PM EDT

      Egilman,

      Big party at her house tonight. Just made a bunch of food for her - bacon wrapped shrimp, stuffed mushrooms and deviled eggs - all her favorite party foods. Enough for 50 people! Trust me, I plan on having a few glasses of cheer later!

      Oh, I think I get the media's problem with Romney, but I don't know the facts about their relationship with Dr. Paul. Romney freezes them out and doesn't do any q&a with them - so they get ticked. What about Dr. Paul?

      • 10 votes
      #2.5 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 2:45 PM EDT

      I think they would have a difficult time arguing against Liberty, Freedom and justifying some of the presidents positions in relation to the Constitution, it's a debate they JUST DO NOT WANT TO HAVE!

      I would love to see it though, wouldn't it be something, trying to campaign against the Founding Fathers principals?

      • 8 votes
      #2.6 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 2:50 PM EDT

      Egilman

      What would you say about Fox News coverages? Perhaps, you're not used to fair coverages and that makes what your encountering here, truth, awkward.

      Phine,

      Happy birthday to your daughter.

      • 19 votes
      #2.7 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 2:51 PM EDT

      Wonder how Walter would have done one of his "You Are There" type of show using your premise?

      Pen,

      Thank you. And, Egilman isn't the Fox News type - trust me.

      • 8 votes
      #2.8 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 2:52 PM EDT

      Pen-24,

      Given the fact that they canceled the Judge's show, I would say that my opinion pretty well covers them also....

      Walter was fair, no one else even comes close....

      • 3 votes
      #2.9 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 2:56 PM EDT

      phine- give it a break man its friday, its your daughters birthday go spend time with her, tell her what a great guy you are. Its kind of boring hearing you toot your own horn. Yea, myself going to do a little bass fishing this weekend and watch some march madness, NCAA basketball tournament for you liberal girly men there phine. You know what phine why not try and have a relaxing weekend. I know you will be whining and worrying about what we conservatives are over here talking about even though its above your head. Save up for next week rookie you'll need it, lol : )

      • 6 votes
      #2.10 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 3:25 PM EDT

      It's silly to say the media is not giving "fair" coverage to the GOP candidates while back in 2008.... Clinton and Obama both received their fair share of negative coverage as did John McCain and all three received positive coverage as well. "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" comes to mind when reading the right complaining about 2008 and now because they have poor candidates, complain in 2012 that the media isn't fair. The media reports each of the primary candidate's events; they aren't going to spend much time covering the ones who really aren't in the race.

      It isn't the media that spouts the nonsense coming from these GOP candidates, it is the candidates saying the stuff that gets reported. It isn't the media that calls contraception "evil", that was Rick Santorum. It isn't the media that campaigns on cheesy grits and y'all; it isn't the media that has GOP legislatures nationwide waging a war on women's rights and poor women, voting rights is another war being waged by the right. The media didn't do these things, the GOP candidates and elected lawmakers did.

      Maybe when the GOP finds its brain again, the media will have something positive to cover.

      • 22 votes
      #2.11 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 3:50 PM EDT

      Bob Jones ... I understand that you have a difficult time with someone having a friendly conversation on these boards since you obviously have nothing positive to add to any discussion. I am surprised though that for such a manly-man as you profess to be, that you weren't able to discern that Phine is female. Your life-partner must be so proud of you.

      • 15 votes
      #2.12 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 4:23 PM EDT

      Actually Mr. Jones...The "Girly Men" are your current crop of candidates. Newt and notably Mitt each with multiple phoney deferments during the Viet-Nam War. Never was quite able to figure why you conservatives love to follow guys like these and yet continue to deride Clinton who has explained his stand during that period multiple times in the press. BTW I neglected to mention the former pres whose daddy got him a safe appointment in ANG and of course your leader Rush who was deferred for a boil on his A$$.

      As for me I'll be out at the range with my vintage 1st generation Colt SAA and 1911 Colt 45 auto for some trigger time...Could never figure fishing..never liked the smell if you get my meaning!

      • 17 votes
      #2.13 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 4:33 PM EDT

      Egilman

      My only complaint, is they are not covering the candidates fairly, they are being unfair deliberately, and bragging about it when they descend to actually talk about it.

      are you saying that the media is making stuff up? Are they editing videos of Romney talking about cadillacs, and tree heights and let Detroit go bankrupt? Do they edit the videos to make it look like Romney flip-flops every 5 minutes? Did Rick Santorum not comment on how the Separation of Church and State makes him want puke or that college is for snobs? How about Gingrich because his list is too long to mention - the man is a scum.

      Don't be mad at the media for being the messanger - be mad at the people your party picked to represent you. Also, at least the left media doesn't make crap up like birth certificates, concentration camps or Hannity's new "smoking gun" Derrick Bell. Faux News dragged this man (who is not even around to defend himself) through dirt. They made him look like a racist just to jack up their numbers. Sad & desperate - that's all I'm going to say.

      • 14 votes
      #2.14 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 5:00 PM EDT

      Agreed Torpedo You! The loudest saber rattlers always seem to lack any military service and don't let their kids serve either. I'm taking out my "new" Krag Jorgenson this weekend. Have a great weekend.

      • 6 votes
      #2.15 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 5:07 PM EDT

      30-40 Krag...Is it a musket or carbine...Ammo is expensive unless you are reloading. The "side loader didn't last long and was replaced by the 1903 Springfield..Have fun!

      • 3 votes
      #2.16 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 5:16 PM EDT

      Egilman

      My only complaint, is they are not covering the candidates fairly, they are being unfair deliberately, and bragging about it when they descend to actually talk about it.

      forgot to quote it...these are Egilam's words

      • 4 votes
      #2.17 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 5:16 PM EDT

      [1911 Colt 45 auto for some trigger time...]

      Damn, Torp...would love to shoot one of those...can only keep a 10 round mag here in NY...

      • 4 votes
      #2.18 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 5:23 PM EDT

      The media is not snarky about the Republican candidates, it's just that the candidates keep saying such stupid things. When the media publishes a direct quote, it is the candidate who is being snarky.

      • 6 votes
      #2.19 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 8:33 PM EDT

      Egilman,

      I very much doubt you know the names of the Founding Fathers' principals. Plus, I'm sure their teachers were a greater and more direct influence than their principals.

      Ah, you mean principles.

      (Sorry, that was a cheap tactic. I don't approve of grammar/spelling Nazism—I just had to say it :) ).

      We've been over this, though. Don't keep invoking the Founding Fathers if you don't even know what their principles were. You once suggested erroneously—something some Ron Paul supporters loooooooooooove to do—that the Founding Fathers were all about states' rights and letting the majority decide what's good for everyone. That couldn't possibly be further from the truth. Read the Federalist Papers, please, and then you'll know a bit more about what the Founding Fathers really believed in.

      • 2 votes
      #2.20 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 9:06 PM EDT

      Yeah, it was a cheap shot, but I forgive ya... ;-0)

      Yeah, we've been over it a few times, and you keep throwing the Federalist papers at me, and I keep responding that I HAVE read them, but I've gone a bit farther than just the Federalist Papers.

      I've actually studied political philosophy also, and no I have no Doctorates or anything in either history nor political philosophy, but I do know a little bit, just a tiny miniscule amount that might not even equate to your voluminous knowledge.

      But for starters, you can look at a few websites to get you started on what I do know so we can have an intelligent conversation about the subject.

      This country was founded on a political philosophy called American Republicanism.

      This represents the founding fathers views that parts of both branches of the dominate political philosophy of the times (Classic Liberalism) could be made to work together to suit their ends, which was to preserve individual liberty.

      The Founding Fathers all being classically educated, understood the political philosophies of their day, Enlightenment Republicanism and Classic Liberalism, and used those as the basis for developing their own philosophy.

      When you read (if you decide to read) the section on Classic Liberalism, pay particular attention to the comparison between this and Modern Liberalism, it's very revealing...

      For further Reading, look here...

      Classical Liberalism Explained

      you can also peruse any of the links contained within those pages to further your familiarization with the subject matter in more depth than just the Federalist Papers. I do believe they also mention some titles that would aid in understanding the issues.

      • 1 vote
      #2.21 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 3:21 AM EDT

      bayllie,

      are you saying that the media is making stuff up?

      No.

      Are they editing videos of Romney talking about cadillacs, and tree heights and let Detroit go bankrupt?

      I don't know if they are or aren't and I really do not care. (although the are very good at creative editing)

      Do they edit the videos to make it look like Romney flip-flops every 5 minutes?

      I don't know if they are or aren't and I really do not care.

      Did Rick Santorum not comment on how the Separation of Church and State makes him want puke or that college is for snobs?

      Yes he did.

      How about Gingrich because his list is too long to mention - the man is a scum.

      I disagree, he isn't "A" scum, he IS scum personified! Slime in the first degree.

      But, I stated that the media is being unfair, and they are, when it comes to coverage of Dr Paul. And they do admit to it, and brag about it. Yes they have creatively edited video to show things differently than they actually were, so YES as far as Ron Paul is concerned they have falsely reported by making stuff up.

        #2.22 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 3:38 AM EDT

        @ torpedo you- carbine

          #2.23 - Tue Mar 20, 2012 11:50 AM EDT
          Reply

          Really the bottom line here is does the GOP hate the president enough to get out their vote, no matter who the nominee is, or do they just stay home or concentrate on the senate and the house? Only time will tell.

          • 19 votes
          #3 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 2:34 PM EDT

          Actually,

          This represents the Democrat leaning Media that needs a few polls to counteract the CBS/NYT poll that was released a few days ago that really showed the president in a shaky position politically.

          • 9 votes
          #3.1 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 2:36 PM EDT

          phine,

          The real question is, will the republicans come out to support Willard?

          • 6 votes
          #3.2 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 2:37 PM EDT

          Egilman,

          If I don't catch up with you tomorrow - a very happy St. Paddy's Day to you!

          And truth be told, I don't pay a lick of attention, except to make a comment here, to polls until October. Most folks aren't really paying attention until the fall anyways.

          Oh, and I am thinking of breaking out the old jazz albums tonight. Billy Holiday, Ella, all the ladies!

          • 8 votes
          #3.3 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 2:39 PM EDT

          The problem is Willard is such a darn liar.

          • 19 votes
          #3.4 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 2:41 PM EDT

          Most folks aren't really paying attention until the fall anyways.

          100% right Phine. I can't wait to see Obama's poll numbers after 3 or 4 solid month of gas at $4.75/gal or above.

          • 5 votes
          #3.5 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 2:45 PM EDT

          Phine, YES gotta do the girls....(I meant that in it's proper context lady)

          You gotta include some Della in that collection.....

          • 3 votes
          #3.6 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 2:45 PM EDT

          Absolutely Della!!! Might even bring in one just in memory of my dad, while he loved all the older ladies of jazz, believe it or not, he was also into Janice!

          Rob,

          I'm not even holding my breath on gas prices - too volatile. But glad we agree on the poll thing! :)

          • 6 votes
          #3.7 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 2:49 PM EDT

          And a very happy St Paddies day to you and yours also!

          5.00 gas, $200 to fill the van, UGH! that is the elephant on the President's back...

          • 6 votes
          #3.8 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 2:54 PM EDT

          Rob,

          All Obama need to do when that time comes is to release crude from the oil reserve and that will quench GOP only hope........high gas price. Gas price is not in play in this election.

          • 16 votes
          #3.9 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 2:57 PM EDT

          See, that's why a drive an HHR. Plenty of room and good gas mileage! (And not as much to fill up the tank)

          • 8 votes
          #3.10 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 2:57 PM EDT

          All Obama need to do when that time comes is to release crude from the oil reserve and that will quench GOP only hope........high gas price. Gas price is not in play in this election

          Pen,

          The Strategic Oil Reserve is should not be used for price manipulation but for emergencies. Bush wrongly tapped it and Obama already tapped into it several months back. In both instances the price came down roughly 10 cents for a week or two.

          It screwed some of the weaker speculators and that's about it.

          If Obama wanted to drop gas prices all he has to do is suspended or repeal the Jones Act.

          But he won't because the unions would go ballistic. Obama is owned and beholden to the unions. And Americans will suffer because of it.

          • 10 votes
          #3.11 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 3:06 PM EDT

          Gas price is not in play in this election.

          ______

          Huh?

          Issue number 1 - Economy/status of unemployment. Gas/oil prices drive, figuratively and realistically, the economy. Higher prices inflate goods and services hinder business ability to serve the public and increase the costs passed on to the consumers.

          A huge swath of the population don't understand the differencies in policies between the GOP and Obama, but they sure are angry that gas prices are high. Despite two years of added jobs, those that are unemployed will be angry if employment levels don't increase.

          Do not be fooled that the GOP candidates, weak though they may be, can not beat Obama if economic conditions are bad.

          Shame on those hoping for months of rising gas/oil prices and the bad effects they would cause to the economy. It seems like that is too much to ask just to get some bad polling numbers on Obama.

          • 10 votes
          #3.12 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 3:12 PM EDT

          Rob

          The oil will be strategically released (imagine 3wks to election day). You and I know how mentally that will play in the peoples pocket. Their pockets will decide for them. That 10 cent or so is a cushion and guess what, that 's a winner any day.

          • 4 votes
          #3.13 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 3:20 PM EDT

          Phiphancy, happy Bday to your daughter.

          I will stop complaing about MSNBC bias today, if you stop your over the top characterizations of the GOP .

          • 5 votes
          #3.14 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 3:25 PM EDT

          Rob in MA,

          Good afternoon on this fine day,I agree with you on repealing the Jones Act. It is archaic. but I think it might be Congress that needs to to this. How does your officials feel about doing this, seeing you have a lot of seashore and ports?

          • 5 votes
          #3.15 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 3:31 PM EDT

          Pen,

          You are quite the optimist. There are a lot of independents out there and if they have to shell out even $4.50/gal thru labor day that memory will stay with them all the way through election day. Particularly, when those gas prices will have raised food and other petroleum based product prices significantly and hampered any real growth within the economy.

          • 2 votes
          #3.16 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 3:32 PM EDT

          Thank you Michael O'Brien for addressing what many of us have been talking about: the difference between the 2008 and 2013 primaries, and the difficulties Republicans are having wih their choices in the primary field.

          I'm sure, as usual, the Republicans will come out to support their own, even if it's a liberal Republican like Mitt Romney, they will vote for anyone but O'bama - even though they can't exactly say why.

          I mean, taxes haven't gone up under a Democratic President, Osama bin Laden was executed, the Iraq War has concluded without a bloodbath, Detroit is profitable and the stock market is up. Even Gitmo is till operational. What exactly is the Republican's problem with O'bama again?

          • 22 votes
          #3.17 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 3:32 PM EDT

          Very interesting Rob..So the Pres is in the tank for 11-12% of the work force who are members of the "unpatriotic evil union conspiracy," not to mention the 1/2 million gubment employees laid off during the recession. Keep drinking the Kool Aid!

          Just remember the following:

          1. Ted Kennedy destroyed Carter's re-election chances by dividing the democratic party in 1980.

          2. Think 1964 when Goldwater ruined the republican brand. Barry would shudder at the current crop of republican candidates today.

          • 16 votes
          #3.18 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 3:33 PM EDT

          Pen,

          Interesting prognostication. A strategic release of the strategic reserve simply to bolster the incumbent's electability would cost said incumbent my vote. Utterly irresponsible - not the way to sway a thinking independent.

          • 3 votes
          #3.19 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 3:35 PM EDT

          but I think it might be Congress that needs to to this.

          Bush suspended the Jones Act during his term and gas prices did drop significantly. In terms of repeal, you are right that would take congressional action. But as I said unions would not be happy. So I doubt dems would support it. And the republicans will be in no hurry to help save Obama on gas prices when he has fought any pro oil and gas exploration for the last three years.

          • 6 votes
          #3.20 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 3:38 PM EDT

          And before anyone starts the 'production is at an all time high' nonsense read the whole editorial below. Editorial pages across the country have written about Obama's recent deceptive claims

          Obama often says, “Under my administration, America is producing more oil today than at any time in the last eight years.” That’s true: It’s also true that under Obama’s administration, Snooki from “Jersey Shore” got pregnant and Charlie Sheen lost his job. And he can take about as much credit for those developments too. --- Boston Herald Editorial

          http://bostonherald.com/news/opinion/op_ed/view/20220315obama_energy_policy_a_real_loser

          • 2 votes
          #3.21 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 3:58 PM EDT

          All Obama has to do to reduce the price of gas is get our warships out of the Persian Gulf! Sadly, he has already proven he is a puppet of the military industrial complex so prices will continue to rise until a war with Iran starts and they go through the roof.

          • 2 votes
          #3.22 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 4:01 PM EDT

          Rob in MA,

          So you are saying that the voters on the East and West coast who would benefit if the Jones Act was repealed are hostage to the Congress that cannot do a thing to help with the gas distribution to these areas? So you put your blame on the president?

          It does not make sense, but I paid $3.69 for gallon of gas today in MN. I am happy....

          What is it on the coast?

          • 10 votes
          #3.23 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 4:17 PM EDT

          If memory serves me this late Friday afternoon, the Jones Act does not interfere with drilling outside what is considered US waters. Suspending it or repealing it to allow drilling inside coastal waters would have absolutely no immediate impact on the price of oil; it would take several years before oil be pumped. What is the need to do that? We have oil coming from ND faster than it can be refined. We have plenty of gasoline. 113 million gallons of gas are being exported from the US every single day. There is no shortage of oil or shortage of gas. This is a combination of price hikes every spring by oil companies, middle east unrest, a lot of war talk coming mostly from GOP candidates and Israel and Iran's saber rattling at each other plus one of the biggest culprits is oil commodities speculators bidding up the price. It wouldn't matter how much more we drilled, the price will rise until those external factors subside.

          In 2010 or 2011, in conjunction with European friends and allies, President Obama released oil from the federal reserve to force speculators to back off. Other presidents both R & D have done this. It is silly to hold that kind of action against any president regardless if it is an election year or not.

          • 18 votes
          #3.24 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 4:25 PM EDT

          Rob in MA,

          Did a little research and Obama Administration did give waivers from the Jones Act during the SPR drawdown last summer.

          Jody,

          Part of the problem of high gas on the coasts is the limited distribution means from the refineries in the Midwest to the coast. Gasoline is transported by tanker ships to the coast, but according to the Jones Act they must be domestic vessels and US seamen working these tankers.

          http://www.marinelog.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=196

          The maritime industry is nervous that the waivers might be given again. Many in congress both Dem and GOP don't have the will to fix this small wrinkle of the Jones law so more gas can flow easily to the gas pump. to repeal this law would also help the cruise industry and provide US ports with tourist dollars and jobs.

          In my limited understanding, this is again a standoff and lack of will for both parties to work out a solution that will promote jobs and at the same time bring gas to the pump by ship tankers for the good of everyone.

          • 3 votes
          #3.25 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 5:20 PM EDT

          Hmm, we export nearly 3 million bpd and yet we STILL have high gas prices!! Even if you factor in the lack of domestic refining, we shouldn't have to deal with high gas prices solely on the basis of supply and demand. It's the speculators, who have been driving up costs because of Iran. Simple as that. Unfortunately, the GOP cannot understand the simplest of concepts...

          OBAMA BIDEN 2012

          • 8 votes
          #3.26 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 7:56 PM EDT

          phnephancy

          Hate never builds - it destroys. so the logic "if they can make people hate enough to vote" doesn't really happen.

            #3.27 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 8:55 PM EDT

            Rob, what you linked to is called an "editorial". This means that it is opinion-based, not fact based. Indeed, much of that editorial's statements were misleading or outright false. For example, the Keystone Pipeline would mainly export oil and would not lower gas prices (http://www.tarsandsaction.org/spread-the-word/key-facts-keystone-xl/). The key thing to do is to lower oil demand, which Obama has done. Obama increased production of other energy sources, which is undeniable. Oil is an energy source of the past.

            • 6 votes
            #3.28 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 9:35 PM EDT

            Mr Anon -

            Obama increased production of other energy sources, which is undeniable. Oil is an energy source of the past.

            In 1896 there were a number of electric cars. The went 25 - 35 mph and had a range of 40 miles. Today we have cars that will do 35 - 40 mph and still have a maximum range of 40 miles, so we add a gasoline engine to get the rest of the way home. Some improvement in 110 years.

            The reason our demand is down is because America is still just bumping along to survive. They also have cut back severely on the travel (about 20%).

            Shortly after Obama took office BP started taking solar panels on the stations down. They were ineffective and expensive to keep operational eating up all the savings they were getting and then some!

            • 2 votes
            #3.29 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 11:01 PM EDT

            freshie - while we have been increasing production, OPEC has been decreasing production and the demand for oil is still increasing. Because we don't have enough pipeline capacity, the oil must be transported by truck and barge which increases the transportation of oil to 3 times that of a pipeline.

            As for how much oil does the US have. Let me give you a hint. Ohio is supposed to be a dying oil field, yet someone I know was telling me that an oil producer wanted to drill on the property his business is located on for oil right in the city of Akron!. With all the restrictions on drilling they had about the only property they could use to access the oil.

            We have all kinds of oil. We just need to access it.

            • 1 vote
            #3.30 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 11:09 PM EDT

            Yeah and here is the joke about Keystone. Oil being a traded commodity, the keystone line gets built the oil will be flowing offshore even faster. It is traded across the world. Whom ever is willing to pay more will get the oil, including ours in the midwest. The oil companies certainly don't care about the US consumer paying more. Ron Wyden of Oregon tried to get the Senate to back a resolution recently to keep Keystone oil for domestic consumption if built. That certainly got a big negative response.

            • 7 votes
            #3.31 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 2:40 AM EDT

            Exactly right. Thus lies the contridiction of the GOP party in general. I know a few educated conservatives who after years of voting simply want nothing to do with the party. There's financial conservitives, then there's complete nut-jobs who want people like Santorum to run the country.

            I only predict less and less support for the GOP party in the future. Don't get me wrong, there will always be financial conservatives, and they make decent arguements of how the economy should be run. But the GOP with it's moral contridictions just looks more and more silly as time goes on. I predict the rise of a new conservative party.

            • 4 votes
            #3.32 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 6:58 AM EDT

            @Bob in Virginia-5210392 - I'm sorry what, aside from a theocracy (w/corporate America playing the role of the Borgias), does the GOP have to offer?

            • 6 votes
            #3.33 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 7:51 AM EDT

            OMG, if we lower gas prices will we have to bail out the speculators? ROFL

            • 6 votes
            #3.34 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 9:11 AM EDT

            liberals are naive and delusional.....so what's new....ANYONE BUT obama IN NOVEMBER!

              #3.35 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 1:32 PM EDT

              mcpaddywack - and Republicans are just plain stupid, moronic and out of touch with reality. Andy your post "anyone but Obama," just totally proves my points!

              Obama/Biden 2012

              • 6 votes
              #3.36 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 3:30 PM EDT

              @Rob in MA

              How would repealing the Jones Act brimg down gas prices? I'm honestly curious. How are the two connected?

              A federal statute (46 U.S.C. § 688) that extends the Federal Employer’s Liability Act (FELA) to seamen. The Act enables seamen who have been injured at sea during the course of their employment to bring a personal injury action against their employers.

              I'm sorry but any connection seems remote to me.

              • 4 votes
              #3.37 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 5:54 PM EDT
              Reply
              Comment author avatarsuibne-5407191Expand Comment Comment collapsed by the community

              five wars

              assault on Arizona

              Mexican insurgents on American soil

              American agents murdered in America

              The socialist communist r^pe of the middle class

              Government motors

              Oil in gulf fiasco

              Obama care fiasco

              Shadow government by czars

              Union thugs in the steeets

              Children molested lawfully in airports

              TSA BIGOTS selecting victims for pat downs

              Real estate fanny mae Freddie mac fiasco

              Housing catastrophe

              Teacher lying on camera

              Doctors lying on camera

              Paying for insurgents to go to college

              Congressmen espousing socialism

              Ignoring constitutional law blatantly

              Class warfare

              Generational warfare

              Racial warfare

              Insulting the supreme court justices publicly

              Insulting opposing opinion publicly

              Paying socialist news outlets from tax coffers

              Universities as socialist factories of propaganda

              Paying pigford frauds for fictional victimization

              Using every available form of media for political propaganda

              Stealing elections

              Housing price depression

              Un employment at 11.5

              Ignoring election results

              Global warming fiasco

              Islamist terrorists using sharia on our own soil

              You think this list is done………..?

              5$ GAS AND GOING UP……FOOD INFLATION AND GOING UP……15.5 TRILLION DEBT. AND GOING UP.

              five dollar gas going up

              15 trillion in debt going up

              betrayal of israel

              ows goons on the street

              union goons on the street

              assault on the catholic church

              panetta's betrayal of american sovereignty...

              teenage thugs on the streets

              electric car fiasco

              green industry fiasco

              inflation about to explode

              socialist media rampant

              filth from hollywood

              filth on TV

              tells illegal Mexicans American citizens are the enemy

              resentment and faux victimization as political weapons

              declares war on texas with voter registration assault

              The military disarmed, insulted in front of the entire world

              THE SENATE present no budget for over a thousand days

              Fed prosecutors frame senator stevens conceal evidence

              Part III AND IV IN THE WINGS?....

              THE SOCIALIST BIGOT IN THE WHITE HOUSE DOESN’T CARE BECAUSE HE KNOWS YOU WON’T DO A THING. OBAMA IS THE PROBLEM. YOU ARE THE PROBLEM.

              SUIBNE

              Content authored by David Brons

                Reply#4 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 2:57 PM EDT

                And a very Happy St. Paddy's day to you!

                • 2 votes
                #4.1 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 2:58 PM EDT

                suibne,

                Insulting opposing opinion publicly

                Is this anything like opposing insulting public opinion?

                ;-0)

                sorry I just couldn't resist!

                • 6 votes
                #4.2 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 3:04 PM EDT

                Man, that's an impressive list, except for the parts that either aren't Obama's fault or that are made-up nonsense. Oh, wait, that's pretty much all of it.

                • 12 votes
                #4.3 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 3:11 PM EDT

                Oh wow john, and you have the list of what he has done for this country, not a dam thing, thanks john for reminding us.

                • 3 votes
                #4.4 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 3:34 PM EDT

                david brons - Holy smokes your closet is overflowing with monsters isn't it? Living in hate, anger and fear is not a particularly great way to go through life. A psychologist can do wonders for your condition. Best of luck..........you certainly are going to need it. Especially if the gop doesn't win in November.

                • 7 votes
                #4.5 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 5:36 PM EDT

                Whoa, whoa, whoa. Let me get this straight. Restoring the tax rates for the wealthy to Clinton levels (4 point difference) is class warfare???? So in this world, hot weather means rain??? What the hell kind of reasoning is that??? Forcing the lower classes to pay more in taxes while the rich get richer is okay, but asking the rich to pay just a little bit more is out of the question?? What the hell is wrong with this nation??? We could put a man on the moon and defeat both the Nazis AND the Japanese, but apparently we can't ask the "holy job creators" to pay a little more!!! Well f*** you, GOP. You claim to the be the party of values; isn't everyone paying their fair share an American value??? So f*** you, Romney. F*** you Santorum. F*** you, Gingrich. And most especially, f*** you Norquist. You have deliberately set politics and negotiation back 80 years. Damn it, this is what is destroying this nation. Obstructionism and uncompromising attitudes, especially from the damn right. I know Obama hasn't made any attempts to reduce healthcare costs (that is why I hope Congress can do that); but the GOP hasn't offered ANY credible proposals. Every proposal they put on the table privatizes healthcare even though it is a growing notion that private healthcare is a joke and that we need universal healthcare. And on top of that, they have the nerve and the balls to think that the Democrats are being unreasonable for asking for higher taxes IN ADDITION to spending cuts and a reasonable entitlement reform package. No wonder America is so screwed up. We have a third of the people act as a bunch of arrogant brats who think they are right and everyone is wrong and that it should be their way or the highway. I hope and pray that the GOP will be DESTROYED in November, so we can finally get this country back on track and away from right-wing social engineering.

                OBAMA BIDEN 2012

                DEATH TO THE GOP/TEA PARTY 2012

                • 7 votes
                #4.6 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 12:43 AM EDT
                Reply

                Thanks for the walk down memory lane, Michael. I do know that while I was a strong supporter of then-Senator Obama, I was sorry that I could not also support Senator Clinton. I would have voted for her and campaigned for her had she been the nominee. I would never have used the phrase that I hear so many Republicans use: "hold my nose and vote for Mitt". I think positive feelings for candidates are better motivators than being against another candidate.

                • 27 votes
                Reply#5 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 3:02 PM EDT

                Steeler Fan,

                I was sorry that I could not also support Senator Clinton. I would have voted for her and campaigned for her had she been the nominee. I would never have used the phrase that I hear so many Republicans use: "hold my nose and vote for Mitt".

                Agreed. I loved both of them; it was a tough decision.

                • 17 votes
                #5.1 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 3:36 PM EDT

                Jack---I'm hoping I'll get that chance to vote for Hillary in 2016!

                • 20 votes
                #5.2 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 3:47 PM EDT

                Is it just me or have people forgotten how nasty the '08 Democratic primaries were? Maybe I was just easily irritated at the time but I recall being disgusted at the sensless sniping that went on between Ms. Clinton and Mr. Obama.

                Likely just me.

                I enjoyed the above article, especially the point the Democrats were fielding two potentially historic candidates. A very unique dynamic! And I agree, '12 is nothing like '08.

                • 8 votes
                #5.3 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 3:47 PM EDT

                The democratic primaries were far from nasty. Heated politically and exciting, yes. Occasional spurts of anger at something the other campaign did or said, sure--I remember Clinton's "how dare you, shame on you Barack Obama" poutrage; I remember Obama's muffed "you're likable enough" comment and cringing as he said it. Those were inner-party spats compared to what we're seeing in 2012. For the most part we watched terrific, thoughtful debates between knowledgeable candidates. 2008 was a fiercely fought battle for voters by two strong, well liked and excellent candidates either of which would have made a strong president and either would have received my vote no if, ands or buts about it. There was disagreement on issues, there was sparring. There was back and forth on policy differences but neither Clinton nor Obama attacked the character of the other; they may have fought about who is "ready on Day 1" but they respected each other. I don't see much respect from Santorum and Gingrich for Mitt Romney and vice versa; they have attacked the character of their own candidates.

                • 18 votes
                #5.4 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 4:48 PM EDT

                Well put, Jody. And the proof of that is that Hillary Clinton met with Sen. Obama after the primaries, campaigned very hard for him, nominated him at the convention (how stirring was that moment) and has worked even harder and incredibly effectively as Secretary of State. I just don't picture any of these guys doing the same.

                • 15 votes
                #5.5 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 5:29 PM EDT

                Exactly right. Thus lies the contridiction of the GOP party in general. I know a few educated conservatives who after years of voting simply want nothing to do with the party. There's financial conservitives, then there's complete nut-jobs who want people like Santorum to run the country.

                I only predict less and less support for the GOP party in the future. Don't get me wrong, there will always be financial conservatives, and they make decent arguements of how the economy should be run. But the GOP with it's moral contridictions just looks more and more silly as time goes on. I predict the rise of a new conservative party.

                • 3 votes
                #5.6 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 6:59 AM EDT

                I find the comparisons between the Democratic primaries of 2008 and the Republican primaries of 2012 amusing.

                Just ask yourself this: if Romney emerges as a clear winner, would he tap Gingrich as Secretary of State? How about Santorum as Secretary of Education? How about vice versa: If Gingrich emerges as a clear winner, would he offer Secretary of Commerce to Romney? After all the negative attacks on both Romney and Gingrich, how could Santorum, if he emerged as the leader, offer either of them a high-level post without appearing to be a back-slider to the religious right he has been pandering to?

                The infighting among the Republican candidates during their primaries has caused each to diverge further and further from any common center that they might be able to share. I don't see any healing process possible after this that would allow all Republican voters to coalesce behind one candidate.

                • 5 votes
                #5.7 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 9:27 AM EDT

                Unfortunately, Steeler Fan, hatred for President Obama by the GOP/TPers is a great motivator for them. Just as strong, if not stronger, than the positive reactions we had for Obama and Clinton during the preliminary. With the 'instant gratification' attitude of so many, the fact the President Obama didn't turn everything rosy in 2 years has made those people less enthusiastic toward our president. While at the same time, as I've previously said, the hatred of our president is so overwhelming that a large group of people honestly don't care who the opposition is - just that it's not Obama.

                I hope people get over themselves and realize the damage that will be done if the GOP/TPers take control of our government. We're already seeing it in states where laws are being past to take away people's right to privacy about birth control and abortion - any type of family planning. The dominizing of unions for fighting for fair wages while condoning exhorbitant salaries and bonuses for executives. This is just the tip of the iceburg.

                Obama/Biden 2012 hopefully

                • 5 votes
                #5.8 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 11:21 AM EDT

                I also would have gladly voted for Hillary. In the end I had to vote for Obama because I just couldn't forgive the R for Bush and the fake war in Iraq and blowing it on finding Bin Laden.

                • 1 vote
                #5.9 - Tue Mar 20, 2012 6:08 AM EDT
                Reply

                WOW! Not many posts. I thought there was more than that who support the legalized extortion going on under this administration. Maybe someone here can tell me one good thing this administration has done? Why are over 90 Tea Party chapters currently being audited by the IRS? Why did the bulk of the stimulus money get spent in democratically controlled districts? If this wasn’t done by the government the FBI would be investigating the party for racketeering. This is Chicago politics on a national scale, and it’s not being reported!

                • 2 votes
                Reply#6 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 4:04 PM EDT

                You've been watching that conspiracy theory channel again, donkey. The stimulus went to the states, and don't you remember all those GOP governors saying they wouldn't take the money then standing beside oversized checks and touting how many jobs it would create in the state? Come on, you can do better than that. As for the rest of that nonsense, you really need to take a deep breath and if that doesn't work, please provide the source for your accusations otherwise, they sound like scare tactics.

                • 14 votes
                #6.1 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 4:54 PM EDT

                Because the other 90% of the population is pretty positive that tea-party republicans can't count.

                And so we don't trust you to do your own taxes.

                /Truth

                • 9 votes
                #6.2 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 5:29 PM EDT

                even if your allegations of Chicago style politics and "legalized extortion" were true and even if gas went up to $10/gallon, I would still have no problem voting for Obama - especially considering everyone else is running on a platform that the US needs to have a governing style that seems to be the less reasonable secret love child of Nicolai Ceacescu & the Taliban

                bring on the forensic vagina inspectors

                • 6 votes
                #6.3 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 8:00 AM EDT
                Reply

                ..

                  Reply#7 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 4:05 PM EDT

                  The biggest difference between Obama/Clinton and the current GOP....Clinton and Obama are both exceptionally intelligent, caring, and reasonable people. The GOP ...they are all equally scary.

                  • 22 votes
                  Reply#8 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 4:09 PM EDT

                  And the only intelligent, reasonable one of them (Huntsman) was gently patted on the back and shown the door, because he didn't hate Obama and the democrats enough.

                  • 7 votes
                  #8.1 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 9:23 PM EDT
                  Reply

                  I don't understand why they keep making the point that Republican's favorability ratings during primary season are lower than Democrat's. They can say this all they want but the facts are clear! Once we have a nominee, it will be Romney, his favorability will go up much higher because at the end all Republicans and most Independents will stand by the Republican nominee if it means unseating Barack Obama and getting this economy back on track so all this talk is just worthless.

                  • 3 votes
                  Reply#9 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 4:14 PM EDT

                  All of us women are dying to vote for Romney who has signed a pledge to overturn Roe v Wade and turn women into second class citizens. With men controlling women's bodies like they were the republican Taliban and not in a country where we are guaranteed freedom from religion.

                  Then Romney wants to kill Planned Parenthood along with getting rid of health-care and medicare. If he has to take away from social security to give him and his rich friends more tax cuts, so be it as he has said that "cuts don't hurt the poor."

                  Let's get our economy back on track and that track would be the one where the republicans drove us off a cliff.

                  If you value women's rights....VOTE....Obama/Biden 2012

                  • 18 votes
                  #9.1 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 5:53 PM EDT

                  You wouldn't know it by the senate races. Just saw the Missouri one. One month ago, Tied, today 10 point lead by the Republican.

                  Wouldn't know it by the results in both Alabama and Mississippi. Santorum was supposed to be behind Romney by 6 in both on what I have seen as the more accurate polls.

                  I've typically seen most approval polls for santorum in the 35 - 45 range, yet someone found one that says the number is 28. Exit polling shows he 65% positive among voters.

                  Me thinks there be a bit of sandbagging going on.

                  • 1 vote
                  #9.2 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 9:07 PM EDT

                  You don't get it and the Republican party doesn't get it.

                  It is not enough to run against Obama. You have to run for something. And, basically, in all the Republican candidates, I see no clear plans beyond cut taxes and eliminate government regulation. Oh, they all say they want to decrease our debt, but independent analysis of each plan shows that they will increase the debt more than Obama would. Where the hell is any substance in the Republican party?

                  • 7 votes
                  #9.3 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 9:35 AM EDT

                  I agree with you, Dee, to a point. Republicans will rally around their nominee no matter who he is. I'm not fooled by the low primary turnout. It's ABO even at the expense of our country. A very sad commentary for any of the GOP/TP candidates. But again, as Norquist said, they only need someone who can sign the bills that congress passes.

                  All you dems and indy's out there had better stop looking at the GOP/TP candidates as clowns and start realizing that their followers don't care. They hate our president that much.

                  • 4 votes
                  #9.4 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 11:37 AM EDT

                  ModeratedIndy - don't be so smug. Women indys are not ready to give in to the R agenda. I think it will be close. I think he will suffer the loss of many hispanics because they expected him to turn a blind eye to illegal immigration. But in the end, we're more scared of another R than we are another term with O. I still hate your beloved Bush more than any human being walking the earth, but I don't act on it, except with my vote. Never forget. Never go back.

                    #9.5 - Tue Mar 20, 2012 6:19 AM EDT
                    Reply

                    laura, the difference between the GOP candidates (Americans) and obama (communist) is America or amerika!!!

                    • 1 vote
                    Reply#10 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 4:28 PM EDT

                    Good lord, more 4th grade bloggers.

                    You are so full of hate, you wouldn't know the truth if it hit you along side of your head. Let's revive McCarthyism as it was so good for our country.

                    I don't know that the... if all else fails, lie... is such a good plan for the republicans.

                    For the America you have grown to love....VOTE....Obama/Biden 2012

                    • 14 votes
                    #10.1 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 5:59 PM EDT

                    The left now replacing the field of stars on our flag with the face of obama, it's time to vote these anti-American progressive bstrd's OUT!!!!

                    Atheist #1 supporters of communism!!

                    Atheist #1 supporters of Putin!!!!! (Russia studying Chinese model of communism, nyt)

                    Atheist #1 supporters 0f obama!!!

                    Is obama a socialist, fascist, marxist, communist? All I know is some people (anti-American progressives) get extremely upset if you refer to him as one or the other!!

                    All I know for sure is that he is not an "American Capitalist" so in an effort to properly identify him and calm the rhetoric. I am coining the term "soroist" maybe no one will be offended?

                    First has anyone questioned who "frank" in "Dreams from My Father" was???

                    Google frank marshall davis and obama!

                    Then google his white house appointees, valarie jarrett, andy stern and cass sunstein,.

                    For even more enjoyable reading google george soros, anthony van jones, annita dunn, then refresh your memory on the terrorist bill ayres, bernadine dorhn, the crook tony rezco and oh yes ole ref wright, obama's old Chicago buddies!!!!

                    How did anthony van jones a self a vowed communist end up in obama's administration????

                    Of course all these associations are only coincidences????

                    The question remains just what is obama??????

                    Soros's (himself a jew hating jew) vision of an atheist of his "One World Government" and amerika, is not my vision of AMERICA!!!!!!

                    America supports Israel, amerika will not!!!!

                    Vote soros, van jones and obama OUT!!!!!!

                    • 1 vote
                    #10.2 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 6:51 PM EDT

                    I am sorry you have so much hate. President Obama is a good man and has done an incredible job considering that the republicans have blocked everything they could that would be good for America.

                    When we are just pulling out of the ditch why would anyone want to go back to the same bush policies that have been proven to fail. They deregulated wall street and they robbed us blind and then some laws were put in place to protect America and republicans are frothing at the mouth to get rid of any regulations.

                    Common wisdom and the rest of the history of our nation, we always raised taxes to pay for wars. Republicans in their great wisdom decided that tax cuts and more tax cuts for their rich friends goes with wars and then blame democrats and their spending as the cause of the deficit.

                    Instead of controlling the tax cuts, they think we need to control the spending.

                    Why would we ever want to elect a party that shows over and over they don't have a clue as to what they are doing? That is unless their plan really is to destroy America.

                    Obama/Biden 2012

                    • 14 votes
                    #10.3 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 9:30 PM EDT

                    Spending under the democrats has INCREASED!

                    The healthcare bill is now projected to cost double!

                    There was NO deregulation!

                    Obama has not proposed a budget that actually reduces the deficit!

                    Try looking up information instead of believing what is on MSNBC!

                    • 1 vote
                    #10.4 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 1:23 AM EDT

                    If all else fails lie.

                    I guess when that is all the republicans have, they is all they have.

                    You come on here with you repeat-a-lie mentality and tell me I am wrong. No deregulation? I wonder who has been lying to you?

                    • 6 votes
                    #10.5 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 11:07 AM EDT
                    Reply

                    Let's see...

                    the Obama administration recently coordinated shutting down Iran's international bank accounts, so they are reduced to loading speedboats with cash and ferrying them to Saudi Arabia to do business.

                    ... while Romney wanted destroyers and fighter jets sent to the Gulf to "send a message," that was more elegantly and effectively delivered by pulling an electronic plug.

                    I'll stick with President Obama, thank you

                    • 23 votes
                    Reply#11 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 4:31 PM EDT

                    I had to laugh when I read about the Republicans' low approval ratings (24% positive, 46% negative) in mid 2010. Um, do you remember what happened to the Democrats in the mid-term elections of 2010? I think their fearless leader called it "a shellacking". And just an FYI; we Republicans are going to open an even bigger can of shellack in a little over 7 months. So until then, all of you libs take solace in your phony polls and reassurances from your pundits that everything is going to be OK. Whoever is the Republican Presidential candidate is going to win in a landslide.

                    • 2 votes
                    Reply#12 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 4:43 PM EDT

                    Time to wake up now. You're still dreaming.

                    • 5 votes
                    #12.1 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 5:33 PM EDT

                    Apples and Oranges, my man.

                    Democrats are terrible about showing up to polls during non-presidential years. It's our cross to bear.

                    Republicans are great about voting every single chance they get.

                    There's a reason this article compares 2008 to 2012, with only one non-comparison side-comment about 2010.

                    see you at the polls!

                    • 7 votes
                    #12.2 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 5:34 PM EDT

                    If we get any of those old republican men from the Vietnam era..or just simply put..past their tenor..Im just going to move to canada or something..they fight amoungest each and act like children. I know children who are more adult.

                    Id rather stick with obama...It comes down to the devil We know and the devil We dont know...Id just stick with the one we know.

                    • 4 votes
                    #12.3 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 5:48 AM EDT
                    Reply

                    keep whistling past the graveyard, I.Samwell, Congress' approval rating is even lower now than than when the Democrats lost the majority in 2010. Seems voters elected Republicans in 2010 thinking they would work on creating jobs, instead they focused like a laser on keeping taxes low on the wealthiest.

                    • 13 votes
                    Reply#13 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 5:22 PM EDT

                    2008 was the Oprah primary. Clinton had a solid lead in the polls until Oprah endorsed Obama. Bye, bye Hillary!

                    2012 is the marathon primary. It seems like the last century when these guys started debating. My guess is that Romney will get his delegates, but even a brokered convention isn't that big of a deal. When the nominee is selected, the Republicans will have Obama in their cross hairs. It's about intensity, not duration.

                    Obama's position on energy isn't defensible. Energy independence puts Americans to work and America out of the Middle East. That's why he loses the election- pure and simple.

                    • 1 vote
                    Reply#14 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 5:22 PM EDT

                    Seeking to develop "green energy" isn't seeking energy independence? Really?

                    Last I checked, oil is a finite resource...there's only so much of it and at some point it's going to run out. What do you do when that happens?

                    ...and more importantly, can you wait until that happens to try and figure out the alternative?

                    Even President Bush said once upon a time that America has "an addiction to oil". Is the cure for an addiction giving the addict more?

                    ...or at some point isn't it in the best interest of the crack addict to stop being a crack addict?

                    • 15 votes
                    #14.1 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 5:29 PM EDT

                    Why does GOP/TP voter think their leaders WANT energy independence. If we had that, the Cheneys, Rumsfelds, and Bushes of the oil industry would have nobody to blame when they "speculate" the prices up again. Middle-Eastern oil gives them deniable option and they LOVE the sheiks. They claim Obama panders to Muslims, hell, bush kissed them square on the lips....literally.

                    I haven't heard a good answer for why oil sands have to be piped all the way to texas to be refined? Why not build refinery in Michigan or Wisconsin?

                    • 13 votes
                    #14.2 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 5:33 PM EDT

                    Or better yet, let Canada build the pipeline across their own country as the gas goes to the world market anyway and American gets no benefit. Unless you call risking our largest underground water supply to pollution and made undrinkable is a benefit.

                    I was acroos the room and didn't mute the keystone pipeline ads now running again. What they say is that hundreds of projects like keystone could create a half a million jobs, not that keystone would be providing that many jobs.

                    Oil companies way to lie without actually lying.

                    • 13 votes
                    #14.3 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 6:07 PM EDT

                    What energy independence are you talking about? The oil companies? They sell to the highest bidder ...end of story.

                    • 1 vote
                    #14.4 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 11:24 PM EDT
                    Reply

                    I've said it before and I'll say it again...

                    One of the biggest differences between the Democrats in 2008 and the Republicans in 2012 is that Clinton and Obama may have had their moments of acrimony but I don't think they ever lost respect for each other.

                    Romney, Santorum and Gingrich not only do not like each other but they do not respect each other. Their campaigns have displayed the mean-spirited nature that is usually reserved for a General Election.

                    • 15 votes
                    Reply#15 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 5:26 PM EDT

                    Of course GOP primary isn't like Obama/Clinton. With Obama and Clinton you had two reasonable people talking about reasonable solutions. Some good;some bad. With the GOP/TPers in 2012, it is a race for the bottom to see who can act the dumbest and pander to the weakest minds among us. No person of any intelligence could back Santorum as he wants to push U.S. back to uneducated, unskilled worker status. Gingrich would steal the sugar out of a babies birthday cake and Romney, who is not as dumb as he is playing, can't be trusted to revert back to the land of the intelligent once elected. The intelligentsia of America will NEVER let one of these idiots into WH.....NEVER

                    • 11 votes
                    Reply#16 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 5:29 PM EDT

                    I guess you weren't around to watch the Clinton/Obama 2008/ debates and the nasty back and forth they have had with each other. You are naieve to believe they had a friendly and civil campaign against each other. I watched the whole thing and it wasn't pretty. I said this over and over again, when Romney, the most intelligent and qualified, gets the nomination, all the republicans and most Independents will unify, stand by him and support him. It won't be a hard choice at the General Election: Romney's successful resume in the public and private sector versus Obama's empty one added on to a pathetic record during his 3 years.

                    • 1 vote
                    #16.1 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 5:39 PM EDT

                    Obama wins hands down. Americans will not forget Romney's moderate position in the real world. If elected, they will be rudely surprised when they find out that he supports universal health care, social security, women's rights, and believes in climate change and evolution. Hell, he may be more liberal than Obama....

                    • 7 votes
                    #16.2 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 6:17 PM EDT

                    All Americans want to elect Romney so they can pay higher taxes so Romney can pay for more tax cuts for him and his rich friends.

                    Then we all want to go to war again and the poor people take more cuts to programs for the needy so Romney can still give more tax cuts to his rich friends. You don't think they are donating all the money to his campaign for nothing.

                    Other than tax cuts, what are his other plans? He then wants to deregulate Wall Street so they can rob us again. Deregulate the oil companies so they can pollute at will.

                    Romney's plans are good for Americans if you are the 1% and you don't care about the rest of America.

                    For the America you have grown to love....VOTE....Obama/Biden 2012

                    • 12 votes
                    #16.3 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 6:19 PM EDT
                    Reply

                    I would never vote GOP (even if my husband's life depended on it), but here's my take on their race. Stop rolling out the same failed candidates from races past! They are losers for a reason.

                    OBAMA/BIDEN 2012 "we got it straight in 08"

                    But you GOP losers can keep trying!

                    • 13 votes
                    Reply#17 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 5:31 PM EDT

                    If you think Obama "got it straight in 08" then I guess you have low standards as to how a recovery should happen; let's see, 8.3% unemployment, 1.3 trillion deficit per year, higher gas prices etc. Others like me deserve so much better than what they are getting. If you are satisfied with the state of the economy as it stands now and feel you are better off now than 4 years ago, by all means, vote for your guy. Good luck to you!!

                    • 1 vote
                    #17.1 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 5:48 PM EDT

                    Small business owners and middle class people who pay their bills are MUCH better off now than we were 4 years ago. My 401k has value now. At the end of 07 it had lost 60% of it's value.... I do not know why some refuse to see what is obvious to everyone else (except Faux News). Economy is stronger now than it has been in several years. The exemption on CG taxes by Obama has saved thousands of small businesses. His bail out of auto industry save millions of jobs. Ending Iraq BS saved billions of dollars and who knows how many lives....now afghanistan....

                    • 16 votes
                    #17.2 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 6:22 PM EDT

                    If you want to go back to where bush and the republicans left our country just 3 years ago, vote for a republican, as they want to go back to where bush had us 3 years ago too.

                    I don't have amnesia like most republicans but I don't remember it being all that great. Then the republicans have done nothing but block our recovery and then want to blame everyone but themselves.

                    I can't trust a republican who denies they every did anything wrong, blames it all on President Obama. Now they want to go back to before President Obama messed everything up as if he inherited the economy that bush inherited.

                    I am betting that Americans are smarter than to vote for another republican for anything.

                    • 12 votes
                    #17.3 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 6:30 PM EDT

                    Believe what the media wants to tell you, Many people know the real deal, and it is reflected by the mood out there and it isn't good? This recovery that is market driven is so slow and even this dismal recovery we are having I will not give credit to Obama! What has he done personally to get jobs backs. Name one policy that he had that was not anti-business. I would love to know this. Obama has imposed so many regulations that companies are not able to operate efficiently or unable to hire new employees. The Keystone pipeline will add hundred of thousands of jobs but he won't do it for political reasons. He is getting credit for the taxpayer bailout of the auto industry so the money goes to the unions? A managed, re-structured bankrupcy process would have worked just fine just like it did with the airlines. Obama keeps throwing the Government in the middle of corporations what do you think will happen? How long will these jobs last? Oh Yeah, Thank God the Government owns the auto industry. We have seen how competent Government has been lately. This is a lesson that Obama and the Democrats will never learn. This is a Market driven economy, not a Government driven one. Obama needs to go!!!

                    • 1 vote
                    #17.4 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 6:38 PM EDT

                    Americans First, your liberal media mentality does not wash with Americans. You think they all think the same way you do. Please remember the ratings of the media you are getting your news from.

                    Americans are smart enough to vote for better than what they are getting, which is nothing. Obama has owned this economy for the past three years now and can no longer make excuses as to why things are not the way they should be. He is too much of a coward to even take responsibility of this economy or own up to his mistakes that he has to blame everyone else. We don't need someone like this in the White House.

                    • 2 votes
                    #17.5 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 6:44 PM EDT

                    So you really think we need someone to bring us back to the bush disaster? You do know Romney has many of bush's old advisers to recapture the glory of the bush days.

                    How is it a small government if it can mandate you having to have unnecessary medical procedures that should be decided between you and your doctor? Seems pretty intrusive to me.

                    Of course you could think that freedom is only for men? Which appears to be the republicans ideal.

                    Abortion is a religious issue and only a religious issue. We have a constitution that republicans claim to believe in. It clearly states we have a freedom from religion as well as freedom of religion.

                    I am claiming my constitutional rights and keep your grimy holier than thou mitts off my life and my rights.

                    For continued women's rights...VOTE....Obama/Biden 2012

                    • 13 votes
                    #17.6 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 9:06 PM EDT

                    AF,

                    Abortion is a religious issue and only a religious issue

                    I thought you were claiming before that it was a woman's right to privacy issue?

                    Because, if it is a religious issue, then Roe vs Wade doesn't matter because RvW was a right to privacy decision, nothing about religion in it.

                    So now since it is simply a religious issue as you describe and claim, we can dispense with the phoney right to privacy the SCOTUS created in '72 to justify mandating abortions correct?

                    Only using logic my dear,

                    YOU said it!

                    Abortion is a religious issue and only a religious issue

                    I am claiming my constitutional rights and keep your grimy holier than thou mitts off my life and my rights.

                    I am all for you claiming your constitutional rights, and support you in this respect 100%

                    Have a nice day...

                    • 1 vote
                    #17.7 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 11:00 PM EDT

                    There is nothing in the Constitution says "freedom FROM religion". Congress not being able to establish a national religion is not the same thing.

                    • 1 vote
                    #17.8 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 1:33 AM EDT

                    Amendment I - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or
                    prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

                    Government can neither impose a state religion upon you nor punish you for exercising the religion of your choice. You may express your opinions, write and publish what you wish, gather peacefully with others,and formally ask government to correct injustices.

                    So it appears your state religious laws to control women's bodies are unconstitutional.

                    My religion believes a woman is smart enough to make a choice about her own body without the help of the republican Taliban. Appears you are tramping on my religious rights too.

                    It does not matter, privacy or freedom of religion, I am claiming the right to decide about my own body.

                    Protect women's rights...VOTE...Obama/Biden 2012

                    • 7 votes
                    #17.9 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 11:30 AM EDT

                    @mhrjhn just to reiterate and clarify for you, the constitution says

                    ". . .no law respecting an establishment of religion. . .", not an establishment of a religion; that my cognitively challenged buddy means the proscription isn't limited to creating an official state religion

                    furthermore, creating laws based on conservative Christian interpretation of the bible would be a de facto establishment of Christianity as the state religion. DOn't even try to pull the GOP Judeo-Christian line on me because Judaism has absolutely no proscription against contraception, does not believe that sex is for procreation (we have a nice little "nookie" clause in the ketubah, which is our religious marriage contract) and does not believe the products of conception are a human being until it is born alive (the live and health of the mother comes first).

                    • 5 votes
                    #17.10 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 11:47 AM EDT

                    Dee Patriot

                    The day the Keystone Pipeline creates hundreds of thousands of jobs is the day I canundergo genetic alteration surgery and get wings to fly with.

                    OBAMA BIDEN 2012

                      #17.11 - Sun Mar 18, 2012 9:11 PM EDT
                      Reply

                      it is all Bush's fault; Obama was not President when it happened. He just inherited the problem.

                      Love,

                      Little gay guy press secretary

                      • 3 votes
                      Reply#18 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 5:32 PM EDT

                      De2,

                      Well said.

                      But have your told your husband to stay healthy?:0)

                      • 3 votes
                      Reply#19 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 5:36 PM EDT

                      The Republican strategy has been to attack blacks, Hispanics, and women in general. Now they are threatening the health care and Social Security of the Baby Boomers. If they keep it up, by the election they will have only white millionaires who don't respect women and hopeless "Ditto Heads" who don't respect anything.

                      • 9 votes
                      Reply#20 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 6:40 PM EDT

                      And the racism begins. And from a Democrat liberal? Gee, what a surprise! Such igorance on these posts it is unbelievable.

                      • 3 votes
                      #20.1 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 6:46 PM EDT

                      Not at all, Dee. The GOP has alienated women, minorities, union workers, seniors, and moderates. The Republican Party is a party of exclusion, not inclusion, and that is not a recipe for winning elections. You can make all of the adolescent insults you can think up...none very original, I'm sure...but the fact remains that the GOP is laying the foundation for another Obama landslide win in November.

                      Read 'em and weep.

                      • 15 votes
                      #20.2 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 6:52 PM EDT

                      The Dems reward poverty, run campaigns with promises of more entitlements, punish success, uses the military as a pawn (remember when Obama used our Navy Seals for a publicity stunt?), and does nothing to secure our borders. Who is enslaving who?

                      • 3 votes
                      #20.3 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 8:20 PM EDT

                      I suppose anyone can say anything in a newsgroup - even irrational BULLS HIT...

                      • 2 votes
                      #20.4 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 10:09 PM EDT

                      "The GOP has alienated women, minorities, union workers, seniors, and moderates."

                      Women issue:

                      The left has been spewing this lie over and over because Obama found out that forcing religious institutions to provide something against their will violates the Constitution. The whole nonsense around Ms. Fluke is fabricated. Women's groups have not been protesting about "free" contraception until the democrats trotted her.

                      Minorities:

                      Which group has the HIGHEST unemployment rates under Obama?

                      Unions:

                      The democrats believe in forcing workers to join a union whether they want to or not. Republicans believe it is the individuals choice. ie Right to Work

                      Seniors:

                      Which democratic bill has reduced medicare? Which president has reduced funds going into Social Security?

                      Moderates:

                      All the democrat moderates have been jumping ship and won't be running for office again.

                      • 1 vote
                      #20.5 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 1:52 AM EDT

                      So, you refute my assertion with nothing more than to say it ain't so? You'll have to do better than some desperate wishful thinking to make a convincing case, Jethro. Most unions are already beginning to announce their support of President Obama against the anti-union GOP and a couple of hundred thousand auto workers and the people who depend on them are going to remember President Obama's rescue of the auto industry in November. You can bet on that, and major unions nation wide are expected to follow suit. The anti immigrant, anti minority rhetoric of the GOP will also be reckoned with in November, fueled by Santorum's recent gaffe about letting Puerto Rico join the union when the people learn to speak English...Latinos really appreciate that sort of disrespect. Seniors will also remember the evil Ryan Plan the GOP tried to force into law which would have been far more damaging to Medicare, as well as to Social Security benefits, than Obama's cuts have been. Women are tired of seeing their bodies used as a political football by the GOP and polls clearly show they are turning their backs on the Republican Party...with special thanks to the GOP's favorite attack dog, Rush Limbaugh for exposing their innate misogyny and its eagerness to gets its hooks into a woman's womb. And finally, the moderates are flocking to President Obama's camp after being abandoned by the GOP in its zeal to cultivate the favor of the right wing lunatic fringe, a decision they are coming to regret. The extremism of the tea party flavored Republican Party is not appreciated by middle America and that is not going to bode well for the Red Staters at election time.

                      Face it; the GOP is a party of exclusion, not inclusion, and that is definitely NOT a strategy that wins elections. They are building walls, not bridges, and the only groups the Republican Party will be able to count upon in November will be far right extremists and a handful of neo-nazi militia groups. Their votes are not going to be nearly enough to push the "winner" of the GOP's hilarious primary race over the top.

                      Verdict: Obama by default in November. The country has no other choice.

                      Read 'em and weep.

                      • 10 votes
                      #20.6 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 2:19 AM EDT

                      The Dems reward poverty, run campaigns with promises of more entitlements, punish success, uses the military as a pawn..., and does nothing to secure our borders.

                      Every one of these claims applies to Bush and the Republican majority in both houses for 6 years:

                      reward poverty - am I the only who remembers Bush's American Dream Downpayment Act? You know, the one where he said "the low-income home buyer can have just as nice a house as anybody else."

                      run campaigns with promises of more entitlements - During Bush's presidential campaign he said "First and foremost, we got to make sure we fully fund LIHEAP, which is a way to help low-income folks, particularly here in the East, to pay for their high fuel bills." and about Medicare: "Our Medicare system is a binding commitment of a caring society. We must renew that commitment by providing the seniors of today and tomorrow with preventive care and the new medicines that are transforming health care in our country." The list goes on and on...

                      uses the military as a pawn - Iraqi WMDs (which didn't exist), Halliburton... need I say more?

                      and does nothing to secure our borders. - Time magazine stated in 2004 that illegal immigration accelerated under the Bush Administration, with the US gaining 3 million additional illegal immigrant residents in 2004. The massive US intelligence agencies overhaul passed by Congress and signed by President Bush in January 2005 required Homeland Security to hire 10,000 more Border Patrol agents, 2,000 per year starting immediately. Bush ignored the law, and only asked us for 200 more agents.

                      So you know, I just have to ask how Republicans are going to be any different? Republicans have in fact proven that they would do exactly the same thing if given the chance.

                      Who is enslaving who?

                      • 3 votes
                      #20.7 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 10:27 AM EDT
                      Reply

                      Obama out in 2012, we don't need anymore changes.

                      • 2 votes
                      Reply#21 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 7:12 PM EDT

                      Nothings changed since the Bush led recession/depression because Obama inherited 2 wars, massive debt, auto industry on the brink of collapse, the mortgage crisis and massive home foreclosures.Obama has spent 3 years just stabilizing it from going into a Great depression, greater than seen in the 30's.The fact that unemployment has straight lined around 9% and has gone down to 8% is credentialing enough that something was a success, as opposed if you would have had a Bush/McCain economic philosophy that would have seen unemployment levels around 15%

                        #21.1 - Sun Mar 18, 2012 11:29 PM EDT
                        Reply

                        face reality the gop is basin ther hope on the price of gas which much of it they have controll of it-6 bucks a gallon gas this summer and the economy collapses and they know it the big fears set in and they win everything and once again they know it why yesterday they once again attack medicare and say they will privatise it and raise the age, to like 75years old dont be surprised if they win all and then make it like 85-90 years old leavin it for only the kucky few who live that long then for there same reasoning do the same with social security wouldnt doubt if they make it retroactive and they know once medicare is privatised it fails big time as the middle class and poor wont be able to afford there meds they force you take care of your elderly parant like you did in the 1930's but freein up all this money allows them another huge bush like tax cut so romney and the like make millions and millions more and they slap each others hands as they have finally killed the dems socialism once and for all and we become a true capitalist nation like they want- truthfully I see it happenin now the dem socialist programs are dead and they win all thanks to the price of gas and the tea party and there huge 2010 wins plus keep in mind everyone but obama sells have you seen one barrack obama bumper sticker? one campaign sign? us that have jobs there not put one up because if we did we would be fired in this weak economy the way it is

                        • 1 vote
                        Reply#22 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 7:21 PM EDT

                        years ago ago i could put on a clinton gore button and bumper sticker on my car , now if i did I wold be downsized like many of you have already been with the supreme cout laws the way they are see the dem party slaughterd this fall and see them ending social security and medicare they most likely will say those already on iyt are safe but they wont be as they cut them big time too they already are makin it so if you dont have a valid drivers license a photo id you cant vote and know most all seniors caant vote anymore cause you dont drive anymore-genious on ther part i guess they say it wont happen in the primaries but has already pssed in the general-those of you in the gop who have your big bucks will make sure grandma and grandpa have ther id the rest are screwed and there the ones dependin on the government for there livilyhood oh well your screwed I dont feel sorry for you all many of you vote gop and will continue to do so -this is your own doing-look on the brite side you made rush hanity bortz and all the right wingers rich you destroyed the rest of us but you sure helped them-thats your leagasie and if you think the gop really cares about the defeceit youve been livin under a rock the defeceit is there way to end all these entitlements and they knew it to begin with they just sucked you losers in to back them-I give them a + they knew how to do this and have succeeded

                        • 2 votes
                        Reply#23 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 7:36 PM EDT

                        not a troll,

                        I am so sorry you have had a stroke.

                        I check your past posts and your grammar and punctuation were fine for a H. S. graduate.

                        • 3 votes
                        Reply#24 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 7:38 PM EDT

                        Three years of "Hope and change" has failed. Our country is worse off.

                        • 6 votes
                        Reply#25 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 8:17 PM EDT

                        If there is one thing that is truly worse, it's the bankruptcy of talent within the GOP to put up this lame field of "contenders" for president. The only thing they are qualified for is understudies for circus clowns - their act isn't even funny anymore, it's sad and pathetic.

                        I have as yet to hear anything beyond Newt's moon base concept (that he recycled from previous studies) as a real idea to substantively address an issue a majority of Americans care about. The rest of the pablum they are spouting is all rehashed talking points with no rational thought as to how to actually accomplish anything.

                        Unless Obama really screws up or external events beyond anyone's control conspire against him, this thing is over before it starts ... you better start wrapping your mind around that.

                        • 9 votes
                        #25.1 - Fri Mar 16, 2012 9:55 PM EDT

                        Our country is no worse off then when the Bush led recession-depression hit, I feel no different than I did let's say 6 years ago, when over 100 body bags came back from Iraq & Afg. per month. Or back in 2007 when the treasury dept. cut us a check for $1425 with instructions to go out and spend it on "consumables???". I was slightly uneasy with their motivation to do that. Except when the economic avalanche hit in 2008 I than saw why we got the check. We were in early economic crisis and the @!$%# was beginning to hit the fan, and Bush and congress was getting desperate.

                        • 3 votes
                        #25.2 - Sat Mar 17, 2012 10:26 PM EDT

                        Worse off? We were losing 700,000 jobs a MONTH when Bush left office. We are now adding jobs. Iraq war is over. Bin Laden is dead. How in any realm of imagination you can conjuer from the stock market values to the banks balance sheets are we are off today?

                        Deficits? HAAAAA Your conservative hero Cheney killed that dead horse with the "deficits don't matter" fact that Republicans were all too willing to stand behind when it was them spending the money!

                          #25.3 - Tue Mar 20, 2012 3:18 AM EDT
                          Reply
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