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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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hummingbird's drinking too much obama koolaid,buy gas lately?food?troops getting killed by the afgan forces we trained?
Well, hows Obama's favorability working out now? After 31/2 years, he has been a real disappointment to many people. I think the coming election will be" any-one-but-Obama".
You know what is really a shame? You idiots think that Obama is the one at fault. L.M.F.A.O.! Wake up! Your OBSTRUCTIOINISTIC CONGRESSIONAL REPUKELICKAN MORONS stopped everything they could to keep this economy in the @!$%#ter!!! Why? Why did they do that to me, and YOU? Wake up!
Wow. D from Spencer is really having a tizzy fit.
Why thank you, Leroy! Glad to see you are on board with the Dems!
Democrats had complete control the first two years and they chose to jamb Obamacare down our throats instead of fix the economy, so things only got worse. The recovery only began when republicans took back the house and were able to "obstruct" further democrat destruction.
Democrats took congress and a year later the economy began to collapse, republicans took back the house and a year later the economy is on the mend. That is no coincidence.
why is it that all of you wack case right wingers seem to forget that the economy and useless wars were started and all got broke on your watch.. obama walked into a a real fked up mess that your side created !
and well lets not forget too that started way before obama got near the senate!
Because it's a lie. Democrats inherited 4.6% unemployment and a booming economy when they took over congress. This disaster is on their watch. Again, it's congress that writes laws, controls the budget, etc. While Bush tried to reign in the democrat destruction, Obama is cheering them on.
Here's where it differs. 4 years ago you didn't see any GOP sponsored anti-Clinton or anti-Obama ads running in their primary states, BEFORE there was even a nominee. Clearly Obama's scared sh%%less about having to face Romney.
I am a long time Tea Party Patriots member. There are a few loons in the Tea Party like any party. But most of us joined for one reason only -- to promote Fiscal Conservative candidates at every level of government - not right or left wing religious social nut cases and the moral police. Rick Santorum fails on both accounts: he was a consistent big government, union friendly liberal when he had his time in office + he's taken Obama's contraception bait and exposed his inquisition type future he has in mind. He loses the women vote badly. Newt's just a bitter old man who cares more about getting even, than the good of the country. Nothing Mitt's PAC ads said were untrue. And certainly less potent than the ones Obama would use against him. Only now he's spending his money (maybe Maher's $) on slamming Romney. Why? Because he knows Romney will crush him in November, no one else come close. Of all the 4 candidates, with the exception of Ron Paul, the most fiscally conservative is Mitt Romney. Plus he hasn't spent his entire life in DC, living off people who actually work for a living. Neither Rick or Newt have ever had a meaningful real job in their life. Both career political leeches. Maybe if they play their cards right, one day there will be the "Rick & Newt Show" on Fox, opposite the "Weiner-Spitzer Show" on MSNBC. Don't give this election to Obama: vote smart ROMNEY/RUBIO 2012 2016
more like DONT VOTE FOR ROMNEY / RUBIO ... too many of us would like to KEEP our homes , food on our tables , and maybe find a gd job
Backfire ignore bonehead up there(doesn't understand Housing Re-Investment Act under Jimmy Carter is cause of economic collapse) obviously stuck on liberal template stupid, I like Rubio but don't know if he was Romney's VP if he could keep steering Mitt to the RIGHT.
Then stick with Obama and you'll lose everything. Once the election is over, our debt will rise it's very ugly head. This time next year, we will be the Greece of the world. And it will be very devastating. I'd prefer to have an economic heavy weight like Romney to at least give us a chance.
ME......ABO........anybody but Obama. Will support who is nominated............
on "OUR" watch, wars had a focus.not like now,rules of engaement and other dumb policies are getting our patriotic men and women killed.in war, you crush the fu%$ out of your enemy if winning is the goal.even obumhle said he was uncomfortable about winning a war.as far as the economy,six trillion of new debt down the s%$#hole.
a war there was no reason for !
2 wars started on the basis of down right lies !
bush's wars killed this country !
NO One not obama or anyone else can ever recoup what all we as a whole have lost!
greed .. oil.... more greed and more oil has been what solely destroyed the entire future of what we all knew as the us of a !
Yeah, crush the fu%$ out of your enemy if winning is the goal.
That must be why we spent almost 10 years in two countries smaller than some states in the US! WWI only lasted 4 years and WWII lasted 6 and they were both world-wide conflicts. Please don't go on about how much better Republicans are at war - they have proven the exact opposite!
I think he meant the Republicans are so much better at profiting from war
Viet Nam, started by a democrat, (Johnson), ended by a republican, (Nixon). Iraq, started by a democrat, ended by a republican.
Heresy you say? We had a great ally to restrain Iraq until Carter let the Shaw of Iran twist in the wind. Because of idiot Carter, Iran became far worse for us than Iraq. Our only choice to reign it Iran after that was Iraq. The rest is history. Carter is why we ended up in Iraq, pure and simple.
If Carter hadn't flushed Iran they would still be our friend and ally and Iraq would have been held in check. Bush did end the war in Iraq, and left the road map for stabilization to Obama. Obama merely completed Bush's road map.
Obama inherited a stabilization program AFTER the war was wun, he did not inherit a war. The same thing happened in WW2, just because the war was won, did not mean subversive acts ended.
Obama wasn't attacking Bush by implication, no, he was only telling the truth! Bush was behind all of our grief! The two unfunded wars, the economy on the brink of collapse. It did collapse! Bush and his minnions spent money like there was no tomorrow! Righties just cannot stand the fact that Obama has been the GREATEST UNIFIER in history! Even after congress tried their damndest to block him at every turn! I do believe that their are alot more Republicans out there that like Obama, they are just too afraid to admit it publicly! Its much more fun for them to pretend NOT to like this President, than to stand up like a man and admit it! Even with all that blocking, President Obama has turned this economy around, and it is getting better, tho slowly thanks to your bleeping OBSTRUCTIONISTIC CONGRESS REPUBLICANTS! Get off the high horsey now, admit it like a man, This has been the best President in a very long time! As a matter of fact, there has been some that have admitted the facts of Bush's failed policies and Presidential terms. So, you right wingers can go ahead and come over to the right side of the isle, vote for the one MAN that has proven he can get the job done, thats right, PRESIDENT OBAMA! OBAMA/BIDEN 2012 The ONLY sane choice!!!
all right wingers wake the f up ! this is the after affect of fking bush !
Dfrom-whatever. Your rant about Republicans in Congress obstructing Maobama does'nt pass the smell test. When the "Messiah" was elected, the democrat party controlled both houses. They still control the Senats.
One accomplishment that Maobama has done, is unseat Jimmy Carter as the worst president in this country's history.
Absolutely not, there StannyBOY! Bush was the worst ever, its in print all over the world! Read more, and you would know more!
That's a lie. Compare the first six years of the Bush economy to the last two. Did Bush change? NO, congress did. Again, presidents cannot pass one law, spend one dime on their own. They can only sign or veto what congress gives him.
Democrats took over congress in 2006, two years before the collapse. They inherited 4.6% unemployment and a booming economy. Bush tried to reign them in as best he could, using his veto seven times and threatening more, but in the end he had to keep the government running.
Compare that to when Obama came in, unemployment went even higher, and continued up until republicans were a shoe in to take back the house. Also deficits exploded after Obama took office, from less than $250 billion to over $1.3 trillion.
Blaming Bush for democrat incompetence is pathetic, but predictable from the morally bankrupt left.
The GOP primary has been a reality show gone extremely bad....or pathetically humorous. Either way, none of them would ever be my choice to run this country! I wish Hillary Clinton was president and would be running for a second term, but there were too many idiots who couldn't get past her pant suits and the fact that her husband shamed himself. And the country has been paying for their own ignorance ever since. She will never run again. This country dished her when they should have been embracing her. She's served her country honorably and successfully. I wish her well in retirement or the private sector. She's earned it! As for the GOP contenders, I can only turn away in disgust.
We need to do something about those in Congress. Here's an idea:
Warren Buffett, "I could end the deficit in 5 minutes," he told CNBC."Pass a law that says that anytime there is a deficit of more than 3% of GDP, all of Congress are ineligible for re-election.
27 amendments to the Constitution, seven (7) took 1 year or less to become law
Congressional Reform Act of 2011
No Tenure / No Pension. A Congressman collects a salary while in officeand receives no pay when they are out of office.
Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security.
All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Securitysystem immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system,and Congress participates with the American people.
It may not be used for any other purpose.
Congress can purchase their own retirement plan,just as all Americans do.
Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise.Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.
Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.
Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people. All contracts with past and present Congressmen are void effective 1/1/2013.
Each person contacts a minimum of twenty people then it will only take three days for most people (in the U.S.) to receive the message. Maybe it is time.
THIS IS HOW YOU FIX CONGRESS!!!!!
If you agree with the above, pass it on.
You cannot "reform Congress" without also reforming campaign financing and lobbying rules and regulations...and term limits isn't mentioned.
Interviewer:
So, just exactly what IS your platform?
GOP Candidate:
We have to get Obama out of office at all costs.
Interviewer:
Why is that?
GOP Candidate:
He is ruining everything that GW worked so hard to implement in the prior 8 years.
Interviewer:
Didn't the recession start on GW's watch, in 2008? Obama wasn't voted in until January, 2009, and by that time, Lehman Brothers had already declared bankruptcy. What has he ruined?
GOP Candidate:
Want to see my boat? I can see Russia from here. No, I like NASCAR; in fact my friends OWN NASCAR teams.
Interviewer:
Let's get back to topics. It seems that the American people want a strong economy above all. How do you read that?
GOP Candidate:
We should launch a commission to stamp out Pornography.
Interviewer:
What does that have to do with job creation? And didn't a recent poll show that 72% of people didn't even care about that topic, and wanted jobs instead?
GOP Candidate:
It's not in my notes- let me check my hand...
Oh, let's talk about birth control, that is a bad one. I don't want to pay money to support sluts publicly.
Interviewer:
There seems to be a lot of criticism about the auto bailout. Isn't that the last major bastion of American manufacturing left?
GOP Candidate:
That'll show em. Yes, we should not spend money saving this kind of item. We are not known for bastions, let the bastions eat cake.
Interviewer:
Do you have any knowledge of what people in this country are asking for? Any? At all?
GOP Candidate:
Oh, I have 20 overseas accounts that hold my money in. Want to see my boat?
Interviewer:
I am afraid I am going to end this interview; this seems pointless.
GOP Candidate:
We haven't talked about the Teaparty and GOD yet, and you haven't seen my boat. Come on, wanna to see my boat?
L.M.F.A.O!! That was so spot on! Just dont let the R.W.N.J. see this, it may wake them up?
Again, just more liberal lies. The recession started on democrats watch. It is congress that passes laws, writes budgets, etc. and democrats took over congress long before the collapse. It is they that inherited 4.6% unemployment and doubled it. Presidents can't dictate to congress, as Obama has found out.
HEY TIMEJUMPER .. ya think maybe the economy might be failing is cus there are no jobs ??
cus we piss ed away TRILLIONS at wars we had no business at ? maybe we let you clowns run things for into the ground for 8 Fking years ! takes a hel of alot more that 3 1/2 to fix a CLASSIC FK UP LIKE THAT !
You wackos destroyed not only your own home but the opinion of the entire world about the u.s. !
You clowns have sold off everything to make more and more money at the mercy of all our kids and grand kid futures !
you have destroyed all of what we knew as AMERICA !
You have left your own people to starve to death go hungry homeless jobless and then CRY about people on food stamps !
SCREW U ! G DAMM IT !
AS AMERICAN CITIZENS ITS THE ONES WHO TOOK OUR LIVELY HOODS AWAY TO BE RESPONSIBLE TO FEED THEIR PEOPLE !
Not just hand out money and more money to COUNTRIES WE HAVE DESTROYED WITH OUR BOMBS !
Bush's entire ware effort was $877 billion, Obama's first deficit was almost twice that. It is out of control democrat spending that has tanked our economy, from forcing bad home loans then shifting the blame, to failed stimulus after failed stimulus. Solyndra anyone?
Again, that's a lie. It is the democrat congress that screwed the pooch. They wrote the laws, they passed the budgets. If presidents control the economy then Obama is the most incompetent in history. Three and a half years in and unemployment is still higher than when he took office. His deficits are still 5x what Bush was running. Truly pathetic performance.
It's because of the unlimited, untraceable superpac money. Everybody on the planet wants to control the presidency of this country. The world's most powerful person. It only costs a few billion. Candidates never run out of money, campaign forever, & work for the shadow.
This Texas 85 yr old Independent is in a quandary over the 2012 election for POTUS. I have not yet voted for President Obama..I cannot accept any of the GOP "candidates"( would you want Wall St still in charge of your life -or a religious zealot ?) but if Obama is re-elected there goes my dream for what we really need-a middle-class and working poor revulution-an "American Spring" ! Still thinking about Washington, Lincoln, the Roosevelts, and Kennedy....and Obama, I guess, by default.Sad !
As an Independent, am I better off today than 5 years ago? Is the future looking more optimistic or still catering to policies that promote uncertainty and the philosophy of we need to pass it to see what is in it? Has Government reduced fraud, abuse and pork barrel spending? Has the elected tea party members brought any fiscal sanity to all the ole life long career incumbent Politicians, who say change is good but still pander to the same special interests that back their life long campaign war chests? Has Harry Reid worked both sides of the fence to find workable solutions and proved such by having both parties at the negotiating tables or just boycotted ideas that do not have the Democrat label attached to them? Has Boner proved to be the leader of the House willing to represent the working class citizen with fair tax reform bills, jobs bills that offer sustainable futuristic employment, and more pro- growth legislation designed to pay down debt while maintaining a decent quality of life for average tax payers. Both parties continue to suck! This President has been called out on many bogus payback efforts resulting in several scandals and so far the problem solvers have not been elected yet or are even running for office. They say if your undecided then go for the lesser of the two evils, what is ironic is the evil is on both sides of the coin. Returning to the Clinton era with a democratic President and a Republican controlled Congress may be the right direction. Focusing on the Senate by Republicans may be a tactic more important than going after the WH. Both parties continue to suck!
Good stuff. Harry Reid is a tool. Our country is more divided than at any time since the civil War.
Sara M - it really does not matter about a winning strategy for the GOP, the GOP MUST march to the tune that their benefactors instruct them to do.
Now, when they get to the general election each and every GOP candidate is going to recite the lies and deceit that Carl Rove and the like instruct them to repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat, after the lie or deceit is recited 10 times in public, the GOP then annoints the lies and deceits as truth and instructs their drone fellow GOPer's to accept the lies and deceits which they obligingly do.
You see the GOP is Autocratic and the minions must follow orders from on high. If the GOP can get majorities in the House and Senate as well as put a ppupet in the White House, they would then be positioned to convert from an Autocracy to a full blown Dictatorship, whigh is the goal of the 1%.
Reveiw how the GOP lies and deceit served the GOP in 2010, where they took control with lies and deceit, immediately rolling back the very basis of Democracy, "Collective Bargaining". In order for a Republic to govern as a Democracy, the government at all levels MUST collectively bargain (negotiate), in a manner that represents the desire of the MAJORITY of the population.
The Eisenhower type Republicans beleived in collective bargaining (negotiating) to represent the majority of the populations desires. The Nixon type Republicans beleived in taking everything possible for the gain of the minority. The Reagan - Bush Republicans beleived in giving the majority the least possible, to get the majority to support legislation that provided at least 75% of wealth to the top 3% wealthiest of the wealthy. G Weasle Bush was so adamant in that regard that he literaly took the countries economy over the edge, down into an abyss nearly as deep as the 1930's Depression.
I am a former Republican, many years back, a present day Independent, knowing what the facts are, and the dismal quality of the Republican candidates, there is no way on earth that I could possibly vote for the GOP!
What I've found about "independents and moderates", is, they don't stand for anything. Just, however the wind blows. No standards, morals, or strong commitment to ideals.
It is democrats that lie. They promised health care reform and fiscal responsibility and we got Obamacare and $1.3 trillion deficits instead. Since the 2010 shellacking they have not changed one iota. Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it.
Have the rich gotten richer and the poor gotten poorer in the last five years? Guess who has been running government? Hint, it hasn't been republicans.
GOP are fools, careless uncaring what the American people want.
They will suffer greatly in 2012, and it will be women kicking their a$$.
They must all be Gay because they certainly don't understand women, sorry no disrespect to Gay folks.
Obama/Biden 2012
Bigot. You try to insult someone by compareing them to being gay. Screw off Bigot.
YOU would NEVER do that, would you Leroy??
But our country's president today is the world president. The germans cheer obama. Why iraqi's throw shoes at the bushman. Mr grover, the gop, & the rushbo will never tell you that the president is the world president. Obama isn't a lincoln or kennedy. He's the 1st world leader.
marshal - so nice of you to say and I agree
This president is an arrogant, incompetent fool. He does lead the world, in that regard.
This president is an arrogant, incompetent fool.
Well, lessee, how about George W. Bush...
"Bring it on!"
"Mission accomplished."
"The fundamentals of our economy are strong. ... Job creation is strong. Real after-tax wages are on the rise." (on August 10, 2007)
"The question is, who ought to make that decision? The Congress or the commanders? And as you know, my position is clear -- I'm a Commander Guy."
“They want the federal government controlling Social Security like it’s some kind of federal program.”
Naw, sorry, we got rid of the arrogant, incompetent fool! I don't really want to replace Obama with another!
Obama is a snivelling little fascist. He uses the executive branch to subvert the constitution, bypasses congress and ignores court orders. What would anyone expect from a community organizer. He was part of the democrat congress that destroyed our economy and as president has made things even worse.
Phil has apparently decided that frothing-at-the-mouth invective and immature name-calling is all he has left with which to strike at the president.
Obama is a snivelling little fascist. He uses the executive branch to subvert the constitution, bypasses congress and ignores court orders.
Obama is not who the American people have to worry about. From the Huffington Post (9-17-2008):
During his two terms in office, President George W. Bush has managed to subvert the Constitution at almost every turn. In the process, he has assembled an amazing toolbox of powers and greatly increased the authority of the executive branch and the reach of the federal government. Thus, the groundwork is laid for the establishment of an imperial presidency.
Claiming to possess the "inherent" authority to suspend laws as he conducts his never-ending "war on terrorism," Bush has assumed near-absolute power in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. Indeed, over the course of the past seven years, Bush has expanded presidential power to allow government agents to open the private mail of American citizens, assume control of the federal government following a "catastrophic event," declare martial law and authorize government agents to secretly, and illegally, listen in on the phone calls of American citizens and read our e-mails, among other things. Bush has also declared that if he disagrees with a law passed by Congress, he can disregard it.
Nope, history shows that a Republican used "the executive branch to subvert the constitution, bypasses congress and ignores court orders." We all need to remember this in November!
Mr grover, the gop, & the rushbo will tell you that our president is not the leader of the world but just leader of this country. That as our country's leader, that we should exploit other countries. Invade iran, i mean iraq, and take their oil for our own. To exploit people of china.
More jobs have fled to China since Obama took office. His jobs czar Inmelt shipped an entire division of GE to China while Biden bragged about a big purchase deal buying wind turbines from China.
Family incomes have fallen more during Obama's recovery than they did during the recession. Proof positive Obama's cure was worse than the disease.
Phil,
The President’s jobs czar Jeffrey Immelt is a staunch Republican.
This past week, President Obama has been out around the country talking about creating jobs. To help him get Americans back to work, he's recruited a most unlikely jobs czar: the Republican CEO of General Electric, Jeff Immelt.
Immelt: You know, I grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio and my parents are really right wingers. My dad watches like, five or six hours of "Fox News" every day and stuff like that. So I called home and said, "Hey, just to give you a heads up, you know, I'm going to be with the President and he's asked me to lead this jobs council." And my mother said, "Well, you said, no, of course didn't you?" I said, "No mom, that's not what I said."
http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-18560_162-20117416.html
How many of you know the GOP motto?
In GOD we trust, ALL OTHERS pay in cash!
Democracy in the U S A = Democrats in all public offices!
Don't bother looking for reality. I'm not sure you would recognize it if you saw it.
If, by some huge miricle, the GOP should win the Presidency, i fear for our country! I would fear for our economy! I would fear for our very lives! I fear the GOP! They have no idea what it means to be an American citizen!!! They have only knowm mamon for so long now! (Mamon being greed!) I fear for us!
You fear loosing your porn. Go watch some ANAL GRANNIES do it with a BLACK MIDGET. Or are you a GLORY HOLE type of guy.
Only with your GLORIOUS HOLE Leroy!!!
so your gay?
Bush/republican congress - unemployment average 5%, deficit average $230 billion
Obama/democrat congress - unemployment average 9%, deficit average $1.3 trillion
Facts trump liberal lies every time.
Well, Phil, let's look at the facts:
Although average unemployment was 5%, when Bush ended his second term, unemployment was 8% and headed downhill fast. It didn't stop until it hit more than 10%. His defict average was only $230B per year, but that would only be a a debt increase of less than $2T over 8 years. Why, oh why then did the debt increase more than $5T during the 8 years of his presidency? Hint: he kept a lot of spending off the budget, making him look good but spending the US into a hole all the same.
The high unemployment and huge deficits are still part of the Bush legacy. We ain't done yet - we will be years digging out of the hole that Bush put us into.
Nice attempt to rewrite history...
I think what Phil meant to say was, "Facts trump conservative lies every time."
You see folks? Ol Leroy here, comes on late and tries to tell us we are bigots and gay and whatnot? Hes trying to deflect the truth! WE wont buy it Leroy! Go peddle your insane remarks on Fox sites, ok? Good day! HAPPY ST. PADDY'S DAY!!!!
I must admit I voted for Bush's second term. What a giant mistake. I went for the old "don't change horses in the middle of the stream" argument. Thought keeping the same pres during times of war was proper. WRONG. Obama has proven himself under some of the worst conditions I can imagine. Unlike Bush he is actually helping the country. No question I'll be voting Obama this time around. The GOP candidates are a bad joke.
lol .... proven himself to be a radical leftist yep you are right ..proven himself to push his own views against what the american people want yep your right proven himself to be a week leader to the rest of the world yep you are right proven himself to drive us into bk yep your right proven himself to lie almost everytime he opens his mouth yep your right ....great job !!!
I betcha that you are in love with Palin..
she didn't even know Korea was two separate countries.
Gop lovers... you just have to laugh.
I don't know how Obama could win the Independent vote again. His supporters are so vile they chase away anyone who might be undecided or wants to debate issues.
Like the Japanese said at the start of WW 11-"All we've done is awaken a sleeping Giant" and that being this time the "Women" of America by the GOP-"How Stupit the GOP must be to go after Women's Rights-that alone will cost them, next the Elderly and there SS and Medicare, can the GOP be any more stupit.
Obama/Bidden 2012
Don't forget that the GOP has also been methodically alienating other groups as well, including union workers, minorities, and moderates. The Republican Party is going to be steamrolled in November and it will be the fault of its hateful, exclusionary political ideology.
lol ..... let me see obama cut 500 billion out of medicare for obumacare ....there is no war on women you libs think the country is going for your spin ??? how can you take his war on religion ??? and republicans are not against private unions its goverment unions that hold all tax payers hostage for the crazy bennifits every state that is in trouble its the public emoployee unions just look at cali 20 billion in debt and the unions just keep saying raise taxes same in every other state and what happend to the defficit oh i guess its ok to become greece because obuma lied and said he would cut it in half ....... 6 trillion spent and we still have unemployment over 8% ???? give it a break
Those who ignore 2010 are doomed to repeat it.
Obama's cuts are much kinder than those offered up in the GOP's draconian Ryan Plan, Kevin. The Ryan Plan specified deeper cuts in Medicare than Obama's cuts and it calls for cuts in social security, as well; a provision that is turning away seniors. Furthermore, Women are tired of the GOP using their bodies as a political football, and there has been a strong, public backlash against the Republican's agenda. The recent public shame-fest involving the GOP's favorite attack dog, Rush Limbaugh has helped fuel that negative response along with the Republican leadership's deafening silence on the subject. Finally, Unions are already endorsing the President and if you want an example, call the UAW and ask them. The other major unions in the country are expected to follow suit, too.
The GOP is heading for a defeat of epic proportions. Read 'em and weep.
Phillup. Stupit? By the way who won World war eleven?
World War II is not the same as WORLD WAR 11. One means 2 and one means 11. Stay in school.
All I remember about the Obama/Clinton tussle was in the aftermath Hillary disappeared for a couple of months. Disappearing to her cave I suspect, licking her wounds then came out with her good trooper face on trying to act like everything was okay. Really though she was the ordained queen of the dems. then out of the mist came an unknown black man with a line of Bovine Slime even stronger than hers.
It's the Republicans to loose though. Santorim can't win because he is taking on settled law i.e. Roe V Wade. Young women have had the right 'off' their babies in the womb since they dodged the butchers and were born.