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Despite talk of Mitt Romney’s momentum in the final weeks of the presidential campaign, Barack Obama cruised to a wide Electoral Vote victory and his popular-vote margin wound up closely mirroring George W. Bush’s 2004 victory.
In fact, voter confidence in the president consistently improved as Election Day neared and was nearly the identical level Bush had before his reelection, a review of data for the NBC News Voter Confidence Index shows.
Former Treasury Secretary and Harvard professor Lawrence Summers joins Morning Joe to discuss the looming fiscal cliff, his belief in natural gas, President Obama's first term and his role in the administration.
President Obama’s VCI score was -11 for the month of October, exactly the same as Bush’s score in October 2004.
Despite his first debate performance and Romney’s claim of momentum, Obama never saw a drop in that period in the VCI. Obama’s VCI went from -29 in August to -15 in September to -11 in October and -10 in the first week of November.
And that improvement was squarely because Americans told pollsters in the fall they felt better about the direction of the country.
The VCI uses a combination of the president’s job approval rating, the direction of the country, and the so-called generic congressional ballot, which tracks voter preference between parties rather than individual candidates. There is equal weight given to all three questions. The difference between two sets of numbers in each question is calculated and then added up.
For example, Obama’s average job approval rating for the month of October was +2; the direction of the country average score was -14; and the generic congressional ballot was +1 for a -11.
Obama’s average approval rating remained fairly consistent throughout the 2012 campaign. It hit its lowest point (-8) right after the debt-ceiling debacle in September 2011. Combining the bad direction of the country score (-52) with the generic ballot (Republican were ahead by 3 points that month), Obama had his worst VCI score of his presidency : -63.
NBC's Mark Murray and Domenico Montanaro discuss the ongoing fiscal cliff negotiations and how Grover Norquist's no-tax-increase pledge plays into the discussion. Plus, what happened when Susan Rice made a visit to The Hill.
No president had ever been reelected with a VCI that bad. Jimmy Carter had a -72 VCI right before the 1980 election he lost. George H.W. Bush was -84 right before the 1992 election he lost.
The successful presidents reelected since 1980 – Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton – enjoyed high VCI scores. Reagan stood at +62 in 1984 before his landslide victory. Clinton was at +45 before his sweeping reelection over Republican Bob Dole.
The generic ballot portion of the VCI in 2012 also remained consistent with Democrats holding a slight lead most months.
But direction of the country is what really moved and likely buoyed the president to a second term. More Americans said they were more optimistic about the direction of the country as November 2012 neared. It went from a nadir of -56 in October 2011 to -23 in March by the time the GOP presidential primary wrapped up.
The VCI score for direction of the country stayed in the -20s through July, dipped to -30 in August and then began to break through that plateau after the parties' conventions. The score improved to -19 in September, the best since May 2011 – the month Osama bin Laden was killed.
Before that, direction of the country hadn’t been that strong since January 2010. And at that point, it was trending in the other direction.
The direction of the country average improved again in October to -14 and again in that first week of November to -13.
It’s clear that how people feel about the country -- whether it’s headed off on the wrong track or in the right direction -- is perhaps the most telling indicator of whether a president will be reelected.
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All the hand-wringing, claims of skewed polling numbers, Benghazi-Gate, voter suppression and gazillions of dollars poured into Team Romney could overcome the will of the people!
I said going into this election last spring, you might as well throw CW out the window. This election would be like no other in history!
In the end, the right man for the right job at the right time... WON!
How could that be? I thought the Fox News-wing of the Republican party said it was because President Obama gave away all that free stuff?
You mean Fox News could be saying something that isnt true? Is there not really a Benghazi "cover-up"?
Gasp!
It's good to see that the GOP/TP strategy to crush Americans' optimism and faith in this country did not work.
Like I've said before, I think the most important takeaway from this election, what with the "Mittmentum" idea and the post-election "we truly believe we were going to win" remarks is that the Republican party either blatantly and deliberately lied to its donors and its followers OR they are truly so anti-arithmetic and anti-science that not even their smartest people understood all the statistical models, which clearly indicated that they were behind and there was no such thing as a "Mittmentum" the last three weeks of the race.
If the former is true, why ever believe them again, on any issue? And if the latter is true, why ever believe them again, on any issue? Republican voters are faced with this catch-22 and, if they truly are honest about loving this country and doing what's in our best interest, they will seriously reevaluate their support for that party.
I have little reason to believe 2013 won't be a good recovery year for our country. I just hope the Republicans don't ruin it all for political gain, like they have these past few years.
The confidence of the American public in the direction of the U.S. economy has its roots in real numbers.
The doom-and-gloom crowd could not overcome that reality. No, "Chicken Little" Romney...the sky is not falling. In fact, your exit from the stage has brought sunshine back into the lives of ordinary Americans who have hope and confidence that the POTUS will continue to work for us, the people.
Memo to Ann Romney: 'You people' never needed anyone to be on your side in your old age, in sickness, or to educate your children. It wasn't exactly a secret that Mitt only wanted to be POTUS for the trappings of the office, not to serve the American people.
You can fool some Americans some of the time, but you can't fool all of the Americans all of the time. In this case 51% of Americans wasn't fooled by republicans nays, and nots.
"President Obama’s VCI score was -11 for the month of October, exactly the same as Bush’s score in October 2004."
...and the country will be hating Mr Obama just they did Mr Bush in another 4 years.
The Direction of Obama is forward to the fiscal cliff!
President Obama is definitely heading in the right direction. Republicans best get out of his way or they will be run over.
One example: Over at conservative townhall.com, the lead article currently is 'GOP Promises "Severe" Backlash if Reid Nukes Filibuster Rules'
But, the GOPeaParty has a "severe" problem: They have already shot their wad. Over the past four years, they have done everything they can do to obstruct and destruct President Obama. They failed. So, their threats are now only the hissings of a cornered rat.
Democrats: Contact your senators to voice your support for changes to the senate filibuster rules. Then, we move forward to reinforcing the Voting Rights Act and undoing the Citizens United decision.
Once republicans cannot thwart every Presidential initiative via filibuster, we can seriously begin the reconstruction of our economy.
Humm, the VCI is a little extra added addition to that crow pie MYTH will be eating tomorrow at his White House visit. Choke MYTH!!! Wait now you already did election night.
We can only hope that now after the election Limbaugh will double down on his efforts to pee in Obama's oatmeal, bust a gut from the extreme effort, or maybe have a brain hemorrhage during his silly little bounce up and down hate dances (since his head's up his assss that just could happen), and die.
viknat......you said:
If republicans won't deal, then so be it.
As soon as the Bush tax cuts expire (possibly before), democrat legislators will introduce legislation restoring the tax cuts for everyone except those whose incomes are >$250k. Do you seriously believe republicans will block that legislation? If they should be so foolish, they will be cutting their own (political) throats.
Republicans in congress are in full running retreat. They are shooting wildly over their shoulders to no effect. The white flag is your best option.
Confidence in Obama
From the article above:
Yes, it was a Landslide Victory.
You here that Rove-bots?
LANDSLIDE TWO-TERM DEMOCRAT PRESIDENT OBAMA VICTORY!!!!
And the Majority of Americans realize President Obama is turning out to be one of the best in modern times.
Now, Democrats, and any Republican out there that has “seen-the-light”, will work together to move this nation forward.
All the rest of the Faux-pas Bots out there that haven’t accepted reality are going to be left with only their whine and cheese balls and a lump of coal in their stockings.
As the original, Dr. Seuss Grinch would say, “BOO, HOO HOO!!!”
Salud
It's not up to us...your guy won....surely he has a contingency plan in the event the Republicans don't buy his horse manure...You won...the American people rejected the conservative plan...The balls in your court...you fix it....
Wouldn't get too cocky over Benghazi.....it ain't over yet......
George Bush in 2004 said that he had "a mandate". If Obama's results were similar then he also has "a mandate".
No doubt the nation is on the right track, which is why Obama is stumping across the nation for a tax increase that will raise enough revenue to run the federal government for a paltry 8 days. So with all the great solutions coming out of Washington and the nation do so well, it is hard to fathom the level of hatred and hostility still spewing from the left. We should be celebrating the Obama presidency and shelving the hate for the next election cycle. There are just too many positives from Obama's first term and he has laid out such an inspiring second term agenda. We should be celebrating that gas is under 4.00 a gallon. That unemployment is still under 10%. That our national debt is still under 20 trillion. That Obamacare will be fully implemented by 2014, which means we won't have to pass it to find out what it in it now we get to live it. These are glorious times, and if you set your expectations extremely low, they will probably be met. So lets move forward, but keep the blame, the excuses, and hatred handy just in case something goes wrong.
I still like the observation that the Citizens United ruling by the supreme court came back whip-saw both on the goobs trying to purchase the office for Romney and the entire Republican party... How? Well, you put billions of dollars into play (disclosed and non-disclosed) with the largest recipients being advertising media in all of its many faces. These entities are all headed by people that are trained at golden-goose hunting. The ultimate result, giving greed its due, is a closely called and projected race right up to closing time of the bank vaults (election night).
VOILA!! A massive cash extraction from wealthy idiots, misleading polling data, everyone encouraging you that you've got a chance so long as the money keeps changing hands...
In a nutshell, they scammed themselves. I think it's way too funny. Such job creators!
Limbaugh & Fox is the Voice of the GOP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
For someone who wrote an entire paragraph and couldn't even muster a single sentence that was not bitter, divisive, sarcastic, pessimistic, hostile, accusing, or downright hateful, you sure can get preachy.
For starters, I would go ahead and change that avatar before ever telling others not to be hateful or hostile.
this country is dysfunctional........it is because of obama and all you residents of Loony LIb Land...and of course you effin' freeloaders..
And that's exactly what we'll do wb52 while you sit in the corner and pout. And please don't even try to take credit for all the good that is about to happen.
Benghazi? Beirut? Mogadishu? Take your fake outrage and stick it.
mcpaddywacko is dysfunctional in mind !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rick-
Glad to see you are finally coming over to the good side.
Absolutely. American's pay some of the lowest prices in the world for fuel.
Actually, it's under 8%, and would be alot lower if Republicans had passed the President's Jobs Bill and not obstructed our nation for the past two years.
Yep, Finally, President Obama had the courage to put all the Bush Tax cuts, the Bush Wars, and Bush Medicare part-D all on the books for all of America to see just how much debt the Bush Administration has burdened Americans with.
Truly stunning how the corrupt and greedy Bush Administration left America with 10 Trillion dollars in debt after Bill Clinton.
Thank GOD! America will finally be able to reign in the greed from the Insurance companies and control administration costs while People will be able to CHOSE their OWN health care provider.
Glorious times INDEED!!!
With the Landslide re-election of a Great Democrat President Obama, and a congress run by a Democrat majority, America will FINALLY move FORWARD again for the Middle class.
After a long, horrible, dark-decade brought on by reckless Republican Trickle-down economics, a corrupt Bush Administration who left Americans wallowing in 10 Trillion dollars in debt, of course it takes Democrats to restore America to it's greatness.
Nice touch with the Faux/Limbaugh mirror/projection thingy at the end there. Every one here knows the Faux-Bots Hate President Obama and have constantly spread lies about him for four years!
Salud
The GOP say Americas blueprint to recovery is Benghazi !!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Improved feelings about direction of U.S." from 16% to 21%. Yep, that sealed the "deal" for Mr. Obama's re-election.
Mr. Obama's "blueprint to recovery" includes:
Same "blueprint" from his last four years.
Shucks, today is Wednesday.....time for another "get together" party at the White House.
When all the layoffs and decreases from full to part-time jobs start to impact people due to obamacare, increased taxes and regulations. When the unemployment rate starts going up, lets see how all the Obama voters feel. In the past 2 weeks according to the BLS there were 839,000 new claims for unemployment the highest since 2008.
marmee, they won't care unfortunately. They'll blame others, and continue to say that we're moving forward. Sad situation, really.
All of you fools with your dooms day predictions should just go away ... you lost and all the crap you're saying now was said before ...
The bottom line ... if Romney had lied a little less about everything ... he might of had a chance!!!!
Now it's time to come together ... but seeing what we have in Congress still ... and all the folks spewing out stats that they really know nothing about ... for reasons only god knows ... it looks dim .....
The rich have been doing better than at any point in history, taxes are lower than at any point in history, and spending increases, adjusted for inflation, have been lower than under any other president since Eisenhower.
How was that his blueprint?
One more indication that Mittmentum was never more than a mirage, an artificial construct of the echo chamber.
The scales have fallen from our eyes now, the Conservative punditry, talk radio "experts", and Fox News bobbleheads are blowing smoke. Politico needs to learn that Drudge may rule THEIR world, but he knows little of what's happening in the REAL world.
All that money spent on ads for nothing. Well Karl Rove, what now? :-)
Romney says, how will I pay back all that money to the 1% from my lose !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mark of the Beast
And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name...and his number is Six hundred & sixty-six. (Rev.13:15-18)
666! The Mark of the Beast! Almost everybody has heard something about this prophecy which says that in the last days no one will be able to buy or sell anything unless they get the "Devil's mark".
Today we are the first generation with the technology available to fulfil such a prophecy of a "cashless" society.
At present, in this supermarket there are a number of ways I can pay for this shopping--I can use cash, or I can write a check, or pay by credit card.
...or another way that is being promoted so much today is using a debit card. When you give your debit card to the cashier the card is run through a scanner which is electronically linked to your bank & the money is immediately taken out of your bank account and placed in the store's account.--All in a split second.
Debit cards have already been introduced in many parts of the world & are extremely popular with stores, banks & customers. So you can see we are fast on the way to eliminating cash--and there are many compelling reasons why. Cash is the very mother's milk of drug smugglers, who often deal in cash a suitcase full at a time. With no cash the sale of illegal drugs would cease. In fact to eliminate cash would eliminate almost every kind of criminal activity, from theft to terrorism, and be an instant cure-all for many of the World's most desperate social & economic ills. No wonder governments are pushing towards the cashless society with unrestrained enthusiasm.
So what if you took the chip out of the card & placed it under the skin?
Once the chip has been implanted it can be read by an inexpensive scanner, much like the one in your local grocery store. So, you now become your own smart card!--And the very expensive problem of making sure that the owner of the card is who he says he is, has been solved.
Today the technology for just such an implant not only exists, but is being tested in pilot programs all over the world. A tiny microchip which can be read by a scanner is inserted into a spot below the animal's skin. "Infopet" in California boast the ability to keep track of 4 billion cats & dogs worldwide. This technology has proven that keeping track of large populations through implants & centralized computer data banks is completely feasible.
“Is the microchip implant hidden in the Healthcare Bill? Are newborn children starting in 2013 going to receive a microchip shortly after birth?” In the massive US HEALTHCARE BILL, which your elected representatives voted for without reading, there is a section titled: Subtitle C-11 Sec. 2521 – National Medical Device Registry which states:
“The Secretary shall establish a national medical device registry (in this subsection referred to as the ‘registry’) to facilitate analysis of postmarket safety and outcomes data on each device that—‘‘(A) is or has been used in or on a patient; and ‘‘(B) is a class III device; or ‘‘(ii) a class II device that is implantable.”
The language is deliberately vague, but it provides the structure for making America the first nation in the world that would require every U.S. citizen to receive an implanted radio-frequency (RFID) microchip for the purpose of controlling medical care.
Evangelical Christians make excellent political pawns because they focus on secondary issues, rather than the important issues. This is because Evangelical Christianity in America today does not have a truly Biblical worldview. I truly do not want to sound unkind, but the historical reality is that Evangelical Christians have played the part of what Lenin called “useful idiots.” Obviously, this is not what God planned for His people. But, by rejecting a Biblical worldview, the Scripture, “My people perish for lack of knowledge,” is fulfilled. The majority of Evangelical Christians in America have a very superficial faith as a result of what they are being taught in many of their churches and seminaries.
You need more tinfoil.
During the campaign I kept tabs on what was really going on with all the polling by tracking electoralvote.com which correctly called the final Electoral College vote for Obama missing the final tally by just three electoral votes.
One thing that became crystal clear was that the Republican Party's and Fox News' belief in numbers generated by the Rassmussen polls was as stupid as someone's belief that they will win tonight's Powerball lottery drawing.
Didn't you love the "our internal polls are more accurate"? :-)
Where's Roy Wilson to defend Rasmussen as being "the most accurate of all polls"?
Romney lost because of the media bias. The media bias to present facts and the truth. Unless of course it is Fox News.
Mitt Romney lost because he was a lousy candidate with lousy ideas who had a lousy convention, selected a lousy VP then ran a lousy campaign combined with the fact that he was one of the most dishonest candidates of all times.
I am glad that the country is not actually engaged in mass hysteria because we still have a slightly left of center African American President. This is a good sign. :)
no one is hysterical..but it is still crucial to stop obama from doing anymore damage to our nation......it's gonna be a long four year slog..
Thank GOD for Two-term Democrat President Obama who is fixing the God awful mess the Bush Administration put America and Americans in. 10 Trillion Dollars in Debt thanks to George W. Bush.
Prosperity and Happy Days are Here Again!!!
God Bless President Obama.
Salud
Obama is not that far left. Our foreign policy is Nixonian, Eisenhower wanted health care reform and mandates came from the very conservative Heritage foundation. He has consistently supported free trade agrements and he has even busted more medical marijuana facilities in 4yrs than Bush did in 8. What has happened is the Republicans went so far to the right pulled by the tea party and the right wing christians/taliban. Democrats can screw this up still, becomeo the party of the public employee unions and you will lose. I live in WI and Obama has won big here but so did Walker and Obama didn't march here with the public employee unions and that was a smart move. The hysteria is because he is black, scratch the surface of the tea party and you will find a white sheet, they are just one more time raising its ugly head the KKK. I am a middle aged white guy that makes in the top 15%, I would vote Republican if was say Romney's Dad or a Rockafeller. I don't because I don't like the racism and I just can't stand the right wing religious nuts and they have taken over the party.
The only thing that could do damage to this nation are the loonies that support the GOP !!!
Obama by his actions is actually well to the right of center. True, many of his actions were forced on him by republicon extortion, but many of his actions are his alone. Obama is more of a moderate republican than a Democrat. The closest thing we have to a left wing party is the Green Party.
This is not an American site, and they track all politicians. Look at the 2012 election, then take the quiz. Then take it again but answer everything wrong. Really wrong. The results will surprise you.
The Political Compass
The 'Romney Momentum' was an illusory falsehood promoted by Fox and the rightwing echo media machine. Anyone who could read polls saw President Obama leading this race - wire to wire - and his victory was no surprise.
Fox ReTarded the News for their Republicon Buddies !!!!!!!!!!!
Who retarded you?!!!!!!!!?!!!!!!!!!!!?!!!!!!?
"Fox ReTarded the News for their Republicon Buddies !!!!!!!!!!!"
Fox is NOT a news network, it's an entertainment network. Fox tells the Republican sheep what the sheep WANT to hear and the sheep are stupid enough to believe what they hear is reality. Anyone looking at real, objective polling data could have predicted the President Obama's victory. It was perfectly clear. Yet all the Fox cultist were totally shocked because their entertainment network told them a pack of lies.
During their GOP/Tea Begger "Caucus Conspiracy" back on Janruary 20, 2009. The "Fourteen Tea Begger Felon's" made their "Blood Oath" clear America. To take their "Economic Revenge" out on the American People for their Presidential loss in 2008. The Tea Beggers agreed to destroy the US Economy at all costs, amd no jobs were to be created. On the evening of Janruary 20, 2009. the GOP/Tea Beggers. Made their intentions clear to 'obstruct' all Economic Legislation brought to the floor of Congress. To make the President look weak poltically, incompetent economically, and to present the President as "Not American." The Tea Beggers agreed to say one thing to the people, and then do something completely different. The Tea Beggers also agreed to make meaningless issues into big issues for political gain only. At the "Caucus Conspiracy" the Tea Beggers also wanted to get their "Zombies" involved to discredit the President. "Trampy Trump" the "Chump On The Stump" went on with his "Birther" crap. Which back fired on him completely! Then there is "Lunatic Limbaugh" the "Moron" with a mic. Now this fat little "Drug Addict" was more than happy too pile on with his "Super Spewing." Here are a few questions for America. Why is the "Tea Begger Conspiracy" not being investigated? Those that attended the Tea Begger "Caucus Conspiracy" have never been held accountable. Why? The media has not even mentioned this 'conspiracy.' Why? The GOP/Tea Beggers will not talk about their "Caucus Conspiracy." Why? America should start demanding answers!
Any state that has 11% or more unemployment rate (Colorado, New Jersey, California .. for example) and voted for Obama... AGAIN... .are a bunch of morons. Your states deserve to go bankrupt.
Same for any state that takes in more federal dollars than it pays in federal taxes (i.e., the moochers) AND voted for Romney (the moocher hater). Oh, wait, that's EVERY state that voted for Romney except for Texas. Go figure.
Incidentally, Colorado, New Jersey, and California are among the handful of states (all but one of which voted for Obama) that pay more in federal taxes than they take in from the federal government. Maybe that's why they're going bankrupt.
P.S.: none of the states you mention has an unemployment rate of 11% or above. California's is 10.1%. New Jersey's is 9.7%. Colorado's is 7.9%. I know, I know, you right-wingers don't much care for numbers or facts.
Only on FR, and only after Fox closed it's comments section, do you find a Buffoon calling other people morons for dodging an empty suit.
Tell us Kari, how do the amoral pukes you obviously support plan to fix your hand-picked unemployment rates? Maybe by obstructing progress over and over? By declaring that they will block anything and everything attempted that might make the President appear more successful?
Until or unless they come out with their unprecedented reasoning for holding America down as best they could for his first four years, They go down in history as race-motivated treasonous bastards and those that supoport their "efforts" swirl down the hole with them.
This is America. Aquaint yourself with it.
"Any state that has 11% or more unemployment rate (Colorado,"
Governor Moonbeam is now starting to talk about when California is going to start running a budget surplus. He is reparing the damage done by the governator faster than expected. But then he had prior experience when repairing the damage done by Ronnie Raygun.
"President Obama’s VCI score was -11 for the month of October, exactly the same as Bush’s score in October 2004."
...and the country will be hating Mr Obama just they did Mr Bush in another 4 years.
sandiego1969 - it was stupid the first time you posted it. No smarter the 2nd time around!
what makes it stupid? the fact you disagree with it and anyone that doesnt agree with your thinking is? Top Notch!
half of the american people already despise obama....he is still a marxist ideologue
What makes it stupid? The fact that he probably feels like a good-old, patriotic, traditional American and yet his wish is for America to have an awful next four years, so he can come back here and say, "I told you so, Obama was a horrible president! Hurray! I was right!"
Caesar Augustus-
"what makes it stupid? the fact you disagree with it and anyone that doesnt agree with your thinking is? Top Notch!"
Another one of the things that makes it stupid is you jumping in to defend it Sneeze.
mcpaddywack
"half of the american people already despise obama....he is still a marxist ideologue"
Well, not quite half or your thumb wouldn't be so sore from all that sucking McWhack
You kids and your continued low-rent attempts to denigrate your newly re-elected President are nothing but comical cannon-fodder now. Time to grow up, climb on board, see the numerous errors of your ways and start supporting the real America.
Oh good next election we can blame Obama for everything wrong since he is following in Bush's shoes with the nations confidence. No sitting president will ever have to take responsibility again we will just continue blaming the previous administration.
obama has set the precedent for shirking responsibility...
Bush/cheney has the worst record for job creation on record.
Bush/cheney own the Great Recession.
Bush/cheney bankrupted the country with unfunded wars and tax cuts.
America is better off now than we were 4 years ago.
All economic indicators are pointing up. Things will continue to get better.
It took 25 years to fully recover from Hoover's Great Depression.
We are only 4 years into bush/cheney's Great Recession and just recently hit bottom and are now starting to go back up. It will be many more years before we fully recover from your Great Recession.
Americans proved themselves willing to give the Democrats an eight year window to mitigate a recession that should have been well on it's way to a cure in Obama's first term. Also the democrats were successful in placing the blame for the recession on Bush rather than the sitting President. Also the hurting middle class distrusted Romney because of his wealth. All that being said it's now Obama's responsibility for everything on his second four year watch. If he can't lead it's not on the Republicans and anybody on this blog who uses the name Bush is hopelessly stuck in the past and lacks a real argument.
Westguy, So you are saying we will not have to hear how it is Bush's fault anymore and that Obama is going to take responsibility? RRRRRRRRRRight... I will give that no more than a week.
The reason that the recession was not "well on it's way to a cure in Obama's first term" was because the congressional ReTHUGlicans and their corporate allies and string-pullers did their very best to oppose Obama at every turn and to throw the U.S. economy and the fates and well-being of millions of Americans under the bus. They were not interested in helping America or doing anything to make things better. In fact, they had a vested interest in making things WORSE, believing that Obama would somehow catch the blame for the RePUNKs' own intransigence.
Incidentally, Obama has shrunk federal government employment to its lowest levels in years. In previous recessions, government helped alleviate the pain of private-sector job losses by stepping up hiring for infrastructure projects. This time, the congressional RePUKEs made that impossible. News flash, government jobs ARE REAL jobs, they pay wages and benefits just like any other job, they generate consumer spending (on which 70% of the U.S. economy depends), they benefit the economy. If government had been hiring this time around in the same manner that it did during previous recessions, unemployment would be a full point lower, and millions of Americans would now have jobs.
Hahahahahahahaha!
Now that is funny!
You can try to glorify Bush all you want. History will not be kind to George W. Bush... nor should it be!
"So you are saying we will not have to hear how it is Bush's fault anymore"
You Republicans have a very short memory. From 1976 to 1992 you whined and cried, moan and groaned and complained and complained more and bitched, carried on and on and blamed President Carter of everything wrong in the entire universe. Then from 1992 to 2008 you whined and cried, moan and groaned and complained and complained more and bitched, carried on and on and blamed President Clinton for everything that was wrong in the entire universe. So – using the standard you set – the left has another 29 years to blame Bush for everything just to pull even with you.
We have every right to blame bush/cheney for this economy. He has the worst record for job creation on record. He owns the Great Recession. Bush/cheney is easily the worst President ever.
The campaign is over NBC so quit trying to write things to make the President look better. You succeeded in doing that already. I am a conservative and am proud to admit that. The President won and I won't allow myself to be like others. I am willing to give him a chance because I want what is best for the country. With that beings said I hope all the liberals that like to post their hate on here will quit blaming President Bush. It is Mr. Obama's now. I think history will decide if the path he chooses is the proper one to take. I have severe reservations about that but we shall see.
Is it that the country trusted the President or distrusted Gov. Romney more?
Why not both?
Facts like these won't penetrate the right-wing media bubble.
what facts?..libs don't know facts...
Switch thumbs McWhacky or you'll get a blister.
Why are you posting your worn-out blather on a string about the specific confidence level at time of re-election of Obama? Doesn't seem like anything that would interest you. You know, what with it containing relevant information and all...
Learn to support your President like a worthwhile American willya?
Just speaking personally, I really hate that "right track / wrong track" question. It is absolutely impossible to simplify everything going on in the country socially, economically, militarily, and politically into a binary judgement like that, and even if I did, it would tell you nothing about who is to blame/credit or who would be best entrusted with the future of the country.
It is only useful because almost nobody asked that question actually answers it; that would be too hard. Instead, most just substitute as a proxy their feelings about whichever party they perceive to be in power at the time, which is always complicated when control of government is split. Still, that is good for the pollsters because that is the question they really want answered.
With the GOP/TPER's in full retreat, i see good things happening for this country, finally! Now is the time for the Republicans to get in the game, and stop playing games. No longer can they sit back, and do nothing to help. We must all come together, and move this country foreward!!!!
Exactly WHERE do you see "full retreat"?
And exactly WHERE do you see "good things happening for this country"?
Higher unemployment, more regulations, more taxes, more spending, more borrowing, record deficits, and record debt are hardly "good things", don't you think?
And as for your "foreward", what the hell does that mean really? Forward to bigger government and fewer RIGHTS for the citizens? Forward to the government taking over the lives of EVERY American, making their decisions for them? Forward to a nanny state where more people rely on the government than their own personal responsibility and willingness to work?
Yeah right, "foreward".
You are running to the fiscal cliff as fast as you can. We are urging you to go over said cliff.
It's over Grover.
I hope the Republicans vote present on all that Mr. Obama wants. If his vision is correct than we are all the better for it and I will have no more to say on the matter. If it does not work, I am confident it won't, then democrats and the left own it. There blame game will no longer have any merit. I am sure they will still try to spin it and will have NBC on their side but at that point it really will not matter.
Sure, higher taxes, more borrowing, more spending, more debt.
A real "vision" that will make us "all better for it".
How naive can you be?
Cherly,
I am not being naive at all. If you read what I wrote I think you will see I do not believe this 'vision" will work. My point is as a conservative is give it to the left. Let them own it. When it fails as I believe it will then the liberal media and the left as a whole will have to sit back and watch as conservatives have the task of fixing the mess. We are not going to win this battle at this time so let them have their chance. We will win the war, I am confident of that!
That will NEVER happen, don't you see?
For FOUR YEARS the media backed Obama on everything, to the point that they actually ignored the LIES, the CORRUPTION, the payoffs, the bribes.
You think it's going to be different four years from now? They'll back Hillary, or whoever Democrats want, cover the lies and filth against that Republicans and ignore the out and out HISTORY of dishonesty by any and every Democrat running.
You are naive if you think the media will ever change their colors. They are over 80% LIBERAL and they will NEVER allow a Republican to be the leader of this nation if they can help it.
TWO YEARS Democrats controlled everything and did the media EVER say anything bad about what they did? Over SEVENTY PERCENT of this nation did not want Obamacare, and yet Democrats and the media completely ignored THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE and shoved it down our throats. And the media celebrated it.
Obama has owned this economy and the policies of Washington for FOUR years already and the media attacked the Republicans. They ignored the debt, the deficits, the borrowing, the regulations, the spending, the payoffs and paybacks, the bribes, and the absolute corruption.
They even ignored the out and out ignoring of the Constitution of the United States and instead put out stories of "war on women" instead of the violation of the First Amendment.
You are naive if you think it will EVER change.
Cheryl... All you forgot to add was that Up is down and Down is up. What are the tax rates in Bizarro world?
Another MSDNC propoganda article about Obama.
Obama won because HALF of this nation is living on "free" stuff that they think others should pay for. Obama won because while he actually did NOTHING, he "looked Presidential" during and after Sandy. Obama won because the media spent the last week before the election following Obama and ignoring Romney.
Obama won because in the end LIES, personal attacks, and filth won out over an honest man that actually wanted to SERVE the nation instead of just be President.
exactly spot on......obama will always be a low-life scumbag to me based on the campaign he ran.....vilifies a good american patriot with lies and distortion.......you Libs in Loony LIb Land are so childlike and naive...it was easy for this ass obama to fool you twice....pathetic...
mcpaddywacked and cheryl.....perfect examples of why the right lost and will continue to lose.
Trolls!
Go post of faux news, oh wait, they won't let you. So much for their fair and balanced free speech.
Back under the bridge for you!
Frank, and why would we "continue to lose"?
Because we don't actually support massive borrowing, record deficits, regulations, and debt? Because we don't support the government telling us that we have NO CHOICE as Americans? Because we don't support the government telling us how to live our lives, what we will or won't buy? Becaus we don't support the government "investing" (read that as paying off and paying back) in public employee and teachers unions? Because we don't support being FORCED to buy a one size fits all health insurance plan while others get "exemptions" simply because of who they supported politically?
We lost because people like you don't give a dam about anything but yourselves and the "free" stuff you think you're going to get. We lost because people like you are so hate filled and envious of those that do better than you that you feel they should be punished for doing better than you. We lost because people like you don't WANT to take personal responsibility for yourselves and your family, but instead want the government to make the decisions for you.
We lost because you on the left think that some kind of "social justice" government, instead of the CONSTITUTIONAL government we were founded on is somehow "better".
We lost because hundreds of MILLIONS of dollars were spent spreading lies, spreading hate, spreading racism, spreading class warfare, and spreading "war on women" filth.
We lost because people like YOU, instead of looking at the TRUTH, believed the lies from "the most transparent administration in history".
Hey Mc Paddy-What good American patriot are you speaking of? The one who dodged the draft and went to France after demonsrating for the war in Vietnam? The one who bets AGAINST America by stashing his cash in foreign bank accounts. The one whose Family has NEVER served in the armed forces.
I'm perplexed.
Cheryl, you lose because you refuse to face reality,
you lose because you refuse to compromise while demanding that everyone bend to your way of thinking,
you lose because you scream CONSTITUTION while not understanding a single word of it,
you lose because you believe the lies of those that lead you into darkness,
good lawd, I could go on forever but you get the point.. wait, of course you don't, which why you lose
Obama won because HALF of this nation is living on "free" stuff that they think others should pay for.
A question for Cheryl.
What percent of HALF of this nation which is living on "free" stuff that they think others should pay for are republicans? Now, think this through.
Hey Cheryl -- you and your right wing buddies have been whining about the media for the last 60 years. You lost because Mitt Romney was a lousy candidate (even Republicans didn't like him all that well) not because of the media. Reagan won 49 states when the media was much more liberal than it is today. Bush won twice with the media we have today. My advice -- stop whining about the media and find BETTER CANDIDATES.
Yeah, lets be honest, the guy got elected because of his skin color. Half this country doesn't like white people, and that's what won the election. But white people are the racists lol.
Actually, you're almost there. I think most here give too much credit to a constituency that re-elected BHO. I don't for a minute believe that there was a widespread, deep-thinking, evaluation of ideology, and direction of a candidate that would offer a promise of solutions to our debt woes, and to the re-buidling of our failed economy.
Instead, this election was about the failure of Martin Luther King's dream. The dream that one day people would be judged by the contenct of their character, and not by the color of their skin.
In the end, we're people resistant to change unless we have no choice. When their are two new candidates, a new choice must be made. When there is only one, most tend to stay with the devil they know.
Smart
Oh! is that a fact? If that was the case, Jesse Jackson should have been president. Tell me why did George Bush get 40 percent of the black vote?
I can NOT believe that the majority of you believe that this country is headed in the right direction since Obama got re-elected!! This is a wake-up call, America! Obama still will NOT work with Republicans! He still says that he will NOT vote for whatever the Republicans come up with since it is not his idea. He does not even say that he will consider it!
Kool aid drinker?
Obama has put offers on the table, but every time he does the GOTP takes their ball and runs home in tears.
Dems added seats in congress, even with the gerrymandering.
You lost, put on your adult pants and get over it!
Hmm, like the democrats that left Texas? Or how about the democrats that left Wisconsin?
Obama puts "revenue" on the table and NOTHING else. EVERY single time that Obama has EVER talked to Republicans it was about raising taxes and NEVER about cutting a single DIME of spending.
This isn't about "losing" genius, it's about the NATION and our future.
If you were REALLY the "thinking citizen" you call yourself, you see the TRUTH instead of just believing the propoganda put out by Democrats.
TRILLION dollar deficits year after year after year. You think Obama has EVER worried about cutting those deficits? Has he EVER said a single word about lowering his deficit spending?
RECORD debt and all Obama can talk about is SPENDING MORE. Even his "revenue" garbage is about being able to SPEND MORE, and not about cutting anything.
Democrats always promise to "cut spending", of course in the future after they get their tax raises and new revenue, and NEVER DO. You think Harry Reid hasn't passed a budget in THREE YEARS simply because he wants to cut spending in the government? If he did why didn't he allow a single budget passed by the House to come up for a vote, didn't negotiate a single budget with ANYONE, didn't allow a single budget to even be debated?
YOU are the one that need to put on your adult pants and actually LOOK at what's going on instead of just repeating the STUPIDITY put out by Democrats as they continue to demand MORE taxes, MORE spending, and NO cuts to what they're already doing.
Kool aid? You've been swallowing the GOTP talking points without even chewing.
98% will get a tax cut under our current President's plan.
SHARON, CHERYL
All you tax cut supporters keep claiming that cutting taxes will create jobs. George bush cut taxes, and those taxes have remained in effect for nine(9) years now. WHERE ARE THE JOBS.
As far is spending cuts, Obama cut spending in 2010 while the republicans were not willing to put anything on the table. At this moment Obama has spending cuts on the table along with revenue increases. What does the republicans have on the table? NOTHING!
Those Trillion dollar deficits you talk about. GUESS WHAT! Half of it is because the Bush tax cuts that didn't spur any economic growth. Here is a little bit of information I bet you didn't know; we starting getting deficits for the first time in thirty (30) years when your hero Ronald Regan came into office and cut taxes. We have had them ever since. The right is so into hero worship and ideology that they are blind to facts.
YOU PEOPLE SHOULD GET THE FACTS BEFORE YOU GO SPOUTING OFF.
"Obama puts "revenue" on the table and NOTHING else. EVERY single time that Obama has EVER talked to Republicans it was about raising taxes and NEVER about cutting a single DIME of spending."
Cheryl -- you are totally uninformed. President Obama offered 5 dollars in spending cuts for every one dollar in tax increases and Republicans turned him down. Try listening to some REAL news as opposed to the Fox entertainment network.
Yeah, unemployment ticked back UP to 7.9% days before the vote, and people believed the country's headed in the right direction. Kind of makes you wonder about the 7.8% number that came out before it.
Unemployed? Blame yourself!
Both my wife and I have had greater than 30% wage increases in the last 4 years, and our companies are hiring.
Hoopie Doopie for you "thinking".
Meanwhile almost 25 MILLION Amercans are either under or unemployed.
Regulations, taxes, and unions have driven MILLIONS of jobs overseas and people like you want MORE regulation, more taxes, and more union power, like you actually THINK that's going to somehow "help" the economy grow.
And as for "unemployed, blame yourself", I don't agree. While there are many jobs out there, there are NOT 25 million. And the ONLY way that MILLIONS of new jobs are going to be created IN THIS COUNTRY is if government gets out of the way, instead of standing in the way with new and higher taxes, and more job killing regulations.
And of course, let's not forget that Obama told over a million ILLEGALS in this country that they had amnesty to STEAL jobs from the citizens of this nation.
You sit in your little bubble and think just because YOU are doing better that the nation is. Meanwhile because you drool while Obama speaks, look for the "D" on the ballots when you vote, and actually believe the likes of Nancy Pelosi with her "we'll know what's in it when we pass it", and Harry Reid with his "obstructionist Republicans" while he tables EVERY bill coming out of the House, the rest of the nation is SUFFERING.
But why should you care, you got yours, right?
Buy local, create local jobs. Or, are you one of the that shops at Wal-Mart with blinders on?
Actually, we are the job creators, we don't sit on excess profits, we hire locally, buy locally, volonteer locally, and give to local charities.
I don't have more cars than I can use, I keep just enough profit to be comfortable, I don't need the excess!
Cheryl... I have a question... Are you pretty on the outside?
Cheryl, did 25 million all of a sudden became unemployed when Obama took office. NO
If 25 million people had a job that means unemployment would be 0%, right. When was the last time unemployment was 0%. Dont worry I know u won't respond. My questions was to hard for you to understand. Silly nut..
Mark of the Beast ( Notice that it says in the hand and the forehead not on)
And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name...and his number is Six hundred & sixty-six. (Rev.13:15-18)
666! The Mark of the Beast! Almost everybody has heard something about this prophecy which says that in the last days no one will be able to buy or sell anything unless they get the "Devil's mark".
Today we are the first generation with the technology available to fulfil such a prophecy of a "cashless" society.
At present, in this supermarket there are a number of ways I can pay for this shopping--I can use cash, or I can write a check, or pay by credit card.
...or another way that is being promoted so much today is using a debit card. When you give your debit card to the cashier the card is run through a scanner which is electronically linked to your bank & the money is immediately taken out of your bank account and placed in the store's account.--All in a split second.
Debit cards have already been introduced in many parts of the world & are extremely popular with stores, banks & customers. So you can see we are fast on the way to eliminating cash--and there are many compelling reasons why. Cash is the very mother's milk of drug smugglers, who often deal in cash a suitcase full at a time. With no cash the sale of illegal drugs would cease. In fact to eliminate cash would eliminate almost every kind of criminal activity, from theft to terrorism, and be an instant cure-all for many of the World's most desperate social & economic ills. No wonder governments are pushing towards the cashless society with unrestrained enthusiasm.
So what if you took the chip out of the card & placed it under the skin?
Once the chip has been implanted it can be read by an inexpensive scanner, much like the one in your local grocery store. So, you now become your own smart card!--And the very expensive problem of making sure that the owner of the card is who he says he is, has been solved.
Today the technology for just such an implant not only exists, but is being tested in pilot programs all over the world. A tiny microchip which can be read by a scanner is inserted into a spot below the animal's skin. "Infopet" in California boast the ability to keep track of 4 billion cats & dogs worldwide. This technology has proven that keeping track of large populations through implants & centralized computer data banks is completely feasible.
“Is the microchip implant hidden in the Healthcare Bill? Are newborn children starting in 2013 going to receive a microchip shortly after birth?” In the massive US HEALTHCARE BILL, which your elected representatives voted for without reading, there is a section titled: Subtitle C-11 Sec. 2521 – National Medical Device Registry which states:
“The Secretary shall establish a national medical device registry (in this subsection referred to as the ‘registry’) to facilitate analysis of postmarket safety and outcomes data on each device that—‘‘(A) is or has been used in or on a patient; and ‘‘(B) is a class III device; or ‘‘(ii) a class II device that is implantable.”
The language is deliberately vague, but it provides the structure for making America the first nation in the world that would require every U.S. citizen to receive an implanted radio-frequency (RFID) microchip for the purpose of controlling medical care.
Evangelical Christians make excellent political pawns because they focus on secondary issues, rather than the important issues. This is because Evangelical Christianity in America today does not have a truly Biblical worldview. I truly do not want to sound unkind, but the historical reality is that Evangelical Christians have played the part of what Lenin called “useful idiots.” Obviously, this is not what God planned for His people. But, by rejecting a Biblical worldview, the Scripture, “My people perish for lack of knowledge,” is fulfilled. The majority of Evangelical Christians in America have a very superficial faith as a result of what they are being taught in many of their churches and seminaries.
Jerry!!! Mom says dinners ready! Come back in the bunker before the rations get cold again!
Must be a drag having to stay locked in your house peeking out the windows.
The take-away from this election: That substance will always trump ideology... Despite all the hundreds of millions of dollars dumped into the Romney campaign - Americans saw Romney for the empty suit that he was, he was a balloon full of hot air that blew whatever direction the wind was blowing - no character, no substance, no morals, no truth...
I am personally glad that the Republicans continue to refuse to learn this simple lesson - because it means that they will continue to make the same mistakes in 2014 and 2016...
The take-away from this election, LIES, filth, class warfare, race baiting, and "war on women" trumps ideology.
You say "substance will always trump ideology"? What "substance" was there in the Obama campaign? I saw NOTHING that showed how "great" Obama was for this nation. I saw OVER A YEAR of personal attacks, lies, racial garbage, class warfare envy, and gender hate from his campaign. Is that the "substance" you were talking about?
If you check the TRUTH, you'd find that Romney was an HONEST man, that HELPED people, to point of actually SHUTTING DOWN his entire company to help one employee look for his lost daughter. A GIVING man that has FAITHFULLY given to charities, his church, and people in need.
Meanwhile we have a "leader" in the White House that says YOU have to give to who HE says, and you get no CHOICE. A "leader" who is FORCING you to buy something that you might not want or even need (like me being FORCED to pay for contraceptives in my health insurance even though I cannot have children).
A "leader" who promised the "most transparent administration in history" and proceeded to LIE to this nation for YEARS, who LOCKED DOORS to not only Republicans, but to the ENTIRE NATION. A "leader" who believes that lies, racism, gender seperation, and class difference is a "winning ticket" over HONESTY, INTEGRITY, and SERVICE.
Wow, sore loser?
Get over it! Your bile must be tasting pretty sour.
@ Cheryl,
Wow!!! Sorry but I don't have months to counter all of your baseless comments - but I will answer one of them: You are not and will never be forced to pay for contraceptives unless they are prescribed by your physician and YOU buy them, no doubt you got that idea from the republican talking heads: Limbuagh, Coulter, Hannity, Beck, etc. The AHA forces all INSURANCE PROVIDERS to cover the cost of contraceptives in their plans, in much the same way that they cover Viagra...
You did provide me with the best laugh of the day - when you said that Romney was an honest man that helped people... I'm still cleaning coffee off of my computer screen... If you want - we can talk about Bain Capital - Romney's SuperPACs - Tagg Romney's abortion clause - Romney's primary campaign strategy - etc. at a later date...
CherylLM
Fine! praise Romney for his goodness all you want, but his plan to spur growth is nothing new. It the same as Bush's Tax cutting plan that didn't create any jobs, all it did was fill the pockets of the 2% while the 98% saw their income stagnate, go down or disappear for 12 years now. When you try something for 12 years and it doesn't work, don't you think it is time to move on to something else?
"What "substance" was there in the Obama campaign? I saw NOTHING that showed how "great" Obama was for this nation"
I agree with that 100% "Salute" !!!!!!!!!!!
"Improved feelings about direction of US..."
Yeah, bald faced lies will work on the electorate if you just repeat them often enough, skew the data, and denigrate your opponent.
In other news, American businesses continue to lay off thousands.
Yep, those "skewed" polls sure did show ho poorly Obama did in the election, good thing Romney won by the predicted 8 point margin...
Oops, he didn't Guess data is right, but if it makes you feel good, 99% of losers will lie to themselves to feel better.
@ common,
"Yeah, bald faced lies will work on the electorate if you just repeat them often enough, skew the data, and denigrate your opponent..." All REPUBLICAN tactics used during this election...
"In other news, American businesses continue to lay off thousands..." as business owners said they would do if Obama was re-elected, did you notice that those same CEOs haven't cut their own pay or put more money into their companies even as they demand that workers take pay cuts and lose their pensions??
BobbyG... Those silly little details don't concern Republican serfs. They love their job cremators. They're all gonna be rich someday and go to live on the Big Rock Candy Mountain!!
Obama has proven that if you hand out enough give-aways and cater to the dumbed-down youth the dems are in until the US collapses. So in other words the Dems got it for about 2-5 years.
It's not all your fault... But you're sure giving more than your share to it!!!!
It's easy to see from your retarded logo that it's an all Black & White issue to you. If fringe-dwelling is still your thing, you should hit up "Doomsday preppers" for an episode... Aired in black & white of course.
That's the best you've got?
How many people do you employ? What have you done to help the U.S.A.?
@ It's all,
And Republicans have proven that their "job creators" are willing to flush a billion dollars down the toilet on Romney's campaign, but won't spend a dime to support their own workers...
besides, all you Republicans created your own polls and results that showed Romney winning by a landslide, how's that working out for you???
It's all my fault
Remember; soon those dumbed down youth you speak of are ones who are going inherit and run this country. Their voices are the most important ones that should be heard.
BTW, those dumb youth are a lot smarter than you, they don't have the baggage yet, and they don't take right wing blog garbage as gospel truth.
The best part in watching the youth of America is their lack of "Lemming Characteristics" found in older, white Americans.
What a racist comment there terry