If The election Were Held Today....

[dgs49]

The choices are incredibly stark. Regardless of all the bullshit that fills the airwaves, these candidates represent two completely different views of the direction forward in this country.

I honestly cannot imagine how any cogent human being could vote for Barry, with the only exception being the millions who wish to suckle at the Government's enormous teats.

November 6th will truly be a "no brainer."

[Big RR]

Tow completely different lines of rhetoric you mean; I doubt there would be much of a difference with either as president.

[dgs49]

Consider the regulatory environment (e.g., EPA, DoE, etc.). Consider the Justice Department and its actions. Consider the United States Supreme fucking Court.

This is a VERY important election that will have destructive ramifications for generations if we fuck it up.

As for the economy, it is possible to favor the approach of either side. I personally think that Barry's policies are morphing a recession into a Depression and a Lost Decade - but smarter people than me disagree. The solution to the unemployment problem will perversely come with the retirement of tens of millions of Baby Boomers over the next several years, thus freeing up the job market (and creating an even bigger problem with Entitlements).

Huge difference - and for a long, long time.

[Big RR]

Well I have been wrong before (when I didn't vote for Gore thinking "How bad can W be?" and found out in spades), but I still think there's very little difference between what each will do. Romney is no right wing zealot and, so far as I can see, Obama has no political principles he adheres to. I might agree with you on some envrionmental issues, but what differences do you see between a Romney DOJ and an Obama one--Obama has hardly used it as a agent of policy. As for the USSC, let's not forget that the justices have minds of their own, and that a Nixon appointee (Blackmun) was the swing vote in Roe v Wade. Sure I think it more likely that Obama will nominate justices I agree with politically than Romney, but then I don't really love Obama's choices thus far.

The point is that while the rhetoric is highly polarized, the actions of the presidents rarely are after election. And I think it's time we as citizens demanded more accountability. That alone could create a enormous difference for a long time.

[RayThom]

Good news and glad tidings. This should enhance your delusions of grandeur even further.

If these margins start trending more in Romney's favor it may start sucking me into the dark void. Pfft! Who am I kidding.

http://www.boston.com/politicalintellig ... story.html

[BoSoxGal]

@ Raythom's sig line.

[Econoline]

The choices are incredibly stark. Regardless of all the bullshit that fills the airwaves, these candidates represent two completely different views of the direction forward in this country.

I honestly cannot imagine how any cogent human being could vote for Barry, with the only exception being the millions who wish to suckle at the Government's enormous teats.

And I honestly cannot imagine how any cogent human being could vote for Willard Mittens, with the only exception being those who did well during the Republican recession and want to go back to the policies that caused it.

[rubato]

The choice is between someone who will borrow $300B a year to give more money to the rich and someone who will not.

We tried that approach from 2001 to the present and it has failed horribly.

yrs,
rubato

[Lord Jim]

Good news and glad tidings. This should enhance your delusions of grandeur even further.

If these margins start trending more in Romney's favor it may start sucking me into the dark void. Pfft! Who am I kidding.

http://www.boston.com/politicalintellig ... story.html

Oh, it gets worse Ray...

I hope you've got your Extra Strength Tums:

Poll: Voters trust Mitt Romney over President Obama on the economy

As the presidential race pivots from the Republican primary to the general election, presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney is seeing his polling numbers slowly rise, with voters believing Romney will do a better job than President Obama handling the economy, according to two national polls released Monday night.

However, the race remains tight, and voters also believe Obama is likely to win a second term.

A CBS News/New York Times poll finds Romney edging ahead of the Democratic president, 46 percent to 43 percent. The difference is within the poll’s four-point margin of error. The same poll last month found the two candidates tied, while Obama was ahead for the previous two months.

The poll found Romney leading among independent voters, though Obama had the edge among moderates.

The poll was conducted May 11-13, after Obama came out in support of same-sex marriage. Nearly 60 percent of voters said the candidates’ stances on same-sex marriage would have no impact on their vote. Among those who said they would be affected, the issue is likely to hurt Obama. One quarter of the voters polled were less likely to vote for Obama because of his support for same-sex marriage, while only 16 percent were more likely to vote for him. Two-thirds of voters felt Obama came out in support of same-sex marriage for political reasons.

Separately, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll found that voters trust Romney over Obama on the economy – which is likely to be the top issue in the presidential campaign. The poll found 55 percent of voters think the economy will improve if Romney is elected, while 46 percent believe it will improve if Obama wins a second term.

http://www.masslive.com/politics/index. ... omney.html

I really do hate to be the bearer of bad news...

[Gob]

Are you telling us you actually want Mr Magic Underpants to win Jim? Why? Are you anti-American like me?

[BoSoxGal]

You're not the bearer of the news that the American electorate is largely foolish, LJ - we figured that out when they re-elected Dubya and let him continue pissing a decent economy away on illegal war and tax breaks to his ultra rich base.

[RayThom]

I'll save those Tums for you. You'll be the one needing them on November 7th. Four more years of Obama is going to earn you a padded room at Langley Porter. You are going to be absolutely apoplectic with rage. I'll try not to laugh... too hard.

All this public opinion polling shit means absolutely nothing especially when there are still maybe 10 or 11 primaries to go in 2012. And for someone who knows what makes politics work I'm certainly never going to rely on Gallup, or Zogby, or Mother Jones, or NCPP, etal. I'm quite happy going with the RayThom poll. That's compiled on voting day.

BTW, LJ, I won't be overjoyed 'if' Romney comes from way behind to win this thing but of all the clueless Repug candidates who ran and dropped during this last circle jerk, Romney is the guy who most Dems will easily put up with -- and more so than even his own party. Using history as your guide, he has proven time and time again he's a moderate just slightly right of center. The "RINO" is on the prowl.

So, LJ, as I mentioned I'll save those antacids for you. You can thank me later.

[Gob]

"I saw my father march with Martin Luther King." (Romney's campaign later admitted that they didn't march on the same day, or in the same city)

"PETA is not happy that my dog likes fresh air." --on strapping his dog to the top of the car

"My sons are all adults and they've made decisions about their careers and they've chosen not to serve in the military and active duty and I respect their decision in that regard. One of the ways my sons are showing support for our nation is helping me get elected because they think I'd be a great president."

"You sit down with your attorneys and tell you what you have to do, but obviously the president of the United States has to do what's in the best interest of the United States against a potential threat." --on whether he would consult Congress about invading Iran

"I purchased a gun when I was a young man. I've been a hunter pretty much all my life." (Romney's campaign later said he'd been hunting twice, once when he was 15, and once in 2006 at a Republican fundraiser

"I'm not a big-game hunter. I've made that very clear. I've always been a rodent and rabbit hunter. Small varmints, if you will."

"Hugo Chavez has tried to steal an inspiring phrase 'Patria o muerte, venceremos.' It does not belong to him. It belongs to a free Cuba." --invoking a phrase that translates to "Fatherland or death, we shall overcome," which Fidel Castro has used to close his speeches for years, and which is associated with Cuban oppression

"Well, the question is kind of a non sequitur, if you will. And what I mean by that -- or a null set." --after being asked during a Republican debate whether is was a mistake to invade Iraq

"We should double Guantanamo!"

"I'm happy to learn that after I speak you're going to hear from Ann Coulter. That's a good thing. I think it's important to get the views of moderates." --right before Coulter called John Edwards a "faggot"

[Lord Jim]

I stand by my remarks....

I will repeat what I said:

I have made no bones about my lack of enthusiasm for Mr. Romney, (in fact aside from paid staff reps, some surrogate speakers and immediate family members, I don't believe I have met, seen, or read anyone expressing a great level of enthusiasm for him) and I have tried to be fair and give credit to Mr. Obama when I thought it was due....

But overall, I believe Romney will be at least a marginally better President for the country....

Obama came in with an historic opportunity to change the poisonous political discourse that had taken root in this country over the previous 16 years, and within days of taking office he blew it....Since then, most of his Presidency, with a few exceptions, (like the killing of Bin Ladin) has been notable mostly for ineffective leadership and well meaning wrongheadedness...

I don't expect great things from Mitt Romney, but I do expect that he would be able to turn in at least a marginally better performance than we've experienced for the past three and a half years....

And that's really the only bar he has to meet, as far as I'm concerned....

[Gob]

[Lord Jim]

Four more years of Obama is going to earn you a padded room at Langley Porter.

Not happening...

(Though I have to say that I find it interesting that you are familiar with that particular institution...)

You are going to be absolutely apoplectic with rage...

No, sorry to disappoint, but I just don't do "apoplectic with rage"...

I can do a credible interpretation of "beside myself with anger" , or "red faced with fury", but "apoplectic with rage"...

Not so much...

It's too much of a dramatic stretch...

I'm really going to have to work on my Strasberg method acting...

[RayThom]

Because of its highly regarded standings in the field of psychiatric and psychological sciences, LPPI has been used as a teaching and learning source for decades. Most on staff are renown for their often published works. You can hardly delve into the subject of mental illness without finding a reference to this well established institution. It is rated equal to or better than Resnick, Harvard, or Planck Institute. Of course, I regionalized LPPI so you would easily recognize where you most likely will be spending some "down time" in mid November.

[Lord Jim]

I regionalized LPPI so you would easily recognize where you most likely will be spending some "down time" in mid November.

Ray, if Obama is re-elected I will be disappointed, but I will not be driven to madness or a catatonic state....

I am fully prepared for him to win; as a matter of fact, I would rate him about a 60%-40% favorite to win...

Despite all the problems he has, between Romney being a candidate with many weaknesses of his own, and the fact that he will have something like a billion dollars to spend trying to destroy Romney, (which is what he has to do to get re-elected; he obviously can't run on his record; even his top people know this.) and the power of the Presidency to a certain extent to be able to manipulate the news and the national dialog, at this point I think he has to be rated the favorite.

I know you haven't been around here that long, but I am not one of those who has any sort of deep visceral loathing for Obama personally. As a person he seems like a fairly good-hearted well meaning fellow, (at least for a politician) I really don't find anything about him personally objectionable, (as a matter of fact, I've had a hard time understanding why a guy who seems to me to be so easy going and mild mannered has managed to ignite such negative passions in so many people.)

I just think that while he's had a handful of successes, that overall he has proven himself to not be a very competent President. I think he has been plagued by a lack self-confidence because of how limited his experience in national politics was prior to his becoming President, and badly handicapped by his complete lack of prior experience as an Executive dealing with a legislative body, either as a Governor, or even as a Mayor. (If he'd had a high level of self confidence and that kind of experience, he might not have made the horrendous mistake he made at outset of his Presidency; letting Nancy Pelosi roll him on the stimulus package.)

But I certainly do not "hate" the man. And I certainly don't question his patriotism or sincerity in doing what he thinks is best for the country. If he is re-elected, the republic will survive.

I do however firmly believe that whoever wins, this election is going to be much closer than the last one. Every single indicator points to that. His own top campaign people have even admitted this publicly.

The totals for this election are going to look a lot more like 2004 than 2008. I can easily see some key states (like Ohio and Florida) being decided by less (perhaps much less) than 100,000 votes. I think it's entirely possible that the winner will have fewer than 300 electoral votes, and almost certainly will not have much more than that. (Obama had 353 in '08) In the popular vote, the winner will have no more than 52% probably less, (possibly considerably less.. when you toss in a point or two for the third party candidates, the winner may not even hit 50%)

If you sincerely believe, (as opposed to just joking around) that Obama is really going to win this thing big, then please pass that pipe around let us all take a hit...

You've obviously got the good stuff....

[Lord Jim]

Hmmm...

13-2.....

Maybe I should PM the 2 Libs and tell them to get their butts over here....

[RayThom]

So now we both know where we stand and we'll just wait for the final vote tally in the early AM on November 7th. Obviously there will be no need to burden this august body with silly public opinion polls from now til then, ad nauseam. We can sit back and enjoy watching the candidates shooting themselves in the foot, and who does it the most or least often. This should be good and I'm betting quite a humorous process for both sides. And may the best incumbent win.

America... what a country.