2012 Elections

[Unagi]

Like me, I am guessing YK lives in a blue county of a typically very red state.

NC is only red when it comes to federal government. Our state government and governorships tend to lean Democratic. If those old ladies are anything like my grandparents, they're card-carrying Democrats who voted for Reagan, both Bushes, and Dole.

then why do they scowl, again?

[YellowKing]

then why do they scowl, again?

They like the idea of voting for one Republican, not all of them. My registration card implies the latter (and most of the time they would be right).

[LawBeefaroni]

Two green Sea Kings just blew past my window, I assume one was Marine One. Guess the President is going to vote. Or on his way back.

[El Guapo]

Two green Sea Kings just blew past my window, I assume one was Marine One. Guess the President is going to vote. Or on his way back.

This sounds like code.

The gray whale just surfaced. I repeat: the gray whale just surfaced.

[Holman]

Two green Sea Kings just blew past my window, I assume one was Marine One. Guess the President is going to vote. Or on his way back.

Biden. Beer run.

[Holman]

OH SNAP!!

Obama: Ayn Rand Is For Misunderstood Teenagers

Have you ever read Ayn Rand?
Sure.

What do you think Paul Ryan's obsession with her work would mean if he were vice president?
Well, you'd have to ask Paul Ryan what that means to him. Ayn Rand is one of those things that a lot of us, when we were 17 or 18 and feeling misunderstood, we'd pick up. Then, as we get older, we realize that a world in which we're only thinking about ourselves and not thinking about anybody else, in which we're considering the entire project of developing ourselves as more important than our relationships to other people and making sure that everybody else has opportunity – that that's a pretty narrow vision. It's not one that, I think, describes what's best in America. Unfortunately, it does seem as if sometimes that vision of a "you're on your own" society has consumed a big chunk of the Republican Party.

[RunningMn9]

My favorite part is the old ladies scowling when they see I'm a registered Republican. Guess they think I'm there to steal their Medicare.

A friend of mine is running for town council and the grief his wife got when she went to vote in the primary for her husband was hilarious. The old crones were aghast that someone would ask for a ballot for the Democratic primary. They must have had fits all day, as a steady stream of folks declared Democrat to vote for him.

[Exodor]

Well, here we are. Less than two weeks left in my reelection bid, and the race is locked in a dead heat. Though I assumed it would be a somewhat close election, I guess I’d be lying if I said I thought that with 14 days to go I’d be in such a vulnerable position. Because, when it comes down to it, my opponent is Mitt Romney. I’m not exactly running against Dwight D. Eisenhower or Abraham Lincoln or even George H.W. Bush here, you know? I’m running against Mitt Romney—a guy who has made so many conflicting statements on so many different issues that the thought of losing to someone like that leaves me severely depressed, and makes me question if I’ve maybe wasted my entire life. Truth be told, if I do lose on Nov. 6, I think the odds are pretty good that I’ll kill myself.

I mean, wouldn’t you kill yourself if the U.S. population felt that Mitt Romney—a man who basically wrote off half the American population as entitled victims incapable of taking care of themselves—was a more viable leader than you? Wouldn’t you take your own life if a massive segment of the citizenry basically said, “You know what, you ended the war in Iraq, you passed health care reform, you saved the auto industry, you repealed Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, you had 32 straight months of job creation, and you killed Osama bin Laden, but sorry, I’m going with Romney”?

I hope you don’t think I’m overreacting. In fact, I think my attitude is just about right. Mitt Romney spent the past year blaming me for setting a withdrawal date for our troops to leave Afghanistan, but then in our last debate he not only set a withdrawal date himself, but picked one that was identical to mine—2014. Nobody seems to give a fuck about that. And that must mean nobody really gives a fuck about me. It’s like I’m living in the goddamn Twilight Zone and nothing I’ve done matters at all. Look, a world in which people believe Mitt Romney is a better communicator than me is a world I don’t want to live in. So that’s why I’ll either hang myself in the Lincoln Bedroom or slit my wrists right there in the middle of the Oval Office. I haven’t decided which yet.

[Smoove_B]

My favorite part is the old ladies scowling when they see I'm a registered Republican. Guess they think I'm there to steal their Medicare.

A friend of mine is running for town council and the grief his wife got when she went to vote in the primary for her husband was hilarious. The old crones were aghast that someone would ask for a ballot for the Democratic primary. They must have had fits all day, as a steady stream of folks declared Democrat to vote for him.

When I voted for Obama in the 2008 primaries, I had to officially register as a Democrat to do so (I believe I was registered Independent or possibly unaffiliated). They asked me like four times at the table if I understood that I would be a registered Democrat going forward. It's probably only funny to us because we live in the Republican Stronghold (tm) portion of NJ.

[RunningMn9]

I suppose I should ask this...which candidate has promised to spend more on defense? Or which has promised to cut defense spending the least?

I should at least have that but of self-preservation knowledge in my back pocket just in case.

[Exodor]

I suppose I should ask this...which candidate has promised to spend more on defense? Or which has promised to cut defense spending the least?

Romney wants to drastically boost defense spending.

Obama's budget cuts it slightly. Sequestration takes a bigger bite.

[silverjon]

So, I've noticed this mentioned before but never pursued it. Ballots in the USA are party-affiliated? And you have to tell an elections official what flavour you want? You don't just get a generic ballot listing all the candidates and mark it with your choice?

What am I missing?

[Chrisoc13]

So, I've noticed this mentioned before but never pursued it. Ballots in the USA are party-affiliated? And you have to tell an elections official what flavour you want? You don't just get a generic ballot listing all the candidates and mark it with your choice?

What am I missing?

I have only voted in one state my whole life (Montana) so I can only speak for that state. We get a ballot with everyone on it. Of course you cannot register as a member of a party in Montana so it is different than other states. You can't really be a "registered" republican or democrat. But since we have a federal system it is going to vary on how it works from state to state.

[pr0ner]

So, I've noticed this mentioned before but never pursued it. Ballots in the USA are party-affiliated? And you have to tell an elections official what flavour you want? You don't just get a generic ballot listing all the candidates and mark it with your choice?

What am I missing?

For primaries to decide who's running in a general election, yes. General elections, no.

[Holman]

So, I've noticed this mentioned before but never pursued it. Ballots in the USA are party-affiliated? And you have to tell an elections official what flavour you want? You don't just get a generic ballot listing all the candidates and mark it with your choice?

What am I missing?

General election ballots (like the one next month) are identical for everyone.

Primaries (picking the party's candidate) are different. Some places allow open primaries, but in others you can only vote in the party primary if you are registered with the party. (This prevents, e.g., Democrats going to the Republican primary and voting for the weakest candidate.)

[silverjon]

Oh, ok. Only registered party members get to vote on party leadership here, but political parties run their own elections when it's time to replace the leader (retirement, non-confidence, whatever). It's not done all at once.

[Defiant]

Voter registration favors Democrats in battlegrounds
But signups lag behind levels set in ’08 campaign

[RunningMn9]

Well, that's a pretty strong reason to vote for Romney I suppose (major boost to defense spending).

[Exodor]

Well, that's a pretty strong reason to vote for Romney I suppose (major boost to defense spending).

Sure, if you think we need to balloon the debt to increase the size of our military.

Or you work for a defense contractor.

[pr0ner]

Well, that's a pretty strong reason to vote for Romney I suppose (major boost to defense spending).

Sure, if you think we need to balloon the debt to increase the size of our military.

Or you work for a defense contractor.

I'm honestly surprised Northern VA will go blue for Obama given Fairfax County will get nailed hardest of all if sequestration happens (and, even if it doesn't, apparently it's already affecting the area). Worst case scenarios say 200k jobs would be lost.

[El Guapo]

Well, that's a pretty strong reason to vote for Romney I suppose (major boost to defense spending).

Sure, if you think we need to balloon the debt to increase the size of our military.

Or you work for a defense contractor.

I'm honestly surprised Northern VA will go blue for Obama given Fairfax County will get nailed hardest of all if sequestration happens (and, even if it doesn't, apparently it's already affecting the area). Worst case scenarios say 200k jobs would be lost.

Honestly I don't think sequestration will go into effect for either candidate, so I would not vote based on that. I do think it likely that military spending will be higher under Romney than under Obama, though. I'd be curious for the breakdown between Arlington County and Fairfax County, however.

But anyways, given the steady migration of D.C. liberals into Arlington over the past decade or so, I am not at all surprised that Northern Virginia will go (or rather, stay) blue. I bet the GOP would LOVE to return Arlington to D.C.

[pr0ner]

Well, that's a pretty strong reason to vote for Romney I suppose (major boost to defense spending).

Sure, if you think we need to balloon the debt to increase the size of our military.

Or you work for a defense contractor.

I'm honestly surprised Northern VA will go blue for Obama given Fairfax County will get nailed hardest of all if sequestration happens (and, even if it doesn't, apparently it's already affecting the area). Worst case scenarios say 200k jobs would be lost.

Honestly I don't think sequestration will go into effect for either candidate, so I would not vote based on that. I do think it likely that military spending will be higher under Romney than under Obama, though. I'd be curious for the breakdown between Arlington County and Fairfax County, however.

But anyways, given the steady migration of D.C. liberals into Arlington over the past decade or so, I am not at all surprised that Northern Virginia will go (or rather, stay) blue. I bet the GOP would LOVE to return Arlington to D.C.

I'm not sure about the differences between Arlington and Fairfax (can't find specific numbers for Arlington), but a WaPo article from Tuesday did quote a possibility of 86,000 jobs lost in Fairfax County alone (which is 13% of the county's employment) and a 8% decrease in the gross county product. I'm sure other parts of the state (Hampton Roads in particular) would get nailed as well.

Of course, I think you're right and sequestration doesn't have much of a chance of happening, but it is a scary proposition.

[El Guapo]

Well, that's a pretty strong reason to vote for Romney I suppose (major boost to defense spending).

Sure, if you think we need to balloon the debt to increase the size of our military.

Or you work for a defense contractor.

I'm honestly surprised Northern VA will go blue for Obama given Fairfax County will get nailed hardest of all if sequestration happens (and, even if it doesn't, apparently it's already affecting the area). Worst case scenarios say 200k jobs would be lost.

Honestly I don't think sequestration will go into effect for either candidate, so I would not vote based on that. I do think it likely that military spending will be higher under Romney than under Obama, though. I'd be curious for the breakdown between Arlington County and Fairfax County, however.

But anyways, given the steady migration of D.C. liberals into Arlington over the past decade or so, I am not at all surprised that Northern Virginia will go (or rather, stay) blue. I bet the GOP would LOVE to return Arlington to D.C.

I'm not sure about the differences between Arlington and Fairfax (can't find specific numbers for Arlington), but a WaPo article from Tuesday did quote a possibility of 86,000 jobs lost in Fairfax County alone (which is 13% of the county's employment) and a 8% decrease in the gross county product. I'm sure other parts of the state (Hampton Roads in particular) would get nailed as well.

Of course, I think you're right and sequestration doesn't have much of a chance of happening, but it is a scary proposition.

I will say that the sequestration negotiations could go down to the wire a la the debt standoff (and theoretically could go a little bit past the deadline while the president plays some games to keep the immediate effect muted), and that the uncertainty could cause some damage.

But the only plausible way to avoid that, I think, is to have a Romney presidency and a GOP controlled Congress, and it looks now like the Senate will be democratic regardless of who wins the presidency.

[Exodor]

Of course, I think you're right and sequestration doesn't have much of a chance of happening, but it is a scary proposition.

Why is it scary if one supports the general idea that the current size of government is unsustainable?

There's no way to reduce the size of government without eliminating jobs.

[Chaz]

But I hear the government can't create jobs. If that's true, how can it eliminate them?

[Holman]

OK, now this is just getting surreal.

McCain Dumps On Powell Again: He ‘Got Us Into Iraq’

John McCain had some more critical words for Colin Powell on Friday, saying the former Secretary of State’s involvement in the Iraq War should hurt his political appeal. Powell endorsed Obama this week for a second straight election.

“Colin Powell, interestingly enough, said that Obama got us out of Iraq,” McCain told the National Review. “But it was Colin Powell, with his testimony before the U.N. Security Council, that got us into Iraq.”

[Newcastle]

Has anyone seen the following ad?

Basically the voice is all in Mandarin (i believe). But it shows an asian man taking in a foreign language (chinese assumed and chinese the language). He has a monologue basically saying that great nations get into trouble by forgeting their principles (queue a shot of Lincoln). And that taxing and spending out of a recession wont work, and a massive health care will doom the US. That the US will go into debt in order to finance its government and they will buy up those debts. He then says that the US then will work for us (meaning the chinese).

Its done by Citizens against congressional waste (i believe).

But this commercial gets my goat for some reason. Really is tough to swallow. Its overt xenophobia of China. Granted China's governments sucks to put it lightly. But the commercial really piles on the reasons to disdain China. Just aims to stoke the China fears.

Couple of other things - yes i do believe the debt is a problem, second the biggest owner of US debt is US governments (Federal, State and County). China is the largest foreign owner of US debt (about 1-2 Tillion i believe). Third - yes China's government is pretty much a dictatorship by committee (oligarchy probably best characterization).

I really, hate this commercial for the implied xenophobia it intends to stir up. Really, really ugly commercial.

YouTube link to the ad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CC8jAd84VyQ" target="_blank

[coopasonic]

Couple of other things - yes i do believe the debt is a problem, second the biggest owner of US debt is US governments (Federal, State and County). China is the largest foreign owner of US debt (about 1-2Billion i believe). Third - yes China's government is pretty much a dictatorship by committee (oligarchy probably best characterization).

1.2 trillion, not billion.

http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/moneymatt ... na-Own.htm" target="_blank

In total, China owns about 8 percent of publicly held U.S. debt. Of all the holders of U.S. debt China is the third-largest, behind only the Social Security Trust Fund's holdings of nearly $3 trillion and the Federal Reserve's nearly $2 trillion holdings in Treasury investments, purchased as part of its quantitative easing program to boost the economy.

[Newcastle]

Thanks for the correction Coop. Changed the B to a T, which was my original intent...fat finger typing and all that.

The debts a problem, i just hate that ad. Its just so damn xenophobic and over the top.

[Rip]

So in Wis. Biden says Republicans already approved a $500T tax cut.

That guy is a laugh reel all by himself.

[pr0ner]

Of course, I think you're right and sequestration doesn't have much of a chance of happening, but it is a scary proposition.

Why is it scary if one supports the general idea that the current size of government is unsustainable?

There's no way to reduce the size of government without eliminating jobs.

Because reducing the size of the government by going after constitutionally mandated parts of it (like national defense or where I work) seems silly.

[El Guapo]

Of course, I think you're right and sequestration doesn't have much of a chance of happening, but it is a scary proposition.

Why is it scary if one supports the general idea that the current size of government is unsustainable?

There's no way to reduce the size of government without eliminating jobs.

Because reducing the size of the government by going after constitutionally mandated parts of it (like national defense or where I work) seems silly.

The existence of national defense branches is mandated by the constitution. The size, however, is not.

[stessier]

10 day forecast is showing rain/snow in Twin City area and western WI. Not sure what the big city part of WI will be like.

[msduncan]

I am going to be unable to focus on the election this week. It's LSU week. Season on the line.

[Smutly]

I am going to be unable to focus on the election this week. It's LSU week. Season on the line.

Spoiler:

Alabama by a mile. Now you can rest easy.

[Holman]

Surprise endorsement of Mitt Romney by Joss Whedon.

I did not see this coming.

[Malachite]

Surprise endorsement of Mitt Romney by Joss Whedon.

I did not see this coming.

That is.... that is just....

[GreenGoo]

Surprise endorsement of Mitt Romney by Joss Whedon.

I did not see this coming.

"maybe take a class or something"

[Kraken]

Surprise endorsement of Mitt Romney by Joss Whedon.

I did not see this coming.

Nobody ever does. Pray that Whedon's warning comes in time.

[Exodor]

I'm shocked! Shocked to hear that Romney has been lying to autoworkers.

Romney on Thursday scared the bejeezus out of Ohio autoworkers when, during a rally, he cited a story claiming that Chrysler was moving Jeep production to China

The story turns out to be wrong. As Chrysler made clear the very next day, in a tartly worded blog post on the company website, officials have discussed opening plants in China in order to meet rising demand for vehicles there. They have no plans to downsize or shutter plants in the U.S. On the contrary, Fiat, the Italian company that acquired Chrysler during the rescue, just spent $1.7 billion to expand Jeep production in the U.S.

Even after Chrysler clarified its intentions, the Romney campaign refused to answer questions from reporters about the erroneous claim. Now I think I know why: A new Romney ad references the same story.