Romney Shows His True Colors Again

Here's what Romney said about why he lost the election:

“In each case they were very generous in what they gave to those groups,” Mr. Romney said.

“With regards to the young people, for instance, a forgiveness of college loan interest, was a big gift,” he said. “Free contraceptives were very big with young college-aged women. And then, finally, Obamacare also made a difference for them, because as you know, anybody now 26 years of age and younger was now going to be part of their parents’ plan, and that was a big gift to young people. They turned out in large numbers, a larger share in this election even than in 2008.”

“With regards to African American voters, Obamacare was a huge plus,” Mr. Romney said. “You can imagine for somebody making $25- or $30- or $35,000 a year, being told you’re now going to get free health care — particularly if you don’t have it, getting free health care worth, what, $10,000 a family, in perpetuity, I mean, this is huge. Likewise with Hispanic voters, free health care was a big plus.”

Well good to see the 47% remark was not a fluke but actually how Romney sees America. Once again we get incredibly condescending remarks from Romney while talking to a bunch of rich people. The rich are the people who make all things happen and everyone else they’re moochers.

How out of touch is this guy?

How out of touch to what every day ordinary people go through in their lives?

Maybe, just maybe Mittens people voted against you for the attitude you just expressed.

Maybe the way the Obama campaign painted you on Bain Capital is exactly the way you are. People are cogs in a wheel and of little or no importance especially if they are the moochers. The only way Obama could get people to vote for him was to give them gifts.

Or here’s another idea maybe you didn’t make the case on why people should vote for you. Maybe you needed to come out of your cocoon surround by Fox News and the far right prattlers and take a look around at the real world. That’s the only reason I can think of that you were completely shocked when you lost.

You lost not because of "gifts" Obama gave voters. You lost because people rejected your idea of if every millionaire becomes a billionaire that's a good thing. You lost because of you and your party's attach on women and Hispanics and just about every other group that wasn't white and conservative. Most of all they you lost because Obama presented a better idea of what the future of this country should and will be.

Finally one more thing Mr. Romney just go away. We've heard enough!

Thoughts on the Election — the Polls

I was going to put together a big post on the results of the election. But could never get it exactly right. So I've decided to break it up into smaller posts. I'll have several of these over the next few days.

The Polls. They were all wrong. At least that’s what the Republicans said and all the conservative pundits and Fox News said. All the polls were wrong. The polls were over sampling Democrats. Democrats, according to these conservative voices, would in no way turn out in the numbers they did four years ago for Obama. The Romney campaign believed this too. But it turns out the polls were right. Most showed Obama winning, narrowly, but still winning.

How did they not see this? Well conservative group think is part of it. The fact that in general they just don't disagree with Obama they despise him. They see him as not being legitimate. Thus the birther and all the other conspiracy theories as to how and why he is president. It could not possibly be that people actually support him.

Being off on the polls was embarrassing to the conservative punditry but it was fatal to the Romney campaign. It makes you wonder why just one of the people in the campaign didn't say you know maybe our model isn't right because no else seems to be agreeing with us.

Then there was the conservative reaction to those organizations and people who said Obama was going to win. I can understand challenging the sampling make up of the polls. Stating that your over sampling Democrats and that's skewing the results. But they didn't stop there. They then attacked the people specifically Nate Silver as biased towards Democrats. Some went even further, this from conservative blogger and poller Dean Chambers:

Nate Silver is a man of very small stature, a thin and effeminate man with a soft-sounding voice that sounds almost exactly like the "Mr. New Castrati" voice used by Rush Limbaugh on his program. In fact, Silver could easily be the poster child for the New Castrati in both image and sound. Nate Silver, like most liberal and leftist celebrities and favorites, might be of average intelligence but is surely not the genius he's made out to be. His political analyses are average at best and his projections, at least this year, are extremely biased in favor of the Democrats.

What has this to do at all with the accuracy of how the polls are set up and who's going to win. Once again people taking positions not in line with conservatives are personally attacked.

And Republians wonder why they lost the election.

Headlines from the Election

I went down to the Newseum to see what the front pages from around the country were after the election. Here are some.

More Headlines

Even More Headlines

Heading Off to Bed — Very Happy

I've very happy. They'll be more time to post about what happened but Obama winning was so very important. Also having the far right nut cases loose was fantastic. Good to see voters have some common sense left in them.

One quick note the media coverage was terrible. More on that later.

One more thing:

Obama Wins Second Term

MSNBC Calls for Obama

That says it all. The other networks still haven't called it but it is only a matter of time. Here in DC the local stations are on. The networks will come back on at 11:30. Romney is toast.

The Knuckle Walkers Loose

The two knuckle walker stupid rape commenters running for Senate as Republicans have lost in Indiana and Missouri.

Good to know there is still some common sense in the heartland!

Going As Expected?

Well I guess so far so good.

Michigan goes to Obama. He's ahead in Ohio. It's very close in Florida (it would be great if he could take that). Pennsylvania is moving his way (the Democrat won the Senate seat which is a good sign for Obama). Very close in Virginia with a small amount of the vote in.

Nervous. Nervous.

In other news both CNN and ABC (the two stations I'm watching) made big deal about projecting that the House would remain in Republican hands. This is a surprise how exactly.

Taking a little break from watching. I can only take so much. Will probably tune back in around 9:45 or so.

2Political Episode 79

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This is just a little chat we recorded on Election Day Eve. We talk about where things are at, some of what we’re looking for and we share final thoughts about the Republicans in particular.
Please leave a comment (anyone’s welcome—agree or disagree!), or you can ring the 2Political Comment line on 206-350-3982.
Links for this episode:
A view of America from far away by Nik Dirga – NZ Herald
Brother Cinaedus did an Audioboo about us!
Jason’s Blog
Arthur’s blog, podcasts and videos can be accessed here.

Get 2Poltical Podcast for free on iTunes

Now for the Results

I voted.

I hope everyone else who could did vote.

I have to say I'm nervous about this one. I think more than I was 4 years ago. I think Obama will win. The sites I have great respect for point to an Obama victory.

Four years ago I blogged throughout the results. I will try and do some of that this time.

I decided not to really start watching the results until around 9.

Here's hoping Obama is on his way by then.

Badge of Honor

Well it's not exactly a badge; it's a sticker. But I will wear it proudly all day.

Nothing shows more how much you love your country and believe in democracy than these two words: I voted.

2Political Episode 78

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 2Political Podcast Episode 78 is now available. You can listen to it or download it from the podcast site, 2political.com. You can leave comments there as well as download or listen to any episode (you can access the five most recent episodes from the list on the right side of my blog).

We decided to record this episode sooner rather than later, since we knew Episode 77 was interrupted. We begin today with a dose of reality, not the "horserace" nonsense that some people are promoting. Our discussion is interrupted by a robocall, and Arthur expresses his opinion about them. As usual, we’re passionate in our opinions and progressive positions.

No baseball this episode—but there will be a new episode tomorrow!

Please leave a comment (anyone's welcome—agree or disagree!), or you can ring the 2Political Comment line on 206-350-3982.

Links for this episode:
Romney Claims of Bipartisanship as Governor Face Challenge
Good Housekeeping Talks with Ann Romney
Good Housekeeping Talks with Michelle Obama (compare and contrast)
Arthur’s blog, podcasts and videos can be accessed here.

Get 2Poltical Podcast for free on iTunes

A Couple of Quick Reminders

Jennifer, my sister-in-law, sent this very funny reminder about the time change and the election.

2Political Episode 77

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2Political Podcast Episode 77 is now available. You can listen to it or download it from the podcast site, 2political.com. You can leave comments there as well as download or listen to any episode (you can access the five most recent episodes from the list on the right side of my blog).

We started to record this episode before Episode 76 was edited and posted. However, our recording was interrupted when Arthur's Internet connection failed. This recording is as far as we got, and we'll record a new one this week.

We again begin by talking about baseball, though probably for the last time—well, for this year, anyway. But it does lead to a little talk about sports in Washington, DC.

Jason has a special day—provided by Trump. From crazy to liars, the Republicans just keep on giving. We’re not impressed with the supposed "surprises". We then talked about the final debate, and that's when we were interrupted.

Please leave a comment (anyone's welcome—agree or disagree!), or you can ring the 2Political Comment line on 206-350-3982.

Link for this episode:
Arthur’s blog, podcasts and videos can be accessed here.

Get 2Poltical Podcast for free on iTunes

2Political Episode 76

2PP076

 






2Political Podcast Episode 76 is now available. You can listen to it or download it from the podcast site, 2political.com. You can leave comments there as well as download or listen to any episode (you can access the five most recent episodes from the list on the right side of my blog).

We recorded this episode a a little over two weeks ago, but Arthur was too busy to edit and post it. We might have just left it as another "lost episode", but then we decided to post it anyway. Turns out it was a good decision: Our next recording was interrupted when Arthur's Internet connection failed.

We again begin by talking about baseball—yes, really, and still. Jason is still excited. But he has an odd story about time in Lebanon.

When we turn to politics, we start with the first presidential candidate debate, before moving on to the election generally. Among other things, we talk about where the Republican Party is and how it’s a failing proposition. How can it be saved—is it even possible? This ultimately brings us back to the debate.

We conclude with our passionate reasons why voting is ALWAYS necessary. Then, we move on to the comment for this episode.

Please leave a comment (anyone's welcome—agree or disagree!), or you can ring the 2Political Comment line on 206-350-3982.

Normally, we’d provide links to some of the stories we mention, but, hey: This episode is late being posted. If you want to know the source, just ask, and we’ll find it for you.

Jason’s Blog
Arthur’s blog, podcasts and videos can be accessed here.

Get 2Poltical Podcast for free on iTunes

More Thoughts on the Election

Monday Night Viewing Choices

What a night to be watching TV. The debate, game 7 of championship series and the Bears vs. the Lions. I went back and forth between all three. The debate seemed rather tame in comparison to the last one. Romney agreed with about everything Obama said then added but I’d do it better. Didn’t say how he’d do it better just I’d do it better. America will be more repsected when I’m president. How will that happen because I say so was essentially Romney’s response.

Sort of like I’ll create 12 millions jobs with my plans when there’s just as much reason to believe that won’t happen. Or that in all likelihood it will happen under present policies because the economy is slowing recovery.

I loved Obama’s comment:

“When it comes to our foreign policy, you seem to want to import the foreign policies of the 1980s, just like the social policies of the 1950s and the economic policies of the 1920s,”

He won the debate. The question is was it enough. See below.

Slipping Away for Obama?

Seems that’s the way things are going. Slowly but surely Romney is moving ahead. The national popular vote polls show a dead heat. But then again the national popular vote doesn’t matter. But the media loves to trout these polls out (see next topic for my thoughts on that). But it cannot be denied that the race changed dramatically after the first debate. Obama just didn’t do what he needed to do then. He recovered in the next two.

But Romney was able to come across as reasonable and moderate. The latest recreation of this guy. The problem I have with Romney is he’s soulless. He seems to stand for nothing. He’s a real conservative on all sorts of issues and then well he’s really a moderate. Which won will be get if he’s elected president. Here’s my analogy for Romney. He’s like the chocolate bunnies that are around at Easter. They’re great to bite into but there’s only a shell nothing on the inside.

Back to Obama. He is still ahead in the electoral college which is what matters but slowly but surely Romney is catching up. I’m not counting Obama out but he really needs to step up his game in these last 10 days.

The Media

The more I watch their coverage the more angry I get. All their stories start off with what the latest national poll says. Do national polls matter? Yes but it’s where the candidates stand in the electoral college that matters. That’s usually mentioned but later in the story. It is just so much simpler to show poll numbers then try to make sense for viewers the electoral college map. It is as I’ve said on many occasions the laziness of the media.

The next problem I have with them is illustrated by these two interviews I saw on CNN. The day after the debate CNN had John Kerry (D) on in the morning. Later one 360 they had on the governor of Virginia, Bob McDonnell (R). You get one guess and only one as to who you think they thought did well in the debate in the their respective interviews. As far as I’m concerned these interviews bring nothing new or insight to analyzing what’s going on. You know the perspective these politicians by their politician affiliation. Does anyone ever think that say Kerry would say Oh my goodness Romney just wiped the floor with Obama. No I can’t see that either. Getting their opinions is a waste of time.

I feel a little better when the pundits are on. Well that is most of the pundits. It seems to me there could be more middle of the road views expressed in these groups. There need to be more David Gergens and fewer Bay Buchanans. Fewer people from either side who just spew the party line.

Finally on the media rant, in general, they need to aggressive in challenging politicians, campaigns, and parties in the statements they make. They need to be more ready to go after obvious falsehoods and truth bending/stretching (see this post). Things don’t always need to be balanced. Lies and half truths need to be called out. To me they just don’t do enough of that.

Thoughts on the Election

Obama Shows Up for This One

Nice to see that the president showed up for this debate. I have to say I watched only the first 40 minutes of it. I’ve been tired lately and wanted to get to bed early. I knew if I stayed up and watched the whole debate I would stay up even later to watch the instant analysis on the networks and then turn to cable and stay up even later. Also I just can’t stand to watch Romney talk. He is just so disingenuous in what he says. The way he pitches his programs when the reality is they won’t work out any way near the way he says they will.

Like I said nice of Obama to show up in contrast to the last debate. I think he did very well. He started off a little too hot in the beginning but settled down. It was good he pointed out Romney’s well how shall I put it not exactly truthful statements.

I thought Obama gave an excellent close. He said the Romney’s plan will be forward to the past.

The Romney Non-partisan Study

The great non-partisan tax study which supports Romney’s plan comes from the American Enterprise institute. Wow what alternate universe do they live in when that organization is called non-partisan without producing laughter. Ed Gillespie of the Romney campaign was called on this by none other than Chris Wallace from Fox News. Here’s the exchange:

Gillespie: These are very credible sources, and, you know...
Wallace: One of them is from a guy who is – is a blog from a guy who was a top advisor to George W. Bush. So these are hardly nonpartisan studies.

Gillespie: Look, Chris I think if you look at Harvard and AEI [American Enterprise Institute] and other studies are very credible sources for economic analysis

Wallace: You wouldn’t say that AEI is a conservative think tank?

Gillespie: I would say it is a right-leaning think tank. That doesn’t make it not credible.

Wallace: It doesn’t make it nonpartisan.

Gillespie: It does make it nonpartisan. It’s not a partisan organization, I can tell you, there are many instances where there have been things AEI came out with and said, I didn’t find it to be necessarily to be helpful to the Republican Party.

Wallace: Would you say Brookings Institution is nonpartisan?

Gillespie: I would say the Brookings Institution is left leaning and nonpartisan.

Well Ed, I think you are the only Republican that would say that Brookings in non-partisan.

Sick of the Damn Ads
I was sick of them over a month ago. Now I have to refrain from yelling or throwing something at the TV when they come on.

There is a gambling referendum going on in Maryland. If passed it will allow a casino to be built at National Harbor the place I went earlier this year. It is a bit of a convoluted proposition. Not only must the majority of Maryland voters pass the initiative but a majority in the county where the casino will be built. The people against it are out of town liars from West Virigina who don;’t want to loose business. The people for it are telling the truth about all the promised money really won’t go to help out schools. So sick of seeing these ads.

But in the next few weeks they will really intensify. You can tell that when ads for positions in West Virginia starting running in DC.

The Unemploment Numbers were Cooked

So say the right wing conspiracy people spearheaded by Fake News sorry Fox News. The poster boy for this was Jack Welch who said:

"Unbelievable jobs numbers..these Chicago guys will do anything..can't debate so change numbers," Welch tweeted, referring to the site of the Obama campaign headquarters.

This ranks up there with all the polls are rigged. Gee is there a pattern here.

There was a huge push back on this when Welch was interviewed on CNN and MSNBC. Also the Romney campaign would have nothing to do with it. I'm sure they were pissed the number went down because this sort of knocks the wind out of what happened in Denver (but not completely). (Note to Obama please show up at the next debate.)

But for just a moment let's say that somehow the numbers could be manipulated. Here's my question why would you wait until September to do so. In January the unemployment rate was 8.3 %. Wouldn't the smart thing to do if you were going to cook the numbers would be to start lowering the rate in January bringing it down say a tenth of a percent each month. If that had been don,e the September number would have been down to around 7.4%. That would make the Obama administration look just great on the jobs issue.

But I think this latest bout of paranoia by the right can best be summed up this way:

The New York Times’ Joe Nocera writes that while it’s “ludicrous” to suggest that “a handful of career bureaucrats” would manipulate unemployment data, it is true that there’s “something a little strange about the way the country derives its employment statistics.” But the lesson in this questioning of the jobs data needs to be that it’s a bit “absurd” to think that a presidential race could be decided on the unemployment rate. It’s not just because the short-term numbers aren’t really reliable, but also because no president has such a strong grip on the economy.

“There is rough justice in the way things are playing out,” writes Nocera. “Having spent the last year wrongly blaming the president for high unemployment, Republicans can only stand by helplessly as the unemployment rate goes down at the worst possible moment for them.”

Humor from the Presidential Campaign

Who know Paul Ryan was a stand up comic. What else could explain this when he appeared on Fox News Sunday:

in which he declined to explain how the Romney/Ryan tax cuts will be paid for: “I don’t have the time, it would take me too long to go through all the math.”

We voters are just supposed to believe their numbers come out correctly. That closing tax lop holes won't impact the middle class. Except it seems that it will:

According to the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center, middle class taxpayers would pay more under the GOP plan, because the rate cut would not be high enough to outweigh the many deductions Romney would have to eliminate to avoid increasing the deficit. Romney’s campaign has disputed that study, but his advisers have also promised that if it doesn’t work, he will keep higher taxes on the rich, not raise them on the poor.

The Post has a wonderful editorial on the subject. They say in part:

The GOP wants voters to think that only the rich would be affected by its loophole closing. “And don’t forget that the higher-income people have a disproportionate amount of the loopholes that they use,” Mr. Ryan said. Well, actually, no. Higher-income people reap a “disproportionate amount” of the benefit of lower rates on capital gains and dividends — households earning more than $200,000 a year receive 90 percent of the benefit. But the Romney-Ryan plan would leave that break in place. Most of the remaining major tax breaks flow primarily to households earning $200,000 or less. For example, more than two-thirds of the benefit of the deduction for home mortgage interest goes to those making less than $200,000 a year.

Good to know that the Romney/Ryan ticket is going to tell it like it is to voters. Except if the math is too hard. More likely if the math doesn't add up.