Objective review of the US 2012 Presidential and Congressional general campaign

[Todd]

That's one staunch Romney supporter.

[Karl Henning]

Upset that her boyfriend was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence, police say Clouser went to the home of friends and smoked more marijuana.

C'mon! That is classic Onion material!

Definitely need to cite this incident in support of medical mari-ja-weenie, too . . . .

[Todd]

Definitely need to cite this incident in support of medical mari-ja-weenie, too . . . .

Please tell me you are not calling into question the moral, ethical, and medical arguments of proponents of medical weed.  Those are some serious folks.

[Todd]

So, will this be the issue that finally ignites the campaigns?  It really hasn't been too terribly exciting since Romney clinched the nomination.  Obama misspoke some.  Romney misspoke some.  Yawn.  Where are the fireworks?  Maybe in September?

[Karl Henning]

. . . It really hasn't been too terribly exciting since Romney clinched the nomination.  Obama misspoke some.  Romney misspoke some.  Yawn.  Where are the fireworks?  Maybe in September?

(* burnishes crystal ball *)

[Todd]

Yes, it's (partisan) political theater, but, assuming Obama gets a second term, does he can Holder before or after November?

[Todd]

Three weak months in a row.  Can Romney get any traction with this?

[Brian]

Three weak months in a row.  Can Romney get any traction with this?

The Wall Street Journal doesn't seem to think so - there was an editorial this week burning his campaign. Growing suspicion that he's simply incompetent, I gather - or perhaps too obsessed with playing it safe.

[Todd]

Growing suspicion that he's simply incompetent, I gather - or perhaps too obsessed with playing it safe.

I'd say the latter.  Health care is ultimately a distraction.  Clinton's mantra lives: It's the economy, stupid.  I just haven't seen aggressive enough attacks on Obama on this front, but then I don't live in a contested state.  Romney needs to ratchet up the attacks, if for no other reason than sheer entertainment value.

[Karl Henning]

Wednesday's House vote marks the 33rd time that Republicans have tried to cut back or repeal President Obama's health-care law. They know it's going nowhere, but they have their reasons.

Chief among the reasons, probably, that they have nothing intelligently positive of their own to offer.  Why not just obstruct? ; )

And there's the famous Jean Renoir remark: The great tragedy of the 20^th century is, we all have our reasons.

[Todd]

Chief among the reasons, probably, that they have nothing intelligently positive of their own to offer.  Why not just obstruct?

This isn't obstruction at all.  It's political theater.  The Republicans are beating a live horse to appeal to their constituents.  Or as the article put it:

"Republicans will use the vote as election-year fodder to fire up their conservative base, turn up the heat on vulnerable Democrats from conservative-leaning districts, and press their argument that Mr. Obama's health-care reforms are shackling the economy."

This is a good issue for Congressional elections.

[Karl Henning]

Very good.

[Todd]

Is this the scandal that sinks Romney? 

(It might be best to just ignore the last line of the article: "In Romney's 2002 race for governor, he testified before the state Ballot Law Commission that his separation from Bain in 1999 had been a "leave of absence" and not a final departure.")

[Karl Henning]

A congressional solution to the financial woes faced by the U.S. Postal Service won't be considered by House lawmakers before they leave for a month-long August recess . . .

. . . because, after all, Soap-boxing "Obama-Care" was much more important to them.

[Karl Henning]

Is this the scandal that sinks Romney?

I'm doubtful.

[jwinter]

 Quote from: Todd on July 11, 2012, 06:43:30 PM

....This is a good issue for Congressional elections.

Aye, so it is.  More red meat for the folks at Fox & Friends.  I know the whole "USA is like Ancient Rome in decline" meme has been done to death, but honestly nothing reminds me so much of the current bloviating Congress as the image of the last days of the Roman Senate, pontificating endlessly, accomplishing nothing.

The whole GOP nominating process has been just a sad, sad spectacle (not that the Democrats are beyond cirticism, far from it).  Have either of the major parties ever put forth such a meager assortment of talent, ever in history?  Watching them bob and weave to try to simultaneously appeal to the party base and the general public is good for amusement value, but little else.  The qualities necessary to both win an election and to govern effectively seem to be increasingly mutually exclusive -- statesmanship is about compromise and thoughtful deliberation, which seems to be anethema to these people and to the media culture that they inhabit/profit by/create.

Man, maybe I've read too much Philip K Dick over the past 48 hours... I'm starting to depress myself ... 

[Florestan]

nothing reminds me so much of the current bloviating Congress as the image of the last days of the Roman Senate, pontificating endlessly, accomplishing nothing.

EU Parliament? 

[jwinter]

 Quote from: Florestan on Today at 03:36:24 PM

EU Parliament? 

 
Sorry, I'm an American, we don't cotton ta none of that thar foreign stuff... 

[Florestan]

Sorry, I'm an American, we don't cotton ta none of that thar foreign stuff... 

Yeah, right... 10,000 miles from tip to tip and stuff... Pax Romana Americana... I wonder who will be Romulus Augustulus and who will be Odoacer... 





(just kidding  )

[Gurn Blanston]

. . . because, after all, Soap-boxing "Obama-Care" was much more important to them.

As I understand it, the current count of efforts to repeal the Health Care Initiative is now standing at 33. 

%#$@ing a$$holes.