Objective review of the US 2012 Presidential and Congressional general campaign

[ibanezmonster]

If Romney wins, I finally won't have to hear all of the anti-Obama whining...

Another day of listening to crazy anti-Obama guy yell and complain. This time he got into an argument with another old guy who disagreed. This guy, I happened to find out, had a job lined up for IBM many years ago, but got drafted to Vietnam and got out after 2 years. That's... quite understandable.

A couple more golden comments: "Obama's slogan is just like Hitler's was" and "You ever look at the back of a dollar bill? This country is doomed..." (what is that, conspiracy Illuminati stuff?) "Government's ONLY role is to protect the homeland." (military-only government sounds like a dream come true, eh?)

I was going to ask him if that's all he ever talks about, but I just didn't say anything so he'd stop talking and walk away more quickly. Just mildly pretend to agree and don't say anything is the most efficient way to get rid of them.

So Obama is a African Muslim Nazi Communist now?... 

[Mirror Image]

I can believe this...

I can too. There's a lot of anti-Obama stuff happening around here, but not quite to the extent that you're experiencing, Greg. I voted for Obama the first time around and I'm voting for him again. But the number of Republicans far exceeds the number of Democrats around here. It's okay tough, as I don't believe that just because somebody is a Republican it makes them a terrible person, but it seems that when I mention to a Republican that I don't believe in their ideology, they look at me like I'm one of the most disgusting things that were ever to be put on this earth. I suppose it's best to not even discuss politics where I live, because if I do, then I'll probably get lynched.

An interesting side note, I helped campaign for Obama here in Georgia by volunteering at my local city's Democratic HQ. It was quite a fun experience and I would put it on a resume, but, again, Republicans are the majority here and this certainly wouldn't score me any points with a company I'm interviewing with.

[Wendell_E]

If Romney wins, I finally won't have to hear all of the anti-Obama whining...

Please.  There are still people who whine about F.D. Roosevelt.  Not to mention G.W. Bush (plenty to whine about there).  Presidents are term-limited, but whining is forever. 

[ibanezmonster]

Please.  There are still people who whine about F.D. Roosevelt.  Not to mention G.W. Bush (plenty to whine about there).  Presidents are term-limited, but whining is forever.

Sure, but it's only a small fraction of the anti-Obama mania. If Obama wins, there are probably going to be riots in the streets (though I could be wrong, since I can't picture a bunch of old white guys rioting). It's really getting irritating to see nothing but anti-Obama messages everywhere. I never saw anything close to that scale with GWB.

[Brian]

It was quite a fun experience and I would put it on a resume, but, again, Republicans are the majority here and this certainly wouldn't score me any points with a company I'm interviewing with.

Yeah, don't do it. I interviewed with a company where the VP doing the interviewing told me at some point that he was a tea party guy. I was very polite and made a few big government jokes, but then later on realized with a chill that my writing portfolio contained a piece on the 2008 election with comments on how favorable demographic trends are for Democrats and how the Republicans need to alter their social issues stances. There was probably another, better reason I didn't get the job, but I didn't get it. Changed my portfolio up after that.

[Scarpia]

I see that The Economist has endorsed Obama, despite the fact that its editorial policy leans towards the conservative side.

[Todd]

I see that The Economist has endorsed Obama, despite the fact that its editorial policy leans towards the conservative side.

I like these two particular part of the article:

Mr Obama's shortcomings have left ample room for a pragmatic Republican, especially one who could balance the books and overhaul government. Such a candidate briefly flickered across television screens in the first presidential debate. This newspaper would vote for that Mitt Romney, just as it would for the Romney who ran Democratic Massachusetts in a bipartisan way (even pioneering the blueprint for Obamacare). The problem is that there are a lot of Romneys and they have committed themselves to a lot of dangerous things.

...this election offers American voters an unedifying choice. Many of The Economist's readers, especially those who run businesses in America, may well conclude that nothing could be worse than another four years of Mr Obama. We beg to differ. For all his businesslike intentions, Mr Romney has an economic plan that works only if you don't believe most of what he says. That is not a convincing pitch for a chief executive.

[Brian]

Contains works by Hildegard, Higdon, Tower, Beach, Gubaidulina, Zwilich, Clara Schumann, and many more. Web preview. Accessible in iTunes.

[snyprrr]

Bill Clinton 5mins. ago:

"Who wants a president they know keeps lying to them?"




...uh...




...Mr.,... uh...




...President?...




uh,... like,... uh,... you?

[Daverz]

Romney who ran Democratic Massachusetts in a bipartisan way

Number of Romney vetoes as governor: 844
Number of vetoes overridden by the state legislature: 707

I guess you can say that was a kind of bipartisanship, as he must have pissed off some Republican legislators to get that record. 

[Daverz]

I can't picture a bunch of old white guys rioting).

Well there was this in 2000:



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brooks_Brothers_riot

Generally they are just colossal assholes:

http://www.youtube.com/v/6ik4f1dRbP8

But with the Stand Your Ground laws in several states, things could get ugly.

[mahler10th]

Tonight in the UK there is wall to wall coverage of the US elections.  I plan to stay up and watch it all.  I don't think he will win, but if Romney does win, I have made plans to move to the South Pole.
Viva Obama.

[ibanezmonster]

But with the Stand Your Ground laws in several states, things could get ugly.

Yeah, like my state...

[Todd]

I don't think he will win, but if Romney does win, I have made plans to move to the South Pole.

Shrewd move.  Start buying up real estate now, at rock bottom prices.  Global warming will result in Antarctica being the high end travel destination post-2050 or so.  Your descendants would be filthy rich.

[kishnevi]

Tonight in the UK there is wall to wall coverage of the US elections.  I plan to stay up and watch it all.  I don't think he will win, but if Romney does win, I have made plans to move to the South Pole.
Viva Obama.

Well, if global warming is true*, Antartica will either not exist or be relatively inhabitable in a few years, especially if Romney win.  You'll simply be the far-sighted investor Republicans claim they love.


*Fair warning:  I think claims that human activity has a meaningful impact on climate change (a natural process that's been going on since this planet became a planet) is inherently  a load of bunk, because with the current state of science, it's impossible to prove or disprove the idea. (We don't know much about the natural processes at work, which means that we can't tell what effect or what distortions human activity might have on them. ) Further discussion would be inappropriate here.  If you want to discuss the matter, I suggest opening a new thread devoted to that topic.

Shrewd move.  Start buying up real estate now, at rock bottom prices.  Global warming will result in Antarctica being the high end travel destination post-2050 or so.  Your descendants would be filthy rich.

Ah, I see great minds think alike.

[kishnevi]

Administrative note:

At some point in the next few days, possibly as early as tomorrow (Wednesday 11/7), I'll be locking this thread.  But fear not: when I do lock it, I'll start a new topic to allow post election punditry.

[Gurn Blanston]

Number of Romney vetoes as governor: 844
Number of vetoes overridden by the state legislature: 707

I guess you can say that was a kind of bipartisanship, as he must have pissed off some Republican legislators to get that record.

Hey Dave. Where did you get those numbers? Is it in a readily accessible place on the Interwebs?  I'm curious, since if those are solid numbers, why weren't they used during the campaign? Seems fair game to me...

[Todd]

Seems fair game to me...

Here's one article covering it.  It was an issue in the primaries.  The MA governor has line item veto power, which accounts for the high numbers.   

Just imagine if Presidents had line item veto power.   

[Karl Henning]

I like these two particular part of the article:

Mr Obama’s shortcomings have left ample room for a pragmatic Republican, especially one who could balance the books and overhaul government. Such a candidate briefly flickered across television screens in the first presidential debate. This newspaper would vote for that Mitt Romney, just as it would for the Romney who ran Democratic Massachusetts in a bipartisan way (even pioneering the blueprint for Obamacare). The problem is that there are a lot of Romneys and they have committed themselves to a lot of dangerous things.

...this election offers American voters an unedifying choice. Many of The Economist’s readers, especially those who run businesses in America, may well conclude that nothing could be worse than another four years of Mr Obama. We beg to differ. For all his businesslike intentions, Mr Romney has an economic plan that works only if you don’t believe most of what he says. That is not a convincing pitch for a chief executive.

It's the stone-cold truth.

[Karl Henning]

Administrative note:

At some point in the next few days, possibly as early as tomorrow (Wednesday 11/7), I'll be locking this thread.  But fear not: when I do lock it, I'll start a new topic to allow post election punditry.

Woo-hoo!