The First 2012 Presidential Election Thread

[boiker]

Are people still whining about that? I thought that this was all settled. Don't we have better things to focus on, like the issues?

Apparently, this is an exceptionally important issue. Failure to continually push this issue is admitting the constitution isn't worth the paper it's printed on.

Big issues for me:

Privacy/Digital Privacy
Small Business Tax Reform
Lower/Middle Class Tax Reform
Renewable Technology Investment increases and Policy improvements
Increase in Urban Transportation and Development Programs,Funds,Policies
"War on Drugs" Reform
DOHS/TSA Reform
Equity Issues (marriage/civil union, healthcare, women's rights)

Health

[michaelskis]

Apparently, this is an exceptionally important issue. Failure to continually push this issue is admitting the constitution isn't worth the paper it's printed on.

Big issues for me:

Privacy/Digital Privacy
Small Business Tax Reform
Lower/Middle Class Tax Reform
Renewable Technology Investment increases and Policy improvements
Increase in Urban Transportation and Development Programs,Funds,Policies
"War on Drugs" Reform
DOHS/TSA Reform
Equity Issues (marriage/civil union, healthcare, women's rights)

Health

I thought it was proven that he was born in Hawaii (even it it was a US territory at the time)

[imaplanner]

I thought it was proven that he was born in Hawaii (even it it was a US territory at the time)

Obama was born in 1961. Hawaii became the 50th state in 1959.

[Mastiff]

Obama was born in 1961. Hawaii became the 50th state in 1959.

The fact that people can't let this go shows how sad this country has become.

[Planit]

Don't look at the real issues that are substantial in nature including but not limited to debt, fair tax reform, education, and employment.

We're going to distracting by screaming about non-issues that we can get emotionally drug into such as is an existing president in the third year of his 4 year term born in the USA (answered several times), abortion (landmark decision by Roe v. Wade), it their fault they are poor, marriage partners.

Yippee for politicial games. Baffle the masses with bullsh!+.

[michaelskis]

Obama was born in 1961. Hawaii became the 50th state in 1959.

1961? Oh, I thought he was older than that.

Regardless, I still think that some people need to move past the 'where was he born' thing and this campaign needs to be on the issues, how they will handle them and how they have handled them in the past.

[Whose Yur Planner]

1961? Oh, I thought he was older than that.

Regardless, I still think that some people need to move past the 'where was he born' thing and this campaign needs to be on the issues, how they will handle them and how they have handled them in the past.

The problem is that it keeps getting brought up and the leadership refuses to distance the party from those who hold those views. Probably out of fear that those people won't vote. The media picks it up and runs with it. The other problem is that it taints all the other discussions regarding the economy, taxes, etc. By refusing to categorically refute the claims, it lessens the their legitmacy on the other topics.

[Hink]

The problem is that it keeps getting brought up and the leadership refuses to distance the party from those who hold those views. Probably out of fear that those people won't vote. The media picks it up and runs with it. The other problem is that it taints all the other discussions regarding the economy, taxes, etc. By refusing to categorically refute the claims, it lessens the their legitmacy on the other topics.

Donald Trump. If you accept his endorsement with open arms... you have some explaining to do.

[zman]

Colorado is now a battleground state... which means that our commercials on TeeVee are a ping pong match between Obama and Romney.
The latest from the Romney camp? A quip on Obama saying the private sector is just fine (between images of unemployment line, etc..)

Frankly, what do you guys think?

I think that the private sector is doing quite well, at least for those at the top. Like Michael Moore said a while back, "America isn't broke".

I'm not chiming in for the evil "redistribution of wealth" mantra...

But I do think the private sector is doing quite well. Now if only the "job creators" would get the message and create some of those jobs....

[Blide]

That was a quote taken out of context. He was basically saying the private sector is fine in that it's not shedding jobs like the public sector.

[zman]

That was a quote taken out of context. He was basically saying the private sector is fine in that it's not shedding jobs like the public sector.

Alas, so others understand. You said it better than I could.

[ColoGI]

Frankly, what do you guys think?

I think that the private sector is doing quite well, at least for those at the top. Like Michael Moore said a while back, "America isn't broke".

I think DVR sales will increase as more Citizens United "speech" carpet-bombs the airwaves.

And corporate profit is at an all-time high. Corporations are just fine. Small business, another story but they don't have the money for lobbyists in DC.

[btrage]

Can someone explain how Romney's plan to cut taxes for the rich, firing a bunch of federal employees, and shifting responsibilities to the states is going to get the economy going?

We've had tax cuts in place for 11 years now. If they didn't create or prevent the recession, why would more cuts fix it?

[Blide]

Can someone explain how Romney's plan to cut taxes for the rich, firing a bunch of federal employees, and shifting responsibilities to the states is going to get the economy going?

We've had tax cuts in place for 11 years now. If they didn't create or prevent the recession, why would more cuts fix it?

Think the rationale was that taxes weren't low enough to create and sustain jobs

[michaelskis]

Can someone explain how Romney's plan to cut taxes for the rich, firing a bunch of federal employees, and shifting responsibilities to the states is going to get the economy going?

We've had tax cuts in place for 11 years now. If they didn't create or prevent the recession, why would more cuts fix it?

I don't think it is just the tax cuts, but he believes that it will be a combination of things.

Here is his Tax Plan:
For Individuals

• Make permanent, across-the-board 20 percent cut in marginal rates
• Maintain current tax rates on interest, dividends, and capital gains
• Eliminate taxes for taxpayers with AGI below $200,000 on interest, dividends, and capital gains
• Eliminate the Death Tax
• Repeal the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT)

For Corporations

• Cut the corporate rate to 25 percent
• Strengthen and make permanent the R&D tax credit
• Switch to a territorial tax system
• Repeal the corporate Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT)

(Here is a link to the other stuff mentioned)

[Bear Up North]

Time to nominate a couple others for the 2012 Pres/VP ticket.....

Neil deGrasse Tyson - President
Sen. Bernie Sanders - VP

Tyson has a broad understanding of the cosmos ("big picture" view important in the Oval Office) and certainly remembers when America had the world's strongest "let's get it done" attitude. Sanders has a nice mix of logic, compassion, and knowing when to stop throwing good money after bad money.

Let's go to convention!

Bear

[Bear Up North]

When the news media announced that President Obama will campaign in a Toledo suburb this week I guessed that it would be the primarily-blue-collar suburb of either Oregon or Maumee. It is Maumee. The Prez will be at the Wolcott House Museum on River Road on Thursday. It is a small historical museum with some ample acreage for those who will attend. Another guess from the Bear: Place yourself on a bar stool at Dale's Bar in downtown Maumee. I wouldn't be surprised if Obama's strategists place him in a bar (with good food) that is known as a very big Ohio State Buckeye establishment. Grax, the owner, grad-u-a-mated from that big skool in Columbus.

For years I was a very regular "regular" at Dale's. It was our bar of choice after basketball, two nights a week, warm weather or winter weather. Until Grax eliminated the MUG CLUB I was Mug 11.

Yes, a few Michigan fans did the imbibe dance at Dale's.

Bear

[Hink]

This - http://www.politico.com/blogs/burns-...ax-128026.html - is why Romney is going to have a tough time winning the presidency.

Instead of accepting that he did something that the President did, and that he did it with the same intent (albeit not very successfully at either level arguably), he is trying to make up reasons why his approach was different.

It is only a tax at the federal level. At the state level it is a penalty.

Mr. Romney, what is the definition of the word "is"?

[WSU MUP Student]

There are some reports that Romney has decided on his running mate and will make an announcement this week. What say you, throbbing brain of Cyburbia, who will Romney pick?

I am putting my money on U.S. Senator Rob Portman of Ohio. I have nothing to back up my hunch.

[Blide]

I think it will be either him or Pawlenty. I doubt either one will really do much for the ticket though.

[WSU MUP Student]

I think it will be either him or Pawlenty. I doubt either one will really do much for the ticket though.

Pawlenty would be my second choice. Of the people that I can imagine that would be on a potential shortlist, either him or Portman would ruffle the fewest feathers among conservatives and probably be the most palatable among moderates and left-leaning independents that Romney will need to sway.

[Maister]

Romney comes off like a stuffy rich white guy. Clearly he needs some spice on his ticket....how about a Maverick like Ms. Palin? That way he could hook both the Establishment types AND the Tea Partiers.

[Suburb Repairman]

Obama is making a visit to central Texas today. The best part? He is hitting Austin at rush hour. For those of you familiar with Austin's traffic patterns, you know how badly this is going to F things up. So glad I don't work in downtown Austin anymore.

However, I believe folks are expecting him to possibly break a fundraising record of some kind during this visit.

[Blide]

One thing that has amazed me over the last week or so is how poorly Romney's campaign has handled the Bain issue. Romney is asking people to take him at his word as Obama's campaign pulls out legitimate documentation that conflicts. Then having his chief campaign adviser use words like "retroactively retired" or refusing to release his tax returns just makes matters worse.

I honestly don't think Bain or Romney's taxes are a big deal but it kind of makes you wonder with how evasive he has been regarding them. Seems like both of these issues would be easy to put to rest but he's not doing it for some reason.

[Suburb Repairman]

One thing that has amazed me over the last week or so is how poorly Romney's campaign has handled the Bain issue. Romney is asking people to take him at his word as Obama's campaign pulls out legitimate documentation that conflicts. Then having his chief campaign adviser use words like "retroactively retired" or refusing to release his tax returns just makes matters worse.

I honestly don't think Bain or Romney's taxes are a big deal but it kind of makes you wonder with how evasive he has been regarding them. Seems like both of these issues would be easy to put to rest but he's not doing it for some reason.

Romney's campaign flat-out sucks. It is a bad campaign that seems incapable of anticipating and addressing issues like this, which is inexcusable given his access to funding. I find the failure to release tax returns fascinating--releasing those should theoretically clear up everything the Obama campaign is charging IF ROMNEY IS TELLING THE TRUTH. The failure to release additional returns leads me to believe that the returns may contain even more damaging information. Two years is grossly insufficient, as he has known he was running for President the whole time during that period. I'd like to see 12+ years from both candidates. That used to be the norm. Heck, even a significant conservative voices in George Will & Matt Dowd are calling Romney out on this issue!

And I just love the fact that the guy with multiple mansions, a car elevator, bank accounts in tax havens, a supposedly 'blind trust' (even though he said in 1994 that blind trusts were a rouse) and tax breaks for his horse dressage hobby keeps trying to play the "Obama is out of touch with the average American" card. I don't mind him being rich (I voted for Kerry in 2004, after all), but I do mind it when it devolves to hypocrisy. I'm almost convinced Romney is saying stuff just to see if he can get away with it and still get elected based solely on corporate funding.