Will past personal issues affect Obama's 2012 campaign?

[skippy1729]

Jewish people are usually Republican, because they support military to defend Israel. He didn't lose the Jewish vote, he never had it. So he came out on top in the end.

Except for Joe Lieberman, he got most of their votes last time. My daughter-in-law lived on a kibbutz for three years and she STILL thinks he is the anointed one.

"Jews earn like Episcopalians but vote like Puerto Ricans" Milton Himmelfarb

 

[WhoWee]

He is experienced, qualified and has good ideas. I strive to not be superficial but the American electorate is. He doesn't come off as being presidential. In my opinion, the Republicans need someone with a commanding presence.

Skippy

PS "Obama doesn't say anything but he says it better than anyone else." Does anyone remember who first said this?

Normally, I would agree the old saying "sell the sizzle - not the steak" - but not this time. I think the country realizes we need solid leadership, grounded in experience to solve our problems. I've always favored (successful) Governors - running a state is good training.

 

[WhoWee]

This might seem a little off-topic, but does anyone have any thoughts about John Kerry's trip to the ME - can the President trust him and more importantly, is he undermining the real Secretary of State?

 

[skippy1729]

This might seem a little off-topic, but does anyone have any thoughts about John Kerry's trip to the ME - can the President trust him and more importantly, is he undermining the real Secretary of State?

Whatever he does could he possibly make the situation worse than it is now?

 

[WhoWee]

Whatever he does could he possibly make the situation worse than it is now?

I don't have a great deal of confidence in John Kerry - it's not clear he's acting under the President's direction. I get nervous EVERY TIME a member of Congress heads off-shore.

 

[Char. Limit]

Meh, it's not like any trip an American makes there matters. The Israelis will hate the Palestinians, and the Palestinians will hate the Israelis, and nothing we say is going to change that. In my opinion, the whole region is doomed to endless war unless one side dies out.

 

[Gokul43201]

Jewish people are usually Republican, because they support military to defend Israel. He didn't lose the Jewish vote, he never had it. So he came out on top in the end.

Never had it? Obama cornered 78% of the Jewish vote in 2008.

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/polls/#val=USP00p2

 

[CAC1001]

Jewish people are usually Republican, because they support military to defend Israel. He didn't lose the Jewish vote, he never had it. So he came out on top in the end.

That's wrong; most Jews vote Democratic.

 

[Vanadium 50]

The last Republican to capture a plurality of the Jewish vote was Warren G. Harding in 1920 with 43% of the vote. Cox and Debs split the Left vote. (Indeed, Jews voted for Socialist Eugene V. Debs 10x as often as the population as a whole. Debs ran his campaign from prison.)

 

[Proton Soup]

i think it's true that most jewish voters vote democrat. at least the left-wing liberals that tend toward secular or reform. but it is also true that there is a strong shift to the right in israel and here, and it tends to be those who favor colonization of the land seized in '67. these tend to be the religious orthodox types. they like protestant pastor Magee, and they like Glen Beck. this is probably related to Beck's recent miscalculation where he made a dig at liberal reform jews as being political (as if the orthodox aren't) and it backfired on him.

 

[rootX]

i think it's true that most jewish voters vote democrat. at least the left-wing liberals that tend toward secular or reform. but it is also true that there is a strong shift to the right in israel and here, and it tends to be those who favor colonization of the land seized in '67. these tend to be the religious orthodox types. they like protestant pastor Magee, and they like Glen Beck. this is probably related to Beck's recent miscalculation where he made a dig at liberal reform jews as being political (as if the orthodox aren't) and it backfired on him.

Replying to the bold part:

The Israeli prime minister's approval rating has fallen to 32% and a major coalition
partner has left, leaving his government vulnerable. A proposed 'bold' new peace plan is seen as a way to boost his standing, but some say he is showing signs of desperation.

http://articles.latimes.com/2011/mar/11/world/la-fg-israel-netanyahu-20110311
March 11, 2011

 

[skippy1729]

Newt seems to have given new life to Obama's re-election hopes. I have always liked Newt, hoped he would enter the race but, his thoughtless, reckless comments have doomed his hopes and perhaps any chance of making the anointed one a one term president. The "push granny over the cliff" ads are only the beginning. Even though Newt will not be the nominee, he will live on in Democrat ads through election day. Where are the Republican ads condemning the Democrat plan to end Medicare in 2024? But, you say, the Democrats don't have a plan. Exactly!

SAMPLE AD TEXT:

Attention all seniors who plan to be alive in 2024! The trustees of the Medicare program have announced that continuation to the Democrat Status Quo Plan will require reduction or elimination of your Medicare benefits. Current Republican reform proposals guarantee benefits for all current recipients and those that will become eligible in the next seven years. A modified program will be implemented with the states for younger Americans. The Democrat refusal to propose a rescue plan guarantees your loss of future benefits! Call your Congressman. Demand action.

VIDEO: Pa Kettle wheels Ma Kettle up to the Hospital entrance to be greeted by a big sign:

YOUR COMMUNITY HOSPITAL PROUDLY TREATS ALL RESIDENTS UNDER 62 REGARDLESS OF RACE, COLOR, CREED OR IMMIGRATION STATUS. HAVE A NICE DAY!

Republicans have to learn how to campaign "Chicago style".

Cheers, Skippy

PS Better make Ma and Pa Kettle black or they will say our hospital sign is racist.

PPS Better yet a racially mixed couple.

 

[CAC1001]

Meh, it's not like any trip an American makes there matters. The Israelis will hate the Palestinians, and the Palestinians will hate the Israelis, and nothing we say is going to change that. In my opinion, the whole region is doomed to endless war unless one side dies out.

Well the Israelis are plenty willing to make peace with the Palestinians if the Palestianians would stop trying to destroy them. The constant warfare there is because of the hatred of the Palestinians for the Israelis and thus forcing Israel to defend itself.

 

[WhoWee]

I was going to argue that it doesn't matter - a few percent fewer votes in New York, New Jersey and California won't change the electoral count. But there are two states where the margin was smaller than the Jewish population: Florida and North Carolina.

By the way, The President's magic number is 4.77%. If he can keep 4.77% of his vote from voting for his opponent, he's in.

I think the Jewish (influence and) vote will be most important in FL.

 

[CAC1001]

It makes you wonder if there is more to this. Barack Obama is too slick a campaigner to have made a move that could lose him the Jewish vote in a state as important as Florida. Either he didn't realize that and made a strategic blunder or he does not believe that the Jewish vote in the end will vote Republican and will continue to support him.

 

[WhoWee]

It makes you wonder if there is more to this. Barack Obama is too slick a campaigner to have made a move that could lose him the Jewish vote in a state as important as Florida. Either he didn't realize that and made a strategic blunder or he does not believe that the Jewish vote in the end will vote Republican and will continue to support him.

IMO - he's moving the focus off the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt - back to the Palestinian/Israeli issues.

 

[Vanadium 50]

I think it's actually intended to try and keep the Muslim Brotherhood and the Salafis in Egypt from declaring war on Israel. So long as they are only burning Coptic churches and murdering the occasional Christian or three, the narrative that this is a democratic movement that deserves all the support the US can provide will probably survive. If, however, Egypt starts a war with Israel, this will bode very poorly in the Election of 2012.

 

[Al68]

Where are the Republican ads condemning the Democrat plan to end Medicare in 2024?

Good question! This is a political advantage Democrats have had for decades: They have no shame or qualms whatsoever in their lies and fraud. They don't care if everyone with a clue about what they're talking about knows full well they are lying because that's a very small fraction of the population relative to the number they successfully defraud.

It doesn't matter how blatant the lie, or how easy it is to factually prove, they know their intended audience will believe them and give them power. Politics is very different from physics: being able to easily prove a statement is false or fraudulent simply doesn't carry any weight compared to propaganda.

Back to your question: I think most people, although they might lie to someone if they are sure they can get by with it, or at least have plausible deniability, just aren't bold enough to lie knowing they will get caught, and their lie proven to be a lie. Democrats in general (IMO) seem to not suffer from this phobia. If they think their target audience will buy it, they accept the fact that many of us will know they are lying.

Whenever I see someone like Harry Reid on TV, it impresses me to no end that he must know, before he even speaks, that lots of people like me will know he's lying, but does it anyway. I just can't help having some respect for the boldness and the apparent complete lack of any phobia about being caught lying.

Of course Republicans say things, too, that could be called fraudulent, but they're mostly figurative, or grey areas with plausible deniability (like claims of Obamacare death panels), that just don't come anywhere close to the boldness of Democrats' lies.

 

[WhoWee]

Mitch Daniels said he's not running.

 

[skippy1729]

Mitch Daniels said he's not running.

I have the feeling that we are going to get stuck with Romney. On the bright side, at this point in the last cycle nearly everyone thought that Hillary was in. I am still holding out hope for the Pizza Man.

Skippy

PS I hope if anyone asks Cain how he would deal with Pakistan he replies: "I'm going to make them an offer they can't refuse".

 

[WhoWee]

President Obama's budget for 2012 was voted down 97-0 today in the Senate - not exactly a sign of leadership.
http://amerpundit.com/2011/05/25/senate-unanimously-rejects-obama-budget-plan/

 

[russ_watters]

The CNN headline: "Senate rejects GOP budget plan with Medicare overhaul". (on the front page and at the top of the story)

http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/05/25/senate.medicare/index.html?hpt=T1&iref=BN1

Seems Obama's budget wasn't even an important enough part of the story for a sub-headline...

 

[WhoWee]

The CNN headline: "Senate rejects GOP budget plan with Medicare overhaul". (on the front page and at the top of the story)

http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/05/25/senate.medicare/index.html?hpt=T1&iref=BN1

Seems Obama's budget wasn't even an important enough part of the story for a sub-headline...

BIG surprise.
The media seems to be headed in the direction of making this election about President Obama versus Paul Ryan and his evil(?) anti-Medicare plan. Somehow, I don't think substituting Ryan for Bush will work - all a candidate needs to do is distance him/herself from the plan - as Newt started the campaign.

 

[Char. Limit]

BIG surprise.
The media seems to be headed in the direction of making this election about President Obama versus Paul Ryan and his evil(?) anti-Medicare plan. Somehow, I don't think substituting Ryan for Bush will work - all a candidate needs to do is distance him/herself from the plan - as Newt started the campaign.

Except for the fact that he took it all back on Monday, thus ruining all his credibility.

 

[WhoWee]

Except for the fact that he took it all back on Monday, thus ruining all his credibility.

Nah - flip-flopping is chic.

 

[WhoWee]

Great news for the President! I just watched an interview with Representative Xavier Becerra D CA - he specified that there is a net increase in jobs since President Obama took office (he labeled the previous time the "Bush Recession"). Unfortunately, the reporter double-checked and uncovered a net 2% DECREASE?

 

[WhoWee]

[/I]Herman Cain certainly knows how to make a point (reminds me of Trump):
http://www.newsmax.com/Headline/herman-cain-obama-gop/2011/06/02/id/398657?s=al&promo_code=C60E-1

"Cain: With All Due Respect, Obama Couldn't Run a Pizza Joint"
...
"Cain, a conservative talk-show host and a respected voice in management circles, is a turnaround specialist who is credited with saving Godfather’s Pizza from bankruptcy during his tenure as its CEO. Cain also served a stint as chairman of the National Restaurant Association, and was chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City from 1995-1996."

 

[WhoWee]

The June 3, 2011 jobs report is out (my bold):

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm

"In May, the number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks and over)
increased by 361,000 to 6.2 million; their share of unemployment increased to 45.1
percent. (See table A-12.)"
...
Given a 9.1% unemployment rate now - I have to wonder if the President will propose another unemployment extension prior to the election?
...
Politico reported the White House thinks the results are favorable.
"The White House downplayed a depressing jobs report Friday morning, pointing to the total number of jobs added since the beginning of 2010 as analysts note that the 54,000 jobs added in May are far lower than what was expected."

 

[russ_watters]

Sounds like you've found the core strategy.

 

[WhoWee]

I wonder if this will have an impact on the election?

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/201...alth-benefits-after-obamacare-fully-kicks-in/

"Thirty percent of employers will definitely or probably stop offering health benefits to their employees once the main provisions of President Obama's federal health care law go into effect in 2014, a new survey finds.
The research published in the McKinsey Quarterly found that the number rises to 50 percent among employers who are highly aware of the health care law. "

 

[skippy1729]

I wonder if this will have an impact on the election?

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/201...alth-benefits-after-obamacare-fully-kicks-in/

"Thirty percent of employers will definitely or probably stop offering health benefits to their employees once the main provisions of President Obama's federal health care law go into effect in 2014, a new survey finds.
The research published in the McKinsey Quarterly found that the number rises to 50 percent among employers who are highly aware of the health care law. "

It kicks in two years after the election! As to other provisions there are health care waivers being passed out like party favours. Too many Americans are "short term"; they get mad as a wet hen when their wallets are routinely emptied at the gas pump and complacent when the price drops down.

The outcome of the election will depend on conditions in October 2012: gas prices, food prices, unemployment, how many seniors are afraid of Republican medicare plans, how many evangelicals don't believe Romney is a Christian (and stay home), how many Hispanics believe the Republicans are racists, how many social conservatives stay home because they doubt Romney's credentials on abortion, how many illegal immigrants register at the polls &ct.

In summary it is going to be the economy versus mud slinging.

Skippy



Skippy

 

[WhoWee]

The economy isn't doing much to help the President either - is it?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/barack-obamas-economy/2011/06/07/AGn84FLH_blog.html

 

[WhoWee]

More bad news? Btw - what is the President's energy policy?
http://beta.news.yahoo.com/opec-divided-saudi-pushes-oil-increase-073542388.html

""We were unable to reach an agreement -- this is one of the worst meetings we have ever had," said Ali al-Naimi, oil minister for Saudi Arabia, OPEC's biggest producer.
The failure to do a deal is a blow for consumer countries hoping the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries would take action to stem fuel inflation.
Brent crude rose $1.42 a barrel to $118.20."

 

[WhoWee]

Talk about an "ooopps" moment.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/09/new-chets-ohio-restaurant_n_874619.html

" The owners of an Ohio restaurant touted last week by President Barack Obama as an indirect beneficiary of the government's Chrysler bailout said Thursday that tough times are putting them out of business.

New Chet's Restaurant in Toledo, which opened in 1973, will close Sunday.

Richard and Berlyn Lawrence decided about two weeks ago that it was time to call it quits.

Richard Lawrence said the restaurant once sold 50 of its popular farmer's omelets each day and stayed open round the clock for 31 years.

But business dwindled after voters passed a smoking ban in 2006. And in 2008, Lawrence was shot by a robber posing as a motorist in need of help. Clientele got older and made fewer visits. The restaurant now serves mainly breakfast.

"Then the economy went sour on us," said Lawrence, 82. "I never laid anybody off until three years ago.""

Should we laugh or cry?

 

[Ryumast3r]

Talk about an "ooopps" moment.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/09/new-chets-ohio-restaurant_n_874619.html

" The owners of an Ohio restaurant touted last week by President Barack Obama as an indirect beneficiary of the government's Chrysler bailout said Thursday that tough times are putting them out of business.

New Chet's Restaurant in Toledo, which opened in 1973, will close Sunday.

Richard and Berlyn Lawrence decided about two weeks ago that it was time to call it quits.

Richard Lawrence said the restaurant once sold 50 of its popular farmer's omelets each day and stayed open round the clock for 31 years.

But business dwindled after voters passed a smoking ban in 2006. And in 2008, Lawrence was shot by a robber posing as a motorist in need of help. Clientele got older and made fewer visits. The restaurant now serves mainly breakfast.

"Then the economy went sour on us," said Lawrence, 82. "I never laid anybody off until three years ago.""

Should we laugh or cry?

Be sad that another business is going out of business, but laugh at the fact that they are connecting Chrysler bailout beneficiary to the out of business business in a way that makes it seem silly to have the bailout at all.

Businesses can go out of business even after benefiting from an event, benefiting could just make it last another year, instead of 3 days.

Anyway, sad that the business is closing its doors, but that's happened a lot around the country in the last three years.