Poll: What are President Obama's chances to be Reelected in 2012

oh you mean like bombing countries that are no threat to us and killing innocent people.

gotcha.

No, i didn't mean that at all.

i would argue that what he is doing is ruining our chances for a future.

economically, domestic and foreign.

all are failures.

bombing countries that are no threat to us

Pakistan?

Yeman?

Really, no threat? James, come on.

Yeah,JAMES,like bombing countries that are of no threat has NEVER been done before.

libya and yemen are threats to us???

LMFAO

oh you mean like bombing countries that are no threat to us and killing innocent people.

You do remember the Lockerbie bombing right? 200+ civilian casualties at Gadhafi's hands?

I remember you though. You're a Ron Paul supporter. Look dude, Ron Paul isn't going to win the GOP primary. He'll be lucky to win a single state in the primary election.

I get that you're anti-war though, and I respect that. But that's not always the practical decision. Ron Paul is exactly the kind of guy that allowed Germany to build up enough of a military force to make a push from Poland all the way down to France.

I for one would rather take a proactive position. That doesn't mean I support every war we get involved in, but I think some are wise endeavors and some are not.

War is hell, but sometimes it's a necessary hell.

BTW, Yemen is a major staging ground for terrorist cells. Many of the 9/11 hijackers used Yemen as a base of operation and recruitment.

chris

I am not talking about republicans...I am talking about that warmonger in office right now. Please....Ron Paul has talked about what he would of done in ww2 and hitler would not of ruled the world....its hyperbole fearmongering...

I have served my country in the middle east...I know what war is...I also know that we have not been in a needed war since ww2.

chris

I have been to Yemen...have you???????

I know what is there exactly.

stop with the nonsense.

James You are living in a fantasyland. Hitler and axis powers had a good chance of taking Europe Africa and the middle east and been a much bigger threat to us with them under his control, He was also sinking our ships at will.

Yemen, You ar enaive enough to think AQL is not Hq'd there?

I respect Ron Paul for his principled positions but they are simply not rooted in reality.

I would like to see the fed audited though.

I have been to Yemen...have you???????

I know what is there exactly.

So YOU are the one. I knew there must be someone who knows "what is there exactly" because NOBODY else does. Not even the Yemenis.

How fortunate we are to have your expertise to draw on. (That would be sarcasm)

i know that they have no capability to wage war on america.

since we have not declared war this is a police action.,..and it should be up to the government to produce those people.

if not...withhold aid...not that we should be givign them aid anyway.

james

You do know that we have a major Navy base there. U.S.S. Cole ring a bell?

The country can't maintain its' own security and they do actually have a militant faction that has attacked us.

I don't agree with entering a war there, but it does seem reasonable to take whatever actions short of boots on the ground that might help stabilize the situation.

how do you think I know about yemen...and was there????

I know what we have and I know their capabilities.

we do not need to be their policemen.

period.

James- we aren't their policemen, we are attacking the terrorist training camps..and, yes, they're there!

http://www.australianislamistmonitor.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4058:australians-training-in-yemen-terrorist-camps&catid=180&Itemid=18

James - you mean faux news did not tell you that Libya and Yemen are a threat to us ? yeah ...then how possibly would you know ? LOL

In any case, if the ruse of building democracy worked for Bush, it should work for Obama also. We are building a democracy in Yemen and Libya. Ain't we ?

Oh and lest you should forget, America is a member of NATO and when NATO mandates something America has to act.

I also know that we have not been in a needed war since ww2.

Ah, so you would have thrown South Korea to the Communists then?

America is a member of NATO and when NATO mandates something America has to act.

People tend to forget that NATO exists, don't they?

James, I never thought I would see so many liberal hawks as there are lately. War and liberals used to mix like oil and water. Does supporting your party outweigh supporting your ideology and following your concience? Seems so anymore. I guess winning is everything :)

libertarian

yes it is quite pathetic if you ask me....and they give the word liberal a bad name.

Libertarian y2k, FDR was a liberal. When Hitler bragged that he was shooting down our bombers at least one every hour, my Dad (from that Greatest Generation) told me that Roosevelt responded, "We are building two new bombers every hour, so we can put them up there faster than you can shoot them down."

James and others - If you think liberals are averse to wars, just keep up the bull@!$%# that you people have ratcheted up since Obama took office and you will soon find out how wrong you are about liberals. Our policy is to live and let live but don't think you can piffle us without any consequences.

Liby2k & james- especially james- I am not a liberal or a conservative...I am an American!

And, I have no problem taking out those that wish us harm!!

Rusty, we didn't start that war we finished it. FDR was the President of the United States first and a liberal second. A true liberal will fight if they have to. They just don't go looking for one :)

Rachel, we all are Americans first I would hope. We just disagree on what direction the country needs to go in.

You have no idea in which direction I wish the country to go, yet, you chose to lump me in with a group of people you wish to label without ever knowing what they really want...poor tactics to be a one America.

Rachel, when I said "we" I meant Americans not just you or me. Americans disagree on what direction this country needs to go in. I have no idea what you believe or disbelieve so I can't say I agree or disagree :) I can only say I think we are taking military action without warrent around the world. The bar for justifying military action has been lowered too far IMO. We need to stop flexing our muscles out of financial or humanitarian concerns. The military is supposed to be for national defense not offense. Libya was somehow a clear and present danger?

AC- take your condescending 'tude and step away from me. You are not talking to a child, nor a young adult. You are rude and I expect a re-reg and probably will be banned soon.

Thanks for playing, tho....

~~~~

yet, Lib- you chose to take my comment to James and lump me in...

rachel

for one I wasnt pointing you out but liberals in general. I remember standing next to democrats protesting bush jr's unjust war in iraq...but now obama is bombing yemen and libya and there is barely a peep what is also interesting is that syria also has a government killing citizens yet we do nothing there.

hmmmm

anyway....liberals are now silent...when they should be screaming......but they dont because OBAMA is in office.

shows what they stand for and how pathetic they are.

I have no idea if you are one of those liberals rachel...so no reason to take offense.......but I will say most liberals are that way.

AND ITS PATHETIC.

Rachel, your comment or all the comments in totality? I guess I could always put in qualifiers such as *to whom this may apply*. What I said was concerning liberal hawks and the conflict that has with their ideology (or what it used to be). If you are not a liberal that supports global police actions and attacks for little reason then it did not apply to you at all. If you are a "pro-war liberal" then it did. You have seen that many self professed liberals on this thread has defended the military actions, right? I did not quote you or say "Rachel". And if you read all the comments you can see that not only you made comments about military action. If you think I was singling you out I apologize. That was not my intent.

James- I'm not, I have some liberal views, some conservative views, I believe I am like the majority of America.

However:

http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/05/11/2212639/rubio-urges-more-us-action-against.html

http://www.menewsline.com/article-22733-Congress-Wants-U-S-Action-On-Syr.aspx

http://mg.co.za/article/2011-05-07-us-threatens-new-action-unless-syria-stops-killings

And, as I previously stated, We are NOT bombing Libya, NATO, of which we are a part of, is...mostly the Brits & Italians.

And, Yeman has been a haven for the terrorists that wish us harm, I've no problems with that.

Thanks though for your clarification!

Liby2k-

Sorry, guess I just guessed I was a part of it, as I was in the cluster..no apology needed, we've come to discuss it and understand each other, thanks.

~~~~

AC- CoH, violation big time, ta-ta!!! Oh and very mature.

onefan

I cannot tell you how to run your seeds...but I encourage you to delete it. when others attack fellow viners on here as moderator if you dont do anything it could escalate and has on other seeds resulting in bannings and suspensions.

you can report and then delete.

peace.

we are not bombing libya?? phew for some reason I thought we were spending money and military weaponry on them....guess not......lol

and because yemen has people who want us dead...we will attack them....ok....??? are you seriously making that argument???

SERIOUSLY????

goodness.

onefan

yes alexis is right...technically rachel broke the coh first by calling him a rereg and that he would be banned soon.

but alexis...you cannot respond with violations of the COH....it never works out in your benefit.

ever.

Nope, my opinion is not a CoH violation, especially after seeing they just signed up and immediately told me:

So where YOU want it to go doesnt actually really matter now does it? Sorry, dear, but some of us figured out that voting was obsolete quite some time ago. You might want to catch up.

That I might want to catch up and called me dear while being condescending.

And, I stand by my re-reg comment as I've called three of them correct out of three this week.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

James- Yeman is a breeding ground for terrorists, even the previous administration admitted as such.

And, as a member of NATO, we play by their desires. And, yes, we really are not doing much, it is primarily the EU.

onefan51- and the one above yours?

Telling some one I'm Irish is a CoH violation after being attacked, really?

rachel

it may be your opinion that alexis is a rereg..but that doesnt give you the right to call him/her such..

I could think someone is a complete dumbass.....doesnt mean I could cal them that.

I dont know what your deal is tonight...dont remember you being this way...my suggestion is to take the night off.

peace.

and alexis......I would encourage you to avoid rachel in the future.....as I am sure tyler will tell you both when he shows up to suspend both of you.

come on guys...and gals.

To quote Anchorman: "Boy, that escalated quickly. I mean, that really got out of hand fast"

and rachel

yemen is a breeding ground for terrorists huh?? well so is saudi arabia.....wonder if we will attack them next????

china is a breeding ground for communists...should we attack them too???

your reasoning is faulty on this subject.

peace

James- Because I have never been personally attacked on NV before, perhaps that is why. I reported this and I am standing by my report.

alexis

hey I understand your frustration...I wrote articles on the bias here...had tyler breathing down my neck......

more than likely both of you will be suspended.....if not it will be luck.....but you could of avoided it by just ignoring her and reporting.

I try to do that now when I start losing my cool....I just exit.

hey I am not perfect...I am just trying to keep the peace...

rachel

hey I dont want to see anyone get suspended or banned. we can disagree without insulting.

its all in how its worded...you know that...you have been around long enough.

if you are right.....then I suppose you will not be suspended as alexis wouldnt be a member...but if you are wrong......

lets move on......chat another day huh??

alexis

rachel may have called you a rereg........well let me just say..no you are acting like it.

if you are new here.....you cannot insult the moderators I know I was suspended for calling them biased and brainless...lmao....and if you think you will be suspended ..making further coh violations will only result in a longer suspension.

if you are a rereg...then you know exactly what you are doing.

I wish you the best....just get a new ip address for goodness sakes...

Mel Gibson is that you??????

Wow. Just....wow.

But alexis I just got here and read the entire thread...and while i agree that rachel is not without blame your posts are by far the most offensive and hateful....and i'm not even Jewish....

smellitcoming

is that you????

hey I am pissed about the bias on here too....but talking @!$%# like this isnt the way to fight it or help those of us who are still here.

its wrong no matter how bad you feel slighted by this site....

find peace alexis......please.

Hello james how are you?

Well alexis even if I agreed that she started it.....You should be able to admit that you certainly escalated the situation......And you one jewish woman has only one post and is more than likely a re-reg.......

This is simply amazing.

jeremy I am good how are you???? lol

i asked onefan to delete the comments before it got out of hand..........oops.

I tried to keep the peace....oh well.

alexis.

I have seen no jewish bias on this site....I see the bias as being against those who are not democrat.

that said...I will probably not be responding to you anymore.

again...wish you the best...I just cannot be involved in this any further.

@Alexis: I'm no super huge fan of Israel or anything, but you have clearly crossed the line from constructive criticism to blatant anti-semitism here pretty much right from the outset.

I'm not Jewish but it looks to me like you have some serious ethnicity issues to hash out... somewhere else.

Alexis Carrington....do you notice the amazing pro-jewish bias or do you see other biases as well?

Never noticed any such thing...You got tit for tat..Stop crying.....Geez...

Jeremy-2982362......alexis even if I agreed that she started it.....You should be able to admit that you certainly escalated the situation

could not agree more Jeremy....Geez .....Alexis...cry me a river....

When i first started out on newsvine i walked a fine line between trolling(unintentional) and satire.....but my comments rarely crossed the line(first).....now I try harder to be more in the middle ....am i an obama fan..no....but the nastiest thing i've ever called him was the liberal messiah......not barry or odumbo or any other crap....the longer i'm here the more I enjoy pointing out some of the more ridiculous @!$%# people post here......

Jeremy-2982362........the longer i'm here the more I enjoy pointing out some of the more ridiculous @!$%# people post here..

LOL...... I've mellowed also...Only get pissed at U.S. Veteran posers...plenty of ridiculous posts to go around on all sides...I am not a Bush/Cheney fan due to the the Vietnam war...But will always respect the office...America 1st always...

When Obama first got elected, I had high hopes for this nation. Only to see those hopes dashed against the rocks! I don't get it, all he is doing is continuing Bush's policies. Since he took office he has raised the national debt twice as much in his 2 1/2 years as bush did in his eight years!

http://www.cnsnews.com/node/72404

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=3JDT5vBQQr8&vq=medium

I would like to add that I didn't see any pro Jewish rhetoric on this string. It's time to stop blaming the Jews for everything that goes wrong in the world!

http://www.youtube.com/user/patcondell#p/a/u/1/eIesXORjBps

I am not Jewish, and I approve of this message!

james-1416766

oh you mean like bombing countries that are no threat to us and killing innocent people.

gotcha.

like the illegal war in Iraq Bush started ?

ripley

yep like that one...and obama continues that and starts two more.

sweet

yea they are different........he makes me want to puke.

It really depends on which GOP opponent Obama goes up against.

Against Sarah "I write my own history" Palin or Michele "God speaks to me" Bachmann, 100 or 110%. America has a lot of dumb Tea Party/uber-conservative voters but not enough to elect either of these two lunatics.

Against Newt "Hey baby, want to see my Patriotism" Gingrich, 90%. Even his own campaign staff won't back him. He'll find more success using patriotic pick up lines on drunken college girls in South Carolina than at the 2012 voting booths.

Against Mitt "LDS/Mormonism is a real religion, honestly" Romney, 70%. The traditional Christion fundamentalists within the GOP will never accept his choice of religion. To these people, the Bible is everything and thus such an issue will divide the GOP constituency, as it already has before.

Against moderate GOP candidates like Jon Huntsman or David Petraeus, 50/50. The GOP won't nominate a moderate though. The GOP of 2012 is more interested in sending a no-compromise, hate-filled, theocratic-buffoon to the polls. Essentially, the GOP is already conceding the 2012 election and the sad part is, they don't even realize it.

gordon

you have forgotten the one person who comes closest to him of all the gop candidates in hypothetical polls

Ron Paul

Oops yeah I did. I would put him in the the moderate GOP candidate pool with Huntsman and Petraeus.

personally I wouldnt put him in the same category as them......but hey its your opinion....and I respect it.

peace.

Well, Paul does have some support within the moderate, independent voter base which is key to defeating Obama. He has also managed to avoid most of the negative publicity the GOP far fight has caught during the past couple of months. Compared to certain other radical GOP candidates like Bachmann, Palin, or Cain, you could almost say that he's a breath of fresh air.

James:

So because you served in Yemen for a tour or two or have been there for a length of time, you know everyone who lives there and what they are all about? You can say that none of them are or help terrorists? You know exactly who has the will or capabililty to cause harm to Americans? I doubt you are as omnipotent as you like to think you are, and I call BS on that one.

I've lived in the same foreign country for 6 years. I'm not arrogant enough to claim I know how all of them think or who is good and who is not.

Gadhafi obviously had something to do with the Lockerbie bombing and has allowed training camps on Libyan soil, He's amassed most of the wealth and is the sole authority in Libya. He has been in charge for over 40 years, and doesn't allow elections.

Just by his support of the Lockerbie bombing that killed lots of people(including Americans), I 'd say Gadhafi has harmed Americans more than Saddam had.

lobo

my point is this...I have a bit more general knowledge than those who have never been there.

and so what if there are people in yemen who want to kill us...there are people in 130 countries that we occupy that want to kill us.

should we start killing everyone??

in regards to gadhafi

we bombed him back in the 80's killing one of his sons from what I remember. what has happened since then??? how has he attacked the united states??

you really are making no valid points here.

like the illegal war in Iraq Bush started ?

Well, I'll be...Stole the words right out of my mouth! Err...fingertips...

Though, (not in defense of!) the Iraq War was not illegal [though it should have been] as the Senate and Congress both approved it. Iraq was definitely one country who was NOT a threat.

See? Where was all this anti-war rage that is mistakenly being directed towards Obama when we needed it the most (March 20, 2003)??

well libertarians are taking over.....we are anti war

Bahahahaha xD yeah? What fantasy land is that again??

I doubt it will ever happen, we live in a two party system. And don't bother using Sen. Paul as an example because, IMO, he's nothing more than a populist that prefers to point blame in both directions, then when the dust clears he'll pick the winning side.

When you take a stance on the issues, one rarely says (if ever) "that's a Libertarian view." NO, they either label you as liberal or conservative.

james:

General knowledge is just that: General knowledge.

It's not specific or conclusive evidence.

So because there are many leaders/groups in many countries who want to harm us, we should give Gadhafi a pass for what he already has done?

I'm sure that we already have many of those who harmed(or are trying to harm) us on wanted lists and offered rewards for them.

Whether another country as a whole can wage war on the US, is a non issue.

The issue is groups or factions living/operating in a country, being able to plan and gather resources to get to a place where they can carry out attacks on innocent people.

That can happen anywhere(including the US)

If we know of places where this is happening, then it's our responsibility(all authorities of countries fighting terrorism) to find and stop them from doing so.

If the intel suggests that Yemen is a source or training ground for terrorists, then it's up to everyone to put a stop to it.

Polka Guantanamo Bay, Cuba is not a Occupation, we really pay rent on it to the Cuban govt.

I lived on that base for 2 years from 78 to 80. I saw a program with Jacques Cousteau I think it was called rediscovery of the World with Jacques Cousteau. He did an interview with then President Fidel Castro and the Naval base was brought up in a conversation and Fidel Castro's was saying something about the rent, I don't remember much of the conversation.

Eoin- hubby was there from 72-73...and, I think the rent is one of those $99 deals, if I remmeber correctly.

And you think the REPUBLICANS will closed Gitmo? Hell,they'll probably want to PRIVATIZE it and make it into some corporate money making scheme,which would reaaly be bad if you ended up there.Given this current group of "candidates",I say 75% he gets re-elected.

The Republicans are the ones that blocked the closure of Gitmo. Short memories here, I guess.

A LOT of short memories.That's the one thing the Republicans have going for them:Americans in general can't seem to remember anything of importance from one minute to the next. The Dems need to make a running tally of all the things that would have been done if not for Republican sabotage

Obama could have ended our illegal and unjust wars in the Middle East and he could have closed Guantanamo Bay. He did not so I think that he did not intend to change the nation's direction. We are waging three wars and two military campaigns in the middle east. Americans must consider voting third party or for Ron Paul if the nation wants our military out of the Middle East and here for the nation's defense. Obama will not advocate for peace.

do you really think its smart to be a one issue voter?

I'm a single issue voter and the single issue is competency.

Polka14, a lot of people agree with you on that including me.

Actually our foreign policy is so important...it is worth being a one issue voter on....it has to do with the well being of our country and its status in this world.

it is huge.

Sen. Paul is hardly a cure-all miracle wizard that some people make him out to be. In the end, he is another slick politician who has the singular advantage of pointing blame in all directions. He's a typical conservative in some regards: he opposes same-sex marriage, affirmative action. He's liberal in other areas: supports medical marijuana, supports renewable and alternative energy, and others.

Electing him for office will not solve all of our problems though. I don't think he's stupid though, but I doubt he will get the Senate or House to be in step with him, which he will need to get many of his proposals through.

Note to Polka14: Obama could not close Guantanamo Bay because the Senate disapproved his proposals, and the vote has not come up since. Don't even begin to blame the President for that one.

Obama could have closed it by using executive orders. Closing that base and all US bases in foreign nations and ending the wars is the necessary option. A President Paul would only promote peaceful economic partnership with various nations and would not involve us in more wars against nations that did not attack us or present a threat to us like sovereign Libya. And I don't think he opposes same-sex marriages. That would be an anti-freedom position that would run against the Libertarian platform.

He does oppose same-sex marriage and even supported the Constitutional Amendment of banning it. Look it up on ontheissues.org/Senate/Rand_paul ...and if it follows your logic, that makes him a total hypocrite.

Executive Orders can be overturned by a 66% vote in either House or Senate (which both chambers promised to do if he did so). It would have also looked bad politically, as Republicans would have used this an excuse to say Obama is weak on anti-terrorism or "wants to put terrorists in your backyard". The reason why the Senate voted him down is because Obama wanted to the prisoners transferred to Federal Prisons but was unclear as to exactly which ones. Transferring such prisoners overseas would be a risky endeavor, not to mention costly when politicians from the opposing corner are suddenly very concerned about spending. Having such criminals would have created panic amongst the general populace and Republicans wouldn't of had a hard time capitalizing on it.

(see story from NPR.org)

Ron Paul doesn't oppose same-sex marriage. I don't know about Rand Paul's views. james-1416766 would be able to agree with that. What we should have done is release all the prisoners. They were gained through illegal means and can't be tried in a court of law because they were tortured and held without due process. If I was Obama I would have ordered their release and gladly taken any political pressure from anyone. I would have ordered all the troops out of the middle east. If they overturned it (and they probably wouldn't with less then a majority in the Senate) then I would find opportunity to criticize them for that action and saying that they support permanent military occupation of foreign lands without any desire to withdraw forces.

Ron Paul does not agree with homosexuality...but it does not mean he wants to continue it to be illegal. He has stated numerous times that he does not believe the govenment should be involved in marriage...and he has even gone a bit further and said that state governments shouldnt be involved in it.....that it should be a private issue. he has said numerous times and I do believe he said this in the last debate in May.

It is the same with drugs...he does not agree with drugs...but does not believe the government should be forcing morality upon the masses and so therefore have no business in prohibition.

Gary Johnson has the same views on this.

Administration officials lay blame for the failed initiative on Congress, including Democrats who deserted the president, sometimes in droves. The debate, they said, became suffused with fear — fear that transferring detainees to American soil would create a genuine security threat, fear that closing Guantanamo would be electoral suicide. Some Democratic lawmakers pleaded with the White House not to press too hard, according to administration officials.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/guantanamo-bay-how-the-white-house-lost-the-fight-to-close-it/2011/04/14/AFtxR5XE_story.html

The administration, however, also maintains that it is committed to efforts to try some cases in federal court, despite Congress enacting significant roadblocks to that.

"As the Administration has long stated, it is essential that the government have the ability to use both military commissions and federal courts as tools to keep this country safe," Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. said in a released statement. "Unfortunately, some in Congress have unwisely sought to undermine this process by imposing restrictions that challenge the Executive Branch"s ability to bring to justice terrorists who seek to do Americans harm. We oppose those restrictions and will continue to seek their repeal."

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/obameter/promise/177/close-the-guantanamo-bay-detention-center/

I think if he's just honest about why he either couldn't or why he changed his stance on these issues, he'll be fine.

To me, one of his strengths is his ability to shift course with new information.

If not it may possibly cause him the election, if he isn't careful.

to whom?

To me, one of his strengths is his ability to shift course with new information.

We call that backpedaling when he finds out he was wrong or caught in a lie! He's really good at that!

Maybe Cain should win an election first (dog catcher or governor or whatever) He doesn't seem to be able to separate his radio talk ramblings from the realities of winning an election with actual votes earned from a track record of sensible legislation (beyond three pages worth). Maybe he should have to take a test to be qualified as the "dark horse" candidate.

We are not in Libya for any reason other than to stand with the rebels who are being killed in the hundreds on a daily basis. Khadafi is killing his own people so he doesn't have to step down. How crazy is that? Anyone who'd ignore innocent people being killed so a despot can remain in power is himself a despot control freak.

The young people in the Middle East are fed up having dictators ram oppression down their throats. They want to use those college degrees that are wasted because in a dictatorship no one is allowed to be smarter than Mr. Number One.

I support NATO and President Obama on the Middle East issues. It's been a long time coming but the depressingly masculine dictatorship have to end. Now. Not in 7 more generations.

I don't think it's optimism. I think it's a realistic look at politics in the US. Mitch Daniels (at least, I think it was he) had it right when he said that for the Republicans to win in 2012, they have to keep quiet on abortion, gay rights, prayer in school, and all the other social issues trumpeted by the social conservatives and hammer Obama on the economy, the economy, and the economy. It's the only issue they have a chance at framing a position that will be more attractive to the independents needed to win than Obama. On the majority of social issues, the middle-ground agrees more with the left than the right.

If the Republicans surprise my expectation, and actually allow a moderate to come through the primary, I'll be worried about Obama's chances. If they can't give up strict ideology for victory, and insist on putting through someone who insists on pushing for social conservatism, it's game over already.

And they will have to get over hte whole stupid RINO/purity test thing. Having someone who agrees with you 75% of the time in office is a whole lot better than someone who agrees with you never - which is the same theory I'll use when voting for Obama a 2nd time.

Dennis270 wrote:

for the Republicans to win in 2012, they have to keep quiet on abortion, gay rights, prayer in school, and all the other social issues trumpeted by the social conservatives

You just nailed the crux of the Republicans' dilemma.

Increasingly since Reagan's "big tent" initiative (which I've often argued was a thinly-veiled and very successful attempt to get into the deep pockets of the religious right), they've had to campaign hard right during primaries and then do an about-face afterwards to have a shot of winning in the subsequent general/mid-term.

Every election cycle they trot out those unpopular socially ultraconservative wedges and then put them back in the box until the next election cycle. But that's becoming increasingly more difficult to do successfully, and it makes it increasingly more difficult for moderate candidates to win primary elections.

It's exactly what happened to Meg Whitman here in California last year. She and Steve Poizner spent months having a very public "I'm the bigger xenophobe" primary campaign pissing contest, and, despite Whitman's huge post-primary ad campaign to downplay that, she was handed a 12 point loss running against a not all that popular Jerry Brown.

I think your solution is correct, though. Eventually, the Republican primary candidates are going to have to simply tell the evangelicals that abortion and public school prayer are issues of settled law, there isn't going to be a Constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, and immigration policy, as it always has, fluctuates with economic need.

Of course, as long as the far-right nutbags keep popping out of the candidate clown car (I think the next one's going to be Perry), that's going to be really difficult to accomplish.

Oh puhlease...The only Americans who are not thrilled with President Obama live in fear of actually having to pay the taxes that they are supposed to be paying but don't thanks to bailouts, tax credits and the rest of the candy store handed to them by the GOP for 8 years.

The engine that keeps the economy stable are a regular supply of revenues coming into the federal kitty. When you reduce taxes of the biggest incomes, you also reduce revenues. This is why the Republicans are so hot to get rid of President Obama.

They prove it by revolting against any reforms of the most pressing issues that hurt the 99% while blessing 1% with more and more profit.

Here too!

I agree with Steven 791492

President Obama will take his 2nd term

Already working in the field via blogs and networking for his 2nd term here and across the country

The minority voter will become the majority voter in 2012 AND seniors will be sick and tired of the GOP/Tea Party trying to take their medicare and SSI away...

Obama 2012

We are voting Obama again. Republicans wanting to change Medicare while giving more tax breaks to the rich does not sit well.

For the Republicans, privatizing SS will come right after they gut Medicare. The Republican plan to change Medicare and privatize SS is a get rich scheme for insurance companies and Wall street. I think they are rich enough alrready.

Obama 2012

Amen, Ted! Ron Paul even said as much about "restructuring" Social Security into 401Ks in the first GOP debate on CNN -- and not one of the other six candidates criticized that suggestion.

steven...Me two...And most people I talk to have the same attitude. They see clearly that the only answers to today's problems that come from Republicans is to hand it all over to Private companies. Well? Why not? Wall Street is hurting these days isn't it?

Those expectations must not have included returning our military to this nation and ending our wars of choice.

President Obama at this very moment is bring troops home we no longer need in Iraq

and NATO Bases in Europe, our troops are starting to come home....

We are slowing weaning away from troops on the ground and instead drones and satellite technology will take over instead of man power...

Obama has given us a new war that we should have vetoed and expanded the war in Afghanistan and has expanded the military campaigns in Yemen and Pakistan. That is not acceptable.

waging war on another country-unprovoked, for the first time in American history, that has cost over a trillion dollars, resulted in the deaths of over 4000 of our finest soldiers, killed tens of thousands of innocent Iraqi's, paid billions of dollars to Halliburton for bogus claims---THAT is not acceptable.

We NEVER should have gone into Iraq. NEVER. Now someone else has to come along and clean up that mess.

It took 8 yrs to drag this country toward ruin, it's not going to get all cleaned up in 2.

Bitch all you like, but Bin Laden is dead.

If Bush had all this information, why didn't he and the war monger Cheney send in the Seal team?

Look what could have been avoided. NO wars IN THE WRONG PLACE, all of those soldiers would still be alive, all of those innocent Iraqi's would still be alive. And we would not be in the hole for over a trillion dollars.

Read up on NATO while you're at it.

onefan, their emails are pretty evenly divided between hating on the Democrats and the GOP. They aren't about to vote for a Romney or Huntsman. If they don't get their way, I can easily see them running a third party candidate.

Onefan, The head of the Tea Party a woman whose name I can't remember already stated that they will support the Republican nominee. It will be all about the economy and moderate voters will decide this election. The Tea party may not like Huntsman or Romney but they dislike Progressives even more.

Yea imagine how much more debt he will give us and how many more countries we will bomb.

I cant wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's OK James. Who do you suggest would (could) do a better job? Please share your choice for the next President.

jsautee

It's OK James. Who do you suggest would (could) do a better job? Please share your choice for the next President.

My cat!

Herman Cain.

Not particularly in that order. I read about Herman Cain before he decided to run on the republican ticket. I thought he was going to run as a democrat, but it doesn't really matter to me which party he is on, he sounds like a good man!

ET

I would have to disagree with you there....my choice for peace would be Ron Paul.

cain just wants to continue much of what we are already doing in our foreign policy.

I think we need change.

peace.

I like Ron Paul as well. Herman Cain wants to get rid of the Muslims in our government. To me thats a win win scenario.

If the choices were Obama and my cat I would obviously pick my cat! I am not a racist! My cat is black! :-]

et

although i understand our feelings towards muslims...we cannot and should not discriminate against any one person.

herman cain is a racist and the status quo.

my vote would matter just as much if I voted for obama.

I have spent time in the middle east......I have seen the culture....and although i think the muslims dont do enough,...it doesnt mean we should discriminate against them.

I don't discriminate against Muslims, I just don't want their beliefs undermining our constitution. I know that not all Muslims are devout. They can practice their religion just as anybody else does as long as it doesn't violate the laws of this country or any other citizen including their wives and daughters!

I believe people should be judged INDIVIDUALLY....so therefore in a libertarian world everyone could and should be allowed to serve in our government.....as long as they respected the rights of others.

James...If you want to know the real Libertarians ideology, go to the website "Americans For Prosperity". This is a disgusting group of NIMBYS who promote only the wealthiest in this country. When this country no longer accepts working poor and Middle Class voices as part of government, Libertarians like Americans For Prosperity, we may as well shred the Bill of Rights and the Constitution.

James...If you want to know the real Libertarians ideology, go to the website "Americans For Prosperity". This is a disgusting group of NIMBYS who promote only the wealthiest in this country. When this country no longer accepts working poor and Middle Class voices as part of government, Libertarians like Americans For Prosperity, we may as well shred the Bill of Rights and the Constitution.

James...If you want to know the real Libertarians ideology, go to the website "Americans For Prosperity". This is a disgusting group of NIMBYS who promote only the wealthiest in this country. When this country no longer accepts working poor and Middle Class voices as part of government, Libertarians like Americans For Prosperity, we may as well shred the Bill of Rights and the Constitution.

dwillie

for some reason I just got a picture of this in my head after reading your post.

http://s174.photobucket.com/albums/w87/alohahedone/?action=view&current=A_Clockwork_Orange__Scene_brainwash.jpg&currenttag=scientific%20dictatorship

Basically the progressive core is crossing thier fingers and hoping a viable conservative opponent doesn't appear. Because many see that as their only hope for him to be re-elected.

It is understood he is not strong enough to win on his own ideas and accomplishments. They hope the republicans either nominate a fringe canidate or they fracture from inside and produce a third canidate.

It is similar for rooting for the weaker team to beat the stronger team in the playoffs. Because you know your team will lose to the strong team in the Super Bowl:)

Well as of today, if you look at the poll averages, there are alot more people crossing their fingers than not.

And, by all accounts, no matter what the right tries to dig up and throw at him, nothing seems to be able to stick.

And it's not that we're hoping no viable conservative candidate will appear, it's that there is NOT a viable conservative candidate to be found.

Now, that says alot more about the ineffectiveness, or irrelevancy of the conservatives than it does about the shortcomings of Obama, spin it as you will.

You can try to explain it away till the cows come home, but that doesn't change a thing.

Historically if the economy is doing good and people have confidence the incumbent gets re-elected. If the economy is down they do not. Nearly every democrat or republican that has served during prosperity gets re-elected (as long as the prosperity is on the right end of their 4 years). Nearly every president that resided during a economic down turn or crisis got replaced; regardless of ideology. Rightly or wrongly, the buck stops there. They get the credit when things are good and the blame when things are bad. That's the bottom line really.

Economic sucess or hardship decides elections. That helped him get in and will probably also get him kicked out. Things may upturn before Nov 2012; then he stands a good chance. But if not history tells us he is history.

I agree, historically it's the economy stupid. True enough.

But I'm betting you're going to see history made AGAIN, even in light of the economy. I'm betting that people in general are much more aware of a presidents "shackles" when it comes to having any major effect on economy then they have been in the past, simply because of their connectedness to information via the internet.

Really, there are 2 things federal government can do to help employment.

1. Hire

2. Stimulus directly tied to infrastructure.

Thats about it.

And who is it that's going to be putting him on the defensive? A Republican?

What is the Republican message?

Not enough room to lay out either platforms; plenty of seeds for that. What I am saying is that a president that serves during a bad economic period that manages to get re-elected is the exception; not the rule. Voters elect on promises and ideas and the desire for change. They re-elect based on results or improvements in thier life. That is what elections boil down to. If people are happy they keep things the same. If they are not they change them. Pretty basic but it has panned out that way through our history with few exceptions.

Libertarian, the problem for the GOP is that they don't have any plans or promises that are pleasing voters, quite the opposite.

And the GOP will have to defend things like not raising the debt ceiling and standing in the way and their votes against Medicare. Good luck with that.

I think he spoke clearly about how he thought that Chicago's and DC's gun laws were reasonable and not violating the 2nd amendment. That was just an opinion not an action. We all know his stance on gun control. It isn't a mystery to either side and you know that.

Now, am I afraid he will go after my guns? No, we just got that issue settled for the foreseeable future in the SCOTUS. His hands are tied. And it also helps him; gives him an out with his base and also keeps this from being a big issue during the election. I don't think he is going after my guns :) But would he? What do you think based on his past votes and opinions on the matter? Lets put it this way; if tighter gun control legislation was placed on his desk he would have signed it. Now he doesn't have to worry about that happening so it is moot for now.

Will this be milked by conservative opponents to get some fear or anger votes? Probably. I am not worried about it though. Maybe in a few years it will resurface again but not for a while.

So here is some of my thoughts that are directed at a letter I got from Marco Rubio (and since I receive another email from Marco - stay tune for another scathing letter from "moi" in answer to his thoughts on energy reforms - it's going to be a freaking "rip-a-new ass" session for Mr. Rubio)

I posted (on a thread about Romney and his audacity to try and take hypocrital claim in rescuing our auto industry - ya got to check out that seed - Romeny isn't a favorite of this country to say the least) - this in agreement to a comment by our fellow Viner Rahlly in our shared disgust of our "trash-can-man" Governor - Rick Scott - but, ya know - this letter goes to every single Republican elected or seeking election from we, the people.

Rahlly and I (and many, many, many - to infinity - want this POS out of our Government as soon as possible - hopefully the law suits against him will help in getting ground to impeach him)

Add my "please let it be so" to your wish Rahlly...This "trash-can-man" is hell-bent on making Florida a third world country where the "haves" have more and the "have nots" eat sh1t and the tax payers have to foot the bill for his drug testing while his wife rakes in the big bucks from her drug testing clinics.

From Ohio, Wisconsin, Michigan, Maine, Indiana, Texas, Arizona - where ever there is a Teapublican Governor - you can bet your ass the voter turn out is going to be extraordinary - even with these ass wipes trying to change the voter dynamic by making it harder to register to vote - we are so freaking pissed off - nothing will deter us from the polls this election cycle...

Here's a letter I wrote to Marco Rubio - but it can be addressed to every single Teapublican out there including Romney.

Here is an Email from Senator Marco Rubio and my answer.

Dear (Deleted name - to protect my ID)

Thank you for contacting me in regards to our federal budget and the programs that are of particular importance to you. Our nation is currently facing an unprecedented deficit, debt and a weakened economy. These challenges must be confronted and addressed by prioritizing vital federal programs and distributing funding accordingly.

As Florida's junior Senator, I am committed to protecting the health and well-being of our state and nation. I recognize the value of programs that are important to hard-working Americans. However, the short- and long-term fiscal health of our nation is vital to stabilize our economy, increase the availability of jobs and attract investment to promote the growth of business

The United States' government's exorbitant spending must stop. This year, our federal deficit has reached $1.65 trillion. This is unsustainable and is why I strongly support a Constitutional balanced budget amendment, opposed the recent budget "compromise" and have continued to fight against President Obama's budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2012.

Beyond the current fiscal year, President Obama's budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2012 falls far short of tackling our national debt in a serious way. Although we face a staggering deficit and an enormous national debt that exceeds $14 trillion, the President's proposal would add $9.5 trillion of new debt over the next decade. While the President insists he would take the commendable step of vetoing earmarks, his silence on entitlement reform, the absence of meaningful spending cuts and his reliance on anti-competitive tax increases will cause more economic uncertainty, stifle job creation and keep America on a path toward a diminished future.

Our fiscal problems today are due to decades of profligate spending by both parties. We have a job-crushing debt because Washington has repeatedly postponed the tough decisions for someone else to deal with down the road. The American people have every reason to be disappointed by the President's federal budget and by Washington politicians who either don't understand the seriousness of our fiscal crisis, or who are simply not willing to confront this challenge. As Florida's Senator, I will keep your thoughts in mind as I work with my colleagues to enact a responsible budget for FY 2012 that addresses the long term fiscal problems we face as a state and nation.

Dear Marco Rubio

Sending this propaganda letter to me was worthless time spent on your part. You obviously think you can blow smoke up our ass and think we're going to sit by while you and your cohorts steal more from we, the people. THOSE ENTITLEMENTS came out of my paycheck each week and you and yours (for 30 years starting with Reagan - when he put the first IOU into Social Security and finished with George W. Bush when he started two wars - unfunded - one started with a big FAT LIE, Unfunded Medicare Part D, Unfunded No Child left behind, deregulation of Wall Street, deregulation of Banks - gave both Wall St. and the Banks a license to steal everything, including our 401k's and our very houses - YOU AND YOURS NEVER PAID THE CHECK - YOU AND YOURS STIFFED US) STOLE our money and put freaking IOU's in our money's place. AND NOW YOU WANT US TO PAY BACK WHAT YOU AND YOURS STOLE.....FORGET IT.

Cut Defense Spending, Cut Corporate Welfare, Cut Oil Subsidies, GUT YOUR PAY AND YOUR BENEFITS. GET YOUR FREAKING HANDS OUT OF OUR WALLETS AND OUR HEALTH CARE/MEDICARE. While you sit up there in your guilded chair - we are starving and dying from lack of wages and health benefits. What the Teapublican Governors are doing to these United States is nothing short of what the Germans did in 1930 - They, like you, started a reign of hell on the people - how'd that work out for Hitler. You create a boogie man (Muslims and immigrants) and think we're going to fall for that fearmongering AGAIN and WE KNOW - this creation is done to deflect from the fact that you and yours haven't a clue on how to help our President move this country forward. Your mission, per Mitch McConnel, your prime priority has been to destroy our President and in the process - YOU ARE DESTROYING OUR COUNTRY.

Think again Marco - the mid-terms were NOT a mandate on our President - it was a mandate on JOBS, JOBS, JOBS. and you and yours have DONE NOTHING - ABSOLUTELY NOTHING for we, the people. You have spent your time crawling up our uterus, sticking your nose in our bedrooms, cutting education for our children, Cutting public broadcasting (really Rubio - I mean come on - REALLY????) TRYING TO KILL COLLECTIVE BARGAINING and REPEAL AND REPLACE OUR HEALTH CARE - the one thing that has been worthwhile for we, the people and puts accountability on the Big Insurance Companies.....NOW YOU WANT TO GIVE MORE MONEY TO THOSE THAT DON'T NEED AND DON'T WANT IT while asking us, (the very people who have nothing left to give) to pay for their caviar and champagne - ARE YOU FREAKING CRAZY.

I am sickened by the CEOs of Big Oil whining and crying about their FREAKING SUBSIDIES while YOU AND YOURS cut cancer research, Plan Parenthood (where I have been able to get my paps smears and cervical examines and breast exams and mamograms, health counciling for me and my family. I am sickened that you and yours held this nation up for your RICH TAX CUTs while our President compromised to get what he could for the poor and the middle class - (I'm one of the POOR PEOPLE). AND at the same time you and yours apologize to Big Oil because our GULF happened to get in the way of their big-ass oil spill. HOW FREAKING STUPID DO YOU THINK WE, THE PEOPLE ARE.......I mean - for crying out loud Rubio - WHAT A FREAKING JOKE.

SO WHERE ARE THOSE FREAKING JOBS RUBIO - and don't even try telling me you and yours are responsible for the jobs that have been created - WE KNOW WHO HAS BEEN WORKING FOR US - and IT ISN'T YOU - We will remember at the polls - WE WILL BE HEARD 2012 and it won't be a pretty sight for the GOP. You and yours have gone off the deep end.

It is sickening that you would even promote or try this blather and think we're going to eat it up - WELL MARCO - I CAN'T AND WON'T eat the GOP CRAP any more.

All of you who continually work against 98% of we, the people will not hold your seats for very long (INCLUDING THOSE DEMOCRATS WHO THINK THEY CAN HOLD THEIR SEATS WHILE SCREWING WE, THE PEOPLE).

STOP YOUR FREAKING WHINING (yes we saw that whiny-ass letter you and yours sent our President crying about the rhetoric - WELL YOU SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT OF THAT BEFORE YOU AND YOURS STARTED WITH KILLING GRANDMA and THE BIG LIE - DEATH PANELS last year during the mid-terms - YES - we saw the hateful, attack ads - WE DON'T FORGET THAT EASY) AND WORK WITH OUR PRESIDENT TO GET THIS COUNTRY MOVING. Stop attacking we, the people - because 98% of us are not going to sit by any more - WE ARE DONE with having smoke blown up our ass - WE ARE AWARE NOW AND WE WILL NEVER LET YOUR PROPAGANDA DETER US FROM STANDING FOR THE TRUTH. You and yours have LIED TO US FOR THE LAST TIME.

Don't email me or contact me again - You are not worth my time. I WILL NEVER VOTE FOR YOU. I AM DOING WHAT I CAN TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE A ONE TERM SENATOR. If we could get your ass recalled - you wouldn't be sitting on Capital Hill right now - you would be back in Miami doing what the rest of us are doing - LOOKING FOR A JOB.

DEBIKI, No one is going to question what side of the isle you support; that is for sure :) And it would do no good to argue some points above; no one would change thier mind.

Most of America is not "all in" with an ideology as are you though. The majority of Americans are not totally in one camp or the other. People like yourself and others on both sides that are passionate will not change their votes. The republicans will always have their base as well as the democrats. They have their "money in the bank" votes. But the swing vote; independents and others not totally "all in" with a party are who decide the presidency. They are the deciders come election time. Independants and the folks in the middle.

Debeki-you are my hero! Well said. Thanks for standing up for what is right.

Jobs, jobs, jobs is all I heard from every Republican that wanted to be elected. The sad thing is the jobs they were talking about are jobs they are getting rid of so they can shufffle more money to the top for their corporate welfare queens.

Sure-lets get rid of teachers, police and firefighters, screw the seniors and the poor, and give billion dollar subsidies to big oil that are already making billions???? Yep-the republican way.

Ted 050247.......Debeki-you are my hero! Well said. Thanks for standing up for what is right.

DITTO....

Why is everyone playing the blame game? Both democratic and republican parties are responsible! The sooner people realize that the better. Don't you see all the rhetoric is dividing the country? Who gives a crap about the @!$%#s who are bleeding us dry, vote them out of office! Let's make them understand we're not falling for their bull@!$%# anymore!

After reading the past few comments, I want to throw up! Get up and do something instead of sitting on your butts harping about it! If you want change you can make it happen!

onefan51 wrote:

JMO but I believe they will do everything possible, fair and unfair, to make sure Obama doesn't get a second term.

Part of the Republicans' problem this time around is that that's the only real goal they've stated so far.

the republicans even voted against the nuclear treaty with russia:http://www.blogrunner.com/snapshot/D/1/3/senate_republican_leader_to_oppose_missile_treaty/

voted against health care for our veterans, voted against 9/11 workers, voted to privatize the VA...and they're not done yet.

Onefan, he hasn't stood up to the repubs yet, why would he start now?

There is always a 3rd party option. Votes have to be earned, no one is entitled to a vote. For those who believe Pres. Obama or the repub nominee have not earned their vote, why not vote 3rd party? Frankly, I have always felt a bit slimey after voting for a major party candidate anyway.

There's a very good reason President Obama tries to maintain his cool with Republicans. Their first war cry would be "Tyrant" if he dared try. Never mind that Cheney was the ultimate tyrannical force in the Bush Engine. Or that they ramrodded more legislation down thanks to 6 years of a GOP Majority in Congress.

This president tried to work with Republicans when he formed his cabinet. The Big 4 GOP leaders put their monster sized feet down and refused to allow bi-partisanship in any way, shape or form.

I don't vote for presidents who can't be bi-partisan. That's why I voted for President Obama. Without some measure of bi-partisanship, this country stays in this sinkhole.

Third party - Teapublicans

The TEA party will be the reason the Democrats re-take the House. They have already threatened to "primary" GOP stalwarts like Boehner, if their candidate wins the primary, the Democrat will win the general. If their candidate doesn't win, they will run independent and split the conservative vote.

Blogger...You are soooooo right. When Republicans go for the jugular on the working poor and Middle Class using the excuses that the programs these two classes need cost the government too much and then ignore the CEO who buys himself a $10,000 shower curtain while helping himself to tax subsidies, bailouts and tax credits, that's more than most working class Americans can possibly tolerate.

When a center-right politician can be called a Socialist, we really have sunk to new lows.

Dean Moriarty...Would that 50% be the country's highest income earners who dip deeply into the trough upon which they regularly feed? Would that be the 50% investment addicts who use everyone else's money for high risk investments but their own? Oh no...you must mean the 50% who took bailout money provided by taxpayers as the means of handing themselves 500% increases in their salaries and perks, right?

Come off the crappola. If you earn more, you pay more because you TAKE more out of the system than you put back in. It's called fiscal responsibility. And it starts with the highest income earners, not the lowest.

Don't talk about food stamps when 2 bailouts were handed to US's biggest banking institutions. That's a little bit of sleight of hand yet to be investigated. Tell us again...how do you beg for taxpayer help in 2008 and 2009 and a month later in 2009 earn profits in the hundred billions you hadn't earned in 10 years? All with help from taxpayer subsidies and business tax exemptions?

I guess when you get all of that for free from the government as a Biggie Piggie, you could call that Corporate Welfare. It just smells of Chanel No. 5 and not sweat of the brow right?

There is nothing the GOP has done for America, for Americans or for jobs since Obama was elected. –

No real deficit cuts were discussed/enacted until GOP took over house.

The GOP has been having a non-stop temper tantrum consumed with obstruction instead of doing what the American people want and need.

"-Nothing but screaming, pouting and throwing temper tantrums all in vain at keeping their ill gotten taxpayer money flowing into the union and Democrat party coffers. These Wisconsin state senators are looking like complete fools and morons, hiding out in Rockford, Illinois. They are like petulant pre-teens, running away from home because mom said they couldn't go to the junior prom after trashing mom and dad's house by holding a party when the folks were out of town. And they run away to their best friend's house, and everybody knows where they are."

It is the GOP who has blamed American workers, it is the GOP who tries to take away the rights of American workers to join a union or belong to a union or to negotiate by collective bargaining.

– Fair arguing point here, but unions cannot compete with China’s labor market. We can’t have it both ways! Compromise is needed. Union jobs are important, but are disappearing for this one fact.

It is the GOP who puts American jobs on the chopping block by cutting public sector government jobs, and cut the jobs of anyone in a union like teachers, nurses, police and firefighters.

“[The] solution to our economic problems will not come from government alone. Government can’t create all the jobs we need or can it repair all the damage that’s been done by this recession…" President Obama, 2010

The GOP has made is crystal clear they intend to cut jobs instead of look at any other budgetary cuts.

WRONG - GOP BUDGET CUT LIST

• Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies -$30M • Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy -$899M • Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability -$49M • Nuclear Energy -$169M • Fossil Energy Research -$31M • Clean Coal Technology -$18M • Strategic Petroleum Reserve -$15M • Energy Information Administration -$34M • Office of Science -$1.1B • Power Marketing Administrations -$52M • Department of Treasury -$268M • Internal Revenue Service -$593M • Treasury Forfeiture Fund -$338M • GSA Federal Buildings Fund -$1.7B • ONDCP -$69M • International Trade Administration -$93M • Economic Development Assistance -$16M • Minority Business Development Agency -$2M • National Institute of Standards and Technology -$186M • NOAA -$336M • National Drug Intelligence Center -$11M • Law Enforcement Wireless Communications -$52M • US Marshals Service -$10M • FBI -$74M • State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance -$256M • Juvenile Justice -$2.3M • COPS -$600M • NASA -$379M • NSF -$139M • Legal Services Corporation -$75M • EPA -$1.6B • Food Safety and Inspection Services -$53M • Farm Service Agency -$201M • Agriculture Research -$246M • Natural Resource Conservation Service -$46M • Rural Development Programs -$237M • WIC -$758M • International Food Aid grants -$544M • FDA -$220M • Land and Water Conservation Fund -$348M • National Archives and Record Service -$20M • DOE Loan Guarantee Authority -$1.4B • EPA ENERGY STAR -$7.4M • EPA GHG Reporting Registry -$9M • USGS -$27M • EPA Cap and Trade Technical Assistance -$5M • EPA State and Local Air Quality Management -$25M • Fish and Wildlife Service -$72M • Smithsonian -$7.3M • National Park Service -$51M • Clean Water State Revolving Fund -$700M • Drinking Water State Revolving Fund -$250M • EPA Brownfields -$48M • Forest Service -$38M • National Endowment for the Arts -$6M • National Endowment for the Humanities -$6M • Job Training Programs -$2B • Community Health Centers -$1.3B • Maternal and Child Health Block Grants -$210M • Family Planning -$327M • Poison Control Centers -$27M • CDC -$755M • NIH -$1B • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services -$96M • LIHEAP Contingency fund -$400M • Community Services Block Grant -$405M • High Speed Rail -$1B • FAA Next Gen -$234M • Amtrak -$224M • HUD Community Development Fund -$530M

The GOP declines to look at their own "pork barrel" project to cut from any budgets.

Umm, if you mean military spending – better look somewhere else - Today, defense expenditures amount to about 4.9 percent of US gross domestic product, the nation's total output of goods and services. ...
www.csmonitor.com/.../Cuts-to-US-defense-budget-look-inevitable

The GOP refuses to give up their own free government run healthcare.

DUH, that goes for all those in Washington too!

The GOP declines to give up anything or sacrifice anything themselves, along with the budget cuts and job cutting they are doing.

Republican House Members Take Voluntary Pay Cut

MONTGOMERY – Fifty five Republican Members of the Alabama House of Representatives have voluntarily cut their pay by 15 percent to correspond with proration currently being experienced by state agencies.

Even though mandated state budget cuts ordered by Governor Bentley in March do not cut salaries for teachers or state employees, GOP lawmakers said reducing their own pay is a way of demonstrating that they, too, are sharing in the pain of this economic crunch.

If the GOP can't stand with us and sacrifice with us then they don't deserve their own jobs.

How can the GOP ever stand with someone like you (IE “us”)? This whole diatribe is unflattering nonsense toward the whole party.

That is why Americans will re-elect Obama or a Democrat. The GOP offers America nothing.

(Opinion taken)

Ummm, there are web references.

in the last 30 years about the time they went to bed with the corporatists, the big banks and wall street.

Obama Picks Jeffrey Immelt, GE CEO, To Run New Jobs-Focused Panel As GE Sends Jobs Overseas, Pays Little In Taxes

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/21/obama-picks-jeffrey-immel-ge-jobs-overseas_n_812502.html

Damn....those facts just keep gettin in the way!

The phuny (but sad) part of all this is that both parties do it, but you only seem to care about the one you're not affiliated with.

Sorry, Barry Goldwater died a few years back - he was pretty much your last shot.

Ron Paul?

He would out-liberal the liberals when it comes to our civil liberties and out-conservative the conservatives when it comes to fiscal conservatism. His ideas would be a shock to the system and is perhaps what the doctor ordered when it comes to fixing the two party monster our government has become.

He would out-liberal the liberals when it comes to our civil liberties and out-conservative the conservatives when it comes to fiscal conservatism

That's actually what worries me about him. If far left social activists are worrisome, and far right fiscal conservatives are troubling, imagine a bi-polar combo of both. Being an extremist to both sides does not a moderate make.

Well he is not a moderate, I will give you that. But anyone that supports freedom and prosperity has my support.

Half the nation is seemingly united against the President while the other half firmly stands behind him.

The disturbing question would be, "How much of the "1/2" FOR him have a vested interested in governement entitlements and more/larger govt. offices as advocated by most Liberal candidates?" - and.... "Is this 'buying' votes?"

sunshine girl...Not possible and I'll tell you why. True fiscal conservatism means everyone...and that would necessarily include the fat cats of Wall Street who want anything but taxes, reining in of their corruption and high risk games.

The problem is that Big Business has more money than we little Americans. They can and will direct the most money for the candidate who will do their bidding. That's why President Obama tried to effect campaign reform by having more transparency in who donates to candidates. Guess which party was aghast at the thought?

I am applauding, Deb. Fantastic post!

President Barack Obama has my vote.

The conservatives have turned into corporate hacks and extreme right wingers.

Deb...Outstanding Post!

Debeki,

This is the most awsome post I have seen to date!!

Thank you!!!!

John- I like Huntsman, except for his approval of the Ryan Budget, that is.

Let's hope those clowns do not ever have a prayer.

As for Romney...Mmmm...I think he's yet to appeal to moderates, though to be fair, he's got some time yet. I think people will see him for what he is though: just another slick politician who's dodgey with the issues (read up on him, he tends to do some flip-flopping from time to time). Add to the fact that is Mormon, no offense to those who are, but they are viewed as something akin to cultists. It's sort of unstable where he sits, but in all fairness I think he's got a shot...even if that shot is a slim one.

Socialist Plant...My reservation about Romney is his venture capitalism. He's a pro at it. He's bought and sold more small businesses in his career. This country needs new smaller businesses who are as we post the only ones hiring. Sure the salaries aren't the grandiose Wall Street salaries but it's better than waiting for Corporate America to amass enough wealth before they start to hire again...if ever.

Cut and dry. Thats the way it has always been.

Pat...Wrong. You give no credit to American logic and intelligence. If the Republicans have a hand in opposing any more of this president's policies out of hand, they will not have a chance no matter how bad the economy is.

Every American professor of economics on either side of the party aisle will tell you this economy cannot be so easily fixed in 4 years or even 8. Not when Republicans fight so hard for Corporate America and then turn around and demonize the Middle Class and working poor and make these lives one unending austerity.

The TeaPublicans are going to have to work their asses off to help put this economy back on track and not by handing the entire government over to private for profit corporations as seems to be their only answer to everything. That's not even close to being an answer. It's closer to be more of the reason for the 2008 Financial Meltdown when non-compliance of government regulations by corporations accelerated the greed and corruption.

If you don't have access to credit, you bank with the wrong folks! Hubby and I have received two bank loans since 2009 and our income is not large...perhaps, it's your credit rating?

Not my personal situation at all. I was referring to business credit for small, medium and even large corportions. An Illinois firm recently purchased another company and is issuing bonds to cover the 8 billion buy. Not stock swap, not a three year bank note. Small business has been shut off since Nov. 15, 2008 from credit by large and regional banks and SBA takes 6 months to process.

40% of credit unions do make small business loans and Fed ain't involved either.

The economy may NOT recover for 7 or more years according to the very best finance person I know. However, I do know that the 1930's depression dragged on because of lack of credit to everyone, individuals and businesses. I also know a fella at age 78 borrowed over $100,00 for his RV. So, it is a mixed bag of greed, wars, defaults and fraud that put us into troubles. To get out, the hated American word "work' needs to gain respect and social acceptance.

For all those above who think we are at a cost disadvantage - guess what - we ain't. germany is #2 export nation and are not lower wage payers than we are. They invite us to come over there to give advice, on robots for example! Maybe we should study their success at export. Or Ford, United Technology, GE, Caterpillar.

Now, I'll shut up and just compete.

bestquest...Not true. Americans are taking their cues from the country's biggest hoarders. They are smart enough to buy only what they really need and they are benefitting handsomely from that. As for access to credit, credit card companies have already shot themselves in the foot. Their interest rates cannot go any higher than they are because that would put them out of business and they know it.

The reality is that the price gouging has to stop. Potential home buyers are not stupid enough to fall for that line of BS handed to them by mortgaging bankers hot to foreclose, collect insurance on foreclosed loans and earn ten times the profit of a sale of a mortgage.

Prices in the US can go no higher because no one can buy goods or services at today's prices. Correction. No one with any common sense will pay the greedheaded exhorbitant prices but the richest 1% with all the money. Have at it if that's their fancy.

As for unemployment, now that small businesses have figured out that they can pick up some of the brightest and most experienced former corporate workers at a price they can afford, that sticks it to corporations who dumped them for cheap labor that is about to go through the roof offshore. That's usually what happens when you betray your own country and stabilize foreign economies.

BKER ...So let's see...President Obama's re-election is dependent on the mercy of Big Oil? On CEOs chief decisions to hire or not? Wow...and here all along I thought we, the people, chose those we elect to office.

Moderate = business as usual (with a few tweaks here and there). Drastic times call for drastic change.

I don't see the "revolution" happening out there in any form. It's certainly not 1968.

It's the product of fear - people don't want change even if the change is good for them.

I fear you are right. I guess they will have to be suffering heavy and staring down the lion's throat before they will force change. And by that time it will be a very hard pill to swallow. It is easier to avoid the iceberg if you start turning your ship a mile away instead of waiting until you can see the birds on it :)

Unfortunately the "change" being offered by the right is a return to, and doubling down on, their failed policies of the past.

This "doubling down" phrase I'm hearing a lot lately. What we need is some focus that lasts longer than the next propaganda cycle I'm tired of party polemics from the left and right both. It's all hot air, divisive and getting us nowhere.

There's absolutely no leadership from anywhere on the left or the right and we need it. Someone who actually has a viable vision - someone somwhere who thinks about where are we 10, 20, 50 years from now and what kind of country do we want to be, forgets the god-forsaken polls that mean nothing and distracts us us from where we need to get to, and leads us there.

We don't need focus on the wrong policy any more than half-measures. If we could find some broad consensus that draws on the best ideas of the various philosophies out there and stick to it for the long haul it would be great. But our political media culture that thrives on petty tabloid distractions, combined with our system of purchased access, makes this nearly impossible.

I also think that the leadership that you speak of is pretty much impossible in this environment. To the extent that it could even exist in a President, they will only be obstructed at every turn.

I have begun to look outside the game. I will continue to vote for the lesser of evils, but I have decided to focus my energy more on practical activities in my local community and networking such endeavors nationwide and internationally through internet and social media. I am beginning to believe that only through building alternatives to big business and big government are we going to make progress, and have a chance of forcing the kind of democratic change we need.

What if they held an election and no one showed up?

Sounds like a good plan!!

I saw an interview with Jane Harman - she quit Congress a month after getting elected to head the Woodrow Wilson think tank. I thought it was cheesy at first but when I heard what she had to say and why she did it, I ended up supporting her it's much along the same lines of what you're saying. Why participate in a game that's locked and not getting anywhere with what she's doing now she can come up with broad ideas well thought out across the political spectrum that work and offer that as alternatives - after the poisonous atmosphere of politics in Congress today that must be quite the breath of fresh air.