Elections 2012:What unites us is greater than what divides us

[Old Pio]

Re: Elections 2012:What unites us is greater than what divides us

FDR did not select Truman. The party bosses did. They knew Franklin was in the Dead Pool and Henry Wallace, the current VP, was a great admirer of Uncle Joe Stalin.

Harry was the safe choice. Besides what better way to end that pesky committee on how business was contributing to the war effort than by kicking the chairman upstairs?

Party bosses, however, were prepared to run a man they knew was dying (who didn't even address the convention in person). And the best they could come up with was Harry Truman? I'm not sure I buy the notion that FDR had "nothing" to say about the choice. Didn't I read something about him also wanting William O. Douglas? If the final choice was Harry or Douglas, then it wasn't really any choice at all, was it?

 

[Old Pio]

Re: Elections 2012:What unites us is greater than what divides us

Romney's VP choice will matter about 1/10th of what McCain's did. McCain looked half dead at times, which meant that you had to ask yourself if you wanted his #2 taking over midway through 2010 if the worst occurred. The overwhelming response to that was "Fark no", so here we are.

And the sun is carried across the sky in a golden chariot.

BTW, John Kass of the Tribune says we shouldn't be so cynical about JJJ's case of "exhaustion."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/ct-met-kass-0627-20120627,0,1461260.column

 

[WeWantMore]

Re: Elections 2012:What unites us is greater than what divides us

GOP Rep. John Sullivan of Ohio lost his primary last night, the 4th incumbent to lose a non-incumbent v. Incumbent primary this year.

In New York, Charlie Rangel barely held on, while Dems avoided embarrassment as Mugabe/Gaddafi lover Charles Barron was roundly defeated.

 

[5mn_Major]

Re: Elections 2012:What unites us is greater than what divides us

Polls recently have shown Obama's position softening. Yet in the last day or so, a considerable number of state polls have come out showing that except for VA Obama is still holding serve. Questions remain on specific poll bias of course:

Florida: Romney vs. Obama
Quinnipiac
Obama 45, Romney 41
Obama +4

Ohio: Romney vs. Obama
Quinnipiac
Obama 47, Romney 38
Obama +9

Pennsylvania: Romney vs. Obama
Quinnipiac
Obama 45, Romney 39
Obama +6

Ohio: Romney vs. Obama
PPP (D)
Obama 47, Romney 44
Obama +3

Virginia: Romney vs. Obama
WeAskAmerica
Obama 43, Romney 48
Romney +5

North Carolina: Romney vs. Obama
Rasmussen Reports
Romney 47, Obama 44
Romney +3

Colorado: Romney vs. Obama
WeAskAmerica
Obama 47, Romney 43
Obama +4

Oregon: Romney vs. Obama
PPP (D)
Obama 50, Romney 42
Obama +8

 

[Kepler]

Re: Elections 2012:What unites us is greater than what divides us

Polls recently have shown Obama's position softening.

Seems like random variation to me. Obama's approval has been oscillating between 43 and 51 for the last 18 months. He's a known quantity -- I don't see any dramatic changes in those numbers between now and election day barring craziness like the Euro imploding.

Romney on the other hand could go either way. The GOP is usually pretty good about reading their focus groups and depositing the correct verbiage into the slot on the campaign trail, but Mittens is the least likeable major ticket candidate since... well, since four times-elected Nixon. So who knows?

 

[LynahFan]

Re: Elections 2012:What unites us is greater than what divides us

Seems like random variation to me. Obama's approval has been oscillating between 43 and 51 for the last 18 months. He's a known quantity -- I don't see any dramatic changes in those numbers between now and election day barring craziness like the Euro imploding.

Romney on the other hand could go either way. The GOP is usually pretty good about reading their focus groups and depositing the correct verbiage into the slot on the campaign trail, but Mittens is the least likeable major ticket candidate since... well, since four times-elected Nixon. So who knows?

Romney less likable than Dukakis? Kerry? Not so sure about that. What is it with these phenomenally uninteresting Massachusetts governors, anyway?

 

[5mn_Major]

Re: Elections 2012:What unites us is greater than what divides us

Romney less likable than Dukakis? Kerry? Not so sure about that. What is it with these phenomenally uninteresting Massachusetts governors, anyway?

I'd give Romney the nod over Dukakis, Kerry, Dole and a hair behind Bush Sr and Carter.

 

[Bob Gray]

Re: Elections 2012:What unites us is greater than what divides us

Romney less likable than Dukakis? Kerry? Not so sure about that. What is it with these phenomenally uninteresting Massachusetts governors, anyway?

Yah, they need to vote in a professional wrestler or someone like that to spice things up.

 

[Kepler]

Re: Elections 2012:What unites us is greater than what divides us

Romney less likable than Dukakis? Kerry? Not so sure about that. What is it with these phenomenally uninteresting Massachusetts governors, anyway?

Weld was actually pretty wooden, too. Maybe it's a Bostonian racial memory of Puritanism -- they only elect guys who they absolute know cannot dance.

Mittens' unlikeability extends below his woodenness, though. He is like something out of Central Casting for the heavy in a political movie: his manner suggests total mendacity. It's as if after every sentence he breaks the fourth wall with a Snidely Whiplash aside, "I can't believe these yokels are eating this up. Bwahaha." Dukakis didn't have anything like that -- you knew when he was riding around in that tank that he was a completely sincere buffoon. That actually made his ineptitude even worse, somehow, like he would accidentally amble his way into nuclear Armageddon while trying to find a spoon late one night in the White House. Romney on the other hand just rings fake, and not even a Reagan or Clinton good-natured fake, but a Greg Marmalard creepy fake, with just a touch of Douglas C. Niedermeyer viciousness.

 

[Kepler]

Re: Elections 2012:What unites us is greater than what divides us

Yah, they need to vote in a professional wrestler or someone like that to spice things up.

"Down goes Minnesota!"

 

[geezer]

Re: Elections 2012:What unites us is greater than what divides us

Mittens is the least likeable major ticket candidate since... well, since four times-elected Nixon. So who knows?

Even if one could honestly claim some kind of liking (pity?) for Albert Gore Junior after hearing his zombified voice speak words out of its body, you've always got Kerry the eternal 13-year-old worthless punk to deal with. So Mitt isn't even top 3 on the "ew" list.

I just realized that Mitt and Kerry are very much alike. Except of course that Kerry married into his money while Mitt went the blood-sucking vampire route. But the personalities are similar.

 

[Kepler]

Re: Elections 2012:What unites us is greater than what divides us

Even if one could honestly claim some kind of liking (pity?) for Albert Gore Junior after hearing his zombified voice speak words out of its body, you've always got Kerry the eternal 13-year-old worthless punk to deal with. So Mitt isn't even top 3 on the "ew" list.

I think it's a different kind of "ew."

Gore had that awful zombie intonation (my God, that's a perfect description), and he sounded patronizing. Granted, that was offensive. I'll give you Romney and Gore in a tie for Turnoff.

Kerry had the charm of a doorstop, but he wasn't objectionable in any way, he was just hideously boring. Kerry never did anything that made me want to reach into the set and wring his neck the way the other major offenders did (well, other than being the candidate in the first place).

I don't see Kerry and Romney as having similar personalities. I suppose Kerry has about 30% of the snotty kid from college who everybody dreads will wind up about three Peter Principle levels higher than he has any right to. But Romney is the personification of that. If I saw Romney in a movie I would think "that actor's really chewing the scenery to make us hate his character. He should tone it down."

Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't invite any of them to dinner. I'd rather have Obama to talk to about books, Dole to share a joke, and Clinton provided neither my wife nor my daughter were there. Heck, I'd even go on a drunk with Dubya afterwards -- I think if he unwound a bit he'd TP Cheney's house with me.

 

[geezer]

Re: Elections 2012:What unites us is greater than what divides us

Kerry had the charm of a doorstop, but he wasn't objectionable in any way, he was just hideously boring. Kerry never did anything that made me want to reach into the set and wring his neck the way the other major offenders did (well, other than being the candidate in the first place).

I think for me it was the grinding self-righteousness where he usually seemed to be thinking "All these fools are wrong, I know better, maybe if I speak very slowly they'll begin to understand." Or perhaps I misread him.

 

[Kepler]

Re: Elections 2012:What unites us is greater than what divides us

I think for me it was the grinding self-righteousness where he usually seemed to be thinking "All these fools are wrong, I know better, maybe if I speak very slowly they'll begin to understand." Or perhaps I misread him.

To be fair, don't you get that from any liberal, though? I think that may be a trigger I don't have (I got it from Gore, though, so he must have been Sanctimony Man). For example, when country pols start twanging their good ol' boy derp I instantly loath them, but I don't think that's a universal reaction.

 

[geezer]

Re: Elections 2012:What unites us is greater than what divides us

To be fair, don't you get that from any liberal, though? I think that may be a trigger I don't have. For example, when country pols start twanging their good ol' boy derp I instantly loath them, but I don't think that's a universal reaction.

Maybe somewhat, but I honestly like Obama. He seems far more well-intentioned and (actually, really) caring about people than the others we've discussed, including Mitt and Big Bill. I don't get the feeling he's talking down to us.

Although obviously he's a politician first and not above certain deceptions in pursuit of votes.

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: Elections 2012:What unites us is greater than what divides us

Maybe somewhat, but I honestly like Obama. He seems far more well-intentioned and (actually, really) caring about people than the others we've discussed, including Mitt and Big Bill. I don't get the feeling he's talking down to us.

Although obviously he's a politician first and not above certain deceptions in pursuit of votes.

He's really caring about all those people on that kill list of his.

Based upon the comprehension levels of speeches, Obummer IS speaking down. You may not see it that way, especially if you feel that other Presidents in the past have spoken above your understanding.

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: Elections 2012:What unites us is greater than what divides us

To be fair, don't you get that from any liberal, though? I think that may be a trigger I don't have (I got it from Gore, though, so he must have been Sanctimony Man). For example, when country pols start twanging their good ol' boy derp I instantly loath them, but I don't think that's a universal reaction.

It's not just the left. You get it from the neo-con right as well.

 

[ScoobyDoo]

Re: Elections 2012:What unites us is greater than what divides us

George W. Bush was supposedly one of the most likeable and everyone wanted to have a beer with him.

He made me want to power vomit.

To each his own.

When Romney's President and fixes everything we'll all be the better for it.

 

[Kepler]

Re: Elections 2012:What unites us is greater than what divides us

He's really caring about all those people on that kill list of his.

I didn't think much of Breitbart anyway.

Based upon the comprehension levels of speeches, Obummer IS speaking down. You may not see it that way, especially if you feel that other Presidents in the past have spoken above your understanding.

Any sentient being interacting with the world spends most of his life talking down. This is why drinking was invented -- to slow your brain down enough to where you can remain interested in a conversation with the common man.

 

[Handyman]

Re: Elections 2012:What unites us is greater than what divides us

Any sentient being interacting with the world spends most of his life talking down. This is why drinking was invented -- to slow your brain down enough to where you can remain interested in a conversation with the common man.

Seriously...do you understand how a big a ****** you sound like when you talk like that. Yes, we get it you went to Cornell and your wife works in government so she knows people...you are still a friggin ******. Just because you paid 100% more on tuition to go to SUNY-Ithaca and some of us went to other schools (and grad schools) that don't pretend their flatulence doesn't have any odor doesnt mean anything. (see also: Your use of the ****ed thesaurus every time you post) You know the annoying "Liberal Elite" Faux trumps on and on about...that is you buddy.

Drinking wasnt invented to slow the mind down to talk to the commoner...it was to dull the pain of listening to ****** nozzles like you pontificate on and on about how much smarter and better you are. (see also: talking with people who went to Michigan) Now go watch Survivor and leave us to our whiskey.