Saturday's (12-10-2011) ABC Republican Presidential Debate // Analysis // I'll watch so you don’t have to

ABC Republican Presidential Debate

This was not a debate in the classic form in my opinion this was a 2hr interview by ABC.

I did not like this debate for a few reasons.

First;  Did Diane Sawyer has a stroke recently?  I’m just asking because her left eye was drooping  and she was asking the dumbest questions I have ever heard.

Secondly;  The moderators felt compelled to set up every question with their wisdom before getting to the questions.  Just get to it.  Ask the questions and let the candidates have the time to answer.

Also, the moderators spend a lot of time trying to get the candidates to fight among themselves. They tried to goat the candidates to comment on the others response to generate infighting.  Most candidates did have their war faces on but this was not very productive in my opinion.  Newt must be the front runner because a good hour of the debate was spent trying to destroy him.

Oh and I almost forgot,  when the candidates mentioned their spouses ABC felt the need to put them on camera like it was the Oscars or something.  A totally unnecessary time waster if you ask me.

Michelle Bachmann

Great debate for her.  Bachmann like the other candidates catered their answers directly to the Iowan voters.  There was a lot of “this is why you should vote for me” in her answers.

She stayed consistent in her stance that she is the only true conservative on the stage.  She coined the term  “Newt Romney” when she successfully connected Newt and Mitt in being for a health care mandate before they were against it.  This is an important point that should not be overlooked.  And it will be a sticking point for “Newt Romney” for the remainder of the Republican primary and the general election if one of them makes it that far.  Bachmann stayed consistent in that she has fought against Obama Care, Tarp, the Stimulus and most of the Obama agenda.  But so can most of the candidates up on the stage. She also channeled Herman Cain’s 999 plan to Bachmann’s new win, win, win plan.  Why???? Not really sure about that one.   This may work to give her a strong showing in Iowa but it may not be enough to win the nomination. 

Newt Gingrich

One thing that 3 failed marriages has given Newt is a thick skin.  The closer we are getting to people actually casting votes the harder the media created front runners will be hit (except Mitt, notice how Mitt has not been bashed by anyone in the media? I find that very interesting)   This was no exception on Saturday night.  Newt was hit from all angles from being a Washington insider, to taking money from Freddy and Fanny, being for the individual mandate before he was against it. But he managed to deflect these attacks better than most.  Newt has confidence and strength that is appealing to voters.  He always has an answers to any criticism put forth by the moderators or the other candidates. Newt  does have bold ideas the get America back on track. However, if elected he may have to spend a great deal of time explaining these ideas after the fact.  But we do need to remember a few things about Newt.  He did figure out how to simultaneously work with Clinton on balancing the budget (which has not been done since) while stopping Hillary Care at the same time.  No other republican on that stage can say that. 

Ron Paul

The Ron Paul continues to nip about the edges of reality.  People like his economic policies and plain talk about all the Washington problems. The Paul cult follows him from debate to debate to fill the audience with applause at his every word.  But Paul’s true feelings always come out when the topic turns to foreign policy. Ron Paul is not just a non-interventionist he is an isolationist.  He made several remarks about our current policies or actions were “getting us into trouble”.  Would he run his administration trying to avoid anything that would “get us into trouble?”  Answer..yes.  A Ron Paul foreign policy would make Obama look like Reagan in comparison. Yes it would be that bad.  If Paul goes independent it will give Obama another 4 years.

Rick Perry

If Perry only started out as strong as his last 2 debates. He would be a top contender to taking Mitt out.  Perry’s problem is that he is not  smooth talking politician. However, let us not forget that Obama is a smooth talking politician and look where that has gotten us.   Perry pointed out that he is  a against  grain Republican who is not a Washington insider. He is the Anti Newt conservative who deserves a second look.  Perry pointed out that he is the only candidate who is dealing with Obama policies and is still able to create jobs.  If he wants to stay in it for the long haul Perry needs to return to Job creating results and trying to make in his words “Washington inconsequential in our lives as possible” That is a working message rings true to most republican voters.

Mitt Romney

You will hear a lot about Mitt’s $10K bet to Perry. The bet is not important.  What is important is that Mitt can be flustered to the point where his only defense is “I’ll bet you I’m right.”  Mitt’s problem is that he remained untouched throughout early debates.  Now that the heat is on him and he actually has to mount a defense he breaks easily to Perry.  Which means he’ll snap if Obama calls him out on  Romney care.  These outbursts are small and some people may not notice them, but they do show that Mitt HAS weaknesses that can be exploited by republicans and democrats alike. Do not forget this point.  If Mitt loses his cool in a debate against Obama, Mitt may not be able to recover.  Member the flop sweat from the Nixon – Kennedy debate as a example.

Rick Santorum

Solid performance from Santorum.  Not really understanding why he is not doing better in the polls? I think he loses independents with his only a 2 parent family is the key to success.  I understand the idea but the reality is something different.  Santorum does have the best and strongest policy is dealing with Iran.  He like Bachmann are calling themselves the only true and consistent conservatives on the stage.   That’s true, and in a primary where 80% of the republicans voting are conservative it could make all the difference. But in the general???? Not sure how appealing that will make him

More next time

America Prevails

A.B.O

Information Minister

Loyal Opposition

JohnGlat1984

Obama the Middle Class warrior shows his true feelings

The other day Obama gave a speech that was probably one of the most honest speeches he has ever given.

He gave us a window into the world of  Obama, The Mr. “No longer red states or blue states but the United States of America” (remember that uniting statement) really feels about the country he wants to transform.

Remember how up until now hard work and the strength of American individualism was a beacon of light and freedom throughout the world?

Remember when American individualism was a good thing?

This strength helped win 2 world wars, put men on the moon, gave us the industrial might that has given America the title of a true super power.

The land that gave us Washington, Lincoln, Reagan. All strong leaders all known for their rugged individualism

Obama wants to take away all of that.  All the America success’s, have we made mistakes yes, but being mortal we are not perfect.  However, our countries success’s far outweigh or failures.

But that’s what Obama really hates about you, yes you.  He hates our individualism.  Don’t believe me well just read this quote from Obama himself.  This is not taken out of context, it’s just his words.

“Sure, they say, there will be winners and losers. But if the winners do really well, then jobs and prosperity will eventually trickle down to everybody else. And, they argue, even if prosperity doesn’t trickle down, well, that’s the price of liberty.

Now, it’s a simple theory. And we have to admit, it’s one that speaks to our rugged individualism and our healthy skepticism of too much government. That’s in America’s DNA. And that theory fits well on a bumper sticker. But here’s the problem: It doesn’t work. It has never worked.”

 Obama correctly points out that rugged individualism and out healthy skepticism of too much government is part of the American DNA. And it doesn’t work!  His words not mine.  This quote really shows you how hates you and all you stand for.  He hates you, your parent, your grandparents all of us who have worked hard and tried to make it on out own.  I’m not going to sugar coat this anymore.   Obama is saying all we have accomplished, all the great thing America has done and all we have yet to do.  DOESN’T WORK AND NEVER HAS WORKED!!!  Is this how you feel?  Do you agree with Obama? 

So what’s Obama’s solution or cure for the cancer that is rugged individualism and healthy skepticism of government?   MORE GOVERNEMENT!  And Obama’s hoping to buy your vote for $2.73 a day in the form of a payroll tax cut.  Yes for less than 3 bucks a day Obama thinks he can transform America.

Mr. Obama a free a society is an unequal society.  Sorry it’s just the way it is.  If Obama wants to live in a totally equal society I suggest to stop trying to transform America and move to North Korea.

America Prevails

Information Minister

Loyal Opposition

JohnGlat1984

Video: Energy independence could be as easy as 1-2-3

Obama and the Democratic party will explicitly abandon the white working class voters

The Future of the Obama Coalition

By THOMAS B. EDSALL

For decades, Democrats have suffered continuous and increasingly severe losses among white voters. But preparations by Democratic operatives for the 2012 election make it clear for the first time that the party will explicitly abandon the white working class.
All pretense of trying to win a majority of the white working class has been effectively jettisoned in favor of cementing a center-left coalition made up, on the one hand, of voters who have gotten ahead on the basis of educational attainment — professors, artists, designers, editors, human resources managers, lawyers, librarians, social workers, teachers and therapists — and a second, substantial constituency of lower-income voters who are disproportionately African-American and Hispanic.
It is instructive to trace the evolution of a political strategy based on securing this coalition in the writings and comments, over time, of such Democratic analysts as Stanley Greenberg and Ruy Teixeira. Both men were initially determined to win back the white working-class majority, but both currently advocate a revised Democratic alliance in which whites without college degrees are effectively replaced by well-educated socially liberal whites in alliance with the growing ranks of less affluent minority voters, especially Hispanics.
The 2012 approach treats white voters without college degrees as an unattainable cohort. The Democratic goal with these voters is to keep Republican winning margins to manageable levels, in the 12 to 15 percent range, as opposed to the 30-point margin of 2010 — a level at which even solid wins among minorities and other constituencies are not enough to produce Democratic victories.
“It’s certainly true that if you compare how things were in the early ’90s to the way they are now, there has been a significant shift in the role of the working class. You see it across all advanced industrial countries,” Teixeira, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, said in an interview.
In the United States, Teixeira noted, “the Republican Party has become the party of the white working class,” while in Europe, many working-class voters who had been the core of Social Democratic parties have moved over to far right parties, especially those with anti-immigration platforms.
Teixeira, writing with John Halpin, argues in “The Path to 270: Demographics versus Economics in the 2012 Presidential Election,” that in order to be re-elected, President Obama must keep his losses among white college graduates to the 4-point margin of 2008 (47-51). Why? Otherwise he will not be able to survive a repetition of 2010, when white working-class voters supported Republican House candidates by a record-setting margin of 63-33.
Obama’s alternative path to victory, according to Teixeira and Halpin, would be to keep his losses among all white voters at the same level John Kerry did in 2004, when he lost them by 17 points, 58-41. This would be a step backwards for Obama, who lost among all whites in 2008 by only 12 points (55-43). Obama can afford to drop to Kerry’s white margins because, between 2008 and 2012, the pro-Democratic minority share of the electorate is expected to grow by two percentage points and the white share to decline by the same amount, reflecting the changing composition of the national electorate.
The following passage from “The Path to 270” illustrates the degree to which whites without college degrees are currently cast as irrevocably lost to the Republican Party. “Heading into 2012,” Teixeira and Halpin write, one of the primary strategic questions will be:

Will the president hold sufficient support among communities of color, educated whites, Millennials, single women, and seculars and avoid a catastrophic meltdown among white working-class voters?

For his part, Greenberg, a Democratic pollster and strategist and a key adviser to Bill Clinton’s 1992 campaign, wrote a memorandum earlier this month, together with James Carville, that makes no mention of the white working class. “Seizing the New Progressive Common Ground” describes instead a “new progressive coalition” made up of “young people, Hispanics, unmarried women, and affluent suburbanites.”
In an interview, Greenberg, speaking of white working class voters, said that in the period from the mid-1960s to the early 1990s, “we battled to get them back. They were sizable in number and central to the base of the Democratic Party.” At the time, he added, “we didn’t know that we would never get them back, that they were alienated and dislodged.”
In his work exploring how to build a viable progressive coalition, Greenberg noted, he has become “much more interested in the affluent suburban voters than the former Reagan Democrats.” At the same time, however, he argues that Republican winning margins among white working-class voters are highly volatile and that Democrats have to push hard to minimize losses, which will not be easy. “Right now,” he cautioned, “I don’t see any signs they are moveable.”
Teixeira’s current analysis stands in sharp contrast to an article that he wrote with Joel Rogers, which appeared in the American Prospect in 1995. In “Who Deserted the Democrats in 1994?,” Teixeira and Rogers warned that between 1992 and 1994 support for Democratic House candidates had fallen by 20 points, from 57 to 37 percent among high-school-educated white men; by 15 points among white men with some college; and by 10 points among white women in both categories. A failure to reverse those numbers, Teixeira warned, would “doom Clinton’s re-election bid” in 1996.
Teixeira was by no means alone in his 1995 assessment; he was in agreement with orthodox Democratic thinking of the time. In a 1995 memo to President Clinton, Greenberg wrote that whites without college degrees were “the principal obstacle” to Clinton’s re-election and that they needed to be brought back into the fold.
In practice, or perhaps out of necessity, the Democratic Party in 2006 and 2008 chose the upscale white-downscale minority approach that proved highly successful twice, but failed miserably in 2010, and appears to have a 50-50 chance in 2012.
The outline of this strategy for 2012 was captured by Times reporters Jackie Calmes and Mark Landler a few months ago in an article tellingly titled, “Obama Charts a New Route to Re-election.” Calmes and Landler describe how Obama’s re-election campaign plans to deal with the decline in white working class support in Rust Belt states by concentrating on states with high percentages of college educated voters, including Colorado, Virginia and New Hampshire.
There are plenty of critics of the tactical idea of dispensing with low-income whites, both among elected officials and party strategists. But Cliff Zukin, a professor of political science at Rutgers, puts the situation plainly. “My sense is that if the Democrats stopped fishing there, it is because there are no fish.”

“My sense is that if the Democrats stopped fishing there, it is because there are no fish.”

— Cliff Zukin

As a practical matter, the Obama campaign and, for the present, the Democratic Party, have laid to rest all consideration of reviving the coalition nurtured and cultivated by Franklin D. Roosevelt. The New Deal Coalition — which included unions, city machines, blue-collar workers, farmers, blacks, people on relief, and generally non-affluent progressive intellectuals — had the advantage of economic coherence. It received support across the board from voters of all races and religions in the bottom half of the income distribution, the very coherence the current Democratic coalition lacks.
A top priority of the less affluent wing of today’s left alliance is the strengthening of the safety net, including health care, food stamps, infant nutrition and unemployment compensation. These voters generally take the brunt of recessions and are most in need of government assistance to survive. According to recent data from the Department of Agriculture, 45.8 million people, nearly 15 percent of the population, depend on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to meet their needs for food.
The better-off wing, in contrast, puts at the top of its political agenda a cluster of rights related to self-expression, the environment, demilitarization, and, importantly, freedom from repressive norms — governing both sexual behavior and women’s role in society — that are promoted by the conservative movement.
While demographic trends suggest the continued growth of pro-Democratic constituencies and the continued decline of core Republican voters, particularly married white Christians, there is no guarantee that demography is destiny.
The political repercussions of gathering minority strength remain unknown. Calculations based on exit poll and Census data suggest that the Democratic Party will become “majority minority” shortly after 2020.
One outcome could be a stronger party of the left in national and local elections. An alternate outcome could be exacerbated intra-party conflict between whites, blacks and Hispanics — populations frequently marked by diverging material interests. Black versus brown struggles are already emerging in contests over the distribution of political power, especially during a current redistricting of city council, state legislative and congressional seats in cities like Los Angeles and Chicago.
Republican Party operatives are acutely sensitive to such tensions, hoping for opportunities to fracture the Democratic coalition, virtually assuring that neither party can safely rely on a secure path to victory over time.

The Tea Party vs. Occupy Wall Street

Obama Admin Seals Records of Murdered Border Patrol Agent Implicated in Fast and Furious

The Obama Administration has abruptly sealed court records containing alarming details of how Mexican drug smugglers murdered a U.S. Border patrol agent with a gun connected to a failed federal experiment that allowed firearms to be smuggled into Mexico.

This means information will now be kept from the public as well as the media. Could this be a cover-up on the part of the “most transparent” administration in history? After all, the rifle used to kill the federal agent (Brian Terry) last December in Arizona’s Peck Canyon was part of the now infamous Operation Fast and Furious. Conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the disastrous scheme allowed guns to be smuggled into Mexico so they could eventually be traced to drug cartels.

Link via Judicial Watch. The murder of a U.S. Border Patrol agent is related to the Justice Department willingly turning over thousands of guns to Mexican criminal gangs, and Obama administration is hiding information about his death from the public. Amazing. 

Payroll tax holiday question to ask Comrade Obama

Every time you hear Obama ask why are the Republicans not willing to give the middle class a tax cut in the form of a payroll tax holiday?

Ask Obama why is he raiding the Social Security trust fund to pay for a payroll tax holiday?

Obama 2012 robbing Peter to pay Paul since 2008.

Give a man a fish he eats for a day (Obama and the Democrats) teach a man how to fish he eats for a life time (Republicans).

It’s that simple

Saturday's (12-3-2011) Mike Huckabee Republican Presidential "Forum" // Analysis // I'll watch so you don’t have to

Saturday's Mike Huckabee Republican Presidential  "Forum".

The Forum topic was State vs. Federal power, and what is the role between the two.

Great topic given the issue’s this country faces today.

I liked the setting for this debate.  Each candidate sat alone in front of a panel of 3 Attorney Generals from 3 republican states, Oklahoma, Florida & Virginia.

Each candidate had an equal time of 11 minutes to answer the panel questions and 1 minute rap up at the end of the event.  Some did well in this format others in my opinion did not.

This forum also pointed out the vast differences between candidates who were Governors and candidates from congress.

So lets’ get right to it.

Michelle Bachmann

It’s very interesting to see that happens when she has to work past her talking points.  As an example, most candidates are like Michelle Bachmann when they call for the getting rid of the EPA.  However,  when pressed about how she would handle this she fell short.  This is a very important issue that all the cut government candidates need to address.  They need to know the practical of how to get this done AND they need to know how to handle this 2-4+ years out from there. Bachmann stumbled because coming from congress she has no practical experience how to get this done. If they don’t have a solid answer how to do this then it’s just talk in my opinion.   However, she’s not the only one with this problem. 

Herman Cain

He’s out of the race, officially listed as “Campaign Suspended”

Newt Gingrich

As predicted Newt was hit hard of his let them stay immigration policy.  This is important because the questions coming from the Attorney Generals were tactical in nature.  How are you going to get this done?  This came up a lot during the night.  Newt is a idea guy that much is clear.  And he does have tangible experience of getting policy moved through congress which is a plus. Moreover, he has studied his history and clearly understands state rights issues.  In addition, he knows the Constitution.  But will this be enough?  Newt did have a good closer when he asked the American people to work with him. In other words don’t just elect him president then sit back in your chair and say good luck with that.  Newt is asking we Americans to stay involved and keep the pressure on the Government. 

He also correctly pointed out that 8 years of Obama as President would be a disaster.  We shall see how Newt does standing fully in the spotlight now that Cain is out.

Jon Huntsman Jr

Did not participate in the forum.  To my understanding he was off filming the new season of MadMen. Okay I stole this from Comedy Central but he does look like he is an actor of MadMen.

I’ll come back to why I referenced Comedy Central later.

Ron Paul

Well this was Paul’s comfort zone. State rights, the 10^th amendment,  Constitutional issues.  And if you never listened to Ron Paul you might just join the Ron Paul cult. He is calling for the states to invoke nullification of laws the states do not agree with. Paul knows what separation of powers mean, and he respects private property rights to the fullest.   However,  I want you all to fully understand Ron Paul truly believes that most if not all terrorist attacks against America are caused by America.  It’s our fault we are attacked because we have bases in lands where terrorist don’t us to.  So he’s thinks that if we pulled out of every country we would NEVER be attacked again. He feels it’s not the freedoms that America represents that the terrorist hate, it’s our policy.  He strongly feels that terrorist acts are criminal in nature.  This belief showed itself when pressed with questions regarding the 9-11 attacks.  You could tell he was really trying hard not to call these a criminal act. 

You can almost see him saying to himself on 9-11..see I told you so.  I really cannot picture him as President. If you think Obama rambles just imagine a Ron Paul press conference. OH MY GOD that would be painful.

Rick Perry

This was by far his best debate/forum for Perry.  As a governor he has 10 years of practical knowledge of how to work with and deal with the federal Government. As the Governor of Texas Perry has been successful in implementing, fighting, working around and dealing with mandates, laws, regulations and the craziness that is the federal government. He clearly understand states rights and the role of the states within the federal government. I liked the fact he carries a copy of the Constitution in his pocket.  I bet Obama doesn’t even have a copy of the Constitution anywhere near him. Perry looked comfortable and confident in his answers.  I am also confident that Perry would know how to get the states behind him in order to move his policy forward.  Whereas 1 minute answers work well for Mitt and others. This longer format suited Perry well.  Look for him to have a stronger showing in the upcoming debates.

Mitt Romney

Mitt like Perry has experience as a Governor, so he knows how to deal with and work with Washington.  He argues like most of the candidates that most of the federal programs should go back to the states.  Mitt played it safe in this forum, he sat crossed legged and comfortable.  Not much new from him

Rick Santorum

Rick is running as a family values candidate.    But with Santorum, Paul & Bachmann the differences between a candidate from Congress and Candidate Governor becomes very clear. All they can do is say I voted for this or I was the first to vote for that. Or I helped write this legislation or I helped  sponsored this bill.  But that is the extent of the experience, it stops there.  It’s the Governors down at the practical level who have to deal with these issues and try to make them work for the state. However, I fully understand that Carter was a Governor, and at this point only second to Obama as history’s worst President.   Rick’s a good guy but without a strong showing in any of the upcoming primaries Rick will remain second to third tier.

In SUM

The Dept of Education does not educate children that is handled to the local level. The Dept of Energy does not produce energy it restricts it. The Dept of Agriculture does not grow anything it, restricts it.  Most if not all of these departments can and should be either eliminated or handled at the state level  and all of the Republican candidates know this and they will actively work to achieve this goal.  Further, the Republicans and in my opinion most of the country understand that the federal government is completely out of control with spending & borrowing more so they can spend more.

Obama and the democrats fully embrace spending and growing of the Government.  Moreover Obama does not want to cut or reduce ANYTHING! Never forget that. 

Now to discredit the whole process Trump is hosting future debate.  WTF? Watch for Comedy Central via Jon Steward to try to host a debate as a counter to Trumps stupidity.

Only in America.

More next time

America Prevails

A.B.O

Information Minister

Loyal Opposition

JohnGlat1984

What if Obama wins?

I’ve been thinking about this for some time now.

This is without a doubt the most important election of our life time.

This next election will chart America’s course for the next decade.

You think I’m kidding…well I’m not! This is about as serious as it gets.

There has been a lot of talk about the republican candidates lately but not for the right reasons.

This one’s religion is a issue.    That one has divorced several time over.    This one can’t get their history straight.    That one has a memory problem.

Put that all aside and forget it and let me refocus you back to the issue at hand.

The only thing you need to know is, can this person govern?

If you dropped this republican into office right now could they lead the country.

Because whomever takes over for Obama will have one of the biggest shit sandwich’s America ever had to eat.

And we need to know the person we elect can handle the job.

We know Obama is incapable of this kind of leadership.     We know that Obama’s so called leadership fell apart as soon as he lost the majority in Congress?

Leadership means you can still get things done even when the people around you do not agree with you.     Obama has shown that he has no clue how to do this.    Lincoln knew how to do this, Reagan knew how to do this…hell even Bush was capable enough to get things passed without a full majority.     And the smartest man ever to hold the office of President, Mr. Obama? Answer NO!

Did he pen his health care bill…NO

Did he write his stimulus bill….NO

The only thing Obama did write was his proposed budget that was so terrible that the entire Senate, Republicans and Democrats voted against it.

Obama calls a debt commission to get answers on the massive debt he helped create, then blows off the findings.    He agree to a super committee then goes on vacation and a tour of Asia so he can call Americans lazy.

Comes back and tells everyone that Congress doesn’t know how to do its job and they can get nothing done without him. 

To quote Chris Christie “What the hell are we paying you for?”     That’s a very good question?

Remove your feelings from the cult of personality that is Obama, and look around at the facts.     Every policy and law that Obama put into place has FAILED.      We don’t have to guess anymore “I wonder what would happen if we elected Obama?”     This is NOT a theoretical exercise anymore.      This is a practical example of a liberal spend and tax version of America.

And quite frankly Obama’s version of America sucks.

So what would happen if Obama wins in 2012?

Well I know the Sun would still rise in the east and set in the west.

America will still be a country….but in name only.

The America we grew up with will get that much closer to being a memory.

Electing Obama in 2012 will solidify Obama care for all time.

If for no other reason you vote against Obama it would be to stop Obama care.

But there is hope, not the intangible mist of hope that Obama was pushing.

I’m talking real hope for the future that true action brings about.     The hope that millions of Americans gave us in the 2010 elections that removed Nancy Pelosi from power and pushed Harry Reid back on his heels.

Yes a storm is coming my friends.     The American people are now wide awake and Obama and the Democrats and know this. 

I myself cannot wait to Vote in 2012.    I want to be the first person in the voting booth to start the pebble that turns into the avalanche that sweeps Obama out of office.

America Prevails

A.B.O

Information Minister

Loyal Opposition

JohnGalt1984