Election 2012

[Griff]

The emphasis on debt doesn't mesh well with Bush II's unfunded wars and Mitt is playing a very close game railing both against Iran and the entanglement in Afghanistan. He needs to hold both the newly engaged isolationist wing and the neo-cons two ideologically incompatible groups. That Obama is continuing Bush II's failed policies and is itching to play the neo-con game in Syria probably doesn't help.

[infinite monkey]

Michelle Obama

[BigV]

Originally Posted by infinite monkey

Michelle Obama

Hell yeah!

[zippyt]

[Lamplighter]

This was new to me...

Who is the only politician that believes Roe vs Wade are two ways to cross the Potomac River ?









Dan Quail

[Lamplighter]

In the lead-up to an election, a candidate's reactions under stress
may show what sort of President he/she would make.
Here is Mitt Romney's foreign relations moment...

Romney ratchets up criticism of Obama on initial response to embassy attacks
NBC News
Tom Curry
9/12/12

Richard Engles:
At 10:25 p.m. ET Tuesday night -- after news of the attacks in Cairo and Benghazi
but before it was confirmed Stevens had been killed --
the Romney campaign released a statement in which Romney said,

But a few hours later...

Andrea Mitichell:

[Lamplighter]

Each election, the talking heads revive conspiratorial tactics about the Republicans
reaching bargains with foreign powers on what they will do for them when/if they are elected.

This year it has started with Romney and Netanyahu creating a crisis for Obama over a "nuclear Iran"
Without explanation, seemingly it's a lose-lose situation for Obama
....either a war with Iran or a nuclear bomb in Iran.

But that's not necessarily the case.
It may just be a case of "wag the dog" to bolster Romney's political campaign.

FoxNews.com
9/11/12
Romney win could spur longtime pal Netanyahu to face Iran threat

Mitt Romney and Benjamin Netanyahu go way back, and some in Israel
believe the prime minister sees his old friend capturing the White House
as the perfect opportunity to vanquish Iran's nuclear threat.

The depth of their relationship, sown back in the 1970s when they both worked
as corporate advisers at the Boston Consulting Group, has been on
the minds of Israelis lately as the American election season grinds along.

In addition to an entry on their resumes, Romney and Netanyahu appear to share
a similar perspective of the danger Iran poses to the Jewish State.
And given the often-frosty relations between Netanyahu and the Obama administration,
decisive action by Israel could come quickly if Romney wins on Nov. 6.

But the world diplomatic community feels differently...

The Telegraph
9/13/12

MI6 boss 'visited Israeli Prime Minister to urge against attacking Iran'

The head of MI6, Sir John Sawers, paid a visit to Israel's Prime Minister
to urge him not to back strikes against Iran, it was reported last night.
Sir John paid a personal visit to Benjamin Netanyahu to appeal to the leader
to hold fire after he appeared to be impatient over the UK and US's approach
towards Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his nuclear programme.

Yesterday, Mr Netanyahu said the US did not have the "moral right" to stop Israel
from taking action against Iran, where he is concerned by a number of nuclear sites.
"The world tells Israel to wait because there is still time," he said.
"And I ask: Wait for what? Until when?
Those in the international community who refuse to put red lines
before Iran don't have a moral right to place a red light before Israel."<snip>

Fears over Iran and debate about what to do about the threat it poses has reached a fever pitch.
The most recent meeting of the security cabinet was abandoned midway
after Netanyahu learned that alleged differences of opinion between Israel’s security services
over the best course of action had been leaked ahead of the top security gathering.
Netanyahu is now reportedly considering submitting all members of the security cabinet
to polygraph tests in order to establish the source of the leak.

The US position is that an war with Iran could only postpone the current situation,
and could lead to even more problems in the middle east,

Business Week
Tony Capaccio
September 12, 2012

Iran Attack Would Halt Nuclear Bid for Four Years, Report Says

A U.S. or Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities would derail
the Islamic Republic’s suspected weapons program for four years at most
while uniting its citizens and alienating the Muslim world, according to a report.

The report to be released today by the “Iran Project,” a bipartisan group
of former national-security officials and foreign-policy specialists, discusses
the military pros and cons of a strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities and outlines
the less- discussed political fallout of any such attack. <snip>

[Lamplighter]

Are you in the "middle class" ?
It all depends on how you define your words...

Associated Press
STEVE PEOPLES
9/14/12

BOSTON (AP) — Mitt Romney is promising to reduce taxes on middle-income Americans.

But how does he define "middle-income"?
The Republican presidential nominee defined it as income of $200,000 to $250,000 a year.
Romney commented during an interview broadcast Friday on ABC's "Good Morning America."

The Census Bureau reported this week that the median household income
— the midpoint for the nation — is just over $50,000.

The definition of "middle income" or the "middle class" is politically charged.
Both presidential candidates are fighting to win over working-class voters.
President Barack Obama has defined "middle class" as income up to $250,000 a year.
Obama wants to extend Bush-era tax cuts for those making less than $250,000.
Romney wants to extend the tax cuts for everyone.

[Happy Monkey]

I'm all for pointing and laughing at Romney, but I suspect that he meant that the maximum income for "middle class" was about $200000 or $250000, not that the range went from $200000 to $250000.

eta:
Though I don't know how to parse this:

"Is $100,000 middle income?" Stephanopoulos asked.
"No, middle income is $200,000 to $250,000 and less," Romney responded.

$100000 is less, but he still said "No".

Pointing and laughing has been reapproved.

[Spexxvet]

..

[Spexxvet]

...

[Cyber Wolf]

Well to be fair, and not an endorsement for Mitt, but just because he did it doesn't mean he liked it. People do stuff out of necessity, perceived or real, even though they may not like it. I can't remember the last time I enjoyed a visit to my ophthalmologist but glaucoma runs in the family so I go regularly. But I hates it. So much.

[Griff]

NYT/CBS poll has good news for Obama. It looks like any bump from the RNC has already been absorbed.

[Lamplighter]

Yes, it's always done "legally"...

[xoxoxoBruce]

True, Biden was wrong, but Federal money or FDIC, the cost eventually gets passed on to we the people. Same as a corporation's largess to a politician or a worthy charity, the cost eventually comes back to us.