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Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012 | 2:01 a.m.
All U.S. citizens should celebrate the presidential election results. We now have proof that democracy works. What did we learn? One: Minorities have a vital say in elections. Voter statistics show that the president’s re-election was helped significantly by support of groups such as Hispanic, black and young voters. Two: Money cannot buy the presidential election. Republicans spent $550 million on ads compared with the Democrats’ $381 million, according to an AP story quoting organizations that track advertising. Three: The American dream can come true for anyone who works hard, is intelligent and is honest. As a female, white senior ...
LOL
Obama spent nearly $300 billion more than Romney
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First - Obama did not win based on a vision and an agenda as witnessed by getting 9.7 million fewer disillusioned voters (1.6 million fewer Blacks) then in 2008 and just 50% of the popular vote. A swing of 1.2% would have given it to Romney - historically the smallest margin ever
Only 26% of the eligible voting population voted for Obama
Every exit poll question on the economy and job was more favorable to Romney. Witness the first debate about the economy that Romney won.
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Second - The race was lost by July of 2012, due to three basic point:
- The republican primary was long and was toxic and left Romney tarnished and with very low favorability.
- Obama implement his "KILL" Romney (murderer and racist and felon) bad faith ressentiment character assassination and vilification of an honest family businessman Mitt Romney - right out of the Sal Alinsky play book. a $150 million ad campaign. (this was coined the Jim Messina "Grand Bet")
- The republican primary sapped all of Romney's money so he could not counter the Summer Obama blitz of his character. It was only after the Convention that Romney was able to tap funds - but to late.
Romney never got back his reputation or respect or momentum after the summer pillaring by Obama. The exit poll tellingly gave likability overwhelming to Obama
The result of Obama's summer negative ad campaign was republican voter suppression - 2 million fewer republican voters turned out with the low favorability of Romney.
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Third - This Democrat strategy reflects the true dumbing down of our campaigns. Obama by keeping the Issues small on free abortions and free pills, pell grants and expanding food stamps never allowed a real campaign on the economy.
No, Jo Ann, we should not celebrate the election results, but that's not because President Obama was re-elected and Mitt Romney lost the election.
The reason we should not celebrate the results of this or any recent election is because they are not resulting in our resolving our most critical issue.
We must find a way to 'begin' matching revenue and spending. Former President Bush did not do that. President Obama hasn't done that. Congress isn't doing that.
We can pat ourselves on the back and say how great Democracy is and what a great country we have all we want, but if we keep spending way more than comes in from taxes, our great Democracy is going to implode economically.
Michael
If nothing else, just the amount of money spent spent on elections reflects how important they are.
That said we can now turn to the "fiscal cliff". We should consider this an opportunity rather than a problem. Our deficit problem will not solve itself and pain postponed is not pain avoided. We will face a cliff again and the fall then promises be steeper and deeper. If we let ALL the Bush tax cuts expire it will probably cause at least a mild recession. But at least we'd all be doing something together for a change and sooner would be way less painful than later.
I think we found our minorities like big government and less " The American dream can come true for anyone who works hard, is intelligent and is honest".
We should all celebrate electing a president that wants to make the USA just like Europe: Insolvent, bankrupt, and in social and governmental turmoil. Yeah, right. Hip hip hurrah. Get real and stop believing the hype.
CarmineD
IMHO, we should enact pro-growth policies aimed at growing our economy and creating jobs which would raise tax revenue. In order to close the gap between tax revenue collected and government spending, we need consumers with means to spend, investors investing and more Americans employed.
The Bush tax cuts benefited lower and middle income wage earners including single mothers and the elderly.
* 46 million married couples received an average tax cut of $1,716.
* 34 million families with children received from an average tax cut of $1,473.
* 6 million single women with children received an average tax cut of $541.
* 13 million elderly taxpayers received an average tax cut of $1,384.
* 23 million small business owners received tax cuts averaging $2,042.
* 3 million moderate-income families saw their income tax burden eliminated entirely.
Preferably, we should reform the tax code eliminating tax loopholes that benefit primarily higher income groups and broaden the tax base where everyone pays at least a nominal income tax rate. Rescinding the Bush tax rates on lower/middle income groups would be a burden to a group who needs the money to make ends meet.
On the spending side, we should slow the annual growth rate of government spending from 7& to 4%.
"Support our philosophy of government and Constitution by supporting our president."
Ms.Malkin I will always support the Constitution, but never will support your philosophy of government.
What planet does Malkin reside on? In a country where we are supposedly free, for one candidate to get 100% of the votes in 59 precincts is unheard of in an "honest" election. And, for one candidate to get 100% of more than 19,000 votes is downright impossible without some hanky-panky going on. JFK stole the election years ago with help from Mayor Daley of Chicago (you know, dead people "voting"). Osama Obama stole this one with help of corrupt election officials in too many states to count. This election was more like the ones held in Cuba and Venezuela. That's what we have reached - 3rd world status - under the cretin the White House!
Dear JoAnn:
Thanks for your years and years of activism, please be accepting of the negativity being voiced by the anti-Obama crowd here. We need them to continue this cycle of negativity until the 2014 elections are in the rear view mirror.
They can't read, don't write very well, and their version of the truth comes from a mean spirited radio guy and a few numskulls on Fox TV.
We know the infrastructure of America needs great attention both physically and financially. We will address this as soon as we can get past another in the record number of filibusters sure to be used as roadblocks in the new congress.
America wants to protect EVERYONE, but they elected Obama the sheriff. I hope his actions "arrest" the hatred being displayed for working together.
One dollar of budget cuts for one dollar of revenue is the new starting point. Forward from there.
Once again JoAnn, don't let their lack of respect bother you, wear it as a badge of honour.
Jefffromvegas wrote "America wants to protect EVERYONE, but they elected Obama the sheriff."
Sheriff Obama. Really Jeff?????
We live in representative democracy Jeff. Quit making the presidency a dictatorship and sole determiner of our future as a country.
I think this was a vote against Romney rather than for Obama. The constant negative ads and news coverage worked well for the president. Also, as far as money can't buy an election, I disagree. With all the free stuff promised to voters I would say that it clearly was bought.
I wonder if Brian Greenspun and the chameleons realize the consequences of their push to Fascism. Hey Brian, remember this, you didn't build that.
Ms.Malkin,
Very good article.If only we could convince the sore losers and cry babies to except what the majority of voter's decided on election day.The re-election of Pres.Obama.
Gov. Romney gave a very classy concession speech the day after he lost the election to Pres.Obama.
Rep. Paul Ryan,also stated on ABC news on tues.Nov.13th. This is his quote,"So you can imagine,It was a bit of a shock when we didn't win,but that's just the way these things go."
Ryan said Pres.Obama deserves to be congratulated for having a fantastic ground game.He won fair and square."He got more votes and that's the way our system works.And he ought to be congratulated for that."
If others would follow the lead of these two gentleman,(Romney,Ryan) we could move on with the issues facing our country.
Of course liberals only tout how great Democracy is when their candidate wins. For me, I think the Democrat Party is doing its best to make a mockery of American Democracy and American citizenship with their constant attempts to block voter ID laws and their calls for legalizing millions of lawbreakers who entered this country illegally in the hopes of getting their votes in return, in their quest for a permanent majority rule. To me, Democracy in this country is close to being on it's last leg thanks to the selfishness and power tripping of this shameless political party.
Mr. ReFreman,
What period of the Bush Tax Cut do the numbers reflect? Please provide for the readers the year(s), middle class citizens experienced the benefits you posted on November 14, 2012 4:51am.
Thank you Mr. ReFreeman.
Longtimevegan,
Look up the information yourself.
As always Mr. ReFreeman your reporting is incomplete and misleading.
A request for clarity should not be rejected by a person who lives by the numbers.
Again, what years of the Bush Tax Cut do the numbers reflect? A simple question. I'll make it easy for you. Do the numbers reflect any years during the Obama Administration? Simple question.
Mr. ReFreeman, people who read numbers posted on an articles from independent commentators automatically assume the numbers are true across the board on an issue. You, Mr. ReFreeman continually post numbers you do not clarify, and when asked or challenged, you, well, you now response like your post at 8:57pm.
We can assume the numbers you posted do not reflect the tax cuts from the Obama Administration, which are, or would be part of, and included in the number you posted at 4:51am. depending of the years you are referencing. Meaning the Bush Tax Cuts are not directly responsible for the benefits you described if your numbers overlap into the Obama Administration.
Thank you Mr. ReFreeman.
ReFreeman excitedly said:
"Jefffromvegas wrote "America wants to protect EVERYONE, but they elected Obama the sheriff."
Sheriff Obama. Really Jeff?????
We live in representative democracy Jeff. Quit making the presidency a dictatorship and sole determiner of our future as a country."
I say:
Not sole, primary, as in executive orders, military deployments of an emergency basis, and veto-er (or decider) in chief.
It is crackin me up watching you guys, or gals - not sure what a "Re" is - so severely twisted in emotional knots. Now that the right wing has lied to you guys too, maybe you will get more "comfortable" with the truth.
Hey Re
Take a walk on the mild side
doot doot doot doot do doot doot.
Jeff,
You're an Obama worshiper who can't get enough of kissing his ring. Perhaps you'll go from calling him sheriff Obama to King Obama next.
Longtimevegan,
I'm sorry you don't understand tax policy.
During the recession, the 2001 indicators showed consumer debt was at an all time high at 17% of disposable income, the personal savings rate was near record lows between 2% and 3% and consumers were purchasing less as indicated by GDP growth slowing to 1.09. Bush and congress decided to cut taxes to put more money into consumers hands. The recession lasted just 8 months and GDP began to rise again the following years with a GDP growth rate of 1.8%, 2.5% and 3.59%. Tax receipts started to climb again as well to 17.3% and 18.2% as a percent of GDP two years after the recession. Bush, did the right thing by putting more money into the economy with lower tax rates, it shortened the recession and tax revenue started to climb back to at or above the historic average two years later. Later in his term, the housing bubble was unavoidable as consumers continued to over-extend themselves financially as the personal savings rate dropped again to under 2% while household debt climbed to a record 18% of disposable income in 2006-07. At that point, government couldn't stop the recession and consumers had no other choice but to curb their spending.
Sorry Longtimevegan that you lack an understanding of tax policy and the economy but I'm not the one who's going to hold your hand explaining numbers to you. If you want to challenge any number then please do so. For a debate to ensue, you have to challenge a premise, give us your premise or challenge a fact with your fact finding. What you do, in essence, is ask me to challenge my own facts and premises and that's not how debating works plus it reveals you are not knowledgeable in the subject matter. I will state the obvious though that you lack whatever it is inside a human being to challenge another.
I guess we have people that are un-American in our ranks.
A real American accepts the results of an election.
A real American get behind the president Elect to help resolve our country problems.
A real American will not gripe and whine and say and do horrible thing against their country.
A real American loves his country and abides buy the laws of the land.
A real American loves his entire fellow American no matter what or who they are.
I love my country and all Americans.
So stop all this partisan BS and be a real American, not a child with a tantrum.
Mr. Fink I thought the same thing. But, to the best of my knowledge, no one has stepped forward from any of the questionable precincts to say that they voted for Romney. I agree that statistically it is unlikely it is not impossible. I believe that I have read that there were precincts in other areas of the country that received 100% Romney votes. Not many mind you but some.
Now, should someone come forth and say they voted for Romney and it was not counted then I think we should investigate immediately. Agreed?
Yo Freeman:
Yer model is outdated and toxic. Try these solutions:
The policies we propose to stimulate the economy and create jobs, and their economic impacts relative to current policy, are as follows:
Continue and expand the Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) program. The program is slated to terminate at the end of 2012, thus making it a component of the fiscal obstacle course. Continuing the program over 2013--2015 and allowing beneficiaries to claim up to 99 weeks of unemployment benefits in high-unemployment states (up from the 73 weeks the program currently supports in most high-unemployment states) would boost real GDP growth by 0.4 percentage points and increase employment by 539,000 jobs in 2013.
Provide $120 billion in direct fiscal relief to distressed state governments over 2013--2015 through a combination of increased federal Medicaid funds (via the Federal Medical Assistance Percentages, or FMAP) and block grants. This would boost real GDP growth by 0.4 percentage points and increase employment by 495,000 jobs in 2013.
Invest $234 billion over the next decade in surface transportation infrastructure and in establishing an infrastructure bank. This would boost real GDP growth by 0.2 percentage points and increase employment by 237,000 jobs in 2013, with even bigger gains in subsequent years as obligations and outlays ramp up.
Invest $55 billion in education by funding school modernizations and rehiring laid-off teachers over 2013--2015. This would boost real GDP growth by 0.3 percentage points and increase employment by 354,000 jobs in 2013.
Enact a targeted refundable tax rebate for 2013 to mitigate the impact of the Dec. 31, 2012, expiration of the payroll tax cut on lower- and middle-income households' disposable income. This would boost real GDP growth by 0.4 percentage points and increase employment by 502,000 jobs in 2013.
Read more: http://www.epi.org/publication/ib345-nav...
Jeff,
This is a plan from TCF Budget Analyst Andrew Fieldhouse and EPI's Josh Bivens. Do they now speak for democratic congressmen, senators and Obama?
With all the recent information post-election one would think Obama's generals were blogging here instead of fighting wars. After emailing their mistresses, of course.
When will someone let Obama know?
Jo Ann, thank you for your excellent article on Democracy. Your points were well made and significant.
Your contributions as a democracy activist are admirable and encouraging.
It was heartening to see so many voters being 'activists' by exercising their citizenship through voting.
I hope more citizens will find that activism can not only involve politics, but expand into all social issues where our country could benefit and move forward.
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Not sure what the economic comments have to do with your article on Democracy and the election.
They are just repetitious economic opinions, or copy & paste jobs, that have been going on ad nauseam, with or without validation.
~~~~~~~~~~
GHM, very accurate assessment and definitions!
There is no advantage to being stuck in the mud.
ReFreeman,
Initially, the Bush Tax Cuts helped the economy out of recession by putting more dollars into the pockets of businesses and investors, and ultimately consumers. It encouraged investment in the stock market by decreasing capital gains and dividend taxes.
However, it hurt the economy by decreasing tax revenues. This increased each year's annual deficit, and thereby the U.S. debt. This debt put downward pressure on the value of the dollar. The Bush tax cuts should have expired in 2004, when the economy was booming. Higher taxes would have slowed spending, helping to prevent the housing boom that led to the Great Recession.
The numbers you posted effectively did not benefit the middle class. The upward cost of goods, services and credit negated the expected gains. The balancing act of bring spending inline with revenue do not happen in 2007.
jldour - "With all the free stuff promised to voters I would say that it clearly was bought."
What free stuff? Did any of you posting get free stuff? If so let me know, I didn't get mine ... bwaahaha!
We live in a constitutional republic, not a democracy. This past election is proof that corruption works, one can buy votes by promising what every special interest group wants.
Didn't work for Romney and his special interests, despite millions of dollars and efforts to reduce the vote of other special interests.
We still have to see what happens in the budget workouts. There may be something for everyone, including Republican special interests.