Posts filed under ‘2012 Election’
Republicans Really Screwed Up Last Weekend’s Maine Caucuses
For a party that claims (emphasis on claims) to be obsessed about perfection when it comes to all things voting, Republicans really know how to screw up ah, voting:
Eeeeek! A Fraud! (RJ Matson, Roll Call, April 16, 2007)
Pressure Mounting for GOP Caucus Reconsideration
Pressure is on the Maine Republican Party to reconsider its weekend declaration that Mitt Romney won the state’s caucuses.
The Maine GOP announced Saturday that Romney narrowly edged Ron Paul, 39 percent to 36 percent, in a nonbinding presidential preference poll taken during the caucuses. The margin was fewer than 200 votes.
A number of communities were not included in that poll because they had not held their caucuses in time. Washington County Republicans postponed their caucuses, originally scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 11, because of a pending snowstorm and will now meet this Saturday. Other communities across the states also have caucuses scheduled for this weekend and later this month.
All along, state GOP officials said communities knew that their votes would not be included in the final results if they did not hold their caucus by Feb. 11.
However, a review of the town-by-town results released Saturday by the Maine GOP suggests that some communities that had caucused prior to Feb. 11 were not counted. Nearly all Waldo County towns held caucuses on Feb. 4 but those towns were blank in the results released by the state party. Additionally, Waterville held its caucuses ahead of time but were not included in the results.
Over the last few days I’ve read some tweets and seen some headlines speculating that the Maine GOP essentially rearranged the deck chairs so that Romney would “win.” Given the info above, maybe they did.
Talk about
VOTER FRAUD.
Michigan to Romney: Don’t Let the Door Hit You on the Way Out
Ouch. Here’s a bare-bones, raw explanation as to why Michiganders are rallying around Rick Santorum. Shorter: Mitt stabbed them in the back. They hate him.
One very clear reason why Mitt Romney is far from a lock to win the Michigan primary, despite his ties to the state, is that he’s not really tied to the state.
He was born here, he lived here. But he’s not family. Not anymore.
That’s why the characterization of Rick Santorum polling well in Romney’s backyard is a bit misguided. The truth is, many of us disowned that two-faced liar years ago. We remember how, back in 2008, Romney came home promising to do all he could to save the auto industry. And we believed him and voted for him and he won the primary here. Then, after he dropped out of the race, he wrote a New York Times op-ed that carried the headline “Let Detroit Go Bankrupt.”
The opening sentence: “If General Motors, Ford and Chrysler get the bailout that their chief executives asked for yesterday, you can kiss the American automotive industry goodbye.”
What the hell?
I thought he said he was one of us.
Later in the piece, Romney talks about why we should let the auto industry go bankrupt. Although he lays out some very sound reasons for this — including an anecdotal story of when his father, George, took over American Motors — at the end of the day he fails to mention the most important thing. Us.
He forgot about the people back home who depended on the auto industry to put food on the table, pay mortgages, send the kids to college. He greeted us like family when he needed our votes, but when he left town he treated us like strangers.
[...]
But it’s going to be tough to sit and listen to Romney, knowing he will try to say whatever he thinks we want to hear. And besides, our backs are still sore from that knife he stuck in them in 2008.
Read the whole thing here.
New Mexico: Corporations Are Not People
I’m about to crawl in bed because I have The Cold That Won’t Quit that everyone seems to have these days, but I want to put this up first:
New Mexico calls on Congress to overturn Citizens United ruling
The New Mexico state legislature has approved a resolution that urges the U.S. Congress to pass a constitutional amendment to overturn the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Citizens United v. FEC.
“This marks a major victory for the constitutional amendment movement to reclaim our democracy,” said John Bonifaz, director of Free Speech for People, a coalition of groups that oppose the controversial ruling.
“The Citizens United ruling presents a direct and serious threat to the integrity of our elections, unleashing a torrent of corporate money into our political process,” he added. “The ruling is also the most extreme extension yet of a corporate rights doctrine which has been eroding our First Amendment and our US Constitution for the past 30 years. As with prior egregious Supreme Court rulings which threatened our democracy, we the people must exercise our power under Article V of the Constitution to enact a constitutional amendment which will preserve the promise of American self-government: of, for, and by the people.”
If my memory serves, I think this is the first time a state legislature has passed a resolution opposing Citizens United. A number of city and county councils have passed amendments and/or resolutions but I think this is first state-wide resolution ever.
Bravo New Mexico.
Let’s keep this ball rollin’ people!
Want the Rich to Pay More Taxes? Go With Obama
Here is a chart comparing taxes under Obama’s budget and Romney’s budget. Obama is blue, Romney is red.
Notice how, under Obama’s tax proposal, taxes go up dramatically for the top 90% income earners and then then very dramatically for the 95%-ers and higher. Romney on the other hand much nicer to the “job creators” his buddies.
See a larger version of the chart and get the details here.
How the NRA Gets People to the Polls
Tie a carrot to a stick and keep walkin’.
This would be our Tweet of the Day:
Mitt (Dog on Roof) Romney Wins Maine Caucuses
A whopping 39% of Mainers — that would be a total of 2,190 people — voted for Mitt
Illustration by Colleeen Clap for the "Chris Matthews Show"
Romney in today’s Republican caucuses there.
Ron Paul came in second at 36% with 1,996 votes.
Rick Santorum was third at 18% with 989 votes, and
Newt and Callista Gingrich came in fourth at 6% with a pitiful 349 votes.
Relevant factoid: Maine’s population? 1,328,188.
So, 5,524 Republicans voted in Maine today and the cables have been hanging on it all week? Really?
#ItsAllAboutRatingsTheMoney
Rick Berman, Millionaire Lobbyist, Gives We the People The Finger
Rick Berman gives us all a big freakin’ finger:
Big-time lobbyist Rick Berman creates nonprofit front groups to push corporate interests. Now he’s in an anti-union ad pretending to be an auto mechanic.
(Via.)
This is how brazen the corporatocracy is getting. They’re buying elections and they don’t care if we know it because we can’t do anything about it. They have the money and we don’t. Period. We’re on the outside looking in. Welcome to Campaign 2012!
(With special thanks to the activist Republican judges on the Supreme Court who brought us Citizens United.)
Obama to Propose Cutting Corporate Taxes
OMG. Is this Obama talking or is this Obama under the influence of Citizens United talking?
(Reuters) – President Barack Obama, who has angered businesses with his plans to close corporate tax loopholes, is expected to call for cutting the top 35 percent corporate tax rate as early as this month, according to two sources close to the administration.
The president is likely to propose a rate close to an average of peer nations, the sources said.
Good thing it’s Friday. This is the kind of news that makes me want to take my head off and set it down for a while.
The Fox Business Network (FBN) is History
Fox Business Replaces Its Primetime Lineup with Reruns
Fox Business Network announced Thursday they will replace their three primetime programs with “encore presentations of the channel’s top post-market programs,” also known as reruns of Lou Dobbs Tonight. The network is getting rid of FreedomWatch with Judge Andrew Napolitano, Power & Money with David Asman, and Follow the Money with Eric Bolling. Fox Business has struggled with ratings compared to other networks, and in the short term, it doesn’t feel like reruns are going to improve anything, but then, maybe they’re just regrouping. Only time will tell.
I was at the NewsHounds when the Fox Business Network (FBN) debuted in October, 2007. After watching for several days, it was clear that Fox’s intention in launching FBN was to in essence air a channel centered on right-wing propaganda couched as a “business news” outlet. I knew that wouldn’t fly. People who were/are looking for information as to where and how to invest their money want facts. They want facts and/or informed opinions as to what the future holds in terms of risks, upsides and downsides. They don’t want Sean Hannity-like rants.
Conversely, the folks who want “news” (and Sean Hannity-like rants) had the Fox News Channel (FNC). Why would they migrate to FBN?
When Neil Cavuto (of both Fox News and FBN) started to beg people to watch FBN, I knew they were in trouble:
By the way, in about 90 minutes, I will be speaking live with Rudy Giuliani. It will be his first interview since outlining his tax plan. You can only catch it on Fox Business Network. That’s coming up at 6:00 p.m. Eastern time. If you don’t get this network, demand this network from your cable provider.
So this news about Fox Business replacing its primetime programs with reruns — who does that? — can only signal the beginning of the end of the farce that was the Fox “Business” Channel.
RIP. I give it until the end of the year. Fox won’t risk tarnishing its brand by closing the channel prior to November 6. After all, they’ve got “fair and balanced” work to do, i.e., putting a Republican in the White House.
Chamber of Commerce Launches 2012 Ad Campaign — in February!
Almost nine months prior to Election Day 2012, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has launched its “voter education” brainwashing ad blitz:
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce launched a multi-million dollar ad blitz in House and Senate races across the country on Thursday.
The launch marks the earliest start ever to the Chamber’s biennial ad campaigns in congressional races. The ads back Republicans in 11 House races and eight Senate contests. The group is supporting one Democrat: Rep. Jim Matheson of Utah.
“We’re engaging earlier and more aggressively than ever to educate constituents about which leaders recognize the role free enterprise plays in leading our economic recovery,” Chamber President Thomas Donohue said in a statement. “It comes down to a simple question: is big government or free enterprise the solution to our country’s economic problems?”
The Chamber is the largest lobbying power in Washington, representing the common interests of a broad array of businesses with millions in spending each quarter. The trade group is also one of the biggest spenders on U.S. elections, doling out over $50 million in the 2010 midterms.
Stay on top of the Chamber’s, ahem, “2012 Voter Education” ads here.
Washington State Passes Freedom to Marry Bill
Heads up to people who want to impose their religious beliefs on the rest of us:
Washington State Legislature Passes the Freedom to Marry
Moments ago on a 55 to 43 vote, the Washington House joined in the State Senate in passing legislation that will extend marriage to gay and lesbian couples. Today’s passage of HB 2516 positions Washington to become the seventh state to end the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage.
[...]
Governor Gregoire, who was instrumental in passing this legislation, is expected to sign the bill into law shortly. However, opponents of the freedom to marry have until June 6th to turn in the necessary signatures to file for a referendum that would put marriage on the ballot this coming November. Should they file a referendum with a sufficient number of verified signatures, the law would not be implemented until after the election.
Undoubtedly Republicans will gather signatures to put this issue on the ballot. The Republican rank and file is bored to tears with their already-anointed presidential candidate so a November vote might help motivate them to get out of bed on Election Day.
Romney to Campaign in Maine Friday, At a Yacht Service Company
No, this isn’t a headline from The Onion:
Romney to campaign in Portland on Friday
AUGUSTA, Maine — Former Massachusetts governor and Republican presidential nominee frontrunner Mitt Romney is expected to campaign in Maine on Friday, just one day before the state GOP releases results of its presidential preference poll.
Maine GOP Chairman Charlie Webster told The Associated Press that Romney is expected to speak Friday evening at a rally at Portland Yacht Services.
What is “Portland Yacht Services?”
Portland Yacht Services is a full service Boatyard and Marina, providing customers with a full spectrum of services for outfitting and maintaining a motor or sailing vessel. Our dedicated staff handles all types of storage, maintenance, refits, and restorations on any type of boat or yacht.
This is the photo on the masthead of its website:
Mitt, really? Really!
I don’t care if Portland YACHT Services services dinghies, when you’re trying to look like a man of the people when you aren’t, you don’t go anywhere near a place called Portland YACHT Services.
Hello! Anyone home?
Unbelievable.
Santorum Wins the Night
Santorum Jolts GOP Presidential Race With 3-state Sweep
Jolts is right.
Republicans. Don’t. Like. Romney.
Hah. This is getting good.
Rick Santorum Could Win Colorado
I live in Colorado.
I haven’t seen a single pro-Romney ad this year.
Rick Santorum is close to “winning” the caucus here tonight (@10:28 p.m. ET*).
Photo: USAToday
Grassroots Republicans in this state could pull this off, unswayed by a gazillion dollars worth of campaign propaganda that puts lipstick on a pig.
Take that Romney.
* What’s with calling this race people? The polls closed 90-minutes ago.
Colorado Cop Pulls Over Car With Dog Crate Strapped to the Roof
OMG, this is great.
Police Stop Dogs Against Romney Protester for Having Dog Crate on Car Roof
This image says it all. A Dogs Against Romney Pack Member was stopped by the Littleton, Colorado police yesterday for having a dog crate on the roof of his car. The Pack Member, identified only as ”Oredigger,” was on his way to protest at a Mitt Romney event yesterday with the crate atop his car carrying a stuffed toy dog when the police officer, believing he was actually transporting a live dog on the roof of his car, stopped him. Says Oredigger, “I was pulled over for suspected animal abuse.”
This clearly illustrates how blatantly awful, incredibly dangerous, outrageously insensitive – and even illegal – Mitt Romney’s decision to transport his own dog on the roof of his car was.
But Romney still blows it off: The dog was “comfortable;” he “liked it.” Yo Mitt, that’s because the dog trusted you to take care of him and he had no idea of the danger he was in, you idiot. Geezus. Outrageously insensitive is right.
Oh, and P.S. Bravo to that cop.
About The Republican Reaction to Obama Taking Super PAC Money
This would be our Tweet of the Day, which pretty much sums up what Republicans are saying today about President Obama’s decision to take super PAC money:
Fox Suggests Employment Numbers Are Fake
Been waiting for this to happen:
Fox and Friends -- Photo by H. Walker/Getty Images North America)
Fox & Friends Suggests The January Job Numbers Are Made Up To Make President Obama Look Good
During the morning train wreck known as Fox & Friends on Monday, hosts Eric Bolling, Steve Doocy, and Gretchen Carlson discussed the positive January jobs report numbers, suggesting that the Labor Department doctored the numbers to help President Obama look good.
I predict Fox will keep pushing this meme and by November its viewers will blow off the employment numbers altogether.
Question is, what to do if a Republican wins in November and the numbers continue to be good?
They’ll pause for two or three months and then they’ll throw it into reverse. Their drugged viewers won’t notice a thing.
Ed Schultz Looks in the Mirror and Sees Karl Rove
Ed Schultz just minutes ago: “Why would a right-wing hack” like Karl Rove “come out and talk about a Super Bowl ad? Hahahaha.”
Ed devoted his entire radio show today to ♥loving♥ the ad and as of 8:26 p.m. ET, he’s spent half an hour talking about it on his TV show.
What a tool.
Jon Huntsman — Back to the Gilded Grindstone
Ah yes. When a millionaire trust fund kid has to find something to do, this is what he does:
Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman says he’s ruling out another political bid this year but is leaving open the possibility of a future run.
In his first public comments since abandoning his presidential race, Huntsman told The Salt Lake Tribune that he plans to serve on some corporation boards [calling all companies who want to expand their business into China], do some volunteer work and go on a speaker circuit as well as possibly taking some yet-to-be-named news media gig [hey, Fox could claim he's their "liberal"]. But, for now, he’s taking a break from the political scene.
Amazing. This is a former presidential candidate who told us he had a passion for changing/helping/reforming the country and he’s going to spend his down-time serving on corporate boards [easy as hell money], raking in thousands of dollars on the speaker’s circuit and bloviating on teevee [he could play a liberal on Fox!]?
What a fraud.
Mitt Isn’t Going to Like This
This is the cover of the most recent issue of The New Republic:
And no, The New Republic isn’t a flaming liberal rag, it’s conservative, so I find this choice of cover photo pretty darn interesting. This is one of the ugliest pictures I’ve ever seen of anyone.
Romney Wins Nevada
Let’s jump over the five, six or however-many hours the cables are going to feign doubt and say out loud what everyone knows is going to happen tonight:
ROMNEY WINS NEVADA
Don’t forget, we’re talking caucuses here folks. This is about how roughly 20% of hardcore Republicans voted, never mind the other 80% and independents and Democrats.
The general election will be a whole new ballgame.
Have a fun Saturday night!
Now, on to Maine and Colorado. (Bleh.)
Rick Santorum’s Zzzzzzz Factor
Far as I can tell, none of the kids in this photo care what Rick Santorum is saying. And can you blame them? I’m sure the feeling is mutual.
(Via.)
Firing People is So Much Fun
If Donald Trump ends up endorsing Willard, the DNC is ready with this ad:
Hee hee.
Good Luck With That Mitt
So now Romney thinks he’s going to gain traction with the public by criticizing Obama’s plan to withdraw from Afghanistan next year?
Republican front-runner Mitt Romney slammed President Obama on Wednesday night over Defense Secretary Leon Panetta’s announcement that the United States would end its combat mission in Afghanistan next year.
Speaking in Las Vegas, Romney said that announcing a timetable to end the combat mission showed the president’s “naivete.”
“The secretary of Defense said that on a day certain, the middle of 2013, we’re going to pull out our combat troops from Afghanistan,” Romney said, according to reports from Las Vegas.
“He announced that. So the Taliban hears it, the Pakistanis hear it, the Afghan leaders hear it. Why in the world do you go to the people that you’re fighting with and tell them the date you’re pulling out your troops?” Romney said. “It makes absolutely no sense.”
Romney concluded that Obama’s “naivete is putting in jeopardy the mission of the United States of America and our commitments to freedom.”
“Our commitments to freedom?” Really? I think Americans are sick and tired of being at war and paying for war and they want the “mission of the United States of America” to focus on “commitments” here at home.
Yo Mitt. Good luck with that.
Mitt Romney Campaigns For His Millionaire Donors
Who is Willard Mitt Romney campaigning for? You? Me? No. He’s campaigning for the folks who give to his SuperPAC, Restore Our Future, Inc.
Restore Our Future Inc.? A more appropriate name would be, Restore Rich People’s Future Inc.
Details here
Gingrich and Paul are In — Let The Games Begin!
This would be Newt tonight:
Bamneycare?
I love the word. Problem is, I’m thinking:
And this would be Ron Paul’s website:
What? This is what his site looks like tonight? After Florida? I thought he had legions of young people working on his campaign. This is the best they can do?
URGENT: Willard Wins Florida
“URGENT:” Willard “Mitt” Romney wins in Florida.
Woohoo.
Give it a week. Tonight will be a distant memory.
Newsweek is Pathetic
This is the real cover of the February 6, 2012 issue of Newsweek magazine:
Our presidential campaigns consist of nine second sound bites. Never mind a real discussion of the issues. And instead of being a check and balance on that tragedy, the media encourages it.
Michael Steele Lies: Florida’s Primary is a “Grass Roots” Effort
Figures made available to The Associated Press showed Romney was spending $2.8 million to air television commercials in the final week of the Florida campaign. In addition, a group supporting him, Restore Our Future, was spending $4 million more, for a combined total of $6.8 million.
By contrast, Gingrich was spending about $700,000, and Winning Our Future, a group backing him, an additional $1.5 million. That was about one-third the amount for the pro-Romney tandem.
Only nine more months to go!
* It isn’t like me to refer to the former head of the Grand Old Party (i.e., the GOP) as the “former Republican party leader.” But given that 50% of Republicans have no idea who the GOP is, I’m thinking it’s a good idea to refer to Republicans not as the GOP, but as Republicans. I mean, if I have to hold their little hands so they’ll know what their party’s up to, I’ll do it.
