****
10:0: President Obama departs the White House
11:35: Arrives Bowling Green, Ohio
1:05: Delivers remarks at a campaign event at Bowling Green State University
2:35: Departs Bowling Green
3:15: Arrives in Kent, Ohio
5:30: Delivers remarks at a campaign event at Kent State University, Ohio
7:00: Departs Kent, Ohio
8:25: Arrives at the White House
****
****
USA Today: If a new polls are any guide, President Obama has big leads in two states that could nail down his re-election: Ohio and Florida.
Obama leads Republican Mitt Romney by ten points – 53%-43% – in Ohio, according to the Quinnipiac University/New York Times/CBS News survey.
Obama’s lead is nine points in Florida, 53%-44%.
The president also leads Romney by 12 points in Pennsylvania, a state the Democrats have carried in five straight presidential elections.
****
Alec MacGillis (TNR): Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan are embarked on a multi-day bus tour of Ohio, even as Karl Rove is openly speculating about whether the Republicans ought to start thinking about doing what they’ve never done before – chart an Ohio-less route to the White House. “Look, there are 11 different ways to win without Ohio,” Rove said on Fox News Monday night.
Yes, it’s come to that: the man who secured George W. Bush’s reelection with a tremendous turnout effort in Ohio in 2004 is now on the verge of declaring the Buckeye State a lost cause. And that was before the latest Ohio poll came out, the Washington Post one this morning that has Obama up eight.
It’s worth stepping back to consider how remarkable this state of affairs is. Since Barack Obama started running for president, Ohio was supposed to be his Achilles heel.
Full post here
****
Great poll news ….. but, we know what they’re capable of, eg:
Washington Post: …. On Monday, the U.S. Senate campaign of Timothy M. Kaine began getting reports from concerned supporters in the Hampton Roads region: Someone was sending them anonymous text messages accusing Kaine of calling for a “radical new tax on all Americans.” The text included Kaine’s campaign phone number, and urged people to call him and tell him not to raise their taxes.
More here
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Washington Post: For the past year, as the presidential election unfolded, President Barack Obama confronted a dizzying swell of economic news — hiring up, hiring down, a euro crisis abroad, seesawing gasoline prices at the pump, foreclosures dragging down home values.
Six weeks before the election, those highs and lows are merging into a straighter line which, while below optimum performance, is moving in a positive direction for the country and for the president in his contest with Republican rival Mitt Romney.
Consumer confidence is at its highest level since February. Home values are up and, more important in the election season, housing prices in 20 major cities, many of them in battleground states, rose in July. Despite recent declines, the stock market has been on an upswing, adding value to Americans’ 401(k) retirement plans.
More here
****
Once in a blue moon, Politico is worth a link …. you’ve seen it already, but it’s worth another look 😎
Politico: Paul Ryan has gone rogue. He is unleashed, unchained, off the hook.
“I hate to say this, but if Ryan wants to run for national office again, he’ll probably have to wash the stench of Romney off of him,” Craig Robinson, a former political director of the Republican Party of Iowa, told The New York Times on Sunday.
Coming from a resident of Iowa, a state where people are polite even to soybeans, this was a powerful condemnation of the Republican nominee.
Though Ryan had already decided to distance himself from the floundering Romney campaign, he now feels totally uninhibited. Reportedly, he has been marching around his campaign bus, saying things like, “If Stench calls, take a message” and “Tell Stench I’m having finger sandwiches with Peggy Noonan and will text him later.”
More here
See Steve Benen on ‘The Stench’ here – thanks LadyHawke
****
😕
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Love this from Dotster: “This is hysterical just for the screen capture of the looks on the faces of Barack and Michelle on The View as Elisabeth is firing off her angry tirade nonsense.” (See Mediaite)
****
Morning everyone 😉
The Obama Diary 
Good Morning, Chip & TOD’ers. Have a great Obama day.
Hi Andre! Congrats on first! 🙂
If Romney really wanted China to stop stealing, why would he send them his money? Another great ad.
Mooooooooooooooooooorning Andre, morning everyone 😉
Congrats on 1st Andre and good Wednesday morning.
Good morning friends. Thanks Chips.
‘mornin’ flint! 🙂
Morning Chips Darling! It’s a great day in America!
REGISTER. VOTE…
G’morning CHIPS, TOD, lurkers, everyone and congratulations Andre on # 1! 🙂
https://twitter.com/ErikJClarke/status/250891146677612544
At Clinton Global Speech Slam, Obama Brings It (And Romney Underwhelms)
By Joe Conason
——————————–
President Obama spoke in a profoundly different way that was bracing in its rhetorical approach and its substantive intentions. Addressing the horror of human trafficking as the equivalent of slavery in our time, he eloquently explained why eradicating it is morally urgent for both America and global society, and precisely what he is doing and will do to advance that aim. He announced new policy directives and legal initiatives, domestic and international — and summoned American values and traditional commitments without posturing (or “apologizing”).
Rousing yet thoughtful, it was a memorable speech that improved considerably on Obama’s previous appearances at CGI, and is worth watching or reading for anyone who cares about this issue.
Discussing a grave challenge to humanity before an audience of serious people, the president didn’t mention or even allude to Romney or the Republicans. Why bother? He delivered a knockout punch, without touching them at all.
————————————
http://www.nationalmemo.com/at-clinton-global-speech-slam-obama-brings-it-and-romney-underwhelms/
I listened to Romney – “free enterprise” will solve all world problems – he didn’t even address the specific issues that were to the forefront this year. If this is the best the GOP has to offer – they need a rebuild.
I guess I shouldn’t laugh, but how amazing that the President they have given their all to defeat is causing the complete disintegration of their political party. This is Karma.
New GOP Slogan! Please REBUILD THAT!
Demolish That!
These new polls are all the more devastating for Romney because early voting has begun in many states, women are solidly behind Pres. Obama in the battleground states and they are definitely voting, and the polls were taken after Romney’s 47% remark and it is not being received well by voters.
After the 47% video came out, Romney’s lead with white men and seniors took a nose dive. Team Obama could play the 47% video and other segments of that fundraiser over and over again until the election. They are just that devastating. Also, Democrats are benefitting among voters in these battleground states who say they are definitely voting in this election. Republicans are trending negative in a bad, bad, bad way.
We mustn’t get complacent of course but things are trending positive for Pres. Obama.
UT, Republicans should have taken the “We will remember in November” signs that women carried in marches on the capital in state after state. GOP governors and state houses have treated women with gross disrespect and trampled on their rights, aided and abetted by the tea party in Congress. All that suppressed rage is going to be directed at the R twins.
Morning everyone!!
Holy Macro noodles, Potus 9 pts ahead in FL??? 10 in Ohio?? I know these are meaningless if we don’t show up to vote but this is making me giddy..
As for the stunning ineptness of the Romney campaign, I’m reminded of this quote from Voltaire:
“I have only ever made one prayer to God, a very short one: ‘ O Lord, make my enemies ridiculous.’ And God granted it.”
True, but get ready for a blizzard of crazy and a shitstorm of bluster and lies. The money people aren’t gonna just skulk away. They’re gonna sling money and mud all over the place until the very last moment. Hell, if they could start a war or cause another economic collapse in the next few weeks, they’d do it.
Plus, they’re moving money downticket too. We need to make sure we kept focused on the House and Senate races as well.
Most excellent comment, Dudette! We must stay focused and avoid claiming easy victory. We face a vicious group of people who will do everything to stop President Obama. Most importantly, President Obama needs a Democratic controlled Congress to be able to accomplish his policies. We must all pledge to do even more than we’ve been doing in the remaining forty days. We must not rest until Nov. 7 after we celebrate all night on Nov.6.
I voted! I voted! Today I voted! Guess who I voted for? Obama!!!!! Bless overseas absentee ballots. Bless Washington State. I Voted!!
I think you are the first to have voted here on TOD, correct? Either way congratulations!!! #4MoreObama
Oh no, you voted for Obama ? Who woulda thunk that ? 🙂
overseasgranny, I’m shocked that you didn’t vote for Willard. Just shocked…
Anyway, congratulations on being the first TODer to cast your 2012 ballot for our President!! Many, many more will be following your footsteps in the coming days. 🙂
Wooooooooooooooooooot OSG, congratulations!!!
That is exactly how I feel, Chips. Thanks for the perfect picture. The postmistress in An Post gets excited as I do about mailing in the ballot.
wooHooo Congratulations granny!!!
Congratulations. I am jealous.
Cindy, you will get to vote soon and I promise I will be just as excited…well, almost as excited about your vote as I am about mine. It feels so good.
WAY TO GO, overseasgranny!!
Yea!!!! 🙂
Cool! Really, really cool, OSG! 😎 THANKS from an overseas alien.
Huh, she finally got up 🙄
Been up for ages, (So, there!) managed to restrain myself by pretending to do exercises, then caved in about an hour ago down-thread. 😛 I know this was the first round since my retirement, but it sure was hard to restrain myself from going after the ‘gold’. I actually laid in bed under the covers over an hour to make sure YOU were already up and running. Hopefully the urge to join the race will diminish as the day unfolds. 😆 😆
“Been up for ages” 🙄
I’m going to do some research on how long BFFs last! You do know CC, there’s such a thing as friends keeping secrets, especially BFFs? This is the second time you have mentioned my snoring, leading to someone else referring to buzz saws last time. I WAS PRACTISING MY SINGING, OKAY? After all, you won’t let me sing in the village when I am awake. PRACTISING! That’s all.
Hi Overseas Granny and congratulations on your early voting!! I can hardly wait for my ballot to arrive in the mail in Portland OR. They start being sent out 10/19, and I’m going to vote immediately and walk that precious cargo to the nearest drop box with a BIG smile on my face!
Congratulations! That’s one vote down for our great President.
That photo is priceless. Michelle is very protective of her hubby. : )
I kind of love the fact that they not only use words well, they can do a ‘look’ that’s quite expressive and needs no words. Very effective communicators, and their noses weren’t in the air! Look and learn, AnnD! As someone said last night, these two leaders are very genuine; they are caring and polite, but they don’t pretend. They face facts all the time. Look and learn, AnnD!
collegeday, Bravo, she should be. She has to hold hers in, but Ann Romney can get on tv an complain, complain, complain. And the media says nothing.
I just love this couple and that picture of thier expression looking at Elisabeth is priceless. Michelle is looking at her like, if my husband were not president I’d kick your ass boutch…..PBO is looking at her like, that’s the best ya got…gop talking points? bring it….you played right into my plans boutch.
That look POTUS and FLOTUS gave Elizabeth “The Moron” Hasselbeck was so hilarious when I watched The View yesterday. The screen capture says it all.
Did you see hasselback’s poor hair job? How could she go on national television with those black roots? Petty, I know, but I found it distracting.
I know, right? I always thought she was a real blond…cuz…well.
As a true blonde myself, I was relieved. True blondes are foe President Obama!!!! 🙂
I noticed that too. I wasn’t sure she was a natural blonde, but those roots were BLACK. That surprised me. Is it my imagination or do an inordinate number of conservative women go for that extreme blonde look? I’m thinking about Coulter, Callista Gingrich, Megan McCain and her mother, and nearly every woman on Fox news. What is that about???
Now that you mention it, what IS that about.
Addressing ‘the stench’
http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2012/09/26/14110037-addressing-the-stench?lite
Oooooh, that is EXCELLENT. Love it Dudette!
LOL. Purrfect. RT’ed.
Niiiiiiice!
Good Wednesday Morning TODville! Another great day ahead, I suspect because I know the President will keep on keeping on.
https://twitter.com/PTRAway/status/250797550993543170
A WALKING CORPORATION MASQUERADING AS A PERSON
Romney’s “Unethical Stench”
By Andrew Sullivan – June 8, 2012
————————————–
PM Carpenter has reached his limit:
There no longer exists any doubt that Mitt Romney intends to win the White House by conducting the most dishonest, unscrupulous and reprehensible campaign ever devised, in mere whimsy. The unethical stench of this man is not only breathtaking, it’s meteoric. I have never seen anything like it, never heard anything like it, never imagined anything like it.
Romney will run against a fictional Obama, and Fox will provide the cover, and unless Obama is able to change the frame of this debate, the relentless propaganda will be potent. Yes, the level of deception is so great it’s breath-taking. But Romney, I’m increasingly inclined to believe, is a businessman all the way down. His ethics are about getting, as he put it, 50.1 percent of the vote in any state. He does not believe there are any ethical or principled reasons not to try and get to that 50.1 percent however he can. A businessman can compartmentalize core moral and political questions into marketing. The goal is 50.1 percent saturation.
.
.
As I noted once before, he doesn’t just believe that corporations are people; he is a walking corporation masquerading as a person.
———————————————
http://andrewsullivan.thedailybeast.com/2012/06/romneys-unethical-stench.html
This was prescient.
Good morning, TODville. All our hard work is paying off. And we are only going to work harder in the next 6 weeks. FORWARD!
That’s the look POTUS gives you when he’s barely tolerating your nonsense. Classic. And FLOTUS looks like she’s thinking: “OK, whatever, one more time for the Gipper. Huh?” If that was Elizabeth’s best shot, no wonder Republicans are circling the drain. Her whole self-important preamble of, “Oh, I really like you guys but my question is going to sting in places you may not have ever been stung” was just hideous.
Mooooooooooooorning Meta! Absolutely adore that screen-shot, it’s hilarious – thank you again Dotster!
An idjit of a fool of a twit on public airwaves. Jeebus, no wonder ‘murka is so dumbed down.
And she failed, utterly.
Says it all:
THIS RIGHT THERE.
Chuck Todd hasn’t tweeted anything since 8PM last night. He haz a sad this morning.
Morning Hopefruit, maybe his twitter machine drowned from all his tears?
HAHA..Yes..it’s rusty and won’t start up this morning!
Someone on twitter said maybe Yom Kippur?
Hey you, are you home yet or still floating around the planet causing mischief?
Still in BSL. Going home this weekend.
Sheesh, you’ll forget what home looks like.
Prolly wifey unit will call the police when I walk in.
😆 If she was sensible, she’d do that most days.
Why do ya think I bought them dresses for ? To keep her quiet.
Wait til we tell her you bought three for the price of one.
wimmin/smh
min/lol
Even when he’s HOME he causes mischief!! 🙂 That’s why we wimmin love him!
“That’s why we wimmin love him!”
Oi, speak for yourself! 😆
lol…oh Chips….
🙂 Mooooooooooooooooooooooooooorning ChristiMTL!
Morning Chips….you are so funny….lol
Idontknowhatchertalkingaboutmiss.
This guy is pure SCUM. Exactly how much do you have to worship wealth to bet against your own country’s currency?
Nothing about this creep surprises me….nothing……
Comment made by one of the men on the Stephanie Miller Show: Every time Romney opens his mouth a swing state gets its wings.
😆 😆 Brilliant!!!!
I heard that and howled!! 🙂
ROMNEY THROWS MORE SPAGHETTI AGAINST THE WALL
The Morning Plum: Mitt Romney’s conundrum deepens
By Greg Sargent
———————————————–
After discovering that his backward looking framing of the race — are you better off than you were four years ago? — isn’t working, the Romney campaign has vowed to place a greater emphasis on what this election means for the next four years. The new frame is: We can’t afford another four years like the last four.
That’s the basis for Romney’s new ad, which features him talking directly to the camera.
.
.
The ad perfectly captures the conundrum Romney now faces. Even as he is revamping his strategy as a more forward-looking one, the new New York Times/CBS/Quinnipiac swing state polls suggest voters are unlikely to accept what he’s now telling them — about the future, as well as about the past.
————————————–
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/the-morning-plum-mitt-romneys-conundrum-deepens/2012/09/26/2d9a8c82-07c5-11e2-a10c-fa5a255a9258_blog.html
He has gone beyond the ridiculous! If he wasn’t such an entitled ass, he would have spent the last 10 years learning about The Job. 10 years? People have earned PhD’s in less time. A decade! WTF was he doing? And could he please just go away, far away … now?!
If you have a friend or family that can be impacted, please share
FL GOP FIRES ROMNEY CONSULTANT’S VOTER REGISTRATION FIRM AFTER FRAUDULENT FORMS REPORTED IN PALM BEACH COUNTY
Firm owned by notorious GOP operative Nathan Sproul, accused of destroying Democratic registration forms in years past, hired ‘at request of RNC’, still operating in several key swing states…
http://www.bradblog.com/?p=9586
The firm is not only tied to the FL GOP, but also to the Mitt Romney Campaign, which hired Sproul as a political consultant late last year, despite years of fraud allegations against his organizations in multiple states.
He had the right qualifications to be hired by the Romney camp.
ROMNEY-RYAN FULL SPEED BACK TO THE FIFTIES
Paul Ryan’s Promise To Make Life More Difficult For Women
By LOLGOP
—————————————————–
Last weekend, Paul Ryan promised to get rid of the contraception mandate on “day one” of a Romney administration. “It will be gone. I can guarantee you that,” he said.
Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright wondered how any woman except Ann Romney could vote for Mitt – a man who is literally promising to repeal a law that prevents insurers from charging women more just because they’re women.
The choice this election could not be starker. A woman’s right to make private choices on her body on is the ballot. So is the right to be treated as an equal human being by insurers. If Mitt Romney wins, that will be taken away, as Paul Ryan says, on “day one.”
————————————————–
http://eclectablog.com/2012/09/paul-ryans-promise-to-make-life-more-difficult-for-women.html
The choice is stark to everyone except for Chris Hayes.
This is just how devastating the new polls are for Romney.
It’s really nice to see that the President is leading Romney among seniors!
So pleased women have realized that Romney/Ryan see them as second class citizens whose only role is to make babies. Those figures for women can only increase towards the President as more women learn the truth of the GOP policies against women.
Sense of racist crap? The one on white in FL down to 6 points! For those 6, get over yourselves. We all bleed the same way.
These are fantastic numbers, UT. Thanks for making it easy to retweet!
P.S. Thank you, UT!
You’re welcome. 🙂
Methinks there’s a toon character coming: The Stench.
My index finger is sore from all this re-tweeting! 🙂
YES INDEED…I SHALL BE VOTING FOR THE ENERGIZER BUNNY ON OCTOBER 9TH…OF COURSE THE GUN TOTERS IN THE PARKING LOT WON’T BE HAPPY TO SEE ME PULL UP TO EXERCISE MY RIGHTS! I’LL BE SMILIN’…YOU CAN’T PUT THIS GIRL DOWN!
I envy you Sue. I have to wait until Oct 15. 😦
http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/poll-majorities-have-negative-view-of-romney-campaign
Sixty-one percent of registered voters nationwide say they have an unfavorable impression of the campaign being led by Republican nominee Mitt Romney, according to a new poll released Wednesday.
*Off-color joke warning* (Don’t say I didn’t warn you) *Off-color joke warning*
World’s Best Salesman
One day, a young man goes to apply for a sales job at a major department store. He tells the sales manager that he doesn’t really have any experience, but he is willing to try his hardest to learn. The manager likes his attitude and decides to give the guy a chance.
At the close of business the next day, the sales manager decides to stop in to see how the kid is doing on his first day.
He asks, “How many sales did you have today?”
The salesman answers, “One.”
“How come only one,” asks the manager. “Most of my salesman have 20-30 per day! How much was the one sale you made?”
The salesman answers, “$233,344.00”
“WHAT !?! What did you sell?”
“Well, a guy wanted a small fishing hook, so I sold him a medium fishing hook, then I sold him a large fishing hook. Then he needed a rod, so I sold him a light action rod, then upgraded it to a medium action rod, and then changed it to a fully balanced combo. Then I told him if he was gonna to do some real fishing, he was going to need a boat, so I took him to the boating department and sold him a 14-foot motor boat, then upgraded him to a 20-foot cabin cruiser. Then I told him that his Volkswagen wouldn’t be able to tow the boat, so I took him to the car department and sold him a sport utility vehicle.”
“A guy came in for a fishing hook and you managed to sell him all of that?” asked the manager.
The guy coolly sez “Nah, he came in for a box of tampons, and I said, “Hell, your weekend is shot anyway, why not do some fishing?”
/ducks and runs
Lord. You BETTER run!
Very, VERY fast:
😆
Beep! Beep!
On one of my phone bank calls Monday night, I talked to a man that had just finished reading this book by Greg Palast. Here is an excerpt that was on Alternet. He suggested I read it…he suggested I ask everyone I spoke with to read it, and he suggested that the campaign know about this….he said it would anger and terrify…..I think he’s right! Spread the word!
http://www.alternet.org/tea-party-and-right/billionaires-ballot-bandits-karl-rove-and-republican-dark-art-election-theft
LOL, see I told y’all Mrs. O was looking like “girl please!” I was so busy looking at Michelle I didn’t see PBO’s expression. That is too funny. Thanks Chips and Dotster!!
I just read that the Fox and Friends Gretchen said ” All polls are fake “
Steve Benen adds to this …http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2012/09/26/14110823-making-the-psychological-message-worse?lite
In other words, when “Fox & Friends” accuses pollsters of sending a bad “psychological message” to the electorate by releasing results Republicans don’t like, they’re inadvertently condemning their own network.
Leave it to Fox News to identify a polling conspiracy so insidious that Fox News is actually part of the polling conspiracy.
After this election, can FOX become irrelevant?
“Leave it to Fox News to identify a polling conspiracy so insidious that Fox News is actually part of the polling conspiracy.”
Truly, they are the TV version of The Onion … only they’re actually sort-of-attempting to be serious 🙄
🙂 Watch that Colbert video I posted in the Raw Story link below 🙂
Also 93% of the time that climate change is discussed on that station, it’s done as either non-existent or in a negative light. That’s why they are not considered a news outlet and why their viewers are shown to be less informed than people who don’t watch news at all.
Had recorded The View & watched it last night. Lovely POTUS/FLOTUS. Anyways, BabaWawa thought she was being clever (paraphrasing): “I’ll play Elizabeth on this question.” As if to say, I’ll play a pretend repub. So PBO says: “You don’t have to do that! Elizabeth is good at being .. Elizabeth!” Cut the crap, BabaWawa, find your own damn voice. ZING!
Dang. It need to watch that wimmin’s show when I get home. Just for the zingers.
Just that particular one, AMK! I hardly ever watch The View. Sometimes there’s a whiff of The Stench!
I watched it last night, and loved that comment from President Obama, too. Both the President and First Lady weren’t putting up with nonsense last night. It was so good, I was squealing and rewinding all the way through the interview. They’re so sweet – but they’re also so smart, and the right wing underestimate both of them at their peril.
Howdy O’s!!! I’m all rised and shined on this great getting up day on TOD avenue! Is there such a thing as an Obama bounce? I swear from sun up when he addressed the UN General Assembly, to his appearance on The View, then that great speech at the Global Initiative, capped off with what is now my official heart-throb pic on last night’s thread, I got the Obama bounce.
My political take today is I’m so pleased with how the week is going for our side. We can’t get complacent and must still work like we’re 20 points behind. Though I must admit, it’s a hoot watching the Skipper and Gilligan heading for the sand bar.
WESTERVILLE, Ohio — In a line that event attendees found a bit puzzling, Mitt Romney warned a crowd of mostly middle-class onlookers on Wednesday not to expect too much tax relief under his administration.
“We have got to reform our tax system,” Romney said at a morning event here. “Small businesses most typically pay taxes at the individual tax rate. And so our individual income taxes are the ones I want to reform. Make them simpler. I want to bring the rates down. By the way, don’t be expecting a huge cut in taxes because I’m also going to lower deductions and exemptions. But by bringing rates down we will be able to let small businesses keep more of their money so they can hire more people.”
huffpuff
I think he wants to lose…..because the job is to hard.
The small businesses that Mitt is referring to are the billionaire hedge fund managers. Not the mom & pops who getup early, deprive themselves of a paycheck, and hire two or three people from their neighborhoods to help out.
Colbert should have gotten an Emmy. Just sayin.
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/09/26/colbert-romney-supporters-beginning-to-cycle-through-5-stages-of-grief/
OMG absolutely brilliant…5 stages of grief.
I’m sorry, I read this and almost pissed my pants laughing. I don’t know what kind of Jedi mind trick shit Team O is up to, but I seriously can’t wait:
Stephanie Cutter, deputy campaign manager for the Obama campaign, worked to lower expectations for President Obama’s debate performance on Wednesday, arguing that challengers always generally benefit from the first debate in an appearance on MSNBC.
“As these things go, challengers normally win the first debate just by standing on the stage with the president they get a lift,” Cutter said.
Cutter also stressed that Romney is a good debate while Obama may be a little rusty.
[Romney’s] a good debater. He’s always been a good debater. He prepares, he studies, he knows what he wants oust them. And we’re realistic about it. And we have a great confidence in the president but the reality is the president hasn’t had a debate in four years, and, you know, he’s studying up on Mitt Romney’s record. We wish we had a little bit more time, but we expect to face a pretty, you know, tough challenger when we stand on the stage a week from tonight.
http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/team-obama-keeps-lowering-debate-expectations
She, Axelrod, La Bolt, and Gibbs have been cleverly tamping down expectations for Pres. Obama’s first debate and making Team Romney feel pretty good about themselves. It is mean freaking awesome Jedi Mind Trick that they’ve been playing and I can’t wait for Pres. Obama to step on stage and throw a wicked curveball thereby stumping Romney.
Been noticing that theme! Smile on my face, uh-huh! Cutter, who can slice & dice in a nano-second, has an interesting use of language in that paragraph! 🙂 But let’s shush!
Did Stephanie Cutter manage to get those words out with a straight face?
eggsacklee. Raise Willard to the moon if you can Stephanie. Raise him all the way up to the moon so he has farther to fall when PO kicks the chair out from under him.
Too funny
Fox News breaking out the Reverend Wright clips this AM
Good grief, they really are starting to panic:
Desperation, thy name is Fox News.
All-out panic, UT – is this the best they’ve got????
5 Stages of Grief
As the great philosopher Gomer Pyle once said: “Surprise, surprise, surprise!”
Didn’t work in 2008 – they’ve forgotten that a dumb act repeated is still a dumb act.
Nice.
Been there, done that, flushed it down the toilet!
There are SOME great things in Arizona….some pics of one of the Wonders of the World. As you look at these, understand that Republicans (especially ones from AZ) want to dig this up…because there’s uranium in them thar hills!
http://www.lovethesepics.com/2011/03/grand-canyon-proof-that-nature-rocks-35-pics/
It seriously takes your breath away to see this in person….
Definitely makes up for the loonies you’ve got running that state and representing you in Congress – hopefully, you’ll get those loonies out in November. 🙂
Beautiful. Had to tweet that! Thank you!!
Kent State ready for the President-
http://www.recordpub.com/news/article/5218219
http://thinkprogress.org/election/2012/09/26/911051/romney-to-small-businesses-dont-be-expecting-a-huge-cut-in-taxes/
Mitt Romney told voters in Westerville, Ohio on Wednesday not to expect a “huge cut in taxes” from his economic proposal, noting that he is “also gonna get rid of deductions and exemptions.” The message is at odds with the GOP nominee’s promises to cut taxes for the middle class and small businesses, while maintaining the current tax burden on the rich.
Fuckknuckle
New Tampa Rail project-
http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/economicdevelopment/port-of-tampa-rail-project-unveiled-but-railroad-executive-hints-at-more/1253366
Oil is down to 89 bucks per barrel, because of unrest in Europe(what else is new).
I always wondered how much Colleges were paid for Visits from the President-
http://www.sent-trib.com/front-page/bgsu-paid-11-875-for-obama-visit-cost
Seems like a good price.
From Columbus Dispatch: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2012/09/26/august-jobless-rate-falls-to-5-9.html
The unemployment rate in central Ohio tumbled in August to its lowest level since October 2008, putting it within striking distance of pre-recession rates.
Unemployment dipped to 5.9 percent for the month compared with 6.4 percent in July, the state reported yesterday.
Central Ohio’s unemployment rate averaged 4.7 percent in 2007 and then more than doubled to 9.6 percent by January 2010.
Bill LaFayette, owner of economic consulting firm Regionomics, has calculated that central Ohio has gotten back 86 percent of the jobs that were lost during the recession, a recovery rate that is about twice as fast as the state and nation.
“We’re almost there,” he said.
The report comes on the heels of Friday’s news that Ohio’s unemployment held steady at 7.2 percent in August.
THIS is why PBO has a 10 point lead. Tough to argue that life is going to hell in a handbasket when things are obviously turning around for the better!
Oh My DF that explains a lot. Central Ohio has just about recovered completely. I’m tweeting that link for sure!
Yup! this is HUGELY significant…and shows the power of the long term approach and dramatic action that PBO took early on….
WASHINGTON: In a move that would send astronauts farther from the Earth than at any time in history, NASA wants to build a manned ‘gateway spacecraft’ and ‘park’ it on far side of the Moon to function as a staging area for future missions to Mars.
At 445,788 kilometres from Earth, the outpost would be far more remote than the current space station, which orbits a little more than 321 kilometres above Earth.
The distance raises complex questions of how to protect astronauts from the radiation of deep space – and of how to rescue them if something goes wrong, the Orlando Setinel reported.
NASA Chief Charlie Bolden had briefed the White House earlier this month on details of the proposal, but it’s unclear whether it has the administration’s support.
The price tag of the project is expected to run into billions of dollars.
Documents obtained by the paper show that NASA wants to build a small outpost – likely with parts left over from the USD 100 billion International Space Station — at what’s known as the Earth-Moon Lagrange Point 2, a spot about 61,155 kilometres from the Moon.
http://m.economictimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/nasa-planning-to-park-a-manned-gateway-spacecraft-in-space/articleshow/16555530.cms
does this guy REALLY not understand that not everyone is blessed financially enough to be able to have 1 parent at home, even in non-single parent households!
“Romney: It’s better to have a parent at home
At NBC News’ Education Nation Summit on Tuesday, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said it was preferable for one parent stay home when kids are young.
The comment came during a discussion of early childhood education and preparing children for kindergarten. “It’s an advantage to have two parents, but to have one parent to stay closely connected and at home during those early years of education can be very very important,” Romney said.
Ann Romney was a stay-at-home mother to the couple’s five sons. ”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/election-2012/wp/2012/09/25/romney-its-better-to-have-a-parent-at-home/
What about moms who want to have a career? Welcome to the 1950’s.
Barefoot, pregnant, and submissive – that’s how they like ’em
And no sharp tongues.
http://www.businessinsider.com/krugman-economy-could-have-been-worse-2012-9
Chart: http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/25/more-coulda-been-worse-blogging/
No one’s happy to about the weak US economy, but one way to keep it in perspective is to compare it with the even weaker Europe economy.
You’ll recall that, a couple of years ago, two things happened:
First, Europe embarked on a path of “austerity”–government spending cuts–to try to shrink its deficits and get its debt problem under control. This was supposed to restore “confidence” to the private sector, which would then result in an economic growth boom that would allow Europe to grow its way out of its problems.
Meanwhile, in the US, the Republicans in Congress (and the Tea Party) suddenly became obsessed with the US’s own deficit–a deficit that the GOP bears at least half of the responsibility for creating–and demanded that the US immediately pursue an austerity path of its own. Specifically, the Republicans pushed the US to the brink of default while holding out for enormous spending cuts. The Republicans scuttled a “grand bargain” proposed by President Obama that would have put together a 10-year plan to gradually reduce the deficit. Then, in a last-minute compromise, the government agreed to postpone immediate spending cuts in favor of the “Fiscal Cliff” that we’re facing on January 1.
In other words, unlike Europe, the US postponed austerity.
So, which path worked better?
Tweeters!!
h/t Desertflower 😉
🙂
ooo, hawties. zach excepted.
Sweet. Morning Joke has a reaction……. 🙂 “What do the Catholics say?” They say holy shit, just like the rest of us!
I heart desertflower.
Love you back:) I just can’t seem to wipe this grin off my face….I want to crush them like goo…..
Two thoughts,
First, this reminds me of when McCain tried to campaign with Palin for the same reason. Didn’t help then. Won’t help now.
But then I also noticed that it looks like Romney tries to lean in for a hug that is totally rebuffed by Ryan. Anyone else see the same – or am I just conditioned by our hugger-in-chief?
Yes, that was a very awkward exchange. Ryan wants no part of Romney and it shows. Can’t hide that kind of body language.
Thx Tien Le – glad to know I wasn’t the only one. When RAyn looks at Robme it’s with disdain. Hope this campaign helps get him kicked out of congress.
PS even very early in their relationship Barack and Joe were obviously big fans of each other. And rightly so.
Cool, df!!! I’d never watch those #NEWSTAINERS, but this was delicious!!!!
It WAS yummy, wasn’t it?
Yes it was DF! I laughed out loud when I saw this and had to alibi when my co-workers asked what was going on! Love it!
Ooopps! There it is! G’day ya’ll.
Just LOOK at these happy faces! http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251108041
That group is just minutes from becoming an angry mob!
People keep telling me on twitter that someone is trashing me, I think it’s our resident TOD troll because I posted than deleted a tweet abt him, back when we were all upset . Should I change my twitter or just ignore him/her?
I don’t Tweet…but LL always sends them a “nice note” then blocks them…..
That’s a spambot. Whomever you are receiving the DM has had their account compromised. Be sure to never click on any URL in such DMs and you can respond to the tweep, via DM or Tweet, and tell them their account is compromised and they should change their password and notify Twitter admin.
#PRESSON
You don’t need to block them because they’re not who is sending the DMs; it’s the bot that’s taken control of their account.
Thanks Bob, you explained it waaaaaaaay better than me!!
🙂
Thanks friend. Hope you’re having a good day!
Thank goodness you’re here…:) Our resident expert…
Edwina, are you getting Twitter emails telling you people are saying bad stuff about you on Twitter? If so, ignore them, it’s some kind of spam thing (which I don’t understand), it doesn’t mean anything is being said about you at all.
Thanks, everyone, it did scare me a little but I am so glad that I brought it up to my fellow TODers so the experience twitterers could set me straight. Thanks again!
Definitely spam. Don’t respond, just delete and carry on! BTW, love your tweets!
thanks so much, back at you.
Edwina, it will not stop though unless you change your password and also report it..
They have no morals or scruples….http://thinkprogress.org/election/2012/09/26/911931/gop-lawmaker-who-called-for-akin-to-drop-out-now-supporting-him/
Make’um smell #TheStench ….
Ok…Coolest thing ever. Google Street View Underwater….http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2012/09/dive-into-great-barrier-reef-with-first_25.html
I’d like to revisit a little-noticed comment from yesterday from lamh35:
Race Stabilizes in Obama’s Favor
Charlie Cook: “Leading Democratic and Republican pollsters and strategists privately say that the Obama lead is around 4 or 5 points and is neither widening nor narrowing. The convention bounces have dissipated, but Romney’s negatives remain quite high and are not diminishing. In the Gallup three-week super-samples–almost 10,000 interviews–the percentage of Democrats saying that they will definitely vote has moved up to the point that it is now virtually tied with Republicans.”
The percentage of Democrats that say they will definitely vote has moved up…virtually tied with Republicans. Folks, this is huge. Democrats are chronic non-voters. For Dems to say they will definitely vote is a metric that can only go up, while the chances of the number of Republicans who say they will vote can only remain stagnant. There is nothing on the R side to improve those numbers and everything in the world to improve the numbers for Dems. People like voting for a winner and the President looks, acts, sounds like a winner right now. Dems have decided to vote, so they will vote. Since voting has already begun in some states, this won’t change between now and Nov. 6th. This is the counter-argument to people who say we’re in danger of falling prey to complacency. Dems have an affirmative reason to vote and are excited by the prospect of winning. We’re hungry for a win right now and this is the kind of proof I look for to substantiate my claim. We’re having fun right now and the R’s most decidedly are not.
Thanks for bringing this over. The fact is, Dems have had a winner on their hands this whole time, ever since President Obama signed the Stimulus Plan that started the economic recovery going, and then when he rescued the auto industry in a sustainable way, and on to the passing of the health care law. I’m glad that Dems are finally waking up. Their apathy was the saddest thing about this presidency, and the most annoying. I’ll take this good news!
g’day all… I just saw on twitter that Andy Williams died today.. I didn’t even realize he wasn’t well.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-obama-tribes-20120925,0,3160780.story
WASHINGTON — At a July fundraiser in the elegant Mandarin Oriental hotel near Washington’s Tidal Basin, President Obama met with some of his most steadfast supporters — two dozen political and business leaders eager to write sizable checks to help keep him in the White House.
All were leaders of Native American tribes, who pressed their issues with a president they say is attuned to their needs.
Bill John Baker, principal chief of the Cherokee Nation, told Obama his Oklahoma tribe was owed $50 million for its costs of administering federal health services.
“He said, ‘Let me look into this and see what we can do,'” Baker recalled. A week later, he received a letter from the White House pledging to follow up. A White House spokesman said the administration had been reaching out to many tribes on the same issue.
“President Obama is a promise keeper,” Baker said. “He promised that he would work with Indian country, that he would help us, and he has done that at every turn.”
The tribes have shown their gratitude, giving at least $2.5 million to Obama’s reelection campaign through the end of July — far outstripping their donations in other recent presidential elections, according to data provided by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics.
“President Obama is a promise keeper”. That says everything right there.
funny to see lyin ryan calling mittbot “the stench” since mittbot’s numbers have decreased significantly since lyan was added to the ticket. who’s hurting who, paulie boy? i guess it’s good to keep lyan delusional so he keeps coming back year after year thinking the general public actually likes him, and he’ll keep destroying the republican party further with his own stench, and his hubris will keep him from ever realizing it. hilarious. and i’ll point out again all this happens because of how president obama carries himself year after years and boxes any republican into a corner as they have to defend their failed ideas political strategies. forward!!
”When you teach a man to hate and fear his brother, when you teach that he is a lesser man because of his color or his beliefs or the policies he pursues, when you teach that those who differ from you threaten your freedom or your job or your family, then you also learn to confront others not as fellow citizens but as enemies, to be met not with cooperation but with conquest; to be subjugated and mastered.”
Robert F. Kennedy
Cleveland City Club
April 5, 1968
Read this and think how pathetic Romney / Ryan really are. We are blessed to have President Obama for all of us!
Beautiful, Dr. D
Thanks for this beautiful reminder of what once was.
Heads up everyone:
http://theobamadiary.com/2012/09/26/heads-up-president-obama-at-bowling-green-state-university/