The ONE & ONLY 2012 Politics/Election Thread

[SOAR]

The 2012 elections are quickly approaching, and there is a lot of election discussion going on in OT these days. In order to keep OT from becoming the "Politics Forum" this election season, this will be the one and only thread where discussion of the 2012 elections will be permitted.

Trolling and flaming will not be tolerated. Please keep this thread civil, and respect the opinions of your fellow forum members.

-SOAR

[Zombiee313]

Good luck to the Mods on actually being able to keep control of this thread

That being said I will be the first one to go on record and predict that Obama will not win the 2012 Election....

[Egilbe]

Good to the Mods on actually being able to keep control of this thread

That being said I will be the first one to go on record and predict that Obama will not win the 2012 Election....

I'm pretty sure he will. If Bill Clinton can get re-elected and Little George Bush, too, there's no reason to think that Obama will get booted, especially since the repubs don't have a real candidate running. Romney is just a paler Obama.

[Zombiee313]

I'm pretty sure he will. If Bill Clinton can get re-elected and Little George Bush, too, there's no reason to think that Obama will get booted, especially since the repubs don't have a real candidate running. Romney is just a paler Obama.

While I did not agree with some things Slick Willy did (like Monica... really that was the best he could do?) he was a pretty decent President....

Baby Bush won re-election because of being in the middle of a war

I think too many people that supported Obama in 2008 are now pissed at him and either won't vote or will vote against him.

[2.FOH!!]

I'm pretty sure he will. If Bill Clinton can get re-elected and Little George Bush, too, there's no reason to think that Obama will get booted, especially since the repubs don't have a real candidate running. Romney is just a paler Obama.

I don't think Clinton's re-election is a useful comparison. WJC was enjoying a
strong economy, relatively little trouble abroad & had to face one of the worst
Republican presidential candidates I can recall (& I actually liked Senator Bob Dole).

Clinton had mid 5% unemployment #s (oddly enough, so did GWB at re-election time).
Barry is sitting at ~ 9-1/2%. Relatively low inflation is keeping BHO afloat currently.
If prices go up & unemployment stays where it's at, Barry is quite beatable.

...but then again, I'm just an angry Obama hater, so what do I know?

[Tornado2dr]

I don't think Clinton's re-election is a useful comparison. WJC was enjoying a
strong economy, relatively little trouble abroad & had to face one of the worst
Republican presidential candidates I can recall (& I actually liked Senator Bob Dole).

Clinton had mid 5% unemployment #s (oddly enough, so did GWB at re-election time).
Barry is sitting at ~ 9-1/2%. Relatively low inflation is keeping BHO afloat currently.
If prices go up & unemployment stays where it's at, Barry is quite beatable.

...but then again, I'm just an angry Obama hater, so what do I know?

I just disagree that he is beatable by anyone that has been presented to the American Public as a candidate.

I am sure his team realizes their predicament...but I have a hard time believing that in June or so they can't unleash the dogs and get voters out again. I've seriously never seen so many polling places so crowded as I did in 2008.

[Sporin]

So much for the "Ron Paul Surge"

A distant 3rd in SC.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epo...mary-1590.html

A distant 4th in FL.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epo...mary-1597.html

I honestly have no strong opinions on Ron Paul either way but by the way his supporters flood seemingly every internet forum I would have thought the man had more support then that.

[VarianceVQ]

Clinton had mid 5% unemployment #s (oddly enough, so did GWB at re-election time).
Barry is sitting at ~ 9-1/2%.

Try 8 1/2.

[2.FOH!!]

Try 8 1/2.

My mistake, although I'd prefer the 5 1/2 that Bush had going.

[demonmk2]

Good luck to the Mods on actually being able to keep control of this thread

That being said I will be the first one to go on record and predict that Obama will not win the 2012 Election....

even though I'm not a Fan of his (even though I did vote for him in 08) I would not got that far. ALLOT! can happen between now and Nov. and all it take is one 24hr news cycle.

republicans(voters) are not behind anyone yet even though it's clear who the establishment are behind and it's funny how the voters want something different from what the establishment wants (mainly looking out for themselves)
With the republicans bashing each other they're doing Obama's dirty work....for free! but at the same time all the dirt is getting and hopefully when a nominee is selected that person and Obama can have real debates on the issues instead of bashing each others character for the rest of the election season.
but we all know that's probably whats going to happen.

[rsj0714]

How about that pipeline?

Every other politician I have heard was in support of it going through, except Obama, why?

[demonmk2]

something to do with Nebraska and the pipeline being rerouted around a fresh water source or something. but it's an election year so it will be used on both sides for political agendas while as usual it's people like us on this forum who get the consequences of there decisions and has no effect on them.

I do think we should drill more here....however! I think if they're going to do that they also need to make recycling laws more strict, especially with aluminum and plastics. if all recyclable plastics were recycled like they should be you could see a huge difference in oil prices going down over time and in turn gas prices would go down. and it could be profitable to businesses.
I hate to say this about Americans but we have taken are for granted our convenience with consumption with not using it responsibly (lazy more than anything).
I'll use my place of employment for an example. We had this huge long container that we only put cardboard in and the company would pay to have it removed and the disposal company did away with it (probably made another profit turning it into a recycle plant.
now they have this other company who specializes in recyclables that pickup the card board (compacted) and every quarter the company (my work) gets a check.
it's just getting people to understand what they can do and in turn would actually benefit them and everyone else.
(I'm not an environmental cook either)

[rsj0714]

(I'm not an environmental cook either)

Those are all good points, I am no environmental whacko either, but I can do a little better by reusing plastic bottles as much as possible. I just use filtered water out of the tap and refill used bottles.

There are downsides to drawing the pipeline, but they are far outweighed by the dangers of importing oil on vessels. If we can't meet an agreement with Canada, it will be a kick in the nuts of a close Allie, and also a dumb move all around.

[1.8TRabbit]

http://campaign2012.washingtonexamin...st-iowa/316366

[HideYoKids]

I'm voting for Vermin Supreme.

The guy I voted for in the last national election up here is dead, so maybe I can help get rid of that crazy.

[20aeman]

This election will be a disaster. It's like watching a train wreck...I'm so excited!

[Sporin]

Predicting Romney vs. Obama with the President winning not in a landslide, but not in a nail biter either.

The economy is improving slowly, but it is improving, and while there is a general disappointment with the President by many, it's no where near enough to get them to vote for Romney, or any Republican, imo.

A lot of the political chat forums where the Obama-hate is so crazy-strong are echo chambers and just don't reflect the real world.

I'm curious to see how the "Anyone can beat this failure of a Communist/Kenyan/Hates-America President" will do when he wins reelection.

[Mike!]

In a straight-up Romney versus Obama scenario, Obama is well set up to win. Sometimes I wonder if 'jedi master' Obama specifically went with a health care reform plan based on 'Romneycare' rather than a public option specifically in order to remove the health care angle from the Republican campaign against him if Romney got the nomination. Yes, I know, Romney swears that at a state level his plan was appropriate, and at a federal level it oversteps states' rights. However, practically, when it comes to the election campaign, it's going to take any thunder out of 'Obamacare' criticisms.

Romney has a concrete platform for lowering taxes and reducing revenue, but unspecific promises of where he would cut spending. His is a recipe for increasing the deficit, whereas Obama is actually trying to cut spending and raise revenue to narrow the deficit. I'd argue that Obama's more fiscally conservative than Romney in that sense. Whether you believe that or not, when it comes to Romney I'm not sure fiscal conservatives and Tea Partiers will have the enthusiasm of a candidate to rally behind.

It is true that some of Obama's former supporters are disappointed that Obama hasn't met some lofty goals of transforming the country. That said, this criticism is generally that he didn't go far enough, not that he went too far. I don't think those voters will gravitate towards Romney either. I have some disappointments with Obama's performance, but on a promise-by-promise level, he has met quite a few, and I am hopeful that given a second term without the spectre of reelection on the horizon that he will be more bold and get more accomplished.

Any scenario where there is a big-name 3rd party candidate like Trump or even Paul, the odds move even more into Obama's camp with conservative vote splitting. Call it the Perot Effect that helped Clinton get elected, twice.

[A.Wilder]

A lot of the political chat forums where the Obama-hate is so crazy-strong are echo chambers and just don't reflect the real world.

Forgot one, http://www.npboards.com/index.php

[1.8TRabbit]

This is just sad when the system is blatantly fixed and no one seems to see it.

[Fritz27]

RP isn't even campaigning in Florida.

[Sporin]

How does he intend to show GOP voters he can beat Obama if he won't even try in a key swing state?

[Fritz27]

I think he just wants to be a foil to GOP dip****tery. I'm not sure he actually wants or cares to win.

[Sporin]

Primaries are about gaining sequentially, about carrying momentum forward into the next primary. Do poorly in a few early primaries and you never even get to the later states. If Ron Paul is serious about being President, then skipping Primaries in a key swing state seems counterproductive.

Oh well, he's not "my guy" so I really don't care much, just a curiosity is all.

[Sporin]

How come everybody forgets that everything fell apart under Bush's watch?

The economy was shedding a half a million jobs a month at the end of Bush's term.

But god forbid you mention that or you are "just blaming Bush."

It's ridiculous.

[barry2952]

The economy was shedding a half a million jobs a month at the end of Bush's term.

But god forbid you mention that or you are "just blaming Bush."

It's ridiculous.

Exactly. Republican blinders.

Anybody see Newt call his ex a liar on the debates. What a scumbag. Talk about doing the two-step. Funny ****.

[2.FOH!!]

Guys, I rarely insert a smillie.

I've mentioned it more than once, I was never a fan of Bush.

[barry2952]

Guys, I rarely insert a smillie.

I hate to tell you, but it made you look foolish. There was, and still is, nothing to smile about.

[2.FOH!!]

I hate to tell you, but it made you look foolish.

Tell you what, I'll acknowledge Bush's hand in things if Dem's will
concede Congress' being to blame as well. Fair?

[barry2952]

tell you what, i'll acknowledge bush's hand in things if dem's will
concede congress' being to blame as well. Fair?

Abso-****ing-lutely!

[Tornado2dr]

Tell you what, I'll acknowledge Bush's hand in things if Ds and Rs will concede Congress' being to blame as well. Fair?

Goddamned Right, but I fixed that for accuracy.

I refuse to give one man or one party all of the credit or all of the blame. They're all responsible for their action and inaction thruout their time in office

[Fritz27]

Nobody is beating Barry. Republicans are just biding their time until 2016 when they can roll out Rubio or Rand.

[Slipstream]

Nobody is beating Barry. Republicans are just biding their time until 2016 when they can roll out Rubio or Rand.

Or maybe Huntsman.

In the meantime, the RNC is treating us to prissy slap fights on national television like the one I watched tonight. I was at the gym and there really wasn't anything else on, but the two 16 year old girls on stage bickering about "but, HE said THIS about ME first!" were just flat-out embarrassing (as a registered elephant). Throw in Santorum's grand-standing about God-knows-what and Paul reiterating the problems with absolutely no real solutions and we have a pretty open-and-shut case for Obama +4.

It was fun watching Mittens squirm when Wolf called him out on the ad he (minutes before) swore he had never heard of and assumed it was an ad by somebody else.

[barry2952]

I'm disappointed that Hilary said that after Obama's first term she's getting out of the political arena. I think she would have made a great President. From the dick-swaggering evident on stage last night, those bozos are simply shooting the GOP in the foot.

You righty-tighties should be real proud of your offerings.

[demonmk2]

I'm disappointed that Hilary said that after Obama's first term she's getting out of the political arena. I think she would have made a great President. From the dick-swaggering evident on stage last night, those bozos are simply shooting the GOP in the foot.
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