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My feeling is that the election will go like last year, where it's technically close, but it certainly doesn't feel that way. Romney has never lead this thing and eventually the feeling of inevitability is going to catch up to his base.
If Romney doesn't pull ahead in a consistent manner within 3 weeks, statistically the odds are completely against him.
And the Clintons:
He's got the Repugs on the math man, and it is going to run down that line all the way to the election. Romney's playing this wrong the whole time, so concerned with his day to day and "winning" the nomination without seeming principled, we have NO idea what he believes in. That is way scarier, ya know, to the middle of the road guy/gal.. who realizes he still killed Bin Laden and hasn't changed national defense spending (so we are all, SAFE), wasn't really an extremist about much of anything, and was doe-eyed naive enough to think Boehnor & folk were going to work with him...
It's going to add up, and I don't think Romney can take Obama in a debate -- and I KNOW Ryan can't take Biden out in a debate. So I tell the massive donor base of the Republicans to stop spending so much ridiculous money, but that's the most economic stimulus they've done in 4 years anyway.. so keep spreading that dough around - see you in 2016
Last Edit: Sept 7, 2012 10:18:11 GMT -5 by Deleted - Back to Top
Thought Clinton did a great job last night. The guy has always been fantastic with rhetoric. He was able to make a speech (primarily focusing on numbers) interesting to say the least.
I went to the Democratic National Convention this past week.
I'm not even sure where to begin with that, so I'll say that I met Cory Booker, hero mayor of Newark NJ, at the Charlotte airport. Gets a bit blurry after that.
Sunday night was welcoming receptions for the various delegations, as there was no official business until Monday at the earliest.
Monday, councils & caucuses did meet, but there were no big floor speeches on account of Labor Day. I was on Youth Council, for the record, as DNC considers the "Youth" cutoff to be 36 - I can get behind that. Wisconsin was really representing in the LGBT Caucus - we have a lesbian running for U.S. Senate, a gay man running to take her seat in Congress, and had the state's first-ever transgendered member of our delegation. There was CarolinaFest with speakers, music, vendors & food nearby and open tot he public. I missed Janelle Monnae & Jeff Bridges' band on account of being responsible, and James Taylor got rained out after 3-4 songs. I managed an invite to see The Roots play in a 1k capacity venue to close out the night, though.
Tuesday, I skipped out on the convention center part of the day. I had myself a four-pack of tickets to see a taping of The Daily Show with guest Tom Brokaw. Went straight from that taping, to the arena for speeches, and then my Wisconsin delegation had their late-night reception. Got drunk and got to tell Paul Ryan's opponent for Congress, Rob Zerban, that "nice guys finish last" applies to politics, too. Going from a TV taping to a convention floor? Not good for the voice.
Wednesday, went to my Youth Council, went back to my hotel to get snazzed up - and caught in traffic due to presidential motorcade, and broke out good old Forward Cheesehead for that night's roll call of states. That turned out helpful... ah, that moment when the state party chair points at you and says "He's in the shot." Let's just say, for now, that the Cheesehead got some love down in Charlotte.
Thursday, more action down at the convention center. I mailed my dirty laundry back home to myself because it was the only way I was going to fit all the free swag in my suitcase. The arena was nuts, because with the weather-induced relocation from Panthers stadium, there were about 50k people who did not have tickets to see the president live and in person.
Also worth mentioning: Morning delegation breakfasts. You have to show up to get credentials, but they make it worth your while. Over the week, Wisconsin's had Howard Dean, Russ Feingold, former Gov. Jim Doyle, outgoing Sen. Herb Kohl & candidate to replace him Tammy Baldwin, Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar & Rep. Keith Ellison, the presidents of AFSCME & NARAL, journalist John Nichols, probably missing a few names.
Random notable encounters: Newark mayor Cory Booker, previously mentioned Rev. Jesse Jackson, whom I got to thank for taking part in our rallies last year. Michael Steele, former RNC chair Sen. Herb Kohl Tammy Baldwin Hilda Solis, U.S. Labor Secretary Ed Rendell, former PA Gov. Wayne Powell, running against Eric Cantor & his bitch face, who turns out is also a fellow Badger. Tony Shalhoub, fellow Wisconsin native whom also I got to thank for taking part in our rallies last year. Wayne Knight, to whose face I got to say "Hello, Newman" ;D Kal Penn, who seemed too pissed his entourage had taken the same wrong turn as I to really want to talk to
Interviewed by, because the spectacle of my cheesehead can apparently trump a Congressional candidate I'm talking to to at least the first five reporters who walk past: Associated Press, CNN, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, CSPAN, NPR (and WPR,) Milwaukee local news, Madison & Milwaukee media outlets, Obama campaign media staff, venue media, Charlotte Observer, Charlotte news affiliates, Politico, a London newspaper, French radio, another European radio show, bloggers, student projects, no fewer than four people doing photo essays on hats at the convention, and I'm probably forgetting some.
Flew home Friday. I slept for fifteen hours that night, a personal record. I realized fifteen hours was more than I had gotten on Monday through Thursday nights preceding it. It's a lot like a music festival, believe it or not. Five things going on at once, various venues, unannounced guest appearances, lack of sleep, people in costume, perks of being a delegate trumping the perks of being a VIP...
I'm still not fully recovered, but it was a hell of a week. Already wondering how I'm going to pull this off in 2016.
FYI Gary Johnson (Libertarian Presidential Candidate) is doing an AMA on reddit tuesday 9/11 at 2pm CT and Jill Stein (Green Party Presidential Candidate) is doing one on wednesday 9/12 at 2pm CT www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/
Sounds like you had a good time all things considered, kdogg! Your activity and accounts in "the system" give me hope and have given me the urge to better educate myself in this whole mess. So if you make it to 'Roo next year I may try and stalk you again, but this time I'll owe you beers.
Yeah, I'm just gonna go ahead and say it: f*ck Rahm Emanuel. (sp.?)
Its about time we stopped neglecting our schools, improved our educational standards, and paid our teachers well.
They have enough money in Chicago apparently to pay for cronyism, corruption, and corporate tax breaks. But the kids, nah f*ck em? And people in the inner city know why they'll never get out: their "leaders" don't want them to.
Yeah, I'm just gonna go ahead and say it: f*ck Rahm Emanuel. (sp.?)
Its about time we stopped neglecting our schools, improved our educational standards, and paid our teachers well.
They have enough money in Chicago apparently to pay for cronyism, corruption, and corporate tax breaks. But the kids, nah f*ck em? And people in the inner city know why they'll never get out: their "leaders" don't want them to.
The headlines I'm seeing are that Chicago offered 16% pay increase and teachers are holding out over performance evaluations. If that remains the headline, I think it will put the union in a tough spot.
One more notable encounter I forgot to mention: About 1/4 block outside the security perimeter around the arena before the president's speech, I was sporting the old Forward cheesehead & Tammy Baldwin tshirt, finishing a cigarette & beverage before heading in. I got a nasty glance & eye roll from Fox News personality Brit Hume as he walked past. I know what some of you may be thinking here, but no... it was even worse than his usual constipated look. Badge of honor as far as I'm concerned.
Yeah, I'm just gonna go ahead and say it: f*ck Rahm Emanuel. (sp.?)
Its about time we stopped neglecting our schools, improved our educational standards, and paid our teachers well.
They have enough money in Chicago apparently to pay for cronyism, corruption, and corporate tax breaks. But the kids, nah f*ck em? And people in the inner city know why they'll never get out: their "leaders" don't want them to.
Because unions are always right, and teachers should get whatever they want no matter what it is. Life is nice when everything is so black and white.
Yeah, I'm just gonna go ahead and say it: f*ck Rahm Emanuel. (sp.?)
Its about time we stopped neglecting our schools, improved our educational standards, and paid our teachers well.
They have enough money in Chicago apparently to pay for cronyism, corruption, and corporate tax breaks. But the kids, nah f*ck em? And people in the inner city know why they'll never get out: their "leaders" don't want them to.
Because unions are always right, and teachers should get whatever they want no matter what it is. Life is nice when everything is so black and white.
Your response itself could rival Rahm Emanuel's douchery
And no unions shouldn't get everything - but the truth is they are standing on the testing grounds. No Child Left Behind kneecapped the entire public school system - by only rewarding high performance schools and continually going after failing schools (who may not have the same pool of high quality teachers, albeit a hundred other issues with being a teacher...) - they are taking a hard stance.
Why is this so goddamn divisive?!?
Unions shouldn't always win, Business-Government-Multif**kfest shouldn't win all the time - it's called a strong debate. Let them have it, it's not just about pay raises because they also have a gross turn over in teachers in Chicago and it's not complimentary to quality education.
Yeah, I'm just gonna go ahead and say it: f*ck Rahm Emanuel. (sp.?)
Its about time we stopped neglecting our schools, improved our educational standards, and paid our teachers well.
They have enough money in Chicago apparently to pay for cronyism, corruption, and corporate tax breaks. But the kids, nah f*ck em? And people in the inner city know why they'll never get out: their "leaders" don't want them to.
The headlines I'm seeing are that Chicago offered 16% pay increase and teachers are holding out over performance evaluations. If that remains the headline, I think it will put the union in a tough spot.
I agree that it's bad press and easy to spin but I think their point of contention here is fairly reasonable.
If their numbers are correct, up to 6000 jobs could be lost with the evaluation policy. That's a fair amount out of the 30,000 or so teachers the union represents. That's possibly 6000 people that won't see the benefit of the wage increases coming over the 4 year period.
And anyone that has worked in low income schools can tell you, standardized tests do a miserable job of evaluating student performance based on a teachers ability to educate.
Hell, they can hardly evaluate the student's actual abilities at a decent ratio. I went to a middle class High School and was able to graduate and receive Georgia's Hope scholarship while being dyslexic and sucking at standardized tests. One of the best teachers in my life was Mrs. Conger, who taught 12th grade English. Let's say her job hung in the balance of my ability to spell, which she had no control over. She should be fired because of a disability that I have that never really effected my ability to learn? Or the fact that she continued the tradition of teachers that made me love Literature and become a better student despite of my failings? Which she stayed on my ass about the whole year.
That's just a personal example. I know plenty of teachers that work in the ghetto, as well as my mother who also works with disadvantaged kids in one of the poorest counties in Georgia.
This isn't really directed at you, Iamthehorn. I was just going off of your response, which I agree with in the sense that that is how the media will spin it.
Last Edit: Sept 11, 2012 18:31:49 GMT -5 by Deleted - Back to Top
This isn't really directed at you, Iamthehorn. I was just going off of your response, which I agree with in the sense that that is how the media will spin it.
I really was only commenting on the spin factor. I will proudly admit when I don't know much about a subject, and education and these negotiations are two things I don't know much about. But without knowing the issues or having my own sense of who is right and wrong, the union seems way behind on the public narrative.
I'm voteing for the canidate that DOESNT lie. Oh yeh they ALL lie so now I have to TRY to figure out who is going to lie the least.
So you can name every member of Congress and point to examples of them lying? Half of them? A third? Can you name all of your Federal State and Local reps? Do they lie? Do you ever lie?
Broad generalizations like this aren't helpful to the process.
Bonnaroo 2008-2013
0ct 11 Pearl Jam
Oct 12 Pearl Jam
March 16 Arcade Fire
April 29 Arcade Fire
Sept 4 Wilco
Sept 9 The Hold Steady
Oct 16 Pearl Jam
Oct 17 Gaslight Anthem
We are getting slammed with ads here in NC. Interestingly I don't think I've seen one Romney ad actually paid for by the Romney campaign, all Super Uber Pac ads. Mostly Restore Our Future, Americans for Prosperity and American Crossroads. A brief profile of each:
Restore Our Future - Has raised $61.5 million through the end of May mostly from bankers. Staff includes Larry McCarthy, known for the infamous “Willie Horton” ad. All of the group's money has been spent on negative ads. Million dollar donors John Paulson, hedge-fund manager who made billions betting against the housing market. Others ibnclude obscure businesses suspected of being shell corporations to mask the identity of the actual donors. Frank VanderSloot, whose company, Melaleuca Inc. —has been accused by some of being a pyramid scheme.. Bob Perry, Perry Homes gave $6 million was very involved in Swift Boat ads, Sheldon Adelson and his wife of the The Las Vegas Sands. They've been under investigation by the SEC and the DOJ for more than a year on possible charges of bribing foreign officials, and possible money laundering. A former executive’s 2010 wrongful-termination lawsuit also alleges that Las Vegas Sands Corp. was involved with Chinese organized crime groups.
Americans For Prosperity - Koch Brothers - Fuck you, we've got the money and you're screwed. Opposes Health care. Art Pope, former NC Legislator, heir to discount department store chain. Spends millions to deny climate change and was a major funder in the anti gay Amendment One in NC. Virtually no disclosure of donors.
American Crossroads - Karl Rove (God do I have to say more!) Heavily tied into the Republican establishment, has been described as a "Shadow RNC" Includes Ed Gillespie, Haley Barbour and other insiders like Steven Law and Carl Forti. Largest donor Harold Simmons - nearly lost his fortune when his daughters sued him for control of the family’s wealth, and he has had to pay nearly $20,000 in fines for violating federal campaign contribution limits. Huge supporter of Rick Perry who wrote some nice laws for him including one that allowed Simmons’ Waste Control Specialists to import low-level radioactive waste from other states and dispose of the material at its facility in Andrews County, Texas — an area that sits atop four aquifers.
And I wonder why the kids are disgusted watching Jeopardy....