The American Spectator : Obama's Toxicity Index

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Obama's Toxicity Index

By Jed Babbin on 11.22.10 @ 6:09AM

How will it affect Democratic senators running for reelection in 2012?

Too many pundits and pols are trying to tell us how tough it's going to be for Senate Democrats in two years. They'll have to run with Barack Obama hugging the line next to them on the ballot. And we'll be able to forecast the results by measuring how toxic their relation with Barry was.

In Jimmy's time, when you added the inflation rate to the percentage of Americans who were unemployed, the sum was what Carter called the "misery index." Carter so pursued disaster so conscientiously that by the time he was tossed out, the misery index was over twenty. Reagan cut it in half. It shrank to single digits under W, but Barry has boosted it back over 10.

Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke has decided to slip a new "stimulus" package past Congress -- it's called "quantitative easing" -- which will drive inflation up by pumping more fiat currency into the system. So we can look forward to Jimmy's misery index rising inexorably at least as long as Barry is in the White House.

But Jimmy's misery index is not an adequate measure of American misery brought about by Obama's economic and foreign policy disasters. How can we derive a 21st century measure of just how much worse -- and how much weaker -- we are?

It appears that Obama is literally driving us crazy. According to the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 20% of Americans had some form of mental illness in 2009. Which they attribute to unemployment, not the accumulated effect of listening to Barry's teleprompter speak almost daily.

The craziness will precipitously increase because -- only days before the Thanksgiving holiday -- the Touching Sensitive Areas gangsters are hanging a sign at all airports that reads, "Abandon all Hope, Ye who Enter Here." The choices are X-ray scanning, grope-a-dope frisking by its goons, or fines of up to $10,000. Whatever number of Americans were driven nuts in 2009 is going to double in 2011.

But those numbers are subjective. We can't trust Obama's index to shrinks or the TSA. We need an objective measurement. Maybe taken from a different viewpoint.

How about looking at it from the standpoint of the Democratic senators who will have to face the voters in 2012? This unfortunate group -- including Missouri's Claire McCaskill, Virginia's Jim Webb, Florida's Bill Nelson, Nebraska's Ben Nelson, and Montana's Jon Tester -- are going to have to run with Obama's name next to theirs on the ballot. How can we create an objective measurement of their political misery?

It's impossible to measure it by what they say behind closed doors, even though remarks such as Nelson's in last week's meeting of Senate Dems often leak out. According to a Politico report, "Nelson told colleagues Obama's unpopularity has become a serious liability for Democrats in his state and blamed the president for creating a toxic political environment for Democrats nationwide." But leaks are an unreliable basis for an objective measurement.

There is an alternative, one which can provide a good scale against which we can measure the next two years. Call it the Obama Toxicity Index.

The OTI is measured by which of Obama's worst initiatives they have already voted for (Obamacare, the "stimulus", etc.) and by how many more votes like that those senators make.

We already know that Obama isn't going to follow Clinton's example and move toward the center. He's insisting on ratifying the awful "START" arms control agreement with Russia and repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" both in the lame duck session. And Obama is also unwilling to compromise on maintaining the Bush-era tax cuts.

No wonder that Webb and North Dakota's Kent Conrad are rumored to be considering retirement. But McCaskilll -- having called the TSA's intrusive friskings "love pats" -- isn't retiring. She's apparently aiming at political suicide.

Both Nelsons, McCaskill and Tester are going to have a very hard time explaining away their votes for Obamacare. The Nelsons -- Ben, recipient of the infamous "Cornhusker Kickback" – and Bill, whose electorate is disproportionately older, will have a lot of trouble explaining that.

And how will they vote on a House bill to repeal Obamacare? Will they help Harry Reid to block it from coming to a vote? That will be one big data point that the Obama Toxicity Index will measure.

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About the Author

Jed Babbin served as a Deputy Undersecretary of Defense under George H.W. Bush. He is the author of several bestselling books including Inside the Asylum and In the Words of Our Enemies.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (55) | Leave a comment

Booger| 11.22.10 @ 6:21AM

Obama 2012: More popular than a TSA enhanced pat down.
Obama 2012: It's still Bush's fault.
Obama 2012: Your enhanced screening process.
Obama 2012: Herbert Hoover is my co-pilot.
Obama 2012: I'll touch your junk.
Obama 2012: A Jimmy Carter for today's troubled times.
Obama 2012: That's an $11,000.00 fine if you opt out.
Obama 2012: Newest Christmas song: Grandma got run over by a death panel!
Obama 2012: Your doctor will send you to the airport for x-rays.

http://beautifulletters-bls.blogspot.com/

Booger| 11.22.10 @ 8:35AM

Obama 2012: So what if Khalid Sheik Mohammad got acquitted?
Obama 2012: I'm gonna give you my love touch.
Obama 2012: At least Michelle has some slave blood in her.
Obama 2012: We touch you here, we touch you there, our fingers touch you everywhere!
Obama 2012: Can you guess what your tax rate will be next year?
Obama 2012: TSA now hiring proctologists!

A.M.| 11.22.10 @ 6:43AM

Being a native Nebraskan (like my entire extended family), I can assure Mr. Nelson that although his relationship to Obama doesn't help him AT ALL, his voting choices to this point are a far greater liability. It would be wise of him to remember that he represents the electorate of an entire state, not just two counties with a concentration of university staff.

Mimi| 11.22.10 @ 6:57AM

Jed...great monday morning article... " Obama is literally driving us CRAZY" Oh so true!.....Boogers new format "post" topped it off..hilarious. Well we took the first "HILL" now onto us finding a "REAGAN" like leader. Our cause is so right folks...keep on..." Hope Springs Eternal "

A. C. Santore| 11.22.10 @ 9:15AM

Yes, "Hope Springs Eternal," but it always lands in reality.

Peter Skurkiss| 11.22.10 @ 7:04AM

"How about looking at it from the standpoint of the Democratic senators who will have to face the voters in 2012? This unfortunate group -- including Missouri's Claire McCaskill, Virginia's Jim Webb, Florida's Bill Nelson, Nebraska's Ben Nelson, and Montana's Jon Tester -- are going to have to run with Obama's name next to theirs on the ballot. "

Hey Jeb! I feel slighted. You left the name of Ohio's Sherrod Brown off the list of these vunerable Democrats.

And Brown, by most measures, is about the most leftist of the bunch .

Furthermore, in addition to Brown's misery of having to run on the ticket with B. Hussein Obama on it in '12, all the statewide positions when to the GOP this year as did both chambers of the legislature.

Talk about an uphill climb.

I think it's "Bye-bye Brownie."

Aelfgyva| 11.22.10 @ 12:31PM

"vunerable"?

beebop| 11.23.10 @ 6:36AM

Ah. The "contribution" from the spellingbea/grammarcrowd. Nothing says nothing like "lovin'" from this crowd.

But heck. It's a holiday week, so let's play!

The venerable (Accorded a great deal of respect, esp. because of age, wisdom, or character: "a venerable statesman) Senator Sherrod Brown is vulnerable (Exposed to the possibility of being attacked or harmed, either physically or emotionally) to having his tushie kicked out in November 2012.

Hope that clears it up for you!

And enjoy your turkey.

Ret. Marine| 11.22.10 @ 7:05AM

Well Mr. Babbin, the one and only objection to this article is you "FAILED" to mention the process of impeachment and why it is now necessary for the deadbeat dems to forward this option. May I suggest you take a long hard look at the outcome of all of this mess called the obamas Bin Ly'n regime and dare ask a question as to even if there is an election come 2012.
This petulant punk, obamas Bin Ly'n, has made it quite clear that he will shove his marxist socialist tendencies down our collective throats whether or not We the People approve. That alone is major grounds for impeachment on the grounds that he is acting as an enemy agent, who happened to lie his way into the position he most assuredly is not even close to qualifying at. I prefer to use the term "pain index" in replacement to your observations of a "toxic" index for far to many reasons outside of worrying about a gaggle of liars working for the unconstitutional causes. It would be one thing if everyone was asked for an either, or, but, this is not being done, as I mentioned, he is just taking it to another level of discord which even FDR would blush in embarrassments. I do not believe he even thinks of the aftershock levels for those who are going along for the historical ride. Historic indeed, a known marxist to anyone bothering to read this man once on the scene with the help of his willful enablers in the Mainstream liars club along with the unprecedented level of fraud from a group he claimed he was always behind, the unions, i.g. ACORN's lawyer, trainer, and lead main man.

MikeD| 11.22.10 @ 7:17AM

Add in one more source of absolute fury on the part of Americans: The "What-Are-The-A$$holes-Gonna-Do-This-Weekend? angst". We can't even sleep on weekends without wondering what the Demoncraps are gonna do to destroy our Country now? Is that the role of government? I seem to remember a quaint notion that our elected representatives work for US. We can't even relax on weekends without worrying about what horror they're going to sneak through in the middle of the night.

If these evil thugs get more than 40% of the vote in 2012 our Country deserves what it gets. We are way beyond just trying to vote them out; they need to be removed, starting with "Head Thug" B. Hussain Obama. It's not enough to just get rid of him, he needs to be sent back to Kenya, although they probably don't want him either. Can you spell I-M-P-E-A-C-H-M-E-N-T?

Aelfgyva| 11.22.10 @ 12:34PM

Can you spell J-O-E B-I-D-E-N?

serfer62| 11.22.10 @ 1:32PM

Sheriff Joe is a fool, but an American.
Let the impeachment begin to make it 3 out of 3 Kommiecrats get impeached.

Patrick| 11.22.10 @ 3:32PM

Let's also consider this logistically. It would probably take about a year of wrangling and investigations and nonsense before the impeachment is delivered. All this time, the media is spinning hard for pity points. At the same time, public opinion for Republicans will tank as they are viewed as pursuing political vendettas instead of saving the economy. Do we really want this guy reelected in 2012? Do we really want Obama to become the Lefty martyr? Of course not. Focus on making the Dems the "party of no" while pushing bill after bill that are popular with the public yet galling to a radical like Obama.

No, terrible as he is, he is a far greater liability to the Democrats than they know. He is a pathological narcissist and a "true believer" to boot. Barry cannot back down against his own position, so he if he fails he will only double down on that failure. If Congressional Republicans have even two brain cells to rub together, they can play him like a fiddle, or rather a pipe considering party affiliation.

Lastly, and most importantly, which is better, kicking him out of office while he's already campaigning for a new term, or needling him until he becomes completely unhinged - on camera? Which is better, listening to the liberals kvetch about mean Republicans or drink their sweet tears as they piteously lament about their god-king's psychotic meltdown?

Mattled| 11.22.10 @ 8:15AM

One area that needs to be targeted s the "media". If we are to be successful in 2012, then we need to start naming names:
Couric
Lauer
Sawyer etc.

They have been persecuting us for too long. We need to Alinsky them. American Crossroads or whomever------ we can't just say the media is biasd anymore.
It's Couric is biased.
It's Lauer is biased.
Let them try to defend themselves-------against what they do to Palin, Gingrich, and now Christie EVERY DAY!
They pick the target, freeze it, polarize it.

Payback would be a ****h!

Louis Jenkins| 11.22.10 @ 8:21AM

You folks are screaming IMPEACHMENT, but it ain't gonna happen. It would be nice, but Obama is riding the gravy train for at least another two years. The most we can hope for is to vote him out of office along with his sucubuses in 2012. As I have said, we won round one, but there is still much work to do. Now is the time to get busy and do the ground work necessary to see him and his minions removed from office. We were not snowed in 2008 by Obama, now it is time for the rest of the country to catch up.

Redstateboy| 11.22.10 @ 10:28AM

So difficult to imagine Californians and Nevadians saddled themselves with Boxer and Reid for the next 6 years... How frigg'n bizarre is that?

Doctor Right| 11.22.10 @ 10:44AM

If the economy continues to flail, and Obama continues to govern like Hug Chavez, Jr., 2012 wll make 2010 look like...A Tea Party!

Webb, McCaskill, and the Nelson boys are toast. Anyone who plays footsie with Obama is toast.

Let the revolution march on!!!

Ned the Red| 11.22.10 @ 10:49AM

There is no doubt in my mind our enemies perceive us (US) to be weaker now than we have been for decades.
My fear is that many will feel this is their last best chance to open the little cans of whupass they have kept hidden away for years for just such an occasion.
Some of the cans have been improperly stored and will fizzle when opened, other won't be shaken up enough to erupt with much force, but there might be one that will spray its contents over all of us.
A lot can happen in the next two years. Our President might over react to an attack to make up for his perceived weakness, turning an minor situation into a manmade disaster, if you will, while trying to improve his position in the polls, or he might not react at all to a serious threat or attack, and leave us to the wolves, thinking we deserve a homecoming of Reverend Wright’s roosting chickens.
Myself, from what I have seen, doubt this guy will do as Roosevelt and metamorphose into a "President Win the War." He will more than likely concede and beg the UN for help. Say your prayers, the next two years might be very dangerous.

rjh| 11.22.10 @ 11:41AM

Doing my best to be an optimist, I do not think there are enough truly stupid people (although there are a lot) to re-elect obama. That being said, he is such an outrageous piece of work that I think it not unlikely that he might be removed from office or, possibly, meltdown and "resign". In any event, I do not think the Democrats are suicidal enough to run him again...I look forward to their rationale. However, we can never discount the Republicans' ability to totally blow it...in that case, all bets are off, and it will not matter any more because four more years of obama will end our way of life. If we allow that to happen, we will deserve it.

Patrick| 11.22.10 @ 3:47PM

Oh no, he'll never resign, and impeachment would only damage our side. I like the meltdown method, but I doubt that if he is made to snap that he will reach the level of crazy requiring padded rooms and white coats...but I can still dream...

As for running him again, he certainly will intend to. Now there is a possibility for an "Operation Chaos Redux" with Hillary running in the primaries. This would only be too sweet. He might win, but the battle will be bloody and the fallout immense.

The real fun is considering if she wins. Is Barry so self-absorbed that he would sandbag his own party just to spite her? I think so...

rjh| 11.22.10 @ 5:39PM

Patrick: In reference to your closing statement, I agree. He does not care about anybody or any party except for himself. I'm just wondering what his puppet masters will do when he becomes totally ineffective. I really do not think little barry is in charge. I have not seen any evidence of the intelligence that he is supposed to possess. An interesting situation might arise due to some states requiring proof of eligibility next election cycle...the wheels might come off of the bus then.

laundrybasket| 11.22.10 @ 11:55AM

"Myself, from what I have seen, doubt this guy will do as Roosevelt and metamorphose into a "President Win the War." He will more than likely concede and beg the UN for help. Say your prayers, the next two years might be very dangerous."
I adoubt this guy too

collaps| 11.22.10 @ 11:56AM

I agree with the post
keep writting more

Petronius| 11.22.10 @ 12:00PM

The reason B O et al don't care is that their power is institutional. Liberals can't be voted out of the media, the schools, churches, and unions. They also know that the RNC doesn't want to win, or govern when they do because their primary interest is graft. I hold no optimism for 2012 and beyond. McCaskill will keep her seat because voters in Missouri are too ignorant, indolent, incompetent, and dependent. So long as the government checks keep coming paid with the taxes of others, we're stuck.
Right now the state houses are redrawing their political maps which will mean some improvement in the House, but the Senate will remain ossified in favor of the administration.
I'm putting up a new map of the country on my library wall. The lower 48 has only a hand full of borders. The great midsection of the country is simply labeled, "watch this space." When secession starts I expect a variety of choice for my place of exile. And that might be my political condition even if i don't move.

RCV| 11.22.10 @ 12:08PM

Spoken like the true anti-American that you are.

dc| 11.22.10 @ 1:58PM

From the bowels of Holder's Dept. of Racially Results Oriented Justice, Conservative Website Monitoring Directorate, RCV belches up another clever comment...
In RCV's make-believe fairyland, once Americans have bowed their heads in worship to Dear Leader, then all freedoms are forfeit, the Constitution is toilet paper, and we should simply accept that the America Dear Leader wants is what we all need (our Ruling Class says so, after all). So no questioning the perversion of what used to be America; you're not allowed to even think about a better way forward for yourselves and your family. You're not allowed to look at (just one obvious, stark contrast) Texas and California and say, hmmm, which would be a better place, long-term, for me to prosper? No, RCV says you flyover pukes in Texas must pay for the profligacy of California (not to mention Dear Leader's epic pissing away of our and our grandchildren's money). Because even contemplating the sentiments of the Declaration of Independence is deeply un-American. Radical, even.
RCV, take the fat-fingered TSA probes out of your orifices. You'll be lucky if Americans continue to want to solve their serious, yawning differences by voting rather than by grinding would-be totalitarians like you into feed for their hunting dogs and other livestock in Free States.

RCV| 11.22.10 @ 4:06PM

Wading through the dreck you type, DC, and trying to isolate the few coherent thoughts within, I respond: California, like Texas, has for the last twenty years paid far more into the federal coffers than it has taken out. Far more. It's those "conservative" red states that suck the money out of the federal coffers they so criticize.

The secessionists today are the same group of traitors the secessionist of the 19th century were: they rap their hatred of the United States up in nonsensical spewings about liberty. Those of us who love this country, who honor the Declaration and the Constitution, know the Republic will endure. And that would-be secessionists will be dealt with the same way the last set were. These are the United States, and always will be.

Ramon| 11.22.10 @ 4:43PM

DC...I believe you meant to type in "wrap" rather than "rap". I'd like to see your source that shows (1) California has paid more into the Federal Treasury than it has gotten back and (2) that it is the red states that take more than they put back. How - for example - do you divvy up the benefits of the Defense budget?

What is undeniable is that California has spent (or committed itself to spend) far more than it takes in. It is also undeniable that high rates of taxation have driven the job creators out of California in increasing numbers. California is on a downward economic spiral caused by extremely poor fiscal policy. It's their problem...they caused it...and they need to solve it.

RCV| 11.22.10 @ 6:54PM

You can easily see the the statistics at www.taxfoundation.org. Texas aside, it's the red states that always live off the federal tax revenues of the blue states including California. We in California will do just fine, thank you. Sorry for the wrong "rap".

Boy Howdee| 11.23.10 @ 6:59PM

California is bankrupt. And "doing fine" California does will be only because of a direct federal bailout, since States (by a law sure to be obeyed in this instance) are not a allowed to actually GO bankrupt.

Question: is the billions of dollars cash drain caused by the millions of illegals esconced within the system in CA calculated as part of the "putting more out than using" metric?

dc| 11.22.10 @ 4:48PM

Any facts creeping into your most recent vomit, there, RCV? Nope. Nary a one. Are you seriously contending that 1) California sucks less from the Feds than it receives (don't count just direct payments, though probably you'd vote for that, too); 2) the Constitution (let's stick with that just for the moment) obligates the taxpayers of Texas to subsidize the rot of California, or any other state? I must have missed that Amendment somewhere.
Which states are prospering and gaining citizens (and Congressional seats) rather than bleeding productive people, underfunding their pensions by tens of billions, and generally beggars to the federal government? The red states or the socialist blue ones? You know the answer, but you're a coward and won't admit, or are to stupid to articulate, the truth.
What was the Declaration of Independence about? Preserving bonds or breaking them due to the fact that the government from which the then-colonists were separating (hint, hint) had grown tyrannical?
Fortunately, as a marginally literate coward, you have no means by which to force anyone, and your revered Dear Leader doesn't have half the sack to force any state, to remain shackled to a sinking ship. So either we right the course of the ship electorally, or it's another bloody civil war in which your side will lose. Won't be much fun, but you sniveling totalitarians may not leave us the peaceful option.

RCV| 11.22.10 @ 7:00PM

Vheck the facts, my friend. The red states consistently suck out far more than they pay in, while the blue states (and Texas) pay in far more than they receive.

Taking up arms against a government where citizens aren't self-governing can be justified. Using force and violence to overthrow a popularly elected government in a constitutional republic, as Sam Adams said, warrants the ultimate punishment. If you don't think the American people will strike and strike hard against ANYone who tries to dismember this country, just try it. The minute anyone tries, the full military might of the United States government and the full wrath of the American people will be there. No mercy for armed traitors to our country. None.

The One Who Runs Like a Duck| 11.22.10 @ 7:12PM

We took a shellacking, RCV but you did a great job. I authorize you t0 identify all traitors and take them into custody. We will take them to a facility called a re-education camp until they convince you that they are ready to be good obedient citizens. My buddy and co-author Bill Ayers always liked that idea. Get to it but be careful of having a second amendment solution applied to you. Change you can believe in, baby.

carnot| 11.22.10 @ 9:31PM

the only thing rcv's stats establish is that Blue State (i.e., the most heavily unionized) salaries are exorbitant.

of course, another way of looking at things: what percentage of total Federal outlays go to these Blue States?

in the true spirit of progressivism.....these States should suffer no compunction whatsoever in receiving far less in absolute terms as they labor to assist their destitute brothers - say in Maryland, for instance.

either way...I admire rcv's steadfast loyalty to his State. I say boycott all tourism to that state and all products produced in that state. they're self-sufficient. they can handle it.

RCV| 11.23.10 @ 12:39PM

We'd be delighted if yokels like you would stay home, Carnot. Our streets wouldn't be cluttered with people from the heartland going on "See the Stars' Homes!" tour busses all over town.

And we don't mind our taxes going to help the less fortunate in the red states. Just don't pretend its California and New York -- the economic and cultural engines of this country -- that are draining you.

Negro X| 11.22.10 @ 6:32PM

RCV,
Everyone grow weary of your liberal jibberish, find a real job troll.

Boy Howdee| 11.23.10 @ 7:02PM

One does wonder how much it pays to be the local Talking-point Troll for the left...

Wxcynic| 11.22.10 @ 12:51PM

Tester can easily win reelection. The college towns all vote overwhelmingly democratic and they outnumber those of us who can read. He is a Baucus clone who can't think for himself, and I see no viable candidate to take him on. I hope I'm wrong.

Tim the Enchanter| 11.22.10 @ 12:59PM

"Grope-a-Dope"... now that's brilliant!

Ed| 11.22.10 @ 1:32PM

This is good news/bad news.

The bad news: Obamacare won't pay for prostate or cervical exams.

The good news: go to your nearest airport, and you can get one for free!!!

Fred| 11.22.10 @ 7:21PM

We may not have to worry about Obama running in 2012, there are 3 States that will probably pass laws requiring proof that one is a Natural Born Citizen. After 3 years ignoring requests for his documentation, I seriously doubt he will accede in 2012. Here comes Hillary.

molonlabe28| 11.22.10 @ 7:36PM

I have been thinking about this for a good while.

The Dems have to defend 23 seats.

I think a good many of them feel like they are swimming with the Obama anchor around their necks.

We need to really put them on the spot during the course of the next 2 years.

Dan Smith| 11.22.10 @ 8:43PM

I think we should seriously consider if TSA would be a homosexual's dream job? I know that as a heterosexual, I'd love to spend my entire day feeling up women, so I imagine for a gay person it's the same with guys.

Happy thoughts there, travelers!

Led Display| 11.22.10 @ 9:33PM

I heard The One on the radio this morning claiming his administration's investment was beginning to pay off, yet nary a word about those whose money was actually used to do so--the taxpayers.Fiber Optic Splice Closure

Rebecca| 11.22.10 @ 10:04PM

I was so relieved after I read this column. I agree completely. The last two years have been unbearable. I was wondering why my health has been deteriorating. I fell ill in November of 2008. I cannot sleep, eat, or concentrate. The doctor does not know what is wrong with me. I have the same nightmare each night. Nancy Pelosi is chasing me and my sweet little dog. She catches me, knocks me down, drags my little dog from my arms, hits me over the head with her gavel, takes my jewelry and my purse. She gags me, forces me into a waiting van. Obama is driving erratically. Harry Reid is holding a gun to my head demanding I join a union. As the van turns off on a desolate road...I see a sign. "Welcome to Obamaland Re-Education Camp"....our Motto is: We Hope You Change. Your new name is #776299666. No pain, no change..Before I wake, I see Hillary Clinton, promising to cut off my wrist cuffs....Bill is present also.. He says, "no, we cannot do that...she won't vote for us anyway".. They promise me they will be back in 2012. They vow to cut me loose and free me from this hell if I cooperate and vote for her for president....As they glide away--two feet off the ground...they turn..and say, "you know we will always be truthful and keep our promises!" ....I can now tell my doctor I suffer from OTI. There is a cure for it. But it won't be available unless the Republicans secure The White House, The House and the Senate in 2012. Hillary isn't going to like that.....Meanwhile, Prozac and therapy are the answer to prayer. I am keeping a close watch on my money, my jewelry, and my DOG! I hope 2012 turns these horrid people out of our government. It is such a terrible thing to see a beautiful free capitalist country being destroyed by left-wing Socialist radicals. I have hope; it is for patriots to step forth to serve, and chart a change in our course back to freedom.

Mistral| 11.23.10 @ 12:07AM

The fact that we have not yet reached the maximum toxicity on the index with Hussein Obama signifies the worst is still to come.

dlmstl| 11.23.10 @ 12:58AM

The Democrat Socialist wing of the party has been planning this far left move for a long time. This and coming elections are intended to purge them of the Blue Dogs. They feel this is the 'time' to go for it all. What has happened over the past 24 months is mild compared to what they have planned in the not to distant future. Remember, BHO said he was going to fundamentally change this country. They are serious and determined and might just pull it off unless the Republicans decide to fight.

Thorvald| 11.23.10 @ 8:55AM

We are going to try to vote-out Sen. Klobuchar from Minnesota. Of course, if we replace her with a gonad-less Coleman clone, we are no better off.

John| 11.23.10 @ 11:45AM

The so called main stream media keep comparing Palins chances of running against Obama as rediculous. Hell if Obama doesn't change his Socialastic ways, anyone can beat him in his bid for a second term. Hell even the democrats aren't dumb enough to support him.

martin schultz| 11.23.10 @ 1:23PM

Seems to me that the fortunes of owner operated businesses will provide another measurement to be included in the OTI. Owners now face great regulatory uncertainty brought on by Obama et al. Think Obamacare. The related cost is in addition to ordinary impact of significantly reduced demand because of a mediocre economy.

JeffW| 11.23.10 @ 3:03PM

Obama toxic? You bet and it is just going to get worse. Latest USA Today poll has his favorable ratings at

Independents - 39%
Republicans - 6%
Democrats - 72% (down from 78% in one week).

http://latimesblogs.latimes.co.....palin.html

Without the independents he will lose. Seeing as how he is even starting to lose Dems he is doomed.

Rodney burke| 11.23.10 @ 8:14PM

The dimwits STILL don't get it do they? Obama or should we call him Barry, it poison! He STILL can't face the reality that HE and he ALONE is the cause for what is going on in America. He STILL doesn't get it that the American people, who he refuses to listen to OR represent, don't want what he does. When will he learn? Is impeachment the only thing he will understand? I guess so.

Rodney burke| 11.23.10 @ 8:14PM

gaetano| 11.25.10 @ 6:13AM

Every time I talk to some one that supports obama,and I listen to their idiotic claims of obama, make me want to spit and vomit in their stupid,uneducated,no moral, attitudes of disgraceful faces. What,pray tell, does it take to convince the hard headed democrat, that in the days of their democratic family, back when,is not the same as the democratic war lords of today? Are they so blind, not to see what Obama is trying to do?

Bunky| 11.25.10 @ 8:48PM

There is no announced heavyweight to challenge Florida's Bill Nelson yet.
Nelson has to go but the current appointment, LeMieux, probably would not be able to oust him.
X-Gov JEB was interested in running for Martinez's seat when two faced charlie tan announced and then JEB backed off.
Instead we got Marco. Yeah!!!
Maybe JEB is interested again. He could crush the idiot astronaut.