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Hunger Games Wisdom

By on 5.1.12 @ 6:09AM

President Obama has yet to understand that the next president will be cleaning up his messes.

Last weekend, Bill Clinton was the featured guest at two fundraisers which brought in a reported $2 million for President Obama’s 2012 campaign.

As the Daily Caller put it, “Clinton gives Obama $2 million worth of faint praise.”

Although the current president has substantially outraised Mitt Romney in the early part of the campaign season — to be expected of an incumbent facing a field of hopefuls prior to the determination of the eventual challenger — Obama’s fundraising pace is down dramatically from 2008. Given Obama’s rhetorical war against the “rich,” the slowest economic recovery in modern American history, and an unpopular piece of “signature” legislation that has a real chance of being found unconstitutional, the downturn in his campaign contributions should not be a surprise. Remarkably, even the New York Times understands it.

The president’s basic re-election theme was demonstrated in short sentences during the fundraisers: Bill Clinton said that Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney “basically wants to do what they did before, on steroids, which will get you the same consequences you got before, on steroids.” President Obama said that he, working with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, have “spent the past three-and-a-half years cleaning up after other folks’ messes.”

In other words, “vote for me because what I’m doing is better than what they did — which is what you should expect they will do again.”

But that is a difficult argument to sustain. People’s assessment of today and memory of last week are usually clearer than their memory of a few years ago, especially because across much of America the economy does not feel much better than it did a few years ago. If you haven’t been working in a bailed-out industry like banking or a bailed-out company like GM — after all, who wouldn’t do well with billions of dollars of Other People’s Money? — and you don’t own a lot of stocks and bonds, the world feels far from rosy. As we put it in my business, “the trend is your friend” (in this case, Romney’s friend and Obama’s challenge.)

More damaging for Obama is that while the recession and financial turmoil did indeed begin under President Bush, voters in 2008 had some sense of hope for the future, that things would get better, not least because of Obama’s famous campaign slogan of “hope and change.” Now, despite that promise, current economic indicators and optimism about the future are stagnant, and uncertainty about the next regulatory or tax shoe to drop keeps potential job creators on the sidelines. (Or more precisely, certainty that there will be another shoe to drop as long as this man is in charge.)

As Donald Sutherland, playing the president in the movie ​The Hunger Games noted ominously, “Hope is the only thing stronger than fear.” If he is correct, and America’s 2008 election results suggest some political validity in his statement, then few things will be more powerful in 2012 than the disappointment of a hope unfulfilled. Indeed, fear of trying someone new, especially someone who is so carefully running as not the usual Republican, not the second coming of George W. Bush (even if also not the reincarnation of Ronald Reagan), will not be the motivating force that the Obama letdown is.

A recent Gallup poll shows that the percentage of American adults who feel that they “have enough money to live comfortably” has reached a new low of 60 percent, down from 75 percent in 2002. The decline occurs across income groups, though college graduates do not feel as pessimistic as those with less educational achievement.

Sentiment among Republicans and Independents has dropped more than among Democrats, though the Democrat results still matched the prior low (registered strangely in 2005, implying that political partisans tend to feel worse when their team is not in charge.)

A dangerous aspect of the Gallup numbers for Obama’s reelection prospects is the large and persistent decline in perceived financial well-being among Independent voters. At 57 percent, the current reading among this critical segment of the electorate is by far the lowest registered among any of the three political groupings at any time during the past decade. This is a giant flashing neon warning sign for Barack Obama — and there is little he can to do about it.

The lack of economic confidence despite modestly lower unemployment rates and modestly higher consumer spending is representative of the fact that Barack Obama instills in many Americans the opposite of hope: the sense that we are being governed by a man (and his various henchmen and henchwomen) who, whether due to ideology or incompetence, cannot or will not implement the pro-growth policies needed to bring us out of our current economic morass.

Instead, he spends his time pitting Americans against each other: The “rich” against the middle class, Republicans against women, college students against everyone (and against responsibility for their own educations), and that’s just in the past few weeks. It is anything but a message of hope; it is a message of fear. Fortunately, it’s not working, in part because Americans are not people who want to feel fearful and in part because we know that such a message is no part of a solution.

In 2008, Barack Obama understood the Hunger Games president’s wisdom. In 2012, he has abandoned it, because his dismal record leaves him little choice.

Campaigning with President Clinton is necessary for Barack Obama who is having trouble appealing to big-check-writers on his own. After all, at this same point in his presidency, Bill Clinton had a 56 percent approval rating while Obama is mired at 48 percent, below the significant 50 percent threshold he has not been above for a year. But while Bill Clinton was deemed “the first black president,” he’s not actually the guy on the ballot in November, and approval ratings points are not tradable assets.

Hitting the campaign trail with Slick Willie poses its own risks for President Obama, reminding people that he, unlike Clinton, is presiding over a terrible economy. Obama, unlike Clinton, is not even pretending to look for areas of policy cooperation with Republicans (such as on welfare reform). And for a president whose primary electoral hope is his personal likeability, standing next to the relatively warm and jovial Clinton, our current president’s persistent coolness may remind voters that Obama is in fact not that likeable.

When it comes to enlisting the help of Bill Clinton, Barack Obama is doing what he has to do. The fact that he has to do it shows a recognition of his reelection campaign’s fundamental weakness. If Barack Obama had a James “It’s the economy, stupid” Carville instead of a David “Divide and Conquer” Axelrod to advise him, he might be reminded daily of Donald Sutherland’s Hunger Games wisdom. But then it’s hard to campaign on hope when fear is really all you have left to work with.

About the Author

Ross Kaminsky is a self-employed trader and investor and is a senior fellow of the Heartland Institute. He is the host of The Ross Kaminsky Show on Denver’s NewsRadio 850 KOA at 11 AM on most Sundays. You can reach Ross by e-mail at rossputin(at)rossputin(dot)com.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (209) |

Clint| 5.1.12 @ 6:13AM

Michelle Obama, " Let Them Eat Dog "

benny havens| 5.1.12 @ 7:17AM

Donald Sutherland, another Hollywood limousine liberal who hires high priced lawyers and CPA’s to hide his money from the socialist government that he promotes and defends.

Jack in Wi.| 5.1.12 @ 7:40AM

Obama has been terrible. I spend a lot of time working for dood pantreis and soup kitchens. I am on the board of a geoup that supplies 1200 soup kitchens and food pantry's with surplus food given by generous merchants and food manufacturing companies. We have 400 volunteers who use their own gas and vehicles to get and deliver the food.

The problem with Romney is that he is no better, and could be even worse. After all he wants to turn the foreign policy of this country over to Bibby Netanyahu. Netanyahu has been called incompetent and out of control by his own military and security services. One good thing about Obama is that, although he has been a groveling lackey of the Israeli Lobby, his whole career he hates Netanyahu and knows what an idiot and liar he is. The country is bankrupt because of wars and waste. Romney wants more wars and the only waste he would cut is from the poor and destitute on food stamps and Social Security. He loves welfare for the rich and dog food for the poor.

The Truth| 5.1.12 @ 7:52AM

"Springtime for Hitler and Germany"
-The Producers(movie)-1968

And now ladies and gentleman as the real life "Franz Liebkind(Ken Mars)"
I bring you, Jack from Wi.!!!!

Jack in Wi.| 9.10.11 @ 10:04AM
"Whatever good INDIVIDUAL Jews have done in the world pails in comparission to the bad of the last 200 years. Atheism, communism, Socialism, Nuclear Weapons, expansionist Zionism, nuclear blackmail and abortion"

Jack in Wi| 11.3.11 @ 4:28PM
"I have never writen any anti-semitic coments on this site"

Jack in Wi. 4-26-12
"And they think we should be cry forever about the so called holocaust"

"At least Obama hates Netanyahu"

"It's alright to hate evil and the devil. Netanyahu is the devil incarnate. He is Hitler on steroids"

"Hitler didn't own most of the American political class, like Netanyahu does. That makes him as bad as Hitler probably worse anyday"

"Hitler never called out so blatanly for the mass murder of millions like is done everyday on this site. He had at least the DECENCY to not do that"

"We need a second war of independence"
closely followed by:
"Blessed are the PEACE makers for they shall be called children of God."

"I don't demonize any race"

"Only here could someone(Jack from Wi.) who preaches peace, univeral brotherhood, and the Golden Rule be called an antisemite.
(lets not forget):
"We need a second WAR of independence'

"Hitler didn't have 500 atomic weapons and plans to use them"

"He(Hitler) at least pretended to be for peace most of the time before the war"

"Hitler had the best poison nerve gas in the world, in large supplies, and DIDN"T use it" (Holocaust victims might disagree here)

And the hits just keep on coming!!!

Jack in Wi.| 5.1.12 @ 8:06AM

Dear untruth: I live by the words of Jesus. " Love your neighbor as yourself. The truth will set you free. Those who live by the sword will die by the sword. " Shalom is a great Hebrew word. It has been used as a salutation for thousands of years by our Jewish brothers and sisters. It is time to make peace not war.

chuck| 5.1.12 @ 8:09AM

Let me guess, those quotes were from the "bad Jack".

Time for your medication!

Frank Drackman| 5.1.12 @ 9:03AM

"Love my neighbor as myself"
You mean I gotta jerk him off too??

HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Rodney Dangerfield LIVES baby...

Frank

The Truth| 5.1.12 @ 9:52AM

Jack in Wi. 4-26-12
"We need a second WAR of independence"

Jack in Wi.| 5.1.12 @ 8:06AM
"It is time to make PEACE not war"
"Those who live by the sword will die by the sword"

And thats the truth!

Harry the Horrible| 5.1.12 @ 11:02AM

Funny. I do my best to live by Christ's words, too:

He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.”
—Luke 22:36, NIV

Clint| 5.1.12 @ 7:53AM

Mittens Is The Dog Delivery Driver For Obama.

Joan| 5.1.12 @ 8:38AM

I'd still rather be the dog on the roof who went on vacation than the dog on the barbecue.

jan| 5.1.12 @ 2:54PM

odumbos favorite cook book " one hundred ways to wok your dog"

Clint| 5.1.12 @ 3:20PM

Obama Eats Pup Tarts For Breakfast.

chuck| 5.1.12 @ 8:01AM

It's always about the Jews, isn't it Jack.

I think you have some serious issues he need to explore with some professional help.

Jack in Wi.| 5.1.12 @ 8:12AM

You rabid Zionists and your blithering friend Mitt are the problem. The country is bankrupt and here we are running a warmonger for president. Before one penny is cut from the food stamps and Social Security from Americans, we should cut every penny from the greatest welfare queen the world has ever seen. Let Israel learn how to cut bait and fish on it's own, or let it go out of business. 65 years of leeching off the taxpayers of the USA is long enough.

chuck| 5.1.12 @ 8:23AM

Only Jack can turn a column about Obama's reelection troubles into something about the Jews.

You're obsessed, Jack, just like your hero, "Der Fuhrer"!

TLP| 5.1.12 @ 11:09AM

Please. I'm begging ALL OF YOU. Stop responding to Jackass in Wi.

Everybody knows what he is.

Same with his Symbiot - Clint.

You're never gonna get anywhere, and all that gets accomplished is 135 Comments, of which, 90 of them are about them.

"Leave them alone, and they'll go home" and something about wagging tails, or some such nonsense.

Occam's Tool| 5.1.12 @ 2:00PM

Tim, it's like a sore tooth, ya know. But you are right. What I will do is simply write: awesome, Tim, instead. Much better. Thanks.

Awesome, Tim.

Clint| 5.1.12 @ 2:22PM

Ricky Santorum Disses The Etch A Sketch Candidate.

" Presidential candidate Rick Santorum said Republicans should give President Barack Obama another term if Santorum isn't the GOP nominee and for a second day compared rival Mitt Romney to an Etch A Sketch toy.

Santorum reiterated an argument he has made before: The former Massachusetts governor is not conservative enough to offer voters a clear choice in the fall election and that only he can provide that contrast."

Clint| 5.1.12 @ 2:28PM

" Newt to Newsmax: Romney’s ‘Etch-A-Sketch’ Campaign Won’t Beat Obama

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich charged in an exclusive interview with Newsmax today that Mitt Romney’s “Etch-A-Sketch” campaign strategy will only alienate the conservative base he needs to defeat President Barack Obama in November should he go on to capture the GOP nomination."

Clint| 5.1.12 @ 2:17PM

The RINO-CINO RomneyBots Think They Can Play Us Religious Conservatives As Their "Useful Dupes".

Mitt Romney Supporting Abortion In 2002

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPWvjuF2Z0g

Clint| 5.1.12 @ 2:30PM

" Note to Mitt Romney advisers: When your candidate already has a reputation as a middle-of-the-road, flip-flopping technocrat with zero core beliefs, likening him to an Etch-A-Sketch is probably ill-advised, no matter the context.

Eric Fehrnstrom learned this the hard way.

CNN asked whether his candidate, who's gone out of his way to appeal to conservatives this winter, would later tack more to the political center against President Obama.

"I think you hit a reset button for a fall campaign," Fehrnstrom said. "Everything changes. It's like an Etch A Sketch. You can shake it up and we start all over again."

Frank Drackman| 5.1.12 @ 9:02AM

Dammit Jack,
There's no such thang as a "Dood Pantrei", and Jeez-us, at least spell your fantasy right.
I guess it'd be "Dude Pantry", which is sort of like Seinfeld's "Jerk Store"...

Frank

Ross Kaminsky | 5.1.12 @ 10:24AM

Benny: This article was actually not about Donald Sutherland.

Jack: This article was actually not about Benjamin Netanyahu. That said, a raving anti-Semite such as yourself is probably reacting to the mention of one Jew (David Axelrod) in an article written by another Jew (me.)

It is remarkable that you say that the only good thing about Obama is that he hates Netanyahu. It says a lot about you, Jack, and none of it good.

Jack in Wi.| 5.1.12 @ 10:49AM

Dear Ross; You are the problem not the solution. Everyday you Wall Street boys talk about the waste of the welfare system. Well everyday I see Americans lined up around my truck as I drop off large loads of food for hungry poor people in this a country, with 50 million people already on food stamps. Yet we are supposed to carry your nasty little, racist, welfare Queen on our backs till eternity. I am sick to death of endless welfare and war for Israel and endless bailouts for your rich, fatcat friends onWall Street. It is time your pals carried themselves. I say America and Americans first and formost.

Now as anyone who studies the issue knows. there is a huge revolt among the Israeli military and intelligence communities against Netanyahu and his constant warmongering and general incompetence on foreign policy issues. Yet this is the man who your hero Romney wants to turn this country's Middle East policy over too. When are you chickenhawk Neocons going to address the fact that the professionals in the intelligence and military communities in both the USA and Israel want no more wars and are sick of politicians who continually push them? Netanyahu is the enemy of every American and Israeli who wants peace. If Obama hates him, that is fine with me. Most of the rest of the world does, as well. He is trying to start WW3.

Ross Kaminsky | 5.1.12 @ 10:59AM

Dear Jack: As a Jew, I well know what "solution" you think worth considering, so despite your professed opposition to Obama, you are not my friend. Indeed, you are probably a bigger enemy than Obama.

I am not a "Wall Street boy." I work for myself and have never worked for an investment bank or brokerage firm.

Which "welfare Queen" do you claim I support?

Where have we gone to "war for Israel"? (Don't answer that; you'll look even more insane than you already do.)

Finally, this idea that Romney (who is not my hero) would turn American foreign policy over to Israel or any other country is preposterous fantasy on your part.

The enemy is Iran, not Israel, and the sooner you get that through your reprehensible anti-Semitic skull, the better.

Alan Brooks| 5.1.12 @ 12:32PM

Dear Jack: As a Jew, I well know what 'solution' you think worth considering"

The Final Solution?? you accuse Jack of wanting another Holocaust? Mr. Kaminsky, Jack is no Himmler, fercryinoutloud.

Alan Brooks| 5.1.12 @ 12:35PM

"Dear Jack: As a Jew, I well know what 'solution' you think worth considering"

Mr. K.,
I scarcely think a guy who hands out food to the poor is a would-be Himmler, Eichmann, or Heydrich.

Occam's Tool| 5.1.12 @ 1:48PM

Really? Hitler was adamantly against animal cruelty, Alan.

I'm with the estimable Mr. Kaminsky on this one, and on most things.

And, Alan, many Moslems aren't bad people, but Sharia law is evil beyond belief, unless, of course, you enjoy necrophilia. Then it is right up your alley, I suppose.

Jack in Wi.| 5.1.12 @ 5:24PM

Alan: Only here could only someone who calls for The Golden Rule, Peace, Justice, and Universal Brotherhood, be called a Nazi. Our old friend Occam is forever calling for mass murder and genocide on innocent Muslims and our friend Ross has nothing to say. I have never called for one hair to be hurt on a Jewish head. Only when I tell the truth about his pals Romney and Netanyahu does Ross blow a gasket. Ross say no to war and yes to peace. It is the only way to go forward.

Ross Kaminsky | 5.1.12 @ 7:53PM

tell you what, Jack. Get the Iranian regime to say yes to peace, and then we'll talk.

Jack in Wi.| 5.1.12 @ 10:27PM

The Iranian regime has offered on numerous occasions to start talks with the USA. They helped us with the War on Terror in 2003, when we invaded Afganistan. They offered a full settlement at that time. Powell, Rice, and Armitage wanted to start immediate negotiations. Cheney, and his Neocons said no. Bush was convinced by Cheney not to go along.

We should do what Nixon did with China. We should send an ambassador. open diplomatic relations, end sanctions, trade with them, and have exchange programs with them. The price of ooil would collapse and we could use our own vast energy sources. The sooner we get out of the Middle East the better. Let the people who need the oil China, India, Turkey, Japan, and Korea worry about waht goes on in the region.

Again Ross you ignore the fact that your boy Romney wants Netanyahu to run our Middle East policy. Netanyahu has been called unstable and unreliable by many in Israel itself. Those include many key people in the military and intelligence communities. they have called Iran a rational player who is not buliding nuclear weapons at this time. Iran has attacked no one in 300 years. Your Israeli pals attack or threaten to attack every couple of weeks. The answer has always been an honest settlement and peace. Shalom.

Jack in Wi.| 5.1.12 @ 5:29PM

Alan: I would hope that our dear old pal Ross, would like to make peace along the lines offered by the King Of Saudi Arabia in 2002. In that offer the whole Arab league offered Israel a complete peace along the 1967 Green Line and the Golan Heights back. It also would include full diplomatic relations and trading rights. The majority of Jews would take this deal if they had sane leadership.

KennesawJack| 5.1.12 @ 6:35PM

Any Israeli leader who agrees to the 1967 borders, returing the Golan and surrendering East Jerusalem should be tried for treason. Ever heard the old saw, "Fool me once,shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."? The '67 borders weren't acceptable to the Arabs then, and they aren't now. You're asking Israel to be like a Jewish Charlie Brown to the Arab Lucy holding the football. Shallow, indeed.

Clint| 5.1.12 @ 1:41PM

What's I'madinnerjacket Building In There ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMqxNPsfN50

Mickey| 5.1.12 @ 2:38PM

Clinty
Nobody wants to play with you today. Your act is stale.
You have a job or a life?

Clint| 5.1.12 @ 2:42PM

I Got Little Micky BibiBot Trained To Folllow Me Around.

Now, Go Eat Bibi's Bone, Little Micky BibiBot.

Jack in Wi.| 5.1.12 @ 2:51PM

The enemy to me is Israel not Iran Ross. Iran doesn't own most of our politicians using blackmail. bribery, and intimidation. It hasn't got a nuclear weapon and isn't building any. Even the intelligence communities in both this country and Israel agree with that. The heads of Israeli intelligence have spoken out and said that Iran is a rational player and not building nuclear weapons at his time. There is a huge debate in Israel right now. Most heads of the military and intelligence communities think Netanyahu is leading Israel into the abyss. When the hell are you neocons here going to write about it?

The book of Leviticus tells Jews to love their neighbors as themselves. Elsewhere in the book it tells them to treat the aliens among you as you do yourselves. In the Book of Exodus God tells the Jews to treat the aliens and strangers among you well, for you were once aliens and strangers in the Land of Egypt. In the Book of Chronicles there is the story of Persian ruler Cyrus who let the Jews retunn to Jerusalem and gave them money to rebuild the Great Temple. The Jews and Persians lived in relative peace for 2500 years. The Jewish community in Iran is the largest left in the Muslim world, 25,000. They could leave at any time for Israel, or anywhere else, but don't. They live in relative prosperity and are well respected.

The answer my friend, is right in the Torah. Love your neighbors and make a just peace with them. Jews have existed for 3000 years because they were mostly good and useful neighbors. Shalom.

Occam's Tool| 5.1.12 @ 10:04PM

Yes, jack, but it's funny how you responded to jews winning 5 Nobel Prizes last year. Shall I bring up your response?

You think Jews do best under the boot. Well, sorry, asshole, homey don't play that game. I'm with Mr. Kaminsky on this one.

Clint| 5.1.12 @ 11:08PM

TEHRAN - The former head of Israel’s Shin Bet security agency has criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak for adopting a bellicose stance on Iran, according to the Haaretz daily.

Yuval Diskin, who was speaking at a public meeting in Beit-ul-Moqaddas (Jerusalem) on Friday, said Israel’s political leaders are exaggerating the effectiveness of a possible military attack on Iran, AP reported.

“I don’t have faith in the current leadership of Israel…,” he stated.

“I do not believe in a leadership that makes decisions based on Messianic feelings,” Diskin added.

Former Mossad chief Meir Dagan backed Diskin on Sunday, saying that he disagrees with Netanyahu’s policy on solving Iran’s issue, according to Haaretz.

He also called a strike against Iran’s nuclear program “stupid”, AP reported.

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said at a conference hosted by the Jerusalem Post in New York on Sunday that he is against an attack on Iran, criticizing Netanyahu’s policy on Iran, Bloomberg reported.

In addition, Israel’s military chief Lieutenant General Benny Gantz, in an interview with Haaretz published on April 25, said that he does not believe Iran will decide to develop nuclear weapons, describing the country’s leadership as “very rational”.

“I think the Iranian leadership is comprised of very rational people,” Gantz stated.

Jack in Wi.| 5.2.12 @ 12:43AM

Thanks Clint, very well done. Lets keep it up. The truth will set us Free. Blessed are the peacemakers.

Frank Drackman| 5.1.12 @ 11:13AM

Well THATS your problem, Jack.
I mean besides bein a Ho-Mo.
You "Drop off large loads" for hungry poor people.
As if Hungry(get a job)poor(Getajob)peoples(getajob) didnt have enough problems.
And don't try that in the A-T-L,
we might be the City Too Busy To Hate, but we make exceptions for know it all Yankees dropping off loads in our yards..

Frank

Occam's Tool| 5.1.12 @ 1:49PM

Frank,

Well, Jack is a pantload, that's for sure. And what's worse, he tells us about other times he was a load. :)

Vern Crisler | 5.1.12 @ 5:16PM

Hey, just the other day I called Clint (or was it Jack) an anti-semitic pig, but the Amspec censor removed my post. Now Ross makes the same point, only he added the term "raving." I guess I have to work on my adjectives?

Occam's Tool| 5.1.12 @ 11:01PM

And be a blogger, I guess. Nice to see you, Vern.

Alan Brooks| 5.1.12 @ 12:29PM

Why is it you demonise Islam, while dissing Jack for not liking Israel?
The majority of Islamics are not bad*sses.

Lost| 5.2.12 @ 11:14AM

It maybe true that most muslims do not support what muslim terrorist do they are no better than most germans with hitler.

Occam's Tool| 5.1.12 @ 1:45PM

"Bibi," Jack. Are you dyslexic? "food pantries," "group," "food pantries," and, of course, even though you didn't write it this time, "Palestine."

Clint| 5.1.12 @ 2:57PM

Tool Job's The Screwball Maniac Israel Firster Smear Bund Neo-Chickenhawk Coward Traitor Bastard RINO-CINO,Who Said He'll Vote For The Ruling Elites' RINO-CINO Fop Frontman, Mittens Romney Way Back In June.

We Are Being Set Up By These Israel Firster RINO-CINO Agendists For The Ruling Elites' Frontman Mittens Romney.

These Are The RINO-CINO Israel Firster Agendists, Who Gave Us The Serial Traitor To Conservatism, John McCain Of McCain-Feingold, McCain-Kennedy,McCain-Lieberman,Gang Of 14, Opposing Bush Tax Cuts Of 2001 & 2003,TARP.

Now They Are Trying To Give Us RomneyCare,TARP, Cynical Flip-Flops On Abortion, Gays, Refuses to Sign Pro-Life Pledge, Illegal Immigrants, "Little Chain Saw Al" At Bain, Crony Capitalism Campaign Money Trail.....

Occam's Tool| 5.1.12 @ 10:05PM

I'm trying to see if you're arguing a point or just blithering, Clint...

Clint| 5.1.12 @ 11:04PM

I'm Callin' You Out As The Israel Firster Smear Bund Traitor Bastard RINO-CINO You Are,Tool Job.

We Are Being Set Up By These Israel Firster RINO-CINO Agendists For The Ruling Elites' Frontman Mittens Romney.

These Are The RINO-CINO Israel Firster Agendists, Who Gave Us The Serial Traitor To Conservatism, John McCain Of McCain-Feingold, McCain-Kennedy,McCain-Lieberman,Gang Of 14, Opposing Bush Tax Cuts Of 2001 & 2003,TARP.

Now They Are Trying To Give Us RomneyCare,TARP, Cynical Flip-Flops On Abortion, Gays, Refuses to Sign Pro-Life Pledge, Illegal Immigrants, "Little Chain Saw Al" At Bain, Crony Capitalism Campaign Money Trail.....

clang| 5.1.12 @ 5:48PM

BiBi has more wisdom in his pinky than the whole administration has. If America had such a strong leader, we would be in a whole lot better shape.

Jack in Wi.| 5.1.12 @ 10:33PM

Bibbi as nutty then a fruitcake. His own military and intelligence communities are speaking out because they think he is out of control. The man is pushing us toward WW3. He must be gotten rid of if the world is ever to return to peace. There are many sane people in Israel and in the dispora who want him gone. Sadly our dear friend Ross here doesn't seem to be one of them.

Occam's Tool| 5.1.12 @ 11:00PM

Bibi, Jack. Diaspora (or you can add an 'h' to the end, as in WR Yates' great novel, Diasporah).

Clint| 5.1.12 @ 11:07PM

" TEHRAN - The former head of Israel’s Shin Bet security agency has criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak for adopting a bellicose stance on Iran, according to the Haaretz daily.

Yuval Diskin, who was speaking at a public meeting in Beit-ul-Moqaddas (Jerusalem) on Friday, said Israel’s political leaders are exaggerating the effectiveness of a possible military attack on Iran, AP reported.

“I don’t have faith in the current leadership of Israel…,” he stated.

“I do not believe in a leadership that makes decisions based on Messianic feelings,” Diskin added.

Former Mossad chief Meir Dagan backed Diskin on Sunday, saying that he disagrees with Netanyahu’s policy on solving Iran’s issue, according to Haaretz.

He also called a strike against Iran’s nuclear program “stupid”, AP reported.

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said at a conference hosted by the Jerusalem Post in New York on Sunday that he is against an attack on Iran, criticizing Netanyahu’s policy on Iran, Bloomberg reported.

In addition, Israel’s military chief Lieutenant General Benny Gantz, in an interview with Haaretz published on April 25, said that he does not believe Iran will decide to develop nuclear weapons, describing the country’s leadership as “very rational”.

“I think the Iranian leadership is comprised of very rational people,” Gantz stated."

TLP| 5.1.12 @ 8:27AM

I realize that we're kinda like Best Buds, now, since you gave me that $500, but I feel that I have to remind you, and others, of things that you seem to forget.

ABU HUSSAIN has zero concern about anybody "FIXING" anything.

You people keep running on the Premise that he actually wants this to work. He doesn't. Did you see those people in the OCCUPY CAMPS? That's who he was talking to when he proclaimed: "We are the ones, we've been waiting for."

He knows what he wants to do. What he needs to do. What he was BORN to do. (Has ANYONE read this MFer's books?)

A great Man, early on, predicted what the outcome of this Demi-God's rise to power, would be. There would be NO coming together of the Races. It would be just the Opposite. The things he SAID on the Campaign Trail, would be the Opposite of the things he would DO. Like any good Muslim, he knows that he must SAY whatever he feels he needs to say, to get an advantage. And like any true believer in the ways of Marx, he knows that he must Transform the World, by any means necessary.

He promised us "Openness, and Transparency". Openness and Transparency, from a man who's REAL BIOGRAPHY sits, Locked Away from The People's Right to Know, in a Vault, on an Island, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

And, what does it say of a man, when he needs to pull out the Most Disgraced President, this Country has ever known, out from Peeping through a hole in the wall of the Ladies Room, at his local Sunoco Station, for a "Character Reference"?

Think about it. Things are going so bad for you, that you need a Character Reference from President "Character Doesn't Matter". From a guy who was IMPEACHED because of involvements in a Court Case involving Him, standing in front of a young woman, whom he'd just met, with his Pants around his ankles, trying to coax her in to Kissing Dick Willie.

Did I mention that he's a RAPIST?

There's something terribly wrong with a Political Party, when the best they can do, to Rally the Troops, is to dig up CALIGULA, and throw him in front of the Cameras. They have NOTHING that they can point to, that is a Plus for the Country. For 2 Years they owned that town, and got Everything that they, and their Progressive forebears, ever wanted, yet they refuse to talk about it. Preferring, instead, to run a Campaign on the Altruism of EATING One's Dog, as opposed to Putting him on top of the Car.

They rehash every Democrat Talking Point they've used for the last 30 Years. "Back to Slavery. Back Room Abortions. Black Churches Burning. Dirty Air. Dirty Water. Arsenic. Cyanide. Oil Companies. Big Pharma."

And, of course, the omniprecient Television Spot of a Snydley Whiplash looking, Republican, pushing everybody's Grandmother over the Cliff, in her Wheelchair, as she's struggling to work the Can Opener on her Can of Dog Food.

I believe that, by the time November rolls around, and things continue to get "Progressively Worse" (do those two words BELONG TOGETHER, or what?) all of the Pharaoh's Horses, and all of his Baghdad Bobs, won't be able to put this America Hating Marxist Muslim piece of GARBAGE, back together, again.

We get the Leaders we DESERVE.

Perhaps, by straying from the Path that our Founders set forth for us, for so many years, in tiny increments, we DESERVED to get a Real Taste of what was Lying in Wait, just around the corner, if we didn't get back on the right path?

We're getting a 2nd chance in November.

God help us, if we Fck it up.

Ross Kaminsky | 5.1.12 @ 9:46AM

TLP,

I actually agree with you that Obama personally does not want the economy to work. He is Alinskyite through and through.

BUT, he wants the appearance that it's working, at least for the months leading up to the election because his "scare them into voting for me" isn't getting the job done.

I think he can't do either, and I think he's going to lose, but I realize that the GOP doesn't exactly have the most inspiring candidate.

Although I'm not a Paul-ite conspiracy theorist, I can't help but get a certain Manchurian Candidate sense of Barack Obama.

Al Adab| 5.1.12 @ 11:12AM

This president desires and expects this economy to be the new baseline. This is the new norm. These unemployment levels coupled with high consumer prices feed the social-welfare state this administration is attempting to build. He does not see it as a mess, but rather as a more desireable state of being. Americans have too much, spend too much and expect too much. To him we are too rich, too profligate and too selfish. What a brave new world he hopes to build.

TLP| 5.1.12 @ 11:21AM

I understand, but methinks thou dost underestimate our Boy.

The Manchurian Candidate?

"And I saw the BEAST rise from the Sea. And he was given a MOUTH, to speak Haughty and Blasphemous words. And he was allowed to exercise Authority for forty two months." Revelation 13-5.

I remember when he first came in to Power. The Arabs LAUGHED at him. They MOCKED his pretty speeches.

They don't do that, anymore.

They FOLLOW HIM, now. HE is their Leader. It was HE who gave them Mubarak. It was HIS Jets that gave them Libya, on a Silver Platter. HE is the reason that the Arab League has not Armed the people of Syria.

HE went in to Libya on the pretense that Khaddafi had killed 150 of his own people. ASSAD has Murdered Thousands, yet HE refuses to do anything.

Iran will have their Bomb before you know it, yet he does nothing, but 'Speak haughty and blasphemous words'. HE reveals to them, the SECRET PLANS of a Launching or Refueling Point for Israel's Bombers in the Country just North of Iran.

Hamas believes the HE is their "Deliverer". That HE was sent by their God of Murder to Destroy the Jews, and return Jerusalem to the Muslims. They have even given him the name: ABU HUSSAIN.

Son of the Father.

His Cheif Benefactor is a Man who, as a Jewish Boy, helped the Nazis, in their efforts to Exterminate his fellow Jews. When confronted with this, during an interview, when he was asked if he had any REGRETS about what he had done? He Calmly, and Smilingly answered that it was the "Best time of my life".

Why am I writing these things, AGAIN?

I guess because, with each passing day, he lets down his Pretenses a little bit more. His Lies, though just as many, are not as clever as they used to be. He's more Blatent, and he grows more Reckless as he contemplates the chance, that he may not get to FINISH THE JOB.

Ask the Midwestern Farmers, who are having their Livestock SLAUGHTERED by the THOUSANDS, for no reason, by 'The Ones' Armed Agents. Ask the people who's Private Property his EPA Nazis, are confiscating. Ask Ted Nugent. Ask all of the Coal Miners, who've been thrown out of work by HIS Minions. Listen to that Nazi looking little Lying POS - Carney - spout his Lies to every Goddamn question, every GODDAMN DAY, and then tell me that none of what I'm writing, makes any sense.

Name one thing that this THING has done for this country.

And, don't say Bin Laden, cause he did that for himself. With him gone, HE is the King of Islam.

HE is the Deliverer.

THE MESSIAH.

How many things, this shy of actually Bombing Tel Aviv, does he have to do, before you people get it?

We discount him, at our own Peril.

Ross Kaminsky | 5.1.12 @ 11:43AM

Without getting into the various references you make, what part of this guy do you really think I don't get?

Seriously, I think the man is a radical anti-American Alinskyite leftist, and a true danger to the nation.

What do you think am I missing?

SUBVET| 5.1.12 @ 12:10PM

Ross.........I think TLP knows where you stand.

The rant was not just for you, TLP is our resident "and that's the rest of the story".

Keep the cool-aid drinkers on track TLP great post.

TLP| 5.1.12 @ 1:51PM

You're the Man, brother.

TLP| 5.1.12 @ 1:50PM

I think that you just don't wanna believe, exactly how EVIL this man is.

You don't wanna believe that there's an American President who HATES THIS COUNTRY so much, that he will do whatever it takes, to DESTROY it.

Like SUBVET suggests, it's not a dig against you. It's just that you haven't come to grips with the UNTHINKABLE.

"There are none so Blind, as those who will not see."

Now, go home and get your Beautiful new wife, and make plans for Sudan.

I understand that the Mosquito Harvest is in full bloom right about now.

I like ya.

And THANKS, again, for that $500.

Yours Truly: Me.

Ross Kaminsky | 5.1.12 @ 4:22PM

Tim,

I think I pretty much share your views on Obama, maybe with a slightly lesser intensity, but not by much.

I would suggest to you that if I wrote the way you do, I would have less influence than (the little influence) I have now.

In short, I am generally not trying to preach to the converted, but rather hoping that the occasional independent/moderate or maybe even a liberal will read my work and have a thought based on rationality spark in their brains.

So it's just not a great idea for what I do to express myself in similar terms to yours, but it doesn't mean I think you're way off base.

By the way, I don't know if you're going to laugh at this or dislike me even more, but the family trip I'm planning this winter is to Sri Lanka, with brief stops -- believe it or not -- in Abu Dhabi and Kuwait on either side of the trip. (Mostly because that's the only decent way to get there, not because those places were tops on my list of places to go. Still, it should be interesting to see those places in person...I probably won't tell too many people I'm Jewish!)

Yours truly,
RGK

TLP| 5.1.12 @ 6:19PM

1st of all, I don't know if you know this, but AMERICA is one Helluva nice place to visit. If you're so determined to visit a Third World Country? Just wait awhile. If The Alien gets re-elected, you can cut way down on your Air Fare.

As far as writing exactly what's on your mind?

Remember the words of the late Steve Jobs, upon being told by the CEO of Corning Glass that it was not possible to make the kind of Glass that he wanted for his IPhones.

"Don't be afraid. You can do it."

Write what you FEEL.

The people are a lot more ready for THE TRUTH, than you think you give them credit for.

Have fun in Stupid Town.

Ross Kaminsky | 5.1.12 @ 7:55PM

TLP, I think I've been to all but 2 states. Maybe 3.

And I do like traveling in America. But I think there is something particularly educational about taking children to foreign countries. My parents did that for me and I am forever grateful.

Not sure what you mean by Stupid Town!

TLP| 5.1.12 @ 6:24PM

As far as you being Jewish? I wouldn't worry about it.

I just emailed them and told them you are.

Good luck.

Occam's Tool| 5.1.12 @ 10:14PM

Be sure to visit the home of Arthur C. Clarke, Ross. Might want to pick this up to see his take on it.---Sri Lanka: The Emerald Isle (Asia Colour Guides. He died in 2008.

Make sure your passport has NO Israeli stamps.

By the way, of course I write swinging from the trees. I do this to vent my spleen from having to be nice to very difficult people all day long. I like to help people and dramatically improve their lives, but Psychiatry can be very interpersonally unpleasant.

Fly safe, Ross, and have fun. Me, in February I may go to Legoland in Florida, or go to Guatemala to visit the foster families of my children when they were infants before we adopted them. Fantastic people.

Ross, by the time my kids were 6, they had lived in Kentucky, Gutemala, and New Zealand. 3 foreign countries.

Occam's Tool| 5.1.12 @ 10:59PM

Sorry, Guatemala. I ruined that joke. (I don't like Kentucky or New Zealand. Quite a few similarities there, actually.)

Ross Kaminsky | 5.1.12 @ 11:51PM

I like Lake Atitlan...and Queenstown. Paducah, not as much.

Occam's Tool| 5.1.12 @ 1:52PM

Ross, I gotta agree with you, and TLP, as well. The man in office is a traitor, pure and simple.

George True| 5.1.12 @ 2:46PM

You are in top form again today, Mr Pennell. Your comments are always inspiring due to their 100% dead-on accuracy. Truth is inspiring.

TLP| 5.2.12 @ 10:19AM

Thank you, George.

Dittohead| 5.1.12 @ 9:37AM

The Iraq War, the housing crisis, the recession, 9/11, all of these may have happened on Bush's watch, but they were still Obama's messes, because he is a democrat and that says it all.

Trebel Clef| 5.1.12 @ 7:44PM

The next president?

Obama, without a doubt!

Appleby| 5.1.12 @ 7:33AM

Are the Sixties finally Over? Do we get to stamp that era closed and drop it down the well?

Have we seen enough of Tom Hadyen and Jane Fonda's dream, and do the rest of you understand what some of us understood in 1968?

Is it time to put the bell bottoms and the dirty shirts back in the basement and put on a suit and go to work?

God, I hope so.

KennesawJack| 5.1.12 @ 6:44PM

If we can get rid of Obamarx next November the answer is, "Yes.", we can finally put a lid on the coffin of the '60s. If not, if he is re-elected, we will close out the '60s and reinvigorate the '30s of Germany. Kiss the Constitution good-by if he is still in office come Jan. 21st.

RD Davis| 5.1.12 @ 7:56AM

President Romney will set a new record for job creation. There are 2 trillion business dollars sidelined, according to obama himself, waiting for obama to be gone. MORE than the obama stumulus, without the added requirement that the money be spent where it will help elect demos,but go directly into the economy.

Cynicon Implant| 5.1.12 @ 8:24AM

Spot on, RD. Businesses are sitting on their cash because Obama is waging war on any business that the government has not taken over. It's actually kind of amusing to see how frustrated he gets when they won't do what he wants.

But isn't that always the case: socialists get frustrated when the laws of economics confound their utopian plans?

Von Mises Jr| 5.1.12 @ 8:42AM

In addition to the fear that caused the companies to hoard cash and investors to transact pusillanimous trading volume; the small business cannot access funding. Why would banks lend to SMB in this atmosphere when they can launder money from Ben "the Bank" Bernenke to Little Timmy "Turbo Tax" for a guaranteed 2-3% coupon?
And the regime has implemented fascist control over many industries in addition to the banks, including health care and energy. When "The One" is done, free markets will return, and GDP growth and jobs will abound.

Jack London| 5.1.12 @ 7:59AM

'the slowest economic recovery in modern American history'

Given the unprecedented mess Obama inherited our economy has done very well since, and better than the European countries that have driven through the austerity cuts that you favor (see the UK, now back in recession).

chuck| 5.1.12 @ 8:07AM

$5 trillion in additional debt, and your President can't do anything better than 2.2% growth, and a real unemployment and underemployment of 15%?

Bush hasn't been President for 3 1/2 years now. Way past time to stop blaming him.

Tucker| 5.1.12 @ 8:49AM

1) Businesses have been creating jobs for 2 years so the money is not on the sidelines.
2) That money will not be used in creating jobs but in handing out dividends.
3) It took 8 years and WW2 to dig us out of the great depression. Read some history before you complain.

chuck| 5.1.12 @ 9:20AM

1. 2.2% growth is historically low for an economic recovery.
2. That statement directly contradicts statement 1. Which is it??????
3. It took so damned long to get out of the Depression because FDR did that same thing that President Bulls$%t is now doing. Same tactic. same result! Imagine that.

Ross Kaminsky | 5.1.12 @ 9:47AM

No, it took the death of FDR to get us out of the Depression.

Todd S| 5.1.12 @ 10:31AM

There is a saying Tucker. When you are in a hole, stop digging, you get it?. There is a reason why the depression was so long and that is because Hoover and FDR kept digging (big government is the solution) when we were in a hole and that is exactly what is happening today. The difference is Obama really does not want to improve economic opportunities but wants to give the illusion of it to get another term to inflict his socialist ideology on the rest of us. Fundamental change is what he is after and moving "Forward" like Trotsky and Marx liked to say.

richard ryan| 5.1.12 @ 8:25AM

Things are really swell Jackie Boy. Ever done any research into history, specifically recovery from recession? This economy should be rolling along, should have been long ago. Senate democrats and Obama are either clueless or they wish harm on this nation.

PolishKnight| 5.1.12 @ 9:55AM

The problem is that Obama's "inheritance" is either one that he helped to create (the housing bubble and collapse, monster deficits) and then built upon or the stuff he claimed he didn't want (the Iraq war and Afghanistan) continue to live on with him now running as a "war president" (going after Bin Laden even as the mission has exacerbated tension in the region.)

In other words, the only "change" he's really made is more of the same which isn't surprising since GW, like his father, are largely political moderates who played ball with the likes of Obama. Now that GW is no longer his patsy, Obama is left with himself and the disappointment of the electorate.

This is no longer the 1940's where FDR could hang around with mass murderers like Josef Stalin in a wheelchair and have a controlled Soviet style media only snap the photos or write the stories dictated to them. Nope. There are now several ways for people to get news on the web in addition from all over the world rather than a single hometown newspaper. Whenever a leftist seethes about "fauxnews", they are seething against a free press. Soviet times are over Tovarisch!

Occam's Tool| 5.1.12 @ 1:53PM

The recovery could have gone much faster, and better. I could tell you how, Jack, but I'll wait for Obama to lose.

Clint| 5.1.12 @ 2:35PM

Tool Job's The Israel Firster Smear Bund RINO-CINO,Who Said He'll Vote For The Ruling Elites' RINO-CINO Fop Frontman, Mittens Romney Way Back In June.

We Are Being Set Up By These Israel Firster RINO-CINO Agendists For The Ruling Elites' Frontman Mittens Romney.

These Are The RINO-CINO Israel Firster Agendists, Who Gave Us The Serial Traitor To Conservatism, John McCain Of McCain-Feingold, McCain-Kennedy,McCain-Lieberman,Gang Of 14, Opposing Bush Tax Cuts Of 2001 & 2003,TARP.

Now They Are Trying To Give Us RomneyCare,TARP, Cynical Flip-Flops On Abortion, Gays, Refuses to Sign Pro-Life Pledge, Illegal Immigrants, "Little Chain Saw Al" At Bain, Crony Capitalism Campaign Money Trail.....

Mickey| 5.1.12 @ 4:26PM

Clinty
Occam is ignoring you. Soon we all ignore you.
Your'e gonna have to talk to yourself using your multiple names.

Clint| 5.1.12 @ 5:03PM

Ya Gotta Do Better Than This Little Micky Israel Firster Smear Bund Serial Liar.

Call Bibi.

Bill Thomas| 5.1.12 @ 8:08AM

Hope stronger than fear? If y0u're in the jungle and you see a tiger who's on the hunt. Then, the tiger sees you. Do you do nothing and "hope" or is it fight or flight? Donald's wrong.

richard ryan| 5.1.12 @ 8:27AM

Correct. Fear is the most primitive and strongest human emotion when it comes to causing a behavioral response in humans.

Troy Wood| 5.1.12 @ 8:16AM

A little delusional. Some of Obama's biggest critics are in fact Kucinich liberals who think he didn't go far enough, so they don't approve of him. Yet those liberals whenever you talk to them will gladly vote for Obama vs. the GOP annointed alternative...a few did entertain thoughts of Ron Paul, but that ship has sunk. National elections are won in the middle, not at the fringes, and middle-class moderates feel like Obama has a clue about their circumstances and Romney does not. If it comes down to Ohio, Obama will win because of the auto industry bail out, which was a success and Romney did not favor (Michigan is so far gone for Mitt because of this). Do some actual analysis and quit pontificating, the middle hates both extremes because you guys can't do an honest analysis. The side which figures this out first will get us.

Ross Kaminsky | 5.1.12 @ 8:33AM

I disagree, Troy. Obama has spent three years now proving that he has no understanding of ordinary Americans.

Here's one example of your view possibly being wrong:

http://thehill.com/polls/22296.....omen-issue

Furthermore, I made clear in the article that a main problem for Obama was the lack of economic security felt by the middle.

Finally, I would suggest that just because you disagree with my analysis does not mean it isn't an analysis, and an honest one at that.

Tucker| 5.1.12 @ 8:56AM

In discussing your analysis, I find he understands the middle class more than you can see.

Basing it on cherry-picking polls that support your point does not conclusively prove that point.

I look at what he has tried to accomplish and was blocked from doing so, as well as the reforms he managed to implement as giving a more complete picture of his first term.

From this list of items, I see more help for and being attempted for the middle class in a long time. Being one of these middle class people I can see that. Respectfully, I am not so sure we share that same vantage point.

Drunken Sailor| 5.1.12 @ 9:46AM

Helping the middle class? You do realize that under him the number of people on food stamps has doubled don't you? And did it ever cross your mind that since the economy was in such a deep mess as the left puts it, why did he waste his first two years with a super majority in Congress pushing a soon to be ruled unconstitutional health care plan? People with jobs can better afford a health care plan then the unemployed.

Ross Kaminsky | 5.1.12 @ 9:50AM

Tucker,

I simply don't see any evidence of him trying to help anyone but himself and his friends.

Furthermore, when will people start judging leftists by their outcomes rather than by their claims of wanting to help, of "hope and change", etc?

Please note when the economy began improving, and when unemployment started receding, albeit slowly: When the GOP took control of the House in 2010, preventing Obama from "helping" more since that help was nothing but bankrupting the nation.

scotchieguy| 5.1.12 @ 10:56AM

Yes, libs constantly talk about their noble intentions, and never about their results. For example, the War on Poverty has been a colossal failure, and an expensive one at that ($7 trillion), yet if you aren't on board with the libs or want to cut spending on their disastrous programs, you are labeled racist or worse.

The similarities between today and 1980 under Carter are unbelievably similar. Remember, the polls showed Reagan had no chance, and he blew Carter away in Novemeber. I predict the same for Romney. Americans are capable of making stupid mistakes (voting for losers like Carter and Obama), but not twice. Hope and Change is all but dead, and most Americans know it.

Todd S| 5.1.12 @ 10:39AM

Tell me exactly what he has tried to accomplish and was blocked from doing so Tucker? Just trying to dig us out of that hole right? Yes that is stupid and no one is buying your class warfare baloney. You posting this on your iphone while at an Occupy rally or something? No surprise the Occupy crowd is getting all worked up on May Day.

Troy Wood| 5.1.12 @ 12:04PM

Ross your language shows your bias. You assert that the poll proves Obama "has no understanding of ordinary Americans." "No" is a loaded word and inaccurate. The poll does not show what you purport; it indicates that Obama has a problem with perception by women which is greater than what is generally acknowledged. I agree with that analysis, BTW! But you take it too far. As a member of an evangelical suburban church, no question that Obama is unpopular there, but then again neither is Romney--these were Santorum people. Now go to the urban evangelical church--which is one of the most ethnically mixed churches I have ever visited, darn near 1/3 Caucasian, 1/3 African-American, and 1/3 Hispanic--and the tune is much different. These are evangelicals who despise abortion but yet believe Obama is more concerned with and understands (because of his upbringing with a single mother) their situation. Some of them still voted for McCain, and many are still uncomfortable with Obama but they have great difficulty relating with Romney. Now that's the sort of thoughtful analysis I'd like to see, like the LA Times' excellent article the other day regarding Obama and Romney having trouble connecting with rural Ohio voters.

Ross Kaminsky | 5.1.12 @ 7:58PM

Troy,

I never claimed not to be biased.

But I did not assert that the poll proves anything. I asserted it was a piece of evidence that supports my thesis.

At the end of the day, I think this election analysis is fairly simple. Will people vote the economy even if it means (1) admitting they were wrong 4 years earlier and (2) tossing out the first black president?

I think the answer is yes, and I hope it's yes, but betting odds have Romney under 40%. (I'm buying some.)

vtwin| 5.1.12 @ 10:32AM

Ohio, hardly, by Karl Rove’s analysis it is going to be a landslide for Obama.

http://rove.com/election

Ross Kaminsky | 5.1.12 @ 11:15AM

I don't buy Rove's analysis, not least because he has Colorado as solid Obama and I think that is ridiculous.

Troy Wood| 5.1.12 @ 11:48AM

I do agree with you on this part of the electoral analysis, Ross. Colorado is not solid blue--it may lean a little blue (and if so because of anti-Mormon sentiment, which is definitely higher there than in other western states...I say this with a red-leaning Mormon cousin on the western slopes). Anyone who thinks Ohio is not going to be close no matter what does not understand Ohio, its demographics, its electoral history in all offices, nor that moderates (with a slight right bent) will dictate the winner of every election.

mnjam| 5.1.12 @ 8:30AM

"In other words, "vote for me because what I'm doing is better than what they did -- which is what you should expect they will do again."
But that is a difficult argument to sustain"

It's even more difficult to refute because it so evidently true. Romney is simply Reagan and Bush all over-- tax cuts for the rich, wasteful military spending, national bankruptcy.

Ross Kaminsky | 5.1.12 @ 8:45AM

If only Romney were Reagan all over again...

As for "tax cuts for the rich," I think what you mean is "tax cuts for taxpayers."

We probably agree to some degree on military spending.

As for national bankruptcy, the only way we avoid it is by budgets something like Paul Ryan's plan. America is now awake to the dead-end street of Progressivism.

The problem with conservative fiscal plans is that we so rarely see one, but when so-called conservatives put forward big-spending plans, people come to think that that's what conservatives stand for. To the extent that Republicans have done that over the years -- and they surely have -- they deserve the damage their brand has sustained.

But I think they may be on the comeback trail, even if moving slowly.

vtwin| 5.1.12 @ 10:28AM

True, Romney’s tax cut plan reduces all tax rates, but it mostly benefits the wealthy. Half of the tax cuts would go to the richest 5% of Americans, with more than 25% of the cuts going to the top 1%. And just like the Bush tax cuts, also disproportionately benefited the wealthy and gave us $1.2 trillion annual deficits, will lead to even greater income disparity and hasten the bankruptcy of the nation.

http://www.taxpolicycenter.org.....ocTypeID=2

Ross Kaminsky | 5.1.12 @ 11:02AM

So, your problem is that half of the tax cuts would go to people who people who pay more than half the taxes, and a quarter of the cuts to people who pay nearly 40 percent of the taxes?

You sound like a mugger who thinks he shouldn't have to give back all the money when he gets caught.

In other words, your position is not just economic nonsense, it's immoral.

Income disparity is not a real issue. And there is zero evidence that tax cuts would "hasten the bankruptcy of the nation". We have to stop spending so much damn money, not find a way to steal more from the productive in our society.

Occam's Tool| 5.1.12 @ 1:54PM

vtwin: 47% of people won't be having their taxes cut because they pay no taxes.

George True| 5.1.12 @ 2:59PM

The alleged "tax cuts for the rich" was always an outrageous lie fostered by the left. The Bush tax cuts eliminated taxes altogether for lower income earners, lowered tax rates 30-50% for middle income earners, and lowered taxes on "the rich" a whopping.....wait for it.....three and a half percent. These are the IRS's own figures. So when you parrot the "tax cuts for the rich" narrative, you are repeating a bald-faced LIE.

Anthony| 5.1.12 @ 9:20AM

Obozo doesn't give a damn about who will clean up after him because he doesn't believe he has done anything wrong.
He is a nasty, vicious, elitist leftist. After Obozo is driven from office, he'll leave America and open up a bath house in Jakarta and practice his religion, Islam.
Perhaps the U.N. will offer the empty suit and Kofi Annan a roving U.N gig together. They deserve each other.
He'll also leave Moochelle and the kids behind, he doesn't need the props where he's going.

John Nail| 5.1.12 @ 9:46AM

This may be the most ignorant, racist and inane comment ever. Your TP crowd must be proud of you

Drunken Sailor| 5.1.12 @ 9:49AM

You take offense at Anthony questioning is religon but not the fact that Obama is nasty, vicious and a elitist lefty who doesn't believe he has done anything wrong?

So basically you agree but just want us to leave off his "religion". Fair enough.

Anthony| 5.1.12 @ 9:56AM

Well John, I'd would have said you" nailed" it, but your comment, like you, makes no sense. No suprise there. Perhaps you'll enlighten us as to which of my comments are not truthful.
Oh btw, the only Tee Pee crowd that I know of is Ms. Warren in Mass, who claimed native American ancestry, but has been proven to be a lying fraud.
The lefty Harvard law professor's only connection with Sitting Bull is her bull****.

vtwin| 5.1.12 @ 10:40AM

Anthony is just having another bad day.

Anthony| 5.1.12 @ 11:04AM

I'm not having a bad day vtwin, but apparently you are. You forget to tell us about the ugly riots in San Fran last night, and more to come today. Getting a bit dicy, eh vtwin?
And lo and behold, they came over from Oakland to mess up your fair city by the bay.
Gee vtwin, I've been telling you this for months, you'd think by now you'd appreciate my wisdom.
I'll try once more to save your sorry ass, don't forget your official Obozo tire gague and get the hell out of town before it's too late!!!

Pelleas| 5.1.12 @ 4:29PM

John Nail:

You must be a newbie to this site, if you find the above " THE MOST IGNORANT, ETC"

WHILE ... it definatly has the flavor of general insanity of the posters here-- it..believe it or not- is pretty mild , in comparason to what generally "passes" as "sophisticated" political banter , here

stick around---ROTFLMAO!

From the Desk of Media Matters| 5.1.12 @ 5:30PM

PePeLePewLeAss,

MM staff notes you have satisfied Barney's itch - fulfilling that aspect of your apprentice program, at least.

MM staff notes your continued inability to stick with the bottom rung MM mindless retarded parrot program emphatically stressed by Herr S himself to make no mistakes while never resting in being perfectly clearly focused like a laser on nothing but winning the future we can't wait on moving only forward by blaming Bush for the past and present.

MM staff notes your probationary period is subject to termination at any time.

And MM staff also notes the bottom rung MM mindless retarded parrot office pool on what the acronym you've used in 27 posts today alone stands for - ROTFLMAO - was won with:
PePeLePewLeAss's 'Repulsive Obnoxious Thoroughly Fatuous Loser Mendacious Asinine Opinions'.

Stop embarrassing and discrediting public middle school students.

- MM staff

Ross Kaminsky | 5.1.12 @ 9:58AM

I agree with sentences 1, 2, and 4. Disagree with 3 and 6. No opinion on 5.

He is a vicious elitist leftist. I think he's rather sympathetic to Islam but I don't think he considers himself Muslim. And there is nothing I can find to suggest he would leave his family. He seems to care about them a great deal...not that that matters a lot to me.

Anthony| 5.1.12 @ 10:30AM

You may be right, Ross, however, nothing about this man is transparent or open. Obozo is a well manufactured mirage, who along with his lefty pals, delights in taunting Americans about his well hidden past. This attitude of his is pure sadism.
He lends himself to my comments because of his arrogance and his distain for us as a people. I see nothing about this man that demonstrates to me he cares about anybody other than himself.
As for his religion, pick your poison, either he's a pround Muslim or a proud member of Rev. Wright's hateful Black Liberation Theology church, which would you prefer?
As to his sexual orientation, I'll let his recent comment about dogs tasting better than hockey mom's speak for itself.

scotchieguy| 5.1.12 @ 11:03AM

Alot has been said about his being a Muslem. Like all good Marxists, I believe he is an atheist.

Jack London| 5.1.12 @ 11:05AM

'He is a vicious elitist leftist'

And you're the ghost of Joe McCarthy.

Come on Ross - I thought you were at least more intelligent than that. Comments like that make you look more like a fool than usual.

Ross Kaminsky | 5.1.12 @ 12:09PM

Jack, each of the three words can be supported in the record of Obama's own words and actions.

I did not call him a secret member of the Communist Party, and I said I do not believe he's a Muslim. So this is nothing like Joe McCarthy.

Jack London| 5.1.12 @ 2:01PM

You're making him out to be an extreme leftist. Of course his policies are mostly what moderate Republicans had not long ago. So fail one.

As for elitist, the real elite in this country is the super-rich, the ones you worship, and the ones Obama wants to tax more (as Reagan did of course). Fail two.

As for vicious, it's hard to apply that to someone who say wants to extend healthcare to more Americans. Who is he being vicious to, exactly? But I'll grant you that sending drones that exterminate innocent Afghanis is vicious, but a policy I suspect you applaud and has not been different in any flavor of American president in recent times. So on balance that's strike three for you.

Todd S| 5.1.12 @ 3:41PM

Don't you have a May Day event to attend Jack? Or did your Soros funded job not give you the day off? I know it is a big holiday for socialists like yourself to remember the greatness of Karl Marx and his rich buddy Engels.

Ross Kaminsky | 5.1.12 @ 4:28PM

Jack, are you serious?

Please tell me one "moderate Republican" leader of the GOP (not just some random Republican) who wanted to socialize medicine, make electricity prices skyrockets, give the NLRB power to tell private companies where they can operate, or not enforce voting rights violations when the victims are white.

The elite are not the same as the elitist. Obama is an elitist, and he thinks he's elite. Romney is more elite than elitist.

Vicious as it relates to his approach to political disagreement. Remember "punish our enemies"? Remember Jimmy Hoffa's words introducing Obama, about which Obama said absolutely nothing? Can you imagine GWB (whom I'm not a huge fan of) not having reacted to that with a major slap-down?

Bill| 5.1.12 @ 9:58AM

VP talk:
Southern strategy
1. Bob Mcdonald
2. Haley Barbour
Women votes
1. Kelly Ayotte
Washington Insider
1. Pat Toomey
2. Rob Portman
3. Paul Ryan
Fiscal hawk
1. Chris Christie
2. Mitch Daniel
Latino votes
1. Marco Rubio
..................You decide.

Ross Kaminsky | 5.1.12 @ 10:27AM

Bill (whose name is not really Bill), stay on topic. I will be deleting any further comments in which you just repost the same off-topic tripe you post so frequently on these pages.

vtwin| 5.1.12 @ 10:36AM

Delete off-topic tripe? You are going to be a busy man.

Anthony| 5.1.12 @ 10:43AM

Careful vtwin, we may never hear from you again.

Ross Kaminsky | 5.1.12 @ 11:03AM

vtwin is misguided, but usually mostly on-topic

George True| 5.1.12 @ 3:06PM

Vtwit is more than misguided, Ross. He has demonstrated himself to be unteachable. He will parrot every false narrative of the left, while ignoring real, known, and irrefutable facts that reveal the inherent lie of his leftist ideology.

Ross Kaminsky | 5.1.12 @ 4:18PM

George, even if I grant you all that, he's still better than Jack from Wi. and better than Clint. And who knows, maybe something will penetrate his thick skull from the many smart commenters here.

Vern Crisler | 5.1.12 @ 5:25PM

I think vtwin may be referring to all the roboposts by Clint or Jack. Deleting all of their off-topic comments will take up most of your time. Of course, to delete their comments means you'll have to read them first, which is like having to spend all day watching exercise videos of Richard Simmons. Condolences....

Nick| 5.1.12 @ 11:57AM

Watch it, Billy the Bigot.
Mr. Kaminsky is on to you.

Bill| 5.1.12 @ 12:03PM

Watch it, Nicky the racist moron.
COPS are looking for you.

Ross Kaminsky | 5.1.12 @ 12:09PM

"Bill" (which is not your real name): Nick is right.

Nick| 5.1.12 @ 12:22PM

Mr. Kaminsky,

Tell Quin, next time you talk to him, if he's going to delete my efforts to expose Billy the Bigot (with the bigot's own words,) Mr. Hillyer should also delete the racist pig's comments, too.
Yesterday he tried posting as John, and I told Quin that John was the same racist as Bill, and to check his I.P. address. Yet, John's comments still stand.

I don't get it. Do you?

Ross Kaminsky | 5.1.12 @ 1:48PM

Nick,

It's a lot of work to delete every comment by a particular person, so I'm trying to restrict myself to comments that truly bring down the AmSpec web site and secondarily to his tedious repetitions of his VP analysis which nobody cares about but which we've all seen 100 times nonetheless.

Occam's Tool| 5.1.12 @ 1:59PM

Ross,

allow me to simper here.

Seriously, the way to fix things to to cut taxing and spending, get the government out of health care as MUCH as possible, and realize that regulation and litigation tend to be evil things, as most governemnt work is. Government does tend to kill people effectively, though, which is why Iran is such a useful thing to deal with next.

I do tend to like your stuff, you and Aaron both.

I also like the hell out of Nick, as he already knows.

Nick| 5.1.12 @ 2:35PM

Dittos, Occam!

Nick| 5.1.12 @ 2:35PM

Mr. Kaminsky,

I'm not questioning your protocols, I understand that it is not that easy. Nor, am I asking for all of Billy the Bigot's comments to be deleted.

I just didn't understand Mr. Hillyer's standards, that's all. Thanks for your response.

Bill| 5.1.12 @ 2:55PM

Nicky teh neo-Nazi. You're a 15 year old liberal moron racist pig, who contributed nothing so far to this political blog, other than smearing me and calling names. Go to Hell, Nicky the neo-Nazi.

Todd S| 5.1.12 @ 3:43PM

No one cares about your stupid VP list you insist on posting on every article and your blatant racism, not sure if you or Jack is worse.

Ross Kaminsky | 5.1.12 @ 4:29PM

Nick,

Am I my brother's standards' keeper?

If you send me a specific comment that you want Quin Hillyer to see, I will send it to him directly.

My e-mail is rossputin(at)rossputin(dot)com

Nick| 5.1.12 @ 11:26PM

Mr. Kaminsky,

No, I didn't mean for you to be your brothers's keeper. I just figured the question would carry more weight coming from you, rather than from one of the combox rabble (ha-ha,) that's all.
But, Billy the Bigot isn't worth any more effort. So, just forget that I asked.

Ken (Old Texican)| 5.1.12 @ 10:09AM

Rhttp://www.nationalreview.com/articles/297223/sitting-out-obama-victor-davis-hansonoss,
the perfect companion piece with yours from NRO

bull-gator| 5.1.12 @ 10:15AM

1) Christie, 2) Ryan, 3) McDonald

Harry| 5.1.12 @ 10:18AM

Well written. If you hold the view that no one is perfect, you can perhaps forgive Mr. Obama for some of his bad ideas. If you lack experience, the first rule of the game is to surround yourself with experienced individuals, the second rule obviously being to actually listen to the advice of those who are more experienced then you. If you look at his appointees it is easy to see why things went South for him. Between tax cheats, liberal scholars and other inexperienced riffraff in positions of power, he never stood a chance. Isn't it funny that the only responsible adults in his administration were not his first choices, are conservatives, and helped him achieve the only real successes he can now show? Also, unfortunately for Mr. Obama, the two congressional leaders he had to rely on most when his term started, are both long time career politicians, are unfortunately horribly flawed human beings and more interested in promoting their own interests then the welfare of the country. But, all of that said, his biggest enemy has been himself. His unwillingness to compromise, inability to communicate properly (meaning to actually listen to others, from time to time and not get angry when you do not like a question) and his divisiveness are the real reasons for his failure. In politics it may be called flip flopping, but changing your approach as the situation demands is actually a well established key to successful management. As long as you, and everyone else, are even as to where you want to get to. A leader should always stay above the fray – no leader has ever succeeded with divisive politics. The American people may not all see it this way, but I believe if we can maintain social stability long enough to get an adult back in the Whitehouse, we’ll have dodged a huge bullet. I can personally not think of a more frightening line of succession than Obama (the philosopher), Biden (the clown) and Pelosi (the pompous brain dead). This election is not about Romney, or Bush, or Clinton, or anyone else, it is about the not-Obama. Americans are not stupid, as proven by the fact that 99% of modern technology can be directly linked to American innovation. I don’t believe the lie that this is not the American century – it is, this idea that is America is simply too big to fail, and it will be up to the American people to bail it out, come November. The expansive “rights train” that is at the core of left wing ideology has been steaming around, polluting the American social, moral and political landscape for decades, it is time to put a stop to it, and get the “Freedom train” back on track.

kwan| 5.1.12 @ 10:20AM

Obama has the country on a bullet-train express to hell. If he is not defeated this November he'll have us crossing the River Styx in the not to distant future.

Bill| 5.1.12 @ 10:32AM

Obama will launch his $1 billion campaign and crash Romney as Obama did it to McCain. Obama is shameless, yet he is panic, the weekend WHCD, he gathered all the celebrities. He is throwing all kinds of pitches: fast ball, knuckle ball, slider.................Romney needs to focus on unifying the GOP base and fundraising, otherwise that devil will have 4 more years.

Tim| 5.1.12 @ 11:50AM

I was looking at the 2000 electoral map
271 Bush 268 Gore.

The key in 2012 looks like it will be North Carolina.

The trump card for Obama is the huge block of African American voters who will vote in droves for him along with many more liberals who have migrated their in recent years.

The social Conservatives may not come out in droves.

Now before anyone cries Racism.

I am giving Nevada to Romney because of the Huge Mormon Vote.
Look at the 2000 Electoral Map
and follow the State polls now.

I think were headed to a photo finish with North Carolina being this year's Florida.

IMO.....of course.

Ross Kaminsky | 5.1.12 @ 12:11PM

Colorado might play that same role.

That said, blacks, like all of the Dem base, will be less motivated than they were in 2008 as the novelty is partly worn off and the economy has not improved.

Louis Jenkins| 5.1.12 @ 12:14PM

Yes, NC may well be the photo finish. There are many blacks in NC, but there are also many liberals in the Durham-Greenesboro-Raleigh area. That's the key. The blacks will vote for the man because he is of their color. The libs will vote for Obama because the party tells them to.

Al Adab| 5.1.12 @ 1:04PM

Just a comment on the approach this article takes. Using popular cultural icons to help define current political/philosophical issues is often not a help. We have no movie theater in our town and some people, myself included, scrupulously avoid the popular culture which we find quite hollow, decadent and disreputable.

Jack London| 5.1.12 @ 2:03PM

Hey Al - do you know who Mickey Mouse is?

Occam's Tool| 5.1.12 @ 2:09PM

Jack: comparing a forgettable trilogy like The Hunger Games to a real cultural icon is regrettable. No Ernest Everhard are you. I doubt you know who that charracter is without looking it up. This is what is known as SCHOOLING you. In addition, I doubt thatyou know who the antagonists were in the Unparallelled Invasion without looking it up, or the mechanism of warfare used to triumph.

In short, you ain't much. Leave Al alone.

Clint| 5.1.12 @ 2:37PM

Tool Job's The Israel Firster Smear Bund RINO-CINO, Who Said He'll Vote For The Ruling Elites' RINO-CINO Fop Frontman, Mittens Romney Way Back In June.

We Are Being Set Up By These Israel Firster RINO-CINO Agendists For The Ruling Elites' Frontman Mittens Romney.

These Are The RINO-CINO Israel Firster Agendists, Who Gave Us The Serial Traitor To Conservatism, John McCain Of McCain-Feingold, McCain-Kennedy,McCain-Lieberman,Gang Of 14, Opposing Bush Tax Cuts Of 2001 & 2003,TARP.

Now They Are Trying To Give Us RomneyCare,TARP, Cynical Flip-Flops On Abortion, Gays, Refuses to Sign Pro-Life Pledge, Illegal Immigrants, "Little Chain Saw Al" At Bain, Crony Capitalism Campaign Money Trail.....

Jack London| 5.1.12 @ 2:39PM

Hey - it was a gentle joke and I wouldn't disrespect Al - he's one of the very few decent rightists around here.

By the way, you've not mentioned New Zealand yet - are you OK?

Occam's Tool| 5.1.12 @ 10:16PM

I am OK. Hate those Kiwis. Thanks for asking, Jack. :)

O.F. A.N. A.S.S.| 5.1.12 @ 11:05PM

We sheep who tell our lambs to count conservatives jumping over fences to get to sleep can't tell you how many times those poor little lambs wake up from nightmares afraid of kiwis. Or liberals.

Little lambs just instinctively know who the sodomizers are.

Speaking of sodomizers we sheep notice the liberal kiwi brit transplant hasn't mentioned speciesmade global warming with sources at Michael Mann's webblog as proof. Maybe the sodomizer of liberty at the least is not okay and is in need of a shrink.

Now if we sheep could only come across one post by a pseudo-decent liberal - much less a quasi-decent liberal around here - we sheep would be in need of a shrink.

Ovines For
A Nation
Absent Species Sodomization

Al Adab| 5.1.12 @ 3:44PM

Hi Jack:
Yes, the anthromorphization of animals began with Mickey and gave rise to the animal rights thinking so endemic in our misled society these days. White Fang could have had something to do with it as well.

Occam's Tool| 5.1.12 @ 2:05PM

Al: Hunger Games: dystopia trilogy in which a devastated future America lives in bone breaking poverty except for a glamorous/ultra modern Capitol City. Rebellion is discouraged by taking selected young people from each district and having them duel to the death; one only being allowed to survive. References made to bread and circuses a la ancient Rome. Not bad YA dystopian literature. Not a patch on 1984 or Brave New World, though. Nor The Iron Heel, We, On the Beach, etc.

I occasionally have gloomy tastes.

Al Adab| 5.1.12 @ 3:50PM

O/T:
Thanks for the update and your support above. See my reply to Jack.

I do know 1984, Brave new World and On the Beach, but not We or Iron Heel. I suppose I should read more fiction, but other things appeal to me more. However, the 17 year old and I did drive to another town to see John Carter since both he and I are fond of the Burroughs books on which it is based.

Al Adab| 5.1.12 @ 4:00PM

O/T:
OOOPS. Went over to Amazon and looked up We only to find its a movie and not a book.

W. E. for Wallace and Edward I gather.

II Chronicles 7:11

Ross Kaminsky | 5.1.12 @ 4:33PM

May I recommend Ayn Rand's "Anthem"? I suspect (but I don't know) that it influenced Orwell...

I would not say it's great literature, but it's at least good, and it's short.

With a son whose middle name is Rand, my mind goes there when dystopian literature is mentioned...

Al Adab| 5.1.12 @ 5:00PM

Thanks for the tip. I have that one and I see at rossputin the Galtian references. Read Atlas as well of course along with Sinclair Lewis, "It Can't Happen Here", which is a bit on point these days.

I would be interested in your suggestions for the "Western Canon" reading list.

Ross Kaminsky | 5.1.12 @ 8:03PM

Al,

In all frankness, I don't have the time to read as much as I'd like to, between trading, writing, and especially two young children.

When I read, I read a fairly wide range of stuff.

I recently finished Ron Chernow's amazing biography of George Washington. Now reading a fascinating book about Stanley and Livingstone. Also on my list is a book called "Vindicating Lincoln" by a brilliant young poli-sci professor, Tom Krannawitter, who is a friend of mine.

Of course, The Road to Serfdom is a must, as is Bastiat's "The Law" which can easily be read in one sitting. (If you e-mail me your mailing address, I will send you one at my expense.) I also think Ayn Rand's non-fiction is underappreciated.

Outside of political and other non-fiction, my highest recommendations go to Shantaram, A Confederacy of Dunces, most things by Bill Bryson (sorry, that's non-fiction), and quite a few things by Robert Ludlum (that's vacation fare.)

Al Adab| 5.1.12 @ 10:17PM

Fully agree with Hayek and would add Milton Friedman as well as Kirk, The Conservative Mind. Bryson Short History of Almost Everything is fun as well as enlightening. My fiction tastes run to Mitchner and "hard" sci-fi not the fantasy unless that genre includes Dune.

Thanks for taking time to reply and I did send a note through your link. I appreciate the Bastiat offer but have it in my library.

Occam's Tool| 5.1.12 @ 10:51PM

Al: We is by Yevgeny Zamyatin, and is generally considered to be the third great dystopian novel of the 20th Century. The Iron Heel is a socialist dystopia that should be right up JL's alley, especially as it was written by Jack London. The hero was Ernest Everhard (subtlety is not Jack's strongpoint---either Jack). "The Unparallelled Invasion" is another short story by London, that dealt with biological warfare against China by the USA in 1976. London also wrote "The Crimson Plague," a post apocalyptic story.

Other excellent science fiction writers that you would not think of that way include Rudyard Kipling ("With the Night Mail") and EM Forster ("The Machine Stops"). And of course, Stephen Vincent Benet wrote a brilliant apocalyptic short story ("By the Waters of Babylon"), as well as the greatest post apocalyptic poem ever (with apologies to "The Gods of the Copybook Headings" and Kipling) "Song for 3 Soldiers." It was used in that greatest of all nuclear war movies, The War Game, a BBC production that won the Best Documentary Oscar and was banned in Britain. I reproduce it here in its entirety to end this post:

"Song for Three Soldiers (1940)
Stephen Vincent Benét

Oh, where are you coming from, soldier, fine soldier,
In your dandy new uniform, all spick and span,
With your helmeted head and the gun on your shoulder,
Where are you coming from, gallant young man?

I come from the war that was yesterday’s trouble,
I come with the bullet still blunt in my breast;
Though long was the battle and bitter the struggle,
Yet I fought with the bravest, I fought with the best.

Oh, where are you coming from, soldier, tall, soldier,
With ray-gun and sun-bomb and everything new,
And a face that might well have been carved from a boulder,
Where are you coming from, now tell me true!

My harness is novel, my uniform other
Than any gay uniform people have seen,
Yet I am your future and I am your brother
And I am the battle that has not yet been.

Oh, where are you coming from, soldier, gaunt soldier,
With weapons beyond any reach of my mind,
With weapons so deadly the world must grow older
And die in its tracks, if it does not turn kind?

Stand out of my way and be silent before me!
For none shall come after me, foeman or friend,
Since the seed of your seed called me out to employ me,
And that was the longest, and that was the end."

1940, folks, 1940.

Occam's Tool| 5.1.12 @ 10:55PM

The War Game is available for download on netflix streaming video, or you can find it on the web. A bit leftist, but still VERY brilliant.

Ross Kaminsky | 5.1.12 @ 4:30PM

It's not usually my sort of fare, but I thought Hunger Games was quite a good movie and I'm looking forward to the sequel.

Juan Jose Morales-Castillo | 5.1.12 @ 2:25PM

How many politicians have ever won reelection by essentially saying:
OK, I'm no big deal, but the other guy is even worse--trust my word on this!--so you have to reelect me because you don't have any valid alternative?

Not Special Ops Bill| 5.1.12 @ 3:01PM

The one tactic that has not been tried is to repeal regulation of commerce and lower corporate taxes.

Nothing has worked in the area of government "priming the pump" so far. Why not let the market take over?

Oldefarte| 5.1.12 @ 3:31PM

THIS is your H&C presently; your economy; your future under this POTUS and the DNC............WAKE THE HELL UP, AMERICA and do your duty on 11/6/12:
'.......Breitbart.com.... Media Ignores Tomorrow's Occupy Threat, Obama Encourages ...... by John Nolte 22 hours ago Tomorrow is May 1, or May Day -- the perfect day (and not just because it's warm) for Occupy to give their campaign to benefit Obama's re-election by dividing this country along economic lines, one more go. It's no accident that Obama laid out the welcome mat for these craven thugs today. But where is the news media to warn the public about what Occupy has promised will be a day of disruption, blockades, and the crippling of our economy through a General Strike? And why isn’t the media connecting Obama's speech today as a "dog-whistle" of encouragement to those threatening a "day of action" tomorrow?
Check out the front pages of CNN, MSNBC, the New York Times, Washington Post, and the rest, and (as of this writing) you'll see nothing about this looming threat to our country. This dereliction of also duty extends also to the cable news networks, which have barely given the story any attention at all. This is an old refrain, but can you imagine that if instead of the story being about Occupy Wall Street doing Obama's bidding, if this was the Tea Party threatening to close bridges and cripple the American economy on behalf of Romney? Do you think under those circumstances the corrupt media might be screaming from the rooftops about a promised threat? And the Tea Party doesn't even have a track record of lawlessness, much less the lengthy rap sheet Occupy accumulated in just a few short months. During their initial "uprising," and over the course of just around 70 days, Breitbart News documented 417 individual acts of violence, intimidation, sexual assault, perversion, vandalism, and other criminality attached to the Obama-endorsed Occupy Wall Street movement. For months this craven, lawless, anti-Semitic, anti-America, anti-free market group of unwashed thugs terrorized countless cities and towns, and drained scarce resources, all in the name of wanting something for nothing.
Eventually, both cold weather and sunshine from New Media defeated Occupy, but as is the case with all things Leftist, that which fails never goes completely away. It just reconstitutes and returns to live and terrorize and vandalize and demonize another day. The reason the media doesn’t want to warn us or talk what might happen tomorrow is for a few reasons. The first is that if Occupy fails tomorrow, the movement will become an even bigger laughingstock than it already is, which, of course, undermines its effectiveness in aiding Obama's re-election. If, however, Occupy fizzles without a lot of media attention, it's less damaged and can live to fight yet another day. The second reason has to with not wanting to give any exposure to the movement's dark side. Obama's Media Palace Guards are desperate to have us believe that Occupy is some kind of organic uprising buoyed by the fact that the rich don’t pay enough taxes or other such nonsense. In reality, though, a General Strike isn’t some touchy-feely drum circle, it's designed to bring a country to its knees and blackmail the entire nation into giving in to the Left.The media also doesn’t want the Occupy dots connected to the various left-wing factions supporting, organizing, funding and encouraging this lawlessness:One is Anonymous itself, which has been weakened by recent arrests and FBI infiltration, but which remains a potent threat--not just to democracy in the U.S. but equally (and indiscriminately) to tyranny abroad, most recently the Syrian regime. Another faction is the gentry left--the well-heeled, well-connected network that quietly shapes and promotes the message of the Occupy movement. That network--including Wall Street investors, trust-fund revolutionaries, Hollywood celebrities and plenty of Ivy League alumni--has thrown its weight behind a “General Strike” on May 1. Its goals are less political, and more cultural, focused on creating “space” for communitarian thinking. Former White House “green jobs” czar (and 9/11 Truther) Van Jones represents what could be called the “community organizing” faction. Jones’s organization, Rebuild the Dream, is planning what it calls a “99% Spring,” and claims to have trained 100,000 activists in over nine hundred sites across the country. The goal is to “win change”--in other words, to create a left-wing pressure group as a counterweight to the Tea Party. Finally, there is an overtly political faction, comprised of national consultancies such as Democracy Partners and left-wing non-profits such as Americans United for Change, that are attempting to harness the Occupy movement to elect and re-elect Democrats. The political faction works with the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and also works with Van Jones’s organization to translate left-wing slogans into legislative proposals.Maybe nothing will happen tomorrow, or maybe Van Jones does have 100,000 losers all Borg'd into his collective and ready to blockade, strike, rape, and pillage straight through to November. Regardless, a movement with a very violent track record, endorsed and supported by some very powerful people, and encouraged today by no less than the President of the United States, has threatened to do great damage to this country, and in order to protect this same movement (and Obama), the media's all but ignoring it.......'

Todd S| 5.1.12 @ 3:45PM

Paragraphs are a good thing

Ross Kaminsky | 5.1.12 @ 4:33PM

And.
I.
Like.
Sentences.
Too.

Oldefarte| 5.1.12 @ 4:46PM

F*ck it then.....you all can read it directly on other websites [which contains paragraphs and sentences also] okay? Have a nice day [from a SUBSCRIBER TO TAS soon to be NOT!!!!!!!!

Al Adab| 5.1.12 @ 4:54PM

Relax O/F my friend. I think they were poking lighthearted fun not launching persdonal attacks although since The Leftist opposition does it so often maybe we all get a little thin skinned.

Bottom line we are all in this together.

Brian Mc| 5.1.12 @ 6:06PM

I'm with A.A. on this one, O! I always get a charge out of your thoughts, though they would be much more effective if you would break those thoughts up just a bit. You give us a lot to digest and when you factor in your structure issues there are quite a few here that most likely tend to disregard those thoughts due to the lack of structure...whew. Keep it coming, O. You are appreciated and because of this, we ribbed you a bit because you're one of us!

Ross Kaminsky | 5.1.12 @ 8:04PM

Olde, we were just kidding around!

Occam's Tool| 5.1.12 @ 10:52PM

Oldefarte: you do kick ass. Just like with TLP: make things easy on the guys who can then appreciate your brilliance.

Purp| 5.1.12 @ 6:09PM

Since everything has gotten better under Obama's leadership, from the economy to national security, I'm sure he won't have to worry about anyone "cleaning up" after him until 2016.
Richie has the money to win, but nothing else - he's just an empty suit that can't even repeat lines on a teleprompter correctly. Where are his tax returns? 12 years worth?

Anthony| 5.1.12 @ 6:55PM

Folks, when reading the posts of dear Purp, remember the admonition,"this is your brain on drugs".
I see both Nail and vtwin have taken my advice and have left town, for now, until they both find another safe rock to post from.
OWS has the city by the bay by the short hairs!!

From the Desk of Media Matters| 5.1.12 @ 7:41PM

"I will continue to NOT answer . . . And . . . I can get an abortion, or an anal probe" - Pantywaste Putz Pink Pansy Pelosi

Penelope Jacquelina Rachel Barney Fecal Maddow-Moscow Hilldebeast's Left Rump Schultz-Wasserman-Schultz Moochelle's Right Rump Carney-Gibbs-Carney Make That Hilldebeast's Right Rump Moochelle's Left Rump,

Even our other bottom rung MM mindless retarded parrots know how thrilled you are that under the anointed one's leadership you can get both an abortion and an anal probe.

MM staff under Herr S's directive must remind you to make no mistake perfectly clearly focus like a laser while not resting on winning the future we can't wait moving on forward by blaming Bush not Romney forward reverse and neutral.

Stop embarrassing and discrediting illegal aliens per MM and the tollybon per the anointed one.

MM staff confesses MM staff has no idea what the tollybon is but it is important to the anointed one in his speech so it is important to MM staff.

- MM staff

Ross Kaminsky | 5.1.12 @ 8:05PM

Where are Obama's college transcripts and applications? Any bets on whether he applied as a foreign student?

bobbyvee| 5.1.12 @ 9:28PM

I'm beginning to wonder if you have half a brain. You defend a coward like Chency who had higher priorities besides going to vietnam (i.e. coward) and you defend a President who went AWOL when he was in the National Guard.

Ross Kaminsky | 5.1.12 @ 11:55PM

Holy Moley,

I don't think I've even written the word "Cheney" during my couple of years of writing for AmSpec. If I have, it is a very small single digit number of times.

You guys are absolutely obsessed with Cheney, perhaps even more than with Bush.

I remind you that I never voted for Bush, and therefore never voted for Cheney.

And I remind you that neither of them is on the ballot in November.

bobbyvee| 5.1.12 @ 8:06PM

And, who my friend hasatttempted to clean up the unmitigated disasters of theBush administration. You people are pathetic

Ross Kaminsky | 5.1.12 @ 11:55PM

Obama has continued the disasters of Bush and made them worse.

Who is trying to clean it up? Paul Ryan, for one.

AVCurmudgeon| 5.1.12 @ 8:16PM

Do not forget that Obama previously turned to Clinton after the 2010 elections, leaving Bubba to answer questions from the press about the extension of the Bush-era tax cuts while Obama went off to party at the White House. The net effect? Clinton showed himself to be the adult in the room while Obama showed himself to be the child.

Now here we are, 18 months later, and Obama is replaying the same scenario. He wants Clinton on board because Clinton is a real politician, able to "triangulate" and pull support together while Obama has not even shown the ability to bring his own party along for the ride.

Ironic that Clinton's assistance for Obama may help Obama by demonstrating once again that Obama really is not fit for office.

Susan Piercy | 5.1.12 @ 8:29PM

Pres 0bama did inherit a mess. Miraculously, Pres 0bama made all of the mess worse. Whomever follows Pres 0bama will have hit the mother lode of messes. Can we as a nation, default on out debt? Our choices are? Reduce spending by Greek style austerity?

Purp| 5.1.12 @ 9:58PM

Really? Are you serious? Did we fall into Great Depression II ? You aren't thinking if you believe that bunk. Why don't you ask your Republicant wonder boys how you balance a budget without BOTH raising taxes on those who can most afford it and cutting spending on programs we can do without? You might ask them why they want to make it easier to outsource American jobs? Ask them about the "Territorial Tax" - and watch them squirm. Your jobs are at stake and they don't give a d*.

bobbyvee| 5.1.12 @ 9:12PM

THE worst president in my lifetime (I am 70) is Bush from 2000-2008. This pathetic individual left the country an absolute mess and Obama has spent 3.5 years attempting to straighten out the problems caused by this chsarscter. Republicans of course don't see this- as they put Republicans first and country second. Someday things will change and the right wing will realize that the country is more important than the party. Until then this country, is on a dangerous path because of the republican party

Anthony| 5.1.12 @ 9:43PM

Well bobbyvee it appears you're new to our site. Unfortunately by your posts, I must sadly remind you that "there's no fool like an old fool".
You'd think at 70 you would have extracted your head out of your ass by now, well don't worry, Obozocare will remedy your problem in a jiffy.
Yes bobbyvee 5.5% unemployment and an average GDP growth of over 3.5% per month under Bush was quite the dangerous path.
Lighten up on the Viarga bobbyvee, it's hardening your brain as opposed to.........

bobbyvee| 5.1.12 @ 10:14PM

before using statistics you should check them first. Your numbers are all wrong. More jobs have been created in the last two years of Obama than the eight years of Bush and Republicans. frankly you don't know what you are talking about. But then again, Republicans have a history of cowardice and lying - i.e., Bush, Chency and now the greatest liar of all - Romney

TeaPartyPatriot4ever| 5.1.12 @ 9:57PM

Every time a liberal Democrat destroys everything, it is always the Conservatives who have to clean it all up afterwards.. That's what they, liberals / Socialist-Marxists, are all about, destruction, havoc, and chaos.. That's how they see themselves in what they are, in everything they do and represent.

Purp| 5.1.12 @ 9:59PM

You need medication ...

POST American| 5.1.12 @ 10:33PM

-----------------BOTTOMLESS LINE--------------------

OUR Canadian sources inform us
that Donald Sutherland is himself, in fact,
married to a prominent EUGENIST.

Just a wee REALITY CHECK as
Hollywood continues to obediently deliver
predictive programming for 'the agenda'
---while BURYING without a trace
the 20th
---30th
----40th
------50th
--------and NOW 60th Anniversary
of the cosmically relevant, RED China and
EUGENICS 'unfriendly', 'Hunger Games'
for REAL----

--------------------KOREAN WAR-----------------------

Ross Kaminsky | 5.1.12 @ 11:57PM

Again, for those unclear on the concept, Donald Sutherland, regardless of his own political views, is an actor. And the words he speaks in the movie are not his own thoughts.

So he may be the best guy ever or the worst guy ever, and in either case it would be irrelevant to my story.

POST American| 5.2.12 @ 3:17AM

---That someone personally involved
with a utopian EUGENIST is himself
featured in a work of OBVIOUS predictive
programming for the ON RECORD
EUGENICS 'age--enda' of the same --

------------------IS RELEVANT!----------------

In fact, in this, the 11th hour of the
CFR--RED China handover and
'CULL-chore--ALL' takedown op --

-----------BOTTOMLESSLY RELEVANT-------------

Oldefarte| 5.2.12 @ 4:30PM

Holy excrement, the TAS PARAGRAPH POLICE need to invade this neighborhood [or possibly be replaced by the TAS THOUGHT SEAL TEAM possibly!!!!!!!!!!!!!

swampwiz| 5.3.12 @ 6:56PM

The fact is that, short of true redistributionist policies, the American middle class worker is destined to drop down to the level of the suicidal factory worker of FoxConn or the slumdog of Kolkata - if not simply not even be considered, due to new advances in robotics and expert systems software. The American rentier class has no patriotic desire to hire the American worker unless his hiring is the one meets that stated goal of the rentier class - optimal enhancement of shareholder value.

So, using the logic of this author, Americans should simply look at the current POTUS's record on the economy, compare it to times when the rentier class was actually forced to hire its national brethren, and simply vote no, if it does not match that level. Under this M.O., the electorate will continue to vote in new PsOTUS as the jobs number will continue to degrade, and even worse under Republican policies.

However, the American working class is beginning to see the light, and is in the beginning stage of achieving class consciousness. They understand that even though a Democrat POTUS's record may be poor, it would be even worse under a Republican POTUS. This is one of the essential reasons why the Democratic Party will continue to be successful.

POST American| 5.6.12 @ 12:40AM

---BTW---

HAS Sutherland EVER faced rigorous,
'NON--Press--TIT--toot' questioning on
his views and relations with EUGENISTS,
or the openly genocidal calls from the likes
of capstone promoted 'PSY--ANT-ist'
David Suzuki?

"Remember, science itself is nothing
more than a technique of the imagination
enlisted to bring in a desired mythological
order."
-Joseph P. Farrell
(interview online)

---------For all the undeniable wonders of
deployed and organized science ---it is,
afterall, no more and no less than numbers
magick at the service of 'hidden masters'
and the 'age-ends' thereof.

Considering reports that, so its claimed,
researchers can halt and even reverse the
aging process ---consider --

"YE shall be as Gods!
------SURELY YE SHALL NOT DIE."

IMAGINE, all of infinity to listen to and
'INTER---act' with the likes of Bill Gates
and Ray Kurzweil ---are we looking at
eternal life?
-------------OR ---deathless DEATH????

CON---sider carefully.

'RIO + 20' is but a month away!

NOW it's to be --

----------------'AWE--stare--'IT'---HE'------------------

and

-----------'SSSS--us--STAIN--Abel--'IT'--HE'-----------

from the very originators of

------------------'CON--Sumer---ism'--------------------

and the

---------------'DISS--POSE---ABEL'------lifestyle.
(ie franchise slums, RED China wampum,
plastics, abortion etc.)

It's to 'hard-power' the U.N. et al
EUGENICS world agenda for shut down
--shut off ---and the orderly, kindly,
and NOT so kindly DEMOCIDE of
90% of mankind within the century.

Engineered impoverishment, lavishly conceived,
long engineered, bottomlessly funded, and
endless promoted by the capstone
thru its instruments throughout our
subverted 'CULL---chore' and academia.

"By 2000 EUGENICS had shed much
of its NAZI baggage."
-ENDGAME
(10 MILLION views online)

"Looking at (RED) China, it is ---NOT----
communism any longer --but a kind of
National Socialism."
-Joseph P. Farrell
(2011)

"By 2012, it seems NAZISM itself
has shed much of its NAZI baggage."
-POST American

RED China's even NOW hailed as
'Model for the World' and, as the bankster
usurped U.S. is bled white and strangled.
---'World Enforcer'.

CUT TO THE CHASE

----------------We're dealing with MONSTERS.

We have no more time for delicacy,
patience and equivocation with USURY
feuled, capstone directed, EUGENICS
and its promoters.

'Fascism NEVER turns BACK."
-Mussolini
1922

Indeed, it DOESN'T.

STALIN was NEVER deposed.

Neither was MAO.

HITLER only fell because his war was lost.

In this, the very 11th hour ---YOU THERE!
'CON---sider' carefully and deeply
--------this thing called
-----------------------------'PSY----ANTS'!

Your LIFE ---your children ----your soul
-----unfolding hellbound eternity itself
depends on it!

The --'DISPOSE ---Abel' lifestyle
---------is about to take on a whole NEW meaning.

So, 'CON---sider' carefully. . .

-----------------HUAC/ Nuremberg 2012----------------

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