The election is coming soon as Romney surges

Reno Gazette Journal endorses Romney

A vote to re-elect Obama promises four more years of the same. In the two debates between the two candidates so far (a third, on foreign affairs, is scheduled for Monday), the president has shown little understanding of how his failures are affecting the nation, and he hasn’t offered any tangible proposals to change course.

The Reno Gazette Journal endorsed Obama in 2008.

The Obama Administration hung Ambassador Stevens out to dry

Roughly a month earlier, Stevens had signed a two-page cable, also labeled “sensitive,” that he entitled “The Guns of August: Security in Eastern Libya.” Writing on August 8, the ambassador noted that in just a few months’ time, “Benghazi has moved from trepidation to euphoria and back as a series of violent incidents has dominated the political landscape … The individual incidents have been organized,” he added, a function of “the security vacuum that a diverse group of independent actors are exploiting for their own purposes.”

“Islamist extremists are able to attack the Red Cross with relative impunity,” Stevens cabled. “What we have seen are not random crimes of opportunity, but rather targeted and discriminate attacks.” His final comment on the two-page document was: “Attackers are unlikely to be deterred until authorities are at least as capable.”

But this didn’t stop the State Department from removing security rather than adding to it.  No wonder Obama has tried to deny this, he was stalling to try to keep this information from getting out until the election was over.

Obama’s “War on Women” meme

It’s failed.  The huge gap between men and women has closed and this is why Romney is surging.  But more than that, the simplistic view the Democrats have of women is insulting.  It appears to be a form of the sexist’s idea that men think with their “little brain.” 

Another sign the Democratic strategy isn’t working

The Reno Gazette-Journal had the following headline.  Fluke takes center stage in Reno.  The first sentence of the article says the following:

Sandra Fluke, the woman at the center of a media firestorm earlier this year after Rush Limbaugh called her a “slut,” spoke Saturday in front of about 10 people at the Sak ‘N Save in north Reno.

Since when does center stage only involves 10 people? 

Why Romney is surging

Why are voters, even ones who think Obama won the debate last Tuesday, still breaking for Romney? A clue can be found in the issue breakdowns of both post-debate polls. Undecided voters name Romney the better candidate on jobs and the economy, by commanding margins -- CNN had Romney up 18 points on jobs, and CBS had him up 31 points.

Ohio Poll has it all tied up

The latest Gravis Marketing poll conducted in Ohio shows Governor Romney and President Obama locked in a virtual dead heat, 47% to 47%. Here are a few key findings from the survey :

Romney leads by 6 percentage points among men (50 to 44 percent), while Obama leads by 4 percentage points among women (49 to 45 percent).

Both sides are doing well to consolidate their bases in Ohio. 87 percent of Democrats say they will vote for President Obama and 92 percent of Republicans say they will vote for Governor Romney if the election were held today. Governor Romney leads with independents 52 to 33 percent.

Having a feel for numbers several red flags went up.  If Governor Romney is ahead among men and independents how is it that the poll is tied.  It was apparent to me that there had to be a lot more Democratic women in the survey.  Going to the actually survey I found out I was right.  The survey included 41% Democrats, 32% Republicans, and 27% independents.  There were 53% women and 47% men.  So Obama is tied by having a plus 9 percent Democratic sample when Republicans outnumber Democrats in Ohio by 1 percent.

 

Confidence

Because I have been growing steadily more optimistic about Election 2012 since Governor Romney demolished President Obama in debate #1, many of my listeners and blog and Twitter followers have been emailing me dire warnings about the "reality" of the Chicago machine, the statistical precision of Nate Silver, the InTrade quote and various other arguments as to why I ought to dampen down my belief that the momentum behind Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan is large and growing….

…Anything can happen, but it is increasingly unlikely for two reasons.

First, the country is in very bad shape.  The difficulties are enormous, and no one who fills up a tank of gas or watches even a bit of news doubts it.  This situation compels the independents and even many Democrats, perhaps privately in the latter case, to pull the lever for Romney.

Second, Mitt Romney is a very good man, and the past two weeks have put that reality on display for everyone who cares to notice to see…

…We do not double down on failure, and President Obama has failed.

Hugh Hewitt is correct.  Presidents don’t win reelection with an economy like this.  

The Polls at this point in the election cycle

As this point in the election cycle, Governor Romney is out polling Carter, Reagan, Bush 41, Clinton, Bush 43 and Obama in their successful election bids.

Obama’s Presidency in song

Here’s a great video.

Benghazi looms large

Libya Attack hurts Obama

It seems that the attack in Libya is complicating President Obama’s reelection bid.  It appears to be a two-fer for the Romney campaign as it shows a weakness in the president’s foreign policy and is developing into a first rate scandal.

Obama’s chickens are coming home to roost

Talk about chickens coming home to roost.  Talk about the Mother ofAll Fiascos.  It's the revenge of Osama bin Laden from the bottom of the ocean, and the message is plain: al-Qaeda is very much alive, and America is a paper tiger.

The Middle East is beginning to fall apart -- Iran just sent a spy drone over Israel's sensitive defense installations, and the IDF waited hours to react; Turkey forced down a Syrian arms plane, and al-Qaeda's Al Zawahiri openly assaulted the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi in a six-hour attack, working through al-Qaeda in the Maghreb (AQIM), while the glorious Libyan friends did nothing as our ambassador was being raped and murdered.  The guards called for help, and nobody responded.  A police car fled the scene.  The other ten cop cars requested by the consulate never showed up.

Another bad sign for Obama

It appears the crowds at Romney events aresurging. 

Romney Ad Strategy

Ad purchases in the presidential race doubled or in some cases tripled last week in swing states such as Colorado, Florida, Iowa and Virginia, tracking data show. The surge is being driven by Romney and well-funded allies, who decided against running more ads earlier in the campaign in favor of a big bang at the end.

It appears after letting Obama spend 28% more on ads from the convention through September, Romney has opened his campaign wallet and is flooding the market with his ads.  And it appears to be working as the polls show him surging.

Romney now leads in Florida and New Hampshire

It appears the Democrats attack on Romney/Ryan Medicare proposal isn’t working as they lead among Florida’s over 50 population by 54-42.  I’m thinking that SCOTUS’s decision to not strike down Obamacare is turning out to be a benefit for the Republicans.  

Hispanics in Florida abandoning Obama

It appears part of the reason Romney is moving ahead in Florida is a shift in Hispanic support. 

In September Obama led among Hispanic voters 52%-43%.  In October Romney leads 46%-44%.  There are 2 million Hispanic voters in Florida so this amounts to a switch of 220,000 voters.  

Will it be a blowout?

A lot of talk has been bandied about over the so-called Bradley Effect, the theory that a number of California voters said they were going to vote for Tom Bradley — the longtime Los Angeles mayor — for governor of that state in a 1982 election because he was African-American, but really voted for his opponent who won.

This theory has been debunked and, frankly, I have no idea of its veracity. More importantly, however, I believe it is passé. Fewer than ever are interested in the color of Obama’s skin (well, maybe Al Sharpton and his claque) or — for that matter — in Mitt Romney’s religion. We have far, far more pressing issues in front of us at this moment.

For that reason, I think the number who vote for Romney/Ryan and then tell no one (at least in the short run) will be significant, so significant that this election may explode and be closer to a blowout than anyone, save a few, had expected.

Everyone says this will be a close election.  I don’t think so.  History shows us that the economy that we have will insure that Obama won’t get a second term and it won’t be close.  Romney will win by at least as much as Obama won by in 2008.

How Liberal’s think

Just for fun, I Googled the words "Selfish Republicans."  The query returned 4,240,000 hits.  They weren't pretty.  Evidently, a major GOP goal is to impose selfishness on the American people.  I learned that we favor the rich and the powerful.  Worse, we are trying to starve everyone. We are soulless, vicious, and degraded.  I had no idea we were this bad.

I know we like to keep our money away from the IRS.  I got that.  We don't like to be taxed.  We are fanatics about that.  We all know the mantra -- government bad, private sector good.  But why does that make us selfish?  Why does that make us soulless?  Why does it make us want to starve little children?  In fact, a similar simple Google search would show that red states give more to charities than blue ones.

Then, the other day, I am listening to Rush, and he says, "Liberals think taxes are charity!" -- and suddenly it all makes sense.  Liberals think that by attacking taxes, we are attacking charitable giving.  When we try to cut taxes, they see us trying to cut charity payments.  When we say, "Read my lips: no new taxes!," liberals hear "read my lips, no new charities!"  They think we are sticking it to the kids by not paying the IRS!

Inside the Liberal Mind

Mike Gallagher has recently written a new book, 50 Things Liberals Love to Hate.  This book is both humorous and informative, written by someone who has been a radio talk show host for over thirty years.  Included in his rundown are Walmart, steakhouses, McDonalds, flag pins, football, the Second Amendment, success, freeways, the military, and the Founding Fathers.  American Thinker interviewed Gallagher about this year's election and his book.

What was very interesting was Gallagher’s take on Liberal’s hatred for success.  It seems particularly timely and revealing realizing the absolute hatred the left has for Mitt Romney.

The VP Debate

Biden's performance was beyond bizarre -- it was unworldly. I'm not a druggie but I don't think a bad trip on acid could have been more unsettling. The moderator, Martha Raddatz, was equally as dreadful. I had to keep rechecking the scorecard to remind myself who it was that had actually signed up to debate Ryan. 

I thought Ryan played it very well, despite what you're hearing in the mainstream media and from many on our side. Sure, Ryan could have interrupted Biden's insane ravings with the truth -- but then why bother? 

Biden enlightens the world

To hear Mr. Biden tell it, the Obama Administration now has a new red line on Iran. The mullahs can enrich as much uranium as they wish as long as they "don't have something to put it in." This isn't the red line Israel's Bibi Netanyahu had in mind during his recent speech before the United Nations. Nor are Turkey, Saudi Arabia and others looking for proof of an Iranian ICBM before they decide to go nuclear themselves. Iran becomes a regional nuclear power when it demonstrates its ability to get the bomb at almost a moment's notice, which is when it has developed enough fuel for it.

The Veep made a spirited case as well for doing nothing in Syria—no "no fly" zones, direct arms supplies to the rebels, or any U.S. political lead in an intervention. "If, in fact, it blows up and the wrong people gain control, it's going to have impact on the entire region, causing potentially regional wars," he said of Syria. News stories suggest this is happening already without any U.S. involvement, as the Syrian war pulls in Iraq, Lebanon and Turkey. 

Mr. Biden appeared to preview another Obama policy shift on Afghanistan. With a 2014 deadline to transition the security lead to the Kabul government, the discussion will shift to how large the American military footprint will be afterward—with up to 30,000 U.S. troops left behind to ensure the Taliban don't overrun Kabul again. 

But Mr. Biden said something different: "We are leaving in 2014, period, and in the process we're going to be saving over the next 10 years another $800 billion." He added that Afghan forces are ready to defend the country themselves and lead the fight in the difficult east, another piece of intelligence that's news to us.

Either these are a bunch of gaffes by the VP, or Obama needs to explain the changes in our foreign policy.  We are leaving in 2014 period made for a great sound bite, but lousy policy. 

Clint Eastwood’s perceptive speech at the RNC

Clint didn’t just predict Obama’s behavior at the first debate (an empty chair), but also mentioned Joe Biden’s performance at the VP debate.  Clint said: 

Just kind of a grin with a body behind it.

Politicizing Benghazi

'The entire reason that this has become the political topic it is is because of Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan."

So said Stephanie Cutter, President Obama's deputy campaign manager, speaking on CNN about an armed attack on the 9/11 anniversary that left a U.S. Consulate a smoking ruin and killed four diplomatic staff, including the first American ambassador to be murdered in a third of a century.

To discuss this event is apparently to "politicize" it and to distract from the real issues the American people are concerned about. For example, Obama spokeswoman Jen Psaki, speaking on board Air Force One on Thursday:

"There's only one candidate in this race who is going to continue to fight for Big Bird and Elmo, and he is riding on this plane."

More blame and childish crying about the other side being “unfair.”  Obama is reduced to this.  Mark Steyn is devastating in this column.

Debate one part two

Noonan’s take on the Debate

The impact of the first debate is going to be bigger than we know. It's going to affect thinking more than we know, and it's going to start showing up in the polls, including in the battlegrounds, more dramatically than we guess. 

It wasn't just Mitt Romney's strong performance. It was President Obama's amazingly weak one. He's never been punctured before. But by debate's end Wednesday night, if you opened the window this is what you could hear: Ssssssss. The soft hiss of air departing from a balloon.

And—amazingly again—he did it to himself. He didn't fight, he didn't show, he wasn't awake and hungry. He just said the same-old-same-old and let it go. He couldn't even meet Mr. Romney's gaze, never mind his arguments.

Debate Prediction that really missed the mark

Sidney Barthwell, a district court magistrate in Michigan who attended Cranbrook with Romney and Harvard Law School with Obama predicted Obama would smoke Romney.  

When they debate, Barack will smoke Romney,” Barthwell, 64, told the Daily Mail.  “Mitt Romney is smart,” he said at the time. “Having said all that, I still think he’s going to get smoked. The best he can do is hopefully come out not looking like a fool. Mitt will find out the hard way as soon as they have their first debate: You don’t debate Obama.”

Afterwards Barthwell explained what happened by saying Romney must have prepared for the debate.  Ya think?   But Barthwell’s comment reminds me of a prediction a sportswriter admitted to many years ago.  Covering the high school football team he predicted a game involving Orrville High School.  He said, “How many points will Orrville score?  Maybe 50, maybe more.”  Orrville lost 6-0. 

What did the Debate tell us?

BarackObama was revealed to be the empty suit with a great gift of gab and a talent only for appealing to the nation’s guilty conscience. Some of us recognized the empty suit four years ago. Like all great salesmen, he can charm prospective customers when he tries, but without a teleprompter he’s hopelessly lost at sea. On Wednesday night, he forgot whether he was selling rubbing alcohol or ladies’ corsets, and it showed.

Like all presidents, he’s accustomed to watching everybody swoon when he steps into the room, and the only tune on his iPod is “Hail to the Chief,” which he plays often. When Mitt Romney confronted him with something less than a genuflection, the president was rattled for the rest of the evening. Life outside a bubble is tough, particularly for a president.

Romney is America’s hope

This is who Romney is, a man who is not mean-spirited, a man who, like Reagan, has core values that are so deeply ingrained a light shines inside him like Lady Liberty's torch.

This is his time. This is America's hope!

I was recently with a very prominent Democrat who spoke of his working with Romney during the Olympics. He spoke of Romney's humility and grace while they were working together. Another friend of mine who was head of security of the Olympics also spoke to me years ago of how terrific a person Romney is.

I met Romney on several occasions, and he is a gracious, genuine person. I also met President Barack Obama who is also gracious and genuine. But while both men have nobility, Romney has the path we need as a nation and a people.

It is no secret what the progressive agenda is - it was no secret four years ago, and it is more evident today. Last night we saw someone who instilled confidence back to a nation in crisis! A nation which has incrementally been mismanaged by both political parties!

Romney communicated to the American people a clear, definitive difference. I think back when I was

a young man as I watched the Reagan/Carter debates with tremendous anxiety. There was the moment when I felt we would be OK.

Last night, that happened again.

Obama identifies who’s to blame for his performance

Surprise!  It isn’t Obama.  It’s Romney.  Obama reinforced what Dr. Goebbels said.  “If you tell a lie often enough pretty soon you start believing it yourself.”

Campaign finance scandal for the Obama campaign?

President Obama's reelection campaign, rattled by his Wednesday night debate performance, could be in for even worse news. According to knowledgeable sources, a national magazine and a national web site are preparing a blockbuster donor scandal story.

Sources told Secrets that the Obama campaign has been trying to block the story. But a key source said it plans to publish the story Friday or, more likely, Monday.

According to the sources, a taxpayer watchdog group conducted a nine-month investigation into presidential and congressional fundraising and has uncovered thousands of cases of credit card solicitations and donations to Obama and Capitol Hill, allegedly from unsecure accounts, and many from overseas. That might be a violation of federal election laws.

A disengaged President

Bob Woodward’s new book The Price of Power shows it as do stories from the NY Times.  And on Wednesday night we all got to see.  Obama is disengaged and living in a comfortable cocoon. 

The president is more comfortable, it seems, campaigning and schmoozing.  Neither requires real engagement, and speaking to worshipful audiences roaring their approval is a great salve to the ego.

How disengaged was Obama?

In the debate on Wednesday, President Obama spoke for 4 more minutes than Romney did, but Romney said 541 more words than Obama did.  It appears Obama kept taking a knee and was trying to run out the clock.  The problem was he was way behind at the time.  

Best line I’ve seen about the Debate

“Never bring a community organizer to a CEOfight.”

The 10 top quotes by Mitt Romney in the Debate

I especially liked this one explaining the difference between Romneycare and Obamacare.

We didn’t raise taxes (in Massachusetts). You’ve raised them by a trillion dollars under “Obamacare.” We didn’t cut Medicare. Of course, we don’t have Medicare, but we didn’t cut Medicare by $716 billion. We didn’t put in place a board that can tell people ultimately what treatments they’re going to receive…

5 disingenuous, pathetic, weak, and desperate excuses for Obama’s performance

These aren’t just bad; they are so bad they are funny.

Factcheck:  Will Romney raise taxes on the middle class?

It’s almost an article of faith by the left.  But is it true?

The “nonpartisan” report Obama refers to came out in August from the left-wing Tax Policy Center, or TPC, purporting to show that Romney would have to eliminate $86 billion in middle-class tax breaks to pay for his 20 percent across-the-board rate reduction.

Its authors — one of whom is a recent Obama employee — have subsequently admitted that in the absence of details about Romney’s tax plan, they simply made them up. They also admitted their numbers came out wrong because they guessed which tax breaks Romney would eliminate and which ones were “off the table.” 

Fact checkers who have to make SWAGs aren’t really fact checks.  They are spinmeisters.  

Employment:  Perhaps Obama is the Messiah

Back in 2008 Obama supporters talked about him as if he were the messiah.  It appears now he is doing miracles like Christ did with loaves and fishes.  As Christ feed the multitude with 5loaves and 2 fishes, according to the BLS the President Obama has gotten 873,000 people work when only 114,000 jobs were created in September.  It’s a miracle!

If you don’t buy the miracle explanation, my guess is that it has something to do with November 6^th.

Security at Libyan Embassy

ABC News has obtained an internal State Department email from May 3, 2012, indicating that the State Department denied a request from the security team at the Embassy of Libya to retain a DC-3 airplane in the country to better conduct their duties.

Copied on the email was U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens, who was killed in a terrorist attack on the diplomatic post in Benghazi, Libya, Sept. 11, 2012, along with three other Americans. That attack has prompted questions about whether the diplomatic personnel in that country were provided with adequate security support.

No one has yet to argue that the DC-3 would have definitively  made a difference for the four Americans killed that night. The security team in question, after all, left Libya in August.

Those last four words do not bode well for the Obama Administration.