[Official Thread] OBAMA WINS RE-ELECTION

[SirNitram]

And once again proving that US news follows the stupidest person they can find, Drudge banners a 5 year old video that everyone already did a peice on, five years ago, and everyone acts like it's current news. And important, because apparently, Obama is black. Who knew?

[Flagg]

And once again proving that US news follows the stupidest person they can find, Drudge banners a 5 year old video that everyone already did a peice on, five years ago, and everyone acts like it's current news. And important, because apparently, Obama is black. Who knew?

God you're dumb. Being black has nothing to do with it. Being black in front of a black audience and acknowledging another black person there is what makes this news.

[Max]

I'm wondering if Obama's passivity tonight in the debates was strategic? Basically letting Willard define himself a little better on the issues, since he hasn't really done so yet.

I am still annoyed at how poorly Jim moderated this. Do we know who's moderating the next presidential debate yet? And will it be someone that can actually moderate effectively? If I could make a wish, and have it come true, someone would reply with "John Stewart."

[SirNitram]

No h, if you mean the master of comedy at the Daily Show. Really, I'd take anyone with backbone and authority to call them out on lies. But I don't give a fuck about time limits.

[Max]

Ooops, you're correct, I meant Jon. I can see the usefulness of having some sort of time limit in that people like Mitt will simply continue talking without it. I mean, he couldn't even follow his own request of "He started this round, Jim, SO I GET TO FINISH!"

[Dalton]

Good god. Repubs must be covering their cum stains with the NY Post they've been reading. "Rom's Bam Dunk!" Ugh.

[TimothyC]

Ohio shocker: GOP closes early voting gap, boosting Romney
October 4, 2012 | 11:22 am

In a remarkable reversal of fortune for President Obama in Ohio, the GOP has closed the huge gap in absentee ballot requests used by early voters that favored the Democrats and the president in 2008, setting up what one state analyst said could be a Mitt Romney blowout on Election Day.

While in 2008, 33 percent of the 1,158,301 absentee ballots went to Democrats and just 19 percent to registered Republicans, a 14-point gap, this year 29 percent are being requested by Democrats and 24 percent by Republicans, a five-point gap.

And in a sign that the enthusiasm of 2008 voters is depressed, just 638,997 absentee ballots have been requested, according to American Majority Action, which culled the statistics together from Ohio college professors who are tracking the state's absentee ballots used for early voting. The group provided Secrets with the details.

Even more dramatic, while the GOP has cut the Democratic advantage in early voting throughout the state, the changes favoring the Republicans in certain counties has been huge. In Franklin County, home to Columbus, for example, a 2008 Democratic advantage of 5 percent is now a 5 percent GOP advantage. In Cuyahoga County, home to Democratic Cleveland, the GOP has shaved six points off the Democrat's 2008 advantage. And in Hamilton County, home to Cincinnati, Republicans have expanded their 2008 advantage to 13 percent.

University of Dayton Professor Larry Schweikart told American Majority Action President Ned Ryun that the GOP gains favor Romney. "Although it is early, we will soon be at a point where--assuming Republicans vote for Romney--the Democrats will have to overwhelmingly win all the remaining early voting just to be even on November 6. But, given Ohio's voting history, if the numbers are even close after early voting, Obama will lose, and possibly lose big."

Ryun, whose group has opened voter registration efforts in Ohio and other swing states, said that the Buckeye State's efforts to clean up voter rolls has also played a part in tightening the gap. He said that 450,000 dead voters and duplicate registrations have been nixed, and the majority were Democrats.

"Considering Obama won the state by 263,000 votes, Ohio's cleaner rolls could make a big impact," Ryun said. He added, "The five largest counties in Ohio have all shifted at least 6 percent and as much as 27 percent to the Republicans since 2008. While the polls show an Obama lead, these real votes--assuming registered voters vote for their candidate--demonstrate a Republican shift since 2008."

Ryun sent this to Secrets from his analysis of Ohio early voting:

In 2008, there were 1,158,301 total absentee ballots requested, 33 percent registered Democrat and 19 percent registered Republican--a 14 point gap. So far in 2012, 638,997 ballots have been requested, 29 percent Democrat and 24 percent Republican--only a five point gap.

The Republicans have shrunk the gap nine percent overall since 2008, but when we examine key counties in Ohio, the numbers become even more dramatic.

--Champaign County: Was +3% GOP, now +23% GOP - 20 point shift.
--Columbiana County: Was +9% DEM, now +9% GOP - 18 point shift.
--Crawford County: Was +3% DEM, now +12% GOP - 15 point shift.
--Cuyahoga County: Was +36% DEM, now +30% DEM (GOP already has 6,000 more requests than in 2008) - 6 point shift.
--Erie County: Was +24% DEM, now +7% DEM -17 point shift.
--Franklin County: Was +5% DEM, now +5% GOP - 10 point shift.
--Greene County: Was +4% DEM, now +19% GOP - 23 point shift.
--Harrison County: Was +22% DEM, now +5% DEM - 17 point shift.
--Hamilton County: Was +7% GOP, now +13% GOP - 6 point shift.
--Licking County: Was TIED, now +16% GOP - 16 point shift.
--Montgomery County: Was +29% DEM, now +5% DEM - 24 point shift.
--Muskingum County: Was +1% DEM, now +16% GOP - 17 point shift.
--Pickaway County: Was +12% DEM, now +15% GOP - 27 point shift.
--Seneca County: Was +1% DEM, now +13% GOP - 14 point shift.
--Summit County: Was +33% DEM, now +6 DEM - 27 point shift.
--Wood County: Was +10% DEM, now +1% GOP - 11 point shift.

First of all, yes, those do include many of the larger counties (ie, Urban and Suburban that include Dayton, Cleveland, and Cincinnati).
Second, It's nice to see the voter rolls get cleaned up when the Democrats are not in charge of the machines*.

*See Candidate Obama's speech at Kent State in 2008 where he stated "It helps that in Ohio we have Democrats in charge of the Machines."

[NettiWelho]

Small question on US elections: Why are there no public debates between all of the running candidates? I was under the impression there was more than two.

[TimothyC]

Small question on US elections: Why are there no public debates between all of the running candidates? I was under the impression there was more than two.

Because the rules of the debates (which are mostly controlled by the two parties) set a minimum national support level to get into the debates. Last time there was a three man debate was 1992 with Ross Perot.

[Mr Bean]

So Rachel Maddow last night spends the first eighteen minutes giving context on Presidential debates to make the same point Crossroads made a few points up.
Oh don't worry, historically this always happens.
What the fuck? If you know this historically always happens, what the fuck have you been doing to prepare the President for then White House staff? Did you just concede the first debate (And again I'll use my analogy, if the man is already on the mats... it's not rope a dope anymore) because history? Or did you except him to come out and call the President the N word on national TV?

If you know the record is 1-5 for sitting Presidents winning their first debate why did you not take a week off to get him zenned the hell in to win the first debate. You know News cycles in October are almost entirely debate driven. The debates are far enough apart that each news cycle is dedicated to talking about the previous debate or the upcoming one. And if you know this (Which you should) why the hell did you not ever hit Romney on anything giving him the win by default?

As mentioned by someone else, do you Mr President have money on the election? Are you trying to keep it within the spread or you owe someone some money?

[Pint0 Xtreme]

In other news, the unemployment rating dropping under 8 percent for the first time in four years should help Obama. They need to take advantage of that all month long.

[Dalton]

Also, Mitt got fact-checked by his own campaign. He's a fucking mess. This PBS thing has gone completely viral too.

[Crossroads Inc.]

Also, Mitt got fact-checked by his own campaign. He's a fucking mess. This PBS thing has gone completely viral too.

Did someone mention PBS?

[Dalton]

That belongs in the Political Cartoons thread.

[Crossroads Inc.]

Apologizes then, It just seemed too good an opportunity to pass up.

Incidentally, what was the mood amongst your coworkers about the debate?
Did anyone think about more deeply other than "Romney must have won it" ?

[UnderAGreySky]

The right-wing freakout about the good job numbers has been horrifying and amusing at the same time. Jack Welch has gone and proven that successful businessmen may not necessarily be the smartest people in the world... meanwhile Drudge and its clones are openly accusing the BLS (and therefore Obama) of cooking the numbers.

I'm not sure I can take a month more of this.

[Dalton]

Apologizes then, It just seemed too good an opportunity to pass up.

Incidentally, what was the mood amongst your coworkers about the debate?
Did anyone think about more deeply other than "Romney must have won it" ?

Several were a little surprised at Obama's apparent passivity. I was the most vociferous person, as I quite literally yelled at the TV more than once (I don't generally work in the main control room where that sort of stuff doesn't happen, but in an ancillary graphics playout area). We were discussing some of the more amusing tweets though (the social media folks were stationed in the same area). If you were asking if we were all gloom and doom, no; outside of a major cascade failure, it's hard to seriously frazzle a seasoned control room operator (unless you're the director). I can't say the same for the anchors (Chris Matthews).

[Dalton]

The right-wing freakout about the good job numbers has been horrifying and amusing at the same time. Jack Welch has gone and proven that successful businessmen may not necessarily be the smartest people in the world... meanwhile Drudge and its clones are openly accusing the BLS (and therefore Obama) of cooking the numbers.

I'm not sure I can take a month more of this.

David Frum said that this kind of freakout isn't what a person who believes his candidate is winning does.

[Flagg]

I was disappointed in Obama's debate performance, but it wasn't the end of the world. Romney won by lying his ass off and that will come back to bite him.

[Crossroads Inc.]

Several were a little surprised at Obama's apparent passivity. I was the most vociferous person, as I quite literally yelled at the TV more than once (I don't generally work in the main control room where that sort of stuff doesn't happen, but in an ancillary graphics playout area). We were discussing some of the more amusing tweets though (the social media folks were stationed in the same area). If you were asking if we were all gloom and doom, no; outside of a major cascade failure, it's hard to seriously frazzle a seasoned control room operator (unless you're the director). I can't say the same for the anchors (Chris Matthews).

Good to know they kept their cool, mostly good to know other people outside places like this aren't freaking out about one single night but know enough to realize Romney didn't win shit on Wed.

David Frum said that this kind of freakout isn't what a person who believes his candidate is winning does.

On NPR today one of their weekly pundits remarks on this, saying something similar along the lines of "people who think their candidate is winning don't need to make up conspiracy theories" Personally the traction this hysteria is getting is feeding into my theory that the GOP Elite are "Doubling Down on the Delusion Doctrine" . Basically building up Romney, making him appear a sure fire thing that he will totally win, so that when he loses (And lets face it, there are more people who are starting to see the writing in the wall) they can start shouting "Voter Fraud!" and "Dems Steal Election" And of course the far right will eat it up.

[SirNitram]

The GOP claiming it's all a conspiracy isn't new. I just look at the increasing episdemic(sp?) closure and increasing rhetoric and wonder when they'll decide DC is a hive of traitors and install a 'real' president, like Europe and the two popes.

[Irbis]

The GOP claiming it's all a conspiracy isn't new. I just look at the increasing episdemic(sp?) closure and increasing rhetoric and wonder when they'll decide DC is a hive of traitors and install a 'real' president, like Europe and the two popes.

For that to happen, we would need to land back straight in 1860s

[JME2]

The GOP claiming it's all a conspiracy isn't new. I just look at the increasing episdemic(sp?) closure and increasing rhetoric and wonder when they'll decide DC is a hive of traitors and install a 'real' president, like Europe and the two popes.

For that to happen, we would need to land back straight in 1860s

I can't help but keep wondering if we'll reach this point again in our lifetimes.

[Irbis]

I can't help but keep wondering if we'll reach this point again in our lifetimes.

*shrug* I don't think so, but even if we did, and separatists managed by some magic attract sizeable portion of US Army into their ranks, this time US Navy alone is strong enough to decide the conflict by itself. Oh, and there would be no risk of foreign intervention this time, too.

Though, existence of these moronic 3% movements in the Army and the fact no one stomps on them makes me wonder if these idiots might not be the ones attracted to the cause above.

Eh, all in all, I think 'normal' secession of a few states that decided so in referendum would be more likely, societies today are much less drawn to war on their neighbourhood.

[Dalton]

I can't figure out what the tenth amendment has to do with PBS funding. Someone clue me in:

"@JasonHBG: federal gov cumulative effects to the budget,not part of the amendment. PBS as example"