California is the same way. Blue around San Fran and LA, red everywhere else.
On our bike trip this summer I purposely hit the west coast just north of SF and headed north from there just to avoid the "blue" areas. We still found it to be filled with hippies and panhandlers. I think CA is one of the coolest states that I don't want to visit again. We ran into a couple from FL on a BMW who had the same observation as us.
There has been much consideration given to Ohio in the 2012 presidential election, and rightfully so. Ohio is a microcosm of the nation. It is a diverse mix of urban and suburban with wide educational, cultural, and socio-economic differences. Very often as Ohio goes, so goes the nation. With its coveted 18 electoral votes well in mind, both candidates have been hitting it hard -- campaigning, stumping, running ads.
It is possible for the presidential election to be won without Ohio. But such a development has been exceedingly rare (as in never for a Republican and not since 1960 for a Democrat). Suffice to say, there are plenty of eyes on the Buckeye State. The outcome in Ohio could very well decide the outcome of the presidential election.
Currently, in most Ohio polls, the candidates are running just about even. While Obama had an early lead, per mainstream media reports, Romney has since significantly closed the gap. This turnaround was due to, in no small part, the first presidential debate.
During the first debate, the world was finally able to see not the Romney the Obama campaign tried to portray, but the real Romney, sharp and enthusiastic, qualified and capable, a level-headed problem-solver, ready and willing to lead. Unfortunately for Obama, the world saw the real O as well, dull and indifferent, unqualified and incapable, a hot-headed enabler, ill-prepared and not willing to lead (see, 'leading from behind'). The contrast in substance, style and class could not have been more obvious. And American responded, with Romney vaulting up in the polls, jumping some 8 points in Ohio.
Romney May Have Swayed Undecideds On Economy John Gizzi, Oct 17, 2012
Barack Obama may have come out swinging hard, but the second presidential debate of 2012 was no game-changer. That was the opinion of three seasoned professors and pollsters who talked to Human Events moments after the close of the stormy encounter between Obama and Mitt Romney Tuesday at Hofstra University in New York Tuesday evening.
If there were any inroads made Tuesday among the voters who are still “undecided” at this point, the three political authorities agreed, they were made by Romney with his strong underscoring of a new policy on the economy.
To More and More Women, Romney Is the Safer Choice Michael Barone, Oct 18, 2012
...There's obviously been a surge toward Romney. He was trailing in just about every national poll conducted before Oct. 3. He has been leading in most conducted since.
...Fascinatingly, it appears that he's made greater gains among women than men. The USA Today/Gallup poll has him running even with Barack Obama among women, 48 to 48 percent. Pew Research Center's post-debate poll has women at 47 to 47.
That's a huge difference from 2008, when the exit poll showed Barack Obama leading John McCain among women by 56 to 43 percent. Men favored Obama by only 1 point.
All the evidence suggests that the first debate made the difference. "In every poll we've seen a major surge in favorability for Romney," Democratic pollster Celinda Lake told USA Today's Susan Page.
"Women went into the debate actively disliking Romney," she went on, "and they came out thinking he might understand their lives and might be able to get something done for them."
Susan Ferrechio, Chief Congressional Correspondent, Oct 18, 2012
A new poll shows Republican Mitt Romney leading in Pennsylvania, a state that Republicans had all but written off just weeks ago but which is now listed as a toss up by the Real Clear Politics website.
Susquehanna Polling and Research provided The Washington Examiner with a poll it conducted for state party officials that shows Romney with a 49 percent to 45 percent lead over President Obama.
It's the first poll to show Romney leading among likely voters in the Keystone State.
Romney isn't spending much time or money in Pennsylvania, which hasn't backed a Republican presidential candidate since 1988.
...Lee said Romney has made significant gains in the all-important suburbs of Philadelphia, a ring of counties that helped push Obama to victory in 2008.
"Republicans haven't been able to do that in 20 years," Lee said. "Romney has made some major inroads."
Lee said Romney also gained ground in western Pennsylvania, where socially conservative, blue-collar Democrats have turned their backs on Obama.
Re-post from yesterday, to supplement the post directly above this. -- FB
quote:
***UPDATE: Romney up +1 in Gallup*** Awesome: Romney takes the lead on RCP’s electoral map
Momentum still seems to be moving in Romney’s direction. Romney has a lead for the first time on Real Clear Politics’ electoral map of 206 to 201:
UPDATE: In their 7 day rolling average from Oct 11-17, Gallup now has Romney up another point from yesterday. He now leads by 7 points among likely voters – Romney 52% to Obama’s 45%.
Progressive Orlando Sentinel Endorses Romney Michael Patrick Leahy, Oct 18, 2012
On the heels of Wednesday's endorsement of Mitt Romney by the traditionally liberal Nashville Tennessean, another longtime left-leaning newspaper-- the Orlando Sentinel -- has also endorsed President Barack Obama's Republican challenger. The Sentinel's endorsement will have a greater impact, since it comes from one of the largest newspapers in the key swing state of Florida.
Like the Tennessean, the Sentinel expressed strong disappointment in Obama's record of performance:
quote:
Economic growth, three years into the recovery, is anemic. Family incomes are down, poverty is up. Obama's Republican challenger, Mitt Romney, highlighted these and other hard truths in this week's second debate.
Even the September jobless numbers deserve an asterisk, because more than 4 million Americans have given up looking for work since January 2009.
And while the nation's economy is still sputtering nearly four years after Obama took office, the federal government is more than $5 trillion deeper in debt. It just racked up its fourth straight 13-figure shortfall.
We have little confidence that Obama would be more successful managing the economy and the budget in the next four years. For that reason, though we endorsed him in 2008, we are recommending Romney in this race...
We reject the innuendo that some critics have heaped on the president. We don't think he's a business-hating socialist. We don't think he's intent on weakening the American military. We don't think he's unpatriotic. And, no, we don't think he was born outside the United States.
But after reflecting on his four years in the White House, we also don't think that he's the best qualified candidate in this race.
Progressive Nashville Tennessean Endorses Romney Michael Patrick Leahy, Oct 18, 2012
The Nashville Tennessean, the traditionally liberal newspaper that gave Al Gore his start in journalism, endorsed Republican challenger Mitt Romney for President Thursday. [see below - FB]
It was another stunning setback for the Obama campaign, already reeling from plunging poll numbers.
While the state of Tennessee is not in play, the Tennessean's endorsement says a great deal about the growing disappointment with President Obama among those who supported him in 2008. Indeed, the Tennessean has a long tradition of endorsing Democrats for President -- from Barack Obama in 2008 to John Kerry in 2004 to Al Gore in 2000.
The endorsement's critique of the Obama presidency could well find its way into some Romney campaign ads:
quote:
President Obama’s steps to get spending under control and reduce the debt are too tentative, and again hark back to his inability to possess the leadership to break the partisan gridlock in Congress.
That said, there is real fear that a Romney administration, including his more conservative running mate, Paul Ryan, would go too far with austerity measures that could rip the social safety net. For that reason, the hope is that Romney, as president, would be a moderate influence, bringing both parties together on a debt-reduction plan that is firm but fair...
Should President Obama, as some suggested, have devoted his early political capital to jobs and debt reduction and pursuing Wall Street criminals, instead of health reform? Time will tell. But it’s clear whatever shaky bridges were burned in the push for health reform only emboldened Republicans to oppose his subsequent economic proposals. That has rendered much of his presidency ineffective.
Barack Obama was elected in 2008 with a call for hope and change. Perhaps the change he spoke of could only come with the help of Mitt Romney.
This has been a presidential election that should be held up as a cautionary lesson for the future.
...Aside from 1860, when Abraham Lincoln took charge of the nation on the brink of civil war, and 1932, when Americans devastated by the Great Depression turned to Franklin Roosevelt for hope, few elections have been so critical to the country. In 2012, the United States faces crippling debt; seemingly endless military conflicts and terror threats; an aging population; and sweeping workforce and geopolitical changes that threaten to turn our society upside down.
...President Obama’s election and his presidency have been historic... However, for all his efforts, ranging from the stimulus package to green-energy development, to bring us out of recession, he has never found the key. He has generally made poor choices of the people needed to get the job done, such as Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner. And the number of jobs created during his term simply has not kept up with demand.
...Barack Obama was elected in 2008 with a call for hope and change. Perhaps the change he spoke of could only come with the help of Mitt Romney.
Gov. Romney: This endorsement was not an easy decision. You owe the American people more details about how you will keep taxes low, preserve social programs and build up the military, all while reducing the debt. You must be your own man, and not kowtow to special interests whose millions helped propel you to the Republican nomination.
Be the man who governed Massachusetts, and you’ll reunite America.
Romney For President Announces Military Advisory Council Mitt Romney Press | 17 October, 2012 - 16:34
Boston, MA United States
Today, Romney for President announced its Military Advisory Council.
“I am deeply honored to have the support of so many of our most accomplished military leaders,” said Mitt Romney. “Together we will restore our military might and ensure that America can defend and protect our interests, our allies, and our people, both at home and abroad. I will never forget that the greatest responsibility of an American president is in exercising the role of commander-in-chief. That role is sacred, and when I am president, I will never put my own political interests ahead of our military and our men and women in uniform.”
“I’m proud to be supporting Mitt Romney in this critical election about our nation’s future,” said General Tommy Franks, USA (Ret.), Past Commander, U.S. Central Command. “Governor Romney is committed to restoring America’s leadership role in the world. Instead of playing politics with our military, he will strengthen our defense posture by reversing the President’s devastating defense cuts. The fact of the matter is that we cannot afford another four years of feckless foreign policy. We need level-headed leadership which will protect our interests and defend our values with clarity and without apology.”
“I consider the unprecedented national debt amongst the five greatest threats to the security of our great nation,” said General James Conway, USMC (Ret.), Past Commandant of the Marine Corps. “And yet, I see no indication the current administration, if re-elected, is intent on changing that trajectory. Clearly Defense should bear a portion of the burden in order to regain control of our debt, but the idea of massive military cuts -- at a time of increased global instability—should not even be in the cards. As I listen to Mitt Romney, I am convinced that he 'gets it'.”
Members Of Romney For President Military Advisory Council
Admiral James B. Busey, USN, (Ret.) General James T. Conway, USMC, (Ret.) General Terrence R. Dake, USMC, (Ret) Admiral James O. Ellis, USN, (Ret.) Admiral Mark Fitzgerald, USM, (Ret.) General Ronald R. Fogleman, USAF, (Ret) General Tommy Franks, USA, (Ret) General Alfred Hansen, USAF, (Ret) Admiral Ronald Jackson Hays, USN, (Ret) Admiral Thomas Bibb Hayward, USN, (Ret) General Chuck Albert Horner, USAF, (Ret) Admiral Jerome LaMarr Johnson, USN, (Ret) Admiral Timothy J. Keating, USN, (Ret) General Paul X. Kelley, USMC, (Ret) General William Kernan, USA, (Ret) Admiral George E.R. Kinnear II, USN, (Ret) General William L. Kirk, USAF, (Ret) General James J. Lindsay, USA, (Ret) General William R. Looney III, USAF, (Ret) Admiral Hank Mauz, USN, (Ret) General Robert Magnus, USMC, (Ret) Admiral Paul David Miller, USN, (Ret) General Henry Hugh Shelton, USA, (Ret) General Lance Smith, USAF, (Ret) Admiral Leighton Smith, Jr., USN, (Ret) General Ronald W. Yates, USAF, (Ret) Admiral Ronald J. Zlatoper, USN, (Ret) Lieutenant General James Abrahamson, USAF, (Ret.) Lieutenant General Edgar Anderson, Jr., USAF, (Ret.) Lieutenant General Marcus A. Anderson, USAF, (Ret.) Lieutenant General Buck Bedard, USMC, (Ret.) Vice Admiral A. Bruce Beran, USCG, (Ret.) Vice Admiral Lyle Bien, USN, (Ret.) Lieutenant General Harold Blot, USMC, (Ret.) Lieutenant General H. Steven Blum, USA, (Ret.) Vice Admiral Mike Bowman III, USN, (Ret.) Vice Admiral Mike Bucchi, USN, (Ret.) Lieutenant General Walter E. Buchanan III, USAF, (Ret.) Lieutenant General Richard A. Burpee, USAF, (Ret.) Lieutenant General William Campbell, USAF, (Ret.) Lieutenant General James E. Chambers, USAF, (Ret.) Vice Admiral Edward W. Clexton, Jr., USN, (Ret.) Lieutenant General John B. Conaway, USAF, (Ret.) Lieutenant General Marvin Covault, USA, (Ret.) Vice Admiral Terry M. Cross, USCG, (Ret.) Vice Admiral William Adam Dougherty, USN, (Ret.) Lieutenant General Brett Dula, USAF, (Ret.) Lieutenant General Gordon E. Fornell, USAF, (Ret.) Vice Admiral David Frost, USN, (Ret.) Vice Admiral Henry C. Giffin III, USN, (Ret.) Vice Admiral Peter M. Hekman, USN, (Ret.) Vice Admiral Richard D. Herr, USCG, (Ret.) Lieutenant General Thomas J Hickey, USAF, (Ret.) Lieutenant General Walter S. Hogle, Jr., USAF, (Ret.) Lieutenant General Ronald W. Iverson, USAF, (Ret.) Lieutenant General Donald W. Jones, USA, (Ret.) Vice Admiral Douglas J. Katz, USN, (Ret.) Lieutenant General Jay W. Kelley, USAF, (Ret.) Vice Admiral Tom Kilcline, USN, (Ret.) Lieutenant General Timothy A. Kinnan, USAF, (Ret.) Vice Admiral Harold Koenig, M.D., USN, (Ret.) Vice Admiral Albert H. Konetzni, USN, (Ret.) Lieutenant General Buford Derald Lary, USAF, (Ret.) Lieutenant General Frank Libutti, USMC, (Ret.) Vice Admiral Stephen Loftus, USN, (Ret.) Vice Admiral Michael Malone, USN, (Ret.) Vice Admiral Edward H. Martin, USN, (Ret.) Vice Admiral John J. Mazach, USN, (Ret.) Vice Admiral Justin D. McCarthy, USN, (Ret.) Vice Admiral William McCauley, USN, (Ret.) Lieutenant General Fred McCorkle, USMC, (Ret.) Lieutenant General Thomas G. McInerney, USAF, (Ret.) Vice Admiral Joseph S. Mobley, USN, (Ret.) Lieutenant General Carol Mutter, USMC, (Ret.) Lieutenant General Dave R. Palmer, USA, (Ret.) Vice Admiral John Theodore "Ted" Parker, USN, (Ret.) Lieutenant General Garry L. Parks, USMC, (Ret.) Lieutenant General Charles Henry "Chuck" Pitman, USMC, (Ret.) Lieutenant General Steven R. Polk, USAF, (Ret.) Vice Admiral William E. Ramsey, USN, (Ret.) Lieutenant General Joseph J. Redden, USAF, (Ret.) Lieutenant General Clifford H. "Ted" Rees, Jr., USAF, (Ret.) Lieutenant General Edward Rowny, USA (Ret.) Vice Admiral Dutch Schultz, USN, (Ret.) Lieutenant General Charles J. Searock, Jr., USAF, (Ret.) Lieutenant General E. G. "Buck" Shuler, USAF, (Ret.) Lieutenant General Alexander M. "Rusty" Sloan, USAF, (Ret.) Vice Admiral Edward M. Straw, USN, (Ret.) Lieutenant General David J. Teal, USAF, (Ret.) Lieutenant General Billy M. Thomas, USA, (Ret.) Vice Admiral Donald C. "Deese" Thompson, USCG, (Ret.) Vice Admiral Alan S. Thompson, USN, (Ret.) Lieutenant General Herman O. "Tommy" Thomson, USAF, (Ret.) Vice Admiral Howard B. Thorsen, USCG, (Ret.) Lieutenant General William Thurman, USAF, (Ret.) Lieutenant General Robert Allen "R.A." Tiebout, USMC, (Ret.) Vice Admiral John B. Totushek, USNR, (Ret.) Lieutenant General George J. Trautman, USMC, (Ret.) Lieutenant General Garry R. Trexler, USAF, (Ret.) Vice Admiral Jerry O. Tuttle, USN, (Ret.) Lieutenant General Claudius "Bud" Watts, USAF, (Ret.) Lieutenant General William "Bill" Welser, USAF, (Ret.) Lieutenant General Thad A. Wolfe, USAF, (Ret.) Lieutenant General C. Norman Wood, USAF, (Ret.) Lieutenant General Michael W. Wooley, USAF, (Ret.) Lieutenant General Richard "Rick" Zilmer, USMC, (Ret.) Major General Chris Adams, USAF, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Henry Amos, USN (Ret.) Major General Nora Alice Astafan, USAF, (Ret.) Major General Almon Bowen Ballard, USAF, (Ret.) Major General James F. Barnette, USAF, (Ret.) Major General Robert W. Barrow, USAF, (Ret.) Rear Admiral John R. Batlzer, USN, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Jon W. Bayless, USN, (Ret.) Major General John E. Bianchi, USA, (Ret.) Major General David F. Bice, USMC, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Linda J. Bird, USN, (Ret.) Rear Admiral James H. Black, USN, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Peter A. Bondi, USN, (Ret.) Major General John L. Borling, USAF, (Ret.) Major General Tom Braaten, USMC, (Ret.) Major General Robert J. Brandt, USA, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Jerry C. Breast, USN, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Bruce B. Bremner, USN, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Thomas F. Brown III, USN, (Ret.) Major General David P. Burford, USA, (Ret.) Rear Admiral John F. Calvert, USN, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Jay A. Campbell, USN, (Ret.) Major General Henry Canterbury, USAF, (Ret.) Rear Admiral James J. Carey, USN, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Nevin Carr, USN, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Stephen K. Chadwick, USN, (Ret.) Rear Admiral W. Lewis Chatham, USN, (Ret.) Major General Jeffrey G. Cliver, USAF, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Casey Coane, USN, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Isaiah C. Cole, USN, (Ret.) Major General Stephen Condon, USAF, (Ret.) Major General Richard C. Cosgrave, USANG, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Robert Cowley, USN, (Ret.) Major General J.T. Coyne, USMC, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Robert C. Crates, USN, (Ret.) Major General Tommy F. Crawford, USAF, (Ret.) Rear Admiral James P. Davidson, USN, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Kevin F. Delaney, USN, (Ret.) Major General James D. Delk, USA, (Ret.) Major General Robert E. Dempsey, USAF, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Jay Ronald Denney, USNR, (Ret.) Major General Robert S. Dickman, USAF, (Ret.) Rear Admiral James C. Doebler, USN, (Ret.) Major General Douglas O. Dollar, USA, (Ret.) Major General Hunt Downer, USA, (Ret.) Major General Thomas A. Dyches, USAF, (Ret.) Major General Jay T. Edwards, USAF, (Ret.) Major General John R. Farrington, USAF, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Francis L. Filipiak, USN, (Ret.) Rear Admiral James H. Flatley III, USN, (Ret.) Major General Charles Fletcher, USA, (Ret.) Major General Bobby O. Floyd, USAF, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Veronica Froman, USN, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Vance H. Fry, USN, (Ret.) Rear Admiral R. Byron Fuller, USN, (Ret.) Rear Admiral George M. Furlong, USN, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Frank Gallo, USN, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Ben F. Gaumer, USN, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Harry E. Gerhard Jr., USN, (Ret.) Major General Daniel J. Gibson, USAF, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Andrew A. Giordano, USN, (Ret.) Major General Richard N. Goddard, USAF, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Fred Golove, USCGR, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Harold Eric Grant, USN, (Ret.) Major General Jeff Grime, USAF, (Ret.) Major General Robert Kent Guest, USA, (Ret.) Major General Tim Haake, USAR, (Ret.) Major General Otto K. Habedank, USAF, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Thomas F. Hall, USN, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Donald P. Harvey, USN, (Ret.) Major General Leonard W. Hegland, USAF, (Ret.) Rear Admiral John Hekman, USN, (Ret.) Major General John A. Hemphill, USA, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Larry Hereth, USCG, (Ret.) Major General Wilfred Hessert, USAF, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Don Hickman, USN, (Ret.) Major General Geoffrey Higginbotham, USMC, (Ret.) Major General Jerry D. Holmes, USAF, (Ret.) Major General Weldon F. Honeycutt, USA, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Steve Israel, USN, (Ret.) Major General James T. Jackson, USA, (Ret.) Rear Admiral John S. Jenkins, USN, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Tim Jenkins, USN, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Ron Jesberg, USN, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Pierce J. Johnson, USN, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Steven B. Kantrowitz, USN, (Ret.) Rear Admiral John T. Kavanaugh, USN, (Ret.) Major General Dennis M. Kenneally, USA, (Ret.) Major General Michael Kerby, USAF, (Ret.) Rear Admiral David Kunkel, USCG, (Ret.) Major General Geoffrey C. Lambert, USA, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Arthur Langston, USN, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Thomas G. Lilly, USN, (Ret.) Major General James E. Livingston, USAF, (Ret.) Major General Al Logan, USAF, (Ret.) Major General John D. Logeman Jr., USAF, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Noah H. Long Jr, USNR, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Don Loren, USN, (Ret.) Major General Andy Love, USAF, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Thomas C. Lynch, USN, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Steven Wells Maas, USN, (Ret.) Major General Robert M. Marquette, USAF, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Larry Marsh, USN, (Ret.) Major General Clark W. Martin, USAF, (Ret.) Major General William M. Matz, USN, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Gerard Mauer, USN, (Ret.) Rear Admiral William J. McDaniel, MD, USN, (Ret.) Rear Admiral E.S. McGinley II, USN, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Henry C. McKinney, USN, (Ret.) Major General Robert Messerli, USAF, (Ret.) Major General Douglas S. Metcalf, USAF, (Ret.) Rear Admiral John W. Miller, USN, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Patrick David Moneymaker, USN, (Ret.) Major General Mario Montero, USA, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Douglas M. Moore, USN, (Ret.) Major General Walter Bruce Moore, USA, (Ret.) Major General William Moore, USA, (Ret.) Major General Burton R. Moore, USAF, (Ret.) Rear Admiral James A. Morgart, USN, (Ret.) Major General Stanton R. Musser, USAF, (Ret.) Rear Admiral John T. Natter, USN, (Ret.) Major General Robert George Nester, USAF, (Ret.) Major General George W. Norwood, USAF, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Robert C. Olsen, USN, (Ret.) Major General Raymund E. O’Mara, USAF, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Robert S. Owens, USN, (Ret.) Rear Admiral John F. Paddock, USN, (Ret.) Major General Robert W. Paret, USAF, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Robert O. Passmore, USN, (Ret.) Major General Earl G. Peck, USAF, (Ret.) Major General Richard E. Perraut Jr., USAF, (Ret.) Major General Gerald F. Perryman, USAF, (Ret.) Rear Admiral W.W. Pickavance, USN, (Ret.) Rear Admiral John J. Prendergast, USN, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Fenton F. Priest, USN, (Ret.) Major General David C. Ralston, USA, (Ret.) Major General Bentley B. Rayburn, USAF, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Harold Rich, USN , (Ret.) Rear Admiral Roland Rieve, USN, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Tommy F. Rinard, USN , (Ret.) Major General Richard H. Roellig, USAF, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Michael S. Roesner, USN, (Ret.) Rear Admiral William J. Ryan, USN, (Ret.) Major General Loran C. Schnaidt, USAF, (Ret.) Major General Carl Schneider, USAF , (Ret.) Major General John P. Schoeppner, Jr., USAF, (Ret.) Major General Edison E. Scholes, USAF, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Robert H. Shumaker, USN, (Ret.) Rear Admiral William S. Schwob, USCG, (Ret.) Major General David J. Scott, USAF, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Hugh P. Scott, USN, (Ret.) Major General Richard Secord, USAF, (Ret.) Rear Admiral William H. Shawcross, USN, (Ret.) Major General Joseph K. Simeone, USAF and ANG , (Ret.) Major General Darwin Simpson, ANG , (Ret.) Rear Admiral Greg Slavonic, USN , (Ret.) Rear Admiral David Oliver "D.O." Smart, USNR, (Ret.) Major General Richard D. Smith, USAF, (Ret.) Major General Donald Bruce Smith, USAF, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Paul O. Soderberg, USN, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Robert H. "Bob" Spiro, USN, (Ret.) Major General Henry B. Stelling, Jr., USAF, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Daniel H. Stone, USN, (Ret.) Major General William A. Studer, USAF, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Hamlin Tallent, USN, (Ret.) Brigadier General Hugh Banks Tant III, USA, (Ret.) Major General Larry S. Taylor, USMC, (Ret.) Major General J.B. Taylor, USA, (Ret.) Major General Thomas R. Tempel, USA , (Ret.) Major General Richard L. Testa, USAF, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Jere Thompson, USN (Ret.) Rear Admiral Byron E. Tobin, USN, (Ret.) Major General Larry Twitchell, USAF, (Ret.) Major General Russell L. Violett, USAF, (Ret.) Major General David E.B. "DEB" Ward, USAF, (Ret.) Major General Charles J. Wax, USAF, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Donald Weatherson, USN, (Ret.) Major General John Welde, USAF, (Ret.) Major General Gary Whipple, USA , (Ret.) Rear Admiral James B. Whittaker, USN, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Charles Williams, USN, (Ret.) Rear Admiral H. Denny Wisely, USN, (Ret.) Rear Admiral Theodore J. Wojnar, USCG, (Ret.) Rear Admiral George R. Worthington, USN, (Ret.) Brigadier General Arthur Abercrombie, USA, (Ret.) Brigadier General John R. Allen, USAF, (Ret.) Brigadier General Loring R. Astorino, USAF, (Ret.) Brigadier General Richard Averitt, USA, (Ret.) Brigadier General Garry S. Bahling, USANG, (Ret.) Brigadier General Donald E. Barnhart, USAF, (Ret.) Brigadier General Charles L. Bishop, USAF, (Ret.) Brigadier General Clayton Bridges, USAF, (Ret.) Brigadier General Jeremiah J. Brophy, USA, (Ret.) Brigadier General R. Thomas Browning, USAF, (Ret.) Brigadier General David A. Brubaker, USAF, (Ret.) Brigadier General Chalmers R. Carr, USAF, (Ret.) Brigadier General Fred F. Castle, USAFR, (Ret.) Brigadier General Robert V. Clements, USAF, (Ret.) Brigadier General Christopher T Cline, USAR, (Ret.) Brigadier General George Peyton Cole, Jr., USAF, (Ret.) Brigadier General Richard A. Coleman, USAF, (Ret.) Brigadier General Mike Cushman, USAF, (Ret.) Brigadier General Peter Dawkins, USA, (Ret.) Brigadier General Sam. G. DeGeneres, USAF, (Ret.) Brigadier General George Demers, USAF, (Ret.) Brigadier General Howard G. DeWolf, USAF, (Ret.) Brigadier General Arthur F. Diehl, USAF, (Ret.) Brigadier General David Bob Edmonds, USAF, (Ret.) Brigadier General Anthony Farrington, USAF, (Ret.) Brigadier General Norm Gaddis, USAF, (Ret.) Brigadier General Robert H. Harkins, USAF, (Ret.) Brigadier General Thomas W. Honeywill, USAF, (Ret.) Brigadier General Stanley V. Hood, USAF, (Ret.) Brigadier General James J. Hourin, USAF, (Ret.) Brigadier General Jack C. Ihle, USAF, (Ret.) Brigadier General Thomas G. Jeter, USAF, (Ret.) Brigadier General William Herbert Johnson, USAF, (Ret.) Brigadier General Kenneth F. Keller, USAF, (Ret.) Brigadier General Wayne W. Lambert, USAF, (Ret.) Brigadier General Jerry L. Laws, USA, (Ret.) Brigadier General Thomas J. Lennon, USAF, (Ret.) Brigadier General John M. Lotz, USAF, (Ret.) Brigadier General Robert S. Mangum, USA, (Ret.) Brigadier General Frank Martin, USAF, (Ret.) Brigadier General Joe Mensching, USAF, (Ret.) Brigadier General Richard L. Meyer, USAF, (Ret.) Brigadier General Lawrence A. Mitchell, USAF, (Ret.) Brigadier General Michael P. Mulqueen, USMC, (Ret.) Brigadier General Ben Nelson, Jr., USAF, (Ret.) Brigadier General Jack W. Nicholson, USA, (Ret.) Brigadier General Maria C. Owens, USAF, (Ret.) Brigadier General Dave Papak, USMC, (Ret.) Brigadier General Gary A. Pappas, USANG, (Ret.) Brigadier General Robert V. Paschon, USAF, (Ret.) Brigadier General Allen K. Rachel, USAF, (Ret.) Brigadier General Jon Reynolds, USAF, (Ret.) Brigadier General Edward F. Rodriguez, Jr., USAFR, (Ret.) Brigadier General Roger Scearce, USA, (Ret.) Brigadier General Dennis Schulstad, USAFR, (Ret.) Brigadier General John Serur, USAF, (Ret.) Brigadier General Joseph L. Shaefer, USAF, (Ret.) Brigadier General Graham Shirley, USAF, (Ret.) Brigadier General Raymond Shulstad, USAF, (Ret.) Brigadier General Stan Smith, USAF, (Ret.) Brigadier General Ralph S. Smith, USAF, (Ret.) Brigadier General Donald Smith, USA, (Ret.) Brigadier General David M. Snyder, USAF, (Ret.) Brigadier General Michael Joseph Tashjian, USAF, (Ret.) Brigadier General Richard Louis Ursone, USA, (Ret.) Brigadier General Earl Van Inwegen, USAF, (Ret.) Brigadier General Terrence P. Woods, USAF, (Ret.) Brigadier General Mitchell Zais, USA, (Ret.) Brigadier General Allan Ralph Zenowitz, USA, (Ret.)
*Use of Military Branch and/or Rank does not imply endorsement by the service branch or the Dept. of Defense*
Romney Finally Leads Obama In FAVORABILITY ratings The Right Scoop, Oct 19, 2012
Remember how the press used to focus so heavily on Obama’s likeability rating and how he was always leading Romney? Well, Obama is now underwater even in being likeable as Romney is besting him in a few different polls:
quote:
EXAMINER – According to multiple polls, Romney’s favorability rating has surged since the Republican National Convention and in most he equals or bests President Obama’s favorables.
And late Thursday, the Pew Research Center, the poll that has been toughest on Romney’s favorability, released results showing that Romney is ahead of Obama by a point, 50 percent to 49 percent. That is a stunning turnaround from March, when Obama’s favorable rating in Pew was about twice Romney’s, 55 percent to 29 percent.
Gallup also has Romney beating Obama on the favorability rating, 52 percent to 51 percent.
Even the liberal DailyKos/SEIU/PPP poll has Romney beating Obama on the fave rating, 49 percent to 46 percent.
Thanks once again for your postings. Even though a few Left leaning Badwebbers have been apoplectic, there are people who read this thread and are learning exactly how bad a President Obama is and the promise of the upcoming Romney presidency. The entire goal is to persuade people to vote for Romney. Well done, Ferris. Keep 'em coming.
Tom, many thanks. I'm just a weary foot soldier, doing what I can. Romney and Ryan - Romney in particular - deserve the credit. They are the ones doing the hard work, with little to gain (think about that for a minute), and much to lose.
If I didn't feel these two gentleman are patriots at their core, putting OUR interests ahead of theirs, I probably wouldn't even bother.
They both have PROVEN track records, and their respective histories are an open book, available for anyone to see.
Instead of empty, divisive rhetoric they've offered a real vision for America, based on sound principles, and ALWAYS with respect for the Constitution and Bill of Rights as their guiding light.
What I'm doing is very little.
What they're doing is HUGE.
And best of all, it seems like America is finally taking notice.
Bringing People Together Published on Oct 19, 2012 by mittromney
The challenges our country faces are too great to let partisanship get in the way. Republicans and Democrats will have to work on a collaborative basis. Mitt Romney will bring people together to get the job done. He's done it before and he'll do it again.
Lee Iacocca Endorses Romney For President John Gizzi, Oct 19, 2012
After a lifetime of voting for and supporting Democrats — and even declining appointment to the U.S. Senate from a Democratic governor — Lee Iacocca Thursday endorsed Republican Mitt Romney for president.
The blessings of the onetime Chrysler chairman are expected to help Romney in two highly competitive states: Pennsylvania, where the 88-year-old Iacocca was born and raised and is still widely respected, and in Michigan, where Iacocca rose to become a major figure in the auto industry and won international praise for cobbling together the government-backed loans that saved Chrysler in 1980.
What's Ohio's Foreign Policy? Swing States and Monday's Debate Joel B. Pollak, Oct 19, 2012
The Third Presidential Debate on Monday night will have important implications for the 2012 election—not, primarily, because it will shift national polls (though it could if one candidate wins decisively), but because it could shift a few critical votes in swing states with populations that have a particular interest in foreign affairs.
It matters less who “wins” than what these voters hear on the issues they care about:
Florida: Large Cuban and Jewish populations in the state make Floridians eager to hear the candidates take a tough stand against Fidel Castro’s allies and in support of Israel. Florida also has more aerospace and defense industry employees than any other swing state. Obama’s soft approach to leftist leaders in Latin America, his poor record on Israel, and his defense cuts (including at NASA) have hurt him here.
Virginia: Defense looms large in Virginia, which has a long military tradition and ranks in the top ten states for aerospace and defense employment. Mitt Romney chose to re-launch his foreign policy here, at the Virginia Military Institute. His argument for a strong military and his criticisms of President Barack Obama’s recent failures in Libya have helped him take a small lead in some recent polls.
Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania is a fairly large defense industry employer, but the main foreign affairs issue may be Israel. Though only 2.3% of the state’s population is Jewish, those votes are concentrated in the Philadelphia suburbs where Romney is giving Democrats a challenge for the first time in decades. Democrats were worried enough to send Debbie Wasserman Schultz to an area synagogue in July.
Ohio: Like other Great Lakes states, Ohio benefits from free trade, but it has suffered acutely from foreign manufacturing competition. So China is a critical foreign policy issue in Ohio, which is why both Romney and Obama have focused on it. Frustration with Obama’s policies on Israel and the Middle East more generally has given Josh Mandel (R) an opportunity in his race against incumbent Sherrod Brown (D).
Michigan: Voters in Michigan care about China for many of the same reasons voters in Ohio do. One distinction in Michigan is the state’s large Arab minority, which has often backed candidates who are tougher on Israel. That may give Obama an edge and may cause Romney to temper some of his remarks. Despite his apparent skepticism of a Palestinian state, for example, Romney supports one as a policy goal.
Wisconsin: Though Wisconsin is more well-known as a battleground over labor policy than foreign policy, Iran has become an issue in the open-seat Senate race between Tommy Thompson (R) and Tammy Baldwin (D). Like Sherrod Brown in Ohio, Baldwin has aligned with the far-left J Street organization, which is critical of Israel. She also was one of a few of Democrats to vote against some Iran sanctions.
New Hampshire: If you live in Colebrook, you might be able to see Canada from your house. But if you live on the other side of the state, you might work for one of the state's defense companies, or you commute in your Prius to an aerospace job in Massachusetts. Concern about looming defense "sequester" cuts may be helping to make the state more competitive than it has been in months.
Why Benghazi is a Crucial Strategic Moment James Lewis Power-mongers all over the world see our defeat for what it is. They see the half-staff flags of American surrender, signaled by Obama in one long string of apologies and lies. Everybody understands that but the American voter. http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/10/why_benghaz i_is_a_crucial_strategic_moment.html
Romney Picks Up Major Endorsements From Papers That Supported Obama In 2008 John Hayward, Oct 19, 2012
Mitt Romney has lately been racking up quite a few endorsements from newspapers which had endorsed Barack Obama for President in 2008. Two in particular stand out this week: the New York Observer [see below] and the Tennessean [see earlier post above].
The Observer is generally a center-left paper, but their endorsement of Romney was not tepid at all.
...The lengthy endorsement goes on to discuss Romney’s agenda in detail, with an emphasis on how much it will help New Yorkers. ”This election is a true turning point for the next generation,” the Observer concludes. ”Mitt Romney is the change the nation needs. And he is the change New York needs.”
Romney for President The Editors, New York Observer Oct 16, 2012
The crisis of leadership in American government is easily explained: thanks to a flawed presidential primary system that rewards strident rhetoric and hyper-partisanship, candidates tailor their messages to fringe elements in small, unrepresentative states. The result? A nasty, shallow and expensive process that rewards sound bites rather than solutions and gamesmanship instead of ideas. This year, however, we have witnessed a rare phenomenon in American politics. A candidate has emerged from the rough and tumble of the primaries with his dignity intact. The system has produced not a demagogue but a manager, a candidate whose experience is rooted in the pragmatism of the business world rather than the ideology of partisan politics.
That candidate is Mitt Romney.
...The Observer endorses Mr. Romney’s candidacy and urges readers to support him.
Four years ago, Barack Obama captured the imagination of many Americans with his thrilling message of change. Given the challenges confronting the president—two raging wars and an unprecedented global economic collapse—the desire for a quick fix was unrealistic.
America supported that candidate (as did this newspaper), but his presidency, so filled with promise and potential, has failed to deliver the change America needs.
...As he surveys the nation’s stubbornly sluggish economy, Mr. Romney isn’t looking to point fingers, and he certainly isn’t looking to single out chief executives, entrepreneurs and high earners for demagogic attacks and punitive tax proposals. Critics have lampooned him as out of touch; in fact, it is Mr. Obama who has lost sight of the fact that American capitalism is the greatest anti-poverty program in human history.
...The United States simply cannot afford another four years of weak leadership. The genius of American capitalism and the moral authority of American foreign policy must be restored.
Mitt Romney has a plan to do both. He has the credentials to restore the economy and to defend American values in a hostile world. He has the skills to help create jobs and a brighter future for our country.
This election is a true turning point for the next generation. Mitt Romney is the change the nation needs. And he is the change New York needs.
The New York Observer piece is quite lengthy and well-written, and goes into great detail as to their opinion of Romney's and 0bama's strengths and weaknesses. I've parsed out a few paragraphs simply to briefly tell the tale, and hopefully encourage the curious reader to learn more. It's well worth clicking on the link and reading the piece in full.
In the final analysis, Mitt Romney has earned their endorsement as the next President of the United States. Considering the source, I find their endorsement of Romney quite remarkable.
Fox News Poll: Romney Now Ahead in Florida Brooks Blanton, For Release 6 PM ET Friday, October 19, 2012
A Fox News poll [see link below -- FB] of Florida likely voters shows Republican nominee Mitt Romney now tops Barack Obama in the battleground state by 48 percent to 45 percent.
The poll, released Friday, shows an eight-point reversal and a four-point increase for Romney. Last month, he trailed Obama by 44-49 percent (September 16-18, 2012).
Romney’s advantage expands to 11 points over Obama among the most interested voters -- the nearly 6 in 10 Floridians who are “extremely” interested in the election.
...Obama tops Romney by one percentage point among women now, down from a 19-point edge last month. And Romney has extended his advantage among married women to 13 points, up from a seven-point edge.
...Independents back Romney by six points in the new poll (46-40 percent). A month ago Obama had a narrow two-point edge among independents (45-43 percent).
...By a seven-point margin, more voters trust Romney to improve the economy. That’s a reversal from a month when Obama was on top by three points on this measure.
Poll: Romney Leads Among Virginia Women Tony Lee, Oct 19, 2012
Friday's Rasmusssen Reports poll [see below - FB] not only found Mitt Romney with a three-point lead (50%-47%) over Obama in Virginia but also with a two-point lead (49%-47%) among women voters.
...Among those who say the are certain to vote (94%), Romney leads 52% to 47%. Among those who said they have already decided for whom to vote (88%), Romney leads Obama by two points (51%-49%).
...Rasmussen Reports polled 750 likely voters on October 18, which means both the presidential debates and the vice presidential debate were taken into account. The poll's margin of error is +/- 4 percentage points.
Election 2012: Virginia President Virginia: Romney 50%, Obama 47% Friday, October 19, 2012
Mitt Romney has now hit the 50% mark in Virginia.
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Virginia Voters, taken two nights after the second presidential debate, shows Romney with 50% support to President Obama’s 47%. Two percent (2%) remain undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
A week ago, Romney led 49% to 47% in Virginia. Prior to this survey, the candidates have been within two points or less of each other in every survey here since April.
Election 2012: North Carolina President North Carolina: Romney 52%, Obama 46% Thursday, October 18, 2012
Mitt Romney has now extended his lead to six points in North Carolina following this week's second presidential debate.
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in the Tar Heel State, taken last night, finds Romney with 52% support to President Obama’s 46%. One percent (1%) is still undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
A week ago, Romney held a three-point advantage, 51% to 48%, over the president. North Carolina now moves from a Toss-Up to Leans Romney in the Rasmussen Reports Electoral College Projections. In 2008, Obama was the first Democratic presidential candidate to carry North Carolina in over 30 years.
Daily Swing State Tracking Poll Swing State Tracking: Romney 49%, Obama 47% Friday, October 19, 2012
The full Swing State tracking update offers Rasmussen Reader subscribers a combined view of the results from 11 key states won by President Obama in 2008 and thought to be competitive in 2012. The states collectively hold 146 Electoral College votes and include Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin.
...In the 11 swing states, Mitt Romney earns 49% of the vote to President Obama’s 47%. One percent (1%) likes another candidate in the race, and two percent (2%) are undecided.
Sorry, fresh out of Polygamy Porter, amigo. Might I interest you in a full-bodied yet slightly fruity and undeniably nutty Socialist Stout???
quote:
Obama's Policies vs. Free Enterprise David Harsanyi - October 18, 2012
Perhaps the most intriguing moment of the second presidential debate came late in the contest when a rock-ribbed undecided voter asked both candidates, "What do you believe is the biggest misperception that the American people have about you as a man and a candidate?" And really, this is the sort of compelling inquiry that makes these contrived town hall-style debates so worthwhile.
President Barack Obama began his answer with a strong statement: "I believe that the free enterprise system is the greatest engine of prosperity the world's ever known." I have no doubt that Obama believes he believes in free enterprise -- except in the case of health care policy, the auto industry, the housing market, education, banking, job creation, manufacturing, green energy and so on and so forth.
...If you believed the free enterprise system is the mechanism of great prosperity, your crowning achievement might not be legislation that constricts competition in health care, layers it generously with regulations, institutes effective price controls, coerces participation and sets up a government board to mete out advice on rationing.
...If you trust that the free enterprise system is the greatest engine of prosperity, you understand that one person's wealth and success don't deprive anyone of his own.
Urp. More. It's Saturday nite, I can drink it up until 2 a.m. before putting on my snore suit and sleeping it off instead of watching Sun. morning news shows.
