The startling science behind Obama’s victory
The technological superiority of the Obama campaign has been well-covered, but Sasha Issenberg at MIT’s Technology Review offers us a deeper and even unsettling look at just what it accomplished. Along the way, he also introduces us to someone who may make Nate Silver of Fivethirtyeight fame not only envious, but downright anachronistic.
Political junkies will remember the hotly contested 2009 special election in New York’s 23rd Congressional District. Issenberg, author of “The Victory Lab: The Secret Science of Winning Campaigns,” introduces us to Dan Wagner, who predicted the outcome of that election within a 150- vote margin. In 2010, Republican Scott Brown pulled off a surprising victory for the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by the death of Ted Kennedy. Wagner, however, had predicted Brown’s victory months before the election took place. In the 2010 congressional midterms, which the Republicans won, he correctly predicted the outcome with uncanny accuracy five months before the fact.
That performance was enough to get Wagner’s data-mining project considerable funding and manpower from the Democratic National Committee and the Obama campaign. The result? As Issenberg puts it in a three-part series, while the campaign fielded all of the most sophisticated technology, that was only the beginning. In battleground states, they wanted the mind-boggling ability to identify and track individual voters, determine what would convince those individual voters to vote Obama, and then deliver that convincing material to them.
As Issenberg describes it:
“But underneath all that were scores describing particular voters: a new political currency that predicted the behavior of individual humans. The campaign didn’t just know who you were; it knew exactly how it could turn you into the type of person it wanted you to be….
Obama’s campaign began the election year confident it knew the name of every one of the 69,456,897 Americans whose votes had put him in the White House. They may have cast those votes by secret ballot, but Obama’s analysts could look at the Democrats’ vote totals in each precinct and identify the people most likely to have backed him. Pundits talked in the abstract about reassembling Obama’s 2008 coalition. But within the campaign, the goal was literal. They would reassemble the coalition, one by one, through personal contacts….
Before the polls opened in Ohio, authorities in Hamilton County, the state’s third-largest and home to Cincinnati, released the names of 103,508 voters who had cast early ballots over the previous month. Wagner sorted them by microtargeting projections and found that 58,379 had individual support scores over 50.1—that is, the campaign’s models predicted that they were more likely than not to have voted for Obama. That amounted to 56.4 percent of the county’s votes, or a raw lead of 13,249 votes over Romney. Early ballots were the first to be counted after Ohio’s polls closed, and Obama’s senior staff gathered around screens in the boiler room to see the initial tally. The numbers settled almost exactly where Wagner had said they would: Obama got 56.6 percent of the votes in Hamilton County. In Florida, he was as close to the mark; Obama’s margin was only two-tenths of a percent off.”
When you read things like that and compare it to Karl Rove’s plaintive Election Night plea that Ohio was still winnable for Mitt Romney, you begin to understand just how significantly the science of campaigning has changed, and how much of a march the Democrats have stolen.
– Jay Bookman
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304 comments Add your comment
Mick
December 18th, 2012
7:31 am
Fascinating….the numbers don’t lie….exact science over gut thinking…
TaxPayer
December 18th, 2012
7:32 am
What! More of the same–mass x velocity. It’s even conserved in this case too.
Doggone/GA
December 18th, 2012
7:32 am
And yet…we still have to vote, or they won’t have any numbers to base their predictions on
Corbin Sharpe. Baby Boomer...and Ban the Gun Thug!
December 18th, 2012
7:34 am
I’m not sure I understand a thing said up there, but considering the alternative, I’m glad the President won, however he did it….
BlahBlahBlah
December 18th, 2012
7:35 am
Big Brother’s watching. Wonderful.
guy
December 18th, 2012
7:37 am
WOW!
Doggone/GA
December 18th, 2012
7:39 am
“Big Brother’s watching. Wonderful.”
Not this time. This time it’s jut Little Brother. But you can bet, in the future, it’ll be those fraternal twins – the D’s and the R’s
Mick
December 18th, 2012
7:40 am
The presidents team really worked florida to the hilt. They got all of the hispanic votes in orlando, picked off the younger cuban vote in miami and worked the margins in heavily populated democratic area’s. Nothing short of brilliant, florida should have been romneys…
jd
December 18th, 2012
7:41 am
And that is how you run a business! Not the GOP way!
Georgia
December 18th, 2012
7:43 am
“….how much of march the democrats have stolen….”
what’s that mean?
TiredOfIt
December 18th, 2012
7:44 am
It appears that Romney and Ryan where really not numbers guys, but then that’s not really that surprising.
stands for decibels
December 18th, 2012
7:46 am
Interesting, Jay, I’d not seen this piece.
They would reassemble the coalition, one by one, through personal contacts…
It was easy enough for Team Obama to contact me, since I’d contributed to his campaign in 2008. But I wonder how it was for those 2008 voters, who didn’t have an ostensibly traceable link.
How were they actually contacted by the campaign in 2012? Anyone here who resembles this remark, want to shed some light?
Goldie
December 18th, 2012
7:46 am
I’ll take science over “guts” any day!
stands for decibels
December 18th, 2012
7:47 am
what’s that mean?
think it’s a typo, he meant “how much of the merch Democrats have stolen.”
That’s why you didn’t see so many Romney stickers–the Dems stole the merch.
GT
December 18th, 2012
7:48 am
Better yet you can see it in how Obama runs the country. He has handled this cliff thing so much better than the last time. He is campaigning 24/7 even when he is in office. He walks in the Speaker’s office with cold facts that the GOP is starting to finally believe he has and it makes the talks go so much better. Watch how he handles gun control, the NRA won’t know what hit them.
The Elliot Wave theory predicted the stock crash in October of 1987. A local guy Robert Prechter was the guru behind it. Robert, for the fun of it would predict election outcomes. I would pass him in the airport in those days and he would yell out Reagan or Clinton as we passed, knowing I wanted to know the next president. It will be interesting when both parties have the same intellect but one of the things I really appreciate about the Democrats is they are, now days, a step ahead of the conservative party in innovation. The country is better off being lead by this type leading edge thinking than the distain for science and knowledge displayed by the slave states.
JoeFann
December 18th, 2012
7:49 am
Dear Karl:
If wishes and buts, were candy and nuts….Merry Christmas! And goodbye. While I might have hoped you were right, that whole numbers/techno thingy don’t lie. You and your friends (and some of mine) were completely out of your league. Time to hit the lecture and book circuit, if anyone’s buying.
To all of my friends (and yes, some of them are at either end of the political spectrum,) Merry Christmas! And to my lib friends especially, I sincerely hope you are right. I’m holding my breath (and my job, for the moment.)
Thomas Heyward Jr
December 18th, 2012
7:49 am
“….how much of march the democrats have stolen…?
.
I get the “stolen”..that’s what democrats do ..but I don’t understand the context.
Jay
December 18th, 2012
7:50 am
It should have read “how much of A march the Democrats have stolen.” In military terms, if you steal a march on your opponent, you have managed to get your troops marching toward an important strategic point a whole day before your opponent can do so.
ByteMe - Got ilk?
December 18th, 2012
7:50 am
This is one of those situations where it’s not a sustainable competitive advantage. Within one cycle, the R’s will catch up.
What’s sustainable is having a message people want to vote for.
stands for decibels
December 18th, 2012
7:51 am
I get the “stolen”..that’s what democrats do
yep, we shut down early voting, we purge legitimate voters, we create ID hurdles solely to prevent Republicans from casting a vote…
stands for decibels
December 18th, 2012
7:56 am
Within one cycle, the R’s will catch up.
What’s sustainable is having a message people want to vote for.
I was working on typing something like that, but you stole my march.
KEITH
December 18th, 2012
7:56 am
Nothing startling at all. Obama promised free stuff in exchange for votes. The country will go bankrupt to fulfill his promises but who really cares about that? Certainly not Bookman and his fellow socialists.
Thomas Heyward Jr
December 18th, 2012
7:58 am
stands for decibels
December 18th, 2012
7:51 am
I get the “stolen”..that’s what democrats do
yep, we shut down early voting, we purge legitimate voters, we create ID hurdles solely to prevent Republicans from casting a vote…
——————————————————————-
.
I never said the despicable Rs were any better.
.
sheesh
ByteMe - Got ilk?
December 18th, 2012
7:58 am
Obama promised free stuff in exchange for votes.
Care to catalog that free stuff? Have you received any of it? Any of your friends or neighbors?
Or are you just blowing smoke out of an orifice just because your loser lost?
ByteMe - Got ilk?
December 18th, 2012
7:59 am
I never said the despicable Rs were any better.
Ah, the “my tiny minority party is pure as the driven snow” gambit. How’s that working for you? Feel superior even though you can’t ever win an election?
Road Scholar
December 18th, 2012
8:00 am
Repubs don’t believe in science and technology…just ask Broun!
Stands: If I understand your question, the Obama campaign contacted us through e-mail….email after email. Not one e-mail from any repub. The e-mails were signed by different people in their campaign.
indigo
December 18th, 2012
8:00 am
I’ve been hearing, for some time now, how Big Business advertising has increasingly been planning ways to know what everyone wants and target them accordingly.
Since we know politicians have gotten instruction on how to appeal to the public from their corporate sponsors in advertising, it’s not surprising they are now refining and customizing their messages.
Big Brother advertising in business and politics.
Exactly what you’d expect in the Corporate States of America.
GT
December 18th, 2012
8:00 am
ByteMe – Got ilk? What message are you getting out, the one about women being second class citizens who need a man to tell them about their bodies, or the one where the we export all illegals back to where they came from just because we can, the only message your party gets out loud and clear is we are nuts. Your latest is the cherry on top; you defend guns while the bodies of babies are still warm. I have never seen a more tone deaf bull in a china shop group of white middle aged men as the ones that represent the Republican Party and now you can’t wait to get your message out, really?
Road Scholar
December 18th, 2012
8:03 am
Keith: Boo Hoo! President Obama kicked Romney’s a$$. Not with gifts or freebies. With substance. Romney refused to provide any specifics. Whine all you want! It won’t change the outcome.
ByteMe - Got ilk?
December 18th, 2012
8:04 am
The e-mails were signed by different people in their campaign.
Read an article about how they did that to test to see which voters were more responsive to pleas from the different people in the campaign. Hot for Stephanie Cutler? She’s in your inbox! Want something down-home from Biden? We can do that! All to further figure out how to reach certain individuals. Pretty cool use of drip marketing.
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
December 18th, 2012
8:04 am
Well, it’s this kinda stuff that’s going to make me miss Chip Rogers in the GA Senate. It s as plaln as the nose on your face the Socialist Muslim Kenyan chased down thousands of Ohio voters and planted a chip in their braiim. They.couldn’t of voted for Romney if they tried. I bet they knew how I was going to vote before I ever left the trailer Election Day and programmed a bunch of Those People and illegals to cancel my vote. We’re already in the days of Sodom and Gonorrhea.
It won’t be long now till they take our guns and line us up and make us get Gay Married. The End Days are at hand. It’s all so hopeless
Woe be to us Rednecks!
ByteMe - Got ilk?
December 18th, 2012
8:04 am
ByteMe – Got ilk? What message are you getting out, the one about women being second class citizens who need a man to tell them about their bodies, or the one where the we export all illegals back to where they came from just because we can, the only message your party gets out loud and clear is we are nuts.
Umm… WTF are you talking about? You must be confusing me with someone else’s ilk.
James
December 18th, 2012
8:05 am
Offer more free stuff get more voters…got it.
ByteMe - Got ilk?
December 18th, 2012
8:05 am
They.couldn’t of voted for Romney if they tried.
Neither could 69 million other people, it seems.
ByteMe - Got ilk?
December 18th, 2012
8:06 am
Offer more free stuff get more voters…got it.
Got your “Obama Phone” yet, loser?
Get any of that stuff? Could it be because your vote doesn’t count?
LOL!!!
Thomas Heyward Jr
December 18th, 2012
8:06 am
ByteMe – Got ilk?
December 18th, 2012
7:59 am
I never said the despicable Rs were any better.
Ah, the “my tiny minority party is pure as the driven snow” gambit. How’s that working for you? Feel superior even though you can’t ever win an election?
———————————————————————
.
I did win spiritually.
No little paki children blood is on my hands.
ByteMe - Got ilk?
December 18th, 2012
8:07 am
I did win spiritually.
No little paki children blood is on my hands.
So you are… what?… Canadian?
Cherokee
December 18th, 2012
8:08 am
Keith that whine is so tiring. Can’t you come up with some new material?
TaxPayer
December 18th, 2012
8:09 am
Republicans do still have their unskewed data.
Granny Godzilla
December 18th, 2012
8:11 am
In light of the GOP’s anti-science stance, this is pretty damn funny.
That’s the free stuff by the way.
The free stuff Obama offered for every vote.
It the free delight, pride and joy in not having a
President What’s-his-name.
Free, yet priceless.
Jay
December 18th, 2012
8:11 am
“Since obama failed to reinstate the clinton gun ban when he had majorities in both Houses of Congress does bookman think that obama has blood on his hands from this tragedy?”
“if a senator votes for ANY bans on guns we will make them pay in the next election.”
The same person posts those two statements within seven minutes of each other ….
GT
December 18th, 2012
8:13 am
The right was convinced that the social issues would not play in this election, even had the major networks working that angle. O worked the social issues and took the election. No buying the election, the Ohio vote came because O saved the car industry, the one Romney wanted bankrupt. The nation rightful so did not want their life controlled by nuts so social became important. The real problem with the right is they can’t change their stripes even with overwhelming information that says they must. They are very inflexible.
stands for decibels
December 18th, 2012
8:13 am
The same person posts those two statements
But Jay, he had a FILIBUSTER PROOF SOOPERMAJORITY CONGREFS FOR TWO SOLID YEARZ!!!!
Citizen of the World
December 18th, 2012
8:14 am
Obama did a great job of motivating his supporters to get to the polls — and it’s as much about that as swaying independents.
He also got smaller contributions but from more people than Romney did — and most people, once they’ve given even $5, sure want to go vote for their candidate to get their money’s worth.
Inquiring mind
December 18th, 2012
8:14 am
Jay
Semi off topic
I would assume you would acknowledge eliminating automatic weapons will only reduce the body count, and won’t stop mass killings by psychos
Peter
December 18th, 2012
8:14 am
Well when the REPUBLICAN candidate just lies constantly.. that would be the science in my opinion.
Just like when Kyle the Republican blogger said Nuclear energy is the only energy going forward in the future that makes sense……. We now see we will be ripped off by the Southern company as Georgia citizens for energy.
Republican’s just don’t tell the truth…. that is the Science lesson today.
Thomas Heyward Jr
December 18th, 2012
8:16 am
I personally saved the two Obama Brown Shirts that tried to canvass our neighborhood.
They had only knocked on the second door for the entire Neighborhood militia to be be activated.(we train for just such events).
.
By the time that I got to the scene, the poor young people were cornered in a tool shed.
After calming down the hot heads..and at much danger to myself…I succeeded in coaxing them out.
.
I then explained to the ill-tempered crowd that, as Obama-Bots, these kids probably couldn’t read that well.
I held up the prominent sign posted at the entrance to our community and the kids just couldn’t comprehend nor even pronounce ..”No Solicitation”.
.
I then escorted them to the county line.
It was close, but I think that I did the right thing.
.
Forward Freedom!
.
Peter
December 18th, 2012
8:17 am
Here is another great Republican lie………. Gosh they never stop !
Offer more free stuff get more voters…got it
How about that free money to the Southern Company !
ByteMe - Got ilk?
December 18th, 2012
8:17 am
How were they actually contacted by the campaign in 2012? Anyone here who resembles this remark, want to shed some light?
When they got down to the end of the campaign, they realized that they really needed a huge turnout for younger voters to get over the top. And those voters are on facebook. So they had people who had “liked” them on facebook download an app and the app asked those users to send out an automated blast to their own contacts with a personal plea to vote from that person (and not from the campaign). Something like that. Ended up increasing the number of people they were able to “touch” and get them out to vote.
TaxPayer
December 18th, 2012
8:18 am
The same person posts those two statements within seven minutes of each other ….
And that same person will look at your post and scratch his head and ponder… what. what! WHAT! “What’s wrong with what I said! BOOKMAN!!!!!!!”
Or something like that.
Escaped from Email Purgatory
December 18th, 2012
8:18 am
You gotta give kudos to the Obama campaign. They know who their voters are and they make sure they’re awake and needy before every presidential election.
The administration encouraged food stamp usage. Mission accomplished – recipients grew to 47 million.
Also passed the word to the states… “Psssst. you guys can eliminate all those pesky work requirements restricting your distribution of welfare benefits.”
The GOP was completely outflanked. The were fighting this war with the last war’s weapons and it showed.
Is that a good thing? If electing a bag of hair to a second term as POTUS, it is.
Seems the new science used by the dems just provides a way for them to get the most bang for their bribe.
Peter
December 18th, 2012
8:19 am
Here is another great Republican lie……
as Obama-Bots, these kids probably couldn’t read that well.
Educated in a Republican State……..where the Governor lied to be elected and the people went along with it !
ByteMe - Got ilk?
December 18th, 2012
8:21 am
The administration encouraged food stamp usage.
Really? The Obama administration encouraged the deepest economic recession in 80 years? Do tell!
TaxPayer
December 18th, 2012
8:21 am
Heyward lives in Forsyth County! Who woulda evah guessed.
Recon 0311 2533
December 18th, 2012
8:21 am
The Democrats have a huge advantage with the uninformed voters. The only challenge is getting them to the polls and the Democrats ground game in the battleground states was superb in doing so. That was the only meaningful science in Obama’s victory.
bookman parrot
December 18th, 2012
8:22 am
Jay, I guess you could call lib half-truths, lib inuendos, and lib sheep for voters “science”. bravo!
For principles
December 18th, 2012
8:22 am
The science is easy – When you rob peter to pay paul, you can always count on the support of paul.
Works the same in every election/country/political system.
Peter
December 18th, 2012
8:22 am
Another great Republican Lie……
The administration encouraged food stamp usage. Mission accomplished – recipients grew to 47 million.
Yes there have been more help needed to American Citizens… WHY ?
George Bush was in office and there was the ALMOST coming of the second Great Depression due to Republican attitudes of…… ” Deficits don’t matter “………… cutting taxes all while starting TWO WARS…… and the Romney attitude of Outsourcing American Jobs to get Rich.
GT
December 18th, 2012
8:24 am
Inquiring mind “only reduce the body count” so cavalier about human lives, this is the root of our modern problem. The insensitive articulation of human life by undeveloped minds, overdosed on superficial fictional characters. One of the misconceptions of the Republican Party, they thought the entire country was made up of this type Halloween character.
TaxPayer
December 18th, 2012
8:24 am
I see the cons are busy sharing their unskewed data with the rest of us.
dcb
December 18th, 2012
8:25 am
Fascinating this is – and frightening. Sounds as if the technocrats know so much about us from our spending habits (credit cards) and use of our computers that they can tell when and where we put on our underwear. Where is the ACLU when we need them?
stands for decibels
December 18th, 2012
8:25 am
Peter, ByteMe, settle down.
Way I figure it, if those guys want to own the “Vote for us, we’ll starve our citizens” franchise, let ‘em.
ByteMe - Got ilk?
December 18th, 2012
8:25 am
The Democrats have a huge advantage with the uninformed voters.
And also with super-smart voters, it seems. According to exit polls, Obama won post-graduates 55-42.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/elections/2012-exit-poll
Hate it for ya when your meme doesn’t hold up.
ByteMe - Got ilk?
December 18th, 2012
8:26 am
I’m waiting for the wingnuts to proclaim that the Obama campaign got all that voter data from the CIA.
Granny Godzilla
December 18th, 2012
8:27 am
Purgatory
December 18th, 2012
8:18 am
The administration encouraged food stamp usage. Mission accomplished – recipients grew to 47 million.
Also passed the word to the states… “Psssst. you guys can eliminate all those pesky work requirements restricting your distribution of welfare benefits.”
.
.
.
Neither are meant to be factual statements.
ByteMe - Got ilk?
December 18th, 2012
8:27 am
Ok, that’s enough stomping on nutcases today. I’m off to earn a living. C-Ya!
Reebok
December 18th, 2012
8:27 am
It’s true, the Dems are running 21st-century campaigns while the Repubs are closing there eyes and wishing real real hard that it’s 1980 again.
GT
December 18th, 2012
8:29 am
For principles your people don’t believe in science remember. It is 70 degrees in the middle of December and you think that is normal, Iceland melted; the entire country and you want to talk about gun control and abortion. Now you want to say the science is easy, O saved the largest industry in the country the auto industry, if that is easy to you, you are a genus, really?
Recon 0311 2533
December 18th, 2012
8:30 am
Yes, the educated dummies that get through their undergraduate brainwashing get another dose through their post graduate degrees. It takes a bit longer to wear off with this group of educated dummies.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
December 18th, 2012
8:33 am
I held up the prominent sign posted at the entrance to our community and the kids just couldn’t comprehend nor even pronounce ..”No Solicitation”. .
I then escorted them to the county line.
It was close, but I think that I did the right thing.
Hmmm, Heywood posts how he violated law. But hey, hes a realz merican.
alittlecommonsense
December 18th, 2012
8:34 am
track individual voters, determine what would convince those individual voters to vote Obama, and then give (it) to them.
Yes, of course – vote buying. A typical Democrat tactic. Don’t do what is best for the country – do what it takes to buy yourself enough votes.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
December 18th, 2012
8:34 am
Byte me? The CIA? No way. Private agencies like credit card companies have much more detailed information than the CIA.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
December 18th, 2012
8:35 am
Still have to worry about the GOP trying to surpress voting and now to change rules for the EC.
TiredOfIt
December 18th, 2012
8:36 am
Reebok
December 18th, 2012
8:27 am
It’s true, the Dems are running 21st-century campaigns while the Repubs are closing there eyes and wishing real real hard that it’s 1980 again.
++
I wish it was 1980 again. Maybe we could stop Reagan from stealing the election (made a deal with Iran to release hostages) and save our country from a lot of the problems we are dealing with today.
stands for decibels
December 18th, 2012
8:36 am
Byteme’s linked fox news exit poll contained one morsel of interest.
Apparently if you are an African American voter, the older you are, the (ever-so-teensily) *less* likely you are to vote for Romney.
heh heh heh.
(Ok, to be serious for a moment, the truly interesting revelation for me, was that Obama carried self-identifying “moderates” by a 15 point margin.)
GT
December 18th, 2012
8:37 am
What is wrong with someone knowing us? Why do we want to be a secret and why do we think that is a positive? The Republican really don’t like the light shone on their lies. It was front and center on FOX election night watching KR’s meltdown. “I tell you what to think and when to think it, you don’t tell me what you think!” Look at Georgia, keep em in the dark policy that has allowed the right to control this state, steal its money, and barely provide modern utilities to a state that thinks it is living large.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
December 18th, 2012
8:37 am
Karl who?
independent thinker
December 18th, 2012
8:38 am
Funny how that businessman could not organize a campaign that could march in the right direction 90% of the time except he excelled at buying votes of the rich and figuring out ways to cheat voters of the opportunity to vote. And a community organizer put a camapaign together that operated like a well oiled assembly line.
Road Scholar
December 18th, 2012
8:40 am
As for the criticism about President Obama not introducing gun control legislation…is he the only elected person in DC that has to show leadership skills?
Also, how many times do you hit your head on the wall before you realize it would have been futile with the “just say no” Repubs owned by the NRA?
Thomas Heyward Jr
December 18th, 2012
8:41 am
60 million sheep?
.
Heck……..I could do it with ten good sheep-dogs.
Granny Godzilla
December 18th, 2012
8:41 am
Ladies and Gentlemen
and now the comedy stylings of
.
.
.alittlecommonsense
December 18th, 2012
8:34 am
track individual voters, determine what would convince those individual voters to vote Obama, and then give (it) to them.
Yes, of course – vote buying. A typical Democrat tactic. Don’t do what is best for the country – do what it takes to buy yourself enough votes.
stands for decibels
December 18th, 2012
8:41 am
and now to change rules for the EC.
While that’s certainly one to keep an eye on, I suspect they really do not really want to pull that tiger by the tail.
If Americans en masse got wind of what they’re truly trying to pull in PA and elsewhere, I have to think there’d be massive disgust. This goes way beyond something like (say) stripping collective bargaining rights.
What was it ol’ Ike said to his brother? “[Y]ou would not hear of that party again in our political history.” I’d like to think that’d apply here.
Mick
December 18th, 2012
8:42 am
recon
Who’s the dummie? All your pre-election predictions were ahem…wrong! I’ll go with the educated seven days plus sunday…
GT
December 18th, 2012
8:42 am
Great period of time for being American. We are not owned by bullies or brainwashed by someone else’s image of what a great country is, we are the great country we know who we should be and we vote with that in mind. I have never been prouder of this country than I am right now.
indigo
December 18th, 2012
8:43 am
Inquiring mind – 8:14 “only reduce the body count”
This suggests you have no problem keeping the “body count” high.
And, two to one, you’re another one of the “good Christians” posting here.
JohnnyReb
December 18th, 2012
8:43 am
I have repeatedly written here it was the ground game, but you hard heads think it was “Obama.”
Yea, you gotta have something on which to build the ground game, but it sure as hell is not Barry’s performance or what he wants to do to the country.
JamVet
December 18th, 2012
8:43 am
The thirty year results of the Reagan/Gingrich/Bush experiment have trickled down in. And they prove It was a colossal failure.
They poisoned the once proud GOP and destroyed American conservatism.
Highlighted by the administration of George Walker Bush and Richard Cheney. The names themselves are still toxic. And will be for a long time.
These irrational, enraged and segregationist cons are dying off in droves these days. And the quicker, the better.
A few more elections like the last one – and three out of the last four – should do the trick…
Citizen of the World
December 18th, 2012
8:44 am
FYI — “No soliciting” signs do not cover politicking and proselytizing — both can still be done. (I have considered getting No Politicking and No Proselytizing signs to go with my No Soliciting sign.)
Keep Up the Good Fight!
December 18th, 2012
8:44 am
Stands, I hope you are right. I don’t have that much confidence in the collective GOP intelligence after their continued efforts on vaginas and the Tea Party. Look who just go appointed in SC to the Senate.
gadem
December 18th, 2012
8:45 am
Liberals and their damn voodoo science and facts. It’s all a lie straight from the pits of hell I tell ya’!!
Morality?
December 18th, 2012
8:45 am
Obama “offers” concessions as we near the fiscal cliff. B.S. Obama offers nothing. Boehner Offered real concessions – Obama offers smoke and mirrors. Time to freeze the salaries of Congress and merge their “Cadillac” health care plan in to the real world. Time to take away their “entitlements” for life just because they were in Congress for one term. Where else do you work for 4 years and get health care and retirement benefits for the rest of your life? Congress (both sides) is pigs at the tax payer’s trough. They are not doing their job – TERM LIMITS!
JohnnyReb
December 18th, 2012
8:47 am
This info is evidence to support us Hard Righters that our message remains valid. If Republicans are smart, they will start info commercials now that run until the next election. They should not be to bad mouth Obama, but to plainly get the message out there so people understand Conservatisim.
And, we need to hire someone like Wagner.
Inquiring Mind
December 18th, 2012
8:48 am
Not being cavalier about it.
I think it would be a great accomplishment if we can reduce “body count” through gun control. That would be a not insignificant accomplishment. Gun control is not, however, a cure all.
Columbine happened after a decade of the assault weapons ban being in place.
In my view, the weapons ban is necessary but not sufficient to solve this problem. And if all we focus on are the guns, then we will have failed the children at Sandy Hook.
alittlecommonsense
December 18th, 2012
8:48 am
Thanks Granny – I’ll be here all week.
JohnnyReb
December 18th, 2012
8:49 am
JamVet – just what alternate universe do you reside? Jay posts a piece that states Obama’s win was just short of mind control down to individual voters, yet you can’t stand it. You have to demonize the competition.
TaxPayer
December 18th, 2012
8:50 am
Heck……..I could do it with ten good sheep-dogs.
You might want to pad that resume a bit more if you hope to have a shot at Karl’s old job.
stands for decibels
December 18th, 2012
8:51 am
In my view, the weapons ban is necessary but not sufficient to solve this problem. And if all we focus on are the guns, then we will have failed the children at Sandy Hook.
can’t argue with that. The casual acceptance of violence as a means to an end needs to be in the mix as well.
JamVet
December 18th, 2012
8:51 am
…but to plainly get the message out there so people understand Conservatisim (sic).
Now that has always been one of my favorite GOP excuses.
“We didn’t do a good enough job of getting our message out there.”
Riiiight.
I got bad news for ya. Your message is so noxious, that you only HURT your chances by getting it out there.
BTW a huge LOL at your use of the word conservatism.
And please, tell me again how all of us non-Republicans are a bunch of stupid lazy takers. I love that one…
Jay
December 18th, 2012
8:52 am
“track individual voters, determine what would convince those individual voters to vote Obama, and then give (it) to them.
Yes, of course – vote buying. A typical Democrat tactic. Don’t do what is best for the country – do what it takes to buy yourself enough votes.”
I suppose you prefer the GOP method of meeting with Sheldon Adelson, asking him what things HE wants, and then accepting the $100 million that he spent backing Republicans.
Thomas Heyward Jr
December 18th, 2012
8:52 am
Citizen of the World
December 18th, 2012
8:44 am
FYI — “No soliciting” signs do not cover politicking and proselytizing — both can still be done. (I have considered getting No Politicking and No Proselytizing signs to go with my No Soliciting sign.)
——————————————————————————————————–
.
They do up here dawg.
indigo
December 18th, 2012
8:52 am
Inquiring minds – 8:48
The children at Sandy Hook were killed by guns.
So, we must focus on guns.
Since you and I both know these sad killings will only result in even more gun sales, the only reasonable thing to do is post armed guards at every school with “shoot to kill” orders if any armed people try to get into the school.
Mick
December 18th, 2012
8:52 am
reb
Mind control? More like romneys message wasn’t specific and obama’s team was smarter in targeting potential voters. It’s always about who has the better ground game…
Welcome to the Occupation
December 18th, 2012
8:57 am
You know I thought, maybe there’s a chance — admittedly tiny, but still — that maybe, just maybe with the great sainted liberal hero Barack Obama up there right now helping his “enemies” in the right wing proto-fascist party whet a meat cleaver to go after Social Security and what measly bits remain from the 20th C social gains with, that Bookman would take a critical look for a change at what Obama is doing.
Ah well. What do you expect. Guess it’s just in the contract.
R Thomas Berner
December 18th, 2012
8:57 am
This further shows what an anachronism Rove and his ilk (Carville, among others) are.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
December 18th, 2012
9:00 am
They do up here dawg.
Nope. That would be a govt law restricting the 1st amendment. You know, unconstitutional.
Levels of Blackness
December 18th, 2012
9:01 am
Regrettably, that proverbial long arm keeps getting longer & longer & longer
Inquiring Mind
December 18th, 2012
9:03 am
Here’s the issue. People want to fix the gun problem.
Many of those same people are unwilling to accept the other requisites for solving the problem. Because they would infringe on the first amendment. And they would force people to acknowledge and take more responsibility for their failures.
The mother of the killer has to be one of the stupidest people on the planet. And if we’re going to try to legislate against stupidity, there will need to be other things considered other than just a gun ban.
We will have to put people behind bars who have not committed a crime, but instead are just sick in the head. And how will we feel about that?
JohnnyReb
December 18th, 2012
9:04 am
Mick – when ever you track individual voters and taylor a message that resonates, that’s propaganda, mind control if you will, at the highest level.
It’s also a sad statement on how technology has stolen privacy. Those on Facebook and Twitter that vomit everything about themselves deserve identity theft, but I’m not sure they deserve being manipulated on voting.
kawasaki kid
December 18th, 2012
9:05 am
I want a law requiring all U.S. citizens to vote in all federal and state-wide elections, similar to Australia. I also want citizens to have to option of voting securely on-line. When the masses become more involved in politics, politicians must cater to them at the expense of their ever-reliable extremist bases. The only other way we’re ever going to reclaim our politicians from the grip of big-money oligarchs is TERM LIMITS, which is never going to happen.
Joe Hussein Mama
December 18th, 2012
9:06 am
T. Heyward — “I held up the prominent sign posted at the entrance to our community and the kids just couldn’t comprehend nor even pronounce ..”No Solicitation”.
Your spelling *is* getting better, but your grammar and punctuation still leave a lot to be desired. I’m afraid that if you don’t bring your score up significantly on the next test, I’m going to have to have a conference with your parents.
C-minus. See me after class.
alittlecommonsense
December 18th, 2012
9:06 am
“I suppose you prefer the GOP method of meeting with Sheldon Adelson, asking him what things HE wants, and then accepting the $100 million that he spent backing Republicans.”
Vote buying is one thing and influence buying is another. If you want to change the conversation to influence buying, we can have that conversation too. It is your blog afterall.
Both parties are susceptible to influence buying through campaign contributions – not just one. If you want to reduce it without reducing the peoples right to political free speech (which includes spending money to broadcast that speech), then reduce the size, scope, and power of the government.
If the government weren’t involved in every facet of our lives, maybe less people would feel a need to buy influence.
Fred ™
December 18th, 2012
9:07 am
While it’s an interesting article and topic, I don’t think the Democrats have “stolen the march” at all. i think there were Republicans with the same info and same idea, but they were shut down. When you run your party based on talk show lies, Rupert Murdoch FOXBOT lies, and idiots like Trump who lie, cheat AND steal, then the truth will be suppressed.
Technology won’t help the Republican party. Their very philosophy and ideas are what is flawed, and the weak minded unbending individuals who cling to the stupidity won’t change. Look at the posters here. Has a SINGLE hard core republican fanatic changed one word of the talk radio/FOXBOT koolaide induced crap they have been posting for years? Not that I have seen. They just keep posting the same lies and same hate, day after day after day after day after day after day after day after day after day after day after day after day after day after day after day after day after day after day………….. just like that………..
Inquiring Mind
December 18th, 2012
9:08 am
Kawasaki
I had a long conversation with a DC lobbyist last night.
He said 90% of congress is there pretty much to serve themselves, it their constituents.
I agree. Term limits are needed.
JamVet
December 18th, 2012
9:09 am
Technology won’t help the Republican party. Their very philosophy and ideas are what is flawed…
Word.
And this time there won’t be any fake cowboy/union thug from California riding up on a white steed to save them from themselves…
Simple Truths
December 18th, 2012
9:10 am
Good piece, Jay. I enjoy demographics articles.
The big brother aspect is a bit scary.
Joe Hussein Mama
December 18th, 2012
9:10 am
E. E. Purgatory — “The administration encouraged food stamp usage. Mission accomplished – recipients grew to 47 million.”
You should compare growth in SNAP usage under both Bush *and* Obama. It has peaked under Obama, to be sure, but the increase under Bush — both in percentage and in raw figures — FAR oustrips the increase under Obama.
“Also passed the word to the states… “Psssst. you guys can eliminate all those pesky work requirements restricting your distribution of welfare benefits.”
So when that pack of Republican governors requested those suspensions, Obama shouldn’t have granted them?
Got it. Never do what a Republican governor asks you to do.
Mick
December 18th, 2012
9:12 am
reb
Disagree, as posted above, the republican brand is myopic and more people are rejecting their views. They are shrinking…
Joe Hussein Mama
December 18th, 2012
9:13 am
J. Reb — “JamVet – just what alternate universe do you reside? Jay posts a piece that states Obama’s win was just short of mind control down to individual voters, yet you can’t stand it. You have to demonize the competition.”
Said the master of the art.
Here’s something for you downstairs, too.
http://blogs.ajc.com/jay-bookman-blog/2012/12/17/signs-of-change-on-assault-weapon-ban/?cp=8#comment-1180847
JKL2
December 18th, 2012
9:13 am
-they wanted the mind-boggling ability to identify and track individual voters, determine what would convince those individual voters to vote Obama, and then deliver that convincing material to them.
Vote obama: Free money for everyone!
The 47%ers win, everyone loses. I know I’d call four million fewer votes than I got last time a mandate…
AmericaShrugged
December 18th, 2012
9:14 am
At last an explanation that makes sense. Obama didn’t win because voters love his message or the empty promises but because they had the technology to identify and sell the empty promises to specific, individual voters.
JamVet
December 18th, 2012
9:14 am
I have gone back and forth on term limits and am not really a big fan of them.
But I much less a fan of entrenched corruption and the manipulation of our elections to make fundamental changes in the people who run OUR government all but impossible.
12 years and done.
At least we can get a whole new set of dysfunctional sell outs periodically…
Thomas Heyward Jr
December 18th, 2012
9:16 am
In closing…..
Let’s not forget ANOTHER tactic of Obama’s “victory”…………back in 2008.
.
If you spoke bad about the “one”, you would recieve a threatening e-mail from some Slime-Ball Chicago Thug named Axel.
Although not “startling” to me…………it was devious, violating, and not decent.
It was wrong and the AJC narced me out.
.
JamVet
December 18th, 2012
9:16 am
Reb, never mind telling all of us non-Republicans how we are all stupid lazy takers.
JKL2 did it for you. (I love that guy and hope he keeps getting his message out!)
Vote obama: Free money for everyone!
The 47%ers win, everyone loses. I know I’d call four million fewer votes than I got last time a mandate…
Joe Hussein Mama
December 18th, 2012
9:16 am
JKL2 — “The 47%ers win, everyone loses. I know I’d call four million fewer votes than I got last time a mandate…”
Elekshun Maff:
Bush 2004 = “mandate” (per VP Cheney, no one in the GOP voiced disagreement with him)
Obama 2012 > Bush 2004
Therefore,
Obama 2012 = “mandate” per accepted GOP standard
Owl
December 18th, 2012
9:17 am
Don’t blame science!
mm
December 18th, 2012
9:18 am
But Jay, you know ACORN and the Black Panthers stole the election.
Joe Hussein Mama
December 18th, 2012
9:19 am
A. Shrugged — “At last an explanation that makes sense. Obama didn’t win because voters love his message or the empty promises but because they had the technology to identify and sell the empty promises to specific, individual voters.”
Of course. Republicans are BOUND to love any explanation for Election 2012 that doesn’t conclude that the GOP sucks, its message is over and that they need to make massive changes before 2014 rolls around.
Any message that says ‘youse guys rool so don’t change NUTHIN’ was inevitably going to resonate with the GOP rank and file.
Bobby
December 18th, 2012
9:19 am
When you read a blog should as this you begin to realize that this is not reality. Reality is that dems cheat. Plain and simple. But its the type of cheating that only showing a voter id could prevent. Dems are notorious for busing large numbers of welfare leeches to the polls. I’m sure that’s a fact you can’t deny Jay. If you don’t have to show an id then all you would need is a name. A name which could easily be obtained by looking at voter rolls. A voter roll will tell if this person votes. What party they belong to. Are they elderly. What the minions of the dem party simply does is load up a buss with a hundred or so people and hand out names. They travel around all day being feed while stopping off and voting a various precincts. It’s a scam that gets stopped in its tracks with voter id laws. That’s why dems are wholeheartedly against them. Why is Georgia a bright red state? Because cheating like this can’t happen. How is it possible that in some precincts over 100% of registered votes cast a ballot? Its simply not…. How does it seem this is only possible where there are no voter id laws? Hmmm…
Butch Cassidy (I)
December 18th, 2012
9:21 am
Bobby – “Dems are notorious for busing large numbers of welfare leeches to the polls. I’m sure that’s a fact you can’t deny Jay.”
Well, maybe if you actually offered up proof he could try. I guesss I missed the link directing us to the “bussing facts”.
stands for decibels
December 18th, 2012
9:21 am
The mother of the killer has to be one of the stupidest people on the planet.
I don’t think that kind of talk is helpful.
stands for decibels
December 18th, 2012
9:22 am
by the way, part 2 of that three-part series is up:
http://www.technologyreview.com/featuredstory/508851/how-obama-wrangled-data-to-win-his-second-term/
for the NERDS!! among us.
Escaped from Email Purgatory
December 18th, 2012
9:22 am
Our president is not leading us- all of us anyway. He’s building a power base focused on maintaining the vote of his carefully defined constituency to which shamelessly panders.
Funny how most of defenses of Obama, the president, focus on the obstacles he faces – obstacles put in place by Dubyah and other nefarious capitalists, fat cats and social Darwinists.
It’s not so much he’s doing a good job; clearly he’s not. It’s just that it’s not his fault – yet.
Apparently BHO hasn’t cleared the minefield he inherited four years ago because it’s still all Bush’s fault.
And poor Barack – his most ardent fans love to call him by his first name – it’s OK, he’s cool that way – has to deal with those Tea Party Republicans who want to starve babies and kill Big Bird .
I think Obama supporters have infantilized this man. When is he accountable for his deeds – or lack of same? This implies his supporters don’t think he can really handle the job – he needs extra help – like an undeserved second term perhaps.
What are the Obama faithful protecting him from? He’s a grown man – hey a Harvard grad to boot. He holds the most powerful office on the face of the Earth. His campaign staff just created the new paradigm for campaign strategy – if you believe Bookman – and i do
Most of the media loves him – except Fox News – if you beleive Bookman – and I do.
Let him stand on his own two feet. This is the presidency not pre-K. You don’t get a medal for effort.
Granny Godzilla
December 18th, 2012
9:23 am
JohnnyReb
December 18th, 2012
9:04 am
Mick – when ever you track individual voters and taylor a message that resonates, that’s propaganda, mind control if you will, at the highest level.
.
.
.
.
Now I don’t care WHO you are…that there is funny.
stands for decibels
December 18th, 2012
9:24 am
Herewith another edition of “What Teh Stupids Believe”:
What the minions of the dem party simply does is load up a buss with a hundred or so people and hand out names. They travel around all day being feed while stopping off and voting a various precincts. It’s a scam that gets stopped in its tracks with voter id laws.
moonbat betty
December 18th, 2012
9:24 am
The dems also use hypnosis and subliminal messages.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
December 18th, 2012
9:25 am
“The startling science behind Obama’s victory”
Yes ……… a victory for Obama but a defeat for the United States.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
December 18th, 2012
9:25 am
At last an explanation that makes sense. Obama didn’t win because voters love his message or the empty promises but because they had the technology to identify and sell the empty promises to specific, individual voters.
Because that of course has never been done before 2008. No politician has ever catered their message to a group they happen to be standing before…say, the NRA or a “conservative” group. But hey, you keep telling yourself that the GOP/TP position is what voters want.
Georgia
December 18th, 2012
9:26 am
Everything said or written about last friday seems inappropriate. that picture of the perp (inappropriate description) looks like a ghoul. (Inappropriate). Hollywood couldn’t have cast a more horrible looking monster. The price of our freedom is that we are free to kill or be killed. (Inappropriate). Luckovich’s cartoon with the grinch seems inappropriate. That we would consider banning assault rifles now is inappropriate. Are we supposed to ban unelected presidents because W’s shock and awe killed dozens of Iraqi six year olds? Every thought I’ve had about friday goes like this….shock, sorrow, anger, revenge, deal with it. It’s the NRA. It’s the bullying. It’s the insanity of existence itself. Whatever this mass murderer did, he certainly got me right between the eyes. We all grieve differently, there’s no right or wrong way, but it is inevitable to be inappropriate when confronting this massacre. I shamefully now realize that I didn’t care one wit about those Iraqi children in 2003. Not compared to the way I feel about friday. To the racist in me, they may as well be dead Iraqi monkeys. (inappropriate). I only care about Americans. We are free to be racists. If we aren’t free to kill each other, then we’re not free. The price of freedom is death. In war. In peace. If we’re not free to kill, then surely some tyrant will kill us anyway. Wasn’t that the entire founding justification of our revered rebels? No king is going to hang us, we’ll hang ourselves, thankyou. We’re free. (See? All of this comment is totally inappropriate and I’m embarrassed I’ve drank enough coffee to post it).
Joe Hussein Mama
December 18th, 2012
9:27 am
E. E. Purgatory — “Funny how most of defenses of Obama, the president, focus on the obstacles he faces – obstacles put in place by Dubyah and other nefarious capitalists, fat cats and social Darwinists.”
It’s got nothing to do with a *defense* of Obama. It’s got to do with placing blame where blame’s due. You brought up growth of SNAP under Obama, yet you couldn’t be bothered to observe that SNAP growth was GREATER under Bush. That’s quite simply a fundamental error on your part.
Your own criticism fails on its face, as you placed blame for huge growth in SNAP on the *wrong guy.*
“It’s not so much he’s doing a good job; clearly he’s not. It’s just that it’s not his fault – yet.”
Nope. It has much more to do with dishonest criticism. If you want to talk about growth in SNAP recipients, then perhaps you should bear in mind which President’s administration saw greater growth *in* that program.
Inquiring Mind
December 18th, 2012
9:28 am
Stand for decibels 9:21am
Probably not. But the core of the problem is stupid people. You don’t put guns in the hands of the mentally ill. Common sense isn’t very common is it?
stands for decibels
December 18th, 2012
9:29 am
a victory for Obama but a defeat for the United States.
Aww. Still broken hearted?
Here’s a news piece that should cheer you up, given how much you loathe the journalistic profession.
stands for decibels
December 18th, 2012
9:30 am
But the core of the problem is stupid people.
Shrug. ’twas ever thus.
Dunwoody Granny
December 18th, 2012
9:31 am
I don’t think the Republicans will catch up any time soon.
I’m a lifelong Democrat. I’ve volunteered in and made contributions to Democratic candidates. But in Georgia you’re allowed to vote in either party’s primary. I’m aware Georgia is a one-party state and I want to have some say in how the state is governed, so I usually vote in the Republican primary. Based on that, the Rs think I’m one of them. I vote in the primary, I get absolutely flooded with calls and campaign materials for the general.
AmericaShrugged
December 18th, 2012
9:34 am
JHM – I really don’t care about a candidate’s party affiliation. I’m pro-choice and I have a problem with regressive taxes, not progressive taxes. I just would like to see a POTUS with integrity. Someone who does what they campaign on. Jay’s piece today just reinforces how much the man’s message was tailored to what 51.4% of the voters wanted to hear, whether he actually believed his own message or intended to deliver on it.
The result is four years later we still have way too many troops in the ME quagmire and the rich still pay a lower overall rate tax rate than I do.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
December 18th, 2012
9:35 am
When the moochers outnumber the workers there is not a whole lot that can be done.
stands for decibels
December 18th, 2012
9:36 am
I get absolutely flooded with calls and campaign materials for the general.
Keep that on the down-low, willya? sheesh.
Erwin's cat
December 18th, 2012
9:37 am
Taxpayer – Heyward lives in Forsyth County! Who woulda evah guessed.
What’s that supposed to mean?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bigotry
Joe Hussein Mama
December 18th, 2012
9:38 am
A. Shrugged — ‘JHM – I really don’t care about a candidate’s party affiliation.”
I understand. I didn’t direct my criticism of the Republican mindset at you, and I apologize if it appeared that I did.
“I’m pro-choice and I have a problem with regressive taxes, not progressive taxes. I just would like to see a POTUS with integrity. Someone who does what they campaign on. Jay’s piece today just reinforces how much the man’s message was tailored to what 51.4% of the voters wanted to hear, whether he actually believed his own message or intended to deliver on it.”
Respectfully, I don’t think we could know ahead of time how much or how little of the electorate would lock onto a given message. Surely the Obama campaign figured they could get a majority of the vote with the messages they chose, but I think it’s putting the cart before the horse to say that the message was tailored to what 51.4% wanted to hear.
“The result is four years later we still have way too many troops in the ME quagmire and the rich still pay a lower overall rate tax rate than I do.”
I will heartily agree with you on both of those points.
Joe Hussein Mama
December 18th, 2012
9:39 am
0311 — “When the moochers outnumber the workers there is not a whole lot that can be done.”
You’re a Federal retiree, aint’cha?
JamVet
December 18th, 2012
9:40 am
Poor Bobby.
His answer to why Georgia lost the SEC Championship Game?
“Reality is that Bama cheats. Plain and simple.”
Don’t be a sore loser, Bobby, just get used to losing a lot more…
Mick
December 18th, 2012
9:40 am
0311
A victory for the incumbent, a defeat for your side, a continuation of majority rule in the united states…
stands for decibels
December 18th, 2012
9:41 am
When the moochers outnumber the workers there is not a whole lot that can be done.
Don’t you ever tire of being spanked when you post some variant of that?
I’ll say it again–by Romney’s brilliant, winning-strategery reasoning, YOU are one of the “moochers.” As are people who are working 40+ hours per week trying to put food on their families.
Do you not get, yet, that this is a stupid way to approach the voting public, to call them “moochers” when the vast majority so designated either have already contributed significantly to this republic, or are actively doing so at the moment?
ya know, when Romney’s horrifying “47%” video hit the streets, one of the regulars here snarked “the truth hurts, doesn’t it?” See, that’s your problem–it is NOT THE TRUTH.
If you happen to be taking in somewhat more in government subsidies than you happen to pay in a given year in taxes (and I’ll even include ALL the taxes many working class Americans pay), that doesn’t make you a f-cking “Moocher.” It makes you a productive citizen. At least it does in civilized nations on this planet.
What kind of monsters would try to convince the voting public otherwise?
Ask yourself that and get back to me.
I’m not sure why I bother asking, but I must.
TaxPayer
December 18th, 2012
9:42 am
What I find most enjoyable about this article is the fact that it will elevate the resident con-spiracy theorists to a whole new level of enlightenment. And they thought that Box 26, zombie democrat voters, etc., were the only things they had to worry about.
Welcome to the Occupation
December 18th, 2012
9:43 am
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801 :
“When the moochers outnumber the workers there is not a whole lot that can be done”
If your eyes were forced to behold who the real moochers are — the corporatists and the financiers and their lobbying hangers-on – your world would collapse. Thus, you persist in delusion.
Why do you side with the overlords when they couldn’t be bothered to give you a miserable crumb from their dog’s bowl, let alone a seat at their table?
Why do you do yeoman’s work for people who don’t give a rat’s ass about you?
TaxPayer
December 18th, 2012
9:45 am
You’re a Federal retiree, aint’cha?
Oh but he “earned” his taxpayer-funded mooching. He’s not like those other moochers. Just ask him, he’ll tell ya so.
stands for decibels
December 18th, 2012
9:47 am
Bottom line: Mitt had a nerd gap.
or, to quote a caption in Part 2 of the series, emphasis mine:
Alex Lundry created Mitt Romney’s data science unit. It was less than one-tenth the size of Obama’s analytics team.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
December 18th, 2012
9:49 am
TaxPayer:
Why thank you ! Saved me typing all of that.
“”The leech has two daughters. ‘Give! Give!’ they cry.”
Proverbs 30:15
………….. and they vote !!!
moonbat betty
December 18th, 2012
9:50 am
“Don’t be a sore loser, Bobby, just get used to losing a lot more…”
Who’s Bobby?
Apparently, JamVet thinks UGA is an extension of the GOP also…McCarthies all of them I tell ya!
Mick
December 18th, 2012
9:51 am
0311@9:49
Blasphemy!!!
moonbat betty
December 18th, 2012
9:51 am
Mitt was a poor candidate, pure and simple.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
December 18th, 2012
9:53 am
An interesting time in this country will be when you libs. that work hard will start to tire of the moocher system.
Mick
December 18th, 2012
9:53 am
moonbat
What other choice was there, santorum?
AmericaShrugged
December 18th, 2012
9:53 am
JHM – Good point about tailoring the message, but it’s easy to be cynical when they don’t do what they say. However, I think that would have really been a problem with Romney!
I understand we have a representative democracy. Outside of an occasional referendum, we don’t vote on tax law or gun control or abortion. But I’d like to have more confidence in how the people I vote for will vote on those issues.
So today it sound like higher rates (really just the old Clinton era rates) for people making more than $400k, but what abpout the capital gains and dividend rates?
Erwin's cat
December 18th, 2012
9:54 am
… it knew exactly how it could turn you into the type of person it wanted you to be….
just like any other good used car salesman
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
December 18th, 2012
9:54 am
“The words from the Holy Scriptures are not always pleasant to the ears.”
Mick
December 18th, 2012
9:56 am
0311
Moocher system? What, did this just spring up during the last four years? Besides, we really need to focus on the fraud, not the poor…
Joe Hussein Mama
December 18th, 2012
9:58 am
0311 — “An interesting time in this country will be when you libs. that work hard will start to tire of the moocher system.”
An even more interesting time will be when all you (supposedly) hard-working cons get sick or injured on the job and want the rest of us to take care of you with some nationalized health care.
Oh, wait. You already do that. It’s called Medicare and the Veterans’ Administration.
ZOMG SOSHULIZUM
Mick
December 18th, 2012
10:00 am
0311
Blasphemy – The act of claiming for oneself the attributes and rights of God.
Too many trying to make themselves god, nobody is listening…
Joe Hussein Mama
December 18th, 2012
10:01 am
A. Shrugged — “So today it sound like higher rates (really just the old Clinton era rates) for people making more than $400k, but what abpout the capital gains and dividend rates?”
No idea. I think that Obama sometimes leaves too much on the table when negotiating, so I’m hopeful that we’re going to impose higher rates on those income streams in exchange for the higher income ceiling. That said, I’d have liked to see him notch that income ceiling up more slowly. Going from 250K to 400K overnight rubbed me the wrong way.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
December 18th, 2012
10:01 am
The verse speaks for itself.
Joe Hussein Mama
December 18th, 2012
10:02 am
Hark, I hear the braying of an azz.
JamVet
December 18th, 2012
10:05 am
When the moochers outnumber the workers there is not a whole lot that can be done.
Woo Hoo! Another good little “Christian” soldier in the GOP’s Crusade for Election Success!
Sure there is. Self deport.
Might as well be miserable somewhere else.and let us fix up your screw ups. And take Grover Norquist with you…
stands for decibels
December 18th, 2012
10:05 am
An interesting time in this country will be when you libs. that work hard will start to tire of the moocher system.
there you go again.
How can I tire of something that never existed?
I’ll add-I work bloody hard to produce goods and services of tangible value. (So hard I will have to sign off with this screed and check in later, matter of fact.) Have all my life. I’ll spare you the history; it’s boring, anyway.
But I will add that on the spending side, I have done without a lot of vehicular and home-entertainment toys, vacays, upgrades and whatnot in order to steadily sock away retirement/college-funding-for-the-kid $$. So much so that I occasionally allow myself to tut-tut a bit when my peers/neighbors–many of whom are politically much more conservative than me–indulge themselves in such ostentatious things.
On the personal-health side, I’ve avoided spending much on doc bills because I also continue to run, lift, eat reasonably, eschew any kind of fun recreational drugs (legal and otherwise), and generally be the fittest mother-effer I can be.
All that said:
I am of the belief that a person who works diligently at a job—any job—that is full time, should be compensated sufficiently to feed and shelter him/herself and a family. If the private sector cannot be compelled to provide wages sufficient to accomplish this—and I would prefer that it was, but this could be impractical—then it is the responsibility of the government to provide gap coverage, within practical boundaries.
That’s not a “moocher system,” to use your disgusting phrase. That’s civilization. I’ll go one better–it is our collective commitment to the message of decency and love promoted by a very popular Savior, whose birth we will be celebrating next week.
And this view of mine, as policy, should not be even remotely controversial but, thanks to the plutocracy, and to conservatives in the Democratic and Republican parties and their slobbering corporate media spokesmodels, it is.
For all the criticism I see in here of the Obama administration, I don’t for a minute believe that Obama is going to make any radical adjustments to this mindset. It will take at least a generation for that to occur.
(Pardon the ramble.)
/soapbox
Mick
December 18th, 2012
10:06 am
joe
One thing you can say about bush, he did not give in, nor did he care what anyone thought about it…
Erwin's cat
December 18th, 2012
10:06 am
Hark, I hear the braying of an azz
If a cat washes her face o’er the ear
GT
December 18th, 2012
10:07 am
Inquiring Mind you just want the results to say our gun culture is not killing babies, you want to win the debate and the hell with the reality or the children killed. What egos you people have, if you could overcome them the country would be far better off.
KEITH
December 18th, 2012
10:07 am
how much of OUR money has obama now lost by giving it to bankrupt companies owned by his political supporters? At least Bain is still in business. obama supports utter failure. and utter failures support obama. cant get a job because you are too lazy to work, just claim some minor disability and barack will send you a check. the idiots that voted for obama have no clue. I saw Stern send his reporter to harlem. when obama supporters were asked if they supported paul ryan as obamas running mate they did. thats how stupid the typical obama voter is.
Joe Hussein Mama
December 18th, 2012
10:10 am
Mick — “One thing you can say about bush, he did not give in, nor did he care what anyone thought about it…”
IMO, it is the mark of a worthless man that he can’t look at his words and actions after the fact and say ‘you know, I could have made a better decision’ or ‘maybe that wasn’t the wisest thing to do.’
A dog’s not sorry when he craps on the rug, and he’ll do it again if he doesn’t get the message that that’s a bad thing to do. FWIW, I expect my Presidents to be quicker on the uptake than a pet dog.
Brosephus™
December 18th, 2012
10:10 am
Time to freeze the salaries of Congress and merge their “Cadillac” health care plan in to the real world.
Time to merge Morality? to the real world. Here’s the website for the “Cadillac” health care plans for Congress. They all participate in the FEHB Program.
http://www.opm.gov/insure/health/planinfo/index.asp
Learn something new today, please?
Doggone/GA
December 18th, 2012
10:11 am
“One thing you can say about bush, he did not give in, nor did he care what anyone thought about it”
Yeah, most mules have that same problem
KEITH
December 18th, 2012
10:11 am
JFK from the 1960 campaign has far more in common with the GOP than the welfare baby democrats. Today they say ask not what you can do for your country. ask what your country can do for you. thats bookman and the liberal philosophy.
Erwin's cat
December 18th, 2012
10:13 am
Bro
You’ve been “Cadillacin’” this whole time?
RB from Gwinnett
December 18th, 2012
10:13 am
Though could also put up signs saying “free stuff” in each district and count how many people show up.
GT
December 18th, 2012
10:13 am
Keith you are always a day late, and lots of facts short. If we are so stupid and we could beat you so soundly how stupid are you? And you don’t seem up to the task of change, so if we can beat you in the worst recession of our lifetime where are you going from here?
Moon Mullins
December 18th, 2012
10:13 am
Karl Rove and his ilk don’t need the fancy-smancy computer computations — they thought the tried and proven would work: come up with some lie to smear your opponent. And, repeat the lie over and over and over. . . .
It just made them look ignorant and they wasted hundreds of millions in the process.
Dang, I enjoyed watching that money circle and circle and then be swallowed up by the toilet.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
December 18th, 2012
10:17 am
“Lawmakers and educators in Texas say the way to guard against school shootings like last Friday’s at a Connecticut elementary school is to make sure teachers can shoot back.
While the rampage that left 20 young children and six adults dead in a small Northeastern community has sparked a national debate on gun control, assault weapons and a culture of violence, David Thweatt, superintendent of the 103-student Harrold Independent School District in Wilbarger County, said his teachers are armed and ready to protect their young charges.”
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/12/18/stop-school-shootings-by-letting-teachers-fire-back-say-texas-officials/#ixzz2FPufnHI7
Granny Godzilla
December 18th, 2012
10:18 am
KEITH
“welfare baby democrats”
.
.
.
Somebody doesn’t have his redstate data together at all….
tee hee hee
Blain
December 18th, 2012
10:18 am
I thought President Obama wanted to make ballot secrecy a critical component of federal voting technology standards. Obviously I thought wrong. It sure looks like politicians have more access to us than we do to them.
It’s not a comforting thought.
TaxPayer
December 18th, 2012
10:19 am
TaxPayer:
Why thank you ! Saved me typing all of that.
“”The leech has two daughters. ‘Give! Give!’ they cry.”
Proverbs 30:15
………….. and they vote !!!
Reminds me of an old movie, “Earth Scouts are Easy.”
Aquagirl
December 18th, 2012
10:19 am
If we are so stupid and we could beat you so soundly how stupid are you?
That one’s gonna leave a mark, lol.
larry
December 18th, 2012
10:19 am
Still waiting for my free stuff…………….
Wait , didnt Bush send out stimulus checks with everybody’s tax dollars?
Yeah, thats what i want , my free checks.
Recon 0311 2533
December 18th, 2012
10:21 am
“The children at Sandy Hook were killed by guns.”
Another example of the leftest mindset. The children were actually killed be a deeply disturbed mentally ill person. By assigning responsibility and accountability to an object instead of the individual it avoids having to consider all of the societal issues that could produce workable solutions. The easy way out may feel good for a brief period but then when it becomes clear that the easy way out didn’t work what’s next. Yes, find another easy way out. Kind of analogous to our debt crises except for the tragic loss of life at Sandy Hook.
Granny Godzilla
December 18th, 2012
10:21 am
Mr. Digits
That bunch also told you Romney would win in a landslide…
The idea is to REDUCE the body count Mr. Silly Pants
Joe Hussein Mama
December 18th, 2012
10:21 am
0311 – “David Thweatt, superintendent of the 103-student Harrold Independent School District in Wilbarger County, said his teachers are armed and ready to protect their young charges.”
This is the single most spitty idea since Free Republic posters claimed that passengers on commercial airlines should be allowed to pack heat when they lfy home to visit Memaw in Wichita for the holidays.
stands for decibels
December 18th, 2012
10:23 am
The children were actually killed b[y] a deeply disturbed mentally ill person.
…with a very efficient, legally purchased, and unsecured killing machine in his hands.
Guns kill people.
Joe Hussein Mama
December 18th, 2012
10:23 am
Recon — “By assigning responsibility and accountability to an object instead of the individual it avoids having to consider all of the societal issues that could produce workable solutions.”
You mean like turn up the jebus in school and then no moar gunplay?
larry
December 18th, 2012
10:24 am
While the rampage that left 20 young children and six adults dead in a small Northeastern community has sparked a national debate on gun control, assault weapons and a culture of violence, David Thweatt, superintendent of the 103-student Harrold Independent School District in Wilbarger County, said his teachers are armed and ready to protect their young charges.”
President Ronald Reagan had the most well armed , well trained police force protecting him and we came within an inch of calling George H.W. Bush President. Gerald Ford, John F Kennedy etc etc.
Yep, thats what we need are more guns.
Crazy Peeps
December 18th, 2012
10:25 am
from NY times:
“Similarly, rampage shooters have often been captivated by the idea that they will become posthumously famous. “Isn’t it fun to get the respect that we’re going to deserve?” the Columbine shooter Eric Harris remarked. He had fantasized with his fellow attacker, Dylan Klebold, that the filmmakers Steven Spielberg and Quentin Tarantino would fight over the rights to their life story.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/18/opinion/what-drives-suicidal-mass-killers.html?_r=0
larry
December 18th, 2012
10:26 am
The children were actually killed be a deeply disturbed mentally ill person.
And who continues to cut budgets to mental health clinics…………
Which party ?
Recon 0311 2533
December 18th, 2012
10:26 am
This is the single most spitty idea since Free Republic posters claimed that passengers on commercial airlines should be allowed to pack heat when they lfy home to visit Memaw in Wichita for the holidays.
Are you familiar with sky marshals?
Dunwoody Granny
December 18th, 2012
10:27 am
stands for decibels @ 10:05, amen! Amen! Amen!
Welcome to the Occupation
December 18th, 2012
10:27 am
An interesting time in this country will be when you libs. that work hard will start to tire of the moocher system.
Rubedom never learns.
larry
December 18th, 2012
10:29 am
Are you familiar with sky marshals?
A federally certified and trained officer versus a passenger , who probably doesn’t have the same type of training.
Big difference
Recon 0311 2533
December 18th, 2012
10:30 am
Which party ?
Short answer is both. The failures to rebuild a sensible approach to rebuilding our mental health systems after they were dismantled is the failure of both parties.
GT
December 18th, 2012
10:30 am
Blain it took you this long to figure out you don’t think very good, amazing how that works. Obviously you did think wrong and still do.
Crazy Peeps
December 18th, 2012
10:31 am
Mathematically, we have a problem.
Millions of people own these guns and don’t do anything stupid with them. We have millions of mentally ill people, most of whom don’t do anything this stupid.
Statistically, the probability of any of these things happening is exceptionally small. But in the rare instance that these two things overlap, extremely bad things happen. Extreme gun control combined with trying to lock up eeryone remotely mentally ill would mostly solve the problem, but at what cost?
It seems to me the key is keeping the guns out of the hands of the mentally ill. Which is neither a gun problem or a mentally ill issue. And therefore I think trigger locks are probably the best solution, because no current or currently considered gun control law would have stopped this. But trigger locks would have potentially stopped the problem.
It’s not that hard. This concludes my verbal statistics and Venn diagram lesson.
Moderate Line
December 18th, 2012
10:33 am
Obama followed the stategy that Bush followed in 2004 which was designed by Karl Rove. Trash your opponents which will discourage independents from showing up and pump up your base.
Here is the election breakdown.
Non-voters 41%
Obama 30%
Romney 27.9%
Krystal'sBalls
December 18th, 2012
10:34 am
Leave it to the “Black Guy” to TOTALLY revolutionalize the campaign and electoral process in the Unites States. I cannot help but wonder after we are all dead and gone how “history” will portray such a MONUMENTAL thing. It is just a shame that “American History” has so many times done this very thing. You don’t have to like the fact that I say it, but it’s true.
The Obama campaign just had it all figured out and are leaps and bounds ahead of everyone else. My kid’s room mate took off last semester to go to Washington because she was hired to come work on the re-election campaign. They are bold and know where to go find the best and brightest to pull this whole thing off. That’s why in spite of all the echo chambering on TV, radio, and blogs like this one by whoever, it’s all just that – TALK! Thorough data ANALYSIS does not lie and will win every time and Nate Silver and the Obama campaign proved that.
TaxPayer
December 18th, 2012
10:34 am
The children were actually killed be a deeply disturbed mentally ill person…
with a gun. Yes, we know.
Recon 0311 2533
December 18th, 2012
10:34 am
Big difference
Not really because you could implement the same inside schools keeping the security personnel in plain clothes and blended in with the school staff members. Another approach would be to train certain teachers or teachers with prior military training and experience.
Aquagirl
December 18th, 2012
10:36 am
But trigger locks would have potentially stopped the problem.
Trigger locks have to be applied to work. If you don’t think your mentally ill son will do anything crazy with guns you’re probably not gonna be conscientious about applying the darn things.
Krystal'sBalls
December 18th, 2012
10:39 am
@Moderate Line
December 18th, 2012
10:33 am
BS!!!! The MINORITY base was “pumped up” by constant attacks and demonization by the GOP along with attempts to suppress OUR vote. I would have stood in line for a WEEK to cast MY vote, rain, sleet, snow, or hail – if nothing ELSE but to send a message. You better believe it when I tell you this.
Recon 0311 2533
December 18th, 2012
10:39 am
with a gun. Yes, we know.
In a case of vehicular homicide do we say the driver committed the act of homicide or do we say the vehicle committed the act and therefore vehicles should be banned.
Dave
December 18th, 2012
10:40 am
And, I don’t much like it whether done by Rove or Wagner. I long for a politician that would tell me what they want to do, not tell me what they think I want them to do. I know, pigs flying….
Joe Hussein Mama
December 18th, 2012
10:40 am
Recon — “Are you familiar with sky marshals?”
Sky marshal does not equal passenger. Fat, balding passenger from Oklahoma does not equal sky marshal.
Since you’ve obviously never read it any of the other times I’ve posted it, I’ll repeat myself once again.
I don’t have a problem with trained, licensed and properly vetted LEOs on planes, in schools, banks or anywhere else providing security. What I have a problem with is every fat, dumb chunk in America thinking that he’s effing Rambo because he can qualify for a concealed carry permit.
More than that, I have a problem with fat, dumb chunks thinking that they have some sort of legal dispensation to hit whoever the hell they want while they’re trying to put rounds downrange on whoever they’ve decided to go OK Corral on. I don’t trust the marksmanship skills of fat, dumb chunks with concealed carry permits, and I think that if they’re so sure of their skills, then they ought to have the courage of those convictions and work without a net — and that means taking legal and financial responsibility for EACH AND EVERY ROUND THEY PUT DOWNRANGE.
You’re trying to stop a carjacking, but you manage to shoot the vic dead? And you’re not a cop? WTF is wrong with you? Civil suit and jail.
You whip out your piece because of gunplay in the Home Depot parking lot? Thanks for effing up that undercover cop’s collar of the drug dealer, nitwit. Civil suit and jail.
We deputize LEOs to pack heat and use firearms in the course of their jobs because they’ve volunteered, been trained and because they agree to work under a code of conduct that includes punitive measures. Whereas fat chunks with concealed carry permits only have Cheeto stains on their shirts and no sense of responsibility.
If you want to become a sky marshal, great. I’m all for that and I think you should get the best possible training and preparation for the job.
OTOH, if you’re a fat chunk and you want a CC permit so you can go argue online about plinking people with turbans on your next Southwest flight, then just order up some more Cheetos and Mountain Dew from that online grocery store and stay the hell out of Hartsfield, okay?
Wait a minute
December 18th, 2012
10:41 am
Big Brother knows way more about you than you’ll ever know. And don’t think that the info isn’t being used every day for all sorts of purposes, both good and bad.
The real question I have, did the info predict accurately that 100% of certain precincts would vote for the President and that turnout in some of those districts would exceed 100%? THAT WOULD BE REAL SCIENCE
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
December 18th, 2012
10:42 am
“This is the single most spitty idea since Free Republic posters claimed that passengers on commercial airlines should be allowed to pack heat when they lfy home to visit Memaw in Wichita for the holidays.”
They did by the hundreds of thousands (can’t you just imagine the number of guns on a flight from Dallas to Atlanta) back before terrorism entered the picture (about 1970).
I haven’t been able to find the first incident of a problem before that time.
The CULTURE has changed !
guy
December 18th, 2012
10:42 am
NEWS FLASH, I JUST WITNESSED obama WALKING ON WATER! WOW!!!!!!!
larry
December 18th, 2012
10:43 am
Not really because you could implement the same inside schools keeping the security personnel in plain clothes and blended in with the school staff members
Then little Mary asks, ” Who is that guy with the gun in his holster?” There goes the blended in part right there. And as far as training teachers , with the state cutting education budgets ,who’s got the money for training. Our little school system, combining state budget cuts plus the loss of taxable value of property ,lost 5.9 million last year. Where is the money comming from ?
Joe Hussein Mama
December 18th, 2012
10:44 am
Recon — “Not really because you could implement the same inside schools keeping the security personnel in plain clothes and blended in with the school staff members. Another approach would be to train certain teachers or teachers with prior military training and experience.”
Sorry, but IMO, that’s a stupid, stupid idea.
Security personnel need to have their minds SET on providing security, not on diagramming sentences or the melting point of lead and ZOMG THAT DOOD’S GOT A PIECE AIMED AT MY (BLAM).
One employee, one job. FWIW, I wouldn’t be opposed to plainclothes officers in schools, but the kids would dope out who’s who inside of a week.
Bobby
December 18th, 2012
10:44 am
Butch Cassidy (I):
Proof? Google it… Its a fact dems bus their voters to the polls… Watch something other than MessNBC once in a while…
http://dailycaller.com/2012/11/06/wisconsin-conservative-radio-host-local-and-federal-taxpayer-funded-vehicles-were-used-to-transport-dem-voters-to-polls/
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2611955/posts
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
December 18th, 2012
10:45 am
Pilots can now choose to be armed which was an outstanding idea (fought by liberals who lameted that they would be shooting up the cockpit) !
Keeps those pesky terrorists guessing.
Bobby
December 18th, 2012
10:46 am
JamVet:
I’m certainly not worried about losing here in the bright red state of Georgia where we have free and FAIR elections…. lol…
Recon 0311 2533
December 18th, 2012
10:46 am
I don’t have a problem with trained, licensed and properly vetted LEOs on planes, in schools, banks or anywhere else providing security. What I have a problem with is every fat, dumb chunk in America thinking that he’s effing Rambo because he can qualify for a concealed carry permi
Didn’t see where non-vetted, non-trained personnel were being proposed.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
December 18th, 2012
10:46 am
larry:
New football stadiums and uniforms or secuity.
It’s always a matter of what you choose to prioritize.
Crazy Peeps
December 18th, 2012
10:47 am
Aqua Girl
Modern technology is an amazing thing. Require fingerprint recognition devices on all new guns purchased, set only to the purchaser at the time of purchase. Only the purchaser can use them then. Combined with background checks, we’d be in pretty good shape.
Granny Godzilla
December 18th, 2012
10:47 am
Recon 0311 2533
December 18th, 2012
10:39 am
with a gun. Yes, we know.
In a case of vehicular homicide do we say the driver committed the act of homicide or do we say the vehicle committed the act and therefore vehicles should be banned.
.
.
.
Are formula 1 cars allowed on public roadways?
We do ban some vehicles from public streets and restrictions are placed on those that are allowed.
Why is that too much to ask for in relation to firearms?
BTW, Vets who come back with a taste for violence should not be allowed to own guns.
Joe Hussein Mama
December 18th, 2012
10:48 am
0311 — “They did by the hundreds of thousands (can’t you just imagine the number of guns on a flight from Dallas to Atlanta) back before terrorism entered the picture (about 1970).”
And once terrorism *did* enter the picture, away went the guns in the passenger cabin. Precisely my point, and thanks for helping me make it.
“The CULTURE has changed !”
Certainly has. Now we have fat, dumb chunks thinking that they have some sort of Constitutional right to carry their piece onboard a flight just in case some brown dude looks at them funny and deserves blowing away.
People like those should either drive, take Amtrak or get a freakin’ HORSE IMO.
getalife
December 18th, 2012
10:48 am
The massacres are not over.
We are just waiting for another nut to go off.
Soothsayer
December 18th, 2012
10:49 am
Yes, sir! Let’s have 200 armed passengers on a jet! What a great idea! If even one were to miss their target, i.e., the hijacker, they would blow a hole in the fuselage of the jet and everyone who wasn’t wearing a seat belt would be sucked out in the wild blue yonder never to be heard from again.
As far as this election stuff goes, I always rely on my buddy, Hanging Chad, to make predictions.
TaxPayer
December 18th, 2012
10:49 am
In a case of vehicular homicide do we say the driver committed the act of homicide or do we say the vehicle committed the act and therefore vehicles should be banned.
It depends on whether the driver pulled the trigger on the forward mounted turrets or if they were remotely controlled.
larry
December 18th, 2012
10:49 am
I dont think the security was the problem. The school set up a new security system. And if you have armed guards, the assult weapon would have killed them before they could get their guns out.
The problem was a young man with mental problems’ access to an assult weapon from his mothers’ collection.
And if you say, arm the armed guards with assult weapons, how long would it be before one of them snaps, because his wife is leaving him or other personal problems, and he himself shoots the school up? Then what.
moonbat betty
December 18th, 2012
10:50 am
JHM is going to blow a gasket!
Someone go to his house and take his gun away!!!
Corbin Sharpe. Baby Boomer...and Ban the Gun Thug!
December 18th, 2012
10:50 am
Guns on a plane… ARRUUGGGHHH!
Do you have any idea what a bullet will do in a pressurized cabin? Stupid idea.
Silent Night
December 18th, 2012
10:50 am
For those of you that feel like a good cry this morning check out this moving tribute to the victims of the horrific massacre in Newtown.
http://youtu.be/nx1Hqxunv5g
Joe Hussein Mama
December 18th, 2012
10:51 am
0311 — “Pilots can now choose to be armed which was an outstanding idea (fought by liberals who lameted that they would be shooting up the cockpit) !”
Also a stupid idea. A pilot’s job is to fly and LAND the plane. If hijackers make their presence know, then land the plane. Presto, no more 9/11. Plot foiled.
“Keeps those pesky terrorists guessing.”
Maybe you’ll sit in your seat and wait for death to come for you if a hijacker’s on your next flight, but I won’t. I might die in the attempt, but I will do everything I can unto my last breath to make sure the bad guys don’t even get CLOSE to the cockpit.
“Didn’t see where non-vetted, non-trained personnel were being proposed.”
I was pretty sure I made that clear in the post to which you responded. It’s a been a strong point of contention on Free Republic since 9/11.
Krystal'sBalls
December 18th, 2012
10:52 am
@guy
December 18th, 2012
10:42 am
…and you get to witness it for ANOTHER….FOUR….YEARS!!!!!!! lmao (I love it!)
TaxPayer
December 18th, 2012
10:53 am
BTW, Vets who come back with a taste for violence should not be allowed to own guns.
One VietNam vet I knew kept his pistol in his hand while he slept and you did NOT wake him up unless you wanted to be staring down that barrel hoping that he did not see you as the enemy at that instant.
Joe Hussein Mama
December 18th, 2012
10:53 am
M. Betty — “JHM is going to blow a gasket!”
Only if one of those fat, dumb chunks is on my flight.
No worries, tho; we usually fly in First.
“Someone go to his house and take his gun away!!!”
My attack cat will BITE YOU.
Recon 0311 2533
December 18th, 2012
10:53 am
Sorry, but IMO, that’s a stupid, stupid idea.
But you’re not a security professional. If you have multiple teachers trained to effectively use firearms and that information was public it would be very unlikely that the Adam Lanza types who all share a common profile would target that school. And should they there wouldn’t be 26 dead woman and children.
Welcome to the Occupation
December 18th, 2012
10:55 am
A Democratic president is in Washington as we speak working with the Republicans to cut the legs out from under the already shaky foundations of the hard-won social programs of the 20th C.
Be nice if Jay Bookman thought the fact that a Democratic president is in effect opening the door for this dismantling is significant enough to warrant a passing word or two.
Why, otherwise, it might just look like an overblown fear cooked up by some “shrill” leftist.
Guess that
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
December 18th, 2012
10:55 am
“Do you have any idea what a bullet will do in a pressurized cabin? Stupid idea.”
Yes ………. we were taught in our training that even several bullet holes in an airplane causes no more of a pressure leak than is already present due to small leaks in the doors, baggage area underneath, etc., etc. The aircraft pressurizing system is easily able to keep up with it.
NEXT !
Aquagirl
December 18th, 2012
10:56 am
Didn’t see where non-vetted, non-trained personnel were being proposed.
Did the word “passenger” have too many syllables to sound out?
moonbat betty
December 18th, 2012
10:56 am
“My attack cat will BITE YOU.”
JHM, careful there, next thing you know we will be banning feisty cats
Recon 0311 2533
December 18th, 2012
10:57 am
Goodness Taxpayer new one Vietnam veteran and Granny is an expert on the collective mental condition of returning combat veterans.
Joe Hussein Mama
December 18th, 2012
10:58 am
Recon — “But you’re not a security professional.”
Nor are you an educator. What’s your point?
“If you have multiple teachers trained to effectively use firearms and that information was public it would be very unlikely that the Adam Lanza types who all share a common profile would target that school. And should they there wouldn’t be 26 dead woman and children.”
We could also develop a foolproof system for preventing hijackings on planes, but then tickets would cost $150K apiece.
The job of a school is to EDUCATE, not to be an armed encampment. The task of an airline is to move pax and cargo around, not to put down potential threats like it’s one of those Javacode shooting games you see in internet banner ads. You’re talking about putting so MUCH security in place that education and transport would become secondary — it’s like avoiding traffic fatalities by making the national speed limit 25 MPH.
TaxPayer
December 18th, 2012
10:58 am
Who needs Mitt’s aircraft design with the roll-down windows when you got talk from gun rights advocates making planes “safe” by toting tons-o-guns on each flight. Holy DePressurized Cabins, Batman! Nahnahnahnahnahnah, BATMANNNNNN!
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
December 18th, 2012
10:59 am
“Mama”:
“Maybe you’ll sit in your seat and wait for death to come for you if a hijacker’s on your next flight, but I won’t.”
Being a former Federal Air Marshal ………. I know several things I can do.
O.K. All the “experts” have spoken.
Have to run.
Everyone be nice !!
Recon 0311 2533
December 18th, 2012
10:59 am
Did the word “passenger” have too many syllables to sound out?
I know it’s difficult for you but try to keep up. The discourse pertains to security inside schools.
nathan's political arsonist
December 18th, 2012
11:00 am
bottom line, there aren’t enough angry, hatemonger, homophobic, racist, bigoted, narcissistic, sociopathic old white dudes left to sustain the GOP. and they’ve alienated every one else with their self serving policies. very entertaining to watch them devour each other as they wilt away into history.
Joe Hussein Mama
December 18th, 2012
11:00 am
M. Betty — “JHM, careful there, next thing you know we will be banning feisty cats”
It would have been our attack Chows, but both of them died last year and my wife’s still not quite ready to adopt any yet. We do love the breed, though. Quiet, clean, intelligent, observant and devoted guard dogs. Not a good ‘play with me’ breed, but definitely an outstanding guard dog breed.
Granny Godzilla
December 18th, 2012
11:00 am
TaxPayer
December 18th, 2012
10:53 am
BTW, Vets who come back with a taste for violence should not be allowed to own guns.
One VietNam vet I knew kept his pistol in his hand while he slept and you did NOT wake him up unless you wanted to be staring down that barrel hoping that he did not see you as the enemy at that instant.
.
.
.
Sadly at my age I have seen lot’s of Vietnam era vets far worse off then that.
Please tell me we are better at treating PTSD victims than we were then.
getalife
December 18th, 2012
11:01 am
Did you actually think del or scout will post something intelligent?
Come on.
Nunna Yobinnes
December 18th, 2012
11:01 am
“Stands: If I understand your question, the Obama campaign contacted us through e-mail….email after email. Not one e-mail from any repub. The e-mails were signed by different people in their campaign.”
Surprising that sending out spam worked out in their favor. I would have voted against the spammer for filling my inbox with junk mail.
Recon 0311 2533
December 18th, 2012
11:01 am
JHM@10:58, nice dance steps.
Oscar
December 18th, 2012
11:02 am
There are high schools in the Atlanta area where the students have been carrying concealed weapons for years.
After Columbine, at one such school, the kids joked that they were not worried, if any one tried to start shooting, there were plenty of kids there that had guns who would blow them away.
True story.
Joe Hussein Mama
December 18th, 2012
11:03 am
Recon — “Did the word “passenger” have too many syllables to sound out?”
“Pax” is an accepted industry abbreviation for ‘passengers,’ and I need neither your approval nor your permission to use it.
“I know it’s difficult for you but try to keep up.”
Take a hike, threadmarm.
“The discourse pertains to security inside schools.”
And *I* brought up planes over an entire page ago. If you don’t want to talk about them, then don’t, but don’t act like you’re in control of the conversation or any of the posters here.
In short, take a flying leap, pal.
getalife
December 18th, 2012
11:03 am
Guns on a plane is just another rabbit hole.
Deflecterbation.
TaxPayer
December 18th, 2012
11:03 am
I mentioned something that I remembered about a vet that I knew. I don’t recall claiming that I just knew one as though that meant something. That would be like Republicans and their claims of knowing a black couple or a Mexican, etc., in a conversation about how unbigoted and diverse they are or something and that would be just so wrong in so many ways…
Joe Hussein Mama
December 18th, 2012
11:04 am
Recon — “JHM@10:58, nice dance steps.”
Your concession and surrender are noted, accepted and appreciated.
moonbat betty
December 18th, 2012
11:05 am
JHM,
Guard dogs are probably the best home defense…Until they get out and maul the neighbor’s children.
Ronald Reagan
December 18th, 2012
11:05 am
Is the multiple voting per voter factored in also?
Erwin's cat
December 18th, 2012
11:05 am
Are formula 1 cars allowed on public roadways?
Don’t think for a minute that there aren’t race cars on the street aka dual purpose cars
Recon 0311 2533
December 18th, 2012
11:06 am
JHM, don’t get emotional I did compliment you on your dance steps didn’t I. BTW…do you and aquagirl have a blog thing going on?
Keep Up the Good Fight!
December 18th, 2012
11:07 am
Hmmm. amazing that our Ftroops prefer a defensive “reaction” rather than taking “proactive” steps to try to keep guns out of certain hands. Certainly is not representative of most well-thought military training. These same minds want a war with Iran to proactively keep nukes out of their hands.
Erwin's cat
December 18th, 2012
11:09 am
in a conversation about how unbigoted and diverse they are or something and that would be just so wrong in so many ways…
this from a poster who already posted a bigoted comment today
GT
December 18th, 2012
11:12 am
Crazy Peeps what you have is millions of people who are selfish and really don’t care that children are dying, their toys are more important. To paint yourself as the one being cheated when your attitude is indirectly killing people everyday is what we call nuts.
Aquagirl
December 18th, 2012
11:12 am
I know it’s difficult for you but try to keep up. The discourse pertains to security inside schools.
Then you better tell Jay somebody’s namejacking you, since somebody with your handle was discussing Sky Marshals back at 10:26.
On the other hand I can see how you’d wander off into discussing placement of Sky Marshals in schools or have completely forgotten what you said a half hour ago. If your memory is that bad please get someone to collect your guns and go for a medical checkup.
Corbin Sharpe. Baby Boomer...and Ban the Gun Thug!
December 18th, 2012
11:13 am
http://www.upworthy.com/the-most-rational-2-sentences-about-gun-regulation-on-the-internet-right-now?c=upw1
Joe Hussein Mama
December 18th, 2012
11:13 am
Betty — “Guard dogs are probably the best home defense…Until they get out and maul the neighbor’s children.”
Fortunately, if there are no squirrels or cats standing right at the door when you open it, Chows are usually too mellow to make a run for it.
Recon — “JHM, don’t get emotional I did compliment you on your dance steps didn’t I. BTW…do you and aquagirl have a blog thing going on?”
Look, I get what you’re saying about loading up schools with security, but you’ve got a military background — so put yourself in the shooter’s position. You want to off a bunch of people, but you know the schools are chock-full of plainclothes security. What do you do? *Pick another target.*
Shopping Mall (Oregon)
Movie Theater (Colorado)
College Campus (Virginia)
My point is that we can’t make *everywhere* totally safe — it’s just not practical in our current legal situation. Something’s got to give. Now, whether that’s got something to do with firearms availability or psychiatric intervention or site security or what, I can’t say.
I’m not *against* plainclothes security in schools, but I think that solution is a stopgap at best. Eventually, the threat moves somewhere else.
Butch Cassidy (I)
December 18th, 2012
11:20 am
Bobby – “Proof? Google it… Its a fact dems bus their voters to the polls… Watch something other than MessNBC once in a while…”
Wow, tweets a van, ice cream and sample ballots. I’m convinced. Now I guess we know how Obama won. For the record, I don’t watch MSNBC, I get most of my news from the WSJ and I didn’t vote for Obama either time despite the allure of free ice cream.
Oscar
December 18th, 2012
11:22 am
If someone can access information and predict how people will vote, there should be a way to predict who may become violent.
People with known personality disorders need people around them who are aware of warning signs and can get help if they start getting worse.
One of those signs is when one starts to injure himself, animals or other people. The shooter in this case did one of those, and his condition became worse, but nothing was done.
GT
December 18th, 2012
11:24 am
Most of those people who have those mauling dogs have guns too, it comes with the ego problems they suffer. Use to be in my father’s time these losers would go out and buy some supped up car or dye their hair, now they want to scare anybody and everybody, shock and aw doesn’t that sound familiar?
deegee
December 18th, 2012
11:25 am
Isn’t the key to better government an informed electorate? If the democrats can use technology to do a good job of informing the electorate than what’s wrong with that? Romney is like your grandfather’s old Buick. It looks nice but it’s not very efficient.
Regnad Kcin
December 18th, 2012
11:26 am
“People with known personality disorders need people around them who are aware of warning signs and can get help if they start getting worse.”
I figure about 18 trillion in tax increases should cover it.
Seriously, you think everybody in the nation with a diagnosis of Asperger’s should be under 24 hour watch?
Redcoat
December 18th, 2012
11:27 am
They know you and therefore know how to direct your thoughts to control and mislead your decisions by changing or presenting the information you process. If someone presents contradictory information, that person is discredited with more misleading information and on and on……….Who can you absolutely trust outside your closest relatives and friends? What is real and/or true information?
Oscar
December 18th, 2012
11:29 am
riously, you think everybody in the nation with a diagnosis of Asperger’s should be under 24 hour watch?
________
I didn’t say that, and there was more wrong with the shooter than Asperger’s.
Mike Fitzgerald
December 18th, 2012
11:32 am
Mr. Bookman,
Please don’t change the subject. While your commentary on The state of the art in modern Presidential campaigns is very interesting, I think our community and national conversation is solely focused on working out how to stop a mass shooting of first graders from happening ever again.
When an almost identical event happened in Scotland in 1996, handguns were banned. Some may consider a Total gun ban reactionary, but I think it deserves an open and fair discussion alongside other options.
Did you read the editorial in yesterday’s New York Times about the NRA’s slogan, “An armed society is a polite society.” I can summarize for those who missed it, but my point is – we need to continue this dialogue until a consensus solution emerges or at the very least a majority opinion that we can agree to act on in the next month or less.
deegee
December 18th, 2012
11:33 am
Redcoat, if you have to rely on your friends and relatives then you aren’t doing enough reading.
Tundra Dude
December 18th, 2012
11:35 am
The startling science behind Obama’s victory
While this “startling science” may be intellectually interesting, if someone just wanted to know in advance who the winner would be, see Allan Lichtman, of American University.
He knew back in 2011 (from his system, “Keys to the White House”) that the incumbent would not be ousted. His most recent prediction was 30 days before the election.
What’s Not “startling” is it was a big victory for the status quo. One of my fav Lefty economists calls Obama “Romney-Lite”.
Oh, what a shock….
this Headline at Huffington Post:
RAW DEAL
Obama’s Latest Fiscal Cliff Offer Targets Middle Class, Elderly
Regnad Kcin
December 18th, 2012
11:35 am
“I didn’t say that, and there was more wrong with the shooter than Asperger’s.”
Okay – while I wish it was possible to prevent these incidients, I’m very wary of any kind of involuntary commitment, not-arrested-but-kind-of solution targeting people that don’t act exactly like someone thinks they should.
The only “official” diagnosis I’ve heard on the shooter is Asperger’s. Can you link me to another? I’m very interested.
GT
December 18th, 2012
11:37 am
Oscar I think they could do exactly that, profile the next nutcase, but some of those in that universe are your rightwing nut jobs that hide behind the 2nd amendment as they plan their horrors. I think that is the number one reason the right is so possessive of their privacy, one thump on their head in the right place and they too are the man in a clown outfit and semiautomatic. That Tea Party guy chasing Obama around the campaign crowd in Ohio demanding to know why Obama called his group terrorist, you are getting a load of them now, refusing to connect the dots. When you are losing a national debate just start lying, great strategy, if you are a selfish person.
Escaped from Email Purgatory
December 18th, 2012
11:39 am
“…and you get to witness it [Obama in the White House] for ANOTHER….FOUR….YEARS!!!!!!! lmao (I love it!)…”
Never, ever underestimate the appeal the mindset betrayed by this gloating has with some voters.
There’s no Algebra in the world that will make both sides of this equation balance:
Obama + Accomplishment = Four More Years
unless you add ‘+ Sticking it to The Man, Mister Charlie, whatever’ on the left side. Heck, more like replace “Accomplishment all together. It’s been awhile since I was in school, but I believe in BHO’s case, “Accomplishment would be the null set.
Redcoat
December 18th, 2012
11:41 am
deegee……….who said “rely”?……..”trust” was the word I used……Who do you really trust?…..
Oscar
December 18th, 2012
11:41 am
Can you link me to another?
____
The report I heard was on tv. The report said he showed a lack of sensitivity and empathy, as I recall. Not sure I have it exactly right.
But that sounds like something similar to a social path or psychopath.
Lack of emotional feelings.
My point was that people around troubled individuals should educate themselves about the disorder.
guy
December 18th, 2012
11:46 am
Krystal’sBalls, I love that man,obama. He’s my everything!
Nunna Yobinnes
December 18th, 2012
11:47 am
Does this mean that Democrats can now be referred to as “the Party of Spam”?
GT
December 18th, 2012
11:49 am
Mike Fitzgerald I think the country pretty well has decided they want gun control, the polls even before this last explanation of the freedom to bare arms was in the favor of taking this stuff off the streets. What I notice in your manner is the control you are trying to have over Jay, one of the traits that these gun nuts seem to find in their worship for weapons and power. “Mr. Bookman”, the formality of a soldier a humble soldier yet the control demands of a small ego looking for attention.
Nunna Yobinnes
December 18th, 2012
11:49 am
guy – you’re having an obasm.
Oscar
December 18th, 2012
11:50 am
There were also reports that during the last week or two his condition had worsened and he was injuring himself by burning. Self injury is always a red flag that something is wrong.
Time at least to take away all access to weapons, if nothing else.
Nunna Yobinnes
December 18th, 2012
11:53 am
Hmmm. Freedom to “bare” arms. (= the ability to wear short sleeve shirts without retribution)
GT
December 18th, 2012
11:55 am
Nunna now that we can agree on. Short shirts too.
Nunna Yobinnes
December 18th, 2012
11:58 am
I suppose that t-shirts, basketball jerseys, etc. would also be permissable.
getalife
December 18th, 2012
11:59 am
Media decided to move on from the victims and wait for the next massacre.
The gop ran a rich fraud that could not speak the truth or give specific plans.
That is why they lost.
Next.
Regnad Kcin
December 18th, 2012
11:59 am
Oscar, There was so much false information coming out about this (they identified the wrong guy as shooter, for crying out loud!), that I take these “reports” with a grain of salt. I’ll wait until I see a reliable link before I take it as gospel.
SheleekiaBarackisha
December 18th, 2012
12:17 pm
“They would reassemble the coalition, one by one, through personal contacts….”
Did people who received Obama phones get bombarded with campaign text messages from the mother ship?
TaxPayer
December 18th, 2012
1:01 pm
this from a poster who already posted a bigoted comment today
For all I know, you may be the bigger bigot that’s just trying to throw up a diversionary furball.
guy
December 18th, 2012
1:44 pm
Nunna Yobinnes,, I am having an obasm and my legs are tingling! Ali used to be the greatest but now it’s obama. He’s a great American hero!
Krystal'sBalls
December 18th, 2012
1:44 pm
@Escaped from Email Purgatory
December 18th, 2012
11:39 am
FOUR MORE YEARS, FOUR MORE YEARS, FOUR MORE YEARS!!! Those who desire to can gloat all they want….AT LEAST…. for FOUR MORE YEARS!!!!!!
MmmmMmmm my grapes taste soooooo goood!!! How bout yours?????
Krystal'sBalls
December 18th, 2012
1:47 pm
@SheleekiaBarackisha
December 18th, 2012
12:17 pm
Nope! But the ones who cannot seem to stop b–tc—g about the MYTH has been bomabrded with SOUR GRAPES and HUMBLE PIE for a little over a month now. You would think they’ve had their fill by now.
ODD OWL
December 18th, 2012
3:03 pm
President Barack Obama and the Democrats have crossed that bridge into the 21st century… They’ve embraced cutting edge technology through the use of social media networking that enable them to contact each and every potential voter individually… On the other hand, the Republicans have refused to cross that bridge… They’re rushing headlong back into the 19th century by reciting incantations, stirring the witches brew and casting the chicken bones in their feebled attempts to see the future… P.S. Democrat Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri ran the best campaign in the history of American politics, when she chose her Republican opponent in the general election by running campaign ads for him in the Republican primary… Forward ===>
Moderate Line
December 18th, 2012
3:28 pm
Krystal’sBalls
December 18th, 2012
10:39 am
@Moderate Line
December 18th, 2012
10:33 am
BS!!!! The MINORITY base was “pumped up” by constant attacks and demonization by the GOP along with attempts to suppress OUR vote. I would have stood in line for a WEEK to cast MY vote, rain, sleet, snow, or hail – if nothing ELSE but to send a message. You better believe it when I tell you this.
++++
According to CNN exit polls 28% of the voters were non-white. Obama received 39% of the white voters which would constitute 28% of the overall electorate. Since he received 51% of the vote it is obvious his base was not primarily minority.
Your comment explains why you personally voted for him but it does not explain how the whites who make up the majority of Obama’s voters voted.
Also, take into account.
If you compare 2012 exit polls to 2008 exit polls the independents went from Obama to Romney. In 2008 Obama won 52-44 among independents while in 2012 Romney won independents by 50 to 45. The main reason Obama won was more Democrats voted for him in 2012 than 2008, however, more Republicans voted against him. The main difference in the election is Democrats outnumbered Repulicans 38% to 32%. Even with a 6% party id adavantage Obama won by 3.7% of the vote which means he relied heavily on his base, whereas in 2008 he won by more than his party ID adavantage.
The percentage of minorities who voted for Obama as part of the electorate in 2008 was 21.5% while the percentage of minorities as part of the electorate in 2012 was 22.5% which is only a 1% difference.If you factor in the drop in turnout that number shrinks more. Keep in mind the number of African Americans as a percentage of electorate decreased. It 1% increase was made up of mostly of Hispanics but even that was only an increase of 1.7% of the electorate.
The technological superiority of the Liberals vs The technological inferiority of the Cons
December 18th, 2012
6:11 pm
“The worst illiterate is the political illiterate, he doesn’t hear, doesn’t speak, nor participates in the political events.
He doesn’t know the cost of life, the price of the bean, of the fish, of the flour, of the rent, of the shoes and of the medicine, all depends on political decisions.”
Vast Right Wing Conspiracy (aka "Knuckle-Dragger")
December 18th, 2012
8:15 pm
Delusional as usual, Jay. The Democrats’ only accomplishment is to have hooked enough of the population on government largesse that they would vote for the devil himself. Destroy the family, dumb-down the population through the public school system, and bring in enough illegal aliens to seal the deal – this is the Democrats’ legacy, nothing more.