2012 Tuesday: What will we hear from Charlotte?

Last week in Tampa, the Republicans made significant progress toward their main objectives: revealing more of the personal side of Mitt Romney, and clearly communicating their pitch to voters in this election.

This week in Charlotte, it’s the Democrats’ turn. What will President Obama and his party try to accomplish? Will they continue to play defense against the GOP or try to seize the initiative?

Going into today’s opening events, it would appear it’s the former, with Democrats trying to neutralize the Republican message. Here’s part of today’s curtain-raiser from the Wall Street Journal:

The Democratic Party’s goals for the three-day gathering include widening its advantages among female and Hispanic voters while limiting Mr. Obama’s losses among white, working-class ones. At the same time, its overarching ambition is to rebut Mr. Obama’s opponent, Mitt Romney, who used last week’s Republican National Convention to try to pry away the president’s 2008 voters by casting him as a nice guy who isn’t up to the challenge. …

A senior Obama campaign official said the president may offer one or two new policy proposals in his speech Thursday, when he accepts the nomination for re-election, but that he would spend more time arguing that his existing ideas on health care, education and deficit-reduction amount to “a clear, concrete and achievable plan” for a second term.

The New York Times sounds a similar note, observing that the thrill of 2008 is gone and that Democrats’ “unity at this point is defined less by faith in Mr. Obama or a robust vision for what the party should stand for than by the prospect that Republicans could control the White House and Congress next year and enact a conservative agenda that would unravel much of what Democrats have stood for since Lyndon B. Johnson’s Great Society.”

So it’s defense, defense, defense.

In football, they say defense wins championships. Will that work in this year’s election?

I have my doubts. For one, pitching themselves and Obama as a suitable status quo against a radical Republican Party led by Romney and Paul Ryan would seem to hinge on the word “suitable.” And voters have their own doubts about that: In a new poll for The Hill, voters said the nation is worse, not better, off than four years ago by a 54-32 margin, and that Obama does not deserve re-election by a 54-40 count.

Even the Obama camp is having a hard time answering the “better off” question, made famous in 1980 when Ronald Reagan posed that question to voters after four years of Jimmy Carter’s presidency. Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley answered in the negative on “Face the Nation” Sunday — though he did gamely try to blame the Republicans — before backtracking on Monday.

Obama himself said yesterday he deserved a grade of “incomplete” for his handling of the economy, the same grade he gave himself last October and in August 2010. Will voters be as forgiving?

After the GOP spent a week being mostly upbeat in Tampa, I think it will be a problem for Obama if he and the Democrats can’t come up with a positive message in Charlotte.

– By Kyle Wingfield

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475 comments Add your comment

They BOTH suck

September 4th, 2012
5:32 pm

Romney

It is certainly a way to boost low self esteem and self worth by demeaning others, but not anyone’s problem to do with except his own or anyone else regardless of political leanings that does the same.

Sometimes you just have to move on

Bless their hearts

They BOTH suck

September 4th, 2012
5:33 pm

to deal with

excuse me

Romney Candidate of the Few by the Few for the Few

September 4th, 2012
5:36 pm

Lil Barry Bailout is a poor, uneducated person who comes from the backwoods with little

awareness of the modern world and who has moral failings.

Poor Lil Biddy Barry Failout

Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American

September 4th, 2012
5:37 pm

Tell us what you have done for our country to compare to [Obozo].
——————

I didn’t pal around with domestic terrorists. Didn’t sit in a church for twenty years listening to an America-hating racist. Didn’t vote “present” when the going got tough. Did vote for real Americans who did protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. Didn’t fly my family to Martha’s Vineyard on two separate jumbo jets paid for the taxpayers. Didn’t lose our AAA credit rating.

Rafe Hollister, suffering through Oblamer's ineptocracy

September 4th, 2012
5:39 pm

Obama speaks Thursday night (and what he doesn’t say out loud)

Forward! Forward, (all that previous prosperity, only benefited the prepared, the workers, savers, and investors) because we are not going back to the way it was. Everyone did not prosper in the past and I’m not going back. But, my loyal subjects,we must look backwards for a minute, however. My good friend Bill Clinton, (who once said to Sen Kennedy, that I would have been carrying their bags a few years ago), explained to you what we should do with the economy. He told you we need to return, that is backwards, to his economy, (the one that benefited from the dot.com bubble, which no longer exists). (Since I have had little success with the economy), I’ve listened and am going to follow Bill’s excellent advice and guidance, (or make you think I will, til after the election) and return this economy to prosperity. Just like Pres Clinton said, we must go forward and embrace(backward) his economic policies. Forward to the past, my loyal friends. Four more years! Because I care! They call it Obamacare, because I care! I won before, and I will win again. Would you like to hear a little Al Green, I>>>>>>>>>>>>>I>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>, well, Michelle says I can’t sing tonight, too bad for y’all. Four more years!!!!! You know I inherited this mess, right, Four more years!
I am going to win. I will win. I will serve four more years. I, uh, uh, uh, I, uh, uh I need four more years to straighten out this mess. I, uh, I need you to have some patience. I……..I couldn’t straighten out this mess in only one term. I was wrong about how bad it was. I……I just underestimated the mess. I……I…….

getalife

September 4th, 2012
5:39 pm

“Didn’t lose our AAA credit rating.”

gop congress did that.

The rest is bs and w took more vacations and holds the record.

You never blame the gop for their failures do you.

Worthless.

getalife

September 4th, 2012
5:41 pm

Rafe Hollister, suffering through Oblamer’s ineptocracy

September 4th, 2012
5:39 pm

Meltdown.

Ew, what a mess.

Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American

September 4th, 2012
5:41 pm

Will they continue to play defense against the GOP or try to seize the initiative?
——————-

They’ve had four years to seize the initiative.

That’s the problem.

We will begin to correct that in a few weeks. President Romney will heal the wounds of the last four years and begin to reverse the decline Democrats have deliberately set in motion.

getalife

September 4th, 2012
5:42 pm

Lil’ Barry Bailout – Vote American,

Do you run and cry to Kyle?

DannyX

September 4th, 2012
5:43 pm

“It sure mattered to you libs when it was Herman being accused.”

td, Herman Cain is a minister from the party of “family values”. Republicans had a major fit when Clinton got into trouble, then all of the sudden 2 adulterers, Newt and Cain, became Republican candidates for president. Newt of all people, and he won conservative Christian Georgia. Newt the Congressman from Georgia who was having an affair during the Clinton impeachment episode.

Speaking of God and your reaction to the DNC taking God out of their platform…

Republicans took God out of their party when they decided the poor and sick were their enemies and started worshiping the rich.

getalife

September 4th, 2012
5:43 pm

“President Romney will heal the wounds of the last four years and begin to reverse the decline Democrats have deliberately set in motion.”

Tell us his secret because he did not say how .

Romney Candidate of the Few by the Few for the Few

September 4th, 2012
5:43 pm

The DNC looks like America.

Not just the few by the few for the few.

Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American

September 4th, 2012
5:44 pm

Do you run and cry to Kyle?
—————–

Yes, I do. Why do you think JamVet was banned?

BWAHAAHAAAHAAAAAA!!!

Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American

September 4th, 2012
5:46 pm

Tell us his secret
———-

It’s no secret. Remove the cancer that is the Obozo regime.

getalife

September 4th, 2012
5:47 pm

Yes, I do. Why do you think JamVet was banned?

BWAHAAHAAAHAAAAAA!!!

I think the ones that run and cry to Kyle should be banned permanently.

He has a job to do and dealing with you crybabies should not be part of it.

Man up con.

Pitiful.

Romney Candidate of the Few by the Few for the Few

September 4th, 2012
5:47 pm

@getalife

September 4th, 2012
5:43 pm
“President Romney will heal the wounds of the last four years and begin to reverse the decline Democrats have deliberately set in motion.”

Tell us his secret because he did not say how .

*************************************************

Romney has a lot of secrets.

Secret Bank accounts

Secret Tax Returns

Secret budget

Secret policies

Secret religious underwear. oops that’s no secret anymore

getalife

September 4th, 2012
5:48 pm

“It’s no secret. Remove the cancer that is the Obozo regime.”

And go back to failed bush policies is a loser.

Romney Candidate of the Few by the Few for the Few

September 4th, 2012
5:49 pm

@Lil’ Barry Bailout – Vote American

September 4th, 2012
5:44 pm
Do you run and cry to Kyle?
—————–

Yes, I do. Why do you think JamVet was banned?

BWAHAAHAAAHAAAAAA!!!

**********************************************************

SAVE FOR FUTURE USE

Kyle plays favorites on his blog.

MarkV

September 4th, 2012
5:49 pm

Dusty @ 4:44 pm

Well, Dusty, YOU are calling the ridiculous, insulting, crude post “the best line of the day?”

I do not want repeat myself, but you can find my post on the subject @2:03 pm. You are free to dispute what I have written.

And I have not eaten any bugs.

Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American

September 4th, 2012
5:50 pm

Relax, getalife. Have you ever seen me complain to Kyle? Ever seen me quote the rules to anyone? Ever seen me keep little dossiers on folks, a la Kamchak? That all seems like work to me.

getalife

September 4th, 2012
5:52 pm

Why did you say you got someone banned then?

Did you lie?

getalife

September 4th, 2012
5:53 pm

“And I have not eaten any bugs.”

She is talking about crawfish.

Dusty

September 4th, 2012
5:55 pm

Amazing!

The continuous liberal mudslingers and insulters here are upset because someone threw back the mud. Wow! What do you call that? Tunnel vision? Paid hypocrisy? Sore losers? Dedication? Dementia?

The sheer nerve of futile fabrications is the greatest apparent quality of liberals here.

Romney Candidate of the Few by the Few for the Few

September 4th, 2012
5:56 pm

@getalife

September 4th, 2012
5:52 pm
Why did you say you got someone banned then?

Did you lie?

*****************************************************************

He did not lie this time.

He is digging a deep hole for himself and Kyle.

He has confirmed that this blog is rigged for peop with similiar views and

not opposing views.

CONFIRMED.

Thanks Lil Biddy

getalife

September 4th, 2012
5:56 pm

Dusty,

Just tell the truth.

If our President is so bad, why all the lies?

They BOTH suck

September 4th, 2012
5:57 pm

Dusty

If anyone can’t see that the poo flies both ways, with you doing at as well, I would call it blind.

just saying

getalife

September 4th, 2012
5:58 pm

Romney Candidate of the Few by the Few for the Few,

He will probably cry to Kyle for not using his name.

They BOTH suck

September 4th, 2012
5:58 pm

Kyle

You going to be commenting on any of the speeches this week as they are going on?

Like last week, I will be passing on the “infomercials” and getting the excerpts and commentary from Bookman, other websites and yourself.

Romney Candidate of the Few by the Few for the Few

September 4th, 2012
5:59 pm

@Dusty

September 4th, 2012
5:55 pm
Amazing!

The continuous liberal mudslingers and insulters here are upset because someone threw back the mud. Wow! What do you call that? Tunnel vision? Paid hypocrisy? Sore losers? Dedication? Dementia?

The sheer nerve of futile fabrications is the greatest apparent quality of liberals here.

***************************************************

Blame everyone else for your lack of respect and rudeness.

That dog tactic won’t hunt.

Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American

September 4th, 2012
5:59 pm

Call me whatever you like. Just as long as you call me. ;-)

Romney Candidate of the Few by the Few for the Few

September 4th, 2012
6:01 pm

@Dusty

September 4th, 2012
5:55 pm
Amazing!

The continuous liberal mudslingers and insulters here are upset because someone threw back the mud. Wow! What do you call that? Tunnel vision? Paid hypocrisy? Sore losers? Dedication? Dementia?

The sheer nerve of futile fabrications is the greatest apparent quality of liberals here.

******************************************************

NOT everything is a nail because you HAVE a hammer.

Romney Candidate of the Few by the Few for the Few

September 4th, 2012
6:02 pm

@Lil’ Barry Bailout – Vote American

September 4th, 2012
5:59 pm
Call me whatever you like. Just as long as you call me.

*************************************************************

Hear boy……..

whistle….whistle…..whistle

Hear boy………

getalife

September 4th, 2012
6:03 pm

“Call me whatever you like”

It is his rule but I have been called every name in the book.

It does not bother me, I like to fight cons.

It is fun.

Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American

September 4th, 2012
6:05 pm

Do you like cutting yourself, too?

@@

September 4th, 2012
6:05 pm

Getalife:

The economists predicted we will add 12 million jobs in our President’s second term if the gop does not mess it up.

Promises? AGAIN?

I’m one of those who doesn’t believe presidents can create jobs.

A change in presidents and policy can.

Kinda like kickstarting an ol’ Harley Knucklehead.

Let’s get ready to rrrrrrrrrrrrUMBLE!!!!!!!!

JDW

September 4th, 2012
6:05 pm

@td…”“Guess what? God’s name has been removed from the Democratic National Committee platform.””

GREAT! There are enough fairy tales in the RNC platform for one election.

getalife

September 4th, 2012
6:06 pm

“Do you like cutting yourself, too?”

If you are projecting, you need help.

Cutters have mental issues.

Romney Candidate of the Few by the Few for the Few

September 4th, 2012
6:07 pm

@Lil’ Barry Bailout – Vote American

September 4th, 2012
5:59 pm
Call me whatever you like. Just as long as you call me.

*************************************************************

Hear boy……..

whistle….whistle…..whistle

Hear boy………

I was reading this out loud and my dog thought I was calling him.

heeheeheeheeheehee :)

getalife

September 4th, 2012
6:08 pm

@@,

Yes, robme read the economists prediction and promised 12 million jobs.

Some risk taker you got there.

The only risk is the gop congress screwing it up.

JDW

September 4th, 2012
6:08 pm

@Kyle..O’ look someone else actually did some poking in the poll numbers….

“According to a new national poll released Tuesday, just before the start of the Democratic convention, the GOP presidential nominee appears to have received a one-point convention bounce, normal for the modern political era.”

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/09/04/cnn-poll-did-romney-get-a-convention-bounce/?hpt=hp_t1

More koolaid?

getalife

September 4th, 2012
6:10 pm

Are you watching Booker?

MarkV

September 4th, 2012
6:11 pm

Dusty @5:55 pm: “Amazing! The continuous liberal mudslingers and insulters here are upset because someone threw back the mud. Wow!”
Dusty, I take it into account that you are calling me a mudslinger. But I want to remind you that in my post @5:49 I was not upset by the mudslinging, which was what I expected from people like the author of that post in question. I was, if not upset, at least surprised that you would praise mudslinging so much.

getalife

September 4th, 2012
6:13 pm

No, I will not cry to Kyle and can take it like a man.

“Bring it on”.

Dusty

September 4th, 2012
6:15 pm

My goodness,

There are so many liberals on duty here it sounds like a chorus and the choir slings the same song. And I do mean sling.

You really want to talk about respect when I don’t believe a one of you has ever posted anything good and honest about a Republican?

Of course some of it goes both ways, but this is supposedly a conservative blog and it is obvious that liberals come here only to smear and demean, not to debate.

I excuse MarkV because he really believes what he writes. I don’t agree with him but his dialogue at least is sincere. The rest of you liberals? Very dubious..

md

September 4th, 2012
6:15 pm

“1) The fact that Obama statement “you didn’t build that” to businesses was taken completely out of context in his speech which taken as a whole reminded business owners that the government helped them build their businesses by providing roads, bridges, educated workers, and in many cases, (such as the building where the RNC convention was held) used taxpayer funds to build the buildings that businesses use.”

Any context one prefers still has Obama singing the praises of Government……..didn’t hear him once mention the blood/sweat and tears of the INDIVIDUAL that risked it all to start the dang thing did we??

And Lynnie……where did that benevolent gov’t get the money to build all those things?? That’s right, from those businesses that someone took the time to get up and running……it certainly WASN’T the gov’t…….

3)…….the fact remains that for now the work requirement has been relaxed…..that’s just fact.

2)…….that 715 has to come from somewhere, it doesn’t just evaporate into thin air like they convinced you it does. It doesn’t get paid to the providers……and how Lynnie do they get paid??? Think they are going to just sit back and work for a whole lot less? Hardly……YOU will make up that 715 in some other form or fashion, and it will be in the form of an INCREASE, not a savings.

getalife

September 4th, 2012
6:17 pm

Dusty,

I believe what I type or would not type it.

@@

September 4th, 2012
6:17 pm

Getalife:

You’re g-l-o-a-t-i-n-g @ 6:13.

Obviously the complaints came from the left.

Am I banned?

Dusty

September 4th, 2012
6:17 pm

Mark V

I’ve tried but my patience is worn thin. Sorry…

They BOTH suck

September 4th, 2012
6:19 pm

Dusty

This is blog is for anyone that follows the rules. Your selective condemnation is hilarious. Thanks for the laughs

Since you are throwing stones and we know you are not without sin, might be best to drop the rest of them in your hand…….
Better yet, keep it up.

You funny. Simple funny, but funny.

getalife

September 4th, 2012
6:20 pm

“Any context one prefers still has Obama singing the praises of Government……..didn’t hear him once mention the blood/sweat and tears of the INDIVIDUAL that risked it all to start the dang thing did we??”

He fights for the American workers and wants insourcing while the gop fired State workers and unions.

“3)…….the fact remains that for now the work requirement has been relaxed…..that’s just fact.”

How and why?

” not a savings.”

It is a saving and not a cut to people on the safety net your party wants to end. Facts.