++Andrew Sullivan called it his True Grit speech and cited Obama's eloquent ending about Cory Remsberg's difficult recovery from his tragic wounds from Afghanistan as a metaphor for the struggle of America and the President today. Josh Marshall liked the speech and thought the President had a snap and an upbeat message well delivered. Eugene Robinson said it was Obama's finest State of the Union. Ed Kilgore at Washington Monthly thought it resembled some of Clinton's laundry list speeches but caught himself and noted that Stan Greenberg for Democracy Corps had a focus group on the speech and that Obama's support of women in the work place made the dials go off the charts in favorables. Kilgore's point was that Obama needed to bring back single women for the 2014 elections.
++Josh Marshall was right, the speechwriting was first-rate. The Libretto did become an opera with Obama's delivery and pacing.
++The Charlie Rose who had Doris Kearns, James Fellows and Mark Halperin on to respond. All thought it was an excellent speech and Fellow called it Reaganesque.
++The speech had clearly been poll-tested. All Obama's proposals have overwhelming support of the American people. Some writers think he outlined clearly the direction for the Democrats in 2014 and afterwards the Democrats showed unusual unity in support. John Lewis said the President still stood tall and had the courage to fight on.
++David Corn said he should have explained why he was going to take executive action and lay the blame on Republicans. A commentator wrote that the lack of strong partisanship except with an occasional jab was what was needed because the country is fed up with political rhetoric.
++The most interesting effect was that in a town of total bummers the President reminded us of optimism and positive thinking. The contrast between him and Congress is shocking. This is a man who had a bounce in his step and a clear vision about how to move the country along. It was actually refreshing to see that he wasn't dragged down into the snake pit like everyone else. Yes, there were many things he has said before but ,in Andrew Sullivan's words, you have to admire his persistence. If the United States recovers from its doldrums by the end of his term,President Obama is going to reap the lion's share of the credit.
++CNN has 76% responding positive to the speech with the usual 22% believing it is negative.
++Democratic Underground had 69% give the President an A and 23% a B.
++The Daily Kos had 49% give him an A and 33% a B for the speech.
++Joan Welsh at Salon said we all missed the story. The story last night was the utter disarray in the GOP. Ms. Morris didn't flop it and Sweeney Todd like her response. But she claimed the GOP had lots of plans for the economy but never mentioned on concrete idea. She prayed for all of us. Rand Paul gave a libertarian response which basically called for the elimination of government, lowering taxes and ending the social welfare net as the solution to the country's problems. Mike Lee said that a new generation of "reformers" aka the Tea Party are in Washington but failed to say how they would reform the town.
++Brian Beutler at Salon basically said the Right was now reviled and offers up nothing.
++As with most things Obama,the bland ideas if taken together and adopted would profoundly alter the country for the better. In the next year, it will be interesting to see where the most mundane ideas go.
++The Obama Derangement Syndrom continued last night. Steven Stockman, the missing congressman from Texas, showed up only to walk out in protest of Obama violating the constitution aka using executive orders. Rand Paul said he would sue Obama again like they did for recess appointments. A Tennesee congress critter tweeted he was the socialist Commander in Chief. A Kansas congressman lamented there was no mention of Benghazi and that Obama used the military--aka Corey Remsberg--for political purposes and is weakening the military by withdrawing from Afghanistan and trying to close Gitmo. The GOP congresscritters took the time to be photographed with Father Duck of the Duck Dynasty.
++Ms. Lindsey Graham responded that Obama was not aware that the earth is going to blow up.
++There were many highlights from the President's speech which I may get around to. But he was the only adult in the room last night and it was good to see he hasn't been worn down by the Bummers.
Showing posts with label CNN poll. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CNN poll. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Monday, September 10, 2012
"The Death Stench"
++Mark Halperin attacked the Romney campaign today and referred to its "death stench."
++The Obama bounce, which is at 5.5% and climbing,may just be the turning point in this whole race. After the DNC, reporters are more willing to call out the Romney-Ryan campaign for its lies and fantastic changes in policies.
++Intratrade has Obama at 60.0 now.
++The desperation is being heard around the right-wing blogasphere. Rush Limbaugh on his radio show blurted out that out of spite Obama, when he wins, will deliberately crash the economy to encourage looting and pillaging. Frank Luntz, the GOP's master meme creator ,said that the ad that killed Romney in Ohio was the one of the former Bain employee talking about making a platform for Romney and the Bain people who then used it to declare everyone fired and the plant closed. "It was as if I built my own coffin."
++Sam Wang at Princeton Consortium said that his slow working computers showed a jump in 13 electoral votes and .8% in the popular vote. He said that any thing over 5EV and .5% happens when a real shift is happening. And he says it is not over yet.
++In Washington State, Obama leads 54 to 38 of Likely Voters.
++In Massachusetts , a Kimball poll shows Obama winning 56 to 40 among likely voters.
++Wolf Blitzer kept hyping the CNN poll to say that Conventions do matter. Among likely voters Obama leads 52-46 and among registered voters 53-45. For poll watchers this means the enthusiasm gap has practically disappeared and Obama is now enjoying leads among likely voters.
++The CNN poll was devastating in other respects.
46% are more likely to vote Democratic after watching the Convention.
59% think President Obama will win.
56% say that Obama is in touch with Americans as opposed to 39% for Romney.
51% say that Obama shares their values, only 44% say Romney.
By a margin of 54 to 42, Obama wins foreign policy.
By a margin of 54-43, Obama wins Medicare.
The only issue Romney now has a lead on is the deficit at a slim 50-47.
++The Romney campaign blasted all the polls as "liberal attempts to 'suppress' the Republican base". In a letter to supporters the Romney people said that the Obama bounce is "like a sugar high" and will soon dissipate.
++The Obama bounce, which is at 5.5% and climbing,may just be the turning point in this whole race. After the DNC, reporters are more willing to call out the Romney-Ryan campaign for its lies and fantastic changes in policies.
++Intratrade has Obama at 60.0 now.
++The desperation is being heard around the right-wing blogasphere. Rush Limbaugh on his radio show blurted out that out of spite Obama, when he wins, will deliberately crash the economy to encourage looting and pillaging. Frank Luntz, the GOP's master meme creator ,said that the ad that killed Romney in Ohio was the one of the former Bain employee talking about making a platform for Romney and the Bain people who then used it to declare everyone fired and the plant closed. "It was as if I built my own coffin."
++Sam Wang at Princeton Consortium said that his slow working computers showed a jump in 13 electoral votes and .8% in the popular vote. He said that any thing over 5EV and .5% happens when a real shift is happening. And he says it is not over yet.
++In Washington State, Obama leads 54 to 38 of Likely Voters.
++In Massachusetts , a Kimball poll shows Obama winning 56 to 40 among likely voters.
++Wolf Blitzer kept hyping the CNN poll to say that Conventions do matter. Among likely voters Obama leads 52-46 and among registered voters 53-45. For poll watchers this means the enthusiasm gap has practically disappeared and Obama is now enjoying leads among likely voters.
++The CNN poll was devastating in other respects.
46% are more likely to vote Democratic after watching the Convention.
59% think President Obama will win.
56% say that Obama is in touch with Americans as opposed to 39% for Romney.
51% say that Obama shares their values, only 44% say Romney.
By a margin of 54 to 42, Obama wins foreign policy.
By a margin of 54-43, Obama wins Medicare.
The only issue Romney now has a lead on is the deficit at a slim 50-47.
++The Romney campaign blasted all the polls as "liberal attempts to 'suppress' the Republican base". In a letter to supporters the Romney people said that the Obama bounce is "like a sugar high" and will soon dissipate.
Friday, June 1, 2012
After The Hurricane
++If you caught the headlines at Huffpost, you would think the economy collapsed. Yes, the jobs report was horrible but the economy still gained jobs. We are not back into the Recession/Depression yet.
++Bill Clinton gave a boost to Barrett today in Wisconsin. If you want to see themes that will play out during the national campaign, try to see a copy of his speech, which has been posted on many websites. He makes the case that in those areas of the country which have come back economically, there is a spirit of cooperation, compromise and a desire to find constructive solutions as opposed to the spirit of winner take all, which Walker seems to personify. He spoke of the desires of the wiring and middle class as opposed to the very wealthy. It was one of those speeches where you understood he was a "100% political animal" with a very refined sense of what the crowd wanted to hear.
++The problem with recalls is people really don't like them and prefer to replace the guy they don't like at the next election. Some of that is at play in Wisconsin. While election officials expect a large turnout, early voting is looking a lot like 2010 and that would favor Walker. But the polling says that Barrett after two debate wins has the momentum.
++Meanwhile, since Barack Obama is doomed, the latest CNN poll shows his approval rating at 52 and him edging out Romney 49 to 46. But if you want to be gloomy, Romney is winning today's Gallup and Rasmussen tracking polls 46 to 45.
++The Field organization has Obama winning California 48 to 32. I wonder who the others were voting for.
++To his credit, President Obama can out firing today in Minnesota on the poor jobs report and reminded everyone that the Republican Congress has failed to pass his Jobs Bill he submitted last September. That would have added 1.5-1.9 million jobs and increased the GDP by two points.
++Morning talk shows made the claim that Obama's attacks on Romney as Bain's CEO have failed and are turning off independents. Since today was jobs day,it might seem logical. But when we get to the real event, it may not be jobs which determines the election but what each candidate actually believes. In the case of Romney, we are still waiting to find out what, if anything he believes.
++Bill Clinton gave a boost to Barrett today in Wisconsin. If you want to see themes that will play out during the national campaign, try to see a copy of his speech, which has been posted on many websites. He makes the case that in those areas of the country which have come back economically, there is a spirit of cooperation, compromise and a desire to find constructive solutions as opposed to the spirit of winner take all, which Walker seems to personify. He spoke of the desires of the wiring and middle class as opposed to the very wealthy. It was one of those speeches where you understood he was a "100% political animal" with a very refined sense of what the crowd wanted to hear.
++The problem with recalls is people really don't like them and prefer to replace the guy they don't like at the next election. Some of that is at play in Wisconsin. While election officials expect a large turnout, early voting is looking a lot like 2010 and that would favor Walker. But the polling says that Barrett after two debate wins has the momentum.
++Meanwhile, since Barack Obama is doomed, the latest CNN poll shows his approval rating at 52 and him edging out Romney 49 to 46. But if you want to be gloomy, Romney is winning today's Gallup and Rasmussen tracking polls 46 to 45.
++The Field organization has Obama winning California 48 to 32. I wonder who the others were voting for.
++To his credit, President Obama can out firing today in Minnesota on the poor jobs report and reminded everyone that the Republican Congress has failed to pass his Jobs Bill he submitted last September. That would have added 1.5-1.9 million jobs and increased the GDP by two points.
++Morning talk shows made the claim that Obama's attacks on Romney as Bain's CEO have failed and are turning off independents. Since today was jobs day,it might seem logical. But when we get to the real event, it may not be jobs which determines the election but what each candidate actually believes. In the case of Romney, we are still waiting to find out what, if anything he believes.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
"I Used to Care But Times Have Changed"*
*Bob Dylan
The best story of the day was Ben Smith in Politico writing about the Obama campaign's plans for going after Willard Milton Romney. Quoting an anonymous Democratic strategist, the piece says that the Obama people will go after Romney's record on job creation and portray him as "weird". Almost immediately the Romney camp responded claiming "Obama has attacked Romney's character".
Of course, no such thing happened but what's great is how touchy Romney is and how quick off the trigger he is to take offense. McCain tried unsuccessfully to make Obama lose his cool during the whole 2008 campaign but never could. It looks like Obama will have no trouble getting Romney's goat.
Romney has already suggeted Obama doesn't believe in either the Constitution or America, doesn't have American values and other slightly offensive things. A great line was said by a Republican strategist today after the Politico story,"Anyone who attacks a man's character for political gain is beyond the pale." Like the Swiftboaters. But there is genius in the Obama's camp's notion that Romney is just plain weird. In Mark Halperin's campaign book End Game, he portrays how all the Republican candidates in 2008 looked down on Romney and made snide remarks about him in the men's room.
Already the Washington Post is suggesting that Obama shouldn't go after Romney's religion, even if obliquely. I mean there is nothing weird about a religion that teaches that Noah's Ark was built in North Carolina or the Garden of Eden is in Missouri. Or you can't get to heaven without Joseph Smith's permission. I'm inclined to agree with Bill Maher that Romney won't make it to the nomination if the Christian Right wakes up and discovers Jesus doesn't it make that far up the Mormon Totem Pole.
But Romney is odd. He apparently keeps getting large donations from companies with no employees. First we had W Spann LLC, which contributed $1 million cash to a PAC created to elect Romney. Once the press went to town, we found out that the mystery donor is Edward Conuard , a former Bain executive. Then we have two new corporations--El Publications and F8LLC out of Utah, both of which don't have any employees either. All this led the Washington Post to write an editorial to urge Romney to publish all his big donors like he did last election. Finally they had to follow up with an editorial lamenting Romney simply ignoring the issue of the mystery donors even though it is illegal, even in this day of Citizens United.
Romney has always struck me as a bit off. He came blazing out of the box, saying his campaign would raise $25 million by this point and knock everyone else out. He did no such thing and looked clumsy when it came out that he had very few donors and that the large ones had already maxed out. Obviously Wall Street isn't leaping behind him despite his role in creating the hedge fund Bain Capital. And the Bush money network hasn't warmed up to him either. There is a weird vibe here. I think the Obama campaign is on to something that will bear fruit.
John Chambers and David Beers of Standard & Poors are really popular these days. Paul Ryan claims they endorsed his budget proposal, which they most emphatically did not. McGraw-Hill, which owns Sandards and Poors, felt compelled to issue a disclaimer about their entity and said that they had nothing to do with them. The Senate has been leaking e-mails of officers calling their own company "chickensh*t" and other epithets. And if the downgrade didn't get any stranger, these two gentlemen felt compelled to tell us today that the Balanced Budget Amendment wasn't a good idea because it would tie the hands of government. While I agree, it all seemed a bit gratuitous. As if having a temper tatrum,S&P decided to downgrade 11,000 muncipals bonds, making it harder for cities to borrow.
If yesterday's Gallup poll indicated we are in for another wave election, then the CNN poll today didn't give much solace to the GOP. Republicans have dipped to a 33% approval rating and a 59% disapproval rating, the worse polling since Clinton's impeachment. Democrats modestly improved to a 47-47 rating. In the world of doublespeak the RNC chair said that the GOP's poor showing was because of the country's disapproval of Barack Obama, who has dipped but still outpaces the GOp by 10 points. Of course, none of this makes any sense.
But Mitt Romney is weird now that you come to think of it.
The best story of the day was Ben Smith in Politico writing about the Obama campaign's plans for going after Willard Milton Romney. Quoting an anonymous Democratic strategist, the piece says that the Obama people will go after Romney's record on job creation and portray him as "weird". Almost immediately the Romney camp responded claiming "Obama has attacked Romney's character".
Of course, no such thing happened but what's great is how touchy Romney is and how quick off the trigger he is to take offense. McCain tried unsuccessfully to make Obama lose his cool during the whole 2008 campaign but never could. It looks like Obama will have no trouble getting Romney's goat.
Romney has already suggeted Obama doesn't believe in either the Constitution or America, doesn't have American values and other slightly offensive things. A great line was said by a Republican strategist today after the Politico story,"Anyone who attacks a man's character for political gain is beyond the pale." Like the Swiftboaters. But there is genius in the Obama's camp's notion that Romney is just plain weird. In Mark Halperin's campaign book End Game, he portrays how all the Republican candidates in 2008 looked down on Romney and made snide remarks about him in the men's room.
Already the Washington Post is suggesting that Obama shouldn't go after Romney's religion, even if obliquely. I mean there is nothing weird about a religion that teaches that Noah's Ark was built in North Carolina or the Garden of Eden is in Missouri. Or you can't get to heaven without Joseph Smith's permission. I'm inclined to agree with Bill Maher that Romney won't make it to the nomination if the Christian Right wakes up and discovers Jesus doesn't it make that far up the Mormon Totem Pole.
But Romney is odd. He apparently keeps getting large donations from companies with no employees. First we had W Spann LLC, which contributed $1 million cash to a PAC created to elect Romney. Once the press went to town, we found out that the mystery donor is Edward Conuard , a former Bain executive. Then we have two new corporations--El Publications and F8LLC out of Utah, both of which don't have any employees either. All this led the Washington Post to write an editorial to urge Romney to publish all his big donors like he did last election. Finally they had to follow up with an editorial lamenting Romney simply ignoring the issue of the mystery donors even though it is illegal, even in this day of Citizens United.
Romney has always struck me as a bit off. He came blazing out of the box, saying his campaign would raise $25 million by this point and knock everyone else out. He did no such thing and looked clumsy when it came out that he had very few donors and that the large ones had already maxed out. Obviously Wall Street isn't leaping behind him despite his role in creating the hedge fund Bain Capital. And the Bush money network hasn't warmed up to him either. There is a weird vibe here. I think the Obama campaign is on to something that will bear fruit.
John Chambers and David Beers of Standard & Poors are really popular these days. Paul Ryan claims they endorsed his budget proposal, which they most emphatically did not. McGraw-Hill, which owns Sandards and Poors, felt compelled to issue a disclaimer about their entity and said that they had nothing to do with them. The Senate has been leaking e-mails of officers calling their own company "chickensh*t" and other epithets. And if the downgrade didn't get any stranger, these two gentlemen felt compelled to tell us today that the Balanced Budget Amendment wasn't a good idea because it would tie the hands of government. While I agree, it all seemed a bit gratuitous. As if having a temper tatrum,S&P decided to downgrade 11,000 muncipals bonds, making it harder for cities to borrow.
If yesterday's Gallup poll indicated we are in for another wave election, then the CNN poll today didn't give much solace to the GOP. Republicans have dipped to a 33% approval rating and a 59% disapproval rating, the worse polling since Clinton's impeachment. Democrats modestly improved to a 47-47 rating. In the world of doublespeak the RNC chair said that the GOP's poor showing was because of the country's disapproval of Barack Obama, who has dipped but still outpaces the GOp by 10 points. Of course, none of this makes any sense.
But Mitt Romney is weird now that you come to think of it.
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