The Reaction Wasn't What They Expected

++Hashtag #47 Traitors has now gone viral and global after the Daily News front page.

++The Detroit Free Press had a blistering editorial on the GOP letter staying it weakened the United States amid negotiating and raised doubts whether the United States ever be trusted with upholding any agreement it made.

++The American Conservative weighed in with an attack on the Senators and even Rand Paul,whom they had supported. Most surprising is that the American Conservative actually supports a nuclear agreement. 

++One left-wing blogger noted that while President Obama was in Selma inspiring the nation,all the Republicans stayed home and wrote the letter to cast a shade over the rest of the week.

++On Obama's speech, James Fellows wrote a piece in the Atlantic about how a President spoke honestly about the country the writer lives in.

++Constituent calls are not running in the Republicans favor as irate--yes, irate is accurate--voters call in their disapproval of the GOP letter.

++Tom Cotton, the Senate's new schoolboy,decided to answer Joe Biden's blistering attack of last night. he said that Biden had been wrong about everything for the last 40 years. Keep it classy, Tom. Biden did not have ad hominem arguments but expressed deep concerns about the Senate as an institution which he clearly loves. 

++A side effect of the flap is the debate whether the agreement would be a "treaty" or simply a presidential "order". Even the State Department was unclear, saying it would be an unenforceable verbal agreement--which simply doesn't make sense because of the technical nature of the issue.

The Fading American Dream

++The Detroit Free Press ran a piece today about how the American Dream is seen as unobtainable by a majority of Americans now. By the American Dream,Americans believe it is not about getting rich but having security. This means having a healthy and personally fulfilling life and being able to retire in comfort. 

++The Brookings Institute conducted a poll in 2008, which found that 3/4ths of Americans believed that the American Dream was harder to obtain than ever before. Of course, the poll was conducted during the Great Recession.

++USA Today put a price tag on the American Dream. For a family of 4,including a house,cars and medical care and retirement fund,the total is $130,000 per year. Of course, you can move to cheaper areas. But think about it,only 1 in 8 Americans earned $130,000 a year. The median income of the American household is $51,000. 

++No wonder people are anxious and frightened of the future.

++Previous studies have found "happiness" in terms of income equals $75,000 per year. That seems to be the magic psychological number.

Selected Polls

++I am smothered with surveys and polls. I hope to get to them tomorrow--Pew Hispanic Poll and the survey of Swing State Women. Heed Nate the Great's warnings on the Gallup poll--"Gallup versus the World" is a good read at 538. 

++The Romney campaign pulled its troops from North Carolina. They claim they basically have won so they are moving reinforcements to Ohio, which stubbornly resists Romney's charm.

++PPP--Colorado has President Obama 50 to Romney 47. Less of a lead than before. But with Gary Johnson counted, President Obama takes a five point lead.

++Detroit Free Press--a post-debate poll has President Obama 52 to 46.

++PPP--Virginia--President Obama 49 to Romney 48, but Tom Kaine has a five point lead.

++NBC/Wall Street/ Marist--Iowa --President Obama 51 to Romney 43. 34% have already voted and of those Obama supporters are ahead 67-32%. PPP warns that their poll tomorrow will be more favorable to Romney.

++NBC/Wall Street Journal/Marist--Wisconsin-- President Obama 51 to Romney 45.  Apparently, both campaigns have stopped there.

++Project New America--Nevada (yesterday) President Obama 50 to Romney 43.

++Reuters/Ipsos national--President Obama 47 to Romney 44.

++Rand Tracking--President Obama 50 to Romney 44.

++Rasmussen Romney 49 to Obama 47--2 for third party and 2 undecided.

++PPP national--Obama and Romney 48-48

++Survey USA--Ohio--President Obama 45 to Romney 42.

++Sam Wang at Princeton has put on two more shifts. His electoral vote count is Obama 290 to Romney 248 and the meta-margin is at 1.4%.