tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post3344111118865881767..comments2023-10-16T07:13:12.123-05:00Comments on A plain blog about politics: More on Why Romney Goes With Such Weak StuffJonathan Bernsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15931039630306253241noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-55323644391860307002012-09-25T02:27:48.717-05:002012-09-25T02:27:48.717-05:00The other thing the right wing is slow to realize ...The other thing the right wing is slow to realize is that while a few years a go if Fox and AM radio beat the drum long enough on a manufactured story, that eventually the MSM would feel obligated to cover it, and in a manner that would lend the story credence. It seems they may have finally wised up after the wingers kept overplaying their hand. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-81419716870380151482012-09-23T10:57:30.943-05:002012-09-23T10:57:30.943-05:00Since 2000, especially, the right wing ecosystem i...Since 2000, especially, the right wing ecosystem is like a country engaged in intellectual protectionism. It puts impossible barriers up for consider of NIH ideas to get considered on Faux News while allowing inferior ideas to have side exposure within the right wing ecosystem. Then when they try to export those ideas outside the ecosystem, they are finding them less and less competitive. The ecosystem has taken on the values and the operational effectiveness of a Stalinist state. The irony of the cries of soshulism are completely lost in their blind spots.LosGatosCAnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-51929328729360319442012-09-23T09:32:17.800-05:002012-09-23T09:32:17.800-05:00Well, I'd agree you are a "pro" hard...Well, I'd agree you are a "pro" hard lefty. ;-)<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-8021263714199812522012-09-23T08:58:52.806-05:002012-09-23T08:58:52.806-05:00Pro-tip: You might want to learn to stop arguing ...Pro-tip: You might want to learn to stop arguing with the empty chair in which the fantasy president you've created in your imagination is 'sitting'.<br /><br />That's just ugly, ugly rhetoric.<br /><br />(P.S. - Just because trolls tend to come back with a juvenile retort of "yeah, but you didn't disagree with my point", I'll state for the record that I disagree with with your argument re: Obama as well.)JSnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-41834224439507933662012-09-23T07:18:14.694-05:002012-09-23T07:18:14.694-05:00Willard made it plain that he'd destroy all op...Willard made it plain that he'd destroy all opposition, and he had the cash to do it. That's what he did in 2008, and he spent upwards of $55M of his own cash in the 2008 effort, which got his name in front of the electorate and made him the front runner this cycle. <br /><br />So no, winning a presidential nomination is not always an impressive accomplishment. And this year is your proof of that. Neither of these 2 candidates accomplished anything impressive, imo. Given his failures, Obama would surely have faced a primary challenger this cycle, if he'd been a white man, so you can't call his nomination special in any way. And Romney is just an extremely well funded plastic hairdo. So any significant challenge was crowded out, in both cases. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-6666222848130241222012-09-23T00:45:54.408-05:002012-09-23T00:45:54.408-05:00Guess I'm forgetting my Invisible Primary here...Guess I'm forgetting my Invisible Primary here, because I'd say only Pawlenty, Huntsman and Perry were at all serious candidacies. And while Perry did achieve front-runner status, that was more based on anticipation than anything the Texas governor delivered.<br /><br />Romney won with cash (which he should gets credit for raising), and the odd factor of Ron Paul running interference with all the not-Romneys. RP may have won a place in the good graces of the party for Rand Paul, but he sure didn't seem to get much of a 'thank you' from Romney.<br /><br />Still feels to me like Mitt pulled the "You won 2nd place in a Beauty Contest, collect $10" Community Chest card.<br /><br />I also wonder if the Tea Party wave of 2010 convinced some of the more notable players on the Republican bench to pass on the race.JSnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-34684347017197532752012-09-22T23:47:54.951-05:002012-09-22T23:47:54.951-05:00I disagree with one thing here: winning a presiden...I disagree with one thing here: winning a presidential nomination is always an impressive accomplishment, full stop. Jonathan Bernsteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15931039630306253241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-67326819710498073832012-09-22T21:42:32.295-05:002012-09-22T21:42:32.295-05:00Might be worth noting that Romney is 1-2 as a camp...Might be worth noting that Romney is 1-2 as a campaigner. 2-2 if you include winning the GOP nomination this year, but that was hardly an epic contest.<br /><br />In light of recent reports, Romney carpet bombing each successive 'not-Romney of the month' in the primaries may be the worst use of campaign funds since Hillary blew $36 million of her war chest grinding John Spencer to dust in her '06 NY Senate race.JSnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-7568184443640969782012-09-22T19:59:26.217-05:002012-09-22T19:59:26.217-05:00Here's a little more analysis from a slightly ...Here's a little more analysis from a slightly different angle. When you have to avoid campaigning on issues, as I think Romney (and to a lesser extent Obama) is trying to do, you need to focus on other things. <br /><br />However, the vacuum is even worse for the news outlets, because they have to fill the airtime. <b><a href="http://moderatepoli.blogspot.com/2012/08/keep-those-gaffes-coming.html" rel="nofollow">So gaffes are it</a></b>.<br /><br />I'm guessing that there are lots of people who spend their days trawling for gaffe material. This is not just people working for campaigns, but also for the Daily Show (obviously), cable news networks, researchers for talk radio shows, researchers for partisan blogs etc. And there are also the tens of thousands of volunteers who will forward what they find. How do you think Breitbart ended up with video of Shirley Sherrod? This is the modern equivalent of panning for gold.<br /><br />The campaigns probably have their respective libraries of gaffes that they will release when the news cycle isn't going their way. Hence, the 1988 Obama audio about redistribution released this week in response to the 47% video. However, the management of gaffe release is complicated by all the free agents out there who probably won't adhere to a campaign's timeline. <br /><br />It's too bad that this is what we're getting instead of substantive campaign coverage, but it's not largely the media's fault. Hopefully the debates will end the campaign-by-gaffe period and move us to an issues-based campaign. But I'm not betting on it.ModeratePolihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01721945380057992971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-3822570636846434862012-09-22T19:56:48.261-05:002012-09-22T19:56:48.261-05:00Another problem for Romney is that -- ironically -...Another problem for Romney is that -- ironically -- its scattered tactical direction has itself become predictable, such that the Obama campaign will likely be having more and more fun using purported gaffes as a way to T up their own changes in emphasis. <br /><br />Very plausibly, this most recent 'gaffe' (about 'changing Washington from inside') was a well-executed trap. Carrington Wardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01597864525334775282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-80345703958784873672012-09-22T19:47:50.591-05:002012-09-22T19:47:50.591-05:00The interesting thing for me is that Romney 2.012 ...The interesting thing for me is that Romney 2.012 seems much the same as 2.008 -- I remember being disgusted by his pettiness, and worried that we'd eat it up. <br /><br />Which suggests to me that this petty gaffe-chasing is 'overdetermined' -- a lot of these points you make seem plausible, but it's equally plausible that Romney is himself essentially a tactical campaigner.<br /><br />He and his closest advisors have done little or nothing to provide needed strategic guidance for his staff, and so, as people hired to oversee operations at a tactical level, they simply do what they do best. <br /><br />NB. Bill Clinton's 1992 maxim: "it's the economy, stupid" reflected the realization by his closest staff and -- presumably -- Candidate Clinton himself that a campaign's natural tendency is to descend into the tactical weeds. Carrington Wardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01597864525334775282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-29148041114734569942012-09-22T19:35:10.206-05:002012-09-22T19:35:10.206-05:00Thanks, zic. This is a very funny video. It's ...Thanks, zic. This is a very funny video. It's only 1.5 minutes, but feels like a breezy 30 second spot.ModeratePolihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01721945380057992971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-45738583472298201762012-09-22T17:26:46.692-05:002012-09-22T17:26:46.692-05:00But you do need a news channel to convince other p...But you do need a news channel to convince other people. I should say another news channel because it appears that Fox News, much like the Romney campaign, is not up to the job.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-38720117251920111812012-09-22T16:48:35.630-05:002012-09-22T16:48:35.630-05:00I can't believe that in all of the presidentia...I can't believe that in all of the presidential campaign coverage I've watched I've never heard this (now obvious) fact pointed out. You really nail it. It seems like both camps but Romney's especially just picks a different theme each day in a random, kind of desperate way, hoping something sticks. It's like they feel responsible for providing journalists with something to write about (instead of having story ideas generated BY journalists). <br /><br />You can see the effort this taking after months of primary campaigns and now this final push. I'm surprised that Romney PR staff have hung in there so long. I'd be exhausted. It's like they have devoted staff members watching President Obama's every move or word, waiting for something they can capitalize on. This is such a short-term way of running a campaign. Romney should be talking to voters, the people he needs to inspire, not promoting an "Obama Watch" reality show.<br /><br />I remember seeing James Carville speak and while a lot of his presentation was total BS, I remember he said that in a presidential campaign, the candidate who presents the most optimistic vision of the future will be the one who wins. I realize how hard that is in this economic climate and I don't think either candidate is really delivering this. But I think Romney's focus on anti-Obama, rather than pro-Romney is just a fatal mistake on his part.Lizhttp://www.twitter.com/nwjerseyliznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-16783398345260896582012-09-22T12:23:54.017-05:002012-09-22T12:23:54.017-05:00110+ rounds of golf, 17 vacations. Obysmal hasn&#...110+ rounds of golf, 17 vacations. Obysmal hasn't focused on a laser on jobs like he said he would - hasn't met with his job council in > 6 months. He just keeps taking while the serfs suffer. It is good to be king.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-68511299885107281912012-09-22T07:56:43.790-05:002012-09-22T07:56:43.790-05:00Good of you to acknowledge that the MSM is leftist...Good of you to acknowledge that the MSM is leftist. <br /><br />Others but especially Gallup has previously documented that you hard lefties were the last holdouts on that score, and the rest of us, the supermajority, agrees on that point. You now make it unanimous, then. That's progress. <br /><br />It was amusing in 2010, when the lefty MSM ignored the soon-to-come shellacking that November, which was obvious to any sentient observer. Those media degenerates pretty much lost all credibility in that cycle, and apparently even you now acknowledge that, which as I say is progress. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-13312527882417106422012-09-22T01:11:19.695-05:002012-09-22T01:11:19.695-05:00When Mitt Romney maneuvers himself into the positi...When Mitt Romney maneuvers himself into the position of the "Washington Insider" six weeks before the election... VOLUNTARILY???<br /><br />You bet we're laughing, Romney built that gaffe all on his own.JSnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-26619204056882703272012-09-21T19:51:02.338-05:002012-09-21T19:51:02.338-05:00Glad to have analysis that looks at the rabid righ...Glad to have analysis that looks at the rabid right machine that life is too short for me to follow. Fox is becoming comical, with their day-long riffs on Obama meeting with a pirate in costume but doesn't have time for Netanyahu, failing to note that the photo is from President Obama's 2009 correspondents dinner comedy stylings.<br /><br />But I am noticing something different right now: the media is not taking the bait. The Romney campaign seems to have lost all credibility with the non-Foxandfriends media. Fascinating. Captain Futurehttp://dreamingup.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-74501463975005983382012-09-21T19:23:57.910-05:002012-09-21T19:23:57.910-05:00This is in response in to Anonymous written at 251...This is in response in to Anonymous written at 251p. I despise seeing comments like yours. It shows one thing when u make these rants and raves about President Obama. I'm not even going to take my time to correct all your faulty conclusions. As an example is your complaint about continuing debt. He was left with an excess of 3 trillion dollar debt. The country goes on living debt keeps occurring grandma and grandpa keep getting their Social Security checks, they keep going to the Dr. MEDICARE keeps paying the bills. That debt added to the 3 trillion already on the books, the million a day we're spending in Afghanistan daily.Debt added to debt is MORE debt. I see some personal snippets that make me think President's Obamas skin color might have a lot to do with your complaints. I see a man that puts in 20 hrs a day. U say lazy? Explain that. Expensive vacations? The President can't take a 2 Wm vacation? U need to get your news from a new source that is fact-checked and respected. Try NYTimes. Read Professor Krugmanscolumn. Easy to read.Can a person stop being racist? That would at the least take effort on your part.We're going to have more black Presidents. Get over the pettiness.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-67232330846334134052012-09-21T19:08:15.327-05:002012-09-21T19:08:15.327-05:00When the Dems come out with an attack line I love,...When the Dems come out with an attack line I love, I'll be the first to admit that I haven't a clue as to how it will play out to the average persuadable American. Compared to them I am a hyper-partisan (for the truth), hyper-informed voters.MNhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02649831883849533189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-89344561454562223832012-09-21T16:35:25.148-05:002012-09-21T16:35:25.148-05:00I love they are doing this. While they fill up th...I love they are doing this. While they fill up their minds with this "feel good" nonsense they are wasting news cycles.<br /><br />Imagine how devastating Romney COULD have been had he put forward a somewhat credible set of plans and a real vision rather than all this vapor?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13461800001751598890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-23981340374996278992012-09-21T16:33:01.418-05:002012-09-21T16:33:01.418-05:00While it is easy to make fun of politicians like P...While it is easy to make fun of politicians like Pawlenty, he is by no means a light weight even if he did drop out early this cycle. He was Minnesota's most conservative governor in probably a few generations. In fact, the previous GOP governor, Arnie Carlson, was a popular pro-choice Republican who won in big landslides but did not pursue a right wing agenda at all. In addition, Pawlenty won re-election in a 2006 cycle that saw a Democrat, Amy Klobuchar, win her senate seat by more than 20%, saw a lot of legislative races go from red to blue and a high school history teacher name Tim Walz beat an entrenched Republican a what was considered a "safe" rural GOP congressional district.<br /><br />So he's no light weight even if Ames didn't go his way. And it's not like you couldn't wait six weeks before selling out for a dump truck of special interest cash. It you wanted to be a high powered lobbyist, would you want to piss off someone who could be President in a few months? I wouldn't, Pawlenty's bailing on the mitterst is not exactly a vote of confidence.longwalkdownlyndalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13173899547449318257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-79945117943806282012-09-21T16:30:07.760-05:002012-09-21T16:30:07.760-05:00So that's what you lefties call it now? ;)So that's what you lefties call it now? ;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-59812653821712960462012-09-21T15:54:34.920-05:002012-09-21T15:54:34.920-05:00No, I think they're pointing and laughing.No, I think they're pointing and laughing.proterozoicnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-87994201217220072262012-09-21T14:52:07.669-05:002012-09-21T14:52:07.669-05:00I think "us leftist" are mostly just per...I think "us leftist" are mostly just perplexed that this is all the Rs got. Unless the voter suppression tactics work better than anyone could have hoped for, we can stick a fork in this race. It's over.Mikenoreply@blogger.com