Tuesday Open Thread [4.17.12]

Filed in Open Thread by on April 17, 2012

I thank Nemski for helping out with the open threads during the last several days. I was very busy in real life elsewhere. Do we have polls? That’s a silly question.

An Associated Press analysis of the presidential battleground finds Mitt Romney likely has 188 electorate votes in states that are either solidly Republican or leaning Republican while President Obama has 242 electoral votes in safe Democratic or likely Democratic states. That leaves 104 electoral votes in states that are purely tossups: Colorado, Florida, Iowa, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio and Virginia. I would give the President the edge in Colorado, Florida, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio and Virginia. Indeed, the only swing state I see him losing is Iowa.

NATIONAL–GENERAL ELECTION–PRESIDENT (CNN/Opinion Research): Obama 52, Romney 43

Thinking about the following characteristics and qualities, please say whether you think each one applies more to Barack Obama or more to Mitt Romney: Is in touch with the problems facing women today?

Obama 55
Romney 27

As of today, do you lean more toward …?

Women: Obama 55, Romney 39
Men: Obama 49, Romney 46

More on that CNN poll:

NATIONAL–GENERAL ELECTION–PRESIDENT (Gallup Tracking): Romney 47, Obama 45
NATIONAL–GENERAL ELECTION–PRESIDENT (Ipsos/Reuters): Obama 47, Romney 43
NATIONAL–GENERAL ELECTION–PRESIDENT (Rasmussen Tracking): Romney 47, Obama 44
WISCONSIN–GENERAL ELECTION–PRESIDENT (PPP): Obama 50, Romney 44
NORTH CAROLINA–DEM PRIMARY–GOVERNOR (Tulchin Research): Bob Etheridge 32, Walter Dalton 22, Bill Faison 4
WISCONSIN–RECALL–GOVERNOR (PPP): Gov. Scott Walker (R) 50, Tom Barrett (D) 45; Walker 50, Kathleen Falk (D) 43; Walker 51, Doug LaFollette (D) 40; Walker 50, Kathleen Vinehout (D) 38
WISCONSIN–DEM. PRIMARY–GOVERNOR (PPP): Tom Barrett 38, Kathleen Falk 24, Doug LaFollette 9, Kathleen Vinehout 6
WISCONSIN–GENERAL ELECTION–SENATOR (PPP): Tommy Thompson (R) 47, Tammy Baldwin (D) 45; Baldwin 46, Mark Neumann (R) 45; Baldwin 47, Jeff Fitzgerald (R) 40

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  1. socialistic ben says:

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/17/alec-retreats-stand-your-ground-laws-voter-id_n_1431531.html

    another win for sanity. Shouldnt stop here…. next up Chamber of Commerce.

  2. Rustydils says:

    I have been living in New Mexico since 1983. We now have a republican governor. I know alot of people in New Mexico from various walks of life. THERE IS NO WAY OBAMA WILL WIN NEW MEXICO THIS TIME AROUND. So if you used the same logic for your other swing state picks, you better reevaluate.

  3. Geezer says:

    Wait — you live in New Mexico? It’s so boring there that you have to comment on a Delaware blog for something to do?

  4. Liberal Elite says:

    @Rd “THERE IS NO WAY OBAMA WILL WIN NEW MEXICO”

    Yet another stupid prediction? Why? Why do you feel the need to keep repeating utter crap like this? Do you think that this will actually help get your creepy friend Romney elected?

    Again… Take it to Intrade. You can get really good odds on that prediction right now. Current odds are listed at 10:1 (91%) in favor of Obama.

    @Rd “I have been living in New Mexico since 1983.”

    (and I’ll bet it’s in the pit that Albuquerque has become) You looking for sympathy? Condolences.

  5. fightingbluehen says:

    GSA? Let’s look into the over the top lavish parties, trips and spending of the Obamas.
    All during a recession when a lot of people where and are still struggling to put food on the table.
    Real classy huh?

    Sounds like an issue to me.

  6. fightingbluehen says:

    New mexico mex food is the best mex going.

  7. Liberal Elite says:

    @fbh “Sounds like an issue to me.”

    Except that Obama had nothing to do with the GSA party, and he did fire (or will soon fire) nearly everyone involved. There was no “Brownie, you’re doing a heck of a job” slap on the back before a much belated resignation.

  8. fightingbluehen says:

    LE: Screw the GSA. I’m talking about the Obamas over the top parties and vacations during a recession.

  9. Liberal Elite says:

    @fbh “New mexico mex food is the best mex going.”

    Yes. And also the worst food. I don’t know any place in the country (except maybe Florida) where the range and distribution of food quality is greater.

    Try Gabriel’s near Camel Rock.

  10. Liberal Elite says:

    @fbh “LE: Screw the GSA. I’m talking about the Obamas over the top parties and vacations during a recession.”

    Uh.. Most Americans take vacations. I sure do… and I go to nice places all over the world.

    And most of those parties are thrown by the people he visits. “President is coming? Let’s throw a big party.” — That’s the way it has always has been.

  11. socialistic ben says:

    nonono LG. EVERYTHING Obama does is at the tax payers expense. Buys his daughter a birthday toy? TAX PAYER MONEY!!!!! He doesnt make a salary or money from other business ventures at all. He has no money. It’s just like welfare queens driving caddies. Right FBH?

  12. heragain says:

    Friends School is on fire. Anyone who needs help picking up kids, I’m in the area. https://twitter.com/#!/DamianGiletto/status/192305156719779840/photo/1

  13. Jason330 says:

    New Mexico: Obama’s numbers will probably come down to earth a little now that the GOP primary is over. I don’t think he’ll win New Mexico by 16%.

  14. pandora says:

    I am in the Friend’s area, too. If anyone needs help email me at pandora@delawareliberal.net or use the tip link.

  15. cassandra_m says:

    @LE — fbh doesn’t have much to say unless he’s heard it on FOX or Rush, so you can feel free to ignore.

  16. nemski says:

    No injuries reported at Friends. That’s a good thing.

  17. SussexAnon says:

    Anyone read the post on DailyKos about Ted Nugents comments at the NRA event? Good stuff. Makes Rosens comments seem tame. And Nuggent is claiming he is tight with Romney. Unlike Rosen & Obama.

  18. fightingbluehen says:

    Sorry Cassandra, but I’m usually a step ahead of Limbaugh and I don’t watch Fox Unless it’s the Fox Soccer Channel or cartoons.
    Anyway, why would I need somebody to tell me that taking forty friends to a five star hotel in Spain with tax payer money or taking separate planes four hours apart to a 4mil vacation in Hawaii while claiming we use too much oil or throwing lavish, way over the top non state parties (that they tried to hide) at the white House . All this while people are struggling to put food on the table during the worst economic downturn since the great depression.
    Talk about a slap in the face to the struggling populous. It’s like they couldn’t care less.

  19. cassandra_m says:

    So you keep saying. Except that all you can contribute here are the day’s talking points from these wingnut sources. So perhaps if you could step up your game, you might not find your comments dismissed so fast.

  20. fightingbluehen says:

    I haven’t heard the comparison of the Obamas lavish spending compared to the GSA’s yet Cassandra , but I’m sure it’s just a matter of time.

  21. socialistic ben says:

    dont you see? Rush and Beck and Hannity all get their talking points from FBH!!! who knew! all along we had the brainmaster of the conservative movement commenting right here. I feel blessed

  22. fightingbluehen says:

    Check this out Cassandra.
    The GSA was just following the lead of the Obamas. Just came up with that one….. lol

  23. cassandra_m says:

    Actually, you didn’t. But we’ll let you know when you’ve had an original thought, ok?

  24. fightingbluehen says:

    I didn’t ? Do tell.

  25. Dave says:

    @rustydils – You’ve been in NM since 83? The state where the largest employer is federal government. The state that heads the list for for the highest return on every dollar they send to DC, getting back something like $2.50 on the dollar?!

    Any chance you can lead a secession movement out there? We could actually reduce the national debt. Is there any chance we can give NM back to the Mexicans?

  26. MJ says:

    The circus came to Georgetown today with St. Bodie Girl and Wolfgang von Bombast (or whatever the hell his name is) leading the parade. Not only were these clowns calling out County Council (once again) for supporting HB 290, but they started venturing into birtherism, especially when one woman categorically stated she had a copy of the President’s Kenyan birth certificate.

  27. anon says:

    Was Mack there?

  28. MJ says:

    Mack was a no show. Sheriff Woody showed up at 11:57 AM and was still there well after 1:00 PM. Hopefully he counted the time he was holding up the wall as his lunch hour. If not, he owes the taxpayers a refund.

  29. Jason330 says:

    “…when one woman categorically stated she had a copy of the President’s Kenyan birth certificate.”.

    LMAO

  30. MJ says:

    Jason, that was after her rant about how the Council is trampling on the Constitution.

  31. Dave says:

    I briefly heard Christopher talking on WGMD. The snippet I heard was about armed Deputys protecting the city council at the meetings. Oh yeah, and George Cole and Vance Phillips are no longer real Republicans, like Christopher who came out the “womb” Republican.

    I thought he had gone so far out to the edge that he and his posse had fallen off, but I guess there is more edge out there, but it has to be getting thin.

    We need a robust two party system and I hope for the Republican Party’s sake it can survive these kind of people.

  32. Geezer says:

    Somebody has to get this stuff on video and post it on Youtube. It won’t take a month to make Sussex County the laughingstock of the nation, instead of just the state.

  33. MJ says:

    The best part of the meeting was when the birther woman asked Vance if he was laughing at her. He said “Yes, I am.”

  34. Jason330 says:

    Good for Vance. That he is now considered one of the sane ones says a lot about how completely the DE GOP has occupied Looneyville.

  35. MJ says:

    I also forgot to mention that Wolfgang von Baumgart came to County Council dressed in this Australian-type khaki uniform complete with boots.

  36. Geezer says:

    It’s the Sussex GOP, not the state party, but they haven’t just occupied Looneyville. They freaking built it with their bare hands.

    MJ, I’m serious. Embed videos of this stuff here and you’ll go nationwide.

  37. JPconnorjr says:

    I have know Wolfie for 20 years he wears that every day. Pretty sure he has washed it twice in that period of time.

  38. MJ says:

    Geezer, I’ll embed the audio of yesterday’s meeting.

  39. Geezer says:

    MJ: If I didn’t live up here, I’d bring a video camera to the next meeting. Look at what happened with Crazy Eileen — that video ultimately gave us Sen. Chris Coons. It doesn’t have to be the whole meeting — wouldn’t it be great if we had a 15-second camphone clip of Bodenweiser dropping to his knees to make some pathetic point?

    If the rest of the state gets a look at these clowns playing Student Council, it will destroy either their movement or the Republican GOP. No reasonably sane person will want to have any connection with the likes of Bodenweiser, Hudson, Ayotte and Christopher.

  40. puck says:

    Bring a second covert camera guy to catch them harassing the first camera guy.

  41. Aoine says:

    Geezer – I is on video and streamed live from council

    check out sussex county’s web page

    http://www.sussexcountyde.gov

    it dont get much better than that

  42. MJ says:

    They only stream video the day of the meeting. Audio can be heard at any time though.

    And one of the wingnuts announced today that he is going to primary Mike Vincent, the council president, because of the sheriff issue.

  43. Aoine says:

    wingnuts and campaigns

    long on mouth – short on money

    just click on where they live

    gives the term :chesp shot: a whole new view”

  44. anon40 says:

    @Geezer–

    Do you really think Coons is all that different from Castle? Coons votes almost exactly the same way Castle would have voted on every single important issue.

  45. nemski says:

    @anon40 – That’s bs. Castle was Boehner’s bitch and voted straight down the party line against the Obama agenda.

  46. jason330 says:

    Castle’s only talent was the ability to seem like he was making his own choices. If you look at his record, Castle was a straight-up GOP company man.

  47. puck says:

    Coons votes almost exactly the same way Castle would have voted on every single important issue.

    Hear, hear. Delaware Democrats have reasonably liberal voting records thanks to the filibuster, which allows them to rack up ineffectual Yes votes for doomed kabuki Democratic bills that have no underlying support from Obama, Biden, or Reid.

    This was Castle’s game too. GOP leadership tolerated him voting Yes on Democratic bills as long as it didn’t matter.

  48. nemski says:

    puck conveniently forgets about Lily Ledbetter, banking reform, recovery bill and repeal of don’t ask don’t tell.

  49. puck says:

    nemski conveniently forgets all but DADT were passed before Carney and Coons took office. The loss of the House just gave Democrats even more cover to vote Dem when they really meant Repub. Democratic bills stopped coming to the Senate altogether.

    Also, everything changed after December 2010, when Obama flip-flopped on tax policy and set the table for austerity, which gave GOP-friendly Democrats permission to let their austerity flags fly. And Carper/Coons/Carney ran with the new tone, endorsing the Bowles-Simpson tax cuts for the rich and cuts in services for the rest of us.

  50. jason330 says:

    Puck’s reflexive “Democrats Suck” stance is tiresome, pointless and factually wrong. His argument is lost when he admits….”the GOP leadership tolerated (Castle) voting Yes on Democratic bills as long as it didn’t matter.”

  51. jason330 says:

    Puck, If you want to go down the rabbit hole and wallow in this kind of “Democrats and Republicans are just alike” nonsense, try hanging out on some Green Party blogs.

    It is an article of faith for those nut bags.

  52. nemski says:

    Shorter puck: Coons/Carney/Carper have a liberal voting record because of the Republicans.

    Note: I’d never say that these three were out and out liberals, but I would argue that we are better off with Coons and Carney than O’Donnell and Urquhart.

  53. nemski says:

    Oh yeah, I’d win that argument too.

  54. jason330 says:

    You can’t even argue that Castle would be better in the Senate than Carper. And I think Carper is horrible. But as Puck points out, “when is matters” Castle is a GOP party man.

  55. puck says:

    Nice blogswarm, but I’m still right about conservadems.

    And I’m still right on the facts. Just saying my facts are wrong doesn’t make it so. You need more than just assertions.

    And no, Democrats are not the same as Republicans (nice straw man though – maybe some of your readers will fall for it just like your more gullible contributors).

    Republicans have moved even further to the right while Democrats have moved into the space right-of-center that Republicans abandoned.

    Even with their endorsement of Bowles Simpson tax cuts for the rich and service cuts for the rest of us, Coons/Carney/Carper are still to the left of Republicans, but only because Republicans have moved into even crazier territory.

  56. nemski says:

    No, you’re wrong.

  57. nemski says:

    Let me elaborate, read your comment above. That is just so wrong, you might as well be a member of the GOP

  58. jason330 says:

    First off.

    “Coons votes almost exactly the same way Castle would have voted on every single important issue.

    Hear, hear.”

    I called you out and you yelp “straw man.” That is weak. Stop lying about your position in an attempt to walk aback your stupid comment. Just own it and apologize.

  59. Dave says:

    “Republicans have moved even further to the right while Democrats have moved into the space right-of-center that Republicans abandoned.”

    True. They were pulled there by the edgers, who moved so far right they have finally fallen off the edge. When Frank Knotts gets called a liberal, it tells you how far they have gone.

    Still, the Democrats have the center. Good show. Great things can happen in the center. Rarely do great things happen on the margins. Eisenhower, a moderate Republican, was equally hated by the far left and far right. Sounds like a good place to be when you want to lead an entire nation. You don’t lead from left or the right of the army. You kinda have to be in the center to make sure the army is behind you when you charge.

  60. jason330 says:

    I disagree. We have to acknowledge that we have a two party legislative system which works like a courtroom. Each side makes its arguments and it is far easier for the right to make its arguments when the left concedes too much.

    I think that may have been Puck’s point, but he veered into Looneyville saying that Coons is the same as Castle.

  61. puck says:

    Actually we do have a chance to see how Coons and Castle voted on the same bills, since Coons and Castle served in the lame-duck session together. The major legislation in the lame duck was the full extension of the Bush tax cuts.

    1. Castle YES, Coons YES (and Carper YES).

    I’ve dealt with Obama’s own culpability in the defeat of the middle-class only tax cuts in previous comments.

    You know Jason, when you tell everyone my facts are wrong, have you forgotten these events already happened and can be checked?

  62. puck says:

    Coons and Castle also both voted to repeal DADT (I think; too lazy to double-check).

  63. jason330 says:

    That vote does not contradict your other, accurate observation about Castle. I think you can extrapolate from your accurate comment about Castle to figure out how he would have voted on the Buffett Rule vs. Coons.

    Check and mate.

  64. nemski says:

    In the 111th Congress, Mike Castle voted along party lines 87% of the time; Chris Coons, 100%. Source: http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/111/

  65. jason330 says:

    I think the point about conservative Dems strengthening the hand of wingnut Republicans is a good one. Puck, like so many true believers, goes off the rails when he says that there is no difference between Coons and Castle.

  66. puck says:

    Every day that goes by without some misguided tax reform package is one day closer to the expiration of the godless Bush tax cuts. Here’s to gridlock!