Presidential Election of 2012

The Tremendous Dedication Of American Voters In Face Of Republican Attempts To Cut Voting Numbers!

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It is well known that Republican Governors and state legislatures did everything possible to cut down voting days and hours, created photo ID barriers, and to intimidate voters though the organization True-The Vote.

Ohio, Michigan, Florida, and other GOP governed states were outrageous in their misbehavior, and in Florida, 24 hours after the polls officially closed, the vote count goes on, and there is still no declaration of whether Barack Obama or Mitt Romney has won the state’s electoral votes, although Obama is ahead in popular votes.

Some people in Florida and elsewhere waited up to seven hours, and as late as 1 AM, determined to cast their vote, and it turned out, the anger of voters showed in the results nationwide, heavily against the Republican Party, and those denying a basic democratic right, the right to vote!

Governor Rick Scott of Florida should be kicked out of office for cutting the number of days for early voting from 14 to 8, and refusing to extend voting, with long lines occurring, for the final Sunday and Monday before Election Day.

Hopefully, the anger of voters will continue to reverberate, and the “Bully Governors” and their party members in the legislatures will be summarily kicked out of office in 2014, as a disgrace to the offices they hold!

2012 Presidential Campaign Proved That Billionaires Could NOT Control Result!

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The Koch Brothers, Sheldon Adelson, and other billionaires spent tens of millions of dollars in 2012 to make our country a plutocracy, and failed.

Linda McMahon spent $100 million to “buy” a Senate seat in Connecticut and failed.

Carly Fiorina and Meg Whitman spent $100 million each to “buy” the Senate seat and Governor’s chair in California in 2010 and failed.

So the Citizens United Case in 2010 failed to change our system as much as we feared, and the Court looks horrible, and it is time for them to accept a case and reverse themselves IMMEDIATELY!

Theodore Roosevelt was right 100 years ago—the powerful plutocracy should NOT control our political system!

Mitt Romney’s Concession Speech: Classy, But Too Much Delayed! Now “Family Time” !

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Mitt Romney gave a classy concession speech early this morning, calling for unity and support for joint action on the nation’s problems.

It took him much too long to come out, making him, briefly, look like a sore loser, but he then redeemed himself.

If only his campaign had been as redeeming, and he had shown some character and principle, rather than lying constantly, and proving to be a complete chameleon and phony!

But now, it is time for him to take his wife, Ann, who suffers terribly from Multiple Sclerosis, home, and do what he should have been doing all along—NOT running for President, demonstrating family values, enjoying his wife and sons and their families, continuing to make money on money, and staying out of the political system, so that the Republican Party can reform itself as a true alternative to the Democratic Party, as it used to be in the past.

American NEEDS a responsible, legitimate two party system that does not victimize anyone, but instead brings us together!

BARACK OBAMA WINS SECOND TERM AT 11:12 PM EASTERN TIME!

Ronald 9 Comments

Barack Obama has done it!

He has won reelection by going over the top in Ohio!

There are still states not settled, including Florida and Virginia, but it does not matter now!

He will now go down as one of the greatest Presidents of all time, after a second term where he will have capital to force the Republican House to deal with him on his own demands!

Much commentary will follow, but right now this is a moment to celebrate, as it is a victory for the American people!

Historical Reputation Of Barack Obama To Be Decided Tonight!

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This author has made clear his belief that Barack Obama has been an outstanding President, and in many ways, a trail blazer, and transformational President.

But it is clear that IF he loses reelection tonight, his rank and significance in history will be a lot lower than if he wins!

One term Presidents never stand out as much in history, with maybe the exception of James K. Polk in the 1840s, who did not seek a second term, and died three months after his term, but had accomplished tremendous expansion of the United States in his term, more than anyone since Thomas Jefferson.

It is sad to think that is the case, but it is reality, and history will, simply, not be as kind to Barack Obama if he leaves office on January 20, 2013!

And it is possible much of his legacy COULD be repealed or reversed, which would be a true tragedy!

Two Issues On Each Side Of Presidential Campaign Will Decide The Election

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As we look back on the Presidential campaign of 2012, it is clear that the election being decided within hours will be based on two issues that affected each side, and occurring within the past two months.

If Mitt Romney wins, it will be because of:

The attack on the Libyan Consulate in Benghazi,which has caused grief for President Obama.

The lackadaisical performance of Barack Obama in the first Presidential debate.

If Barack Obama wins, it will be because of:

Romney’s “47 Percent” speech in Boca Raton, Florida, revealed in September.

Hurricane Sandy last week, and Obama’s reaction to it, including the “bromance” of Obama with Republican New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, and the Romney campaign’s criticism of Christie.

Much will be written about the campaign, but these factors, arising in the last two months, will be seen as key factors in what occurs!

As The Presidential Campaign Of 2012 Comes To An End, The Presidential Campaign Of 2016 Begins!

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This morning, Vice President Joe Biden voted in Delaware, and was asked if this is the last time he will be on an election ballot.

Biden made it clear that in no way was this the last time!

So the Presidential Campaign of 2016 has begun, even before we count the ballots of the Presidential Election of 2012!

Such is politics in America, a never ending game that never escapes us, just like sports, always there, always entertaining!

Obama Began In Iowa, And Ends In Iowa

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Barack Obama’s rise to the Presidency began in Iowa on January 3, 2008, when he won the Iowa Caucuses.

Now, last night, November 5, he gave his last campaign speech in Des Moines, Iowa, with a tear in his eyes, as his final campaign ended, and he left it up to the American people as to whether he would serve a second term in the White House.

It has been a long five years from then to now!

Let’s hope the American people give Obama a lease on the White House for a second term!

Political Prognostication: Nate Silver Vs. Michael Barone–Exact Same Electoral Vote Predicted For Obama And Romney!

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Anyone who studies and follows American politics knows the names of Nate Silver, who writes the 538 blog for the New York Times, and Michael Barone, who is a conservative pundit for Fox News Channel, and the principal author of the authoritative work, THE ALMANAC OF AMERICAN POLITICS.

The two men totally disagree on the results of today’s Presidential election, so much so that it is disturbing, because, obviously, one is totally wrong!

Silver is 34 years old, considered a political genius by many, and correctly predicted the Presidential Election Of 2008 and every Senate race, and uses statistical methods to decide what is going on politically, and his last assessment last night was that Barack Obama had a 91.6 percent chance of winning the Electoral College, with a margin of 315-223.

Michael Barone, who is twice Silver’s age (68), and whose publication mentioned above has been regarded as the best single volume book every two years on the Presidential election, Congressional elections, and state gubernatorial elections–a literal gold mine of information on the 50 states and the national government— and a series that the author has had since the first publication forty years ago in 1972, says Mitt Romney will win the Electoral College by 315-223.

Notice that–the EXACT same electoral vote total–one by a man half the age of the second man—and both considered “experts”!

How can both be correct? The answer is that they cannot both be correct, so besides the results tonight and tomorrow morning, we are witnessing the battle of the “Experts”–and it will be interesting to see whether Silver or Barone is correct!

A Short List Of Obama’s Accomplishments As President In His First Term

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A complete list of accomplishments of President Barack Obama in his first term is much too lengthy to list here, but here is a shortened list of what he has meant for America.

Anyone who has not yet voted, and is still undecided, will, hopefully, see this entry tonight or early tomorrow, and use it as a justification to back the 44th President for another term.

This will be my last post or entry before voting starts at midnight today in Dixville Notch, New Hampshire.

Obama kept us out of a second Great Depression.
Obama passed health care reform, the most important reform since Medicare and Social Security.
Obama promoted an economic stimulus program which saved many jobs of public service workers and started economic revival.
Obama saved America’s auto industry.
Obama ended Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell against gays in the military.
Obama promoted sweeping financial industry reform.
Obama greatly improved benefits for veterans in our military.
Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act for women.
Obama presided over the creation of over 5 million private sector jobs in his first term.
Obama brought about tax cuts for 3.5 million small businesses.
Obama promoted tax cuts for the middle class, in their weekly paychecks.
Obama appointed two women to the Supreme Court.
Obama signed the legislation creating the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Obama reformed the student loan program, and improved Pell Grants for higher education.
Obama extended unemployment benefits to those out of work for longer periods of time.
Obama promoted embryonic stem research on disease prevention and cures.
Obama invested funding in clean energy and scientific research.
Obama signed a bill to provide health care to 11 million children.
Obama provided health care coverage to age 26, and arranged for coverage of pre-existing medical conditions for people of any age.
Obama cut prescription drug costs for senior citizens by 50 percent.
Obama promoted legislation and executive orders to improve the environment.
Obama supported gay marriage rights, and the passage of hate crimes laws on basis of sexual orientation.
Obama repaired our international image with our allies, and respect from our rivals in the world.
Obama signed nuclear arms reduction agreement with Russia.
Obama ended the war in Iraq.
Obama has set a 2014 deadline for withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Obama helped to liberate Libya from Moammar Gaddafi’s dictatorship.
Obama gave IRON DOME missile system to Israel to protect against attacks.
Obama has been willing to defend us against terrorist attacks in America and overseas.
Obama was able to eliminate Osama Bin Laden and other Al Qaeda and Taliban terrorists.
Obama was able to save a ship crew from Somali pirates.

No one is saying that everything is perfectly fine in America, but great progress has been made, and we are not about to repeal the many wonderful reforms and policies that Barack Obama has accomplished, more than any President in domestic affairs since Lyndon B. Johnson, and the greater respect and popularity in foreign affairs that we had accomplished under Bill Clinton, but was lost under George W. Bush!

It is still a fact that Obama has had to deal with the greatest set of crises since Abraham Lincoln and Franklin D. Roosevelt, but with a much large nation, population wise, than these top two Presidents had to consider in making policy!

Commentary on the election results will follow, once we know what the results are for Congress and the Presidency! Make sure you vote tomorrow, if you have not yet done so!