I wish!!!

Maybe I'll get paid when CW get's his 10K for going on GMA and explaining why he gave botox to his cat... :D

But I agree with ya..

Government is simply too important to leave to politicians.. Let the regular joes hash everything out.. :D

Michale.....

Heheheh. Truer words were never spoken.

And that's why I always say my fight's not really with you, Michale.

We disagree on some things and, sure, we like to talk a lot back and forth, but by and large I think we have a lot in common.

Much more than I would have ever thought when we first met :)

I put the smiley face there only because I'm laughing at myself and my original view of you - I remember a time when I all but accused you of being a paid member of the Republican party.

Sometimes I'm not proud of my past idgiotcy :)

I've come to believe that two people such as us, with some pretty different views, who have respect for each other, could do a better job governing than the folks in office who are always at each others throats.

I just like to talk politics because ... well, I just like to talk politics. I learn things this way.

-David

This reminds me of the inhabitants of the planet Cheron..

Centuries of civil war, the utter devastation of the planet..

And for what??

Because one group was white on the Right side and black on the Left side and the other group was white on the Left side and black on the Right side.....

It all seems so pointless...

Michale.....

CW,

Though I was happy to see Kathy Hochul win in this district, I think part of it can be attributed to a split between the Tea Party candidate and the Republican candidate.

Since Buffalonians are my people (even though I now live in Ohio), I will say that there are many people there who are very unhappy with the Republican party from the right.

Nevertheless, I would still keep mentioning the Ryan budget.

It seems to be about as popular as John Kasich or Scott Walker are for very similar reasons.

-David

I didn't say anything of the sort. We were simply talking about the 2010 election and Democrats got beat in the spending category. I think money played a big role in Obama's win in 2008 as well.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/10/barack-obamas-s.html

Money plays a huge role for both parties and this is one of the places where I think we both agree we'd like to see less influence.

It's not so much the money itself that bugs me, but what that money buys.

And let's not forget what part propaganda plays in elections..

http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlny/white-house-dedicates-new-position-to-deal-with-unfavorable-online-media_b36292

Obama has now added a PROPAGANDA CZAR to his long LONG list of Czars..

Funny... I thought Obama was supposed to nix all his czars..

Oh yea, that's right. Obama made a signing statement that he wasn't going to abide by that..

Isn't it strange how Obama is so much like Bush, yet he get's a pass from the Hysterical Left??

Michale.....

My mistake.. I meant to say 2006 elections.

You really can't compare turnout from a Midterm election to a turnout from a Presidential election.

Just like you can't base an argument on a poll that has more Democrats responders than Republican.. :D

I believe I said that large amounts of money go a long way towards deciding elections. They go even further in elections with lower voter turnout.

Now, you said large amounts of "CORPORATE" money go a long way towards deciding elections, thereby implying that corporate money fools voters into voting their way..

But it's funny how you don't make that claim when Democrats win elections... Only when Republicans do. :D

CW,

The only polls which count are those cast by the voters, right?

If you mean, "That's what elections are for..." then yes, I would agree...

So why haven't the lessons of the 2010 Mid Terms sunk in yet?? :D

Michale.....

As for Dan Savage, I'm just glad he's got Ann Landers' desk to write upon. Heh. Anyone interested in further reseach, just Google "santorum"...

We'll see how the "heavyweight" sweepstakes play out...

Osborne Ink -

That is an excellent point. I wonder, personally, how much of his show of fundraising strength comes from Utah, at this point. Huntsman, too, for that matter.

Michale -

The only polls which count are those cast by the voters, right?

Heh.

-CW

The numbers I've seen are:
2008 - 132,645,504
2010 - 90,682,968

Most people would say that 90 million is less than 132 million. Its well known though that math is a liberal science. I'm sure there are conservative "mathematicians" out there who would argue differently.

So, in other words, you think the American people are sheep and don't know any better.

I believe I said that large amounts of money go a long way towards deciding elections. They go even further in elections with lower voter turnout.

But I'll repeat it again if you'd like me to :)
-David

So, in other words, you think the American people are sheep and don't know any better....

I don't agree...

As for "low voter turnout"??

The 2010 elections had higher turnout than the 2008 elections...

Michale.....

I think the message from the mid-term was pretty clear: large amounts of corporate money goes a long way in elections with low voter turnout.

No? :)

-David

It is a great privilege to commemorate our common heritage, and common sacrifice.

24 May 2008

That's what President Obama signed in the Westminster Abbey Guestbook today....

Maybe President Obama was channeling President Martinez.....

Weird....

Michale.....

I am speaking about the American People..

Ya STILL haven't learned the lesson of the mid-term elections, eh?? :D

Michale.....

I was thinking more about the general confusion there seems to be from the conservative side. Usually, if there's one thing conservatives do right, it's stay on message.

But lately, they don't seem to be able to make up their minds and they kind of look lost.

Sad, sad ...

Where are the conservative intellectuals of old?

-David

You mean like Seniors prefer Ryan's plan to Obama's plan 48% to 42%???

:D

Michale.....

Are you sure you're not talking about conservative polls? :)

Ok, ok. While in general I would agree with that statement about polls, there are other things happening which seem to support the trend indicated from the poll data. The public reaction to the Ryan plan, for example.

Also, upticks in the number of insured:

http://blogs.forbes.com/rickungar/2011/05/23/more-solid-proof-that-obamacare-is-working/

This is good news because insurance depends on large pools of people.

Its progress ...

-David

Seriously though... Here's the problem with your poll (in particular) and polls in general..

The AP poll in November was 38 percent Republican and 39 percent Democrat.

But the current poll that shows the "rise" was 42 percent Democrat and 36 percent Republican.

So, it's not an accurate reading...

Once again, polls can be manipulated to show whatever the pollster wants...

Michale.....

Now I have equalized my bonehead mistake with an equally bonehead mistake. :D

Michale.....

Meanwhile, Obama's ratings on healthcare continue to look better and better when contrasted with Republican ideas.

Or not.... :D

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/healthcare/health_care_law

Michale

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20065417-503544.html

Mitt Romney, you don't have to hide your love away! :)

-David

Pass the popcorn.

... in polite company, given the meaning bestowed on it by Dan Savage.

The one true heavyweight in the race is Mitt Romney.

Can't agree with you there. Romney is plenty rich, and has converted plenty of corporate-raider money into campaign money. But money by itself doesn't make a heavyweight.

Huntsman is more of a heavyweight by the mere fact that "everyone knows" (rightly or wrongly) that he's the strongest general-election candidate. Sarah Palin is more of a heavyweight by the mere fact that the media goes ga-ga over her. Even Ron Paul could shake things up if his fanatics got the idea he was running-mate-in-waiting for a dull, respectable dark-horse or second-tier candidate.