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American Election 2012

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ChargerWA

Mark Loane (55)
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/opinion/why-romney-wont-win-20120924-26gz8.html

An interesting article.

It is strange how this article posits that the Republican party is slowly tearing it's self asunder due to the fact that the staunch right wing base is unpalatable to the undecided voter, damaging it's ability to attract enough votes to challenge the Democrats.

While in Australia taking cues from the Qld state election slaughter and Abbott's (shrinking) election winning lead the leading comentators are claiming the same problems for the Federal Labor party due to their perceived domination by Greens party ideals and policy.

Makes you wonder where the centrist party we apparently crave is? Why do we bounce backwards between left and right?

Do we struggle to get passionate about something unless it occupies an extreme position.
 

Bruwheresmycar

Nicholas Shehadie (39)
It is strange how this article posits that the Republican party is slowly tearing it's self asunder due to the fact that the staunch right wing base is unpalatable to the undecided voter, damaging it's ability to attract enough votes to challenge the Democrats.

While in Australia taking cues from the Qld state election slaughter and Abbott's (shrinking) election winning lead the leading comentators are claiming the same problems for the Federal Labor party due to their perceived domination by Greens party ideals and policy.

I don't think the republican party's problems are comparable to Labor's in any sense really. If the LNP made deals with independents/greens to get into government, the media would paint the same story ("minor parties run government, get outraged). So it doesn't seem to far out of the ordinary political cycle here. Whereas in the US the republicans might be struggling to keep a load of their more moderate voters because powerful people in their party want to do things like abolish minimum wage and public healthcare.
 

I like to watch

David Codey (61)
Anyone see the debate today?
It amazes me that the republicans are going to give 5 trillion bucks in tax cuts, but it will not add to the deficit as they are going to find 5 trillion in closing loopholes.Not a word on what they might be.
5 weeks out and no details of anything.Heaven help anyone who does not earn over $100k pa if this guy gets in.
Obama looked very wooden, needs to pick up his game in the next one.
 

AngrySeahorse

Peter Sullivan (51)
Anyone see the debate today?
It amazes me that the republicans are going to give 5 trillion bucks in tax cuts, but it will not add to the deficit as they are going to find 5 trillion in closing loopholes.Not a word on what they might be.
5 weeks out and no details of anything.Heaven help anyone who does not earn over $100k pa if this guy gets in.
Obama looked very wooden, needs to pick up his game in the next one.

I did not see the debate but I heard about it on BBC world service radio. Was Obama mostly on the defensive about the higher unemployment rate? I imagine Romney was going to go for that. Sounded as if the moderator also was more of a passenger.

Late line stated that the minders of Romney had set up a mock-debate to practice & prepare whereas those for Obama stated it was hard to get him sorted prior. Sounds like a bit of a rookie mistake to make.
 

waratahjesus

Greg Davis (50)
I watched it, it's bizarre, Romney came across as the better debater and you could say "won" but pretty much his entire campaign is based on lies and any specific policy is backed up with zero specifics of its actual workings. Obama looked lost at times, I think more to the fact that Everytime he pointed out something wrong with Romneys plans, Romney was able to say that's not true but then never said why or gave details.

The republican party is a strange thing, after blocking every single piece of reform in America in order to see Obama fail, to have them go out there and pin the deficit, the wars and evErything in between on him while saying if elected they have to work together not against is just weird. It would be like Abbot going to the next election saying he did everything he could to try to help Julia succeed.
 

Bruwheresmycar

Nicholas Shehadie (39)
I watched it, it's bizarre, Romney came across as the better debater and you could say "won" but pretty much his entire campaign is based on lies and any specific policy is backed up with zero specifics of its actual workings. Obama looked lost at times, I think more to the fact that Everytime he pointed out something wrong with Romneys plans, Romney was able to say that's not true but then never said why or gave details.

My thoughts exactly. I stopped watching halfway through though, got tired of Romney's evasion tactic. Very little debate actually occurred, and yet there is 2 more of these to come.......


edit..

I did not see the debate but I heard about it on BBC world service radio. Was Obama mostly on the defensive about the higher unemployment rate?
Yes.

Romney informed us that he has vast experience in the business industry, and that he knows how to create jobs. Lowering taxes left right and centre seems to be his main plan to increase jobs. As well as axing any inefficient government program, or policy to help the private sector. How do we know this will create jobs? Well the "job creators" say so. And what sort of jobs will be made? The details will be given to us later.

Obama replied with a plan to increase jobs in specific industries, and a plan to build new colleges (or something) to train people for these jobs.

Obviously the Romney plan sounds better, but that's because he doesn't limit himself to reality in his debate speeches. Everything sounds great in theory, but none of it is practical. I don't even doubt the republicans would increase the employment rate if elected, but something tells their plan to do this involves creating loads of new jobs where people work under minimum wage for crazy hours.

It's the same deal with their "cut the deficit" plan. Romney said he plans to increase tax revenue by lowering taxes, which will create more jobs, and create more taxpayers to pay for the deficit. Sounds great in theory, but what are the chances of it actually working? Well not much when you factor in all his other ideas. Whereas Obama's realistic "raise some taxes" approach comes off looking 2nd best because his opponent is willing to make stuff up in order to become elected.

Reminds me of that simpsons episode when Homer runs for sanitation commissioner.
 

AngrySeahorse

Peter Sullivan (51)
Reminds me of that simpsons episode when Homer runs for sanitation commissioner.

I love Dean Martin in that episode "What button!!!!".

Oh course if Romney is elected & totally screws every one over I could see Obama making the same kind of "re-election" speech that Ray Patterson made in that same Simpsons episode. "Oh gosh. You know, I'm not much on speeches, but, it's so gratifying to leave you wallowing in the mess you've made. You're screwed, thank you, bye.".

I think Obama's plan looks more reasonable given the current situation the US is in.
 

Bruce Ross

Ken Catchpole (46)
Here you have a photo of a man who has obviously lifted nothing heavier than a martini glass in his life.

Watch the back, Mitt.

4343018-3x2-700x467.jpg
 

Ruggo

Mark Ella (57)
Her you have a photo of a man who has obviously lifted nothing heavier than a martini glass in his life.

Watch the back, Mitt.

4343018-3x2-700x467.jpg

Oh the poor bastard. Probably would have been much more productive if he told the photographer to put the camera down and pitch in.
 

BPC

Phil Hardcastle (33)
Here you have a photo of a man who has obviously lifted nothing heavier than a martini glass in his life.

Watch the back, Mitt.

4343018-3x2-700x467.jpg

Be fair Bruce, its not that bad. The back looks fairly flat and he has bent the arms to keep the centre of mass close to his body rather than let it drift out and increase the leverage forces on his back. He does seem to have weak hips given the knees collapsing in and he should have his shoulders pulled back to stiffen the upper back.
 

Bruce Ross

Ken Catchpole (46)
Be fair Bruce, its not that bad. The back looks fairly flat and he has bent the arms to keep the centre of mass close to his body rather than let it drift out and increase the leverage forces on his back. He does seem to have weak hips given the knees collapsing in and he should have his shoulders pulled back to stiffen the upper back.
Given the chance to have a shot at a politician, let alone a billionaire one, I would be unlikely to let fairness hold me back, BPC.
.
 

matty_k

Peter Johnson (47)
Staff member
This video is going to air in the swing states.
It is made by an interest group that are pushing to keep climate change in peoples minds but it is well made and doesn't favour Romney at all.

 

Rob42

John Solomon (38)
I was talking to an Ohio resident as she filled in her election papers today (absentee), and as well as voting for president, member of Congress and state senator, she has to vote for no less than about 20 other people - county commissioners, sheriff, several judges, even county engineer and coroner! No sanitation commissioner though - very disappointing.
 

Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
I was talking to an Ohio resident as she filled in her election papers today (absentee), and as well as voting for president, member of Congress and state senator, she has to vote for no less than about 20 other people - county commissioners, sheriff, several judges, even county engineer and coroner! No sanitation commissioner though - very disappointing.

The one good thing in American Politics is that they align every single election such that you vote for everything on the same day (apart from midterms).

Considering I've voted 4 times in 3 years (1x Federal, 1x State, 1x State bi-election, 1x local government), I wouldn't mind if they did the same in Australia.
 

Sully

Tim Horan (67)
Staff member
Don't you know that we just aren't smart enough in Australia to think of two things at once. We have separate elections for our benefit not the politicians.

Sent using Tapatalk
 
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