May 21-24, 2012
May 21 13:05 Is Ohio trouble for President Obama? May 21 02:50 Chip clobbers DFL with hard truths at MNGOP Convention May 22 02:19 LFR Exclusive: ISD742 education meeting turns into DFL campaign rally May 22 13:02 'Education event' was a DFL ambush May 23 03:50 OurFutureMN latest in DFL propaganda organizations May 23 05:58 You can't beat something with nothing...but you can give him a helluva scare May 24 02:56 Dayton, Ritchie, will pretend they like Iron Rangers, miners May 24 08:26 Voters expressing their frustration with President Obama May 24 22:41 Protests, Polling & Primaries: Obama's worst nightmare
Prior Years: 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Is Ohio trouble for President Obama?
Earlier this weekend, 'The Architect' Karl Rove said that Indiana and North Carolina were gone for President Obama's re-election. Based on Salena Zito's article , it's sounding like Ohio is slipping through President Obama's fingers, too:
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Dave Betras is known in "The Valley" for his colorful language and his political antics and drama. Last Wednesday, however, when Vice President Joe Biden visited a local industrial park, Betras was all about numbers.
"Oh, 'The Valley' is going to turn out big for Barack Obama this year, big!" he said, spreading his arms wide for emphasis. The chairman of Mahoning County's Democrats pointed to local manufacturer M7 Technologies' shipping warehouse filled with people waiting to hear Biden speak. "Turnout like today, a full room," said Betras, 52.
If his job is to turn out Obama supporters on Election Day, he may want to check on their allegiances before he buses them to the polls. Many Youngstown attendees at Biden's event do not support him or the president.
Bob McClain and his wife, Myra, came to M7 Technologies to support their friends' family business. Neither supports the Obama-Biden ticket.
"We are friends of the owners -- that is why we came, to show support for the Garvey family," said Bob. At 71, he's retired but volunteers full-time as a counselor for Mahoning Valley small-business owners.
"Our vote is going for who is best to lead on the economy. That is Romney, for us," said Myra as her husband nodded.
Richard Furillo stood with his son Matthew at his son's workplace; a lifelong Democrat, he voted for Obama in 2008 but won't again. "I don't know why I did it but I cannot stand any more 'change,'" he said, referring to the president's old campaign slogan.
Father and son both said they attended the event to support the company.
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see a sitting vice president," added Matthew, also a Democrat. He, too, said he will vote for Romney.
What Ms. Zito's reporting indicates is that Mssrs. Axelrod and Plouffe have reason to worry that Ohio is slipping away from President Obama. Again, it's still early but it's apparent there's no reservoir of good will from Ohioans towards President Obama. If he wins Ohio, it'll have to be because of something substantive he does from this point forward.
In fact, the quotes in this article indicate that opinions are hardening each day. That's trouble for the Obama campaign. Adding Ohio to Indiana and North Carolina spells trouble. It's also 45 electoral votes. Subtract 45 electoral votes from 338 and you're at 293. That means his path to re-election is tricky at best. At that point, President Obama has to keep Virginia's 15 electoral votes in his column. It also means he can't afford to lose Wisconsin, Iowa, Colorado or Florida.
In fact, losing Florida, Ohio, Indiana and North Carolina spells defeat for Team Obama. It's that simple.
Tags: President Obama , North Carolina , Ohio , Youngstown , Indiana , Virginia , Florida , David Axelrod , David Plouffe , Colorado , Democrats , Election 2012
Posted Monday, May 21, 2012 1:05 PM
Comment 1 by eric z. at 22-May-12 07:40 AM
Speaking of Ohio, do you see anything substantial to the allegations of another Ohio Republican that Gov. Kasich was involved along with aides and hangers on in influence peddling, job trading efforts? It appears a fellow named Andrew Manning sent a sworn affidavit to the FBI earlier this year alleging that two of Kasich's allies had offered him influence within the governor's administration if he agreed to not run in the March 6 elections for the state Republican party central committee. That Kasich wanted his own people in place. I would expect this sort of thing happens far too often, too many places, and I wonder what other politicians in both parties nationwide are watching. How does that differ from what happens all the time in the legislature, you vote for my bill here, I will support your amendment in committee hearings there, etc. Do notions of bribery law reach that far, and if so, would it halt the entire political process? The notion of offering something of value for a political favor, isn't that how campaign coffers get funded all over DC?
And Indiana, the people of Gary as a general rule do not turn out in large enough numbers at the polls to make a difference. Whomp them with a Voter-ID thing, and keeping them out of participation in the political process is a done deal. None of that is news. The same smarmy thing is being proposed in Minnesota - as a Constitutional amendment.
Comment 2 by walter hanson at 22-May-12 04:17 PM
Eric:
I finally figured out why you hate Scott Walker. You hate strong governors who take strong actions to help their states such as Scott Walker or Kasich. You love weak wimpy governors who do nothing and who want their states to go to hell like Dayton, Brown of California, or the governor who is dragging Illnois down the drain.
Walter Hanson
Minneapolis, MN
Walter Hanson
Chip clobbers DFL with hard truths at MNGOP Convention
Chip Cravaack laid the wood to the DFL in this fiery speech at the 2012 MNGOP Convention:
Here's a transcript of the hardest-hitting part of the speech:
I have to be blunt. Our opponents don't have the guts to do what's right or what needs to be done. If they have any courage, they're not showing it right now. Go ahead and ask them "Show us the tough decisions you've made. Show us where you've been at odds with the President. Show us where you have been an independent voice in the decisions in the best interests of this country."
They can't. The fact is that they haven't made the tough decisions that the country needs now. They talk about leadership but that's all it is. It's all talk.
Under Harry Reid's 'leadership', the Senate hasn't passed a budget in over 3 years. They've sabotaged House legislation that would've jumpstarted the economy. Reid's Senate filibustered the Keystone XL Pipeline to death, preventing job creation and energy independence.
On the House side, the Democrats haven't proposed anything constructive since the 2006 disaster. We're still paying the price for their ill-advised legislative 'accomplishments'.
The Democrats in DC were clearly the target of Chip's speech. Chip exposed Sen. Klobuchar's less-than-moderate voting record. Chip fed the faithful one hunk of red meat after another. The impressive part was watching him do it while making a strong case for conservatism and without sounding mean-spirited.
If the NRSC and NRCC were wise, they'd mimic Chip's speech, especially in terms of hitting the Democrats over the head with accusations that they're the do-nothings in DC. The NRSC and NRCC should highlight how Democrats are devoid of leadership. Similarly, the NRSC and NRCC should highlight the fact that Democrats are the party that won't fight against Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi when they have the opportunity to do what's right for America.
If the NRSC and NRCC follow Chip's lead, this will be a great year for Republicans.
Tags: Republican State Convention , Chip Cravaack , Keystone XL Pipeline , Energy Independence , MNGOP , NRCC , NRSC , Do-Nothing Senate , Harry Reid , Amy Klobuchar , Filibuster , Nancy Pelosi , Democrats , Election 2012
Posted Monday, May 21, 2012 2:50 AM
Comment 1 by eric z. at 21-May-12 03:20 PM
In reading online, it seems CC was the only member of the Minnesota GOP congressional delegation attending. Pawlenty stood folks up too. Sore losers, over the fact Ron Paul commanded more attention. I think it was Stassen-Berger, someone, writing that Ron Paul now owns the Minnesota Republican party, and Two Putt Tommy suggests he must have bought it at a bankruptcy sale.
Comment 2 by walter hanson at 21-May-12 04:29 PM
Eric:
I do believe Michelle was there, but you're stretching it just because somebody doesn't show up. Family or campaign work might have them skipping the convention. Not to mention as a person who has attended these events in the pass the schedules might not synch for when speeches can be given or who to highlight.
After all Erik, John, and Michelle don't need the free press to win. It helps Chip having the press attention.
Walter Hanson
Minneapolis, MN
LFR Exclusive: ISD742 education meeting turns into DFL campaign rally
Monday night, I went to what was billed as School Funding Talks . Instead of hearing a discussion of school funding, I literally heard an SEIU-sponsored campaign event that was offensive to listen to at times.
At one point, Bruce Watkins said that K-12 education was competing for dollars with HHS and road and bridge repair. I didn't hear Watkins' explanation on the state's portion of funding K-12 education competes with road and bridge repair.
I confirmed through multiple sources that road and bridge repair is financed exclusively through the gas tax, which is a dedicated funding mechanism. Only 2-3% of the Transportation budget comes from the General Fund. That's how office staff are paid. The general fund has nothing to do with road and bridge repair.
Dr. Watkins knows better. He just played to the crowd, which, like him, seemed totally disinterested in the truth. As long as it sounded good, they were satisfied.
Another feature was Caitlin Rogers, a speaker from OurFutureMN.org. Here's some ridiculous propaganda from their website :
The Pay Back Our Kids Act would pay back the $2.4 billion Minnesota owes to its kids and schools by closing corporate tax loopholes. Politicians borrowed the billions from our kids to balance the state budget, leaving schools to cut, borrow, and eliminate needed teachers and programs. It's time to do the right thing and pay our kids back!
During the 2010 campaign, Gov. Dayton said that his tax the rich sheme would generate $4,000,000,000 in additional revenue . It didn't come close :
Democrat Mark Dayton's second stab at a plan to resolve Minnesota's projected budget deficit leaves him about $1 billion shy of a complete fix.
The former U.S. senator provided new details Tuesday that calls for $3.6 billion in new state revenue, mostly in the former of increased taxes on high-end earners. His plan relies on profits from a yet-to-be-authorized state-owned casino at the Mall of America or Minneapolis-St. Paul airport.
That's after raising the top marginal rate from 7.85% to 10.95%. Now we're supposed to believe that closing a minor loophole in the tax code will generate $2,400,000,000. That's insulting. If a major tax increase won't yield $3,000,000,000 in increased revenue, closing a minor loophole won't yield $2,400,000,000 in increased revenue.
Included in the press packet was a mailer-sized card. On it was something titled "The Community Pledge", which reads:
I commit to supporting elected leaders who invest in Minnesota priorities - great schools, good jobs, and safe, healthy communities with balanced approach budget solutions that responsibly raise revenue. I will urge my elected leaders to adequately fund education, public safety and vital services in our communities by requiring corporations and the richest 1% to pay their fair share.
That's asking people to commit to supporting the DFL. That's asking people to support raising spending without first examining whether the money we're currently spending is being spent wisely.
Instead, it's time to demand school boards to sign the Taxpayers' Watchdog Pledge, which I'm creating as I type. Here's the Taxpayers' Watchdog Pledge:
I commit to asking school administrators the tough questions that I haven't asked in the past. I promise to ask administrators why they're spending money they don't have on lobbyists they don't need. In short, I promise to be the taxpayers' watchdog.
The necessity of this pledge becomes apparent when reading this State Auditor's report:
Table 2: Associations With Lobbying Expenditures Exceeding $100,000
Minnesota School Board Association $561,331
Association of Metropolitan School Districts, Inc. $252,417
Schools for Equity in Education $199,866
It's outrageous to think that 3 education lobbying organizations, paid for by the taxpayers, spent $1,013,614 in 2010 alone. That's just the most lucrative lobbying companies. Here's a breakdown by ISD:
1S: $74,550
279: $20,000
535: $30,000
709: $73,346
728: $30,000
Grand Total: $227,896
Adding $227,896 to the $1,013,614 from Table 2 comes to a total of $1,241,510. That's money taken off the top of the K-12 budgets. Before a penny makes it into the classroom, taxpayers have already been stuck with a bill of almost $1,250,000.
What's worse is that these lobbyists are paid by taxpayers to lobby the legislature to spend even more of the taxpayers' money.
The test of the school districts' spending should be whether that spending improves educational outcomes. If it doesn't, then that money shouldn't be spent.
Monday night at the Whitney Senior Center should be expensed as an in-kind campaign contribution. This wasn't about public policy. It was a DFL campaign event.
Tags: K-12 Education , Tax Increases , Caitlin Rogers , Bruce Watkins , Carol Nieters , SEIU , ISD742 , Lobbyists , OurFutureMN.org , Community Pledge , DFL , Election 2012
Posted Tuesday, May 22, 2012 2:32 AM
Comment 1 by eric z. at 22-May-12 06:55 AM
You want difficult to listen to?
I watched one of those Republican debates back before Rick Perry and Herman Cain dropped out, when Santorum and Gingrich were off to the sides with Bachmann.
Talk about pain. I felt the pain. Last one I could take.
Comment 2 by Jethro at 22-May-12 09:43 AM
Someone go get eric z. as I think he wandered off again from the conversation. This was truly a DFL education rally at its finest. Over a million dollars for lobbyists? Does that include their travel and other expenses? Sounds just like higher education and their lobbyists. I am getting tired of the talking point that is used ad nauseum that states more money will equate to better education. Maybe if more parents took an active interest by being involved in their child's education, the quality would improve. Quality education is not always about increased funding.
Comment 3 by Gary Gross at 22-May-12 11:16 AM
Jethro, there's no question that the left is clueless when it comes to education. There's no proof that they give a shit about spending money wisely.
Yes, that $1.241 million includes other expenses.
Finally, Republicans should be ashamed of themselves for not giving a shit about pushing school districts to better learning outcomes.
We're great at whining about crappy schools. We're worthless at doing anything about fixing crappy schools.
If Republicans won't get off their backsides & start pushing back against the left's hairbrained education schemes, then they're getting what they deserve.
Comment 4 by Patrick at 22-May-12 12:39 PM
Minnesotans should look to Governor Walker (R-WI) and his reform efforts or perhaps Governor Christie (R-NJ) to see what it takes to make schools accountable again. Polls show that the Republicans will beat back the liberal public union efforts and win the recall elections.
Comment 5 by J. Ewing at 22-May-12 12:48 PM
Somebody needs to point out the FACT (I can prove it) that the more money Minnesota schools spend (on average, per pupil), the poorer student performance! Not better, but poorer! I propose an immediate cut of 20% in K-12 funding, so that we can achieve a 5% gain in student achievement. :->
Comment 6 by walter hanson at 22-May-12 04:21 PM
J Ewing:
I don't dispute that. I gave in the past the example that if you have a class of 16 students, you pay the school district $10,000 per student, and the teacher is paid $60,000 what are you doing with the other $100,000.
Lets spend that $100,000 better. Mind you if you gave each parent a voucher for $10,000 and let the parent pick the school because they $10,000 every school in the state will shaped up in less than one year or closed down because no kid is going there.
Walter Hanson
Minneapolis, MN
Comment 7 by walter hanson at 22-May-12 04:24 PM
Eric:
Wow it's so difficult to listen to Obama because every other second he is either lying, making some stupid sound, or ducking the question instead of giving an honest answer.
The Republicans with truth, good policy proposals made the debates great.
What might have ruined them (and I guess that's why you're upset) is all the stupid questions non Fox news journalists were asking at these debates instead of real questions.
Walter Hanson
Minneapolis, MN
Comment 8 by Rex Newman at 22-May-12 05:06 PM
Actually, Mr. Watkins is more right than he knows when he claims education funding is competing with welfare (HHS) for state funding. Education unions ruled the Capitol even 10 years ago lest their money and campaign support be withheld. But the welfare bureaucracy is now large enough to challenge them and is now in fact taking their lunch money.
With the education establishment so solidly blue, few votes are at risk. It's now far more "profitable" for Legislators to buy votes pretending to resolve poverty etc. and why not? Unlike education, there are no real expectations other than more handouts. That's the true nature of the school shift, from education to welfare.
Until (public sector) educators seriously consider supporting more thoughtful candidates and reforms, why should the DFL change?
Comment 9 by Jethro at 22-May-12 11:06 PM
Gary makes a good point. The DFL is not the only guilty party in town. What exactly have Republicans done to hold school districts more accoutable for learning outcomes and wasteful spending? And what about higher education? Seems to me they've been woefully silent.
Comment 10 by Gary Gross at 23-May-12 01:44 AM
Jethro, It's enough to pi$$ me off. Conservatives know that school administrators are spending too much but they sit on their hands.
If they won't push school boards to make better decisions, then they're part of the problem. That isn't acceptable any more.
'Education event' was a DFL ambush
Last night, the DFL attempted to spring a trap on Sen. Pederson, Rep. Banaian and Rep. Gottwalt. The DFL's attempt failed. Proof that the event was a trap is found in this paragraph:
This statement was part of a press packet prepared, and handed out, prior to the "community discussion"/political ambush. The ambush organizers couldn't have known in advance that none of the legislators would skip attending because the legislators either hadn't decided or didn't make their decision public.
The room of concerned parents, district staff and community members want legislators to make a different choice than they made in the past- to raise fair revenue to support our kids and our communities. Unfortunately, none of the area's legislators chose to attend the community discussion.
This wasn't just in the press packet. Carol Nieters made a specific point of mentioning the fact that the legislators weren't in attendance.
This press release was propaganda, too. This is the opening paragraph of the statement:
St. Cloud, Minn -- A room full of St. Cloud residents pledged Wednesday evening to advocate for investing in kids and communities by requiring everyone and every corporation to pay their fair share. Now, they want their legislators to do the same.
That's propaganda. The main hall at Whitney Senior Center seats approximately 200 people. A total of 44 people attended: 34 activists, 6 guest speakers, 3 event organizers and 1 citizen journalist.
Having 40 people attend a meeting in a room that holds 200 people doesn't constitute "a room full of St. Cloud residents."
This fits a pattern with other DFL organizations . Their reverence for the truth is nonexistent. The DFL doesn't care about the truth. The DFL only cares about saying whatever will help them win elections.
The GOP better prepare for a summer filled with these disgustingly dishonest attacks. In fact, if the GOP was smart about this, they'd take the fight to the DFL on this. Expose the DFL as dishonest and out of touch with the majority of Minnesota families.
During her presentation last night, Caitlin Rogers said that "66% of Minnesotans wanted a balanced approach to solving the budget crisis." That's total nonsense. If that was fact, there's no way Republicans running on a 'no new taxes' platform could've flipped 16 DFL seats in the Senate. There's no way they could've flipped 25 seats in the House if Ms. Rogers' statement was accurate.
Alida will spend millions in her attempt to buy her ex a DFL legislature. That isn't in question. What's still in question is whether the GOP will step forward and meet force with force. If the GOP counterpunches the DFL's attacks in a forceful, intelligent and confident manner, they'll put the DFL on their heels.
If they don't, it'll be a difficult 6 months.
Tags: OurFutureMN.org , Propaganda , Corruption , Caitlin Rogers , School Shift , Tax Increase , Education , Intimidation , DFL , MNGOP , Election 2012
Posted Tuesday, May 22, 2012 1:02 PM
Comment 1 by trs at 22-May-12 09:21 PM
wow that close!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OurFutureMN latest in DFL propaganda organizations
Monday night, OurFutureMN was a featured presenter at an event talking about K-12 education funding and its impact on school district operations. It's odd that an organization that isn't a think tank or that doesn't specialize in public policy analysis would be invited to an event that was supposed to talk about the impact the school shift has had on school operations.
Based on this article from their website, OurFutureMN is a PR/propagandist organization. Here's the tipoff:
The Pay Back Our Kids Act would pay back the $2.4 billion Minnesota owes to its kids and schools by closing corporate tax loopholes.
Closing corporate loopholes sounds great but the revenues from that decision will be minimal. They certainly won't close the gap as quickly as the GOP's legislation that Gov. Dayton vetoed. That's the legislation that would've paid off $430,000,000 of the school shift.
Also included in Caitlin Rogers' presentation was "The Community Pledge":
I commit to supporting elected leaders who invest in Minnesota priorities - great schools, good jobs, and safe, healthy communities with balanced approach budget solutions that responsibly raise revenue. I will urge my elected leaders to adequately fund education, public safety and vital services in our communities by requiring corporations and the richest 1% to pay their fair share.
What do "public safety and vital services in our communities" have to do with education funding? Obviously, they're important policy issues but they don't have anything to do with education.
The importance of this pledge is to the DFL, not to education funding. This year, the DFL will run on raising taxes. This pledge was signed by DFL activists. Period. There weren't any conservatives or independents in the room. If there would've been conservatives or independents in the room, they wouldn't have signed the pledge.
This was intended to be a photo op. Clearly, they wanted to show that raising taxes is gaining support. Raising taxes isn't gaining support by any stretch of the imagination.
If OurFutureMN wasn't there to add policy expertise, which they weren't, then they were there to provide propaganda cover for the DFL.
That makes it a campaign event, not a policy-centered event.
Tgs: OurFutureMN.org , Community Pledge , K-12 , Education , Tax Increases , Pay Back Our Kids Act , Ryan Winkler , Caitlin Rogers , Photo Op , DFL , Election 2012
Posted Wednesday, May 23, 2012 3:50 AM
Comment 1 by Chad Q at 23-May-12 01:13 PM
What exactly are the "vital services" this woman speaks of? How does closing a so called loophole allow more funding of these services and how does she think that if corporations pay more taxes, it won't be passed onto the consumer of those corporations services or goods in the form of higher prices?
Closing the loophole may "generate" more money for the government but that does not mean it will be spent on anything related to "vital services" or education. As a matter of fact, it will probably be used to pay for the billion dollar Vikings play land the legislature just passed when gambling receipts aren't enough to cover the costs.
Comment 2 by eric z at 24-May-12 08:49 AM
I am waiting for someone besides three card-cutters to claim the AARP is a Democratic Party captive because it opposes ALEC's voter ID mischief.
That mantra, for ALEC or a Democratic tool, has already been pushed out the door against League of Women Voters.
What a bunch of manufactured hooey.
Response 2.1 by Gary Gross at 24-May-12 10:11 AM
The LWV's involvement in preventing election integrity makes them a disgraced organization & a tool of the DFL. As for the DFL's mantra that voter fraud doesn't exist, that's bullshit on steroids. I've documented the proof in my Examiner articles & on this blog. The DFL saying it doesn't exist is a bald-faced lie. It's being rejected by hundreds of thousands of likely voters.
Talking about the Left's boogeymen won't change the truth.
Comment 3 by walter hanson at 24-May-12 03:41 PM
Eric:
The state of Florida thinks hundreds of thousands of illegal voters are on their roles. Just 50,000 illegal voters can explain Dayton winning instead of Emmer and Franken instead of Coleman.
Walter Hanson
Minneapolis, MN
Comment 4 by eric z at 25-May-12 11:44 AM
League of Women Voters is a very responsible group, having much of value to say. To be overly dismissive is to not be open to dialog. They are very good people, who believe in what they do and they have done much good for the nation.
The same is true of the AARP, and both groups oppose Photo-ID for very well grounded reasons that too many others oppose and critize superficially, in simple knee-jerk reaction mode.
Response 4.1 by Gary Gross at 25-May-12 03:59 PM
The LWV used to be a responsible organization. Now they're just another propaganda tool for the DFL. Their outright lies on Photo ID are disgusting. And yes, I've detailed those lies on LFR & on Examiner.com.
Despite Mr. Ritchie's lies to the contrary, there is massive amounts of voter fraud in Minnesota. His statements notwithstanding, the fact is that it's been highlighted countless times by Minnesota Majority. Before you start with the "But Minnesota Majority is a partisan operation" BS, go argue with their findings. They're exceptionally well-documented. Deal with it.
Comment 5 by eric z at 25-May-12 11:47 AM
Walter - Let's try precision, "The State of Florida thinks," seems to want to collectiveize something you've gotten from public yammerings of a handful of individuals with an agenda.
You are the last person from whom I'd have expected collectivization feelings or norms.
The French Nation believes you are wrong. Japan is uncertain. Bolivia agrees with you.
You can't beat something with nothing...but you can give him a helluva scare
Everyone's heard the old cliche that you can't beat something with nothing. While that's undeniably true, it's apparently worth noting that nothing can give President Obama a run for his money :
'Uncommitted' is keeping it closer than expected in the Kentucky Democratic presidential primary. With 104 of 120 counties counted, President Barack Obama leads 'Uncommitted' by only 20 percentage points. The tally so far: Obama with 105,487 votes (or 60.04 percent of the vote), while 'Uncommitted' claims 70,211 votes (or 39.96 percent).
(UPDATE: With 99.8 percent reporting, Barack Obama has 119,245 votes, while 'Uncommitted' has 86,789 votes. That is, Obama has 57.9 percent of the vote, while 'Uncommitted' has 42.1 percent.)
President Obama didn't have a chance of defeating Mitt Romney in Kentucky so this news isn't a big deal in that respect. Still, there's more than winning or not winning if your nameless, faceless, nonexistent opponent gets 40+ percent in the primary. That isn't the only southern state where President Obama is having trouble :
If Barack Obama experiences an upset in Arkansas's Democratic primary today, it won't be for lack of trying. The Obama campaign and the Democratic party have spent significant resources in Arkansas, while an unknown primary challenger has threatened the president's ability to win the support of the state's Democrats.
With 61 of 75 counties reporting, President Obama was defeating John Wolfe by a 59%-41% margin . The reality is that things are different this time. In 2008, President Obama defeated Sen. McCain in Florida, North Carolina and Virginia. That won't happen this time.
This article explains why President Obama is having so many difficulties:
Newark, N.J., Mayor Cory Booker's off-message criticism of the Obama campaign's attacks on Mitt Romney's background at Bain Capital gave the campaign an untimely, unwanted headache this week. But more significantly, it exposed a tension that's developing between the Democratic Party's centrist wing and its more-outspoken liberal base - one that threatens to fester more openly if President Obama fails to win a second term.
Conversations with liberal activists and labor officials reveal an unmistakable hostility toward the pro-business, free-trade, free-market philosophy that was in vogue during the second half of the Clinton administration. Former White House Chief of Staff William Daley, who tried to steer the Obama administration in a more centrist direction, is the subject of particular derision. Discussion of entitlement reforms, at the heart of the GOP governing agenda, is a nonstarter. The fiscally conservative Blue Dog Democrats are now nearly extinct on Capitol Hill.
Moderate Democratic groups and officials, meanwhile, privately fret about the party's leftward drift and the Obama campaign's embrace of an aggressively populist message. They're disappointed that the administration didn't take the lead advancing the Simpson-Bowles deficit-reduction proposal, they wish the administration's focus was on growth over fairness, and they are frustrated with the persistent congressional gridlock. Third Way, the centrist Democratic think tank, has been generating analyses underscoring the need for Democrats to appeal to middle-of-the-road voters, to no avail.
'There are not a lot of moderates left in the Democratic Party, and Cory is one of the few of them left,' said former Democratic Rep. Artur Davis of Alabama, an early Obama ally who has become increasingly estranged from the party. 'I would like to think Cory speaks for a lot of voters in the Democratic Party, but sadly he doesn't speak for a lot of Democratic operatives within the party. This isn't Bill Clinton's Democratic Party anymore.'
President Obama and then-Speaker Pelosi essentially pushed Blue Dogs into extinction with their Obamacare votes. Whether it's for show or if it's real, Joe Manchin is distancing himself from President Obama.
It remains to be seen if President Obama's difficulties in the South will follow him to Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin. That can't be ruled out at this point.
Tags: President Obama , Uncommitted , Kentucky , John Wolfe , Arkansas , Primaries , Artur Davis , Cory Booker , Blue Dogs , Nancy Pelosi , Democrats , Election 2012
Posted Wednesday, May 23, 2012 5:58 AM
No comments.
Dayton, Ritchie, will pretend they like Iron Rangers, miners
Gov. Dayton and the Executive Council must've figured they can't keep postponing mineral lease auctions :
Minnesota's Executive Council is set to act on 77 mineral exploration leases next week that have been delayed for a year because of concerns by private landowners that their rights could be infringed.
The council, composed of the governor and the state's other top elected officials, twice considered the leases in 2011 but delayed action.
On Tuesday, however, notice came that the council will hold a special meeting May 31 to consider the leases. It's expected the leases will be approved.
'My understanding is that the governor and some other members of the council wanted to move this away from their regular June meeting because of the interest. But DNR didn't ask for this specific date or anything. The council set this,' said Larry Kramka, director of the Department of Natural Resources division of Lands and Minerals Division.
He said he knows of no changes to the original plan. 'We haven't been asked to remove any of the specific (leases). We haven't changed anything,' Kramka said.
This is purely a political decision. Now that the election is nearing, the DFL can't afford to look like they're the lunatic fringe environmentalists. That would drive a wedge between the miners and the DFL.
Make no mistake, though. The Twin Cities Executive Council care more about the environmentalists than they care about the miners on the Range.
Kent Kaiser wrote a stinging editorial in October, 2011 about the Executive Council delayed the lease auctions for 6 months:
This month, Minnesota's State Executive Council, which includes the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general and state auditor, voted to delay 77 leases to explore for copper and nickel on private lands in northern Minnesota.
This short-sighted action was initiated by Gov. Mark Dayton and Secretary of State Mark Ritchie. It was unfortunate for the job situation in the Northland , and I know many Minnesotans are terribly disappointed.
After all, the people of Minnesota own the rights to minerals in the state, including those under private land. Anyone from Northeastern Minnesota knows this; I remember learning this fact in elementary school.
At the time, a handful of private property owners tried pushing the legislature into passing legislation changing the mineral rights. The legislature refused to take them seriously because it was apparent that they were stooges of the environmentalists.
This is rather telling:
Indeed, Dayton's actions this month were more consistent with his actions two decades ago. At that time, when he was on the State Executive Council as state auditor, he called for the postponement of mining lease votes so he could consult first with the Sierra Club .
Gov. Dayton didn't agree with miners then. He's still fighting against them. When Prof. Kaiser wrote this editorial, it was after the Executive Council postponed taking action on lease auctions a second time.
Clearly, Gov. Dayton doesn't care about the economy on the Iron Range. He's just worried that the Iron Rangers will abandon the DFL in greater numbers this November.
According to the DNR, they didn't change anything on the leases since the Executive Council voted to postpone the lease auctions:
He said he knows of no changes to the original plan. 'We haven't been asked to remove any of the specific (leases). We haven't changed anything,' Kramka said.
It's only a matter of time before the Iron Range abandons the DFL. What's in it for them when the DFL is a wholly owned subsidiary of the treehuggers that inhabit the Arrowhead and the urban strongholds of St. Paul and Minneapolis.
Iron Rangers are predominantly pro-life, pro-Second Amendment and natural opponents of the anti-mining, pro-marxist treehuggers.
The DFL might've been the right fit for the Iron Range a generation ago. The DFL isn't a good fit thanks to the treehuggers' domination of the DFL.
Tags: Mineral Lease Auctions , Private Property Rights , Executive Council , Mark Dayton , Mark Ritchie , Treehuggers , Arrowhead , DFL , Iron Range , Mining , Pro-Life , Second Amendment , Jobs , MNGOP , Election 2012
Posted Thursday, May 24, 2012 2:56 AM
Comment 1 by walter hanson at 24-May-12 08:35 AM
It's amazing when an election shows up suddenly the democrats might take steps that are good for workers instead of the environment.
Those workers like miners and others should learn the democrats aren't your friends and worth your votes.
That will help put Republicans in power and get rid of your environmental headaches.
Walter Hanson
Minneapolis, MN
Voters expressing their frustration with President Obama
If this Weekly Standard article is accurate, and I think it is, the American people's frustration with President Obama is starting to seep out:
a couple dozen protesters held up signs like, 'Out of Hope, Ready for Change,' 'Debt Slavery,' 'Obama's Blvd. of Broken Promises' and 'Bye Bye on Nov. 6th.' Some of them were calling out something that your pooler couldn't hear. They were kept behind a yellow police tape far out of view of Potus or his donors.
That isn't to say that these signs weren't made by anti-Obama activists. It's quite possible that they were. Still, it's the first article I've read where activists have protested at one of his campaign events.
Think about this possibility. President Obama's fundraising numbers have been disappointing. This spring, protest votes in the Democratic primaries have taken the luster off The One. Recent polling shows President Obama in trouble in key states. Couple those things with yesterday's protests. I think those signs point to a summer of frustration for President Obama. It certainly isn't a stretch to think that the American people's frustration with this administration will spill out this summer.
Tags: President Obama , Protesters , Primaries , Polling , Frustration , West Virginia , Florida , Ohio , Democrats , Election 2012
Posted Thursday, May 24, 2012 8:26 AM
Comment 1 by J. Ewing at 24-May-12 09:56 AM
Makes you wonder what will happen when this rising reality finally intrudes on the Narcissist-in-Chief and shatters his image of himself as The One? A personality teetering on such a shaky base might descend rapidly into a dangerous meltdown.
Protests, Polling & Primaries: Obama's worst nightmare
President Obama's worst nightmares appear to have happened the last 3 weeks. In 2008, President Obama rode an aura of inevitability to victory. That aura has disappeared, thanks primarily to his pathetic showing in the Democratic primaries, the spate of recent polling showing him getting hit hard in the most important battleground states and the recent protests outside his fundraisers .
The first telltale sign that President Obama was in trouble came when a convicted felon serving time in a Texas prison got 41% of the vote in the West Virginia Democratic Primary, followed by a nobody getting 42% of the vote in the Arkansas Democratic Primary, followed closely by "Uncommitted" getting 42% of the vote in Kentucky.
In short, President Obama got less than 60% of the vote against a felon in prison, a nobody in Arkansas and someone who doesn't exist in Kentucky. While pundits didn't expect President Obama to be competitive in any of those states, the fact that Democrats voted against a sitting president in what was supposed to be an uncontested primary doesn't speak volumes about his vulnerability.
It screams at the top of its lungs that he's exceptionally vulnerable.
Then comes Quinippiac's polling of Ohio:
From May 2-7, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,069 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 3 percentage points.
If the election for President were being held today, and the candidates were Barack Obama the Democrat and Mitt Romney the Republican, for whom would you vote?
President Obama 45%
Mitt Romney 44%
President Obama has had a difficult time in Ohio since then. Ohio isn't out of President Obama's reach but it's definitely slipping away. Then there's the developing crisis (for Team Obama) in Florida:
Florida registered voters say 52-44 percent that the president does not deserve a second term in the Oval Office and by 52-44 percent give him a thumbs-down on his job approval.
"Gov. Mitt Romney has slipped into the lead in Florida and that standing is confirmed by his much better numbers than the president when voters are asked whether they view the candidates favorably or unfavorably. They view Romney favorably 44-35 percent, while Obama gets a negative 45-50 percent favorability," said Peter A. Brown, assistant vice president of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
"The overall picture in Florida is positive for Romney, who is ahead 50-37 percent among men, while women are divided 44-45 percent. And the president is getting just 33 percent of white votes, compared to 85 percent of black votes and 42 percent of Hispanic votes."
Florida registered voters say 52-44 percent that the president does not deserve a second term in the Oval Office and by 52-44 percent give him a thumbs-down on his job approval.
"Gov. Mitt Romney has slipped into the lead in Florida and that standing is confirmed by his much better numbers than the president when voters are asked whether they view the candidates favorably or unfavorably. They view Romney favorably 44-35 percent, while Obama gets a negative 45-50 percent favorability," said Peter A. Brown, assistant vice president of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
"The overall picture in Florida is positive for Romney, who is ahead 50-37 percent among men, while women are divided 44-45 percent. And the president is getting just 33 percent of white votes, compared to 85 percent of black votes and 42 percent of Hispanic votes."
President Obama can't afford to lose both Florida and Ohio. That's his nightmare scenario. If he loses those states, his administration is history. At that point, it'll be difficult for him not to lose by 50-75 electoral votes.
Anytime that a president can't overwhelmingly defeat an imprisoned felon, a person that nobody's heard of and someone that doesn't exist, it's proof that he's facing an uphill fight.
Tags: President Obama , Primaries , Protests , Prisoners , Felons , Polling , Fundraising , Ohio , West Virginia , Florida , Democrats , Election 2012
Posted Thursday, May 24, 2012 10:41 PM
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