Opportunity Knocks (But On Whose Door?)

The NY Times has a new poll out showing challenges for both parties.  Let's warm up with the Obama-bashing:

As Mr. Obama moves toward a full-throated campaign, delivering a State of the Union address on Tuesday and inching closer to directly confronting his Republican challenger, a majority of independent voters have soured on his presidency, disapprove of how he has dealt with the economy and do not have a clear idea of what he hopes to accomplish if re-elected.

The swing voters who will play a pivotal role in determining his political fate are up for grabs, the poll found, with just 31 percent expressing a favorable opinion of Mr. Obama. Two-thirds of independent voters say he has not made real progress fixing the economy.

...

“I trusted Obama would bring fresh ideas to the country and improve the economy, even though he was not experienced. It didn’t happen,” said Jay Hernandez, 54, a credit manager from Miami who said that he is not aligned with either party, in a follow-up interview. “If there were another Democratic candidate I might reconsider, but I won’t vote for Barack Obama.”

But on the Republican side, angst:

While Republican primary voters say Mitt Romney stands the best chance of defeating Mr. Obama, nearly half of independents say they have yet to form an opinion of him, creating a considerable opening for Democrats to try to quickly define him if he becomes the nominee.

As Mr. Romney and his rivals fight to win the South Carolina primary on Saturday, the poll suggests that Republicans have grown less satisfied with their choices. Nearly 7 in 10 Republican voters across the country said they now want more options, a probable reflection of conservative unease about Mr. Romney and the remaining candidates.

 Republicans are rightly worried that they are about to complete a Massachusetts trifecta by nominating a rich, out of touch technocrat who melds the worst of Kerry and The Duke.

Comments

[Jim Ryan]

OT but too good. You CANNOT make this up. A day after Charlottesville City Council passed it's resolution against war with Iran, Iran's state-run news agency PressTV has applauded the measure. The peacenik behind the measure (a.) is proud of this response from Iran, (b.) gives interviews with PressTV, (c.) thinks the U.S. sponsers terrorism in Iran, and (d.) says that if there is no war with Iran it will be because of the anti-war activists.

We had a council member abstain from the otherwise unanimous vote. She supported the measure but wanted language praising our troops put into it. Her request was denied.

[Janet]

I hear ya, Jim. What an embarrassment. I went to a candidates debate last night for a city council position here....5 Dems & a Green candidate. It was too sad.

The big boogie-man enemy is..."the developer". They cut down trees & build things on green space. But wait!...apparently it is "the evil developer" that is also gonna pay for all the progressive plans like affordable housing, more parking, more parks,...
So "the developer" is evil but also pays for everything! Wow!

2 of the candidates hadn't paid all their taxes & one pointed out with disgust that Virginia was a big property rights state.
It is bad here in Arlington too... :(

[Janet]

Bumper sticker of the day @ conservative treehouse -

[Jim Ryan]

So "the developer" is evil but also pays for everything! Wow!

This sums up the last 100 years of the American political system's decline.

[narciso]

In a poll of adults, they could only find 31%
of independents willing to vote for him, that is absolutely devastating, only 28% think the economy is making progress.

[narciso]

Only 385 in total, approve of him, at all,

[narciso]

Sorry that would be %.

[narciso]

For those who still believe in unicorn dust;

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/01/18/six-reasons-keystone-xl-was-bad-deal-all-along/

[centralcal]

Good morning.

Maybe I just woke up in a funk, this morning, but I am so completely turned off on the whole Republican campaign, the candidates, everything.

Still despise Obama and his regime, but I am really depressed about our not so thrilling opposition.

[Danube of Thought]

In this town the city councilmen get paid $453 per month. If they ever start spending any of their time on U.S. foreign policy, they can kiss their jobs good-bye. Disgusting.

[peter]

I had a very interesting conversation while my 8th grader was doing his social studies homework. It seems his class is being indoctrinated in the anti-Walmart meme, as well as learning about the greatness of labor unions. His assignment? To design a union pin with a slogan. I suggested, "We're union, so we don't have to work too hard."

Also in the mix, most Walmart employees are below the poverty line, the CEO makes 1,500 times what the entry level worker makes, and 70 per cent of what they sell is made in China.

Started a very interesting conversation, as I stated. We told him that his grandmother, who buys him all kinds of goodies like Apple products, made most of her retirement savings investing in Walmart, and that Walmart has driven down the cost of food by 9 per cent. Of course, if he wants his grandmother to spend more money on food, and less money on i-tunes gift cards, she can stop shopping at Walmart. 8th grader got the message.

[narciso]

There's no such thing as the Fnork, honest, would we lie to you?

http://www.nationalreview.com/campaign-spot/288526/iowa-gop-we-lost-too-many-votes-know-who-won

[centralcal]

peter: now there was an economics lesson an 8th grader can really understand. Hands off Grandma's gift giving!

[centralcal]

Now, you understand my funk this morning, narciso.

8 GOP precincts can't find or validate their vote tallies or whatever! Good grief.

[Melinda Romanoff]

CNN saying Perry out today.

[Danube of Thought]

Good God. At an event yesterday in San Francisco, Joe Biden sought to rouse the crowd by saying "the Giants are going to the Super Bowl!"

[centralcal]

Plus, over at Legal Insurrection, there is a claim that Drudge is shilling for Romney.

As a voter, I know the media will try to manipulate me, but dang it, I do wish there were some neutral...

Oh, never mind. Unrealistic expectations.

[Ranger]

They don't call him "Slow Joe" for nothing.

[Jack is Back!]

I have tried once to cross post this from the previous thread. No workie! But will start all over:

Old Timer and Sara,

That pipeline map you posted last night was for natural gas not crude oil like what the Keystone XI will be pushing.

Here is a better overall map of pipelines in the USA. Green is for crude, blue is for NG and red is for refined product.

Also, scroll down to page 21 of the EIS report for the pipeline to see the number of Federal and State permits requierd. To say the States alone are responsible for the line in their jurisdiction is flat wrong. In fact, they are not even the lead agency for approvals or regulation.

[centralcal]

CNN saying Perry out today.

If true, I really respect him for doing that. I like Perry, a lot. Think he has done great things in Texas. Wish my state had a Governor and legislature as good.

[narciso]

Seriously, cc, 'Eight track' Jerry Brown, what were they thinking,

[centralcal]

narciso - really doesn't matter who we have as a Governor any more. Our legislature is completely controlled by liberal Dems - and the looniest of the looney of them!

[Captain Hate]

Does this mean Duke and Duke will finally be able to tell Iowa to go to the back of the line?

[Jack is Back!]

Do not be surprised that Perry becomes Romney's VP pick. Christie today knocked himself out of contention noting on F&F that he doesn't have the personality to be a number 2.

That said, by putting Perry on the ticket he nullifies all the stuff Perry has said including the "vulture" capitalism comments.
Also, without acknowledging it, he shows his "hispanic sympathy" side just as well as putting Rubio on the ticket.

I know that there are more negatives to doing this than positives but it gives him a Southern and Western presence as well as Christian. Just a gut feeling.

[centralcal]

In our dreams, Captain. The Fnork never learn from past mistakes it would seem.

[Danube of Thought]

Minus 16 at Raz today.

[centralcal]

Possible, JiB - but Perry is endorsing Newt.

[narciso]

Yes, Captain, but the question is will they, they are more 'Game over' like Hudson, than anything else,

[Ranger]

Perry dropping out now is a smart move on his part. He will never be a viable national candidate if he comes in 4th in SC. Better to get out now and keep his powerder dry for another run in the future. Maybe he could run for Senate at some point, then come back after a few years of raising hell on the hill.

[PD]

USA TODAY: Three upbeat economic reports show recovery gaining ground

Washington Post: Housing starts fall, builders end 2011 with worst year for single-family home ...

[Sue]

JiB,

Perry is throwing in with Newt. I doubt Romney will want someone who endorsed the other guy.

[Porchlight]

Maybe, Sue, but Reagan picked Bush, so you never know. I tend to agree that Romney will find another conservative, though. Weak finishers like Perry don't add much to a ticket.

[narciso]

The Post has a mischeavious streak;

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/obamas-keystone-pipeline-rejection-is-hard-to-accept/2012/01/18/gIQAf9UG9P_story.html

[OldTimer]

Thanks for the correction, JiB, and with Narciso's post on the XL, maybe there's more to this story than meets the press.

But an altruistic intercession on Barry's behalf is not a part of it....

[Captain Hate]

Maybe he could run for Senate at some point, then come back after a few years of raising hell on the hill.

Senators make terrible Presidents as the JEF proves. I don't know if Perry can ever overcome the image that was formed of him in the debates. He's in Dan Quayle territory now; unfair as that might be.

[narciso]

Some promises he keeps, hell or high water;

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/industries/hovensa-oil-refinery-run-by-hess-venezuelas-pdvsa-in-us-virgin-islands-to-shut-down/2012/01/18/gIQA38tk7P_story_1.html

[Clarice]

I say let's just shoot the muddle. Did you ever see these dopes with Luntz? It's two minutes to the close of the polls and they still can't decide.

[Captain Hate]

In November, the State Department tried to put off the politically dangerous issue until after this year’s election, saying that the project, which had undergone several years of vetting, required further study. But Republicans in Congress unwisely upped the political gamesmanship by mandating that State make a decision by Feb. 21.

What part of "several years of vetting" doesn't the WaPo understand? TransCanada applied for this in 2008 and State has already said that it would have "no significant impact".

[narciso]

Yes, Clarice, but even with the gatling guns, we'd run out of ammo, Even someone like Cornyn gets 'assimilated' by the Fnork

[Clarice]

Noemie emery with a suggestion:Find competent conservatives for a change.
http://washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/columnists/2012/01/why-dearth-competent-conservatives-presidential-race/2105651

[Jack is Back!]

narciso,

Also, Venezuela crude is very difficult to refine due to its API gravity (viscosity) and chemical makeup. Puts a lot of pressure on refinery maintenance and parts. Makes it more and more costly to meet US. environmental requirements. Plus PDVSA is a shadow of its old self in terms of professionals, skilled operators and managers. I don't think Hess enjoys having to pull most of the weight.

[rse]

peter-loved your story. Not surprised about the indoctrination lesson. There was something called the National Diffusion Network for those types of political, values shifting, lessons going back a few decades. The internet has simply made it very easy to download.

I do want to call attention to one point you made in particular-they wanted them to design a pin. Everyone can produce an art project even if not equally well. Creating that visual artefact vs a paper on the subject does nothing to reenforce the verbal, conceptual, what makes humans special part of the brain. In today's highly visual world that assignment reenforces an already overstimulated part of the brain. Every aspect of the whole Walmart project made it less likely those students would ever me the adults recognizing the holes on a proferred story.

Welcome to 21st century learning. A mind that can be manipulated and subordinated is so useful in a voter, consumer, and docile employee.

[Threadkiller]

Whitehouse.gov always includes "[laughter]" and "[applause]" in the transcripts of Biden and Obama speeches. Will "[boo]" and "[hiss]" be included with Biden's latest?

[narciso]

All true, JiB, but this is the salient point;

On January, Hovensa entered into a consent decree with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Justice Department in which the company agreed to invest $700 million on pollution controls after a series of chemical releases affected people living downwind from the refinery. Hovensa also agreed to pay a $5.4 million penalty for violating the Clean Air Act.

[C.R.]

centralcal - it can get depressing out here. Here's the headline I woke up to today, "Gov. Brown asks Calif to dream big, approve taxes".

[Melinda Romanoff]

CH-

What part of "Burlington Northern" donates to the Committee to Re-Elect the Wan?

That Bakken oil doesn't move itself, you know.

[Captain Hate]

What part of "Burlington Northern" donates to the Committee to Re-Elect the Wan?

The part that was bought by Bershire Hathaway?

[Ranger]

Well, this is an interesting poll:

Americans Anti-Big Business, Big Gov't

What Obama hath wroght is a drop in popular satisfaction with the size and pwoer of government. Granted, the trend was headed down, but Obama has shaved 12% in just 3 years.

Another interesting aside is that Gallup apparently didn't bother to ask this question in 2009 or 2010, even though there was a persistand trend in dropping satisfaction. No need to challenge the "Hope and Change" narative with annoying polling data I guess.

[narciso]

It all has a taste of Atlas Shrugged, doesn't it.

[Old Lurker]

Yes it does, Narc. Yes it does.

[Melinda Romanoff]

Now we're on the same page.

It's just for the money. They've been pushing the evilness of tar sands in the DU for last two months. Big PR play. Well telegraphed cancellation.

[Thomas Collins]

Things never look great for a party when candidates are slugging it out for a nomination while the other party has an incumbent who is not being challenged for the nomination. When Romney or Gingrich (substantially likely to be Romney) emerges as being unstoppable, which will happen before the GOP Convention, I think the GOP will unite behind him. Politics makes strange bedfellows, and a desire to unseat Obama will result in all GOP factions canoodling under the covers and developing a plan to win in November. There will be no foundering or floundering!

[Porchlight]

Senators make terrible Presidents as the JEF proves.

I'd adjust that slightly, Cap'n - it's not Senators per se, but those who have never held any national office *other* than Senator who are most problematic (Kennedy, Obama). We have had several good Presidents who at one time or another served in the Senate. But they had other significant accomplishments (governors, generals, VPs etc.) which better prepared them for the Presidency.

So if Perry's record as governor was good enough to run on (and I believe it was), a term or two in the Senate certainly wouldn't hurt. It might polish the edges a bit and give him a stronger grasp on national issues.

[pagar]

"Six reasons Keystone XL was a bad deal all along"

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/01/18/six-reasons-keystone-xl-was-bad-deal-all-along/#ixzz1jv2LShZn

When did Fox get this info?
Has Fox swung completely to supporting Obama?

[Extraneus]

Speaking of oil and indoctrination, my son, 9th grade, texted me the other day, something along the lines of "Ugh, we have to watch a 6 hr video on Islam today."

When I asked why, he replied that they're learning about the Middle East. "Will you be watching 6 hr videos on Judaism and Christianity later in the week?"

"Don't think so."

So, I asked the next day, how was the video? Anything about terrorism or head-chopping or Jew-killing or stoning women or genital mutilation?

Nope, it was all quite positive.

Would you believe he texted me later in the week with "You wouldn't believe it. We have to watch the Islam video again!"

I explained to him that the Saudis are throwing lots of oil money around, promoting Islam by donating to schools and through groups like CAIR, and that his school apparently received some of this money.

I think I'll mention that killing the Keystone XL pipeline forces us to buy more oil from the Saudis.

[narciso]

Well no, she's just part of the Dems like Backel, Colmes and co, This is not merely about money, this is about geopolitical and
social objectives, it's a belated Orthodox
Christmas, Muharamm, and other present to the
Siloviki, the Saudi, the Iranians, et al.

[Clarice]

excuse me, guys, but has the cat got your tongues and keeping you from raising hell with a school that allows indoctrination on Walmart and Islam?

Ranger, that's hopeful but from 2001-2008 that probig govt trend dipped from 60 to 41%

[narciso]

Yes, these folks have figured that part out in part,

http://www.ethicaloil.org/

[fdcol63]

narciso,

I had to look up the term Siloviki. LOL Thanks!

[Jack is Back!]

Mel,

True about BN and Bakken but rail capacity is bursting at the seams. As Bakken volume increases and new reserves begin E&P it is going to be more difficult to handle the product by rail. That is why they are pushing hard for the Bakkenlink pipeline that would tie into the existing Marketlink line from Montana to Port Arthur.

Lets see how involved the Feds get with this one since they have little control over Bakken field development since it is private property.

[narciso]

Well one could them, Oprichniki, after Ivan's
terrible horde, but it's important to point out that it's not just Putin,

[Jack is Back!]

pagar,

Sally Kohn is a prog who has a place at Fox like Powers and Colmes. She is full of s**t in her remarks. It was an OpEd from the "fair and balanced" crowd, that's all.

[MarkO]

With all the focus on making money, investing, taxes and the economy, isn't it time to ask that nick Mr. Obama exactly what he studied about economic, where and when and whether he can define elasticity of demand?

[Thomas Collins]

MarkO, my guess would be Obama learned his economics in a Das Kapital study group while at Columbia.

[Melinda Romanoff]

JiB-

Constriction allows prices to rise, for both the oil and freight prices, which in turn frees up more money for donations. Solyndra re-emerges from Bk due to sudden solar demand, and so on....

Cook County School of Bidness, writ large.

[Clarice]

JIB, the depth of Sally's intellect is obvious in her reference to "oversees" sales.

[Rick Ballard]

Narciso,

You need to throw Harper kicking the Climatefraud jackals in the teeth at Durban into the mix. His Petulance didn't like that disturbance to his Great Immiseration Plan.

[narciso]

Looks like Prince James, in accordance with Talal, let a leveller on the premises, in the LUN

[narciso]

Yes she's prefectly credentialled, dontcha know;

http://www.linkedin.com/in/sallykohn

[Threadkiller]

Peter, how about "take these son-of-a-bitches out" for the Union pin? Make sure the back has a made in China sticker.

CH and Mel, did you see the solar links I put up yesterday? Ol' Warren is ready for all contingencies.

[centralcal]

LOL, Clarice! "oversees" - snort.

[narciso]

It seems curriculum is a problem all over the place;

http://blog.american.com/2012/01/al-qaeda-terror-training-manual-found-at-gitmo/

[MarkO]

In this SOU can there be actual cheerleaders for the chanting of "You lie?"

[centralcal]

I only post this for the humor, kind of like "oversees." First the tweet:

jimgeraghty jimgeraghty
Ed Rollins calling someone 'vindictive' is like Michael Jackson calling someone 'weird.'

I was getting ready for work with TV on in the background and I heard Rollins make this comment, however, he pronounced it vin-dic-a(i)-tive. I was listening closely because I count how many times he says "at the end of the day." Usually, he includes that phrase in every sentence or every other.

[narciso]

It's curious, how they made such a fuss about
the restricted communications with counsel.

[narciso]

LOL, 'that word you are using. . ."

[pagar]

Thanks JIB, I just can't keep track of all the leftist propagandists anymore. But it still upsets me that there is no place in MSN that one can trust to tell the truth about any topic anymore.

[Extraneus]

I don't see fighting that one, Clarice. The history teacher is a flaming lib, and my son knows he's full of it. I bet a lot of the kids do, but they'll be dealing with teachers like this for at least the next eight years, and they need to learn how to give them the answers they want anyway. It doesn't seem to me that the indoctrination is working very well, but I'll continue to provide information that he can use to refute them if he feels like it.

[MarkO]

This is the best Perry's been in the entire campaign. Too bad. Seems like a genuinely good man, but not really ready for the struggle this time.

[sbw]

Our editor pointed out the Romney bash in the NY Times Arts section that compared him in the first line to Richard III.

What dreck, and they haven't a clue that's what they write.

[Sue]

Well, I can guarantee one thing...if Rick Perry runs for governor again, he will certainly have to debate his opponents. ::grin::

[MarkO]

TC, you are likely correct, but the question should be asked and re-asked. I would expect him to say he has surrounded himself with the best, blah, blah. But in the end, he lacks the education to be able to make the correct decision.

Now, I realize that his decision on the economy has less to do with improving it than it does with redistibuting wealth. Yet, the distinction should be highlighted.

[glasater]

Endorsing Newt will certainly take Perry out of any consideration for a VP slot I would think.

[narciso]

Wasn't our 'good friend' Charles Freeman, involved with just such an outreach project
in the public schools

[Danube of Thought]

Jesus, Mary and Joseph:

Six House Democrats led by Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) want to set up a "Reasonable Profits Board" to control gas profits. Six House Democrats led by Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) want to set up a "Reasonable Profits Board" to control gas profits. The Democrats, worried about higher gas prices, want to set up a board that would apply a "windfall profit tax" as high as 100 percent on the sale of oil and gas, according to their legislation. The bill provides no specific guidance for how the board would determine what a reasonable profit is.

[MarkO]

Well, as we become Europe, I'm pleased to be able to say, buenos dias.

[Rick Ballard]

Perry has a decent day job. He also now understands what McCain came to understand in 2000 and Governor Romney learned in 2008.

You really have to watch those first steps and your major opponent is not playing bean bag.

Has anyone seen a reaction from the Languid Response Team that merits any attention whatsoever? Romney sending his money to vacation in the Cayman Islands seems to have eclipsed Bain Capital for the moment.

[Jack is Back!]

pagar,

Hard to get any information these days without a poliitcal bias to it.

Economics, Education, Science, Engineering, Business, etc., are all written and talked about or projected under the underlying auspices of the politics the narrative is reinforcing. I mean look at the Walmart and union pin stories above or the whole business of climate change (ex global warming, ex global cooling). Even the engineering aspects of nuclear power, clean coal technology and now pipeline transportation are being filtered through the political spectrum first and the efficacy test last.

If Obama elects to run against a "Do Nothing Congress" perhaps the Republican candidate should run against a "Know Nothing President".

[Sara]

A new ad:

Welcome to Florida

[narciso]

Once the squash rackets come in, they'll be good and ready, I think.

[Ranger]

Clarice, very true.

I take that as the result of W's "compasionate conservatism" combined with the Dems all out assult on the the reputation of government while the Rs were in control. The Dems cynicism with the "culture of corruption" campaign damaged the public's view of government as much as it did the Rs (mainly because as bad as the Rs were as being big spenders and earmarkers, the Dems turned out to be much, much worse).

Obama was supposed to reverse that downward trend, and instead he has accelerated it. So now, for the first time since they have been taking this specfic poll, the population actually is more satisfied with the level of power of Big Business than it is with Government. Not much, but the crossing of the streams is interesting.

Basing a presidential campaign on more Federal regulation, at a time when people trust the government less than Big Business looks to be a loser.

[Jack is Back!]

DoT,

What you do now is monitor the OpenSecrets. Org website to watch the uptick in political contributions by oil and gas company PAC's to these 8 Congressfelons.

SOP in Washington when you get redistricted and need some campaign money especially like Kucinich who is being primaried by another sitting member.

[Melinda Romanoff]

sbw-

The Frank Rich garden slug trail remains, I see.

[Jane]

Sally Kohn is the woman who justified that 5 year old being used by his mother to go up to Michelle Bachman and say his gay mother didn't need fixing. That was the first time I saw her on Fox, and everything she has said since has been equally as miserable. They just added her as a "Fox contributor" and it made me cringe.

[Clarice]

Bingo, Ranger..It's a Be Careful What you Wish For example, isn't it?

[henry]

I saw an ad last night on CBS / Milwaukee: focus on crony capitalism and featuring Solyndra as tied to Obama donors (Koch Bros /AFP?). Good hard hitting stuff whether or not Duke & Duke do anything useful.

[Ignatz]

--Well, I can guarantee one thing...if Rick Perry runs for governor again, he will certainly have to debate his opponents. ::grin::--

Heh. Was thinking that the other day too, Sue.

[MarkO]

I think Fox hires only liberals who are certified to make crawl the skin on reasonable people.

[centralcal]

I agree completely, MarkO. Might be a clever strategy.

[Clarice]

Well, Ext, I suppose that's one way of looking at it, but I know I'd raise the issue--perhaps after your child is out of that class..