"If the election were held today, a lot of people would be very surprised."

[PCIntern]

If my grandmother had had wheels, she'd have been a locomotive...
I'm really getting sick of the Yahoo/Politico/AP-type coverage which shows on the one hand, that Obama has 240+ votes but is in danger of losing because the ReTHUGS may be able to "peel off" (i.e. steal) other states. So what the propaganda is stating clearly is that Obama has a ceiling but R-Money will run the table and win out,

Run the table with WHAT? His winning personality? His Cayman bank accounts? His fluency in the FRENCH language (of all things)? His consistent conservative agenda? His language skills? His humane treatment of animals? His bullying of a gay guy (OK, THAT one may work in this moran-ic electorate).

The real campaign hasn't started yet and I recall hearing the same crap when McCain was nominated: Reverential War Hero, Plain-speaking, Maverick, Experienced, Venerated in the Senate, Beautiful and poised wife and family, Adopted a child of color (not his idea), Scion of generations of Military Officers. Then, when the campaign began: left his first wife 'cause she was injured (even Nancy Reagan wouldn't have anything to do with him after that), stupid, ill-advised pick for VeePee, lame-assed approach to the conflagration which was the economic near-collapse of the USA and possibly the entire world, and more.

People are not yet paying attention as they say every four years. When they do, they'll see R-Money exactly for what he is and isn't, and they won't much like him. As I've pointed out in a few posts, even his own can't stand him personally and that's most unusual for the RWers these days. Stay tuned, the fun has yet to begin.

[spanone]

1. if the media didn't keep the race close they would lose gazillions in ad revenues

elections are big bucks for the media...

[PCIntern]

2. "You betcha!" n/t

[Scuba]

4. Nah, they don't care about the advertising revenues. Calling this race "close" is the set-up ....

... for stealing the election through voter suppression and Diebold/ESS/Sequoia.


"See, we told you it was close."

[GoCubsGo]

8. Yep. They're trying to discourage Obama voters.

That is obvious. They know there is no enthusiasm on the other side for Romney, and they're trying to dampen any enthusiasm on the Democratic side to counter it.

[zeemike]

9. Which is necessary if you are going to steal it

Large voter turnout makes it more difficult...but not imposable because any recount can be challenged and they have the ace in the hole....The SCOTUS....who they know will rule 5-4.

[chervilant]

59. And, if they lay the groundwork,

they can allege that they have been telling us all along that Rmoney was the more popular candidate!

I wonder if the Hoi Polloi will riot en masse if the Corporate Megalomaniacs steal this election. Will it wake us up? Maybe that will be the 'end times' my students insist will happen on December 21, 2012...

[Scootaloo]

53. Actually, I disagree; Spanone has the right of it

Rule one when looking at the media; the media is on the media's side in all things.

Keeping a narrative of a "neck and neck race" keeps the papers selling, keeps the viewers watching. Remember it was this way all the way through both party's primaries in 2008, and then through the election. It became the narrative for the 2011-12 Republican primary season as well, with every week a new candidate "narrowly in the lead."

People tune out when the game is decided in the third inning; but if the game is tied all the way to the ninth, you'll keep their attention the whole way. And in the case of the media, attention = revenue.

[Scuba]

56. Try a little critical thinking. Who owns the media? What else do they own?

How do their profits from media stack up against their profits from arms? How do their profits from media look compared to the tax hit they and their other businesses might take under a Democratically controlled House and Senate?

If they never sold another ad, they wouldn't care as long as they could still use the media to undermine democracy and keep their tools in place.

[Scootaloo]

65. What you're talking about is a different, though related subject

At the end of the day, the point of the people who own the media is profits. Both from my angle and yours, right? It's about putting money in their pockets. You're talking about media bias shifting public opinions to their benefit. I'm talking about a false narrative for the purpose of making sales.

Different aspects, is all. Features of a much larger problem that can't simply be taken as one big lumpy thing.

[Scuba]

66. The real profits aren't made in advertising dollars...

... the real profits are in arms sales. The media owners also own the arms business. They would be glad to publish all their media without advertising if it would help get their guy in the Oval Office.

Mitt's proposed $2.1 trillion boost in military spending contains more profits for them then all their advertising combined.

[chervilant]

60. Furthermore,

by creating and sustaining a 'neck and neck' meme, the Powers That Be can monitor the general response from the Hoi Polloi, and determine exactly how much further they can corrupt a Presidential election...

[chervilant]

58. + a gazillion

I'm glad I read your post, because that is what I have been thinking as I follow the 'polls' that the M$M has been throwing against the walls to see what sticks.

This is just like when I went to bed thinking Kerry had won the presidency (as indicated by the historically precise exit polls), and woke up to find out we were stuck with the Dark Ages Administration yet again.

[Jackpine Radical]

68. Scuba, you're awfully cynical.

Or at least I assume so, because I have exactly the same view as you, and people are always accusing me of cynicism.

[Scuba]

70. No matter how cynical I get, I just can't keep up.

I think this is properly attributed to Lily Tomlin, but that would mean my memory is working.

[Jackpine Radical]

73. Your attribution is correct.

It's those old memories that are the last to go. At the moment, I can't remember whether the dogs are in or out.

[Scuba]

74. I have to leave a sign to remember if mine are out or not....

... and I'm not usually so cynical, but had to deal with a couple of these nasty bastards and I'm still pissed.

[NRaleighLiberal]

12. Bingo! n/t

[left on green only]

18. Yes, The media's greed for the almighty dollar gets my vote.

Pump 'em up, stir up the pot, see how anxious you can deceive people into becoming, create hope and fear at the same time in as many hearts and minds as you possibly can.

Make 'em tune in to your media to try and gain reassurance for the anxiety you have created. Make them ring up the 'hits' on your perverted web site in their never ending attempt to quell the paranoia that you have engendered within them.

Then take that those numbers to your advertisers to 'prove' to them the power of your media to attract listeners or viewers, and why that is the reason they should spend their advertising dollars with you. Let your greed and your craving to attain monitory wealth drive your every action in the way that you live your lives. After all, monetary profit is the American way on Wall St. Who cares how your manufactured paranoia is bankrupting the creative energies of our people? After all, isn't that what the capitalism that built our great nation is all about?

[lunatica]

21. Perfect description of what really happens in the name of competition in the media

[Spazito]

24. Exactly! n/t

[Sherman A1]

52. Precisely

All one had to do was watch the GOP primary cycle to figure that out. It was all media hype driven, there was never any doubt by anyone who was watching it with a critical eye that Romney would be the GOP placeholder in the general election. Just as I have no doubt that Obama will win.

[RDANGELO]

3. One person who described it accurately.

I heard John King say that it was close ,but that Obama held the edge in the electoral college.

[malaise]

5. I can't wait for Rmoney's concession speech

Fugg all ReTHUGs

[TrollBuster9090]

10. Never mind that, I can't wait for RON PAUL'S concession speech at the convention

I want to see what it looks like when the heads of 10% of the Republican Party explode all at once. Something like the 4th of July, I would imagine.

[malaise]

23. That convention is going to be war

unless a hurricane hits Tampa and makes them cancel.

[tcaudilllg]

36. You mean like TR vs Taft?

[malaise]

71. Well that fight was good for the Democratic Party

so I can't wait for the Paulites

[Scootaloo]

54. All that tinfoil confetti...

[Orrex]

6. Cokie Roberts all but called the election for Romney on NPR about three weeks ago

Mara Liasson (however you spell it) have given similiarly optimistic forecasts for Romney's chances, endlessly citing dubious poll numbers without ever addressing the realities of the electoral college favoring Obama. Another NPR commentator whose name escapes me has already predicted that it will come down to the Florida vote in the wee hours of the night.

God knows that the media loves to pump the "horse race" angle, but the raw shamelessness of it is nauseating.

[PCIntern]

7. Years ago, SPY Magazine did a spoof

on how the world revolves around Cokie and her husband. It was really something...I miss SPY.

[NRaleighLiberal]

13. Moron Liasson has been a Faux news mouthpiece forever. n/t

[Odin2005]

32. Kookie Roberts is a disgrace to NPR.

She is a perfect example of how NPR has become another propaganda outlet.

[Orrex]

50. True, and...

Despite her decades in DC and her myriad insider connections, I've seldom heard her offer anything more insightful than what the average person could derive from a casual perusal of the day's headlines.

Of course, that's true for a lot of pundits...

[sellitman]

11. Voter purges and vote tampering will be hard to overcome

If there isn't a National coordinated effort to combat this then I believe Romney has a chance.

If its left unchecked then we are in for a world of hurt.

Who is leading the charge? I hear a lot of bitching and moaning but no clear game plan.

[rocktivity]

14. I would definitely be surprised

after all, it's supposed to be in November!


rocktivity

[bvar22]

15. The Media and BOTH Political Parties...

... have a Multi-Billion Dollar interest in making this appear to be a dramatic Horse Race.


The Republicans have not fielded a serious candidate for 2012,
but can't concede the election or donations for both parties would dry up,
so we are being treated to the Kabuki Election year,
with all the BIG MEDIA hype designed to entertain more than inform.
What we are observing is something more accurately called "Milking the Rubes".

[Thrill]

16. Most don't know much about Mittens

The campaign against him really hasn't even started

[TomClash]

17. I wouldn't be surprised

They intend to steal the election. They intend to steal millions of votes through suppression, voter fraud, intimidation, electronic manipulation, miscounts, you name it. They intend to win by any means necessary and they don't care about protests and court challenges.

And if all that doesn't succeed . . .

When this election is over, many of us will consider this "democracy" a complete sham.

[Botany]

19. Bring out Larry the Landslide Lizard

I had dinner w/ my son's girlfriend's family the other night and they are both
are republican .... he is in business and she is a stay at home mom ..... and both
of them are going to vote Obama this year. Both of them volunteered that the
President has done a good job with all the problems he inherited when he came to
office. That was in Ohio too.




But we all need to keep working to get a landslide and a congress that the POTUS can work
with.

[lunasun]

48. yes congress is a big issue in Nov

of course stealing votes/suppressing voters will have an influence on congress wins also

[Prophet 451]

20. There's several factors

Firstly, the media and both political parties have a vested interest in making this election appear dramatically close. If it appeared to be a foregone conclusion, they would lose votes/money/eyeballs.
Secondly, the GOP's corruption machine is still planning to steal as many votes and states as possible.
Thirdly, the GOP has already abused Congressional rules to effectively prevent the Democrats from governing at all.

So, from the GOP's point of view (and most of the medias), they have already circumvented most of the Dem's power, they have the machinery in place to steal votes/states and they can keep railing against the Kenyan/Marxist/socialist/communist/Nazi for teh next four years when they'll run someone they actually like. If Obama does something they dislike, they've already smeared him so much that the GOP base would happily start a new civil war if asked.

[tcaudilllg]

37. I hope they start a civil war.

I and a lot of other people will be paying the GOP leadership a very affectionate visit if that happens.

[Tiggeroshii]

22. It's true. McCain was a far more quality candidate than Romney, and even he had no chance

[Scurrilous]

25. Well said!

K & R

[progress2k12nbynd]

26. Uh these same guarantees were being made in Summer 2004...

There's NO WAY Shrub will be in the White House come January; everybody hates him...

[PCIntern]

27. Uh...not true...

we knew we had a real fight on our hands with Cheeeeney and Rove at the helm.

[Bluenorthwest]

29. Not to mention President Daddy and Governor Brother Man...

and generations of political networking and power plays.

[Arkana]

28. If the election were held today, Obama would win comfortably

and a lot of Republicans would be crying in their MGD.

[Doctor_J]

30. The election may well be stolen again

Just like in 2000 and 2004 (and 2002). Big Media was and is a major part of the fascist machine that perpetrates the election theft. So while it is true that the campaign has just begun, the coverage will be 99:1 in favor of Willard. then, if that's not enough to defeat the president, they'll commit the election theft and tell us to "get over it"

[tcaudilllg]

39. Obama won't let them do it.

He will not be railroaded.

[chervilant]

61. Bwahahahahahahahaha!

Snort, gasp, wheeze... Thanks for that moment of levity, tcaudilllg

[freshwest]

31. They're posting this stuff to manufacture consent for a stolen election.

It's worked like a charm since 2000. Only the huge turnoff in 2008 overcame the systemic theft the GOP had put in place and has continued to build on every year.

The GOP media made sure to slant everything Obama did since 2009 to demoralize Democrats and stay home in 2010 while playing the memes for their followers. I gotta hand it to them, they are creative when selling their lies, pure genius.

They've got it coming to us from the CT people to demoralize and make people think there is no difference, they've closed out any positive news and continued to whip up their howling dogs. The so-called alternative news sources are doing just as much as the direct approach.

If Mittens wins in 2012, their excuse will be the same as the close results in 2000. That was given support by media showing the brownshirts sent in by Tom Delay to halt the lawful progression of deciding the vote there.

They've got Democrats who despise Obama and the Democratic Party and don't want to hear one good thing because they can't stand to lose their red hot sense of victimhood, so they won't vote. They will discourage anyone else from getting involved, too. So expect anything, but some may want to GOTV.

[tcaudilllg]

40. Their lies were nullified when Obama came out for gay marriage.

And that's really what this is about: gay marriage. The media execs are pulling all the stops.

[freshwest]

44. Remember their claims early on that Obama had a gay lover? It'll pop up again.

They are getting energized over gay marriage. It's slaughtering the Catholic and Protestant teachings that Mormons are a cult.

Oh, no, anything but gay marriage! It seems to be the mewest crucible for their hatred. Wonder if the birther madness is a cover for that?

Damn, these people need to grow up.

[chervilant]

62. Really, freshwest?

They've got Democrats who despise Obama and the Democratic Party and don't want to hear one good thing because they can't stand to lose their red hot sense of victimhood, so they won't vote.

Blind allegiance predicated by party affiliation epitomizes the kind of 'patriotism' Samuel Johnson called 'the last refuge of a scoundrel.' We can ill afford such arrogance within our own ranks, even as we struggle to expose false patriotism among the rank and file Republicans.

Dismissing the concerns of *all* of Obama's critics is both demeaning and disingenuous, and it will not help us regain our footing in these perilous times.

(BTW, as much as I criticize Obama's adjuration that 'we must move forward, and stop dwelling in the past' (a trite justification for avoiding the prosecution of the Bush war criminals); or the fact that Obama appointed a Confederacy of Dunces to key posts in his administration--including Arne Duncan as SecEd--I doubt sincerely that I deserve to be characterized as one of the alleged 'Democrats who despise Obama and can't stand to lose their red hot sense of victimhood'!)

[freshwest]

72. You're reading too much into what I wrote. I nearly edited to change that sentence but expected

Those who read it to see the context.

You are off the mark, as I am talking about Democrats I know who have taken the poison pill from Alex Jones or RW sources, who adopt the same tone of dripping disdain and sarcasm at the mention of Obama's name.

Those who cannot say 'Obama' without spitting nails are unreasonable and refusing to vote for any Democrat, not just him. I did not say that the majority or ALL as you want to make my reply say which is NOT what I said, of people on DU advocate not voting for Democrats.

No one person can meet all my expectations except myself, and even at that standard, I'm not perfect, either, so the 'blind...' etc. charge you are making with your anger does not apply. Obama is not doing all that I want, but I did not expect him to do it ALL, because I've worked in many different kinds of campaigns and know it's bigger than one man.

I have a governor and state elected officials and federal senators and a district representative who are working to get what I need done and don't always agree with what any POTUS does. No one person runs this nation, the POTUS is the most newsworthy, but not Jesus on the Cross bearing all the sins of the nation, either.

At every level we have something to say, and more than that we have something to DO to change the world into the one our hearts long to see. Not voting more Democrats in to support my anti-war and pro-human rights officials is not going to help, it gives ground to the regressives that WILL vote in every election, egged on by the Paulites, churches and talk radio.

I did NOT say anything about ALL and did NOT generalize in the way you are mischaracterizing my reply. You singled out the one sentence and ran with it and I don't see how we can have a conversation if you won't read the rest.

Have a nice week. EOM.

[chervilant]

76. Democrats you know?

I have yet to see *any* evidence of a measurable contingent of Democrats who "despise Obama and the Democratic Party and don't want to hear one good thing because they can't stand to lose their red hot sense of victimhood." However, I *have* been denigrated and ridiculed by numerous members of this website for voicing my concerns about Obama's missteps.

If there is a group of such unfortunates (Dems who despise Obama and the Democratic Party and don't want to hear one good thing because they can't stand to lose their red hot sense of victimhood), I would argue that these folks are DINOS, not Democrats.

(BTW, our votes have not been the determinant of who holds political office since Diebold cornered the market on touch screen voting machines...)

[Odin2005]

33. The American MSM should be assumed to be liars unless proven...

...otherwise by other sources. They should be treated like the Russians treated Pravda under the USSR, BS and lies.

[HarveyDarkey]

34. I for one would definitely be surprised

Today is Sunday on a holiday weekend & the election's not scheduled until November.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

35. It's in the medias interest to pretend that Romney has a chance.

The illusion of a "tight race" sells more beer and potato chips than an obvious yawner.

[fascisthunter]

38. the corporate edia is propagandizing that the election is close

therein giving the underdog an added chance! It's time to call out polling companies and the media that sues them to further their efforts in attracting media interest. They are perverting the election results themselves.

[tcaudilllg]

41. I agree. You know...

we see a lot of banners for left-wing causes around here. But I don't see many banners decrying Rasmussen and Gallup.

[SheilaT]

42. Two things. First, I think that in the end (November that is)

the election won't even be close, and I don't mean just the electoral college side. Of course, we'll just have to wait and see just what happens.

Second is that if NPR is so freaking liberal, why are people like Cokie Roberts carrying water for Romney?

Back in 1992, yes twenty years ago, I noticed how early on NPR declared the Democratic Party dead and in need of a decent burial. Over and over I caught them supporting the Republican talking points, towing to the conservative line, and willfully repeating and never fact-checking what was said on the right. The only things I currently listen to on NPR are A Prairie Home Companion, Wait Wait Don't Tell Me, and Car Talk.

I wake up every morning to Amy Goodman, watch Rachel Maddow every evening, and aside from hanging out here on DU more than I probably should (there are only so many hours in the day and I really ought to be doing other things as well), and reading other sources on-line. I feel as if I'm reasonably well-informed. I never see political ads, since I don't have a TV and only watch what I do watch on-line, where advertizing is greatly limited and never contains partisan political ads.

The only thing that gives me any real concern about the election in November is that I'm concerned that there are enough people out there who truly hate Obama and will overcome their distaste for Romney enough to go and vote for him. I hope not. I hope the anti-Mormon wing will stay at home, or perhaps vote for someone else entirely. But I will repeat what I said at the beginning of this post: I think that in the end it won't even be close.

[chervilant]

63. I have to agree, SheilaT.

I know a guy who will vehemently DENY being a Republican when I start asking those pesky questions to which most people cannot respond, yet he insists he is voting for "anyone with an R behind their name, because we've got to get Obama out before he destroys our country"!

[Honeycombe8]

43. It doesn't matter much WHO the Repub candidate is.

Last edited Sun May 27, 2012, 11:27 PM - Edit history (1)

First, Republicans are more reliable about showing up at the polls and voting for the Republican, whoever that person is.

Second, a re-election of a President is more about re-electing the incumbent than electing the opposition. Obama will either win or lose, but HE will win or lose; Romney won't win.

This didn't work for McCain because that election wasn't a re-election of an incumbent. Couple that with the fact that he just ran a terrible campaign, had picked Palin as his VP, and the Republicans weren't excited enough to overcome the excitement on the left for Obama. Democrats & independents showed up in droves to vote for Obama.

It looks like it'll be a close election. Not because of Romney, but because people don't seem enthralled by Obama right now. I'm voting for him, and I for sure will show up to vote. Well, I take that back. If there is drilling in the Arctic Refuge, I may not vote for Obama.

[D23MIURG23]

45. There is only one way this will actually be a close race...

That is if Mitt can get the electorate to unthinkingly blame Obama for the economy being crappy.

Otherwise you can count on Mitt to get the 28% of the vote that think Obama should be disqualified by his skin tone.

[bigwillq]

46. So Obama's going to win 72%?

I don't think so. But we will see.

[D23MIURG23]

47. Nah.

Mitt will win probably 38 - 43% of the vote. About 65% of those people will think Obama is some kind of Islamic/Communist Manchurian candidate who was born in Kenya. The other 35% will have been persuaded that Obama didn't do enough to turn the economy around, but won't realize that Mitt's ideas are worse; or will be long time republicans who can't make themselves vote for anyone else.

My point is basically that no one who can be classified as a 'swing voter' is likely to want Mitt based on either policy positions or personal resonance, and I don't thing the "tea party" bigots are actually that numerous.

[Scootaloo]

55. The real fun will be if Paul pulls a Lieberman and decides to run as an "Independent Republican"

it'll be fun to see the other side suffer a spoiler again. What is it with squeaky Texans, anyway?

[L. Coyote]

49. when they got to the polls and discovered they were no longer registered. Protect the right to vote

by making sure you are still on the voter roll.

[ailsagirl]

51. Frankly, I was surprised

that the rethugs didn't pull their voter shenanigans in 2008 like they did in 2000/2004. It's hard to put myself into their sleazy mindset but it would seem to me that they would have done everything in their power to keep Obama from winning because once in, it would be very hard to stop him from serving a second term. What a contrast between those who go to listen to Obama speak (the crowd size & FERVOR) and Nitt (dinky numbers and people's obvious boredom).
That contrast
between the two tells me who's going to win in November! I just have a real hard time believing "the race is tightening up".

[chervilant]

64. Frankly, I am surprised

that anyone thinks that the Hoi Polloi still has any significant role in choosing who will be POTUS. I think the Corporate Megalomaniacs will continue to 'take our temperature' with their myriad misleading polls, and then we'll get the guy who most suits THEIR needs.

[ailsagirl]

77. I guess, in all honesty...

nothing would surprise me anymore

[Vinca]

57. I don't know why the Mormom proxy baptism isn't getting more coverage.

This is truly nutty.

http://realmormontruth.blogspot.com/2012/02/protect-your-dead-from-mormons.html

[Ninga]

67. You are so damn spot on...that it makes my head spin! When understanding history and

simple logic meet and the same intersection....the scales fall from the eyes and a hello moment happens!

Thanks PC!

[Bettie]

69. Yep. Very true.

Particularly your statement that even his own don't like him.

On another board, someone suggested that we should all stop talking about Bain because Bain execs gave money to Obama.

They hated it when someone pointed out that these are the guys who know him and they DON'T want him running the country!

It was amusing to watch them try to respond to that.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

75. I agree

Once people get a load of Romney, he's toast.

The same reason we lost in 2004 will be the reason we win in 2012. You can't beat something with nothing. GOP has nothing.