October 8, 2014

Theories on what's behind the Democratic mini-surge?

I think three things are in play:

1. September is "911 month" and Republicans always pull up a bit.
2. ISIS is fading from the news headlines and Republicans don't seem able to cash in on Ebola.
3. Democrats are starting to pay attention.

Anyone else have thoughts on this?

October 8, 2014

Three polls show Crist pulling ahead in Florida.

A new 0ptimus poll in Florida finds Charlie Crist (D) edging Gov. Rick Scott (R) in the race for governor, 40% to 39%.

A new Public Policy Polling survey shows Crist leading 45% to 43%.

A new SurveyUSA poll shows Crist ahead 44% to 42%.


http://politicalwire.com/archives/2014/10/07/crist_holds_small_edge_in_florida.html

October 8, 2014

GA Senate race heading for runoff.

Public Policy Polling's newest Georgia survey finds a tight race for the US Senate. Republican David Perdue is at 45% to 43% for Democrat Michelle Nunn. Libertarian Amanda Swafford is polling at 5%, which would be enough to send the contest into a January runoff if it remains this close. Swafford's support could reflect residual unhappiness among voters who supported one of Perdue's opponents in the Republican nomination contest- 70% of them voted for Mitt Romney in 2012 compared to only 16% of them who voted for Barack Obama. They say they would support Perdue over Nunn 43/12 if they had to choose between the two, which would push Perdue's overall lead to 48/45.

Voters are pretty mixed in their feelings about both candidates. Nunn has a slightly better net favorability rating at -1, with 41% of voters giving her positive marks to 42% with an unfavorable opinion. Perdue comes in at -4 with 39% rating him favorably to 43% who have a negative view. One thing that may be aiding Nunn's competitiveness is the continued very positive legacy of her father- 54% of Georgians have a favorable opinion of former Senator Sam Nunn to only 20% with a negative one.

Republicans have leads of varying sizes in all the statewide races. In the contest for Governor Nathan Deal is at 46% to 41% for Democratic challenger Jason Carter. Libertarian Andrew Hunt is getting 4%, which based on Deal's current lead would not be enough to force the election into a December runoff. Voters are mixed in their feelings about both Deal and Carter as well. Deal has a 43/42 approval rating, and Carter's favorability stands at 39/36.

The GOP candidates lead all of the down ballot state races by margins ranging from 6 to 11 points. Casey Cagle is up 48/37 for Lieutenant Governor, Brian Kemp is up 48/39 for Secretary of State, Sam Olens, Gary Black, and Mark Butler are all up 45/36 in their contests for Attorney General, Agriculture Commissioner, and Labor Commissioner respectively, Ralph Hudgens is up 41/34 for Insurance Commissioner, and Richard Woods is up 46/40 for State Superintendent.


http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/main/2014/10/republicans-lead-in-georgia-but-senate-race-close.html

October 8, 2014

GOP cancels spending in Michigan Senate race

LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Republicans are canceling TV ad spending planned for the final two weeks of Michigan's U.S. Senate race, signaling that the GOP is investing in other races in its drive for the Senate majority.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee pulled nearly $1 million in ads for the weeks of Oct. 21 and Oct. 28, according to a political operative who tracks ad spending. Democrat Gary Peters leads Republican Terri Lynn Land in Michigan.

Land and her allies spent $18 million on advertising through September, while Peters and his supporters spent $14 million. Republicans are hoping to net six seats to control the Senate.

Other outside groups, too, are bailing on Michigan, suggesting it's fallen out of reach for Land.

http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_268798/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=5cBsI1vE

October 8, 2014

The ‘super PAC to end all super PACs’ to spend $1M for Dem. Rick Weiland in South Dakota

The "super PAC to end all super PACs" is headed to South Dakota.

Mayday PAC, a group that is trying to curb the influence of money in politics, is launching a $1 million effort to support underdog Democrat Rick Weiland in the South Dakota Senate race with four weeks to go until the midterm elections, the group announced Tuesday morning.

It's a sizable investment in an inexpensive state which is considered to be among Senate Republicans' three best pickup opportunities. Polls show former governor Mike Rounds (R) leading the open seat contest comfortably. Larry Pressler, a former Republican senator running as an independent, is also in the race.

Mayday PAC is kicking off its effort with a new ad touting Weiland as crusader against "big money."


http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/10/07/the-super-pac-to-end-all-super-pacs-to-spend-1m-for-rick-weiland-in-south-dakota/

October 7, 2014

Virginia county clerk signs marriage certificate for plaintiffs who sued him

One of the marriage equality appeals that was declined by SCOTUS was brought by the American Foundation for Equal Rights in Bostic v Schaefer. In the appeal, Plaintiffs Tim Bostic and Tony London sued Virginia County Clerk George Schaefer after being denied a marriage license. During the process, Schaefer was strongly backed by the frothingly anti-gay group, Alliance Defending Freedom.

When Virginia's appeal was refused by the high court, Bostic and London rushed to the Norfolk County Clerk's office to fill out their marriage certificate. Patrick Wilson, a reporter for the The Virginian-Pilot was there to capture and tweet the moment as George Schaefer found himself in the position of having to abide by the law and sign the document permitting these two gentlemen to wed.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/10/06/1334748/-Virginia-anti-gay-county-clerk-signs-marriage-certificate-by-plaintiffs-who-sued-him

October 7, 2014

Nothing says 'San Francisco' like.....

the sight of a lovely lady in a black dress, riding the sideboard of the cable car on a windswept evening.

October 6, 2014

Marvel Comics to cancel Fantastic Four

It was a story that Bleeding Cool first only offered as a possibility, but as more and more evidence came in, it became more and more likely.

That, as a result of Disney’s highest single shareholder and Marvel CEO Isaac Perlmutter’s anger with Fox Studios over negotiations regarding the film-and-related rights to The Fantastic Four, that Marvel would cancel the Fantastic Four comic rather than provide any promotion, however small it might be, towards the Fox Studios film. Merchandise and licenses were scrapped and even Fantastic Four posters in the offices were pulled down lest Perlmutter see one and have his ire raised. It may not have been logical, but it was a decision born of personal emotion. It was steadied by sense. X-Men wasn’t cancelled, for example as the Xbooks sell so well. But Fantastic Four? It may have been the first book of the Marvel Universe, but its sales have continued to drag, even after multiple relaunches with high profile creators. There would be less of a hit to the bottom line if this comic was dropped.

Our story was pooh-poohed by all and sundry, save for CBR who independently confirmed that it was intended for the Fantastic Four to be cancelled. Then the letter about sketch card artists being forbidden to use Fantastic Four characters was made public, Mondo talked about being forbidden to use Fantastic Four characters and today, we we were already planning to run another story about Diamond Select Toys confirming that they are unable to make any Fantastic Four toys.

Right now we are not able to make characters from the FF, but as soon as that changes we will consider them.

But events moved on too quickly. Now the catalogues of Hachette, Marvel’s bookstore distributor, seems to confirm the cancellation at least. With June’s solicitation for James Robinson and Leonard Kirk‘s Fantastic Four: The End Is Fourever.

THE END IS FOUREVER! Witness the closing act on the First Family of the Marvel Universe! THE INVADERS meet the FANTASTIC FOUR as the hunt for REED RICHARDS and the missing kids of the FUTURE FOUNDATION continues. Meanwhile the mastermind behind everything unveils his ultimate plan. But how does FRANKLIN RICHARDS factor in? And how does this all lead to…The END?! Collecting FANTASTIC FOUR #642-644 and the Triple Sized Final Issue 645!

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2014/10/05/confirmed-fantastic-four-to-be-cancelled-in-2015-with-a-triple-sized-issue-645-as-january-kicks-off-fantastic-fourever/

October 6, 2014

Cowboy Junkies - This Street, This Man, This Life (VIDEO)

"That house there is haunted. That door's a portal to Hell. This street holds its secrets very well."

October 6, 2014

It sucks being a control freak while my mom is slipping away.

I'm used to solving problems and there's nothing I can do.