The GOP Convention MegaMittensThread!

[DGuller]

I finally watched Clint Eastwood's performance, or at least tried to.  After a couple of minutes, I started feeling very sorry for the old man, and couldn't bear to finish watching.

I tried to as well, but the whole "wait 30 seconds, play 10 seconds of clip" thing going on with my internet connection meant I also gave up after a couple of minutes, feeling sorry for myself. 

That wasn't your Internet connection, that was Clint Eastwood's delivery.

[Razgovory]

National poll average is pretty much tied now at Obama +0.3, and that is pre-RNC convention: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/us/general_election_romney_vs_obama-1171.html

The convention doesn't seem to have helped Romney, although maybe money will. But this race has been so stable for months that I'd be surprised.

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2012/09/01/two_polls_show_no_bounce_for_romney.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+PoliticalWire+%28Political+Wire%29

I'd wait a week before you get a decent idea.

[Valmy]

Someone explain to me why the Republicans have a chance of winning this election.  Is It because people vote along party lines no matter what?  That might explain it but I also read that there is a growing number of independant voters.

So what is going on here.

When I read US political threads I usually look to Berkut as a kind of Bellweather voter but that might not be the case this election.

One might also ask why Obama is doing as well as he is in the polls, given the economy.  But then again, this is Languish, where Obama is infallible & Republicans are evil.

I think Obama is an incompetent liar.  It is just a tribute to the the political establishment these days that those qualities do not make him stand out that much.

[Viking]

I think Obama is an incompetent liar.  It is just a tribute to the the political establishment these days that those qualities do not make him stand out that much.

Incompetent liar? I know the absence of evidence isn't evidence of anything.. but what lies has he been caught in?

[Neil]

This is Languish, where most posters were natural Republicans, until the party abandoned them over a period from the mid-90s to the emergence of the Tea Party.

[Admiral Yi]

The New York Attorney General has launched an investigation of private equity firm tax treatment of management fees. 

Maybe I was a little too quick in withdrawing my joke about Democrats imitating Argentina.

[Jacob]

I think Obama is an incompetent liar.  It is just a tribute to the the political establishment these days that those qualities do not make him stand out that much.

Really? As in he's incompetent and a liar (as opposed to being incompetent at lying)?

Where has he been incompetent?

What has he lied about?

[Eddie Teach]

I dunno about incompetent, but he's been ineffectual at getting much through congress.

[CountDeMoney]

but he's been ineffectual at getting much through congress.

[Faeelin]

The New York Attorney General has launched an investigation of private equity firm tax treatment of management fees. 

Maybe I was a little too quick in withdrawing my joke about Democrats imitating Argentina.

??? So you can't investigate tax fraud?

[Eddie Teach]

but he's been ineffectual at getting much through congress.

I know the Republicans block everything, but stronger Presidents have been able to browbeat/intimidate/perhaps even blackmail the opposition into getting what they wanted.

[Admiral Yi]

??? So you can't investigate tax fraud?

I can investigate anything I want to.  So can you.

But when a newly minted Democratic Attorney General launches an investigation two months before the general election into a tax issue that his office has *zero* jurisdiction over (it concerns federal tax liability), and which issue the IRS has been aware of for 20 years, and one of the targets is the former employer of the opposition candidate, at least the possibility of political motivation has to creep into the discussion.

Hopefully Joan will show up soon and restore my faith in rule of law Democrats.

[CountDeMoney]

but he's been ineffectual at getting much through congress.

I know the Republicans block everything, but stronger Presidents have been able to browbeat/intimidate/perhaps even blackmail the opposition into getting what they wanted.

Stronger Presidents have never had to deal with the House class of '10.  I sincerely doubt LBJ himself would've had much success with that crowd of amateur night assclowns.  You can't get anything done in the House without House leadership, and Boehner has proving to be completely incompetent in controlling a caucus that doesn't want to be controlled.

Hopefully a lot of them will get kicked, but I don't think it'll happen.

[Queequeg]

2014, CDM. 2014.

[Razgovory]

but he's been ineffectual at getting much through congress.

I know the Republicans block everything, but stronger Presidents have been able to browbeat/intimidate/perhaps even blackmail the opposition into getting what they wanted.

Stronger Presidents have never had to deal with the House class of '10.  I sincerely doubt LBJ himself would've had much success with that crowd of amateur night assclowns.  You can't get anything done in the House without House leadership, and Boehner has proving to be completely incompetent in controlling a caucus that doesn't want to be controlled.

Hopefully a lot of them will get kicked, but I don't think it'll happen.

Bill Clinton had many of the same problems.  Of course, we know how that ended up.