Patterico's Pontifications

9/6/2011

2012 Maps and GOP Insiders

Filed under: 2012 Election — Karl @ 10:53 am



[Posted by Karl]

The kickoff of the 2012 general election is roughly a year away, making it worth a look at where people think it will truly be fought.

Academic and prognosticator Larry J. Sabato thinks “seven super-swing states with 85 electors will determine which party gets to the magic number of 270 electoral votes: Colorado (9), Florida (29), Iowa (6), Nevada (6), New Hampshire (4), Ohio (18) and Virginia (13).”

However, at Pres. Obama’s Chicago campaign HQ, the following maps hang on the wall: Iowa, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Florida, North and South Carolina, Georgia, Texas, Ohio, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and Vermont.  Toss out Texas and Vermont as “50-state campaign” spin and you have a fairly good idea of the incumbent’s list.  Obama HQ has a fair amount of overlap with Sabato, although the inclusion of the Carolinas and Pennsylvania (and the exclusion of Virginia) may be telling.

Perhaps more intriguing is the Republican National Committee’s new radio campaign, which is airing in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Florida, Colorado, Nevada, North Carolina and Michigan.  This list leans more heavily on the Great Lakes region than either Sabato or Obama do.  Although Ohio has been key for Republicans at the presidential level for several cycles, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan have not turned red at that level in quite some time.  Indeed, Pennsylvania has long been to the GOP what Lucy Van Pelt has been to Charlie Brown’s placekicking career.

The GOP emphasis on the Great Lakes and Rust Belt may reflect insiders’ medium-term thinking about the party.  Republicans have been at a structural Electoral College disadvantage ever since vote-rich California slid into the Democratic abyss.  The Nixon-era strategy of capturing the South and West was fractured, while the left eyes the Mountain West and Southwest as fertile ground for its Emerging Democratic Majority.  All three lists above reflect the latter fight by including Colorado and Nevada.  But the RNC seems to be taking Obama’s current weakness as an opportunity to open new fronts for the party.

The thinking of GOP insiders about the electoral map is likely influencing commentary on the campaign.  For example, consider that the WSJ editorial board’s “questions about Mr. Perry concern how well his Lone Star swagger will sell in the suburbs of Ohio, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, where the election is likely to be decided.” (Emphasis added.)  Historically, that does not jibe — and thus likely reflects a view about the future.  It also sheds light on the insider efforts to pull Gov. Mitch Daniels (IN), Rep. Raul Ryan (WI) and even Gov. Chris Christie (NJ) into the race.  The suspicion by movement conservatives has been that the insiders’ silent campaign has been about trying to move the GOP leftward.  The electoral map suggests there are also practical concerns at play, though there remains plenty of room to ask about the chicken and the egg.

–Karl

59 Responses to “2012 Maps and GOP Insiders”

  1. Republicans have been at a structural Electoral College disadvantage ever since vote-rich California slid into the Democratic abyss.

    Except that California is considering a law that would nullify such an advantage.

    Michael Ejercito (64388b)

  2. Sabato is wrong.

    PA and Oh are lost to BHO. His re-election is not possible without either of these states.

    Unless the GOP nominates Alfred E. Neuman, it’s an electoral blowout.

    Ed from SFV (7d7851)

  3. PA and Oh are lost to BHO. His re-election is not possible without either of these states.

    That depends on if the media can spin the economy as booming regardless of how things actually are.

    Michael Ejercito (64388b)

  4. It sure looks like PA is lost to him, but I’ve been trying to see that state come around for a long time. I’ll believe it when I see it. These are the people who gave us Arlen Specter.

    I hope for a blowout. I think that’s what will happen. We should donate and volunteer as though it’s going to come down to the last vote. If it’s a blowout, the more the merrier anyway.

    Dustin (b2fb78)

  5. The current state of the economy brings into play the “Main Streets” everywhere.
    That is where the dissatisfaction level is highest, and where the most votes can be swung from Blue to Red.

    Another Drew - Restore the Republic / Obama Sucks! (260081)

  6. Except that California is considering a law that would nullify such an advantage.
    Comment by Michael Ejercito — 9/6/2011 @ 11:11 am

    The proposed law would not take effect until it’s passed by states that have a total of 270 electoral votes. And the only way that the law would affect the outcome of an election is if the popular vote differs from the electoral vote (i.e. 2000 Bush vs Gore).

    aunursa (41236f)

  7. I hope for a blowout. I think that’s what will happen. We should donate and volunteer as though it’s going to come down to the last vote. If it’s a blowout, the more the merrier anyway.
    Comment by Dustin — 9/6/2011 @ 11:31 am

    A blowout would also help retain the strong House majority and potentially provide a large Senate majority. This would make it easier to pass the new president’s legislation and confirm his or her judicial appointments.

    That said, I don’t share your optimism for a blowout. BHO still has many advantages that will lessen a Republican victory.

    aunursa (41236f)

  8. Remember: “If it’s not close, they can’t cheat!”

    Another Drew - Restore the Republic / Obama Sucks! (260081)

  9. That’s true. A lot of people badly need this cycle of ballooning spending to continue. A lot of people will fear and even fight against austerity.

    Obama won in 2008 because this country has a profound problem. It starts with education, and also exists in how information is managed by media, and it’s going to remain a problem for a long time.

    We’re just a third party fake-tea (or purity) candidate away from Obama winning reelection.

    Dustin (b2fb78)

  10. And Obama is just a Naderite away from a complete blowout, with he and the Dems on the losing end.

    Another Drew - Restore the Republic / Obama Sucks! (260081)

  11. And Obama is just a Naderite away from a complete blowout, with he and the Dems on the losing end.

    That’s a fair point this year. Usually I would shrug that off, but the left is very displeased with Obama, and he would lost a significant number of voters if the right challenger emerged. Usually I think the GOP is much more vulnerable to third parties than the Dems are.

    Hopefully it just doesn’t happen on either side.

    Dustin (b2fb78)

  12. Yes, what they need is an Urban Progressive, with real credentials stretching back to the Summer of Love, with a background in the legal arena,
    who has instant name recognition;
    but the question is, would Bernadine run?

    Another Drew - Restore the Republic / Obama Sucks! (260081)

  13. I think it is premature to count the Dems out.

    They are desperate, have time, and MSM cover/aid/abetting.

    The last election featured lots of Left astro-turfing. Since then, the Left has tried a variety of anti Tea Party shennagins. Remember the black Dem congressmen claiming racial insults that were never on any of the audios? Remember the false “boos”?

    They have shown themselves quite ready to rationalize that their ends justify their means. If anyone had doubts about that, the Wisconsin flee-baggers and union thuggery proved it, and I expect we’ll see that on a national scale.

    I believe it is going to get really, really nasty and the need for rigorous monitoring has never been as great as now.

    jim2 (6482d8)

  14. Mitch would’ve been an awesome president every morning I would’ve said hi president Mitch top of the morning to you and he would’ve been all ‘sup. Ok let’s cut some spendings and I would’ve said you bet president Mitch sounds like a good plan to me!

    happyfeet (3c92a1)

  15. For the goofballs who think that BO will lose in a landslide do you honestly think that CA, NY, IL, MA and NJ will vote R? Just these states alone represent 129 electoral votes or 48% of what BO needs to be re-elected. Also remember, if there is one thing BO is good at, it is running for office. His re-election team will pull out all of the stops to demonize either Romney or Perry and BO will get a great deal of help along those lines from ABC-D, NBC-D, CBS-D, NPR-D, PBS-D, NYT’s-D, Chicago Tribune-D, Etc-D,. I think you get the idea. The R’s will have to not only run against BO but a very hostile press who has a great desire to see their guy re-elected and along with BO will pull out all of the stops to get him back in.

    I would ignore any MoDo or any other MSM columns taking our wonderful president to task. Come Jan 2012 they will be back in the game to get their guy re-elected. It happens every election cycle. Also BO will not lose the black vote, despite recent columns to the contrary. Do you honestly think he will get less than 90%? Jews less than 75%? The urban white upper class less than 65%? It is going to be a tough race and if the economy is even slightly better by late summer of 2012, the MSM will be singing BO’s praises from the roof tops.

    Ipso Fatso (74cbec)

  16. We still need the Amendment that says that “In the event that a Presidential Candidate fails to win the vote in his or her home State, said Candidate shall be deemed to have forfeited the General Election to his or her leading opponent Candidate.”

    Alasdair (e7cb73)

  17. For the goofballs who think that BO will lose in a landslide do you honestly think that CA, NY, IL, MA and NJ will vote R?

    Of course not. Define blowout first. I think Obama will lose badly. Obviously he will not lose all deep blue states. He’ll have to fight hard in a lot of blue states, though.

    It’s hard to say what will happen a year from now, but I do think Obama will decisively lose the election. I think it will be a historical shift that lasts for quite a while.

    Dustin (b2fb78)

  18. Romney-Rubio in 2012!

    ColonelHaiku (c7aeaa)

  19. We still need the Amendment that says that “In the event that a Presidential Candidate fails to win the vote in his or her home State, said Candidate shall be deemed to have forfeited the General Election to his or her leading opponent Candidate.”

    Why the @$%^ would you ever want that?! What logical argument can possibly be made for it? Why on earth should the people of one state have a veto on the rest of the country’s choice, just because the candidate happens to live there? Do you seriously suggest that a Republican from DC, or a Democrat from ID, should be ineligible for the presidency?!

    In any event, even if your proposal had any merit, how could it possibly work? All it would mean is that the D candidate would declare himself a citizen of NY, and the R would declare himself a citizen of TX.

    Milhouse (ee8a5d)

  20. 2012 will be an eventful night.

    DohBiden (d54602)

  21. Alasdair: a very silly proposition.

    Irrelevant in most elections.

    It would have flipped the elections of 1844, 1916, and 1968, to no useful effect. (In 1968, Nixon was a resident of NY.)

    Incidentally, if the VP is elected on a ticket that did not carry his home state, is the VP eligible to succeed as President? That would have barred VP Tyler and Andrew Johnson from succeeding. Since there would be no point in electing a VP who could not succeed as President, that would have also barred their elections, and also that of VPs Gerry, Richard Johnson, Fairbanks (in 1916), Wallace, and Agnew (in 1968).

    If these VPs had been replaced with their counterparts, that would have resulted in a great deal of pointless mischief.

    Rich Rostrom (be9815)

  22. Milhouse #19 – who said anything about State of legal residence ?

    While I became a Resident Alie4n in this country in 1979 and have lived here ever since, I am under the impression that one’s ‘home State’ for electoral purposes was where one was (or had been) a Senator or Governor or very prominent citizen … the folk in one’s ‘home State’ have presumably gotten to know the Candidate better than others from other States …

    An example is Gore – home State of Tennessee – who lost in his home State in the 2000 election (Praise Be Unto Whomever!) …

    I realise that I am a mere humble immigrant, yet, as far as I know, as yet, no-one can claim DC s his or her home State …

    Which of us has a problem with understanding of how things are ?

    Personally, I hope that this country will show that it is becoming a post-racism country by African-American voters giving less than 50% of their vote to the African-American incumbent Presidential candidate if his opponent is not African-American … given what Obama’s policies have done for the employment prospects of African-American youth, he certainly shouldn’t be getting the African-American vote based upon how he has “helped” the African-American community …

    Alasdair (e7cb73)

  23. Don’t underestimate O’s ability to get a 3rd party run from Bloomberg and/or the No Labels group. In a couple months that is likely to be the only viable re-election strategy (I’m assuming Perry does OK in the debates) i.e. win with Clinton 92 numbers.

    And if it’s Romney can we really dismiss the possiblity of O providing stealth encouragement to Trump?

    Scaring the voters about a scary Republican is only going to be more difficult with time. The people are living scary now – unending deficits that place us on a collapsed currency trajectory. If you can’t get to 50% then make sure your opponent can’t get to 50% too.

    East Bay Jay (2fd7f7)

  24. Gotta love the left insisting Hillarycare needed to be passed.

    Honestly Obamacare is big government like Hillarycare.

    Too bad leftys almost got what they wanted.

    DohBiden (d54602)

  25. Rich Rostrom #21 – as a mere humble newcomer, I believe that Nixon’s home State was California, was it not ? Wasn’t he a Californian Congressman and subsequently Senator ?

    As for the VP “point”, do people really vote for VP rather than President ?

    Alasdair (e7cb73)

  26. Alasdair, your “home state”, for the purposes of running for President, is the state in which you are registered to vote. Thus, a candidate can spend a long time living in one state, and move and be considered a resident of another state.

    This is important only in light of the fact that Electoral College electors for a state cannot vote for both a President and a Vice-President from their own state. In other words, if both the President and Vice-President candidates were from Vermont, no Vermont electors could vote for them (however, if either one is from another state, the electors for Vermont could vote for that ticket).

    Chuck Bartowski (4c6c0c)

  27. Sabato says North Carolina is important to the Democratrs. That’s why they scheduled the conventuion in Charlotte. Charlotte has about half a million lot of ex-New York City or Lonmg Island area residents,according to the New York Post:

    http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/charlotte_has_nyers_in_its_web_DMPQDh6mxxNdZjuMXjUFpK

    Charlotte has NYers in its web
    Migrants find NC cheap & charming

    By SELIM ALGAR and CHUCK BENNETT

    Oh, Carolina!

    Italian-Americans from Brooklyn, African-Americans from The Bronx and New Yorkers from the suburbs are flocking to the once sleepy town of Charlotte buoyed by big business like Bank of America and lots of Big Apple transplants.

    What has been dubbed the “New York phenomenon” swung into high gear around 2005, according to Erin Watkins, research director at the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce.

    There were 2,000 tax returns filed in Charlotte’s Mecklenburg County in 2009 by either individuals or married couples who filed in New York City or Long Island the year before, according to IRS data.

    “The cost of living in New York is extremely high right now, while the cost of living in Charlotte is 93 percent — 7 percent lower than national average — where in New York City it is 140 percent, or 40 percent over the national average,” Watkins said.

    Set designer and Brooklyn native Mike Patarote said that fleeing New York for Charlotte three years ago was the wisest decision of his life.

    Born in Bay Ridge, Patarote, 44, had worked in television for two decades creating props for “Law and Order.”

    His uncle, a staffer at Moody’s, had been transferred to Charlotte 15 years ago, and Patarote frequently visited the burgeoning city.

    “In the back of my mind, I always thought that it would be nice to move here someday,” he said. “But I didn’t want to do it when I was retired — I wanted to enjoy it while I was young.”

    Patarote and his wife, Karen, a physical therapist, sold their three-story Midwood home in 2008 for $750,000, moved to the Tar Heel State without job prospects, and bought a four-bedroom, 3,000-square-foot home on a third of an acre with a pool and hot tub for $260,000.

    Karen Patarote found work in her field and her husband landed a gig with the Showtime program “Homeland” being filmed in Charlotte.

    The New York hankering for pizza is also being filled.

    “There were very few people out here doing pizza like New Yorkers do it. All were chains,” said former Huntington, LI, resident Keith Caminiti, 40, who along with his brother opened six Brooklyn-themed pizzerias in the Charlotte area over 10 years. “We filled a niche.”

    Among the innovations they brought: pizza by slice for $1.95.

    It was easy to move, Caminiti said. “I was young and I was just tired of never being able to save money,” he said, citing the high cost of living with $3,000-a-year car insurance and $9,000 property tax.

    Now, he pays just $3,000 a year in property taxes with his wife — a Staten Island native he met in Charlotte — and $850 for car insurance.

    And so many New Yorkers have relocated to the Charlotte area that Jersey City native Chris Pardo started a sports talk show on WAVO in Charlotte that deals solely with New York teams.

    “When you have a half-million New Yorkers in the area, especially from Long Island, they want to talk sports,” Pardo said. “It’s a huge population now.”

    selim.algar@nypost.com

    Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/charlotte_has_nyers_in_its_web_DMPQDh6mxxNdZjuMXjUFpK#ixzz1XD2mtnym

    Sammy Finkelman (d3daeb)

  28. Everyone blames stuff on race.

    Honestly when Kenneth Gladney was attacked these idiots tried to justify it.

    DohBiden (d54602)

  29. #25 Alasdair: In 1968, Nixon was living in New York.

    Besides, what would be done if both nominees lost their home states?

    Joshua (9ede0e)

  30. As for the VP “point”, do people really vote for VP rather than President ?
    Comment by Alasdair — 9/6/2011 @ 2:00 pm

    I did, in the last election.

    aunursa (41236f)

  31. That’s a big affirmative at this house also.

    Another Drew - Restore the Republic / Obama Sucks! (260081)

  32. Vermont?

    The only way Obama loses Vermont is if the nuttiest left somehow drafts Bernie Sanders to run to Obama’s left.

    Captain Ned (5659f5)

  33. Bernie Sanders Flake
    new Ben & Jerry’s flavor
    nutty and cherry red

    ColonelHaiku (c7aeaa)

  34. Held my nose, drank Pepto and voted for McCain last time, thinking at least I have high hopes for Palin…. Not sure I can pull lever for Romney, I fear the damage he does to my party will be worse than Bush in 2006 and 2008… Out of current declared field I prefer Perry and I want Palin as Energy Secretary… Heads would explode! Second term move her to another position and then run Palin 2020…

    Texas Mom 2012 (cee89f)

  35. give Romney a chance… just like I’m giving Gore’s cheerleader Rick Perry a chance.

    ColonelHaiku (c7aeaa)

  36. That was 20 years ago but yeah your right.

    I’ll give Flip Flopney a chance but I won’t be disappointed if he fails conservatism.

    DohBiden (d54602)

  37. give Romney a chance… just like I’m giving Gore’s cheerleader Rick Perry a chance.

    Comment by ColonelHaiku

    Touche’. Romney just doesn’t have enough experience. I need a successful governor to really be comfortable. Romney has proven himself a capable debater, and his campaign has its act together. He’s a valid emergency backup candidate if, for some reason, Perry just isn’t up to the job. But I just feel like I’m not compromising on experience with Perry, and only compromising mildly on principles. It’s easier for me.

    I honestly feel like Texas Mom does. I just have a hard time giving Romney a chance. I worry that the core lack of faith I have in anything he says will be a theme of Obama’s campaign, should Romney be nominated. It seems like a major vulnerability. I know many honorable and smart Romney supporters online, so I don’t want to trash the guy, but I just don’t get it.

    Dustin (b2fb78)

  38. “I worry that the core lack of faith I have in anything he says will be a theme of Obama’s campaign, should Romney be nominated”

    Why let empty-suited Obama, a man who has the anti-Midas touch, set the tone of ANYTHING? All I’m arguing is give the guy a chance… this thing has barely even started. Let Perry make his case before anointing him.

    Whoever is the nominee should be supported by the critical-thinkers of America. I read the comments of many posters on Hot Air, with their anti-Romney insults and their inflated/conflated opinions of Palin and it about drives me around the bend.

    My God, people… look at what’s at stake!!! The country will have a hard time surviving another 4 years of this twit.

    ColonelHaiku (c7aeaa)

  39. Let Perry make his case before anointing him.

    Totally fair point. And no, Perry has not yet laid out an agenda or made his case. It is way too early to find it settled.

    Why let empty-suited Obama, a man who has the anti-Midas touch, set the tone of ANYTHING?

    If only it were up to me…

    Dustin (b2fb78)

  40. with their anti-Romney insults and their inflated/conflated opinions of Palin and it about drives me around the bend.

    BTW, guilty as charged. I would vote Palin before Romney 7 days a week, and the reason is simply a gut level thing. I just find myself unable to give Romney a shot.

    Dustin (b2fb78)

  41. nothing against Palin, but she has a slightly better chance of being elected than your humble colonel.

    ColonelHaiku (c7aeaa)

  42. I know, I know.

    Dustin (b2fb78)

  43. Palin has turned a great number of people who are normally strong conservative Republican voters against her… partly due to the media’s negative focus on her and partly due to her own persona.

    I say that… I understand that… I KNOW that to be true, and I actually like the woman. It’s just not a role for her. She can contribute in other ways.

    ColonelHaiku (c7aeaa)

  44. Her entire teasing, will she?/won’t she? crapola does nothing but piss people off. If Palin thinks that’s a winning strategy, she is seriously mistaken.

    I do not think she will run.

    ColonelHaiku (c7aeaa)

  45. Romney’s proposed plan to resurrect the economy was substantive. Let’s see what Perry can cobble together.

    ColonelHaiku (c7aeaa)

  46. No one here is saying that Palin is running, right?

    I don’t think she will. She has about the same amount of experience Romney has, though. A few years as governor, didn’t get reelected, and the end of her/his term not spent as governor perhaps due to presidential aspirations (And for Palin, other reasons too).

    Yes, I’m glad Romney has a plan.

    Perry can ‘cobble together’ something far superior. His record. Romney simply can’t compete on that level, nor can he promise his way into the White House, as most people just can’t trust him. If he is the nominee, so be it. Gotta get Obama out of there. But I don’t think Romney is a credible candidate.

    He’s a better politician than Palin, I will readily grant. Congratulations, but that’s not nearly good enough.

    Perry will need to present an agenda. I doubt Perry has time to write a 160 pages about it, because he, unlike Romney, is employed.

    Dustin (b2fb78)

  47. And I believe Perry’s agenda for the economy is to get the government out of the way while keeping regulation steady and predictable.

    I want more detail, but to be honest, it’s other areas where I want details from Perry.

    Dustin (b2fb78)

  48. I’m very curious if Romney’s agenda will have anything controversial in it.

    That’s one way Romney could get my attention in a positive way.

    I have this impression that he will say what he calculates will present the most votes. Simple as that. If he’s willing to show leadership and mention, say, entitlement reform in a specific manner, I will give him a second chance.

    Dustin (b2fb78)

  49. I’m really struck by how little foresight and prep work has gone into most of these candidates, sreiously suggesting drilling in the Everglades, having no plan of Afghanistan, an off handed clumsy remark on QE 2 with no staff work, not knowing the real details about climate change, attacking the Ryan plan.

    ian cormac (d69b60)

  50. Perry will need to present an agenda. I doubt Perry has time to write a 160 pages about it, because he, unlike Romney, is employed.

    You doubt he has the time, while I doubt he has the ability. Let’s see how he does over the course of the next several months.

    What I do know is that Perry opposes a border fence, denounced Arizona’s law, has virtually nothing to say about illegal immigration, supports in-state tuition for illegal immigrants… what differentiates him from your average, garden-variety Democrat???

    Maybe he’s the one-trick pony in this race.

    ColonelHaiku (c7aeaa)

  51. That’s what you hire staff to do, now some of them were working on quixotic Gingrich campaign, just some months ago, but they should be off to bat by now,

    ian cormac (d69b60)

  52. If PA gets voter ID – it passed the state’s house and is in the state senate – Obama is done in PA. Without the dead/dup/fraud/illegal vote in Philadelphia and its inner-ring suburbs, PA goes red.

    Dave Minnich (26298e)

  53. Please explain to me why you can’t drill in the Everglades?
    C’mon, the sugar industry has already pretty much destroyed what was there a hundred years ago.
    It’s not like the oil/gas is just a few hundred feet down, probably thousands, if not ten-thousand feet down, and they can probaly do it with slant rigs from outside the swamp.
    And, does anyone know if there even is petroleum deposits of any kind beneath the Everglades?
    We do know that there is oil in the Eastern Gulf, but that’s been put Off-Limits.
    We do know that there is oil in ANWR, and that’s been put Off-Limits.
    We do know that there is oil in the Pacific Continental Shelf, and that’s been put Off-Limits.
    We do know that there is oil in the Atlantic Continental Shelf, and that’s been put Off-Limits.
    We do know that there is probably one of the largest Natural Gas formations in the World lying beneath Pennsylvania and New York, and perhaps even extending into “pristine” Vermont, and they’re trying to put that Off-Limits.

    If the Enviros get their way, we won’t even be able to huddle in our caves, beating back the cold and darkness with a campfire; because the burning of wood will increase CO2 and destroy their idea of a planetary utopia.
    Heaven forbid that we actually kill something and try to cook it over a fire.

    Another Drew - Restore the Republic / Obama Sucks! (260081)

  54. You doubt he has the time, while I doubt he has the ability.

    Why? He’s provably a better governor than Romney was. He’s a man of superior ability and experience. I find the meme that Perry is stupid and lacking in ability to be beneath you.

    He does, however, have a job. Unlike Romney for the past many years, who has simply been focused on Romney. That means a lot to me. I don’t want the next president to need OTJ training. He needs to be fresh and experienced and successful government administration.

    Romney made a lot of money with Bain, and that’s a sign he’s quite smart and organized, though frankly it’s not the same work the president does.

    Perhaps Romney would make a great House committee oversight chair, cutting budgets to the bone like an investment banker might cut a bloated company into profitability?

    Anyway, if you think Romney actually wrote that agenda, I have some fresh texas rainwater to sell you.

    What I do know is that Perry opposes a border fence, denounced Arizona’s law

    No he didn’t. saying the Arizona law is not the right move for Texas is not a denunciation. Perhaps he had foresight about the legal future for that move. He’s got a point RE the fence. There are practical issues there, but he should support some kind of solution in places a fence is not practical. Perry’s view on E-Verify is a better place to go to attack him, but you seem to just want to attack him regardless of the issues.

    Dustin (b2fb78)

  55. That’s what you hire staff to do, now some of them were working on quixotic Gingrich campaign, just some months ago, but they should be off to bat by now,

    Comment by ian cormac —

    Right.

    Dustin (b2fb78)

  56. That was a hail mary pass, AR, anwr, and the Gulf, are more promising targets

    ian cormac (d69b60)

  57. “But the RNC seems to be taking Obama’s current weakness as an opportunity to open new fronts for the party.”

    Must be Reincie’s deep strategy. WI is indeed a big impressive win for the Repugnants. The Bob Lafollete birthplace of progressive populism is now firmly the star factory of Republican regeneration. Forget Ryan, Walker is even-money to be POTUS one day.

    And no TEA involved–tho Johnson may starting to smell the febrezed reek.

    Well just look to the West in MN. Republicans are more despised than ever. Bachmann, the most conservative declared candidate, probably cannot win her state and the GOP here is a flaccid embarrassment.

    The eastern Republican literati is an abomination, the Congressional leadership reprehensible. We desperately need a pogrom.

    gary gulrud (790d43)

  58. In 2012, The National Popular Vote bill could guarantee the Presidency to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states (and DC).

    Every vote, everywhere, would be politically relevant and equal in presidential elections. There would no longer be ‘battleground’ states where voters and policies are more important than those of other states.

    When the bill is enacted by states possessing a majority of the electoral votes– enough electoral votes to elect a President (270 of 538), all the electoral votes from the enacting states would be awarded to the presidential candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states and DC.

    The bill uses the power given to each state by the Founding Fathers in the Constitution to change how they award their electoral votes for president. Historically, virtually all of the major changes in the method of electing the President, including ending the requirement that only men who owned substantial property could vote and 48 current state-by-state winner-take-all laws, have come about by state legislative action.

    The bill has passed 31 state legislative chambers in 21 small, medium-small, medium, and large states, including one house in AR, CT, DE, DC, ME, MI, NV, NM, NY, NC, and OR, and both houses in CA, CO, HI, IL, NJ, MD, MA ,RI, VT, and WA. The bill has been enacted by DC, HI, IL,California, NJ, MD, MA, VT, and WA. These 9 jurisdictions possess 132 electoral votes– 49% of the 270 necessary to bring the law into effect.

    http://www.NationalPopularVote.com

    oldgulph (7ef349)


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