Topic: 2012: The Mayans Warned Us Of Stupid Elections (Read 88556 times)

Brentai · « **Reply #1280 on:** October 05, 2012, 07:35:16 AM »

The best part is that Fox has spent the last few days reporting "Mitt Romney won the debate handily and the jobs report will make the victory complete!" Fair, Balanced, and Completely Wrong as always.

Shinra · « **Reply #1281 on:** October 05, 2012, 07:51:48 AM »

Quote from: Thad on October 05, 2012, 07:08:06 AM

That's the problem with spending the past two years repeating the phrase "over 8%".

Because guess what, 7.8 isn't that damn much different from 8, but we've spent decades being conditioned to think that $59.99 is fifty dollars, not sixty.

The best part is, rather than point out that we're still close to 8% unemployment and the jobs growth this month was less than thrilling, the right are accusing Obama of manipulating the jobs numbers.

Ted Belmont · « **Reply #1282 on:** October 05, 2012, 07:54:13 AM »

Quote from: Shinra on October 05, 2012, 07:51:48 AM

Quote from: Thad on October 05, 2012, 07:08:06 AM
That's the problem with spending the past two years repeating the phrase "over 8%".

Because guess what, 7.8 isn't that damn much different from 8, but we've spent decades being conditioned to think that $59.99 is fifty dollars, not sixty.

The best part is, rather than point out that we're still close to 8% unemployment and the jobs growth this month was less than thrilling, the right are accusing Obama of manipulating the jobs numbers.

Not just Obama, but unemployed Democrats, too!

Thad · « **Reply #1283 on:** October 05, 2012, 09:07:30 AM »

Well that makes sense. Democrats just want handouts. Unless they're unemployed. Then they're willing to forego handouts just so Obama can get a bump in the polls he was already up in when these numbers were being tabulated.

Royal☭ · « **Reply #1284 on:** October 08, 2012, 05:53:15 PM »

Romney starting to lead in polls

Shinra · « **Reply #1285 on:** October 08, 2012, 06:37:18 PM »

The Pew poll has a lot of problems. Most of the respondents were southern males over 50, for starters. It's a statistical outlier as other pollsters are starting to report the polls evening back out to pre-debate levels. Most likely, Romney gained 2-4 points from the debate, which is pretty close to unprecedented for something that traditionally doesn't really fucking matter. Kerry stomped Bush and it didn't help much, but then again, Bush at least managed to maintain eye contact and not look pissed off and bored. (i could be remembering that wrong? I remember a lot of stammering but he at least seemed somewhat attentive.)

Things aren't looking great for Obama right now, though. IMO, if he fucks off with the next debate it could be very, very bad. The beating he took last week was biblical and he can't afford to look that incompetent in front of that many voters again.

Thad · « **Reply #1286 on:** October 08, 2012, 09:08:59 PM »

Yeah, I still haven't seen the debate beyond the highlights but the reaction sure does indicate Obama's going to have to do better in the next two. Town hall's probably a friendlier format for him. Foreign policy still heavily favors him but things could turn sour if there are any more attacks on embassies or suchlike. Which, you know, if there are attacks on embassies there are much fucking more important things to worry about than trying to shoehorn that into a goddamn "How will this affect the polls?" narrative.

I believe these polls still came out prior to the latest unemployment numbers, which is significant.

As for the Biden/Ryan debate, who the fuck knows what's going to happen there, but I don't think VP debates generally have a huge impact. (The greatest line ever uttered in a VP debate preceded the last landslide defeat in an American presidential election.)

Dunno. Which is what I've been saying all along -- we don't know. I can't even say with certainty the election's going to be close, but the polls sure as hell are now. There's plenty that can still happen in a month -- some sort of unexpected occurrence in the last few weeks before an election, perhaps. Someone should come up with a name for that.

Brentai · « **Reply #1287 on:** October 08, 2012, 11:57:08 PM »

I kept reading all these articles that were like "WE NEVER COULD HAVE PREDICTED THAT THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE WOULD DROP BELOW 8% IN OCTOBER!" and all I could think of is "WOW, WHAT A SURPRISE!"

Not that I'm jumping on the "unemployment rate is fake" dumbwagon, but if you're going to keep insinuating that Obama has any actual control over the country's rate of employment then you should expect him to time it exactly like this.

(The fact that it DID work out so perfectly should actually be something of a liability to the man, since it implies he could have pressed the magical Jobs Button at any time and held off on doing it because it was politically convenient. Turns out the opposition is doing just fine without going all tin hat on its base though, which is a... refreshing change? A change? Fuck if I know.)

I'm not as upset about Obama losing ground as I am about him killing the momentum of his congressional peers. The left is back to not believing their leaders can make a difference, and whether they're right or not is not the issue. Another term of congressional gridlock would be a greater drag to on this country than just putting a vile plutocrat in the signing chair, and it's probably going to happen. Bleh.

Thad · « **Reply #1288 on:** October 09, 2012, 07:12:31 AM »

Quote from: Brentai on October 08, 2012, 11:57:08 PM

I'm not as upset about Obama losing ground as I am about him killing the momentum of his congressional peers. The left is back to not believing their leaders can make a difference, and whether they're right or not is not the issue. Another term of congressional gridlock would be a greater drag to on this country than just putting a vile plutocrat in the signing chair, and it's probably going to happen. Bleh.

Yeah, I've said before that I'm a lot more concerned about Congress than the White House. (I am, of course, MOST concerned about Maricopa County Sheriff.)

Just because of the nature of the two parties at this point, if Romney is President we're likely to get some bipartisan support, while if Obama gets another term things are going to continue on as they are. Which is worse largely comes down to an issue-by-issue basis -- as I've said before, I think if Romney had been President, we'd have gotten pretty much the same healthcare bill but it would have passed with bipartisan consensus. On the other hand, DADT certainly wouldn't have been repealed, and he would have expanded the Bush Tax Cuts even more than Obama has.

I think at least two more years of gridlock is probably the best thing we can expect -- hopefully it'll just be slightly less gridlock and significantly less crazy.

Shinra · « **Reply #1289 on:** October 09, 2012, 02:16:10 PM »

Romney is gross. "I met a guy who died in Libya at a party once". Mitt, you are a classy guy.

Büge · « **Reply #1290 on:** October 09, 2012, 04:57:55 PM »

I'm just not sure Mitt Romney knows how to act around normal humans. He's like Patrick Bateman or something.

Brentai · « **Reply #1291 on:** October 09, 2012, 05:28:46 PM »

Well, more like he's Mitt Romney. He wasn't RAISED around normal humans, in two senses; I wouldn't expect him to know anything about them.

Also, still not convinced that he would have the capacity to understand even if he was.

Thad · « **Reply #1292 on:** October 09, 2012, 09:00:17 PM »

Quote from: Büge on October 09, 2012, 04:57:55 PM

I'm just not sure Mitt Romney knows how to act around normal humans. He's like Patrick Bateman or something.

I'm going to pretend you said Jason Bateman and just link Lucille and Mitt again.

McDohl · « **Reply #1293 on:** October 11, 2012, 07:12:12 PM »

Biden did a thing tonight.

A² · « **Reply #1294 on:** October 11, 2012, 07:20:39 PM »

McDohl · « **Reply #1295 on:** October 11, 2012, 07:26:38 PM »

Yeah, Maher was kinda on fire tonight with the tweets.

EDIT: From Reuters:

Thad · « **Reply #1296 on:** October 11, 2012, 08:51:57 PM »

Aw hell, I forgot to watch. This one actually good, then?

A² · « **Reply #1297 on:** October 11, 2012, 08:56:22 PM »

Quote from: Thad on October 11, 2012, 08:51:57 PM

Aw hell, I forgot to watch. This one actually good, then?

About the only thing Biden didn't do was hold Ryan's nose against a giant pile of shit labeled "Dumb stuff republicans do" and scream STOP IT. NO. STOP IT.
EDIT: More pictures

Bal · « **Reply #1298 on:** October 11, 2012, 09:23:41 PM »

That picture with Biden's hands up makes him look like his screaming to the uncaring sky "What the fuck is this idiot talking about"

Metal Slime · « **Reply #1299 on:** October 11, 2012, 09:42:51 PM »

News:

Author Topic: 2012: The Mayans Warned Us Of Stupid Elections (Read 88556 times)