July panic for Obama — for good reason

[MCWAY]

$100 million in negative ads, full of BS. Yet, Obama is still effectively TIED with the winner of the "worst GOP field in history".

July panic for Obama — for good reason



Why has the Obama team been publicly wailing about losing out to Mitt Romney in the money race? Why would the president accuse his opponent of not merely being wrong or unqualified but criminal? After all, the polls are tied, so why so much worry in Obamaland?

Like a mystery novel, the answer is in front of our noses: The candidates are still tied in the polls. Let’s go step by step with the most logical explanation of the Obama campaign’s conduct.

The Obama team knew months ago that the economy would not sufficiently improve before Election Day to justify his reelection. Its polling showed simply blaming President George W. Bush wouldn’t be sufficient. The president and his political hacks concluded that it was too late and too risky to adopt a whole new second-term agenda. (It would risk offending either the base or centrists and reveal his first-term agenda to have been entirely inadequate.) So what to do?

Extend the Republican primary by running ads hitting Romney and encouraging Democrats to vote against Romney in Michigan and elsewhere. Then, before Romney could fully get his bearings, unload a barrage of negative attacks, scare mongering and thinly disguised oppo attacks through the mainstream media, taking advantage of many political reporters’ relative ignorance about the private equity field and their inclination to accept whole-hog President Obama’s version of “facts.”

The extent of that effort is only now becoming clear. The Associated Press reports: “President Barack Obama’s campaign has spent nearly $100 million on television commercials in selected battleground states so far, unleashing a sustained early barrage designed to create lasting, negative impressions of Republican Mitt Romney before he and his allies ramp up for the fall.” Think of it like the Confederacy’s artillery barrage on the third day of Gettysburg before Pickett’s charge — you have to in essence disable the other side before the charge begins or its curtains.

Virtually all of the ads were viciously negative, and judging from the number of Pinocchios they’ve racked up, continually and materially false.

But it didn’t work. Romney and Obama are still deadlocked. (The AP quoted Republican operative Carl Forti: “I don’t think . . . [Obama’s] got a choice. He has to try to change the dynamic now, but the polling indicates it’s not working. He doesn’t appear to be making any headway in the polls.”)

Few Democratic pundits are as sharp or as honest as William Galston, who concedes:

    On the one hand, the last round of Bain attacks has clearly rattled the Romney campaign, and a smattering of survey evidence suggests that the sustained ad campaign in swing states has scored some points. On the other hand, the Pew survey found no shift since May in swing-state voter preference.

    But it’s not too early to say that Obama’s vital signs look dicey. Over the past 33 months, his job approval has been lower than George W. Bush’s at a comparable time in his presidency for all but one week. Bush averaged above 50 percent in the quarter before his successful reelection campaign, while Obama has been stuck in the 46-48 percent range for months. And the famous “wrong track” measure now stands at 63 percent, versus 55 percent in the days preceding the vote in 2004. If these two numbers don’t improve for Obama, his presidency will be in jeopardy. And they probably won’t — unless the economy perks up noticeably.

So the Obama team has shot its wad. Its opponent has more ammo and more money now. Romney hasn’t been mortally wounded. And there isn’t money from Obama to keep up the 4-to-1 spending barrage. In fact without it, Obama might well have fallen behind in the race. So the Obama team pleads for money and turns up the volume of the attacks. (After calling Romney a criminal in July, what’s left for September and October?)

Obama is now committed to a strategy that isn’t working. He’s left to unleash his attack dogs and to pray for a miracle. Maybe the economy will rebound. Perhaps Romney will implode or pick a Sarah-Palin-type for vice president.

The reason, you see, that Obama’s camp has become so frantic in July is that its ineffectiveness in the summer subjects its side to grave risks. Having to defend his record, rely on his debate prowess and be evaluated on the economy over the last three years is as risky as, well, as sending thousands across a vast, empty field as enemy fire rains down upon them.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/post/july-panic-for-obama--for-good-reason/2012/07/15/gJQARQFXmW_blog.html

[240 is Back]

Or, you have a guy who bought the nomination that the base hates, unable to lead a president who took us to a Great Depression. 

It's all about the outlook.

[Soul Crusher]

Or, you have a guy who bought the nomination that the base hates, unable to lead a president who took us to a Great Depression. 

It's all about the outlook.

Remind me again why Obama is not running on his record? 

[240 is Back]

Remind me again why Obama is not running on his record? 

its a shitty record.

and the other candidate is so flawed that he finds it more politically effective to talk about how shitty the alternative is.

it's like the wife beater telling his chick "Look, the other guy that likes you is an axe murderer, you better stick with me".

[LurkerNoMore]

LOL @ Romney defenders when they were saying a few months ago that he was the worst one in the field and they hated him.  Back when Cain, Newt, Perry, Bachmann and Trump were "better candidates" than Romney.

As shitty as Obama and his record is, the opposition can't produce a candidate that would be double digit leading him in the polls right now.

[240 is Back]

LOL @ Romney defenders when they were saying a few months ago that he was the worst one in the field and they hated him.  Back when Cain, Newt, Perry, Bachmann and Trump were "better candidates" than Romney.

As shitty as Obama and his record is, the opposition can't produce a candidate that would be double digit leading him in the polls right now.

I dunno - we all know Jeb woudln't be tied with obama right now. 

BUT Jeb is smart enough to know an incumbent president is damn near impossible to beat.  Happened in 92 because of 3rd party.  It takes a monster like Reagan to beat an incumbent.

[LurkerNoMore]

I dunno - we all know Jeb woudln't be tied with obama right now. 

BUT Jeb is smart enough to know an incumbent president is damn near impossible to beat.  Happened in 92 because of 3rd party.  It takes a monster like Reagan to beat an incumbent.

Which is why I have said time and time that all the heavyweights conservatives are sitting out until 2016.

[240 is Back]

Which is why I have said time and time that all the heavyweights conservatives are sitting out until 2016.

you are certainly right.  Even Palin knew.   Jeb, Christie, Ryan, Rubio.

Looking back, you had a bunch of FOX tv announcers selling books + Ron paul paving way for Rand2016 + Mittens desperate attempt to buy the presidency.

Everyone with a brain knows it's damn impossible ot beat an incumbent.  And when Ryan/Rand win in 2016, they will get eight years in the white house too.

[MCWAY]

I dunno - we all know Jeb woudln't be tied with obama right now. 

BUT Jeb is smart enough to know an incumbent president is damn near impossible to beat.  Happened in 92 because of 3rd party.  It takes a monster like Reagan to beat an incumbent.

When was Reagan a monster in 1980? He was doing worse in 1980 against Carter than Romney is now against Obama.

[Shockwave]

you are certainly right.  Even Palin knew.   Jeb, Christie, Ryan, Rubio.

Looking back, you had a bunch of FOX tv announcers selling books + Ron paul paving way for Rand2016 + Mittens desperate attempt to buy the presidency.

Everyone with a brain knows it's damn impossible ot beat an incumbent.  And when Ryan/Rand win in 2016, they will get eight years in the white house too.

Id say thats not exactly true, considering Obama is in a virtual dead heat with Romney (the worst GOP candidate ever according to many), with no signs of either one gaining ground. Not even getting into the dismal record and economy.

[240 is Back]

look at history.  without perot destorying everything in 92, clinton gets wrecked.  all the smart ones sat out in 92 also.

carter lost in 80 to a rockstart reagan, and carter was major screwup. 

shockwave, obama is tied in polls, but you know ho much more ground game has.  25 bases in penn, and romney has one?  (as of 2 weeks ago).

on the day of the eleciton - and counting the votes - smart money is on obama cheating for the win

[Dos Equis]

When was Reagan a monster in 1980? He was doing worse in 1980 against Carter than Romney is now against Obama.

And Clinton was doing worse than Romney against Bush Sr.  Romney is actually in very good shape.

He's going to get a bump if he picks a good VP.  He'll get a bump after he outperforms Obama in debates.  He'll get a bump after the convention.

[240 is Back]

And Clinton was doing worse than Romney against Bush Sr.  Romney is actually in very good shape.

He's going to get a bump if he picks a good VP.  He'll get a bump after he outperforms Obama in debates.  He'll get a bump after the convention.

romney was avergae in debates against durnks like perry and churchboy closet fckups like santorum.

obama schooled hilary AND mccain.

When exactly will romney show us this amazing personality and nutsack he's been holding back?  oh brother

[MCWAY]

Id say thats not exactly true, considering Obama is in a virtual dead heat with Romney (the worst GOP candidate ever according to many), with no signs of either one gaining ground. Not even getting into the dismal record and economy.

look at history.  without perot destorying everything in 92, clinton gets wrecked.  all the smart ones sat out in 92 also.

carter lost in 80 to a rockstart reagan, and carter was major screwup.  

shockwave, obama is tied in polls, but you know ho much more ground game has.  25 bases in penn, and romney has one?  (as of 2 weeks ago).

on the day of the eleciton - and counting the votes - smart money is on obama cheating for the win

YOU look at history. Reagan was doing worst against Carter than Romney is doing now against Obama.

Carter was up by at least 7 in July of 1980. Romney and Obama are TIED now, not counting the undecided voters (what does history say about undecided voters and incumbent presidents?).

Without his teleprompter, Obama sounds like a drunken Porky Pig with marbles in his mouth. All this Bain BS, which is costing Obama a fortune, and he gets almost no traction from it. Meanwhile, Romney is saving his money, waiting to pound Obama on his record during the final stretch of the election.

[Shockwave]

look at history.  without perot destorying everything in 92, clinton gets wrecked.  all the smart ones sat out in 92 also.

carter lost in 80 to a rockstart reagan, and carter was major screwup. 

shockwave, obama is tied in polls, but you know ho much more ground game has.  25 bases in penn, and romney has one?  (as of 2 weeks ago).

on the day of the eleciton - and counting the votes - smart money is on obama cheating for the win

You werent talking about cheating - you were saying an incumbent is nearly impossible to beat, which isn't true considering Obama's circumstances. There is no Perot this time, and Obama's numbers rival Carters.
There is no massive 3rd party threat.

Obama doesnt have a record, and all indicators are pointing to a dead heat. Its anyones game, against possibly the weakest GOP candidate in a long effin' time.

Try paying attention to whats going on instead of just looking for facts to support your hypothesis.

[Dos Equis]

romney was avergae in debates against durnks like perry and churchboy closet fckups like santorum.

obama schooled hilary AND mccain.

When exactly will romney show us this amazing personality and nutsack he's been holding back?  oh brother

   Wrong, as usual.  

[Shockwave]

 Wrong, as usual.  

I dont remember Obama schooling anyone - I remember Obama making a bunch of vague statements and promises on abstract concepts like "hope", "change", and "fairness", without ever actually telling anyone how he planned on accomplishing these things.

[MCWAY]

And Clinton was doing worse than Romney against Bush Sr.  Romney is actually in very good shape.

He's going to get a bump if he picks a good VP.  He'll get a bump after he outperforms Obama in debates.  He'll get a bump after the convention.

When the spotlight is on Obama and his record, Romney has the goods to tear Obama to pieces. If he can hang with Newt, he can certainly handle Barack "Navy CORPS-Man" Obama.

[Dos Equis]

I dont remember Obama schooling anyone - I remember Obama making a bunch of vague statements and promises on abstract concepts like "hope", "change", and "fairness", without ever actually telling anyone how he planned on accomplishing these things.

That's because he didn't school anyone.  He was average-to-bad in debates.  He doesn't think or communicate well off script. 

And most people who actually watched the Republican debates saw how well Romney performed overall.  Except for South Carolina, Romney did a good job in all of the debates.  This is one area where he will separate himself from Obama. 

[Dos Equis]

When the spotlight is on Obama and his record, Romney has the goods to tear Obama to pieces. If he can hang with Newt, he can certainly handle Barack "Navy CORPS-Man" Obama.

Agree.  I doubt he will have trouble with Obama. 

[MCWAY]

Agree.  I doubt he will have trouble with Obama. 

I heard a political commentator (Rove or Hume, I think) claim that Romney was playing political rope-a-dope with Obama. Let him and the left-winged loons punch themselves out and blow their money with this Bain BS, which keeps being debunked and has done virtually nothing to move the polls in Obama's favor.

Then, when the well is dry and Obama is gassed, go to work on him and barrage him with attack ads on his record, on which he'll have neither the arguments nor the cash to defend himself.

[Dos Equis]

I heard a political commentator (Rove or Hume, I think) claim that Romney was playing political rope-a-dope with Obama. Let him and the left-winged loons punch themselves out and blow their money with this Bain BS, which keeps being debunked and has done virtually nothing to move the polls in Obama's favor.

Then, when the well is dry and Obama is gassed, go to work on him and barrage him with attack ads on his record, on which he'll have neither the arguments nor the cash to defend himself.

That's only a good strategy if he doesn't get lost in the weeds, doing things like demanding an apology, etc. 

[blacken700]

I heard a political commentator (Rove or Hume,rush or beck  I think) claim that Romney was playing political rope-a-dope with Obama. Let him and the left-winged loons punch themselves out and blow their money with this Bain BS, which keeps being debunked and has done virtually nothing to move the polls in Obama's favor.

Then, when the well is dry and Obama is gassed, go to work on him and barrage him with attack ads on his record, on which he'll have neither the arguments nor the cash to defend himself.

 

[MCWAY]

 

Wrong again, O kneepadding one. But, thanks for playing.

[blacken700]

Wrong again, O kneepadding one. But, thanks for playing.

you listened to both today that's where you get your news