US Presidential Election

[ainsworth74]

Could be a mutually beneficial one?

Perhaps. Though it's a partnership that's likely to end up killing the Republican Party in the long term. I have to say at this point there really needs to be a split with the Tea Party/Christian element going off and doing their own thing and the actual Republicans (you know the ones that don't just proclaim the Democrats and Obama as the spawn of Satan/Communists) being allowed to get back to being the party that Abraham Lincoln might recognise and is actually worthy of being the 'other' party.

 

[kylemore]

Does it matter?

I mean none of the important stuff ie foreign and economic policy really changed from Bush to Obama.

Whatever's going to happen will happen whether it's Obama or Romney dressing the window.

Now if you could vote for the organ grinders rather than just the monkeys.......

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I like the comment made on the Radio 4 humourous news review programme headed by Sandy Toksvig where she said....

Barack Obama is from Hawaii, whereas Mitt Romney was built on "The Death Star"..

 

[kylemore]

I like the comment made on the Radio 4 humourous news review programme headed by Sandy Toksvig where she said....

Barack Obama is from Hawaii,

Well his "Wife" said he was from Kenya!

 

[Butts]

Well his "Wife" said he was from Kenya!

Depends where in the World he is at the time of the comments

 

[Ivo]

But if Romney was "built" on the Death Star, one would assume that he is supposed to be a Stormtrooper (that isn't how Stormtroopers are created, but that's for another and far more "geeky" thread); in which case, who created him? Maybe he has an overlord, or Emperor, somewhere who dictates his every move?

...or maybe I could get my coat.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Maybe he has an overlord, or Emperor, somewhere who dictates his every move?

Dear me, the CIA will be after you now.....What position do you really think that Dick Cheney really holds in his alter-ego existance these days...
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Whilst we are in the field of films that portray evil beings aiming for great power, with the final part of "The Omen" trilogy revealing an American business leader with hopes for world domination of a type not normally seen, I now wonder if a cursory glimpse of the skin under the hair behind a certain-sided ear belonging to Mitt Romney would reveal the mark of "666" ?....hock:

Off I go now to have a further read of the Book of Revelations....:roll:

 

[Tomonthetrain]

Just to lighten the mood over the presidential elections
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTCRwi71_ns&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

[LE Greys]

Well, here's yet another reason why Hillary Clinton should have got(ten) the nomintation. She would have taken Romney to pieces in every debate.

Just to put my twopenn'orth (two cent's worth) in, most of the Americans I've met recently seem to think that Romney could only make things worse, and are likely to stick with Obama for several reasons. Firstly, better the devil you know. Secondly, they reckon he would be prepared to push harder and make healthcare impossible to repeal if he no longer had to worry about re-election. Thirdly, they just don't trust Romney not to do something stupid. Mind you, they had all left the US to travel abroad, so not a representitive sample.

 

[jon0844]

I don't trust Romney and can't believe people only have him as an alternative to Obama, if they don't want to vote him back in. From what I can see, he'd be a disaster and have no care in the world for the people (unless they're rich). He's also likely to be the exact person you'd imagine will take bribes from big business and make all decisions on the most effective (and rich) lobbyists.

I might be wrong, but I doubt it. He seems far too sleazy and, frankly, it's amazing he can be doing well in any polls.

Part of me actually wants him to win, just to prove my fears as being true - but then I fear what damage he will do to the rest of the world.

 

[WillPS]

I don't trust Romney and can't believe people only have him as an alternative to Obama, if they don't want to vote him back in. From what I can see, he'd be a disaster and have no care in the world for the people (unless they're rich). He's also likely to be the exact person you'd imagine will take bribes from big business and make all decisions on the most effective (and rich) lobbyists.

I might be wrong, but I doubt it. He seems far too sleazy and, frankly, it's amazing he can be doing well in any polls.

Part of me actually wants him to win, just to prove my fears as being true - but then I fear what damage he will do to the rest of the world.

Whatever the outcome, it's certain than near half of the most powerful nation in the world (for the moment) will vote for him. It is a mental world.

 

[HST Power]

I have a feeling that Obama will win the election, but personally speaking, I would sooner Romney was elected.

The last time I checked, Romney was ahead in the national polls, by a small margin. Though as the Democrats have been quick to point out, the deciding factor is the winner of the individual states, and they seem quite confident that they'll be able to succeed in taking them.

Unfortunately, I haven't been impressed by the BBC coverage.

 

[ainsworth74]

I would sooner Romney was elected.

May I ask why?

 

[Eagle]

Something to think about. No person with a 'k' in their given name has ever lost a US presidential election. (Admittedly, only three such people have stood in one.)

 

[Royston Vasey]

Well, here's yet another reason why Hillary Clinton should have got(ten) the nomintation. She would have taken Romney to pieces in every debate.

Just to put my twopenn'orth (two cent's worth) in, most of the Americans I've met recently seem to think that Romney could only make things worse, and are likely to stick with Obama for several reasons. Firstly, better the devil you know. Secondly, they reckon he would be prepared to push harder and make healthcare impossible to repeal if he no longer had to worry about re-election. Thirdly, they just don't trust Romney not to do something stupid. Mind you, they had all left the US to travel abroad, so not a representitive sample.

Quite true. Only 30% of Americans have a passport, although that has increased from 15% in 2000 and 3% in 1989. It is staggering, although consider that the USA (including Hawaii, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Alaska) is virtually a continent and there is so much contrast in terms of the economy and tourism that the typical American never really needs to leave the States! Also, only recently did Americans require a passport to enter Canada or Mexico.
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Does Obama deserve another term of office ?

Has he been a great let down ???

"Yes we can" has this metamorphised into "No we can't"

I'm thinking into particular about his pre-election claims about Guantanamo Bay etc......

He has turned out to be another let down for the electorate, and does Romney deserve a chance ?

This post is old, but I'm curious to know why Guantanamo is the one issue you focussed on. Most Americans really don't care whether it is there or not, so why press ahead with closure if it is an issue of national security. Don't forget that until he came into office, he would not have been party to much of the confidential intelligence that may justify its existence. He just made a call to deprioritise it.

Obama has been hamstrung by congress being Republican led and determined to veto any policy they could, especially the more progressive healthcare and social policies. That's something the UK system has going for it... it generates decisive results (even the last election, once the coalition had been formed)

 

[jon0844]

Their reasoning for not wanting a state funded healthcare system seems bizarre to me.

They're convinced it won't work, even though there are many examples besides the NHS that shows it can.

Still, if they're thinking of Romney as President, then I guess they can imagine it's better to rely on being able to afford private healthcare.

 

[SS4]

Something to think about. No person with a 'k' in their given name has ever lost a US presidential election. (Admittedly, only three such people have stood in one.)

Alternatively alliterative tickets are undefeated.

yes I read that xkcd too

 

[Royston Vasey]

Their reasoning for not wanting a state funded healthcare system seems bizarre to me.

They're convinced it won't work, even though there are many examples besides the NHS that shows it can.

Still, if they're thinking of Romney as President, then I guess they can imagine it's better to rely on being able to afford private healthcare.

It will never happen now because, unfortunately, the insurance lobby is too powerful. The reasons given are merely there to justify a decision made to keep the dollars coming into the Republican party.

 

[yorkie]

May I ask why?

I'd like to know why too, but maybe, like Romney he's pro-rich people, anti-minority groups, anti-gay, anti-abortion, anti-renewable energy, pro-car, anti-rail, etc...? If not then there's no reason to like him!

I've not really been following it but I saw a few minutes of a debate where Romney was basically saying that they should use more fossil fuels and not bother with renewables and the only measure of success was the current price. In his little world, peak oil doesn't exist. It's not a viable future for the world, but there are millions of Americans who only care about the present situation for them only, so he'll get plenty of votes, no matter how ridiculous his policies are.

 

[YorkshireRider]

I'd like to know why too, but maybe, like Romney he's pro-rich people, anti-minority groups, anti-gay, anti-abortion, anti-renewable energy, pro-car, anti-rail, etc...? If not then there's no reason to like him!

In summary Romney is a bell end of huge proportions but he wont win

 

[ainsworth74]

In summary Romney is a bell end of huge proportions but he wont win

We hope. As highlighted above most polling puts them neck and neck (and often within the margin of error).

 

[kylemore]

In summary Romney is a bell end of huge proportions but he wont win

I think most people this side of the pond are going to get a big surprise when Obama crashes and burns!

He's totally lost his heartland among black voters in Chicago where he is universally derided as "Bath House Barry" (do the research!)

No it's off to Hawaii in January for Michelle and Barry!

 

[Eagle]

We hope. As highlighted above most polling puts them neck and neck (and often within the margin of error).

Neck and neck in terms of national average, but in terms of state by state Obama should just about edge it (or even pull a George W and win despite coming second nationally). In fact if he can secure Florida he's basically home and dry, whereas Florida won't swing it on its own for Romney.

 

[Mojo]

I wonder if the choice in the UK, or perhaps somewhere else in Western Europe, the choice was between Obama and Romney, how the polls would stand?

A lot of people have 'confidence' in Obama http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/2012/08/27/does-world-want-romney-or-obama/ but it isn't easy to see whether that would translate into votes for him were it a global election, or the two candidates standing for election in their country were Obama or Romney.

 

[yorksrob]

Will be depressing if Mr Obama does crash and burn. Won't do us any good to have even more social dislocation in the USA. More economic inequality. More social unrest - leading to more extreme forms of gang culture influencing our own deprived areas.

 

[ainsworth74]

I wonder if the choice in the UK, or perhaps somewhere else in Western Europe, the choice was between Obama and Romney, how the polls would stand?

I saw a poll done in Germany in the last week or so asking that question and it was something like 96% in favour of Obama

Neck and neck in terms of national average, but in terms of state by state Obama should just about edge it (or even pull a George W and win despite coming second nationally).

This is true. It's easy to forget that it's not a straight national vote but instead you have all this electoral college rubbish that gets in the way.

 

[Eagle]

I wonder if the choice in the UK, or perhaps somewhere else in Western Europe, the choice was between Obama and Romney, how the polls would stand?

Something like this?

 

[yorksrob]

This is true. It's easy to forget that it's not a straight national vote but instead you have all this electoral college rubbish that gets in the way.

Bit like first past the post

 

[Eagle]

Bit like first past the post

It is first past the post. Except that each "constituency" (i.e. state) is worth a different amount, to reflect their differing populations.

 

[yorksrob]

It is first past the post. Except that each "constituency" (i.e. state) is worth a different amount, to reflect their differing populations.

That's a bit more realistic anyway. Mind you, it'd be very noticeable if Rhode Island had the same weighting as California !