I feel extremely irritated that Paul Ryan looks like a childhood friend of mine.

Does anyone else see these presidential elections getting more outrageous in accusations and tactics used, by both sides ?

yes. we're more divided than ever.

I vote by mail and just received my ballot. I always hate that there are so many propositions to go thru. Some of the more popular ones I know of but it's time consuming (and boring) sorting thru pros/cons of each.

It's convenient voting by mail, but part of me likes the idea of going to the polls. It's such a patriotic feeling.


TIS

TIS, I always early vote. That way I can take my time. As with CA, the Texas ballot is usually replete with Constitutional Amendments, so it takes awhile to go through it. Also, Texas has the long Ballot because all public offices are elective.

That is the advantage Oli. I received first a sample ballot, going over all the propositions a couple weeks ago. Unfortunately I didn't go thru it. But, within the next few days I plan to have it in the mail. Damn, it's like doing homework.

TIS

My daughter is voting for the first time this year. Since my girls are four years apart, they were both able to have their first votes be in presidential elections. Also, since all the high school seniors in our school are required to take civics, they were both very informed, too.

More threats to riot if Obama loses. It's mostly on twitter. I wonder what the mood will be if the polls are close come election day?

http://www.infowars.com/new-threats-to-riot-if-obama-loses-election/

Finally, Romney's tax plan:


http://www.romneytaxplan.com/




TIS

There's been no substance to his tax plan, and he's been allowed to ride the wind so far. It was conveniently released just before the debate

Kly

Click the link?



TIS

Wow! This has become the most active thread (ever??) on the General Discussion forum.

Meanwhile Clear Channel, which just so happens to be owned by Bain Capital, is putting up advertisements in Black neighborhoods warning people about the punishments for voter fraud.

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2012/10/politicians_say_advertisement.html

But I'm sure it's just a coincidence that these types of ads and warnings are popping up in Black and/or Hispanic neighborhoods.

Whoever wins this election it is going to be very interesting (and by interesting I mean hilarious) to watch the GOP confront the changing US voter demographics over the next 2-3 election cycles. It is within the realm of possibility that by 2024 or even 2020 that Texas becomes a "blue" state. The GOP will not be able to be nationally competitive in its current incarnation without Texas.

The tweets are real. We all can draw our own conclusions.

Remember the flash mobs? Philly. Baltimore. Miami. If Obama loses, we'll probably have them all at once. But there's no way an Obama loss would result in people just going on with their lives. Of course there will be some kind of civil disobedience.

Why do you think that a victory of Romney would cause more protest than the "tea party"?

Exactly Lilo. Our population is 35% Hispanic and growing. Caucasians are a demographic minority now. Political change in Texas is now inevitable.

The GOP will have to change if it is to survive. It already has. For example one mantra of the right used to be that government doesn't create jobs. That's out the window now with Romney's claims that he as President will create jobs.

Not all Hispanics are liberal. And as they assimilate, they tend to worry about the issues, instead of voting by ethnicity and nothing more, like many(not all) people do in the NYC Mayoral(as an example).

I'm still a registered Democrat (for now, I'm leaning towards re-registering as an Independent after this election), but I'll be voting Republican in the next Mayoral election. Ms. Quinn can kiss my ass.

Romney's father was born in Mexico.

Not if the Republicans win and close the borders .

And I'm only half kidding .

The Hispanic vote broke for Obama over McCain by 67-31 margin in 2008 election.
http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1024/exit-poll-analysis-hispanics
In Texas Obama got 63% of Hispanic vote.
Currently, national polls show likely Hispanic voters prefer Obama by 66-31
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/s...g-hispan/nSdB6/

It has very little to do with voting by ethnicity and everything to do with a vocal minority of the Republican base being openly hostile to Hispanics and more generally Hispanic voters eschewing what the Republicans are selling, even if immigration is removed from the equation.

The Republicans can counter this by trying to engage in voter suppression or run up larger margins among white voters. But even here they are limited somewhat due to stances on abortion and contraception. The gender gap is real. As Senator Graham said, "We’re not generating enough angry white guys to stay in business for the long term"

So this all adds up to either in the next 8-12 years the Republicans move back toward the center and remain viable or keep on doing what they're doing and try to find a way to win with math that doesn't work.

I didn't see the 2nd debate, was too busy quite frankly. But I get the impression Mittens lost it, if only because would FNC be so bitchy and whiney about Candy if he hadn't?

Leaked audio captures Romney asking employers to tell their employees how to vote.

http://t.co/TDogrUz2

Reminds me of Soviet methods...

Isn't that also illegal or just merely frowned upon?

Mitt Romney makes Richard Nixon look like Jimmy Carter.

I know, I know, polls mean nothing and they don't reflect the electoral count. But this is stunning. The latest Gallup poll has Mitt ahead by SIX full points .

From the Huffington Post: Mitt Romney Leads Obama by Six Points: Gallup Poll

This poll was taken for the past seven days, most of which were before the last debate. Mitt's peaked. Obama has him just wher he wants him

You know what liberals like to do? Panic. Calm down.

Every polling swing this election has taken place after one full news cycle. Every poll but Gallup has shown movement, but the other way. Romney's debate bounce came Friday not Thursday. The same for the 47%. The same for the DNC. So we should expect tonight not yesterday to really start showing results. So far this morning Ras remains unchanged from the week and RAND shows a one-day swing to Obama. Last I checked, 50% Gallup approval this close to the election is splendid.

Again I said this how many times when I regularly visited this thread I created? Considering the economy and this anger out there, why isn't Mittens creaming him and walking to the Oval Office? Why is he struggling with what the right wing thinks is the weak indifferent teleprompter-President? Right wingers will whine and blame the media this, the moderators that, and that's all it is: Crying. And nobody likes a whiner.

Republican candidates have won debates, even when they're arguably rigged against them. They've won elections before, even when the media is arguably biased against them. Quit tearing up, get your balls back from your wife's purse and you know, win?

Oh wait, maybe its because Mittens is just an unlikeable, condescending prick? Maybe Obama is a prick too (in fact I assume he is privately), but when this suppose "featherweight" candidate beat you in the debate rematch when he fully engaged himself and was ready to rumble and let's admit it, made you look like the Mittens in action that your own people try their best to hide and control...dude you got your ass kicked.

I did see one clip from the debate, and that was Obama accepting whatever failures that may've happened under his administration and the way he looked at Mittens. I just don't see Rombo doing that if the seats were switched.

It's funny but DT mentioned Nixon. I'm reminded of that speech he gave to the WH staff on the morning after he announced his resignation. It's very moving. He doesn't blame his enemies, he doesn't fall on his sword but you still get the impression from his body language and shaken language he accepted responsiblity for the scandal that plagued American for almost 2 years. He'll never admit defeat, but he did anyway. I'm also reminded of when from that whole Nixon/Frost circus, he did accept failure in a written statement for Watergate and causing many people to lose faith in the American government.(Even if he then and his death more or less still try to blame his enemies in the media and Kennedys for Watergate.)

*=Maybe Mittens needs a teleprompter so he won't come off as an asshole like he apparently did the other night?

It shouldn't be this close, Ronnie. Romney might win.