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2012: Analyst Says 7 States Will Decide Presidency

By Jeralyn, Section Elections
Posted on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 11:49:38 AM EST
Tags: 2012 Election (all tags)
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Political analyst Larry Sabato writes in the Wall St. Journal that the 2012 presidential election will come down to 7 super-swing states:

Colorado (9), Florida (29), Iowa (6), Nevada (6), New Hampshire (4), Ohio (18) and Virginia (13).

Why these 7? He says it's all in the electoral college math, the polls don't mean much. Sabato says:

Republicans therefore are a lock or lead in 24 states for 206 electoral votes, and Democrats have or lead in 19 states for 247 electoral votes.

There's a big difference between a lock and a lead so I'm not putting much stock in this. And what if there's a third party candidate on either side? Sabato says that could put a wrench in things. Redistricting (as in Ohio and "Northern Frost Belt" states) ) could also make a difference according to Sabato since the Republicans will gain about 6 electors from it.

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    2012: Analyst Says 7 States Will Decide Presidency | 132 comments (132 topical)

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    Seriously, of these seven states (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by Dadler on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 12:41:21 PM EST
    If things remain as they are economically, I can't see Obama winning more than two of those states.  And I almost don't care who his opponent is, the result will be the same.

    Hope... (5.00 / 1) (#40)
    by lentinel on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 02:26:47 PM EST
    And what if there's a third party candidate on either side? Sabato says that could put a wrench in things.

    Wrench for President!

    Hmmmm (5.00 / 2) (#63)
    by jbindc on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 03:12:51 PM EST
    You sure that silly photo led to the shooting deaths of two National Guard personnel that look like they were specifically targeted?

    I hate guns - wish we could go by the whole 2nd Amendment and not just the second clause, but I think you're statement is a bit of a stretch.

    Of course, there's always Harry Reid and his guns too.


    If the GOP nominee is Perry (none / 0) (#1)
    by AngryBlackGuy on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 12:14:26 PM EST
    I think things are pretty straightforward. Perry spiel doesn't really sell in any of those states (how does one win Florida by claiming that SS and medicare are unconstitutional and should be abolished?).

    Romney . . . well let's just say that given the 7 states referenced, Romney continues to scare me.

    I think we are going to see a massive push for Romney in the coming month or so and I hope it fails.

    Romney continues to look like the sanest choice (5.00 / 2) (#7)
    by ruffian on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 12:53:23 PM EST
    Which does not bode well for him.

    Parent
    It will be bloody to the bitter end (5.00 / 3) (#74)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 04:16:49 PM EST
    if it is Romney and I don't think I have it in me to give a $hit about Obama or any of it.  I really don't.  I have been challenging myself to get back in the saddle with Obama, I'm looking for reasons and trying to talk myself into this, and I can't stay in the saddle for longer than five minutes.  About how long he stayed in the saddle with me...for me.  I'm in a bad place, a really bad place.  I've got nothing for Obama because no sane grown up lets anyone screw them over this badly and then gets excited about being invited to their next house painting party or residence move.

    Parent
    Listen to a Romney interview sometime (none / 0) (#111)
    by gyrfalcon on Wed Sep 07, 2011 at 12:58:49 AM EST
    He was on Greta Van Susteren's show on Fox tonight, and I had trouble remembering to close my dropped jaw, what he said was so utterly insane.

    For instance, he made a passionate statement about how "middle income Americans' are suffering the most in this recession (really?  really??) and that his 952-point plan, or whatever it is, is designed to help them out by...... ready?  ... eliminating taxes on capital gains and dividends.

    How many "middle-income Americans" do you know who would benefit significantly from eliminating taxes on capital gains and dividends?

    Parent

    If he stays crazy (none / 0) (#131)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Sep 08, 2011 at 01:08:20 PM EST
    Fear is the least desirable motivator in this instance but it is reasonable and inspiring.  And the internet has a long memory too, video lives on.

    Parent
    I think Perry will be a flash in the pan. (none / 0) (#8)
    by observed on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 12:57:53 PM EST
    He's dumb and shallow, even by GOP standards.


    Parent
    Ah (none / 0) (#47)
    by jbindc on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 02:35:52 PM EST
    But she was a terrible gubernatorial candidate and he was the incumbent.

    Perry's not the incumbent here.  Whole different ball of wax.

    Parent

    KBH wanted to beat Perry (none / 0) (#48)
    by jeffinalabama on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 02:38:45 PM EST
    out of dislike and spite... and remember, the governorship of Texas isn't a strong position, it's weak, compared to most governors' power.

    One doesn't need to be a rocket surgeon to govern Texas. The legislature meets every two years, and the governor's hands are tied on many issues, such as commutation of sentences, etc.

    Parent

    True (5.00 / 4) (#53)
    by jbindc on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 02:48:37 PM EST
    But Perry is the "outsider" in a race (as is any serious Republican candidate who gets the nomination). Perry and Romney both have gubernatorial experience (weak governorships or not), which is a heckuva lot more than Obama had.

    It's still going to come down to the economy.  If it looks like it's getting better, Obama is a shoo-in against any one of the R's.  If it's the same or worse, nothing can save him.  It's really that simple.  All this other stuff about gay marriage, abortion, the Supreme Court, the enviroment, etc. will just be noise, despite the postulating and screaming of bloggers and talking heads.  People don't vote or care about that stuff when they can't pay their mortgage.

    Parent

    I'm not entirely sure (5.00 / 1) (#70)
    by Zorba on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 03:47:24 PM EST
    that Perry is all that winnable.  Admittedly, this is a small sample, but I have a lot of older, very conservative friends who simply cannot stand Perry.  They don't like his back-slapping, glad-handing, Evangelic-preacher persona, and will not vote for him in the Republican primary.  Will they vote for him in the general election?  Well, they won't vote for Obama, but they may just stay home.  I also think that Perry will have a very hard time getting the votes of the independents.  We'll see.  

    Parent
    The farther Perry gets from (none / 0) (#86)
    by KeysDan on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 04:55:12 PM EST
    the big state of Texas, the smaller he gets.  But, Perry is crafty and not to be underestimated.  Perry is scary on many fronts, but to dispel those long standing rumors that his base does not like to hear, he is likely to take a special interest in anti-gay efforts.

    Parent
    You know what? (none / 0) (#89)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 05:22:35 PM EST
    A Perry nomination would show that the GOP has completely gone down the rabbit hole of radical fundamentalism.

    The thing Perry has that someone like Romney does not is that he scares the heck out of the middle and he's not going to be able to cut Obama's numbers with women or Latinos. That is how the Tea Party picked up seats in '10.

    Parent

    Why would Romney do better than Perry (none / 0) (#91)
    by Politalkix on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 05:27:15 PM EST
    among Latinos?

    Parent
    I don't (none / 0) (#96)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 06:20:33 PM EST
    think either one do well with Latinos simply because the GOP doesn't do well with them due to their platform. Both of these candidates are going to have to play major hate on Latinos to motivate their base. The problem I see is that Obama isn't really offering them anything to vote for so probably lots of them staying home.

    Parent
    Let's define the Latino (5.00 / 1) (#102)
    by Zorba on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 07:07:03 PM EST
    population we're talking about first, though.  Latinos are not a monolithic population.  The GOP does extremely well with Cuban-Americans, who are also Latino.  Granted, they are a small part of the overall Latino population, but they have a huge impact in Florida.  Other than that, I agree with you.

    Parent
    down the rabbit hole.. (none / 0) (#126)
    by jondee on Wed Sep 07, 2011 at 03:36:50 PM EST
    we needed more proof?


    Parent
    True enough but Perry (none / 0) (#77)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 04:26:33 PM EST
    will be the candidate and he will win.

    Remember 11/10 and look at the current race in NY.

    It will be Anybody But Obama.

    Parent

    Anybody (none / 0) (#90)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 05:26:54 PM EST
    but Bush didn't work in 2004 and voting against usually isn't enough to win an election.

    Perry is ripe to be picked apart for this radical fundamentalism and support of Sharia-light. I suppose Perry might be able to pull off a Jimmy Carter type win in 2012 but the voters would buckle under is radical fundamentalism Terry Schiavo type legislation and he would be a one-termer.

    This is looking to be a repeat of either 1972 or 1976 with Obama playing Nixon or Ford. The underlying issues are going against the GOP for the long term.

    Probably one of Perry's biggest negatives is he reminds people of George W. Bush. If the GOP really wants to win the election they would figure out a way to let all Perry's skeletons start coming out of the closet now.

    Parent

    Ga6th (none / 0) (#103)
    by AngryBlackGuy on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 07:24:55 PM EST
    Exactly.

    Parent
    In your dreams (none / 0) (#108)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 09:30:03 PM EST
    you may believe that 2012 is 2004 with its very good economy.....

    But it aint.

    Sorry.

    Parent

    George (5.00 / 1) (#116)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Sep 07, 2011 at 06:06:18 AM EST
    W. Bush lost jobs his entire first term. The economy sucked then too just not as bad as it does now. Look at the Nevada Senate Race last year for an example of running a radical fundamentalist. Nevada had 14% unemployment and Harry Reid's approvals were in the toilet yet Sharon Angle STILL LOST. Let's see last year Perry was recommending that Texas secede from the union and now he wants to be President of the same country he declared he hated last year? The GOP is just flat nuts.

    Parent
    We should start a pool (none / 0) (#88)
    by loveed on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 05:19:26 PM EST
     To see who can come the closest to picking when Perry will flame out.
     My guess before Oct.1st. No one really pays attention in the summer. Perry will be the gift that just keep on giving. When republicans really look at him and his record, they will drop him fast. They will see what I see "GWB". They do not want another GWB.
     I will say this again" the republicans wants to win". Also they want a leader. These last 11yrs. have hurt all of us.
     There will be 3 debates in 2wks. I will be watching. I bet you Perry will not attend all 3 debates.

    Parent
    Well (none / 0) (#94)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 06:09:16 PM EST
    him flaming out is certainly possible considering we've already had Newt, Cain, Pawlenty and Bachmann flame out once the oppo research was dumped into the press.

    Parent
    Obama (none / 0) (#10)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 01:01:00 PM EST
    can definitely write off NH if Romney is the GOP nominee.

    Parent
    I can't decide (none / 0) (#18)
    by CST on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 01:25:37 PM EST
    if I'm nervous about Romney or not.

    He is not scary.  But he has zero personal or political appeal.  He is "not Obama".  That's it.

    At least Perry, as crazy as he is, gives people something to vote for.  The thing is, he also gives Dems something to vote against.

    Honestly, I can't figure out which scenario is worse.  They both make me a little nervous, although I also feel like Obama SHOULD be able to beat either of them.

    Parent

    I consider (none / 0) (#21)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 01:38:54 PM EST
    Romney the GOP equivalent of Obama. He spouts the right talking points for the primary voters but you really have no idea what he will actually do when in office. I'm sure he didn't get the nickname "Multiple Choice Mitt" for no reason. I can also imagine that he would be another politician like Obama who votes "present".

    Parent
    well (none / 0) (#25)
    by CST on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 01:49:45 PM EST
    and as silly as this sounds, he's just so.... rich.  And he's not any good at faking it like Bush was.  I think of him more like the GOP equivalent of Kerry than Obama.  Obama has shown that he is somewhat capable of being charismatic at times.

    I guess what I'm getting at is neither of these candidates scare me on their merits.  This race is Obama's to lose.  The only thing is, he might just lose it.

    Parent

    Romney (none / 0) (#27)
    by jbindc on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 01:57:49 PM EST
    is owrth over $200 million.

    But Obama is owrth over $10 million.

    And has lots of power.

    Not exactly poor.

    Parent

    never said he was (5.00 / 1) (#32)
    by CST on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 02:11:56 PM EST
    and Bush sure wasn't broke either.  

    Besides, I'm not talking about actual wealth (again, see Bush), although it has a role in this.  I'm talking about the appearance of wealth.

    Although if we are talking about actual weatlh, Romney also grew up wealthy, and it shows.  Also, $200 million >>>> $10 million.  I'm not even sure $10 million would cover the latest addition to Romney's house.

    Parent

    Does it really matter? (5.00 / 2) (#33)
    by jbindc on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 02:20:40 PM EST
    $10 million or $200 million - that's still filthy stinking rich.

    So what if Romney grew up rich?  Obama didn't grow up poor and he has his hand on the nuclear button.  The point is neither has much in common with voters. If Romney is the nominee, it would be a stupid argument to hold his wealth against him when most people who run for higher office are rich. See the number of millionaire governors and members of Congress.

    If that's all the Dems have - "Ooh! Romeny's rich!" - then they are sure to lose.

    Parent

    I don't have a problem with them being rich (5.00 / 1) (#100)
    by loveed on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 07:02:05 PM EST
     It's the American dream. They worked hard to make there money. Did it honestly, so whats the problem.
     All of us work hard to give our children a better life. If they pass their money to the children, so what.
     Huntsman's father started a cancer foundation,plans on giving all his money away. He lost respect for Nixon, because he did not give to charity.
     Money does not define the man, it's how he spends it.
     

    Parent
    If it's about who's more a Plutocrat, (none / 0) (#36)
    by jeffinalabama on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 02:22:35 PM EST
    then it doesn't matter to begin with. Catering to W Bush's base... ought to be avoided.

    Parent
    do you have to cater to it (none / 0) (#41)
    by CST on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 02:26:52 PM EST
    to acknowledge that it exists?

    Parent
    Begging for money from Wall Street, (none / 0) (#44)
    by jeffinalabama on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 02:32:45 PM EST
    tax breaks, no bankers in trouble... I'd suggest these acts constitute catering to the Plutos. Your might disagree... I'm not fired up about any candidate, so just making observations.

    I don't see a quarter's worth of difference... A nickel or a dime, yes. Definitely a half-dollar. but not quite a quarter's worth of difference between Romney and Obama. Perry OTOH, huge differences.

    Parent

    In any case (5.00 / 1) (#85)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 04:53:55 PM EST
    There is no need for any of us to worry.  I don't even have to feel twisted any longer about not being able to feel supportive of Obama or unable to pry a nickel out of my cold dead fingers for him.  I can get a real life TODAY and not fret about any of it, cuz it's a done deal :)  I let the universe know I was wringing and conflicted and it loves me and it sent me the solution and a real life again via the internet.

    This is the best I've got now too since the Octopus died.

    Parent

    The psychic's prediction (from 2009) (none / 0) (#104)
    by Anne on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 09:22:27 PM EST
    seems a bit...questionable:

    I asked her about the presidential election of 2012 and she told me that Obama will beat Mitt Romney in a very close election. She told me it will come down to 3 states and it will be as close as the 2000 election. She also told me that the economy will continue to be stagnant until 2010 when things pick up dramatically.

    Oops.

    Parent

    Define dramatically in this economy :)? (none / 0) (#109)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 09:35:28 PM EST
    Yer blowing my don't worry high

    Parent
    Maybe she has that same fractured philosophy (5.00 / 1) (#110)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 09:41:29 PM EST
    that economic team Obama has, that when Wall Street starts shooting up there again everything is solved, and if it isn't solved for you it is because you were overpaid and under productive to begin with and you had been milking the system :)

    Parent
    Hey you don't have to be psychic (none / 0) (#119)
    by brodie on Wed Sep 07, 2011 at 09:38:42 AM EST
    to know by now that if it's close and comes down to a few states, particularly big states where the Repubs control the election machinery, the outcome is certain in favor of the election theft GOP party.

    Now, my favorite psychics -- the Psychic Twins Linda and Terry Jamison -- both liberals, predicted last year a continuing slow economic recovery and that O would not be reelected.  They have a good documented record too -- including predicting the 911 attacks two years before the fact and that Olivia N-J's missing boyfriend would be found alive in Mexico.

    Very gifted couple of lovely women and I don't dismiss them easily.  

    Their predictions do contradict those of political analyst Allan Lichtmann and the Nostradamus expert John Hogue both of whom claim to have correctly called presidential elections going back to the 1980s -- they have O winning again.

    Parent

    misfired there (none / 0) (#55)
    by CST on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 02:53:59 PM EST
    I was thinking of W's other "base".  The "have a beer with me" base.

    Parent
    I'm just saying (none / 0) (#38)
    by CST on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 02:25:06 PM EST
    I see it as a political downside for Romney.  That no one wants to have a beer with him because he looks more comfortable drinking Champagne.

    Take it for what it is, it's not a comment on his abilities or anything else.  It's a comment on how politics in this country works.

    It's the John Kerry factor.  You may think it's stupid, but it's effective.

    Parent

    Obama (5.00 / 1) (#52)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 02:48:09 PM EST
    has the exact same problem as Romney does. That aloof out of touch persona. George H.W. Bush had it too.

    Parent
    But Obama has made his own (none / 0) (#42)
    by jeffinalabama on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 02:28:38 PM EST
    bad moves on this front... hundred dollar ham, for example, along with 'eat your peas...'

    Not saying these are irreversible, but both appear upper-class, not middle class.

    One of Perry's strong points-- people see him and think he's like them.

    Who's better to run against? I fear the dumb candidate more than the smart one... IOW, Perry, more than Mittens.

    Parent

    I'm with you on that (none / 0) (#43)
    by CST on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 02:32:08 PM EST
    which is kind of my whole point with this.

    Everyone is afraid of Romney, but Romney is everything people don't like about Obama - only more so.  

    I think I'm more afraid of Perry.  He reminds me of GWB.  And GWB was president for 8 years.

    Parent

    Heh. See my post above following (none / 0) (#45)
    by jeffinalabama on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 02:33:53 PM EST
    yours? We're saying about the same thing... great minds, and all that? Or just strange minds? ;-)

    Parent
    You know what? (none / 0) (#79)
    by sj on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 04:30:04 PM EST
    I pay fairly close attention and at this point in time I don't give a single thought to whether or not a particular candidate is personally wealthy or not.

    I just assume they are and don't factor it in.  That champagne/beer thing might not be the deal breaker that it used to be.

    YMMV

    Parent

    hah (none / 0) (#81)
    by CST on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 04:40:09 PM EST
    this is what you are missing:

    "I pay fairly close attention"

    I assume whether you want to drink with your president has never mattered to you.  To be clear, I'm not saying it should matter, per say.  Just that it often does.

    Parent

    good point (none / 0) (#83)
    by sj on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 04:44:09 PM EST


    Parent
    Obama can beat Romeny (none / 0) (#87)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 05:05:40 PM EST
    For the simple reason that the base won't support him. Everyone knows that, and that's why the MSM likes him.

    Parent
    There (none / 0) (#97)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 06:24:48 PM EST
    isn't enough of Republicans left to make that an option. Besides those people that say they won't vote for Romney are probably the low hanging fruit of the party that would vote for anybody against Obama. If the GOP is only concerned with pacifying what's left of the people who call themselves Republicans then they are going to lose because those people are just simply to radical and have extremely high negatives with the general public.

    Parent
    I think you are describing the Left re Obama (none / 0) (#107)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 09:27:51 PM EST
    lol

    Parent
    Forget (none / 0) (#117)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Sep 07, 2011 at 06:10:59 AM EST
    left and right and look at the issues polls. People don't like conservative ideas. How many people call themselves Republicans in this country 19%?

    Parent
    And I apparently can't type (none / 0) (#28)
    by jbindc on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 01:58:15 PM EST


    Parent
    Spell check (5.00 / 1) (#66)
    by Zorba on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 03:19:28 PM EST
    is your friend.  Harness its power.   ;-)

    Parent
    I like to live on the edge. :) (5.00 / 1) (#68)
    by jbindc on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 03:21:04 PM EST


    Parent
    Hey, what can I say? (none / 0) (#71)
    by Zorba on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 03:49:56 PM EST
    I sometimes ignore spell check myself, if I'm in a hurry.  I guess we're a couple of really radical people, skating close to the edge. :-)  

    Parent
    I would imagine that (5.00 / 2) (#13)
    by MO Blue on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 01:05:45 PM EST
    how well Perry or another Republican would sell in Florida etal.  would depend a lot on whether or not Obama is successful in cutting Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid benefits before the election. He can save the Republicans from their position on the safety net programs if he cuts them.  

    Parent
    Obama has already hurt his (5.00 / 1) (#37)
    by KeysDan on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 02:22:58 PM EST
    prospects in Florida with his proposed increasing the age of Medicare eligibility to 67 and by concerns about the ACA's impact on Medicare. His support for Cat Food I and its social safety net cuts helped to bail out Paul Ryan and his Republican colleagues. If cuts are effected in the social safety net, or support is shown for cuts proposed in Cat Food II, it will truly place Florida in jeopardy.

    Senator Marco Rubio (R. FL) may, in turn, help to neutralize the anger with his own oddity, stating that social security and Medicare have made us lazy and weakened us as a nation--but Rubio may be able to get away with it as a tea party darling. The upshot might be that on this issue, it does not matter, both parties will cut benefits.  Senator Bill Nelson (D. Fl) is up for re-election and, depending on his opponent, will have a much tougher time than when running against Katherine Harris. And, Nelson has made it known  that he is against social safety net cuts, especially after reading his mail.

    Parent

    Who in Florida (none / 0) (#39)
    by jeffinalabama on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 02:25:10 PM EST
    has popularity to oust Nelson at this time? Could someone like Jeb do it?

    Parent
    Bill Nelson is not (none / 0) (#62)
    by KeysDan on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 03:12:08 PM EST
    the lovable, or charismatic type, but he is not disliked with any great intensity.  He has generally been considered a "moderate", or a maddening moderate,by some at times.   I think Obama and Nelson's fates are linked.  Jeb Bush is still popular and would be, probably, the strongest Republican candidate. Other possibilities include state senate president Mike Haridopolos, a right winger and former (appointed) US senator, George LeMieux.

    Parent
    I've often wondered about (none / 0) (#64)
    by jeffinalabama on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 03:14:13 PM EST
    Nelson's lukewarm support in Florida. Do you think the end of the shuttle might adversely affect him?

    Parent
    I don't think that will matter. (none / 0) (#115)
    by KeysDan on Wed Sep 07, 2011 at 04:57:26 AM EST


    Parent
    I would worry (none / 0) (#11)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 01:01:46 PM EST
    about Perry taking Ohio. As evidenced in 2004, there are plenty of fundamentalists in that state.

    Parent
    I do not think (none / 0) (#15)
    by CST on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 01:09:15 PM EST
    Bush actually won Ohio in 2004.  As evidenced in 2000 & 2004, here are plenty of election shenanigans that can go on in any state.

    Parent
    There's an old expression ... (5.00 / 2) (#17)
    by Robot Porter on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 01:24:53 PM EST
    in politics:

    "He stole that election fare and square."

    And that's the view in political circles of the Bush wins.  They stole them.  They got away with it.  That's politics.

    Parent

    no doubt (5.00 / 1) (#20)
    by CST on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 01:27:52 PM EST
    I just don't think the thing to take away from that is "a lot of people in Ohio are fundies".

    The thing to take away from that is "it's gotta be a landslide or they will find a way to steal that $hit".

    Parent

    Yup ... (none / 0) (#92)
    by Robot Porter on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 05:28:18 PM EST
    The thing to take away from that is "it's gotta be a landslide or they will find a way to steal that $hit".

    That's about the size of it.

    Parent

    fair ... (none / 0) (#19)
    by Robot Porter on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 01:25:37 PM EST
    spelling muscle not working this afternoon.

    Parent
    Guess you don't remember Chicago (none / 0) (#78)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 04:29:08 PM EST
    and JFK and then there was Landslide Johnson.

    Parent
    heh (5.00 / 2) (#101)
    by The Addams Family on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 07:02:52 PM EST
    "Landslide Johnson"

    yeah, without the vote tampering, Goldwater certainly would have won

    /s

    tell you what, though - if Goldwater were running this time, i would vote for him - he's to the left of everybody else on offer

    Parent

    Uh, read some history re (5.00 / 3) (#105)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 09:26:37 PM EST
    Johnson and maybe you'll figure out I wasn't speaking about '64....

    Speaking of '64, the Democrats told me that if I voted for Goldwater we would become involved in a huge land war in Asia.

    Know what? They were right. I voted for Goldwater and look what happened.

    A sad ;-)

    Parent

    Yes you're right the nickname (none / 0) (#120)
    by brodie on Wed Sep 07, 2011 at 09:54:03 AM EST
    doesn't refer to 1964 but the infamous 1948 senate contest decided by just a few dozen votes out of millions cast -- with very suspicious activity occurring in at least one southern county producing absurd results in favor of Johnson.

    But his nickname wasn't "Landslide Johnson" but Landslide Lyndon -- the alliteration adds to the already colorful nature of the story whose dubious outcome LBJ himself was seemingly proud of, judging by the fact that he kept a photo of the election crime scene and the several good old boy participants in a drawer in the WH, proudly displaying it once to a TX reporter.

    Parent

    Goldwater.. (none / 0) (#125)
    by jondee on Wed Sep 07, 2011 at 03:32:55 PM EST
    figures..

    I thought you said before that you were a Democrat up until the Democraic Party was taken over by "the far-left" in the late sixties?

    Get your story straight.

    Parent

    You never heard of a Democrat (none / 0) (#127)
    by jimakaPPJ on Thu Sep 08, 2011 at 09:23:29 AM EST
    voting for a Repub???

    Wow.

    Do you get out much?

    Parent

    Yeah (5.00 / 1) (#128)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Sep 08, 2011 at 09:49:16 AM EST
    The southerners that voted for Goldwater were the segregationists. Look at the map linked for proof. Outside of VA and NC they were the former slave states:

    link


    Parent

    Oh what nonsense. (none / 0) (#135)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Sep 09, 2011 at 10:48:33 AM EST
    Some were, some weren't. Most were concerned over national security and what Johnson was/would doing/do.

    And I promise you one thing. Goldwater wouldn't have had the Vietnam mess Johnson and then Nixon had.

    BTW - I voted for Carter in '76.  Does that make a better person?

    Probably not because I voted for Perot in 1990.

    ;-)

    Parent

    I have (none / 0) (#129)
    by Yman on Thu Sep 08, 2011 at 10:49:40 AM EST
    I've heard of who call themselves Democrats, but would vote for someone like Goldwater.  I've even heard of people who call themselves "social liberals" who engage in fear-mongering about Shariah law and claim climate change is a hoax.

    They're funny.

    Parent

    And I've heard (none / 0) (#134)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Sep 09, 2011 at 10:44:20 AM EST
    of stalkers who stalk people because the stalker has a sick fixation on the person.

    See a doctor, yman.

    Parent

    Awwwwwwweee, ... c'mon Jim (none / 0) (#136)
    by Yman on Fri Sep 09, 2011 at 10:50:43 AM EST
    You sound so grumpy, today ... things not go well at the doc's?

    No winking emoticon or "LOL"?

    Parent

    I like these 7 better (none / 0) (#2)
    by Dadler on Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 12:23:58 PM EST
    I say it's these 5:

    Lust (for power)

    Gluttony (for power)

    Greed (for power)

    Wrath (against the people)

    Envy (of the few remaining rights/privileges/ducats they have to be pilfered)    

    Sloth (in doing nothing that really helps people)

    Pride (in spouting slogans, patriotic nonsense, political yip-yap, and in displaying their ignorance like a badge of honor)

    oops, cut that first line (none / 0) (#3)%%norm_font_end%