A recently hired economic policy director for Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign was a top lobbyist for JP Morgan Chase, Wall Street’s biggest bank, and federal documents show that he lobbied Congress and federal regulators this year on issues ranging from the implementation of new financial regulations to corporate tax reform.
Pierce Scranton, who became Romney’s economic policy director in August, is listed as JP Morgan’s executive director of the bank’s lobbying department on public federal documents filed in 2012. Those documents show that between January and July of this year, Scranton oversaw lobbying activities on a host of economic issues, including legislation dealing with home mortgage modifications and foreclosures, Chinese trade and currency manipulation, the implementation of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act and other financial regulations, the Jumpstart Our Small Businesses (JOBS) Act, and corporate tax reform.
I just realized I was crying also as I watched it. This whole journey is an emotional one. I am not exagerating when I tell you all I do not know what I would do without you.
OMG…this is so true. I could not believe how many negative folks I talked to after the first debate. Now after the second, the GOP was saying MRomney won! Cutting down the dems and trying to make the public believe it. And it seemed to be working with some folks.
I wll support PBO through thick and thin. I thought Myth was rude and obnoxious in the first debate and worse in the second. But some dem pundits say it was the best debate ever because of how both men went at it. I’m not interest in a boxing match. I want to make sure that independents realize what’s on the line. Bottomline, if PBO is not re-elected, the GOP will turn back the clock. Which includes appointing conservatives to the supreme court.
OK, y’all, I suspect somethingI insidious is going on(well duh)…..I was on HP and clicked on the Whoopie question to the Queen and immediately a 3 am commercial for R came on….part of the interview…then it was interrupted with the same 3 am commercial…..then I went to DKos and almost clicked on an ad right above an article saying Reince Preibus and Carl Rove want you to see this and Obama wants you to also…it appeared that was what you were suppose to click..I didn’t and further down the article was Bill Clinton’s speech…..BE CAREFUL what you click on…PO about the HP thing…cured me from going there
Top GOP pollster on Gallup's 7-pt Romney lead nationally among likely voters: "There is nothing I am looking at that resembles that data."— John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) October 18, 2012
The Romney campaign pulled their staff out of NC today signaling that they are very confident about the state, but reports are that voters are lined up around blocks waiting to vote today. My entire family voted today in NC. Last election they waited a few days but not this time. The Romney campaign may be over-confident on this one. I just got back from NC and saw 1 RomneyRyan sign and that was it. I saw tons of ObamaBiden signs.
That seems to be a very foolish decision on their part. Even if they are ahead now, it could change in 2 1/2 weeks. Maybe he is simply going to concentrate on Ohio, Virginia, and Florida….
This is more likely than they are sure of No Carolina. They have to win Ohio, Va, and Fla. I think they made a decision to divert the money elsewhere. I think when a campaign pulls out of a battleground state, this close to the election, it’s not because they have a lock. It’s because they’ve weighed which of the battleground states would give more bang for the buck. Here’s where they stand now. http://www.electoral-vote.com/
…..or they just would rather spend the money elsewhere. I’m not going to waste energy on the conspiracy stuff, cause there’s nothing to be gained by it. It only serves to deflate and gives way to dismay. I’d rather think that PBO has them on the run. Like the Rev says, ‘I got over the boogey man politics a long time ago’.
PBO has many paths to the 270 electoral votes. Unlike, Mitt who needs many of them, PBO can concentrate his efforts in one or two states. Mitt has to spend money where PBO is spending money. He has to chase PBO to counter POB’s ads. That’s what I think. Here’s an electoral map that has PBO leading as of today: http://www.electoral-vote.com/
CrissieP, you have heard time and time again about Gallup and what they are doing to give Mitt the lead. Why is it that you focus so much on Gallup, is it the only poll. I wish we would stop getting so over dramatic.
I’m sorry – I am a Nervous Nellie and a wreck. As anybody who knows me well can attest, if I were Gabby Douglas’s mother, there would be NO WAY I could sit in the sports venue and watch her do her routines live. Being nervous is in my DNA. I come here to be talked off the ledge. Please do everything you can to pull me back LOL – I would greatly appreciate it. I have not watched any debates – I have taped and watched them after I already knew what would happen. I am phone-banking and will vote for PBO so I’ll try not to pass out before the election. If folks think I’m crazy, I’ll keep my thoughts to myself.
Crissie, we are all crazy right now but PBO is still here in NC…I was at one of his offices today and I live in a small, red, town in NC and his coordinator from Az gave me no indication that he was pulling out of NC….she is even borrowing a coffee pot from me….if Romney had NC so sewn up that he is leaving here do you think PBO would be still staying? He would be pulling his group of Ohio, Va, or Fla or somewhere else TOO….it is inconceivable that PBO is going to lose this election…we might not pull it off in NC(we have a LOT of KKK types and kooky right wings who CALL themselves Christians) but there is also whole lot of people who have a brain and a heart……my gut tells me that we WILL narrowly win NC…….
This is what they are counting on. They lie, they will cheat and steal. This is why Willard won’t show his tax returns; he figures why should I? He feels he will win without showing them or he knows that he will lose and we still we be clueless of the tax returns. If he does not trust the American people then why in the world the people should trust him. Willard is getting away with a lot of things because the media aids and abet him.
I can imagine PBO and Stewart approaching their chairs at the desk and PBO saying, “Please proceed, John.” –And then seeing that particular look Stewart gets on his face……
WASHINGTON — In the wake of Rep. Paul Ryan’s embarrassing soup kitchen photo-op last week, the organization that runs the facility tells The Huffington Post that donors have begun pulling their money out of the Youngstown, Ohio charity.
Ryan may have suffered a few late-night jokes, but the fallout for the soup kitchen appears to be far more bruising. Brian J. Antal, president of the Mahoning County St. Vincent De Paul Society, confirmed that donors have begun an exodus in protest over Ryan’s embarrassment. The monetary losses have been big. “It appears to be a substantial amount,” Antal said. “You can rest assured there has been a substantial backlash.” [...]
Ryan supporters have now targeted Antal and his soup kitchen, Antal said, including making hundreds of angry phone calls. Some members of Antal’s volunteer staff have had to endure the barrage as well, he said.
One has to question where their hearts are, these GOP charity donors. Paul Ryan is a liar, and a fraud. Those GOP supporters are fickle, prioritizing Paul Ryan’s comfort over the chance for a family to get a hot meal. They are hideous. I hope they never need the help of a soup kitchen, because karma won’t be pretty for them.
As with #RomneyRyan threats to RosaLinda's in Denver, Ryan's folk now attacking Antal & his OH soup kitchen bit.ly/S6waGo Please help— Bobfr (@Our4thEstate) October 18, 2012
“This is not complicated for me,” he said. “If somebody saved my economy, I’d be for him.”
Clinton, Springsteen Rock Ohio For Obama
——————————
Appearing in Parma, on the outskirts of Cleveland, the man Obama nicknamed the “Explainer-in-Chief” gave a speech where he simultaneously reaffirmed his faith in the country and bashed Mitt Romney, before ceding the stage to Springsteen.
“I was born in the U.S.A. and unlike one of the candidates, I keep all my money here,” Clinton said, in reference to Romney’s bank accounts in Switzerland and the Cayman Islands.
Clinton reminded supporters of Romney’s opposition to the auto bailout, which has been instrumental to Ohio’s economic recovery. “The only person who pretended to know anything about [the auto bailout] who didn’t support it was Gov. Romney,” he said.
“When you were down, when you were out, the president had your back,” Clinton added. “You’ve got to have his back now.”
“This is not complicated for me,” he said. “If somebody saved my economy, I’d be for him.”
Springsteen formally endorsed President Obama today with a statement posted on his website hours before the even
Good job Ralph, way to go!! I can’t wait to see the early voting results from NC. That’ll tell us more than any poll can. It’s the trends we need to look at. If more early voting is going our way, it stands to reason the vote on Nov 6 will be the same.
As a white person, TY @davidsirota for your cogent description of 'white privilege' moreover, we should all demand Tag be held accountable.— Bobfr (@Our4thEstate) October 18, 2012
I and others have been hoping that Obama would mount a more aggressive and concerted defense of his economic record and a stronger case that the economy is recovering. And on the trail today in New Hampshire, he did both as clearly as he has yet:
Buzzfeed says that Obama has discovered “morning in America,” and there’s something to this. Yesterday Obama made a similarly optimistic pitch that we’re recovering, which suggests that he is pivoting hard to this message for the home stretch.
The key to the new stump speech is that Obama describes the trajectory of the unemployment rate — the larger story — noting that it reached an abysmal 10 percent at the depth of the crisis before falling to its current 7.8 percent. In the wake of yesterday’s good news about the housing market, Obama also referenced rising home values.
Jenny was turned down for insurance and died at 24, 8 months pregnant. This is why you should vote for #OBAMAhttp://t.co/muEA9pc6— Kari Hope (@TyJuanOn) October 18, 2012
“The Romneys’ exact gain, however, remains nearly invisible—and untaxed—because Singer cashed out only a fragment of the windfall in 2011. And the Singer-led hedge funds have been able to keep almost all of Delphi’s profits untaxed by moving Delphi’s incorporation from Troy, Michigan, to the Isle of Jersey, a tax haven off the coast of France.
The Romneys might insist that the funds were given to Singer, Mitt’s key donor, only through Ann’s blind trust. But as Mitt Romney said some years ago of Ted Kennedy, “The blind trust is an age-old ruse, if you will. Which is to say, you can always tell a blind trust what it can and cannot do.” Romney, who reminds us often that he was CEO of a hedge fund, can certainly read Elliott Management’s SEC statements, and he knows Ann’s trust is invested heavily in a fund whose No. 1 stake is with Delphi.
Nevertheless, even if the Romneys were blind to their initial investment in Elliott, they would have known by the beginning of 2010 that they had a massive position in Delphi and would make a fortune from the bailout and TARP funds. Delphi is not a minor investment for Singer; it is his main holding. To invest in Elliott is essentially a “Delphi play”: that is, investing with Singer means buying a piece of the auto bailout.
Mitt Romney may indeed have wanted to let Detroit die. But if the auto industry was going to be bailed out after all, the Romneys apparently couldn’t resist getting in on a piece of the action.”
I read the nation article earlier today and shook my head that they can legally stack up cash in that heartless fashion even to the point of ‘blackmailing’ GM & the government. There is so much ‘legal’ corruption (IMO) that Mitt is connected to I can’t imagine him being an effective leader. He seems more like an abuser to me.
DSCC poll: McCaskill up 12 in Missouri
By EMILY SCHULTHEIS | 10/18/12 5:24 PM
A new poll conducted for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee finds Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill with a solid double-digit lead over Todd Akin in Missouri’s Senate race.
GOP:You can say anything @ debate-80mil people hear it. If reporters then document that a candidate lied so what? huff.to/WsDZd2— Tally Briggs (@bardgal) October 18, 2012
@tamronhall Too bad you let false equivalency comment of @annekornblut go, to say FLOTUS probably also gets angry at debates. U Tagg-teamed!— (@JOBoomr) October 18, 2012
"Here's what Josh Romney.. Willard Romney… Tagg Romney said about the President of the United States. Any questions?" esquire.com/blogs/politics…— The Obama Diary (@TheObamaDiary) October 18, 2012
Is the dinner going to be on CSPAN tonight?
Florida is being slammed with ads. I do not turn on the TV anymore. My sorrow is, my daughter and I love Jeopardy. She and I usually played together while she was here. We now play on the phone. I can’t stand all the ads. There are lies and badly done. The one’s I really hate are the ones with the cartoon quality., bobbing cut out heads on still bodies.
Maybe it’s me. I don’t trust the GOP not to try to steal this. Their behavior tells me everything. The Lying. The denial of facts. The only polls the say aren’t fake are the ones showing Romney leading (which are all shaky at best and mostly suspect.) The constant psychological projection.
ALL OF IT. How many are on their payroll? They’re proof people can be corrupted and bought.
It’s hard for me to believe that a majority of American citizens are stupid enough to vote for these criminals, especially when OFA has a larger ground game than we did in 2008. It makes no sense.
I’ve said this from the very beginning of the republican primary. The GOP and the media are trying to steal this, absolutely. Now they’re even saying that Romney will win the popular vote. All of this is absolute bullcrap. Make no mistake, those polls are bullcrap as well. Showing Romney winning 10 and 12 percent of black and 30 percent of Latinos, heavily polling white southerners, etc. All kinds of tweaks and tricks to make it look like Mitt is supposed to win this thing.
We all need to stop freaking out over these polls and just make sure we vote. The msm is gonna do what it’s going to do, and that’s work their butts off to get Mitt in the White House. And let’s not be fooled, when I say the msm, I mean everyone from Sean Hannity to Rachael Maddow is working towards the same goal; a Romney presidency.
My point is, their behavior is laying the foundation so when they steal it, a Mitt win will seem plausible.
How is Rachel working towards a Romney win? I watch her almost every day, and I haven’t seen it. She’s been a rock star, specially lately, breaking some of the main stories we talk about here.
As for Sean, what he said about Mitt disrespecting the POTUS at the debate was honest. It disgusted him. He has real moments, but they’re rare. Shep Smith is another one who is sickened that he works for Fox…. I keep waiting for the day when their integrity outweighs whatever legal, non-disclosure agreement they signed with their networks.
Tally, I have to agree with you about Rachel. I never miss her show and feel like I learn more there about the evils of the Romney campaign, and Republicans generally, than I do anywhere else. Information that SHOULD be on the networks but Rachel has it and I think she deserves a lot of credit.
I love this video of my First Lady at my Alma Mater. Let’s keep NC blue!
USA – How long do we have to wait for the Secret Service & FBI to 'interview' #TagRomney after he expressed his urge to harm the President?— Bobfr (@Our4thEstate) October 18, 2012
Obama holding steady in IA, 51-43, and in WI, 51-45, in new WSJ/NBC/Marist polls of likely voters. Debates bring little movement.— Neil King (@NKingofDC) October 18, 2012
Rev. Al—-Scott Brown is paying homeless AAs $8/hr. to wear Scott Brown t-shirts—–I guess that is supposed to make it look like AAs support Scott Brown, to attract votes. These Repubs are disgusting beyond belief.
Not too long ago AnnD planted the idea that all Mitt’s marbles are not rattling around comfortably and today I saw an article that seems to imply something similar…at least to me. The Romneys seem particularly concerned about Mitt not having it all together when he is on his own for long. How would that work if he were propelled into the WH? They have said more than once that he needs AnnD nearby to stabilize him, while apparently she has been saying on the view that she is/we are not running again if he didn’t win. Is he only a 1/2 a presidential candidate?
What’s wrong with #Mitt? (1/2) Tragg’s ‘very protective of his dad, both behind his back and in front of him’ tiny.cc/txaemw and …..— Vick C. (@sonamie) October 18, 2012
What’s wrong with #Mitt? (2/2) …AnnD has aired concerns about his emotional stability tiny.cc/306dmw, and he rarely ‘goes out’ alone.— Vick C. (@sonamie) October 18, 2012
Poll indicates 34% already voted and it’s still mid October!
In IA, 34% of likely voters in the poll say they have already cast their ballots, and Obama is winning those people, 67%-32%— Mark Murray (@mmurraypolitics) October 18, 2012
In IA, 34% of likely voters in the poll say they have already cast their ballots, and Obama is winning those people, 67%-32%— Mark Murray (@mmurraypolitics) October 18, 2012
NBC/WSJ/Marist (likely voters): Obama +8 in Iowa (6 electoral votes) +6 in Wisconsin (10) Among women: Obama +18— West Wing Reports (@WestWingReport) October 18, 2012
Hello all. Some good news -go F yourself. I meant …. go fly yourself really!
In IA, 34% of likely voters in the poll say they have already cast their ballots, and Obama is winning those people, 67%-32%— Mark Murray (@mmurraypolitics) October 18, 2012
In both IA and WI, Obama leads among women 57-39. In IA, he leads 67%-32% among those who have already voted, our polls find.— Neil King (@NKingofDC) October 18, 2012
RT @mmurraypolitics: New NBC/WSJ/Marist polls: IA: Obama 51% Romney 43% among LVs; WI: Obama 51% Romney 45% among LVs. Conducted Oct. 15-17— Sam Stein (@samsteinhp) October 18, 2012
In last debate #Mitt listed no major diff btwn his & GWB policies. Who wants 2 return 2 country run the same way Bush did it?— Dudette (@Dudette9t9) October 18, 2012
Someone up thread stated that Willard’s camp is pulling out of NC “signaling confidence that they’ve won the state?” Where did you get that they were confident – usually they would not pull out so early if they felt confident. I’m thinking it’s the opposite.
Creepy that PPP is trying to throw cold water on the NBC poll, saying their polls tomorrow will be a “whole lot better for Romney than the NBC poll”. I’ve noticed they seem to delight in this kind of news lately, with numerous and repeated tweets. This has been happening after they began posting all the hateful feedback they got from Repubs on their earlier favorable Obama polls. It’s like they got so intimidated that they began posting numbers to please and shut up the GOP. I’m starting to not trust any of these polls or pollsters—–I think they’re all a bit of a sham, can all be manipulated.
PPP is not reliable because they still do not poll cell phone only households. This causes them to underestimate PBO’s advantage or overestimate his disadvantage relative to Romney since most of the cell phone only households are likely to be PBO supporters. This might work during the midterms, but they are not going to work in this Presidential election – when Barack Obama is on the ballot.
And like you said, they’ve recently been pushing a pro-Romney, anti-Obama narrative to accompany their silly polls.
On Erin Burnett right now. According to Gallup women in swing states rate abortion as #1 issue with 59% and jobs #2 with 39%. Gallup has women tied between PBO and Romney nationally and NBC has PBO up 18 points in swing states. Gallup has some more splainin to do.
Heartbreaking story with a little cruel and inhumane treatment from conservatives (who else? thrown in the mix. Why don’t we just carve out Texas and let the fuckers have their own country, so they can just go away already?
Thanks for sympathy tweets abt Scott & thanks to Scott for telling his story. Hope Romney reads it nyti.ms/TvrhDC— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) October 18, 2012
Can we please have a moratorium on poll angst? It’s a given we don’t like them when they’re not in our favor, so why post all the crazy data they produce? Why fret over them? It’s generally accepted that the MSM and the pollsters have the fix in for Romney, right? So why harp on it? We know what we need to do….GOTV!!! PBO has a hellava ground game and we know how effective it is. So for every bad poll or wrong-headed pundit you hear, make a call from the OFA dashboard. If that doesn’t help, find a way to canvas or provide some other help in an OFA office near you. If that doesn’t help, write, tweet, FB, your local news media and launch an official protest. If you’re still feeling the need to alert us all of the dire straights we’re in because of some poll, then repeat the previous steps.
.@EvaLongoria FREEDOM OF SPEECH means SOME ppl may get offended by what U have 2 say sometimes. Means they're paying attention. Go Girl!— Dudette (@Dudette9t9) October 18, 2012
Hello all, Worked at our Knox County Dem/Obama Hdqtrs. this afternoon. Was supposed to be there from 12:30-3:30-4:00. I did not get out of there until after 5:00. Lots of people coming in for signs, buttons, etc. and a number of phone calls. The last call I took was from a mother of an 18 year old (daughter) who works at Applebee’s. When she worked last night, there was a letter posted on employee bulletin board from corporate offices. Stating that if they don’t vote the right way–Romney–they may lose their jobs because of Obamacare. This will be her daughter’s first election and she was so excited to vote. Now, she feels scared and intimidated. This mother was livid. She had already contacted the DC reporter for our paper and I begged her to contact one of our TV stations. We also have a couple of awesome local reporters that are Dems so think she may contact one or both of them. Is there ANYTHING I can do?
Tell her that’s why ballots are secret…some guy she doesn’t know, that doesn’t care about her, is going to try and intimidate her? She should start looking for a new job, where she’s valued, take it…and tell the SOB to shove it!
Voter intimidation is against the law. If the daughter is feeling threatened, but is strong enough to go through what may happen, she has a case to present to the local authorities. She should make sure she has a picture or evidence that the memo was posted in the work place. Then, she files the complaint. I’d also suggest she forward the info to DOJ. The process isn’t for the feint of heart. Maybe she can get co-workers to join her. Let’s hope the DC reporter may be able to shed the light. In the meantime, everyone goes into the voting booth alone. She should not feel so threatened that she changes her vote, or opt out of the process. To do so, plays into their hands. I sure wish her luck.
Thanks all. cookemom, your suggestion I will pass on. I don’t have her info here but it is written down at the office. I am going to send this in an email to one of our leaders. Thanks again.
As we ate, I shared this story with my husband. Remember, he’s a R. He doubted it happened….recalled how it was when he was in the corporate world…..said they couldn’t even talk politics and that he couldn’t believe the legal dept. from any company would approve that. I told him numerous times it is going on all over the country. Then, capped it by saying I listened to a recording of Romney speaking to the Independent Retailers group in June where he delivers that same basic message…….at one point he uses the words “their jobs”. He said again he couldn’t believe it is happening and I AGAIN said, “YES, it is…..all over the country.” Guy who owns a time share business in FL has told his employees same basic thing, Koch Industries, etc. I said, “There’s lots of awful and intimidating things going on out there.” He said nothing.
Actually I just found out that since Citizens United it is no longer illegal for bosses to tell their employees how to vote. she still shouldn’t feel intimidated and she should vote the way she wants. This whole thing is a result of Mitt holding a conference call with business leaders across the country suggesting they tell their employees how to vote and tie it to their jobs. Ed Shcutlz has covered this tonight with the actual phone call Mitt made. So at best we can make sure the media covers it and everyone knows that Mitt is doing this.
Tell her to vote for PBO and every Dem on the ballot but to tell anyone who asks that she voted for Mitt. Actually she may also want to ask her manager for taxi fare and some time off to cast her vote against the ‘job killing ObamaCare’.
Since ObamaCare will obviously not cost any jobs these guys are just bluffing. After PBO wins by 10 points she should then express ‘shock and outrage’ as to how such a ‘disaster’ could have happened. Who knows, she may even get a promotion!
The republicans are losing it over what the President said, on the daily show.
Here we go…
He said on Libya, we were not confused, deaths weren’t optimal.
They latch onto everything and twist it…
Police Make Arrest in Trashed Voter Forms Investigation
// The Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office has made an arrest in the investigation of voter registration fraud that began on the afternoon of October 15th when law enforcement received a citizen complaint of voter registration application forms being found in a dumpster behind a business in the City of Harrisonburg.
The following individual has been charged:
Mr. Colin Small, 31 year old male of Phoenixville, PA
Voter Registration Supervisor employed by Pinpoint, an independent private organization contracted by the Republican Party of Virginia for purposes of general voter registration.
The following charges have been placed:
Four (4) counts of Destruction of Voter Registration Application, Class 1 Misdemeanor, Section 24.2-1002.01, Code of Virginia
Eight (8) counts of Disclosure of Voter Registration Application, Class 5 Felony, Section 24.2-1002.01, Code of Virginia
One (1) count of Obstruction of Justice, Class 1 Misdemeanor, Section 18.2-460(A), Code of Virginia //
Anyway, I saw great humility and character of President Obama pulling the chair out for Cardinal Dolan to sit down and then what looked like he only sat down when everyone else had. A great leader is also a great follower.
VOTE!
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2012/10/18/1039211/romney-economic-policy-director-lobbied-for-jp-morgan-chase-against-financial-reform-and-china-currency-bill/
A recently hired economic policy director for Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign was a top lobbyist for JP Morgan Chase, Wall Street’s biggest bank, and federal documents show that he lobbied Congress and federal regulators this year on issues ranging from the implementation of new financial regulations to corporate tax reform.
Pierce Scranton, who became Romney’s economic policy director in August, is listed as JP Morgan’s executive director of the bank’s lobbying department on public federal documents filed in 2012. Those documents show that between January and July of this year, Scranton oversaw lobbying activities on a host of economic issues, including legislation dealing with home mortgage modifications and foreclosures, Chinese trade and currency manipulation, the implementation of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act and other financial regulations, the Jumpstart Our Small Businesses (JOBS) Act, and corporate tax reform.
Congrats on 1st df!
#OutPerform1936
Yes We Can
Yowza! http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/10/18/1040901/breaking-federal-appeals-court-strikes-down-doma-in-opinion-by-republican-appointed-judge/
Well lookee there at the top of the heap! Is it a bird? Is it…..Df? Congrats!
Hello Chips & TOD fam! Haven’t gotten a chance to comment in a while due to time, etc. The debate was great. You all are great. Love our prez!
Really? Is Queen Ann running for something?
http://thepoliticalcarnival.net/2012/10/18/video-ann-romney-if-mitt-loses-he-will-not-run-again-nor-will-i-more-on-taggs-take-a-swing-at-obama-remarks/
They make me sick (literally)
Queen Ann is just as nutty as Mittnocchio. So she thinks she’s running for office too? Bless her sorry heart.
President Bill Clinton is working his butt off for our party. A big thanks to him.
So true, Mae.
Here’s his speech today in OH and it is exceptional …
http://www.c-span.org/Campaign2012/Events/Bill-Clinton-Bruce-Springsteen-Campaign-for-President-Obama/10737435021-1/
#FORWARD
I listened to it live and I was really impressed. These last months I’m happy to be able to say Pres C has given me a new vision of himself.
Thanks a million Bob… listening now.
This video choked me up. 2008 and those wonderful memories. We’re going to win again. We HAVE to.
I just realized I was crying also as I watched it. This whole journey is an emotional one. I am not exagerating when I tell you all I do not know what I would do without you.
Over at BJ:
Dinesh D’Souza just got fired from his $1 million/year job as president of some tiny evangelical college, and his girlfriend is married, too.
Link: http://www.balloon-juice.com/2012/10/18/it-gets-better-3/#comments
Karma is a Bitch, ain’t it?
OMG…this is so true. I could not believe how many negative folks I talked to after the first debate. Now after the second, the GOP was saying MRomney won! Cutting down the dems and trying to make the public believe it. And it seemed to be working with some folks.
I wll support PBO through thick and thin. I thought Myth was rude and obnoxious in the first debate and worse in the second. But some dem pundits say it was the best debate ever because of how both men went at it. I’m not interest in a boxing match. I want to make sure that independents realize what’s on the line. Bottomline, if PBO is not re-elected, the GOP will turn back the clock. Which includes appointing conservatives to the supreme court.
OK, y’all, I suspect somethingI insidious is going on(well duh)…..I was on HP and clicked on the Whoopie question to the Queen and immediately a 3 am commercial for R came on….part of the interview…then it was interrupted with the same 3 am commercial…..then I went to DKos and almost clicked on an ad right above an article saying Reince Preibus and Carl Rove want you to see this and Obama wants you to also…it appeared that was what you were suppose to click..I didn’t and further down the article was Bill Clinton’s speech…..BE CAREFUL what you click on…PO about the HP thing…cured me from going there
HP is a poorly disguised rw sympathizer that is proclaiming to be objective.
Someone in the media is actually using his brain.
Gallup is losing their credibility. They need to regroup.
N.C. is showing up for the early vote. Go NC Go!!!!!!!!
http://www.wral.com/news/state/nccapitol/video/11674193/#/vid11674193
I just read that Mitt is moving his team out of NC. I guess he feels he has it won. Go vote NC Dems!
Link please.
The Romney campaign pulled their staff out of NC today signaling that they are very confident about the state, but reports are that voters are lined up around blocks waiting to vote today. My entire family voted today in NC. Last election they waited a few days but not this time. The Romney campaign may be over-confident on this one. I just got back from NC and saw 1 RomneyRyan sign and that was it. I saw tons of ObamaBiden signs.
That seems to be a very foolish decision on their part. Even if they are ahead now, it could change in 2 1/2 weeks. Maybe he is simply going to concentrate on Ohio, Virginia, and Florida….
This is more likely than they are sure of No Carolina. They have to win Ohio, Va, and Fla. I think they made a decision to divert the money elsewhere. I think when a campaign pulls out of a battleground state, this close to the election, it’s not because they have a lock. It’s because they’ve weighed which of the battleground states would give more bang for the buck. Here’s where they stand now. http://www.electoral-vote.com/
Either that – or they know they can steal the state…
…..or they just would rather spend the money elsewhere. I’m not going to waste energy on the conspiracy stuff, cause there’s nothing to be gained by it. It only serves to deflate and gives way to dismay. I’d rather think that PBO has them on the run. Like the Rev says, ‘I got over the boogey man politics a long time ago’.
Cookemom, I hope that you are right. I need a sedative after seeing Gallup today and hearing about what Romney is doing in NC.
PBO has many paths to the 270 electoral votes. Unlike, Mitt who needs many of them, PBO can concentrate his efforts in one or two states. Mitt has to spend money where PBO is spending money. He has to chase PBO to counter POB’s ads. That’s what I think. Here’s an electoral map that has PBO leading as of today: http://www.electoral-vote.com/
CrissieP, you have heard time and time again about Gallup and what they are doing to give Mitt the lead. Why is it that you focus so much on Gallup, is it the only poll. I wish we would stop getting so over dramatic.
I’m sorry – I am a Nervous Nellie and a wreck. As anybody who knows me well can attest, if I were Gabby Douglas’s mother, there would be NO WAY I could sit in the sports venue and watch her do her routines live. Being nervous is in my DNA. I come here to be talked off the ledge. Please do everything you can to pull me back LOL – I would greatly appreciate it. I have not watched any debates – I have taped and watched them after I already knew what would happen. I am phone-banking and will vote for PBO so I’ll try not to pass out before the election. If folks think I’m crazy, I’ll keep my thoughts to myself.
Crissie, we are all crazy right now but PBO is still here in NC…I was at one of his offices today and I live in a small, red, town in NC and his coordinator from Az gave me no indication that he was pulling out of NC….she is even borrowing a coffee pot from me….if Romney had NC so sewn up that he is leaving here do you think PBO would be still staying? He would be pulling his group of Ohio, Va, or Fla or somewhere else TOO….it is inconceivable that PBO is going to lose this election…we might not pull it off in NC(we have a LOT of KKK types and kooky right wings who CALL themselves Christians) but there is also whole lot of people who have a brain and a heart……my gut tells me that we WILL narrowly win NC…….
This is what they are counting on. They lie, they will cheat and steal. This is why Willard won’t show his tax returns; he figures why should I? He feels he will win without showing them or he knows that he will lose and we still we be clueless of the tax returns. If he does not trust the American people then why in the world the people should trust him. Willard is getting away with a lot of things because the media aids and abet him.
No – actually it’s the opposite. They are pulling out because they don’t feel confident about winning.
It’s wonderful to see so many people out to vote!!!
If you look at the electoral map, No Carolina can be taken from it’s barely Republican ranking: http://www.electoral-vote.com/
Forward!!!!!
Peculiar…Missouri as barely GOP?!
When I was canvassing I found people fired up and ready to vote early.
http://www.politico.com/blogs/charlie-mahtesian/2012/10/is-north-carolina-cooked-138914.html
I can imagine PBO and Stewart approaching their chairs at the desk and PBO saying, “Please proceed, John.” –And then seeing that particular look Stewart gets on his face……
He looks like someone is tickling him.
He does too!
Wouldn’t YOU like that job!
You betcha!
These people can’t get any worse:
WASHINGTON — In the wake of Rep. Paul Ryan’s embarrassing soup kitchen photo-op last week, the organization that runs the facility tells The Huffington Post that donors have begun pulling their money out of the Youngstown, Ohio charity.
Ryan may have suffered a few late-night jokes, but the fallout for the soup kitchen appears to be far more bruising. Brian J. Antal, president of the Mahoning County St. Vincent De Paul Society, confirmed that donors have begun an exodus in protest over Ryan’s embarrassment. The monetary losses have been big. “It appears to be a substantial amount,” Antal said. “You can rest assured there has been a substantial backlash.” [...]
Ryan supporters have now targeted Antal and his soup kitchen, Antal said, including making hundreds of angry phone calls. Some members of Antal’s volunteer staff have had to endure the barrage as well, he said.
http://bobcesca.com/blog-archives/2012/10/paul-ryan-is-an-embarrassment.html
One has to question where their hearts are, these GOP charity donors. Paul Ryan is a liar, and a fraud. Those GOP supporters are fickle, prioritizing Paul Ryan’s comfort over the chance for a family to get a hot meal. They are hideous. I hope they never need the help of a soup kitchen, because karma won’t be pretty for them.
This is digusting. I hope people rally and donate to this charity. I am willing to make a donation myself.
There are no hearts. Just gaping hole of UGLY.
This is true.
Once again GOP leaders are not held accountable (by their own) for their behaviour. The GOP – arbiters of values that they themselves do not practise.
Tweet that to Jefferson Obama, and Ben Labolt.
“This is not complicated for me,” he said. “If somebody saved my economy, I’d be for him.”
Clinton, Springsteen Rock Ohio For Obama
——————————
Appearing in Parma, on the outskirts of Cleveland, the man Obama nicknamed the “Explainer-in-Chief” gave a speech where he simultaneously reaffirmed his faith in the country and bashed Mitt Romney, before ceding the stage to Springsteen.
“I was born in the U.S.A. and unlike one of the candidates, I keep all my money here,” Clinton said, in reference to Romney’s bank accounts in Switzerland and the Cayman Islands.
Clinton reminded supporters of Romney’s opposition to the auto bailout, which has been instrumental to Ohio’s economic recovery. “The only person who pretended to know anything about [the auto bailout] who didn’t support it was Gov. Romney,” he said.
“When you were down, when you were out, the president had your back,” Clinton added. “You’ve got to have his back now.”
“This is not complicated for me,” he said. “If somebody saved my economy, I’d be for him.”
Springsteen formally endorsed President Obama today with a statement posted on his website hours before the even
——————————–
http://www.nationalmemo.com/clinton-springsteen-rock-ohio-for-obama/
Kelly Ripa is just a tiny elf-creature!
Now that was too cute.
Well, they already got video of Stewart and the President.
Do tell Jovie…where??
Well, I just voted early in North Carolina about an hour ago.
Lots of activity, given the limited parking and Boone’s hideous rush-hour traffic.
Wooooooot! Go Ralph!! TODers on the move!!
Good job Ralph, way to go!! I can’t wait to see the early voting results from NC. That’ll tell us more than any poll can. It’s the trends we need to look at. If more early voting is going our way, it stands to reason the vote on Nov 6 will be the same.
Obama: Yup, we’re recovering
By Greg Sargent
—————————–
I and others have been hoping that Obama would mount a more aggressive and concerted defense of his economic record and a stronger case that the economy is recovering. And on the trail today in New Hampshire, he did both as clearly as he has yet:
Buzzfeed says that Obama has discovered “morning in America,” and there’s something to this. Yesterday Obama made a similarly optimistic pitch that we’re recovering, which suggests that he is pivoting hard to this message for the home stretch.
The key to the new stump speech is that Obama describes the trajectory of the unemployment rate — the larger story — noting that it reached an abysmal 10 percent at the depth of the crisis before falling to its current 7.8 percent. In the wake of yesterday’s good news about the housing market, Obama also referenced rising home values.
———————————–
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/obama-yup-were-recovering/2012/10/18/bf6939a2-1962-11e2-aa6f-3b636fecb829_blog.html
Hi everyone. Timing is everything. Mitt is an empty suit.
BA-DA-BOOM!
Mitt Romney’s Bailout Bonanza
Just the last 4 paragraphs …
“The Romneys’ exact gain, however, remains nearly invisible—and untaxed—because Singer cashed out only a fragment of the windfall in 2011. And the Singer-led hedge funds have been able to keep almost all of Delphi’s profits untaxed by moving Delphi’s incorporation from Troy, Michigan, to the Isle of Jersey, a tax haven off the coast of France.
The Romneys might insist that the funds were given to Singer, Mitt’s key donor, only through Ann’s blind trust. But as Mitt Romney said some years ago of Ted Kennedy, “The blind trust is an age-old ruse, if you will. Which is to say, you can always tell a blind trust what it can and cannot do.” Romney, who reminds us often that he was CEO of a hedge fund, can certainly read Elliott Management’s SEC statements, and he knows Ann’s trust is invested heavily in a fund whose No. 1 stake is with Delphi.
Nevertheless, even if the Romneys were blind to their initial investment in Elliott, they would have known by the beginning of 2010 that they had a massive position in Delphi and would make a fortune from the bailout and TARP funds. Delphi is not a minor investment for Singer; it is his main holding. To invest in Elliott is essentially a “Delphi play”: that is, investing with Singer means buying a piece of the auto bailout.
Mitt Romney may indeed have wanted to let Detroit die. But if the auto industry was going to be bailed out after all, the Romneys apparently couldn’t resist getting in on a piece of the action.”
http://www.thenation.com/article/170644/mitt-romneys-bailout-bonanza#
http://thepoliticalcarnival.net/2012/10/18/romney-secretly-made-millions-and-his-biggest-donors-billions-off-taxpayer-funded-auto-bailout/
I read the nation article earlier today and shook my head that they can legally stack up cash in that heartless fashion even to the point of ‘blackmailing’ GM & the government. There is so much ‘legal’ corruption (IMO) that Mitt is connected to I can’t imagine him being an effective leader. He seems more like an abuser to me.
DSCC poll: McCaskill up 12 in Missouri
By EMILY SCHULTHEIS | 10/18/12 5:24 PM
A new poll conducted for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee finds Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill with a solid double-digit lead over Todd Akin in Missouri’s Senate race.
Romneys are top of the CRASS class!
This references the Alfred E. Smith dinner which will air on C-SPAN at 9PM ET/8PM CT tonight.
Is the dinner going to be on CSPAN tonight?
Florida is being slammed with ads. I do not turn on the TV anymore. My sorrow is, my daughter and I love Jeopardy. She and I usually played together while she was here. We now play on the phone. I can’t stand all the ads. There are lies and badly done. The one’s I really hate are the ones with the cartoon quality., bobbing cut out heads on still bodies.
Actually…corporations are people…banks are people (or so Robme says) New episode of Actually series with Sarah Silverman and Lizz Winstead:
and, oh by the way Bill was awesome today! Thanks for the link TOD world.
http://www.c-span.org/Campaign2012/Events/Bill-Clinton-Bruce-Springsteen-Campaign-for-President-Obama/10737435021-1/
Maybe it’s me. I don’t trust the GOP not to try to steal this. Their behavior tells me everything. The Lying. The denial of facts. The only polls the say aren’t fake are the ones showing Romney leading (which are all shaky at best and mostly suspect.) The constant psychological projection.
ALL OF IT. How many are on their payroll? They’re proof people can be corrupted and bought.
It’s hard for me to believe that a majority of American citizens are stupid enough to vote for these criminals, especially when OFA has a larger ground game than we did in 2008. It makes no sense.
I’ve said this from the very beginning of the republican primary. The GOP and the media are trying to steal this, absolutely. Now they’re even saying that Romney will win the popular vote. All of this is absolute bullcrap. Make no mistake, those polls are bullcrap as well. Showing Romney winning 10 and 12 percent of black and 30 percent of Latinos, heavily polling white southerners, etc. All kinds of tweaks and tricks to make it look like Mitt is supposed to win this thing.
We all need to stop freaking out over these polls and just make sure we vote. The msm is gonna do what it’s going to do, and that’s work their butts off to get Mitt in the White House. And let’s not be fooled, when I say the msm, I mean everyone from Sean Hannity to Rachael Maddow is working towards the same goal; a Romney presidency.
My point is, their behavior is laying the foundation so when they steal it, a Mitt win will seem plausible.
How is Rachel working towards a Romney win? I watch her almost every day, and I haven’t seen it. She’s been a rock star, specially lately, breaking some of the main stories we talk about here.
As for Sean, what he said about Mitt disrespecting the POTUS at the debate was honest. It disgusted him. He has real moments, but they’re rare. Shep Smith is another one who is sickened that he works for Fox…. I keep waiting for the day when their integrity outweighs whatever legal, non-disclosure agreement they signed with their networks.
grrrr especially.
Tally, I have to agree with you about Rachel. I never miss her show and feel like I learn more there about the evils of the Romney campaign, and Republicans generally, than I do anywhere else. Information that SHOULD be on the networks but Rachel has it and I think she deserves a lot of credit.
I love this video of my First Lady at my Alma Mater. Let’s keep NC blue!
I agree with you itgurl_29. Totally.
Reverend Al is steamed. However he is still on his facts.
THISSSSSSSSSSSS!!
It ain’t gonna happen. Otherwise azzholes like Sununu, et al would be in Gitmo or somewhere with ‘Leroy’.
LOL
These are GREAT numbers. Much bigger spreads than those silly national polls.
Okay, Dems, time to stop the freakout. Swing states are staying with PBO.
Rev. Al—-Scott Brown is paying homeless AAs $8/hr. to wear Scott Brown t-shirts—–I guess that is supposed to make it look like AAs support Scott Brown, to attract votes. These Repubs are disgusting beyond belief.
Amen!
Not too long ago AnnD planted the idea that all Mitt’s marbles are not rattling around comfortably and today I saw an article that seems to imply something similar…at least to me. The Romneys seem particularly concerned about Mitt not having it all together when he is on his own for long. How would that work if he were propelled into the WH? They have said more than once that he needs AnnD nearby to stabilize him, while apparently she has been saying on the view that she is/we are not running again if he didn’t win. Is he only a 1/2 a presidential candidate?
Poll indicates 34% already voted and it’s still mid October!
Hello all. Some good news -go F yourself. I meant …. go fly yourself really!
The first line should read:
Hello all. Some good news -go F yourself Gallup. I meant …. go fly yourself really!
Gallup vs. The World….Nate Silver calling foul on Gallup’s polling.
http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/18/gallup-vs-the-world/?src=twr
OFA ads 6 million to swing state ad buy-
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/10/18/obama-campaign-adds-more-than-6-million-to-its-swing-state-ad-buy/
Someone up thread stated that Willard’s camp is pulling out of NC “signaling confidence that they’ve won the state?” Where did you get that they were confident – usually they would not pull out so early if they felt confident. I’m thinking it’s the opposite.
Creepy that PPP is trying to throw cold water on the NBC poll, saying their polls tomorrow will be a “whole lot better for Romney than the NBC poll”. I’ve noticed they seem to delight in this kind of news lately, with numerous and repeated tweets. This has been happening after they began posting all the hateful feedback they got from Repubs on their earlier favorable Obama polls. It’s like they got so intimidated that they began posting numbers to please and shut up the GOP. I’m starting to not trust any of these polls or pollsters—–I think they’re all a bit of a sham, can all be manipulated.
PPP is not reliable because they still do not poll cell phone only households. This causes them to underestimate PBO’s advantage or overestimate his disadvantage relative to Romney since most of the cell phone only households are likely to be PBO supporters. This might work during the midterms, but they are not going to work in this Presidential election – when Barack Obama is on the ballot.
And like you said, they’ve recently been pushing a pro-Romney, anti-Obama narrative to accompany their silly polls.
On Erin Burnett right now. According to Gallup women in swing states rate abortion as #1 issue with 59% and jobs #2 with 39%. Gallup has women tied between PBO and Romney nationally and NBC has PBO up 18 points in swing states. Gallup has some more splainin to do.
Heartbreaking story with a little cruel and inhumane treatment from conservatives (who else? thrown in the mix. Why don’t we just carve out Texas and let the fuckers have their own country, so they can just go away already?
Er, uh that’s Gabby, Dudette.
Oh damn. That’s friggin’ FOX Sports! I clicked Tweet button the on article and didn’t see their typo. Made a new tweet! Thanks Yardarm!
Not a problem. We know who you meant.
Can we please have a moratorium on poll angst? It’s a given we don’t like them when they’re not in our favor, so why post all the crazy data they produce? Why fret over them? It’s generally accepted that the MSM and the pollsters have the fix in for Romney, right? So why harp on it? We know what we need to do….GOTV!!! PBO has a hellava ground game and we know how effective it is. So for every bad poll or wrong-headed pundit you hear, make a call from the OFA dashboard. If that doesn’t help, find a way to canvas or provide some other help in an OFA office near you. If that doesn’t help, write, tweet, FB, your local news media and launch an official protest. If you’re still feeling the need to alert us all of the dire straights we’re in because of some poll, then repeat the previous steps.
THIS!!!!! I am sick of the poll info.
GOOD POint!
Only one poll counts…remember? The rest is just for show. Cookemom – I too am sick of this chickenlittle shit. Grow a pair, people!
Hello all, Worked at our Knox County Dem/Obama Hdqtrs. this afternoon. Was supposed to be there from 12:30-3:30-4:00. I did not get out of there until after 5:00. Lots of people coming in for signs, buttons, etc. and a number of phone calls. The last call I took was from a mother of an 18 year old (daughter) who works at Applebee’s. When she worked last night, there was a letter posted on employee bulletin board from corporate offices. Stating that if they don’t vote the right way–Romney–they may lose their jobs because of Obamacare. This will be her daughter’s first election and she was so excited to vote. Now, she feels scared and intimidated. This mother was livid. She had already contacted the DC reporter for our paper and I begged her to contact one of our TV stations. We also have a couple of awesome local reporters that are Dems so think she may contact one or both of them. Is there ANYTHING I can do?
ISNT THAT ILLEGAL
Tell her that’s why ballots are secret…some guy she doesn’t know, that doesn’t care about her, is going to try and intimidate her? She should start looking for a new job, where she’s valued, take it…and tell the SOB to shove it!
Voter intimidation is against the law. If the daughter is feeling threatened, but is strong enough to go through what may happen, she has a case to present to the local authorities. She should make sure she has a picture or evidence that the memo was posted in the work place. Then, she files the complaint. I’d also suggest she forward the info to DOJ. The process isn’t for the feint of heart. Maybe she can get co-workers to join her. Let’s hope the DC reporter may be able to shed the light. In the meantime, everyone goes into the voting booth alone. She should not feel so threatened that she changes her vote, or opt out of the process. To do so, plays into their hands. I sure wish her luck.
Thanks all. cookemom, your suggestion I will pass on. I don’t have her info here but it is written down at the office. I am going to send this in an email to one of our leaders. Thanks again.
As we ate, I shared this story with my husband. Remember, he’s a R. He doubted it happened….recalled how it was when he was in the corporate world…..said they couldn’t even talk politics and that he couldn’t believe the legal dept. from any company would approve that. I told him numerous times it is going on all over the country. Then, capped it by saying I listened to a recording of Romney speaking to the Independent Retailers group in June where he delivers that same basic message…….at one point he uses the words “their jobs”. He said again he couldn’t believe it is happening and I AGAIN said, “YES, it is…..all over the country.” Guy who owns a time share business in FL has told his employees same basic thing, Koch Industries, etc. I said, “There’s lots of awful and intimidating things going on out there.” He said nothing.
Actually I just found out that since Citizens United it is no longer illegal for bosses to tell their employees how to vote. she still shouldn’t feel intimidated and she should vote the way she wants. This whole thing is a result of Mitt holding a conference call with business leaders across the country suggesting they tell their employees how to vote and tie it to their jobs. Ed Shcutlz has covered this tonight with the actual phone call Mitt made. So at best we can make sure the media covers it and everyone knows that Mitt is doing this.
Tell her to vote for PBO and every Dem on the ballot but to tell anyone who asks that she voted for Mitt. Actually she may also want to ask her manager for taxi fare and some time off to cast her vote against the ‘job killing ObamaCare’.
Since ObamaCare will obviously not cost any jobs these guys are just bluffing. After PBO wins by 10 points she should then express ‘shock and outrage’ as to how such a ‘disaster’ could have happened. Who knows, she may even get a promotion!
The republicans are losing it over what the President said, on the daily show.
Here we go…
He said on Libya, we were not confused, deaths weren’t optimal.
They latch onto everything and twist it…
This President can say Boo and these racists right wing bastards would try to twist it. To hell with them.
Police Make Arrest in Trashed Voter Forms Investigation
// The Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office has made an arrest in the investigation of voter registration fraud that began on the afternoon of October 15th when law enforcement received a citizen complaint of voter registration application forms being found in a dumpster behind a business in the City of Harrisonburg.
The following individual has been charged:
Mr. Colin Small, 31 year old male of Phoenixville, PA
Voter Registration Supervisor employed by Pinpoint, an independent private organization contracted by the Republican Party of Virginia for purposes of general voter registration.
The following charges have been placed:
Four (4) counts of Destruction of Voter Registration Application, Class 1 Misdemeanor, Section 24.2-1002.01, Code of Virginia
Eight (8) counts of Disclosure of Voter Registration Application, Class 5 Felony, Section 24.2-1002.01, Code of Virginia
One (1) count of Obstruction of Justice, Class 1 Misdemeanor, Section 18.2-460(A), Code of Virginia //
http://www.nbc29.com/story/19858475/rockingham-police-make-arrest-in-trashed-voter-forms-investigation
New post everyone:
http://theobamadiary.com/2012/10/18/this-that-and-a-possibly-way-too-early-heads-up/
URGENT: Please tweet this to DOJ and Stephanie cutter-
RT’d
Ed has dufuss Ron Christie on his show tonite. Screw him and that jerk in Florida.
check out the repeats of the introductions at this Alfred Dinner http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/obama-romney-speak-at-alfred-e-smith-dinner …there are so many shades of white there that its amazing to see President Obama is comfortable everywhere but I feel moreso when he’s with the People.
Anyway, I saw great humility and character of President Obama pulling the chair out for Cardinal Dolan to sit down and then what looked like he only sat down when everyone else had. A great leader is also a great follower.