We had an election and nobody got killed. We got through it

For every apocalyptic prediction in the aftermath of the election yesterday I want to remind my friends that we will get through it. Depending on your point of view either Dubya or O'Bummer was the worst thing that has ever happened to this country. Somehow we got through it.

That being said there is some real danger out there.

Trump doesn't seem to be interested in public policy unless it can be reduced to a sound bite so the Republican Congress will set the agenda and he will go along with most of it.



Just on Healthcare. 

They will repeal the Affordable Care Act ( Obamacare) leaving over 20 million people without health insurance.  They have to do this, the base will rebel if they don't.

Speaker Paul Ryan's budget outlined a plan to close the VA Medical Centers and make Medicare into something of a coupon system. They call it premium support. Frank Luntz is a master of language

Changing Medicaid to a block grant to give states "flexibility. "  Most of the money (over 60%)  pays for people in Nursing Homes  like my Mom.

Obamacare is opposed until you tell people that you kids can stay on your policy until they are 26 or preventive procedures are covered with no deductible. If you have an illness (preexisting condition)  you can't be denied coverage.

The headlines tell us that  premiums have increased dramatically this year but how much  would they go up without this law? No one knows.

What if Trump wins the GOP nomination?

Photo from here


I've been watching Presidential politics a very long time and I have never seen anything like this. The more outrageous things he says that would sink the usual presidential bid makes him even more popular.If he is caught out saying something dumb or lacking knowledge he just insults his opponents or the inquisitor. They are losers and stupid.


He is top of the polls nationally and leading in 3 of the early voting states. Whether he can build a turnout operation remains to be seen but that may not even matter if the people he is connecting with show up on their own. Many people I talk to both Democrat and Republican tell me 2 things they like about him. Kicking out illegal immigrants and the system has been been corrupted by money and since he is rich he can't be bought.

He may win a few of the early primary and caucus states but the SEC Primary happens on March 1st. Trump may have the momentum to win some of them but not all . This is also Hillary's firewall. My prediction is that he will many of the southern states and clear the field. Then what?

At that point he will have to start kissing the ass of the big donors since he probably doesn't have $1 Billion to finance a general election campaign on his own. Then the much vaulted "Republican Establishment" will have a choice to make.

Much has been made about the loyalty oath that the Donald signed pledging to back the Republican nominee. But if the Trump is the nominee I can see a 3rd party/independent bid by an establishment Republican. It may be one of the candidates running now because the loyalty oath isn't worth the paper it's written on or it could be someone waiting in the wings like Paul Ryan or Mitt Romney

Rick Perry in town today

Texas  Governor Rick Perry will be at the Wilkes-Barre GOP
Victory Center (34 S. Main St.) Saturday, November 3, 2012, along with GOP Senate candidate Tom Smith.  The event begins at 10am.




Joe Biden's visit got washed out by the storm but the Big Dog will be in Scranton Monday. TL: Former President Bill Clinton will be in Scranton Monday on the campaign trail, according to Democratic Party sources. Details to follow.

In another iteration of Lucy teeing up the football Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan will also be in PA over the weekend.  PoliticsPA has the details.

MB:

In 2008, John McCain visited Pennsylvania the Sunday before the election, but Obama won the state.

In 2004, George W. Bush visited Pennsylvania the day before the election, but John Kerry won the state.

In 1996, Bob Dole visited Pennsylvania the Friday before the election, but Bill Clinton won the state.

In 1992, George H.W. Bush visited Pennsylvania the day of the election, but Bill Clinton won the state.

Charlie Brown never kicks the ball.

Dueling ads from Barletta and Stilp

Lou Barletta has his first spot up.

From the inbox: Dear Gort --

Today we released our latest campaign ad and I wanted to make sure you saw it. It’s called “In Our Corner” and you can watch it here. It highlights my record of fighting for Pennsylvanians, whether it’s their jobs, their Medicare benefits, or their safety. It’s a record I’m proud of and I hope you are too.

It shows a boxing ring and says he is fighting for Pennsylvania seniors. I am the only one sick of the boxing metaphors and the "fighting for us" tag line from politicians on both sides. An election is about who will govern not who can win a brawl in the schoolyard. 

I'm sure you will be shocked that he says he is against illegal immigration. Then he takes a shot at Gene Stilp saying "He’s fighting for a radical agenda." That tells you Lou is worried about Gene.  Barletta attacks his opponent in his first TV spot when the Captains Obvious college professors think he is lock for reelection.  There has not been any public polling in this race but it just might be the surprise of election night.

Stilp responds with his usual good humor.

 

 

From the inbox:

Today, 11th Congressional District Candidate and Democratic Nominee, Gene Stilp, unveiled a campaign advertisement which recounts the difficult fights he has taken on in the past, under intense heat and pressure to do otherwise, and states that he is not afraid of doing the right thing in Congress, no matter how hot it gets.  

The unique 30 second ad cites the longtime activist's prior fights against the 2005 illegal legislative payraise and perpetrators of government waste, fraud and abuse in state government and states that Mr. Stilp can take on "the firestorm of corruption in Washington". 

See the new ad here.

Additionally it cites the misleading comments from his opponent, Congressman Lou Barletta's recent ad.  It states that Mr. Stilp wants to cut over $700 million from Medicare.  

In addressing the false claim, Mr. Stilp said, "Mr. Barletta's ad is completely false.  It's Congressman Barletta that wants to cut Medicare, as he voted for the Ryan Budget, which would turn Medicare into a voucher program and would harm our seniors.  Mr. Barletta has taken hundreds of thousands of dollars from lobbyists and corporations to run this false and misleading ad.  That is what is wrong with Washington and is why I am running.  As you can see in this ad, I am uniquely equipped to take on this fight."

 And I love this one.

Pignelope in a drag race

Biden wins the debate and stops the bleeding

After the President's poor debate performance Joe Biden had to step up and he did. He had command of the facts and rebutted Paul Ryan at every turn. Once he said that  Ryan spews a bunch of malarkey you knew he was on. Now the Republicans are attacking the moderator and Biden's facial expressions. The Dems panned Jim Lerher last time. 

I'm not going to recap it because my readers surely watched it.

At least Sullivan didn't have another nervous breakdown. 

Vote in the poll on the left sidebar.

Vice Presidential Debate Poll

I'll be putting up a poll on the sidebar later tonight.

If you want to watch the debate with some political junkies:

The Luzerne County Republican Party is hosting a Vice-Presidential Debate Watch Party at Rodano's on Public Square in Wilkes-Barre. Large screen tv, pizza, cash bar. The event open to the public and admission is FREE! Please join us! Starts at 8PM.

2 weeks ago the Republicans were saying the polls were skewed because they showed Obama opening up a lead. Now they point to the polls because they show Romney catching up. If Obama wins the election get ready for more ACORN stole the election type nonsense. 

I think this poll result is interesting via Taegan Goddard:


A new Esquire/Yahoo! News poll finds that Americans would trust President Obama more to look after their dog when they're out of town than Mitt Romney, 52% to 27%.

I ride inside

Dogs Against Romney

PA 11th CD happenings

Congressman Lou Barletta's disater relief bill was passed by the House of Representatives with a poison pill built into it. We will see if the Senate takes it up next week. The funding offset is “the  lower rate and the refunds will be paid for by eliminating federal funding for political party conventions” Good luck with that.

His opponent Gene Stilp is a master of free media.

 The pig bus covers up 47% of the Romney bus.

This headline from KP is great:

Gene Stilp’s Bus Challenges Mitt Romney’s Bus to a Fight

From Stilp: Where's Mitt Romney? I had some serious questions for him, but he apparently wasn't on his own bus trip.
But then again, where is Lou Barletta? I have a few questions for him also.
I'll debate whichever one of them is willing to step up and defend their lock step positions on Medicare, Social Security, Jobs, etc. Anywhere. Anytime.

Barletta has a duty to constituents to debate Stilp Kevin Blaum In the Arena

Lou poses with the VP Nominee

 Maybe Barletta should bring Paul Ryan to the district to help him get reelected. Ryan is real popular with people that have Medicare.

 

 Update: 

Barletta Spox Shawn Kelly takes issue with my "poison pill" comment.

I noticed in your posting about Rep. Barletta’s Disaster Loan Fairness Act of 2012 that you referred to the eliminating of political party convention funding as a “poison pill built into it” that will doom the bill in the Senate.

I respectfully disagree. You might not be aware that the Senate recently voted for a measure that does just that.

On June 21, 2012, the Senate voted 95-4 for an amendment offered by Sen. Tom Coburn. This amendment, S.AMDT.2214, is “To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to prohibit the use of public funds for political party conventions, and to provide for the return of previously distributed funds for deficit reduction.” You can learn about that amendment here: http://thomas.loc.gov/. Search for S.AMDT.2214.

If the Senate was willing to add that amendment to another bill by such a overwhelming margin, it stands to reason that they would support a bill that includes that language to begin with. Therefore, to call the inclusion of such a provision a “poison pill” is incorrect because the Senate has already shown a willingness to pass a similar measure.

Shawn

 

 

 

Romney just lost the election, again

You all know about the storm that has erupted after Mitt Romney's attack on the President after American diplomats were killed in Libya. He got the timing wrong about the Egyptian embassy statement and couldn't wait until  after midnight of 9/11 to make a political point while the violence was going on and the whereabouts of the Ambassador to Libya was unknown. The President was dealing with a crises and Romney tries to score political points repeating the imaginary apology nonsense.  

Many Republicans disagree with Romney including former PA Governor Tom Ridge.

TP: “I don’t think President Obama sympathizes with those who attacked us,” Ridge said. “I don’t think any American does.”

After ignoring foreign policy it's surprising they decided to attack. 

BF: 
Romney foreign policy advisor Robert O’Brien called the Obama campaign's tactic a transparent ploy to distract from the sagging economy, including a recent jobs report that was "a disaster for them."
"It doesn't surprise me that they're raising foreign policy because it's another distraction from the Administration’s terrible economic record,” O’Brien told BuzzFeed. “They're going from one shiny object to the next." 

Romney didn't even mention the the war in Afghanistan at the GOP convention. 

Steve Benen:  it's true that Obama doesn't have other foreign policy successes outside the bin Laden mission, just so long as you overlook ending the war in Iraq, the ratification of the New START treaty, assembling an international coalition to bring down the Gadhafi regime in Libya, decimating al Qaeda's network and senior leadership, and imposing a very aggressive new embargo on Iran.

And finally, there's the Romney's campaign pitch: the Republican candidate has credibility on foreign affairs because he speaks French; spent time as a missionary; he's well-traveled; he's 65; and he helped oversee an athletic competition.

 Romney also lost the election when Clint Eastwood yelled at an empty chair that upstaged his acceptance speech and when Paul Ryan seemed shady and incompetent.

 More than this blowup is his 4 positions on Obamacare.

Mitt Romney Takes Four Different Positions On Pre-Existing Conditions In Twelve Hours

Prez O likes football

"The most important thing I have to say is football starts today." --President Barack Obama (via pool report)

(PHOTO CREDIT: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

  House GOP introduces bill to repeal football

 Michelle Bachman calls for investigation of unAmerican activities of NFL players

 NFL owners admit that they didn't build the stadiums, the taxpayers paid for them

 Mitt Romney says he has friends that own NFL teams and will give them a tax cut

 Paul Ryan claims he scored 6 touchdowns in a football game in under 3 hours

 Iowa Rep. Steve King proposes electrified fence and alligator filled moat around fields to keep out foreign born players from kicking FG's and extra points

 Rep. King says Michael Vick is his favorite player 

GOP Rep. Steve King Defends Dog Fighting

 

 Lou Barletta asks "What are the Yankee's doing?"

  Tom Marino placed a bet with Louis DeNaples

 Laureen Cummings prayed about something.

Convention Recap

Gort42  Special Correspondent Matt Cartwright files this report from Charlotte.Well , he did send along a press release.

A Memorable and Truthful First Day In Charlotte

Last night we heard from San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, whose story reflects the President’s story and the American story. And we heard from First Lady Michelle Obama, who knows the President best and the values and experiences that drive him.


Our convention is crystallizing the choice the American people face this election. It’s a choice between President Obama’s vision of moving America forward to an economy built to last with a strong middle class at its core, or Mitt Romney’s vision of going back to the same “top-down” economic policies that crashed our economy and punished the middle class.


We’re hearing about the strong leadership the President has shown and the tough but often unpopular decisions he’s made to strengthen this country over the long term. And how those decisions have been rooted in fundamental American values: that hard work and responsibility should be rewarded, that everyone should play by the same rules and everyone has a fair shot and a fair shake.



We’re hearing about the President’s constant fight for working and middle-class Americans and how he’s fought every day to rebuild an economy that’s meant to last – an economy built from the middle class out, not the top down.



We’re doing what Mitt Romney failed to do: honestly and clearly laying out the President’s vision and plan to move America forward and restore the promise of middle-class security for all Americans.


Finally, President Clinton will take the stage to talk about what the President has done to help the nation recover from the worst economic crisis ever handed a new president, and what he’s doing to create an economy built to last – one that’s built from the middle out, not the top down.






Twenty years ago, President Clinton heard many of the same charges President Obama faces today, from a Republican Party who believed that if we gave tax cuts to the well-off and slashed Medicare and investments in our children and workers, prosperity would trickle down to the middle class.


Fortunately, the country rejected that approach, and instead invested in education and innovation, paid down the deficit by asking the wealthy to pay their fair share, and laid the foundation for 23 million new jobs, historic small business expansion and a record surplus.

It’s striking that Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan want to go back to the policies that turned those Clinton surpluses into massive deficits, punished the middle class and crashed our economy.

A night with the Republicans

Alex put together a great event last night to watch Mitt Romney accept the Republican Party nomination to be President. About 60 people came and went before Romney took the stage but only 20 or so actually hung around for his acceptance speech.

Before we joined the fun at Mulligans Irish Bar I popped into Boscov's to buy a new blazer for Blogfest. It was great to see all the businesses open  in downtown Wilkes-Barre. A few years ago Public Square was a ghost town after 5PM.

The first person I ran into was my 2nd favorite back cracker, recovering politician turned radio talk show host Dr. David Madeira. You can catch his act weekdays 6-9AM on 94.3FM. Luzerne County Controller Walter Griffth told me he loves his job despite being shorthanded because of budget cuts and spoke highly of county manager Bob Lawton. He said he will definitely be running for reelection next year. It was good to see past candidates Gina Nevenglosky and Joyce Gebhardt. Kingston Mayor Jim Haggerty said he suggested one of the names for the AAA baseball team, the Blast. It was great to meet the Right Wing Fringey guy.

I asked some people in crowd what they liked about Romney. Lynette Villano said he has the business experience that will help turn the economy around. She is planning a big luzerne/Lackawanna County GOP dinner and is looking for a headliner. I suggested Rick Santorum. Lori Vandermark also cited Romney's business experience and added that he managed a successful Olympics. Luzerne County GOP chair Bill Urbansky said he was an American success story. Walter Griffith said "I have to hold my nose to vote for either of them" but he likes Paul Ryan. Host Alex Milanes critiqed his party on several issues saying "I think the Republican's are on the wrong side of history on gay rights." He thinks if the party loses this election it needs to reinvent itself and he won't jump ship but will try to build bridges.

Bill Wellock covered the event for the CV and Steve Mocarsky quoted me in his write up for the TL. I was expecting to see Andrew Seder but Bill told me he works bankers hours.

County GOP viewing party lures undecideds

Pick of Romney buoys local GOP

Patrick Murphy is not going away

Former Congressman and recent PA Attorney General candidate Patrick Murphy was on MSNBC yesterday discussing the Catholic view of the election. I hope he makes it to Blogfest on September 21st

From the inbox:

 The message came across loud and clear - the nuns, priest and bishops all believe the Ryan/Romney budget is immoral. Reading from Archbishop Dolan's letter to Ryan about listening to the cries of the poor to refute the Bush-Cheney operative was priceless, there was no comeback. The three takeaways were: 1) As a social justice Catholic, the bible couldn't be more clear, "Whatever you do to the least of my people, you do onto me." Matthew, Chapter 25 2) Ryan/Romney budget guts Medicare and Medicaid by $2.8 Billion, and after kicking off 31 million Americans from Medicare and Medicaid, their plan amazingly turns around, not to pay off the debt, but spends $2.9 trillion for an additional $265K tax break for the wealthiest 1% 3) The tax rate under the only Catholic President, John F. Kennedy, was 70% -the tax rate under Reagan 5 of 8 yhanks for your help today. The feedback about Obama and the Catholic Vote on MSNBC hit has been fars was 50%, the rate under Clinton was 39% (the same rate Obama-Biden want it to return to) but Romney-Ryan want to cut it again to 25% and pay for it on the backs of our most
vulnerable is immoral


.

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Romney throws a Hail o' Ryan

It looks like Mitt Romney has done the impossible by picking Paul Ryan as his running mate. Many Republicans and Democrats alike are thrilled with the choice.  Republicans have wanted to destroy Social Security and Medicare since the inception of the programs and Ryan has had the balls to put it in writing sacrificing them on the alter of ever bigger tax cuts despite the fact that taxes are lower as a share of GDP since 1950. It's not about balancing the budget as his famous plan doesn't do that for a generation.

I think Romney has decided that this will be turnout election and picked the person that will most excite the Republican base because many of the true believers just don't trust the guy. Romney has always impressed me as the worst sort of politician, someone that doesn't want to do something but be somebody. When he ran for office in Massachusetts he was a liberal on the hot button social issues then repudiated those positions when he ran for President in 2008. 

The Democrats are running a hardball campaign  this time out and have had Romney on the defensive over Bain Capitol and his tax returns among other issues. He needed to change the narrative and did so by picking a running mate early but that won't last.  I give it a week for the glow to wear off.

After all you don't vote for Vice President.

Lou, Laureen and Sarah approve of Mitt picking Paul

Hazleton, PA – Today, Lou Barletta issued the following statement regarding the selection of Paul Ryan to complete the Republican presidential ticket:

“Jobs and the economy are the number one concern of voters across America.  Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney understand the need for pro-growth strategies that will get our economy back on the right track.

“A Romney-Ryan ticket offers a clear contrast to the failed policies of President Obama that have only made our economy worse.  The team of Governor Mitt Romney and Representative Paul Ryan has the expertise to offer idea after idea on how to fix our economy, cut Washington’s red tape, right-size federal spending to deal with our deficit, and save important federal programs that so many rely on.

“Having worked with Paul Ryan, I can say no one in the House of Representatives knows the federal budget better than he does.  He will be an invaluable resource to the ticket and the American people as their next Vice-President. At a time when our country is heading for a fiscal cliff, there could not be a better team for the future of America than Gov. Mitt Romney and Rep. Paul Ryan.”

Old Forge, PA – “Today, Mitt Romney announced Paul Ryan as his running mate. Ryan is a talented and experienced fiscal conservative who understands the challenges facing our country. His selection confirms that the Mitt Romney is committed to turning America around,” said Laureen Cummings, Republican candidate for Congress in Pennsylvania’s 17^th District.

“The ‘R & R’ team promises America some badly needed “r&r” from the irresponsible, job killing policies of the Obama Administration.  Paul Ryan is the right choice at the right time and I commend Mitt Romney on his selection.”

Sarah Palin

 Mooslyvania- Congratulations to Mitt Romney on his choice of Congressman Paul Ryan as his running mate. President Obama has declared that this election is about “two fundamentally different visions” for America. Goodness, he’s got that right. Our country cannot afford four more years of Barack Obama’s fundamentally flawed vision. We must now look to this new team, the Romney/Ryan ticket, to provide an alternate vision of an America that is fiscally responsible, strong, and prosperous – an America that understands and is proud of her exceptional place in the world and will respect those who fight to secure that exceptionalism, which includes keeping our promises to our veterans.