November 23, 2010
— Open Blogger Mark Penn, the famous pollster, author, business consultant and democratic über operative wrote a piece in Politico the other day, titled: ‘The Big Disconnect: D.C. Elites Think Obama Will Be Reelected, But The Public Doubts ItÂ’ and in it discusses the fact that Obama is losing the confidence of the American people, while D.C. moshes to Obama. Penn's article received some discussion but more is warranted in my opinion.
While it is true Penn has worked for the Clintons, and presumably has a certain degree of loyalty to them, it nevertheless must be quite painful for Penn to write about Barack ObamaÂ’s failing presidency. For after all, Obama was the democratsÂ’ answer to just about everything. A failing Obama presidency is not what the democrats had envisioned . . . certainly not 22 months into it.
In his piece, Penn cites a recent Politico Poll which finds just 26% believing that Obama will be reelected in 2012. However, Penn also notes that 49% of those polled living inside the beltway, believe Obama will be reelected in 2012. Penn interestingly refers to these ‘inside the beltway’ folks as ‘elites’ and suggests these ‘elites’ are entirely out of their gourds. OK, he doesn’t exactly say that but Penn does suggest these so called ‘elites’ are a segment of the population that are severely out of touch. Case in point, Penn indicates some 70% of the beltway elites admit they really haven’t been affected by our current economic downturn and that a whopping 80% polled believe the Tea Party movement to be a mere “fad.”
That last bit about the tea party being a “fad” to me seals the deal that those inside the beltway are entirely out of touch. For the tea party movement is something that clearly isn’t going away, not when it can be credited with the GOP taking back the house.
With the majority of those in the D.C. beltway likely employed by Uncle Sam with average government salaries nearly 2x that of their private sector counterparts, it is easy to understand how 70% of the D.C. beltway crowd have so far been unaffected by our current economic mess. The federal government has a way of embedding security within the psyche of its employees. I guess the reason federal employees feel secure is the fact that they are indeed very secure.
All of the above talk of elitists and their divergent opinions leads Penn to wonder if the president really understands that he ainÂ’t so popular outside the beltway chatter box.
I would say PennÂ’s piece was written as a bit of free advice for a tone deaf president named Barack Obama, as much as it was for Politico.
But what do I know, I ain't an elite and don't mosh.
Posted by: Open Blogger at
12:44 PM
| Comments (114)
Post contains 470 words, total size 3 kb.
Will they do a wall of death? I must be getting truly old because I have always thought that "moshing" was pretty damn stupid.
Posted by: Vic at November 23, 2010 12:50 PM (e4sSD)
Posted by: Marie Obamette at November 23, 2010 12:52 PM (7BU4a)
20% Funployment? You'd think these people would be thanking me.
Posted by: King Barry the 17th at November 23, 2010 12:54 PM (7BU4a)
Posted by: that guy that doesn't read all the comments at November 23, 2010 12:54 PM (S5YRY)
Alls I know about 2012 is this: Unless we get a fantastic candidate in 2012, Obama will win every blue state that the Democrats won in 2004.
So it's gonna be a close race. That's why Obama keeps going to Indiana and Ohio. He needs both of them to win in 2012.
This makes it very simple for us in 2012. We make sure we win OH & IN.
Posted by: Soothsayer with stuffing at November 23, 2010 12:55 PM (uFokq)
We need to halve the budget. They want to keep the good times rolling. So, if we can figure out how to get the various leftwing interest groups to start fighting each other, and not the taxpayers, we will find our task much easier.
Posted by: 18-1 at November 23, 2010 12:56 PM (7BU4a)
Posted by: that guy that doesn't read all the comments at November 23, 2010 04:54 PM (S5YRY)
UNPRECEDENTED clusterfuck of a miserable failure yet you tea bagger
Posted by: King Barry the 17th at November 23, 2010 12:57 PM (7BU4a)
I wonder how many voters know that while the private sector has been cutting jobs and not giving any raises while the government sector has been on a hiring/salary increasing tear since at least 2006?
Posted by: 18-1 at November 23, 2010 12:59 PM (7BU4a)
Posted by: arhooley, conflicted Californian at November 23, 2010 01:00 PM (e6xZP)
Imagine a Senate split 50-50, along party lines, on the ObamaCare Repeal Act of 2013, with Vice President Marco Rubio casting the deciding vote.
Howzat sound, morons?
Posted by: Sent-From-My-Commodore 64 at November 23, 2010 01:00 PM (4sQwu)
I'm predicting the 2012 results will be a carbon copy of 2004. The Republican [Mitt Romney] will get 51+% and Obama will get 48%.
Posted by: Soothsayer with stuffing at November 23, 2010 01:00 PM (uFokq)
@9: "So, if we can figure out how to get the various leftwing interest groups to start fighting each other, and not the taxpayers, we will find our task much easier."
Only way to get them fighting each other is to offer most of them more free shit, but leave a few out in the cold. Best option: announce that 50% of lefty groups will get 100% more funding. Each group must send it's top ten officers/directors to NYC. Fight matched pairs at MSG. Winners get funding, funding gets funded by pay-per-view and ticket sales.
Posted by: Fa Cube Itches at November 23, 2010 01:00 PM (xy9wk)
Posted by: Some Random Moron at November 23, 2010 01:02 PM (RD7QR)
Posted by: Joanie (Oven Gloves) at November 23, 2010 01:02 PM (wd0Iq)
Damn few. *snerk*
Posted by: Katie Couric at November 23, 2010 01:02 PM (e6xZP)
This makes it very simple for us in 2012. We make sure we win OH & IN.
Posted by: Soothsayer with stuffing at November 23, 2010 04:55 PM (uFokq)
The more he goes to Ohio, the redder the state gets.
Posted by: Oldcat at November 23, 2010 01:03 PM (z1N6a)
In that case, I'm predicting the 2016 results will be a carbon copy of 2010.
Posted by: Katie Couric at November 23, 2010 01:04 PM (e6xZP)
Posted by: cali grump at November 23, 2010 01:04 PM (hL0k8)
@16: "I'm predicting the 2012 results will be a carbon copy of 2004. The Republican [Mitt Romney] will get 51+% and Obama will get 48%."
Given that Obizzle is almost sure to go with a RAHOWA campaign, I don't know that I trust your numbers.
Posted by: Fa Cube Itches at November 23, 2010 01:04 PM (xy9wk)
well, when you allow people to start voting two months before the election, a lot of mischief can ensue.
They were voting in Florida several weeks before the election and it was so strange that the lines were extraordinarily long every single day for early-voting.
Posted by: Soothsayer with stuffing at November 23, 2010 01:05 PM (uFokq)
Posted by: arhooley, conflicted Californian at November 23, 2010 01:05 PM (e6xZP)
Hillary! is less viable than a week old corpse.
Obama may not be much politically, but he has knifed her political future.
Posted by: Oldcat at November 23, 2010 01:07 PM (z1N6a)
Posted by: joncelli© at November 23, 2010 01:09 PM (RD7QR)
@30/31: RAcial HOly WAr.
He's been preaching it pretty steadily to blacks and hispanics for a while now, and slowing ratcheting up the incendiary rhetoric.
Posted by: Fa Cube Itches at November 23, 2010 01:09 PM (xy9wk)
I have no doubt in my little cone-shaped head that ACORN was busing people around from all over the South (FL, GA, AL,) to vote in FL's early election.
Posted by: Soothsayer with stuffing at November 23, 2010 01:09 PM (uFokq)
Who are these people exactly?
Posted by: arhooley, conflicted Californian at November 23, 2010 05:00 PM (e6xZP)
The Politico staff and the bartender at their favorite watering hole.
Posted by: Oldcat at November 23, 2010 01:10 PM (z1N6a)
@32: "Hillary! is less viable than a week old corpse."
Um, corpses can win elections - at least in Missouri and California.
Posted by: Fa Cube Itches at November 23, 2010 01:10 PM (xy9wk)
The Politico staff and the bartender at their favorite watering hole.
Posted by: Oldcat at November 23, 2010 05:10 PM (z1N6a)
And a TSA agent for balance.
Posted by: Journolist at November 23, 2010 01:11 PM (O/NP5)
Posted by: joncelli© at November 23, 2010 01:12 PM (RD7QR)
Alls I know about 2012 is this: Unless we get a fantastic candidate in 2012, Obama will win every blue state that the Democrats won in 2004.
Brown/Snowe 2012!
Posted by: RNC at November 23, 2010 01:12 PM (G9ZYW)
Posted by: joncelli© at November 23, 2010 05:09 PM (RD7QR)
I'll believe it when I see it. The Sec of State buried Powell and Condi, and that was with Bush who let them do something. All Hillary has done is generate earthquakes in New Zealand. Obama handles the bowing and blundering himself.
Posted by: Oldcat at November 23, 2010 01:13 PM (z1N6a)
@40: "I guess he could go the Marion Barry route: put on the African garb and talk about how the bitch set you up."
Hey, in my defense, all I wanted to do was to nut up in that trick. She kept sayin' I had to hit the crack pipe before she'd let me tap dat azz.
Posted by: Marion Barry at November 23, 2010 01:13 PM (xy9wk)
Posted by: joncelli© at November 23, 2010 01:14 PM (RD7QR)
Posted by: cali grump at November 23, 2010 01:15 PM (hL0k8)
@42: "The Sec of State buried Powell and Condi, and that was with Bush who let them do something. All Hillary has done is generate earthquakes in New Zealand. Obama handles the bowing and blundering himself."
Maybe, but Powell and Condi were (or at least came off as) blundering dipshits. Hillary has been *somewhat* insulated from that because she isn't allowed to do much.
Posted by: Marion Barry at November 23, 2010 01:16 PM (xy9wk)
Posted by: Drew in MO at November 23, 2010 01:19 PM (R8S84)
I know a lot of you don't like Romney, but I think he can easily beat Obama. I mean, all we need is someone who can do 5 points better than McCain, and Romney is a lot better than McCain.
okay, so if Mitt wants to win the nomination he needs to do two things:
1) broker a deal with Sarah for her support
2) make good on Romneycare.
He needs to explain it, denounce it, do something besides defend it.
Posted by: Soothsayer with stuffing at November 23, 2010 01:19 PM (uFokq)
Posted by: Journolist at November 23, 2010 01:20 PM (O/NP5)
The last candidate who was elected because he had been totally absent and ineffectual for the last four years was James Buchanan. Look how that turned out.
Posted by: Oldcat at November 23, 2010 01:20 PM (z1N6a)
With the majority of those in the D.C. beltway likely employed by Uncle Sam with average government salaries nearly 2x that of their private sector counterparts,
Funny how no one on the President's Debt commisions talks about this little fact...
I got a great idea of how to help with the deficit... 25% across the board Paycut for any Non Military Federal Emplyee, who makes more than... oh.... $75K a year.
Posted by: Romeo13 at November 23, 2010 01:21 PM (AdK6a)
Maybe, but Powell and Condi were (or at least came off as) blundering dipshits. Hillary has been *somewhat* insulated from that because she isn't allowed to do much.
Not doing much? She hasn't been doing a damn thing except going as far away from this country as she can and hiding out until 2012.
Posted by: Soona at November 23, 2010 01:22 PM (G9ZYW)
Posted by: BeckoningChasm at November 23, 2010 01:23 PM (bvfVF)
Posted by: maddogg at November 23, 2010 01:23 PM (OlN4e)
Posted by: blaster at November 23, 2010 01:25 PM (MrMxG)
Posted by: BeckoningChasm at November 23, 2010 05:23 PM (bvfVF)
And every other election since 1932.
Posted by: Oldcat at November 23, 2010 01:27 PM (z1N6a)
What's gonna kill us are the stupid distractions such as CPAC and the gay group.
We can't allow the left to distract us and provoke fights within the party.
Nothing personal but if we waste one minute fighting over whether or not gopproud should be at CPAC we deserve to lose in 2012.
We have to stop falling for these silly distractions.
Posted by: Soothsayer with stuffing at November 23, 2010 01:27 PM (uFokq)
Posted by: Buford Gooch at November 23, 2010 01:27 PM (gozNQ)
okay, so if Mitt wants to win the nomination he needs to do two things:
1) broker a deal with Sarah for her support
2) make good on Romneycare.
He needs to explain it, denounce it, do something besides defend it.
Posted by: Soothsayer with stuffing at November 23, 2010 05:19 PM (uFokq)
Nope. We're definitely going to have to do better than Romney. He's another ruling class type and that ain't going to fly this time. I predict we'll see some good candidates by autumn of this next year.
Posted by: Soona at November 23, 2010 01:28 PM (G9ZYW)
Posted by: blaster at November 23, 2010 05:25 PM (MrMxG)
<We laminate our copies of the Declaration of Independence and Constitution and buy water filters.
Posted by: Journolist at November 23, 2010 01:28 PM (O/NP5)
We have to stop falling for these silly distractions.
Posted by: Soothsayer with stuffing at November 23, 2010 05:27 PM (uFokq)
I didn't even know about this until you just distracted me. So much for 2012 now. Thanks a lot Sooth.
Posted by: Oldcat at November 23, 2010 01:28 PM (z1N6a)
I am pretty sure Obama wins 2012. So what then?
Plan B.
If it's obvious by the end of the convention we have a McCainesque dud for a candidate, then we need to pour all our energy, money, and focus and taking the Senate.
Posted by: Soothsayer with stuffing at November 23, 2010 01:30 PM (uFokq)
Nope. We're definitely going to have to do better than Romney. He's another ruling class type and that ain't going to fly this time. I predict we'll see some good candidates by autumn of this next year.
Posted by: Soona at November 23, 2010 05:28 PM (G9ZYW)
Getting blindsided by Huck doesn't make you feel confident of how he will face the real enemy. Similar for Rudy and his hide until Florida strategy. Either of them will have to do a lot of work to overcome those errors.
Posted by: Oldcat at November 23, 2010 01:31 PM (z1N6a)
Conservative commentators who make lefty idjits like Rachel Madcow and Pissy Chrissy sound sane, rational and normal are not a great way to spread the message.
Just sayin'.
Posted by: MrScribbler© at November 23, 2010 01:31 PM (Ulu3i)
Too bad the elites won't let you in, huh?
Posted by: Oldcat at November 23, 2010 01:33 PM (z1N6a)
Posted by: gregium, densest substance on earth at November 23, 2010 01:34 PM (FQibC)
Posted by: kansas at November 23, 2010 01:34 PM (mka2b)
Posted by: Drew in MO at November 23, 2010 01:35 PM (R8S84)
Posted by: Oldcat at November 23, 2010 05:33 PM
That's why I'm a moron, dude.
Posted by: MrScribbler© at November 23, 2010 01:35 PM (Ulu3i)
Rest assured, my friends Sarah Palin is not going to run for president.
So, Drew, can you name a couple of Jindals or Christies?
Our bench is pretty thin; I can't think of too many viable candidates.
Posted by: Soothsayer with stuffing at November 23, 2010 01:38 PM (uFokq)
Posted by: toby928™ at November 23, 2010 01:38 PM (S5YRY)
Both candidates in 2008 were members of the same party - the Media Party.
Posted by: BeckoningChasm at November 23, 2010 01:39 PM (bvfVF)
Posted by: Buford Gooch at November 23, 2010 05:27 PM (gozNQ)
But just think of the fun we could have with it. We'd lose but it would be a laugh riot. What up? Buahahahahaha!
Posted by: RNC at November 23, 2010 01:39 PM (G9ZYW)
Posted by: Bill Carson at November 23, 2010 01:39 PM (kYXxs)
Reagan's numbers were trending up, Barry's, not so much.
Posted by: toby928™ at November 23, 2010 01:40 PM (S5YRY)
There might be a lot of fine conservatives out there who will make great presidents, but the ugly truth is we need someone with *some* name recognition.
The election is less than two years away and that's not much time for some nobody to become a household name.
Posted by: Soothsayer with stuffing at November 23, 2010 01:40 PM (uFokq)
One word: Haley Barbour.
Posted by: toby928™ at November 23, 2010 01:42 PM (S5YRY)
The election is less than two years away and that's not much time for some nobody to become a household name.
Posted by: Soothsayer with stuffing at November 23, 2010 05:40 PM (uFokq)
!!RON PAUL!!
Posted by: Ron Paul at November 23, 2010 01:44 PM (G9ZYW)
I thought Pence was gonna run for governor of IN in '12?
If anything, I think Pence is positioning himself to be tapped to be Veep on 2012 ticket.
Posted by: Soothsayer with stuffing at November 23, 2010 01:44 PM (uFokq)
If we wind up with Romney in 2012 it will be a repeat of 2008. The base will stay at home. In fact, we will probably turn a few more of those "Southern Red States" blue.
Posted by: Vic at November 23, 2010 01:45 PM (e4sSD)
And also, because she is a private citizen, she can say whatever she pleases about Obama and other nefarious types and there isn't anyone to answer to except herself. I think that has been a net positive for her (and for us, as the left demonstrates their insanity when confronted with her).
I am just waiting to see who surfaces in the next 6 months. We might be surprised at who are eventually the front-runners.
Posted by: Miss Marple at November 23, 2010 01:47 PM (Fo83G)
Posted by: Drew in MO at November 23, 2010 01:48 PM (R8S84)
I'm thinking more of Christie, particularly if he can be paired with a solid VP candidate like Bolton or West.
Barbour sometimes talks the talk, but he isn't getting out in front of the public enough to make who and what he is clear. Besides, he looks like a DC Fatcat.
Seems to me some Looziana moron recently said Jindal is a terrible governor. From the outside, he seems more adept at whining than getting things done. From there, it's a fast slide down the list, past Romney, until you get to the slimy, smelly bottom of the tank where Shuckabee hangs out.
Posted by: MrScribbler© at November 23, 2010 01:48 PM (Ulu3i)
As soon as my Name Change becomes official, I will announce my Candidacy and run as a Republican...
Oh, and as soon as the paperwork is complete, my VP, Ms. Throwda Bums-Out (see, hyphenated name for the new age Feminazis) will announce as well.
Posted by: Mr. None ofthe Above at November 23, 2010 01:50 PM (AdK6a)
One word: Haley Barbour.
Good one. And he's not a squish like Christie. Bobby Jindl is another one. Sarah could team up with either one of them. I know, I know. But Sarah's going to be in the game one way or the other. Get used to it. She's one of the leading individuals in the conservative/Tea Party movement right now. She's a playa.
Posted by: Soona at November 23, 2010 01:51 PM (G9ZYW)
Posted by: MrScribbler© at November 23, 2010 05:48 PM (Ulu3i)
Christie's great on Fiscal... but his stance on Amnesty for illegals, and Gun control, would kill him out West...
Posted by: Mr. None ofthe Above at November 23, 2010 01:51 PM (AdK6a)
2) make good on Romneycare.
He needs to explain it, denounce it, do something besides defend it.
That's really it. That's all he has to do. And I think he has to do something that he thinks he can't: Admit he was wrong. Or at least that he had reservations to begin with but it was better that he had done nothing. That's what will kill him in the long run.
Posted by: AmishDude at November 23, 2010 01:53 PM (BvBKY)
Christie for President doesn't move me. Too Northeastern. Besides, he says he's not interested.
Posted by: toby928™ at November 23, 2010 01:55 PM (S5YRY)
Posted by: Buffalobob at November 23, 2010 01:57 PM (GwH6h)
Posted by: Soona at November 23, 2010 01:57 PM (G9ZYW)
In his book No Apologies I guess he explains how the Democrats ruined his original plan.
Okay, Mitt, then why do you still defend its existence?
Posted by: Soothsayer with stuffing at November 23, 2010 01:58 PM (uFokq)
Posted by: Clyde Shelton at November 23, 2010 01:58 PM (NITzp)
Posted by: Drew in MO at November 23, 2010 01:58 PM (R8S84)
When Christie actually has to confront those issues, he might well change his views, if for no other reason than illegals and gun confiscation both consume vast amounts of money.
I hope he simply wakes up and sees that he's on the wrong side of the fence here.
And I still think Barbour is an inside-the-Beltway kind of candidate -- red meat for political junkies, but just another on-the-take Southern Blowhard to the masses.
Posted by: MrScribbler© at November 23, 2010 02:01 PM (Ulu3i)
Posted by: Drew in MO at November 23, 2010 05:58 PM (R8S84)
You got that right.
Posted by: Soona at November 23, 2010 02:04 PM (G9ZYW)
Posted by: Clyde Shelton at November 23, 2010 02:04 PM (NITzp)
The Tea Party hurt the GOP. We would have won more if all those backwater kooks didn't act all degrees of knuckledraggedy. Besides, we'll co-opt them and make them a fad. I believe that's in the bylaws.
Posted by: Trent Lott et al. at November 23, 2010 02:06 PM (swuwV)
The other key, IMO, will be to tell the friggin' truth about Osama Obama, and be relentless about it.
Paint the incompetent, treasonous sunumbitch as what he is, and no more "he's really a good guy" shit like we heard in '08. Every-damn-thing about the Mohammedan Mouthpiece should be laid out in as much detail as possible.
Posted by: MrScribbler© at November 23, 2010 02:14 PM (Ulu3i)
Posted by: toby928™ at November 23, 2010 02:21 PM (S5YRY)
Liz Chaney / Carly Fiorina. Liz gets the whole Conservative with a healthy chunk of Independents, and Carly can bring the west coast. Get Palin on board with this (maybe promise her Secretary of Commerce, or maybe HHS) and turnout will not be a problem.
Posted by: Steve S at November 23, 2010 02:21 PM (IG5KL)
Samrt as Liz is... she is part of the inside Washington crowd for Repbulicans... and she has never held an elected office, or ran anything... no executive experience...
And Carly did not even win for herself in California... and is not a great candidate for the rest of the West...
What is really needed is a strong, bluff spoken no holds bar'd Asshole to run... a more conservative Christie....
Gloves just need to come off...
Posted by: Romeo13 at November 23, 2010 02:39 PM (AdK6a)
Posted by: Warden at November 23, 2010 02:41 PM (HzhBE)
Posted by: TSA at November 23, 2010 03:11 PM (tJjm/)
Posted by: Freddy at November 24, 2010 03:16 AM (LqHcX)
Although the 301 areas surveyed, including wind, solar, Paineis Solares china and fuel-efficient vehicles, involving a total of 154 clean energy enterprises in China, but the biggest impact on the photovoltaic industry. As these enterprises in the U.S. market share is relatively small, so the short term for ChinaÂ’s new energy industry, the actual impact is very limited. If the investigation 301 is passed, will the new energy industry in China adversely affect long-term development, according to China Customs export data show that 1 in August this year, ChinaÂ’s total global exports of solar panels up to 100 billion U.S. dollars, of which more than 80% of exports to the European market, exports to the U.S. market only solar panels in China 4.57% of global exports. About 75% of which belong to processing trade.
Posted by: solar china at November 24, 2010 04:04 AM (5Az7s)
One would think that the last election would have at a minimum woke up another 20% of them.
What a bunch of maroons.
Posted by: 1idvet at November 24, 2010 05:43 AM (xUxh3)
برامج
رسائل
اخبار العالم
توبيكات
توشيرد
Posted by: samer at November 25, 2010 04:07 AM (U/YyK)
Hide Comments | Add Comment | Refresh | Top
64 queries taking 0.2067 seconds, 242 records returned.
Powered by Minx 1.1.6c-pink.








Well, when our dollars are worth half of what they are now, it will all work out.
/thinking like an elite
Posted by: Methos at November 23, 2010 12:50 PM (Ew1k4)