Is No Drama O’Roma paying off? (Okay, “No Drama O’Roma” is lame but you get the allusion.) Breitbart via Crawdad and Red State both make a good case that Romney is winning, tight polls be damned. After reading the links please come back…
The question to be asked now is – Can the media run out the clock for Obama? Romney’s political accomplishment since the end of the GOP primaries is simple to see: He’s very much in the race. Obama threw the kitchen sink, then picked it up and threw it again. Romney’s still at his throat in nearly every poll. Some of the prog blogs are foolishly telling themselves Obama has the swing states locked up, and therefore the election, but the major Obama media outlets can’t deny that Romney is in the race. This is because Romney really is in the race whether they like it or not.
Is Romney actually winning? I don’t see it. On the eve of the conventions what I do see is a nation with a conflicted and confused middle. Obama has skillfully exploited this confusion. On the other hand, Romney has not fully presented himself as the leader who can get the job done. This is his narrative, but thus far Obama’s been able to yell louder, to muck up Romney’s message, a task made easier by a compliant media.
Obama will not be able to close the second term deal with voters. Ever. He and Axelrod know this. There is no good reason to re-elect Obama. But they don’t need to close the deal. They need to ensure Romney doesn’t or can’t close his deal with voters. So far Team Obama has been successful in running interference. This weeks addition to the pile on – the word extreme. Romney is extreme. This is ridiculous as a stand alone attack. It isn’t alone though. It’s dumped on top of a narrative about devious money shenanigans, ruthless business practices, and an anti-Mormon whisper campaign. Romney’s done okay so far. Not great. Okay. The result: Romney is an eminently viable President, who we may reject anyway for the current and failed one. Romney survived Obama’s August onslaught. Survived being the operative word.
Romney must not only present the deal this week. He must set the stage for closing it as well. When and how is a deal closed with voters? These moments are usually only visible in the rear view mirror. Are you better off than you were four years ago? is one clear example of closing a deal. I’d argue that Clinton closed his 2nd term deal early with his speech at the Oklahoma City memorial service. The speech is largely forgotten, yet it was a seminal and galvanizing Clinton moment. He didn’t empathize with us – he was us. Un-rejectable. His first term deal closer? A debate in which HW glanced at his watch whereas Clinton approached and empathized with an audience questioner. Everything we suspected about HW and hoped Clinton was wrapped into two tiny moments. I’ve yet to see a moment from Romney which says Yes, I want him to lead. Is he capable of producing one? Beats me.
Buck up, little camper.
If winning was easy losers would do it.
Perfect. ♥
Ah… I feel the need to reiterate: Mostly I’m giving my take. No need to buck up as my loins are girded no matter who wins.
The convention starts tomorrow. It appears that Isaac will hit New Orleans as a category one early Wednesday morning and dump rain on them all day. Wednesday is the 7th anniversary of Katrina. Not the best time to have a party in Tampa.
The media is hoping and praying for an excuse to ignore the GOP convention.
I expect Toure ‘ll be calling Isaac a racist.
@Tamerlane -
Here’s some polling stats you might find interesting. Details are available on each poll in sub-menus
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/polling/romney-edges-obama-economy-overall-race/2012/08/27/698d6e70-effc-11e1-b74c-84ed55e0300b_page.html
Hoping and praying my ass. They’re working to manufacture it. Tons of media coverage already today about the protesters instead of the convention. More assisting Obama in making sure they shout down Romney’s message. Americans can’t be allowed to hear his very reasonable arguments.
Today’s NYT Online helps in the pile-on with these two headlines designed to “define” the candidates:
Earnest and Efficient, Romney Spares the Subtlety
By ASHLEY PARKER and MICHAEL BARBARO
Mitt Romney’s speeches and rallies are highly polished and hyper-scripted and they tell a story of a man who sees himself as a hero prepared to pull off his biggest rescue yet.
Relaxed and Loose, Candidate Obama Hits his Mark
By HELENE COOPER
In this re-election campaign, the president is a scheduler’s dream, a walking, talking, handshaking, baby-hugging prototype of campaigning efficiency.
These are in the order printed. Back to back.
barf…the NY times, as always at this point of a campaine, I wonder if they even bother to look at what they are writing about . I mean why bother? it actually messes up the gig,… just spin and weave what you are told to , that’s all . One only learns what TPOTB want to be true, thier reality orders …not what’s happening…ugh
The over-sampling of Dems in most polls may backfire. Voters ‘inclined’ for Romney see these same polls, and decide they need to show up and vote, not because they are charmed by Romney, but because they have lost trust in Obama.
Obama landslide is coming!
If you count a strong turnout from the graveyards, and if Acorn can stay on task, you may have a point, Otherwise the only slide O will feel is the one sending him back to Chicago.
WW, why don’t you share some of those happy drugs you’re taking?
I dunno,WW.
Recent polling indicates that the number of UDC (undecided dead voters) is substantially higher than recent years. You know what that means….
Think again.
*Undecided Dead Constituents*
As is the rapture, WW.
@conner43 – You said it! Obama’s strongest voting block will be the graveyard crowd.
I think Romney needs to use his speech at the RNC to reach out and connect with independents/undecideds on a visceral level. I think this is probably the one time in the news cycle that all eyes will be on Romney and he needs to deliver and connect. That’s his hardest probelm I think, he comes off as just slightly detached..there is a a familiarity to Romney which is nice, but for me he gives off that vibe of that exec or CEO in an office that knows everyone’s name, but is just kind of aloof…not in a bad way, just kind of slightly removed.
AKA “he’s a nice guy, knows my name, but doesnt really know what kind of crap I have to deal with day to day”. I think that congenial aspect of Romney is why the race is so close, but he needs to connect on a deeper level to bring people who are undecided or independent over to his side.
If he can do that at the RNC I think he can win, the debates I think are just going to be media controlled fluff pieces that they run between sports games on TV… when is the last time a real “debate” happened between candidates?
But if Romney can create that moment or connection at the RNC, I think he can close it in debates…but debates aren’t make or break.. by that point I think it’s all over but the counting.
I disagree that he needs to close the deal at the Convention and your ending here suggests why. That’ll come in the debates. Romney is ready, and he’s good at this part of campaigning. You won’t find any clues to that in the mainstream media, now officially an arm of OFA, but it is being talked about in conservative second-string media Example: http://www.newsmax.com/Headline/Reich-wooden-Obama-debates/2012/08/24/id/449726?s=al
Anna Belle I specifically did NOT say he needs to close the deal in Tampa. He must ‘set the stage’… for closing the deal later so when the moment comes it’s in a context everyone understands instantly.
Fair enough. Re-reading I see you said “set the stage for closing it.” My apologies then.
I think Romney needs to use his speech at the RNC to reach out and connect with independents/undecideds on a visceral level. I think this is probably the one time in the news cycle that all eyes will be on Romney and he needs to deliver and connect. That’s his hardest probelm I think, he comes off as just slightly detached..there is a a familiarity to Romney which is nice, but for me he gives off that vibe of that exec or CEO in an office that knows everyone’s name, but is just kind of aloof…not in a bad way, just kind of slightly removed.
AKA “he’s a nice guy, knows my name, but doesnt really know what kind of crap I have to deal with day to day”. I think that congenial aspect of Romney is why the race is so close, but he needs to connect on a deeper level to bring people who are undecided or independent over to his side.
If he can do that at the RNC I think he can win, the debates I think are just going to be media controlled fluff pieces that they run between sports games on TV… when is the last time a real “debate” happened between candidates?
But if Romney can create that moment or connection at the RNC, I think he can close it in debates…but debates aren’t make or break.. by that point I think it’s all over but the counting.
Dan — I wish they would reach out to independents. But they won’t. They’re going to start with the socially conservative bullshit and alienate people like me any second now.
This is awesome!
That was awesome. Sharing with RD in the am! Thanks, Anthony.
It’s hilarious the main stream media is now covering protests out side the GOP convention.
I remember in 2004 the only coverage of the HOURS of thousands and thousands of people marching at the GOP convention was on c-span 2. Very doubtful even that coverage would happen today…or the march even be allowed. I also remembered the NY Times ‘s headline about it , “Hundreds march ” .
Yep, PD. It served the interests of TPTB that Bush be reelected, so anything that reflected badly on him or allowed a glimpse into how unpopular he and his policies were was forbidden. Now that the “D” logo is the one in charge of carrying the elites’ water, the republicans will be allowed to be seen as unpopular and out of touch, and stories that make Romney look bad will be promoted. …and we keep getting truckloads of the horse shit stories about how much everyone likes Obama and what a nice guy he is.
and we keep getting truckloads of the horse shit stories about how much everyone likes Obama and what a nice guy he is.
yup and since 2004
AP : France would recognize Syrian opposition govt
well shit yeah, they want thier colony back and hey you mercenaries, be snappy about it, you are holding up the show You just can’t get good death squads these days.
Oh, PD, you’ve misunderstood. It’s a spontaneous democratic uprising, dontcha know. And we good guys will only get involved to save innocent civilians or to provide a little “logistical” support to the “rebels”…And it’s just a coincidence that on Sept 20, 2001 at a meeting of the Joint Chiefs that General Wesley Clark was told that the US planned to take out 7 countries: Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Iran. (Clark stated this in a 2007 interview with Amy Goodman.)
France is so over its colonial era.
The Assad regime is a real tyranny. The revolt is for real, by real people.
I don’t get this loathing of genuine liberation movements in the Middle East, just because the stupid book of fairy tales they believe in is a different one from the stupid book of fairy tales you believe in.
The revolt is for real, by real people.
My dear tamerlane , if these “revolts” were in any way for real, the US would not be for them. The US and the West would not insist on a for real uprising…are you kidding me?
If this was a for real uprising by the Syrian people, the US and the West would be sending Assad weapons , cash and of course ” advisers” instead of sending in our hired death squads to bring him down ( who are laughingly now fighting amongst themselves, just as they did in Libya ) .
Of course the Assad regime is a real tyranny and what has that to do with anything? That never stopped our very enthusiastic support for it for many years. Who believes we give a hang about actual tyranny or humanitarian outrages?
What we have been doing these last few years is cashing in the old local strongman puppet model, to a much cheaper and easier to control warlord puppet model.
That’s all. If it was a real uprising, we would not be for it , nor would the main stream media do its pounding WMD type drumbeat about it . Hasn’t everyone seen this movie many times before?
Maybe it’s me, but does it seem that the media is letting their absolute corruption hang out for all to see ?
Oh no. It’s not just you Conner43. The media has taken the next step. They assume the distracted society will do what it is told…even if what it’s told contradicts how they see any given issue or situation. The NYT is leading the way with a big fat “Fuck the Plebes!”
Who knows whether these numbers are an indication but, Obama:2016 did amazingly well at the BO for a documentary. Actually, it did amazingly well for any movie. Outperformed in total weekend #s other opening movies with “bankable” stars like Bradley Cooper. And, did $2000 more per theater than the #1 movie – the Expendables. Who knows what it means – after all the success of Farenheit 911 didn’t seem to hurt Bush, but I can’t imagine it’s a helpful indicator for Obama.
http://boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/
I do love how BO Mojo – which would usually have stories that were all over a suprise BO standout like this – is essentially ignoring the incredible success of this documentary in it’s frontpage coverage.