Friday News Roundup - Domestic
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2012-10-05/friday-news-roundup-domestic
Fallout from the first presidential debate. A first look at September unemployment numbers. And Pennsylvania’s voter ID law is blocked. Diane and her guests discuss the week’s top stories, what happened and why.
Guests
Major Garrett
White House correspondent, National Journal
Karen Tumulty
national political reporter, The Washington Post
John King
chief national correspondent, CNN
Friday News Roundup Video
Our panel discussed why incumbents lose presidential debates, and how President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney are likely to prepare for the second debate.
Comments
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President Obama has never openly expressed the anger and frustration of many Americans,myself included. For most of the last 4 years the Republican Party has been the OBSTRUCTIONIST PARTY and "I HOPE HE FAILS" cheerleaders. This week`s Presidential debate continued my disappointment.
Steam comes out of my ears when I think of all the damage T-Party/Republicans have caused,both in creating the crash,as well as making sure the damage continues for as long as possible.
Step it up Mr.President. I`m an angry WHITE guy,time to speak for me. Turn Joe loose if you won`t,please !
Clifford wrote: "OBSTRUCTIONIST PARTY and "I HOPE HE FAILS"
Democrats had both houses of congress from 2006 to 2010, which includes the first two years of the Obama presidency.
If a driving force is deemed entirely destructive to the ideals of the country, it is a given that failure is the desirable outcome. I would argue that Obama was too successful for my tastes and we are now reaping the whirlwind of his failed policies.
Reading your posts it is no wonder you like Joe Biden.
Many have noticed Obama on the campaign trail pitifully trying to come up with the responses he wish had at the time of the debate, there is a name for someone who talks tough when the opponent is no longer there.
VP Joe Biden is Romney's not so secret weapon. Ole Joe is compelled to speak the truth regardless of his boss' talking points.
"How they can justify -- how they can justify raising taxes on the middle class that's been buried the last four years. How in the lord's name can they justify raising their taxes with these tax cuts?" Joe
Yep. Ole Joe knows that Obama's handling of the economy over the last four years has buried the middle class.
Funny but true!
'Obamacare Summed Up in One Sentence'
http://www.chicagonow.com/dennis-byrnes-barbershop/2012/09/obamacare-sum...
The Governor discovered that details are for chumps. Never mind that according to the BLS (see the BLS website) an unemployment rate of 8.3% means 12.8 million unemployed. I'll say it's 23 million to include those underemployed and I won't say the number of underemployed during President Bush to make it look like it really mushroomed under President Obama.
Who cares that the Trustees of Social Security and Medicare say “After 2020, Treasury will redeem trust fund assets in amounts that exceed interest earnings until exhaustion of trust fund reserves in 2033, three years earlier than projected last year.” Do IBM, Exxon-Mobil, AT&T have such solvent projections?
Medicare? The Trustees project that Medicare costs will grow substantially from approximately 3.7 percent of GDP in 2011 to 5.7 percent of GDP by 2035, and will increase gradually thereafter to about 6.7 percent of GDP by 2086. Yes, costs will go up? Want them to go up faster? Well, the Trustees say that Projected Medicare costs over 75 years are substantially lower than they otherwise would be because of provisions in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (the "Affordable Care Act" or ACA).
Who cares that 44,000 die each year for lack of health insurance (Wilper, et al 2009) and approximately 71,000 with access die each year from medical errors (Academy of Sciences 2001 Report on Medical Errors.) Details are for losers is the Governor's position.
The Governor relishes presenting the President's numbers as if they are as old fashioned as the Model T, and that the Governor will be the Model T Buster. What the Governor doesn't say is that the President's Model T is the Role Model of Truth, Transparency and Telling Like It Is.
Now, the President just has to put some Spark in his Model T and we'll be ready to roll!
Partisan wrote:
" there is a name for someone who talks tough when the opponent is no longer there."
It no longer matters. Because you don't want to listen, and I don't want to hear. You have one America, and I have another. I don't like your America, and you don't like mine. I think that you are wrong Partisan......and you think I am.
What does that say?
Are we really two America's? Are we down to a 50/50 split where one half wants to go one way, and the other wants to drag the country off in another direction?
It that is true, we are in a sad, sad state.
Truth of the matter is, you think that you have a majority....truth is, you don't. And the converse is equally true.
What are we going to do about that? eh.....
What....?
@ Teece Bowman: in answer to your question to Partisan "what are we going to do about that" eh..."
The national demographics are purposely blurred and overstated by the media, be they right wing or left. I believe there is still a lot of common ground in America, but that it is constantly being eroded by personal greed and selfishness. Our rights, as defined by the constitution and those that are "God given" rights, are challenged daily by those who would change them for their own selfish purposes. The "rule of law" exists only if you obey it. If you choose to side step it, via executive action or thru utter disregard... the result is the same... CHAOS... There are some laws, as in nature, that exist regardless of weather we obey them or not. We both know the results of disregarding, or obeying those laws. A serious wake up call IS needed. We can choose to be humbled and work together "FOR THE COMMON GOOD", or we can be humbled by the consequences of our poor choices... The problem we face is that America has trouble defining the word "GOOD" and recognizing what we have in common.... I think it started with Clinton and his trouble defining the word "IS" (just kidding....) God bless, and thanks for your comments!
I gave kudos to the DRshow in my comment in Oct 4 NYTimes stream about Obama Regrouping after Weds debate Proud of myself. Got 27 recommends
There were two other debates of note this week. For the US Senate; one in Nebraska and another in Massachussetts. For folks who are literate and care about the future of the country, let them consider those debates in addition to the one last night. And if that isn't enough NPR has done this election cycle a service with Diane Rehms interviews of Norm Ornstein--It's worse than it looks--and Jeff Faux and his book The Servant Economy.
This election is as much a test of the intelligence and integrity of the electorate as it is the quality of the candidates.
At another pivotal moment in the American experiment, we truly will see what the country is made of; whether or not the rank and file; the WE The People, have the stuff worthy of the promise of our Founders and the Best of our Tradition
Seeing the pic for this forum, and as a resident in PA, I'm glad that the voter ID law was blocked for this election. When you have a state Speaker of the House who says that the voter ID law was designed to help one candidate win PA, it brings forth suspicion and blows the claim of voter fraud out of the water.
I guess we'll never know whether the meme that "no President has ever been reelected with unemployment over 8%" is true or not. Despite the best efforts of the Republican party to prevent a recovery, and thereby deny President Obama a second term, unemployment dropped to 7.8%, virtually assuring the President's reelection. Now conservatives can go back to blaming their failure to regain the White House on their liberal nominee.
I think this focus on who won the debate is maddening and unhealthy. American presidents mandate, often dictate and occasionally collaborate. They never debate in real life. What matters is who is better person for the country and the world - not the on stage one on one performance, who has better vision and is more genuine. However, Mr. Obama can benefit from some debate coaching lessons from President Clinton and some "Ritalin".
@Jim Gamble: Facts are... unemployment dropped due to growth in the public "government" sector, not the private sector Jim. Look at the stats. You and the president can grow government all you want to and "pad the books" but that is not real tangible growth... it's just more government. Nice try buddy... go back to sleep.
climatewiz1,please stop cheer leading for failure. I don`t care if the jobs are government,private,union,non union.As long as Americans succeed,I could care less if the T-Party/Republicans doesn`t like it.
On blogs the theories of why President Obama seemed to choke during the first debate runs from something is deeply troubling him, his advisers adviced him to hold back which meant he played a game of rope a dope to he is just not into the debates. What was up with President Obama?
Dear Diane: I'm sure your Friday Morning Round Up will be full of commentary about The President's performance at this week's debate in Denver. I did not watch the debate. I listened to every word of it on KERA our Public Radio Station in Dallas. The President SOUNDED Presidential: he owned his facts and explained his positions. Romney was up to the task and represented himself well, but may I assure you, there was no decisive win for Romney when the words were all that mattered. I am amazed that the media pundits from all angles are looking for blood in the water, when all American voters want is rational thoughts, ideas and leadership without the drama the commentators want so desperately to talk about. The President won this debate based on his words and the facts to back them up.
It is interesting that Romney has been named as the winner in the debate when in the same statement he contradicted his own rhetoric.
This is a man that will say whatever it takes, to whomever it is to win an election. Yesterday, he stepped back from the statment that he doubled down on a few days ago about the 47% who he claims is dependent on government.
Can we say flip-flop? There is seriously a trust factor. If you can't believe what he says today will be the same thing he says tomorrow or next week. And, women definitely shouldn't trust him with all the changes he has made on women's issues.
@ Kathleen and Ross 3
I like your question, Kathleen... And I appreciate your insight, Ross 3...
I had the same question and I wondered about whether Mr, Obama was actually being quite Machiavelian. I had the strange feeling that he was actually letting Mr. Romney hang himself with lies and falsehoods that came quite naturally to him...
And my reaction to the President's substantial message was that it was clear, sophisticated, truthful, and thoughtful. In other words, he was responsibly presidential...
John King - The GOP congress has caused the deadlock. They did what they said they would stop the train. This is O.K.? What happened to governing? Please explain you "analysis" of the GOP congress!
There is not much I respect Former Governor Romney for but during the Republcian debates and with President OBama Romney always turns to his opponent speaking and really seems to listen intently. This seems respectful. Wish President Obama would take this style on. Is anyone else as amazed as I am about Romney's ability to weave through the right wing tea baggers and now successfully pivoting back to his moderate record in Massachusetts. Damn amazing really Pivot master
kathleen wrote: "What was up with President Obama?"
He was never as "exceptional" as everyone was led to believe. In fact he is rather ordinary in his intelligence and mannerisms.
Pundits are sending a really confusing message in their reaction to this debate and their review is becoming the story. One after the other they under-emphasize Mitt Romney's pivoting and misstatements and over-emphasize the style. They seem to be addicted to the excitement of a "horse race;" but this process is not a game. We should not elect a showman; we fell for that style in the notion of a "compassionate conversatives" in George Bush which cost us dearly. There was constant criticism of the President's style but not attention to the facts. Mitt Romney really wants to be President but he is a known quantity proposing really dangerous policies.
There is a new poster out of big bird with Obama and big bird is saying "I've got your back" Really cute and clever
Diane, great guests this morning. This is the most ideologically neutral, intelligent discussion I've heard on a news program in a long time. Please bring these folks back often.
Question for you and the guests: A lot of coverage has appeared suggesting that Romney was dishonest on several counts. Similar coverage appeared after Paul Ryan's RNC speech. Do you think the Romney/Ryan team is being more dishonest than candidates usually are during election campaigns, or is this just business as usual?
Some question about a drop of three points in unemployment with 114 thousand jobs created. Last two months numbers have been revised up significantly bringing the percent down.
Please remember PFC Jon R. Townsend, Claremore, OK died in Afghanistan on 16 September at the age of 19. Our volunteers ask for no guarantee of safety when they fight in our defense.
Thanks for the Bela Fleck in the background.
A moderator is the representative of the American people during those two hours. He has the responsibility to actually moderate--to cut off candidates when they go long, to challenge falsehoods, to steer the topic back to the original question.
Voter ID...Even after the 2000 election--the ONE election that SHOULD have resulted in voter ID laws, there was no great call to do so. If it wasn't a concern before, it shouldnt be a "concern" since a black man is in the White House...let's call a spade a spade...no BS. The logic doesn't hold up to scrutiny.
http://beyond-the-political-spectrum.blogspot.com/
Partisan, I watched him in the Senate and knew that. But no way in hell was I getting on Clintons bus after she knew there were no WMD's in Iraq (according to former weapons inspector Scott Ritter who was in Iraq during President Clinton's administration and Senator Durbin on the intelligence committee voted against the Iraq war resolution..(should have been a clear clue Hillary). So I jumped on Obama's bus and put in literally hundreds of hours for him. Not this time. No accountability for the Iraq lies, no prosecutions on Wall Street. But do I want Romney hell no. With his foreign policy team next stop Iran for sure. At least with Obama an unnecessary attack on Iran is a toss up with people like General Dempsey questioning the reasoning for a strike
How much of a lead will Obama have to have to make up for the various ways that likely Democratic voters will be kept from the polls. And that vote flipping has notoriously favored Republicans. Seems to me Obama will have a much much greater lead than he has in order to get the machine count.
Mitt Romney has a long history in his political career of changing his positions and tailoring his message to suit whatever audience is listening. With a group of wealthy donors, it's one position; during the Republican Primaries, yet another; and on the stage before a national audience during the debate, we see another, entirely different Romney.
President Obama has always been a calm, pragmatic, and considered leader. He is nothing if not consistent.
For me the choice is very clear. I can't trust Romney. I want a leader who is thoughtful and takes the long view on what is best for our country. And so I'm supporting Obama.
@Clifford: Don't get me wrong Clifford. I celebrate Americans getting jobs too. However; I am smart enough to know that jobs created in the government sector are paid for by taxpayers and not because the jobs generate income. The only income the government generates is that which we, the people give them thru our "private sector" efforts. When I see job growth in the private sector, then I will be impressed. Until then... it's just more public debt with 40 cents of every dollar paid, borrowed from China. When you are in a hole you are not going to get out by continuing to dig...