Robyn Blumner, Tampa Bay Times
By Robyn E. Blumner, Times ColumnistRobyn E. BlumnerTampa Bay Times
In Print: Sunday, October 28, 2012
An open letter to women voters:Ladies, I write to you because this is our election. Both President Barack Obama and his challenger Mitt Romney desperately need us to win, which means it is up to us to determine the path of this nation. To me, it comes down to whether we want a country where Americans have each other's backs, or one where we are on our own with a tattered safety net. But there is another central question in this campaign: trust. Just as with every other...
Does Obama Think Women Are Stupid?
On October - 27 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
Mary Kate Cary, U.S. News
Home > Opinion > Mary Kate Cary > Lena Dunham Ad Shows Obama Thinks Women Are Dumb Have you seen the latest Obama campaign ad, the one in which Lena Dunham, the creator of HBO's Girls, compares voting for Obama to women losing their virginity? Imagine if a man had made that ad, or if it had been made for the Romney campaign—the outrage from the left would be off the charts. Let's...
Home > Opinion > Mary Kate Cary > Lena Dunham Ad Shows Obama Thinks Women Are Dumb Have you seen the latest Obama campaign ad, the one in which Lena Dunham, the creator of HBO's Girls, compares voting for Obama to women losing their virginity? Imagine if a man had made that ad, or if it had been made for the Romney campaign—the outrage from the left would be off the charts. Let's...
America Has Finally Seen the Real Obama
On October - 26 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
Peggy Noonan, Wall St Journal
We all say Ohio, Ohio, Ohio. But it's all still Denver, Denver, and the mystery that maybe isn't a mystery at all. If Cincinnati and Lake County go for Mitt Romney on Nov. 6 it will be because of what happened in Denver on Oct. 3. If Barack Obama barely scrapes through, if there's a bloody and prolonged recount, it too will be because of Denver.
We all say Ohio, Ohio, Ohio. But it's all still Denver, Denver, and the mystery that maybe isn't a mystery at all. If Cincinnati and Lake County go for Mitt Romney on Nov. 6 it will be because of what happened in Denver on Oct. 3. If Barack Obama barely scrapes through, if there's a bloody and prolonged recount, it too will be because of Denver.
Why Obama Will Win
On October - 26 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
Bob Shrum, The Daily Beast
We have now witnessed the penultimate phase of Mitt's moderate makeover tour. He pleaded nolo contendre in the final presidential debate - perhaps wisely because his comprehension of foreign policy evidences all the depth of a sound bite. Every time he's touched Libya, for example, he's been burned"”and that night, even as he all but endorsed President Obama's foreign policy, he occasionally strayed off script with stunning observations such as the claim that Syria is Iran's opening to the seas. Mitt, ever heard of the Persian Gulf?Previously he had...
We have now witnessed the penultimate phase of Mitt's moderate makeover tour. He pleaded nolo contendre in the final presidential debate - perhaps wisely because his comprehension of foreign policy evidences all the depth of a sound bite. Every time he's touched Libya, for example, he's been burned"”and that night, even as he all but endorsed President Obama's foreign policy, he occasionally strayed off script with stunning observations such as the claim that Syria is Iran's opening to the seas. Mitt, ever heard of the Persian Gulf?Previously he had...
Second Obama Term Would Bankrupt Us
On October - 25 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
Larry Kudlow, National Review
Under pressure from Mitt Romney, President Obama has finally released his own policy vision for a second term. And, yes, it's the same old, same old. Some are calling it a second first term.There isn't a single true economic-growth incentive in this scant plan. There's no serious spending, deficit and debt reduction, and no attempt to solve the Social Security and health-entitlement problems, which are moving us toward bankruptcy.Nothing. Nada.
Under pressure from Mitt Romney, President Obama has finally released his own policy vision for a second term. And, yes, it's the same old, same old. Some are calling it a second first term.There isn't a single true economic-growth incentive in this scant plan. There's no serious spending, deficit and debt reduction, and no attempt to solve the Social Security and health-entitlement problems, which are moving us toward bankruptcy.Nothing. Nada.
Obama Reasserts Command in Boca
On October - 23 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
Alec MacGillis, The New Republic
If you had somehow managed to avoid the entire presidential campaign for the past few weeks - had, say, gone to fight with the rebels in Syria - and returned to see the final presidential debate, you would probably assume that Barack Obama was cruising to reelection. You would see an incumbent president confidently and proudly holding forth about how he had managed to rebuild the country's standing in the world, gotten us out of one war and halfway out of another, and, not without some difficulties, helped usher in a new era in the Arab world. You would see a challenger pulling punches,...
If you had somehow managed to avoid the entire presidential campaign for the past few weeks - had, say, gone to fight with the rebels in Syria - and returned to see the final presidential debate, you would probably assume that Barack Obama was cruising to reelection. You would see an incumbent president confidently and proudly holding forth about how he had managed to rebuild the country's standing in the world, gotten us out of one war and halfway out of another, and, not without some difficulties, helped usher in a new era in the Arab world. You would see a challenger pulling punches,...
Romney Passes the Test and Marches Onward
On October - 23 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
Toby Harnden, Daily Mail
If you had been on an extended vacation for the past four years, you would have been forgiven for watching this debate and thinking you were viewing a President Mitt Romney being challenged by a pretender called Barack Obama.It's not that Obama did not have command of foreign policy issues or did not make some telling points against an opponent who was vague at times and occasionally uncertain. But Obama clearly came into the debate believing he had to score points and change the dynamic of the race.
If you had been on an extended vacation for the past four years, you would have been forgiven for watching this debate and thinking you were viewing a President Mitt Romney being challenged by a pretender called Barack Obama.It's not that Obama did not have command of foreign policy issues or did not make some telling points against an opponent who was vague at times and occasionally uncertain. But Obama clearly came into the debate believing he had to score points and change the dynamic of the race.
It’s Always Sunny for E.J. Dionne
On October - 23 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
Mickey Kaus, The Daily Caller
It’s Always Sunny in E.J.: WaPo‘s E. J. Dionne argues that Obama has to win big against the Republicans in order to get a sufficient mandate for governing in his second term: Obama's ability to govern in a second term thus depends not simply on his own triumph but also on the decisive defeat of those who have been obstructing him. If he wins but they win, is there much chance that the obstruction will stop?
It’s Always Sunny in E.J.: WaPo‘s E. J. Dionne argues that Obama has to win big against the Republicans in order to get a sufficient mandate for governing in his second term: Obama's ability to govern in a second term thus depends not simply on his own triumph but also on the decisive defeat of those who have been obstructing him. If he wins but they win, is there much chance that the obstruction will stop?
Obama Foreign Policy: The Truth Isn’t Pretty
On October - 23 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
Dimitri Simes, Nat'l Interest
Governor Mitt Romney has a real opportunity to win Monday night's foreign-policy debate with President Barack Obama. But to prevail, he will need to disregard the suggestions of some of his neoconservative foreign-policy advisers, who are out of touch not only with international realities but also with the realities of American politics.Accusing the man who is justly credited with ordering Osama bin Laden's killing and with ousting the Qaddafi regime in Libya of being a weakling who is constantly apologizing for the United States has little traction with most voters, including...
Governor Mitt Romney has a real opportunity to win Monday night's foreign-policy debate with President Barack Obama. But to prevail, he will need to disregard the suggestions of some of his neoconservative foreign-policy advisers, who are out of touch not only with international realities but also with the realities of American politics.Accusing the man who is justly credited with ordering Osama bin Laden's killing and with ousting the Qaddafi regime in Libya of being a weakling who is constantly apologizing for the United States has little traction with most voters, including...
Election Is All About the Ground Game
On October - 23 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
Laura Washington, Chicago ST
Some people know where the action is (my husband not included).At least for the next two weeks, the action is not in Chicago. Or anywhere in Illinois.
Some people know where the action is (my husband not included).At least for the next two weeks, the action is not in Chicago. Or anywhere in Illinois.
Campaign Mood Shifts as Romney Gains Ground
On October - 23 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
Rutenberg & Zeleny,NYT
BOCA RATON, Fla. — With a last aggressive debate performance behind him and 14 grueling days ahead, President Obama is now facing what he worked so hard to avoid: a neck-and-neck race with a challenger gaining ground when it matters most. Over the last month, through the debates and a gradual moderation of the conservative tone he struck during the Republican primaries, Mitt Romney undermined the Democrats’ expensive summertime work of casting him as the candidate of and for the rich, emerging as a far more formidable opponent than Mr. Obama had ever expected.
BOCA RATON, Fla. — With a last aggressive debate performance behind him and 14 grueling days ahead, President Obama is now facing what he worked so hard to avoid: a neck-and-neck race with a challenger gaining ground when it matters most. Over the last month, through the debates and a gradual moderation of the conservative tone he struck during the Republican primaries, Mitt Romney undermined the Democrats’ expensive summertime work of casting him as the candidate of and for the rich, emerging as a far more formidable opponent than Mr. Obama had ever expected.
Anatomy of a Failed Foreign Policy
On October - 22 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
Amir Taheri, New York Post
As he runs for re-election, President Obama has tried to portray his foreign policy as a success. A closer look suggests a different picture. Let us begin with a list of areas where US foreign policy has either stalled or suffered setbacks.
As he runs for re-election, President Obama has tried to portray his foreign policy as a success. A closer look suggests a different picture. Let us begin with a list of areas where US foreign policy has either stalled or suffered setbacks.
Does Romney Now Have the Edge?
On October - 22 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
Chuck Todd & Jonathan Martin, MSNBC
Chris Matthews, Chuck Todd and Jonathan Martin discuss the state of the race on "Hardball."MATTHEWS: This thing seems to be drifting around. I don't want to bring a lot of numbers in tonight because there's so many of them, they all conflict with each other. Is there a drift, a turn, is it moving towards Romney clearly ever since that first debate? Is that a safe assessment or is it not?
Chris Matthews, Chuck Todd and Jonathan Martin discuss the state of the race on "Hardball."MATTHEWS: This thing seems to be drifting around. I don't want to bring a lot of numbers in tonight because there's so many of them, they all conflict with each other. Is there a drift, a turn, is it moving towards Romney clearly ever since that first debate? Is that a safe assessment or is it not?
The Truth Behind the Benghazi Attack
On October - 22 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
Dettmer, Dickey & Lake, Newsweek
Diplomatic Security special agent David Ubben waits silently, his M-4 assault rifle at the ready as he hides deep in the dark inside the villa that serves as the United States Consulate in Benghazi, Libya. Ubben's assignment is close protection for U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, which isn't always easy. Stevens, a former Peace Corps volunteer, likes to get out among the people in the countries where he serves, especially Libya, which he helped to liberate from Muammar Gaddafi during the war last year. But even he has started to believe that al Qaeda is gunning for him, and...
Diplomatic Security special agent David Ubben waits silently, his M-4 assault rifle at the ready as he hides deep in the dark inside the villa that serves as the United States Consulate in Benghazi, Libya. Ubben's assignment is close protection for U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, which isn't always easy. Stevens, a former Peace Corps volunteer, likes to get out among the people in the countries where he serves, especially Libya, which he helped to liberate from Muammar Gaddafi during the war last year. But even he has started to believe that al Qaeda is gunning for him, and...
Candidates Take on the World in Final Debate
On October - 22 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
Gearan & Fahrenthold, WP
This Is What a Losing Incumbent Looks Like
On October - 21 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
Ed Morrissey, Hot Air
It's been a while since we've had an incumbent President lose an election. Â In fact, it was 20 years ago, when George H. W. Bush lost in a three-way fight to Bill Clinton. Â What made that election remarkable was that Bush had enjoyed some of the best-ever job approval ratings of any modern American President just a little over a year earlier, into the 80s "” unthinkable these days for anyone, Republican or Democrat. Â Bush, a decorated veteran of World War II and a longtime player in diplomacy and national security, lost the election to an upstart Governor when...
It's been a while since we've had an incumbent President lose an election. Â In fact, it was 20 years ago, when George H. W. Bush lost in a three-way fight to Bill Clinton. Â What made that election remarkable was that Bush had enjoyed some of the best-ever job approval ratings of any modern American President just a little over a year earlier, into the 80s "” unthinkable these days for anyone, Republican or Democrat. Â Bush, a decorated veteran of World War II and a longtime player in diplomacy and national security, lost the election to an upstart Governor when...
Obama’s Welfare Explosion
On October - 20 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
Larry Kudlow, CNBC
With the unprecedented budget explosion of means-tested, welfare-related entitlements, does Team Obama think it can buy the election?It's a cynical question. But I wouldn't put it past that cynical bunch.Remember Harry Hopkins, Franklin Roosevelt's close aid? It was Hopkins who argued tax and tax, spend and spend, elect and elect. Sound familiar? And if I'm not mistaken, the high-tax, anti-rich, big-spending, redistributionist FDR is one of Barack Obama's idols.
With the unprecedented budget explosion of means-tested, welfare-related entitlements, does Team Obama think it can buy the election?It's a cynical question. But I wouldn't put it past that cynical bunch.Remember Harry Hopkins, Franklin Roosevelt's close aid? It was Hopkins who argued tax and tax, spend and spend, elect and elect. Sound familiar? And if I'm not mistaken, the high-tax, anti-rich, big-spending, redistributionist FDR is one of Barack Obama's idols.
Why I am Voting for Obama
On October - 20 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
Ken Burns, New Hampshire Union Leader
One of my favorite movies of all time is Frank Capra's “It's A Wonderful Life,” starring Jimmy Stewart. In the film, Stewart's character, a despondent and near suicidal George Bailey, who runs a small savings and loan in the town of Bedford Falls, is given a gift: the chance to see what his town would be like if he'd never been born — if he'd never extended a helping hand to his neighbors when they needed it most, never helped his community understand how much they depended upon one another. In this alternative vision, the town's...
One of my favorite movies of all time is Frank Capra's “It's A Wonderful Life,” starring Jimmy Stewart. In the film, Stewart's character, a despondent and near suicidal George Bailey, who runs a small savings and loan in the town of Bedford Falls, is given a gift: the chance to see what his town would be like if he'd never been born — if he'd never extended a helping hand to his neighbors when they needed it most, never helped his community understand how much they depended upon one another. In this alternative vision, the town's...
Presidential Predictors Puzzled By Tossup States
On October - 20 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
Matt Viser, Boston Globe
Boston.comClassifieds:Log In October 20, 2012Jason Reed/Reuters (left); Evan Vucci/Associated PressPresident Obama addressed a crowd Friday at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., and Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan shared a laugh at an airport in Daytona Beach, Fla. To Add a message Your e-mail WASHINGTON — With just over two weeks before voters head to the polls, the presidential campaigns are bearing down on the same swing states that have been the focus for the past year, but they...
Boston.comClassifieds:Log In October 20, 2012Jason Reed/Reuters (left); Evan Vucci/Associated PressPresident Obama addressed a crowd Friday at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., and Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan shared a laugh at an airport in Daytona Beach, Fla. To Add a message Your e-mail WASHINGTON — With just over two weeks before voters head to the polls, the presidential campaigns are bearing down on the same swing states that have been the focus for the past year, but they...
A Fierce Ground War for Votes in Nevada
On October - 18 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
Fredreka Schouten, USA Today
Bertha Beltran is just a high school sophomore but she is entrenched in a massive voter-turnout operation that could determine who wins the presidency next month. Under a blazing desert sun on a recent Saturday, Beltran, 15, and two other Spanish-speaking teens intercept shoppers heading into La Bonita, a supermarket in a working-class neighborhood far east of Las Vegas' glittering casinos. It's the last day to register to vote by mail, and the trio of President Obama's supporters is pushing to sign up Latino voters, who make up more than a quarter of the state's...
Bertha Beltran is just a high school sophomore but she is entrenched in a massive voter-turnout operation that could determine who wins the presidency next month. Under a blazing desert sun on a recent Saturday, Beltran, 15, and two other Spanish-speaking teens intercept shoppers heading into La Bonita, a supermarket in a working-class neighborhood far east of Las Vegas' glittering casinos. It's the last day to register to vote by mail, and the trio of President Obama's supporters is pushing to sign up Latino voters, who make up more than a quarter of the state's...
Comeback Kid: Obama Delivers in Debate
On October - 18 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
Bob Shrum, The Daily Beast
Wow. You didn’t need a poll to tell you what happened, but the instant surveys exploded in a geyser of good news for President Obama. For example, in Colorado, in a Public Policy Polling sample that was 3 percent more Republican, respondents rated the President the winner 48 to 44 percent-- and crucially, independents thought he prevailed 58 to 36 percent. The CBS survey of uncommitted voters gave Obama a seven-point margin, and he held a 13-point advantage on “helping the middle class.” There was a similar verdict in the CNN poll of debate viewers; and even...
Wow. You didn’t need a poll to tell you what happened, but the instant surveys exploded in a geyser of good news for President Obama. For example, in Colorado, in a Public Policy Polling sample that was 3 percent more Republican, respondents rated the President the winner 48 to 44 percent-- and crucially, independents thought he prevailed 58 to 36 percent. The CBS survey of uncommitted voters gave Obama a seven-point margin, and he held a 13-point advantage on “helping the middle class.” There was a similar verdict in the CNN poll of debate viewers; and even...
Obama’s Challenge: Not-So-Optimistic Voters
On October - 18 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
Joan Vennochi, BostonGlobe
Barack Obama won the hope vote in 2008. Now, to keep the White House, President Obama needs to win back the disappointed.Michael Jones is one of them. Jones, one of the questioners during Tuesday night's debate, wanted to know what the president has done to earn his support in 2012. This time around, "I'm not that optimistic," said Jones.
Barack Obama won the hope vote in 2008. Now, to keep the White House, President Obama needs to win back the disappointed.Michael Jones is one of them. Jones, one of the questioners during Tuesday night's debate, wanted to know what the president has done to earn his support in 2012. This time around, "I'm not that optimistic," said Jones.
Sanctions Won’t Stop Iran
On October - 17 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
George Jonas, National Post
Few would have thought that the MAD world of Mutually Assured Destruction might seem like an era of sanity in retrospect. The period that created Dr. Strangelove restricted its nuclear club to paragons of predictability compared to today's players, actual and prospective.To start with the obvious, if it's acceptable for North Korea to have nuclear weapons (to say nothing of Pakistan, spawning ground and frequent shelter of the Taliban) how can the world deny nukes to any country? Still, most nations or governments agree that nuclear capability for theocratic Iran is so dangerous as...
Few would have thought that the MAD world of Mutually Assured Destruction might seem like an era of sanity in retrospect. The period that created Dr. Strangelove restricted its nuclear club to paragons of predictability compared to today's players, actual and prospective.To start with the obvious, if it's acceptable for North Korea to have nuclear weapons (to say nothing of Pakistan, spawning ground and frequent shelter of the Taliban) how can the world deny nukes to any country? Still, most nations or governments agree that nuclear capability for theocratic Iran is so dangerous as...
Your Economic Health? It’s All Relative
On October - 17 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
Eduardo Porter, New York Times
 With financial markets careening around the world, in January 2009 a newly inaugurated President Obama acknowledged he had to fix the problem pretty fast. "If I don't have this done in three years," he told NBC's Matt Lauer, "then there's gonna be a one-term proposition." Today, Republicans around the country are largely campaigning on the president's words. Conservative economists like Michael Bordo of Rutgers and John B. Taylor of Stanford have written columns for op-ed pages and blogs arguing that by the standard of previous...
 With financial markets careening around the world, in January 2009 a newly inaugurated President Obama acknowledged he had to fix the problem pretty fast. "If I don't have this done in three years," he told NBC's Matt Lauer, "then there's gonna be a one-term proposition." Today, Republicans around the country are largely campaigning on the president's words. Conservative economists like Michael Bordo of Rutgers and John B. Taylor of Stanford have written columns for op-ed pages and blogs arguing that by the standard of previous...
