tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37850987234774194422024-02-18T21:47:27.105-07:00Bruce R. HoughBruce Houghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01790249087730952684noreply@blogger.comBlogger166125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785098723477419442.post-4835055892687208152015-12-06T09:39:00.001-07:002015-12-06T09:39:29.200-07:00Being Grateful... a Year Around State of Being.<br />
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The following article published just for Thanksgiving was of particular interest to me because the author begins his article relating his experience being in Barcelona for Thanksgiving 24 years ago. This year, my wife and I traveled to Barcelona on Thanksgiving to spend the extended Holiday weekend with our youngest daughter, her husband, and our newest grandchild. </h2>
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Becoming empty nesters recently, we felt we could abandon our other grown children to their own Thanksgiving traditions and embark on a little adventure of our own. We loved Barcelona and it's many sites and offerings and especially spending time with our family there.</h2>
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But I also appreciated the author's explanation of the idea that gratitude as a choice. Too many of us allow circumstances and others to determine our attitude and disposition. But choosing to be grateful is not just some pop psychology puffery, it is real. So real in fact, that science has even documented how our choice to ACT a certain way will in fact CHANGE our disposition to be that certain way. </h2>
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I hope you enjoy the article, and most of all, I hope we can have an attitude of gratitude in all we do and say. It can actually be contagious! </h2>
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Enjoy the wonderful season of family and friendships and giving to others. The gift of gratitude may be one of the finest gifts we can give. BRH</h2>
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<b><a href="mailto:bruno4654@yahoo.com">Choose to Be Grateful. It Will Make You Happier.</a></b><b><br /></b></h3>
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<b>NOV. 21, 2015 </b><b> </b><b>Arthur C. Brooks </b></h3>
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TWENTY-FOUR years ago this month, my wife and I married in Barcelona, Spain. Two weeks after our wedding, flush with international idealism, I had the bright idea of sharing a bit of American culture with my Spanish in-laws by cooking a full Thanksgiving dinner.<br />
<br />
Easier said than done. Turkeys are not common in Barcelona. The local butcher shop had to order the bird from a specialty farm in France, and it came only partially plucked. Our tiny oven was too small for the turkey. No one had ever heard of cranberries.<br />
<br />
Over dinner, my new family had many queries. Some were practical, such as, “What does this beast eat to be so filled with bread?” But others were philosophical: “Should you celebrate this holiday even if you don’t feel grateful?”<br />
<br />
I stumbled over this last question. At the time, I believed one should feel grateful in order to give thanks. To do anything else seemed somehow dishonest or fake — a kind of bourgeois, saccharine insincerity that one should reject. It’s best to be emotionally authentic, right? Wrong. Building the best life does not require fealty to feelings in the name of authenticity, but rather rebelling against negative impulses and acting right even when we don’t feel like it. In a nutshell, acting grateful can actually make you grateful.<br />
<br />
For many people, gratitude is difficult, because life is difficult. Even beyond deprivation and depression, there are many ordinary circumstances in which gratitude doesn’t come easily. This point will elicit a knowing, mirthless chuckle from readers whose Thanksgiving dinners are usually ruined by a drunk uncle who always needs to share his political views. Thanks for nothing.<br />
<br />
Beyond rotten circumstances, some people are just naturally more grateful than others. A 2014 article in the journal Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience identified a variation in a gene (CD38) associated with gratitude. Some people simply have a heightened genetic tendency to experience, in the researchers’ words, “global relationship satisfaction, perceived partner responsiveness and positive emotions (particularly love).” That is, those relentlessly positive people you know who seem grateful all the time may simply be mutants.<br />
<br />
But we are more than slaves to our feelings, circumstances and genes. Evidence suggests that we can actively choose to practice gratitude — and that doing so raises our happiness.<br />
<br />
This is not just self-improvement hokum. For example, researchers in one 2003 study randomly assigned one group of study participants to keep a short weekly list of the things they were grateful for, while other groups listed hassles or neutral events. Ten weeks later, the first group enjoyed significantly greater life satisfaction than the others. Other studies have shown the same pattern and lead to the same conclusion. If you want a truly happy holiday, choose to keep the “thanks” in Thanksgiving, whether you feel like it or not.<br />
<br />
How does all this work? One explanation is that acting happy, regardless of feelings, coaxes one’s brain into processing positive emotions. In one famous 1993 experiment, researchers asked human subjects to smile forcibly for 20 seconds while tensing facial muscles, notably the muscles around the eyes called the orbicularis oculi (which create “crow’s feet”). They found that this action stimulated brain activity associated with positive emotions.<br />
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If grinning for an uncomfortably long time like a scary lunatic isn’t your cup of tea, try expressing gratitude instead. According to research published in the journal Cerebral Cortex, gratitude stimulates the hypothalamus (a key part of the brain that regulates stress) and the ventral tegmental area (part of our “reward circuitry” that produces the sensation of pleasure).<br />
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It’s science, but also common sense: Choosing to focus on good things makes you feel better than focusing on bad things. As my teenage kids would say, “Thank you, Captain Obvious.” In the slightly more elegant language of the Stoic philosopher Epictetus, “He is a man of sense who does not grieve for what he has not, but rejoices in what he has.”<br />
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In addition to building our own happiness, choosing gratitude can also bring out the best in those around us. Researchers at the University of Southern California showed this in a 2011 study of people with high power but low emotional security (think of the worst boss you’ve ever had). The research demonstrated that when their competence was questioned, the subjects tended to lash out with aggression and personal denigration. When shown gratitude, however, they reduced the bad behavior. That is, the best way to disarm an angry interlocutor is with a warm “thank you.”<br />
<br />
I learned this lesson 10 years ago. At the time, I was an academic social scientist toiling in professorial obscurity, writing technical articles and books that would be read by a few dozen people at most. Soon after securing tenure, however, I published a book about charitable giving that, to my utter befuddlement, gained a popular audience. Overnight, I started receiving feedback from total strangers who had seen me on television or heard me on the radio.<br />
<br />
One afternoon, I received an unsolicited email. “Dear Professor Brooks,” it began, “You are a fraud.” That seemed pretty unpromising, but I read on anyway. My correspondent made, in brutal detail, a case against every chapter of my book. As I made my way through the long email, however, my dominant thought wasn’t resentment. It was, “He read my book!” And so I wrote him back — rebutting a few of his points, but mostly just expressing gratitude for his time and attention. I felt good writing it, and his near-immediate response came with a warm and friendly tone.<br />
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DOES expressing gratitude have any downside? Actually, it might: There is some research suggesting it could make you fat. A new study in the Journal of Consumer Psychology finds evidence that people begin to crave sweets when they are asked to express gratitude. If this finding holds up, we might call it the Pumpkin Pie Paradox.<br />
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The costs to your weight notwithstanding, the prescription for all of us is clear: Make gratitude a routine, independent of how you feel — and not just once each November, but all year long.<br />
There are concrete strategies that each of us can adopt. First, start with “interior gratitude,” the practice of giving thanks privately. Having a job that involves giving frequent speeches — not always to friendly audiences — I have tried to adopt the mantra in my own work of being grateful to the people who come to see me.<br />
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Next, move to “exterior gratitude,” which focuses on public expression. The psychologist Martin Seligman, father of the field known as “positive psychology,” gives some practical suggestions on how to do this. In his best seller “Authentic Happiness,” he recommends that readers systematically express gratitude in letters to loved ones and colleagues. A disciplined way to put this into practice is to make it as routine as morning coffee. Write two short emails each morning to friends, family or colleagues, thanking them for what they do.<br />
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Saint Benedict would approve...<br />
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Finally, be grateful for useless things. It is relatively easy to be thankful for the most important and obvious parts of life — a happy marriage, healthy kids or living in America. But truly happy people find ways to give thanks for the little, insignificant trifles. Ponder the impractical joy in <i>Gerard Manley Hopkins’s poem “Pied Beauty”:</i><br />
<br />
<i>Glory be to God for dappled things —</i><br />
<i>For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow;</i><br />
<i>For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim;</i><br />
<i>Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls; finches’ wings;</i><br />
<i>Landscape plotted and pieced — fold, fallow, and plough;</i><br />
<i>And all trades, their gear and tackle and trim.</i><br />
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Be honest: When was the last time you were grateful for the spots on a trout? More seriously, think of the small, useless things you experience — the smell of fall in the air, the fragment of a song that reminds you of when you were a kid. Give thanks.<br />
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This Thanksgiving, don’t express gratitude only when you feel it. Give thanks especially when you don’t feel it. Rebel against the emotional “authenticity” that holds you back from your bliss. As for me, I am taking my own advice and updating my gratitude list. It includes my family, faith, friends and work. But also the dappled complexion of my bread-packed bird. And it includes you, for reading this column.<br />
<br />
<b>Arthur C. Brooks is the president of the American Enterprise Institute and a contributing opinion writer.</b><br />
<br />Bruce Houghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01790249087730952684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785098723477419442.post-15675374321355062642015-12-03T12:32:00.003-07:002015-12-03T12:32:50.495-07:00Olene Walker - Principle Centered Politician <br />
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<img alt="Former Utah Gov. Olene Walker (Olene S. Walker Institute of Policy and Public Service)" src="http://img.deseretnews.com/images/article/midres/1630118/1630118.jpg" height="450" style="display: block; left: 129px; opacity: 1; text-align: center; top: 0px; visibility: visible; z-index: 3;" width="342" /></div>
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Olene Walker was a great friend and an example of principle centered politics. </h2>
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The <b><a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865642614/Olene-Walker-Utahs-first-and-only-female-governor-dies-at-age-85.html?pg=all">Deseret News did a fine job in the following article</a></b> describing her public persona. It is a wonderful tribute to honor her for a viewing at the Utah State Capitol this afternoon and evening. </h3>
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My personal sympathies and prayers are extended to the Walker family. BRH <a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865642614/Olene-Walker-Utahs-first-and-only-female-governor-dies-at-age-85.html?pg=all">Deseret News Article Link</a></h3>
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SALT LAKE CITY — Olene Walker, the only woman to serve as Utah's
governor, died Saturday due to causes incident to age. She was 85.<br />
In her eight years as a legislator, 11 years as the
state’s second-in-command and 426 days as governor, Walker developed a
reputation as a trailblazing lawmaker who led with grit and charisma.<br />
"I honestly don't know of a single person who does
not have a high regard for her," said former Gov. Mike Leavitt, who
recruited her as his running mate in 1992. "That's a tribute to the tone
of her personality, the genuineness of her concern — she was a friend
to everybody, but especially the downtrodden."<br />
On Saturday, Gov. Gary Herbert authorized flags to be lowered to half-staff until sunset Thursday.<br />
"On behalf of all Utahns, we express our gratitude
for the sacrifice and leadership of one of Utah's finest public
servants," Herbert said in a statement.<br />
A number of <a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/utah/politics" target="_blank">Utah political</a>
leaders also released statements about Walker on Saturday, including
former governor Jon Huntsman Jr., members of Utah's congressional
delegation and Utah State Senate President Wayne Niederhauser.<br />
In a statement, Sen. Orrin Hatch said Walker "truly paved the way for women in government in Utah."<br />
"Throughout her life she displayed great integrity, determination, strength, and wisdom," Hatch said.<br />
Colleagues remembered Walker, who served as governor
from Nov. 5, 2003 to Jan. 3, 2005, as approachable and kind and
possessed of limitless energy, despite assuming office in her mid-70s —
the oldest governor in the nation at the time.<br />
While in office, she championed education and wasn't afraid of stirring up the Legislature to do so.<br />
Walker gained the wrath of some conservatives when
she vetoed an early effort at vouchers for private schools. She sparred
with legislators again over an early reading program, threatening to
veto the state budget proposal unless lawmakers came up with funding for
it — which they did.<br />
Her pragmatism, humility and sense of humor made her well-respected on both sides of the aisle.<br />
“Even though I was a Democrat, it didn’t matter,”
said Meghan Holbrook, the former chairwoman of the state Democratic
Party. “She was strategic, she was smart, she was witty, she was tough.
She did politics with grace and compassion and great good will — all in
high heels.”<br />
Walker left office with an 87 percent approval rating.<br />
Walker assumed the role of governor after Leavitt
resigned to head the Environmental Protection Agency in 2003. Prior to
that she served as lieutenant governor for a decade — the longest tenure
of any lieutenant governor in Utah.<br />
Walker had a rural charm that led some colleagues in
the Legislature to refer to her as "Aunt Bea," a reference to a motherly
character in the 1960s "Andy Griffith" TV show.<br />
"We had a joke, she and I," said Carol McNamara, the
director of the Olene S. Walker Institute of Politics & Public
Service at Weber State University. "She would tell me about someone and
she would say, 'She’s a good friend of mine.’ And then she would realize
that she says that all the time. And my response was always that I
think it’s true — she had more good friends and she inspired so much
admiration and respect across the political spectrum in Utah."<br />
Walker was a Utah woman through and through. Raised
on a farm in Weber County, the girl who grew up milking cows, thinning
sugar beets and hauling hay went on to earn a master’s degree from
Stanford University and a doctorate from the University of Utah.<br />
Friends said that even as lieutenant governor, Walker
was so humble she refused to use the driver offered to her. Holbrook
recalled seeing Walker walking down the street toward the Little America
Hotel, where she was supposed to give a speech.<br />
“I said, ‘What are you doing, lieutenant governor?’
and she said, ‘My car has a flat tire and I didn’t want to call the
highway patrol, so will you give me a ride?’” said Holbrook, laughing.
"And that was so her."<br />
Before her political career, Walker was a homemaker, a
mother of seven children and a partner in her husband Myron’s
successful snack food business.<br />
Even then, she was known for being a tireless worker.
As a public servant, Walker was known to work 19-hour days and joked
that she dried her hair by sticking her head out of the car window on
her way to work.<br />
Despite her popularity with the public, Walker didn't
win enough votes at the Utah Republican Convention in 2004 for her
reelection bid, passed over in favor of Jon Huntsman Jr. and Nolan
Karras. Some believed her tough stances on education and moderate
politics as governor hurt her reelection bid.<br />
As her political career ended, she told the Deseret
News, “I’ll just be a grandmother, go down to St. George and play some
golf.”<br />
The former governor did more than that.<br />
She served a mission with her husband in New York
City for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for two years.
At 80 years old, she was serving as Primary president in the Bloomington
7th Ward.<br />
The Utah Debate Commission Board, which Walker
co-chaired after it was formed in 2013, also released a statement about
her passing.<br />
"She will be remembered as a passionate advocate for
educating citizens about their government, but also as a friend to all,"
read the statement from the executive committee.<br />
In her later years, Walker turned her attention to
encouraging students and women to get engaged in politics, creating the
institute at Weber State University that bears her name: The Olene S.
Walker Institute of Politics & Public Service.<br />
McNamara, the director, called Walker "among the most
impressive human beings with whom I have been associated." She added
that Walker's involvement is what inspired her to join as director.<br />
"She's larger than life in so many ways," said McNamara. "I think she's often the smartest person in the room."<br />
In a statement, Jackie Biskupski — set to become Salt Lake City's second female mayor — called Walker "a trailblazing woman in <a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/utah/politics" target="_blank">Utah politics</a>
who made our state a better place by setting an example of civility and
kindness that should be the hallmarks of public service."<br />
In her final years, friends said Walker seemed to
have more energy than others — serving on a dozen boards and continuing
to advocate for causes such as education, affordable housing and public
lands.<br />
Leavitt said that was just like Walker: Always looking forward, not back.<br />
<br />
“She was a person of great stature,” said Leavitt, “whose feet did not leave the ground.”Bruce Houghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01790249087730952684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785098723477419442.post-22908037435485085982015-12-03T12:11:00.000-07:002015-12-03T12:11:12.769-07:00Speaker Paul Ryan - Confident about Confidence as the Message for the Future...<h1 align="center" style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Full
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Library of Congress</span><o:p></o:p></h1>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">WASHINGTON,
DC</span></strong><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">
– Speaking in the Great Hall at the Library of Congress today, House
Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) outlined his vision for a confident America at home
and abroad, pledging that his top priority as Speaker in 2016 will be offering
the country a bold, pro-growth agenda.<br />
<br />
<strong>Remarks of Speaker Ryan,
as prepared for delivery.</strong><br />
<strong>December 3, 2015</strong><br />
<br />
“Thank you very much. I’m delighted to be here and to see so many friends in
the audience. Thank you all for coming. I also want to thank the library’s
staff for their kind hospitality.<br />
<br />
“The reason I asked you all here today is I wanted to lay out my number-one
goal for the next year in the House. I became speaker just over a month ago,
and I’d like to think we’ve hit the ground running. We are dealing with
everything from highways to ISIS to funding the government. But before we get
too far along, I want to take a moment and explain the big thing I think House
Republicans need to do in 2016.<br />
<br />
“A great frustration in our party is we have not had a real, national majority
in seven years. We have controlled Congress, but not the presidency. And we
need to. This country has big problems. But if we do not have a president who
will work with us, we will not solve those problems—that is, while they are
still solvable. And whatever the Left may say, I know my colleagues in the
House Republican conference. I know why they got into politics. We are not here
to be someone but to do something—to serve our country. We believe in the
American Idea: The condition of your birth should not determine the outcome of
your life. And we want to do our part to pass on that idea to the next
generation. We do not see politics as a popularity contest. To us, it is a
calling. We do not care for the tricks of the trade. What we love are ideas.<br />
<br />
“So it is with great dismay that we have watched our president transform the
country—and not for the better. And it is natural, after losing to your
opponents for so long, that people start to think, maybe they are on to
something. Maybe the way to win the debate is to play identity politics, never
mind ideas. Maybe what you do is slice and dice the electorate: Demonize.
Polarize. Turn out your voters. Hope the rest stay home. And I would just say,
yes, it’s possible we could win that way—but to what end?<br />
<br />
“I don’t think all that many people are walking away from this presidency
thinking, ‘That went well.’ We still have enormous problems. But now the
country is divided. And the federal government has grown arrogant,
condescending, and outright paternalistic. So I’d say what we’ve seen these
past seven years is the illusion of success. The Left may be good at tactics.
But tactics are not solutions. They can win an election. But they can’t win a
mandate. They can make you popular. But they can’t solve problems. They can
help a party. But they can’t save the country. So why in the world would we
want to act that way?<br />
<br />
“If we want to save the country, then we need a mandate from the people. And if
we want a mandate, then we need to offer ideas. And if we want to offer ideas,
then we need to actually have ideas. And that’s where House Republicans come
in. So, our number-one goal for the next year is to put together a complete
alternative to the Left’s agenda. This is a work in progress, no doubt. So
today I want to talk basics, fundamentals. What kind of country do we want to
be? I do not presume to speak for all Republicans in all particulars. But after
giving it a lot of thought, this is what I think a conservative vision looks
like:<br />
<br />
“We want America to be confident again. If you don’t have a job, we want you to
be confident that you can find one—and take it. If you do have a job, we want you
to be confident that that job will pay well. We want students to know that all
that school—and all that debt—will be worth it. We want seniors to know that
all those years of hard work—and all those years of paying taxes—will be
rewarded. Medicare and Social Security will be there when you need them. We
want all Americans, when they look at Washington, to see spending going down,
taxes going down, debt going down. We want to see progress and have pride. We
want people to believe in the future again. We want a country where no one is
stuck, where no one settles, where everyone can rise.<br />
<br />
“And on the world stage, it is no different: We want a confident America—a
purposeful America. We want to know we stand for freedom and show it—not with
bluster or bravado, but with calm, steady action. We want our military to
command respect from our adversaries and to inspire confidence in our allies.
And when they come home, we want to give our veterans the care they deserve. We
want our president, whatever the party, to always keep an eye on our interests
and never turn a blind eye to the truth. We want America to lead again. That is
the America we need.<br />
<br />
“And that is not the America we have now. The people are not confident. They
are downright anxious. And they have every right to be. But there is reason for
hope—especially for conservatives. The world is proving us right. Technology is
making life more decentralized. The old, top-down formulas just won’t do. For a
long time, the Left has thought that if you want to solve a problem, you get a
group of highly trained experts to come up with an answer and impose it on the
country. Nowadays, most of us would agree, that’s the last thing you should do.
The world moves just too fast. Government is always a step behind. So oddly
enough, it is the progressives who are stuck in the past.<br />
<br />
“And this is the thing they miss: More bureaucracy means less
opportunity—because big government and big business don’t fight each other so
much as feed each other. This is how it works: Smart, talented people go into
government thinking the only way to fix complicated problems is with
complicated laws—laws that only people like themselves can understand. They
make new bureaucracies. They put up red tape. And then? And then they go into
the private sector and help businesses navigate the very maze they created. If
the insurance industry does not understand how Obamacare works, why not hire
the person who ran it? This works out great for them. But what about the rest
of us? What about the people who can’t get ahead because costs are too high . .
. or who don’t create jobs because the laws are so confusing? And so round and
round the revolving door goes, all while the people stand on the sidelines.<br />
<br />
“That’s how today’s experts become tomorrow’s cronies. And that’s why
we don’t think government should bulk up the bureaucracy. We think it should
break up problems so people can solve them themselves. Don’t hire more
bureaucrats. Don’t leave it up to their discretion. Set clear, firm rules that
all of us can live by—rules that tell us what’s expected and what’s off limits.
And then let the people go to work. That, to me, is the conservative insight:
Don’t outsource to the bureaucracy. Crowdsource.<br />
<br />
“That kind of government would not only preserve equal opportunity. It would
protect the dignity of the individual. Bad government tries to blunt what makes
each of us unique. Good government defends it. Bad government tries to tie us
all down. Good government frees us to be our best. And so is government important?
Absolutely—it’s essential. But there’s no mistaking the field for the game.
What government is supposed to do is create an environment where the individual
can thrive and communities can bloom. In other words, government makes things
possible, but the people make them happen.<br />
<br />
“Only government that sends power back to the people can make America confident
again. And we House Republicans will do all we can to give us that
government—even if the president disagrees. Even if he won’t sign them into
law, we will put out specific proposals and give the people a real choice. And
I don’t mean just undo what the president has done—as if we could time-travel
back to 2009. I mean show what we would do, what our ideal policy would
be—looking forward to 2017 and beyond. We owe it to the country to offer a
bold, pro-growth agenda. And that is what we are going to do.<br />
<br />
“The first item on that agenda is creating jobs and raising wages. And we know
what’s standing in our way. Instead of a tax code that all of us can live by,
we have a tax code that none of us can understand. We all know how hard it is
to keep up with the competition overseas. And where I come from, overseas means
Lake Superior. Well, the Canadians are taxing their small businesses at 15
percent. But our top tax rate on successful small businesses is effectively
44.6 percent. How can working families compete like that?<br />
<br />
“The only way to fix our broken tax code is to simplify, simplify, simplify.
Close all those loopholes and use that money to cut tax rates for everybody.
Take the seven tax rates we have now and collapse them to two or three. Look, I
know people like many of these loopholes, and they have their reasons. But
there are so many of them that now the tax code is like a to-do
list—Washington’s to-do list. But Washington has no business micromanaging
people’s lives—pure and simple. I also know many of these loopholes will be
fiercely defended. All I can say is we will not be cowed. We are not here to
smooth things over. We are here to shake things up.<br />
<br />
“I know Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady can’t wait to get to work. And this
is the point: We want a tax code that rewards good work instead of good
connections. When people know they will keep more of their hard-earned money,
they will work more, save more, invest more—and create more jobs for all of us.
And when there is more work to go around, more people will see their wages go
up.<br />
<br />
“But there’s not much upside to getting a raise if the cost of living goes up
too. There are many things to do, but most urgent is to repeal and replace
Obamacare. When people ask me what’s wrong with the law, I usually say to them,
how much time do you have? But if I had to point out one thing, it would be the
mandates, the restrictions, all the red tape. How do I know they have failed?
You notice we don’t talk about lowering premiums anymore. We’re supposed to be
happy if they don’t go up by double digits.<br />
<br />
“This is the problem: The other side thinks that to lower costs for some people
you have to raise them for others. Life is a zero-sum game. They know people
won’t buy pricey insurance. So their solution is, don’t give them a choice. We
say lower costs for everybody by giving them that choice. Instead of forcing
you to buy insurance, we should force insurance companies to compete for your
business. Let people find a plan that works for them. And yes, help people pay
for health insurance.<br />
<br />
“I’ve long believed we should offer an individual tax credit to help people pay
for premiums—giving more to the old and sick. There are a lot of other ideas
out there, but what all conservatives can agree on is this: We think government
should encourage personal responsibility, not replace it. We think prices are
going up because people have too few choices, not because they have too many.
And we think this problem is so urgent that, next year, we are going to unveil
a plan to replace every word of Obamacare.<br />
<br />
“Then there are the millions of people stuck in neutral: 6 million people who
have no choice but to work part time, 45 million people living in poverty.
Conservatives need to have an answer to this—because we do not write people off
in this country. We just don’t.<br />
<br />
“But this is what happens. The federal government says, “Look, if you’re going
through a rough patch, we will pay for your food, your housing, your medicine,
your heat, and on and on and on.” Add them all up, and we have something like
82 different programs to help people in need. And we’re thinking all these
benefits will lift people up. But in fact they hold people back—because, under
the law, the minute you start to make real money, these benefits start to
disappear—and fast. Yes, you’re making more money. But you’re losing 80, 90
cents on the dollar in higher taxes and lower benefits. So say you’re a single
mom with one kid. You’re making minimum wage. You’re on food stamps, Medicaid,
housing assistance, and other assistance. And you hear about a job that pays
more. Should you really take that job? The answer, in this country, should
always be yes. But can you really blame someone for thinking no? The intentions
may be good. But the results are clear: We are trapping people in poverty.<br />
<br />
“We have to make sure it always pays to work. In 1996, we created a work
requirement for welfare. But that was just one program. We have to fix all the
others now. I’d combine a lot of them and send that money back to the states
for better poverty-fighting solutions. Require everyone who can to work. Let
states and communities try different ideas. And then test the results. I have
found the poorest neighborhoods often are the most creative. They are full of
entrepreneurs and innovators—people who really know how to fight poverty. They
don’t need to be supplanted. They need to be supported. And so this is the
difference between the Left and the Right: They look at people in need and see
a burden to bear, people to take care of. We look at people in need and see
potential.<br />
<br />
“Push wages up. Push the cost of living down. Get people off the sidelines. I
could think of no better way to restore confidence in the American economy. And
as we grow more secure at home, we will grow stronger on the world stage.<br />
<br />
“In fact, they are directly related. If we want to create good jobs, we need to
make more things in America and sell them overseas, because 96 percent of the
world’s people—they don’t live in the United States. They live in other
countries. And we will not sell them as much as we could if we don’t have trade
agreements. Other countries will not stop taxing and blocking our exports
unless we negotiate with them. Look at it this way: If you add up all the
countries that do not have a trade agreement with us, we have a big
manufacturing trade deficit. But if you add up all the countries that do have a
trade agreement with us, we have a surplus. Now, before we sign up for any
agreement, we have to make sure it is a fair deal. I’m thinking of the
Trans-Pacific Partnership in particular. But we have to engage. Only an active,
forward-leaning America can tear down barriers to American exports.<br />
<br />
“And this is more than a negotiating strategy. It goes to the core of our
philosophy. We believe in free enterprise. We believe, if you have a good idea,
you should have a fair chance to make it happen. That means Americans should
not have to pay unnecessary costs or wait and wait and wait just to get a
permit. They should compete on a level playing field with everybody else. I
don’t know why we would not fight for every job out there. I don’t know why we
would accept—or even worse, adopt—other countries’ corporate welfare when we
know our way is better. There won’t be a level playing field—there won’t be
free and fair trade—unless we work for it. China is out there every day pushing
for crony capitalism. So it all comes down to this question: Are we going to
write the rules of the global economy—or is China?<br />
<br />
“I would also say that uniting our friends behind good trade agreements will
enhance our national security. But of course the biggest danger to our national
security is more straightforward: Our adversaries don’t respect us. Too
many people think a warning from the United States is the hollow protest of a
has-been.<br />
<br />
“That has to change. We need to build a 21st century military. And I don’t mean
just pour more money into the Pentagon. We have to reform the Pentagon, so it
can adapt to new threats. Acquire new capabilities more quickly—whether it’s
advanced missile defense or directed energy weapons. And there’s no one better
to lead that effort than the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee,
Mac Thornberry.<br />
<br />
“A strong America does not threaten the peace. A strong America is what
protects the peace. Now we need to act like it. ISIS is a serious threat. We
need a strategy to defeat it. Our friends in Europe and Asia and the Middle
East are embattled. We need to give them support. We need to strengthen both
our economy and our military to show the world that freedom works. And when we
do, the world will see a confident America once again.<br />
<br />
“This is how I see the choice. Now the country needs to see it. Today, I have
laid out our principles. Now we need to turn them into policies. And we are not
going to solve all the country’s problems next year. We need a new president.
It’s just that simple. But even if we can’t move mountains, we can make moves
in the right direction. The cautious may wait for their opportunity, but the
prudent will make it. We can make progress on issues where there’s bipartisan
agreement, like rebuilding our roads and bridges or bringing some certainty to
the tax code. We don’t have to compromise our principles to work with the other
side. Even a blind squirrel can find a nut every now and then, and hard as it
might be to believe, even politicians can find common ground.<br />
<br />
“So what it all comes down to is whether we conservatives have confidence in
ourselves. Do we really believe our philosophy is true? Do we have the best
ideas? If so, then I don’t see any reason why we should hold back. The truth
is, the Left wants to make the debate about personalities. They want to paint
us as irresponsible. That’s because we all know what the Left stands for. We
all know what another progressive presidency would mean: just more of the same.<br />
</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">“So don’t take the bait. Don’t play their game. Don’t give them a win by
default. Put together a positive agenda, and take it to the American people.
Give people the choice they are yearning for. And if next year, this House can
say we have done that, then we will have done our job. When the people go to
the polls, they will know that a vote for us is a vote for a more prosperous, a
more secure, a more confident America. And the rest? Well, the rest will be up
to the people—as it should b</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">e. Thank you.”</span>Bruce Houghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01790249087730952684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785098723477419442.post-73879475121156972542015-02-03T16:14:00.001-07:002015-02-03T16:14:53.415-07:00One of the really good guys... Dick Richards<div id="obit-viewall">
<img alt="" aria-label="Richard Richards, friend to Reagan, dead at 82" src="http://www.standard.net/image/2015/01/30/530x_a16-9_b0_q80/KJ-RICHARD-RICHARDS-3.jpg" height="298" id="yui_3_5_1_4_1423004237991_603" style="height: 298px; width: 530px;" width="530" /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><em> When you think who are the really good guys in politics... Dick Richards' name immediately comes to mind. Dick was one in whom you could trust. He was honest, ethical, and personable. Of course he was a great political mind as well. Dick didn't brag, he didn't grandstand, and as he used to describe a very few others in politics, he was a "workhorse" not a "show horse". He was very kind to a very young and green State Chairman; I learned a lot from him, mostly just observing him.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><em>We who knew him will miss him. Those of you who didn't know him, take the time to read about him below. And know, he was one of the really good guys in politics...</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><em>Bruce R. Hough</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><em>National Committeeman, Utah</em></span></div>
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RICHARD (Dick) RICHARDS<br />
May 14, 1932 – Jan 30, 2015<br />
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Dick has fought the good fight, and is ready for new experiences. The second of nine children, he was born at the Old Dee Hospital, in Ogden, Utah, to Blaine Boyden and Violet Geneva Williams Richards on May 14, 1932. He came to earth with remarkable talents that would give him remarkable opportunities. He graduated from Weber High School in 1950, and attended Weber Junior College in 1951 until he was drafted into the Army during the Korean War. He met his wife, Annette Bott, while attending Weber College. They were married January 15, 1954 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. He attended Officer's Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia; followed by a tour of duty in Japan as a 2nd Lieutenant. <br />
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Following his three years in the service, he worked for his dad as a sign painter while attending the University of Utah Law School, graduating in 1961. He practiced law in Ogden for twenty years, but his primary interest was politics. He had a unique sense about the political scene and it served him well. He started out at the grass roots level and served as Utah Young Republican Chairman while he was still in Law School. While practicing law, he worked on a number of congressional campaigns for Douglas Stringfellow, Henry Aldous Dixon, and Laurence Burton, Congressmen from the First District. He had a keen organizational mind that took him to Washington D.C. as both a Legislative, and then as an Administrative Assistant to Congressman Burton for two years. In his return to Utah he served two terms as Utah Republican Chairman. <br />
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Because of the success the Republican Party experienced in Utah while he was Chairman, he was invited to join the Republican National Committee as Political Director under Chairman Rogers Morton. He worked on both of Richard Nixon's campaigns; overseeing the entire Western States region with the exception of Texas and California. In 1975, he served a third term as Utah Republican Chairman, while serving on Ronald Reagan's committee during his initial run for the presidency in 1976. He continued working on the committee in preparation for Reagan's campaign in 1979-80. Extremely knowledgeable of the Western States politically, he headed up the campaign in the Western States, including California, helping to improve the Reagan campaign organization. <br />
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With the election of Ronald Reagan as President of the United States, he was asked to serve as Republican National Chairman, serving faithfully from 1980-1982. He was a Senior Advisor in President George H.W. Bush's campaigns. <br />
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As an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he served in many callings: including Teacher, High Councilman and as Bishop of the McLean, Virginia First Ward. In 1995, as a former Republican National Chairman, he was given a special Church assignment to travel throughout Australia and New Zealand, co-sponsored by the National Press Clubs of both countries and the LDS Church. There was a great interest in the U.S. political arena, but it was important to introduce the Church's "Family Proclamation" to the leaders and people of these nations. It was a successful tour and it was reported that the proclamation had been accepted and was being used. Dick and his wife also served as full-time missionaries for the Church in the Rochester New York Mission from 2000-2002. <br />
Twenty-eight years ago, he developed some serious heart problems, yet it never stopped him from doing what he felt he needed to do. He had many open-heart surgeries over the years, but he survived because of a strong will to live, an amazing heart, and the excellent medical care he received. <br />
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Dick served on the Board of Trustees, as Chairman of the board at Weber State University, and established "The Richard Richards Institute on Ethics." Each year, scholarships are presented to senior high school students chosen from high schools in Weber, Davis, Morgan and Box Elder Counties for writing the best essays on Ethics. His concern for others and the ability to help when it was needed, were two of his greatest qualities. He never turned down anyone who needed help. Often they had problems no one else had been able to solve. He will be sorely missed. <br />
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He is survived by his wife Annette, five children, Julie Dockter (Gary), Richard A. Richards (Rita), Jan Stevenson (Tom), Amy Hartvigsen (Darren), Brian Lee Richards, one granddaughter, ten grandsons; with the seventh serving an LDS mission in Chile; fifteen great grandchildren, his brother James (Maurine), sisters, Jackie Palmer (Darrell), Diane Dillingham, Joan Richards, Michele Richards, Rachel Richards, Sally Garner (Bryce), and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Louise.<br />
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We wish to thank "Hospice for Utah" for their wonderful supportive care; and for the excellent care he has received from his doctors; Dr. Michael Diehl, Dr. Richard Hall, and Dr. Peter Forstall. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the "Richard Richards Institute of Ethics" at Weber State University. <br />
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Viewings will be held Friday, February 6th, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Myers Mortuary, 845 Washington Blvd., in Ogden, UT and prior to services at the church from 9:30-10:30am<br />
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Services will be held Saturday, February 7th at 11 a.m. at The Burch Creek 3rd Ward, 5161 S. 1300 E., South Ogden, UT. <br />
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Interment will be at Washington Heights Memorial Park.</div>
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- See more at: http://www.myers-mortuary.com/obituary/Richard-Dick-Richards/South-Ogden-UT/1476613#sthash.mYmPXYuw.dpufBruce Houghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01790249087730952684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785098723477419442.post-30293972892186736722014-04-20T15:49:00.002-06:002014-04-20T15:49:34.663-06:00<span>Sunday, April 20, 2014</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.brucehough.blogspot.com/2010/04/easter-holiday-christianitys-most.html">Celebrating Easter... the Foundation of my Faith</a> </h3>
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<b><i>(Note: to those friends of mine who are not Christian, I hope you have enjoyed your traditions, religious or otherwise, at this time of year. Though our religious beliefs may differ, our friendship may endure under the God who made us all. My best wishes to you and your families during this season of spring and new life.)</i></b></div>
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<strong>I love this video clip </strong><a href="http://easter.mormon.org/?cid=HPTU041514694">http://easter.mormon.org/?cid=HPTU041514694</a><strong> about the significance of the Life, Atonement, and Resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ. I hope you enjoy it. I've also repeated my personal testimony of the Jesus the Christ below.</strong></div>
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In this season of rebirth and renewal, as buds reappear on the trees after a long winter, and the blades of grass green, and the plants push through the once frozen soil, we are reminded of He who was dead and yet now lives, even Jesus Christ. But this wondrous event of the resurrection was necessarily preceded by the sacrifice of our Redeemer and as the hymn reflects my own thoughts,</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh35ZvHJKvnRjqh7jHZM_5Cx8GsCDrMu-gpTcGapsbO-f1zp87ZzNPYeqg_JOWAUq6RBrrbQsMebunk4AtN5US-KsOhkJbCzaLFkKdjdkZw2oTeAFQC3Yllu8rQW5-yRXe01JUrteU4DTbF/s1600/ArtBook__056_056__JesusPrayingInGethsemane____.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" closure_uid_554193036="7" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456342003437863138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh35ZvHJKvnRjqh7jHZM_5Cx8GsCDrMu-gpTcGapsbO-f1zp87ZzNPYeqg_JOWAUq6RBrrbQsMebunk4AtN5US-KsOhkJbCzaLFkKdjdkZw2oTeAFQC3Yllu8rQW5-yRXe01JUrteU4DTbF/s200/ArtBook__056_056__JesusPrayingInGethsemane____.jpg" style="float: right; height: 200px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 152px;" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">"I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">Confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">I tremble to know that for me he was crucified,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">that for me, a sinner, he suffered, he bled and died.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">I marvel that he would descend from his throne divine</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">To RESCUE a soul so rebellious and proud as mine,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">that he should extend his great love unto such as I,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">Sufficient to own, to redeem, and to justify.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">I think of his hands pierced and bleeding to pay the debt:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyFhoRvPp_27amLZJzLMAkoBY275qSyAyNwO3pn7m_4MgOUXWBPE4TiwC7T9xl7QZLwz8Tbkqoq6LnoLW4XtCwsCNdn0aUJi_u25MdDtcUmp909y7XJ-duNL56LthTU3yqlT2f1xW88gNG/s1600/ArtBook__057_057__TheCrucifixion____.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" closure_uid_554193036="8" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456331142658586754" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyFhoRvPp_27amLZJzLMAkoBY275qSyAyNwO3pn7m_4MgOUXWBPE4TiwC7T9xl7QZLwz8Tbkqoq6LnoLW4XtCwsCNdn0aUJi_u25MdDtcUmp909y7XJ-duNL56LthTU3yqlT2f1xW88gNG/s320/ArtBook__057_057__TheCrucifixion____.jpg" style="float: right; height: 162px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 149px;" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">such mercy, such love, and devotion can I forget?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">No, no, I iwll praise and adore at the mercy seat,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">Until at the glorified throne I kneel at his feet.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me Enough to die for me!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!"</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">(Charles H. Gabriel 1856-1932)</span></div>
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<br /><span style="color: black;">Know that the promise of the Atonement, begun in Gethsemane and culminating on Golgotha, </span>is for us all, if we will but repent of our transgressions and accept Christ's redeeming power. Christ has felt every pain, every anguish, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual.</div>
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<br />It is Christ's suffering that satisfies the law of justice that all sins must be punished, and through his mercy, grace and love, he tempers that law for each of us. How unloving would we be if we allow Him to have suffered on our behalf, having already paid the price, and we do nothing? All he asks, is that we love Him and love our neighbor, and we do that by obeying His word and abandoning sin. By doing so we show our love for all He has done for us and we make effective in our lives His Atonement. This is the road to Eternal Life.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQdoFafdR05OqIgMAPxZexxEtEpjUlK6cGfDjVYBMEZhVJpAsCvVKHffrbEjFWWteLKZRypEp9WC2RCkcKIcy33PF0SgLy9IQjKXHPzVO9YaNihtokq3bH_t9zUONIdBQp4x5yT8CHKzui/s1600/ArtBook__059_059__MaryAndTheResurrectedJesusChrist____.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" closure_uid_554193036="9" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456341641768021106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQdoFafdR05OqIgMAPxZexxEtEpjUlK6cGfDjVYBMEZhVJpAsCvVKHffrbEjFWWteLKZRypEp9WC2RCkcKIcy33PF0SgLy9IQjKXHPzVO9YaNihtokq3bH_t9zUONIdBQp4x5yT8CHKzui/s320/ArtBook__059_059__MaryAndTheResurrectedJesusChrist____.jpg" style="float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 241px;" /></a>And now on this Easter day we celebrate the gift given to all mankind by the Savior. The Resurrection; the promise that all will live again with a body perfected and immortal. </div>
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<br />Knowing that Christ lives is my testimony. And more, He has provided a way back to live with him and our Father in Heaven through His atoning sacrifice, for which "I Stand All Amazed!"</div>
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This hymn summarizes well my testimony:</div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">"I know that my Redeemer lives. What comfort this sweet sentence gives! He lives, he lives, who once was dead. He lives, my ever living Head. He lives to bless me with his love. he lives to plead for me above. He lives my hungry soul to feed. He lives to bless in time of need.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">He lives to grant me rich supply. He lives to guide me with his eye. He lives to comfort me when faint. He lives to hear my soul's complaint. He lives to silence all my fears. He lives to wipe away my tears. He lives to calm my troubled heart. he lives all blessings to impart.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">He lives, my kind, wise heavenly Friend. He lives and loves me to the end. He lives, and while he lives, I'll sing. He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King. He lives and grants me daily breath. He lives, and I shall conquer death. He lives my mansion to prepare. He lives to bring me safely there</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">He lives! All glory to his name! He lives, my Savior, still the same. Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives: "I know that my Redeemer lives!" He lives! All glory to his name! He lives, my Savior, still the same. Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives: "I know that my Redeemer lives!"</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">(<i>Text</i>: Samuel Medley, 1738-1799; <i>Music</i>: Lewis D. Edwards, 1858-1921)</span></div>
<br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456338370680467266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjij6UuqiUVZWfSpv5QTgA4cho7GiYoAlWVvuHu3ArfAt5vuUp4xKXVkAtmU2KnRL5QFVjPICubNfB8WBbE8lWLNYD2z6HLea1aLHc_qfuEVtuY_aGV2tk3fe9DQoux1v5jVTMqUQu3-7BS/s400/ArtBook__066_066__TheSecondComing____.jpg" style="display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /> May God bless you, your family and friends. And, may we be worthy to receive His blessings.</div>
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Bruce Houghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01790249087730952684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785098723477419442.post-53927375947095164212014-04-14T15:29:00.001-06:002014-04-14T15:29:42.651-06:00Noah... No way!<span style="color: red;"><strong>My good friend David Bradford has a fun blog (<a href="http://www.davidbradford.com/blog/index.php/what-the-movie-noah-teaches-us-about-managing-expectations-in-business?utm_source=All+Contacts&utm_campaign=dfd1cd8182-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_fe0b638572-dfd1cd8182-69070777">David Bradford's Blog</a> ) that he uses to apply lessons from life into a business setting... he was a little generous to assign any worthwhile meaning to the recent movie Noah. So, I commented on his blog and thought I would share it with you here.</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></strong><br />
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My wife had high expectations for the movie Noah. Me, less so. It isn't often that I am impressed with the tone and message of Hollywood's interpretation of the spiritual. And for those attempting to create a "true" account of the biblical scriptures, the art usually tends to be lacking; Ben Hur not withstanding!</div>
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<a href="https://sp.yimg.com/ib/th?id=HN.607999715175499760&pid=15.1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="noah the story of one of the most epic biblical figures is about to ..." border="0" height="300" id="ihover-img" src="https://sp.yimg.com/ib/th?id=HN.607999715175499760&pid=15.1" title="noah the story of one of the most epic biblical figures is about to ..." width="202" /></a></div>
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One of the business lessons to be learned from Noah is, don't assume that the other guy believes the same things you believe. In business, you may be an ethical, moral capitalist, but the other guy may have no such compass to follow and may be dedicated to a win-lose proposition. </div>
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<br /></div>
In the case of Noah, going to a "biblical" movie, directed by an atheist, and based not on the Bible account of Noah but on Gnosticism and Kabbalah (see, <a href="http://drbrianmattson.com/journal/2014/3/31/sympathy-for-the-devil">http://drbrianmattson.com/journal/2014/3/31/sympathy-for-the-devil</a> ) is a perfect example of setting incorrect expectations.<br />
<br />
The problem is, in business one is more inclined to conduct due diligence in these matters, in movie going... let's face it, we're there for an escape, buttered popcorn, and a diet coke... <br />
<br />
<br />
The most redeeming moment of the movie was Emma Watson's character (who is clearly smarter than Russell Crowe's Noah) who lectured Noah that his "failure" was exactly who God knew him to be, one who would not take the innocent lives of babies. Oh, and I did quite like the depiction of the Ark... seemed pretty sound to me.<br />
<br />
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<img alt="noah-movie-2014_image_background" height="199" id="ihover-img" src="https://sp1.yimg.com/ib/th?id=HN.608050004948813997&pid=15.1" title="noah-movie-2014_image_background" width="300" /><br />
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<br />
Other than that, it wasn't that good of a movie. Domestic box office was great the first week, and then word of mouth probably brought it down. This is a movie that has been "redeemed" financially by its international release... the all-star cast certainly gave it legs overseas.<br />
<br />
<br />
Take the time to read the link from Dr. Brian Mattson above. Very interesting essay on the movie and its source material.<br />
<br />Bruce Houghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01790249087730952684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785098723477419442.post-11999613307833404792013-12-24T20:08:00.001-07:002013-12-24T20:13:30.735-07:00Hough Family Christmas Greeting and Card<br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dear Friends,<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px !important;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Celebrating
the holidays are always special for me because it signals a time when my family
gathers together in a spirit of love and service. During this time, many
of my friends have celebrated Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of
Lights, in commemoration of the rededication of the Holy Temple. For me
and my family, we celebrate the <strong><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Birth
of our Savior, Jesus Christ</span></strong>. But I love the idea
of <strong><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">rededication</span></strong>.
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px !important;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span> </div>
<div style="margin: 0px !important;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a wonderful time for all of us to rededicate ourselves to serving God,
serving our neighbors, friends, and family; and especially serving those who
are less fortunate than we are. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px !important;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span> </div>
<div style="margin: 0px !important;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9LVX9P9tqXxc7dE1Oi5QSSeD1cN7qn6sz7joFHzgg_gOfd1LxPUxMKjVZJAhAPoX2QoXVYJbNgrXbItYT83HASpWpojSC91b_JD3W1zVvQn0VzmjWNAEKpU3YfNkRfXX3NBcIzPSPegpt/s1600/star+over+Bethlehem.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9LVX9P9tqXxc7dE1Oi5QSSeD1cN7qn6sz7joFHzgg_gOfd1LxPUxMKjVZJAhAPoX2QoXVYJbNgrXbItYT83HASpWpojSC91b_JD3W1zVvQn0VzmjWNAEKpU3YfNkRfXX3NBcIzPSPegpt/s200/star+over+Bethlehem.jpeg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is also a time to rededicate ourselves
to being engaged in good causes to better our community, state, nation and the
world we live in. Many people criticize the political process, and there
is often much to criticize. But I hope as the new year emerges we will be
invigorated to make a difference by choosing to be involved and by supporting
those who share our convictions and beliefs. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px !important;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span> </div>
<div style="margin: 0px !important;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The phrase, "And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” has in the last two centuries been retranslated as " “[O]n <b>earth</b> <b id="yui_3_10_0_1_1387940435073_444">peace</b> to <b>men</b> of <b>good will</b>.” This interpretation makes a good case for being men (and women) of good will. By acting out of good will towards others we will find peace in our lives as a blessing from God. <strong>Peace </strong>may be one of </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God's most precious gifts. May we act out of good will towards others, whether we agree or disagree with them. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px !important;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span> </div>
<div style="margin: 0px !important;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">May God Bless each of you in
the coming year. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px !important;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All
my best from my family to yours,</span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px !important;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Bruce
R. Hough<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">National Committeeman, Utah</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkis8u_Z5-BJix5WxmY6S4psYMojn3rLRWL4VTHd4wAfCCnNqMSNjDxEemt6DdYP5OKGB4bFfa-9zGVri4HzsCX_liEzxkbXHvhwzLlD7l26w3O3Uha0jKtABXZwaOcgLa-n6_RLVfgxqy/s1600/BRH+Christmas+Card_Page_1+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkis8u_Z5-BJix5WxmY6S4psYMojn3rLRWL4VTHd4wAfCCnNqMSNjDxEemt6DdYP5OKGB4bFfa-9zGVri4HzsCX_liEzxkbXHvhwzLlD7l26w3O3Uha0jKtABXZwaOcgLa-n6_RLVfgxqy/s640/BRH+Christmas+Card_Page_1+(2).jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />Bruce Houghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01790249087730952684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785098723477419442.post-49068498776508955072013-10-17T07:50:00.001-06:002013-10-17T07:50:13.405-06:00NASDAQ weighs in on Apple Fail and Obamacare Fail Analogy
<span style="color: #0094b3; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">I'm not the only who gets the Apple Fail and Obamacare Fail Analogy. This mornings NASDAQ Briefing had this commentary attached... Note that Apple spent $150,000,000 to develop the iPhone and the Federal Government is up to over $600,000,000 to setup a website to connect to insurance companies... Do you understand why it is a bad idea to continue to rely on the Federal Government to do things best left to the private sector?</span></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<h2 style="float: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #0094b3; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">Why Government Tech Is So Bad<o:p></o:p></span></span></h2>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Just before
Healthcare.gov hobbled online, Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of health and human
services, compared the federal health-care exchange to her iPad's new operating
system.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">If users
found a few bugs in their iPads, she argued, most wouldn't consider them a
complete disaster. Instead, they'd recognize that technology is complicated,
that errors are common, and they'd wait for an update. Apple Inc., she added,
has "a few more resources" than her department, so "hopefully
[citizens will] give us the same slack they give Apple."<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">That
argument is as clueless as it is misleading. While it's true that Apple is
fantastically wealthy, its product-development costs aren't necessarily greater
than those of the federal government. As Fred Vogelstein reports in his coming
book, Apple spent about $150 million developing the iPhone. The
health-insurance exchange--which, let's remember, is merely a website meant to
connect citizens to insurance companies, something quite a bit less complex
than Apple's groundbreaking miniature computer--so far has cost at least $360
million, and possibly as much as $600 million.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">So how can
the government spend so much more on technology and not get anywhere near equal
results? That gets to the larger problem with Ms. Sebelius's iPad argument:
When Apple royally screws up, the world doesn't cut it any "slack,"
and that's a good thing. Note what happened last fall, when Apple replaced
Google Inc.'s maps app with its own half-baked version: iPhone users rebelled,
the tech press went ape and, within a few days, Chief Executive Tim Cook
apologized and eventually fired the company's mobile-software chief.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">In consumer
tech, performance matters. When things go wrong, customers balk, investors
flee, and heads roll. In the government, despite several attempts at reform,
few of these consequences seem to apply.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Isn't it
time that changed? Healthcare.gov--which has been described as a failure by
many experts, including supporters of the health law--is only the latest in a
series of faulty, overpriced governmental tech launches during administrations
of both parties.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">It doesn't
have to be this way. There's nothing inherent about the phrase "government
technology" that should inspire a parade of incompetence; the tech needs
of the feds don't have to be vastly more complicated, expensive or legally
daunting than the rest of the world's. Instead, the problem is a lack of
accountability. As Ms. Sebelius's comments underscore, there's an expectation,
bolstered by the historical record, that the government can't do tech well, so
we're all expected to forgive its glaring shortcomings.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">The truth
is that the government could revamp its tech house. For less money than we
currently spend on IT, and with a smidgen of political will, we could remake
the nation's IT infrastructure using off-the-shelf hardware and software and
the best tech practices employed by the world's most admired tech companies. If
we do so, dealing with the government--whether for health care, contracting,
taxes, or for anything else--could really be as painless as buying a book from
Amazon.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Though
everything in Washington is partisan these days, this thing doesn't have to be.
Both Democrats and Republicans ought to be able to get on board with tech
reform; it would improve how we all interact with the government and make the
whole system more efficient and affordable.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Tech
companies, too, should fight for a new way. Today a small number of insiders
are awarded the bulk of federal IT contracts. Reforming the way the government
buys and uses tech would open up a vast market to companies such as Apple,
Google, Amazon.com Inc., a host of upstarts that are currently revolutionizing
every other corner of economic life.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">When you
examine the follies at the heart of Healthcare.gov, two important factors stand
out, experts say. The first is personnel--like many government IT projects,
this was implemented by people who don't understand IT. "There's a lack of
technology leadership at the agency level, leading to an inability to
execute," said Vivek Kundra, who was appointed the nation's first chief
information officer by President Barack Obama in 2009 and who is now an
executive at the cloud-services company Salesforce.com Inc.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Mr. Kundra
said that when he was the nation's CIO, the White House pushed a "cloud-first
policy" that encouraged government agencies to avoid creating new server
farms every time they had to build new websites, which is how the rest of the
world works with tech. "It seems like with Healthcare.gov, a set of
decisions were made at the agency level that aren't in line with how modern
technology is deployed," Mr. Kundra said.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Why would
the government implement the sort of tech infrastructure that no one else would
consider? The answer is the mother all problems in government tech:
"procurement." That's jargon for the broken process by which the
government buys things.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Today, any
company looking to work with the government must navigate an obstacle course of
niggling, outdated regulations and arbitrary-seeming requirements. For
instance, your technology must be Y2K-compliant just to get in the door. The
process locks out all but a tiny handful of full-time contractors--companies
who also happen to be big federal lobbyists. (Note how CGI Group Inc., which
won the largest contract to build Healthcare.gov, lobbied on behalf of the
health-care law.)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Clay
Johnson, a former Presidential Innovation Scholar and the CEO of a
reform-minded software company called Department of Better Technology, has
written a seven-part manifesto on how to fix procurement, a prescription he
says would go far in resolving most of the government's tech issues. His
upshot: The government should strive to buy tech like the rest of the world
does, opening itself up to vastly more vendors, and aligning price with
performance. Logistically, none of the steps he outlines would be very
difficult to accomplish. It would just require a full-court press from
political leaders to make it happen.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">These days,
that sounds like reason enough for pessimism, though Mr. Johnson argues that
government's tech issues are on the verge of reaching a tipping point that will
force action.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">"Long
term, the government is not able to survive if it keeps using outdated
technology, because the gap between last year's technology and this year's
technology is always exponentially growing," he said. "You walk into
the DMV and the person behind the desk has a CRT monitor and you have an
iPhone--that leads to a gap to the perception of confidence. We need to fix
that if we want the government to maintain some semblance of confidence, and
competence."<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://dowjones.com/tnt/assets/Nasdaq/am101713.html">http://dowjones.com/tnt/assets/Nasdaq/am101713.html</a>Bruce Houghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01790249087730952684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785098723477419442.post-38021532254359558232013-10-15T15:49:00.000-06:002013-10-15T15:50:50.829-06:00Apple Map and Obamacare, two peas in a pod?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #1f497d;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">In the article below, RNC Chairman Reince Priebus quotes the Washington Post suggesting that if Apple Computer had the kind of failure on a new product roll out that Obamacare has had, that heads would roll. </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: large;"></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<span style="color: #1f497d;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: large;">The reality is,
Apple did launch a major new product that functioned badly… the Apple Map
program which was a dismal failure at launch. Apple did two things
correctly that we should take a lesson from. First, CEO Tim Cook
immediately <b><i><u>apologized for the flawed program</u></i></b> and <b><i><u>recommended
other </u></i></b>map <b><i><u>programs</u></i></b> for their customers to use;
and second, they <b><i><u>fired the executive and team that was in charge of
this colossal failure</u></i></b>. Such a novel idea, serving the best
interests of their customers by recommending other programs until
they had fixed theirs. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #1f497d;"></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: large;">The difference is, Apple will figure it out. They have a track record of innovation and performance. The Federal Government has a record of performance too... Unfortunately, we just keep ignoring it.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: large;">The analogy between Apple Maps and the Federal Government's roll-out of Obamacare is astounding. The
problem is big government thinkers simply don’t get it.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">
</span></div>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">It's time to fire
Secretary Sebelius</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br />
Politico<br />
RNC Chairman Reince Priebus<br />
October 15, 2013<br />
<a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2013/10/its-time-to-fire-secretary-sebelius-98320.html?hp=r2"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.politico.com/story/2013/10/its-time-to-fire-secretary-sebelius-98320.html?hp=r2</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">“If Apple launched a major
new product that functioned as badly as ObamaCare’s online insurance
marketplace, the tech world would be calling for [CEO] Tim Cook’s head.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">That searing
indictment of Obamacare didn’t come from a conservative. Those were the words
of the Washington Post’s Ezra Klein — yes, liberal Ezra Klein —and Evan Soltas
in a <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/10/04/wonkbook-obamacares-web-site-is-really-bad/" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">blog post</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>on
Oct. 4, just three days after the online Obamacare marketplace opened. They
were right.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Now, two
full weeks since its launch, the website healthcare.gov still isn’t
functioning. One CNN reporter began trying to sign up on Oct. 1. As of the
morning of Oct. 14, she still<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://obamacosts.gop.com/video/two-weeks-later-cnn-reporter-still-unable-sign-obamacare/" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">hadn’t been able<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></a><a href="http://obamacosts.gop.com/video/two-weeks-later-cnn-reporter-still-unable-sign-obamacare/" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">to</span></a>. A researcher who works for the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><em><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">New
York Times</span></em><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span>has
tried and failed to sign up for Obamacare 40 times since the website launched.
But the Obama administration continues making excuses for Health and Human
Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and the people who spent hundreds of
millions of taxpayer dollars on a site that does not work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">How much
more money will her department waste — and how much time will Americans waste
on the website — before the administration admits they have a problem? In a
business, someone would be held accountable for such a large-scale disaster.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">When pressed
on her failures, Sebelius repeats her favorite line: “We had some early
glitches.” A glitch, says Merriam-Webster, is “temporary” and “minor.” For two
weeks, the Obamacare website has hardly functioned. That’s not minor or
temporary. That’s not a glitch; that’s a systemic failure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">HHS had over
three years to build the system, and the launch date still caught them entirely
off guard—though not for a lack of warning signs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">The<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><em><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">New
York Times</span></em><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>— yes, the
liberal<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><em><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">New York Times</span></em><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span>—<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/13/us/politics/from-the-start-signs-of-trouble-at-health-portal.html?_r=0" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">documented</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>the
many red flags.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">ObamaCare’s
“chief digital architect” worried the site would be a “third-world experience.”
The firm contracted to build the site didn’t start writing code until this past
spring. “As late as the last week of September, officials were still changing
features of the Web site,” reports the Times. Back in February one insurance
executive said he foresaw “a train wreck.” He was right.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">It’s bad
enough that Sebelius and company produced a terrible taxpayer-funded product.
It’s even worse that they didn’t heed the warnings or spot the red flags. They
put on a smile, flipped the switch, and sat by as it crashed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Now there is
a very simple way that the Obama administration could prove their critics wrong
— a way to back up their claim that this really is all about a few “glitches”
and that the site has worked for people. They could release the number of
Americans who have enrolled for coverage. But they won’t, saying they don’t
know the numbers yet and will only report them monthly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Think about
that for a second. This is not an administration that misses an opportunity to
brag. They’ve even leaked sensitive national security information to burnish
their image. They could release the numbers if they wanted. The truth, most
likely, is that the numbers would prove their many critics right.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Then again,
maybe they did such a terrible job building the system that it’s impossible
even to do something as simple as count enrollees.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">The website
is only part of the Obamacare story. The law continues to wreck the economy and
endanger the healthcare of Americans. More and more families who already have
insurance are now receiving the kind of letters that many Americans dread. They’re
being dropped from their current plan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Writing for<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><em><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">US
News and World</span></em><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><em><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Report</span></em>, Peter Roff<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/peter-roff/2013/10/11/obama-lied-i-lost-my-health-insurance-plan-due-to-obamacare" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">shared</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>an
excerpt of the letter he received from his insurance company.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">“Among other
things, these (Affordable Care Act) requirements will cause your benefits to
change to include federally-mandated Essential Health Benefits. Since your
current benefit plan does not conform to these new mandates, your current
health plan will cease upon your anniversary date,” it said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Again and
again and again, President Obama promised that if you like your plan you could
keep it. He lied.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">And now what
are these families without insurance supposed to do?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Find a new
plan on the exchanges.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">What a train
wreck. Even former Obama press secretary Robert Gibbs<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2013/10/robert-gibbs-obamacare-glitches-98266.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">says</span></a>, “This was bungled badly,” adding “I hope they fire some
people that were in charge of making sure this thing was supposed to work.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">I agree. And
the first person fired should be Secretary Sebelius.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; word-spacing: 0px;">
<em><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Reince
Priebus is chairman of the Republican National Committee.</span></em><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />Bruce Houghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01790249087730952684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785098723477419442.post-43008374562107313132013-10-03T19:00:00.004-06:002013-10-03T19:00:40.521-06:00Hope for the Republic, the House is doing what it is supposed to do, Finally!<span style="color: #000066; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #000066; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">It is hard to comprehend that the Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid and an MSNBC Reporter, Thomas Roberts could be so clueless about how our Constitutional Republic is supposed to work.</span><br />
<span style="color: #000066; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #000066; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: small;">First, Reid asks what give the House the right to "pick and choose" what they will fund. </span><br />
<span style="color: #000066; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #000066; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: small;">Really? That is EXACTLY what the House is SUPPOSED TO DO! They are finally doing it, rather than passing huge omnibus bills while most members hold their nose at the inane projects, pork </span><span style="color: #000066; font-family: Georgia, serif;">barrel</span><span style="color: #000066; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: small;">, and unnecessary "necessities" included within. Click the link to see Harry make the point on why Washington just doesn't get it.</span><br />
<span style="color: #000066; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #000066; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/bestoftv/2013/10/02/exp-bash-reid.cnn.html">http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/bestoftv/2013/10/02/exp-bash-reid.cnn.html</a></span><br />
<span style="color: #000066; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #000066; font-family: Georgia, serif;">I love that the congress is finally passing funding on a "piecemeal" basis. That means they KNOW what they are passing out of the house! Senator Reid you asked, "What gives them the right...?" Well, to help you out, see what the constitution says about who has the right.</span><br />
<span style="color: #000066; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #000066; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: small;">This is what the Constitution defines as the "power of the purse".</span><br />
<span style="color: #000066; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<em>“All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with amendments as on other Bills.”</em><br /><strong>— U.S. Constitution, Article I, section 7, clause 1</strong><br /><br /><em>“No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from time to time.”</em><br /><strong>— U.S. Constitution, Article I, section 9, clause 7</strong><br />
<span style="color: #000066; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #000066; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: small;">You know, that "balance of power" thing... </span><br />
<span style="color: #000066; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #000066; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: small;">Oh wait, Thomas Roberts thinks that electing the president means there is a "mandate" for whatever he wants and Congress should just rubber stamp his agenda... because after all they are only "1/3 of the power in Washington". </span><br />
<span style="color: #000066; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #000066; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: small;">Guess what, we don't care about the power in Washington, we care about our congressmen and senators doing what we elected them to do and for them to fulfill, uphold, and not abuse their constitutional responsibilities...</span><br />
<span style="color: #000066; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #000066; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Good grief... Roberts can't even make a decent argument reading the White House talking points... GOP Chairman Reince Priebus utterly destroyed Roberts' logic on "majority rules"! </span><br />
<span style="color: #000066; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #000066; font-family: Georgia, serif;">I recommend that Roberts watch this exchange, apologize to Priebus and take a personal oath to go back and study Journalism before ever conducting another interview. Hmmm, maybe he is just doing what he was taught... I wonder what liberal University taught him how to do his job. (remember, he wasn't specifically opining or editorializing which would have carried some kind of disclaimer, he was purportedly "reporting" the news and doing a <u><i>news</i></u> interview.)</span><br />
<span style="color: #000066; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #000066; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wenqLxjgqE4&feature=youtu.be">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wenqLxjgqE4&feature=youtu.be</a></span> </span><span style="color: #000066; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #000066; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #000066; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">All in all, I hope the Congress continues to piece meal funding legislation, until as Harry Reid as properly concluded, "only Obamacare is unfunded!" </span><br />
<br />Bruce Houghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01790249087730952684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785098723477419442.post-5510226736386914422013-08-19T18:13:00.000-06:002013-08-19T18:13:06.180-06:00RNC Takes a Stand Against Media Bias
I just returned from a couple of days in Boston for the Republican National Committee summer meetings. Thematically, we are looking ahead to 2014 and 2016 and are choosing not, as Governor Christy colorfully declared, "looking at our navels". We do not need to litigate over and over why we lost in 2016 (though there are a lot of people who voted Democrat who are asking themselves how they got snookered into that last year...), but we do need to learn from the past and not repeat the mistakes that were made. <br />
<br />
Mostly, we have learned that you cannot run an 8 month campaign and expect to win. We have entered the era of the perpetual campaign. And with that realization the RNC is doing all of the right things to produce better results. One of those things is to not be the media's punching bag... the time of "Never argue with someone who buys ink by the barrel” are gone. Because today, ink is free. At least the written word now available universally through the internet, is free... and it is now a companion, if not a replacement for the traditional mainstream media, especially newspapers. Do you think for minute that Jeff Bezos of Amazon.com fame will follow anything even remotely traditional with his purchase of the Washington Post? He is the king of on-line and believe me he knows that paper and ink are not the delivery system of the future.<br />
<br />
And guess what, certain mainstream networks and even cable news networks are not the only choices anymore... No one has a lock on communications media, and as a party, if a network is going to be blatantly biased, there is no obligation or need to acquiesce to the assumption that they have a "right" to participate in the Party's responsibility to conduct its primary debates. There are plenty of choices.<br />
<br />
Townhall.com got this right... see the article below about RNC Chairman Reince Priebus and his stand against media bias. I was proud to vote unanimously with my colleagues to "inform" those media outlets who are blatantly using their networks to promote other candidates that they can do so without including our candidates' debates in their schedule of programming...<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 16pt; letter-spacing: 1pt; text-transform: uppercase;">August
19, 2013 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 24pt;">Priebus
Hits a Home Run<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Bruce Bialosky<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3PFJLnB3W3EBYXCcvZ2wOYt1-O-OlY2y22n1XljqkElxCK8eXe1GnGsn28kZNIMB9lVE7U7ONMwvz52UhO_GmCuun1U7bYuF-e8N8SJM_f0D_mrm5PplYUydhyMx9weXTxA7SYUmln-Vt/s1600/Priebus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3PFJLnB3W3EBYXCcvZ2wOYt1-O-OlY2y22n1XljqkElxCK8eXe1GnGsn28kZNIMB9lVE7U7ONMwvz52UhO_GmCuun1U7bYuF-e8N8SJM_f0D_mrm5PplYUydhyMx9weXTxA7SYUmln-Vt/s320/Priebus.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">Finally
the Republicans have someone in charge that is not afraid of his own shadow.
Republicans are always cowering to the mainstream press while they mutter about
the corrosiveness of it. If he keeps it up, the Republicans might actually win
the U.S. Senate in 2014 and the Presidency in 2016. We are referring, of
course, to Reince Priebus, Chair of the Republican National Committee (RNC).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">You
probably have heard that two television operations announced they were doing
projects about Hillary Clinton. NBC has plans to produce and air a four hour
mini-series about Hillary Clinton and CNN has plans for a documentary. Diane
Lane has been attached to the NBC mini-series to play Ms. Clinton which speaks
to the evenhandedness of that program. That is equivalent to a film about my
life story with Brad Pitt in the starring role. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">In
a previous world, we would not even be having this discussion. These projects
would never ever have been brought forward because even my dogs know Hillary
Clinton is running for president in 2016, and the appearance of a potential
conflict of interest would be killed by the news divisions. But that does not
happen any longer. When CBS’s Les Moonves, head of TV’s most successful
network, stated while attending a Barack Obama fundraiser that “ultimately
journalism has changed… partisanship is very much a part of journalism now,”
why would anyone believe that NBC and CNN would be even-handed? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">They
have defended their respective decisions by stating that the entertainment
departments were planning these programs. NBC can at least attempt this ploy
since they have an entertainment division (their ratings for the past decade
notwithstanding). CNN, which last time anyone checked, is solely a news
network. Their argument is that CNN Films, a division of CNN Worldwide, is
doing the film. One wonders if CNN Sports is next. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">Fortunately
Mr. Priebus saw through this charade and finally drew a line that should have
been drawn years ago. Priebus must have been watching in 1992 when Carole
Simpson of ABC News hosted a debate that was so slanted against President
George H.W. Bush you would have thought she was on the Clinton payroll. He
certainly was watching as Candy Crowley of CNN injected herself in the debate
between President Obama and Mitt Romney with an absolutely wrong answer
regarding what Obama said September 12, 2012, about Benghazi and terrorism,
thus ending Romney’s attempt to unsettle Obama on a critical issue.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">Priebus
came out and stated the obvious; that if these two operations went forth with
their Hillary projects the Republicans would not play ball with them during the
2016 election cycle. That means the Republican primary debates would be held on
networks other than NBC, MSNBC or CNN. One has to wonder why Republicans would
have debates on these networks in the first place -- as if they would be fair
and even-handed. Envision Lawrence O’Donnell asking Marco Rubio why his
policies encourage the starvation of young children.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">When
Priebus appeared on Fox News’ Special Report, he misspoke when being
interviewed by Bret Baier by stating the RNC would want to approve the
moderators for debates. Baier jumped on that, but Priebus is not far off. Maybe
the RNC should not approve moderators, but they certainly should be able to
veto moderators who they have every reason to believe would be less than fair
in critical moments of debates. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">Priebus
appears to be on firm ground. Chuck Todd of NBC News came out and said that the
proposed mini-series would be a nightmare for the news division. Andrea
Mitchell followed up criticizing the project. It is nice to see that the
network of Huntley, Brinkley, Chancellor and Brokaw still has a modicum of
integrity. Unfortunately voices have been silent at CNN. How NBC can go forward
with their political reporters in open revolt will be fascinating to watch.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">Kudos
to Priebus for coming forth and saying we aren’t going to take it any longer.
This follows on the heels of some other common-sense decisions that sources say
are coming down the pipeline. These decisions include actual full-blown
outreach to minorities, moving the national convention to June and limiting the
endless string of primary debates to a set number that will only protect all
candidates from the supercilious situation that occurred in 2012. Next thing
you know, the RNC will be establishing integrated candidate development from
the grassroots through the national level – actual cooperation for all levels
of the Republican Party. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">If
the mainstream media revamps how they operate to recognize the new reality that
was clearly enunciated by CBS President Les Moonves, then Republicans need to
confront that new reality and adjust how they operate. Priebus took the first
step and it was a Crush Davis grand slam. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<a href="http://townhall.com/columnists/brucebialosky/2013/08/18/priebus-hits-a-home-run-n1665768?utm_source=TopBreakingNewsCarousel&utm_medium=story&utm_campaign=BreakingNewsCarousel" target="_blank">Priebus Hits a Homerun</a>Bruce Houghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01790249087730952684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785098723477419442.post-52595533990384903562013-03-31T21:52:00.000-06:002013-03-31T21:52:00.997-06:00Easter - A Time of Rebirth and Renewal<!--?import namespace = g_vml_ urn = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" implementation
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<div class="date-outer" closure_uid_197126018="23" style="border: currentColor; left: 1px; margin: 0px; position: relative; top: 1px;">
<h2 class="date-header">
<span>Sunday, March 31, 2013</span></h2>
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<a href="http://www.brucehough.blogspot.com/2010/04/easter-holiday-christianitys-most.html">Celebrating
Easter... the Foundation of my Faith</a> </h3>
<div class="post-header">
<div class="post-header-line-1">
<b><i>(Note: to those friends of mine who
are not Christian, I hope you have enjoyed your traditions, religious or
otherwise, at this time of year. Though our religious beliefs may differ, our
friendship may endure under the God who made us all. My best wishes to you and
your families during this season of spring and new life.)</i></b><br /><br />In
this season of rebirth and renewal, as buds reappear on the trees after a long winter, and
the blades of grass green, and the plants push through the once frozen soil, we
are reminded of He who was dead and yet now lives, even Jesus Christ. But this
wondrous event of the resurrection was necessarily preceded by the sacrifice of
our Redeemer and as the hymn reflects my own thoughts,<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh35ZvHJKvnRjqh7jHZM_5Cx8GsCDrMu-gpTcGapsbO-f1zp87ZzNPYeqg_JOWAUq6RBrrbQsMebunk4AtN5US-KsOhkJbCzaLFkKdjdkZw2oTeAFQC3Yllu8rQW5-yRXe01JUrteU4DTbF/s1600/ArtBook__056_056__JesusPrayingInGethsemane____.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" closure_uid_554193036="7" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456342003437863138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh35ZvHJKvnRjqh7jHZM_5Cx8GsCDrMu-gpTcGapsbO-f1zp87ZzNPYeqg_JOWAUq6RBrrbQsMebunk4AtN5US-KsOhkJbCzaLFkKdjdkZw2oTeAFQC3Yllu8rQW5-yRXe01JUrteU4DTbF/s200/ArtBook__056_056__JesusPrayingInGethsemane____.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: right; height: 200px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 152px;" /></a></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="color: #990000;">"I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers
me,</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #990000;">Confused at the grace that so fully he
proffers me.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #990000;">I tremble to know that for me he was
crucified,</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #990000;">that for me, a sinner, he suffered, he bled
and died.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="color: #990000;">I marvel that he would descend from his throne
divine</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #990000;">To RESCUE a soul so rebellious and proud as
mine,</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #990000;">that he should extend his great love unto such
as I,</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #990000;">Sufficient to own, to redeem, and to
justify.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="color: #990000;">I think of his hands pierced and bleeding to
pay the debt:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyFhoRvPp_27amLZJzLMAkoBY275qSyAyNwO3pn7m_4MgOUXWBPE4TiwC7T9xl7QZLwz8Tbkqoq6LnoLW4XtCwsCNdn0aUJi_u25MdDtcUmp909y7XJ-duNL56LthTU3yqlT2f1xW88gNG/s1600/ArtBook__057_057__TheCrucifixion____.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" closure_uid_554193036="8" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456331142658586754" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyFhoRvPp_27amLZJzLMAkoBY275qSyAyNwO3pn7m_4MgOUXWBPE4TiwC7T9xl7QZLwz8Tbkqoq6LnoLW4XtCwsCNdn0aUJi_u25MdDtcUmp909y7XJ-duNL56LthTU3yqlT2f1xW88gNG/s320/ArtBook__057_057__TheCrucifixion____.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: right; height: 162px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 149px;" /></a></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #990000;">such mercy, such love, and devotion can I
forget?</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #990000;">No, no, I iwll praise and adore at the mercy
seat,</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #990000;">Until at the glorified throne I kneel at his
feet.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="color: #990000;">Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me
Enough to die for me!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #990000;">Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to
me!"</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #990000;">(Charles H. Gabriel 1856-1932)</span></div>
<div>
<br /><span style="color: black;">Know that the promise of the Atonement, begun in
Gethsemane and culminating on Golgotha, </span>is for us all, if we will but
repent of our transgressions and accept Christ's redeeming power. Christ has felt every pain, every anguish, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual.</div>
<div>
<br />It is Christ's suffering that satisfies the law of justice that all
sins must be punished, and through his mercy, grace and love, he tempers that
law for each of us. How unloving would we be if we allow Him to have suffered on our behalf, having already paid the price, and we do nothing? All he asks, is that we love Him and love our neighbor, and we do that by obeying His word and abandoning sin. By doing so we show our love for all He has
done for us and we make effective in our lives His Atonement. This is the road
to Eternal Life.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQdoFafdR05OqIgMAPxZexxEtEpjUlK6cGfDjVYBMEZhVJpAsCvVKHffrbEjFWWteLKZRypEp9WC2RCkcKIcy33PF0SgLy9IQjKXHPzVO9YaNihtokq3bH_t9zUONIdBQp4x5yT8CHKzui/s1600/ArtBook__059_059__MaryAndTheResurrectedJesusChrist____.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" closure_uid_554193036="9" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456341641768021106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQdoFafdR05OqIgMAPxZexxEtEpjUlK6cGfDjVYBMEZhVJpAsCvVKHffrbEjFWWteLKZRypEp9WC2RCkcKIcy33PF0SgLy9IQjKXHPzVO9YaNihtokq3bH_t9zUONIdBQp4x5yT8CHKzui/s320/ArtBook__059_059__MaryAndTheResurrectedJesusChrist____.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 241px;" /></a>And now on this Easter day we celebrate the gift
given to all mankind by the Savior. The Resurrection; the promise that all will
live again with a body perfected and immortal. </div>
<div>
<br />Knowing that Christ lives is my testimony. And more, He has provided a
way back to live with him and our Father in Heaven through His atoning
sacrifice, for which "I Stand All Amazed!"</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
This hymn summarizes well my testimony:</div>
<div>
<span style="color: #990000;">"I know that my Redeemer lives. What comfort
this sweet sentence gives! He lives, he lives, who once was dead. He lives, my
ever living Head. He lives to bless me with his love. he lives to plead for me
above. He lives my hungry soul to feed. He lives to bless in time of
need.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #990000;">He lives to grant me rich supply. He lives to
guide me with his eye. He lives to comfort me when faint. He lives to hear my
soul's complaint. He lives to silence all my fears. He lives to wipe away my
tears. He lives to calm my troubled heart. he lives all blessings to
impart.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #990000;">He lives, my kind, wise heavenly Friend. He
lives and loves me to the end. He lives, and while he lives, I'll sing. He
lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King. He lives and grants me daily breath. He
lives, and I shall conquer death. He lives my mansion to prepare. He lives to
bring me safely there</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #990000;">. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #990000;">He lives! All glory to his name! He lives, my
Savior, still the same. Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives: "I know that my
Redeemer lives!" He lives! All glory to his name! He lives, my Savior, still the
same. Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives: "I know that my Redeemer
lives!"</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #990000;">(<i>Text</i>: Samuel Medley, 1738-1799;
<i>Music</i>: Lewis D. Edwards, 1858-1921)</span></div>
<br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456338370680467266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjij6UuqiUVZWfSpv5QTgA4cho7GiYoAlWVvuHu3ArfAt5vuUp4xKXVkAtmU2KnRL5QFVjPICubNfB8WBbE8lWLNYD2z6HLea1aLHc_qfuEVtuY_aGV2tk3fe9DQoux1v5jVTMqUQu3-7BS/s400/ArtBook__066_066__TheSecondComing____.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" />
May God bless you, your family and friends. And, may we be worthy to receive
His blessings.</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Bruce Houghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01790249087730952684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785098723477419442.post-81365299815071032132013-03-11T16:40:00.001-06:002013-03-11T16:40:27.696-06:00Deborah, but Borah to all who knew her... RIPNot only did this come unexpectedly but causes us great sadness to not have Borah with us. She was an accomplished and outstanding human being and an outspoken proponent of our constitutional freedoms. It was a wonderful pleasure to be around her and her wonderful attitude and spirit. Our association on the Republican National Committee was our gain... and now our loss. My deepest condolences to Borah's family, may God bless them in this time of loss; may He give solace by the fact that her good life is a witness to His glory. Now she joins Him who is the maker of us all. (see the message sent by the Republican Party of Texas)<br />
<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 9pt;"><a href="http://clicks.electionemail.com/trkr/?c=3672&g=2624&p=0557aeab6d17765f1a6e3c6194a5e880&u=d4371b668e67c879e5978fee18ef1f01&q=&t=1"><span style="color: blue; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><img alt="Borah" border="0" height="127" id="_x0000_i1025" src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/texasgop_pre/assets/original/rpt%20and%20tfrw%20header.png?2013" width="600" /></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">Rest In Peace,
Borah Van Dormolen</span></strong><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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style='position:absolute;margin-left:50pt;margin-top:0;width:90pt;height:112.5pt;
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img align="right" alt="Borah" height="150" src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/texasgop_pre/assets/original/PO-committeewoman.jpg" v:shapes="_x0000_s1026" width="120" /><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">The Texas
Federation of Republican Women and the Republican Party of Texas, together,
with heavy hearts, have been asked by the family to inform those in Borah’s
Republican family of the tragic passing of our beloved friend, Lt. Col. Borah
Van Dormolen. Borah passed away at 2:00 pm this afternoon as the result
of a serious heart attack she suffered last week. All of us who are
members of the TFRW and are active within the RPT are devastated by the loss
of such a wonderful woman who devoted so much of her life to the betterment
of her country. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">After
serving her country in the US Army and achieving the rank of Lt. Colonel,
Borah continued to commit her life to promoting the values of liberty and
freedom when others might have retired quietly. In 2010 she was honored as
the “Distinguished Military Retiree” for Texas for her outstanding
contributions to both active duty and retired service members and their
families. She also held a gubernatorial appointment to the Texas State
Cemetery Commission.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"> As
of today, Borah was serving her second term as Republican National
Committeewoman from Texas and had recently been elected to represent the Lone
Star State on the Rules Committee of the RNC. She also served as
President of the Texas Federation of Republican Women, and dedicated her many
talents to different board positions within the TFRW for many years.
She also served on the Executive Committee of Maggie’s List, a political
action committee focused on recruiting, training and supporting women running
for congressional office. Borah was not only a servant but also a
mentor for candidates and volunteers and was responsible for hosting
candidate trainings across the state of Texas. Borah has been active in
hundreds of campaigns, organizing and leading volunteers in critical voter
identification and Get Out the Vote efforts. Through all of her volunteer
work, Borah found time to be a loving wife. She and her husband, Rich Castle,
recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary on a cruise through the
Pacific<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">Republican
leaders and friends across the state and nation today mourn her loss.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">From
Republican Party of Texas Chairman Steve Munisteri, “One of the great privileges
of my life is to get to know and work with someone whom I consider to be an
amazing woman, Borah Van Dormolen. Over the past several years I have
had a chance to personally observe her tireless work on behalf of the
Republican Party of Texas but more importantly on behalf of the country she
loved dearly and served so well for so long. It is hard to believe that she
is gone, having just been with her at last weekend’s SREC meeting when she
was her usual, passionate, energetic and inspiring self. What always
impressed me the most about Borah was her kind hearted spirit and how she
always treated other people with dignity and respect. There will never
be another Borah and we will miss her deeply. On behalf of the RPT
family, we extend our heartfelt condolences to her husband, Rich, and to her
family.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">From Texas
Federation of Republican Women President, Carolyn Hodges, “TFRW mourns the
passing of our dear friend and colleague, Borah Van Dormolen. Borah was
an inspiration to me as I began my path as a Republican Woman. Her
leadership in the Texas Federation of Republican Women was bold and
decisive. Her common sense, her sense of humor, intelligence, and
caring for Republicans set her apart from others. She was a dynamic and
enthusiastic leader who was respected and loved across our state and
nation. Borah traveled tirelessly across Texas giving her all.
Everyone who met and heard Borah immediately began to share her enthusiasm
and vision. Let us all carry on as Borah would want us to do and be the
Republicans she would be proud of - focusing on unity.”<strong><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span></strong><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">At this
time, memorial arrangements are pending. The RPT and TFRW will inform
you of the details as soon as we have them.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"><img alt="Borah Multi" border="0" height="136" id="_x0000_i1026" src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/texasgop_pre/assets/original/Borah%20multi.png?2013" width="600" /><o:p></o:p></span><br />
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Bruce Houghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01790249087730952684noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785098723477419442.post-61784919928509938232013-03-04T09:37:00.001-07:002013-03-04T09:37:43.740-07:00Sequester... a Fabricated Disaster<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">It is incredibly disengenuous of the POTUS to be playing the blame game on something that he created... As his former chief of staff was fond of saying, "Never let a crisis go to waste..."; why should you if you can leverage it with the media and the public to marginalize your opposition and ultimately get what you want. Remember, only in Washington D.C. is a "Cut" defined as a reduction in next years "Increase"! That is what we are talking about. What it really does is take everyone's attention away from the really important work of tax reform, entitlement reform, energy costs, a failing foreign policy, and more. The master of deflection and misdirection has done it again... we are talking about "crumbs" when we need to be talking about the pie.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 9pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><img height="370" id="_x0000_i1025" src="http://images.electionemail.com/client_id_2412/sequestrationPie.jpg" width="500" /></span>Bruce Houghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01790249087730952684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785098723477419442.post-7955091676980645492012-11-07T08:54:00.001-07:002012-11-07T08:59:35.796-07:00"These are the times that try men's souls..."<b><i>"These are the times that try men's souls: The summer soldier and the
sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his
country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of
man and woman."</i></b><br />
<br />
Thomas Paine wrote those words when it looked like we might lose the American Revolution. There were many who were simply walking away from the battlefield and the army. It was a difficult time and Paine was challenging those who despaired to reflect on their own character, to ask the question if they were "fair weather"<i><b> (sunshine)</b></i> patriots or had the spirit of perseverance regardless of obstacles and set-backs.<br />
<br />
We find ourselves needing to ask ourselves the same questions. We still love our country. We still have a duty to defend the constitution and its principles. We still have wonderful leaders who will fight for our cause. We need to carry on.<br />
<br />
There is no question that as the election data is collected, sliced, diced, and analyzed, we will find chinks in our armor. We already know that we have work to do to reach out better to women, youth, and minorities. But we need not, nor should not despair. Let's take a moment... a brief moment to lick our wounds of defeat and to rejoice in our victories (yes, we did have some of those too!) and then<i><b> "let us not shrink from the service of (our) country"</b></i>. Let's welcome the feeling of vitality and energy and face with courage, the challenge before us.<br />
<br />
President Obama did not receive a mandate from the electorate. And though we must stand by our principles, we must also do as our nominee encouraged us last night, and pray for our president and our country. I like the old saying that we must "Pray like everything depends on God, and work like everything depends on us".<br />
<br />
I am by design an optimistic person but I do not see through "rose colored" glasses either. I do have hope, which overcomes discouragement and I do have faith that we can affect those around us in a positive way. But it does depend on each of us. I hope and pray that we can <b><i>"stand by it now"</i></b> and work together to accomplish what is necessary to preserve our country for our children and grandchildren.<br />
<br />
This morning my friend Pete Ricketts from Nebraska reminded me of one of my favorite quotes from Winston Churchill, <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><em>"Never give in--never, never, never, never, in nothing
great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honour
and good sense. Never yield to force, never yield to the apparently
overwhelming might of the enemy."</em></b></span></span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
<br />
<br />
God bless you and God bless the United States of America.<br />
<br />
Bruce R. Hough<br />
National Committeeman, Utah<br />
www.brucehough.blogspot.com<br />
<br />
<br />Bruce Houghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01790249087730952684noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785098723477419442.post-25714393850192457332012-11-06T15:48:00.004-07:002012-11-06T15:48:33.066-07:00Why Mitt Wins Ohio<!--[if !mso]>
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<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><span style="color: #488793; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="color: red;">Some really great analysis on why Mitt wins Ohio!</span> </span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><a href="http://disreport.net/2012/11/06/ohio-forecast/" title=""><span style="color: #488793; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">EARLY VOTING RESULTS: DisReport Forecasts Mitt Romney Will Likely
Win Ohio</span></a></span></b></div>
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<i><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">by <a href="http://twitter.com/jtantley"><span style="color: #488793; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Trevor Antley</span></a> and
Calvin Roberts.</span></i><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Forecast: Mitt Romney Will Likely Win Ohio</span></b><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Abstract:
Actual reported early voting data requires that early voting will represent no
more than 32% of total vote in Ohio, while virtually every poll was weighted
for early voting to occupy ~35-40% of total votes cast. The
smaller-than-expected number of early votes means one of two things: 1) 2012
will see </span></i><i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">historically </span></i><i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">low voter turnout in Ohio; or 2) Mitt Romney has a much better
chance at Ohio than polls assumed.</span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Late Monday night the
Ohio Secretary of State released the “final” early voting results from Ohio’s
counties. The results got the attention — and slight consternation — of the New
York Times’</span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/"><span style="color: #488793; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Nate Silver</span></a>.</span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://twitter.com/redistrict"><span style="color: #488793; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Dave Wasserman</span></a></span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">kindly put the data
into a spreadsheet</span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AjYj9mXElO_QdFJPNUt4U3F5MkxteTBoS29fSGN1S0E#gid=0"><span style="color: #488793; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">here</span></a>, which tabulates early voting results by county and
compares that data to early voting results from 2008. Wasserman’s spreadsheet
also notes Kerry’s 2004 margins and Obama’s 2008 margins, allowing one to
effectively deduce the partisan-leanings of each county.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In a discussion on
Twitter, Silver and Wasserman focused largely on the surprise changes in
turnout in many of Ohio’s counties. While total early voting in Ohio only
increased by 2.44% from 2008, early voting in counties that voted heavily for
Kerry/Obama declined 4.1% while counties that voted heavily Bush/McCain
increased their early voting by a shocking 14.39%. Wasserman, while still
predicting an Obama victory, suggested that trend meant a tighter race in Ohio
than expected and suggested it might undercut Nate Silver’s famous forecast.</span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://twitter.com/fivethirtyeight/status/265744250786963456"><span style="color: #488793; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Nate Silver’s response</span></a>: “I’ll stick with the 538 forecast in
OH. I disagree that the early voting data there provides much reason to doubt
the polls.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .2in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Seemingly overlooked
by Silver, however, during the discussion of county-by-county results was the
simple number of total reported early votes: a meager 1,787,346. As stated
above, this number shows a 2.44% increase in early voting from 2008 — but the
number is still surprisingly low. Virtually every Ohio poll this cycle was
weighted on the basis that early voting would occupy a massive chunk of the
total Ohio vote. Rasmussen’s final poll ceded 40% of the total vote to early
voters (EVs). PPP gave EV’s a more reasonable 35%. The Columbus Dispatch
calculated early voting to take up an astounding 47% of the total Ohio vote.
Almost every other Ohio poll seems to have weighted early voting between 35%
and 45% of the total vote.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .2in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The reported early
voting numbers, however, show that virtually every single Ohio poll
overestimated the amount of early votes cast. If early voting is calculated at
1,787,346, in order for total voter turnout to rival 2004 numbers, early voting
cannot occupy more than 32% of the total votes cast — and even in that
scenario, that high of a percentage means that total voter turnout will be
lower than it was in 2008. In order for turnout to match 2008 levels, early
voting can only account for 31% of total votes cast.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .2in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The next important
piece of data is what the polls consistently report: Obama leads by huge
margins among early voters but trails Romney among those who say they will vote
on election day. This inverse in voting segments is why the proportion of early
votes in the total votes — and that virtually every poll overestimated this
proportion — is so tantamount. In most polls (which usually only have Obama
leading by a small margin, although some give him a more comfortable ~+5%),
lowering the percentage of early votes in the polling sample means lowering
Obama’s lead drastically. And when Obama’s lead is only one or two percentage
points, that can mean handing the election to Mitt Romney.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .2in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Our forecast is based
largely on the reported margins between Romney and Obama among early voters and
election day voters as reported by the Columbus Dispatch, Rasmussen, and other
polls (all polling data considered is represented in the graphic below). The
Columbus Dispatch gives Obama +15% among early voters; Rasmussen gives him a
much wider 23%. Other polls for Ohio EVs: CNN/Opinion Research, Obama +28;
Gravis Marketing, Obama +13; PPP, Obama +21. For our forecast we assumed a more
conservative Obama +18 among EVs, averaging Rasmussen and the Columbus
Dispatch.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .2in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In 2008 Obama won 58%
of early voting against John McCain, who had virtually no get-out-the-vote
infrastructure in Ohio; our model, giving Obama a 18% lead, again assumes he
will win that 58% of early voters despite the fact that Mitt Romney is putting
forth a much more competitive get-out-the-vote campaign and disregarding the
GOP-leaning trend in early voting results of individual Ohio counties. When one
considers the results from individual Ohio counties this cycle, Obama’s actual
margin among EVs may actually be much lower (although without specific partisan
data, it’s also possible that Obama’s margins have actually increased —
although this seems extraordinarily more unlikely). But because this is
impossible to determine without actual breakdowns of the early vote, which are
not yet available, those implications are not included in this model.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In determining the
margin among</span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <i>election day voters</i></span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, the same polls were considered. For election day voters,
Rasmussen has Romney +15; Columbus Dispatch, Romney +11; and CNN/Opinion
Research, Romney +13. PPP and Gravis Marketing both had Romney’s election day
margins at a much smaller +3. For our forecast, we assume Romney’s election day
voter margins at 13%, an average of the first three polls. The consistency and
disparity between the first three and the latter two polls made it difficult to
average them since margins of error do not explain such a
clear discrepancy between the two groups.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In this scenario —
which seems to be supported by the majority of polls and early voting trends
(but is notably not supported by</span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <i>all</i> </span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">polls, as seen in the previous paragraph) — Romney should win
Ohio. Based on these assumptions — which in turn are based on a combination of
polling data and the state’s actual reported early vote — if early voting
accounts for 32% of the vote (a very conservative number which would place
total voter turnout slightly below that of 2004), Romney wins by a whopping
50.9% to Obama’s 47.8%. The higher voter turnout is — and therefore the lower
the percentage of early votes in total votes — the higher Romney’s margin
becomes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .2in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In this scenario, even
if we assume our model’s margins between Obama and Romney among early voters
and election day voters are somehow skewed in Romney’s favor, Romney still has
padding that those margins could be reduced and he still wins. If early voting
is only 31% of the total vote — putting Ohio’s total vote at just above 2008
levels — Romney has incredibly more wiggle room.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9EgRmiGF0bLnyO-42G0GFF2mBzQV1KzAZu644QL8ee8GmS_yKC9Z0V1fjR3Xc8xe1hWY8UGJTJOGRfb5CEVSggrAi53bdleOZgjqtX_hra5MmaIZ3H0utiHeBckExriPCi_uJOypOTNp/s1600/ohioresults.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9EgRmiGF0bLnyO-42G0GFF2mBzQV1KzAZu644QL8ee8GmS_yKC9Z0V1fjR3Xc8xe1hWY8UGJTJOGRfb5CEVSggrAi53bdleOZgjqtX_hra5MmaIZ3H0utiHeBckExriPCi_uJOypOTNp/s640/ohioresults.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> http://josephantley.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/ohioresults.png </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
lower-than-anticipated turnout among early voters suggests the Obama campaign’s
lead in Ohio was largely hot air. And this does not even seriously consider the
county-by-county early voting results, which appear to be even more damaging to
Obama. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b><u><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Reasons Why This Projection May Turn Out to be Wrong</span></u></b><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In the case that the
final early voting numbers reported by the Ohio secretary of state are
incorrect and the final early voting results will include statistically
significant additions, obviously this projection will have no meaning.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As seen above, some of
the polling data used in the projection (such as Romney’s margin among election
day voters) is supported by several independent polling organizations but not
by some others. If it turns out that the fewer polls’ results were right, then
obviously our entire model is skewed too heavily towards Romney.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Some have raised the
possibility that effects from Hurricane Sandy stifled early voting in the final
days and these early voters will simply vote for Obama on election day,
increasing his election day margins beyond what polls indicated. In this
scenario the polls are essentially still correct; Obama’s early voting margin
was simply reallocated to his election day margin. There is no solid data to
show that this is the case, but it is certainly possible.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There is always the
chance that the government and electorate will decide simply to defer to Nate
Silver’s forecast and forget this whole voting nonsense. Since our forecast is
based largely on</span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <i>actual votes</i></span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, not subjectively weighted aggregates of polls, this would make
our projection essentially meaningless.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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Bruce Houghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01790249087730952684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785098723477419442.post-42267589175831379972012-10-29T10:19:00.001-06:002012-10-29T10:26:51.263-06:00Obama and Libya, Incompetence, Deceit, or Both<br />
It is beyond comprehension that the Obama administration has so fundamentally botched their response (s) to the Benghazi attack on the U.S. Ambassador and other Americans. The fact that they botched, or rather failed to protect our citizens has been well articulated. (see this statement by <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mg-e71IDAUw&feature=share" target="_blank">Judge Jeanine</a>. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mg-e71IDAUw&feature=share">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mg-e71IDAUw&feature=share</a>).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy7jRB3Zo1VLhJEQZNvR2xyUZQ1BHlUmKYNSjua72AuPd4LL0LrRFfR6avvo6RIotE1paN5HlqQbustRoIt2Vbtd2Ct0iIA2HCG5bMzDh6bcvtYsD9BifXRrtt_z3r2xjj6ggXSMuIdnSm/s1600/Benghazi+attack.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy7jRB3Zo1VLhJEQZNvR2xyUZQ1BHlUmKYNSjua72AuPd4LL0LrRFfR6avvo6RIotE1paN5HlqQbustRoIt2Vbtd2Ct0iIA2HCG5bMzDh6bcvtYsD9BifXRrtt_z3r2xjj6ggXSMuIdnSm/s1600/Benghazi+attack.jpeg" /></a></div>
It was September 11th, everyone knew that this would be a day to be especially sensitive to the possibility/probability of a terrorist attack. Terrorists have a penchant for punctuating their violence on meaningful dates... it is apparently a terrorist creed to instill irony in their terror actions.<br />
<br />
Libya has been and is a hotbed of terrorist activity and support. Requests for additional security went unheeded.<br />
<br />
The first statements from the White House and the State Department blamed an unreleased anti-Islamic film and they rushed to condemn it (free speech in America, that is constitutionally protected by the way). This "theory" of causation for the attack was quickly debunked by nearly every credible source within hours, not days.<br />
<br />
For the next ten days, no one from the White House or the State Department acknowledged this was a terrorist attack that was planned and executed by extremely well armed and prepared insurgents. This was no spontaneous act.<br />
<br />
Mr. President, to say you "didn't know" implies that you did not have the resources to obtain real time information. (We now know that there was real time information available).<br />
<br />
To say you "didn't know" implies that if the resources were available, that no one, not one of your cabinet level or other staff told you about the real time events and then didn't tell you the truth while your press secretary and ambassador to the U.N. were spinning the "we didn't know" story.<br />
<br />
It is the height of incredulity to assume you didn't know. You are the President of the United States with a situation room, named such because it gathers all intelligence to give YOU the situation so YOU can make decisions in consultation with your cabinet and staff.<br />
<br />
I don't believe for a minute that You "didn't know". That would be an indictment of too many agencies and departments and people who live day in and day out to protect the U.S. and its citizens.<br />
<br />
I would have been willing to give You, the President, the benefit of the doubt if you had even responded with a statement that said, "Look, this is a National Security issue and there are more lives at stake that we are protecting and we are protecting the interests of the U.S. and are unable to get into the details of this situation at the moment." That at least would have implied that You were engaged in the process, that you knew what was going on, but there were higher National interests at stake here.<br />
<br />
Instead, You <u>blamed</u> the video, You <u>blamed</u> the lack of information, You <u>blamed</u> others, You even <u>blamed</u> Governor Romney!. That may work in political elections, but it never works as Commander in Chief of the United States of America. The blame game shows weakness and disregard for those you serve, starting first with those have died and those who are still in harms way, and the citizens of this country.<br />
<br />
The truth is coming out. It shows that You knew everything, You had the resources to respond, and You chose not to even try and save the lives of your ambassador and those serving with him. <b>If there was a valid reason for not acting, great... tell is there was a reason for not acting...</b> You don't even have to tell us why if it is a National Security issue... but at least <b>You should be straight with the families of those who lost their lives and with the American people.</b> At best You have been disingenuous, at worst You have outright lied. You cannot feign not knowing, You cannot stand behind the excuse of incompetence (though if that were true it would demand a change at every level starting with You!).<br />
<br />
Either way, it is an indictment of You as President, You know... where the buck stops.<br />
<br />Bruce Houghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01790249087730952684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785098723477419442.post-68025937423190287432012-10-29T09:06:00.000-06:002012-10-29T09:06:01.091-06:00Mitt Romney’s Quiet Prayer Amidst The Sound Of Thunder<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge6jS_G_IfYmgYP2GpabmlO6LIO_mmgu1wlFgHlvA7LakA78XKOyXnZmvuEvRuzKCfMcjXJDys1czTk576MqR6T16Pf_7rXyATCJwrE4Pz_g6vaGvYufsUB5PLYyVc8-AxlzSaEaBneuj6/s1600/Romney+at+Red+Rocks+Colorado.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge6jS_G_IfYmgYP2GpabmlO6LIO_mmgu1wlFgHlvA7LakA78XKOyXnZmvuEvRuzKCfMcjXJDys1czTk576MqR6T16Pf_7rXyATCJwrE4Pz_g6vaGvYufsUB5PLYyVc8-AxlzSaEaBneuj6/s320/Romney+at+Red+Rocks+Colorado.bmp" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">Red Rocks Colorado is a fabulous venue and famous for great concerts of every musical genre. As a site for a political rally it was equal in every way to any event held there. And then this small anecdote, witnessed but by a few during a time of frenetic energy and acclaim... a reflective moment of humility and acknowledgement, something I want in my President. </span></strong><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></strong><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;"></span>
<em><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">It was
described as something very peaceful and powerful that came over that backstage
area for a moment. And the governor, he lowers his head and his eyes shut tight
and you could see him take a slow deep breath and then he lets it out and says
quietly, but just loud enough for some to hear, “Lord, if this is your will,
please help to make me worthy. Please give me the strength Lord.” And then his
eyes open up, and he’s back to smiling and laughing and shaking hands and being
the candidate once again.</span></em><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><a href="http://clicks.electionemail.com/trkr/?c=2412&g=1102&u=6fe612dd59fe25627181a39878bbce70&p=29695fcad867184958687f5cc6f3cd39&t=1">http://theulstermanreport.com/2012/10/25/white-house-insider-mitt-romneys-quiet-prayer-amidst-the-sound-of-thunder/</a></span><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;"></span><br />
Bruce Houghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01790249087730952684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785098723477419442.post-56266282423827618032012-10-04T17:10:00.003-06:002012-10-04T17:11:41.727-06:00Jim Lehrer, Best Moderator Ever!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXc0xchM2HqhiAI0w9gPc3aHX_m_FTs4Wnw51Erz7AUBd58A-dV3IC5sQQF3DGSIyHdXiXOHjatQDNIGIV6EIzgv0ffmlzmxLkrJuKi10GCTgdQ1iPkUzupELEAapSOf7JxZVa3OGb3GIG/s1600/Romney+Obama+Debate+Picture" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXc0xchM2HqhiAI0w9gPc3aHX_m_FTs4Wnw51Erz7AUBd58A-dV3IC5sQQF3DGSIyHdXiXOHjatQDNIGIV6EIzgv0ffmlzmxLkrJuKi10GCTgdQ1iPkUzupELEAapSOf7JxZVa3OGb3GIG/s320/Romney+Obama+Debate+Picture" width="320" /></a></div>
Last nights first Presidential Debate between President Obama and Governor Mitt Romney was in a word...<br />
Terrific! <br />
It was in fact the best Presidential Debate I have seen and I've seen them all for the last three decades. So what made the debate so great? (Besides my guy winning of course...)<br />
<br />
<b>1.</b> <b>Jim Lehrer was perhaps the best moderator ever.</b> Why? Because just like a well refereed basketball game, he didn't get in the way of the players. Don't you just hate it when the referee calls those ticky tack fouls and it slows down the game to the point where it not only loses its enjoyment as a spectator but you can't see the players delivering their best. Jim Lehrer did what a "moderator" should do, he moderated. He didn't inject himself into the debate as a participant. He didn't ask "gotcha" questions; he didn't take anyone's side (if anything he deferred a bit to President Obama by giving him four more minutes than Governor Romney, oh, you didn't know that, yeah it's true); he didn't want the limelight.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN4AVB17eOTQiWfT14FS0tNg-7y7_oUvkZwI_pVlJLuquG46pQw1wYyzJFb5tgh5rTYkUDAREr_X0L1kL8Xg24zIsRnJJnJpZgXi9IotTL9V3jT6MLT3NcLwX3th8KtcTfwFcO3clWjG2w/s1600/Jim+Lehrer" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN4AVB17eOTQiWfT14FS0tNg-7y7_oUvkZwI_pVlJLuquG46pQw1wYyzJFb5tgh5rTYkUDAREr_X0L1kL8Xg24zIsRnJJnJpZgXi9IotTL9V3jT6MLT3NcLwX3th8KtcTfwFcO3clWjG2w/s200/Jim+Lehrer" width="200" /></a>For me, and I think every voter/citizen who watched the debate, saw a real debate. Saw each candidate on their own doing what they could do to make their case, unfiltered and unfettered. Some of the media suggested that Jim Lehrer "lost control". On the contrary, he used judgement and deference to the audience and participants to make sure both were best served. In the media, Jim Lehrer is my new hero. He sacrificed self for substance. Something that many of his colleagues, who still call themselves journalists, could learn from.<br />
<br />
This was the fastest 90 minutes on television and it did exactly what it was supposed to do. Inform the public on what each candidate believes and who they are.<br />
<br />
<b>2.</b> <b>Romney proved himself a credible world leader.</b> If anyone has questioned Mitt Romney's ability to handle himself in a face to face with any world leader, last night's debate should have laid that doubt to rest. Romney was self-assured, not because of ego, but because he has a <b>lifetime of experience</b> dealing with unhappy facts that he turns into profitable and/or successful situations. He has done it in <b>business</b>, he has done it with the <b>Olympics</b>, he has done it with the<b> State of Massachusetts</b>, and he has done it in his <b>personal life of compassionate and charitable service</b>. <b>His debate preparation was mostly irrelevant <u>because</u> of his life preparation. </b><br />
<br />
Romney did not need to resort to "zingers" (though there were a few from both sides) because he is a<b> master of the facts</b> and more importantly he is a<b> master of the underlying principles of what makes America exceptional.</b> Good for Jim Lehrer to ask perhaps one of the most fundamental questions that must be asked during this campaign... "How do you view the role of the Federal Government?" This is the key to this election. Upon what should the decisions of our leaders be based? Romney was crystal clear that he would ask the question if any dollar spent on any program was worth borrowing that dollar from China. And, he eloquently spoke of the 10th Amendment of the Constitution and the importance of abiding by that key principle of separation of powers.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiinb4sISuhe-aDnrUCnunFiauV0mRNu-w73RP-dD_LZRCp3xsOygAJAT53uCfhhksWjA8P49nPQr5gmegyQ8_Plq1gGJNb7sTtHrCd8VWCMguLNnWZwKWNcghWr_TUgng_MKM_SXsLvdLE/s1600/Chris+Matthews.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiinb4sISuhe-aDnrUCnunFiauV0mRNu-w73RP-dD_LZRCp3xsOygAJAT53uCfhhksWjA8P49nPQr5gmegyQ8_Plq1gGJNb7sTtHrCd8VWCMguLNnWZwKWNcghWr_TUgng_MKM_SXsLvdLE/s1600/Chris+Matthews.jpeg" /></a></div>
Yeah, I'm pretty happy... unlike Chris Matthews who did not feel a "tingle up his leg", but rather a "shock to his system"! <br />
<br />
<br />Bruce Houghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01790249087730952684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785098723477419442.post-27902623213608743472012-09-29T13:26:00.000-06:002012-09-29T13:33:16.836-06:00RNC Rule Changes... needed because some people didn't tell the truth!There have been some who believe that the process of changing rules at the Republican Convention were inappropriately made. I participated in the process, was intimately involved with changes that were made on language that many of us did not find appropriate, and as a delegate, was witness to what transpired on the floor of the convention. I might add that one of the chief dissenters to some of the rules in question made a point of commending the Rules Committee Chair, Governor John Sununu as having conducted an extremely fair process where all voices could be heard and several votes taken on the same rule. I concur with those sentiments.<br />
<br />
Below is a report I made to the Utah Republican Central Committee regarding certain rules changes at the Republican National Committee. Additionally, I'd like to make a few comments about the Convention proceedings themselves...<i><b>I loved the tone of the Republican National Convention, what was said
and how it was said... policy not personality was attacked, there was no
mean spirited discourse (okay, I admit, Dirty Harry was a bit unusual).
It was a stark contrast with the Democratic National Convention (with only a few notable exceptions) which was full of personal attacks and vitriol.
</b></i><br />
<br />
First, as it relates to the Business part of the Convention. When the rules were being voted on some believed the "fix" was in to pass the rules. Here are the facts... The RNC rules provide for a vote on any rules changes made by the Convention Rules committee on the first day of proceedings. There were some who disagreed with the results of the rules committee (even though the final result was overwhelming in favor of the rules changes). The rules allow for a minority report to be submitted to the Convention floor for a vote IF those wishing to present such a report are able to acquire the signatures of 25% of the Committee to bring forth such a report. They were not able to accomplish this due to the overwhelming support of the new rules (see below).<br />
<br />
Second, it is been reported and shown on YouTube that the teleprompter already had the result of the rules vote pre-scripted. That is true. But why was it true? Because there was an effective "whip" organization that was able to determine in advance that the vote by the general convention delegations was overwhelmingly supportive of the rules changes. Some believe that the voice vote showed more dissent and should have brought the vote in question. However, being on the floor of the convention it was clear that the <u>delegates entitled to vote</u> (only those on the floor) overwhelmingly supported the rules change.<br />
<br />
However, there was a very loud and boisterous group of dissenters who were credentialed as guests that sneaked into the alternate delegate seating area and voiced their opposition from that vantage point in the hall. From my personal vantage point it was obvious that the floor was overwhelmingly in favor, but a highly passionate group of non-voting "guests" were opposed. Much of the opposition was directly related to language that many of us objected to but which changed before the vote in the final rules committee and at the convention. Based on the emails and phone calls I received there was a lot of misinformation regarding the rules change. This is an attempt to clarify with facts to those who were "told" to object to the rules by several organized groups and other interested parties.<br />
<br />
Finally, this was very different from what happened at the Democrats convention when they "attempted" to put God and Jerusalem as the capitol of Israel back into their platform. There you had a convention that intentionally removed these from their platform and even with the sitting president attempting to jam it down the throat of his convention, there was clear dissent to doing so. Congratulations to the convention goers at the Democrat Convention because at least they showed some integrity even in their incredibly misguided way.<br />
<br />
Thanks to those who expressed their concern about the rules changes and who did so in a respectful and courteous way. I was highly chagrined that there were so many who felt the need to attack me personally for something for which they had no way of knowing the full facts. I am always happy to discuss areas where we may disagree but I hope we can do it without being disagreeable.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>When all is said and done, our objective is to Save America from those who would move America away from the Republic and free society established by our forefathers. It doesn't mean we will ever have a perfect candidate to lead us in the right direction. But there is no question in my mind that it is imperative that we change direction now from where this president is leading us. Our <u>ONLY</u> chance of making that change is to Elect Mitt Romney President. To think otherwise is folly. </b></i></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Report to the Utah
State Central Committee Meeting Saturday, September 22, 2012, regarding the
Changes to Rules of the Republican National Committee – August 24 – 27, 2012</b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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First a note about the RNC <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Credentials Committee</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
is a committee charged with evaluating any challenges made to the seating of
delegates from the individual states.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
the cases of challenges from Oregon, Michigan, and Hawaii, the RNC Credentials Committee
concluded that the National Party had no jurisdiction as the State Party had
followed their own rules.</div>
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<br /></div>
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In the case of a second Oregon challenge, and challenges
from Washington State and Oklahoma it was concluded that the State Parties had
acted appropriately and that voters were not disenfranchised by their rules,
practice, or methodology.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Finally, in the case of Maine, it was concluded that
“non-compliance with the applicable procedural rules was so widespread and
fundamental in the election of the state’s congressional district delegates and
alternate delegates, that the Credential Committee of the RNC, under Rule No.
23 had broad authority to fashion an equitable remedy”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They attempted to encourage the Parties to
resolve the dispute…However those” negotiations were unsuccessful.” The
Committee seated a slate of delegates using the best judgment and input from
the Parties involved.</div>
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<br /></div>
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This background is important because it goes to the purposes
of certain rule changes during the Republican National Convention. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When certain people attempt to hijack the
process of choosing delegates and representing themselves as delegates at a
national presidential nominating convention it affects the entire process and
the integrity of the body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The new Rule
16 may not have been necessary had some of those elected to represent the <u>will
of the people who voted in a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">binding</b>
presidential primary or caucus </u>had not dishonestly represented their
intentions to obey their party rules or state law.</div>
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<br /></div>
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To most of us, the powers of the State Parties should not be
abrogated by the National Party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Credentials Committee followed the idea of State Sovereignty explicitly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was very pleased to see them abide by this
principle even in the face of extreme provocation to do otherwise.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rule Changes.</b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">There were over two
dozen rule changes and more that were proposed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Two were deemed controversial enough to incite a phone and email
campaign. There are two members from each state and territory represented on the Convention Rules Committee.</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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The rule change that created the most controversy is what is
known as <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rule 16 (2).</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The original rule was presented by a member
of the Convention Rules Committee who was also an attorney for the presumptive
Presidential Nominee.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The attempt of the language was to address a very real
problem – When a Delegate or Alternate Delegate is elected in a state that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">binds</b> its delegates through a
Presidential Primary, State Caucus, or other Party rule, that delegate should
be required to cast their vote in accordance with the law and party rules and
should not have discretion to vote for whomever they want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a first ballot issue and ONLY related
to BOUND delegates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The language of this
rule change had nothing to do with states that did not bind their delegates.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The language in the first modification was I believe, overly
broad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though the intent was valid, the
wording was over reaching and infringed upon the powers of the State and State
Party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It allowed the presidential candidate
to “pre-certify or approve (d) the delegate or alternate delegate.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From the perspective of a presidential
campaign who has spent millions of dollars to win a contest in a state this may
have seemed reasonable that they would know who was supporting them or not, and
should have a certification say in the matter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This language passed 51 – 39.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some of us were uncomfortable with this language as it very
clearly abrogated state party’s powers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>An amendment was proposed to amend the rule by adding language “in
consultation with state parties.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
passed by a margin of 56 – 40.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This still was not enough for many of us and we attempted
one last time as time was running out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The language changed once again to put back in the hands of the party
the power to elect who they would in accordance with their rules but gave the
presidential campaign a “disavowal” right if they believed<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a delegate would not <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>comply with the State Party Rules or State
Law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This also passed by a majority
vote.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Needless to say this language still did not articulate
accurately or fully a rule that protected the sovereignty of the State Party
and/or State Law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the language
that ultimately created a firestorm among many groups that resulted in personal
email and phone numbers being inundated with many times rude and offensive
language.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were two problems with
this situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First, there was
misinformation that was sent out by several of these groups.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most did not understand that this rule ONLY
affected states with BINDING rules or laws.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That is a huge distinction in terms of how this rule should be
understood.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Because many of us felt that the rule was still too rushed
and therefore not properly drafted, an effort was made during the weekend prior
to the convention to rewrite the provision to accomplish the goal of
maintaining the integrity of the State and National process of nominating a
Presidential Candidate.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The rules committee met the first day of the convention to
vote on new language which clearly protects the Sovereignty of State Parties
and States and takes away any judgment or input from a presidential campaign.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is based on the State Party rules and
State Laws that govern binding delegates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The rule acknowledges those by simply complying with them at a National
Convention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a bound delegate
situation, only the candidate votes that are bound will be counted, none
others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This eliminates any judgment
call or any meddling by outside forces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The language in full follows below.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Rule
No. 16 (2)</i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">For any manner of binding or
allocating delegates under these Rules, If a delegate (i) casts a vote for a
presidential candidate at the national convention inconsistent with the
delegate’s obligation under state law or state party rule, (ii) nominates or
demonstrates support under Rule 40 for a presidential candidate other than the
one to whom the delegate is bound or allocated under state law or state party
rule, or (iii) fails in some other way to carry out the delegate’s affirmative
duty under state law or sate party rule to cast a vote at the national
convention for a particular presidential candidate, the delegate shall be
deemed to have concurrently resigned as a delegate and the delegate’s proper
vote or nominating shall be null and void.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Thereafter the secretary of the convention shall record the delegate’s
vote or nomination in accordance with the delegate’s obligation under the state
law or state party rule.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This subsection
does not apply to delegates who are bound to a candidate who has withdrawn his
or her candidacy, suspended or terminated his or her campaign, or publicly
released his or her delegates.</i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This rule passed 78 to 14.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This rule maintains the integrity of each state’s process of
choosing its delegates and clarifies the manner in which bound delegates’ votes
will be counted.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The other rule that had some controversy was the rule
allowing for the Republican National Committee to make certain rule changes no
later than January 2014.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is similar
to a Rule passed four years ago which allowed the RNC to adopt certain new
rules by 2010 in anticipation of the 2012 Presidential Election.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The original new <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">rule
12</b> allowed for changes to be made by the RNC with a 2/3 vote.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This passed by 68 to 34.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Later Rule 12 was amended to require a ¾ vote
of its entire membership.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This threshold
is so high that any rule change between now and 2014 would need to be very
compelling and/or non-controversial.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
was I believe only few dissenting votes on this rule change.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is an important rule change because it
allows the RNC, whose members are elected to represent the interests of their respective
states and territories and who also have a fiduciary duty to the national
committee, to make decisions in a dispassionate and deliberative manner to
protect the process of choosing a Presidential Nominee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the rules can only be changed at
convention, the presumptive presidential nominee’s campaign will have a
dominating influence on the rules, whereas if the rules may be amended two years
before the convention, there typically will not be a presumptive nominee
(unless there is a sitting president of the party).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The party is able to adjust to the current
circumstances based on what will serve the state and national party best and
not a specific presidential candidate.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As your Utah National Committeeman I voted for both of these
final rules.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They protect the integrity of our system of electing
Presidential Nominees while protecting the grass roots voter, state party sovereignty
and state law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It also allows the RNC to
make adaptations to current conditions if the adaptation is compelling or
non-controversial.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thank you for your support and I am happy to respond to any
questions you have.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Bruce R. Hough, Utah National Committeeman</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.brucehough.blogspot.com/">www.brucehough.blogspot.com</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
brhough@gmail.com</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Bruce Houghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01790249087730952684noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785098723477419442.post-63513003441276440362012-09-19T10:24:00.003-06:002012-09-19T10:24:46.379-06:00Who is the best Pollster? Check it out...<div class="col1">
<h1>
With all the doom and gloom on how Governor Romney is doing, it is nice to see the new Rasmussen poll... with Romney up and ahead of Obama... but what is even nicer, is to see how credible the Rasmussen polling organization is... check out the "report card" below. You gotta love it!</h1>
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3785098723477419442" name="reportcard"></a>
<h3>
2008 Pollster Report Card</h3>
The table below is an assessment of pollster performance in the 2008
Presidential election. The pollsters were graded on both the accuracy of their
final poll (popular vote) and the consistency of their polling during the month
of October.<br />
The overall score is a weighted average of their Accuracy and Consistency
numbers. The weighting is 75% accuracy and 25% consistency. Formula details
are at the bottom of this page.<br />
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 495px;">
<colgroup>
<col style="width: 137pt;" width="182"></col>
<col span="2" style="width: 48pt;" width="64"></col>
<col style="width: 28pt;" width="37"></col>
<col style="width: 48pt;" width="64"></col>
<col style="width: 63pt;" width="84"></col></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;">
<td height="20" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; height: 15pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap; width: 137pt;" width="182"> </td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap; width: 48pt;" width="64">Overall</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap; width: 48pt;" width="64"> </td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap; width: 28pt;" width="37"> </td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap; width: 48pt;" width="64"> </td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap; width: 63pt;" width="84"> </td></tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;">
<td height="20" style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; height: 15pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">Poll</td>
<td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">Score</td>
<td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">Grade</td>
<td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"> </td>
<td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">Accuracy</td>
<td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">Consistency</td></tr>
<tr height="25" style="height: 18.75pt;">
<td height="25" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; height: 18.75pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">Rasmussen Reports</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">91%</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: #00b050; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">A-</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"> </td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">92%</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">86%</td></tr>
<tr height="25" style="height: 18.75pt;">
<td height="25" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; height: 18.75pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">Ipsos/McClatchy</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">89%</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: #00602b; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">B+</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"> </td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">92%</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">79%</td></tr>
<tr height="25" style="height: 18.75pt;">
<td height="25" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; height: 18.75pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">CNN/Opinion Research</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">88%</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: #00602b; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">B+</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"> </td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">92%</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">77%</td></tr>
<tr height="25" style="height: 18.75pt;">
<td height="25" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; height: 18.75pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">Fox News</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">84%</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: #00602b; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">B</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"> </td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">92%</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">61%</td></tr>
<tr height="25" style="height: 18.75pt;">
<td height="25" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; height: 18.75pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">Pew</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">83%</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: #00602b; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">B-</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"> </td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">92%</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">56%</td></tr>
<tr height="25" style="height: 18.75pt;">
<td height="25" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; height: 18.75pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">GWU/Battleground</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">79%</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">C+</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"> </td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">92%</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">41%</td></tr>
<tr height="25" style="height: 18.75pt;">
<td height="25" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; height: 18.75pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">Diageo/Hotline</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">77%</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">C+</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"> </td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">77%</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">79%</td></tr>
<tr height="25" style="height: 18.75pt;">
<td height="25" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; height: 18.75pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">NBC News / Wall St. Journal</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">76%</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">C</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"> </td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">77%</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">75%</td></tr>
<tr height="25" style="height: 18.75pt;">
<td height="25" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; height: 18.75pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">Gallup Traditional</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">73%</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">C-</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"> </td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">77%</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">63%</td></tr>
<tr height="25" style="height: 18.75pt;">
<td height="25" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; height: 18.75pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">Marist</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">67%</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: #c00000; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">D+</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"> </td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">62%</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">82%</td></tr>
<tr height="25" style="height: 18.75pt;">
<td height="25" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; height: 18.75pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">ABC News / Wash Post</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">67%</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: #c00000; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">D+</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"> </td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">62%</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">82%</td></tr>
<tr height="25" style="height: 18.75pt;">
<td height="25" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; height: 18.75pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">IBD/TIPP</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">66%</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: #c00000; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">D</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"> </td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">77%</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">34%</td></tr>
<tr height="25" style="height: 18.75pt;">
<td height="25" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; height: 18.75pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">Gallup Expanded</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">66%</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: #c00000; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">D</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"> </td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">62%</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">78%</td></tr>
<tr height="25" style="height: 18.75pt;">
<td height="25" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; height: 18.75pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">CBS News / NYT</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">60%</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: #c00000; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">D-</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"> </td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">62%</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">56%</td></tr>
<tr height="25" style="height: 18.75pt;">
<td height="25" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; height: 18.75pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">35%</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: red; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">F</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"> </td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">31%</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">48%</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Data</b><br />The data for this chart come from the <a href="http://www.realclearpolitics.com/polls/">Real Clear Politics</a> summary
on 12 November 2008. <a href="http://electoralmap.net/pollsters/popular.txt">Here</a> is a local mirror
of that data, with the final polls summarized at the top. Here is a quick
summary of the final spread predicted by the pollsters, ranked from most
accurate to least:<br />
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 478px;">
<colgroup>
<col style="width: 137pt;" width="182"></col>
<col span="2" style="width: 48pt;" width="64"></col>
<col style="width: 28pt;" width="37"></col>
<col style="width: 48pt;" width="64"></col>
<col style="width: 17pt;" width="22"></col>
<col style="width: 34pt;" width="45"></col></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;">
<td height="20" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; height: 15pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap; width: 137pt;" width="182">Poll</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap; width: 48pt;" width="64">Obama</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap; width: 48pt;" width="64">McCain</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap; width: 28pt;" width="37"> </td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap; width: 48pt;" width="64">Spread (actual=6.5)</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap; width: 17pt;" width="22"> </td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap; width: 34pt;" width="45">Off by</td></tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;">
<td height="20" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; height: 15pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">Rasmussen Reports</td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">52</td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">46</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"> </td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">6</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"> </td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: #00b050; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">0.5</td></tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;">
<td height="20" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; height: 15pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">Pew</td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">52</td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">46</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"> </td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">6</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"> </td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: #00b050; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">0.5</td></tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;">
<td height="20" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; height: 15pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">GWU/Battleground</td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">50</td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">44</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"> </td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">6</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"> </td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: #00b050; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">0.5</td></tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;">
<td height="20" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; height: 15pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">Ipsos/McClatchy</td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">53</td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">46</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"> </td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">7</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"> </td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: #00b050; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">0.5</td></tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;">
<td height="20" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; height: 15pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">CNN/Opinion Research</td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">53</td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">46</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"> </td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">7</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"> </td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: #00b050; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">0.5</td></tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;">
<td height="20" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; height: 15pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">Fox News</td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">50</td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">43</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"> </td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">7</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"> </td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: #00b050; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">0.5</td></tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;">
<td height="20" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; height: 15pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">Diageo/Hotline</td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">50</td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">45</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"> </td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">5</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"> </td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: #921e26; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">1.5</td></tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;">
<td height="20" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; height: 15pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">NBC News / Wall St. Journal</td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">51</td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">43</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"> </td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">8</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"> </td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: #921e26; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">1.5</td></tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;">
<td height="20" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; height: 15pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">Gallup Traditional</td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">51</td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">43</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"> </td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">8</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"> </td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: #921e26; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">1.5</td></tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;">
<td height="20" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; height: 15pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">IBD/TIPP</td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">52</td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">44</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"> </td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">8</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"> </td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: #921e26; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">1.5</td></tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;">
<td height="20" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; height: 15pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">Marist</td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">52</td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">43</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"> </td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">9</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"> </td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: #dc1a1a; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">2.5</td></tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;">
<td height="20" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; height: 15pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">ABC News / Wash Post</td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">53</td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">44</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"> </td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">9</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"> </td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: #dc1a1a; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">2.5</td></tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;">
<td height="20" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; height: 15pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">Gallup Expanded</td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">52</td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">43</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"> </td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">9</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"> </td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: #dc1a1a; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">2.5</td></tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;">
<td height="20" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; height: 15pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">CBS News / NYT</td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">51</td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">42</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"> </td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">9</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"> </td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: #dc1a1a; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">2.5</td></tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;">
<td height="20" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; height: 15pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby</td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">54</td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">43</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"> </td>
<td align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">11</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"> </td>
<td align="right" style="background: #ffffcc; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: red; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">4.5</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<b>Formulas</b><br />Every final poll showed Obama with a lead, so assessing
their accuracy is just a matter of comparing their forecasted spread with the
actual spread of the election which was Obama +6.5. <br />
Final poll accuracy score = 100 - ( |(POLL SPREAD - 6.5)| / 6.5 )<br />
All the pollsters graded had more than one poll during the month of October.
If a poll reported a wide spread and then suddenly narrowed down right before
the election, this formula produces a lower score. Likewise a pollster gets a
lower score if they predicted a very tight race until the end and then widened
up.<br />
October Consistency = 100 - ( POLL STDEV / POLL AVERAGE )</div>
Bruce Houghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01790249087730952684noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785098723477419442.post-66354313863609715072012-09-19T10:20:00.001-06:002012-09-19T10:20:18.591-06:00Romney up in Rasmussen Poll!!!<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span id="yui_3_2_0_1_1348063223135252">I know that a lot of folks are getting nervous about how Romney is doing. If you just listen to the National Mainstream Media, it can drive you nuts, into despair, or hopelessness... We're doing fine... Mitt is going to win this, but we all have to do our part... enjoy the summary below of what's happening... </span></b></span><span></span>
</h3>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">RASMUSSEN REPORTS:
<a href="http://36ohk6dgmcd1n-c.c.yom.mail.yahoo.net/om/api/1.0/openmail.app.invoke/36ohk6dgmcd1n/11/1.0.35/us/en-US/view.html/0#_RASMUSSEN_REPORTS:_POLL:" rel="nofollow">Daily Presidential Tracking Poll (Romney 47%; Obama 45%)</a></span><span class="yiv696548788MsoHyperlink"></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">USA TODAY OP-ED:
</span><a href="http://36ohk6dgmcd1n-c.c.yom.mail.yahoo.net/om/api/1.0/openmail.app.invoke/36ohk6dgmcd1n/11/1.0.35/us/en-US/view.html/0#_USA_TODAY:_Romney:_1" rel="nofollow"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Romney: I'll deliver recovery, not dependency</span></a></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></b></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">THE NEW YORK TIMES:
</span><a href="http://36ohk6dgmcd1n-c.c.yom.mail.yahoo.net/om/api/1.0/openmail.app.invoke/36ohk6dgmcd1n/11/1.0.35/us/en-US/view.html/0#_THE_NEW_YORK" rel="nofollow"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Sept. 18: Obama’s Bounce Erodes in Two Tracking Polls</span></a></b><b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">ASSOCIATED PRESS:
</span><a href="http://36ohk6dgmcd1n-c.c.yom.mail.yahoo.net/om/api/1.0/openmail.app.invoke/36ohk6dgmcd1n/11/1.0.35/us/en-US/view.html/0#_ASSOCIATED_PRESS:_Analysis:" rel="nofollow"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Analysis: Romney Sharpens Differences With Obama</span></a></b><b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></b></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">BOSTON HERALD:
</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3785098723477419442" rel="nofollow"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Mitt’s right: Handouts do win votes</span></a></b><b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER:
</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3785098723477419442" rel="nofollow"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Long-term, Romney's GM plan would have been better</span></a></b><b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></b></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">CNBC NEWS:
</span><a href="http://36ohk6dgmcd1n-c.c.yom.mail.yahoo.net/om/api/1.0/openmail.app.invoke/36ohk6dgmcd1n/11/1.0.35/us/en-US/view.html/0#_CNBC_NEWS:_Romney" rel="nofollow"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Romney Is Right—US Must Get Tough With China: Morici</span></a></b><b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">RELEASE:
</span><a href="http://36ohk6dgmcd1n-c.c.yom.mail.yahoo.net/om/api/1.0/openmail.app.invoke/36ohk6dgmcd1n/11/1.0.35/us/en-US/view.html/0#_RELEASE:_ROMNEY_FOR_1" rel="nofollow"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">ROMNEY FOR PRESIDENT RELEASES TELEVISION AD, “WAR ON COAL”</span></a></b><b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></b></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">THE WASHINGTON POST:
</span><a href="http://36ohk6dgmcd1n-c.c.yom.mail.yahoo.net/om/api/1.0/openmail.app.invoke/36ohk6dgmcd1n/11/1.0.35/us/en-US/view.html/0#_THE_WASHINGTON_POST:" rel="nofollow"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">At N.H. town hall, Paul Ryan urged to ‘take the gloves off’</span></a></b><b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></b></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></b></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">HUMAN EVENTS:
</span><a href="http://36ohk6dgmcd1n-c.c.yom.mail.yahoo.net/om/api/1.0/openmail.app.invoke/36ohk6dgmcd1n/11/1.0.35/us/en-US/view.html/0#_HUMAN_EVENTS:_In" rel="nofollow"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">In Ohio, Rubio links debt, taxes and the economy</span></a></b><b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></b></div>
<h1>
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3785098723477419442" name="_RASMUSSEN_REPORTS:_Daily" rel="nofollow"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3785098723477419442" name="_RASMUSSEN_REPORTS:_POLL:" rel="nofollow"></a>RASMUSSEN REPORTS: POLL: (Romney 47%; Obama 45%)</h1>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/daily_presidential_tracking_poll" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt;">http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/daily_presidential_tracking_poll</span></a><span style="font-size: 8.0pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.autoballa.com/gallery/2012/09/mitt-romney/romney-amid-mitt-states-swing-prep-utah-cash-dash-debate-stops?nr=4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ff3c00; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Description: Description: US-VOTE-2012-REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN" border="0" height="440" id="yiv696548788Picture_x0020_12" src="http://us.mg5.mail.yahoo.com/ya/download?mid=2%5f0%5f0%5f1%5f3072684%5fAGTiimIAAJpRUFnirAsz6yyFRuA&pid=2&fid=Inbox&inline=1&appid=YahooMailNeo" width="614" /></span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Rasmussen Reports
</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">September 18, 2012
</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">The
Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Tuesday shows
Mitt Romney attracting support from 47% of voters nationwide, while
President Obama earns 45% of
the vote. Four percent (4%) prefer some other candidate, and three
percent (3%) are undecided. See daily tracking history.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">When
“leaners” are included, the race is tied with both Obama and Romney at
48%. Leaners are those who are initially uncommitted to the two leading
candidates but lean towards
one of them when asked a follow-up question.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Matchup results are updated daily at 9:30 a.m. Eastern (sign up for free daily e-mail update).</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Kristen
Soltis of The Winston Group and Emily Tisch Sussman from the Young
Democrats of America joined Scott Rasmussen on What America Thinks to
discuss the generation gap
in American politics. Rich Benjamin of Demos and Kyle Harrington of
Harrington Capital discussed the auto bailouts.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Republicans
are up one in the Generic Congressional Ballot. In the Virginia Senate
race, Democrat Tim Kaine has a two-point edge.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">In the North Carolina governor’s race, Republican Pat McCrory has a double-digit lead.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">The Swing State Daily Tracking Survey shows the race remains close in the battlegrounds.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><img border="0" height="300" id="yiv696548788_x0000_i1026" src="http://us.mg5.mail.yahoo.com/ya/download?mid=2%5f0%5f0%5f1%5f3072684%5fAGTiimIAAJpRUFnirAsz6yyFRuA&pid=3&fid=Inbox&inline=1&appid=YahooMailNeo" width="400" /></span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">A
president’s job approval rating is one of the best indicators for
assessing his chances of reelection. Typically, the president’s job
approval rating on Election Day will
be close to the share of the vote he receives. Currently, 49% of voters
say they at least somewhat approve of the president's job performance.
Fifty percent (50%) at least somewhat disapprove (see trends).</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">In
Virginia and Ohio, Obama leads by a point. In Florida, the president is
up two. Romney has edged back into the lead in Missouri and is up six
in North Carolina. See
the latest Rasmussen Reports Electoral College Projections.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">In the
Ohio Senate race, Democratic incumbent Sherrod Brown has the advantage
over Republican challenger Josh Mandel. Democrat Bill Nelson has the
lead in the Florida Senate
race. See the Rasmussen Reports Senate Balance of Power projections.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Platinum Members can see demographic breakdowns and additional information from the tracking poll on a daily basis.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Voters
are fairly evenly divided as to which candidate they trust more to
handle events in the Middle East: 48% say Obama, 45% Romney.
Unaffiliated voters have a slight preference
for Romney. By an overwhelming 72% to 15% margin, voters believe it is
more important to guarantee freedom of speech rather than making sure
nothing is done to offend other nations and cultures. Half (51%) think
it’s likely the government of Libya was involved
in the murder of Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other
Americans.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">As of this morning, only seven percent (7%) of voters rate national security issues as the most important in Election 2012.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Most
voters continue to favor repeal of the president’s health care law. In
his weekly newspaper column, Scott Rasmussen notes that “the health care
debate is a great example
of why Americans hate politics.” He adds that "building consensus on
health care reform requires taking good ideas from both Democrats and
Republicans. As far as voters are concerned, good ideas are the ones
that give individuals more control over their own
health care decisions.”</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">If you’d like Scott to speak to your organization, meeting or conference, please contact Premiere Speakers.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Four
years ago this week, the collapse in consumer confidence began following
the closing of Lehman Brothers. On September 15, 2008, 43% rated their
own finances as good
or excellent. By the time Obama won the election, only 38% thought
their finances were in good shape. As the Wall Street meltdown
continued, only 35% rated their finances that well on the day the
president was inaugurated. By the summer of 2011, the number
of Americans rating their finances as good or excellent fell as low as
27%.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Today,
33% are that upbeat. That’s down two since Obama took office and down
10 from the peak just before Lehman Brothers collapsed. Those numbers
help explain why the race
for the White House remains so close. Americans aren’t feeling better
off than they were four years ago, but they’re not feeling much worse
off either. That’s not great for the incumbent, but it’s not terrible.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">It’s
worth remembering that at this time four years ago, John McCain’s
convention bounce ended abruptly. Then Obama moved ahead for good in
what turned out to be a very stable
race. During the final 40 days of the campaign, Obama’s support stayed
between 50% and 52% every day in the Rasmussen Reports daily
Presidential Tracking Poll. Only once during that entire time did his
lead fall below four points, and it occasionally expanded
to eight.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Rasmussen
Reports is a media company whose work is followed by millions on a wide
variety of platforms. In addition to the new TV show, we regularly
release our work at RasmussenReports.com,
through a daily email newsletter, a nationally syndicated radio news
service, an online video service and a weekly newspaper column
distributed by Creators Syndicate.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">To get a
sense of longer-term Job Approval trends for the president, Rasmussen
Reports compiles our tracking data on a full month-by-month basis.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Intensity
of support or opposition can have an impact on campaigns. Currently,
28% of the nation's voters Strongly Approve of the way Obama is
performing as president. Forty-three
percent (43%) Strongly Disapprove, giving him a Presidential Approval
Index rating of -15 (see trends).</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">During
midterm elections, intensity of support can have a tremendous impact on
turnout. That was demonstrated in 2010 when Republicans and unaffiliated
voters turned out
in large numbers to express opposition to the Obama administration’s
policies. However, in presidential election years, there is a smaller
impact on turnout.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Rasmussen
Reports has been a pioneer in the use of automated telephone polling
techniques, but many other firms still utilize their own
operator-assisted technology (see
methodology). Pollsters for Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton
have cited our "unchallenged record for both integrity and accuracy."
During Election 2008, Rasmussen Reports projected that Barack Obama
would defeat John McCain by a 52% to 46% margin.
Obama was 53% to 46%. In 2004, Rasmussen Reports was the only firm to
project the vote totals for both candidates within half a percentage
point. Learn more about the Rasmussen Reports track record over the
years.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Daily
tracking results are collected via telephone surveys of 500 likely
voters per night and reported on a three-day rolling average basis. To
reach those who have abandoned
traditional landline telephones, Rasmussen Reports uses an online
survey tool to interview randomly selected participants from a
demographically diverse panel. The margin of sampling error for the full
sample of 1,500 Likely Voters is +/- 3 percentage points
with a 95% level of confidence. Results are also compiled on a
full-week basis and crosstabs for full-week results are available for
Platinum Members.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.autoballa.com/gallery/2012/09/mitt-romney/romney-amid-mitt-states-swing-prep-utah-cash-dash-debate-stops?nr=7" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ff3c00; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Description: Description: US-VOTE-2012-REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN" border="0" height="441" id="yiv696548788Picture_x0020_10" src="http://us.mg5.mail.yahoo.com/ya/download?mid=2%5f0%5f0%5f1%5f3072684%5fAGTiimIAAJpRUFnirAsz6yyFRuA&pid=4&fid=Inbox&inline=1&appid=YahooMailNeo" width="614" /></span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<h1>
USA TODAY: Romney: I'll deliver recovery, not dependency<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></h1>
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<a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/story/2012-09-18/Romney-47-recovery-dependency/57804214/1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt;">http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/story/2012-09-18/Romney-47-recovery-dependency/57804214/1</span></a><span style="font-size: 8.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<img border="0" height="414" id="yiv696548788Picture_x0020_9" src="http://us.mg5.mail.yahoo.com/ya/download?mid=2%5f0%5f0%5f1%5f3072684%5fAGTiimIAAJpRUFnirAsz6yyFRuA&pid=5&fid=Inbox&inline=1&appid=YahooMailNeo" width="581" /><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">USA Today</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Mitt Romney</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">September 18, 2012 10:30 PM</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Since
our founding, America has promoted personal responsibility, the dignity
of work and the value of education. Those values made our nation the
hope of the earth and our
economy the envy of the world.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Efforts
that promote hard work and personal responsibility over government
dependency make America strong. When the economy is growing and
Americans are working, everyone
involved has a shared sense of achievement, not to mention the basic
sense of pride that comes with the paycheck they earn.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">However,
over the past four years, those kinds of opportunities have been in
short supply. We're experiencing the worst recovery since the Great
Depression. Unemployment
has been above 8% for 43 straight months; 47 million Americans are on
food stamps. Nearly one in six Americans now live in poverty.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Under
President Obama, we have a stagnant economy that fosters government
dependency. My policies will create a growing economy that fosters
upward mobility.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Government
has a role to play here. Right now, our nation's citizens do need help
from government. But it is a very different kind of help than what
President Obama wants
to provide.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">My
experience has taught me that government works best when it creates the
space for individuals and families to pursue success and achieve great
things. Economic freedom
is the only force that has consistently succeeded in creating sustained
prosperity and lifting people out of poverty. It is why our economy
rose to rival those of the world's leading powers -- and has long since
surpassed them all.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">The dreamers and the entrepreneurs, not government, built this economy, and they can once again make it strong.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">My
course for the American economy will encourage private investment and
personal freedom. Instead of creating a web of dependency, I will pursue
policies that grow our economy
and lift Americans out of poverty.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">My
five-point plan will deliver the economic recovery we've all been
waiting for and the jobs millions of Americans still need. This can be
more than our hope; it can be
our future. And it can start this November with your vote.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<h1>
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3785098723477419442" name="_THE_NEW_YORK" rel="nofollow"></a>THE NEW YORK TIMES: Sept. 18: Obama’s Bounce Erodes in Two Tracking Polls</h1>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<a href="http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/19/sept-18-obamas-bounce-erodes-in-two-tracking-polls/?partner=rss&emc=rss" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt;">http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/19/sept-18-obamas-bounce-erodes-in-two-tracking-polls/?partner=rss&emc=rss</span></a><span style="font-size: 8.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<img border="0" height="357" id="yiv696548788Picture_x0020_8" src="http://us.mg5.mail.yahoo.com/ya/download?mid=2%5f0%5f0%5f1%5f3072684%5fAGTiimIAAJpRUFnirAsz6yyFRuA&pid=6&fid=Inbox&inline=1&appid=YahooMailNeo" width="522" /><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<h1 style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3785098723477419442" name="_USA_TODAY:_Romney:_1" rel="nofollow"></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></h1>
<h1>
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3785098723477419442" name="_ASSOCIATED_PRESS:_Analysis:" rel="nofollow"></a>ASSOCIATED PRESS: Analysis: Romney Sharpens Differences With Obama</h1>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<a href="http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_PRESIDENTIAL_CAMPAIGN_ANALYSIS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-09-18-18-38-27" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt;">http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_PRESIDENTIAL_CAMPAIGN_ANALYSIS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-09-18-18-38-27</span></a><span style="font-size: 8.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #1f497d;"><img border="0" height="399" id="yiv696548788_x0000_i1030" src="http://us.mg5.mail.yahoo.com/ya/download?mid=2%5f0%5f0%5f1%5f3072684%5fAGTiimIAAJpRUFnirAsz6yyFRuA&pid=7&fid=Inbox&inline=1&appid=YahooMailNeo" width="624" /></span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Charles Babington
</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Associated Press</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">September 18, 2012 6:38 PM</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">WASHINGTON
(AP) -- Republican Mitt Romney, in describing nearly half of Americans
as being docile dependents of the state, and saying it's a "foreign
concept" for government
to redistribute income, is outlining a philosophy that's not only
sharply at odds with President Barack Obama's views. It's also difficult
to square with the facts of how Social Security, Medicare, the tax code
and scores of other institutions work.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Romney's
claim that 47 percent of Americans won't take "personal
responsibility," which he linked to their failure to owe federal income
taxes, instantly crystalized his
philosophical differences with Obama when the remarks came to light
Monday.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Romney,
trying to control the message amid widespread criticism, went further
on Tuesday. He told Fox News that it's "an entirely foreign concept" for
government to "take
from some to give to the others."</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">The
remarks echoed complaints often raised by conservative groups, including
tea party activists, who denounce "redistribution of wealth."</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">But the
remarks overlook basic facts, such as how the costly and popular Social
Security and Medicare programs shift billions of dollars from younger
people - who pay payroll
taxes - to older people, who receive the benefits.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Similarly,
the nation's progressive income tax system requires wealthy people to
pay proportionately more, shifting some of their wealth to poorer people
in the form of government
services and welfare.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Federal
excise taxes, along with sales taxes imposed by many states, work in
the other direction, regressively. Because they are levied without
regard to the payer's income,
they take a disproportionately larger bite from poor people.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">In the
Fox interview, Romney took a calculated risk that most voters resent, or
can be coaxed to resent, the government's redistributive role, even if
millions benefit from
it, and it's central to the entire federal system.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Some conservative activists, originally tepid about Romney, cheered his much-debate remarks about the "47 percent."</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">"The
Mitt UNPLUGGED and UNPROGRAMMED by staff & `experts' won in biz
& can win the presidency," said talk show Laura Ingraham via
Twitter.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Romney's remarks sharpened his philosophical differences with Obama as the campaign enters its last 50 days.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Obama
talks much more than Romney does about society's responsibility to help
the needy. His it-takes-a-village approach depicts government as a force
for good - not only
for the downtrodden, but also for entrepreneurs who rely on public
schools, roads, police and firefighters to build their businesses.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">"We
have some obligations to each other," Obama told CBS's David Letterman
on Tuesday. There's "nothing wrong with giving each other a hand."</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Romney
often portrays government as an over-regulating, over-taxing nuisance
that hampers hard-charging "job creators." In the secretly recorded
remarks to Florida donors
in May, Romney described nearly half of all Americans as people "who
believe they are victims, who believe the government has a
responsibility to take care of them, who believe they are entitled to
health care, to food, to housing, to you name it."</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">He was
referring to the roughly 46 percent of Americans who pay no federal
income tax, although many of them pay sales taxes, payroll taxes, and
state, local and excise taxes.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">"So our
message of lower taxes doesn't connect," Romney said at the May
fundraiser. "And so my job is not to worry about those people," he said.
"I'll never convince them
they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives."</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Democrats,
and some Republicans, noted that these Americans include millions of
elderly people, military personnel and working-class parents.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">They
also include a handful of very wealthy people. The IRS reported that,
thanks to complex tax breaks, six of the 400 highest-earning families in
2009 owed no federal income
taxes.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">The week's events seem to be widening the philosophical gap between Obama and Romney.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">In
truth, both visions of America - as a society that cares for its elderly
and downtrodden, and a society fueled by hard-working, self-reliant
people trying to get ahead
- have deep roots in the nation's history.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">But recent events have made the two visions appear more at odds than they truly are.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">The
Great Recession of 2007-2009 contributed to big spikes in food stamp
use, now about 48 million. The median U.S. household lost nearly 39
percent of its wealth from 2007
to 2010.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">At
roughly the same time, the tea party movement accelerated the Republican
Party's shift toward a more solidly anti-tax posture. Refusal to raise
taxes - even on the wealthiest
Americans, and even in the name of slowing the federal debt's dramatic
growth - has become a priority for many Republicans, especially in the
House.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Democrats, meanwhile, note that federal taxes, as a share of the total economy, are at their lowest level in 60 years.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Some
conservatives say the number of Americans receiving government benefits,
and not paying income taxes, is alarming. Nearly half of all Americans
receive some form of
direct federal benefit.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">More
than a quarter of Americans are on Medicaid, 16 percent receive Social
Security, 15 percent are on Medicare, and nearly 16 percent receive food
stamps.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">"When
the number of people riding in the wagon outnumber the people pulling
the wagon, how do you ever reform?" said Dan Mitchell, an economist for
the libertarian-leaning
Cato Institute.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Neera
Tanden, head of the Democratic-oriented Center for American Progress,
called that "a complete misunderstanding" of society. Americans, she
said, "are the most religious,
most hard-working people in the world. ... We are a nation of
strivers."</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">The
United States trails other industrialized countries, she said, "in the
support that government provides to people. We are among the stingiest
in the world."</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">In
1998, when he was an Illinois state senator, Obama told a college
audience: "The trick is figuring out how we structure government systems
that pool resources and hence
facilitate some redistribution, because I actually believe in
redistribution, at least at a certain level to make sure that everybody
has a shot."</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Obama and Romney are giving American voters one of the most clear-cut philosophical choices in recent presidential history.</span></div>
<h1>
BOSTON HERALD: Mitt’s right: Handouts do win votes</h1>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.bostonherald.com/news/columnists/view.bg?articleid=1061161396&srvc=rss" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt;">http://www.bostonherald.com/news/columnists/view.bg?articleid=1061161396&srvc=rss</span></a><span style="font-size: 8.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Howie Carr</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">September 19, 2012 12:17 AM</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Mitt Romney’s only mistake was lumping together all of the 47 percent who don’t pay income taxes.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">A lot
of them are elderly, and many of them are voting for Mitt. And there are
some people who work, but just don’t make a lot of money, or who would
be working if they weren’t
legitimately disabled.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">But the
indisputable fact is, a huge percentage of Obama’s voters are basically
wards of the state. There are millions of them, and they have no
intention of voting for anyone
who might want them to ever go out and work for a living — “no matter
what.”</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">As
Romney said in Boca Raton last May: “I’ll never convince them they
should take personal responsibility and care for their lives.”</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">He’s
right. Remember the women in Detroit who were lining up for “Obama
bucks” right after the inauguration in 2009. A radio reporter asked them
where they thought the money
was coming from, and one of them guessed it was from Obama’s “stash. I
don’t know. But he givin’ it to us. We love him!”</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Who do you suppose those women will be voting for Nov. 6?</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Undoubtedly
the same candidate as the woman in Orlando who was videotaped at a 2008
rally for Democrats saying that once Obama got in, “I won’t have to
worry about putting
gas in my car, I won’t have to worry about paying my mortgage.”</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">This is
nothing new. There’s a classic book that’s taught, or used to be
taught, in college political science classes. “Democracy in America” —
it was written more than 150
years ago by a Frenchman, Alexis de Tocqueville. He had the same take
as Mitt on what has become the American welfare state:</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">“A
democracy ... can only exist until the voters discover that they can
vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on,
the majority always votes
for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury
with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal
policy.”</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Can someone say QE3, the Fed’s third round of so-called quantitative easing?</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Anyone
who doesn’t think the welfare-industrial complex is trying to increase
dependency isn’t paying attention. Last weekend in Arlington, someone
handed me a letter from
the superintendent of a school system north of Boston that’s trying to
get more kids onto the town’s free lunch program.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">“In an
effort to increase participation in the program,” the superintendent
wrote in boldface, “any family that completes a free/reduced lunch
application by September 21,
2012, will be entered into a drawing on Monday, October 5 for a chance
to win one of two iPads.”</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Get on welfare, get a free iPad. It may not be PC to say it, but Mitt Romney is on to something here.</span></div>
<h1>
PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER: Long-term, Romney's GM plan would have been better</h1>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.philly.com/philly/opinion/inquirer/20120919_Long-term__Romney_s_GM_plan_would_have_been_better.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt;">http://www.philly.com/philly/opinion/inquirer/20120919_Long-term__Romney_s_GM_plan_would_have_been_better.html</span></a><span style="font-size: 8.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.autoballa.com/gallery/2012/09/mitt-romney/romney-amid-mitt-states-swing-prep-utah-cash-dash-debate-stops?nr=5" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ff3c00; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Description: Description: US-VOTE-2012-REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN" border="0" height="424" id="yiv696548788Picture_x0020_6" src="http://us.mg5.mail.yahoo.com/ya/download?mid=2%5f0%5f0%5f1%5f3072684%5fAGTiimIAAJpRUFnirAsz6yyFRuA&pid=8&fid=Inbox&inline=1&appid=YahooMailNeo" width="614" /></span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Philadelphia Inquirer</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Michael Busler</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">September 19, 2012 3:01 AM</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Vice
President Biden has proudly proclaimed that "Bin Laden is dead and
General Motors is alive." That may be true for now, but GM's life
remains in plenty of danger.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">GM was
on the verge of bankruptcy in 2009. President Obama noted that if GM
went out of business, hundreds of thousands of jobs would be lost. GM
employs about 200,000 people.
And since companies that supply parts to GM would also either close or
dramatically reduce production, the ripple effect would cause another
few hundred thousand jobs to be lost.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">So
Obama committed about $80 billion of taxpayers' money to save GM.
Although much has been repaid, the final price tag for taxpayers will be
about $25 billion. But if it
keeps GM in business, the president has said, it was a worthwhile
investment for taxpayers.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Was it?</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Republican
candidate Mitt Romney says he would have allowed GM to file for
bankruptcy protection without any taxpayer assistance. He has been
ridiculed for this position,
and indeed it is likely to result in Obama's winning the key
battleground states of Ohio and Michigan. But the reality is that
Romney's position was more likely to result in long-term health for GM
and the saving of more jobs here in the United States.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">GM was a
bankrupt firm because its cash flow was not sufficient to cover
expenses. The reasons for this were that (1) the great recession reduced
demand for cars, so GM sold
far fewer; and (2) expenses were far too high, primarily because GM's
labor costs were about $80 per hour, while other auto companies had
labor costs of about $40 per hour.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">As a
condition for the funding that the president provided, GM had to reduce
labor costs to the $60-per-hour range and protect the retirement
packages of its employees. It
did this through a prenegotiated bankruptcy filing approved by Obama
and eventually the bankruptcy court. While this temporarily saved GM, it
probably won't work in the long term.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">The
reason will be that GM's labor costs are still too high, and the company
makes cars that consumers do not really want. We see today that, even
with an occasionally good
rate of monthly sales, the long-term prospects remain dim, as the
company's market share has dropped from a high of 48 percent to less
than 18 percent today. Within the next year or so, GM will likely face
another crisis that could threaten its existence.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Ironically,
had Obama not intervened, GM would have a greater chance of future
success. Romney, an experienced businessman who has successfully dealt
with situations like
GM's in the past, had a better plan. By allowing GM to seek bankruptcy
protection free of taxpayer intervention, he would have forced the
company to reorganize in a manner that would increase its chances of
future success, in contrast to Obama's approach,
which limited their options.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Romney's
plan would have had the labor contracts renegotiated and approved
solely by the bankruptcy court based on economic rather than political
considerations. The GM that
emerged from bankruptcy would have raised capital in the private
sector, where stockholders (owners) would have insisted that GM use its
resources to build cars that consumers want, rather than cars the
government wants and that few people actually purchased.
The Chevy Volt, for instance, is an electric car approved for
production and subsidized by the Obama administration. Unfortunately,
consumers aren't buying it, and production has been halted.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">While
Obama's actions appear to have saved GM, the reality is that he simply
kicked the real bankruptcy down the road. The jobs that Obama claims to
have saved are mostly
overseas, as about 140,000 of the 200,000 GM employees work outside of
the United States. And it is likely that the taxpayers will lose about
$25 billion from this failed bailout.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Romney
would have saved the taxpayers $25 billion by allowing GM to go through
the same bankruptcy that any other firm faces when it is mismanaged and
the economy is weak.
The result would have been a leaner GM, with more reasonable labor
costs and a line of products that consumers actually want to buy. And
there would be a brighter future.</span></div>
<h1>
CNBC NEWS: Romney Is Right—US Must Get Tough With China: Morici</h1>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.cnbc.com/id/49059898" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt;">http://www.cnbc.com/id/49059898</span></a><span style="font-size: 8.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">CNBC News</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Peter Morici</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">September 17, 2012 10:00 AM
</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Governor Romney is right. The United States must get tough with China to restore growth and good paying jobs.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">The
idea behind free trade appears compelling. Let each nation specialize in
what it does best to raise productivity and incomes. But Americans
don’t share in those benefits,
because President Obama lets China and others cheat on the rules, with
only token opposition at the World Trade Organization. (Read More: U.S.
to File WTO Case Against China Over Cars)</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Through
the WTO, industrialized nations have greatly reduced tariffs and
limited domestic policies that discriminate against imports or
artificially boost exports. However,
to optimize trade and create good jobs for all, every nation must play
by the same rules, and exchange rates—which translate prices for U.S.
goods into yuan [CNY=X 6.317 0.0025 (+0.04%) ], euro [EUR=X
1.3144 0.0017 (+0.13% ] and the like—must be
free to adjust to reflect differences in national production costs.
(Read More: Brusca: The ‘Truth’ and Consequences of China’s Data)</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Exchange
rates are established in markets, where exporters, importers and
investors buy and sell currencies needed to conduct international
commerce. Unfortunately, China
and other Asian governments blatantly manipulate those markets. Lacking
a credible American response, this has ruinous consequences for growth
and American workers.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Also,
Beijing imposes high tariffs—for example, about 25 percent on autos—
subsidizes exports, requires state agencies and enterprises to buy
Chinese products, and refuses
to adequately protect U.S. patents and copyrights.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">These
promote Chinese manufacturing in industries where high productivity and
superior product designs would make American goods more competitive. It
compels companies like
GM [GM 23.89 -0.25 (-1.04% ] and Apple [AAPL 698.10 6.82
(+0.99%)] to locate facilities in China and give away know-how to
Chinese partners in Beijing mandated joint-ventures. Ultimately, U.S.
companies heavily invested in China become apologists
for Chinese policies, and work to block meaningful U.S. actions in
defense of American workers.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">The
United States annually exports $2.2 trillion in goods and services, and
these finance a like amount of imports. This raises U.S. gross domestic
product by about $220
billion, because workers are about 10 percent more productive in export
industries, such as software, than in import-competing industries, such
as apparel. (Read More: China, Japan Can't Afford to Let Crisis Worsen:
Pros)</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Unfortunately,
U.S. imports exceed exports by nearly $600 billion, and workers
released from making those products go into non-trade-competing
industries, such as retailing,
where productivity is at least 50 percent lower.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">If they
can’t find work, this slashes GDP by at least $300 billion,
overwhelming the gains from trade, and forces workers to accept lower
wages. In actual fact, that appears
to be what is happening.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Currency
manipulation creates as much as a huge subsidy on Chinese exports.
Other Asian countries are impelled to follow similar policies, lest
their exports become uncompetitive
with Chinese products. (Read More: Chinese Billionaires Lost a Third of
Wealth in Past Year, Study Shows)</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Huge
trade imbalances between Asia and the West, perpetuated by currency
manipulation and protectionism reduce demand for the goods and services
produced in the United States
and Europe.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">To keep
the U.S. economy going, Americans must both borrow from foreigners and
spend too much, as they did through 2008, or their government must amass
huge budget deficits
by borrowing from abroad, as it is now.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">In the
bargain, the United States sends manufacturing jobs to Asia that would
be competitive in the United States, but for rigged exchange rates and
other mercantilism.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">The
trade deficit directly slices $600 billion off GDP, and nearly $1
trillion through the multiplier effects usually associated with a
permanent boost in spending or a tax
cut.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Americans lose 10 million jobs and wages sink, and that’s what is destroying the middle class.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Campaigning
in 2008, Barack Obama promised to deal with Chinese currency
manipulation and protectionism, but he has failed beyond token
complaints to the WTO.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">It will
be impossible for the United States to create the 14 million jobs
needed to bring unemployment down to pre-recession levels without taking
on China.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">For that Americans need another president—one with the courage to stand up to China.</span></div>
<h1>
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3785098723477419442" name="_RELEASE:_ROMNEY_FOR_1" rel="nofollow"></a>RELEASE: ROMNEY FOR PRESIDENT RELEASES TELEVISION AD, “WAR ON COAL”</h1>
<div align="center" class="yiv696548788MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 11.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<img border="0" height="357" id="yiv696548788Picture_x0020_5" src="http://us.mg5.mail.yahoo.com/ya/download?mid=2%5f0%5f0%5f1%5f3072684%5fAGTiimIAAJpRUFnirAsz6yyFRuA&pid=9&fid=Inbox&inline=1&appid=YahooMailNeo" width="632" /><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></b></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></b></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.0pt;">Boston, MA –
</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.0pt;">Today, Romney for
President released a new television advertisement titled “War On Coal.”
President Obama is ruining the coal industry and it’s affecting real
people across
the country. We have 250 years of coal. Why wouldn’t we use it?</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.0pt;">To View “War On Coal,” Please See</span></i><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.0pt;">:
</span><a href="http://mi.tt/RoxMwY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">http://mi.tt/RoxMwY</span></a><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.0pt;">AD FACTS: Script For “War On Coal”:
</span></u></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.0pt;">MAN:
</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.0pt;">“Obama’s ruining the coal industry.”</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.0pt;">MAN:
</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.0pt;">“Policies that the current administration’s got is attacking my livelihood.”</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.0pt;">MAN:</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.0pt;"> “They’re wanting to close these mines down. I got little ones
at home—a wife that’s needing me.”</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.0pt;">MITT ROMNEY:</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.0pt;"> “We have 250 years of coal. Why wouldn’t we use it?”</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.0pt;">MITT ROMNEY:</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.0pt;"> “Utility bills are up.”</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.0pt;">MITT ROMNEY:</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.0pt;"> “People wonder how they’re going to have a brighter future,
if they can’t see how they can make it to the end of the next month.”</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.0pt;">MITT ROMNEY:</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.0pt;"> “I’m Mitt Romney and I approved this message.”</span></div>
<h1>
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3785098723477419442" name="_THE_WASHINGTON_POST:" rel="nofollow"></a>THE WASHINGTON POST: At N.H. town hall, Paul Ryan urged to ‘take the gloves off’</h1>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/decision2012/at-nh-town-hall-paul-ryan-urged-to-take-the-gloves-off/2012/09/18/3194dd9a-01be-11e2-9367-4e1bafb958db_story.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt;">http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/decision2012/at-nh-town-hall-paul-ryan-urged-to-take-the-gloves-off/2012/09/18/3194dd9a-01be-11e2-9367-4e1bafb958db_story.html</span></a><span style="font-size: 8.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 8.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #999999; font-size: 9.0pt;"><img alt="Description: Description: Romney 2012" border="0" height="514" id="yiv696548788Picture_x0020_4" src="http://us.mg5.mail.yahoo.com/ya/download?mid=2%5f0%5f0%5f1%5f3072684%5fAGTiimIAAJpRUFnirAsz6yyFRuA&pid=10&fid=Inbox&inline=1&appid=YahooMailNeo" width="624" /></span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">The Washington Post</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Felicia Sonmez</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">September 18, 2012 2:48 PM</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">DOVER, N.H. — Jack Kimball has a message for the Romney-Ryan campaign: “I think it’s time to take the gloves off.”</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Kimball
is the tea party-backed former New Hampshire Republican Party chairman
who resigned last year amid pressure from members of his party. He made
an unexpected appearance
Tuesday morning in the crowd at Paul Ryan’s second solo town hall
meeting.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">At a
moment when the Romney-Ryan campaign is weathering a tough several weeks
due to a series of unforced errors — including Romney’s statement
criticizing Obama in the wake
of last week’s attacks on U.S. diplomatic missions in the Middle East
and the release on Monday of a video showing Romney appearing to write
off the “47 percent” of Americans who pay zero income tax — Kimball’s
advice might seem counter-intuitive.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">But if
the New Hampshire crowd’s standing ovation for Kimball’s suggestion was
anything to go by, take the gloves off — and continue to make remarks
that rally the GOP base
— is precisely what supporters want the Romney-Ryan ticket to do.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">“The
country is thirsting for this, believe me,” Kimball, a businessman who
chairs the Granite State Patriots Liberty PAC, told the cheering crowd
at McConnell Community
Center. “All of the people in here are thirsting for this in the Live
Free or Die State, and all the prior military men and active duty folks
are thirsting for this.”</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">He
added: “You’ve got six or seven weeks. We know you can do it. We know we
have it in us, and we have to have the two of you in office, there’s no
ifs, ands or buts about
it.”</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Several
attendees at Tuesday’s town hall meeting expressed agreement with
Romney’s “47 percent” remark. Others said they had no opinion on the
statement. But none expressed
the kind of criticism of the remark that has been prevalent in national
media coverage in the nearly 24 hours since the Romney fundraiser video
became public.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">That
would suggest that for all the backlash among pundits for the campaign’s
recent missteps, Romney’s statements on the Middle East demonstrations
and those who pay no
income tax could help him energize members of the GOP base.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Might Romney and Ryan, then, take Kimball’s advice and double down on the heated rhetoric?</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">There
have been signs that they already are. Romney last week followed up his
criticism of the Obama administration’s response to the attacks in Libya
and Egypt with an even
more critical statement the next day.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #999999; font-size: 9.0pt;"><img alt="Description: Description: Romney 2012" border="0" height="412" id="yiv696548788Picture_x0020_3" src="http://us.mg5.mail.yahoo.com/ya/download?mid=2%5f0%5f0%5f1%5f3072684%5fAGTiimIAAJpRUFnirAsz6yyFRuA&pid=11&fid=Inbox&inline=1&appid=YahooMailNeo" width="624" /></span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">And at
Tuesday’s town hall, Ryan appeared to tread carefully between appealing
to the many tea party supporters in the crowd and not carrying his
criticism of Obama out of
bounds.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">One
woman in the crowd introduced herself as a registered Independent who
“wasn’t too sure about the Romney ticket” but decided to back Romney and
Ryan because “I decided
that I want Obama out.” She cited the Supreme Court’s ruling on the
national health-care law and told Ryan, “I was again shocked and
disillusioned, thinking, ‘Are we going to turn into a socialistic
country?’ I’m terrified. I really am.”</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Ryan nodded as the woman spoke, then responded: “I understand exactly what you’re saying.”</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">He went
on to reprise a line about Obama that he and Romney have often used on
the trail, imploring the audience to “imagine what he will do just in
implementing the rest
of Obamacare if he never has to ever face a voter ever again and he
gets reelected.”</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">“It just puts a chill down the spine,” Ryan said.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Another
man in the crowd stood up and prefaced his question by asking, “What’s
wrong with the Obama economy? It is, I would say, everything.”</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">“He’s devastating our economy and this nation, and I think he’s doing it intentionally,” the man said.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Ryan
again stood and nodded as the man finished his question, which was about
zoning issues; then he gave a response that centered on the “desire of
the administration to
more federalize those things like zoning and building codes that are
more left to local government.”</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Several
times in his remarks — more than he typically has done at recent events
on the trail — Ryan referred to the notion of government dependency,
the concept on which
Romney was expounding when he made his ill-fated fundraiser remarks.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">He told
the crowd that he and Romney are concerned about “more and more people
becoming net dependent upon the government than upon themselves, because
by promoting more
dependency, by not having jobs and economic growth, people miss their
potential.”</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">“We
should not be measuring the progress of our social programs, of programs
like food stamps, based upon how many people receive them,” he said to
cheers. “We should be
measuring the progress of our social programs by how many people we
transition off of them into lives of self-sufficiency and jobs and
upward mobility. ... So our goal, our mission is to address the root
causes of poverty instead of simply treating the symptoms
of poverty.”</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">There
were also two other noteworthy aspects of Tuesday’s town hall. It
featured a giant debt clock such as the one on display at last month’s
GOP national convention. And
the town hall marked the second Ryan event in recent days at which a
biographical video of Romney was played. The widely-hailed video was
played at the Tampa convention but was shown too early to make it into
the networks’ prime-time coverage — a point that
some GOP donors have griped about in the weeks since the convention.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Whether
or not Ryan’s town hall remarks were a subtle pivot to appeal to the
GOP base remains an open question, as is the potential impact of
doubling down on Romney’s recent
remarks. (Polls have shown this week that Romney’s criticism of Obama
in the wake of last week’s attacks, for instance, was unpopular among
the broader American public.)</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">But
some of those present on Tuesday said that — contrary to what pundits
and others have said — they believe more tough rhetoric from Romney is
exactly what his campaign
needs right now.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">“I’m
afraid he needs to be a little bit more aggressive,” Janet Leary, a
67-year-old retired registered nurse and lifelong Republican from
Kingston, N.H., said of Romney.
“Obama’s coming on strong now.”</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Leary
noted that two of her relatives are out of work and struggling to find
jobs. “He really needs to push the point that we’re not better off,” she
said of Romney.</span></div>
<div class="yiv696548788MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Kimball,
for his part, said in an interview after the event that Romney’s
remarks on last week’s attacks abroad are the type of message that the
campaign needs to focus on
making.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">“A good
example and a tangible example would be Mitt Romney’s commentary after
the murders at the embassy,” Kimball said when asked how, in particular,
Romney and Ryan should
“take the gloves off.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">“His
commentary was right on, as far as I was concerned. He got heavily
criticized by the press on that. I watched that whole thing. ... Any of
the things that clearly are
things that they disagree with with the administration, to come out
forcefully and let everybody know – not only to be against them, but
what they would do differently,” he added.</span></div>
Bruce Houghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01790249087730952684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785098723477419442.post-42611921651703169602012-09-14T15:30:00.001-06:002012-09-14T15:30:36.340-06:00Romney Geared Up for Victory!!!<!--[if !mso]>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">The e-mail below was posted to the RNC Blog Page (see the link). The Rasmussen Poll is a very important set of new numbers which I'll have more on. Right now though... look at the ground game... the air battle is important, but this war will be won on the ground... everyone can do their part, even if they are not in a battleground state... go the Romney website to see how you can make a difference!</span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">MEMO</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span><br />
<div style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">FROM: RNC Communications Director Sean
Spicer @seanspicer</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">TO:
Interested Parties</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">RE:
Weekend Memo - Ground Game and GOP Strength </span></b><br />
<a href="http://www.gop.com/news/gop-blog/weekend-memo-ground-game-and-gop-strength/">http://www.gop.com/news/gop-blog/weekend-memo-ground-game-and-gop-strength/</a><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">With
53 days left till Election Day--and barely a dozen till the first early
votes are cast--the ground game is in the spotlight. (Be sure to see our
video, "<a href="http://click.targetedvictoryemail.com/?ju=fe571779736602747717&ls=fdeb1579776501757d137876&m=fe9315707360037b71&l=fecc16707c670478&s=fe2c17717d6604787d1c70&jb=ffcf14&t=" title="It's Our Time">It's Our Time</a>")</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">On the
Republican side, the strength of our operation is unprecedented. And when
it was deployed in Wisconsin earlier this summer in what Democrats described
as a "test run," we proved we were up to the challenge.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">After
last weekend's Super Saturday--our third monthly grassroots mobilization
event--the GOP has now made over 20 million voter contacts. To put that
in perspective, we have already surpassed our 2008 voter contact total,
and we still have two months to go.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">As of
Saturday, Republicans had knocked on 16 times more doors and made eight
times more phone calls than at this point in 2008. To date, we have 282
Victory Centers and 620 staff fanned out across the battleground states
mobilizing supporters--many of them first time volunteers--on a daily
basis. This is no doubt a top-notch operation.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">And it
is thanks to the dedication of over 55,000 volunteers across the country
who have given freely of their time to elect the Romney-Ryan ticket. We
are incredibly grateful for the work they have done and continue to do.
Victory is only possible with dedicated volunteers. So to them we offer
the sincerest "thank you," and look forward to working with
them in our Victory Centers for the next seven weeks.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">This
remarkable showing is a measure not only of the strength of our
infrastructure but also of the enthusiasm of our grassroots. Voters are
hungry for a new direction and eager to get America back on solid economic
and fiscal footing. They recognize the serious consequences of this
election and are motivated to get involved not just for themselves but
for the next generation. That's why for months we've seen greater
enthusiasm among Republicans than among Democrats both in polls and on
the ground.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">That
enthusiasm for the Romney-Ryan ticket is also evident in our August
fundraising totals. Together, the RNC, the Romney campaign, and Romney
Victory raised over $100 million for the third month in a row.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
$111.6 million raised in August came from all 50 states and Washington,
D.C. Over 94 percent of the donations were $250 or under. After another
month of wise spending and successful fundraising, we started September
with approximately $168.5 million cash on hand.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">With
the conventions over, we head into the final stretch. Republicans are
playing to win on an expanded map. For example, Wisconsin, which the
Obama campaign won by 14 points in '08 and earlier this year took for
granted, is decidedly a toss-up.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Nationally,
voters continue to express more confidence in Gov. Romney on the most
pressing issue of the day: the economy. Rasmussen found Thursday that
half of likely voters trust Gov. Romney to better handle the economy.
President Obama lags by seven points.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">As
last Friday's jobs report made abundantly clear, America is in desperate
need of real economic leadership. Unemployment remains unacceptably high
at 8.1 percent, and for every worker who managed to find a job last
month, four gave up looking and dropped out of the work force altogether.
President Obama promised hope, but far too many Americans feel hopeless
when they see their lack of job prospects.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Mitt
Romney is the only candidate with a clear plan for the economy and middle
class. President Obama offers only warmed-over promises. And as our
dedicated volunteers continue going door-to-door and making calls, more
Americans will see that clear and critical difference. </span><br />
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Bruce Houghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01790249087730952684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785098723477419442.post-76963954414901302402012-09-11T08:11:00.000-06:002012-09-11T08:42:29.401-06:009/11 A Reminder For Me...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHUmJUVml5CdI6fIOmMgtp4gkClKZHJEZm-GLjIALD6l7HFI5chyphenhyphenub2w3ZF1IEzW2wpK534Wkpp3Qddd547AJbTzcK0Blb-2oai8Aw8bTJ_uuCxZCSN4I6tChDyMYOojtv-qT6Uz3yVdKG/s1600/9-11.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHUmJUVml5CdI6fIOmMgtp4gkClKZHJEZm-GLjIALD6l7HFI5chyphenhyphenub2w3ZF1IEzW2wpK534Wkpp3Qddd547AJbTzcK0Blb-2oai8Aw8bTJ_uuCxZCSN4I6tChDyMYOojtv-qT6Uz3yVdKG/s1600/9-11.jpeg" /></a></div>
There are a lot of things we remember from this "day of infamy", this day that will always be etched in our memory as a day we were attacked. We will remember those who perished, those who were heroic, and how the nation rallied in a unified moment of sorrow and yet hope for each other and our country.<br />
<br />
For me, it reminds me of how fragile life is. How unexpected a loved one can be lost. How possible it is that even I won't be home for dinner tonight. We just don't know when we will be called home to our God. But without our knowing the when, we can know the how. Meaning, how we are with our life, our family, our God?<br />
<br />
Today reminds me that I never want to leave home without kissing my wife goodbye and telling her and our child at home that I love them.<br />
<br />
It reminds me how important it is to be more consistent in reaching out to my children, grandchildren, parents, and siblings in other parts of the country and to express my love for them, in both word and deed.<br />
<br />
It reminds me that I need to try harder each day to be a better person; kinder to those around me and more willing to serve my fellow man. <br />
<br />
It reminds me that I need to be prepared to meet Him who created me.<br />
<br />
As heart wrenching as this day can be as we look back on those whose lives were lost, it is also a day we can use to look forward to how we can make ourselves better, better prepared for what lies ahead.<br />
<br />Bruce Houghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01790249087730952684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785098723477419442.post-85760035270292842012012-09-10T08:36:00.001-06:002012-09-10T08:36:53.821-06:00Don't Let the Polls depress you... Romney is going to Win!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Great memorandum below from Neil Newhouse, Pollster for Romney. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">It seems like every conversation I have is from people concerned about the polling and asking, "can Romney win?".<i> </i>Of course the answer is a resounding YES! Let's face it, Obama's high water mark was when he was elected four years ago. There is no one who can say that Obama will keep all the voters he had last time... It just isn't going to happen. We all know that the mainstream media is in the bag for Obama... what they don't report is how that the Romney/Ryan/RNC Air Game and Ground Game will be phenomenal the last 60 days</span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But when all is said and done... I don't accept the premise that people will be fooled twice with the Obama promise of prosperity after four years of utter failure.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">JOBS</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Gas Prices/Energy</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">On those two issues alone, it is time to make a change. <u>We are not better off than we were four years ago. Period.</u> See Neil's analysis below.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">TO:
Interested Parties </span></b><span style="color: black;"></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">FROM: Neil Newhouse, Romney
for President Pollster</span></b><span style="color: black;"></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">RE:
State of the Race</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">DATE:
September 10, 2012 </span></b><span style="color: black;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Don't
get too worked up about the latest polling. While some voters will feel a
bit of a sugar-high from the conventions, the basic structure of the race has
not changed significantly. The reality of the Obama economy will
reassert itself as the ultimate downfall of the Obama Presidency, and Mitt
Romney will win this race. </span><span style="color: black;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In
his acceptance speech, President Obama did not </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">offer any solutions for <span style="color: black;">the
millions of Americans unemployed or underemployed. But his convention
speech was not the only big letdown to voters, as Americans also dealt with yet
another dismal jobs report last week. President Obama is the only president in </span>modern
American <span style="color: black;">history to stand before the American people
asking for re-election with this many Americans struggling to find work. The
key numbers in this election are the 43 straight months of 8% or higher
unemployment, the 23 million Americans struggling to find work, and the 47
million Americans who are on food stamps.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Today,
there is no question: Americans are not better off than we were four years ago,
and that is why President Obama has struggled in this race. The truth is
that some of President Obama’s allies are claiming victory, but others are
acknowledging the unsustainable position in which they find themselves.
This is evidenced in a recent quote in <i>The New York Times </i>by an Obama
Administration official saying, “It’s certainly not what I would call the
position we wanted to be in at this point in the race…He’s going to have to
make the case that we wouldn’t even be at 8 percent if it weren’t for him.”</span><span style="color: black;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Consider
the following points:</span><span style="color: black;"></span></div>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
Obama Economy:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> The stakes are very high
in this election, and voters understand the future of our country is on
the line. This may be lost on those living within the
hyper-political world in and around the Beltway, but it is not lost in
communities in battleground states. In short, the Romney-Ryan
campaign understands Americans struggling in the Obama economy will
determine the outcome of the race, and once the preponderance of
information about the President’s failed policies – combined with Mitt
Romney’s vision to strengthen the middle class – are communicated,</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">our
nation will move in a different direction.</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></li>
</ul>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">All
Signs Point to a Tight Race:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Those watching the daily
tracking polls know that, while the President has seen a bounce from his
convention, his approval has already begun to slip, indicating it is
likely to recede further. In eight states, Pollster.com’s reporting
of the most recent statewide polls puts the margin between the two
candidates at less than three points, virtually guaranteeing a tight race.
</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></li>
</ul>
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<br /></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Next,
the battlefield has actually expanded, not contracted. Note that
Wisconsin is now in play and our campaign is now up with ads in that
state, while the latest poll numbers from the <i>Albuquerque Journal</i> in
New Mexico show the race closing there. And this tightening is not
an anomaly. Consider the traditional Democratic strongholds of New
Jersey and Connecticut, won by President Obama in 2008 by margins of 15
points and 22 points, respectively. In both states, Pollster.com’s
reporting of the most recent statewide polls puts Obama’s lead at only
seven points in each of these states.</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></li>
</ul>
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<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In
North Carolina, fresh off of hosting the Democratic National Convention,
the Obama campaign is laying the groundwork for a stealth
withdrawal. In a state the President won by a mere 14,000 votes in
2008, all one has to do is look at the Obama campaign’s television buy in
the state to understand how they view their chances there. The Obama
campaign’s North Carolina television buy has dropped 35% compared to June,
and they have run more than twice as much advertising over the past two
weeks in Rochester, Minnesota (hitting a small slice of Iowa), than they
have in <b><i>any</i></b> North Carolina market. </span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></li>
</ul>
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<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo5; tab-stops: list .5in;"><b><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Historical Data: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Political
campaign historians will recall President Jimmy Carter led Ronald Reagan
by a near double digit margin late in the fall in 1980. In that
race, the voters made their decision based on the key issues confronting
the nation and it determined the outcome. On the economy, the most
important issue of this race, Mitt Romney leads by 51%-45%, according to
the most recent CNN/ORC poll.</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></li>
</ul>
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<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo6; tab-stops: list .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Targeted
Campaign:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> The Romney-Ryan campaign
is running deeply local and targeted efforts in each of the states
focusing on the voter groups that will make the difference on Election
Day. Anyone asserting a “one-size-fits-all-campaign” effort is being
put forward is simply misinformed, as evidenced by the 15 different ads
released by the Romney Ryan campaign this past Friday and now running in
nine states, including Wisconsin.</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></li>
</ul>
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<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo7; tab-stops: list .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">New
Money Advantage:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> All of this is not
possible without resources, and the Romney-Ryan campaign and the
Republican Party have a real advantage. In August alone, the Romney
Victory effort raised more than $111 million, marking the third straight
fundraising month of more than $100 million, putting us on a very strong
financial footing for the final two months. </span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></li>
</ul>
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<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo8; tab-stops: list .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Energy
and Enthusiasm: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">CNN/ORC’s most recent polling
shows that 62% of Republicans are “extremely” or “very” excited about this
election, while only 56% of Democrats report being “extremely” or “very”
excited. This Republican enthusiasm advantage has manifested itself
in an unprecedented and historic grassroots effort that will have a
significant impact on turnout in battleground states on Election Day.
For instance, as of today, Victory volunteers have already knocked
on more doors than during the entire 2008 campaign. (2.72 million in 2012
through September 8 compared to 2.43 million overall in 2008.)</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></li>
</ul>
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<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; mso-list: l8 level1 lfo9; tab-stops: list .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Romney's
Ground Game: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">During last weekend’s “Super
Saturday,” we crossed the 20 million volunteer voter contact threshold.
Also, the Romney campaign knocked on more doors last week than in
any week during the 2008 campaign. More than 55,000 volunteers have
knocked doors or made phone calls for Victory this year and that number is
growing by the week. And volunteers have collected person-to-person
identification information on nearly 1.7 million swing voters in
battleground states thus far. And the numbers are even more startling
when one looks at individual states. For instance, in Ohio alone,
five times more phone calls and 28 times more door knocks have been made
than at this time in 2008. This past Saturday, more than 100,000
doors were knocked on by Victory volunteers in the Buckeye State.
And in Wisconsin, five times more phone calls and 72 times more door
knocks have been made than at this time in 2008. And the list goes
on and on.</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></li>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Mitt
Romney will be the next President. The outcome of this race will
ultimately be determined in favor of Governor Romney because he has the better
leadership skills, the better record, and the better vision for where he wants
to take the country. These advantages are being fueled by the commitment
and determination of volunteers and voters to change direction and move our
country on a path toward economic growth and job creation. In short, the
combination of having the superior candidate, being in a margin-of-error race
with an incumbent President, having a cash advantage, and having an
unprecedented grassroots effort and a winning message on the economy ensure
that Americans will make a change in leadership in Washington on November 6.
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Bruce Houghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01790249087730952684noreply@blogger.com0