Democratic Convention 2012

[Bob Kohm]

LOL, oh the whistling past the graveyard this morning. Good speech, did everything it needed to do, and the electoral math is so stacked against Romney as to be nearing impossibility. Oh and nobody debated a chair during the entire three nights

[Kevin Seitzer]

With the caveat that I have not watched the speech, I find it ironic that one of the biggest criticisms of Obama has been that his administration has not lived up to the soaring rhetoric in his speeches from the 2008 campaign, and now when he delivers a more practical, measured campaign speech, he is criticized for not having the soaring rhetoric he had in 2008.

[joncarlos]

Someday I want to be as good at anything as Obama is at public speaking. Last night's speech was a "disappointment" only because the bar is set so damn high. Show that speech to anyone who's never seen Obama and they'd think it was brilliant.

I really think Joe Biden is a great person, but a so-so speaker at best. I enjoy watching photo montages of him... one second looking really comfortable in a polo shirt and the next looking really uncomfortable in a tie. So good at talking with people in the trenches but not as effective on the big stage. A really good complement to Obama in that regard, actually.

I enjoyed Schweitzer's speech (he's the Dem governor of Montana). Just a fun guy, and not a typical democrat at all.

[heyelander]

Someday I want to be as good at anything as Obama is at public speaking.

You run a decent fantasy draft.

[onejayhawk]

With the caveat that I have not watched the speech, I find it ironic that one of the biggest criticisms of Obama has been that his administration has not lived up to the soaring rhetoric in his speeches from the 2008 campaign, and now when he delivers a more practical, measured campaign speech, he is criticized for not having the soaring rhetoric he had in 2008.

The race in 2008 was close until about this point. Then the bad economic news took over the headlines. What was an under 2% spread ballooned to over 7% in about 3 weeks. The reason, according to some analysis, was that Barack Obama received a mandate to fix the economy. I will have to look for the quote, but I think it was UVa's Crystal Ball.

This begs the question, if the mandate was to fix the economy, was he successful or not? Given Reagan 1980 as a comparable situation, perhaps not.

J

[Judge Jude]

OBama and Biden didn't score as well as Clinton at factcheck.org

http://factcheck.org/2012/09/factchecking-obama-and-biden/

among the highlights:

"President Obama boasted that his plan would cut the deficit by $4 trillion over 10 years, citing “independent experts.” But one such analyst called a key element of the plan a “gimmick.” "

The president said U.S. automakers are “back on top of the world.” Nope. GM has slipped back to No. 2 and is headed for third place in global sales this year, behind Toyota and Volkswagen.

Biden said “the experts” concluded Romney’s corporate tax plan would create 800,000 jobs in other countries. One expert said that. She also said the number depends on the details, and foreign jobs could grow without costing U.S. jobs.

Biden claimed Romney “believes it’s OK to raise taxes on middle classes by $2,000.” Romney actually promises to lower middle-class taxes."

[Judge Jude]

ouch from ABC

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/democrats-trash-lobbyists-speeches-party-cash/story?id=17180513#.UEqz7q5qCSp

"Inside the Democratic convention hall in Charlotte this week, the lobbyists and special interests took a rhetorical beating from the party that has tried to carry the mantle of Washington reform.......

But outside the hall, lobbyists and their friends in Congress were the toast of Charlotte, just as they had been in Tampa during the Republican convention.....

[Lobbyist] Podesta said he was happy not to be hit up for money to support the convention host committee. "It enables us to be able to do wonderful parties like this instead of spending money on fencing and security so we thank the President for his direction of our activities more to events like this," he said."

[OaklandA's]

Biden claimed Romney “believes it’s OK to raise taxes on middle classes by $2,000.” Romney actually promises to lower middle-class taxes."

This one can't really be fact-checked, since Romney hasn't told anyone his tax plan yet. All we know is that he wants to reduce marginal tax rates by 20% across the board, eliminate capital gains taxes for those earning below $250K, and eliminate some unknown deductions, all while keeping the plan revenue neutral. What deductions could possibly be eliminated to make up for all of the lost revenue from the 20% rate cut and loss of capital gains taxes? The only way the math can work is by cutting deductions of things like mortgages, education, and charitable donations, which will end up raising taxes for the middle classes.

[JudeBaldo]

The race in 2008 was close until about this point. Then the bad economic news took over the headlines. What was an under 2% spread ballooned to over 7% in about 3 weeks. The reason, according to some analysis, was that Barack Obama received a mandate to fix the economy. I will have to look for the quote, but I think it was UVa's Crystal Ball.

This begs the question, if the mandate was to fix the economy, was he successful or not? Given Reagan 1980 as a comparable situation, perhaps not.

J

You've also said presidents don't have the power to create economic growth.

[Hornsby]

OBama and Biden didn't score as well as Clinton at factcheck.org

http://factcheck.org/2012/09/factchecking-obama-and-biden/

among the highlights:

"President Obama boasted that his plan would cut the deficit by $4 trillion over 10 years, citing “independent experts.” But one such analyst called a key element of the plan a “gimmick.” "

The president said U.S. automakers are “back on top of the world.” Nope. GM has slipped back to No. 2 and is headed for third place in global sales this year, behind Toyota and Volkswagen.

Biden said “the experts” concluded Romney’s corporate tax plan would create 800,000 jobs in other countries. One expert said that. She also said the number depends on the details, and foreign jobs could grow without costing U.S. jobs.

Biden claimed Romney “believes it’s OK to raise taxes on middle classes by $2,000.” Romney actually promises to lower middle-class taxes."

"US automakers" should also include Ford and perhaps Chrystler, depending on who owns the majority shares there, so I would think that would end up falling into the "true" category.

[cardboardbox]

"US automakers" should also include Ford and perhaps Chrystler, depending on who owns the majority shares there, so I would think that would end up falling into the "true" category.

If you're going to combine Ford, GM, and Chrysler sales, then they've probably been on top of the world for most of the automotive era.

[cardboardbox]

This one can't really be fact-checked, since Romney hasn't told anyone his tax plan yet. All we know is that he wants to reduce marginal tax rates by 20% across the board, eliminate capital gains taxes for those earning below $250K, and eliminate some unknown deductions, all while keeping the plan revenue neutral. What deductions could possibly be eliminated to make up for all of the lost revenue from the 20% rate cut and loss of capital gains taxes? The only way the math can work is by cutting deductions of things like mortgages, education, and charitable donations, which will end up raising taxes for the middle classes.

Since all we know is that Romney will cut taxes by 20% thats all we go by. Speculating on what he might do is outside the realm of facts.

[Hornsby]

If you're going to combine Ford, GM, and Chrysler sales, then they've probably been on top of the world for most of the automotive era.

True enough...but how else are you going to spin "US Automakers"? If he would have said that GM is once again the #1 carmaker in the world, he would have been wrong, but he didn't. He specifically said US automakers...factcheckers got it wrong this time.

[cardboardbox]

True enough...but how else are you going to spin "US Automakers"? If he would have said that GM is once again the #1 carmaker in the world, he would have been wrong, but he didn't. He specifically said US automakers...factcheckers got it wrong this time.

politicians lie and stretch the truth. The One is no exception.

[onejayhawk]

You've also said presidents don't have the power to create economic growth.

That's me. I did not give him a mandate. I also did not say that elections were entirely rational.

J