JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION
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Alphaape
Two things easily counter that example of cupidity: 1) Oprah doesn't need a show to have influence, and 2) incumbency easily makes up for whatever Obama might lose by not going on the Oprah show.
@yabits: Remember that exchange between you and I, well look what I found today:
*(NewsCore) - Oprah Winfrey, the queen of daytime television, will not be publicly endorsing President Barack Obama for re-election in 2012, a source told Pop Eater.
"For 2012, much has changed for Oprah," the source told Pop Eater. "She now has her own cable channel called OWN that has been struggling to find an audience -- she isn't going to do anything to alienate them."
"Unlike in 2008, when a drop in ratings didn't matter as much for the queen of TV, Oprah is now fighting every day to get people to tune into OWN," the source added, noting that while Winfrey will likely support Obama again, she will do so more privately.
"Helping a friend keep the most important job in the world is great, but making sure her OWN network thrives is now her priority," the source said.*
I guess whatever I was "smoking" as you said wsa pretty good stuff.
Her next move will be to interview Couric on her network, followed by Hillary when she resigns. Having done that, she will gain the female voters that she lost endorsing Obama over Hillary and back Hillary if she runs.
Posted in: Obama announces re-election bid in email to 13 mil supporters
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Alphaape
@yabits: HIs show still had more viewers than MSNBC had for any show.
Posted in: Obama announces re-election bid in email to 13 mil supporters
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Alphaape
@Lieberman2012. Good points. When I try to get this out to the likes of some on the blog, I get the "I must be out of my mind" rants. The failure of the Dems is going to be just like the failure of the GOP in 2008. They were so concerned about the House/Senate/WH that they decided to forgo those local elections in the statehouses, which led them to be seen as uncaring and aloof from what the rest of America was facing. The Dems are doing the same thing. Believing that they will keep the WH withoug focusing on the smaller elections and getting their message for the lower elections, as we saw in 2010 will cut them off.
People seem to forget, Obama ran a great campaign in 2008 against the GOP, but in the Dem primary he still had to go all the way with his machine. This time there will be some Dems who will want him replaced and he will have a struggle.
Posted in: Obama announces re-election bid in email to 13 mil supporters
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Alphaape
@yabits, primaries do matter. Byt the time Nov 2012 rolls around the image of the candiates will be set. How they fare in the primaries will set the tone. If Obama is seen to have difficulty in the early primaries, then whomever will go against him in the Dem party will cast doubt for the independent voters in the general election who would probably vote for him, but are reminded by his opponents on his failed policies.
I will admit, this will give a GOP win only if they don't nominate a polarizing figure like Palin on their ticket, which will bring out the far left people who disagree with Obama and those moderate Dems who would vote for someone other than a Dem, but not with Palin as a choice.
As to his popularity at supporting contending candidates, in my home state (AR) Sen. Blanche Lincoln needed the support of Obama and he and his wife made campaign stops in AR to support her. Her ads featured her voting for Obamacare. End result, she lost to a Rep. in 2010. I don't think the Obama brand will have as much luster as it did in 2008.
Posted in: Obama announces re-election bid in email to 13 mil supporters
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Alphaape
@yabits: in the 2008 election Obama carried 28 states to McCain's 22. Since the '08 election, the GOP has gained governorship of 25 states, most notalbly VA and NJ and IN and OH, which are key swing states. That means that there has been a shift in the voting electorate.
Also, since these states changed, it wasn't that the GOP grew in numbers, but the independents who had in 2008 would have most likely voted for Obama changed their vote from the Dem to the GOP, since they probably thought along the lines that a vote for a Dem candidate would be an approval for Obama, and frankly he is losing that independent vote which he needs.
You are correct in saying that the hard core Dems will vote for Obama in the primaries, but some of those independents who will vote in a Dem primary will probably not vote for Obama this time. A lot of this depends on who the Reps put up also.
So before you continue with your snide comments (which you probably pick up from watching MSNBC), take a look at the facts and try to make an informed comment.
Black voter turnout was high back in 2008. This was also one of the reasons why the Prop 8 (gay marriage) failed in CA. Believe it or not, Blacks tend to vote more conservative on issues, even if they vote Democratic. Don't believe it. Look at the protests that ensued after the failure of Prop 8. The left tried to place the blame on Morman groups from Utah and their ads and their influence, but look at the poll results from CA on 2008 on how blacks in CA voted on that issue. But the thing the Dems didn't do was go after the black leaders and voters on voting against it. It would have cut their base off (in terms of black voter support).
Posted in: Obama announces re-election bid in email to 13 mil supporters
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Alphaape
And with that, we come back around to the old "plantation syndrome" that blacks have with the Dems. Why shouldn't a Dem candidate have to work for the black vote. Just because he has a (D) in his title does not give him my automatic vote. A candidate should be elected on where they stand on the issues, and not just becuase a group of people have always voted for that party.
I still think that Obama will have a rough primary ahead. Whomever decides to run against him, will probably have the backing of those Dems who got ousted in 2010. I am sure many are bitter at their loss, and an Obama loss in 2012 would be a way for them to get back into the political arena.
Posted in: Obama announces re-election bid in email to 13 mil supporters
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Alphaape
@yabits: last election he had 90% of the black vote. Now, he will have to work for it like every other candidate.
Posted in: Obama announces re-election bid in email to 13 mil supporters
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Alphaape
@yabits: TO prove my point, and intersting article from NY Daily News tells part of the story"
*"Obama will be speaking Wednesday for the first time at the annual convention of the National Action Network and standing with its founder, the Rev. Al Sharpton - whom the President largely ignored before his 2008 election.
The symbolic speech at the Sheraton in midtown - coming just days after the President held two events in Harlem - indicates that Obama, who is battling slipping poll numbers, is trying to bolster his standing among African-Americans, political scientists said.
"It proves again that 2012 will be very different than 2008," said Larry Sabato of the University of Virginia. "Then, Obama was very wary of the race issue and of being labeled as a 'black candidate.'"
"But some of the enthusiasm surrounding that election has faded," said Sabato. "He needs an injection of energy and Sharpton can provide some of that, at least in the black community."
Obama and Sharpton have always been uneasy partners."*
I guess it will not be as easy as you think.
Posted in: Obama announces re-election bid in email to 13 mil supporters
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Alphaape
@yabits: Why do you think Obama named the female Congressman from FL as the new head of the DNC? Trying to prevent Hillary from gaining momentum. He named a woman and is cutting her off "at the pass" so to speak. You seem to forget, many women felt "betrayed" by Oprah when she threw her support behind Obama. Normally with Oprah, any chance to bash a man (especially a Black man, just look at her films), and you would have expected her to back Hillary. But she felt color was stronger than gender.
You may think this idea sounds far fetched, but when you study these things closely, you will see that they make some sense. If not, then why did the Dems make the statement that the GOP picked Michael Steele back to head the GOP when Obama was elected.
I don't think that there is as much unity in the Dem party as you think. AFter all, look how some of the Dems are starting to vote in the House on issues. Also, some of the Dems that did get elected in 2010 were going on the campaign of "not being for Obamacare." And for that matter, many Dems who were running in 2010 tried to distance themselves from Obama as much as possible when his poll numbers were going down.
Posted in: Obama announces re-election bid in email to 13 mil supporters
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Alphaape
If the evidence can't be found or accusers are no longer alive, then she should be released for lack of evidence or witnesses. But, I guess she just exemplifies that she was just a bad apple since she got caught doing what she probably did the first time.
Posted in: Woman, among 31 detainees released from police custody following tsunami, rearrested
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Alphaape
I know I will get tired of it all by 2012, but it will be intersting to see who will come out at the end. As many have posted here, Obama was an unknown this time in 2007. And for those who say he is without flaw, Bush 41 had just come off a victory in the first Gulf War, and the economy was picking up, he looked unbeatable and look what happened to him.
Posted in: Obama announces re-election bid in email to 13 mil supporters
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Alphaape
@yabits, I have heard this, but more so from blacks who have been fed up with the Dems who are keeping blacks on plantations. The fact that Colin Powell, who is a card carrying Rep. could vote for Obama shows a lot more than what high profile Dems would do. At least he was able to cast his support based on what he believed was a better candidate (note I said what he believed).
If Obama has an "easy victory" within his party, and the GOP will not be able to stand up to him, why is he going to a fund raiser in SF with a cover charge of $30K per person. If he is so popular among his party and the rest of the nation, he shouldn't need that big of a war chest to get his message across.
Fundraisers of this type this far ahead can mean only one thing, he knows that he will have a tough fight ahead of him. It will be toughest among his own party. He may be able to outspend anyone now, but those candidates who don't have the funds will make their points by not supporting him (if they are elected persons) and not showing full support to his programs.
Posted in: Obama announces re-election bid in email to 13 mil supporters
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Alphaape
So you are basically saying that Greece is a poor backwater, more so than the rest of Europe. But they are a socialist country, and aren't they all supposed to be equal. So, I am interested in your comparisons of Portugal, Spain, and Ireland. What states do they compare with?
@yabits, you'll be saying something differnt around the June/July timeframe when Hillary resigns. Just look at her handling of Libya. Do you think RR would have let Al Haig or Shultz lead the way when he got entangled with Libya, like Obama has had Hiliary being on the forefront?
Posted in: Obama announces re-election bid in email to 13 mil supporters
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Alphaape
Whatever you are smoking, you need to put it down and join the rest of us in reality. Michale Moore has already came out against Obama and his stance on Libya. Kucinich and Rangel have denounced Obama. Sen Webb (D-Va) has decided not to run for the Senate in 2012. He has not made any indciations as to if he would run, but if he decided to explore it, he would gain much of the moderate Dem support that Obama has. Not to mention Hillary, she will resign her post as soon as the first realy serious poll comes out on who the voters would want to have in the Dem party vice Obama, and if his numbers are low, she will be in.
The Dem. party is not as unified as you would like to think, just like the Rep. aren't either.
One thing Obama will not have, the "Oprah" factor. Since she is quitting her show, and the ratings on her network are in the tubes, he will lose out on that. Since he has had a cozy relationship with GE and NBC, when Couric leaves CBS news, the first show, in whatever forum will have on as a guest Hillary. Many females felt betrayed by Oprah and her putting her support behind Obama (Black like she is) and not Hillary (a woman like she is).
Also, keep in mind, the Dem. primary process went down to the wire, and it was not an easy walk for Obama. Many thought he was unknown. Now many know him, and probably will not vote for him.
Posted in: Obama announces re-election bid in email to 13 mil supporters
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Alphaape
Obama's main concern will be who will the Dems through up against him. Remember 1980? Carter had a hard fight against Ed Kennedy which pretty much split the Dem party which led to Reagan getting elected.
Obama will face some Dems on the far left who think he is not doing enough, and those moderate Dems who think he has gone off track. Those moderate Dems will probably be the ones who will cause him the most problem.
If he gets the Dem. nomination, those Dems who are more moderate will probably look at the Rep. candidate, and as long as he is not a far right person they probably will side with them, and Obama would loose the election. Once again, I refer to the 1980 election.
Posted in: Obama announces re-election bid in email to 13 mil supporters
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Alphaape
He needs to worry about having justice given to those in his country who killed innocent UN workers than worrying about what is going on in another country.
Posted in: Afghans angry at Koran burning in Florida kill 7 at U.N. compound
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Alphaape
These people should be protesting their own government rather than worrying about what some guys in Florida do to a Koran. In America, he has the right to do such a thing. I could see if he went to Afg. and burned the Koran there, but he was half a world away.
Tose imams should tell their people, take that same energy, and either throw out the government that they have their, or make the changes themselves in their local regions so that life will not be as miserable as it is there (you know, the bombings and killings by muslims against other muslims).
Posted in: Afghans angry at Koran burning in Florida kill 7 at U.N. compound
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Alphaape
@smithinjapan: I am not sure what you mean, but what I was trying to say that te radiation levels that are being recorded in NV are far lower than the doses that they received back when open air testing was going on.
Not to make light of the situation there at Fukushima, but I think this is a case of everyone wanting to say that "they were affected" in the US.
Posted in: Tiny amounts of radiation from Japan reach Nevada
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Alphaape
The US has exploded over 1500 nuclear weapons since WW2 (2 in war, the rest in testing). About 330 of them were above ground. Many were done at the Nevada Test site. So I am not so sure why they are worried about readings from Japan.
Posted in: Tiny amounts of radiation from Japan reach Nevada
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Alphaape
I just wonder how long before the Yakuza scammers get involved and start stealing money from this cause. If they do, I hope that they get caught and made an example of for others not to do it.
Posted in: Toyama man arrested for stealing earthquake collection box