Wednesday, October 10, 2012

What happened at the Presidential debate. That is a statement, not a question.

To the left, statistical analysis.

The media is excited as if they opened their first gift Christmas morning as if something actually happened. Nothing really did.

If I may?

Before the debate the Republican media was screaming about the lousy polls and how they were biased, now they are stating the polls finally got it right. It is a lie. The lies they were speaking before the debates were about one thing and one thing only. 

Momentum. Enthusiasm. The Right Wing media lied before the debates to continued whatever momentum existed and then after the debate when Mr. Mystery Mitt showed up everything was right with the world. That woman commentator, what is her name, not Laura anybody the other one. The mouthpiece for Murdoch, she stated, "If Chris Christi isn't the nominee, then it will be Romney and we will lose." Now she is saying she had it right the entire time that Romney is going to win.

Oddly, President Obama BEFORE the debate when the polls were putting him 13% ahead of his opponent stated, "The polls are eschew." He and his campaign said that.

I think the polls in Ohio are very instructive, but, first I want to comment about Pew.

The Pew Poll doesn't come out that often. Once a month I think it is, if it is that often. Whether they will step it up now that the election is near is another question. I don't know the answer to that. If a commentator doesn't look at statistics well, then it is easy to exploit what seems like the obvious.

Immediately after the debate Pew released a poll which stated Romney did amazingly well, won the debate and was winning the election. Basically. The Pew Poll released previously to that one was taken some time ago, about a month I believe and it stated President Obama was ahead by 10 points. 

The Pew Poll is a conservative think tank polling focus. In my opinion, a swing as wild as that is an outliar. It carries an interesting political impact, but, basically is very inaccurate in both cases.

In the Real Clear Politics statistic, the Pew Poll impacted the overall average of all the polls taken. No other poll had the extensive change Pew had and they did not have a huge swing to increase the balance with President Obama's statistics, so the overall average at RCP reflects PEW's wild card statistic or outliar impact. That may be why PEW has the design to its statistical questions and participants by the way. It could be designed to be an outliar. As a partisan poll it could emphasize 'the trend' rather than 'the reality.

In the weeks before the debate most of the polls were stating when the overall averages were broken down the ONLY place Romney out paced President Obama was on the economy and deficit. When asked by any polling agency most voters stated Romney could better address those two issues. But, on all other topics Romney trailed considerably. 

Ask yourself what was the topic of the debate?

The debate was to cover the economy and other topics including governance. Where did Romney poll better than President Obama? The economy and the deficit. That showed up in the debate. However, the aggressive nature of Romney during the debate effected the moderator and he was scrambling to cover the remaining topics at the every end. Romney aggressively kept 'on topic' of the economy for the greater length of the debate because it was no secret it was the only place he out paced the President. In other words, Romney was cheating the viewership of their debate and made it an hour commercial for the economy. He lied throughout the debate, but, he put on a good show and the people cheered.

Today, if one looks to the Ohio polls it is very instructive. The percentage of voters in Ohio voting for President Obama hasn't changed. President Obama remains the steadfast hero in Ohio and he is polling the same pre and post debate. Mr. Romney is polling higher in Ohio but still behind President Obama. Mr. Romney gained 'interest' by the undecided.

President Obama won the debate on substance. He was true to his positions and policies throughout the debate. He maintained a civil stance and the same ole, same ole demeanor we are used to. He has kept the USA on track to success in over coming the economic collapse of 2008 and he does so by remaining trustworthy, speaking the truth and asking the people of the USA to be involved. He did that during the debate and he'll continue to do that.

President Obama is a great president. When he tossed his hat in the ring for the Democratic nominee he never bargained for the October surprise of 2008 when he was the nominee. It didn't matter. He stepped up to the country's needs, met them and continues to deliver on every one of his 2008 campaign promises even with a hostile and divided Republican House. I find that interesting. The fact that he can deliver on his 2008 campaign promises regardless of the huge change in circumstances he faced when taking office compared to the circumstances he campaigned on as a candidate and then nominee. No one ever remarks on that incredible achievement. It is as if he knew all of what he said during the 2008 campaign was paramount to the nation's best outcomes in the face of a huge economic failure. 

Look, the jobs picture today is a mirror reflection of Bush's lack of achievement during his eight years. We had an economy riding high on government money from 2000 - 2008, two wars and exploitation of the American Dream. Even with two wars and all the spending that went with them, Bush could not improve the jobs picture as it is finally improving today under President Obama. After October 2008 the construction industry practically disappeared because it was one of the only industries growing under Bush. The Bush economy was about exploiting the monies one had in equity in their ONLY home and 'dealing that money' into becoming millionaires. Where did the Bush economy collapse? In housing. The construction industry not only deflated it disappeared, until recently and finally with all the help the Obama Administration has provided to the mortgage markets it is finally recovering. And recovering ahead of schedule/predictions, by the way.

Returning to the issue of the debate and its after math, what is disappointing to me as an American in search of a President of the United States, it isn't about substance anymore. It is about putting a winning 'persona' on the stage as if it were some kind of sparing match. The declared winner of the debate is about viciousness and not about the truth. In my opinion, the debates are basically just a dog and pony show where facts, the truth and civility don't matter. It is about showmanship and nothing more, because, Romney lied about nearly every word he spoke, but, it just didn't matter.

Whatever happened to Zogby (click here), by the way?

"Nuns on the Bus" are again carrying the message of the poor to the public.

Sr. Simone Campbell asks attendees to participate in an exercise to demonstrate the changes in Americans’ income from 1980 to 2009 by creating a human graph. (Photo by Sue Ann Rybak)

Democrats and Republicans see the definition of democracy very differently. Democrats believe democracy is about opportunity and 'getting the chance' for it while Republicans define democracy as wealth, having it and keeping it. The differences are clear, what side of the great divide do you sit on?

The problem of poverty will worsen and the economy will reflect it in growth and employment if the GOP has its way after November. This is the America most people distain but they never seem to understand it and how it relates to the future of our economy. Poverty slows economic growth in the USA, while opportunity corrects its course.

The increase in homelessness in New York City also has a ripple effect. The housing no longer with occupants, paying customers if you will, will cause a further deterioration in the economic viability for those buildings. This isn't just a loss of housing for some lazy working bumbs, this is a loss in income across the board including property owners. It should be very obvious how 'opportunity' is necessary for economic growth.

Poverty is not joblessness, it is INCOME.


October 3, 2002
by Sue Ann Rybak
Sister Simone Campbell of “Nuns on the Bus” told an audience of about 300 people at Chestnut Hill College that Americans today face the challenge of “reclaiming our democracy.”
Speaking in the college’s Gruber Theater on Sept. 27, Campbell, who is executive director of NETWORK, a national Catholic social justice lobby in Washington, D.C., recently toured nine states this summer to protest Congressman Paul Ryan’s budget, which gives tax breaks to the wealthy while cutting funds to social programs that benefit the poor....

This is what happens when the 47% are abandoned.



Romney has no basis for his 47% statements. Budget cuts at the federal and state levels are causing the cancellation of local programs that support 'marginal' citizens. This is the working poor. Their jobs are located in areas of cities where rent is unaffordable to them, so they have received subsidies to prevent homelessness. I am not sure where at the NY State level the funding was cut, but, the federal government has provided assistance through the Labor Department and Workforce Development.

The article below made predictions about the loss of subsidies and the correlation to homelessness. These folks simply don't make enough money to support themselves or their families. They never wanted to give up their housing. They just couldn't afford it.

Adults adjust, but, children are an entirely different issue. Putting Americans back to work with jobs that pay this low will not solve the country's poverty problem. These are the people Paul Ryan likes to state have no character and need jobs. That isn't the case. These people work, they work in jobs others don't want, they are marginal in their ability to live within the parameters of a decent life because they are low income, not because they are lazy. This is a return to Reagan when the homeless population across the country skyrocketed and he stated, "In the USA if you want to live on the street it is permitted." Same paradigm. 


The city canceled the program after losing state and federal funding.

Saturday, Feb 4, 2012  |  Updated 9:01 AM EDT







...New York City is cutting off rent-assistance payments (click here) to about 9,000 homeless families following a court decision, and advocates are warning that the move could flood the city's shelter system.
The city canceled the Advantage rent-subsidy program in March after it lost state and federal funding. A court order that was lifted Thursday had forced the city to continue payments while legal challenges to the decision played out.
An appeal is set to be heard next week, but officials said Friday the city plans to stop paying participants' rent immediately....

The Turkey-Syrian border is still volitile. Assad is claiming gains in Damascus.

Assad is not about to stop killing anywhere. He apologized for the border attack, but, he was warned by Turkey when the first incident shot down a Turkish jet took place. This isn't going to end soon, Assad will keep his attacks up while apologizing for each one. 

Syria, Turkey trade fire as clashes rage (click here)

By: AFP | October 08, 2012

...On Wednesday five civilians were killed in Akcakale in a mortar strike that provoked counter-fire, in the most serious incident since Syrian anti-aircraft fire brought down a Turkish warplane in June. That incident caused a spike in tensions between the former allies and renewed fears of a broader conflict. Turkey’s parliament on Thursday gave the government the green light to use military force against Syria if necessary. Akcakale’s mayor was quoted by the semi-official Anatolia news agency as saying Sunday’s mortar hit prompted an immediate response by Turkish artillery. “Thank God there were no victims. Turkish artillery immediately responded to the shots that came from Syria,” Abdulhakim Ayhan said....

Attempted assassination of a 14 year old girl activist by the Taliban could be pivotal in Pakistan.

Perhaps this might make an impression on the Pakistani people how brutal the Taliban can be. This attempted assassination occurred at a bus stop. Both Malala and her girl friend sitting next to her were both shot.

The Taliban expect people to rise up against the activist and justify the actions of the Taliban. If there is hope of ridding the region of this danger the opinion against this brutality has to change.

Attempt to kill activist Malala Yousafzai, 14, could be 'watershed' moment that turns public tide against militants and extremism'

Jon Boone 
Tuesday, 9 October 2012
The Taliban's attempt (click here) to kill a 14-year-old girl, famous for speaking out against the Islamic militants and their attacks on girls' education, has triggered a wave of national revulsion in Pakistan .
Malala Yousafzai was shot in the head and neck while she sat with classmates on a school bus as it prepared to drive students home after morning classes in Mingora, a city in the Swat valley, where the army mounted major operations in 2009 to crush a Taliban insurgency.
She was taken to hospital before being whisked in a military helicopter to an intensive care ward in Peshawar.
Police said a bearded man approached the bus and asked which of the girls was Malala. When one of the girls pointed at her she denied it. The gunman shot both girls, although police say three people were wounded in all....

The GOP rhetoric surrounding the Benghazi incident is wrong.


Secretary Clinton was clear immediately after the incident that this was a separate issue than what was occurring in Egypt. I know because I blogged that fact. She stated the attack itself was a result of militants and not demonstrators.


While the GOP is attempting to make hay out of attack, the State Department was stating the facts clearly. I blogged it right here. I knew when the GOP started their banter they were wrong, but, they and some media were determined to lie about it. Secretary Clinton knew exactly what happened and it was a separate incident all together than what was occurring in Egypt.

State Dept. description of attack in sync with GOP (click here)

Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/2012/10/09/2474638/us-official-in-libya-said-he-wanted.html#.UHUuuRVkynk#storylink=cpy


Tuesday, Oct. 09, 2012

By LARRY MARGASAK and BRADLEY KLAPPER
WASHINGTON — The State Department (click here) says it never concluded that an attack that killed the U.S. ambassador to Libya was simply a protest gone awry, a statement that places the Obama administration's own foreign policy arm in sync with Republicans.
That extraordinary message, appearing to question the administration's initial description of the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, came in a department briefing Tuesday - a day before a hearing on diplomatic security in Libya was to be held by the Republican-led House Oversight and Government Reform Committee....
...Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and Republican lawmakers have increasingly sharpened their criticism of the administration's initial explanation of the attack. They said they never accepted the original explanation....


Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/2012/10/09/2474638/us-official-in-libya-said-he-wanted.html#.UHUuuRVkynk#storylink=cpy

Officials tell how ambassador Chris Stevens was trapped in safe-room as assailants burnt the compound down (click here)





Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/2012/10/09/2474638/us-official-in-libya-said-he-wanted.html#.UHUuuRVkynk#storylink=cpy

This time last month, it was business as usual at the American consulate in Benghazi, Libya.
A day later, ambassador Chris Stevens and several agents were dead, in an attack which was as brutal as it was deadly.
Officials have now described the overnight attack, which saw agents trapped in the burning compound before finally speeding away as attackers threw grenades and sprayed their armoured vehicle with gunfire from AK-47 assault rifles from a distance of two feet.
Meanwhile, the ambassador was locked in a safe-room as the compound filled with flames.
When the decision was made to escape the diesel-heavy smoke, it was too late, and Stevens never made it out....