Okay, I'm mentioning this story b/c I'm a former political hack. Most of my work was overseas but I was on a few campaign buses. All the writers and photojournalists and "on-air talent" would hang out and talk crap, critique the 20th version of the stump speech and trade snarky comments about the last stop. That's par for the course regardless of whatever campaign you're on, regardless of anyone's campaign.
And the Romney campaign has a reputation for good attention to details (or to put it another way...a good system for events). They do stuff like..using plastic ties to keep chairs together so they form a nice orderly line (which looks better in photos). They have copies of handouts available in sufficient copies. They provide food (usually) or so I've been told (this is a big thing for members of the press corps which are usually on budget).
But there was a campaign stop in Michigan that was just a disaster for Romney...a fricaso of the highest order.
I talked to an old friend who covered the event. I'll give you the quick summary:
--They put Romney in Ford Field (Detroit Lions, 65k seats). There are maybe 800-900 people in folding chairs in the middle of the field. Visually that means Romney is surrounded by about 65,000 empty seats. What kind of a clueless idiot plans a scene like this? There were more members of the press in the stadium than there were Romney supporters.
--Romney almost always goes off message at some point in his presentation. He likes to say "and by the way..." or "actually" and then insert something offhand or unplanned. My friend says that the traveling press has a pool going....you try to capture a member of Romney's staff blanching or grimacing every time he says "actually" or "by the way" b/c an unplanned comment (often a gaffe) is what comes next. In this case it was "and by the way, Ann (his wife) drives a COUPLE OF CADILLACS." Now every American politician knows you don't admit to owning a foreign car. But given Romney's charges (even by the GOP) that he's an elitist who doesn't relate to the common man, saying that the little woman drives a couple of caddies is very tone-deaf.
Now, the point is not that this shows Romney can't be President or is unqualified. But man is he tone-deaf. And he's got a staff that is detail focused and big-picture myopic. The entire press pool was going crazy over this Ford Field mess b/c it was such a unique staging, so clueless and such a great metaphor for the lack of enthusiasm for Romney (i.e.: all the empty seats, his Caddy line, the donuts, etc.).
I watched that truly pathetic performance.....have to say....it did look ridiculous in the that huge stadium.....and the two cadillacs...I thought, "gee, great way to point out you're one of us".....moron!!!
Justin wrote: (snip)
Welcome aboard, Ed! Enjoy the Mayhem!
Gee Justin, thanks for the nice welcome! BTW, what's "TF", what do y'all think of my portfolio, how can I get more business and what's an escort?
...on a more germane note, you've got to wonder just how many journalists at that Romney session wrote articles specifically about that event. That's why an advance team that has a brain is so critical...he's going to get so much ridicule out of that event he'd have been better off just burning the money they spent to rent Ford Field (btw, how much money would that take to rent that stadium for one event...$50k? I mean you're talking about security, cleaning staff, utilities). Somewhere out there is an advance man writing down "note to self--never book a large venue every again."
Here's my problem. I like Romney in a generic sort of way. In theory, I think he's a smart guy who could do the country some good. Give him props for being elected Guv of Mass as a Republican. But he's hopelessly elitist and out of touch, he's stepping on his crank too many times, and that's not the kind of guy I'm relating to as President.
Here's my problem. I like Romney in a generic sort of way. In theory, I think he's a smart guy who could do the country some good. Give him props for being elected Guv of Mass as a Republican. But he's hopelessly elitist and out of touch, he's stepping on his crank too many times, and that's not the kind of guy I'm relating to as President.
Romney likes to play a BIG room...unfortunately he can't fill one......
That speech had originally been planned for a small venue, but the campaign got enough positive responses that they had to move the speech. They moved once and then had to move again when more responses came. Eventually, they had a hard time finding a room that would fit the people on short notice, so they moved to the stadium. The visuals were lousy, but they avoided having to turn away anyone who wanted to see the candidate in person.
The Romneys have a house in California and a house in the Northeast. Mrs. Romney has a car at each house. Moving a car back and forth across the country wouldn't make any sense.
One could argue that we've had twenty years of presidents who could relate to "the people." Granted, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama all related to slightly different groups of people, but they were each known for not being "tone deaf" to their constituents. The result is the situation that we have now. I've had enough of presidents who were exciting or who could emote well and relate to people. I want a president who is competent.
Patchouli Nyx
Posts: 25,311
Santa Cruz, California, US
As much of a tone deaf dolt as he seems to be, he could very easily win the 2012 Presidential election.
1. he could grab a good running mate.
2. intentional or unintentional change in gas prices could stall or reverse the economic improvement resulting a massive neg numbers for obama.
3. billions and billions of dollars from the right wing PAC will not only blanket the airwaves but with all of their astroturf organizations in place expect viral youtube videos, "letters to the editor" talk radio, media slant to all portray Obama as having lost control of the economy and foreign policy.
4. jerrymandered districts and GOP suppression of minority elderly youth votes will probably alter 2-8 battleground states results.
Kozmina
Posts: 6,515
Colorado Springs, Colorado, US
Patchouli Nyx wrote: As much of a tone deaf dolt as he seems to be, he could very easily win the 2012 Presidential election.
1. he could grab a good running mate.
2. intentional or unintentional change in gas prices could stall or reverse the economic improvement resulting a massive neg numbers for obama.
3. billions and billions of dollars from the right wing PAC will not only blanket the airwaves but with all of their astroturf organizations in place expect viral youtube videos, "letters to the editor" talk radio, media slant to all portray Obama as having lost control of the economy and foreign policy.
4. jerrymandered districts and GOP suppression of minority elderly youth votes will probably alter 2-8 battleground states results.
The bolded part got me thinking,not always a good thing but.....
With so many politicians "in bed w/big oil",what if a few Repubs "convinced" those big oil buddies to raise gas prices right before the voting starts,just to make Obama "look bad",in turn pissing people off,so people will vote against him just cuz the gas prices just skyrocketed?
I know it sound a lil conspiracy theory but isn't it possible? From what I've seen it sounds like something the dirty Repubs would do.Note I said "dirty" Repubs not all Repubs.I'm not attacking the entire GOP.We all know there are bad apples in every bunch and I'm just asking if the GOP's bad apples would/could do something like that and if they did,what would the outcome be?
Kozmina wrote: The bolded part got me thinking,not always a good thing but.....
With so many politicians "in bed w/big oil",what if a few Repubs "convinced" those big oil buddies to raise gas prices right before the voting starts,just to make Obama "look bad",in turn pissing people off,so people will vote against him just cuz the gas prices just skyrocketed?
I know it sound a lil conspiracy theory but isn't it possible? From what I've seen it sounds like something the dirty Repubs would do.Note I said "dirty" Repubs not all Repubs.I'm not attacking the entire GOP.We all know there are bad apples in every bunch and I'm just asking if the GOP's bad apples would/could do something like that and if they did,what would the outcome be?
Here is a Gas Price Chart generator from Gas Buddy.
Enter in a time period and it will tell you the average price of fuel during that time period.
I entered in the last 6 years and I asked for the USA average and this is what I got.
Going by this chart, and many other sources, you can see that there was a rise and fall in the average price of a gallon of gas in the US but over the course of the years since 2001, the lowest level rised every year.
Note the price of gas before the Presidential Elections of 2008.
The oil companies, who have been raping us for decades, lowered the amount of gas right before the elections so that the price of gas would not be an issue for McCain's candidacy for president.
Note also that they allowed that lower price to stall until after the inauguration of Pres Obama so that they could forever point to the price of gas on the day he took office and claim that to be a true representation of the trend in fuel prices while ignoring what the price of gas was in June of 2008.
I will also point out that the price of gas lowered even during the Wall Street crises, which makes no sense at all.
All of this could be stopped if we treated our national resources like we do our National Parks.
There is no reason whatsoever private companies should own, operate and profit from a resourse which benefits us all.
Enter in a time period and it will tell you the average price of fuel during that time period.
I entered in the last 6 years and I asked for the USA average and this is what I got.
Going by this chart, and many other sources, you can see that there was a rise and fall in the average price of a gallon of gas in the US but over the course of the years since 2001, the lowest level rised every year.
Note the price of gas before the Presidential Elections of 2008.
The oil companies, who have been raping us for decades, lowered the amount of gas right before the elections so that the price of gas would not be an issue for McCain's candidacy for president.
Note also that they allowed that lower price to stall until after the inauguration of Pres Obama so that they could forever point to the price of gas on the day he took office and claim that to be a true representation of the trend in fuel prices while ignoring what the price of gas was in June of 2008.
I will also point out that the price of gas lowered even during the Wall Street crises, which makes no sense at all.
All of this could be stopped if we treated our national resources like we do our National Parks.
There is no reason whatsoever private companies should own, operate and profit from a resourse which benefits us all.
So,if I read your post right,it is possible for my "theory" to actually happen?
This is a fucked up gov't and there is so much underhanded BS going on its makes it hard to wanna vote for anybody.
So,if I read your post right,it is possible for my "theory" to actually happen?
This is a fucked up gov't and there is so much underhanded BS going on its makes it hard to wanna vote for anybody.
Wait until you find out how Reagan collaborated with the Iranians for them to hold the Hostages until after the elections so he could win, then rewarded them with weapons during the Iran-Contra affair which, if we ever went to war with Iran, our troops would have to face.
Or when Enron manipulated California's energy to such an extent that Gov Davis was replaced by a foreign born former bodybuilder/action movie hero who was sleeping with his maid and had a child which looked just like him the whole time and no one caught it until he left office.
Kozmina
Posts: 6,515
Colorado Springs, Colorado, US
csjacksonphotography wrote:
Wait until you find out how Reagan collaborated with the Iranians for them to hold the Hostages until after the elections so he could win, then rewarded them with weapons during the Iran-Contra affair which, if we ever went to war with Iran, our troops would have to face.
Or when Enron manipulated California's energy to such an extent that Gov Davis was replaced by a foreign born former bodybuilder/action movie hero who was sleeping with his maid and had a child which looked just like him the whole time and no one caught it until he left office.
Patchouli Nyx
Posts: 25,311
Santa Cruz, California, US
Patchouli Nyx wrote: As much of a tone deaf dolt as he seems to be, he could very easily win the 2012 Presidential election.
1. he could grab a good running mate.
2. intentional or unintentional change in gas prices could stall or reverse the economic improvement resulting a massive neg numbers for obama.
3. billions and billions of dollars from the right wing PAC will not only blanket the airwaves but with all of their astroturf organizations in place expect viral youtube videos, "letters to the editor" talk radio, media slant to all portray Obama as having lost control of the economy and foreign policy.
4. jerrymandered districts and GOP suppression of minority elderly youth votes will probably alter 2-8 battleground states results.
Kozmina wrote: The bolded part got me thinking,not always a good thing but.....
With so many politicians "in bed w/big oil",what if a few Repubs "convinced" those big oil buddies to raise gas prices right before the voting starts,just to make Obama "look bad",in turn pissing people off,so people will vote against him just cuz the gas prices just skyrocketed?
I know it sound a lil conspiracy theory but isn't it possible? From what I've seen it sounds like something the dirty Repubs would do.Note I said "dirty" Repubs not all Repubs.I'm not attacking the entire GOP.We all know there are bad apples in every bunch and I'm just asking if the GOP's bad apples would/could do something like that and if they did,what would the outcome be?
unintentional:
1. the economy through the world heats up causing more demand for oil cost goes up.
2. disaster strikes refineries and cost of gas goes up
intentional
1. koch brothers etc decide to buy up oil futures etc and drive up the cost of oil artificially (this could be happening already)
2. Israel right wing party decides to go ahead and start a war with iran drawing us into the conflict, price of oil skyrockets. do this in july/aug.
3. refineries have some "accidents"
we already know via McConnell that his main goal was ton ensure that Obama wouldn't have a second term. We can see that Congress Obama's first term did everything they could to stall the economy.
It's not really conspiratorial when the other side talks about it openly.
Kozmina
Posts: 6,515
Colorado Springs, Colorado, US
Patchouli Nyx wrote:
Patchouli Nyx wrote: As much of a tone deaf dolt as he seems to be, he could very easily win the 2012 Presidential election.
1. he could grab a good running mate.
2. intentional or unintentional change in gas prices could stall or reverse the economic improvement resulting a massive neg numbers for obama.
3. billions and billions of dollars from the right wing PAC will not only blanket the airwaves but with all of their astroturf organizations in place expect viral youtube videos, "letters to the editor" talk radio, media slant to all portray Obama as having lost control of the economy and foreign policy.
4. jerrymandered districts and GOP suppression of minority elderly youth votes will probably alter 2-8 battleground states results.
unintentional:
1. the economy through the world heats up causing more demand for oil cost goes up.
2. disaster strikes refineries and cost of gas goes up
intentional
1. koch brothers etc decide to buy up oil futures etc and drive up the cost of oil artificially (this could be happening already)
2. Israel right wing party decides to go ahead and start a war with iran drawing us into the conflict, price of oil skyrockets. do this in july/aug.
3. refineries have some "accidents"
we already know via McConnell that his main goal was ton ensure that Obama wouldn't have a second term. We can see that Congress Obama's first term did everything they could to stall the economy.
It's not really conspiratorial when the other side talks about it openly.
I guess,to me,it seems like that would be something the politicians couldn't do "out in the open" but I guess I am wrong.
Okay, I'm mentioning this story b/c I'm a former political hack. Most of my work was overseas but I was on a few campaign buses. All the writers and photojournalists and "on-air talent" would hang out and talk crap, critique the 20th version of the stump speech and trade snarky comments about the last stop. That's par for the course regardless of whatever campaign you're on, regardless of anyone's campaign.
And the Romney campaign has a reputation for good attention to details (or to put it another way...a good system for events). They do stuff like..using plastic ties to keep chairs together so they form a nice orderly line (which looks better in photos). They have copies of handouts available in sufficient copies. They provide food (usually) or so I've been told (this is a big thing for members of the press corps which are usually on budget).
But there was a campaign stop in Michigan that was just a disaster for Romney...a fricaso of the highest order.
I talked to an old friend who covered the event. I'll give you the quick summary:
--They put Romney in Ford Field (Detroit Lions, 65k seats). There are maybe 800-900 people in folding chairs in the middle of the field. Visually that means Romney is surrounded by about 65,000 empty seats. What kind of a clueless idiot plans a scene like this? There were more members of the press in the stadium than there were Romney supporters.
--Romney almost always goes off message at some point in his presentation. He likes to say "and by the way..." or "actually" and then insert something offhand or unplanned. My friend says that the traveling press has a pool going....you try to capture a member of Romney's staff blanching or grimacing every time he says "actually" or "by the way" b/c an unplanned comment (often a gaffe) is what comes next. In this case it was "and by the way, Ann (his wife) drives a COUPLE OF CADILLACS." Now every American politician knows you don't admit to owning a foreign car. But given Romney's charges (even by the GOP) that he's an elitist who doesn't relate to the common man, saying that the little woman drives a couple of caddies is very tone-deaf.
Now, the point is not that this shows Romney can't be President or is unqualified. But man is he tone-deaf. And he's got a staff that is detail focused and big-picture myopic. The entire press pool was going crazy over this Ford Field mess b/c it was such a unique staging, so clueless and such a great metaphor for the lack of enthusiasm for Romney (i.e.: all the empty seats, his Caddy line, the donuts, etc.).
Dude!!! you're scaring all the newbies. 
Moderator Note!
| 
| 
| edu