Election 2012

[jlhct]

The Boston Globe reports that a new internal Congressional Research Service report and government sources say there are an unprecedented number of death threats against President Obama -- and that the Secret Service is insufficiently funded and staffed to deal with them.

According to The Globe, a report issued by the Congressional Research Service shows that the Secret Service is investigating more threats against government officials than ever before, and questions whether the 144-year old agency should continue probing financial crimes, as was its original mandate.

In total, the Secret Service regularly protects 32 people and arranges security for high-profile events. But the election of Barack Obama has increased threats against the president's life by 400 percent from his predecessor, according to "In the President's Secret Service," Ronald Kessler's account of presidential security. The Secret Service has looked into a number of race-based threats since Obama took office, and a Facebook poll that asked "Should Obama be killed?" President Obama also had a Secret Service detail 18 months before the election, the earliest of any Presidential candidate.

As Bryan Bender at The Boston Globe reports, some government officials are calling for a review of the way the agency is run, and suggesting that some of its financial investigations be transferred to the Treasury Department so the Secret Service can focus on terrorist and assassination threats.

The Southern Poverty Law Center issued a report back in August that found that the number of white supremacist militia groups has spiked by 35% since 2000. The Secret Service has, in turn, increased its employees from 6,700 two years ago to a projected 7,055 in the coming fiscal year, almost entirely devoted to protecting national leaders. But that's a staff increase of just 5.3 percent -- nowhere near the 400 percent increase in threats to the president's life.

http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo...d-threats.php/

This is a news story that didnt get much attention, maybe since it would shine a light on the race factor in the elections. It would blow holes in the arguement that a lot of this disrespect and disagreement is on policy only...

http://news.yahoo.com/cain-receives-...234819346.html

[James7]

The Duggar family is apparently filling in for Rick Santorum on the campaign trail in Florida while he is away with his sick kid.

(I didn't think it was possible for me to like that TV family even less, but I guess I was wrong.)

[craighickman]

This is a news story that didnt get much attention, maybe since it would shine a light on the race factor in the elections. It would blow holes in the arguement that a lot of this disrespect and disagreement is on policy only...

Relatively speaking, it got virtually no attention.

Not much later, Cain dropped out.

[owendonovan]

The Duggar family is apparently filling in for Rick Santorum on the campaign trail in Florida while he is away with his sick kid.

(I didn't think it was possible for me to like that TV family even less, but I guess I was wrong.)

Are they going to be promoting extreme family values? I think that family is a little on sick side. So righteous they are.

[Charlie02123]

I haven't been following this much, but I noticed tomorrow is the Florida primary. Is that going to have a huge impact on the race?

Is someone likely to lock up the nomination before "Super Tuesday"?

[James7]

I haven't been following this much, but I noticed tomorrow is the Florida primary. Is that going to have a huge impact on the race?

Is someone likely to lock up the nomination before "Super Tuesday"?

Not really, but Romney is expected to dominate and return to his de-facto status. It's only notable as it appears to shut the door on viewing him vulnerable to the others in the nomination field. Gringrich had been really moving up for some reason to even or a little ahead of Romney, but he imploded again and was buried under a deluge of mainstream conservative media attacks from all angles.

[dryrunguy]

It's looking like Santorum could be Mittens' best asset. He's stealing votes from Newt. Rick said yesterday he's basically tied with both in Missouri and some other states. I thought he might quit after Florida. Not looking that way.

[craighickman]

If nothing else, Santorum is positioning himself for a VP nod.

That said, this circus has already showcased some unpredictable (if not surprising) acts. I suspect a few more are coming.

[dryrunguy]

If nothing else, Santorum is positioning himself for a VP nod.

That said, this circus has already showcased some unpredictable (if not surprising) acts. I suspect a few more are coming.

But I don't understand why folks say that. He can't deliver PA; lost badly in his last election. Compare that to Rubio, who is a sure bet to deliver FL, at a minimum, in spite of limited experience.

[James7]

Santorum is too toxic to take into a general election. He does okay with his base, yes, but will turn off more independents than he could bring similar to his issue with moderate conservatives that don't really care for some of his more extreme views.

It would be dumb to bring him in as a VP on the ticket.

[Drop-shot]

Santorum is too toxic to take into a general election. He does okay with his base, yes, but will turn off more independents than he could bring similar to his issue with moderate conservatives that don't really care for some of his more extreme views.

It would be dumb to bring him in as a VP on the ticket.

[Moose]

But I don't understand why folks say that. He can't deliver PA; lost badly in his last election. Compare that to Rubio, who is a sure bet to deliver FL, at a minimum, in spite of limited experience.

Santorum's supporters would never vote for Obama anyway, which is another reason he does not get VP consideration. Rubio, on the other hand, delivers Florida, plus gets the GOP more Hispanic votes than they would have gotten under other circumstances.

But I think Rubio would turn Romney down. He has national asperations, but I think he'll realize they aren't furthered by attaching his name to a losing ticket.

I think there might be a Latino on the ticket, but it would be Susana Martinez instead of Rubio. I also think Pawlenty or Rob Portman are more likely choices.

[Ti-Amie]

I think we should keep in mind that all Latino's in Florida and nationwide aren't Cuban. There are Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, and Central Americans who do not vote the same way Cubans do. The south west has a lot people of Mexican ancestry.

Rubio is not a shoo-in nationally.

[craighickman]

But I don't understand why folks say that. He can't deliver PA; lost badly in his last election. Compare that to Rubio, who is a sure bet to deliver FL, at a minimum, in spite of limited experience.

I say it because that seems to be what he's doing, whether he's ultimately chosen or not.

I agree with you and others: I don't believe he brings anything useful to the ticket. But he might not see it that way. I guess that's all I'm saying.

[dryrunguy]

I think there might be a Latino on the ticket, but it would be Susana Martinez instead of Rubio. I also think Pawlenty or Rob Portman are more likely choices.

No! Not another St. Olafian!