Election 2012

[dryrunguy]

The American middle class is a social class in the United States.[1][2] While the concept is typically ambiguous in popular opinion and common language use,[3] contemporary social scientists have put forward several, more or less congruent, theories on the American middle class. Depending on class model used, the middle class may constitute anywhere from 25% to 66% of households.

Poverty is defined as the state of one who lacks a usual or socially acceptable amount of money or material possessions.[1] According to the U.S. Census Bureau data released Tuesday September 13th, 2011, the nation's poverty rate rose to 15.1% (46.2 million) in 2010,[2] up from 14.3% (approximately 43.6 million) in 2009 and to its highest level since 1993. In 2008, 13.2% (39.8 million) Americans lived in relative poverty.[3] In 2000, the poverty rate for individuals was 12.2% and for families was 9.3%

These stats are from Wikipedia.

Those numbers are mind-boggling. Take the 2011 number of 46 million. That's just a little higher than the current number of people without health insurance. Then, you take into account that the vast majority of people within the poverty rate will be covered by some form of Medicaid, which then drives home the point that most of the 44 million people with no health insurance are the ones who are mostly right above that FPL. These people are working; they're not lazy. Sometimes multiple minimum wage jobs. Or they're underemployed, most likely not out of choice. So somewhere between about 25 or 30% of the U.S. population is either poor or among the working poor. That's astounding.

[owendonovan]

Those numbers are mind-boggling. Take the 2011 number of 46 million. That's just a little higher than the current number of people without health insurance. Then, you take into account that the vast majority of people within the poverty rate will be covered by some form of Medicaid, which then drives home the point that most of the 44 million people with no health insurance are the ones who are mostly right above that FPL. These people are working; they're not lazy. Sometimes multiple minimum wage jobs. Or they're underemployed, most likely not out of choice. So somewhere between about 25 or 30% of the U.S. population is either poor or among the working poor. That's astounding.

I was looking that 46 million people number also, seems so much more real than when you just use a percent.

[dryrunguy]

Agreed, Owen.

::

Mittens is getting absolutely clobbered over this "I don't care about the poor" quip. Some are already comparing it to Al Gore's "I created the Internet" mishap, only much worse.

What's sad is that, with some folks, "I don't care about the poor" is going to resonate in a very powerful way.

[Moose]

Mittens is getting absolutely clobbered over this "I don't care about the poor" quip. Some are already comparing it to Al Gore's "I created the Internet" mishap, only much worse.

It brought to mind Gerald Ford's "Poland" moment for me.

[dryrunguy]

It brought to mind Gerald Ford's "Poland" moment for me.

Wolf Blitzer compared it to Al Gore's I "created the Internet" mishap--times 10.

[Drop-shot]

Really, how stupid can he be? That's shooting himself in the foot. He'll be chased by that remark till the end. And the worst thing is, that supposedly, this guy is really smart... if Palin had said it, it'd be one thing, but this guy.... sheesh, seems like victory went to his head.

[James7]

It's certainly going to be a liability.

The primary season has generated a number of bad soundbytes that you know are going to come back for a general election season.

"Corporations are people"
"I don't care about the poor"
"I enjoy being able to fire people"

The commercials practically write themselves.

[craighickman]

People who don't know where their next meal is coming from consider themselves poor, no matter how much money they make.

[jlhct]

OMG I just heard the audio on this. He sunk himself even lower AFTER Soledad gave him a lifeline.

Wow, that just says a lot - and none of it good!

[Vlad]

No. I have no problem expressing my disappointment with President Obama, but you aren't trading up by electing Romney. If Huntsman had found a way to capture the GOP nod, my answer would likely be different. I have never voted for a Republican for President, but I really liked many of Huntsman's views, and I think he might have been the one candidate who could get D's and R's on the same page in DC.

I hear a lot about how people are disappointed with Obama after voting for him in 08.. but I rarely hear the real reasons, specifically what he could have done better.. especially given the environment that surrounded his administration in especially last 1.3 years after mid-terms. I think during first 2 years, his Administration and majority of Democratic Congress has done a lot. This is undoubtedly true, and I don't have the list of new policies that have been voted into law, but the list is impressive.
His last year, however, was greatly handicapped by highly organized Republicans in Congress who would not budge on any issue and voted against most of the issues that Democrats proposed. After huge Republican win in mid-terms, I think his hands were tied, unless he would compromise his position greatly, there was not much he could do.

Therefore, I don't get when people are saying they would vote Huntsman or Huntsman-like candidate, etc etc. instead of Obama this time around.

[Vlad]

Does anyone else also think that this is the least likable, least intelligent and most vile group of candidates that was ever assembled in the Primary?

[Ti-Amie]

Does anyone else also think that this is the least likable, least intelligent and most vile group of candidates that was ever assembled in the Primary?

[craighickman]

No. I have no problem expressing my disappointment with President Obama, but you aren't trading up by electing Romney. If Huntsman had found a way to capture the GOP nod, my answer would likely be different. I have never voted for a Republican for President, but I really liked many of Huntsman's views, and I think he might have been the one candidate who could get D's and R's on the same page in DC.

Thanks for the clarity, Moose.

[Charlie02123]

I hear a lot about how people are disappointed with Obama after voting for him in 08.. but I rarely hear the real reasons, specifically what he could have done better.. especially given the environment that surrounded his administration in especially last 1.3 years after mid-terms. I think during first 2 years, his Administration and majority of Democratic Congress has done a lot. This is undoubtedly true, and I don't have the list of new policies that have been voted into law, but the list is impressive.
His last year, however, was greatly handicapped by highly organized Republicans in Congress who would not budge on any issue and voted against most of the issues that Democrats proposed. After huge Republican win in mid-terms, I think his hands were tied, unless he would compromise his position greatly, there was not much he could do.

Therefore, I don't get when people are saying they would vote Huntsman or Huntsman-like candidate, etc etc. instead of Obama this time around.

From my point of a view, he's suffering a very natural backlash from his campaign that seemed to be centered around optimism. At the time, I was a Clinton supporter and had several college friends who loved Obama and couldn't give a single concrete reason. "Because CHANGE! Because things will be better! Change! Yes we can!"

Three years later, I'm extremely impressed with what he's accomplished. I think he's extremely hard working and has his hands involved in so many projects. Meanwhile, many of the same friends who loved him in '08 are bitter, saying they don't like what he's done, but again, not being able to verbalize.

So basically, it's his own fault for running a campaign centered around optimism. However, I think he'll be able to easily whip up the excitement again. The State of the Union address proved that to me. I was ready to head to a phone bank or start knocking on doors.

Does anyone else also think that this is the least likable, least intelligent and most vile group of candidates that was ever assembled in the Primary?

Yup. My Dad's as far to the right as you can get before falling off the flat edge of the earth. I asked him a few weeks back if there were any GOP candidates he might get behind, or if he'll just be swallowing bile as he checks the name of whoever is nominated. He rambled on about Obama ("I don't know how he gets away with it!") instead, but essentially confirmed my suspicions.

[owendonovan]

From my point of a view, he's suffering a very natural backlash from his campaign that seemed to be centered around optimism. At the time, I was a Clinton supporter and had several college friends who loved Obama and couldn't give a single concrete reason. "Because CHANGE! Because things will be better! Change! Yes we can!"

Three years later, I'm extremely impressed with what he's accomplished. I think he's extremely hard working and has his hands involved in so many projects. Meanwhile, many of the same friends who loved him in '08 are bitter, saying they don't like what he's done, but again, not being able to verbalize.

So basically, it's his own fault for running a campaign centered around optimism. However, I think he'll be able to easily whip up the excitement again. The State of the Union address proved that to me. I was ready to head to a phone bank or start knocking on doors.


Yup. My Dad's as far to the right as you can get before falling off the flat edge of the earth. I asked him a few weeks back if there were any GOP candidates he might get behind, or if he'll just be swallowing bile as he checks the name of whoever is nominated. He rambled on about Obama ("I don't know how he gets away with it!") instead, but essentially confirmed my suspicions.

I found it a bit distressing to have to pick between Obama and Clinton as I thought they were both equally excellent choices for separate reasons.