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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsKRUGMAN: Not the election anyone was expecting—a happy surprise for some & a nasty shock for others
........This really isnt looking like the election anyone expected. Obviously its not the election Romney and the Republicans expected and wanted; but its also looking very different from what Democrats expected.
The conventional wisdom which I too bought into was that Democrats were going to support Obama, but grudgingly and without much enthusiasm. There had been too many disappointments; the golden aura of 2008 was long gone. Meanwhile, Republicans would show their usual unity and discipline, and at best it would be Obama by a nose.
Instead, the Republicans appear to be in a shambles while the Democrats seem incredibly united, and increasingly, dare I say it, enthusiastic.
How did that happen? Partly its because this has become such an ideological election much more so than 2008. The GOP has made it clear that it has a very different vision of what America should be than that of Democrats, and Democrats have rallied around their cause. Among other things, while we werent looking, social issues became a source of Democratic strength, not weakness partly because the country has changed, partly because the Democrats have finally worked up the nerve to stand squarely for things like reproductive rights.
MORE:
http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/27/not-the-election-they-were-expecting/?smid=tw-NytimesKrugman&seid=auto
Skink
(10,122 posts)I'm also starting to think Obama has accomplished alot so far.
Liberal_Stalwart71
(20,450 posts)economic issues into MORAL issues. It is NOT Christian to demonize the poor. Paul Ryan's budget is immoral! It is an American value to care about the disenfranchised and the disadvantaged. Finally the Democrats get it. They are running on the economy but making sure that economic populism is moral populism.
Larkspur
(12,804 posts)are showing the public their true nature. In the past, the Karl Roves, Lee Atwaters, and Bush Crime Family have successfully hid the Right's demonic nature enough to get elected, but Romney is either the most incompetent politician (which I think he is) or he's the most Machiavellian one in that he knew that he had no chance of winning and wants to take the Right wing down with him to spite them for hamstringing him.
Either way, Romney's gaffes and true feelings about those not in his caste, are setting the stage for the Rethug Party to be in the minority for at least a generation. The pendulum is swinging back and slicing the Right this time.
Flatpicker
(894 posts)Really.
I think his slut comments are what finally pushed the Democratic supporters too far.
You have to figure that anybody with a daughter and some working brain cells stood up and said "My daughter is not a slut and fark you for thinking that."
So, thanks Rush. We knew you were a liberal plant.
Magleetis
(1,260 posts)celebrating until I hear rmoney's concession. Too much corruption in the system.
jmowreader
(50,560 posts)Romney will not concede. He is going to lose, and lose huge. He will lose Ohio. He will lose Florida. He will lose every state he's ever lived in, and since they're Michigan, Mass and California that goes without saying. He'll also lose Wisconsin. But he'll go on TV after he gets stomped into oblivion and say "we are certain that when all the votes are counted we will emerge victorious.'
The next morning the Boston police will find Romney's bullet-riddled body rolled up in the new curtains Ann bought for the White House. The mayor will hold a press conference to declare he died of natural causes.
AzDar
(14,023 posts)disguise it. It's a glorious thing!
veganlush
(2,049 posts)love it!
McCamy Taylor
(19,240 posts)Since they are too dumb to figure it out for themselves, I will tell them why AFTER the election. And then, maybe the SCOTUS will revisit the issue.
tavalon
(27,985 posts)It is now up to Congress to amend.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)of people were expecting Mitt to coast on BS like his wealth, looks (ugh!), business experience and hatred of Obama.
Republicans did their best to play up discord, fuel hate and distort the facts.
progressoid
(49,992 posts)Rowdyboy
(22,057 posts)"And let me add a speculation: I suspect that in the end Obamacare is turning out to be a big plus, even though it has always had ambivalent polling. The fact is that Obama can point to a big achievement that will survive if he is reelected, perish if he isnt; health insurance for 50 million or so Americans (30 million from the ACA, another 20 who would lose coverage if Romney/Ryan Medicaid cuts happen) is enough to cure people of the notion that it doesnt matter who wins.
All of this in turn has an implication that Republicans wont like assuming that Rasmussen doesnt have a special insight into the truth denied to all other pollsters, and that Obama does in fact win with a solid margin. The right is already set up to blame poor Mitt, claiming that he lost because he wasnt conservative enough. But thats not what were seeing; it looks as if voters are rejecting the rights whole package, not just the messenger.
As I said, not the election anyone was expecting but a happy surprise for some, and a nasty shock for others."