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kpete

(71,997 posts)
Thu Sep 27, 2012, 01:43 PM Sep 2012

KRUGMAN: Not the election anyone was expecting—a happy surprise for some & a nasty shock for others

........This really isn’t looking like the election anyone expected. Obviously it’s not the election Romney and the Republicans expected and wanted; but it’s 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 it’s 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 weren’t 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

14 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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KRUGMAN: Not the election anyone was expecting—a happy surprise for some & a nasty shock for others (Original Post) kpete Sep 2012 OP
Running on voucherizing medicare hasn't helped their cause Skink Sep 2012 #1
Meanwhile, the Democrats seem to finally be listening to Tom Frank by turning Liberal_Stalwart71 Sep 2012 #2
In one way, we should be thankful that Romney and the Rethugs Larkspur Sep 2012 #3
I thank Rush Flatpicker Sep 2012 #4
I am not Magleetis Sep 2012 #5
Agree! n/t no1dolo Sep 2012 #8
Don't plan on celebrating jmowreader Sep 2012 #10
The Beelze-Repubs all seem to be arch-villains straight out of central casting...and too dumb to AzDar Sep 2012 #6
beelze-repubs! veganlush Sep 2012 #7
The GOP is gonna lose BECAUSE of Citizens United. McCamy Taylor Sep 2012 #9
SCOTUS is done tavalon Sep 2012 #12
Yup, a lot ProSense Sep 2012 #11
I hope I'm seeing the beginning of the country I expected when I was a kid 30+ years ago. progressoid Sep 2012 #13
This should be a must-read! God I love Paul Krugman and this only makes me love him more... Rowdyboy Sep 2012 #14

Skink

(10,122 posts)
1. Running on voucherizing medicare hasn't helped their cause
Thu Sep 27, 2012, 01:51 PM
Sep 2012

I'm also starting to think Obama has accomplished alot so far.

 

Liberal_Stalwart71

(20,450 posts)
2. Meanwhile, the Democrats seem to finally be listening to Tom Frank by turning
Thu Sep 27, 2012, 01:53 PM
Sep 2012

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)
3. In one way, we should be thankful that Romney and the Rethugs
Thu Sep 27, 2012, 03:37 PM
Sep 2012

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)
4. I thank Rush
Thu Sep 27, 2012, 04:14 PM
Sep 2012

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.

jmowreader

(50,560 posts)
10. Don't plan on celebrating
Thu Sep 27, 2012, 04:48 PM
Sep 2012

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)
6. The Beelze-Repubs all seem to be arch-villains straight out of central casting...and too dumb to
Thu Sep 27, 2012, 04:21 PM
Sep 2012

disguise it. It's a glorious thing!

McCamy Taylor

(19,240 posts)
9. The GOP is gonna lose BECAUSE of Citizens United.
Thu Sep 27, 2012, 04:45 PM
Sep 2012

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.

ProSense

(116,464 posts)
11. Yup, a lot
Thu Sep 27, 2012, 04:50 PM
Sep 2012

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.

Rowdyboy

(22,057 posts)
14. This should be a must-read! God I love Paul Krugman and this only makes me love him more...
Fri Sep 28, 2012, 09:48 PM
Sep 2012

"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 isn’t; 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 doesn’t matter who wins.

All of this in turn has an implication that Republicans won’t like — assuming that Rasmussen doesn’t 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 wasn’t conservative enough. But that’s not what we’re seeing; it looks as if voters are rejecting the right’s 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."

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