Dr. Peterson, Pessimism, Losing, Persecution and Solution

[_Bond James Bond]

Peterson and Midgley seem to be having the same sad that many white men (and perhaps Baby Boomers in general) over 55 are having. This election served notice that their time is coming to an end. Despite the worst economic circumstances in eighty years the Republicans couldn't run a wealthy piece of white bread like Romney into the White House on the back of a billion dollars of attack ads. Standing in the way? Black people. Latino people. Asian people. Women. Young men! Young women! It's enough to make a patrician faint.

[_moksha]

Louis Midgley says:

November 7, 2012 at 1:26 pm

What really troubles me is re-election of a Democrat who spent millions telling fibs about Mia Love, who just happens to be an attractive Black, LDS, Republican. It made me ill when I discovered this morning that she lost by a few hundred votes.

Two factual errors:

1. Most of the millions spent were by the Mia Love campaign.

2. Mia Love was quoted directly from videos and the clips did not misrepresent the intent of her overall message. The voters need both the milk and the meat of her positions. Apologetic cover up is not needed. Mia espoused Tea Party ideas which should not be hidden just because these thoughts are unappealing to the general electorate.

[_Sethbag]

I'm getting sick of this whole "the takers voted for Obama, the makers voted for Romney" meme that the Republican echosphere has been telling each other.

Check out this map of states colored by how much they pay in federal taxes vs. how much they get back, and compare it to the map of red states won by Romney and blue states won by Obama this last week.

It should jump right out to people that most of the states that pay more in federal taxes than they receive voted for Obama, and most of the states that receive more than they pay in voted for Romney. There are some notable exceptions, like Florida, Texas, Oregon, Colorado, and one or two others. But by and large, the majority of "maker" states voted for Obama, while the majority of "takers" voted for Romney.

Also it was a lot more than Romney simply "failing to attract" the minorities. They felt actively antagonized by him. Same with women. The Republicans really are going to have to take seriously how they antagonize these entire segments of our population, and what it means electorally as we move forward and these minorities form an increasingly large proportion of our electorate.

If the Republicans can't figure out how to cut that crap out, they're not going to win the White House for the forseeable future.

[_Blixa]

Louis Midgley says:

November 7, 2012 at 1:26 pm

What really troubles me is re-election of a Democrat who spent millions telling fibs about Mia Love, who just happens to be an attractive Black, LDS, Republican. It made me ill when I discovered this morning that she lost by a few hundred votes.

Two factual errors:

1. Most of the millions spent were by the Mia Love campaign.

2. Mia Love was quoted directly from videos and the clips did not misrepresent the intent of her overall message. The voters need both the milk and the meat of her positions. Apologetic cover up is not needed. Mia espoused Tea Party ideas which should not be hidden just because these thoughts are unappealing to the general electorate.

Thank god Jim Matheson won.

Though, nice touch about Love being "attractive." Does Midgley comment on the attractiveness of various male candidates?

[_moksha]

Though, nice touch about Love being "attractive." Does Midgley comment on the attractiveness of various male candidates?

Only to say they are "hunky".

[_lulu]

Louis Midgley says:

November 7, 2012 at 1:26 pm

What really troubles me is re-election of a Democrat who spent millions telling fibs about Mia Love, who just happens to be an attractive Black, LDS, Republican. It made me ill when I discovered this morning that she lost by a few hundred votes.

Two factual errors:

1. Most of the millions spent were by the Mia Love campaign.

2. Mia Love was quoted directly from videos and the clips did not misrepresent the intent of her overall message. The voters need both the milk and the meat of her positions. Apologetic cover up is not needed. Mia espoused Tea Party ideas which should not be hidden just because these thoughts are unappealing to the general electorate.

Thank god Jim Matheson won.

Though, nice touch about Love being "attractive." Does Midgley comment on the attractiveness of various male candidates?

At least he didn't say she was "clean."

http://politicalhumor.about.com/gi/o.ht ... %3D2838420

[_harmony]

I'm getting sick of this whole "the takers voted for Obama, the makers voted for Romney" meme that the Republican echosphere has been telling each other.

Check out this map of states colored by how much they pay in federal taxes vs. how much they get back, and compare it to the map of red states won by Romney and blue states won by Obama this last week.

It should jump right out to people that most of the states that pay more in federal taxes than they receive voted for Obama, and most of the states that receive more than they pay in voted for Romney. There are some notable exceptions, like Florida, Texas, Oregon, Colorado, and one or two others. But by and large, the majority of "maker" states voted for Obama, while the majority of "takers" voted for Romney.

Until a list of what constitutes being a taker shows up, I don't see how this furthers discussion. Labeling states like New Mexico, that has a 35% poverty rate, as "takers" in the same arena as North Dakota that has a poverty rate of less than 10% just doesn't seem reasonable. Participating in government programs doesn't make a person a leech, whether it's food stamps or a farm subsidy program.

Also it was a lot more than Romney simply "failing to attract" the minorities. They felt actively antagonized by him. Same with women. The Republicans really are going to have to take seriously how they antagonize these entire segments of our population, and what it means electorally as we move forward and these minorities form an increasingly large proportion of our electorate.

In some geographic areas, these groups are not minorities. Romney did nothing to attract them.

If the Republicans can't figure out how to cut that s*** out, they're not going to win the White House for the forseeable future.

And guess what... the country will continue to plug along, just as we always have.

[_harmony]

Peterson and Midgley seem to be having the same sad that many white men (and perhaps Baby Boomers in general) over 55 are having. This election served notice that their time is coming to an end. Despite the worst economic circumstances in eighty years the Republicans couldn't run a wealthy piece of white bread like Romney into the White House on the back of a billion dollars of attack ads. Standing in the way? Black people. Latino people. Asian people. Women. Young men! Young women! It's enough to make a patrician faint.

Be that as it may, the younger generation, when they take over the reins of government completely, is going to have to find ways to appease the Boomers. They are still a mighty voting block.

Obama doesn't have a mandate; he didn't win by a landslide. A significant percentage of the population is grumpy and getting grumpier.

[_Chap]

Peterson and Midgley seem to be having the same sad that many white men (and perhaps Baby Boomers in general) over 55 are having. This election served notice that their time is coming to an end. Despite the worst economic circumstances in eighty years the Republicans couldn't run a wealthy piece of white bread like Romney into the White House on the back of a billion dollars of attack ads. Standing in the way? Black people. Latino people. Asian people. Women. Young men! Young women! It's enough to make a patrician faint.

Be that as it may, the younger generation, when they take over the reins of government completely, is going to have to find ways to appease the Boomers. They are still a mighty voting block.

Obama doesn't have a mandate; he didn't win by a landslide. A significant percentage of the population is grumpy and getting grumpier.

Obama is the elected President, with a majority of the Electoral College for him - which is how the Founding Fathers wanted the President to be chosen. If he does not have a mandate - that is, a duty and a right to use his office to try to carry into effect the things he said he would do when he stood for office - who does? Certainly not Romney. And there is nothing in the Constitution to say that if you are not elected by a 'landslide' (whatever that may mean) you are not a real President.

Now obviously the holder of the Presidential office is intended to do what he can to run the country within the confines of the checks and balances that the Founding Fathers built into the system - which in the present case will mean cutting a deal with the Republicans who have control of the House of Representatives. But nobody can absolve the Republican House from the responsibility of recognizing that a majority of people voted for policies opposed to those they have glued themselves to, however 'grumpy' they may feel. If they just behave as if the election had never happened, the electorate will rightly punish them in due course.

[_harmony]

Obama is the elected President, with a majority of the Electoral College for him - which is how the Founding Fathers wanted the President to be chosen. If he does not have a mandate - that is, a duty and a right to use his office to try to carry into effect the things he said he would do when he stood for office - who does? Certainly not Romney. And there is nothing in the Constitution to say that if you are not elected by a 'landslide' (whatever that may mean) you are not a real President.

I hold the Founding Fathers to the same level of reverence that I hold the founding fathers of the LDS church... as in... none. I think the Electoral College is antiquated and top heavy. I think our Founding Fathers were afraid that any election of a president by popular vote would mean they, the elite landowners, would lose control of government to the working man. The system has nothing to do with what's fair and everything to do with concentrating power.

Now obviously the holder of the Presidential office is intended to do what he can to run the country within the confines of the checks and balances that the Founding Fathers built into the system - which in the present case will mean cutting a deal with the Republicans who have control of the House of Representatives. But nobody can absolve the Republican House from the responsibility of recognizing that a majority of people voted for policies opposed to those they have glued themselves to, however 'grumpy' they may feel. If they just behave as if the election had never happened, the electorate will rightly punish them in due course.

Bond was talking about Boomers, not the House. And the Boomers will only continue to get more and more grumpy. And since a great many of them are carrying the country's budget on their backs, and will continue to do so for the next 10 years or so, perhaps the younger generation could cut them a little slack when they get grumpy. He who pays the piper gets to choose the tune.