Gravitymaster

Ludicrous. http://pollingreport.com/wh12gen.htm Nope. Santorum might be a little behind but there are too many polls showing Romney leading to ignore them. http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/gas-prices-sink-obamas-ratings-on-economy-bring-parity-to-race-for-white-house/2012/03/11/gIQAuhYO6R_story.html

As always, gas prices have more to do with speculators than actual supply and demand. The situation between Israel and Iran are mostly responsible this time. In the past it was the U.S. involvement in Iraq. I would not be at all surprised to see gas prices average well over $5.00 per gallon by this summer if this situation isn't resolved. Then again, we have no idea how much the speculation is driving our foreign policy.

I agree, there's a whole lot of stuff that can and will happen between now and the election. Obama hasn't torn into Romney about MA healthcare yet. OTOH, Romney (assuming he's the nominee) hasn't ripped Obama on his dismal record yet. Of course, we will also likely be subjected to insinuations of affairs, associations with certain groups etc.

Assuming the question came from students in an 8th grade Social Studies class, which is about the level of discourse this question typifies, I'd say all those troops from that predominantly non-Christian country should declare victory after 10 years and get the fuck out of their country. It's said that fish and house guests begin to stink after about 3 days. The shelf life of armies of occupation really isn't much longer. Thanks for your 5th grade level response. Did your degree come from a matchbook cover or from the back of a comic book?

once again, you digress into an unrelated topic..... Paying the state to exercise a RIGHT turns the RIGHT into a PRIVILEGE. GM apparently can't tell the difference. Let's just use one of your usual solutions. Raise taxes and then provide the ID for "Free" Taxes are the dues we pay to belong to an advanced society that provides infrastructure and resources. Trouble is, a lot of people on both ends of the spectrum want to freeload. (And IMO the very wealthy are among the worst). Nothwithstanding, no-one should have to pay the state in order to exercise their right to vote. It's just a way some states seem to be getting around the prohibition on poll taxes. Let's just issue a voter ID along with a birth certificate, then. I'm sure you will agree that any society needs to insure that those who live in that society are the ones making the decisions on their leaders.

once again, you digress into an unrelated topic..... Paying the state to exercise a RIGHT turns the RIGHT into a PRIVILEGE. GM apparently can't tell the difference. Let's just use one of your usual solutions. Raise taxes and then provide the ID for "Free"

I made no such claim, I gave one of many examples. So far, healthcare is not written into the constitution and therefore does not have the same 'rights' for all citizens. It is a policy, still under debate, not a right - unrelated. (shakes head and walks away cause he has better things to do than argue with people that cannot understand a constitutional right) Dude, get a grip, I get it already. You don't think someone should have to pay to exercise their Constitutional Rights. So let's give everyone a free National ID when they sign up for Obamacare. For a Democracy to continue, the purity of it's citizens right to vote have to be protected. It is not an infringement to take measures to insure those right. Even if it costs someone a few bucks, once in their life, to insure they are a citizen. You really think that's oppressive?

Sorta like blaming Bush for all of Obama's failures? No. More like CDIF. Or trying to build yourself up by tearing others down. Got it. So you condone murder of civilians. Got it. As I said....

Sorta like blaming Bush for all of Obama's failures? No. More like CDIF. Or trying to build yourself up by tearing others down. Got it.

once again, you digress into an unrelated topic..... Nope, it's very related. You claim they can't take time off work because they can't afford to. I ask why, if their employer is required to give them time off with pay, that they can't use that time to get ID-No response. Then I ask how these people are going to get their free healthcare, which will require they register for it, which surely will require ID-You claim it's unrelated.

Sorta like blaming Bush for all of Obama's failures?

I have the same problem with this issue as I have with many others. If it's my right to do something how much responsibility do I have in making sure I get to excersize that right. I have to leave my house, drive to a polling place, stand in line, and operate a machine. One could make an argument that any of that will make voting a burden. Why is the line drawn at identifying ones self? The line I was drawing was at having to PAY THE STATE to identify yourself in order to exercise your *right* to vote. What is going to happen when these people have to sign up for their free healthcare? They are going to require they identify themselves.

I wonder what you would say if hoards of Christians went on a murderous killing spree because someone burned a Bible?

Maybe 'some influence' yes, but the Republicans are arguing over birth control, not gas prices. And they are arguing about abortion and other women's rights. That is the naive fantasy world I was referring to. As long as the republicans continue to argue about stuff like that and continue on that as a campaign platform, the Democrats will have a 'cake-walk' as you put it. I expect the economy will look much better by election time, people are somewhat naive, they will see the improvements (except for the extreme right of course) and Obama will most likely win a second term, maybe even a majority, as the Reps are doing nothing but self-annihilation. This is just the vetting process that all political parties go through during the primaries. Once the nominee is chosen, the focus will change to address issues important to a wider range of voters. It pisses me off that they are so hung up on the social issues but that will change. As bad as you think it is, here are the latest poll numbers. They show Romney and Santorum both beating Obama. So as bad as you think it is now, it's likely to become more lopsided once the focus is less on ths social issues and more about Obama's record for the last 4 years. http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/daily_presidential_tracking_poll

If your saying you aren't racist, I will take you at your word. I would also suggest you bookmark this thread. Then, the next time someone says "liberals always toss the race card when they run out of arguments" and you wonder what they mean, you can re-read this thread and better understand. Suggesting someone else is a racist to conceal your own racism is pretty pathetic. Think of it as a moment for self-reflection and re-examination of your attitude towards race.

If your saying you aren't racist, I will take you at your word. You are the one making the racist statements. Perhaps you would be well served to honestly examine your own racial biases.

I give up? How are they? If you are going to make a statement that they need ID to cash their SSI checks, then show examples where that is the case. I suspect they have electronic deposit, maybe you have not heard of that before. Maybe their 'son' or 'neighbor' takes the check to the bank for them and maybe it is a small town so of course the bank knows everyone and does not require ID. Maybe they have neighbors to take them on a errand run once in a while. Maybe your argument is bullshit. Just maybe. For some, it seems far more likely that our country will be overrun by illegal born brown skinned people stuffing the ballot boxes as opposed to facing actual reality. Where would the Republicans be without the fear factor? That's a very racist statement you just made there. TK never said his fantasy person was brown. Nor did anyone ever suggest this.

Here's the question once again. If the employer allows 1/2 day off with pay to vote, why doesn't this fantasy person you have constructed simply take the paid 1/2 day and go get ID?

I never said any such thing. So let's not presuppose that you know anything about me or what I stand for. What I said is that ANY infringement on the right to vote should be shot down. It is a fundamental Constitutional right and the govt should protect it, not infringe upon it. Any restriction on the right to vote is a RESTRICTION on the right to vote and therefore unconstitutional. period that is what I said. Try not to re-ietrpret it into something that it is not. or go ahead, try anyway....go ahead....say that I said something else.....go ahead. I would expect nothing less. Hit a nerve, did I? I noticed you never answered my question either. BTW, do you have the same view on gun rights as you do on voting rights? If not, what does that make you?

I just stated that unemploymewnt is lessening or perhaps you missed that. Gas prices? Since when does the govt control gas prices when the world price of a barrel of oil has absolutely nothing to do with the US govt? The last ridiculously high gas prices we had were in 2007 when Bush was in power. Everyone bitches about gas prices, no one is going to change their vote over it. Unemployment is not lessening. The number of people who have just given up looking for a job are not added into the unemployment figures. While I agree that Presidents are not responsible for gas prices, it's naive to think that isn't factored into peoples decisions as to whom to vote for. http://www.newser.com/story/141232/economy-gas-prices-top-voter-concerns.html http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2012/03/07/gas-prices-now-a-big-factor-in-presidential-election/ http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-08/obama-faces-swing-state-anger-over-gas-prices.html

Never underestimate the influence of a powerful, charismatic leader. ...especially if he is perceived as infallible by so many of his congregation. I suspect the cake-walk he had in the last election will not exist this time now that he has an actual record he has to defend. I expect him to be scuffed up quite a bit by the Republican candidate.

So what you and TK are alledging is that in their entire life, this fantasy person has never, ever had a 1/2 day off to go down and vote? If the employer is required to allow time off to go down and vote and this fantasy person can't because they don't have ID. Then why don't they take the paid 1/2 day and get the ID? Then the next election, they can vote. Seriously TK, do you ever think about what you write?

Most laws allow time off work to vote, and there is early voting. Do you ever listen to what you are saying? Well, this fantasy person you have created for your argument is obviously not a Republican.

Might want to have a look at this too. http://www.gallup.com/poll/153152/Obama-Approval-Averages-February.aspx But you are right in that the only way he can get elected is to try and blame Bush, Tsunamis, Europe etc. for his failure as a President. He has many minions that care nothing for his record, they will vote for him because he is black and a Democrat.