Can Mike Bloomberg change our gun politics?

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Friday December 14, 2012 · 12:48 PM PST

2012/12/14 · 12:48

In the wake of Citizens United, few may have seen the prospect of a billionaire trying to wrest the National Rifle Association's stranglehold on the purse strings of lawmakers. But Mike Bloomberg made just such an attempt when he successfully spent over $3 million to unseat Rep. Joe Baca (D-CA) from the House last month.

This week, Americans have seen high-profile gun killings on each coast. We've seen many more in the past, yet the only things that change are that gun and ammunition regulations get looser at the state and federal levels as lawmakers interpret "a well-regulated militia" to mean indiscriminate availability of lethal force.

Mayor Bloomberg has not, as of this writing, weighed in on the tragedy at Newtown. But do not be surprised to see him continue his attempt to reshape the gun debate through campaign spending. (Which may alter debates on both firearms and on campaign spending.)

Nuisance Industry

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Thursday November 08, 2012 · 8:23 AM PST

2012/11/08 · 08:23

The Sunlight Foundation follows the money in government and campaigning. Today, the foundation released reports on how effective the biggest independent expenditures in the 2012 election cycle were in terms of Return On Investment (ROI).

For Americans worried about the influence of wealthy donors on the political process, this report will provide some relief. For Americans wanting to take glee in the failures of Karl Rove and his minions, this report will provide some hilarity.

Ah, Rove. Hell, let's get this one out of the way first:

AMERICAN CROSSROADS
1.29% ROI
Total spent campaign 2012: $104,710,427
1.29% of $103,559,672 spent in the general election and ended in the desired result.
Supported 0 winning candidates ; 0.00% of money went to supporting winning candidates.
Opposed 2 losing candidates; 1.29% of money went to opposing losing candidates.

See the full profile here.

Can't imagine why Republican donors would be mad at Karl with that performance. But wait, he has company! More below the jump. Read More

CBS: Mitt Romney has conceded.

Nuisance Industry

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Tuesday November 06, 2012 · 9:45 PM PST

2012/11/06 · 21:45

Jan Crawford of CBS news just reported that Mitt Romney finally called President Obama and will be making his concession speech shortly before 1am Eastern Time.

UPDATE: CBS radio reports White House officials have confirmed that Romney places his concession telephone call.

UPDATE 2: If you're watching TV, you're seeing it. At 12:55, he stood alone at the Boston podium and conceded.

Tweet #bindersfullofwomen but also #Ivoted

Nuisance Industry

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Tuesday October 16, 2012 · 8:49 PM PDT

2012/10/16 · 20:49

While images of President Obama smacking down Mitt Romney reverberate across the internet, we need to remember that what matters is getting Obama supporters to show up at the polls. Not just three weeks from now, but right now in the states that are voting.

#bindersfullofwomen is trending on Twitter as evidence of Mitt Romney's ridiculousness. Let's get another hashtag trending: #Ivoted.

#Ivoted means the campaign can bank your votes over the next 21 days. #Ivoted means you can then help get others to vote. #Ivoted can increase enthusiasm for turnout, and enthusiasm for turnout means not only a re-elected President Obama, but maybe enough votes for a Speaker Pelosi.

Nuisance Industry

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Sunday September 30, 2012 · 7:47 AM PDT

2012/09/30 · 07:47

"Let Detroit go bankrupt." Even as the tape of Mitt Romney dismissing 47% of Americans continues to damage his campaign, this headline on Romney's earlier NY Times op-ed essay continues to have a devastating effect on his campaign.

Michigan, a state George W. Bush and John Kerry battled for down to the wire in 2004, has never seriously been a contested state in this election. And now Ohio is slipping away from Romney's grasp in no small part due to the state's auto industry.

Why? In a state saturated with political advertising, automobile ads are getting a message across that Romney does not welcome. More below the fold.

Nuisance Industry

Community

Tuesday September 18, 2012 · 5:56 AM PDT

2012/09/18 · 05:56

Among the many stupid things Mitt Romney said at a May 2012 fundraiser was this gem:

"I have inherited nothing. Everything I earned I earned the old-fashioned way."

Let's set aside for a moment whether the work of Bain Capital or Mitt Romney's accountants is money earned the old-fashioned way. It is true that the combined bank accounts, real estate holdings, dressage horses, and assets of Willard Mitt Romney far exceed those of his father, George Romney, and that this was true after Mitt went into consulting in the 1970s. But for him to say he inherited nothing is perhaps the least self-aware comment Mitt Romney uttered at that posh Boca Raton estate.

Did the Mitt Romney who grew up in one of the wealthiest communities in America inherit nothing?

Did the Mitt Romney who attended an elite preparatory school inherit nothing?

Did the Mitt Romney who worked as an intern for his father, the governor of Michigan inherit nothing?

Did the Mitt Romney who never had to borrow a dime to attend Stanford University, Brigham Young University, and, for his joint JD/MBA degree, Harvard University inherit nothing?

Did the Mitt Romney whose father's riches allowed Mitt and his wife to begin having children while they were still undergraduates and not have to worry about dropping out or getting a job to feed the kids, give them medical care, or send them to the schools of their choice inherit nothing?

How much did this head start (not to be confused with Head Start) shape Mitt Romney's adult life? How many Americans can say we've inherited all the nothings Mitt Romney inherited?

Julian Castro had it right: Mitt Romney just has no idea how good he's had it.

Questions for Jim Lehrer to ask in the first debate.

Nuisance Industry

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Monday September 17, 2012 · 3:36 PM PDT

2012/09/17 · 15:36

On October 3, Jim Lehrer will moderate the first presidential debate between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney. The debate focus is domestic policy, and with that in mind, I have five suggestions for questions Jim Lehrer can use.

Nuisance Industry

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Friday September 14, 2012 · 9:19 AM PDT

2012/09/14 · 09:19

Mitt Romney is Occupy Wall Street’s greatest friend. What other political figure so effortlessly embodies all that is wrong with the American economy? What other political figure would be so out of touch as to invite voters to consider the significance of OWS’s rallying cry “I am the 99%?”

Mitt Romney stands alone.

Nuisance Industry

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Wednesday September 12, 2012 · 1:37 PM PDT

2012/09/12 · 13:37

For many, many, many good reasons, recent polls have shown President Obama increasing his lead on Mitt Romney since the end of the Republican convention.

One result of that, as we have seen, is Mitt Romney flailing and acting more desperate. But another is polling data that bodes well not only for the President, but for Democrats in Congress. Per Nate Silver, the generic battle polls are shifting.

Four generic ballot polls released this week: Dems +2 (Rasmussen), Dems +4 (YouGov), Dems +6 (Ipsos), Dems +6 (PPP)
— Nate Silver (@fivethirtyeight) September 12, 2012

Nuisance Industry

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Thursday September 06, 2012 · 8:25 PM PDT

2012/09/06 · 20:25

In his acceptance speech for the Democratic nomination tonight, President Obama not only reminded us of the stakes in this election and the accomplishments of the past four years, but reminded us of the path that made those accomplishments possible.

"It's because of you." The people who showed up, who walked neighborhoods, who made calls, who watched polls, and above all, who showed up to vote. Those are the people in 2008 who turned state after state blue, including ones that had not done so since Americans who rely on Medicare today were too young to vote.

"It's because of you." Will it be again?

Nuisance Industry

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Wednesday September 05, 2012 · 5:26 PM PDT

2012/09/05 · 17:26

Thursday night is the big finale of the DNC. It is the night when we hear from several party leaders, not least being our President and our Vice President.

One more voice will be heard. According to Roll Call, Gabby's coming to Charlotte.

Former Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords will make a surprise appearance at the Democratic National Convention on Thursday evening, Roll Call has confirmed.
She will deliver the Pledge of Allegiance, according to a source close to the former Congresswoman.

Nuisance Industry

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Tuesday September 04, 2012 · 8:36 PM PDT

2012/09/04 · 20:36

Yes, Michelle Obama gave a magnificent speech tonight. Yes, she articulated her family's values, her party's values, and her nation's values, using personal stories to make broader points.

Michelle Obama's speech was magnificent. But it was not the most important thing she said tonight.

The most important thing she said tonight came just after she walked off stage.

More, after the jump.

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Can Mike Bloomberg change our gun politics?

Sunlight Foundation: How Rove and friends wasted millions of right-wing dollars.

CBS: Mitt Romney has conceded.

Tweet #bindersfullofwomen but also #Ivoted

How the automobile industry is running Mitt Romney over.

Mitt Romney pulled up from his bootstraps: 'I have inherited nothing.'

Questions for Jim Lehrer to ask in the first debate.

I AM THE 95%

Polling consensus: Democrats gain in generic ballot. We can take back the House.

President Obama: "It's Because of You" Are you in?

Roll Call: Gabby Giffords to deliver Pledge of Allegiance Thursday

The most important thing Michelle Obama said tonight.