52% Say Election Is Referendum on Obama's Agenda - Rasmussen Reports™ Page 1 of 2 52% Say Election Is Referendum on Obama’s Agenda diy post will liven in Easy! Tuesday, November 02, 2010. a ‘Small toa friend ‘ShareThis Most voters say today’s election Is 2 referendum on President Obama's ager Tt Re STGUUS Change course f Republicans win control ofthe House. But most also on’ expect him t9- make thet change. ‘Anew Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 525 of Likely US. \oters believe this election is more a referendum on the president's agenda than ‘Gout rasa adates ard suns Try -eight prea [3680 Tosa and Sy i CTO Da SES Sy Dorp ae eee anton ee hee) Only 40% of voters thi 16 contin the same agenda if eguBTeans gon contol ofthe US, House of Representatives as many anal Bek Fg percent Se) sy Oba sould saree curs incessant Ge results However, two-out-o- thre voters (66%) expect the president not to change but stead an tue NE eae agenda Rapier wh cn a ‘at sore (Want a fe daly e-mail uadate? IF inthe news, is in our pos). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook. “The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on October 28-29, 2010 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling errors +/-3 percentage polnts with 2 9596 level of confidence, Feld work forall Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Oninion Research, LLC. See mathadology. Host ers thnk ee careartatve in Cores oes. rt desre relction he ‘o£ she voted for the national health care law, the auto ballouts or the 3787-billion — Sa ietoeehe a ay Even some members of his own party have blamed the president for the time and ‘ort he devoted to passage ofthe heal care law_and 56% of voters now favor {epeal of the measure, The majority of voters have favored repeal in every week ‘Rasmussen Reports survey since Democrats in Congress passed the Ia in ate arch Shety-six percent (668%) of Republicans and 54% of voters not affliated with ether ‘major poltcal party say ts election ia referendum an the orasidents aseada,— Seer oe SDs at rang thnk the secon bore sbot anual hos ands on sue , paper loon Seventy sx percent (76%) of Demecratc voters say the president should cont go SIS ndepeatenh ate ine Sune aged: Ahn re perce (SH) ot Repl an SOR oF Ce eae erntel ies nk ie esa Su cise p dbana be wan ‘etal vee groups agree by szble margins tha the presents ney to change . See a a a ee eet SL eee porsre har agenda ‘The Elica las even more empha. Seventy-seven parcct (7%) of hose the Palla Css ey te prendre sald contin plete soe ge, eedantenaeeamedoucemonenupmenir = —~ pe poly heal elhss Sarna ane a But tan gS of those nthe Manson ny hs laon sma mths pos Gavera presidency bgonds ha aba natal ants and sss, Shyone percent (Gis) Poca Gass votes, onthe other hand es the lec gs cil about ‘ceidates and eyes. ‘Sixty-seven percent (67%) ofboth groups, however, think the president wil not change his agenda if Republicans win contol of Congress. http://www-rasmussenreports.com/public_content/polities/obama_administration/november_2010/52_say... 11/2/2010Midterms 2010: Americans aren't stupid — but they are angry with Barack Obama Today's mid-term elections will highlight the divide between Barack Obama's big government and disaffected voters, says Toby Harden. By Toby Hamden Published: 7:23PM GMT 01 Nov 2010 136 Comments (rtp ew telegraph co.uk/newsiworldnewsinorthamericals ‘ith-Barack-Obama himifisqus_twead) poltis/810321@)Midterms-2010-Americ s-aret-stupig-butthey-are-angry Ithas been easy this year to present the American mid-term elections as exhibit one in the case that the country has gane crazy. We've had Congressman Alan Grayson, a Democrat, doctoring audio tape to make his opponent sound like he was issuing a Tundamentalist edict that women submit to their husbands. Christine Donnell, the Tea Party candidate who once campaigned against masturbation, aired a television ad that began "| am not a witch’, A liberal activist in Kentucky had her head stamped on by a volunteer for Rand Paul, another Tea Party candidate. A reporter was handcuffed by securily goons working for Joe Miller, the Tea Party candidate in Alaska But widespread hilarity ~ inside the country, as well as beyond iis shores — about a supposed Idiot America obscures the fact that at the heart of these elections have been big, serious ‘Philosophical questions about what government is and what it should do. —S ‘Qut of myriad caiticisms of Barack Obama, perhaps the least valid is that he is a president who thinks small. In Chicago on Saturday night, he paraphrased Abraham Lincoln's dictum that "government should and must do for the people what they cannot do by themselves individually". | watched the crowd gazing at him, some nodding and murmuring “Amen” as he spoke of ‘expanding the role of government as part of a "movement for change that endures’, describing it as part of the march of history that saw the British empire vanquished, slavery abolished, women given the right to vote and fascism defeated. Past of, ofcourse, can be pt down to Obama's colossel vay. But tits core his messages one of pomting what © srargaret Thatcher called the “nanny stat" at home and Wisnian intematonlsm abroad ‘A few days earlier, | had stood 1,600 miles away in Vernon Worthen Park in St George, Utah, as Mike Lee, the state's Republican candidate for the Senale and certain vietor (Utah is the most conservative state in the nation), outlined his philosophy of ‘government, Like Obama, Lee, just 39, is a frighteningly bright lawyer and dedicated family man who enjoys talking about the ‘American Revolution. There the similarities end. Lee describes his relationship with the Tea Party as one of "love", hailing it as "an. ‘organic, nationwide political phenomenon” that is “Just quintessentially American” and "focuses on the fact that the federal jovernment are limited and that i's doing all sorts of things that it has no business doing” ‘www telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/us-politics/8103219/Midterms-2010-Amer... 11/2/2010Midterms 2010: Americans aren't stupid — but they ate angry with Barack Obama - Telegraph Page 4 of 4 He wants to retum power to the states and the people, abolish the Department of Education and introduce term limits so that no olitician could ser a dozer ‘Washington, He is determined to cut off funding to Obama's historic health ‘eform so "we can freeze most of this monstrosity", vote the president out in 2012, and then “we'll repeal it, we'll get rid of it and welldancs onifs arava’. Lo Obama speaks of enacting policies that will last "generations", while leaders of the Tea Party Patriots refer to their "40-year plan", for transforming America. Tea Party activists routinely denounce Obama as a socialist or even a communist, Many Democrats. echo the presidents view that Republican supporters are not thinking clearly" enough to see that he is right. "Americans are stupid,” 49-year-old Heidi Massey told me after the Chicago rally. "That's the bottom line. | happen to read newspapers and educate myself, and1 Know what he's doing is right.” ‘There is a battle over culture as well as policy. Jon Stewart's smug "Rally for Sanity” in Washington at the weekend, endorsed by. ‘Dbama, gave the hipster crowd their chance fo chortle at Middle America. Meanwhile, in Mesquite, Arizona, last week, Mark Meckier, a Tea Party leader, urged activists to support “conservative artists doing patriotic art, Christian art, art that you believe in” to counter a culture that was "messed up". Those gathered to listen cheered in agreement, Democrats appear set to suffer @ historic drubbing at the polls today. But the vote will not be an endorsement of the Republican arly orits feaders. Many centrist Democrats will lose their seats, justas establishment Republicans, such as Senator Bob Bennett of Utah, were swept away in primaries by the likes of Mike Lee. ‘Senator Mitch McConnell and Congressman John Boehner, the Republican | Hil looking over their Shoulders at their new caucus, fearing that they will be toppled if they provoke the Tea Party's ire. Blocking or unravelling healthcare reform will be on the Republican agenda and McConnell has already made it known that his number one priority will be fo-stop Obama winning a second term. Republican and Democratic politicians, like American voters, are bitterly divided and in no mood to agree. Obama's bedrock ‘Supporters argue that he has been too timid and should spend more to ty to stimulate the economy. But Republicans want to fake the axe to government spending Despite his bipartisan rhetoric in 2008, Obama has shown litle desire to reach across the aisle. Republicans, emboldened and ‘acutely aware of the fury and disdain of the conservative grassroots, will be in no mood to compromise, Washington willbe largely divided between advocates of two competing and fiercely-held notions about the role of government. ‘After today, and with the 2012 presidential election campaign approaching, expect acrimony and gridiock in Washington. blog comments powered by Disqus (http://disqus.com) © Copyright of Telegraph Media Group Limited 2010 hittp://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/us-politics/8103219/Midterms-2010-Amer... 11/2/2010November 2010 Reflections Magazine November 2010 Home | About Us | Archives | Contaot Us | Search | Join EBI | The Edmund Burke Institute The spectacular fall of Barack Obama By Grace Vuoto Never before in American history have we witnessed such a meteoric rise of a relatively ‘unknown slate Senator 10 The highest office in the land, followed by an equall Speciacular fall Nom grave, President Barack Obama swent into nower of the feels of a revolutionary jaign in 2008 with a highly-ener; iti Tr ‘Hispanics, women, young voters and independents. Two years later, the hapless leader faces a surge ‘of discontent, culminating in an historic mid-term election. The Republican Party, in ‘disarray in 7008. 1s on a renewed mission. Itis now buoyed by Tea Party activists who have demanded a return to core GOP principles. Ironically, the liberal president’ s most striking achievement since he took office is that he revived the Republican corpse. @y His presidency has been marked by an unprecedented backlash of di i rea, ‘protests across Me ation since February 1, How did Mr. Obama go from a Staggering 8 perent approval rating when he assumed cic in January 1 adsl recent Tow, a jallup, of percent favorability? Let us count the ways. r. Obama’s gravest error was that he forgot his own brilliant recipe for success. He te -Fival in the primaries, then-Senator Hillary Clinton, by appearing to be an innovative Democrat who would forge a new governing coalition based on bipartisan consensus. Yet, when he came to power he abandoned his centrist appeal in favor of radical agenda. In addition, during the general election ca ie was adeprar— building soatitions. By contrast, as present, he satlered is own Democratic power ailing fo marry specific policy initiatv of specific constituents. The president failed to sce that greatness is forged in patient, practical loyalty via meticulous legislation that directly benefits those who have asked you to serve them, Mr. Obama thus governed in the abstract—without catering his legislali ach of the president's policy initiatives failed to plea wi serve, FSS eat to the national debt without redueing the unemployment rate, The president squandered political capital fora policy that A deopardized the Blue Dog Democrat in conservative digits, Ina similar Tashion, his healthcare overhaul—apart from the unseemly manner in which it was forged—also failed to win over a loyal cadre. The cost, cumbersomeness and confusion outweigh the sib s. we same is true of the financial reform bill that has not brought any tangible benefit to the average American, Tr succeeded, HOWever, in convincing Wall Street that Tie —~ ssident i anl-buainess further dampening any hopes of a speedy economic reZovery, is morgage asistance plan also fel Tat ony those Romeowiets who desperate His mortgage assistance plan also fel ‘those homeowners who desperately need. http:/Avww-ebireflections.com/printer.php?volume=2&number=1 &file=GV-cover.xhtml Page | of 2 11/2/2010November 2010 Page 2 of 2 help can qualify; yet, those borrowers are in suc] i na short jeir mHorigage payments cannot save their homes. The average American RT ape Bene mangle af rowarding failure, while nonetheless noting ha BS ‘own property values were still at historic Tows. The president’s entire economic agenda has been counterproductive. In each of these instances, more Americans were outraged by the president’s policies than there were ‘Americans who received benefits. This is good politics in reverse. Moreover, his social agenda was perceived as lackluster by his base—too timid to satisfy liberals, but provocative enough to upset and galvanize mainstream America. For example, the gay and lesbian community repeatedly protested that the president has not yet fulfilled his campaign pledge to repeal the 1993 “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy that ‘bans gays from serving openly in the armed forces. The possible repeal is still under review. Another key constituency, Hispanics, is also dissatisfied with Mr. Obama for he hhas not yet provided amnesty for illegal immigrants. At the same time, the majority of ‘Americans are angry that the Obama administration sued the state of Arizona for legislation that was tantamount to enforcing America’s federal immigration laws in that state. does his foreign policy che president alienated his anti-war supporters by providing additional troops for Hero anally outagel and uorgaed sonceraives by estublshing. a firm withdrawal date, Similarly, Mberals are incensed that Guantanamo remains open— peot of civilian trials for terrorist rom the grievous in i ms is decisions, Mr. Obama’s foreign policy does not have a domestic base ‘OEsupport. In the 2008 campaign, Mr. Obama declared that his aspiration was to bea transformational president.” Yet he has demonstrated that he cannot govern. Per “Obama at headlines he envisions reading. This looks good on paper—grand and magnificent In reality, ho i i i coalition, By contrast to narrative that he hopes to read, his presidency will be remembered as a tale of, Cee ee abe: dita aver ongued young Tender gansforn such SpectaClar een danas dla Te ey aia Tue a ee Uae atic defeat? His lepaoy is akin to a figure in Greek tragedy: potentially great man is rendered low because he cannot distinguish dreams from reality, -Dr. Grace Vuoto is the Executive Director of the Edmund Burke Institute for American Renewal. Institute http://www ebireflections.com/printer.php?volume=2&number=1 &file-GV-cover.xhtml 11/2/2010#printMode#printMode Page 1 of 2 ¢ EQUITY INCOME © poet Aman i0ey Equity Inconae Fund "ess A FUND FOR ALL SEASONS Facts and Performance THE WALL STREET JOURNAL. Why Obama Is No Roosevelt Roosevelt: Your government has unmistakable confidence in your ability to hear the worst without flinching and losing heart.’ Obama: We don't ‘always think clearly when we're seared." By DOROTHY RABINOWITZ ” Whatever the outcome of today’s election this much i lear: It will bea long time before Americans ever again decide that the leadership of the nation should go to legislator of negligible experience —with a voting record, as state and US. senator, consisting Tage of present,” and an election platform based on glowing promises of transcendence. A platform vowing, ‘unforgetably, to restore usa country lost to arrogance and erimes against humnanity—toa place of respect in the world. ‘We would win back our allies who, sofaras we knew, hadn't been lost anywhere. Though once Mir. Obama was elected and “began dissing them with returned Churchill busts and airy claims of ignorance about the existence of any special relationship between the United States and Great Britain, the British, at least, have been feeling less like pals of old In the nearly 24 months since Mr. Obama’ election, popular enthusiasm for him has gone the way of his famous speeches— Iprieal, Inspired and unburdened by the weight of concrete thought, About the ingratitude of Democratic voters the president brooded in a September Rolling Stone interview. "If people now want to take their ball and go home,” he declared, “that tells me folks weren't serious in the first place.” His vice president, Joe Biden, Thad a few days earlier contributed his own distinctive effort to seduce Democrats back tothe fold by telling them to "stop ‘The results of tis charm campsign remain to be seen. What's clear now is that we've heard quite enaugh about the “angry, lectorate’—a peculiarly reductive view of citizens who've managed to read all the signs and detect an administration they were not prepared olive with, Nothing wakened their instincts more than the administration's insistence on its health-care bil its whiff of totalitarian wil its secretiveness its display of ‘LT aesuTance thatthe new president’ social agenda trumped everything But it was about 2 care the great ‘ideological divide between the president and the rest of Twas, about an accumulation of facts quietly taken in that told Americans that the ‘Tha hey had sent to the White House had neither the ecapaci tolead the country, ‘Their president was the toast of Europe, masterful = but one who had remarkably soon proved unable to inspire, in citizens at home, any belief that he was a leader they could trust. ‘Or one who trusted them or their instincts. His Democratic voters were unhappy? They, and their limited capacities, were to blame, ‘These are conspicuous breaks in the armor of civility and charm that candidate Obama once showed—and those breaks are ‘multiplying. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704 141 104575588211544818170.html?.... 11/1/2010HprintMode#printMode Page 2 of 2 Ata Democratic fund-raiser a few weeks ago, the president noted, in explanation for the Democrats lack of enthusiasm, that facts and selence and argument aren't winning the day because "we're hard-wired not to always think clearly when we're scared.” mwas clear: The Democrats’ growing resistance to his policies was a product of the publie’s lack of intellectual Decades ago another president directly addressed Americans ina time of far eater peril, "Your government has unmistakable confidence in your ability to Tear the wort without flinching and losing hear,” FranKlin Roosevelt tld is “Tational audfence. The occasion was a fireside chat delivered Feb, 23,1042, No Tadic address then or since has ever imparted a presidential mes was delivered just afew months after Pearl Harbor, atime when the Allied ‘cause looked bleakest. It would be known to history as "The Map Speech.” The sey st baal anger en as president had asked Americans to have a map at han, "to fllow with me the Femteiceio amas sedis concounnist— Yeferences Ishall make tothe world- encircling battle lines ofthis war.” He took Har ind aa mare rere on them through those lines, the status of battles around the globe, the enemy's objectives, centers of raw material and far more. By the time they had finished poring over their maps with him they had had a considerable education Its impossible to imagine what might have been the effect ifthe current president, whois regularly compared to FDR—always a ‘soutee of amazement—had tried anything like a detailed address explaining, say the new health-care bil. Though this would have required knowledge of what was actualy in the bill (likely problem) and a readiness to share that news (an even greater 2a) Depts ageing war talons grinding eu ene amd ea ioe ears oesne one ea os sera Re eee : Vt SJcomon Tee ig the econ vil all sere hiorane ranking peed Gopimuee gemma Election Night at Opinion Journal Franklin Roosevelt led the nation through 12 years begun in incomparable national misery virtually to the end of the war. When he died, an anguished country mourned as it had not done since the death of Lincoln. Americans trusted him. The story is told of, ‘aman found weeping when Roosevelt's funeral train went past, who was asked ifhe had known the president. "I didn't know him,” he replied. "But he knew me." ‘The times are now vastly differeni—no one expects a candidate with the powers of an FDR these days. But the requirements of Teadership don't change. Despite charm and intellect, Americans have never been able to see in Mf. Obama a president who ‘Spoke to them and for them, He has been their Tecturer-in-chief, a planner of programs for his vision of a new and progressive Plenty of suggestions, none of them feasible, are in the air now about how he can reposition himself for 2012, and move to the ‘enter, Mr Obama is who he is: a man of deep-dyed ideological inclinations, with a persona to match, And that isn't going avay. ‘The Democrats may not take a complete battering in the current contest, but there is no doubt of the problems ahead. This ‘lection has everything fo do with the man in the White House about whom Americans have Tost their Musions, Musfons matter. ‘Their loss is irrecoverable, ‘Ms. Rabinowitz isa member of the Journal's editorial board. Copy 2009 Dow Jones & Comoany. nl Rlos Reserved “his copy itor your Fasonl, non conmeri ute ety. tibaon and ao ts ta are goveros by ou Subtbe:Agrearer an by coyigtaw, Fr non- ersonn ue orto oer mug soon, plese cota! Cow Sones Rene 2008485008 ost je/SB10001424052748704 141 10457558821 1544818170.html?... 11/1/2010 http://online. ws}.convarti#printMode Page 1 of 2 Boost your bottom line. Rae ays, cay ec cme nay, To tn a9 yt ee et rs ‘THE WALL STREET JOURNAL. Were PINON | NOVEMBER 2,208 Obama's Next Worry: A Restive Left Flank Every president who lost re-election inthe last half-century has first been weakened by a primary fight. By JOHN FUND Voter discontent this year isn't confined to the tea party. A new AP poll reports that 51% of Americans now think President Obama doesn't deserve re-election. More surprising, 47% of Democrats believe he should face a challenge for the party’s nomination in 2012, No doubt many Democrats who hold this view are disappointed supporters of Hillary Giintor In reality, Mr, Obama doesn't have to worry too much about renomination. There are no signs that Mrs. Clinton would resign as secretary of state and challenge her boss. African-Americans, the president's strongest group of supporters Take up 30% of any Democratic primary electorate and provide him with a firewall against any opponent. And presidents from Ronald Reagan to Bill Clinton have rebounded after midterm defeats as the economy improved. Still, a primary challenge, even if waged by a less-significant contestant, is @ serious matter. Every president who lost re-election in the last half century has first been weakened by a primary fight Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter and George, H.W. Bush heing cases in point, Many ofthe three million voters Pat Buchanan attracted in 1992 against Mr. Bush, for example, wound up voting for Ross Perot in November. This allowed Bill Clinton to win with just 43% of the popular vote. Today, party discontent with the president is real. Last week, leading Democrats were furious when Mr. Obama declined to endorse Rhode Island's Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Frank Caprio, This was payback for Lincoln Chateos support of Mr. Obama's candidacy in 2008—Mr. Chafee is running for governor as an independent. “The notion that the leader of the party is being disloyal to his party is I think unprecedented,” Democratic strategist Paul Begala tol CNN. donors have told th thal is ld decide for certain whether he's running for re-election by the end of December. Should Mr. Obama's approval ratings slip further next, ‘year, there's talk that some donors may call on him not to run, or ‘Promote an independent candidacy by New York Mayor Michgel Bloomberg, Tt could go further. Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, a former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, told MSNBC in July that a primary challenge to Mr. Qbama "is really possible,” especially if he Deputy eator Donel Henninger, etorl boars member Mathew Kaminski and WSi com eccloneist ‘Were to go back on his pledge to begin withdrawing U.S. troops from {oh Fund analy tomorrows referendum on Afghanistan next year. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB 10001424052748704 141 104575588283239100518.html?.... 11/1/2010#printMode Page 2 of 2 bama-etos governance, A disgruntled peace candidate such as former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, Wisconsin Sen, Russ Feingold or Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich could find the prospect of rallying disgruntled leftists too tempting to resist. ll three men forswear any interest in challenging Mr. Obama, yet it's noteworthy that Mr. Dean is stepping up his speaking schedule around the country after the election, Complete Coveroge Campaign 2010 Mr. Dean blames Republicans for blindly opposing the preside says Democrats Rave some responsiblity for voter anger. “There was AP last month, "Democrats wanted policy change. Independents and Republicans wanted to change the way business ‘was done In Washington, and that really hasn't happened.” Watch Campaign 2010 Inthe aftermath of a disappointing 2010 midterm cleetion, some Election Night at Opinion Journal t vutltleon en tieenahtoche liberals may follow the path of the tea party. Tor Streeter, the co- at Jeon Rang mht author af"Net Heats ook onthe lessons of Mr. Dea ater store! om driven 2004 presidential campaign, savs tea party supporters "share with the Deaniacs a sense of being ignored by the powers that be, and an enthusiasm and energy in the feeling thet they are striking back.” Progressives are still rankled by White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs's attack in August on "the professional eft”, fornot supporting Mr. Obama sufficiently. David Sirota, a prominent blogger, says that liberals feel "one hundred. percent” taken for granted by the White House. Most liberals I spoke to don't support a primary challenge. Jane Hamsher, founder of Firedoglake.com, a leading Tiheral blog, i Tess categorical. She blames Mr. Obama Tor "appropriating the progressive message, and then not ‘governing a8 One.” She has always backed "a diversity of votoes in the primaty process as a sign of a healthy democracy.” ‘Mr. Fund is a columnist for WSJ.com. Copyright 2009 Dow ones & Compay, ne Al Rights Resend “Tis copy’ for your pereonel, non-commercial use oly. Dietibuon an ute of is material fe governed by our Subscibe Agreement ae by copyright ion For non parsonal es ort cedar multiple copes. lsse contact Oow Jones Reprints at S00-843-0008 or vat ve depron http://online,wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704 141 104575588283239100518.html?.... 11/1/2010#printMode Page 1 of 2 Deen eed Get ahead of (oA) | Seles a ep ty me secre ny Tower mesic ar etn oa espns i or ce SoeasampirspatinPOF oral. Grea rept arise om OPINION | NOVEMBER 2, 2019 Democrats Can't Blame the Economy Imagine if President Obama had moved right after Scott Brown's election. The party would be in better shape today. 8y FRED BARNES ‘A funny thing happened on the way to the miterm election. The economy was in bad shape, with high unemployment, Slow growth and a lingering housing erisis. Yott wasnt the paramount issue in the campaign ‘The run-up to today's election has been policy~driven: Democrats are likely to lose their strong majorities because of the policies of President Obama and his congressional allies on spending, the deficit, the national debt and health care. ‘Those policies aroused an anti-Democratic alliance of Republicans, independents and tea partiers that emerged in the spring of 2009, spurred by alarm over spending, bailouts and escalating debt. By fall 2009, opposition to Mr. Obama's health-care plan solidified what appears to be a majority coalition. ‘Yes, the economy is always a factor in elections. But a wretched economy doesn't automatically doom Washington's ruling party to disaster in a midterm election. Since World War Il, the average midterm loss by the president's party is 24 House and four Senate seats. In 1982, despite a deep recession and joblessness above 10%, Republicans lost only 26 House seats and none in the Senate. The ifference between 1982 and today is that President Reagan's controllers—were popular. Deputy ecto Darel Henninger, editorial board : ‘member Mathew Kaminsh, and WSJ.com columnist And, by the way, a prosperous economy doesn't guarantee midterm ‘Joa Fund analyze tomorrows referendum on pe Fund nay omar success, In 1994, Republicans capitalized on President Clinton's liberal polices to win a rout despite a generally strong economy. In 1974, the Watergate scandal led to a Democratic landslide. In 1946, when Republicans ran on the slogan "Had Enough?"—referring to the regulations and taxes of wartime and the New Deal—they won 54 House and 11 Senate seats. Yes, a flourishing economy would help Democrats today, and voters invariably list the economy and jobs as theit top. ‘concern in the election. But that’s not all thev’ve told pollsters. Ina CBS/New York Times only 8% blame Mr. Obama for the economy and more than two-thirds see the slump as temporary, "Most voters believe the best thing the government could do to help the economy is to cut government spending," says pollster Seott Rasmussen, “At the same time, most voters believe the administration and congressional Democrats want to go in the opposite direction.” http://online.ws}.com/article/SB 10001424052748704141 104575588234130620908.html?... 11/1/2010#printMode Page 2 of 2 ‘The initial glimmering of a new center-right coalition appeared less than a month after Mr. Obama took office in Januuaty 3009. The Tits tea parties were held in response to the budget—with its sharp increase in spending (8.4%) and 8,000 earimari—as well as the stimulus and bailouts. Election Night at Opinion Journal By April, independents had begun their migration from left to right, "This wasn't prompted by the economy. At the time, most Americans Dlamed George W. Bush for the economic mess. The cause was ig deficit and long-term debt it was ereating. \Visit WSJ.com on Tuesday night for Wve ‘commentary ftom The Wall Street Journal editorial board spending, and the so: ‘Then came the summer, dominated by growing disapproval of what Republicans dubbed ObamaCare. That trend has never reversed. Democrats were confident that their health-care reform would be a political asset. But it helped Republicans win governor's races in Virginia and New Jersey last November, and it was pivotal in January to electing ‘Scott Brown to the Massachusetts Senate seat held for 48 vears by the late Edward Kennedy. Health care isa special thorn in the side of independents. A week ago, a George Washington University/Politico poll found that 62% of independents look unfavorably on ObamaCare. Only 6% regard it favorably. Independents, who ‘Were an indispensable part of the Democratic juggernauts in 2006 and 2008, favor Republicans by 14 pereentage points: “There's a simple way to test whether Democrat policies, rather than Complete Coverage Campaign 2010 ee Wath Conese The economy, are the dominant factor in the midterm election? misider the altemative. After Mr. Brown was elected on Jan. 19, Mr. Obama could have abandoned his full-throttle blitz to pass health-care reform and other legislation, instead seeking, ‘Compromise with Republicans. The bipartisan route, adored by independents, was open to him, ‘Mr. Obama could have yielded on health care and settled fora scaled-back bill that provided coverage for the ‘uninsured and those with pre-existing conditions. He also could have proposed meaningful spending cuts ora second ‘stimulus that meluded broad-based tax incentives for private investment. And he could have chosen to extend all the Bush tax cuts for another year or tw On each of those issues, Mr. Obama would have attracted significant Republican backing—and he and his party ‘wouldn't be in such dire straits. Democrats would still lose House and Senate seats, but not nearly as many. And yet Democrats will explain their losses today by faulting the economy, not themselves. Their fortunes will improve ‘once the recovery picks up, they say. And ifthat line of thinking isn't persuasive, they assert that there's a general antic ineumbent mood among voters this year. ‘Many incumbents are in trouble, but voters have a specific target: the party whose policies they so heartily dislike. gf ‘Mr. Barnes is executive editor of the Weekly Standard and a Fox News commentator. Copyriht 2009 Dow Jones & Company, ne Al Righis Resewes ‘This coy is for your personal non-commerci! ue oy, Dison An use ofthe mater are goveres by Our Subserber Agroemint and by copysight Tow. For non-personal use of der mule copes, less contact Dow dones Reprints at 800-843-0008 of vist vw reprints cm http://online.ws}.com/article/SB 10001424052748704 141 104575588234130620908.html?.... 11/1/2010‘White House Attacks TARP's Inspector General - Barrons.com Page | of 2 Dow Jones Reprints: This cony is for your personal, non-commerical use only. To order ‘See a sample reprint in POF format presentaton ready copies for distribution o your colleagues, cents or customers, use the (Order a reprint of his article now ‘Order Reprints tool on any article or Visit wwr reprints. com D.C. CURRENT | SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2010 Running Afoul of Obama's Adding Machine The White House attacks the special inspector general for the $700 billion TARP, who stated that the bailout program is falling short of its goals. ‘THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION HARPS on the need to make Wall Street accountable through better ‘oversight and more transparent reporting, Yet the White House blew its stack last week when an independent review asserted that is $700 billion bailout of Wall Strect lacked adequate oversight and transparency! Sigh. In D.C., hypocrisy is the most important product. And nastiness ranks a close second. The White House ‘administered a knee-capping in response to the quarterly report to Congress by the Office of the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, fondly known as Sigtarp. ‘The Sig in Sigtarp is Neil M, Barofsky, a former federal prosecutor whom the New York Daily News once described as a "buster of drug lords and scourge of white-collar crooks." In 2008, Barofsky successfully, ‘prosecuted the executives of Refco for the accounting fraud that caused the large commodities brokerage firm ‘to go bust three months after its initial public offering in August 2005. He also Jed an investigation that resulted in the indictment of 50 alleged drug traffickers from Colombia. PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH appointed the lifelong Democrat to the newly created inspector general's post in 2008. Barofsky's mission: "To advance economic stability by promoting the efficiency and effectiveness of TARP management, through transpareney, through coordinated oversight and through robust enforcement against those, whether inside or outside of government, who waste, steal or abuse TARP funds.” ‘And until last week, the dogged Sig was considered to be one of the good guys. "He has the capacity and intellect to dig into things, and to exercise independent judgments. Which is reall lacking [in the federal government] in general,"Rep. Alan Grayson, a Florida Democrat, told Mother Jones magazinein 2009, Tin sure he movi have some choice words foday. ‘Then Barofsky dared give the Treasury a thrashing in print a week before the midterm election for its management of TARP. He said that the bailout was falling far short of many of its goals, like preserving home ownership and Stimulating the economy. The report's timing was purely coincidental. Sigtarp by law must “Prepare one for Congress after every quarter. And the paper's revelations about TARP’s weak impact on the ate of foreclosures and the economy wasn't exactly breaking news. The bailout long has been a sore spot with ‘voters, who are preparing to turn on Democratie congressional incumbents. What roiled the White House was http://online.barrons.com/article/SB50001424053111904757804575576510791797970.htm! 11/2/2010White House Attacks TARP's Inspector General - Barrons.com Page 2 of 2 that the report generated negative articles because Barofsky wrote the executive summary like an indictment. Oval Office thanes had hoped for a PR-style accentuation of the positive and minimization of the negative. Barofsky cited several deficiencies in Treasury's oversi for the program—the kind of shortcomings that would earn a public company ified opinion from an accounting firm. ‘Sigtarp faulted the Treasury for overreliance on self-reporting by TARP recipients on their use of government funds. The special inspector's offi Tecommended direct Treasury oversight to assure that the cash isn't being ‘wasted or stolen. And it faulted a recent Treasury projection showing that taxpayers likely will profit from Their stake in insurance giant AIG. The Treasury employed pro forma accounting that projected future gains Dased on current prices for AIG stock and representations from AIG that it will exit the TARP program sooner than expected, Previous Treasury estimates, including one last March, used'a different methodology—one approved by its auditors— that predicted a $45.2 billion loss from AIG. ‘Sigtarp said that the Treasury, in the namie of transparency, should have compared the pro forma and audited numbers. Thay Sash all whe dant ‘The White House trashed Barofsky in a blog on its site written by Jen Psaki, deputy communications director. A#*f 00 "some people don't like movies with happy endings,” she wrote. "How else to explain this week's report by Sigtarp? Rather than focusing on the growing evidence we've seen in recent months that TARP will be far less costly than anyone expected, Sigtarp instead sought to generate a false controversy over AIG to try and grab a Jew, cheap headlines.” ‘THE NAME-CALLING AND vilification continued for seven more paragraphs. In so many words, she “Valled Baroisky an ignoramus who doesn't comprehend simple multiplication. But her biggest gripe concerned Barofsky’s rejection of stand-alone, pro forma accounting, Psaki wrote that Sigtarp's report demonstrated "a Fundamental misunderstanding of the difference between audited financial results—which are backward Tooking and represent a snapshot in time—and forward-looking valuations of future profits." wich cant AC dsprved / Carry this thinking to its logical conclusion and you can appreciate why the White House argues that, ‘Obamacare will reduce the deficit, that higher taxes on the rich will spur growth and that green investments will result in hundreds of thousands of jobs. Free Jeff Skilling! Build a monument to Ken Lay! Enron-style ‘and Tiving happily at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. ig is back from the gre E-mail: editors@barrons.com Copyright 2010 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved ‘This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our ‘Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Sones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com http://online.barrons.com/article/SB50001424053111904757804575576510791797970.html 11/2/2010Good Morning. It Is Election Day. | RedState Page 1 of 1 Good Morning. It Is Election Day. Posted by Erick Erickson (Profile) Tuesday, November 2nd at 5:00AM EDT 10 Comments “Let me just say it this way, the Democrats will retain the majority in the House of Representatives. We have a huge — we have, what, 54-, 5-vote majority. We had a swing in the last two elections of uo seats. We will — I am not yielding one gain of sand. We are fighting for every seat. _Brain of sand. We are fighting for every seat, But we are ready. And in the past when there have been these swings, it has been when people have not been ready. ‘We've won our elections. We've won our special elections. We just recently took a seat that had never been Democratic since it was created at the time of the Civil War. feince Wet cesta at emo So Democrats are ready. We are confident about what we have done for the American people, We have to get out there. ‘We have been working hard, now we have to go out. We said we were going to do certain things, we did them, and now we Fancy Beles >) February 28, 2010 “(We're gonna punish our enemies and we're gonna reward our friends who stand with us on issues that are important to us” October 25, 2010 Go vote, my friends. Go vote. http://www redstate.com/erick/2010/11/02/good-morning-it-is-clection-day/ 11/2/2010#printMode Page 1 of 2 [ities tosis — maceoo aire etatoniPadina tplep 0ST | som pacetowshi__ Target te Sel Phone Beginning Noveniber 7 Los 122 pe or See carole eptnin FOF toms hers epno i rte r THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, Walser OPINION | NovEMRER 2.2010 Not the Ones We've Been Waiting For Pundits, particularly those who lean right, are schooled always to praise the wisdom of the electorate, Please. 8y BRET STEPHENS And so, today, the American people will seek an honest reckoning with Barack Obama, Good luck with that. Whatever his other virtues—not the least of which is campai elf off as Marcel Proust—this president will never be distinguished by his humility: Don't expect from him a decent admission, as ‘George W. Bush had the decency to admit after the 2006 midterm, that his party had sustained a "thumping." Instead the will immediately decamp to places where he is still admired. That means exiting the count So expect no reckoning there. Nor should Americans expect one with the Democrats. Ifthe party does alittle les ‘isastrously than anticipated, it will rally like a stock whose quarterly losses are slightly less bad than had been. projected. And ifit's Gétterdémmerung, then we already know the narrative: secret sources of funding, plus anger, plus ignorance, plus a failure of communication. On which last score, they have a point: When your “accomplishments” consist of legislation nobody is allowed to read prior to the vote, and nobody can comprehend after it, then no wonder the swine have failed to take appreciative note of the pearls. No, the only reckoning Americans can hope to get—and the one they most need to have—is the one they’re least like to seek. That i reckoning with themselves: Pundits, particularly those who lean right, are schooled always to praise the wisdom of the electorate. Please. Only three years ago, Americans became acquainted with a junior U.S. senator with an interesting personal history, notable Thetorical gifts, programmatically Hiberal ideas and zero legislative accomplishments, Whereupon he was hailed as a ‘Saint and lected president. In Argentina or Venezuela such behavior may be unexceptional, But we're America, as they say: We're supposed to be into celebrity culture, not cult-of-personality polities. What happened? Maybe Americans were sold on Mr. Obama as the man who could fiver them from the financial crisis, 1 don‘t buy it, Six months before Lehman Brothers collapsed, he delivered his instantly celebrated and soon forgotien race speech in Philadelphia, Hist ‘Sema Abalom nels Gonper Union son Gers Pants, parca tose who nan hte jn which the eandidate defended his anti-American, an-Semitie schooled avays to praise tne wisdom of he ‘or by outing hi ‘white grandmother as a wo a ‘Pastor by outing his dying white grandmothe, to racist slurs hitp://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704 141 104575588063061822420.hum! 11/1/2010#printMode Page 2 of 2 Alternatively, perhaps Americans believed that Mr. Obama could make the United States beloved in the eyes of the ‘world again, And maybe there's something to this; He did wow them in Berlin. But what kind of electorate surrenders sel to the good opinion of a Kreuzberg Kaffeellatsch or a Damascene hookah bar? As president, Mr. Obama also ‘offered an outstretched hand to Iran and gave a big speech in Cairo to the Muslim world at large. Yet Iran continues to enrich, and the parcel bombs keep getting posted in the mail, How did anyone ever expect it would be otherwise? ‘The answer is that as in relationships, so too in politics: Infatuation clouds judgment. You bank on the empty promises ‘even a5 you Tefuse to take the object of your desire at his most precise word. Americans disillusioned today with the ~PRESTenTTOF his health-care Tegislation, his refusal to extend his predecessor's tax cuts, his support for cap and trade, Tis Wes 0 labor unions and groups such as Acorn, and his belief in the regulatory state, can't honestly say that they “were promised otherwise during the campaign. They got almost exactly what they voted for—or at least they got am iTstab att. If Mr. Obama now thinks that they have no right to complain, he has a point. “True, the president hasn't delivered on the promises of unity—of ‘postracial, postpartisan, perhaps even post-American politics, These days, it's friends versus enemies, the polities of right-thinking people ‘Versus the polities of fearmongers. ed _gave themselves over to the fantasy of unity in the first place. In a_ ‘democracy, disunity is not just the reality, it's the premise. To wish for_ unity is to wish for an entirely different kind of politics, or perhaps ‘something beyond polities itself, like religious transcendence. Deputy editor Daniel Heninger. dtr board ‘member Mathew Kaminsk, and WSJ.com eokrmit ohn Fund analyze tomorrows referendum on Americans spent most of the 20th century and the first decade of the (Obama-Pelos! governance _2ist fighting against that kind of wish, which goes by the name of totalitarianism and comes in fascist, communist or Islamist varieties. No, Im not saying Mr. Obama isa closet totalitarian; onthe contrary, he's nothing ifnot a partisan pol. But the people who donned those creepy T-shirts with Mr. Obama looking to the far distance like a latter-day Che Guevara were wholly ia the mold of Eric Hoffer's true believers. In an earlier era they would have found their life's purpose as {followers of Shabtat Tzvi, William Davies or Father Divine, And so Americans goto the polls. Democracy being what itis, it holds not only our leaders to account, but our ovn ‘politica chotoes as well. Plainly Barack Obama was not the one we've been waiting for. But let's have the grace to admit we werei’T the ones we'd been wait ither. Write to bstephens@wsj.com ‘Copyright 2008 Dow Jones & Company, ne Al Rights Resered “This coy is for you personal, non-commercial use oly. Diibtion and use o hls mata are governed by ou Subscrber Agreement an by copyright "aw For non-personal use oo order mutipla copies, pease contact Dow! Jones Reps 1-800-843-0008 o wall www reps om ZF thought if was hubn's gone wld when, yn Chicago Sah "We ave he ones we have been wayhins tor, "Mr a hittp://online.ws).com/article/SB 10001424052748704141 104575588063061822420.html?.... 11/1/2010