We report, you decide

[pdogg]

Breaking News Alert

The New York Times

Thursday, November 1, 2012 -- 3:09 PM EDT

-----

Mayor Bloomberg Endorses Obama for Re-election, Citing Climate Change

In a surprise announcement, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg said Thursday that Hurricane Sandy had reshaped his thinking about the presidential campaign, and he announced that he was endorsing President Obama.

Mr. Bloomberg, a political independent in this third term leading New York City, has been sharply critical of both Mr. Obama, a Democrat, and Mitt Romney, the president’s Republican rival, saying that both men have failed to candidly confront the problems afflicting the nation. But he said he had decided over the past several days that Mr. Obama was the best candidate to tackle the global climate change that the mayor believes contributed to the violent storm, which took the lives of at least 37 New Yorkers and caused billions of dollars in damage.

[mardhi]

Breaking News Alert

The New York Times

Thursday, November 1, 2012 -- 3:09 PM EDT

-----

Mayor Bloomberg Endorses Obama for Re-election, Citing Climate Change

In a surprise announcement, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg said Thursday that Hurricane Sandy had reshaped his thinking about the presidential campaign, and he announced that he was endorsing President Obama.

Mr. Bloomberg, a political independent in this third term leading New York City, has been sharply critical of both Mr. Obama, a Democrat, and Mitt Romney, the president’s Republican rival, saying that both men have failed to candidly confront the problems afflicting the nation. But he said he had decided over the past several days that Mr. Obama was the best candidate to tackle the global climate change that the mayor believes contributed to the violent storm, which took the lives of at least 37 New Yorkers and caused billions of dollars in damage.

That is all cool then. A politician who follows climate change and swings as the wind blows...... I'll sleep safer in my bed for knowing this. Even more concerning is that people actually take this rubbish in and believe it !!!!

[SiamSam]

Its all rubbish Mardhi. Pick yours.

We all have to take some responsibility for the people in front of us offering to represent us. In all reasonable fairness, those who decline have nothing to gripe about. You get what you deserve. So sleep well in your bed while others in steerage struggle to right the ship for all concerned including the apathetic middle and upper class.

This was not meant as a poke to you but to all those, left or right who do little but shy away from their responsibility. They know what is wrong but take care of their own interests first. Not unlike what we have done collectively to affect climate change.

[Lefty]

This is absolutely lovely. It shows the intolerance of the supposed "tolerant". LOL!!!

When you racist misogynistic homophobic Republican fuckheads show some tolerance you will receive the same in return.

[Lefty]

I really like what the directness of this Christie dude. Christie has no time for a candidate touring flooded areas since a candidate can't do shit to help the situation.

Now I strongly prefer Obama to Romney, but one thing Romney would probably be good at is a swift response to emergencies.

Think Bush really dragged his feet during Katrina though it is tough to execute in crisis.

Why do you think so? I certainly do not agree. Romney would be good at only one thing, in how he managed both domestic and foreign affairs, Doing whatever he could to maximize profits for multi-national corporations in any way possible. He'd look at the idea of waging war on Iran with the underlying question in his mind being how much money could he and his billionaire buddies make off such a war?

He couldn't give a shit about middle or working class commoners in the USA. They are all in his mind no better than dirt under his feet.

[deepthroat]

Dangit Lefty, I wish you'd stop being so wishy washy and say what you really think once in a while.

[deepthroat]

I just read a really interesting article about Romney and the Mormon faith. I won't bore you with the details, other than the one thing that really jumped out at me: Mitten's Dad was actually a pretty admirable guy.

When he was a Republican in the early 60's, Romney the Elder marched for Civil Rights and urged the party leaders to move to support the Civil Rights Movement, which of course was opposed by both the Republican Party and the Mormon Church. When asked about how this jibed with his Mormon faith, he basically said that if forced to chose between his faith and his beliefs in tolerance and civil rights, he'd walk away from the Church.

Guy had balls, and was ahead of his time. Too bad his kid didn't follow in his footsteps.

[pdogg]

Why do you think so?

He seems like a guy who can get thing done. He's good at logistical type stuff like the Olympics. I think Romney is the most impressive Republican candidate I've seen in a long, long time.

As u point out Khun Lefty, the problem with Romney is most of what he wants to get done is stuff I don't want done.

Looking at thing from a class warfare perspective, Romney would be a disaster for working class.

On a different note, i mentioned on one of these political threads that it is easy to offer relatively unbiased election coverage but much tougher to be unbiased when it comes to issues.

But not all media chooses to even attempt objective election coverage.

Where I'm living now, I can't find CNN. And BBC and Al Jezerra just don't offer enough coverage of the election and Sandy. So I'm forced to watch Fox. And the election coverage is not objective IMO. They are giving the impression the election is dead even. While the British bookmakers still have Obama as a heavy favorite.

[deepthroat]

He seems like a guy who can get thing done. He's good at logistical type stuff like the Olympics. I think Romney is Where I'm living now, I can't find CNN. And BBC and Al Jezerra just don't offer enough coverage of the election and Sandy. So I'm forced to watch Fox. And the election coverage is not objective IMO. They are giving the impression the election is dead even. While the British bookmakers still have Obama as a heavy favorite.

I wish we had Al Jezerra here in the USA. It's probably available somewhere, but certainly not on my cable lineup. I find their coverage to be fantastic when I have opportunity to watch it (when traveling overseas).

[pdogg]

I wish we had Al Jezerra here in the USA.

Are you listening Homeland Security?

Or maybe the guys whacking off to our Trip Reports in the Porcupine Tree Trailer Park will come over to your digs and administer a beatdown.

Actually, I think AJ does a great job, and I'm told it's different than the Arabic version. Al Jezerra and BBC give a fresh international perspective. Us Yanks tend to be quite parochial compared to our Euro brothers. It's useful to see how the rest of the world thinks.

[pdogg]

The latest line......

NOTE: This article has been updated to reflect the odds as of Oct. 30, 2012.

The odds have dropped considerably on Obama in the past 10 days, as the incumbent has gone from a -340 favorite to a -220 favorite. Those numbers will be explained in greater detail down below for those unfamiliar with them.

2012 Presidential Election Odds

A lot of the excitement has been removed from the 2012 presidential election, at least from a betting perspective. The probability that Barack Obama and Mitt Romney are going to win their respective parties' nominations, give bettors one less thing to wager on.

Before we get to the odds listed at several differentsportsbooks, novice bettors should be aware that the odds are listed using what is known as the money line.

Those wanting a detailed explanation of the money line can read Understanding Money Lines, otherwise I'll give you the quick explanation once we see some odds.Different sportsbooks will have different odds on events and the presidential election is no different.

First, we'll look at the odds from The Greek, one of my favorite sportsbooks, although they no longer accept wagers from United States-based gamblers, due to the country's asinine gambling laws. The Greek offers just one bet:

Political party to have the next USA President: Democrats -250

Republican +210

For those unfamiliar with the money line and didn't want to read the longer article, the -250 after the Democrats means that you have to wager $250 to win $100 if you wager on the Democrats to capture the White House. You do not have to wager that much money, however, as you can wager $37.50 to win $15 or $50 to win $20. You are risking twice as much as you will win, which is often the case when betting on a solid favorite.

The +210 after the Republicans means that you will win $210 if you risk $100 and again, you aren't requited to wager that much. You can wager $10 to win $21 or risk $20 to win $42. You are essentially risking $10 for every $17 you hope to win.

The difference between the -250 and the +210 is how the sportsbooks and bookies make their money. In a perfect world for the bookie, I will come and risk $250 to win $100 on the Democrats and you will come right behind me and wager $100 to win $210 on the Republicans. If the Democrats win, the bookie will take the $100 you lost and give it to me, so he is not out any money of his own. But if the Republicans win, he will take the $250 I lost and give you $210 and pocket the remaining $40.

Now, we'll look at another sportsbook, Intertops, where they did offer two different wagers: Party to win the next Presidential Election:

Democrats -227

Republicans +165

NOTE: This bet has been removed.

The lone wager is now:

Who will be the next President?

Barack Obama -227

Mitt Romney +160

The odds on Obama are worse here than at The Greek for both Obama and Romney.

The odds will change a bit as we get closer to the election and you may see several other wagers added later.

[BigTel]

I wish we had Al Jezerra here in the USA. It's probably available somewhere, but certainly not on my cable lineup. I find their coverage to be fantastic when I have opportunity to watch it (when traveling overseas).

Try out this D T, http://www.aljazeera.com/

[deepthroat]

Try out this D T, http://www.aljazeera.com/

Thanks BigTel - just looking at the home page I see 2 stories already that I've never heard of in the USA media.

Great stuff.

[seven]

I wish we had Al Jezerra here in the USA.

I have Al Jazeera, CNN, Sky, BBC and alot others while being home in Europe, but only when i´m in Los i get Fox.

I know its biased , but i get my news from the US election from Jon Stewarts Daily show. I love him.

[deepthroat]

I have Al Jazeera, CNN, Sky, BBC and alot others while being home in Europe, but only when i´m in Los i get Fox.

I know its biased , but i get my news from the US election from Jon Stewarts Daily show. I love him.

I think everyone everywhere recognizes that Fox isn't news, it's like a 24-hour paid commercial for right wing bullshit. Thus it only airs in markets where inbred low-information Americans are likely to be present.

[xyzzy]

Now I strongly prefer Obama to Romney, but one thing Romney would probably be good at is a swift response to emergencies.

If I recall correctly in the Republican presidential debates Romney, at least once, suggest one possible way to help reduce the size of the federal government was to get rid of FEMA and let the states deal with "their" emergencies. "Sorry N.J. deal with it yourself".

I just read a really interesting article about Romney and the Mormon faith. I won't bore you with the details, other than the one thing that really jumped out at me: Mitten's Dad was actually a pretty admirable guy.

When he was a Republican in the early 60's, Romney the Elder marched for Civil Rights and urged the party leaders to move to support the Civil Rights Movement, which of course was opposed by both the Republican Party and the Mormon Church. When asked about how this jibed with his Mormon faith, he basically said that if forced to chose between his faith and his beliefs in tolerance and civil rights, he'd walk away from the Church.

Until 1978 the Morman church didn't allow blacks to become members of the lay priesthood which is apparent;y something that is necessary to gain salvation in the eyes of the church. A bit of a oxymoron for a church member involved in the 60s civil rights movement??

Where I'm living now, I can't find CNN. And BBC and Al Jezerra just don't offer enough coverage of the election and Sandy. So I'm forced to watch Fox. And the election coverage is not objective IMO. They are giving the impression the election is dead even. While the British bookmakers still have Obama as a heavy favorite.

I don't think it is necessary to use IMO when saying the election coverage is not objective on Fox Noise. Well it's just as objective MSNBC. I remember CNN getting in trouble in Thailand for broadcasting events during the last coup. Not sure if they are still suffering from that or there is some other reason they are mostly absent in Thailand. Cable is so much better in Phnom Penh than Pattaya.

About a week ago it became the Romney stragists' plan to start acting like they were going to win the election. Bush 43 used this tactic in one of his elections. I have no idea what it is suppose to accomplish. But that is what they are supposidly doing.

The polls have almost become a joke. Some states has five different polls running on the election. The president will be ahead in say three polls and Romeny two polls. Oi!

[Lefty]

I wish we had Al Jezerra here in the USA. It's probably available somewhere, but certainly not on my cable lineup. I find their coverage to be fantastic when I have opportunity to watch it (when traveling overseas).

When I'm in Thailand, I watch either BBC or Al Jezerra, I remember sitting in my room at Yensabai Mansion and watching Dubya's illegal invasion of Iraq on BBC, and just shaking my head in disgust.

Fox News is a sad sick disgusting joke of a channel, You'd get better news off Comedy Central, and better comedy off Fox.

IMO, the most neutral news channel in the USA is CNN, and I sure cannot understand why the Thailand cable channels do not carry it, but Fox instead.

Being a liberal though, MSNBC is the best channel to me. Rachel Maddow has more intelligence than the entire Fox News crew combined.

[deepthroat]

Dear Red States:

We're ticked off at your Neanderthal attitudes and politics and we've

decided we're leaving. We in New York intend to form our own country and we're taking the other Blue States with us. In case you aren't aware that includes California, Hawaii, Oregon,

Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and the rest of the

Northeast. We believe this split will be beneficial to the nation and especially to

the people of the new country of The Enlightened States of America (E.S.A).

To sum up briefly:

You get Texas, Oklahoma and all the slave states.

We get stem cell research and the best beaches.

We get Andrew Cuomo and Elizabeth Warren.

You get Bobby Jindal and Todd Akin.

We get the Statue of Liberty. You get OpryLand.

We get Intel and Microsoft. You get WorldCom.

We get Harvard (Princeton, Penn, Haverford, Colgate, U of R),.

You get Ole' Miss.

We get 85 percent of America's venture capital and entrepreneurs.

You get Alabama.

We get two-thirds of the tax revenue. You get to make the red states pay

their fair share.

Since our aggregate divorce rate is 22 percent lower than the Christian

Coalition's, we get a bunch of happy families. You get a bunch of single

moms.

With the Blue States in hand we will have firm control of eighty percent of the

country's fresh water, more than 90% of the pineapple and lettuce, 92%

of the nation's fresh fruit, 95% of America's quality wines (you can

serve French wines at state dinners) 90% of all cheese, 90 percent of

the high tech industry, most of the US low sulfur coal, all living

redwoods, sequoias and condors, all the Ivy and Seven Sister schools

plus Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Cal Tech and MIT.

With the Red States you will have to cope with 88% of all obese

Americans and their projected health care costs, 92% of all US

mosquitoes, nearly 100% of the tornadoes, 90% of the hurricanes, 99% of

all Southern Baptists, virtually 100% of all televangelists, Rush

Limbaugh, Bob Jones University, Clemson and the University of Georgia.

We get Hollywood and Yosemite, thank you.

38% of those in the Red states believe Jonah was actually swallowed by a

whale, 62% believe life is sacred unless we're discussing the death

penalty or gun laws, 44% say that evolution is only a theory, 53% that

Saddam was involved in 9/11 and 61% of you crazy bastards believe you

are people with higher morals then we lefties.

We're taking the good weed too. You can have that crap they grow in

Mexico.

Sincerely,

Citizen of the Enlightened States of America

[Lefty]

Brilliant DT! Did you write that yourself? Is it ok to copy and paste it on Facebook or another forum? I'm going to anyway, and if you didn't want me to, then I'll go back and delete it.

[deepthroat]

Brilliant DT! Did you write that yourself? Is it ok to copy and paste it on Facebook or another forum? I'm going to anyway, and if you didn't want me to, then I'll go back and delete it.

I wish I were smart enough to have written that, but no. My Dad sent it to me tonight, it's an email that's being circulated by fellow Lefties around the country.

[Kahuna]

Dear Red States:

We're ticked off at your Neanderthal attitudes and politics and we've

decided we're leaving. We in New York intend to form our own country and we're taking the other Blue States with us. In case you aren't aware that includes California, Hawaii, Oregon,

Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and the rest of the

Northeast. We believe this split will be beneficial to the nation and especially to

the people of the new country of The Enlightened States of America (E.S.A).

To sum up briefly:

You get Texas, Oklahoma and all the slave states.

We get stem cell research and the best beaches.

We get Andrew Cuomo and Elizabeth Warren.

You get Bobby Jindal and Todd Akin.

We get the Statue of Liberty. You get OpryLand.

We get Intel and Microsoft. You get WorldCom.

We get Harvard (Princeton, Penn, Haverford, Colgate, U of R),.

You get Ole' Miss.

We get 85 percent of America's venture capital and entrepreneurs.

You get Alabama.

We get two-thirds of the tax revenue. You get to make the red states pay

their fair share.

Since our aggregate divorce rate is 22 percent lower than the Christian

Coalition's, we get a bunch of happy families. You get a bunch of single

moms.

With the Blue States in hand we will have firm control of eighty percent of the

country's fresh water, more than 90% of the pineapple and lettuce, 92%

of the nation's fresh fruit, 95% of America's quality wines (you can

serve French wines at state dinners) 90% of all cheese, 90 percent of

the high tech industry, most of the US low sulfur coal, all living

redwoods, sequoias and condors, all the Ivy and Seven Sister schools

plus Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Cal Tech and MIT.

With the Red States you will have to cope with 88% of all obese

Americans and their projected health care costs, 92% of all US

mosquitoes, nearly 100% of the tornadoes, 90% of the hurricanes, 99% of

all Southern Baptists, virtually 100% of all televangelists, Rush

Limbaugh, Bob Jones University, Clemson and the University of Georgia.

We get Hollywood and Yosemite, thank you.

38% of those in the Red states believe Jonah was actually swallowed by a

whale, 62% believe life is sacred unless we're discussing the death

penalty or gun laws, 44% say that evolution is only a theory, 53% that

Saddam was involved in 9/11 and 61% of you crazy bastards believe you

are people with higher morals then we lefties.

We're taking the good weed too. You can have that crap they grow in

Mexico.

Sincerely,

Citizen of the Enlightened States of America

Your rant kinda sorta has a 47% ring to it DT...I kinda sorta thought liberals were supposed to be caring compasionate folks...Guess I was wrong...Lots of hateful posts on this and other political threads these days...Hateful hurtful posts...

A couple points...First, most pineapple comes from Thailand and Costa Rica...I truly don't think they care what the color of our necks are so long as we got the cash...Secondly, there are truly over 500,000 Southern Baptists in California alone...If San Francisco only has a population of 800,000 and If those damn baptists are all there, that means two thirds of the residents are Baptists and one third are cock suckers...that's a lot of baptists but not a lot of cock suckers...

Now while your rant clearly pointed out that your got a lot of lettuce and pineapples and water (not a very healthy diet I night add), and money and all kinds of good stuff, you neglected to point our that the rest of us poor folk have a lot of guns...That's what we excel at...Having lots of guns and shooting people...We are indeed proud of that...Please gives us our due DT...

I am tired of all this hate DT...I truly am...I am worn out by the hate...If you vote for Romney you can't be my friend any longer...What kind of childish statement is that...You don't agree with me politically so you are now less of a human than I am...I won't be your friend any longer if you vote for Romney..That's the stuff of children...

I have no idea what's gonna happen next Tuesday...I do know who I am gonna vote for right this minute...But I'm having a real hard time Ringo not to change my vote, just to spite all of you haters...

[Lefty]

Your rant kinda sorta has a 47% ring to it DT...I kinda sorta thought liberals were supposed to be caring compasionate folks...Guess I was wrong...Lots of hateful posts on this and other political threads these days...Hateful hurtful posts...

A couple points...First, most pineapple comes from Thailand and Costa Rica...I truly don't think they care what the color of our necks are so long as we got the cash...Secondly, there are truly over 500,000 Southern Baptists in California alone...If San Francisco only has a population of 800,000 and If those damn baptists are all there, that means two thirds of the residents are Baptists and one third are cock suckers...that's a lot of baptists but not a lot of cock suckers...

Now while your rant clearly pointed out that your got a lot of lettuce and pineapples and water (not a very healthy diet I night add), and money and all kinds of good stuff, you neglected to point our that the rest of us poor folk have a lot of guns...That's what we excel at...Having lots of guns and shooting people...We are indeed proud of that...Please gives us our due DT...

I am tired of all this hate DT...I truly am...I am worn out by the hate...If you vote for Romney you can't be my friend any longer...What kind of childish statement is that...You don't agree with me politically so you are now less of a human than I am...I won't be your friend any longer if you vote for Romney..That's the stuff of children...

I have no idea what's gonna happen next Tuesday...I do know who I am gonna vote for right this minute...But I'm having a real hard time Ringo not to change my vote, just to spite all of you haters...

Your state is considered a lock for Mitt, so it won't matter which way you vote I guess.

As for the hater Democrats, could it be our expressed hatred toward Reps is just more or less our reaction to their hatred toward us? I am just disgusted that for the past 4 years, I have seen nothing from most Rep Senators and Congressmen other than trying to obstruct anything Obama tries to pass even if they agree with it, Their main concern has not been improving the economy or the job situation, it has been trying to make Obama a 1 term president, I am sick of them. Most people I hear personally speak against Obama, cannot do so without adding in some comment like "that black bastard" or "that nigger son of a bitch" So many who are against the man are nothing more than racists as far as I'm concerned. If Obama were white as chalk and his name was something like Bob Jackson or Fred Smith, he'd be a lock to get reelected.

Yeah. I am the one who posted here in one of the threads that I do not care to associate personally in the future with anyone who votes for Mitt. I guess you are bothered by my "childishness" for saying such a thing. Don't worry, it isn't the first controversial thing I've posted and it probably won't be the last.

As for the pineapple thing, I took it to mean domestically grown pineapple, The pct given would be accurate in that case since most domestic pineapple comes from Hawaii.

Also, since we are on the subject, the USA imports pineapple mostly from Costa Rica and Mexico, not Thailand.

[Lefty]

Here is another example of why intelligent progressive thinking people tend to avoid the Republican party.

[pdogg]

So many who are against the man are nothing more than racists as far as I'm concerned. If Obama were white as chalk and his name was something like Bob Jackson or Fred Smith, he'd be a lock to get reelected.

Then show this video to the trailer trash to get their vote.

[deepthroat]

I am tired of all this hate DT...I truly am...I am worn out by the hate...If you vote for Romney you can't be my friend any longer...What kind of childish statement is that...You don't agree with me politically so you are now less of a human than I am...I won't be your friend any longer if you vote for Romney..That's the stuff of children...

I too am suffering from pre-election burnout Big K. Cannot wait for this thing to be over tomorrow, or whenever the hell the results are finally tabulated, confirmed, recounted, and reconfirmed by whatever court or tribunal the thing ends up in. Please hang in there.

P.S. - you are my friend even if you do change your mind and vote for the Evil Empire.