Welcome to Obama Nightly News. The goal of this series is to increase enthusiasm and activism by Kossacks for the reelection of President Obama. While we are likely to lose the money war, we believe that we can defeat Willard if we outwork him and his team - through phonebanking, identifying our voters, canvassing, talking to our neighbors, getting our voters registered, donating what we can, and actively supporting the reelection of our President, Barack Obama !
Welcome Friends
For transcripts, please click here.
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The President spent much of the day in Ohio and Nevada.
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Joan McCarter tells us that the rmoney campaign finally is admitting some truth about their plan andhow it hurts seniors .
Romney campaign adviser Ed Gillespie was the first to admit they'd target current seniorsby raising the eligibility age for Medicare. And now another adviser is admitting that benefits cuts are definitely on the table.
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One more reason why the Republican Party must be defeated !
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Weatherdude tells us that a tropical storm may interfere with the republican convention.
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For a guy who originally said that he would run to the right of Ted Kennedy on gay rights, he sure has a strange way of picking advisors .
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I offer an analogy that may be helpful for some :
When President Obama took office, we were losing 750,000 jobs every month.
We have gained jobs in 29 consecutive months. Moreover, the consensus of economists is that we will get down to 6% unemployment by the end of President Obama's second term. However, let us consider today.
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Based on the current rate of growth, the jobless rate is expected to fall to around 7% by the end of 2015 and 5.5% by the end of 2017, according to reports by the bipartisan Congressional Budget Office.
In a conference call Wednesday, Obama campaign spokesman Ben LaBolt pointed to those predictions in criticizing Romney's statement
"Government economists have been clear that under current law their projection today is that unemployment will hit 6% by that point," LaBolt said.
We detonated hydrogen bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The cities were decimated. Virtually everyone knew that the days following it would be dark ones indeed, with little progress evident. But who would really expect that in less than 4 years, it would be fully recovered, just like it was prior to the bombs ? Nobody that is rational. In the same way, George W Bush, dropped an economic (and moral) hydrogen bomb upon the US economy and the world economy. And it will take more than 4 years to recover and return our economy back to what it was.
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I agree with Lawrence O'Donnell - We must support Claire McCaskill , though she is a tad too conservative for my tastes. She did vote for the stimulus and she did vote for ACA. Imo, she is a real democrat, unlike, for example, Ben Nelson or Mary Landrieu or Blanche Lincoln or Joe Manchin (for that matter). Akin is up in the new PPP poll, but only by 1. The poll had been in the field for 24 hours when the news broke. I think that future polls will increasingly demonstrate that Akin has an improbable path to victory, even in red, southern Missouri. The speculation that Crossroads may try to support him later despite saying that they would not does not worry me. If the run 1 ad for him, the riposte is easy : the group funding the ad does not support him and finds him outrageous in his views. If he is replaced, they will have a hard time . Although they will be without the damaged Akin brand, the republican party in Missouri is tainted for having chosen him to represent them. What does it say about these jokers that they picked such a barbarian to represent them ? There are many who simply pull r in Missouri with no thought; I suspect that, after a lot of work, in the final analysis, McCaskill wins this state no matter who her opponent is. This, in my view, makes it highly unlikely that Republicans retake the US Senate.
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I want to here point out the importance of lower parts of the ticket.
First, we need to retake the US House of Representatives. If we do not, then we cannot get a rational budget passed. We will face more obstruction, more stupid bills banning abortion, repealing ACA, ... bills which have zero chance of passing the US Senate and would be vetoed by the President in any event.
Second, we must retake state legislatures. These state legislatures are why we are facing the Jim Crow, voter suppression efforts, by the Republicans. If we were in control of them, these new voter id laws would not be in place. We would not be facing so many state laws attempting to restrict a woman's choice.
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TarantinoDork tells us that POTUS is up 4 in the NBC / WSJ poll - like he is in the PPP national poll
Every Tuesday, we provide information on how to register to vote in different swing states and what you need to bring on election day. However, today, I thought we might present the registration and voting information on the nine swing states considered thus far. They are : PA, FL, OH, IA, CO, VA, NC, NM, NV.
Here is the link to information on how to register in those states and what to bring on election day to be able to vote.
Like last week, today's states are : Wisconsin, New Hampshire, and Michigan !
Wisconsin is fool's gold for the Republicans. The PPP poll had Rmoney up, but only by 1, within the margin of error. The sample was R plus 2, D + 1 being what the electorate was in the Republican year 2010 in Wisconsin. Outside of Ryan's own Congressional District 1, the other voters in Wisconsin hardly know the dude. Few are against abortion in all circumstances (cf Akin) and few want to end Medicare and start a new voucher program in its place. What little bounce in Wisconsin exists is temporary; it will assuredly change when Ryan's views are better known by those outside of his district. If the election were today, President Obama would certainly win Wisconsin; there is no doubt in my mind about that. And that is today. It will be more clear to pollsters and others later, who are only (of necessity) working with current data that does not account for the extremity of Ryan's views which starkly contrast with the views of the electorate in Wisconsin. As was wisely pointed out by another poster (sorry (I just remember the post not the name or link ), if Wisconsin were truly in doubt (and I assure you it is not), then both rmoney and President Obama would be deeply investing in advertising and making numerous personal appearances here. 2008 was not an anomaly and the ultimate results in Wisconsin will be closer to 2008 than 2000 or 2004.
Wisconsin :
Anyone wishing to vote in the state of Wisconsin has three options to register:
1. BY MAIL: Download the Application for Voter Registration GAB-131 in English, or Spanish orHmong, complete the form and mail it into the municipal clerk's office. Find your Wisconsin Municipal Clerk here. The application must be postmarked no later than the 20th day (3rd Wednesday) before the election.
PLEASE NOTE: State and federal law now requires that any first-time voter submitting a registration application by mail provide a copy of an acceptable identifying document that provides proof of residence. (A “first-time voter” is an individual who has not voted in an election in Wisconsin.) Acceptable forms of proof of residence are outlined below. Please note that first-time voters registering by mail may not use a residential lease as proof of residence. The copy of the form of proof of residence must be included when submitting the registration application. If a copy of proof of residence is not included, the elector will be required to supply it before being issued a ballot at the polling place or before being issued an absentee ballot in the municipal clerk’s office.
2. IN PERSON: Register in the municipal clerk's office up to 5 p.m. or the close of business whichever is later on the Friday before the election. Note: After the BY MAIL deadline, an elector registering in person in the clerk's office is required to present acceptable proof of residence as outlined below.
3. AT THE POLLING PLACE ON ELECTION DAY: If you wish to register to vote at your polling place, you must bring proof that you reside at your present location. For purposes of voter registration, acceptable forms of proof of residence must include:
A current and complete name, including both the given and family name; and
A current and complete residential address, including a numbered street address, if any, and the name of a municipality.
NOTE: Proof of residency is required for voter registration and must be current and valid. The purpose of the proof of residency document is to establish the voter’s current address, not to prove that the voter complies with the 28 consecutive day residency requirement. The voter’s sworn statement on the registration form that they meet the 28-day requirement shall be presumed to be true unless the inspector or a challenger has first-hand knowledge sufficient to question the certification.
Photo ID
Two separate judges, on March 6 and March 12, 2012, have issued injunctions preventing the Government Accountability Board from enforcing photo ID requirements in 2011 Act 23. The Wisconsin Department of Justice has appealed those injunctions, and the appeals have been certified to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. For additional information regarding the status of the voter photo ID law, please see the Voter Photo ID Law page.
Proof of Residence
The following constitute acceptable Proof-of-Residence if the document contains your current name and address and is valid on Election Day (unless otherwise indicated):
A current and valid Wisconsin driver license.
A current and valid Wisconsin identification card.
Any other official identification card or license issued by a Wisconsin governmental body or unit.
Any identification card issued by an employer in the normal course of business and bearing a photo of the card holder, but not including a business card.
A real estate tax bill or receipt for the current year or the year preceding the date of the election.
A residential lease which is effective for a period that includes election day (NOT for first-time voters registering by mail).
A university, college or technical institute identification card (must include photo), ONLY if the bearer provides a fee receipt dated within the last nine months or the institution provides a certified housing list to the municipal clerk.
A gas, electric or telephone service statement (utility bill) for the period commencing not earlier than 90 days before election day.
Bank statement.
Paycheck.
A check or other document issued by a unit of government.
Here is a page to check your voter registration status in Wisconsin
gotta vote / gotta register page for Wisconsin
In Wisconsin, you can register to vote up until, and even on Election Day, Tuesday August 14th, 2012
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or :
You can register and vote on Election Day at your Polling Location.
If you plan to register to vote at your municipal clerk’s office fewer than 20 days before the election or at your polling place on Election Day – here’s what you’ll need to bring with you:
A Wisconsin driver’s license number, or the last four digits of your social security number (if you don’t have a WI license).
A document that proves where you live – it must include both your complete name and your current Wisconsin address.
A Wisconsin driver’s license, or state-issued ID card
A bank statement or a paycheck
A current lease
A property tax bill from either 2011 or 2012
Any utility bill from the past 90 days (online cell phone bill print-outs count)
Any document issued by a unit of government
Your student ID card and a fee receipt with your school address from the past 9 months
Michigan
getting registered in Michigan :
To register to vote, you must be all of the following:
A U.S. citizen
At least 18 years old by Election Day
A resident of Michigan
A resident of the city or township where you are applying to register to vote.
If you want to check to see if you are registered, visit www.Michigan.gov/vote. There you will find information about registering to vote and voting, voting equipment, polling place locations, state and local ballots, the candidates, campaign finance and more. Your local clerk can help with questions about your voter registration, polling place location and working at the polls.
Where you can get Michigan voter registration cards
Here's the info you need to register to vote in Michigan (fill out your Michigan voter registration card)
If you hand-deliver your application, the staff person helping you will take your form and you don't need to do anything else.
If you have never registered to vote in Michigan and choose to mail in your application, you will need to meet an identification requirement. This means you must:
Enter your driver's license number or personal identification card number where requested on the form. OR
Send a copy of one of the following forms of identification with your application:
A photocopy of your driver's license or personal ID card, or
A photocopy of a paycheck stub, utility bill, bank document or government document that lists both your name and your address.
Get registered to vote with your current name, at your current address, by 30 days before Election Day.
To be registered to vote for the November 6th, 2012 general election, you need to register no later than October 9th, 2012.
On Election day :
Make sure you bring your Michigan driver’s license, or a Michigan personal identification card.
If you do not have either of these things, you can show any of the following forms of picture identification as long as they are current:
Driver’s license or personal identification card issued by another state.
Federal or state government-issued photo identification.
U.S. passport.
Military identification card with photo.
Student identification with photo – from a high school or an accredited institution of higher education.
Tribal identification card with photo.
If you don’t have a photo ID, then the voter can sign an affidavit attesting that you’re not in possession of picture identification.
For first time voters, make sure you bring one of the following:
Current and valid photo ID or
A valid paycheck stub with your name and address, or
Utility bill with your name and address, or
Bank statement with your name and address
Government document that lists your name and address.
If you have additional questions about voting in Michigan, please contact the MI Secretary of State at (888) SOS-MICH or see here.
You can get your registration started right now.
New Hampshire :
how to register in New Hampshire
WHO CAN REGISTER
New Hampshire residents who will be 18 years of age or older on the day of the next election, and a United States Citizen, may register with the supervisors of the checklist or the town or city clerk where they live up to 10 days before any election. You may also register on election day at the polling place. The supervisors of the checklist or the town or city clerk’s office can provide voters of what proof of qualification they should bring to register.
There is no minimum period of time you are required to have lived in the state before being allowed to register. You may register as soon as you move into your new community.
HOW TO REGISTER
1) Apply to your town or city clerk’s office. You will be required to fill out a standard voter registration form and will be required to show proof of age, citizenship and domicile.
2) It may be easier for you to register with your community’s Supervisors of the Checklist. By law, they are required to meet on the Saturday 10 days prior to each election. Check the local newspaper(s) or call your clerk’s office for the date and time of such meeting.
3) Qualified individuals may also register to vote at the polling place on election day at all elections. You will be asked to show proof of age, citizenship and domicile.
On election day:
New Hampshire does not require a registered voter to bring ID in order to check in and obtain a ballot, but first-time voters who registered by mail may be asked to present ID prior to voting on Election Day. Identification may include, but is not limited to:
Any Current and Valid Photo ID:
Driver’s license
Student or job ID
Military or other government ID
United States passport
OR
Non-photo ID that shows the voter’s name and address
Bank statement
Car registration
Government check or document
Non-photo driver’s license
Rent receipt
Sample ballot
Utility bill
or any other official document
If you have additional questions about voting in New Hampshire, please contact: Elections Division: 603-271-3242; elections@sos.state.nh.us