DR. BEN CARSON: THE PEOPLE WILL RISE UP AND REGAIN CONTROL OF GOVERNMENT

GOP presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson joined Breitbart News Sunday on SiriusXM Patriot Channel 125 with host Stephen K. Bannon, Breitbart News’ Executive Chairman, who asked Carson about his numbers and support increasing after the first GOP presidential primary debate last week in Cleveland, Ohio.

A recent NBC poll after the debate noted that Carson is right behind GOP frontrunner Donald Trump and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX). Also following the debate, the Carson campaign posted on Facebook, “Even more, it’s clear that the people were listening – we gained over 100,000 friends and patriots on Facebook during the debate.”

Bannon asked Carson if he thought the fact that he didn’t get much talking time from Fox News in the beginning of the debate had anything to do with being underestimated by some critics as a top tier candidate.

“The traditional world of political punditry and political experts think that the possibility of someone like me being successful is zero. That’s been their attitude from the very beginning,” Carson answered.

He continued, “They’ve forgotten about the most important thing and that is the people. For decades now, we’ve kind of forgotten about the people. It was Thomas Jefferson who said that in the end just before we turn to another form of government, the people will rise up and will speak and we will regain control of government – they need to read those passages.”

Carson went on to explain why he believes his message is resonating with voters.

“I think one of the things is integrity. People have lost faith in their government, you know, whatever the government says, you pretty much say, well you know, it must be the opposite of that… that’s not what this country was designed to be,” he said. “The government works for the people and not the other way around.”

In order to get the government back to where it should be – working for the people – Carson said, “We have to reestablish the priorities and we must get back to the Constitution.”

“They’re also very concerned about our fiscal ineptitude and I don’t know if very many people other than myself are really talking about the danger that we’re in in terms of the fiscal gap – the amount of money we actually owe and the implications for the future,” he added.

On the topic of the type of questions Fox News asked the candidates, Carson in a previous interview with Breitbart News appeared disappointed the candidates didn’t receive more pressing questions on issues like national security and foreign policy.

“I would have rather seen something a little more serious and directed really more toward the gigantic issues that are going to destroy this nation if we don’t do something about it,” he told Bannon. “I would have liked to have seen a situation where everybody had an opportunity to respond because the electorate must have an opportunity to compare apples to apples.”

Bannon asked Carson about his plan for immigration, which was a topic Carson said he wished he had been asked about during the debate.

“It is a big problem and it’s perfectly solvable by sealing all of the borders… not just the southern border because we have to worry about the jihadists who want to destroy us and are infiltrating our society… it’s not just fences and walls, it’s electronic surveillance and drones,” Carson explained about protecting the borders, adding more personnel could help keep the border safe.

Carson went on to explain what he plans to do once the borders are secured.

“You also have to turn off the spigot that dispenses the goodies. If there were no goodies to come here for, what would be the point of risking going through all of that barrier just to get here for noting – and you have to make the hiring of people who are not here legally a criminal offense,” he explained. “Then, you still have the 11 million people who are here – many of whom don’t know any other place, so where are you going to send them back to?”

He said it is “not practical” to round up and deport all 11 million people.

“What we have to do is provide them an opportunity to become guest workers, provided that they pay their back tax penalty, pay taxes going forward…they’re not eligible for any benefits that citizens of America get – and if they want to become an American citizen, they have to get in the back of the line and they have to go through the same process as anybody else. That’s the way I think you take care of it,” he said, adding this plan wouldn’t collapse the farming and hotel industries among others.

Bannon asked Carson if he thought the influx of illegal immigrants are taking away from American jobs, especially in places like Baltimore where the African American unemployment rate is high.

Carson said it does make it worse, but “if you make people register and become guest workers, you have much more control over that.”

On the topic of being soft spoken and usually a voice of reason among a crowded field of GOP candidates, Carson said, “It was Teddy Roosevelt that said walk softly and carry a big stick… people that believe that just because you’re not jumping all over the place and yelling and screaming, that you don’t have resolve and backbone. You know, they need to read my autobiography and see what kind of resolve and backbone I do have.”

“People, who have to raise the decibel level of what they say, frequently don’t have anything to say,” Carson stated. “When people start actually listening to what I’m saying, I think if they have common sense they will be able to resonate quite effectively with it.”

Via: Breitbart

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Behind the Fox debate: How the anchors hashed out the questions

It was clear to everyone in a windowless conference room in the basement of Cleveland’s Quicken Loans Arena that this would be the most incendiary question of the debate.

Megyn Kelly, flanked by Bret Baier on her right and Chris Wallace on her left, read to the assembled group of executives and producers the wording she had crafted.

Kelly said she would ask Donald Trump: "You’ve called women you don't like 'fat pigs', 'dogs', 'slobs'" and "disgusting animals", including on Twitter. Did he have the temperament to be president?

There was some discussion of whether another woman, Hillary Clinton, should be added to the question. Kelly wanted to keep the Twitter reference so people could go online and see for themselves what Trump had written over the years and that it wasn’t just about Rosie O’Donnell. She felt there was a good chance she would be booed by the audience—and that The Donald would hit back hard.

“If Trump comes after me, don’t jump in and save me,” Kelly told her co-moderators.

As it turned out, part of the audience tittered, Trump interrupted to say he was talking about Rosie, then said he was not politically correct and had always been nice to Megyn—but maybe he shouldn’t be anymore. He had parried a hard question with a series of thrusts.

Thursday night’s presidential debate was the product of a seemingly endless series of meetings involving Fox executives and the Baier-Kelly-Wallace team, which also handled the debates in 2011 and 2012. The arduous phrasing and honing of the questions was complicated by the time constraints imposed by having 10 candidates on stage.

For all the media chatter about Fox and the Republican Party, these sessions were driven by one goal: how to ask the candidates tough questions and pin them down. I saw the same meticulous process as a reporter at an Orlando debate in 2011, before I joined Fox News. The anchors barreled ahead, knowing full well that their aggressive approach in Cleveland would draw flak from some on the right.

The team spent considerable time on the wording of what would be the night’s first question: Would everyone on stage agree to endorse the winner of the Republican primaries? The discussion turned to whether that seemed like a Trump question.

“It is a Trump question,” Washington Managing Editor Bill Sammon said.

Baier would ask for a show of hands. What if Trump was the only one not to take the pledge? Then, the group decided, the “Special Report” anchor would ask a followup about how Trump could seek the GOP nod without ruling out a third-party bid. (Trump took the bait, raised his hand, and the debate made news in its opening moments.)

Wallace offered up a question for Jeb Bush, tying it to Hillary Clinton’s recent charge that he is part of the war on women. As the “Fox News Sunday” anchor described it, he would ask the former Florida governor about supporting a defunding of Planned Parenthood and his recent foot-in-mouth comment that $500 million might be too much to spend on women’s health.

Kelly also discussed a question about opposition to abortion for Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who did not support making an exception if the mother’s life was at stake. Did that stance render him out of the mainstream?

With a number of hot-button issues slated for the top, there was concern in the room that some viewers, or candidates, might find that jarring. “We should forecast it, here we come with our hot stuff,” Baier suggested.

Baier tried out a question about Marco Rubio’s tax plan and whether it amounted to “trickle-down economics.” Sammon wondered whether the lengthy question could be streamlined.

Kelly's potential question for Ben Carson centered on his past misstatements, such as not knowing that the Baltic states were part of NATO. Was the surgeon too inexperienced to be president?

The thrust of these sessions was about how best to probe the candidates’ weaknesses, get them off their talking points and close off rhetorical escape routes.

But there were also mundane considerations, such as what sound would cut off the candidates after 60 seconds—a basketball buzzer was considered and rejected--and how many questions and answers, divided into what the team called “buckets,” could be squeezed in before each set of commercials. One such break would last nearly four minutes and, a staffer explained, give the 10 candidates a chance to go to the bathroom.

Kelly relished the idea: “Men are finally going to be in the same position as women are with the bathrooms—all going to the same stall.”

Although the session waded deep into the nitty-gritty, everyone in the room was acutely aware of the stakes.

Michael Clemente, Fox’s executive vice president for news, told the gathering it was “breathtaking to see how much attention” the debate was drawing. “I think it’s going to be as big as LeBron going back to Cleveland,” he said.

By yesterday afternoon, there was more banter and kibitzing to break the tension, especially on what were seen as difficult questions. Kelly said she planned to ask Ohio Gov. John Kasich about expanding Medicaid in his state by saying St. Peter at the pearly gates would ask what he did for the poor: “Why should people think you won’t use the St. Peter rationale to expand every government program?” That prompted a chorus of oooh’s.

Kelly, who famously asked Jeb Bush the question that tripped him up on the Iraq war, now planned to ask him about the families of those killed in action: “How do you now look at them and say your brother’s war was a mistake?” Another strong reaction.

Baier was torn between asking Trump one of two questions, either about his past support for single-payer health care and other liberal programs, or about his contributions to Democratic lawmakers. The room was divided as well. (He wound up asking both.)

Some of the back-and-forth turned on math. Trump and Bush were each down for seven questions, and Marco Rubio for six after a “hanging chad” recount, but Ted Cruz would have two rebuttals. Were they being careful enough in splitting up the time?

“I don’t want to be defending how some guy got shortchanged,” Sammon said.

He paused for a moment of reflection, telling the group: “I have one tiny tiny worry, in 1 percent of my brain, that it’ll be anticlimactic," that the anchors would have to "spur it along.”

An hour before airtime, Brit Hume, the Fox debate veteran who stopped by the windowless conference room, wondered if the moderators would ask about a Politico story quoting an unnamed donor as saying Bush had called Trump a "buffoon," "clown" and "asshole."

The consensus was to ask Bush if it was true, perhaps drawing a response from The Donald. But how to deal with the language issue?

"You say A-hole," Hume said.

"You can't say A-hole," Kelly responded. "You can't even say blank-hole."

The compromise was "a word that cannot be repeated on television."

On stage Bush denied the story, but called Trump’s rhetoric “divisive.” Trump, with a nod toward the moderators, said “I don’t think they like me very much.” It was anything but dull.  

"These are really good questions," tweeted Jeff Greenfield, the former ABC and CNN correspondent. "The moderators have done their homework, thought through what they want to zero in on."

Via: Fox News

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Trump Twitter Rant: ‘Megyn Kelly Bombed Tonight,’ Retweets Post Referring To Her As ‘Bimbo’

CLEVELAND (CBSDC/AP) — Republicanpresidential candidate Donald Trump went on a Twitter rant against Fox News’ Megyn Kelly and pollster Frank Luntz following Thursday night’s GOP presidential debate.

Kelly and Trump mixed it up when she asked Trump about his calling “women you don’t like ‘fat pigs, dogs, slobs, and disgusting animals.'”

Trump didn’t deny it. And when Kelly was undeterred by his attempt to laugh off her question with a joke about comedian Rosie O’Donnell, he fired back.

“I don’t frankly have time for total political correctness,” Trump said. “And to be honest with you, this country doesn’t have time either.”

RELATED: 92-Year-Old Registers To Vote For First Time To Cast Her Ballot For Trump

Overnight on Twitter, Trump said that Kelly “bombed” as a moderator.

“Wow, @megynkelly really bombed tonight. People are going wild on twitter! Funny to watch,” Trump tweeted.

Via: CBS DC

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EXCLUSIVE: CONSERVATIVE TALK RADIO HOSTS WEIGH IN ON GOP DEBATE CRITERIA

Breitbart News reached out to leading conservative talk radio hosts to find out what exactly their listeners are saying about the upcoming GOP primary presidential debate, which will feature the top 10 candidates on the debate stage while the other six candidates will have a secondary event.

Fox News and Facebook are hosting the first GOP primary presidential debate in Cleveland, Ohio, on August 6th, but in order to accommodate the 16 official GOP candidates, Fox News set out debate criteria in order for the candidates to make the debate stage that evening. One of the requirements is that the GOP candidates who make the top ten out of an average of five national polls will make the debate stage where Fox News will moderate and air the event. The others will participate in a secondary forum.

Conservative radio host Bill Bennett spoke exclusively to Breitbart News about how his listeners are responding to the debate criteria where, as it stands now, the only Indian-American Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-LA) and the only GOP female candidate Carly Fiorina are on the cusp of making the cut.

“I would say that most of my audience would prefer to have all the GOP candidates on one stage, at least for the first debate. They don’t think we should be excluding certain candidates this early in the primary. I agree with them,” Bennett told Breitbart News. “At least for the first debate or two, we should give all the candidates a chance to make their case before a national audience. If we do, I think the debate should be at least two hours long.”

Bennett highlighted the time constraint issue.

“Lincoln and Douglas went for more than three hours and there were only two of them. I do applaud the RNC though for shortening the total number of debates. We can’t have an extended primary debate season like we had in 2012 where we start to bleed our candidates dry,” Bennett added.

Radio host Howie Carr also spoke to Breitbart News about the debate criteria.

Carr, host of the “Howie Carr Show,” is broadcasted on at least seven New Hampshire stations and is also aired on roughly 25 stations across the northeast, so he has a wide range of listeners who have weighed in on the debate requirements.

“Awhile back, I anticipated that as crunch time arrived for the Fox debate, the candidates who didn’t seem to be making the cut would start complaining,” Carr told Breitbart News. “So for a couple of months now, I’ve been asking the candidates on the fringe how they felt about maybe not making the cut.”

Carr stated that both Fiorina and Jindal have said they plan to abide by the rules.

“I believe Carly actually said the last time we had her on was that she had learned a long time ago to worry about things you can change, not events you can’t change,” Carr recalled. “She also said she was confident everything would work out.”

“My listeners, as far as I can tell, like both of them a lot. About Jindal, I’ve heard more than once, ‘He’s so smart and articulate, it’s too bad he doesn’t have a chance,’” Carr stated. “I think my listeners, like me, are sorry they’re not making the cut but… 10 is too many for a debate. Hell, in 2012, six were too many.”

Carr added that too many candidates during a time-limited debate would take away from the top contenders.

“I’ll tell you who didn’t get a good response last week: Rick Santorum, when he called for two debates, drawing straws for placement, odds-evens, etc. People were texting in, ‘Go home Rick’ and ‘Can’t this guy get a job?’ and ‘This guy hurt Romney more at the end than Obama did.’ It sounds like sour grapes to complain about being excluded,” Carr recalled.

On the issue of the only GOP female candidate and only GOP Indian-American candidate possibly not making the stage, he added, “I don’t think ‘diversity’ is a big issue here. Carson’s in, so are the two ‘Hispanic’ senators.”

He said all the candidates have been to New Hampshire numerous times, concluding, “To the victor belongs the spoils.”

Conservative talk radio host Lars Larson of the “Lars Larson Show” agreed with Carr on the issue of time.

“I would love to see all of them in there, the only problem is—the reaction I get from my audience and my reaction personally—is… if the total length of the debate is only say 90 minutes, then you’re down to four to five minutes per candidate,” Larson explained to Breitbart News.

He added that in those four to five minutes, there must also be time for asking questions, which leads to “everybody gets a tiny little taste that’s only a little bit longer than a campaign commercial to hear each candidate on each subject.”

Because of the issue of time, Larson understands the criteria cut off, adding it shouldn’t be changed to accommodate race or gender of particular candidates.

“I understand why they have to put the limits on,” Larson concluded.

Via: Breitbart

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Cleveland, Justice Department Reach Policing Deal

 People protest in reaction to Cleveland police officer Michael Brelo being acquitted of manslaughter charges after he shot two people at the end of a 2012 car chase in which officers fired 137 shots. (Ricky Rhodes/Stringer/Getty Images)

Cleveland has reached a settlement with the Department of Justice over a pattern of excessive force and civil rights violations by its police department, and it could be announced as soon as Tuesday, a senior federal law enforcement official said.

The official, who wasn't authorized to speak publicly about the settlement before the formal announcement, spoke Monday on the condition of anonymity.

News of the settlement came days after a white police officer was acquitted of manslaughter for firing the final 15 rounds of a 137-shot police barrage through the windshield of a car carrying two unarmed black suspects in 2012.

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The suspects' backfiring vehicle had been mistaken for a gunshot, leading to a high-speed chase involving 62 police cruisers. Once the suspects were cornered, 13 officers fired at the car.

The case prompted an 18-month Department of Justice investigation into the practices of the police. In a scathing report released in December, the department required the city to devise a plan to reform the police force.

The specifics of the settlement were unavailable. Messages left for a Department of Justice spokeswoman and the Cleveland Police Department seeking comment weren't returned.

The Department of Justice's report spared no one in the police chain of command. The worst examples of excessive force involved patrol officers who endangered lives by shooting at suspects and cars, hit people over the head with guns and used stun guns on handcuffed suspects.

Supervisors and police higher-ups received some of the report's most searing criticism. The report said officers were poorly trained and some didn't know how to implement use-of-force policies. It also said officers were ill-equipped.

Via: Newsmax

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Like The Night Follows The Day: Al Sharpton Going To Cleveland To Race Bait….

CLEVELAND -- Civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton is expected to appear at a local church in Cleveland next week.

According to Reverend Jawanza Colvin, he is scheduled to speak at Olivet Institutional Baptist Church.

Later this week, members of local churches plan to march to the Justice Center to call for comprehensive reform of the justice system. The march is scheduled to take place Tuesday at 11:30 a.m.

RELATED: Pastor preaches reform over riot following Brelo verdict

Leading up to the verdict in trial of Michael Brelo, Cleveland's faith based community called for peaceful demonstrations. One hour following the verdict in the Brelo trial, churches throughout the city opened their doors for prayer and conversation.

More than 20 members of the long running group "United Pastors in Mission" have signed on to provide safe zones across Northeast Ohio.

RELATED: Local pastors call for calm demonstrations to Brelo verdict

Majority of protests remained peaceful during the day, but in the evening, officials made arrests after protesters became violent towards citizens, Cleveland Police Chief Williams said in the news conference Sunday morning.

A total of 71 people were arrested, about 39 men, 16 women and some juveniles during demonstrations on Saturday. Williams said police recorded videos while making arrests and they will also review any video posted online to determine if those in custody face charges -- which range from felonious assault, aggravated rioting, and failure to disperse. Misdemeanors require charges filed within 24 hours, while felonies need a 36-hour deadline.

Cuyahoga County Commons Please Court Judge John O'Donnell found Brelo not guilty on the two counts of voluntary manslaughter in the deaths of Malissa Williams and Timothy Russell. In addition, he also found Brelo not guilty on both lesser counts of felonious assault, something he could also rule upon.

Via: WKYC.com

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Cleveland police officer Michael Brelo not guilty

CLEVELAND, Ohio – A judge ruled Saturday morning that Cleveland police officer Michael Brelo is not guilty of two charges of voluntary manslaughter in connection with the Nov. 29, 2012 police chase and shooting that ended in the deaths of two people.

Cuyahoga Common Pleas Judge John P. O'Donnell said that while Brelo did fire lethal shots at Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams, other officers did as well.

O'Donnell also concluded that Brelo was not guilty of the lesser included offense of felonious assault because he was legally justified in his use of deadly force.

Brelo, 31, was one of more than 100 police officers to participate in a 22-minute police chase, and one of 13 who shot at a 1979 Chevy Malibu. 

Via: Cleveland.com

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OHIO MAN ENDURES EVERY LEGAL GUN OWNER’S NIGHTMARE AFTER CALLING POLICE TO REPORT A SHOOTING

An Ohio man will finally get his legally-owned pistol back nine months after police confiscated it following his controversial arrest in February. He was never convicted of any crimes and his arrest occurred after he called police to report a potential crime in progress.

The city of Cleveland reportedly agreed this week to settle the federal lawsuit filed by Derrick Washington over what he says was the illegal seizure of his .38-caliber handgun. Police had refused to return his gun even after a city prosecutor refused to press charges due to a lack of evidence.

shutterstock.com

The ordeal began on Feb. 10 when Washington called 911 to report a possible shooting. At one point during the police investigation, he told the officers that he had a firearm in his car and a valid concealed carry license. According to the police report, officers also claim he told them he had two vodka drinks, a claim Washington’s lawyer denies.

Washington was arrested and accused of using weapons while intoxicated and illegally carrying a concealed weapon. While Washington does have a valid concealed carry license, police say the charge was valid because they claim he failed to inform officers immediately that he had a license to carry a concealed weapon.

Washington’s attorney, J. Gary Seewald told the Plain Dealer that his client told officers about his license as soon as he could.

Police searched his vehicle and hauled Washington to jail, where he remained for three days. When one of the arresting officers contacted the assistant city prosecutor about pursuing the case, the prosecutor said there was not enough evidence and dropped the charges. But even though Washington walked free, police kept his firearm under a city ordinance that allows the department to keep seized weapons until a “court of competent jurisdiction” determines the weapon must be returned.

Via: The Blaze

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Obama’s Cavalier ObamaCare Distraction

Obama Can’t Escape His Keep Your Plan Promise In Cleveland

TODAY, OBAMA PLAYED POLITICS TO SAVE DEMOCRATS AS THEY FACE THE 2014 MIDTERM ELECTION

Obama Made “A Political Decision” Allowing Insurance Companies To Offer ObamaCare Canceled Health Policies. “President Obama announced Thursday that insurance companies can offer health policies canceled under ObamaCare to customers that held them for an additional year. The move could prevent existing plans from being cancelled until after the 2014 midterm elections, a political decision designed to provide relief to Democrats worried the issue could cost them at the polls.” (Elise Viebeck and Justin Sink, “Obama’s Fix: Canceled Plans May Be Offered Until After Midterms,” The Hill’s Health Watch, 11/14/13)

• Americans Are Still At Risk Of Losing Their Health Care Plans. “What the White House is announcing today is, under political pressure, a temporary step back from that policy stance. The Obama administration will allow insurance companies to renew policies that do not meet health law standards through the end of 2014, senior White House officials told reporters on a call this morning.” (Sarah Kliff, “The White House’s ObamaCare Fix Is About To Create A Big Mess,”The Washington Post’s Wonk Blog , 11/14/13)

HOPING THAT THE WORST IS BEHIND HIM, OBAMA WILL PIVOT TO THE ECONOMY TODAY IN CLEVELAND

Instead Of Offering Ohioans An Apology For Losing Their Health Care Plan Today, Obama Will Pivot To The Economy. “There’s a disconnect between those statements, and that could be a problem for President Barack Obama on Thursday. The president will visit the ArcelorMittal steel mill in Cleveland in the afternoon and is expected to not only brag on the mill’s prowess but also use it as a backdrop for discussing post-recession growth. Look for him to promote his economic policies and make a connection between the auto industry rescue, mileage standards that will save fuel and cut emissions, and steel industry developments that should help achieve that goal, with ArcelorMittal at the forefront.” (Stephen Koff, “With ObamaCare Mess Dominating Attention,

Via: GOP.com

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New Rule: Off-Duty Police Officers Better Think Twice Before Deciding to Carry a Gun to Any NFL Game

A new NFL policy reportedly prohibits all law enforcement personnel from carrying their firearms into all NFL stadiums.

Police in Cleveland, Ohio said they received an internal member on September 11 from the NFL that said all off-duty federal, state and local members of law enforcement would not be allowed entry into NFL facilities if they attempt to bring their gun with them,according to Fox affiliate WJW.

An NFL spokesperson did not immediately return multiple requests for comment Sunday.

However, according to Cleveland.com, a spokesman explained that the new policy was implemented after deciding it would best enhance the gameday experience.

A new NFL policy reportedly prohibits off-duty law enforcement personnel from carrying their firearms inside stadiums. (Image source: Shutterstock.com)

The Cleveland Police Patrolman's Association (CPPA) appeared to oppose the new policy, telling WJW officers do not like to disarm themselves.

"A police officer is never happy to give up his service weapon, especially when we have the right to carry it, you know, 24 hours 7 days a week and we're upheld by our oath too to protect and serve the public on or off duty," said Jeff Follmer, president of the CPPA.

"We are police officers 24/7," Follmer added to Cleveland.com. "I don't know why anyone would want to disarm a police officer."

Romney Internal Polling Looks Good

 Mitt Romney is ahead by a single percentage point in Ohio, according to internal polling data provided to MailOnline by a Republican party source.

Internal campaign polling completed last night by campaign pollster Neil Newhouse has Romney three points up in New Hampshire, two points up in Iowa and dead level in Wisconsin and - most startlingly - Pennsylvania.

Internal poll show Romney trailing in Nevada, reflected in a consensus among senior advisers that Obama will probably win the state. Early voting in Nevada has shown very heavy turnout in the Democratic stronghold of Clark County and union organisation in the state is strong.

Romney is to campaign in Cleveland, Ohio and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on election day, reflecting the tightness of the race in Ohio and the tantalising prospect of success in Pennsylvania, which has not gone Republican in a presidential campaign for 24 years.

Nearly all public polling put Obama ahead in Ohio by whisker at least. The RealClearPolitics average of polls there gives the president a 2.8 per cent advantage. But the Romney campaign insists that pollsters have their models wrong and are overestimating Democratic turnout and underestimating Republican enthusiasm.

If the Romney campaign's internal numbers are correct - and nearly all independent pollsters have come up with a picture much more favourable for Obama - then the former Massachusetts governor will almost certainly be elected 45th U.S. President.

The most dramatic shift in the Romney campaign's internal polling has been in Wisconsin, which has moved from being eight points down to pulling level. President Barack Obama is campaigning in the state on the eve of election day.

Despite the Obama campaign's insistence that Romney's late decision to contest Pennsylvania is an act of 'desperation', former President Bill Clinton - Obama's most valuable ally on the stump - is holding four eve-of-election events there.

Via: Daily Caller

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USA Today: Obama 'Revenge' Comment Roils Campaign'

3:08PM EDT November 3. 2012 - CLEVELAND -- The new campaign buzzword: Revenge.

As Republican challenger Mitt Romney makes much of President Obama's comment in a Friday speech that "voting is the best revenge," Obama aides say the comment reflects Romney "scare tactics."

Obama made the comment as part of a familiar speech riff; when audience members boo the mention of Romney's name, the president habitually says, "don't boo -- vote"

On Friday in Springfield, Ohio, Obama added the phrase: "Voting is the best revenge."

Asked about the comment, Obama campaign spokesperson Jen Psaki said Obama made the comment in the context that Romney is "closing his campaign with an ad full of scare tactics that's frightening workers in Ohio and thinking falsely that they're not going to have a job."

On the stump, Romney has said, "vote for love of country, not revenge."

Via: USA Today

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Paul Ryan: How Conservatism Helps the Poor

When it comes to explaining how their policies would help the poor and the disadvantaged, conservatives can all too often be likened to a football team that drives all the way to the one-yard line and then just kneels down. Rock-solid principles and policies drive them forward, but they fail to take that last extra little step and explain how these policies would help all Americans—especially those at the bottom who most need a hand up and a way out.

And because of this, the left’s grotesque claims that capitalism allows the 1 percent to fleece the 99 percent or that conservatism is a ploy to justify government of the rich, by the rich, and for the rich are left standing.

How exciting and invigorating, then, to see a prominent conservative clearly explain how conservative policies sustain the American Dream for all Americans. Yesterday in Cleveland, Representative Paul Ryan (R–WI) delivered one of the best speeches in recent memory that articulated the conservative vision of an America where prosperity and opportunity flourish and the “engines of upward mobility” are on full throttle.

It’s a must-read for those who want to learn how to make a compelling case for conservatism.

Via: The Foundry

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