# Politics & Elections **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/politics-elections/22.md?page=290 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 291 --- ## [Was Obama drugged?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-obama-drugged/637370)
**Author:** [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [October 16, 2012, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-obama-drugged/637370 "2012-10-16T00:25:54Z")
I didn’t see this discussed in another thread. If it has been, please close this. About 5 minutes into the first Obama/Romney debate, my partner asked “Is he on drugs?” We both agreed that it sure looked like he was, an… --- ## [The first presidential debate...did it change your mind?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-did-it-change-your-mind/636793)
**Author:** [@monavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monavis)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [October 15, 2012, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-did-it-change-your-mind/636793 "2012-10-15T23:00:41Z")
Although I feel that Romney did make his points in the debate, and did a good job of it he still doesn’t get my vote. I wondered if any of the dopers changed their minds. I feel talk is cheap. and wonder what sort of mi… --- ## [Obama gets elected, but Romney beats him in the popular vote - what happens?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-gets-elected-but-romney-beats-him-in-the-popular-vote-what-happens/637551)
**Author:** [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Replies:** 66\ **Last updated:** [October 15, 2012, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-gets-elected-but-romney-beats-him-in-the-popular-vote-what-happens/637551 "2012-10-15T22:28:16Z")
I’m in the “I don’t see how Obama can’t get at least 270 electoral votes” camp, but I’m not as convinced that Romney can’t squeak out a popular vote “victory.” How would the Republicans handle it? I can see Romney maki… --- ## [Why Joey is "special" \[Joe Biden and abortion\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-joey-is-special-joe-biden-and-abortion/637596)
**Author:** [@A\_nice\_guy\_with\_an\_opinion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_nice_guy_with_an_opinion)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [October 15, 2012, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-joey-is-special-joe-biden-and-abortion/637596 "2012-10-15T21:25:43Z")
He has “evolved” just like his Super Friend, Barry… http://www.nrlc.org/ObamaAbortionAgenda/BidenProofVoteForHatchAmendToOverturnRoe.pdf --- ## [Am I the only person bewildered to learn that somebody won that debate?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-person-bewildered-to-learn-that-somebody-won-that-debate/636828)
**Author:** [@spazurek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spazurek)\ **Replies:** 80\ **Last updated:** [October 15, 2012, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-person-bewildered-to-learn-that-somebody-won-that-debate/636828 "2012-10-15T20:17:22Z")
Being irresponsible and lazy, I’m not prepared to read the 12±page debate thread. But I need a sanity check. I watched the debate on Wednesday and I was disappointed by what a non-event it was; both candidates repeated t… --- ## [What if McCain had won?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-mccain-had-won/637583)
**Author:** [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [October 15, 2012, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-mccain-had-won/637583 "2012-10-15T05:23:32Z")
Assume the 2008 election had gone the other way. McCain and Palin got the 52.9% of the popular vote and the 365 electoral votes and beat Obama and Biden. Who do you think the Democratic challenger would be in this elect… --- ## [Vice Presidential Debate Thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-presidential-debate-thread/636999)
**Author:** [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Replies:** 532\ **Last updated:** [October 15, 2012, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-presidential-debate-thread/636999 "2012-10-15T02:52:53Z")
Thursday, October 11, 2012, 8:00pm–9:30pm CT (9pm EST) This one will be interesting. Biden is a decent speaker, but will he tell the truth? Will he stumble or even firmly chew on both of his feet at the same time? Wi… --- ## [Romney: No New Abortion Legislation If Elected](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-no-new-abortion-legislation-if-elected/637277)
**Author:** [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Replies:** 90\ **Last updated:** [October 14, 2012, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-no-new-abortion-legislation-if-elected/637277 "2012-10-14T05:32:48Z")
http://news.yahoo.com/romney-promises-no-abortion-legislation-004508435–election.html Unfortunate news, and I doubt it will do Governor Romney much political good either. --- ## [Romney's stated Plan or lack there of?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romneys-stated-plan-or-lack-there-of/637486)
**Author:** [@mac9891](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mac9891)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2012, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romneys-stated-plan-or-lack-there-of/637486 "2012-10-13T21:54:51Z")
So he says a lot like he is pro-life, he will repeal obama care, and he will balance the budget and give tax cuts? And thats about as far as his plan will ever go? How do people say ya he’s my guy when he says nothing… --- ## [Undecided voters: collecting info or uninformed?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/undecided-voters-collecting-info-or-uninformed/637519)
**Author:** [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2012, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/undecided-voters-collecting-info-or-uninformed/637519 "2012-10-13T20:28:30Z")
Is there a breakdown of what percentage of voters are undecided because they haven’t been following the campaign as opposed to those who have been but are waiting until close to the election to decide who they support? A… --- ## [Blah Blah...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blah-blah/637574)
**Author:** [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2012, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blah-blah/637574 "2012-10-13T00:37:49Z")
Incendiary opinion obliquely threatening the basic civil rights of a minority group. --- ## [Very funny lip-reading of the first Presidential debate](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-funny-lip-reading-of-the-first-presidential-debate/637549)
**Author:** [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 12, 2012, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-funny-lip-reading-of-the-first-presidential-debate/637549 "2012-10-12T19:37:52Z")
Very odd but very funny - from some parallel political universe: --- ## [Romney Says He Was Wrong About The 47%](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-says-he-was-wrong-about-the-47/636822)
**Author:** [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [October 12, 2012, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-says-he-was-wrong-about-the-47/636822 "2012-10-12T17:14:02Z")
The day after the debate, Romney now disavows his 47% claim. Boy, I bet Mitt was pissed Obama never brought it up, so that he could have used this opportunity to spin that statement. Despite the outcry from fellow Demo… --- ## [Asking the campaigns about policy positions](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-the-campaigns-about-policy-positions/637470)
**Author:** [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [October 12, 2012, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-the-campaigns-about-policy-positions/637470 "2012-10-12T09:26:07Z")
So far I’m at zero-for-one. The Romney campaign website has a number of webforms that can be used to contact the campaign, including this one: “Policy Information Get more information about Governor Romney’s stance on… --- ## [Jack Welch: pure projection?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-welch-pure-projection/636936)
**Author:** [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Replies:** 71\ **Last updated:** [October 11, 2012, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-welch-pure-projection/636936 "2012-10-11T18:31:34Z")
LINK I’m sure you’ve seen or heard about the former GE head charging that Obama influenced the Department of Labor to produce the 7.8% UE figure to help him win the election. When asked, he said he’d stand by his accusa… --- ## [Romney's Foreign Policy Speech 10-08-2012](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romneys-foreign-policy-speech-10-08-2012/637156)
**Author:** [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Replies:** 60\ **Last updated:** [October 11, 2012, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romneys-foreign-policy-speech-10-08-2012/637156 "2012-10-11T17:16:58Z")
No discussion of his latest lies and irresponsible bluster? Shall we let The American Conservative get us started? Romney’s Foreign-Policy Speech: More War, Bigger Budgets "Mitt Romney’s speech at VMI today confirmed … --- ## [Is Ohio back in play for Romney or not?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ohio-back-in-play-for-romney-or-not/637117)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [October 11, 2012, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ohio-back-in-play-for-romney-or-not/637117 "2012-10-11T15:33:03Z")
Or do we not know? Because I’ve seen a claim that this is so, and if so, wouldn’t it be a really huge swing for Romney, if my recollection of previous numbers is accurate? (In addition to Virginia, as part of a general… --- ## [Pelosi thinks that Democrats might take back the house](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pelosi-thinks-that-democrats-might-take-back-the-house/636045)
**Author:** [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Replies:** 71\ **Last updated:** [October 11, 2012, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pelosi-thinks-that-democrats-might-take-back-the-house/636045 "2012-10-11T02:55:43Z")
Is this a real possibility or is this evidence of overconfidence. --- ## [liberal media now?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberal-media-now/636712)
**Author:** [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Replies:** 66\ **Last updated:** [October 10, 2012, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberal-media-now/636712 "2012-10-10T21:40:48Z")
I don’t hear any righties complaining about the liberal media bias this morning. How come? Did the media suddenly acquire fairness? Or did the Republicans finally have a good night? --- ## [Administration urges defense employers to break the law](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/administration-urges-defense-employers-to-break-the-law/636365)
**Author:** [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Replies:** 89\ **Last updated:** [October 10, 2012, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/administration-urges-defense-employers-to-break-the-law/636365 "2012-10-10T20:04:38Z")
Actually, they’d already told them to break the law, but now they are offering to compensate businesses if they get sued for breaking the law. \*\*The Obama administration issued new guidance intended for defense contra… --- ## [Would Mitt be willing to be excumunicated from his church if it conflicted with his job as President](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-mitt-be-willing-to-be-excumunicated-from-his-church-if-it-conflicted-with-his-job-as-president/637191)
**Author:** [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [October 10, 2012, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-mitt-be-willing-to-be-excumunicated-from-his-church-if-it-conflicted-with-his-job-as-president/637191 "2012-10-10T19:35:12Z")
? \<–Heh, ran out of room. Title says it all. And I know anything said is pure speculation, but what do you guys think? --- ## [If Romney loses, does he run again in 2016?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-romney-loses-does-he-run-again-in-2016/637042)
**Author:** [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [October 10, 2012, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-romney-loses-does-he-run-again-in-2016/637042 "2012-10-10T18:23:47Z")
Title says it all. I think the answer is 100% absolutely YES he does. The questions we cannot answer/can only speculate about would be what the national party looks like, how he is thought of for losing this election, … --- ## [How strong was Obama's position before the debate?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strong-was-obamas-position-before-the-debate/637221)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [October 10, 2012, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strong-was-obamas-position-before-the-debate/637221 "2012-10-10T15:36:13Z")
One of the key points despairing liberals make is that, in their view, Obama had the election sewn up before the debate: Mitt Romney was a laughingstock, and his support amongst his own party was weak and dispirited. Th… --- ## [post-debate polls:](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-debate-polls/637115)
**Author:** [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [October 9, 2012, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-debate-polls/637115 "2012-10-09T21:15:41Z")
So … the conventional wisdom is that a party’s convention gives their respective candidate a “bounce” in the polls which fades over time. What about improvement in the polls following a strong debate performance? Do we e… --- ## [Will Republicans go the way of the Whig Party?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-republicans-go-the-way-of-the-whig-party/636460)
**Author:** [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [October 9, 2012, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-republicans-go-the-way-of-the-whig-party/636460 "2012-10-09T17:02:14Z")
I have no formal training in matters of history outside of a public school education that ended with a High School diploma. So it is quite possible that I am missing some nuance and would welcome those more learned than… --- ## [Who will Run/Win in 2016?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-run-win-in-2016/637107)
**Author:** [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [October 9, 2012, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-run-win-in-2016/637107 "2012-10-09T01:30:48Z")
Quick, before the 2012 election is over, let’s get in some embarrassing predictions for who will be the candidates for 2016 and who will win, and why. I think Obama stands a slight edge for winning in 2012. I think his … --- ## [Wow. A Blue Virginia really really SUCKS for the GOP.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-a-blue-virginia-really-really-sucks-for-the-gop/636927)
**Author:** [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [October 8, 2012, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-a-blue-virginia-really-really-sucks-for-the-gop/636927 "2012-10-08T23:57:02Z")
This is really just MPISMS post, but it’s about Electoral Math so I’m in the Elections forum. Please forgive the lack of thoughtful content, if this forum didn’t exist I’d have put it in the forum dedicated to lack of th… --- ## [Effect of the Presidential race/debate on downticket races?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-the-presidential-race-debate-on-downticket-races/637139)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [October 8, 2012, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-the-presidential-race-debate-on-downticket-races/637139 "2012-10-08T22:21:22Z")
One concern I’ve seen from liberal/Democratic commenters on blogs is that Republicans have been energized by Mitt Romney’s debate performance, going from “critical to cheerleaders” overnight, and that would cause them to… --- ## [ACA vs. "Obamacare"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aca-vs-obamacare/636681)
**Author:** [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [October 8, 2012, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aca-vs-obamacare/636681 "2012-10-08T17:59:27Z")
We’ve had plenty of threads about the merits of the Affordable Care Act, and about its constitutionality, its wisdom, its costs, and its morality. This thread (hopefuily) is limited to its nomenclature. At least one th… --- ## [Could this be an explanation for poll bounces that come back down?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-be-an-explanation-for-poll-bounces-that-come-back-down/637106)
**Author:** [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [October 8, 2012, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-be-an-explanation-for-poll-bounces-that-come-back-down/637106 "2012-10-08T17:33:37Z")
I’ve always found it intuitively a little odd that after a positive event for one side in a political race the poll numbers will bounce up and then, usually, come back down pretty close to where they were before. Since … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/politics-elections/22.md?page=289) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/politics-elections/22.md?page=291)