# Whence Obama's "Desperation" ? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [August 27, 2012, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-obamas-desperation/632825 "2012-08-27T15:00:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/848f3c/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_Dunlop)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-obamas-desperation/632825/41 "2012-08-29T16:54:59Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > How’s the strategy working so far? > > Obama +1.0 > > [2012 General Election: Romney vs. Obama | RealClearPolling](http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/us/general_election_romney_vs_obama-1171.html) > > How much did they spend on negative ads again, while Romney built up a warchest? When one candidate has polled ahead consistently the entire campaign and currently polls 1.6 points ahead on an average of 16 polls released this week, right after his opponent’s vice presidential pick bump, there’s definitely a desperate loser in the race… it’s just not the candidate you think it is. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-obamas-desperation/632825/42 "2012-08-29T19:28:47Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > And the Pubbies absolutely _have_ to have them, if they bail, its all over. +1 You think the Base is holding its nose voting for Romeny? Romeny is holding his nose sucking up to the base (well not really, but if he had any integrity he would be). ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-obamas-desperation/632825/43 "2012-08-30T02:52:40Z")
> [@Disgruntled\_Penguin](#): > > Vote Romney in 2012. He meets the minimum threshold of acceptability to win! No he doesn’t. The minimum threshold of acceptability for President is to not be a Republican. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-obamas-desperation/632825/44 "2012-08-30T03:10:48Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > How’s the strategy working so far? > > Obama +1.0 > > [2012 General Election: Romney vs. Obama | RealClearPolling](http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/us/general_election_romney_vs_obama-1171.html) > > How much did they spend on negative ads again, while Romney built up a warchest? Just wanted to point out that Nate Silver has Obama’s chances of winning back up to over 70%, and his electoral college count back up to over 300. You used to endorse [538.com](http://538.com). So, I’d say it’s working pretty well. Keep pickin’ those cherries! ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-obamas-desperation/632825/45 "2012-08-30T06:10:02Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > How much did they spend on negative ads again, while Romney built up a warchest? Was that chest build up with money that [del]investors[/del] some rich voters expect to see it grow and then they will deposit it outside the USA helped by an administration that will offer less oversight on moves like that? > **[Romney Party Yacht Flies Cayman Islands Flag](https://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/romney-party-yacht-flies-cayman-islands-flag/story?id=17105028#.UD8C0qBoztA)** > > Gov. Mitt Romney's campaign toasted its top donors Wednesday aboard a 150-foot yacht flying the flag of the Cayman Islands. The exclusive event, hosted by a Florida developer on his yacht "Cracker Bay," was one of a dozen exclusive events meant to... > [@](#): > > Gov. Mitt Romney’s campaign toasted its top donors Wednesday aboard a 150-foot yacht flying the flag of the Cayman Islands. > > The floating party, hosted by a Florida developer on his yacht “Cracker Bay,” was one of a dozen exclusive events meant to nurture those who have raised more than $1 million for Romney’s bid. > > “I think it’s ironic they do this aboard a yacht that doesn’t even pay its taxes,” said a woman who lives aboard a much smaller boat moored at the St. Petersburg Municipal Marina. > > Romney’s Cayman-based investments have come under fire during the campaign. > > The event, attended by no more than 50 people, along with Romney relatives, including older brother Scott, appeared on no public calendars. ABC News obtained a schedule of the Romney campaign’s “Victory Council” and waited dockside to speak with members. > > “It was a really nice event. These are good supporters,” said billionaire Wilbur Ross, an energy industry executive. ---
**Author:** ![Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disgruntled_Penguin)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-obamas-desperation/632825/46 "2012-08-30T07:57:08Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > No he doesn’t. The minimum threshold of acceptability for President is to not be a Republican. I think that due to the fact that my post was written caused you to miss the tone in which I presented that statement. It was not a ringing endorsement of Mr Romney rather a bemused comment on the bar that his own base apparently accepts for him. Of course, I could have simply missed the tone of your reply and you’re just playing along. Who knows? ---
**Author:** ![gamerunknown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6bbea6/32.png) [@gamerunknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gamerunknown)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-obamas-desperation/632825/47 "2012-08-30T08:14:41Z")
> [@Sea Dweller](#): > > I think it’s ironic they do this aboard a yacht that doesn’t even pay its taxes Ironic? Also, I’m surprised. No mention of the donor’s position on global warming? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-obamas-desperation/632825/48 "2012-08-31T03:53:25Z")
> [@Disgruntled\_Penguin](#): > > Vote Romney in 2012. He meets the minimum threshold of acceptability to win! > [@kaylasdad99](#): > > No he doesn’t. The minimum threshold of acceptability for President is to not be a Republican. > [@Disgruntled\_Penguin](#): > > I think that due to the fact that my post was written caused you to miss the tone in which I presented that statement. It was not a ringing endorsement of Mr Romney rather a bemused comment on the bar that his own base apparently accepts for him. > > Of course, I could have simply missed the tone of your reply and you’re just playing along. Who knows? No worries, I got your tone, and appreciated the implications. I’ve just been getting a little cranky about all the election coverage lately, with EVERYBODY ignoring the elephant in the room\* that is the fact of the unsuitability of any Republican ever again sitting in the White House. \*(you should pardon the expression) ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-obamas-desperation/632825/49 "2012-08-31T11:06:09Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > Your thesis is that Obama is desperate and your evidence is that he’s…winning? And has been ahead since last November? And that it’s a bad thing that Obama spent a ton of money defining Romney while Romney hasn’t been able to really land a hit on Obama. Not to mention that all the Romney ads are full of lies. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-obamas-desperation/632825/50 "2012-08-31T11:23:42Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > You should ask questions, but the biggest issue is an incumbent when one is up for reelection. The challenger only needs to meet a minimum threshold of acceptability to win most of the time and Romney should easily meet the threshold. I think Obama’s team knows he meets that threshold, and further they know they can’t win on their record. So it’s all about tearing Romney down. Practicing the very politics Obama condemned in 2008. This is false on two fronts: 1. The challenger doesn’t win most of the time - usually the incumbent wins. 2. The incumbent is a known quantity. It’s up to the challenger to prove he would be better than the current office holder. That pretty much makes it a referendum on the challenger: “Is he better than what we have?” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-obamas-desperation/632825.md?page=2)