Sunday Roundup

This week, the results from Iowa demonstrated that, even in the age of social media-powered protests ("convenience fee" this, Verizon!), unlimited money and going negative still pack a potent political punch. These early contests are supposed to be about small-scale retail politics but, post-Citizens United, Romney didn't win by winning over people in diners, he won with a blizzard of negative ads funded by "outside groups." While outside money killed Newt, all the dollars spent by Romney and his allies weren't enough to buy Mitt the caucus-goers' love, as he scraped by with an eight-vote win and a lower percentage of votes than he attracted in 2008. In the aftermath, Bachmann bailed, Perry said he was heading back to Texas -- then abruptly decided to stay in the race, and Santorum became the latest darling of the Not Mitt crowd. Now the unreal reality show, minus its female lead, rolls into New Hampshire.

 

 

 

Follow Arianna Huffington on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ariannahuff

Comments

[Chopin]

09:33 PM on 01/14/2012

(Jan. 14, 2012) Sunday Roundup for Jan. 8, 2012 got 72 comments.
Let's hope Sunday Roundup for Jan. 15, 2012 would get more comments, and more coverage on:--

-- the upward racheting war fever and war-provocative actions like assassination of Iranian scientist, strangulating economic embargo, and banking sanctions on Iran,
-- the S&P sweeping downgrade of almost entire range of European sovereign debt ratings, except for Germany's,
-- and their ramifications on US economy and national security,

-- and less endless coverage on the stultifying "elephants primaries circus".

[pedernales]

09:22 PM on 01/08/2012

ok

[rockerbob0102]

06:50 PM on 01/08/2012

Romney didn't win by winning over people in diners, he won with a blizzard of negative ads funded by "outside groups." Wait till o and his billion bucks show up...negative will be a mild adjective

[HURRICANEPAUL]

08:36 PM on 01/08/2012

Obama's new campaign slogan:

"At least I am not as bad as John McCain".

[Mister Wu]

06:03 PM on 01/08/2012

Mitt will as anything but why he personally should become President of the United States, other than to get a tax break while downsizing America.

[Chopin]

01:57 PM on 01/08/2012

HOW CLOSE US + IRAN TO WAR? (Jan8,2012)

"US finalizes sale $30billion of F15 fighterjets to SaudiArabia" (Dec29,2011):--
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20111229/us-us-saudi-arabia/
http://www.bing.com/search?q=saudi+f-15+sale&FORM=MFESRP&PUBL=RSTEST&CREA=RSTESTMFESRPMSNA1230UF20111230133972

"Thousands of American troops deployed to Israel" (Jan5,2012):--
http://rt.com/usa/news/us-troops-israel-iran-257/
"Iranian officials believe that this is latest most blatant warning that US will soon be attacking Tehran."
Why thousands of US troops in Israel?
"IDF will begin working from base in Germany."
Why Israeli troops in Germany?

"Iran holds naval exercise near HormuzStrait" (Jan3,2012):--
http://search.huffingtonpost.com/search?o_q=Iranian+naval+exercise&s_it=topsearchbox.search&q=Iranian+naval+exercise+in+strait+of+hormuz

"Iran: HormuzStrait Maneuvers Planned For February" (Jan6, 2012 ReutersNews):--
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/06/iran-hormuz-strait_n_1189222.html

WAR SCENARIO:--
Millions die.
US + Iran war imminent to lessthan 6-12months away ?
War on Iran another neocon "cakewalk" ? Missiles exact shocking toll.
HormuzStrait blockaded + closed to tankers, tanker insurance skyrocket to prohibitive ?
Crude oil $150-$250/barrel? gasoline $8-$15/gallon? During 1970's oil crisis, oil price QUADRUPLED.
Iran infrastructure destroyed, large regions radioactive.
USDollar crashes? Debtladen Euro crashes?
Oil pricing severed from USDollar? Resultant Dollar devaluation, hyperinflation ?
Stockmarkets drop 1,000points first day, 2,000points within week, drop 4,000points within month ?
401K's, pension funds wiped out.
Treasury bonds crash, interest rates skyrocket ?
Unemployement?
Urban unrests, riots, NDAA roundup begins.

GUARANTEED UNPREDICTABLE DISASTROUS OUTCOME !

[muck-raker]

08:25 PM on 01/08/2012

Chopin although I see everything just like you and on one hand I see much posturing by all THREE SIDES....USA, Iran * ISRAEL...lots of threats, bluster which spread FEAR as we now see. Most people will calculate that Israel will in the end create a situation whereby the USA will take the lead while Israel sits backs and watches. Because it is an election year I think this will just fester for quite awhile longer. In the meantime gasoline will rise. I can not see any further than this unless we have another interested partner that decides to rattle their sabers as well notably, China, Russia are the wild cards here...I would not be surprised if talks were TAKING PLACE now. PEACE, talk more later in week

[Chopin]

09:17 PM on 01/08/2012

Thanks for your comment.

As you said, there's doubtless lots of saber-rattling posturing, from all sides.
BUT,
1)one significant "time-tested" historical signal of imminent or unavoidable war-preparation -- troop mobilization. In last century, WW1 + WW2 were preceded by massive national troop mobilizations, the last step before launching attacks or anticipating attacks. Past major wars were preceded by calling up and deploying troops in hundreds of thousands to millions, in divisions and armies. Contemporary wars are now more mechanized than troop-intensive, thereby explaining why only thousands of US troops were observed to be deployed in Israel, and Israeli IDF deployed in Germany. What on earth are they doing there, if not preparing for missile defense, logistics, etc.?

2)Iranian interpretation of overt war preparation isn't clearly known, but canbe guessed. Rational fear is when Iranian leaders interpreting signs, finally decide war is coming + unavoidable. They'd be tempted to strike preemptively for maximum initial advantage. Same applies to US + Israeli perspectives. BarbaraTuchman wrote eminently about final inevitability of WW1 precipitated by long series of multilateral miscalculations. Similar international dynamics might apply now.

China already is making bargain deals for Iranian oil. If war starts, suppose by necessity China sends tankers through HormuzStrait, what happens to US fleetcommand? Shoot?

Most people assume political year wouldn't start war. That's normal assumption. But it's abnormal world predicament. There's overwhelming mutual suspicions + psychological factor of "wagthedog" war. If either Obama's pollratings drop in summer2012, or Iranian (March)election outcome is politically precarious, what happens?

[muck-raker]

08:32 PM on 01/08/2012

here is one other thing....the USA does not get any OIL from Iran as it is of the heavy sour grade that the USA can not refine although I now understand that the Saudi-Aramco-Shell refinery in Port Arthur, Texas is now handling some oil shale which is in that category.. but we must consider that any oil that is taken off the market will shrink the basket that China and India are now drawing from..we shall see. MR

[Chopin]

10:43 PM on 01/08/2012

Looking at the bigger picture, China has no rational reasons nor known interests + incentives to torpedo Iran's government and nation when war breaks out. On contrary, on outbreak of total war, Iran will lose any remaining inhibitions to convert its oil pricing from USDollar to alternate new world currency, by necessity (i.e., Chinese Yuan) Euro will be wobbly at best, nosedive at worst. China cannot afford to and will not let its own domestic economy (as contrasted with export economy) starve of oil and stall, because of threat to internal stability of government under great economic stress.

Therefore, China and Iran will see mutual advantage to take a risky bold move on the international political stage and global financial markets -- mount frontal challenge to exclusive enduring dominance of USDollar as world reserve currency, because of war obliterating last vestige of fears and reservations on frontal challenge.

Every observant thinking person knows Saudi Arabia is firmly in the grip of US imperial orbit. $30 billion F-15 fighter jets sale to SA in January 2012 is objective confirmation of that fact. Chinese leaders would be abject fools to rely on Saudi promises or "guarantees" of oil supply in wartime.

[juanftl]

01:29 PM on 01/08/2012

AH ends with "unreal reality show" THAT I believe is a pretty good testament of politics in this country. For the next 10 months we the consumers ie Voters will have to be subjected to PAC sponsored garbage to that the GOP can muster; because lets face it; they could care less about the shrinking middle class. It's all about the OLIGARCHY continuing to own over 80% of the wlth. Have you noticed these clowns do not not even mention the BUSH DYNASTY...No they have to channel Reagan the one who's the true the Supply-sider who actually raised taxes 11 TIMES!

[rusty apache]

05:35 PM on 01/08/2012

They only mention Bush to say that he wasn't the one that wrecked the global economy all by himself!

[progressiveconnie]

12:35 PM on 01/08/2012

GOOD MORNING!!! MY FELLOW HOMO SAPIENS WHICH MEANS THE SPECIES WHO IS WISE.
Those so called law and order Republicans oversaw the most corrupt, lawless government in human history under Bush and Cheney and these Republicans in the judicial and legislative branches of the U.S. Government refused to stop or investigate or prosecute those criminals involved in the most serious crimes anyone can commit so one can only conclude that these Republicans are HYPOCRITES!!! and the U.S. Government's checks and balances no longer exist.

[MrOnePercent2012]

01:46 PM on 01/08/2012

I agree on Bush and Cheney but Holder and Obama are doing no better.

[diaz9009]

02:34 PM on 01/08/2012

First comes the awareness of the magnitude of such problems, next is the need for solutions. The US government is occupied by the self-serving. In my opinion, it will take a revolution by the people to make it once again for the people. Messy for sure, but what options are left to populations controlled by tyrants?

[Don Stalvino]

12:25 PM on 01/08/2012

Unlimited money doesn't exist. We should have elected Hillary, she could get things done.

[danceswithtrees]

01:07 PM on 01/08/2012

We can fix this in November. vote for Romney.

[contrarymorebytheday]

01:26 PM on 01/08/2012

Amen

[Countess]

12:23 PM on 01/08/2012

The only thing that Iowa proved was how corrupt and money driven politics is and how unpopular the likely republican winner is within his own party. The establishment of the GOP and the media have been pushing Romney from the beginning but most conservatives are still not buying it and only the weakness and division of his opponents is enabling Romney to remain on top.

[contrarymorebytheday]

01:31 PM on 01/08/2012

BushCheney was shoved down our throats by the likes of -fill in the blank-conservative talk radio leading up to the 2000 elections. The status quo is now the Mitt show.

When we will learn?

[elbeas]

06:10 PM on 01/08/2012

We'll know in November.

[Trydecency]

11:20 AM on 01/08/2012

Wouldn't it be wonderful if the Huffington Post posted the following announcement: "The Huffington Post has decided to stop covering the Republican primary, except for a briefly weekly summary, because the outcome of that primary really will make no difference whatsoever in American politics or the lives of most Americans. The conservative establishment will nominate whoever it wants. Meanwhile, the Huffington Post will continue to provide a wide variety of opinions on politics and other issues." If HuffPost did this and other media outlets followed suit, the American media would be on the road to regaining their credibility. Unfortunately, none of this is likely to happen and America's bizarre pseudo-democracy will carry on as usual.

[Pubdestroyer]

11:29 AM on 01/08/2012

The biggest problem with that suggestions is that the MSM (and HuffPost) would never even consider it. There's money to be made in advertising while showing this Mini Cooper full of clowns.

[LewisWalsh]

01:00 PM on 01/08/2012

"Pseudo-democracy", great, that about says it all in just two words. By no stretch of the imagination does the US fit the description of democracy. Currently it is RULE BY ECONOMIC POWER - it is factual oligarchical fascist rule. DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY RULE has been absent from the scene for some time. Perhaps citizen imposed term limits can help weaken the stranglehold the oligarchs now have on us.

http://signon.org/sign/citizen-imposed-congressiona?source=c.fwd&r_by=462982

[MrOnePercent2012]

01:52 PM on 01/08/2012

I kind of like the way it's ruled right now.

[MrOnePercent2012]

10:26 AM on 01/08/2012

I love Citizens United.

[Trydecency]

11:25 AM on 01/08/2012

Then you would have love the Gilded Age. There's nothing like the sound of cops bashing the skulls of workers who refuse to pack tainted meat.

[JohnnieBravo]

10:11 AM on 01/08/2012

Roberts Court and his 4 "non elected "puupets of big business got a strong message from the ultra conservative court of Montana openly rejecting their ruling on Citizens Uninted. Finally, a respected body in our judicial system flatly points out that these bought and paid for justices know nothing about justice, nor do they interpret the constitution correctly.

if ever there was a case for activist judges it's the Roberts Court. History will judge this time and the Supreme Court as when big business finally secured all 3 branches of our gov't that no longer is for the people and by the people.

[LewisWalsh]

01:02 PM on 01/08/2012

Perhaps citizens imposed term limits can help:

http://signon.org/sign/citizen-imposed-congressiona?source=c.fwd&r_by=462982

[juanftl]

01:40 PM on 01/08/2012

Right on JohnieBravo but have you noticed I have not really heard much from the righties calling the Montana Supreme court judges ACTIVISTS?

[PunisherWarJournal]

09:38 AM on 01/08/2012

I understand that this is a corporate-controlled liberal blog, but ENOUGH with the censorship!

[vinteasel]

12:38 PM on 01/08/2012

You keep up specific camps to keep up the political animosity.
Remember, only one political ideology is CORRECT.... and that's their political ideology.

[ntmessage]

09:18 AM on 01/08/2012

The negative money works when there is a weakness that is genuine and not made up rhetoric. Gingrich was and still is trying to run as an outsider from the “establishment” hoping that no one would notice that he has spent most of his life in and around politics and Washington. The people are against inside Washington and anything establishment. Those that drove us to $15 trillion in debt and have grown government to the largest size ever. Yet all the same problems persist and the results abysmal across the board. This started at the last election and will again paint the upcoming one, as genuine anti-establishment negative money working against those that got us here. I mean, there is a lot of material. And it is true.

[themodernleader]

09:01 AM on 01/08/2012

Of that entire debate there was only one or perhaps two ideas taht had any relevance to reality. All the other ideas were associated with the fanatical visions of various sects and ideologies. The more schooled and diploma-degree driven Americans become the more distracted we become with the values and goals of fantasy, withdrawal and final solutions. The actual problems are never addressed and are commonly denied or rationalize as a natural phenomena that, if ignored, will go away by itself. The nation is split into two self-interested parties. The leaders of neither party have the national interests as their interests. Greed, hubris, and hunger for privilege and power drive our leaders of both parties