Finally It Is Over

The Presidential campaign officially began in June, 2011 in New Hampshire when Mitt Romney announced his intention to run for the Presidency. But he began to formulate his campaign two years before in 2009.  After a “couple of Cadillacs,” a summer belly-flop abroad, a dismissive swipe at 47 percent of the population and a convention disaster. Mitt Romney is seemingly tied with President Obama. He has a real chance to become President.

The President due to the economy and the fact that he is not the candidate, or politician, he’s cracked up to be, has provided Mitt Romney an opportunity to win this election. I do not buy the economy stupid reason for the close election. Many Americans understand that he does not bear primary responsibility for the high rate of unemployment and the drops in home prices and incomes. In fact, many Americans think the economy is getting better, slowly but progressing.

Race, “Super PACs”, the horrid Republican primary season, Richard Mourdock, all have played some role in making this election close but the primary reason is President Obama himself. The ways he has disappointed, confused and alienated some of the voters who warmed and even thrilled to him four years ago. During his first term, he at times misjudged and mishandled his Republican opposition. He repeatedly failed to sell his policies clearly and forcefully enough. The days of the great speeches are few and far between. His aloofness has even turned off his own Democratic base.

BUT, we still think he will win a second term. Because President Obama is a seriously intelligent, thoughtful leader more in tune and in touch with Americans’ lives than his sheltered opponent, this has been especially noted with the recent Hurricane Sandy response by his Administration. Though his campaign has been dull, he still has fight and, we believe, knows what is right for all Americans.

All these shortcomings that he would carry with him into a second term, President Obama would be wise to address quickly.

"President Obama: Things You Don't Know About Me: Barack Obama, 51, loves 'Homeland,' works out to Stevie Wonder - and dreads the day Malia goes to prom !": "I'm left-handed. I've never missed a parent-teacher conference since becoming president. Apples are my favorite healthy snack. I always have a bowl of them in the Oval Office.  Malia  and I read all of the Harry Potter books tighter.  My first car was my grandfather's car, a 1970s Ford Granada.  When I work out, I like to listen to Jay-Z, Stevie Wonder and the Rolling Stones on my iPod.  Malia entered high school this year. I'm not looking forward to when she's old enough to go to prom.”

--IF ROMNEY LOSES ... "For Republicans, the only thing harder than losing ... might be explaining it. By any reasonable standard, Obama is a seriously vulnerable incumbent: a president overseeing a limping economy, whose party got thumped in the 2010 midterm elections, and whose signature accomplishment of health care reform is highly controversial. ... Here's a POLITICO preview of the top arguments Republicans would use to explain and excuse it: 1) Mitt Romney was a historically bad candidate: If Romney wins on Tuesday, he'll be president of the United States. If he loses, he'll be the fall guy for the entire Republican Party. Republicans weren't overjoyed about nominating Romney in the first place ... Romney has validated many of those fears ... In a campaign still shadowed by the meltdown of the financial services industry, the GOP picked a candidate as close to Wall Street as any in history. ...

--IF OBAMA LOSES ... "It would be a traumatic experience: the death of the dream of liberal realignment embodied in Obama's insurgent 2008 campaign. ... Unlike Republicans, many of whom have no particular love for their nominee, Democrats admire and sympathize with the president, understanding he came into office at a difficult time. If Obama were to lose, Democrats would suddenly be leaderless for the first time in half a decade and would be forced to confront agonizing questions about the viability of their party's agenda - health care reform, most of all. ... 1) Obama threw it away in Denver ... 2) The Bush economy killed him ... 3) It was the second-term vision thing ... Obama's team expected the country to bounce back from the 2008 meltdown far faster than this. Since the V-shaped recession they anticipated failed to materialize, Obama has often seemed at a loss for new ideas and arguments about improving the economy. ... 4) Citizens United, the super PACs and the Koch Brothers did it ... 5) He lost for a noble cause: national health care ... 6) It all comes back to race."

BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK – Birthday wishes and thoughts this week to: David Kung … famous Professor, Linda Gordon …famous scholar, Demi Moore (50), Patti Page (85), David Petraeus (60), Johnny Rivers (70), Maria Shriver (57), Bill Walton (60)

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PICK OF THE WEEK – Saturday 11/10, 3:00 PM ET, Fox; #11 ranked Oregon State Beavers (7-1) visit #14 ranked Stanford Cardinal (7-2). In this battle to keep up with The Ducks in the Pac 12 North, The Cardinal will rule the roost – Stanford 35 OSU 28.  Season to date (6-4)

SMALL COLLEGE FOOTBALL PICK OF THE WEEK – Saturday 11/10, 12:00 PM ET, Cartoon Channel; a Central New York traditional rivalry – Ithaca College Bombers (6-3) @ #20 ranked Cortland State Red Dragons (8-1). This Route 13 classic will have the Red Dragons prevail 32 Ithaca 14. Season to date (9-1)

NFL FOOTBALL PICK OF THE WEEK – Sunday 11/11, 5:15 PM ET, NBC; Houston Texans (7-1) at Chicago Bears (7-1). Two possible Super Bowl teams square off in Soldiers Field. Chicago 24 Houston 10.   Season to date (6-3)

THE SWAMI’S TOP PICKS – Stanford 35 Oregon State 28, Cortland State 32 Ithaca 14, The Bears 24 Houston 10, President Obama 52% Governor Romney 48%.  Season to date (26-13)

A BRUNCH ESCAPE – Want a nice escape for brunch? Try Las Brisas in Laguna Beach, California. This legendary Mexican seafood restaurant overlooks the Pacific and the Laguna Beach coastline. In operation since 1938, originally the Victor Hugo Inn, in 1979 it became Las Brisas. Their four course brunch is pricey but outstanding, wonderful seafood and Mexican dishes. After lunch go for a walk along the beach walk, work up a thirst and return to sip on margaritas outside on the patio.

A Rink Rats rating of 1 – 10 with 10 being excellent, we give Las Brisas an 8. Also a great place for people watching, especially the Orange County housewives during the afternoon.

Las Brisas: 361 Cliff Drive, Laguna Beach, CA. 949-497-5434 www.lasbrisaslagundabeach.com/location.html

DRIVING THE WEEK - Obviously there is only one game in town and it takes place tomorrow: Election Day 2012. The likelihood of a drawn-out recount process hinges mainly on Ohio and its 18 electoral votes. If the Buckeye State is within 0.25 percent, a recount is automatic. And candidates can request recounts if the difference is larger. Florida is again a recount possibility, given Romney's narrowing margin. And a handful of other states could also wind up with razor-thin margins, possibly turning Election Day into Election Week or even Election Month. Hopefully, for everyone's sanity, this will not occur. But it certainly could.

Final hectic campaign day today includes Romney visiting Florida and Virginia followed by the final rally of the campaign in Manchester, New Hampshire with Kid Rock at 11 p.m. ... President Obama is in Madison, Wis., Columbus, Ohio, and Des Moines Iowa. All events feature Bruce Springsteen and the Columbus stop also features Jay-Z.

Big econ data this week include ISM non-manufacturing today at 10 a.m. EST, which is expected to dip to 54.5 from 55.1 ... Consumer credit at 3 p.m. EST on Wednesday expected to rise by $10.3 billion ... Reuters/University of Michigan consumer sentiment at 9:55 a.m. EST on Friday expected to rise to 82.9 from 82.6.

VOTE – “Our future may lie beyond our vision, but it is not completely out of our control.”  Robert F. Kennedy

Next week; Dear Rink Rats and fall gardening.

Until Next Monday, Adios.

Claremont, CA

November 5, 2012

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