Free Republic

Mr. Romney, There is one important point you are failing to make, probably because it is so patently obvious to you. But it is not obvious to many, many low-information voters. And it may have not penetrated the consciousness of many left-leaning voters. When you speak about reducing the deficit without raising taxes, you need to EXPLICITLY say that one of the reasons this can happen is because more people working will mean that there are more people paying taxes and fewer people receiving unemployment, welfare, food stamps, and other benefits that increase the deficit/debt. 0bama and the media continually...

During the pre-debate discussion, many FReepers made suggestions about what words and phrases would make good choices for a drinking game. With 20/20 hindsight, I nominate "potentially." Did anyone else notice that Obama used this word constantly? I'd also be interested in hearing from anyone with a background in psychology as to whether using a word like this indicates a lack of conviction about what he is saying vs. whether he is just carefully allowing for other possibilities. IIRC, he seemed to use it in inappropriate places: "potentially a lot of money." And, IIRC, he seemed to use it as...

Joe Trippi, Howard Dean's 2004 presidential campaign manager and Internet impresario, describes Super Tuesday II--the March 4 primaries in Texas, Ohio, Vermont, and Rhode Island--as the moment Barack Obama used social tech nology to decisive effect. --SNIP-- "The campaign, consciously or unconsciously, became much more of a media operation than simply a presidential campaign, because they recognized that by putting their message out onto these various platforms, their supporters would spread it for them," --SNIP-- "we provided the tools, remote training, and opportunity for supporters to build the campaign on their own," the Obama campaign told Technology Review in a...

Two witnesses will testify to Congress today on progress in Iraq. ... Yet despite the spotlight focused on what has become known as the Petraeus report, the testimony of the man sitting beside Petraeus at the witness table, Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker, may carry far more import for the long-term future of Iraq and the U.S. presence there. With little progress to recount in how the Iraqis have used the political "breathing space" that Bush promised his war strategy would create, Crocker's inevitably more nuanced appeal for time and patience is likely to be the tougher sell.