How the Election of 2012 Went

Sunday, November 20, 2011

A look back from the future on the election of 2012: By November 2011, Herman Cain became yet another Republican front-runner whose star began to fade as quickly as it rose.

Allegations of sexual harassment were eclipsed by a succession of gaffes, including one in which Cain found himself momentarily unable to remember whether or not he agreed with President Obama on intervening in Libya.

"I've got all this stuff twirlin' around in my head," he explained to The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, as campaign aides quickly began updating their resumes and checking job openings.

Meanwhile, former front-runner Rick Perry dashed hopes of a resurgence when he found himself in front of a debate audience, unable to remember exactly which federal agencies he wanted to abolish.

Fading candidate Michele Bachmann startled observers when she noted that "If you look at China, they don't have food stamps. If you look at China ... they save for their own retirement security. They don't have AFDC. They don't have the modern welfare state. And China's growing."

This became the first time in anyone's memory that a Republican candidate proposed that the antidote for alleged socialism in America was to emulate a repressive communist dictatorship.

A possible revival of the moribund candidacy of former Congressman Newt Gingrich faltered and died when it was revealed that Gingrich had been paid between $1.6 million and $1.8 million in consulting fees by the mortgage finance giant Freddie Mac, an organization which the American right despised only slightly less than the ACLU.

It began to look more and more as if the nomination was going to go, almost by default, to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, a man who had about as much backbone as one of the Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Men used to advertise car dealerships and other businesses.

Faced with this unpalatable prospect, a secret group of powerful conservatives met in an undisclosed location to come up with an alternative. After days of increasingly desperate wrangling, they came up with a bold and unprecedented plan: They would place a cardboard cutout of Ronald Reagan into the contest for the Republican nomination.

Reaction to the announcement was tumultuous. Pundits asked, "What qualifications does a cardboard cutout have to run against Obama?" Reagan Cutout campaign manager Ed Rollins answered succinctly: "He's not Mitt Romney." When asked what qualifications the Cutout had to be president, Rollins was equally concise: "He's not Barack Obama."

These statements clinched the Cutout's support from the right. "Barack Obama was unqualified and inexperienced," several callers to right-wing talk radio shows noted, "so now it's our turn to nominate someone even more incapable."

A few members of the press corps attempted to point out that a piece of cardboard was not, in fact, eligible to be president; after receiving angry denunciations from Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh, they were immediately shut down by network executives and publishers terrified of being accused of "liberal bias."

At the next debate, the Cut-out received high marks for "looking presidential" and "avoiding major gaffes," largely because, being made of paper, it answered no questions. Conservative pundit Bill Kristol noted that "the Cutout doesn't have the same baggage as Romney, particularly in the area of health care."

Support for the Cutout grew on the right, particularly when the campaign rolled out its slogan: "Reagan Cutout: He's Not Obama."

By the time of the Republican convention, all of the other candidates had dropped away, with a disgusted Romney throwing in the towel the month before. The convention was a raucous affair, with the crowd hysterically acclaiming the nomination with shouts of "Not Obama! Not Obama!"

Those words, in fact, became the campaign's answer to every query as to policy: "What is the Cutout's position on the situation in the Middle East?"

"Not Obama's, that's for sure. Oh, and we're goig to cut their taxes."

Even as polls showed the Cutout's approval numbers slipping, new campaign manager Sarah Palin remained outwardly confident, saying: "We're gonna be dependin' on those real Americans to do that winnin' thing for us, you betcha."

Even after Palin inexplicably resigned halfway through the campaign, her replacement, Joe the Plumber, predicted an easy win because, in his words, "You know. Not Obama. Also, tax cuts."

The American people, however, disagreed. Barack Obama was voted to a second term by the largest majority in American history, 85 percent to 15 percent. American conservatives had to learn the bitter lesson: No matter how weak you think a candidate is, you need something more than "I'm not him."

Dusty Rhoades lives, writes and practices law in Carthage. Contact him at dustyr@nc.rr.com.

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ProudYankee 1 year, 6 months ago

Good column Dusty, one of your best.

Bigguy 1 year, 6 months ago

Great wake up read, keep up the good fight!

JimHeim 1 year, 6 months ago

The irony is that the right will completely miss the point and tell the world that the reason Obama won re-election is that Romney wasn't conservative enough. In 2016 they'll try to run someone to the right of this entire field (if that's even possible) and get an even more thorough drubbing.

By 2020 the demographics of the electorate will be sufficiently non-white that Republican mistreatment of minorities and immigrants these days will be decisive.

Republicans will pay a fearsome price for purging their ranks of thinking, rational decision-makers.

dustyrhoades 1 year, 6 months ago

If they had a lick of sense, they'd nominate Huntsman. He's for that flat tax they're always on about, he supports a constitutional amendment overturning Roe v. Wade, and he's for school vouchers. But he doesn't hate gays, immigrants, and Barack Obama quite enough to satisfy the crazies who the leadership is letting run the party.

MikeNC 1 year, 6 months ago

By 2020 the demographics of the electorate will be sufficiently non-white that Republican mistreatment of minorities and immigrants these days will be decisive. Republicans will pay a fearsome price for purging their ranks of thinking, rational decision-makers.

If they had a lick of sense, they'd nominate Huntsman

LOL....Still pushing that Republican mistreatment of minorities. I suppose there are still a few folks who do not know the track record of Democrat vs. Republican in that regards; so you can fool them. You boys are so scared of 2012..........and I don't blame you...Mike

dustyrhoades 1 year, 6 months ago

Wingnuts always trot out that "you must be scared" to comfort themselves when people are openly mocking them.

No, Mikey, I'm not scared. I'm laughing my butt off at the Klown Kollege you call the Republican field of candidates and cheering wildly as they lead you over the cliff. It's your election to lose, and you're doing just that, and I am loving every minute of it. Almost as much as I'm enjoying your frantic, buffoonish attempts to convince yourself that your ship isn't sinking. You're like Kevin Bacon at the end of "Animal House": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDAmPI...

ALL IS WELLLLLL!

dustyrhoades 1 year, 6 months ago

Proud Yankee, BigGuy...thanks.

sgmartin 1 year, 6 months ago

Praying that you are right. I am enjoying the debates - kind of a carnival quality.

dustyrhoades 1 year, 6 months ago

Actually, jpb, I was for the war in Afghanistan, and against the one in Iraq, and I voted for Obama because he said he was going to draw down troops in Iraq and devote more to Afghanistan, both of which he has done.

So once again, you've embarrassed yourself with your bat-crazy, fact-free raving. Good job! I can see why you cling so desperately to your anonymity: I'd be ashamed of myself too if I was as ridiculously inept as you.

fugitiveguy 1 year, 6 months ago

"The irony is that the right will completely miss the point and tell the world that the reason Obama won re-election is that Romney wasn't conservative enough"

The irony is that the left will completely miss the point and tell the world the reason is "we just didn't get our message out".

JER 1 year, 6 months ago

MikeNC: Unless there are major developments between now and election day, I plan on casting my independent vote for Obama. If there are no major changes, who do you plan to cast your vote for at this point in time? I am not afraid to be specific, are you?

MikeNC 1 year, 6 months ago

JER 6 hours, 39 minutes ago on Geoff's column. "And Geoff, I think you'll see them at the ballot box as well. Be worried, be very very worried."

Hmmm Dusty...Where's the..."Wingnuts always trot out that "you must be scared" to comfort themselves when people are openly mocking them." when JER says the same words. Ah yes...It's also different when you use the exact same words. Yup...Your a Hater & there's no fix....Mike

dustyrhoades 1 year, 6 months ago

Mr. Rhoades, have you ever debated someone on a topic without resorting to name calling?

Have you even called out jpb or anyone else for the same offense? For instance, when jpb referred to me as the "village idiot" over and over did you speak up?

has nothing to do with Cain but about things only the village idiot would post such as calling teapots racists and terrorists. the village idiot jumps to conclusions on the actions of a few and gets proven the village idiot by the actions of many and is so stupid he thinks Cain's success has anything to do with anything. and by the way, Jimmy Heim played the race card just like you, the village idiot has done too many times to count here!

Did you say anything then? If not, then STFU. You have nothing to say that I want to hear. When your pearl-clutching and hand-wringing over "name calling" is only for one side, then it's not based on any principle.

JRowerdink 1 year, 6 months ago

Dusty…..Surprisingly, you almost got it right this time. Looking back on the 2012 election, it is correct that the Republicans were never quite satisfied with their choice of candidates. So in frustration, they nominated a cardboard cutout of Ronald Reagan to compete against President Obama, just as you said. However, it is at that point that your reporting went wrong.

What actually happened is that the voters recognized that it wasn’t really Reagan but just a cardboard cutout of him; and they voted for him anyway. The result was that Barack Obama lost by a margin of 85% to 15%. This proved that a large majority of voters, even including some Democrats, prefer a cardboard suit over an empty suit.

John Rowerdink

dustyrhoades 1 year, 6 months ago

What makes you assume that I have been on here long enough to have read the comments that you refer to.

So you really know nothing about this board, and yet you feel free to preach to me about it? Well, now you do. You going to start calling others on their supposed name calling or are you going to be like the rest of them and only feign outrage when it's one side that gets it?

The only rational response to the current crop of Republican empty suits, and their bleating flock of mindless supporters, is scorn.

dustyrhoades 1 year, 6 months ago

A classic post from the nutcase who says I need anger managment:

make a list of things that upset you so much about bush and then put a check mark next to the ones that obama HAS TAKEN THE FIRST STEPS TO CORRECTING AND TELL US WHAT THEY ARE. FIRST STEPS FIRST STEPS FIRST STEPS FIRST STEPS FIRST STEPS FIRST STEPS FIRST STEPS FIRST STEPS FIRST STEPS not asking what obama has fixed. what FIRST STEPS have been taken

And, of course, not a word to this person about "name calling." Because it's only "name calling" to the wingnuts if it's directed at the Republican Klown Kollege.

moonchild7 1 year, 6 months ago

This is another winner Dusty. So funny. Keep it up, those Teapots are all in "stuperville" at this point and have you noticed that VERY FEW of them even comment anymore? Gee, where'd they go? I find it utterly amusing after they were so profounding confident that America was with them and going their way. This past 2011 election cycle of votes and referendoms shows that the Teapot has boiled over and is almost out of steam. Good riddance to them and soon good riddance to that corrupt Gov of Wisconsin. Oh, will you be at OBS? Just curious, I'll have to keep a distance but i'll try to catch a few glimpses.

dustyrhoades 1 year, 6 months ago

I'm tellin ya ...........no one can stir up the right wing loonies better than DR........no one :)

It's a gift.

Oh, will you be at OBS? Just curious, I'll have to keep a distance but i'll try to catch a few glimpses

Heh. I think our big family Christmas party is that day, but if not, I'll be there. And come on up, I don't bite. Unless asked.

Courseaire 1 year, 6 months ago

In a recent Michigan Poll (a state Obama won by 10%) has the Mittster beating Obama head-to-head by 5 points - what's up with that? Wingnut Courseaire

dustyrhoades 1 year, 6 months ago

And in November 2007, Republicans were telling us that Rudy Giuliani was going to beat Hillary Clinton for the Presidency. Look how wrong early polls can be...

Courseaire 1 year, 6 months ago

Rudy v Hillary is not a very good comparison for support when you are pitting a current contender against an incumbent. You'll have to do better than that. Wingnut Courseaire

dustyrhoades 1 year, 6 months ago

Just pointing out how little such early polls actually mean. Maybe if you stood on a chair so many points wouldn't go completely over your head. I mean, jeez Louise, I put the point right there in plain English.

Courseaire 1 year, 6 months ago

Oh Dusty, I understood your point, but you should have a least used a valid comparison - early polls of Rudy/John v Barack. Just so you know, I did stand on a chair to read your last comment, thanks, it was very helpful. Might I suggest you use the same chair - Wingnut Courseaire.

TOYTIME 1 year, 6 months ago

Nice article Dusty I've had my lisinapril today so I'm OKAY! I think you're wrong, and your defcom is sounding pretty high. However do this one thing for one of your many fans on the right... Republish this article November 7th 2012.

MikeNC 1 year, 6 months ago

You omitted an important factor wdd101st...When stating the obvious; that Dusty's a Hater, I also have to add that as a full grown 'adult' it would be near impossible for him to change that out. In other words; there is no fix. Kind of like being stuck on stupid (LTG Russel Honore) Yup...Dusty's (and some others) stuck on the same old mantra and party allegience known to degrade America, Grinch away folks opportunities in job growth, savings and retirement portfolios etc, etc and the results only bring hardship to good American families and chaos and mahem in the streets these days. Dusty's not alone. Our President, his ill picked unknowledgeable cabinet members and much of congress are all stuck on stupid and many seem to be haters as well. Looking out what's good for ME and the hell with the country.

The reality of the 2012 election will purge many additional haters from congress replacing them with those who actually do care. Those left intact will be 'forced' into changing to maintain their own job security for the 2014 blood letting purge if necessary. The POTUS and First Lady will be selling additional books and performing high dollar speaking engagements around the world, once again loaded with their personal feelings (never actually vetted) about America and will re-establish past friendships 'lost' to the political process; but never truly abandoned. They will be doing very well financially. Job growth and rays of actual hope will fire up immediately upon the knowledge that a friend of such has been elected...Just as job growth plummeted when the job makers learned that an enemy of job growth and personal prosperity was about to enter the WH.....Mike

OldSpook 1 year, 6 months ago

Good column Dusty, and nice use of sardonic wit to bring out a valid point. Unless the GOP can produce a candidate capable of 1) Public speaking, 2) Television presence 3) Sobriety and 4) Fidelity to their spouse, I fear Mr. Obama shall be re-elected. If he is, than the conservative sector of this nation will receive exactly what is deserved. Cheers/Dave

dustyrhoades 1 year, 6 months ago

Thanks, OS.

And Mike's just mad because I've repeatedly shown him and Diane up as serial liars. They post crap that just isn't true, I call them on it, and they get their noses out of joint. Remember: everything posted under the moniker of MikeNC should be considered a lie until proven otherwise.

It would appear that you have the enemy out numbered about 6 or 7 to one on name calling.

So? You either think it's wrong or it isn't. But cearly you only think it's wrong when it's directed against Republicans.

You're right, I can't make you STFU, but I can tell you why I don't believe for a minute that you give a damn about name calling.

MikeNC 1 year, 6 months ago

DR says..."Remember: everything posted under the moniker of MikeNC should be considered a lie until proven otherwise."

Post up my lies DR. You add little to these boards other than to call others names regardless of what they post...if it does not meet your way out there agenda for America. You may fool a few who do not check into things themselves, but more and more Americans are looking for facts...not your clap trap. Here is what you have become to most anyone who actually thinks for themselves....Mike

Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain. by GreyAlien7

dustyrhoades 1 year, 6 months ago

Post up my lies DR

I was hoping you'd say that. See, I've been keeping track.

MikeNC asserted that “CIA agents had to spend thousands defending against prosecution by the Obama administration” (when the administration announced in April 2009 that there’d be no such prosecutions). Pressed to provide examples, MikeNC ignored any attempts to get him to back up his accusation.

Mike asked about “all those emails that were leaked concerning data being revised and manipulated about climate change”. Six investigations by various groups concluded they showed no such thing. He then claimed a “liberal blog” concluded that a report by a Senate Committee showed “ that some NOAA employees potentially violated federal law and engaged in manipulation. " That line did not, in fact, come from a “liberal blog”, but was plagiarized directly from a press release from Senator Inhofe's office, unhappy that the witch hunt the Senator demanded didn't find any actual witches and vowing to keep up the inquisition till some were found. But Mike continues to repeat the same lie.

MikeNC claimed that "President Obama has now given Congress an ultimatum: The American taxpayer must pay for every Solyndra employee to be retrained before he will give Congress the opportunity to vote on the three trade acts for Colombia, Panama and South Korea." This was a complete fabrication. There was a retraining program for people who lost their jobs because of the trade pacts, some Solyndra employees applied (but had not been approved by the time the trade bills passed by a wide margin), but the assertion of an “ultimatum” was pure BS.

Then there was this whopper: “Still waiting for Obama to apologize to doctors, when he said some of them would cut off someone's foot after looking at the pay scale for amputation.”

This was a complete and brazen lie, Obama never said any such thing, and Mike (actually his equally untruthful spouse Diane) had to backpedal when the video she posted proved it.

You and Diane lie constantly, Mike. You can’t help it. And when you get showed up for it, you whine about ‘name calling” and “haters.”Well, here’s a name for you that you can’t refute: liar. And I’m going to keep pointing it out so everyone knows it.

dustyrhoades 1 year, 6 months ago

Thanks, Harleyman. I've helpfully posted the list to Mike's wall for future reference (at his request), since a common dodge of this type of serial liar is to repeatedly demand that you tell them when they've lied. Now all you have to do is click on his name. I'll add more of his lies to the list of course, when he and Diane tell them. And you know they will.

justmyopinion 1 year, 6 months ago

DR is your hero??? Excuse me while I go throw up.

MikeNC 1 year, 6 months ago

More clap trap; nobody is listening to your stretch of how things happened or did not happen. All of what we have ever posted comes from either direct sources which we have cited; to be completely ignored for comment by you and such ilk. Other posts come from news media stories; Most of which is common knowledge to have been reported by our wonderful transparent and truthful media exactly the way described. Now place this in your little "Mike's Wall" and "See, I've been keeping track" MikeNC file Dusty. Diane and myself live rent free in your head as you track our every little syllable LOL.......Mike

dustyrhoades 1 year, 6 months ago

Mikey: parroting lies doesn't make them true. Plus, when asked for sources, your M.O. is either to run away like a cockroach when the lights come on or to try to bluff your way through by posting a link that doesn't do anything to back you up. And now it's there in detail for everyone to see.

DR is your hero??? Excuse me while I go throw up.

Hee hee! Really gets under that thin skin of yours, doesn't it, nutball? Love it. Love. It.