Suckers? Looks like somebody was. You guys will believe just about anything…like Mitt Romney was going to be elected president.

Jobless claims rose, according to BLS, due to Hurricane Sandy, and its impact(s).

http://money.cnn.com/2012/11/15/news/economy/unemployment-benefits/index.html

Don’t forget the freebies to young voters and Hispanics. According to Romney, that’s what swung the election. Republican governors Martinez (New Mexico) and Jindal (LA) have slammed the comment as detrimental to the GOP, but if Romey says it, it’s gotta be true.

Its not Obama’s fault. He inherited a horrible mess the from the last 4 years.

Fact and perception are two very different things. What the GOP takes for granted is that winning a national election isn’t much different than running for senior class president; its a popularity game. Nobody really cares about numbers, truths, facts, or consequences. They want their ears tickled. Personally, I have very little faith in the American electorate. If the GOP honestly want to become relevant in today’s electoral environment, they better learn the art of perception. They better learn to tickle peoples ears. They better learn to be the kind of snake charmer Obama is. Comments such as were made by Romney may have some basis in truth, but its no way to endear yourself to the electorate. The GOP is going to have to ‘prostitute’ themself out to some of those ‘moochers’ (tongue in cheek) if they hope to ever grab the White House again. The GOP MUST find a way to court new voters. Romney’s comment demonstrates an ignorance of one of the most fundamental concepts of electoral behavior. People vote retrospectively. Which is to say they ask themselves ‘what have YOU done for me lately’. The GOP have to find ways to do more for more people. Its that simple.

Why is Romney and some of the GOP surprised that some of those ‘moochers’ actually showed up to the polls?

mike-I agree. The problem is, how does the GOP break the spell that so many are under? They have to win hearts before they can win minds and eventual voters. GW beat Kerry in 2004 because despite criticisms about his first term, we ran on the perception that he was the ‘strong leader’ that ‘beat the terrorist’ and that Americans needed that continuity in the White House to ensure the job got done to completion. Well, four years later and another administration and we were still in Iraq and Bin Laden, as of 2008, was still kickin’. Its about perception. Whether its the right or wrong way to run a country, the average American does not have the time, energy, or patience to see beyond the tone to either fact check or examine the small print devil in the details. We’re either too busy with our every day lives, or simply too lazy. It would help A LITTLE if politicians cared to explain to us plainly how things like the ‘fiscal cliff’ affect us little people punching the clock monday through friday. Why should we care? Can they make it relevant and easier for any of us to understand? Its sad, but true. There is no such animal as the ‘informed electorate’. Many Americans have to just call them as we see them. If you can, as a candidate, tell me how myself and or my family would directly benefit from voting for you, your going to win my vote. But I have too much at stake to make an altruistic vote based simply on principle. So what have you done for me lately and what are you promising to do for me tomorrow? Sorry folks, this is the unfortunate consequence of a self-serving individualistic culture and the impact it has had on the American electorate. Good luck getting Jack back into the box, GOP!

First question that pops in my mind is what would Romney have done to make things different?

Andy – I would have to say that what counts now is what the GOP controlled house does or doesn’t do.