paddingtongreen

What are we looking for? What are we expecting?
I want them to stand up and be proud of the achievements. Not Obamacare but the individual parts, children up to 26, no pre-existing conditions, the things people like but will lose if the Republicans win.

Lion in Winter

The whole world is watching!












Oh, sorry, wrong year.

Sally Redux

Yes I agree, fed up of Democrats kicking them for not having done enough.

Leslie

Funny, I think the whole Clint Eastwood debacle was just an example of an embittered Democrat ... not at all a "real" Republican.

Captain Cheesestick

I'm looking forward to the asinine comparisons of Anne Romney and Michele Obama.

Brit3964

They certainly need to list the achievements of the past 4 years to counter the "Obama hasn't done anything" crowd and will John Huntsman really do a speech?

Zen10

I would be interested to know what British expats in USA think is the most likely outcome in the election this November. What the "feel on the ground" is so to speak. Anyone have a view?

HarryTheSpider

On what is the country disunited under Obama, that it was united on under Bush?
(From Mark Mardell's blog on the BBC web site - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-c...ment_113608446)

HarryTheSpider

Getting aspects of Medicare related healthcare costs under control...

Under GW Bush, Medicare payments to private providers were supposed to go down as a result of competition. They went up, costing more than traditional providers. ACA (Obamacare) seeks to reduce this to more manageable levels. Ryan's acceptance speech claimed that ACA had raided Medicare payments to the tune of $716Bn. This was at best wrong, and at worst, a total lie... However, with Medicare more affordable, more people will be able to benefit from Medicare & Medicaid in the future... Hooray!

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-me...ed-716-billio/

Zen10

I'm starting to think you're going to have President Romney on January 20, so get used to it.

HarryTheSpider

Fair enough, but let's see what the polls say this week ref the Republican convention, and the week after ref the Democratic convention.

It's really too close to call.

I have many friends & colleagues either side of the political divide. Those who are Republican are basing their arguments on largely conceptual stuff about stock markets and so on - which should not be over.ooked, BUT... many people are more concerns I suspect about things that impact them directly... My Dem leaning chums are positing a more emotion-based response. Me, I'm just confused!

House prices in 20 key metro areas are now all up for the first time. We were looking at house prices at the start of the year... And now those same homes are some 20% higher in asking price and selling... It's not many data points but...

I'm fortunate that I am not a USC and can bugger off if needs be. I'm not sure I'll retire here in the US on the basis that at present, things staying the same, I can't afford to... Certainly Romney's tax plan will leave us about $450 a month better off. I don't know what society will be like 4 years down the tracks though... And I have great medical cover from my employer... So I care less about who wins from an immediate negative impact on me... But 2-3 yrs later I may be about ready to jump ship - who knows!!??

Zen10

I would hate Romney to get in. I think it would be disastrous for about 90% of Americans. Sadly, two academics who have used computer modelling to correctly predict every single presidential election since 1980 say Romney will win, and not only that but he will take all the main swing states. Jumping ship...., well, I never saw the US as a place to retire to be fair, because of the healthcare issue and so on. Good luck with whatever you do anyway!

MsElui

beware though - that medical cover can change. the very large (national) employer i work for changed the fairly decent insurance last year to a much worse model. there was do discussion - it was just changed. we got a choice levels of coverage (higher prems, lower deductibles, or lower prems higher deductibles) - both available from just 2 providers. so no choice at all really. Across the board we saw a HUGE increase in deductibles and copays etc. Everyone hates it , and is pissed off but what can you do.

HarryTheSpider

Yup... I forecast that the day my employer does that, if it does, then within 6 months a lot of smart, key people will probably jump ship - why have crap like that when you can get the same crap elsewhere for more salary - and our competitors will know it... We don't pay top notch salaries... Interestingly we self insure - it's cheaper...

HarryTheSpider

Interesting... Can you share the names of these 2 academics - I'd like to study up a bit...