Day725 Thursday 08/23/12

ran 4.2 miles

Above is a 2012 electoral map predicted by Michael Berry and Ken Bickers. Who are they? They are Professors at the University of Colorado and they have a reason to be taken seriously. They have designed a state-to-state voter equation that has successfully predicted every presidential election since 1980.

Their latest electoral vote prediction:

Romney 320, Obama 218

(Here is how the model works)

This outcome seems perfectly logical to me but I am certainly not going to hold my breath. This is what I find interesting---Berry and Bickers have picked the past seven elections, a couple of which have been curve balls, and they have earned an elite degree of respect for the formula they use, but...Barack Hussein Obama and Chicago politics are a variable they have never had to define and spread across the board of fifty states. Barack Hussein Obama is an "X" factor and these two professors cannot possibly know what values to assign to him because America has not had a man like this in the Oval Office  since they began predicting presidential elections with Jimmy Carter in 1980. We have come full circle.

That being said, if we wake up on November 7 to a second Barack Hussein Obama term, a second term won by the skin of his teeth, it will be evident that he has found a loophole to 32 years of indisputable mathematical evidence that Michael Berry and Ken Bickers of the University of Colorado have used to successfully call elections. But, it would be no surprise.

2,080 miles from Lafayette, LA to Washington D.C. and back + 192.9

Here is what happened one year ago on Day360.

       

Day708 Monday 08/06/12

ran 3.5 miles

Here are 70 facts about America's economy that President Obama will definitely not be campaigning on. It is frightening how far we as a collective nation have let America slip. This list puts into perspective how petty most of the news that is gathered for us and distributed in mass quantities is. 

Why are we talking about things like Chick-fil-A and Mitt Romney's tax returns? Chicken, gay rights, personal beliefs, and the obvious fact that Mitt Romney is filthy rich can't hold a candle to the more important issue of what we are going to do with our economy and how we are going to take on this national debt.

Here are a few examples from the list:

• The price of gas – When Obama took office, a gallon of gas cost you $1.85. Today, it's up to $3.59 per gallon.

• 71% of small business owners believe we’re still in a recession — Despite government claims that the recession actually ended years ago.

• You have to work 107 days each year just to pay Federal, State, & Local taxes – That means you don't earn a penny until April 18.

• More than 30% of unemployed Americans have been out of work for more than a year–In 2007, that number was 10%.

Many more disappointing statistics here.

2,080 miles from Lafayette, LA to Washington D.C. and back + 130.3

Here is what happened one year ago on Day343.

Day702 Tuesday 07/31/12

ran 3.2 miles

Here's what's in play on November 6 (from the Rothenberg Political Report):

President

With 270 electoral votes needed to win, Obama is currently projecting 237 to Romney's 206. Toss-up states hold 95 unprojected electoral votes. Those states are Colorado, Florida, Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin.

House

Republicans currently have a 242-193 majority. There are 26 blue seats and 41 red seats in play. A single digit gain for Democrats is most likely, but anyhting from +1 Republican to +6 Democrat is possible. Democrats need a net gain of 25 seats for a majority.  

Senate

Democrats currently have a 53-47 majority. There are 23 blue seats and 10 red seats in play. A gain of 2-4 Republican seats is likely at this point. Republicans need only 4 seats for a majority if President Obama wins re-election.

Governor

Republicans currently control 29 governorships to Democrats' 20 and 1 Independent. There are 8 blue seats and 3 red seats in play. At this point, Republicans are likely to gain. 

2,080 miles from Lafayette, LA to Washington D.C. and back + 110.8 

Here is what happened one year ago on Day337.

Day694 Monday 07/23/12

ran 3.4 miles

For a long time I have been asking, "What is the definition of the middle class?"

We always hear our president referring to this faction of Americans with this broad label but you have to wonder who exactly it is he is speaking about. I consider myself middle class but very little of what our president has to say resonates with me. Does that mean I am not part of the middle class? At what point of not earning does a household become poor and at what point of earning does a household ascend into the upper class? I don't think there is an official number on either end of the spectrum because so much fluctuates in our economy and our costs of living. I cannot answer what sum of money propels a household from middle class to upper class, but I did find this information on what defined being poor in 2010.

"In 2010, the poverty level was $22,314 for a family and $11,139 for an individual. It excludes capital gains or accumulated wealth, such as home ownership, as well as non-cash aid such as food stamps and tax credits, which were expanded substantially under President Barack Obama’s stimulus package.

An additional 9 million people in 2010 would have been counted above the poverty line if food stamps and tax credits were taken into account.

The Associated Press reportedly surveyed more than a dozen economists, think tanks and academics, both nonpartisan and those with known liberal or conservative leanings, and found a broad consensus: The official poverty rate will rise from 15.1 percent in 2010, climbing as high as 15.7 percent. Several predicted a more modest gain, but even a 0.1 percentage point increase would put poverty at the highest level since 1965."

TheBlaze/AP, Erica Ritz

An estimated 47 million Americans were "poor" last year. That is approximately one out of every six people in America, not even including food stamp and tax credit recipients.

This isn't progress. This is enabling a large portion of our population who take advantage of the safety nets we have set up for families in hard times. The tax dollars financing these safety nets are worth every penny if they are actually necessary but many people take advantage of our system and Barack Obama does nothing to address the abuse but, instead, feeds it with more and more tax dollars earning himself the title of "Food Stamp King". 

Wasteful government spending is setting America's economy on its head and the biggest shame about Barack Obama and his theme of "hope" and "change" is that if he would ever pull back the reigns on any of this spending that he has wasted for the past four years he wouldn't stand a chance of getting reelected. The man is an enabler. Much of this nation has an addiction to the sensation of feeling like a victim when they are nothing of the sort. Our president is their dealer of false hope and the stuff he is dealing (other people's money) is eventually going to run out, sooner rather than later.

2,080 miles from Lafayette, LA to Washington D.C. and back + 85.1

Here is what happened one year ago on Day329.

Day673 Monday 07/02/12

ran 3.3 miles

It's official. The number of workers on federal disability now surpasses the population of New York City. 

8,733,461.

The population of New York City was 8,244,910 according to the latest Census Bureau estimates, and that was in July of 2011.

June, 1992---118,419,000 people employed in America; 3,334,333 workers taking federal disability payments. That is one person taking disability payments per 35.5 working Americans.

January, 2009 (Obama's inauguration)---142,187,000 people employed in America; 7,442,377 workers taking federal disability payments. That is one person taking disability payments per 19.1 working Americans.

May, 2012---142,287,000 people employed in America; 8,707,185 workers taking federal disability payments. That is one person taking disability payments per 16.3 working Americans.

Federal "Disability" is a necessary safety net in America and for many individuals it is certainly deserving, but these numbers are clearly an abuse of the system.

(On a separate note, did you happen to pick up on the fact that since Barack Obama was inaugurated to a point of three years and five months into his presidency only 100,000 more people are working, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Social Security Administration? And where is the other half of America? There are over 300 million people in this country. If only 142,000,000 Americans are working then what is the other half doing? The other half is not aged entirely from infant to teenager or in the retiree bracket, incapable of playing a role in these working/disability numbers. So, when you see unemployment numbers and other jobs statistics in the news, know that they are extremely misleading. The numbers above prove that.)

It gets better. In the month of June, not only did 8,733,461 Americans take federal disability payments, but 165,469 spouses of disabled workers and 1,899,756 children of disabled workers took disability payments. That ups the number to 10,798,686; one person taking disability per 13.2 working Americans.

8,733,461 federal disability payments were made in June at an average of $1,111.42 per person. At the rate federal disability is accelerating, it will not be long before the working American ratio versus disability will be 1:8 or 1:9. Numbers like these are unsustainable.

(SOURCE)

2,080 miles from Lafayette, LA to Washington D.C. and back + 17.0

Here is what happened one year ago on Day308

Day620 Thursday 05/10/12

ran 3.3 miles

The honorable Maxine Waters of California losing her composure for a brief moment and utterly flustered with the rare truth that is spewing out of her mouth. It's an old video from 2008 but it lacks no luster in proving what elected leaders like Waters are really thinking. 

Here is a glance at Rasmussen Reports polls today on Obama and Romney: 

• Romney: 49%, Obama: 45%, Third party candidate: 3%, Undecided: 2% 

• 26% of the nation's voters strongly approve of Obama's performance as president and 42% strongly disapprove, giving him a Presidential Approval Index of -16 

163.8 miles to go. 

Here is what happened one year ago on Day255.

Day607 Friday 04/27/12

ran 3.1 miles

Some stats and polls from Rasmussen Reports:

• Obama 47%, Romney 46%, third party candidate 4%, undecided 3%

• Barack Obama's presidential approval index is -13

• Florida: Romney 46%, Obama 45%

• Virginia: Romney 45%, Obama 44%

• 29% say U.S. heading in right direction

204.8 miles to go.

Here is what happened one year ago on Day242.

Day593 Friday 04/13/12

ran 3.5 miles

Stats and polls from Rasmussen Reports:

• Barack Obama’s presidential index rating shows that 24% of American voters strongly approve of his performance while 41% strongly disapprove, giving Obama a presidential index rating of -17.

• Overall, 46% of voters at least somewhat approve of Obama’s performance while 51% at least somewhat disapprove.

• On economic issues, 49% of voters trust Romney while 39% trust Obama.

• In a hypothetical 2012 matchup, Romney earns 48% and Obama attracts 44%.

• Generic Congressional Ballot: Republicans 45%, Democrats 40%

253.7 miles to go.

Here is what happened one year ago on Day228.

Day586 Friday 04/06/12

ran 3.3 miles

Short post tonight---just some stats and polls from Rasmussen Reports:

• Barack Obama’s presidential index rating shows that 26% of American voters strongly approve of his performance while 42% strongly disapprove, giving Obama a presidential index rating of -16.

• Overall, 47% of voters at least somewhat approve of Obama’s performance while 52% at least somewhat disapprove.

• Obama 46%, Romney 46%

• Obama 47%, Santorum 41%

• 29% say U.S. heading in right direction.

• 6% rate Congress’ job performance as good or excellent.

273.3 miles to go.

Here is what happened one year ago on Day221.

Day579 Friday 03/30/12

ran 1.5 miles

Here is a breakdown of what might have been Barack Obama's worst week in the White House yet:  Not knowing the facts and recklessly jumping into the Trayvon Martin case (directly opening a floodgate of full-blown racial tension, even making the ridiculous comment that he and Trayvon looked alike and could have been father and son), caught on a live mic assuring the president of one of our greatest rivals that he would have more flexibility (more ability to sell America out minus the threat of another election) once he was reelected, the Supreme Court made a complete mockery of his arguable crowning achievement (Obama's lawyers were stuttering "ums" and "ifs" all three days, even when given simple questions by justices Obama selected), and Barack Obama's greatest underachievement of the week was to finally unify every single Democrat and Republican in the House of Representatives by having his 2013 budget rejected by a vote of 414-0.  Has that ever even happened before?

(source)

Here are some stats and polls from Rasmussen Reports:

• Barack Obama’s presidential index rating shows that 28% of American voters strongly approve of his performance while 41% strongly disapprove, giving Obama a presidential index rating of -13.

• Overall, 48% of voters at least somewhat approve of Obama’s performance while 52% at least somewhat disapprove.

• Obama 46%, Romney 45%

• Obama 47%, Santorum 42%

• 54% expect U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Health Care Law

• 58% oppose reducing size of U.S. nuclear arsenal

• 29% say U.S. heading in right direction

297.3 miles to go.

Here is what happened one year ago on Day214.

Day559 Saturday 03/10/12

ran 3.5 miles

Some stats and polls from Rasmussen Reports:

• Barack Obama’s presidential index rating shows that 25% of American voters strongly approve of his performance while 44% strongly disapprove, giving Obama a presidential index rating of -19.

• Overall, 44% of voters at least somewhat approve of Obama’s performance while 54% at least somewhat disapprove.

• 80% of Republican primary voters nationwide believe Mitt Romney will be the party’s nominee.

• Romney currently leads Obama 48% to 43%.

• Santorum currently leads Obama 46% to 45%.

• National GOP: Romney 39%, Santorum 27%, Gingrich 27%, Paul 10%.

361.5 miles to go.

Here is what happened one year ago on Day194.

Day547 Monday 02/27/12

ran 3.6 miles
Stats and polls from RasmussenReports:

• Barack Obama’s presidential index rating shows that 26% of American voters strongly approve of his performance while 42% strongly disapprove, giving Obama a presidential index rating of -16. This is the lowest rating in over a month.

• Overall, 45% of voters at least somewhat approve of Obama’s performance while 53% at least somewhat disapprove.

• Romney 45%, Obama 43%

• Paul 43%, Obama 41%

• Obama 45%, Santorum 43%

• Obama 49%, Gingrich 39%

In a poll conducted today from TheWashingtonFreeBeacon, they found that an overwhelming majority of voters think the rich already "pay their fair share".

“The big majority opted for a lower tax bill when asked to choose specific rates; precisely 75 percent said the right level for top earners was 30 percent or below. The current rate for top earners is 35 percent. Only 4 percent thought it was appropriate to take 40 percent, which is approximately the level that President Obama is seeking from January 2013 onward.”

The Associated Press and a Pew poll surveyed the same topic recently and found a completely contradictory result. November 6, 2012, will be the only way to settle these opposing numbers.

403.2 miles to go.

Here is what happened one year ago on Day182.

Day515 Thursday 01/26/12

ran 1.3 miles
Informative Alex Jones video above and here are some stats and polls from Rasmussen Reports:

• Barack Obama’s presidential index rating shows that 25% of American voters strongly approve of his performance while 38% strongly disapprove, giving Obama a presidential index rating of –13.

That is Obama’s best presidential index rating in a month and the number of those who agree the country is moving in the right direction has reached its highest level in the past seven months at 26%.

• Overall, 46% of voters at least somewhat approve of Obama’s performance while 52% at least somewhat disapprove.

• In a potential 2012 match-up: Obama 46%, Romney 43% and Obama 48%, Gingrich 41%

• Florida GOP Primary: Romney 39%, Gingrich 31%, Santorum 12%, Paul 9%

• Among American voters, 59% say creating new jobs is more important than protecting environment.

• A large percent (71%) see government censorship of internet as bigger threat than illegal downloading.

508.0 miles to go.

Here is what happened one year ago on Day150.

Day506 Tuesday 01/17/12

ran 3.3 miles
Some stats and polls from Rasmussen Reports:

• Barack Obama’s presidential index rating shows that 22% of American voters strongly approve of his performance while 41% strongly disapprove, giving Obama a presidential index rating of –19.

• Overall, 46% of voters at least somewhat approve of Obama’s performance while 53% at least somewhat disapprove.

• Generic Congressional Ballot: Republicans 44%, Democrats 38%

• Election 2012: Republican 47%, Obama 42%

• South Carolina: Romney 35%, Gingrich 21%, Santorum 16%, Paul 16%

At this point in time, after three years of Obama, it is no longer even worth the time to discuss issues like why his college transcripts are locked away, but lets have some fun and do it anyway. For all of the speculation that surrounded Barack Obama early in his term, such as college transcripts, a lack of fellow students to say they went to school with him, professors to say they taught him, and even his reticence to hand over his birth certificate until Donald Trump inflated the issue, today his past once again resurfaced during a press conference with press secretary Jay Carney.

A Fox News reporter, Ed Henry, asked Carney why President Obama hadn’t released his college transcripts. Carney simply said, “I would refer you to the campaign.” Then he started talking about something completely unrelated.

Nice dodge.

537.2 miles to go.

Here is what happened one year ago on Day141.

Day498 Monday 01/09/12

ran 3.5 miles
Obama’s chief of staff, Bill Daley, is stepping down and heading back to Chicago. Daley filled the position after Rahm Emanuel stepped down to run for and eventually win the position of mayor in Chicago, a position that Bill Daley’s father and brother had once held, and he will now be replaced by Jack Lew. Coincidentally, Lew received nearly $950,000 in bonuses in 2009 while serving as chief operating officer of Citibank’s alternative investments division. This was mere months after billions of dollars in bailouts were paid to Citibank with tax dollars. Here is the story.

Here are some stats and polls from Rasmussen Reports:

• Barack Obama’s presidential index rating shows that 23% of American voters strongly approve of his performance while 42% strongly disapprove, giving Obama a presidential index rating of –19.

• Overall, 44% of voters at least somewhat approve of Obama’s performance while 55% at least somewhat disapprove.

• Among voters, 52% think repeal of health care law is likely,

• National GOP Poll: Romney 29%, Santorum 24%, Gingrich 16%

• Generic Congressional Ballot: Republicans 44%, Democrats 38%

• Only 30% of Americans expect to earn more a year from now.

• Among voters, 22% say U.S. is heading in the right direction.

564.4 miles to go.

Here is what happened one year ago on Day133.

Day486 Wednesday 12/28/11

ran 4.2 miles
Here are some stats and polls from Rasmussen Reports:

• Barack Obama’s presidential index rating shows that 23% of American voters strongly approve of his performance while 41% strongly disapprove, giving Obama a presidential index rating of –18.

• Overall, 45% of voters at least somewhat approve of Obama’s performance while 54% at least somewhat disapprove.

• Only 20% of American voters polled believe America is heading in the right direction.

• Building the Keystone XL Pipeline earns 53% approval.

• Election 2012: Generic Republican 45%, Obama 44%.

• Among American voters polled, 53% favor repeal of Health Care Law

And from A CNN poll, Iowa has Romney at 25%, followed by Paul with 22%, Santorum with 16%, and Gingrich with 14%.

And one last thing, there is a lot of chatter about Hillary Clinton switching jobs with Joe Biden for the 2012 election. Aside from being a national insult to Joe Biden, the move would be a plus for Democrats. If Obama does wiggle his way into another term, Clinton would be a much more feasible presidential candidate in 2016 to continue Democratic leadership compared to Joe Biden and his tenacity to constantly say the worst possible thing at any given moment. But that is just speculation at this point.

602.4 miles to go.

Here is what happened one year ago on Day121.

Day478 Tuesday 12/20/11

ran 0.2 miles
Last week I ran the largest amount of miles I have ever run over the course of seven days. This week I am paying for it. After running 30.2 miles last week I ran 1.3 miles yesterday and a whopping 0.2 miles tonight. I hate to admit it but I am exhausted. This week has been a brick wall so far.

Getting home from work today, it was raining and I had zero desire to get wet or to break a sweat. I ran to the end of my street and back, which took everything I had. All of the surplus miles I earned last week are being compromised by a complete lack of energy this week.

But, I am more than maintaining the budget of miles I had set for myself and I have no shame in offering transparency at every step of this campaign. I have some catching up to do, but it is planning for occasional shortcomings and unexpected obstacles that keep any set of numbers from reaching deficits. If only economies were this logical to manage by planning for mistakes and lulls.

Speaking of not planning for mistakes and exhibiting absolutely no restraint for spending, here are some stats and polls from Rasmussen Reports:

• Barack Obama’s presidential index rating shows that 21% of American voters strongly approve of his performance while 39% strongly disapprove, giving Obama a presidential index rating of –18.

• Overall, 47% of voters at least somewhat approve of Obama’s performance while 51% at least somewhat disapprove.

• Generic Congressional Ballot: Republicans 43%, Democrats 40%.

628.5 miles to go.

Here is what happened one year ago on Day113.

Day466 Thursday 12/08/11

ran 1.5 miles

Who is our president speaking to in the video above? I find it hard to believe he is addressing America. And here’s more to convey just how out of touch Barack Obama is with the severe realities before us. Our president claimed today that more jobs would be created from the payroll tax he is pushing (posted about it yesterday) and the extension of unemployment insurance than approving the Keystone pipeline. I can accept, based on the day-to-day lies we are told from all corners of Washington, that the payroll tax extension might do a fraction of good that will be immediately gobbled up by the exponential growth of our national debt every 24 hours, but don’t tell an entire country of informed citizens that extending unemployment insurance is more effective than a long-term, productive, and effective project like Keystone.

Enduring the Great Depression, Herbert Hoover, for example, did not float such failed ideas as redistributing wealth or convincing American citizens that they were entitled to that which they had not earned. Herbert Hoover built a dam and employed many Americans with a lengthy task. He gave them purpose and an opportunity to earn their desires. Coincidentally, Hoover does not get much credit as a president because he was the man serving when the Great Depression struck, but he lost his second term to the belief that America's problems should have been solved by private measures and not by the government. He believed in hard work and the gratification it brings to Americans.

Keystone would have a similar outcome but Barack Obama won’t seize the opportunity. One single man possessing such delusions of grandeur and absolute denial of all reality and appreciation for what America truly stands for here and there is okay; that is their right, but the fact that a little over half of this country voted for this man in 2008 and nearly the same number wants to re-elect him is a frightening reality.

Here are some stats and polls from Rasmussen Reports:

• Barack Obama’s presidential index rating shows that 22% of American voters strongly approve of his performance while 41% strongly disapprove, giving Obama a presidential index rating of –19.

• Overall, 45% of voters at least somewhat approve of Obama’s performance while 55% at least somewhat disapprove.

• Only 17% of likely U.S. voters say the country is heading in the right direction.

• Election 2012: Generic Republican 49%, Obama 41%.

• Among likely American voters, 26% prefer government-managed economy.

671.0 miles to go.

Here is what happened one year ago on Day101.

Day457 Tuesday 11/29/11

ran 3.9 miles

Some stats and polls from Rasmussen Reports:

• Barack Obama’s presidential index rating shows that 20% of American voters strongly approve of his performance while 42% strongly disapprove, giving Obama a presidential index rating of –22.

• Overall, 44% of voters at least somewhat approve of Obama’s performance while 55% at least somewhat disapprove.

From a USNews article, by Paul Bedard, “President Obama's slow ride down Gallup's daily presidential job approval index has finally passed below Jimmy Carter, earning Obama the worst job approval rating of any president at this stage of his term in modern political history.”

That was only a matter of time. Congratulations, President Obama. Obama’s job approval rating, according to Gallup, is currently 43%. Carter’s, three years into his presidency, was 51%. Jimmy Carter’s arguable legacy as America’s worst president in modern history has just been challenged by eight entire percentage points worth of even less approval by the American people.

Here are some past approval numbers from Gallup of other presidents one year before re-election:

• Harry S. Truman: 54%

• Dwight Eisenhower: 78%

• Lyndon B. Johnson: 44%

• Richard M. Nixon: 50%

• Ronald Reagan: 54%

• George H.W. Bush: 52%

• Bill Clinton: 51%

• George W. Bush: 55%

I’m not sure what Barack Obama intends to run on for re-election. He hardly has one leg to even stand upon. His first three years have clearly been deemed unsuccessful by the numbers above. He will more than likely further distract and blame. It’s all he has. And nearly half of this country will buy it. One set of numbers I always rely on to define exactly how divided this nation is shows that only 53% of Americans paid income taxes last year. Under the leadership of Barack Obama, what will happen when that 53% becomes 49% or 45%? 40%? How does a government function if 60% of its people are not even paying taxes, yet feeding with savage hunger off its teat? It makes no sense. This image is not America and Barack Obama deserves every bit of contention he has earned to be America’s new worst president in modern American history.

698.7 miles to go.

Here is what happened one year ago on Day92.

Day446 Friday 11/18/11

ran 2.0 miles
Here are some stats and polls from Rasmussen Reports:

• Barack Obama’s presidential index rating shows that 20% of American voters strongly approve of his performance while 40% strongly disapprove, giving Obama a presidential index rating of –20.

• Overall, 44% of voters at least somewhat approve of Obama’s performance while 54% at least somewhat disapprove.

• Among American voters, 69% say the federal government does not have the right to require the purchase of health insurance.

• Only 25% of Americans believe government bailouts were good for America.

• Reaching a new high, 65% oppose automatic citizenship for babies born in America to illegal immigrants.

735.2 miles to go.

Here is what happened one year ago on Day81.