"I AM THE PRESIDENT!"

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Tuesday Night at Hofstra University in the State of New York, the President of the United States showed up and made it abundantly clear that he isn’t giving up his championship belt without a fight.  It was a thing of beauty.  Battered and bloodied from Round One, all eyes were on the President wondering if he would be on the receiving-end of the knock-out blow by Mitt Romney, the challenger.  All were gathered at ringside looking for the Number One Contender to deliver the fatal blow.

The two fighters walked to center ring, touched gloves, referee Crowley welcomed one and all and then the fight was on.  Obama landed a big first punch minutes into the contest and never looked back.  From the opening bell, the President owned the night.  He started strong taking the fight to his opponent and never once let up.  Obama kept moving in closer and closer with body blows throughout the fight countering everything that his opponent threw at him.  The Number One Contender fought a valiant fight but as the final bell was approaching, Obama seized the opening provided by his opponent and moved in with a flurry of uncontested punches leaving his opponent helpless and unable to respond.

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“I am the President” was the resounding theme throughout the debate as President Barack Obama separated himself from his opponent.  It was remarkable how you could tell which candidate was the President of the United States and who was fighting to become President of the United States.  Mitt Romney had a good night.  It was just that the President had a better night.  Well-prepared, Obama won on substance, style and strength and reminded everyone why he currently sits in the Oval Office.

The President came with energy and enthusiasm and it showed.  He engaged the undecided voters in the room and was well at-ease gaining strength as each minute passed within the debate.  Neither man chose to follow the rules of the forum in strict fashion but Romney made it more of an issue than Obama did and he looked more like a child protesting to a parent, Candy Crowley, that he wasn’t receiving his fair due.  Not an attractive quality in someone wanting to be President of the United States. 

Although candidates in the debate process hardly ever provide simple answers to questions, President Obama did a better job of this offering some specifics.  Romney continues to fail at the specifics.  Case in point was the total non-response to a woman asking about mortgage deductions and the child earned income credit.  Romney loses credibility every time he walks away from answering these types of questions. 



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The president prevailed or held his own on nearly every issue and question raised.  President Obama won handily on the issue of immigration and women’s rights, two significant voter-sensitive issues.  The last word of the night belonged to the President and he took full advantage by holding Romney accountable for his 47 percent comments.  It was a slam-dunk finish. This debate was far and away the most interesting, combative and memorable debate I can recall.  The President’s performance will be remembered and reviewed by every future candidate for the office of the Presidency.

Can’t wait for Round Three!     

Are You Ready To Rumble?

Every day I receive an email from President Barack Obama or one of his key advisors within the campaign.  The emails make a point to let me know what’s going on within the campaign and how much they need my financial support to make the difference.  This has been the case every day for the last three months.  The emails are informative and they all drive home the same message that they need my support to be successful.  Many times it is only a request for a $5 contribution, more if I am able. 

Tuesday Night’s debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York promises to be a significant turning point in this competition for the highest office of our land.  Both candidates will do their best to sharpen the differences between themselves in hopes of reaching the voter.  Mitt Romney will be looking for a knock-out punch to the President after his woeful performance in the first debate.  President Barack Obama will be looking to regain lost ground by delivering a knock-out performance of his own.     

Romney will hammer away at high unemployment, no jobs, no economic growth, a failed foreign policy, growing debt, a health care plan that bears the President’s name and on and on.  The President will counter these arguments by going on the offense pointing to slow but continual growth in jobs, a sluggish but growing economy, a plan to reduce the debt and a health care plan that will help all Americans in need. 

This debate is a town hall format allowing members of the audience to ask all the questions.  On the surface, this format does not necessarily favor either candidate.  It does however create an environment for some interesting and potentially surprising questions.  One that will come as no surprise to Mitt Romney will be someone asking him about his forty-seven percent comments.  Count on Romney to have his canned answer prepared.  Count on President Obama to pounce if the question is asked. 

Obama supporters are counting on the President to show up and get aggressive on this very question.  This one question best frames the difference between the Obama Administration and a potential Romney Administration.  This one question opens the door for the President to speak of the differences between the two men and how they will govern.  It is a winning argument for President Obama but only if he can make the case. 

The second question the President has to be hoping for is the hanging curveball question of Medicare.  This question will also allow the President to differentiate his position from that of Romney’s.  Romney will focus on the billions of dollars being cut from Medicare by the President’s Affordable Health Care Act.  Once again, the President’s supporters hope that he has a clearer explanation and answer to this charge to debunk Romney’s claim.

Tuesday Night’s debate will most likely become an instant classic.  This election is at an important crossroads.  Both candidates must feel a win Tuesday Night could indeed propel them to victory.  A bounce for either candidate coming out of this debate will be meaningful as voting has already commenced across the country.  Both candidates have worked very hard preparing for this moment.  More than likely it will be a draw with some winning and losing moments for each candidate.

There will be those watching hoping for a rumble.  More than likely, they will be disappointed.  No matter what, it will set the stage for the final few weeks of the campaign and the final debate between the two men. Do well Mr. President and I will send you that $5.00 you have asked for, maybe more.             

VOTE OUR WAY OR LOSE YOUR JOB - A CASE OF POLITICAL HARRASSMENT!

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Is tomorrow the day you receive the email, letter or phone call from your boss, Chief Executive Officer or owner directing you how to vote in the upcoming presidential election?  It just may be!  Sadly, it appears to be happening across the nation as Chief Executives and owners are sending emails to their employee groups warning them of a vote for President Obama. 

Warnings include higher gas prices, unprecedented regulation, runaway inflation, Obamacare and a host of other terrible, terrible things.  The most significant warning is that you could lose your job if the President is reelected.  I have read three of these emails sent to employee groups.  Each of the emails has been carefully crafted to create a sense of anxiety and fear within their respective employee base.  One has to wonder if the entire corporate marketing team was pulled off other marketing efforts to brainstorm the best approach to creating anxiety in their workforce.  Who knows?  Maybe it was an intern from the local university.

asg.com

Each email makes a point or disclaimer might be the better description to point out that every employee should vote for the candidate who best represents their views.  Somehow, that seems to soften the directive received from the guy who signs his name to your check every two weeks.  Obviously, it is not enough to show up every day, show up on time and put forth the work you are employed to do. 

The word is fear.  It works!  Create a level of fear, a feeling of anxiety and all of a sudden, people will fall in line so that they do not suffer the consequences.  If you vote this way, bad things will happen.  If you vote that way, you get to keep your job.  Arthur Allen, Chief Executive Officer of ASG Software Solutions, wrote to his employees, “If we fail as a nation to make the right choice on November 6^th, and we lose our independence as a company, I don’t want to hear any complaints regarding the fallout that will most likely come.” Ooooohhhhh.  The Boogie Man!

I am reminded when I read such statements of a man I worked for who owned his own business.  All he would do was talk about how tough it was for him.  It was always “woe is me.”  He worked hard, no question.  He’s the one who took the risk to be in business.  He’s the one who built the business.  However, he did not do it alone.  Everyone including the folks who worked for this man had their own burdens and responsibilities.  The only thing is, they hardly ever took the line, “woe is me.”  More often than not, they accepted their challenges with glad faces, saved their money and provided for their families.         

These types of tactics almost remind me of the ‘casting couch’.  How can you call it anything else?  Sleep with the boss or get fired.  Sleep with the boss or don’t get promoted.  Political harassment is alive and well just as voter suppression seems to be the order of the day with all the new voting identification restrictions across the nation. 

David Siegel, Chief Executive Officer of Westgate Resorts, sent an email to his employee group warning of layoffs if President Obama is reelected.  “It’s quite simple.  If any new taxes are levied on me, or my company, as our current President plans, I will have no choice but to reduce the size of this company.  Rather than grow this company I will be forced to cut back.  This means fewer jobs, less benefits and certainly less opportunity for everyone.” 

How can you argue with that?  The boss has spoken.  Climb aboard or see you.  First it was Citizens United and the opening of the floodgates to unlimited political financial contributions by corporations.  Now, let’s make sure we tell our employees how to vote.  America – land of liberty and freedom – you think?