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Tuesday, September 4, 2012


Democrats set to move Obama's big speech from 74,000-seater outdoor stadium to 20,000-seater indoor arena



Democrats are poised to avoid the danger of President Barack Obama accepting his party’s nomination before a partially-empty stadium by shifting his speech to an indoor arena and citing ‘severe weather’.

The Obama campaign have been working desperately to ensure that the 74,000-seater Bank of America stadium in Charlotte would be filled.

Buses for students from across North Carolina and even members of black churches in neighboring South Carolina have been arranged.
Democrats are poised to avoid the danger of President Barack Obama accepting his party's nomination before a partially-empty stadium by shifting his speech to an indoor arena and citing 'severe weather'

Democrats are poised to avoid the danger of President Barack Obama, pictured on the White House lawn today, accepting his party's nomination before a partially-empty stadium by shifting his speech to an indoor arena and citing 'severe weather'

President Barack Obama smiles as supporters applaud during a rally at Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Virginia, today before he goes to the DNC

President Barack Obama smiles as supporters applaud during a rally at Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Virginia, today before he goes to the DNC

The Bank of America stadium site - which seats 74,000 - where U.S. President Barack Obama WAS set to give his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte

The Bank of America stadium site - which seats 74,000 - where U.S. President Barack Obama WAS set to give his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte

The event: The convention is being held in the Time Warner Cable Arena which begins Tuesday night

The event: The convention is being held in the Time Warner Cable Arena which begins Tuesday night

Footage of rows of empty seats at the stadium, home of the Carolina Panthers, as Obama speaks on Thursday night would be politically disastrous – an enduring image of the contrast between his campaign of ‘hope’ and ‘change’ in 2008 and his dour, negative struggle for re-election in 2012.

Now, it looks like the weather has come to the President's rescue.

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As officials prepare to open the Democratic convention this afternoon, there are strong indications that the speech will be moved to Time Warner Cable Arena, which has a capacity of just over 20,000.

Speaking at a background briefing for the press, a Democratic official said that the speech would be given in the stadium ‘rain or shine’ before quickly adding a major caveat.
A man uses a plastic trash bag for rain protection at the Carolina Fest street fair, on the eve of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) on September 3, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina

A man uses a plastic trash bag for rain protection at the Carolina Fest street fair, on the eve of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) on September 3, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina

Before going to Charlotte for the convention, U.S. President Barack Obama speaks today during a campaign rally at Norfolk University in Norfolk, Virginia

Before going to Charlotte for the convention, U.S. President Barack Obama speaks today during a campaign rally at Norfolk University in Norfolk, Virginia

President Barack Obama reaches up to the stands to shake hands with supporters during a campaign event at Norfolk State UniversityUS President Barack Obama greets a young well-wisher upon arrival at Naval Air Station Norfolk
President Obama greets a young well-wisher upon arrival at Naval Air Station in Norfolk, left, and shakes the hand of supporters, right, at the university 

Marine One with Barack Obama on board takes off from the South Lawn of the White House on today as Obama leaves for Norfolk, Virginia, to attend a campaign event

Marine One with Barack Obama on board takes off from the South Lawn of the White House on today as Obama leaves for Norfolk, Virginia, to attend a campaign event

‘We do have a contingency plan, though, for lightning or other severe weather,’ he said. ‘We don't want to put anyone in harm's way so that's really what we're looking for, not if it's going to rain but if it's going to be really bad.

‘The reason that we're not releasing the details on what a move to the arena would mean until that decision is made we don't want a lot of conflicting information out there.

'But once that decision is made - if the decision is made - to move, we will make sure all of the details and we want to make sure all of our supporters know exactly what is happening if it changes.’

Another official said that the use of the stadium was being reviewed ‘on an ongoing basis and we’ll keep you informed on any decision’.
First lady Michelle Obama waves on stage during a sound check with stage manager David Cove during preparations for the Democratic National Convention at Time Warner Cable Arena

First lady Michelle Obama waves on stage during a sound check with stage manager David Cove during preparations for the Democratic National Convention at Time Warner Cable Arena

Campaign workers fold up an Obama banner after a sudden thunderstorm washed out the Carolina Fest street fair, in Charlotte, North Carolina

Campaign workers fold up an Obama banner after a sudden thunderstorm washed out the Carolina Fest street fair, in Charlotte, North Carolina

Democratic convention sources have indicated that the 'contingency plan' is at an advanced stage and that a move to the stadium appears certain. Michelle Obama gives an interview after in the Time Warner Cable Arena today

Democratic convention sources have indicated that the 'contingency plan' is at an advanced stage and that a move to the stadium appears certain. Michelle Obama gives an interview after in the Time Warner Cable Arena today

The current Weather Underground forecast for Charlotte on Thursday is: ‘Partly cloudy with a chance of a thunderstorm and a chance of rain. High of 93F with a heat index of 99F. Winds from the SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.’

Democratic convention sources have indicated that the ‘contingency plan’ is at an advanced stage and that a move to the stadium appears certain.

‘It looks like a done deal to me,’ said one convention worker. ‘The decision’s apparently been taken and it’s just a matter of spinning it as being forced on us by the weather.’

Convention delegates, party volunteers and Democratic officials gathered in Charlotte would make up about one-third of a crowd in the Bank of America stadium, which officials have said would be 65,000 people.

In 2008, when Obama fever was at its height, the then US Senator had no trouble filling an 84,000-seater outside stadium in Denver, Colorado. But voter enthusiasm has waned this time around.

Obama’s crowds in 2008 were far bigger than in recent months. His largest audience has been 14,000 at a campaign kick-off rally at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio in May.


Some 13,000 people were at Obama's rally at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado on Sunday.

Cubans hit with huge tax increases
Customs tax on baggage and cargo skyrocket for all those entering the country.
Last Modified: 04 Sep 2012 02:31

Arriving in Cuba has just become a lot more expensive for both residents and tourists who carry more than 35kg of luggage.

Customs tax has skyrocketed on some items from the equivalent of $1.8 to $10 per kilo.

Al Jazeera's Caroline Malone reports.

A NewGuide to the Democratic Herd


Since Barack Obama’s 2008 victory, Democrats have watched with dismay as the president has been vilified by opponents and as Washington, already polarized, has become downright toxic. (Republicans have their own ideas about when the polarization began.)
What had been a complicated patchwork of Democratic voting blocs before Obama has coalesced into fewer groups that are more unified. They’re not exactly moving in lock step — they never do — but their allegiance to the president has softened the usual party divisions.
His embrace of gay marriage is instructive: it was a galvanizing moment for supporters, and it didn’t seem to hurt him with the large blocs of Democrats who are socially conservative.
The 2012 Democratic herd is charted here along a left-to-right continuum of party loyalty, based chiefly on the Pew Research Center’s Political Typology as well as the views of political experts. The size of the donkey icons approximates the relative strength of each bloc.
Pew’s tracking of party affiliation shows that a growing number of Americans identify as independent. With party loyalists on both sides largely decided, “the race will move at the margins,” said Tad Devine, a longtime Democratic consultant. That’s why the campaigns are focused on identity groups: women, Latinos, older voters. Peeling off even slivers of these could well determine who wins the election.
Staunch Liberals
One of the two biggest blocs and the party’s most loyal voters, from students, academics and bloggers to Hollywood icons. The activist subset grew with the vocal addition of the Occupy movement, fueled by disgust with inequality and a system seen as unfairly tilted toward the wealthy.
MOTIVATING ISSUES
· Inequality.
· Protect the environment.
· Expand the safety net.
· Abortion rights.
· Pro-gay marriage.
· Pro-immigrants.
· Pro-renewable energy.
· Cut defense spending.
· Gun control.
STANDARD BEARER
Elizabeth Warren is a rock star for championing consumer protections and taking on the finance industry.

Blue Collar Bloc
The other big bedrock wing. They’re beaten down and pessimistic — half make less than $30,000 — with the highest unemployment of all blocs. They blame both government neglect and Wall Street greed. But many also see immigrants as competition for work — a major fault line within the party. Religious and socially conservative (for Democrats).
MOTIVATING ISSUES
· The economy.
· Expand safety net.
· Big business doesn’t care about the little guy; nor does government.
·  Limit immigration.
· Anti-corporate welfare.
STANDARD BEARERS
Joe Biden, Sherrod Brown.

Bootstrap Optimists
A growing majority-minority bloc: roughly equal parts African-American, Hispanic and white; many immigrants and children of immigrants. Though largely low-income and financially stressed — about half make less than $30,000 — they believe hard work will get them ahead. Religious and socially conservative.
MOTIVATING ISSUES
· The economy.
· Protect safety net.
· Pro-immigration.
· Gun control.
·  
STANDARD BEARERS
Julián Castro, Cory Booker.

Younger Independents
This smaller group only leans Democratic. They’re prosperous, mostly white and liberal (though notably not on entitlements and affirmative action). About one-third are under age 30; nearly as many have no religious affiliation. Half live either in the Northeast or in the West.
MOTIVATING ISSUES
· Protect the environment.
· Pro-abortion rights.
· Pro-gay marriage.
· Pro-immigrants.
· Pro-renewable energy.
· Cut defense spending.
· Prefer a smaller federal government that provides fewer services.
STANDARD BEARERS
None, as few younger politicians make the national stage. But Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart are beacons.
  
Southern and Rural Democrats
A small, shrinking remnant of what used to be a mainstay of the party. Religious and socially conservative; they feel ignored by elites. They’re open to compromise, and they’ve been known to vote Republican. Religious and socially conservative.
MOTIVATING ISSUES
· The economy.
· Drill, mine and frack: they favor energy development over environmental protection.
· Pro-defense spending.
·  
STANDARD BEARER
Joe Manchin.
By BILL MARSH, GRAHAM ROBERTS, XAQUIN G.V. and ARCHIE TSE 

A New Guide to theRepublican Herd


Six years ago, as the Republican Party was headed for a historic electoral drubbing, Republican voters belonged to a number of distinct, boisterous camps: several strains of social conservatives; broad anti-regulation and anti-tax blocs; hawks supporting the Afghan and Iraq wars; moderates who shunned the culture wars.

That motley crowd has morphed into a more unified and even more boisterous one. All are motivated foremost by disgust with the weak economy and an intense dislike of the man presiding over it, President Obama.
There are still distinct camps, though fewer. They are pictured here along a right-to-left continuum of party loyalty, based on the views of several political experts and strategists. The size of the elephant icons approximates the relative strength of each bloc.
The biggest change, of course, is the arrival of the Tea Party. Although incited by alarm over debt, health care reform and bailouts, the Tea Party is largely in league with a newly monolithic bloc of social conservatives. Both groups share the same broad agenda.
Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan, after their coronation in Tampa, Fla., hope to have the blocs shown here firmly onboard. Winning over voters outside the tent is their toughest task for the next two months.

Main Street Voters

Main Streeters are the biggest bloc, a pragmatic, establishment-supporting wing of the party that has for years produced its presidential nominees. Although less ideological and less assertive on foreign policy than some elements in the G.O.P. herd, they are arguably the most loyal to the party and its most reliable voters. They are Republicans first, conservatives second. Main Streeters are looking for some degree of compromise on Capitol Hill to get things done; they are not so thrilled by purists.
STANDARD BEARERS
Mitt Romney, John Boehner, Mitch McConnell, John McCain. Presidents Bush I and Bush II are standard-bearers emeritus.
MOTIVATING ISSUES
·         The economy
·         Cut deficit, taxes, regulations
·         Repeal Obamacare
·         Gun owners’ rights
·         Anti-abortion, anti-gay marriage
·         Pro-energy subsidies

Tea Party Voters

The populist, more radical Tea Party wing has a deep mistrust of experts, elites and even the G.O.P. establishment. Sees issues in stark black and white; has no appetite for compromise. They are conservatives first, Republicans second.
STANDARD BEARERS
Jim DeMint, Grover Norquist, Rush Limbaugh, Sarah Palin. Paul Ryan, though not in the House Tea Party Caucus, is nonetheless a rock star.
MOTIVATING ISSUES
·         The economy
·         Slash deficit, taxes, regulations
·         Repeal Obamacare
·         Anti-abortion, anti-gay marriage
·         Anti-environmental regulations
·         Gun owners' rights
·         Seal the border

 Christian Conservatives

One bloc, deeply rooted in religion, with two wings that see a decline in American values. Both care more about their conservative agenda than fealty to the G.O.P.
STANDARD BEARERS
The White Evangelical wing, dominated by Southerners, is perhaps three-quarters of this bloc. Michele Bachmann, Tony Perkins and Mike Huckabee are standard-bearers. Rick Santorum leads the Conservative Catholic wing.
MOTIVATING ISSUES
·         The economy
·         Anti-abortion, anti-gay marriage
·         Creationist theories, God in public sphere
·         Cut funds for Planned Parenthood
·         Slash deficit, taxes, regulations
·         Repeal Obamacare
·         Gun owners’ rights

Libertarians

The G.O.P.’s odd men out (two-thirds are male), Libertarians are not an easy fit in the party. Like Tea Party supporters, they are pro-business and anti-government, but less religious. They are more affluent and better educated than many Republicans.
STANDARD BEARERS
Ron Paul has been the most visible leader; son Rand occupies the same political ground. But they want government regulation of some private conduct: both oppose almost all abortions; most libertarians do not. Gary Johnson, once a G.O.P. presidential hopeful, is now the Libertarian candidate.
MOTIVATING ISSUES
·         The economy
·         Slash deficit, taxes, regulations
·         Repeal Obamacare
·         Gun owners’ rights
·         Privacy rights; abortion rights
·         Opposed to the drug war
·         Opposed to Patriot Act
·         Fiercely isolationist

The Disaffected

The most economically wounded bloc, so named by Pew for their skepticism toward both big business and government. The system, they believe, is rigged for the rich. Least loyal to the party, and least likely to vote.
STANDARD BEARERS
They only lean Republican and thus lack similarly minded leaders. Voting for Democrats is unlikely but not impossible.
MOTIVATING ISSUES
·         The economy
·         Wall Street greed
·         Concentration of economic power
·         Anti-immigration
·         Pro-safety net
  
The Endangered
Or Vanished

Northeast moderates in Congress have dwindled to a handful of vestigial politicians like the retiring Senator Olympia Snowe as voters there have turned more Democratic. Even after the G.O.P. romped in the 2010 election, only 2 out of New England’s 22 House districts were in Republican hands.
National security voters
Neoconservatives, advocates of a hawkish foreign policy, took a beating in 2006 amid broad opposition to the Iraq war. Their constituency has largely disappeared, but the agenda lives: Mitt Romney is offering an updated version to an electorate now less focused on foreign policy.
Liberals Hello? Anyone?
By BILL MARSH, GRAHAM ROBERTS, XAQUIN G.V. and ARCHIE TSE |