How Obama seized the narrative

Barack Obama may finally be defining himself as president. The question is: What took him so long to seize the narrative and find his character as “leader.”

Obama now has strong public support in the fiscal crisis faceoff. Even as the House Republicans scramble to find a way into the argument, the president has a tight grip on the storyline.

This is a big change from the fierce healthcare reform fight and the 2011 debt limit crisis. The chattering class then continually asserted that Obama had “lost control of the narrative.”

But now the president has a strong narrative arc:  He is the protagonist who will stand up for what he believes in, battling the odds.

A dramatic character holds our attention based on what he wants—the “spine of a character” in a play is defined by a clear through-line of intention. For much of Obama’s first term, the American public — his audience — felt that he had lost his way.

The problem was that Obama, as president, had cast himself as consensus seeker or conciliator. This role took him out of the action of his own narrative.

Other characters were able to rush in to fill the narrative void. The contentious cast of Congress became the new focus of national attention. Obama, by deliberately sitting out the public debate on healthcare and letting Congress put together his signature legislation, lost sight of his goal.

This was surprising for many voters, who had been captured by the compelling drama of Obama’s 2008 campaign. As “candidate,” Obama understood his part was all about aspiration. His goal was clear — and there are built-in stations of conflict.

Obama’s personal story was so powerful, in fact, that he was able to vanquish a master of the narrative, Hilary Clinton. He skillfully defined himself as the brave, young combatant challenging a ruthless political machine.

Brash, bold and thrilling — Obama was the protagonist for a new American electorate. He reflected the character of a nation we wanted to be — diverse, young, hip and hopeful. Audacious.

But once the campaign’s dramatic arc was fulfilled, and Obama assumed the presidency, he did not have a new narrative to replace it.

Obama deliberately refused to put conflict on the table during the health care debate. He did not want to be defined as a fighter. The Republicans knew this—and maintained a one-sided battle, casting themselves as opponents willing to fight for their goals.

Obama lost more ground during the debt ceiling crisis. Rather than confront the opposition and the possibility of failure, conflict-weary Obama settled for a tired solution: He would agree to discuss it later.

In both these scenarios, it didn’t seem as if the dramatic stakes were high enough for Obama to take a risk. By playing the conciliator-in-chief, Obama created a role for himself that was fundamentally undramatic. He was no longer the star of his own narrative.

As his re-election neared, Obama continued to let the GOP define his leadership—even his back story. Birthers created an alternative-universe origin story for Obama, even accusing him of being part of a Manchurian Candidate-like socialist conspiracy. Obama had created the void that made room for this.

Meanwhile, a slew of Republican candidates were defining themselves. The GOP ultimately chose a nominee whose personal narrative was nimble enough to fit any prototype. Mitt Romney’s Etch-a-Sketch leadership qualities could fit any focus group.

Against this, Obama’s re-election campaign started without any new narrative. He could no longer use his 2008 aspirational language of “hope.” At best—he could attack Romney’s narrative.

A powerful surrogate finally gave Obama’s campaign its first real boost. Bill Clinton’s “comeback kid” narrative — crafted so carefully by his Hollywood pals — had served him through two campaigns, and also through the crises of his presidency. The narrative of “resiliency” is sometimes comic — but certainly always joyous, and fun to watch.

In Clinton’s final comeback, the former president ignited the Democratic National Convention in North Carolina. He presented a compelling new narrative line for Obama, focusing on his unfinished goals.

The turning point was in the first debate. The disengaged president conveyed the impression that he would rather be dining with his wife on their anniversary than addressing the electorate. The fatal question was raised: “Does he really want to be here?”

The failure of that first debate seemed to jar Obama into re-assuming a narrative he was comfortable with — as “candidate.”  The dramatic sense of conflict was back, the race was on and the audience (the American public) energized.

He was again aspiring to something. Even those monitoring the statistics on Nate Silver’s 538.com blog felt the nerve-shaking tension of Obama as underdog. This new dramatic tension was so palpable that many Republicans seemed genuinely shocked when they didn’t win.

Obama won the narrative because he fought for the presidency. It now looks as if he is willing to extend that clarity of intention into his second term.

With the fiscal cliff looming, Obama’s new narrative features taking on the Republicans and fighting over tax increases for the top 2 percent. The president  has embraced the drama of the ticking clock, which may make a showdown over the financial crisis as inevitable as the gunfight in High Noon.

Obama has found a way to extend his narrative into a template for leadership. He is again an audacious protagonist – and the focus of all our attention.

Source  http://blogs.reuters.com/great-debate/2012/12/17/how-obama-seized-the-narrative/ 

Obama laying groundwork for climate-change treaty

As leaders in Washington obsess about the fiscal cliff, President Barack Obama is putting in place the building blocks for a climate treaty requiring the first fossil-fuel emissions cuts from both the U.S. and China.

State Department envoy Todd Stern is in Doha, Qatar, this week working to clear the path for an international agreement by 2015. Though Obama failed to deliver on his promise to start a cap-and-trade program in his first term, he is working on policies that may help cut greenhouse gases 17% in 2020 in the U.S., historically the world's biggest polluter.

Obama has moved forward with greenhouse-gas rules for vehicles and new power plants, appliance standards and investment in low-emitting energy sources. He also has called for 80% of U.S. electricity to come from clean energy sources, including nuclear and natural gas, by 2035.

"The president is laying the foundations for real action on climate change," Jake Schmidt, who follows international climate policy for the Washington-based Natural Resources Defense Council, said in an interview in Doha. "Whether or not he decides to jump feet first into the international arena, we'll see."

Envoys from more than 190 nations are entering their second week of talks today at the United Nations conference working toward a global warming treaty. Their ambition is to agree to a pact in 2015 that would take force in 2020. It would supersede limits on emissions for industrial nations under the Kyoto Protocol, which the U.S. never ratified.

Obama's push is being pursued without fanfare as the administration and Congress grapple to avert a budget crisis and $607 billion in automatic spending cuts. Unlike 2009, when Obama failed to prevent the collapse of climate talks in Copenhagen, Denmark, the U.S. can point to more concrete actions it's taking to fight global warming.

Obama has more ammunition at hand. The Environmental Protection Agency is required under the Clean Air Act to move ahead with regulations on emissions from existing power plants. Those are responsible for about a third of U.S. emissions, the largest chunk.

Measures such as those, along with continued low natural gas prices and state actions, can cut emissions 16.3% by 2020, research firm Resources for the Future estimates. Emissions already are down 8.8% from 2005 levels, according to Jonathan Pershing, a State Department negotiator in Doha.

"The U.S. is in a much stronger position going into the Doha talks despite failure of Congress to pass comprehensive climate legislation," said Trevor Houser, a former U.S. climate negotiator who served during the Copenhagen meeting. "For countries like China that were able to hide behind a perception of U.S. inaction, the fact that U.S. emissions are falling helps increase pressure. It takes away the excuse that action is stalled because of the U.S."

A summer of extreme weather also is supporting the U.S. delegation in the talks by raising public awareness and concern about the risks of climate change, Pershing said last week in Doha. So far this year, superstorm Sandy devastated the East Coast while wildfires raged in the west and a record drought wrecked crops in the Midwest.

"The combination of those events is certainly changing the minds of Americans and making clear to people at home the consequences of the increased growth in emissions," he said at a Nov. 26 news conference in Doha.

The portion of Americans who say climate change will affect them a "great deal" or by a "moderate" amount rose by 13 percentage points to 42% from March to September, according to a poll by Yale University and George Mason University.

Source  http://www.freep.com/article/20121203/NEWS07/312030143/Obama-laying-groundwork-for-climate-change-treaty

Obama opens landmark visit to Myanmar

Launching a landmark visit to long shunned Myanmar, President Barack Obama said he comes to "extend the hand of friendship" to a nation moving from persecution to peace. But the praise and personal attention come with an admonition from Obama: The work of ensuring and protecting freedoms has just begun.

Obama touched down Monday morning, becoming the first U.S. president to visit this Asian nation, which is also known as Burma. He will meet with the nation’s prime minister and democracy advocates, and close with a speech at the University of Yangon, where he will praise the country’s progress toward democracy but urge further reforms.

"Instead of being repressed, the right of people to assemble together must now be fully respected," the president said in speech excerpts released by the White House. "Instead of being stifled, the veil of media censorship must continue to be lifted. As you take these steps, you can draw on your progress."

Obama’s visit was to last just six hours, but it carries significant symbolism, reflecting a remarkable turnaround in the countries’ relationship.

Hundreds of children and young people dressed in white shirts and green sarongs, many of them wearing traditional cheek makeup smears and holding small U.S. flags, lined both sides of the road for more than half a mile heading out of the airport.

Obama will meet separately in Myanmar with Prime Minister Thein Sein, who has orchestrated much of his country’s recent reforms. The president will also meet with longtime Myanmar democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi in the home where she spent years under house arrest.

Obama has rewarded Myanmar’s rapid adoption of democratic reforms by lifting some economic penalties. The president has appointed a permanent ambassador to the country, and pledged greater investment if Myanmar continues to progress following a half-century of military rule.

In his speech, Obama recalls a promise he made upon taking office — that the United States would extend a hand if those nations that ruled in fear unclenched their fists.

"Today, I have come to keep my promise, and extend the hand of friendship," he said. "The flickers of progress that we have seen must not be extinguished. They must become a shining North Star for all this nation’s people."

Some human rights groups say Myanmar’s government, which continues to hold hundreds of political prisoners and is struggling to contain ethnic violence, hasn’t done enough to earn a personal visit from Obama. The president said from Thailand on Sunday that his visit is not an endorsement of the government in Myanmar, but an acknowledgment that dramatic progress is underway and it deserves a global spotlight.

The president’s Asia tour also marks his formal return to the world stage after months mired in a bruising re-election campaign. For his first postelection trip, he tellingly settled on Asia, a region he has deemed the region as crucial to U.S. prosperity and security.

Aides say Asia will factor heavily in Obama’s second term as the U.S. seeks to expand its influence in an attempt to counter China.

China’s rise is also at play in Myanmar, which long has aligned itself with Beijing. But some in Myanmar fear that China is taking advantage of its wealth of natural resources, so the country is looking for other partners to help build its nascent economy.

Even as Obama turned his sights on Asia, widening violence in the Middle East competed for his attention.

Obama told reporters Sunday that Israel had the right to defend itself against missile attacks from Gaza. But he urged Israel not to launch a ground assault in Gaza, saying it would put Israeli soldiers, as well as Palestinian citizens, at greater risk and hamper an already vexing peace process.

Source  http://www.bostonherald.com/news/us_politics/view/20121118obama_myanmar_trip_not_an_endorsement_of_govt/

From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20121119/NATION/211190332#ixzz2Cf9n3mZ8

The U.S. and Britain on Sunday warned about the risks of Israel expanding its air assault on the Gaza Strip into a ground war, while vigorously defending the Jewish state's right to protect itself against rocket attacks.
The remarks by President Barack Obama and Britain Foreign Secretary William Hague were part of a diplomatic balancing act by the West as it desperately seeks an end to the escalating violence without alienating its closest ally in the region.
"Israel has every right to expect that it does not have missiles fired into its territory," Obama said at a news conference in Bangkok at the start of a three-nation visit to Asia.
"If that can be accomplished without a ramping up of military activity in Gaza, that's preferable," Obama said. "It's not just preferable for the people of Gaza. It's also preferable for Israelis, because if Israeli troops are in Gaza, they're much more at risk of incurring fatalities or being wounded."
The president spoke shortly before an Israeli airstrike leveled a home in a residential neighborhood of Gaza City on Sunday. Among the 11 dead were four small children and five women, including an 81-year-old, Palestinian medical officials said. The attack was the single deadliest incident of the five-day-old Israeli operation.
A similar scene unfolded elsewhere in the city early today, when an airstrike leveled two houses belonging to a single family, killing two children and two adults and injuring 42 people, said Gaza heath official Ashraf al-Kidra.
Rescue workers were frantically searching for 12 to 15 members of the Azzam family under the rubble.
In all, 81 Palestinians, half of them civilians, have been killed and 720 have been wounded. Three Israeli civilians have died from Palestinian rocket fire, and dozens have been wounded..
The Israeli military said the target of Sunday's attack was a top rocket mastermind of the Islamic Jihad militant group. The claim could not be verified, and the attack raised speculation that Israel could face increased international pressure if the civilian death toll continued to rise.
Hague said Hamas, Gaza's militant ruler, "bears principal responsibility" for initiating the violence and must stop all rocket attacks on Israel. But Hague also made clear the diplomatic risks of an Israeli escalation.
"A ground invasion is much more difficult for the international community to sympathize with or support, including the United Kingdom," he said.
Israeli officials say the airstrikes are aimed at ending months of rocket fire out of the Hamas-ruled territory. Israel began the offensive with an airstrike that killed Hamas' military chief, and since then has targeted suspected rocket launchers and storage sites.
The Mideast ally is now at a crossroads: launch a ground invasion or pursue Egyptian-led truce efforts. But with Israel and Hamas far apart on any terms of cease-fire, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared at the start of the weekly Cabinet meeting, "The Israeli military is prepared to significantly expand the operation."
The crisis threatened to overshadow Obama's trip to Asia, which includes stops in Myanmar and Cambodia as part of a broader effort to expand the U.S. economic and military presence in a region long dominated by China.
So far, the U.S. has thrown its weight behind Israel, and Obama has called on Egypt and Turkey to intervene on Israel's behalf.
Obama said he has told Egypt's president, Mohammed Morsi, and Turkey's prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, that "those who champion the cause of the Palestinians should recognize that if we see a further escalation of the situation in Gaza, then the likelihood of us getting back on any kind of peace track that leads to a two-state solution is going to be pushed off way into the future."
Obama also pointed to the next 48 hours "to see what kind of progress we can make."
Members of the U.S. Congress, which overwhelmingly supports Israel, criticized Egypt and Turkey for not doing enough to intervene. They said all eyes were on Morsi.
On ABC's "This Week," Sen. Carl Levin, chairman of the Armed Services Committee, called Egypt's response to the crisis "pretty weak" so far. "I think that they're going to have to take some very serious steps diplomatically to make it clear to Hamas that they're going to lose support in the Arab world if they continue these rocket attacks on Israel," said Levin, D-Detroit.


From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20121119/NATION/211190332#ixzz2Cf9n3mZ8

The U.S. and Britain on Sunday warned about the risks of Israel expanding its air assault on the Gaza Strip into a ground war, while vigorously defending the Jewish state's right to protect itself against rocket attacks.
The remarks by President Barack Obama and Britain Foreign Secretary William Hague were part of a diplomatic balancing act by the West as it desperately seeks an end to the escalating violence without alienating its closest ally in the region.
"Israel has every right to expect that it does not have missiles fired into its territory," Obama said at a news conference in Bangkok at the start of a three-nation visit to Asia.
"If that can be accomplished without a ramping up of military activity in Gaza, that's preferable," Obama said. "It's not just preferable for the people of Gaza. It's also preferable for Israelis, because if Israeli troops are in Gaza, they're much more at risk of incurring fatalities or being wounded."
The president spoke shortly before an Israeli airstrike leveled a home in a residential neighborhood of Gaza City on Sunday. Among the 11 dead were four small children and five women, including an 81-year-old, Palestinian medical officials said. The attack was the single deadliest incident of the five-day-old Israeli operation.
A similar scene unfolded elsewhere in the city early today, when an airstrike leveled two houses belonging to a single family, killing two children and two adults and injuring 42 people, said Gaza heath official Ashraf al-Kidra.
Rescue workers were frantically searching for 12 to 15 members of the Azzam family under the rubble.
In all, 81 Palestinians, half of them civilians, have been killed and 720 have been wounded. Three Israeli civilians have died from Palestinian rocket fire, and dozens have been wounded..
The Israeli military said the target of Sunday's attack was a top rocket mastermind of the Islamic Jihad militant group. The claim could not be verified, and the attack raised speculation that Israel could face increased international pressure if the civilian death toll continued to rise.
Hague said Hamas, Gaza's militant ruler, "bears principal responsibility" for initiating the violence and must stop all rocket attacks on Israel. But Hague also made clear the diplomatic risks of an Israeli escalation.
"A ground invasion is much more difficult for the international community to sympathize with or support, including the United Kingdom," he said.
Israeli officials say the airstrikes are aimed at ending months of rocket fire out of the Hamas-ruled territory. Israel began the offensive with an airstrike that killed Hamas' military chief, and since then has targeted suspected rocket launchers and storage sites.
The Mideast ally is now at a crossroads: launch a ground invasion or pursue Egyptian-led truce efforts. But with Israel and Hamas far apart on any terms of cease-fire, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared at the start of the weekly Cabinet meeting, "The Israeli military is prepared to significantly expand the operation."
The crisis threatened to overshadow Obama's trip to Asia, which includes stops in Myanmar and Cambodia as part of a broader effort to expand the U.S. economic and military presence in a region long dominated by China.
So far, the U.S. has thrown its weight behind Israel, and Obama has called on Egypt and Turkey to intervene on Israel's behalf.
Obama said he has told Egypt's president, Mohammed Morsi, and Turkey's prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, that "those who champion the cause of the Palestinians should recognize that if we see a further escalation of the situation in Gaza, then the likelihood of us getting back on any kind of peace track that leads to a two-state solution is going to be pushed off way into the future."
Obama also pointed to the next 48 hours "to see what kind of progress we can make."
Members of the U.S. Congress, which overwhelmingly supports Israel, criticized Egypt and Turkey for not doing enough to intervene. They said all eyes were on Morsi.
On ABC's "This Week," Sen. Carl Levin, chairman of the Armed Services Committee, called Egypt's response to the crisis "pretty weak" so far. "I think that they're going to have to take some very serious steps diplomatically to make it clear to Hamas that they're going to lose support in the Arab world if they continue these rocket attacks on Israel," said Levin, D-Detroit.


From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20121119/NATION/211190332#ixzz2Cf9n3mZ8

Recommended tips for men to remain healthy as they get older

With age comes wisdom. Unfortunately, it also comes with an increased threat of developing health problems. 

Prostate cancer and other diseases affect a disproportionately large amount of American men. According to the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF), more than 16 million men are affected by the disease globally, and American men represent 2.5 million of that figure. 

EAT RIGHT: If you've eaten a particular way your whole life, you might find it difficult to change. But cutting out the junk in favor of fruits, vegetables and whole grains is well worth the effort.
Opt for fish over red meat. Evidence from several studies suggests that fish can help protect against prostate cancer because it contains "good fat," particularly omega-3 fatty acids. A free nutrition guide and tasty recipes are available at www.pcf.org/nutrition . 

STAY ACTIVE: A sedentary lifestyle contributes to your risk of obesity, heart disease and cancer.
GET CHECKED: While it's always important to be open with your physician about your health and your family's health history, starting at age 40 it becomes crucial. Regular doctor's visits are also an important component of early diagnosis. While these tests may not be fun, they can save your life. If you have a history of prostate cancer in your family, consider a yearly rectal examination and a Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test starting in your forties. 

Broader awareness and understanding of the health risks associated with aging can save lives. So don't shy away from talking to your friends and family about your health.

Source  http://www.thinkstewartville.com/main.asp?SectionID=8&SubSectionID=19&ArticleID=6480

3 Tips for White Teeth

Whitening is a very popular trend in today’s world. I’ve noticed that it has become a lot like coloring your hair- everyone has standing appointments prior to big events. Any why shouldn’t they; after all, white teeth are beautiful and can make your face seem brighter. Keeping your gums healthy is just as important as any other organ in your body. I have a few tips and tricks for you to whiten your teeth and keeping your gums healthy.

Stop Stains at the Source:
Stains come from a variety of places. One of the sneakiest culprits that stain your teeth is your morning coffee or tea. We all have that habit, you know the one. We go to Starbucks or any local coffee shop for our “morning jolt of coffee” and rush off to work. The stain from the coffee stays on your teeth and builds up, eventually turning them dark. What can you do for a quick fix? Rinse your mouth out with water right after your morning coffee so that the dark stains are washed away.

Whiten At home:
For a cheap, at home alternative to bleaching, you can us my “special mix” of a little baking soda and hydrogen peroxide blended into a paste to brush your teeth for about two minutes; spitting is ok if necessary. Be careful because this can be abrasive so use it sparingly and only once per week. This mix will help remove the stains left behind by coffee, tea and red wine.

Visit Your Dentist
Your dentist can help you decide on the whitening procedure that would be best for you and your teeth. One long term solution that has become popular is porcelain veneers. For those whom have bleached and are still not pleased, porcelain veneers can transform crooked, yellow, or poorly shaped teeth to perfection. Veneers are fabricated from porcelain so they won’t change color or stain. The process involves removing about .5-1.5 mm off the front surface of the tooth to make room for the custom fabricated thin porcelain sheets that are placed on the front surface to create the “perfect & natural” smile.

An accomplished leader and innovator in cosmetic and reconstructive dentistry,
Dr. Sherri Worth is one of the top dentists in the country. Dr. Worth uses her expertise in the field to create “smile makeovers” for celebrities, models, professional athletes, and everyday people alike. Specializing in porcelain veneers, crowns and bridges, implants, and reconstructive dentistry, Dr. Worth’s perfectionism is demonstrated not only in her patients’ flawless teeth but in her state-of-the-art dental facility. Located in Newport Beach, CA, her facility fuses the latest technology and equipment, including digital imaging and x-rays, with a team of enthusiastic and knowledgeable staff. For more information, go to: www.drsherriworth.com

Source  http://www.healthnewsdigest.com/news/Dental_330/3_Tips_for_White_Teeth.shtml

President Obama, Mitt Romney compete for underdog status in debates

It’s the debate before the debates: Who gets to play the role of underdog, President Obama or Republican challenger Mitt Romney?

Neither candidate wants to be labeled the favorite and with a week to go before the first rhetorical rumble of the general election, each campaign is -- in a dramatic departure from its usual negativity -- praising the opposition.

“Mitt Romney had many, many debates, and he was very good in them,” Obama adviser David Axelrod told Reuters last week, referring to Romney’s 20 debates during the Republican primary. “By and large, when he needed to bring it, he did. He memorizes his set pieces, and he delivers them well.”

Another Obama adviser, Robert Gibbs, was more direct during an appearance on CNN Sunday.

“Mitt Romney, I think, has an advantage,” Gibbs said.

Senator Rob Portman of Ohio, who has played Obama in Romney’s debate preparations, responded on Monday: “One thing that I think has been missing in some of the discussion I’ve heard is that Barack Obama is a very effective debater,” Portman told Politico. “He’s articulate; he’s smart. He did a great job in 2008 during that campaign as a debater.”

The same candidates who have spent months trying to convince voters of their superiority on everything from the economy to foreign policy now are attempting to relieve the pressure to win arguments on those very subjects.

“Why do they do it? Because if you don’t do as well, you have an excuse,” said Allan Louden, chair of the communications department at Wake Forest University and an expert on political debates. “If you exceed expectations, everyone’s elated.”

The strategic lowering of debate expectations goes back at least as far as the 1980 presidential race between incumbent Democrat Jimmy Carter and GOP nominee Ronald Reagan, Louden said.

A Globe story published on the day of that year’s second debate quoted Reagan press secretary Lyn Nofziger as saying “there’s minimal risk for Reagan. There’s enormous risk for Carter.” Another Reagan aide said that “if Reagan gets a draw, Carter loses.”

After setting his standard of success at a mere tie, Reagan was more brazen after a good performance in Cleveland, declaring he had won before flying to Texas. Polls backed up his claim: An ABC News/Harris survey showed voters overwhelmingly believed Reagan won, 44 percent to 26 percent. An Associated Press poll gave Reagan the victory, 46-34.

This year, there will be three 90-minute debates between Obama and Romney, each of which will be televised between 9 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. The first is next Wednesday at the University of Denver, where the focus will be on domestic policy. 

The second debate is Oct. 16 at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y. and will feature questions from undecided voters in the style of a town hall meeting. The final debate is Oct. 22 at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla. and will cover foreign policy.

Vice President Joe Biden will debate Romney’s running mate Paul Ryan on Oct. 11 at Centre College in Danville, Ky. on both foreign and domestic topics.

The goal for each campaign, Louden said, is to control the media narrative before and after the debates. There are explicit and implicit arguments on both sides.

The explicit argument from the Obama campaign is that Romney should be expected to fare well because of his recent debate experience and reportedly intense preparation. The implicit argument is that for the same reasons, Romney should be pilloried if he fares poorly.

Romney’s explicit argument is that he is well-practiced, yes, but has not debated a Democrat in a decade and that Obama has the advantage of being president -- dealing with the foreign and domestic duties of the office every day. The implicit argument is that a debate defeat would be embarrassing for the incumbent.

“Who’s really the underdog? I think it’s pretty irrelevant,” Louden said.

Source  http://www.boston.com/politicalintelligence/2012/09/25/president-obama-mitt-romney-compete-for-underdog-status-debates/LnZbZDZeXn7cDsVkqUxesJ/story.html

Golf tips to help your wallet and health

The few things in golf that don’t go up in-season are the cost to practice or the cost to take a lesson.

With the shorter days it can be a challenge to find the time. However, you will get more out of your practice if you are not sweating to death and can actually hold onto the club.

If you look around and are willing to travel, you may even find greens fees that won’t break the bank. Don’t forget that most courses will let you walk at certain times and there is no better way to play this great game than walking the course.

Not taking a cart will help your health, wallet and game.

Now you have a few ideas to help not only your finances but your overall well being and some great family time. Excuses be gone!

Source  http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20120909/SPORTS/309090020/Golf-tips-help-your-wallet-health?nclick_check=1