Some business associates of mine were predicting an easy Republican victory for over a year. It was all about the economy, they said. I agreed that the economy would be a huge factor but that a real candidate needed to be found. People don't rally behind 'insert Republican or Democrat here' cutouts. People want a positive message. That's why people hate market bears--especially when they're right. That's why so many people are scammed every year. Hucksters aren't successful because they sell negativity: they have to sell dreams.

Romney had no dream to sell. The state of the economy was enough to close the gap significantly all by itself. One associate, back before the primaries, was gung-ho about Gingrich. I stated that Gingrich had zero percent chance of winning the election and likely a zero percent chance of even winning the nomination. He disagreed. Then, after Gingrich lost, he proclaimed that Romney would win in a landslide. (Seriously, where the f did this landslide talk start?) Why, I asked. Because there were plenty of people who voted for Obama last time who wouldn't vote for him again. And there was no one who didn't vote him who would vote for him this time. I asked, not even people who weren't old enough to vote last time? You think someone who was sixteen in the last election is likely to vote for Romney in his first ever step to the plate? It hadn't even crossed his mind. He took a couple of instances, mixed them up with his beliefs, and extrapolated that across the electorate. Meanwhile, I was reading Facebook posts from Obama supporters who were still ga-ga over the guy. Not a single Romney supporter I met was ga-ga over him. They typically just really hated Obama. They had no dream to sell; they just had negative emotion.

It's why I've been bored to death by election talk for well over six months. I need a dream, too. I mainly saw Republicans complaining to other Republicans and Democrats complaining to other Democrats--and both sides yelling at each other. I saw ZERO discussion between Republicans and Democrats on any of the issues that I think matter.

Romney let the wingnuts derail his campaign. As soon as he won the nomination, he should've moved to the center or left of center. He could've came out in favor of gay marriage and abortion. What would those on the far right have done? They'd have been ticked off, but would they have voted for Obama or Johnson? GMAFB. Maybe they would've refrained from voting, but that's a big maybe. Meanwhile, Romney would've energized the independents. But instead he let the wingnut "legitimate rape" morons put a lot of negative focus on the Republican party.

Newsflash to all Republicans: the populace is tired of the far right and all of their hypocritical, sanctimonious bullsh!t. Newsflash to Democrats: wingnuts like Pelosi and Reid depress and scare the hell out of business owners from small to large, and they're every bit as F.O.S. as those on the far right.

Obama won because he's much more of a centrist that most Republicans choose to admit. Obamacare is a far left ideal. But the non-closing of Gitmo, the drone war, the continuing war in Afghanistan, the non-prosecution of any of the financial fraud, the tax cuts, the incredible NDAA provision that obliterates all rights--these are as far right as one can get. Democrats give Obama a pass on virtually all of these because he's their guy. Romney, naturally, didn't bring any of them into focus, as he likely supports all of them. Which is why I never could support the guy.

Personally, I'd like to see a candidate reject every far left and far right notion and politician. They're the ones who've led us into this mess. It's time to shake them loose. It's why I favor gridlock. Every time one party has control, some insane policy gets passed (e.g. the bankruptcy act by the Republicans, Obamacare by the Democrats) and the public coffers are raided. It's only when Congress is divided (or the Administration is on one side and Congress is on the other) that they actually have to deal with the other side. When one side has all the power, insanity reigns because the wingnuts on either side take charge.