Hello all! Long time lurker here with my first diary. Hope it's one that doesn't baffle and confuse.
Let me start off by stating the obvious... Romney is bad for this country. On pretty much every social issue he fails in my book, from Social Security and healthcare, to class warfare and women's rights. He also fails on taxes, foreign policy, and immigration.
But let's be real, 2012 is about the economy in voters minds.
The 2012 election is going to dictate the outcome of the 2016 election and potentially beyond. And it's not just if Obama wins, it's if Romney wins as well. This is both good and bad news, depending on the outcome. Here's why:
In my opinion, the economy is going to continue to recover regardless of who's elected. It's the natural order or things; a cycle that goes from collapse to slow recovery based on the strength of our country, its people and businesses, capitalism, and the structure of our nation by the founders. Although a president can sway things up and down to an extent initially after a collapse, Obama has already put into motion the downhill push that is going to recover this economy and future Presidents will unlikely stop that roll (unless there are mass majorities in all three branches of government, but that is unlikely). Romney could do things that damage the economy recovering, but he'll most likely be moderate enough not to fully get in the way.
So if my idea is true, that the next four will be recovered more regardless, the question then becomes: Who takes credit for the recovery?
The winner of 2012.
And then the winner of 2012 will be able to play that as a major card for the 2016 election.
This election isn't just about today. It's about 2012, 2016, and potentially beyond. It's about as critical election as they can be. Just throw out all of the bad stuff Romney could do that may not even effect the economy (repeal ACA, anti-gay and anti-pro-choice, gutting of SS, deportation of immigrants, etc) and you STILL have him going into 2016 with a strong wind of economic recovery, even though he didn't really do anything to help it!
It's the main reason, I believe, that we need to get out the vote from here until election day! We can't let Romney, and the Republicans, win in 2012, 2016 and beyond!