There's a pretty good argument out there that since QE doesn't create jobs and tends to put upwards pressure on the pricing of everything, it'll end up hurting consumers, whose vote that would sway. Then again, prices are already high, the election is right around the corner and at the least, the stock market is going to be propped up, barring some additional global issues.

I think that if the Republicans, over the last two years, had presented some bills to fix the tax code, downsize the IRS, make government more efficient and create ongoing FOCUSED (looked at the stats on the amount of money that ended up for the 'shovel ready' projects?) and efficient infrastructure projects, along with doing nothing but emphasizing job creation, they would have had a shot in this election. As it is, they have to pray for more bad jobs numbers and consider pushing us towards 'the fiscal cliff' if they get desperate enough. Maybe the electoral college factor could work for them.

I'm voting Libertarian for President but still need to research my House and Senate votes; that is a tough one for me as I think the whole system is broken (it doesn't do anywhere near the best for the most amount of people in the long run.)

Very few multi-nationals are 'exploiting' any of the BRICS at this point in time. FDI in BRICS has dropped 28% YoY. The major funds are largely dis-invested geographically.

The new focus for international in-flow is Africa. China is well aware it's going to need its own 'China' in 20 years or and Africa has been their economic development focus for the last decade with precisely that long term goal in mind.

Seems there's no shortage of funds available for the area and while this is matched by levels of entrepreneurship and abundant physical resource, infrastructure and business MO ‘African style’ present some barriers to standard venture capital and private equity deployment.

Europe is becoming an economic and political backwater and destined to play a much smaller role in the strategic global power plays over the next few decades. The US, under appropriate stewardship, could well manage its liaisons and overseas interests in such a manner as to team up with the new major players (China & India) in developing the African resource. Plus the US has the ability to quickly modify their practices to work within the African business ethic model far more readily than their staid European counterparts.

Where Obama may have been considered to have been a little low key in relation to foreign affairs, that is a big plus when you consider just how fantastically club-footed Romney was in his brief, but potently debilitating mini tour of offence and charmless cluelessness a couple of months back. Obama’s team could not have scripted it better themselves.

I suspect many Americans will forget partisan entrenchment and go with what makes most sense for America for the next 4 years.

As China slows down and their average wage increases, puppet-ed Obama can blame Iran, the muslim brotherhood (U.N "peacekeeping" forces do the dirty work), and China trade policy(co-opting Trump), while the banks and the likes of Bain Capital help multinationals start exploiting Brazil and South America for new slave labor and tax-haven island businesses flourish. Or Germany(really the ECB) as they increase their takeover of Europe and the Mediterranean economically.

I don't believe in partisan politics. I vote for whomever I feel seems better equipped to handle the major issues facing the country at the time of any election. So, I have just been astounded by the candidates the republicans have been choosing of late. First Sarah Palin, now Mitt Romney! I don't know, but it would appear there is a shallow pool of worthwhile talent to choose from in the Republican ranks.

I observed that even in the primaries there seemed to only be lack luster support for Romney within his own ranks. Any high profile Romney supporter seemed to be pretty much saying, well, I'll support him, since there are no other viable choices. To me, Romney just exudes the air of entitlement, a guy whose been given everything on a silver platter, a guy who doesn't really understand what it is to be an average middle class American.

Am I the only one who finds peculiar that the Republican party chose a wall street fat cat to run, given the rise of the occupy wall street sentiment lately. Really? Do you guys want to win? How about that little foray abroad? Has he ever traveled outside the country before? Does his diplomatic skill entail being able to see Alaska from his house too? Come on guys! I can't wait for the presidential debates, somehow I think that is where Romney will literally go down in flames.

I don't believe in partisan politics. I vote for whomever I feel seems better equipped to handle the major issues facing the country at the time of any election. So, I have just been astounded by the candidates the republicans have been choosing of late. First Sarah Palin, now Mitt Romney! I don't know, but it would appear there is a shallow pool of worthwhile talent to choose from in the Republican ranks.

I observed that even in the primaries there seemed to only be lack luster support for Romney within his own ranks. Any high profile Romney supporter seemed to be pretty much saying, well, I'll support him, since there are no other viable choices. To me, Romney just exudes the air of entitlement, a guy whose been given everything on a silver platter, a guy who doesn't really understand what it is to be an average middle class American.

Am I the only one who finds peculiar that the Republican party chose a wall street fat cat to run, given the rise of the occupy wall street sentiment lately. Really? Do you guys want to win? How about that little foray abroad? Has he ever traveled outside the country before? Does his diplomatic skill entail being able to see Alaska from his house too? Come on guys! I can't wait for the presidential debates, somehow I think that is where Romney will literally go down in flames.

@monpere

And you think Obama hasnt been handed everything to him on a silver platter? The man went to Harvard basically for free. The man has never held a long term private sector job ever!! So how does he understand the middle class when he has never been in the middle class? At least Romney has employed thousands of middle class workers and has helped many others.

I have managed a teams of workers who would be considered lower middle class and I can tell you I know there problems I know their families and their life story. You do not create a company and have workers without knowing them. So to say Romney does not understand the middle class is just ridiculous.

Robert

I suspect many Americans will forget partisan entrenchment and go with what makes most sense for America for the next 4 years.

Well stated. I'd forgotten to mention the potential of Africa although there's still room by the multinationals to exploit developing South America and find consumers in their population further after the current slowdown. I would agree that both party platforms have shown disturbing flaws and finding it hard to vote for either or give in to the "lesser of two evils".