“What did President Obama do the same day as a terrorist attack on U.S. citizens? He campaigned in Las Vegas. Then at the annual U.N. meeting, when rogue nations were calling for a new world order, Obama snubbed key allies and skipped meetings with world leaders so he could be on TV. When American embassies were attacked by terrorists, President Clinton responded with missiles. And when foreign leaders needed to meet, President Bush put his campaign on hold. President Obama needs to learn that being president isn’t just about being on TV and protecting your job. It’s about leadership. it’s time for a president who gets it.”

- (Transcript from an American Crossroads campaign video released Monday)

THE CHIA FACTOR

Can we expect a Vegematic vote next? Maybe. The makers of Chia Pets — yes, the little clay planters that grow brilliant green fuzz from water and salvia seeds — have announced that sales are better at Kmart and assorted online outlets for the President Obama Chia Pet than they are for the Mitt Romney Chia Pet. Chia Obama accounts for 69 percent of sales, Chia Romney for 29 percent.

It is not clear if Mr. Romney should be reassured or alarmed by these statistics.

“Will the sales of the Chia versions of Obama and Romney reflect the actual outcome of the election?” demands company founder Joe Pedott. “If people buy both Chia versions of the candidates, they could do all sorts of creative things with them. They could make their own videos featuring Chia Romney and Chia Obama. They could stage their own debates. Who knows what people will do with their Chia versions of the candidates?”

Chia Pets devoted to Newt Gingrich and Rep. Ron Paul are also in the mix, though both each account for under 1 percent of sales. See them all here: americanchia.com.

ALERT AND READY

There could be 41 million tea party voters out there, if a new Associated Press-GfK poll is accurate. So says eagle-eyed political analyst Dustin Hawkins of Breitbart.com, who picked through the numbers and did the math.

“The AP/GFK poll shows that 31 % of likely voters consider themselves Tea Party supporters. With 131 million votes cast in the 2008 elections, that translates into an incredible voting bloc of 41 million Tea Party supporters waiting to cast ballots,” Mr. Hawkes writes, noting that 19 percent of the respondents described themselves as either strongly or somewhat liberal, translating into a turnout of 25 million voters.

“The Tea Party is regularly ridiculed and declared ‘dead’ by the mainstream press and their elitist allies in Washington and Hollywood. Not surprisingly, when Tea Partiers show up and rally by the thousands, they get all but ignored, while 30 Occupy Wall Street crazies in masks will always get wall-to-wall coverage and admiration,” Mr. Hawkes adds.

“The tea party is no sleeping giant, because it’s not sleeping,” agrees Glenn Reynolds, the “Instapundit” for Pajamas Media. “I’ve been saying this all along: The tea partiers can’t wait to vote this year. They will turn up in droves to pull the lever in protest against President Obama’s policies. Wait and see.”

WEST DRAWS A LINE

“If we go down the path of Sir Neville Chamberlain and accept the premise that dictators, despots, autocrats, and theocrats can be handled with a policy of appeasement, then we threaten the future security for our children and grandchildren. Furthermore, if we fail to recognize the terror and the attacks perpetrated by radical, barbarian Islamists, we embolden our enemy,” says Rep. Allen B. West, after reviewing the recent big doings at the United Nations Global Assembly.

“We can no longer refer to terrorist attacks as ‘man-caused disasters.’ We cannot refer to this current global conflagration as an ‘overseas contingency operation.’ We can no longer believe that you simply end a war by leaving and declaring that you have ‘kept a promise.’ As a former combat commander, I can attest to the fact that no warrior seeks to promote war, but all warriors answer the call of their country,” the Florida Republican continues.

“We no longer speak in terms of victory and certain defeat of our enemy. We seek to placate and even use taxpayer funds to issue apologies. It is simple: Weakness is provocative in every way.”

PARTISAN LIBATIONS

Well, at least there are cocktails. In preparation for Wednesday’s debate, the swankaliscious bars in the nation’s capital are revving up their thematic cocktails for the voting and viewing public. Among the offerings at the JW Marriott Hotel: Mitt Romney (Chambord, Frangelico, cream and fresh mint) and Barockin’ Mai Tai (Bacardi orange rum, fresh pineapple and lemon juice, lime soda and blue Curacao). And over at the Madison Hotel, it’s the Massachusetts Mule (raspberry-chocolate-mint-infused vodka, lemon, lime and ginger ale) and the Great Debate (small batch bourbon, blended vermouth, green chartreuse, orange peel).

Happy Hour specials they are not. The aforementioned “hand crafted” cocktails average $14. Each.

POLL DU JOUR

• 52 percent of likely U.S. voters have a favorable opinion of President Obama; 7 percent of Republicans, 17 percent of conservatives, 93 percent of Democrats and 94 percent of liberals agree.

• 49 percent of likely voters overall have a favorable opinion of Mitt Romney; 95 percent of Republicans, 82 percent of conservatives, 10 percent of Democrats and 5 percent of liberals agree.

• 47 percent of likely voters overall have a favorable opinion of Vice President Joseph R. Biden; 12 percent of Republicans, 22 percent of conservatives, 81 percent of Democrats and 73 percent of liberals agree.

• 46 percent of likely voters overall have a favorable opinion of Rep. Paul Ryan; 86 percent of Republicans, 76 percent of conservatives, 9 percent of Democrats and 6 percent of liberals agree.

• 49 percent of likely voters overall say Mr. Obama could best handle the economy, 48 percent say Mr. Romney.

Source: A CNN/ORC poll of 783 likely voters conducted Sept. 28 to 30.

• Tweets, bleats and feats to jharper@washingtontimes.com.

Sign up for Daily Newsletters Manage Newsletters

Copyright © 2020 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.