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Subscribe to RSSEven while Mitt Romney's on vacation, his campaign is continuing to bracket President Obama when he hits the road.
In advance of the president's fundraisers in Chicago tonight, the Romney camp has produced a Web video noting how unemployment is up in Chicago and home prices are down there since Obama took office. "Obama isn't working," the Web video concludes.
But a rival campaign sends over opposition research that plays the Bain Capital card: The private equity firm that Romney once headed bought a Chicago-area-based medical diagnostics company -- renamed Dade International, which later became Dade Behring -- that ended up firing and relocating workers.
As Politico wrote in Jan. 2008 during Romney's first run for president:
Bain Capital and Goldman Sachs bought Dade International for about $450 million in 1994.
The firm quickly fired or relocated at least 900 workers. Over the next several years, it sunk increasingly into debt and laid off 1,000 workers.
In 2002 — after Romney had left Bain — it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
When FOX's Chris Wallace, in '08, asked Romney about these Dade International job losses, the Republican replied, "[I]f you're in the business world and you're trying to save a business that's in trouble, that you're not going to be successful 100% of the time." He added:
"And I'm very proud of the fact that we were successful many, many times. We grew jobs quite dramatically in many settings. But oftentimes, when an enterprise is in real trouble, you have to try and cut back to save it."
As he highlights his business background and zeroes in on Obama's economic record, Romney's work at Bain Capital -- a private equity firm that often made money by buying up companies and then laying off their workers -- has the potential to counter his perceived strength, just like it did in his failed 1994 Senate campaign against Ted Kennedy.
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Now that's what I call some serious job creation, errr... I mean decimation!
And this idiot is the Teapublican front runner? LMAO!
It might be wise for Willard to continue hiding out in the Mitten's Protection Program!
The more we hear about him, the worse it gets...
No wonder the tea baggers are doing everything in their power to distract from their stellar cast of characters...
Mittens will never be President. That you can take to the bank.
And while I'm thinking about it. When will MSNBC decide they have had enough of Buchanan and send "the boy" home.
For those who might of missed this earlier:
Pat, Boston brought up Pat Buchanon's racist remark on Al Sharpton's show last night.
Which I find to be indefensible...
After, I went & looked up the entire context of his comment, I think it's time MSNBC gives this old goat a permanent 'time out'!
Pat has somehow managed to survive well past his expiration date!
Contact MSNBC and tell them ENOUGH already!
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&sqi=2&ved=0CB4QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.msnbc.msn.com%2Fid%2F3303518%2F&ei=5Vs5TtWKD-nHsQLn1PD5Dw&usg=AFQjCNGoTHwBQ8NejLMz7JIF7ZVpsMokuA
George Romney had pretty much the same problem as Mitt. First of all, there was never an election he could resist. And second of all, he never made any serious sense as a candidate. And come to think of it, where IS that famous American auto marque now, American Motors?
We've seen a foreshadowing of this sort of issue in a tight election (mebbe the GOP nomination is tight; maybe it's just the candidates who are tight ... hmmm ... does Romney imbibe? I think not). It was in California last year - when the GOP candidates for Senate and Governor were both exposed as lying job-killers in their private industry careers.
Yep, I agree withRron - Mitt doesn't now, and never really did, have a chance.
Get over it Al. More blacks are worse off now than when Obama took office. Maybe Pat should have sugar coated it and said "Obama's boyish expierence in Washington is not helping your people"... VOTE FOR A BETTER AMERICA IN 2012!
Thanks Feisty: Been a bit busy and missed Pat's comments. I'll go back to FT and check it out. With regard to Pat Buchanan, it was not a slip of the tongue. Buchanan has made racist comments for the past 50 years.
Boy Oh Boy! Ya'll is kinda sensative to a simple little word ain't ya? Yet the homies in the hood can call each other the 'N'-word and THAT's ok!
Go Figga... (that is slang for figure...)
You're welcome Ron!
MSNBC has suspended people for much less offensive comments (think David Shuster).
Buchanon is a MAJOR embarrassment for the network!
Sooner or later, Romney has to come out of hiding or off vacation. It's a bit early to be spending money on those kinds of ads, people tend to get tired of campaign ads quickly. Start too early, and they won't listen when they should. It's a long way to Nov 2012.
Hat tip to Charlotte for bringing this to my attention:
Thanks for the heads up Charlotte - I've already sent a e-mail to MSNBC about him and will now send another one including some of his highlights like this:
There was NO slip of his tongue - there is a pattern of racism with him!!!
Sure. The Lefty-loons can run around calling people they disagree with "Terrorists", "Tealiban", "Hostage takers", and say they are "Having a gun put to their head". And these Lefty-loons don't just include the nut jobs on these pages, but also their hero's on MSNBC, and the VPOTUS.
The Leftwingnuts have no right to get offeneded and have their underwear in a bunch over what anyone on the Right says about them. Those Lefties sure get sensitive when they have a little of it thrown back in their face. Poor dears can hardly dish it out, but they run away with their tails between their legs if they get even a small amount of it thrown back at them. They're nothing but a herd of cowards.
This coming from the biggest 'name caller' on First Read! LMAO!
Oh, and, it's good to have you on record condoning calling the President 'boy' & 'coon-skin'...
I always knew it but, it's good to see you finally put on your white sheet! ;o)
Now, don't you have a cross to burn somewhere?
I see that SOTB is still showing his racism and bigotry. That is a disease that all the drugs in the world cannot fix.
My comment had nothing to do with my so-called 'racism and and bigotry'... and more to do with the blatant hypocrisy of those who see RACISM in everything they view... all the while acting in racist ways themselves.
But oh yeah... i forgot... as someone on this site once told me... you can't be a racist if your black.
Her over-the-top defense is very revealing... No? lol
Who's Mitt Romney and why do I care he's on vacation?
My parents are also on vacation, but why should anyone on a politcal site care about that?
A bottle-nose dolphin by the name of Flipper?
Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL
A bottle-nose dolphin by the name of Flipper
I was thinking the same exact thing
Bev. You are back.
Where you been, I missed you.
I didn't!
OMG!
Where HAVE you been?
Good to see you back!
PS: I owe you a very belated Happy Birthday! Hope it was a great one!
Strange - the majority around here feel the same way about you sweetie!
Bev -
GREAT to see you posting.
As hard to believe as it may be, several "regulars" here from both sides of the aisle have been commenting, with sincere concern, about your sudden and long absence. Basically, it all boiled down to the same point: We hope all's well with Bev.
Good to see you!
Bev from Chicago - welcome back! You've been missed.
Bev:
Your return has made my day. Welcome back.
Hooray, Bev---good to see you back. Hope all is well with you & yours.
Bev, glad to see you!
Bev: Welcome back, where have you been my friend. I and others were worried about you. Hope everything is OK and you are back ready to play.
urk, urk, blah. Pathetic.
Hello Bev, good to have you back....you have been missed.
Hope all is well in your world.
Oh, I forgot, Obama was supposed to waive his magic wand, and the housing crisis that reached critical mass just before he took office, was supposed to go away! The bubble burst was too great...simply put, there's just too many houses build out there, mostly in the West, South West, exceeding demand, and also, there was that little thing called the subprime mortgage crisis. I'M SURE President McCain and VP Palin would have done a bang up job if they had won, all would be sunshine and lollipops by now under their rule.
Probably not but it's hard to see what would have been different.
Iraq Drawdown...check
Afghanistan Escalated....check
Bush Tax Rates Extended...check
Libya non-hostile Kinetic Action....check
Egypt Abandoned...No
Obamacare...No
Iran Attacked...No
So at the end of the day we would be spending our borrowed money attacking Iran instead f...ing up the health care system.
Magic wand. Yeah, right. And genius, you "wave" it, not "waive" it.
Obama is a phony, a failure, a fraud. We all knew it when he was running back 2008, it was clear the man didn't have a clue. Obama's behavior during the Debt Ceiling issues proved the fact. He was lost, confused, angry, and out played by a couple of Republicans in the House and Mitch McConnell in the Senate. Obama was taken to the cleaners, he kept saying he had a plan, but never was any plan of his produced. The man is all talk, and all BS. Obama was a slack-jawed jerk through out the process as the Republicans ran him over day after day until Speaker Boehner mercifully dismissed the dazed and confused Obama from the talks.
Now Obama gets to do what he does best, campaign and raise money. Maybe he can "waive' his magic-wand.
The most amazing phenomenon is that Liberals ( like Pelosi, Reid,Obama kool-aid drinkers ) think that adding to the deficit will have a positive effect on the lives of the American people. When the govt. money runs out, so do the hand-outs. So, I wonder what the Liberals are going to tell their kids and grand kids........" Honey, you see, in my day we fought hard for the govt. to SPEND way more than what the country could afford. Now, there's nothing left for YOU. So, GET A JOB and pay taxes just like the Republicans have done for generations."
Vacation from what ?... The republicans in the congress haven't done a dam thing in 2 years ...i want their paychecks returned ! And their medical benefits taken away ! Why should we support these dead beats !
A venture capitalist who made millions bleeding failing companies dry?
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/specials/romney/articles/part3_main/?page=8
Amy, your rant would mean more if it was put in context of his overall record. For one a venture capitalist is not the same as private equity firm. So why not test out his response and find his entire record. Is it true that he has invested in many other distressed companies in which he saved the company and the jobs that go along with it? Did they thrive in which more employment was created? Use your critical thinking skills and actually find out whether there is any substance to what you say? If his overall record is bad you would have even more to criticize him over instead of looking at one failed investment. Thats the whole point of investing in distressed companies is that its very risky so the return ie reward better be very high. Even Buffet has made many bad investments where employees lost their jobs.
One thing about the article you cite that doesnt make sense. If his company bought Ampad then he was the shareholder that was left with worthless shares and of course creditors and vendors were paid 50 cents on the dollar because thats what happens when companies go bankrupt? Remember GM where the creditors were paid 10 cents on the dollar so that the Unions could be made whole as a political favor from Obama? See how that works? Of course his firm charged management fees thats what they do in order to attempt to turn the company around. I dont know how his investors reaped all these benefits if they bought the company and it went under. This article makes a typical business deal sound scandalous and seems to have its facts mixed up.
Wow they didnt raise taxes on someone else with the debt deal and today, I still have a job, a house, 4 cars, health insurance, a 401k, a Roth IRA, Cash in the bank, A house were renting to some one else..... Amazing you can accomplish all of that with out raisng someone elses taxes..... VOTE FOR A BETTER FUTURE FOR AMERICA IN 2012!
UAW Pleeeeeeeease
Wow they didnt raise taxes on someone else with the debt deal and today, I still have a job, a house, 4 cars, health insurance, a 401k, a Roth IRA, Cash in the bank, A house were renting to some one else..... Amazing you can accomplish all of that with out raisng someone elses taxes..... VOTE FOR A BETTER FUTURE FOR AMERICA IN 2012!
If you think that's all good wait until the T-baggers take it away. See FAA Job losses...
FAA Shutdown Leads to Widespread Job Loss, Cheaper Airline Tickets
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/07/23/faa-shutdown-leads-to-widespread-job-loss-cheaper-airline-tickets/#ixzz1TzKOgmxI
T-baggers are coming next for your assets.
Spanky-
Bev. You are back.
Where you been, I missed you.
I missed your snark too. Bring it on dolly, I'm ready for you.
Bev, The company I work for has a private jet for work. But when my family does fly commercial I do appreciate the absence of that 20% government tax. Maybe those laid off workers should look into a trucking career. I read there is a shortage of good drivers. (it's a private sector job and would add to the tax rolls rather than cost from them) LET'S VOTE FOR A BETTER FUTURE IN 2012!
"I do appreciate the absence of that 20% government tax."
Republicans told us we needed to invade Iraq and Afghanistan, but asking the wealthiest to increase their taxes to pay for those wars is WAY TOO MUCH of a sacrifice.
What is it with you liberals and raising someone elses taxes? Seriously let's stop encouraging more people to rely on someone else to pay thier way. It isnt fair to lead people to beleive someone else is saving for thier obligations in life. We should be slowly trying to roll back entitlements not electing a president bent on increasing recipients. Instead of that ridiculous Frank/Dodd act Obama should have signed a law preventing politicians from deceptivly misleading able bodied people to expect other citizens to pay for thier obligations in life.... VOTE FOR A BETTER AMERICA IN 2012!
That 20% government tax pays the salary of Air Traffic Controllers and funds other jobs and projects as well. While a cheaper ticket is nice, without those "shared sacrifices" paid by those who use the planes, runways, etc., we would all be paying for it elsewhere.
UAW Pleeeeeeeease
Which goes to show that a fool and his money are soon parted. The airlines are keeping the money that would have gone to the tax rather than reducing fairs. You're probably not getting any of it back, although Rachel Maddow said that Delta had been shamed into reversing their decision to pocket the tax.
Paying for it "elsewhere". Property taxes, fuel taxes, utility taxes, pay roll taxes, SS taxes, phone taxes, cable taxes, sewer tax, sales taxes, tanning taxes, corporate taxes, medicare taxes, inhertice taxes, capital gain taxes, excise taxes, liquer taxes, cigerette taxes, road use taxes, unemployment taxes, gift taxes, state taxes, local taxes, county taxes, School taxes, federal taxes, dog taxes, license tax, value added tax, carbon tax, Ticket taxes, Hotel motel taxes, Resturant taxes, Building taxes, etc. etc. etc. Have I missed anything, any thing else we can tax????
Well if Rachel Maddow says so, then it must be true. But what Rachel Maddow doesn't tell anyone because it doesn't fit her idiotic political position is that the airlines are not set up to provide these massive amounts of refunds, and if are made to do so, will incur large amounts of costs to provide those refunds. And this isn't the airlines problem, it's the governments problem, so why should the airlines have to fund those costs?
But keep listening to Rachel Maddow. She seems to give half the story, which is great for people with half a brain.
….and what JoAnnaSmith1 didn’t tell and what she did say was totally incorrect.
While the FAA was shut down, its legal authority and its ability to collect taxes from the airlines expired. Airlines didn't lower their ticket prices however, and instead raised their base rates to pocket the extra $20 to $40 per ticket. Partially due to pressure from Congress and the IRS, Delta and US Airways have agreed to refund customers the difference.
Ideally, other carriers will follow suit, and all of them will automatically refund you the difference to the credit or debit account used to buy the ticket. If they don't, you can contact the airline and ask, or the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) says you can submit a claim to the them (although they note they're still investigating whether to pay the claims or direct airlines to do so.)
The IRS has published an FAQ on the topic so you can see whether you're eligible for the refund and how much you're entitled to based on the tax rate applied to airlines.
http://lifehacker.com/5827133/air-travelers-flying-during-faa-shutdown-are-getting-a-refund
So Ira, are you still confused about the difference between the "debt" and the "deficit"? Or did'ja get ahold of a 4th grader, or Rachel Maddow, and have them 'splain it to'ya?
JoAnnaSmith1:
So you still confused about how TBill auctions work?
Who is responsible for setting interest rates in the US?
Refunds during the FAA strike?
Corporate Jet "tax" reform?
The IR Code?
etc, etc, etc.
No insults to follow....not necessary as in your post.
Rather than just saying I was wrong...as Spanky pointed out...not you...you double downon stupid.
You have a good day now...
That's becasue you would prefer to keep the cash flowing to the poor (welfare recipients) than to the brave soldiers that defend YOUR FREEDOM!
You are such a 'better' person than the rest of us.
SOB..I mean SOTB,
I am merely pointing out that this super committee is a waste of time. We should just cut half of the DOD budget without the theatrics and political posturing. We all know that the Tealiban will not negotiate in good faith. That's all. I wish no ill harm to anyone.
Bet you thought i wouldn't have a response to your grand display of intellectual wit. Wrong.
Oh no... I hoped you would respond and you did... just the way I wanted you to... with your little 'Tealiban' name calling. Comments like yours are exactly what I am talking about when I go off on the hypocracy of the lefties on this vine.
Thanks again for showing your true colors!
FR:
People should know that Romney made his ill-gotten fortune by destroying jobs, not creating them. But the way things are going, the Democrats will fail to exploit that fact. But it probably wouldn't matter if they did, since the same low-info people who voted for the teabaggers aren't going to be persuaded by any logic. As usual, they'll vote against their own interests.
Houston, isnt this the same argument you progressives are making with the stimulus bill? Dont you argue that the without the stimulus money, all these jobs would have been lost? You cant have it both ways. If Romney's firm is buying companies that are generating operating losses and they save the company by turning it around or fixing its business model in order for it to make a profit and thrive, think of the thousands of jobs he created? He created them in the same manner as the stimulus bill by saving them from extinction. Generally buying up companies and laying employees off to save the jobs of the majority is a good thing. Oh I forgot your that socialist that thinks corps are evil and shouldnt make money and we should eliminate hard work, perserverance, ambition, talent and merit from the working dialogue because its all about leveling the playing field and everyone is the same. I am sure history will be kind to your ideas
Kirk -- what is this inane drivel you are spouting? "socialist that thinks corps are evil and shouldn't make money and we should eliminate hard work....." Where do you get that from? "leveling the playing field" is socialism? Which philosopher said that first? People who self-identify as Democrats are not socialists. People who are socialists identify themselves as such...Gov. Romney did not create jobs -- he created wealth, for his company, his clients and himself ...that was his job. He identified companies that he thought could perform better, tried to buy them, streamline them and make a profit out of it. Jobs were not part of the equation (unless you can prove that Bain Capital's clients sought the company out for its job creation model). If he thought that fewer employees could do the work, or that by combining two companies he could halve the workforce, he did it. If the company's situation improved after his efforts, he sold it at a profit...maybe the buyer hired more people, maybe not. Romney didn't care. The stimulus money was a direct government injection of capital into the economy. People who objected to it did so on the grounds that government should not be interfering with the markets.
Kate, if you had been part of previous conversations with Houston you would understand. He has spouted many times the evils of corporations and how they are spending billions with right wing think tanks to basically take over the world. He is full of that corporations do bad things and we should take the profits and help those who arent as fortunate. So you are missing a big part of the conversation. So put the socialism aside as its part of a larger he doesnt like a meritocracy debate. As for Romney, the above cited article is acting like what he did with a distressed company and it losing jobs was a bad thing. I do agree with you regarding what the purpose of a private equity firm and its acquisition strategy but you cant use the argument that the stimulus created jobs by preventing them from being lost and then say someone who buys a distressed company and eliminates payroll in order to streamline and create an operating profit doesnt save jobs in the same manner that the stimulus supposedly did. My point is about the consistency of the arguments not what Romney did for a living. By the way, nothing you described as Romney's job at Bain was at all bad. In fact, what you describe is exactly what this country is all about. Creating businesses that can make a profit, hire people, expand and make its owners money right?
kate, you can see now how Kirk works. He approaches every conversation seeking to look like a reasonable person. Then he dismisses any facts presented to him, gives no back up for his own points, and gradually moves toward extremist accusations. Deliberately missing the point while trying to continue looking reasonable is his stock in trade.
John B, I am a reasonable person and didnt dismiss a single fact that Kate said and I have given so much back up you just dont like it and I didnt even provide one accusation towards Kate. Is this now a concerted effort by the progressive paid bloggers to discount anyone with real experience and knowledge that can tear your positions apart? Again just like Stupid, John A, Anna Molly, instead of debating the issues you would prefer to personally attack and take away from the debate at hand which in this case waw Romney and Bain. In this instance, I agreed with what Kate said about Bain and Romney indicated that my point was more about being consistent in approaches by progressives and then said by the way, whats wrong with what Romney was doing? Read your reply--you dont even bother trying to explain why private equity firms are bad or why saving a distressed company is the same as saving jobs because you are too busy trying to discredit me for no other reason than you disagree with my fiscal conservative philosophy. The problem is that your brand of liberalism and extreme views on wealth creation, punish the success and level of the playing field I hate meritocracy approach to life is way in the minority and its killing you.
Kirk and I have gone back and forth extensively on previous topics. Notice how his focus on not attacking Kate, when Kate's question was why he's attacking Houston. He maintains that he's provided "so much back up" yet at no point has he linked or even quoted anyone to support his statements...just says they're true. Then he makes an attack upon private individuals who he once again assumes without support to be paid bloggers. Then he tries to diffuse the discussion from Romney's history of buying companies just so they can be dismantled to pocket the profits by making Bain part of the OVERALL industry of private equity firms. He knows my positions on "punishing success" and "level(ing) the playing field" but he throws out talking points as facts.
In short, Kirk knows why I don't respond to him. I only point out his tactics and strategy.
John B, are you preaching to people hidden behind the curtain? I am talking to you not some audience you think you are impressing. Who do you think your audience is that 1) doesnt already agree with you 100% so your just hugging yourself 2) people like me who already think you are full of BS. Do you think you are going to impact someone with your post that is aimed at a different reader than me. Focus John and speak directly to me and maybe we can get somewhere.
Why dont you go back to the beginning where I was replying to a post by Houston that attacked me first while he was stating corporations are evil and I hate the unemployed (you know the usual progressive rant about fiscal conservatives) and I made light by asking why he hated Ronald McDonald or Sara Lee hot dog buns but he clearly didnt have much a sense of humor as I also wondered why he wants to eliminate the meritocracy that built this country while advocating a form of socialism because he wanted to use corporate profits to pay for disenfranchised even more than we already spend. Kate jumped in the middle of that attack but what back up was I supposed to provide? What statement did you think needed back up? What line or quote did I need to support my statements? I hate the fact that you cant respond on point to the issue. Its like Anna Molly when she attacks that I must not be compassionate when the issue is unions and when I ask her point blank facts that we all know as generally true she goes off on some rant having nothing to do with the conversation. Its easier to say I am a heartless bastard than it is to debate and deal with politically incorrect facts and issues. Sorry John but you guys cant back up anything you say with anything but personal attacks.
I am not diffusing the discussion on Romney and in fact I would love to have it. My original point was you cant say the stimulus created jobs by saving them and then say Romney didnt create jobs if he saved them but if you would prefer to talk about Bain dismantleing companes and pocketing profits I can do that too. By the way whats wrong with that? If his company was buying distressed companies and it was worth more to sell the assets separately and pocketing a profit as basically a liquidation is that wrong? I guess I must have missed that somewhere in the handbook growing up. Thou must overpay for a company to keep people employed even though as owner you must lose money. What commandment is that?
You do want to punish success and level the playing field. You refuse to address the education gap, merit, talent, immigration, unions elimination of upward mobility and rewards for performance and merit based pay and especially behaviorial choices whether personal or professional as issues that create wealth, income and disparities in our society. Its easier for you to say punish the successful and corporations because they are evil.
By the way John, you do realize that you provided support on the think tanks that disagreed with what Houston said right? You accuse me of not providing links and of course when you do its wrong. Your links clearly show that public corporations are not contributing billions to these so called right wing think tanks. My guess is that Soros's companies alone contributed more in total to left wing looney radical think tanks so whats the beef anyway?
so little time and so many right wing fools to ignore. especially the bigots, homophobes, thug wannabes (you know clueless ghetto slang droppers) and people who honestly believe if you give corporation a tax incentive everything will work out all by itself - like your air and your water will automagically become cleaner, healthier, and if you fire all the teachers all your children will become automagically more educated and socialized. and if you cut enough spending, you can afford to give more tax breaks to more companies. if we all had a company couldn't we afford more lobbyists (so we can get more tax breaks,) and start another company but they seem to forget, without customers and revenue, you can't make/buy/resell anything.
So live in that dream of cut (more), crap (I mean cap all spending to levels where the world will not recognize the US as a fourth world country) and Bile (spew balance budget garbage all over yourselves, because it will take a long while (remember the ERA)) all you want.
It won't get better until all of you are shown for the nitwits you are.
Vote Democrat in 2012 all levels and all races.