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ROCHESTER, N.H. -- The lights were barely cool on the debate stage in Concord before Mitt Romney was back on the campaign trail, defending his record at Bain Capital.
"We decided to get behind a company called Staples which I knew you would know well. We decided okay you know how many people work at Staples? Ninety thousand people work at Staples today," Romney said at a rally here this afternoon. "We opened the very first store. I was there the night we opened the first store. We helped stock the shelves. Alright guess how much money we put in to get that first door open to get the computers in place and to buy the inventory to put on the shelves? It was about $5 million if my memory's correct - something in that range."
The story of Staples' success is the most common anecdote Romney uses on the trail to explain his tenure at Bain Capital, the venture capital firm he helped found, but the candidate rarely delves as far as he did into the macro numbers of jobs created and dollars spent. But as his record at Bain begins to come under increasing scrutiny -- from both sides of the aisle -- Romney may also have to defend it more aggressively, as he has done in recent days.
This morning in Concord, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, referencing a New York Times story, accused Bain of occasionally looting the companies in which it invested.
"But if you look at the New York Times article, and I think it was on Thursday -- you would certainly have to say that Bain, at times, engaged in behavior where they looted a company, leaving behind 1,700 unemployed people. That's the New York Times. That's not me," Gingrich said.
And this morning on ABC's This Week, President Obama's chief political adviser David Axelrod was even more blunt, calling into question whether Romney's claim of creating 100,000 jobs "net/net" while at Bain had any factual basis.
"The problem is that neither he nor his campaign can furnish any evidence to support that," Axelrod said. " He's not a job creator, he's a corporate raider."
Saturday in Manchester, Romney faced a similar question from moderator George Stephanopoulos, who asked if Romney's 100,000 jobs number included those jobs lost when companies in which Bain invested laid off workers, failed, or were pushed into bankruptcy.
"It includes the net of both. I’m a good enough numbers guy to make sure I got both sides of that," Rommey said, before listing three companies Bain helped launch whose jobs numbers alone he said put him over the 100,000 threshold: Staples, The Sports Authority and Bright Horizons Children's Center.
"Those -- those are businesses we started that continue to grow. And -- and we’re only a small part of that, by the way. We were investors to help get them going," Romney said, when asked whether some of those jobs were created after his involvement with the company ended. "But in some cases, businesses shrunk. We tried to help turn them around, sometimes successfully, sometimes not."
Romney, whose candidacy rests largely on his private sector experience, can likely be expected to continue to pound home his central message, as he did at this afternoon's rally.
"This president is a nice guy who just doesn't get it. I spent my life in the private sector," Romney said. "I'm not perfect, but I do get it, and I will use what I know to get America back to work."
Leave a Comment:
Sure, a couple companies got lucky.
I won't buy from Staples or Domino's pizza anymore, just because I don't think Romney needs any more money.
If Romney only created 10 jobs at Bain, that's 10 more than Obama has created....anyplace!
or Bush did.
"AMERICA" Don't make another mistake like "W", Obama/2012 Guaranteed !!!
Spider pretty desperate if lying about President Obama and the jobs that have been created is all you got welcome to four more years.
Obama/Biden 2012
PART ( 1 ) 1983 Mitt Romney and his family piled into the family car for a 12 hour drive from Boston to Canada with their pet dog strapped in a crate on top of their car. ( This prompts me to wonder what makes mitt tick ???
How about the companies Obama has invested in? How many people lost their jobs at Solyndra? How many people lost their jobs and how many dealerships were closed at GM? And how's that Volt working out? Wasn't that a car that our President took credit for?
The business world keeps changing, but I woud put my money into Romney's ideas before President Obama's.
As bad as that sounds, there was a protective wind screen on the roof.
Though not having one on it might not matter that much afterseeing lots of dogs, with their heads out the window going down the highway.
PART ( 2 ) Dumb Mitt, Along the way the dog had digestive trouble which made its presence known on the back windshield. Romney pulled into a gas station, hosed the dog and his car off, put his poor sick dog back on the roof and continued the trip. Romney said its just a dog. I was very saddened by this story. This guy has no heart or soul. What was Mitt drinking ?
Spider, if that's your criteria, then support him. If he is elected, you'd better be part of the 1%, because if you aren't you're screwed.
Corporate Raider Romney.....good name for him. House's all over the world, all income is capital gains and the guy heads a hedge fund and is nearly a billionaire........only one reason he wants to be President and doesn't have anything to do with loving his country.
DB, We are talking about 12 hours, you stick your head out the window that long. You'll be sick as a dog ????????
I was sadden to find out the there was a "secret" party that I paid for at the White House.
"A White House “Alice in Wonderland” costume ball — put on by Johnny Depp and Hollywood director Tim Burton — proved to be a Mad-as-a-Hatter idea that was never made public for fear of a political backlash during hard economic times, according to a new tell-all."
What's dumb about your comment, Mitt paid for his trip and it didn't cost me a single cent but Obama's party was a secret because he didn't want the public know he and his family with his closest friends were living it up on my dime.
The rest of the article. DB, did you see what PA is crying about? I guess you can't compare Obama doing cocaine when he was younger to putting a dog on a roof of a car.
Ask yourself, does it really matter? NOPE
"So if you're a single-issue voter and that issue is the candidate's policy on pet transport, maybe it's time to give Romney a break on this one. Sure, his judgment may have been lacking when it came to canine transportation, but if this is the extent of his personal baggage, he's traveling light."
First, here is what they did with OUR money
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/barackobama/9001133/White-House-covered-up-Tim-Burton-staged-Alice-in-Wonderland-Halloween-party.html
Second- do not even TRY to tell me that our illustrious Fourth Estate knew NOTHING about it.
The Obama's are robbing us blind- and the press is driving the getaway car.
Sick making.
Spider=LIAR!
Hey Patriot America - I have a convertible, yet I can drive for more than 12 hours and miraculously not get sick. But if ou all want to focus on the dog travel thing-y more power to you.
As for jobs create by both Obama and Romney - of course the only relevant number is the net.
Total jobs at the start of Obama's term, total jobs now. Terrible number.
Now is it all his fault? Nope, but not only is he the boss, he said that if he didn't turn it around in three years he would be a one term-er.
Man Tebow is on fire right now.
Romney's dog day was in the "BOSTON GLOBE" in 2007. ( Would Mitt treat us, the middle class like his dog. )
Putting an animal, any animal let alone your family pet, on the roof of a car is a despicable act as a pet owner. It screams volumes about Willard's inherent complete lack of compassion or caring for anything, including his own family pet. Besides, it's also illegal, at least where I live.
And, this also provides all we need to know about Willard's empty character.
News reporter asked Romney's Son, what's up with the tax return. Mitt's Son said: ( "When obama shows his birth Certificate, my dad will show his tax return. ) Nice way to raise your Son with no respect to the President of the united States of America. This kid is a rich spoiled brat, Son like father. This is not the person we need as President. Mitt said we are a family of values.
"Romney said Trickle down is working big time for him, thank you all ???
Bain Capital is really an advantage for Romney and should give opponents pause in attacking him for his association with it. Venture Capital is at the heart of a strong economy. When you start questioning it you end up questioning capitalism itself! This would also be a somewhat dangerous strategy for Obama given the still bad state of the economy..
VCs mirror the economy - some companies fail, some win big, some win really big. That's just the nature of business in a free market economy. But this is all in the private sector.
Much more questionable and controversial are the millions made by Santorum and Gingrich after their public service, peddling influence and lobbying...
Patriotic,
Disrespect for a president?? Are you kidding?? How many times have you liberals have criticized former presidents over and over again and here you whine about when someone criticizes Obama. Talk about a hypocrtie! And last I checked, Romney isn't even the nominated Republican candidate, why do you all care about his tax return, when at the same time you claimed that Obama's birth certificate was a no issue?
To be fair, candidate Obama released his tax returns.
In March of 2008.
Seems to me that Romney has plenty of time left.
Fairly well, with 7,618 sales in 2011, good sales for a new and fairly expensive car model. Sales are increasing, and the Volt should do well in 2012 in spite of increased competition from several new plug-in car models.
Nope. The Volt project started in 2006, with the first concept shown in January 2007. That was before Obama started his campaign, and long before he got to be President. The "auto bailout" bill was signed by President Bush Jr. in December 2008 before he left office, Bush then turned it over to his successor to carry out the terms of that law. The only credit Obama claims is a well managed bailout, selling Chrysler at a profit and returning GM to profitability.
BTW, both the "electric vehicle" tax rebate and the "Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacture" loan program laws were also signed by Bush Jr. and supported by many Republicans. But strangely enough, the far right pundits try to "blame Obama" for the Volt and all of those Republican passed laws.
Mitt Flip Flop Romney, the one time governor of Liberal Mass. Has supported Abortion, Gay Rights, Gun Control, Stem Cell Research and has reverse himself on all of these issues.
He took both sides on the financial bailout, the stimulus bill, the auto loan package;
His biggest Flip-Flop of all Health Care Reform The national Law is modeled on the one that he championed as governor in Mass that requires every citizen to have health insurance. Now he has Flipped-Flopped Mr. Flop has taken a hard slide to the right pandering to the tea party.
Mitt Flip-Flop Romney, a wishy-washy, flip flopping politician without any core convictions, principals or believes a man who will say or do anything to get elected telling one crowd one thing and another crowd another. You simply can’t trust this guy to tell you the truth.
The only good thing that would happen if Flip-Flop were to get elected It would prove that Conservatism is dead as Flip-Flop would stab the Conservatives in the back.
Mitt Flip Flop Romney LMAO!
Flip Flop = lies. As much as it pains me to say it, Newt is right, Romney is a liar. Anything to get elected. How could any serious voter believe anything he says.
Romney is not a flip-flopper. It amazes me how people just like to spout off. The press doesn't like him and so they keep bringing this up. Fact Checker said the only thing he changed on was abortion. It's a good thing to change your mind when you realize you were wrong. When we realize we've been wrong on an issue should we continue down the same path to avoid being called a flip flopper? He only flipped. To be a flip-flopper he'd have to change back. He is our most intelligent, experienced, leadership candidate. It will be a sad day if we don't make him the GOP nominee. Newt is the one I can't imagine anyone voting for.
Mitt Romney's top campaign contributors:
Goldman Sachs $235,275
Citigroup Inc $178,450
Merrill Lynch $176,125
Morgan Stanley $170,350
Lehman Brothers $154,800U
BS AG $125,150
JPMorgan Chase & Co $123,800
Bain & Co $121,475
Marriott International $121,150
Bain Capital $118,550
Kirkland & Ellis $111,700
The Villages $110,900
Credit Suisse Group $104,900
Compuware Corp $103,550
Huron Consulting $102,050
PricewaterhouseCoopers $92,250
American Financial Group $87,550
Affiliated Managers Group $82,112
Cerberus Capital Management $79,450
Sun Capital Partners $77,850
HE"S OBAMA 2.0 people! wake up! Do you really believes he has the interests of the 99% at heart?
Norguist is a contributor too
Let conservatives defend Romney all they want. It's looking more and more like he will be the GOP nominee.
They are about to be stuck with a rich, plastic, flip-flopper who is completely out of touch with the majority of his own party.
Works for me.
OBAMA/BIDEN 2012
And every single one of them has been recalled. Cause? They catch on FIRE!!
What he left unsaid: "Because I'm a failure as a politican. The only time I ever got elected, they ran me out on a rail.
Why won't anyone ever vote for me?! I have lot's of money, not to mention cute hair."
What Bain did was buy into comanies in trouble, issue bonds to get huge profits back immediately for Bain, then cut workers, benefits, pensions to the bone to drive the stock prices up and sell out - now they don't really care if the company survives or not, because they have gotten their money back in spades. Not a job creator but a corporate raider! Romney, Newt is right on one thing - you are a liar!
Your timeline is a good bit off. Profits occured quickly by cost cutting, but started to drop off as competition stiffened. To stay competitive, they decided to update the technology and applied for Bonds. Shortly after getting the upgrades in place they saw that they efficiency below expectations so they bought a steel wire company and the management to keep them going. The manger bailed after 1 year ans says he saw the end coming. Really? The company survived another 5 years after he left, and suffered under a series of less than capable managers to run the company.
Better timeline than Solyndra, eh?
Should be fun to see what happens to Fisker and LightSquared.
Not looking too good.
............................."Romney keeps focus on 1%" !!!
Patriotic,
I notice you do a good job criticizing Romney but yet have heard you defend Obama and Solyndra...
Go easy. . .
Amy doesn't have enough brain power to fire up the posts under one name. Now that she is balancing three, it's even harder on those poor, overworked circuits.
You are over the line, no jo; reported.
JK, you really need to get your facts straight. Let me help you out.
http://thinkprogress.org/romm/2011/09/13/317594/timeline-bush-administration-solyndra-loan-guarantee/?mobile=nc
I don't post that to lay the blame on Mr. Bush. Sometimes the government has to finance projects that the private sector will not because they see no profit in it. We would not be where we are today had JFK not wanted to go to the moon.
I would guess you think all of the money the US pours into cancer research is a waste as well.
Hey NDD, did you report Feisty for calling me an ass hole?
Was that over the line, or is it justifiable?
Dare you to answer....
WCA,
I've reported Feisty several times to no avail. MSNBC/Newsvine are either on the side of these lunatics or there is really no moderation on this board.
And Another thing. Mittens say's he'd sanction China. WHEN HE OWNS THE LARGEST BLOODY MANUFACTURER IN CHINA!
This man is the definition of double speak.
You've been called out several times for that "locked on" behavior, WCA. You have a problem with a post, report it. What I do is not your concern, nor do I owe you an explanation.
You want to be offended? Be offended by no jo attacking someone who did not even post. Shame on her, and shame on you for supporting her.
Mormons have a lot of wealthy capitalists. look at Marriott chain and Dominos and Staples. They are fiscally disciplined and very closely knit and will stand by each other. You will never see Huntsman and Romney attack each other in mean spirited ways. Huntsman will make a great secretary of state in a Romney administration. Romney is the only one who will beat Obama.
Why would we want Romney? He has brought back a lot of the old bush advisers that got us in the mess we are in today. Especially his financial advisers.
Do you really think that more tax cuts for the rich and less regulations are really the answer?
Do you think that you and your grand-kids are not going to need clean air to breathe and clean water to drink?
Do you think that corporate profit is more important than our planet?
Are you worried that the 1% might have to contribute their fair share?
Do you really believe the corporations that have been outsourcing our jobs for an extra dollar of profit is for the benefit of America?
Do you think we should privatize social security so corporations can make millions and drive the old into deeper poverty?
Do you believe it is the right of the republicans to decide if you can use birth control?
Do you think gay is catching?
Do you make over 1 million dollars a year?
If your answer was yes to these questions then you are no doubt a republican.
But, if you answered any question with a no then a vote for any republican is like cutting your nose off to spite your face.
No, not going to happen. The GOP has alienated too many groups in its pursuit of taking Obama down.
Americans First,
Don't you realize that none of the things you articulated so well matter to the right. They just want the Kenyan born, Marxist, Islamist, Communist, Socialist, spawn-of-the-devil (read first black president) out of the White House?
Mike076
President Obama is half white. Why are you such as racist?
And why do you paint everyone on the right with the same brush?
American First- you have taken hyperbole to a whole new level!
If you think that Conservatives believe any of that- you're probably a Liberal!
Leave it to (some on) the Left to make completely false and misleading statements to further their cause- facts be damned! BTW- many, MANY Liberals make over $1M!!
JH - Forgive me, but I think what Mike said was sarcasm... I could be wrong.
A vote for the GOP Tea-ReTards, you will see "BOTTLE WATER" sales up up & up ???
Frank,
Mike was serious...you only see liberals raise the race card as a way to defend Obama. They are the only ones on this board that brings up his race.
JK - I guess you haven't read all the negative comments about Obama from the "non-racist" birthers, or the Tea Party.
As for what he said, minus the racial comments, yes its true. The right have said every single one of those statements and even some on the right have included the racial statements. But using your logic, only those that use that inflammatory language can do so, but if a "liberal" chooses to use it against you it's hypocrisy.
And to Lloyd, yes many liberals make over a million dollars, but how many of them are on the Tea Party side when it comes to Taxes. I think most, if not all "liberal millionaires" have said raise their taxes. Of course, the typical Tea Party response is that you can pay more if you want to, but I don't want to.
The sad thing I see from the GnoP is the hypocrisy. Christians that are ProLife, until your born then you and your parents are on their own. No birth control and no welfare or foodstamps tohelp feed the children.
Christians that are ProLife, unless you are sentenced to Death and then by god an eye for an eye. Even though an eye for an eye was old testament and Jesus said "let he who is without sin cast the first stone."
The saddest thing I see from these social conservatives is the hypocrisy of their churches. I have always wondered how the pastor of a church could drive a Mercedes, live in a multi-million dollar church paid for home, while delivering their sermons in $1000 suits in a multi-million dollar TAX exempt church or mini cathedral if you will. That to me is the height of all hypocrisy from the right.
“I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”Matthew 19:23-24
I wonder how many of those jobs are minimum wage with little to no benefits?
http://www.kingofbain.com/
99% minimum wage jobs, betcha.
Does it matter---they are working.
Rich, You try living on and supporting a family on minimum wage with minimum benefits, if any. Oh, and then please have someone get sick.
We need middle class income jobs. Willard has only corporate raided to line his own pockets and the successful couple of companies he can name are companies with minimum wage jobs. Hardly a record he should be bragging about.
Rich This is reffered to as THE WORKING POOR and Those 1%'ers really Buy into that Just like you! Your response is pretty Irrelivant just like the Facist Right that he have seen Debating the past few months. The Repukblicans would like to drive this economany more in that direction. The new chant forb the Right WingNUTS MORE WORKING POOR! MORE WORKING POOR! MORE WORKING POOR! Sounds pretty good to YOU does'nt it RICH1954 FRIGGIN 1%'er!
Lmao...... is there a requirement that all jobs must pay $20 an hour? How much would a hamburger cost? Oh wait...... they dont want you eating burgers anyways. Ummmm how much would a tofu burger cost or a bag of union peeled carrots.
Rich, yes it matters. People who work should at least make enough to pay the rent without serious stress. No one with a full time job should live in poverty.
Babina
Let's presume that you are correct and that many or most of those Staples jobs are at minimum wage and without benefits and that's what allows Staples to make a profit. Now let's roll the calendar forward to 2014 when "Obamacare" is to be fully implemented. Staples decides that in order to protect its profit margin and because of the new requirement to provide medical insurance it will lay off thousands of employees. Now these folks are out of work and with money that they don't have, are forced to purchase medical insurance. Thousands of companies, large and small face this dilemma, then and NOW! They are apprehensive about hiring with this mandate hanging over their head and thus we have a stalled economy. If you are looking for an upswing in our economic outlook, wait until "Obamacare" is thrown out by the Supreme Court this June. Should that occur, and I hope that it will, thousands of small businesses will then look to expand and by the end of 2012 we should be looking at substantially lower unemployment numbers. If President Obama then takes credit for this upswing, I will personally take out a billboard stating the truth of the situation and placing the blame squarely on his shoulders, where it belongs.
I am an independent voter that prefers Dr. Ron Paul to be our nation's next Chief Executive and do not support Mr. Romney. I just want to put you and the President on notice as to my probable impending actions should "Obamacare" be thrown out and he make any false claims as to why the economy is improving. See you at the polls!
You would do such a thing as "personally take out a billboard" if corporations and companies such as Staples lose some of "its profit margin"? Really? Wow, you sound as cooky as the one you're supporting in the GOP rats race.
Btw, you're gonna need more than a single billboard to be effective.
Arrowshead
It's the small businesses that I am concerned about.
One very strategically placed billboard should do the trick to expose that fraud Obama.
Right Chuck, I can feel your concern from here.
Too bad none of it is for the uninsured dying without medical care. How about the little boy who died from an abscessed tooth because his mother could not afford a dentist?
No, your concern is about getting someone for wanting to provide for all the people in this country and not just the rich.
Americans First
People who are sick and need help simply go to their nearest hospital for help and it will be provided at no cost and that includes the mom who failed to act responsibly by not taking her son with the abscessed tooth for treatment.
My concern is that this country is broke because of the dismal Bush and Obama administrations. "Obamacare" is something we cannot afford as a nation or as individuals.
If you are a member of the "occupy" group, some of which have legitimate grievances, you need to organize and take political action, much the same as the "Tea Party" has done. Simply creating disturbances garners no sympathy and you get your heads busted and arrested and nobody cares. Wake up!
Chuck Leipold
Arrowshead
It's the small businesses that I am concerned about.
And yet, the example you're giving is for a HUGE business that has INCREDIBLE buying power when it comes to benefits. Benefits that hardly make a dent in their overall profits.
VermontGirl
I just took the time to check employment benefits at Staples. They do provide medical insurance for their employees, thus we have a mute issue. However, since neither you nor I have access to their books it is impossible to say what effect providing insurance for 90,000 employees has on their bottom line. If you use $400 per employee, per month, as an arbitrary figure, it comes out to $36 million dollars per month, that is a sizable hit on anybody's bottom line.
Thank you for taking the time to read my post and adding your own commentary. It is always helpful when people having different opinions have the opportunity to freely discuss their differences. See you at the polls.
Wasn't Staples created AFTER Romney left Bain?
Mormons are only about 1% of the US population (insert joke here).
The religious right (the republican base) does not consider LDS as a Christian religion.
On top of that, Romney has flip-flopped more than the pancakes at IHOP.
He has ZERO chance at beating Obama.
Do you really think bigotry is ok? This is not a religious contest. People who bring it up lose all decent credibility. Romney is a decent, intelligent, leader. I feel sorry for what he has to listen to just because he cares about our nation enough to want to put it back in order. It's in a mess right now and he is the only person with the experience to get us back on track.
Why are you all so ornery?
Evangelicals are meeting to decide which candidate best reflects their values. Unfortunately, those values are godless capitalism and social oppression. Jesus may return to kick some butt for those that take their place as Pharisees of social conservatism and their relentless stress on prosperity for the powerful and neglect of the poor and the planet.
Here we go again painting a whole group of very divergent people with the same brush.
You might be surprised to learn that a great many poor and middle class black people are evangelicals.
If you want to accuse far right conservatives fine, but don't accuse evangelicals.
And, BTW, I am definitely not one, but I believe in truth and facts.
I don't have a problem with religious folks when they keep it in their churches...however when they get involved with policy I have a big problem. If we are going to allow religion to be involved in politics they are going to owe us a lot of back taxes.
Kathryn, I agree. Religion is a very personal thing and as long as one keeps their religion to themself I am okay with them believing or not in whatever they want. I don't push my faith in the faces of others and expect the same in return. I have noticed that those who are the most unsure of their beliefs are the ones who need most to advertise those beliefs hoping to garner support from many others. It is like the silly ribbon magnets of support the troops or announcing that God wants one person over another for President. Do they really think the Supreme Being really gives a rat's patootie who we, who have free will given by Him, select as our secular leader? Furthermore I have also noticed that those who crow the loudest about family values, religious values etc. are no less guilty of infidelity, or other sins than those who don't crow about such things leaving the crowers nothing more than hypocrites. I sometimes agree with the ideas that middle thinking Republicans have but it is the extremists I don't agree with. To them, because I may be slightly right on some issues I am a Socialist or some ridiculous title like that. Does that make them Nazis or Fascists of another kind? NO! I wouldn't insult Fascists or Nazis comparing those people to them.
Say what!!? From where did that ad hominem drivel come?
If, and I say IF Romney created any jobs one can but wonder for every job created how many were lost? If Bain created 10 jobs one place did they lose 100 somewhere else? Did it just even out? If it did result in a net gain, how big was the gain, large or small? I have a feeling we are about to find out all the gory details.
You might ask some people in Little Rock, AR who moved there to save their jobs and lost them anyway when Romney's company closed the plant.......Romney was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and has no conception of folks who live on 20,000 or 30,000 a year. Below his radar.
Do you understand what "net" means? Romney was pretty specific on the number being net jobs created.
Then again, you're a liberal- facts are just pesky things. So, today we have Jody blithely informing us that the Founding Fathers instituted the progressive income tax- when same was found unConstitutional five times, before Wilson got Congress to add it to the Constitution.
We have another left wing brain trust informing us that, despite all the evidence to the contrary, 2011 could not possibly have had the highest average gas prices ever- because in one month in 2008, gas was four dollars a gallon.
You people get to vote, and there are enough of you that we have the incompetent mess we have in the Whote House.
You won't be fooling the independents this time around, however- so Michelle should start gathering boxes. Moving is a hassle.
Obama shelved in 2012.
ANd when it comes to NET companies saved and lost, far more were SAVED by the Obama stimulus than lost. For all the times the righties want to bring up Solyndra, which was clearly a miss, the left can bring up the saved auto industry and many more.
no jo, if Romney really had a net increase, his campaign would be able to provide documentation on it. Do you really think they can't count?
OneOfTheMany. You are right on the money! That was certainly the most common technique used by organizations like Bain. Of course, if they could turn some enterprise around make money and the need was there for more jobs yes they were job creators( I hate that phrase). But the calculation that you laid out was always the bottom line because Bain's fate was never tied to the company. They were going to make money however things came out.....
And another thing! Bain Capital and Mitt Romney make me long for the days when "Tommy Boy" stuck it to Callahan Auto parts and saved the factory and all those jobs up there in Sandusky Ohio! Cheesy but funny. Go Tebow!
Look... Romney did no more than any corporate hedge fund did.... and then they only get taxed at 15% on it.... they buy cheap... put it together again.... take on BIG DEBT to pay themselves a large dividend and make 500% on their money or some sort of figure... and when the new company cannot service the new debt.... well... tough... they made their money and management fees.... so who cares?.... But then there are the IPO's that those debt heavy companies do... and screw the new stockholders... when the companies go under... Hedge funds?.... robbers....
Romney was and is part of the group who skimmed the cream off our economy and put us in this fix.......and he is still doing it.......WTF
Well, the weirdest thing about the entire, Republican Primary, is that the one guy, John Hunstman, who is the most electable of all, has never been supported by conservatives. Can someone answer this question?
Two words Sander.......Tea Party
Two reasons:
First, he worked for Obama as ambassador to China. Imagine, he put country ahead of party, a cardinal sin.
Second, he's a moderate in their eyes.
That tired out DNC talking point is not really working for you.
Try something else.
Huntsman is a rare conservative, he believes in consensus rather than conflict. Republicans cannot deal with that intellectually. They want to hear their candidates berate every person and minority that they fear and hate. Republicans have cultivated negativity for over 40 years and their base is an ad hoc bunch of malcontents that are easily manipulated. They depend on those folks for votes and on big business for money. Those co-dependencies have eliminated independence and moderation in the Party.
America needs a new Party if we intend to have representative democracy in the future.
Affinity1 - You did hear Jon Huntsman say he supported Paul Ryan's plan on Medicare - vouchers and all?
Huntsman was the only candidate that would consider increasing tax revenue by eliminating loopholes (though he wouldn't raise rates). All the others were bragging about how much they'd cut taxes and how that would magically balance the budget - never mind that a decade of Bush tax cuts have nearly tripled the National Debt, further tax cuts would only accelerate that debt accumulation.
But the main reasons why the Teapublicans don't like Huntsman is that he is a Mormon (gasp), speaks a foreign language fluently (double gasp) and worst of all, was appointed as Ambassador to China by Obama! (horrors!)
As I've predicted, it looks like the Teapublicans will eliminate in the primaries anyone who could seriously challenge Obama.
Sander. It puzzles me too. Especially when he has some insight into China and experience in dealing with the Chinese. It's obvious that how we deal with China will be one of the defining issues of this century. That is much more important to me than if he says his prayers before bedtime.
Randog, you're being logical. Not allowed in this polarized political environment.
Party first, country second.
There is no failure that does not become a repeat doctrine for Republicans. Voodoo economics, social oppression, and international conflict are embedded in their belief system.
Don't forget voter suppression. They can't have the poor casting votes.
Or driving oh wait they do!
I am thinking the reason why Romney won't release his tax returns is not because of all the money he makes every year but the incredible small amount of tax he paid on that money.
President Obama had to release his birth certificate and Romney won't even let us see his taxes?
Romney is like the third candidate in history to not release his tax returns. Romney even says he would only think about it after we elect him president. So he is not willing to share even if he is the nominee. It must be real bad to be such a guarded secret. Got to make you wonder.
Romney the guy to trust? No wonder the republicans don't want him.
Great point AF.
Wait.
Say, when did Obama release the birth certificate? Because applying your logic if it was not until after he was elected then we can't trust him, right?
By the way AF - where are Obama's medical records and education transcripts? How about all those articles he wrote on Law Review?
I know you want to know AF. Golly - how many presidents have failed/refused/hidden/sealed in a vault under the sea their school and medical records?
OR is it that because of Obama's decision not to release his birth certificate release until 3 years in, you are totally ok with Romney's decision.
You are, right AF?
You libbies sure are funny.
We are going to treat them all the same, right AF?
Spanky, Um no, actually the president released his birth certificate during the 2008 campaign. But hey, perhaps you missed it.
All his "income" is capital gains and their is probably bookoodles of it....course he doesn't want us to see it "till he becomes president" and it is too late. Wall Street to the core Romney is.
Romney IS the poster boy for the 1%, and I'm sure in time we will see his tax return. Now the teatards will go on again about the Presidents birth certificate I'm sure.
Mitt Romney's time at Bain Capital left many American families in pain, they lost their jobs, lost their pensions and lost their health coverage. The American worker lost everything, Mitt became richer and richer... If his time at Bain is an indication of how he would handle our employment situation, the American worker should think twice about voting for Romney for president.
A Romney presidency would mean minimum wage jobs, no pensions, and no health insurance!!!
Every GOP standing on the debating stage is against Health care as a right, they're against unions, they support voter suppression, they believe that cutting the deficit should be on the backs the middle class (what's left of it), the wealthy should just be left alone to get wealthier.
Obama/Biden 2012
he is the one with the biggest mouth ,nevr let any one talk finish ,disregards when the say red light on but he still keeps up with his japping
Romney inherited wealth and is in the top 0.001% with a net worth of $250,000,000.00. That is why he understands the middle class, mere millionaires.
SO what is Elizabeth Warren's worth? Pelosi? Reid?
Shoot - Obama is a multi millionaire himself.
I wonder Affinity - how many Columbia grads and Harvard attorneys are middle class?
Obama is a 1%-er. Most of the congress critters are as well.
Next point, cause this dog don't hunt.
SPANKY; Sorry buddy, to say your post is a bit of a stretch is putting it mildly.
Barack Obama came from nothing. He is a SELF MADE MAN. As for his being a "multi millionaire" that is ludicrous. Most of his net worth comes from his book which did make him reasonably wealthy by normal standards but compared to Romney or Bush it's a laughable comparison. Both Bush and Romney were to the manner born. In no way can you insinuate that Obama's life experiences have been like theirs.
Willard is one of the top 4,000 wealthiest Americans. Has no clue how, or even why, the other half lives.
The top 400 of those individuals have more money and assets then over half the population of this nation, that is over 150 million combined. Four hundred individuals have more money than one hundred and fifty million individuals.
Really think about that, please.
There is no point in comparing him to any democratic lawmaker who is wealthy since every single one of them has and would vote to raise their own taxes and close loopholes.
SPANKY: Elizabeth Warren is not a wealthy woman. She comes from a very humble background. The difference between her, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and most of the well off or downright obscenely rich liberals I know are people who either have never forgotten their humble begginnings or those who were born to wealth are still capable of empathizing with the average person's situation. Your party would do well to take "sensitivity training" courses. LOL Would'nt work anyway, for that to work you have to have a heart in the first place.
Harry Reid grew up in a cabin made of railroad ties in a small town in Nevada.
Aww - I am sorry to burst you collective bubble gang, but the facts are very simple. Warren and her husband's collective yearly earnings are HUGE. IN fact she makes so much money she 'forgot' about well over a $100k in income when she had to report it.
And regardless of it's source - the Obama have more than a million, and are therefore multi-millionaires and 1%-ers.
Oh and gang - John Corzine is a hard core Democrat and ardent Obama supporter, as are many dems.
But I'm sure they are super sensitive, just like you.
Spanky, Sorry to burst your collective bubble but once again:
There is no point in comparing Willard and his wealth to any democratic lawmaker or possible future lawmaker who is wealthy since every single one of them has and would vote to raise their own taxes and close loopholes giving them more of a break.
Oh yes Spanky, this dog does hunt.
If you don't understand the difference between inherited wealth, and it's sense of privilege, and wealth earned you're a fool.
I may not be in the 1%, but I'm damn close and I earned every nickel of it. I came from a very blue collar family. I was the first person in my family to graduate from college, which I did my working full time and going to college at night. I have never felt any sense of entitlement and I try to do as much good as I can because I realize not everyone was a lucky as I was to have a father that never finished high school but knew how important education was. I remember how he cried at my college education.
So many people do NOTHING but criticize (like you) but have never walked one step, less a mile, in other peoples shoes.
I'm sure if you found yourself in the shoes of The President, or Nancy Pelosi you would be a total egalitarian and just give all the money back.
You are nothing but a hypocrite!
Mike,
Pay Spanky no nevermind...he gets this way when he's been drinking...
Oh, and did he tell you how he helps people evade paying their taxes? He's a lawyer, you know...
Republican candidates and Bernie Madoff want deregulation. They should all live together at Bernie's place.
Yep, but then again so did Obama's 'man on Wall Street.'
You remember him, right Affinity - the 'very first guy' Obama and Biden called in January 2009 to fix the old economy?
Fact is Corzine got the regulators to look the other way.
And best part of all, and despite Sarbanes- Oxley, he is still scot free with absolutely no charges pending.
Dem power and influence is quite spectacular.
So Spanky, what would you have done? Maybe bring in a Wall Street outsider like Hank Paulson to structure TARP?
You continue to be a total hypocrite!
Oh, and Spanky, Jon Corzine was the Governor of NJ, not part of the Obama administration.
Just keep posting to show how ill-informed you really are.
One problem I have with folks like Romney (and for that matter Bush) is that they somehow think they have EARNED their position in life; when, in fact, it is obvious to any thinking person they INHERITED it. So they perceive their good fortune of birth as somehow an indication of their MERIT!
So he claims there was a net 100,000 jobs created. If this is true which I suppose is possible, I would like to know what quality these jobs are. My guess is that Bain destroyed a bunch of good high paying jobs and created a bunch of minimum wage dead end jobs. Anyone have any insight or thoughts? His spokesman did mention that they created 89,000 jobs at Staples, 15,000 at The Sports Authority and 7,900 at Domino's.() If these are all that were created then I would not want to brag if I were Romney. American's cannot raise a family, have a decent quality of life or even enter the middle class with the wages these companies pay average workers.
Rob, They came in and fired workers and then "let them" re-apply for their jobs at less salary and benefits. Here is one example.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtV7vKDbU3A
He is pond scum.
Babina........ What do you think is happening to Detroit public workers right now. Forced by the democratic city council and Mayor. OoOops!
Poor Willard, all this flipping and flopping on every single major issue, heck, every issue, and now his refusal to release his tax returns, even if he's "the one." Perhaps because that would expose the fact that he pays little to no taxes on all the millions he inherited and then the rest he earned being a classic corporate raider and closing companies resulting in the elimination of jobs, pensions, etc. for thousands of American workers and profiting handsomely in the process. He can't hide or run from the truth and facts.
No wonder he can't garner more than 25% of republican support.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9njHHyRI7g&feature=share
"Corporations are people, my friend!"-Willard Mitt Romney, 2011 Iowa State Fair
Corporations are people just like UNIONS are people.
Fairs Fair...
Loyd,,,, Unions are the workers.... Corporations are not
Whole different scenario dude
A better analogy : if corporations are people then so is the government!
Flipper had to have the federal government bail Bain out to the tune of tens of millions because he mismanaged it to the verge of bankruptcy and ranked almost dead last in job creation in the country as Gov of Mass which is why he didn't seek re-election. This makes Mittens good at business how?
"W' allegedly ran this country like a business, that's why the banks needed a bailout in 2008. You see people will argue that Bush was intellegent and had a MBA from Harvard, yes that true but ponder this question if you will - Bush was an entrepenuer he owned several oil companies that eventually went bust.
How could you lose money from an oil company? Any idiot could make an oil company profitable. What kind of idiot loses money on an oil company...
I serously doubt the actual employee count of Rommney's businesses is 100,000 employess and if it is then all those people are making minimal wages working part time without benifits, which means they are really underemployed and adding to the economic problem not fixing it.
Romney was an opportunist in the financial world, not a business man. His Bain Capital would look over a target company, locate the assetts, borrow the company into debt, convert the assetts to cash for Bain, then abandon ship and let the company sink.
The government of the United States does not and can not operate like a normal business, the House, the Senate and the Executive must concur to accomplish anything.
Anyone who says the United States Government can be operated like a business entity is a flat out liar. The only possible way the U S Government could operate similar to a business model is if we were a Dictatorship not a Democracy.
Mr Romney is either insane or a liar to make such statements!
What does Romney think the President of the USA does oversee hostile, corporate takeovers? If Bain Capital undertook 10 business deals, which I would say is quite conservative, and the 3 that Romney claims were successful leaves his test score at 30%. Maybe Romney understands numbers well enough to understand that 30% isn't good unless you are a MLB player and that is your batting average. We don't have that luxury as a Nation. President Obama has the economy stimulated and it is growing. If the Congress would establish the Infrastructure Job Bank, like President Obama called for over six months ago, the unemployment rate could be reduced in a matter of months to a reasonable rate and the overall economy would benefit from the increase in aggregate demand caused by the increased employment.