Newt the Hypocritical Pig

On MLK Day this creep threw red meat to all bigots in the red states about the President being a food stamp President

So Romney about anti-immigration

According to Think Progress as Congress returns to Washington for a new session, the latest Washington Post/ABC News poll finds that a new high of 84 percent of Americans disapprove of the job Congress is doing. About two-thirds say they “disapprove strongly.”
On MLK Day, Romney Campaigns With Anti-Immigrant Leader.

Hey Mc turltle can't slow it down anymore

Happy Birthday, First Lady

Hope and change, Hope and change, Hope and change, Hope and change,

Yes, we can, Yes, we can, Yes, we can, Yes, we can, Yes, we can, Yes, we can,

Yes, we did, Yes, we did, Yes, we did, Yes, we did, Yes, we did, Yes, we did,

Win the future, Win the future, Win the future, Win the future, Win the future,

Pass this bill, Pass this bill, Pass this bill, Pass this bill, Pass this bill, Pass this bill,

What a load of horsesh!t.

From Politico:

Partisan D.C.: Obama's broken promise
By: Carrie Budoff Brown and Jonathan Allen
January 17, 2012 05:04 AM EST

Candidate Barack Obama promised to transcend Washington partisanship.

President Obama plummeted into it.

As the House returns Tuesday for the final session of his first term, Obama’s failure to fulfill this central claim of his 2008 campaign has never been more glaringly obvious.

The hard truth is that Washington next year will look indistinguishable from the one Obama warned against during his election-night victory speech, when he called on Republicans and Democrats to “resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long.”

His relationship with Republican lawmakers is broken, the victim of grand expectations and hardball political tactics, irreconcilable policy differences and perceived personal snubs.

Obama’s early promises to invite lawmakers to the White House for weekly cocktails and congressional leaders for monthly meetings sound oddly quaint. His days of personally courting rank-and-file Republicans for votes are long gone. The broad majorities that senior Obama aides once predicted for major legislation never materialized.

The degree of dysfunction may not matter much through November, but it will in a second term if Obama wants to build on a legacy that hasn’t racked up a major legislative achievement since his first two years in office. At that point, Obama may very well find himself with a more Republican Congress than the one he struggles with now.

No one has ever seen God. No one has ever touched God. But he sure is a chatty sort of Guy. Billions of people say they have heard Him. I personally know hundreds of people who say they have heard Him. I never did, even when I stood right next to people who said they did, but I sure have heard about Him.

He loves sports, but He seems to have a special fondness for football. Football players talk about Him all the time, and coaches ask for His help. I don't know how He decides which team to help though, especially after He sent Tim Tebow home for the rest of the year, and Tim really likes Him. It's got to be tough to keep from having favorites.

Now, if that's tough, it has to be almost impossible when countries get involved in wars. There just doesn't seem to be anything like a godless nation; well, maybe the U.S.S.R., but look what happened to them. This may not bode well for the Chinese, not a lot of religion going on there either.

However, most other nations do have a God. During WWII, German soldiers swore allegiance to God, and their belt buckles even said, "Gott mit uns." (That means God with us.) Their allies, the Italians had a very close relationship with the Roman Catholic Church and the Pope. You're thinking, "They had an inside track, for sure." Nope. On the other side - the British, Americans, and many more - also had God on their side. How does God pick a winner in these wars?

Fast forward. Jews say they've always been God's favorites. Not true, say Muslims. Christians, which includes Catholics, disagree with both. Someone is wrong, because it's the same God and Jesus says He loves everybody, although he's a bit skeptical about rich people. Meantime, they kill each other. We must give God some serious headaches.

However, through it all, He seems to have kept a sense of humor. He told Rick Perry to run for President. He told George W. Bush to run for President. He told Michelle Bachmann to run. He was a big fan of Sarah Palin. Even if you break his rules, if you're in politics, you get a pass. Newt Gingrich says so. Still don't believe he has a sense of humor? OK! Rick Santorum.

Now, this weekend, a bunch of evangelicals got together. They hate Mormons. (It's a cult they say, not something serious like Holy Rollers, or Pentecostal snake handlers.) Must have been a bad apple in the evangelical barrel, because it looks like someone fiddled around with the voting there. Imagine that! God-fearing Christians tampering with votes.

Here in Kansas, the House Speaker, a Republican named Mike O'Neal, is a real friend of God and can quote His holy book, The Bible. He sent an e-mail to his fellow God-lovers in the House saying, "At last -- I can honestly voice a Biblical prayer for our president! Look it up -- it is word for word! Let us all bow our heads and pray. Brothers and Sisters, can I get an AMEN? AMEN!!!!!!"

Well, I looked up that verse - Psalm 109:8. It says, "Let his days be few; and let another take his office." Politicians are all the time complaining about having their words taken out of context. God probably feels the same way, so I looked up the next verse, 109:9. It says, "May his children be fatherless and his wife a widow." Like I said, God doesn't talk to me, but I've heard that His Golden Rule is to "Love Thy Neighbor". I think Mr. O'Neal isn't feeling the love. I'm going out on a limb on this, but I just can't imagine God likes it when someone comes and asks Him to kill the President for no good reason. The President loves God, too.

What with humans being such a fickle bunch, it's a really great idea the founders of this country had when they said we shouldn't mix religion into our government. We should try really, really hard to stop asking God to get involved.. God didn't make the mess. We did. There's a whole lot of other things that need His attention. For starters, He really needs to have a chat with Mr. O'Neal.

Backhouse, great reminder.

Martin Luther King wasn't about just civil rights and equality for blacks but also about the inequality for all poor and disadvantaged people and lifting all people out of poverty with a hand up, not a hand out. We forget that aspect of MLK.

Listening to the GOPTP candidates plans to dismantle the safety nets is discouraging at best.

I saw Romney start to crack last night under the questioning and attacks of the other contenders. I've always suspected that all his answers are memorized. He lacks spontaneity.

What happens when he engages President Obama in debates? Me thinks the President will eat him alive.

And again, Romney will be an also ran.

Obama in 2012.

Backhouse -- Thank you so much for bringing to our attention MLK. I believe in the words of his niece -- Alveda -- about the man he was and would be today. So all you who support killing the innocent unborn, chew on this.

http://www.lifenews.com/2012/01/16/martin-luther-king-jrs-niece-my-uncle-would-be-pro-life/

As the nation today marks the contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., his niece Alevda King says her uncle would be pro-life and battle against abortion if he were alive today. As the daughter of Rev. A. D. King, a leader in the Civil Right’s movement, King sees the pro-life cause as a continuation of the Civil Rights movement in which her uncle was a prominent leader.

Alveda King called her uncle “a man of great compassion, and a man of non-violence.”

“He once said, ‘The Negro cannot win as long as he is willing to sacrifice the lives of his children for comfort and safety,’” she added.

King said her uncle would understand that to include the destruction of unborn children.

David,

I have a friend who is a Franciscan monk. The one thing that irks him to no end is when people use just part of a Biblical quote to make it sound like God is on their side. Great post!!

Jody, agreed

And I don't think MLK would agree with dismantling democracy - under the pretext of fixing state budgets. Detroit is next on the list for Gov Snyder & his Emergency Managers scam. Detroit?

And Mr. King was concerned about special interest money messing with the People's business.

Thanks to the Supreme Court, there is no accountability in our elections right now.

The biggest laugh of the day is that Obama will accept the nomination at BoA stadium.

Tell me, is he going to skate out? Dressed as a forward or a defenseman? Maybe goalie?

Backhouse, you might be interested to know that MLK was in fact a registered Republican. MLK stood for equality. He didn't advocate living out of someone else's pocket, or living off the government dole. He was in favor of equal education, and equal employment.

This horse-hockey you posted about helping families out of poverty, and lifting up the poor is absolute gobbledygook. It's YOUR responsibility to lift YOUR family up, and keep YOURSELF out of poverty.

It's not my job, or anybody else's to do it for you.

Yes, we can choose to do something charitable, something good for our fellow man, and many of us do. But, we do so voluntarily, and without fanfare. None of us should be forced to give our hard earned money away to someone else, when we have our own families, and ourselves to feed.

Ultimately, we are all responsible to take care of ourselves, and our families. We aren't responsible for anyone else's. Your problems aren't mine, and mine aren't yours.

If MLK were alive today, I am absolutely sure he would want the people he represented to be educated, gainfully employed, and self sufficient.

Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime.

Merle -- Wow way to to put the outhouse in her place. Great post!!! Game, set, match!!!

Ben, I try not to kill anything...not even flies or spiders.

To the other poster:

Keep up the hate mail and you'll Begone. Just the way it is.

Joe in Albany,

Pretty weak.

Maybe Fox News has some better talking points for you.

Fail.

Damage,

Straight out - are you saying I am not a Christian since I am a Progressive? Answer it straight out, please.

@David Walker,

Well thought out and well said.

you are forgetting his antiwar message ..specially to Christians. "Don't let anyman tell you God has chosen america as his Divine Messianic Force to be the policemen of the whole world" Martin Luther King Jr would pick Ron Paul for his VP. Ron Paul is the only person saying hey don't cut Americans off Cut overseas Spending .. Obama is laying off soliders and the Neo-Cons want to cut Americans off and fund over seas .. Martin Luther King Jr would of supported Ron Paul .. "we don't need a Jeffersonian Emancipation Proclamation or a Civil Rights Bill we just need to have self Asserted manhood and tell America to live up to what it Wrote Down" AKA The Bill of Rights is all i need to prove my case for Freedom. Fredrick Douglas.

Not all GOP folks talk like the posters on here:

Mr. Fagan, Chairman of the Lunchpail Republicans, said that Republican leaders in Indiana are working against families by pushing 'right-to-work' laws with the purpose of destroying workers' rights.

Informed that union-stripping was the GOP Number One legislative priority, Republican Mr. Fagan said No, No, No, he will fight it and them.

He says that pro-labor and pro-business working together is a good thing. He also doesn't appreciate Republican leaders telling the private sector and small businesses they cannot have labor relations, and no revenues for services provided by their labor organisations.

David Walker, terrific post. It points out the obvious with facts and humor. I could not help but smile when Tom Brady showed Tim Tebow the exit. Don't get me wrong. I have no problem with Tebow praying on the field or his strong faith but I sure wonder why such a big deal has been made about him when other NFL players have been doing the same thing for years and years; often groups of them kneeling and praying together. No one ever asks whether they are praying for a win or perhaps just a praying that they complete the game without injury. It's really none of our business but praying for a win seems petty and selfish which is something most believers are taught not to do.

Damage123:

As is your wont, you have gone for the gold in conclusion-jumping. Be good enough to cite where I said anything that was anti-Christian in my post.

Inasmuch as you have an incredible amount of difficulty with comprehension, at least with what I write, I am providing you with a link that should keep you busy for the rest of the day.

Have at it with the questions raised by your God, who by the way is also the God of Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Go for it, God-scholar. http://www.bartcop.com/laura-gay-bible-letter.htm

This is probably the 5th time I've posted the same correction...

Martin Luther King SENIOR not JUNIOR, was a registered Republican, as were most African Americans in his era. His son was not.

-------------------------------------------------------------

King Sr. was a major figure in the civil rights movement in Georgia, where he rose to become the head of the NAACP in Atlanta and the Civic and Political League. He led the fight for equal teachers' salaries in Atlanta. He also played an instrumental role in ending Jim Crow laws in the state. King Sr. had refused to ride on Atlanta's bus system since the 1920s after a vicious attack on black passengers with no action against those responsible. King Sr. stressed the need for an educated, politically active black ministry.

In October 1960, when Martin Luther King, Jr. was arrested at a peaceful sit-in in Atlanta, Robert Kennedy telephoned the judge and helped secure King's release. Although King, Sr. had previously opposed Kennedy because he was a Catholic,^{[citation needed]} he expressed his appreciation for these calls and switched his support to Kennedy. At this time, King, Sr. had been a lifelong registered Republican, and had endorsed Republican Richard Nixon.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King,_Sr.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Straight out answer from a tea/gop adherent phine? Don't hold your breath... they don't, make that CAN'T, do "straight" answers (re: the endless republican debates.)

I know it seems I am the lone Tim Tebow defender here, but my take on all the attention he gets is that it works as a great marketing tool for the Broncos and the NFL to help negate the attention all the "bad boys" get (beating wives, drugs, strip clubs, etc.) Never was a big deal in Gainesville, at least nobody in Gator Nation made a big deal of it.

Nope. Not saying that at all Phinephancy. Why, did I post something to you regarding Christianity? I thought I was talking to Dave The Walker. I didn't mean that ALL liberals are anti-Christian. I was referring to the growing anti-Christian feeling spreading in the country seemingly led by the pinhead known as Bill Maher. We're seeing more and more of this hatred of Christians and it sure as hell is not coming from the right.

Thank you David Walker, excellent post. I have often had the same thoughts myself, especially when george w's evangicals got in the picture claiming the rest of us were bound of hell in a handbasket - now that's a real Christian attitude, isn't it? I changed a demonination early in my life due to their constant mixing of church and state, really like my place of worship now because they only remind folks to vote but never tell you how to vote. Phancy - you are right, far too often folks just like to pick and choose which scripture fits them at the time of their stiuation. unfortunately we all need to either read and follow the whole book or not do it at all.

As far as the primary goes, got a news flash: All the folks I know who support Ron Paul will never vote for another candidate, and even though the south has had a steady stream of Mormans in the last 20 years or so - Bubba will never vote for a Morman anymore than he will for someone who is half white/half black. Lived here all my life, I could give you a real good history lesson about Bubba - we could call it the Bubbaland experience! Heck, maybe I can get a book deal and get into the 1%, haha.

Then I would stop generalizing that liberals are anti-Christian. Would you like it if I generalized something like that about conservatives? Maybe it is time for some folks to take a deep breathe and stop demonizing each other. (And that is on both sides)

J.Merle, I would remind you that in MLK's day, it was the republican party that supported civil rights more than the democrats. That is why Abraham Lincoln took his stand. Logically, in that context, MLK would have been a registered republican. JFK and RFK were the first prominent democrats to push for civil rights especially Bobby Kennedy. After LBJ signed the civil rights law, the parties pretty much flipped their roles and their positions on this issue. The southern democrats, the Dixiecrats, hated the laws and became republicans. In today's world, MLK, and Abraham Lincoln would likely be registered democrats and not republicans.

When I was old enough to vote, I registered as a republican who voted bi-partisan depending on the candidate. It was Ronald Reagan who turned me into a registered democrat.

In defining a Christian, one must first have some basic information in the determination. First, have you been baptized and professed your belief in God and Jesus Christ? Do you believe in the teachings of the New Testament in its entirety without question or disbelief? Do you believe in Creationism? If the answer is NO to any or all, then I don't believe one to be a Christian -- a true Christian. Do you trust in God and Jesus Christ as the redeemer and savior? Our salvation? Our forgiveness of our sins?

@Jody -- you are entitled to your supposition but is baseless. Nice try though on the spin.

More NFL players than you can count like to show their faith on the field with their prayers, pointing to the sky etc...But deep down, we know it's just a trendy, fashionable thing they are doing. Like a few years ago when they were all wearing those "Breathe Right" strips on thir noses. It also is a little silly when some player thanks his "personal saviour Jesus Christ" for allowing him to make that winning touchdown then, 3 days later he's on the news for beating up one of his baby-mamas.

With Tebow, people know it's not a fashion statement. It's not part of a trend. It's real. He's real. Who would you want to marry your daughter, Tebow or Ben Roethlisberger?

Most of the Tebow haters hate him because he seems to perfect. We can't have that. He's too clean, too white, too nice. Tear him down! AND....he's Christian! And you know how self-righteous and hypocritical THOSE people are! Not like those nice, peaceful atheists and Muslims!

Backhouse: This means creating good jobs with workers' rights,

MLK sure would be disappointed with Obama, with the worst long term unemployment since the Great Depression. Black teenage unemployment at 40%+!

Worker's rights? .......160,000 pages of federal rules and regulations and not much in there to protect them huh?

ensuring safety nets,

Yet it is Obamacare that strips $500 billion out of Medicare, it is Obama's payroll tax cuts that are defunding Social Security and it is Obama's greatest spending of all time that are actually eviscerating the safety nets.

helping families to stay out of poverty, lifting up the poor.

Yet we now have the greatest number of American poor and Americans living at the poverty line in history after only 3 years of Obama.

It means protecting our voices and our votes,

Actually, keeping people out of poverty means having a competent president who understands how an economy works, not a community organizer that blathers about hope and change, nebulous issues like protecting our voices ...

creating a good future by educating our children well.

Yet we spend more than any country in the world, twice as much as most of the countries with the best scores all in an effort to protect the liberal teacher unions as opposed to educating kids.

Facts suck, huh .... Backhouse.

Ben,

I am a Catholic. Am I a Christian? We are baptized and believe in Jesus. And, the Pope said it was okay to believe in science. Am I a Christian?

Interesting how several prominent democratic leaders (Rev. Sharpton) promoted a march to Michigan Gov. Snyders home on MLK day protesting the financial manager law in Michigan . Most were members of Detroit public unions fighting for their jobs, whereas previously they were not concerned about the city. The leaders them selves decided it wasn't important enough to show up. What was really important was the group of people who drove there from Detroit (not bused by the unions) to protest the protesters for using MLK day to promote a non racial issue thereby cheapening the holiday. The city is eagerly waiting for Mr Obama to bail the city out of its 200Million dollar debt. Im sure Mr. Obama sees all those possible voters, but if he bails out Detroit ......... where does the list end. People here in Detroit are "what have you done for me lately" people and they expect Mr Obama to come to the rescue.

David, you are a talent sir. Stay with us!

To clarify:

King Sr. was a major figure in the civil rights movement in Georgia, where he rose to become the head of the NAACP in Atlanta and the Civic and Political League. He led the fight for equal teachers' salaries in Atlanta. He also played an instrumental role in ending Jim Crow laws in the state. King Sr. had refused to ride on Atlanta's bus system since the 1920s after a vicious attack on black passengers with no action against those responsible. King Sr. stressed the need for an educated, politically active black ministry.

In October 1960, when Martin Luther King, Jr. was arrested at a peaceful sit-in in Atlanta, Robert Kennedy telephoned the judge and helped secure King's release. Although King, Sr. had previously opposed Kennedy because he was a Catholic,^{[citation needed]} he expressed his appreciation for these calls and switched his support to Kennedy. At this time, King, Sr. had been a lifelong registered Republican, and had endorsed Republican Richard Nixon.

His son, Martin Luther King Jr. soon became a popular civil rights activist. Taking inspiration from Mohandas Gandhi of India, he led nonviolent protests in order to give African Americans greater rights.

Martin Luther King, Jr. was shot and killed in 1968. King Sr's youngest son, Alfred Daniel Williams King, died of an accidental drowning on July 21, 1969, nine days before his 39th birthday. His wife Alberta was murdered in June 1974. She was sitting at the organ of their church when she was shot. King Sr. continued to serve as pastor of the Ebenezer Baptist Church until 1975.

In 1969, King Sr. was one of several members of the Morehouse College board of trustees held hostage on the campus by a group of students demanding reform in the school’s curriculum and governance. One of the students was Samuel L. Jackson, who was suspended for his actions. Jackson subsequently became an actor and Academy Award nominee.^[3]

King Sr. played a notable role in the nomination of Jimmy Carter as the Democratic candidate for President in the 1976 election. After Carter's success in the Iowa caucus, the New Hampshire primary and the Florida primary, some liberal Democrats were worried about his success and began an "ABC" ("Anyone But Carter") movement to try to head off his nomination. King Sr. pointed to Carter's leadership in ending the era of segregation in Georgia, and helping to repeal laws ending voting restrictions that especially disenfranchised African Americans. With King's support, Carter continued to build a coalition of black and white voters and win the nomination. King Sr. delivered the invocation at the 1976 and 1980 Democratic National Conventions. King, Sr. is also a member of Omega Psi Phi.

via Wikipedia

phinephancy, I understand what you're saying about Tebow and respect your view. However, I find it disheartening that someone's strong religious faith is used as a marketing tool to promote a football team and one individual's worth. I would think Tebow's faith would have him questioning that but apparently he finds the publicity, the profits worth it. Faith should not be sold for profit and that's what I find objectionable.

Great post, David. I've been waiting for this one from you.

But why you bother responding to an intellectually-challenged dwarf like Damage is beyond me. He doesn't get it, and he never will; he lacks the capacity to understand what you wrote.

Phine -- A Christian is one who has the belief in Jesus Christ whether you are Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, et. al and yes LDS.

Pope Benedict XVI said - God did create the universe.

In fact, Benedict specifically praised - and blessed - science and scientists in an address to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences.

But he also made clear that the role of science is to reveal God in the universe.

"Scientists do not create the world; they learn about it and attempt to imitate it," he said.

So, if you believe that and can answer the rest of my questions with an unwaivering YES, then you are a Christian -- one with skewed political ideas -- but a Christian nonetheless.

bob-1805084

Backhouse: This means creating good jobs with workers' rights,

MLK sure would be disappointed with Obama, with the worst long term unemployment since the Great Depression. Black teenage unemployment at 40%+!

Please explain to us, how the Conservative agenda, would have done a better job than Obama (at addressing the MESS that the "Conservative agenda" created in the first place?)

Ben,

So, can one be a Christian and be a liberal?

THANK YOU PRESIDENT OBAMA:

Ford CEO Alan Mulally:
“We are committed to 12,000 new jobs in our U.S. manufacturing facilities and we are on plan to have them filled by year end....We are also adding 3,000 new jobs in Asia-Pacific.”

"Ford’s expansion..... marks a dramatic change in an industry that shed tens of thousands of jobs in the last decade. But, under new contracts ratified in 2011 with the United Auto Workers union (UAW), the “Big Three” Detroit manufacturers – Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler – are all bringing more people back to U.S. assembly lines."

http://timtpost.com/2012/01/11/thank-you-for-saving-the-auto-industry-mr-president/

For me, Romney lost the debate to himself last night. He was smug and refused to answer the questions. Slimy!

And if your taxes are in such good order, release the records for the past few years now. I don't trust you any more than any other politician: Democrat or Republican. Bunch of liars.

You know it is NOT God that most of us on the "left' don't like

It is just some of those in his Fan Club we cannot stand.

From the most accurate pollster based on being the closet to actual results in the past:

http://hotair.com/archives/2012/01/16/rasmussen-poll-the-bain-attack-is-a-flop/

Voters are closely divided over whether Mitt Romney’s business career is a plus or a minus, but most Republicans see it as a plus. Additionally, a plurality of all voters think he would do a better job than President Obama dealing with the economy.

The Republican presidential front-runner has come under increasing attack from some GOP rivals for his work at Bain Capital, a major investment firm, and 34% of Likely U.S. Voters now think Romney’s track record in business is primarily a reason to vote against him. However, slightly more (39%) feel that business record is primarily a reason to vote for him, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Twenty-seven percent (27%) are undecided.

As Saturday’s critical South Carolina Primary approaches, it appears the criticism of Romney by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Texas Governor Rick Perry, in particular, is not resonating with Republican voters nationally. Fifty-five percent (55%) of those voters believe Romney’s record in business is primarily a reason to vote for him versus only 20% who see it as a reason to vote against him.

Forty-eight percent (48%) of all voters think Romney would do a better job than Obama managing the economy. Thirty-nine percent (39%) believe the president would do a better job, and 13% more are not sure.

"That low number for Obama is a huge problem, especially since it comes in the middle of the Republican food fight. The economy will be the biggest issue of the election, and Obama can’t get to 40% on it against a mixed field in the GOP. Imagine where his numbers will be once the GOP unites behind a single candidate. On the question of which candidate would do better with the economy, a majority of independents give the edge to Romney by a wide margin, 52/30."

David Walker,

Fantastic and well thought out post. Those are some very thought provoking observations.

Y'know, I'm a proud American. Freedom is something I hold very dear. Personally, I have no problem with anyone who has a different belief than my own. It doesn't bother me if they express their opinion about it either. One thing I constantly remind myself, is how small I am... how small we all are. I don't mean that in an insecure or condescending way... But, I do feel humbled. I think of myself. Then I think of the state I live in... and then my country... and then the world. And how our world is simply 1 of several surrounding our 1 star. And how there are so many stars out there in our galaxy with a whole slew of planets revolving around those. And how our galaxy is only one of what could be an infinite amount of galaxies in our universe... and our universe if forever expanding... I feel all I can do is try to be a good person and effect the tiny, nearly infinitesimal portion of the universe around me in a positive way.

Phine -- one can classify oneself as a liberal, progressive, conservative, et. al. and one does not have to agree with everything on the platform. Only you will stand before God and be held accountable. I find it amazing though that you keep asking the same question without answering mine.

Ben,

Maybe it is because I find that you have no right to judge whether I am or I am not a Christian in your eyes. Unless you are my parish priest, bishop, cardinal or pope, matters of my faith are really no business of yours. But I found it fascinating that you are willing to set yourself up as the judge on who is Christian and who isn't.

FACTS: Over the last 22 months, we have added 3.2 million private sector jobs. Manufacturing is up.

Nearly 2 million private sector jobs were added in 2011, more than in any year since 2005.

Last month 212,000 net jobs were added.

Meanwhile, Republicans Governors have fired more than 600,000 public sector workers. Republican leaders refuse to create jobs and voted against several jobs bills, including 2 million jobs in the American Jobs Act, refusing to debate it.

After losing 8 million jobs at the end of President Bush's term, the economy is slowly recovering.

That is why we must extend the payroll tax cut and keep the recovery going.

Please explain to us, how the Conservative agenda, would have done a better job than Obama (at addressing the MESS that the "Conservative agenda" created in the first place?)

Must be new here ...

Coming out of a hard recession, in times of economic crisis, in times when private sector business / small business is struggling - you don't pile on Obamacare costs and uncertainity, you don't pile on 5,230 of new regulations with Dodd-Frank, you don't kill the energy industry and increase the cost of energy/ life blood of the economy, you don't get downgraded by asinine spending on big government, big unions, big green wet dreams .....you don't demonize business .... you don't start class warfare and class envy ....

You don't form a bi-partisan commission just for the illusion of doing something and then ignore it.

Just don't do all the above, everything destructive Obama has done to promote big government at the expense of free markets and jobs.

Work with Congress, follow your commission .... just do something sane that has worked in the past, make an honest effort ..... sheesh ..... we have had 11 recesssions since the Great Depression. The average length is 10 months - NOT FOUR FRIGGIN YEARS GOING ON FIVE!

BTW - For all the dumbazzes - The recession was caused by a credit issue in the financial markets stemming from the housing markets, not the repubs/Bush did it meme.

Republicans, you had your chance in congress and all you did was nothing. You brought no new ideas to the table, didn't put forth any job bills, and pretty much just tried to claim the guy in office wasn't really an American. Guess what, your time of BS is over, America will speak and Obama will win another 4 years. But beyond that many American's have seen you for what you are, the party of do nothing and blame everyone else. Your reign in congress will be over soon, America will not be defeated by your racism and hatred towards the first African American president.

-Obama 2012-

Phine -- I'm not the judge. Only God is. If you really want to hear the answer to your question, go and sit down with your priest. Discuss your beliefs and how they align with the liberal philosophy when it comes to evolution, abortion, etc. and ask him to relate to you God's word as to whether or not you are a true believer in Christ. Maybe you'll answer his questions.

@Backhouse -- FACTS are backed up with non-biased data. I'd be interested in seeing yours. What is the "net" on job loss/gain over the past three years??? You might find a net loss of jobs of around 1.5 million if you search.

Wow ! It looks like the libtards got out early with the first six or seven posts......what in the hell does all this irrelevant crap have to do with the Repuiblican debate ???? What is the subject of the article people ?? Are the paid trolls being told to hijack the story from the start ???????????

The debate was good. Romney stumbled at times. Newt Gingrich looked pretty strong which will probably give lefties a case of "gas". Rick Perry, though certainly not the greatest debater, scored with several comments. Rick Santorum put Romney "in his place" over a distortion. Ron Paul was Ron Paul, showing common sense at times, at other times looking like an isolationist.

Sorry folks, THIS particular article was not about Martin Luther King, Jr., or Tim Tebow or even Barack Obama. Story "jacking" has no place here. Please discuss the debate, or go home for the day.

Hey Phinephancy. You people need to stop referring to yourselves as "progressives." I know, I know...the word "liberal" has worse connotations than "used car salesman" and "personal injury lawyer". But "progressive" contains the word "progress". There's not a lot of "progress" going on lately, is there? No progress in the economy, home sales, our sick culture etc...

It's also not "progress" when you people support such sick, disgusting atrocities as Partial Birth Abortion or whatever deceitful euphamism you have for it nowadays.

Jollyoldsoul1, the day before he was killed Dr. King spoke to striking sanitation workers in Memphis. I doubt that he'd've seen yesterday's march to Snyder's house as non-racial.

Ben,

I talk to my priest all the time - it is called confession. In MY opinion, you have a very skewed view of what and who is a Christian. Maybe you need to talk to someone.

Jody, Iowa

phinephancy, I understand what you're saying about Tebow and respect your view. However, I find it disheartening that someone's strong religious faith is used as a marketing tool to promote a football team and one individual's worth. I would think Tebow's faith would have him questioning that but apparently he finds the publicity, the profits worth it. Faith should not be sold for profit and that's what I find objectionable.

Completely agree with Jody on this one, I absolutely can not stand the Patriots but was glad they won just so I wouldn't have to listen to anymore about Tebow, the only QB I've ever seen that has strong faith but doesn't use it, as Jody so eloquently put it, as a marketing tool, is Drew Brees.

WOW Backhouse!

I see you kicked the hornets nest this morning! ;o)

Nice work!

Mitt Romney emphatically states that "Corporations are people too."

Any oligarch that has sold himself to the degree that Romney has to Corporate interests is destined to sink the American middle class and the poor. In the Oval Office, this slick phony would be too busy cutting deals with the billionaires and millionaires to serve the American people. Romney is a corporate puppet and he should not be our Commander-In-Chief.

This is priceless: The audience also booed co-moderator Juan Williams when he asked Gingrich if some of his talk (about food stamps and janitorial work for poor children) was racially insensitive. And it cheered Gingrich when he fired back at Williams: “If that makes liberals unhappy, I'm going to continue to find ways to help poor people learn how to get a job, learn how to get a better job and learn someday to own the job.”

This is exactly why I like Gingrich! He's absolutely correct. Liberals don't want poor people to learn how to get a job, learn how to grow better at a job and they definitely don't want them to own the job! Liberals would rather have the government take care of poor people at rich people's expense.

Sorry if that stings the liberals, but it is the way liberals show themselves to be. Liberal politicians would rather keep poor people poor and hand them money for votes.

Maybe the complaints about Tebow shouldn't be directed at him (Heck, Elway his boss, doesn't like him, but LOVES the money he can make off him). I don't think Tebow can control how the NFL and the Broncos use his "good boy" image. But, hey, people are going to hate him for some reason, so enjoy your reasoning. I just feel sorry for the kid.

So much to talk about and so little time.

#1. Not quite 152 years ago the "Southern" Democrats held their nominating convention in Charleston, SC. They split from the "Northern" Democrats over the issue of slavery. Now, 152 years later, the nation's first Black President will accept his party's nomination for a second term in that very same city.

#2. Mr. 35%. It must suck to be Mitt Romney. As a multi-millionaire with 15 houses and God knows how many cars, etc. He sure as heck doesn't want to release his tax returns. EVER! But especially not with unemployment hovering just below 9%. The anybody but Mitt party is still hoping for a last minute miracle in South Carolina. They even endorsed Santorum. 35% will be exactly the percentage of the vote Mitt Romney will receive in November when the GOP is split by Paul and Trump. Mr. 35%. It must suck to be Mitt Romney.

And, finally, #3. Perhaps the most important news item on today's line-up. The Walker recall petitions are filed in Wisconsin. We can only hope they result in the richly-deserved recall of of this Rovian tool and the voters of Wisconsin send a message to Rove and his other minions that we are MAD AS HELL AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANY MORE!

That's all, have a nice day everyone, and I do mean, EVERYONE.

Obama/Biden 2012

BrianB -- Dead on!!!! Great post!!!!

Phine -- What part is skewed??

In defining a Christian, one must first have some basic information in the determination. First, have you been baptized and professed your belief in God and Jesus Christ? Do you believe in the teachings of the New Testament in its entirety without question or disbelief? Do you believe in Creationism? If the answer is NO to any or all, then I don't believe one to be a Christian -- a true Christian. Do you trust in God and Jesus Christ as the redeemer and savior? Our salvation? Our forgiveness of our sins?

Backhouse - Ford, I am proud of! GM and Chrysler can suck eggs for all I care. Ford chose not to accept money from taxpayers and they did it on their own. Government dependence is the weak way to go. I have zero respect for GM and Chrysler and I will never buy one of their vehicles again... and I have been a faithfull buyer of Chrysler products since Iacocca ran Chrysler. My last car was a Ford and my next truck will be a Ford. Chrysler has lost my business forever. I won't even price them.

"nearly all white crowd"...."rowdy"..."at war with this government and administration".....More claptrap BS than this is impossible to find anywhere but with GOP candidates. THIS? THIS? Is what the GOP has to offer for President of the US? A social behavior reformer (Santorum) Bible Thumper? A former venture capitalist on steroids (Rommelney), a Libertarian dressed as a Republican until he gets to the White House? A 60's leftover who never served his country because he was a good ole, good ole GA boi with wads of moolah? No point in even mentioning Mr. Texas Perry who can't be President of the US for his inability to untangle himself from his state long enough to admit there ARE other states.

The easiest way to trap a GOP candidate in their own double talk is to ask a follow up question to one of their macho head game double talking statements...Okay Mr. Grinchrich ....you plan to see to it the poor have jobs...Now would you mind telling us which of your favorite cronies in Corporate America are going to indulge this fantasy or is it your plan to ship all poor Americans to those foreign cheap labor countries so you rich bois don't have to have the results of your greed always staring you in your fat little faces?

Not a surprise that a tie in the debates were called. When GOP candidates excel at double talk, it's hard for them to show which is the more expert at it.

Ben,

I am now tired of this conversation. If you want to know how and what a Catholic believes and does not believe I recommend you read our catechism of the Catholic faith. Talks all about literal and tradition belief in the Bible and other fun tidbits. (BTW, how come protestants cut out books of the Bible when starting up their own faith?)

Ben-636050

Alevda King says her uncle would be pro-life and battle against abortion if he were alive today. As the daughter of Rev. A. D. King, a leader in the Civil Right’s movement, King sees the pro-life cause as a continuation of the Civil Rights movement in which her uncle was a prominent leader.

Bennie my boy,

See what happens when you watch that idiot box; FOX NOISE? you don't get the facts; just LIES & propaganda.

There is a rift between the King family and the honorary degreed Dr. Alveda King. The woman is nuts. She lives in the cloud. Have you ever noticed her facial characteristics when she appears on FOX NOISE to pimp her agenda. This is how you judge the characteristics of an idiot.

In 1994, she released a letter condemning Coretta Scott King’s support for abortion and gay rights, saying it would bring “curses on your house and your people … cursing, vexation, rebuke in all that you put your hand to, sickness will come to you and your house, your bloodline will be cut off.”

Loretta J. Ross, a black reproductive rights activist with the Atlanta organization SisterSong, says conservatives have recruited King “to be a front, to be a face … It’s a culture war wedge, to try to use gay rights and abortion as a way to build rifts in the black community.”

David Garrow, a civil rights movement historian at the University of Cambridge, said that Martin Luther King Jr. was unambiguously progressive.

http://www.salon.com/2010/08/27/alveda_king_glenn_beck/

There is more proof below she is a right wing tool and a a fool below. Every family has someone not so kosher in it.

No, Fox News, Martin Luther King Jr Wasn’t Anti-Abortion

Fox News is commemorating this Martin Luther King, Jr day by inviting his niece, Dr. Alveda King, to come and speak about his legacy. He was a conservative, she explained, who hated abortion. Except that isn't even close to true, not even the tiniest bit. Leave it to Fox News to wrap a crap sandwich in a lie and call it history.

Uh, that's not right. Martin Luther King, Jr was in fact an advocate for reproductive choice for women and was one of the original recipients of The Margaret Sanger Award.

According to Raw Story, Dr. Alveda King's been peddling her version of her uncle as a conservative, anti choice leader for years, and Fox News is trying to perpetuate it. And everyone knows that in this day and age, if you repeat something enough times, it becomes true.

http://jezebel.com/5876611/no-fox-news-martin-luther-king-jr-wasnt-anti+abortion

Dem in Texas - Reading them liberal rags again I see. They will rot your brain... take a look around you at how many that read them are off the charts crazy. Do yourself a favor... write Harry Reid and ask him how come he tabled all the republican sponsored jobs bills. I'm sure you'll get an answer real soon... like maybe in 2025. Maybe you should broaden your horizons and learn that there's 2 sides to every story, not just the liberal side.

' "South Carolina is at war with this federal government and with this administration" over the Voting Rights Act'

Interestingly, the Supreme Court has already ruled that Voter ID laws are constitutional, but the Obama Administration has brought suits against several Southern states to block these Voter ID laws for the simple reason that HE didn't approve of them.

He's hoping that by filing his lawsuits, they won't be overturned until AFTER the elections in November.

Pure political gamesmanship by the most politically polarizing Administration in history.

Obama has one big disadvantage this year - He doesn't have ACORN registering tens of thousands of fraudulent voters in key swing states, like he did in 2008. You might recall that ACORN, which Obama helped represent as an attorney, lost their Federal grants after having encouraged people to lie about their illegal activities.

PS - Something that you won't see mentioned by the liberal media - Martin Luther King was a registered REPUBLICAN. Also, the Voting Rights Act was passed in the Senate with 94% of Republicans voting FOR it, vs only 73% of Democrats.

Oh, and David, pull up the lyrics to Bob Dylan's "WITH GOD ON OUR SIDE". They will go nicely with your post today.

"My name it is nothing, my age it is less,

And the land that I come from is called the 'Mid-west'.

I was brought up and taught there, the laws to abide,

And the land that I lived in, had God on it's side....." Bob Dylan.

You could write a few new verses....

"Hate radio tramples on truth with it's lies,

They di-vide the country and propagandize.

But their lies all mean no-thing, they'll soon realize,

'Cause Obama and Biden, have God on their side." Skip Nicholson w/ Apologies to Bob Dylan

Obama/Biden 2012

Thank you Jim, well said, I was a bit confused as to what the heck most of these posts were doing here.

P.S. I like the fact that Ron Paul seems like an isolationist. In a world of freedom eating, man eating sharks I am glad that Ron Paul is the only candidate that stands alone.

Please vote for our freedom and a radical change in government this new term. Vote for Ron Paul.

Ben, You take the prize for the biggest bald-faced liar on this post.

The auto industry and thousands of workers who kept their jobs or who now have jobs and are taking care of their families, have no interest in whether you suck eggs or don't like to acknowledge the auto recovery.

You like FORD? Look at my post above in which Ford CEO Alan Mulally, thanks President Obama for Ford's expansion.

In addition, Ford has pledged to INSOURCE 2,000 jobs back to America, as part of the President's INSOURCING initiative.

Romney wanted to let the auto industry die, and take all the jobs, related industries and revenues down with it.

ewent - and what do we have now? A community organizer even after 3 years of experience still knows very little of how our Constitution works. A spender that has increased the debt of this country by $7 trillion dollars. A person that doesn't know a budget from a hole in the ground. A slick talker with no vision for this country other than his narcissistic view that all Americans are lazy! How many times has he thrown our country under the bus? He only stands for himself and couldn't care less what direction this country is heading... since at least 70% of Americans feel we are heading in the WRONG direction.

You may not like any of the republican candidates... but what we have now is rotten to the core.

@Backhouse -- You made a mistake. I did not have a conversation with you on the auto industry. An apology should be in order.

@BrianB -- After three years, he does know how the manipulate the Constitution though.

Ben,

I am now tired of this conversation.

Phine - now that Ben has taken on the role of defining and deciding who is and isn't a Christian, he is going to be very busy going to St. Peter school so he can usurp Peter's role at the Pearly Gates, that place where the entry to Heaven decision is made. Ben will likely be at school a very, very long time, perhaps a millennium or two and it is going to take a saint or two to adequately 'school' him. I'd be tired of the holier-than-thou conversation too. I have always wondered why these religious extremists think the rest of us care about their views of religion.

Backhouse - My name is Brianb, not ben. Who cares if Ford thanked president Obama? They didn't take any money from the taxpayers. Ford is the only honorable business in the big three as far as I'm concerned. They handled their own problems at their expense, don't owe the government any money and led by example that if they could do it, anyone could. I see that you have totally missed my point, thinking that Obama is the boss for "saving" the auto industry. What we didn't see was companies doing it on their own... which would have been a hell of a lot more rewarding than sucking up to Obama and his endless supply of money. Liberals seem to think that getting the government involved in private enterprise is a good thing... it's a bad thing anyway you slice it because once the government creeps in, they never let go... they are like bloodsucking leeches and want more and more.

BTW - For all the dumbazzes - The recession was caused by a credit issue in the financial markets stemming from the housing markets, not the repubs/Bush did it meme.

Speaking of dumb????es - it never ceases to amaze me when uneducated faux economists claim a symptom as a cause. The credit market freeze was not the cause of the financial market meltdown, it was merely one of the symptoms.

@Backhouse #1.77,

You are not a student of Ford's turnaround I see. Alan Mullally's turnaround was started LONG BEFORE OBAMA WAS ELECTED ! Ford had a plan. They cut some slow selling models, ramped-up research and development on newer models. They arranged (without help from Obama) long-term financing, opened at least one, modern production facility and offered early worker buyouts for those nearing retirement to shed excess manufacturing capacity.

While bailing out GM and Chrysler, Obama "threm 'em a bone" so to speak. Mr. Mullally was merely being polite to the President.

I meant what I wrote about Ben. He's been exceptionally false today, if that's possible.

You friends have been agreeing so energetically. He wrote about Ford, when I had already written about how happy Ford is with their expansion.

I quoted the CEO directly and provided a link.

Mr David Walker

I found your post to be interesting. First off your first two sentences are false but the rest of the post does tell how people believe God should act, not the way He really acts. This is because they don't know him. He allows us to act according to our agency, being able to choose what we want to do. He will not stand in the way of one persons right to choose something that is detrimental to another.

I think He ultimately wants to see whether people will adopt the lessons taught by Christ of "Father forgive them, they know not what they do" or whether people want the "eye for and eye" justice. An immediate justice. I believe people think that God's justice ought to be more immediate than long term. His teachings are that he will give justice in the end but will allow us to act in the short term to show our true colors. Nothing like a little adversity to show who we really are. Most people want the immediate justice because "I am better than you" philosophy. Well if God gave immediate justice, then people would not have the chance to repent like he has promised.

As far as sports and wars, people do not really need to pick their sides on what they think God is going to do. Here again, man will show his true colors.

It just goes to show that even though people say they believe in Christ, they want Christ to do what they want instead of understanding how God acts. Maybe people are not quite as knowledgable about God as they would like to think they are. Christians, Jews, Muslims and all. Just a thought.

Karl Rove, as ugly as ever.

we can do it - nice question above, but as long as obama remains in office promoting congressional gridlock we will never know the answer or surmise one either.

Republicans are so desperate... the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was implemente by Lyndon Baines Johnson, a Democrat. Martin Luther King, Jr was a Democrat that worked with LBJ. The republican party became what it is today when the Dixiecrats fled the democratic party in opposition to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Ron Paul is a prime example of racist stupidity. He contends that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 destroyed privacy; undermined the concept of liberty and destroyed the principle of private property and private choices. According to Ron Paul, it is liberty to allow discrimmination against a certain group of people that operate private businesses in a public forum to disallow them to discriminate.

Ron Paul is consistant in negating that under his premise of liberty, blacks and other minority groups will endure constitutional discrimmination.

With alll of the information available via the Internet. Anyone who is black, minority or poor that votes republican at this day and age is harming themselves and others like them.

What a funny joke... Martin Luther King, Jr. was a Republican. And, even if he was... would he be one today?

no one on the debate; disagreed when Mitt was asked if he would have signed the Defense bill that Obama signed (even though earlier he said he would not sign it); allowing for imprisonment of American citizens without trial, if they are a suspect of certain activity's; NO ONE DISAGREED, NO ONE, we are in deep trouble, from both party's.

It doesn't matter one bit your faith. I believe God loves all and doesn't care. Democrats nor Republicans own the the exclusive rights to God.

Maybe the complaints about Tebow shouldn't be directed at him (Heck, Elway his boss, doesn't like him, but LOVES the money he can make off him). I don't think Tebow can control how the NFL and the Broncos use his "good boy" image. But, hey, people are going to hate him for some reason, so enjoy your reasoning. I just feel sorry for the kid.

Elway is grudgingly changing his tune. As he said in a post season press conference Tebow has earned the right to be starting QB going into training camp next year. People, including Elway, seem to forget that Elway was not well received nor highly thought of for his first 2 or 3 years as the Bronkeys QB.

As far as faith goes I don't see Tebow doing any flaunting. It's the media that is making a big deal of it. Before every game home or away Tebow goes to the home of a critically ill or terminally ill youth meets with the family and brings that person to the game as his guest. Would you rather hear about that or sports figures that abuse children, women, animals, drugs, cheat on wives, shoot themselves at a bar or get shot in gang incidents?

Damage,

You display a lack of intelligence and inability to read or reason at every turn. Five minutes ago someone told me that your post #1.49 was directed to me, so I opened it and read it. In it you were referring to my post #1.40, but where in my post does it indicate that I read an earlier post of yours? I'll give you the answer: it doesn't. My post was simply a response to David's #1.23 post. I didn't read an earlier post of yours. Do you see? Do you understand yet? No? I didn't think you would.

Phine-- Why do you care if someone else thinks you are a christian?

On the Tebow issue why would anyone think that god gives a @!$%# about sports. That is why we think he is a bafoon. He should spend more time on the sideline studying the defense that just gave him a 3 and out instead of kneeling in prayer. God just cares how you live not how you play.

• Gingrich take your backwards regressive billybob types in SC and go a$$backwards to the Civil War why don't you??????
• This frickin hypocrite Blingrich will play to any crowd!!

There are some liberals who think this is a secular country with no need for Old Testament law (Which is very close to Sharia law). Several evangelicals feel that is an attack on Christianity.

I say the biggest attack on Christianity comes from the people that fill the pews for show then go home and worship at the alter of the almighty dollar. Jesus did warn us about these people.

We have a one-world religion it is called Capitalism. As an economic system, it is OK. Why do people want to make it into their religion. If you think about your wallet more than God, Jesus might have a hard time recognizing you at heaven's gate.

Once again, no mention of Ron Paul despite the fact that he did the best. Even Fox News had to admit it. http://rpflix.com/4583

I suppose NewtISaPIG will have a coronary if Newt gets the nomination and goes on to beat Obama. Tell me Pig, should we set up a fund for your recovery? ROFLMAO!!!!!

Frankly True: You know it is NOT God that most of us on the "left' don't like, It is just some of those in his Fan Club we cannot stand.

Perfect!

David walker...

I suggest that you read psalm 109 in its entirety, then report within the context that this politician was speaking on. Was he as guilty as you were in in drawing conclusions without understanding the context from which it was made?

With regards to hearing, seeing or talking to God, isn't that more of what functions as faith? I myself have never heard God or seen him or Christ either. Yet on many occasions, both good and bad, I recognized that I learned a lesson and gave thanks to God through Christ the credit for the lesson learned.

-----------------------------

To the tebow and religious detractors - Seems that tebow is giving thanks to the God he believes in. Nothing more. Nothing less. Is he telling others to follow suit? Seems that the secular world is more bothered with this than he is. Really girls, just what is the problem here? I can hardly wait until he makes a misstep and you all criticise him for it. After all, shlt happens.

I have always marveled that God through Christ has given us the free will to do as we wish.

Ahhh robiscoole - You don't know very much about God, do you? He cares about every aspect of your life. Did you know the hairs on your head are counted? What makes you think God only cares about how you live, not how you play? Isn't playing a part of life? Do you really think God is only interested in just one aspect of your life?

american lotsanumbers:

You wrote: "I suggest that you read psalm 109 in its entirety, then report within the context that this politician was speaking on."

Really? Surely you aren't implying that taking something out of context is something less than honest, are you? Surely, you don't object to my using the same disgusting tactics the Leader used to illustrate his outright dishonesty, do you?

Please don't insult me or the readers with your observation about the context in which this politician sent his e-mail. There is no mystery about the context. This is Kansas.

For any who wish to read the entire text of Psalm 109, here is the link: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+109&version=KJV

That is a call to God from a self-judged righteous guy to bring down a pretty awful curse on his enemy.

Go right ahead and offer your thanks to your God for lessons learned, good or bad. This is your choice and your right in this country. If this gives you peace, that's great. If the notion of "faith" gives you comfort, so be it. The medical profession calls it "delusion". I cannot say with absolute certainty that either one is right or wrong. I'm firmly planted in the "I don't know" crowd, and I'm damned tired of hearing from mortals who insist they DO know.

Oh, and about that "free will" thing - Got proof?

Well WSJ reported to day that Romney addmitted that his effective tax rate is a staggering 15% (quoted (probably colser to 15%). Which proves his desire to reduce the highest effective tax rate to 25% is not completely a selfish ploy. How does that saying go "It ain't no fun if the homies can't get none".

If Romney is truly paying an effective 15% tax, I cannot imagine how he can justify a need for lower taxes. The laws for how capital gains are treated really need to be revised.

BrianB:

You wrote: "Ahhh robiscoole - You don't know very much about God, do you?"

I'm not robiscoole, but I can tell you this. He may not know much about God, but you know less than that. What you pretend to know is based on tales from long, long ago. These were tales passed down by people who could neither write nor read.

If there is a tale that has survived with its value intact, it is to be found in Genesis. It recounts the fable of Adam and Eve who were thrown out of the Garden of Eden because they wanted to know the mind of God.

As "heir" to this legacy, you remain outside the Garden. Yet, you still pretend to know the mind of a God of infinite proportion. You know nothing except hubris.

LOL this is completely a change of subject, BUT did y'all hear that the right-wing Canadian Prime Minister was trying to repeal a law preventing lying in the media - so that Fox News could broadcast in Canada?

"Harper's attempts to make lying legal on Canadian television are a stark admission that right-wing political ideology can only dominate national debate through dishonest propaganda."

HA!

None of us should be forced to give our hard earned money away to someone else, when we have our own families, and ourselves to feed.

Ultimately, we are all responsible to take care of ourselves, and our families. We aren't responsible for anyone else's. Your problems aren't mine, and mine aren't yours.

Merle, I guess you forgot to tell the banks, farmers, and all the Corporate welfare recipients about this rule of yours. I wonder if you're so quick to jump on them for the millions they receive each year. After all, aren't corporations people too?

StoptheCannibals: The 'ilk of Merle' types are the greediest indeed, and their utter failure to acknowledge the handouts they live on is beyond belief. Thankfully for their families, we have there backs. The collective 'we' help pay to school there children, pay for the roads that allow the 'ilks of Merle" to transport to and from work; the list goes on. I work hard to make sure my problems aren't a burden for the 'ilks of Merle', but it sure is a smack in the face when they fail to recognize 'our' contributions to solve their issues.

David walker - insult the posters here? Weren't you the one being insulting? Since when isn't context important?

Are you suggesting that kansans fall into the same category as those from oklahoma? Interesting on how your mind doesn't work. BTW - is their any state or locality that meets your standards?

Interesting that you say this with a denigrating spin...

That is a call to God from a self-judged righteous guy to bring down a pretty awful curse on his enemy

Operative words here are the "self-judged righteous guy", that wouldn't be you would it?

That's right david, it is my choice alone. As for faith and medical delusion, now you want to imply that faith alone in only God through Christ can resolve health issues? Really?? Equating faith with delusion now are we?

I must have missed your disclaimer in post 1.3, but I did read this...

I cannot say with absolute certainty that either one is right or wrong. I'm firmly planted in the "I don't know" crowd, and I'm damned tired of hearing from mortals who insist they DO know.

Heck of a long and slanted post for someone professing "I don't know".

With regards to free will, you need proof?? Need a link for that, do you? How droll, pick any msnbc blog and read the answer.

Speaking of hubris, you do it so well... lol!

All of this talk of Mr Tebow puntin' for Jesus leads me to a question I've always had that, hopefully, the good evangelicals can help me with...

In Leviticus, the evangelicals like to harp on that little verse about man laying with man in their "arguments" about the evils of homosexuality. Within that same chapter, however, there is that pesky little verse that mentions that anyone who touches the skin of a pig should be executed. Another pesky fact involves the fact that footballs are made from the skin of a pig.

If the evangelicals decry the evils of homosexuality, then at what point are they going to call for the execution of Mr Tebow? Do they want to execute all of the teams, or just the christians on the teams that should know better? Which sect of Christianity would be responsible for executing the players? Should each sect be responsible for exterminating their own?

Evangelicals that do not believe this should be done need to completely refigure their views on homosexuality...or maybe they should start praying for some rubber footballs.

And all of the brain washed right wingers posting on this sight need to boycott all pro football games...lest you should forget that the sacred Mr Tebow also belongs to a union.

David - I do know this. It says in the Bible that in the latter days they will mock and scoff at those who choose to believe. You are living proof that the Bible passage is 100% correct. I've seen you mock and scoff at anyone who expresses their belief in God and the Bible. How about that from people who didn't know how to read and write? They had your number way back then! Funny how that little passage says so much about you. Of course you proclaim yourself to be so wise and the Bible addresses that one too. In their foolishness they will say there is no God. While you may think yourself to be wise, the Bible proves you to be a fool.

It's amazing how people like David Walker seem to think they know so much about God and his ways but have never taken the time to actually find out about Him. In his ignorance, he proclaims that I know very little about God because David has this vein imagining that the Bible is only a story book.

Tell me David... what part of the Bible is real and what part is fake? Better yet, tell me how much of the Bible have you even read that makes you a self-proclaimed expert on what's fake or real? How much comparison have you done from book to book within the Bible to see how each book compares the message within? Which books are supportive, who the authors are and how many prophecies are remaining until the second coming?

I await your vast storehouse of knowledge.

If the mocking and scoffing passage was true, then it's been the "last days" since the birth of Christianity.

So, Brian of infinite knowledge....when are you going to call for the execution of Tebow??

BrianB,

You amaze me. Your last paragraph proves exactly what David was saying, and you don't even realize it. I've never seen anyone destroy himself with his arguments the way you do.

Shockedanddisgusted - There's nothing like taking verses out of the Bible completely out of context. Leviticus is the law. Christ was the fulfillment of the law, meaning that we are no longer under the dominion of the Old Testiment law. The reason people back then were not to touch the skin of a pig was because pigs carried disease and it could kill the entire tribe. This is why there was such harsh punishment... and before you say that was crazy, there were also several other animals they weren't supposed to touch, because of the same reason. In the New Testiment, it says eating any type of food is no longer forbidden, but homosexuality is still an abomination to God. Funny how that didn't change. The gays that try to use the Bible for their sordid ways, they seem to miss the abomination part.

what part of the Bible is real and what part is fake?

Well this should be fun. A bible-thumper with self proclaimed knowledge of ancient scripts and latter days. Would that be the latter days between 998 and 1001 A.D, or the latter days of 1899/1901, or the newly re-scheduled latter days of 'any day now'.

If the bible is so accurate, why doesn't the Christian version contain the old testament scripts that talk about Adams first wife Lilith? An inconvenient truth that had to be dumbed out of the original texts? Why the irrelevance of the Book of Judah and dozens of other ancient texts that provide more context of both the new and old testaments? And why, oh why, do some of the stories of the old testament appear to have been lifted from ancient Assyrian and the older Summerian texts, predating Judaism and Christianity? And finally, how much of the message of the apostles was lost between the oral tradition of spreading the word to the actual writing of the scripture, often hundreds of years later?

The only certainty is that the Roman Catholic Church is primarily responsible for the current version of the bible, and it has continually been edited, translated, revised by man and other religions over the last several hundred years.

Brian and american stalker

Brian, what are the "latter days"? You do not know. Let me repeat that. YOU DO NOT KNOW! I do not mock Christians. I mock, abhor, and hold PRETEND Christians in contempt.

That little passage says everything about you - not I. I don't know when the latter days are. You seem to think you do though. What's the deal, you have a direct line to God?

Read boy, read. I didn't say there was no God. I said I didn't know. That is the lot of mankind. According to your own holy book, that is the way God made man. There is nothing you can find out about God. Nothing.

The Bible is a story book. It is full of numerous contradictions. The New Testament is a compilation of stories, passed down via oral tradition, centuries after the alleged events. A great deal of the New Testament was written by a single man - Saul of Tarsus, who believed none of the stories about Jesus until he was supposedly blinded by God. Since its compilation, a process which excluded many, many authors, the Bible has been edited, redacted, revised, and translated many times. You have no idea what was left on the cutting room floor.

As far as knowledge of the Bible, take up your ill-informed points with Jews, certainly with respect to prophecies. They believe that to this day, the Messiah has not yet appeared. They thought Jesus was a heretic and many, if not most, were quite pleased to see him crucified. They think the Old Testament is garbage. Muslims don't think much of it either.

I've read the entire Bible, that should be obvious. You might try it yourself. And learn how to spell testament for Christ's sake. (Little joke there, for you Brian.)

american:

No, I'm not a self-judged righteous guy on this issue. I'm just right.

Twist things much? I'll try this again. God exists only because you have faith that is the case. You cannot prove otherwise. The medical profession identifies people who believe in things, talk to them, and claim to hear them when there is absolutely no proof of their existence, as delusional. I am most assuredly NOT equating faith with delusion. They are clearly quite different.

Save your Cantorian deflections for someone else.

Finally, if these posts bother you, you can skip right by them. Might not be a bad idea because your responses to them are quite irrational.

Jack - I'm sorry it went way over your head. I tried to keep it low to the ground... I wanted to find out how much David knew through his studying and research. He does try to proclaim himself as rather intelligent... so in an attempt to figure out how much David knows, I was trying to elicit an intelligent discourse from him... although I will never get an answer because he will either ignore it, or he's gone for the day...

RedDev - does that stand for Red Devil? I thought so.... LOL! Tell me reddev.... how do you thump a bible?

David Walker - you read the Bible? Whooo hoooo! Didn't learn much did you? Did you do it over a long weekend several years ago just so you could say you read it? Reading it and comprehending it is another issue all together.

Maybe you were speaking of the Old Testament when you said stories passed down... although that isn't really the truth, is it? Considering Moses wrote the first 5 books and he was highly educated, able to read and write, and considered by many to be a great man, even if he did have a speech problem. Then came the book of Joshua, written by Joshua himself... another educated person.

You asked me if I had a direct line to God... well, the answer to that is yes. A lot of us crazy Christians have a direct line to God. Does that mean that God will do my bidding? Not in the least. Will God protect me... Well, so far he has... Will God take away my sickness. Most definitely.. He has on many occassions... Have I spoken in tounges... I sure have... Have I seen miracles... every morning I wake up is a miracle. Do I witness people laughing at me... I sure do... but that only reminds me of how many times Christ suffered the whip before he was crucified... am I ashamed of what I believe? You got to be kidding me... for the likes of you and the others on THIS board that seem to think they are protected by their beliefs? HA! I am quite content in whom I believe and why.

Very astute BrianB - RedDev does indeed stand for Red Devil, a nickname I earned as a young kid regurgitating the teachings of organized religion. Wikipedia does a fine job of explaining how one thumps a bible and likewise, defines the term well.

The term alludes to a preacher thumping his hand hard down on the Bible to emphasize a point during a sermon.

Bible thumper is a pejorative term used to describe someone perceived as aggressively pushing their Christian beliefs upon those who do not share them.

WAY TO GO WISCONSIN!!!! Over a million signatures to recall that bum Walker and his band of minions!

Put another log on the fire and enjoy the day. Great effort. That's showing him.

Now, On Wisconsin, and vote the bum out! Make it happen!

RECALL WALKER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NO ONE has the nomination "locked-up" after only 2 primaries. South Carolina has not yet voted. Neither has the State of Florida. Super-Tuesday is many weeks away.

Obama will have to stand on his record of high debt, high unemployment and very low confidence by U.S. citizens. "Hope and Change" was just vague enough to get him elected last time. Now, reality will kick in and our inexperienced POTUS will have to explain the deep hole he has dug for our citizens.

The primaries have just started. It's way too early to declare a winner.

If the rest of the primaries (especially super Tuesday) all assume that Romney is the predetermined winner, then it's possible that a majority of people could see their vote as not counting and decide to vote for an anti-Romney candidate. That could put Gingrich back in the lead. I'm assuming Paul and Santorum just don't have enough majority appeal to reach front runner status and Perry is pretty much out of the race.

Paul actually did better than anyone else last night: http://rpflix.com/4583

It's sad that MSNBC has started ignoring him again. Before this elections cycle I thought Fox News was the only channel that had any significant bias. I was wrong.

Spinning Jim,

That "deep hole" been dug over 3 decades via deregulation and taxes for the rich. Look at the (historic) income inequality charts. And the top 400 are not permitted by GOP/Norquist to contribute equal effective taxes. This creates even less revenue for the Treasury, even as their Bush tax cuts cost us $11.6Million per hour.

President Bush and the debt: with 2 unpaid for wars (never been done before), a sweet pharma deal unpaid for, and high end tax cuts unpaid for (never been done before). By the end of his term, we lost 8 million jobs.

The President is five times MORE popular than Congress and even more popular than Republican congressionals. And showing very well against Romney.

3.2 million jobs were created over the last 22 months. 2 million were created just last year, more than any year since 2005. No thanks to Republican congressionals who keep voting No to jobs bills, recently 2 million jobs in the American Jobs Act.

President Obama has fulfilled most of his campaign promises. Go look on Factcheck. Gitmo was blocked not by him, but by Republican congressionals.

The President would like to do more, but this Congress promised to block him wherever possible and they have. In so doing, they knowingly held up our recovery. Because of good decision-making on the part of this Administration, the economy continues to recover without any assistance on their part.

Romney is toast. First of all he is a carbon copy of Pres Obama in too many respects. Next thing has already been brought up. If Paul goes indie, game over! If Paul gets pissed off with the GOP Establishment enough, or simply decides that the American People at least deserve a true alternative to Pres Obama, he will run indie. If Trump runs, maybe up to 5% will vote for him, but those votes will come at the expense of Romney. I can envision Paul getting close to a third of the popular vote.

Hey phine, who's Tyler?

BTW Obama first released his tax returns in April of 2008. Nobody seemed to have a problem with that.

Why the double standard?

WCA -- Tyler is one of the moderators on Newsvine. Also, the tax return issue for Obama was a political ploy. They were ready to be posted at any time, but determined the right time was when Hillary asked for his past returns be posted. Why the political games?

Santorum and Gingrich seem to have a problem with Romney not releasing his tax returns now. Perhaps you should speak to them.

Thanks Ben, how does one get in touch with him?

WCA,

Tyler is the moderator who regulates Newsvine. I didn't appreciate nojo and Spanky making false accusations and so I asked him to look into the matter.

And you need to tell the GOP candidates on the stage last night about when President Obama released his tax returns, they are the ones who brought the matter up.

Who do you have for this weekend's games?

Actually noid, this morning Phine seems to have a problem with it. That's why i asked her why it was bothering her, when the person she supports did the same thing.

Thanks for the Tyler info phine. How does one get a hold of him? See last week I was called an ass hole, reported it and no one seemed to care at Newsvine. Do you have to be in a special group to have access to the moderators?

Newsvine Community Moderators:

http://tyler.newsvine.com/

http://sally.newsvine.com/

WCA -- tyler@newsvine.com

Thanks Dennis and Ben

WCA,

I just started by hitting the help button and went from there. There is a Tyler and a Sally.

And truthfully, when it comes to tax returns, the only one I care about is the one me & the hubby file every year! LOL But the other guys on the stage last night seemed pretty worked up about it, so I thought I would just stir the pot a little.

Thanks phine, i can't figure out the newsvins site for some dumb reason.

The tax returns are a red herring. He is going to have to release them at some point.

It botheres me that the GOP candidates want to play He's richer than we are.

I already know the Dem's will do it. You guys are already trying to count his houses.

Duses is rich. Some of us asprire to success and I will never see anything wrong with that.

pp: Very simple FT's from me today. Basically this one question keeps going through my mind, and apparently through the minds of some of the GOP candidates - why won't Mr. Romney show us he tax returns?

What do you hope will be gained by the release of these returns? You seemed to be very concerned about them and seem to think they will contain some kind of magical potion that will solve the worlds problems.

Or are you just looking for something else to b*tch about?

WCA,

I am technically challenged. I still haven't learned the art of cut and paste! So, I am big on hitting help buttons and contact buttons!

And you gotta admit, it is fun to stir the pot and watch the excitement that follows! :)

jas1

No need to swear at me. I just found the exchanges amusing from the GOP field. Swear at them for putting Mr. Romney on the spot. And swear at Mr. Romney for not having a good answer.

Actually, yes, WCA. There ARE certain people on here that are allowed to say pretty much anything they want, but when retaliated against, you can get suspended/deleted/banned. And, big surprise, it's only the righties that it happens to. No biggie. One can always just re-register under a different name, but it funny how the hypocrisy doesn't bother them in the slightest.

It all fits in nicely with their campaign against free speech (although this is just a meaningless site for Obama groupies), and one liberal on here, Skip from Oklahoma has actually called for the arrest and imprisonment of anyone who criticizes Obama too harshly. Seriously! lol

As Mr. Santorum said, Romney's tax returns tell us how he is managing his personal economy.

Well Steeler, dude is Super Rich by pretty much anyone's standars.

I would infer from that, that he is handling his "Personal Economy" just fine.

Mr. Santorum should infer the same thing. Wouldn't you?

pp: I just found the exchanges amusing from the GOP field.

Well I'm certainly glad you're entertained PP, but as usual, you don't answer the question. What is so important to you to have that tax return released?

You're good at avoiding discussions that get deeper than the kiddie pool.

Class warfare, "Republican style"..."for it is easier for a camel to jump through the eye of a NEWT(ON)

Than for a VULTURE CAPITALIST to enter the convention with the lion's share of delegates"...or not...

The shared rhetorical blind-spots of both parties can be hysterically funny, especially when they try to explain why it's "different" when "they" do it...

WCA: Thanks phine, i can't figure out the newsvins site for some dumb reason.

Suspensions can be found at: http://uncle-milty.newsvine.com/ban

Peruse through some of the liberal posters suspensions and the conservative poster suspensions. Compare and contrast them to what people get away with here. You be the judge.

Jas1

Pay close attention here. I said that the GOP candidates made a big deal out of it. I also said the one tax return I really care about is my own. Mr. Romney's answers about his tax return make the whole issue more than what is should be. Complain to him.

Let me ask you this, if President Obama had answered the same way as Mr. Romney, wouldn't you be up in arms today? I do believe you would.

PP: Let me ask you this, if President Obama had answered the same way as Mr. Romney, wouldn't you be up in arms today? I do believe you would.

You are concerned about it, it's easy to tell. You started the thread by asking "Basically this one question keeps going through my mind". It's simple, easy to be critical of, and is raw Politics 101. Things of your limited understanding. It a cheap political hack used by people like you and GOP also rans.

Here are things I don't care about PP: The Obama's tax returns, his school transcripts, his dog license, his birth certificate, or any other mundane trivia about him or anyone else.

I do care about his behavior, his actions, his economic polices, his foreign polices, his entitlement polices, his over spending, and all the other critical errors he's made in office.

Jas1,

I just brought the subject up to stir folks up so they would think about things. And oddly enough, I do agree (in a roundabout way) that a candidates position of the issues of the day are more important than all the other malarkey that constitutes today's politics - on both sides.

And constantly belittling me is not a good reflection on you.

WCA, if you wish to report inflammatory comments directly, go to your newsvine page-click-report bug-click report spam or maliscious user in the drop down box. It's best to copy 2 or 3 of the inflammatory comments you are reporting and the link to the users comment page . then fire it off. It's easiest to have a separate tab/window open to your Newsvine column. I normally put reports in an email to myself, then copy & paste to report. ;-) here's an example just for you....cheers dear!

Dear Tyler & sally, reporting COH #1 violations(inflammatory statements/personal insults) made by the following poster. Thank you, White Collar Auto

http://whitecollarauto.newsvine.com/
White Collar Auto

Ahh Feisty, I'm not going anywhere. Stop being such an ass hole.

Sandy, Are you in favor of giving the Executive branch even more power?

See, I'm not. No matter who is in office. For any reason they dream up.

It's what is called a slippery slope and we're already sliding down now.

• 1

• !

#1.5 - Fri Jan 13, 2012 4:55 PM EST

dangerfield,

Whew! First chance to say a fine Good Morning to you! You had a couple of great posts up there. Oh, and I checked my storage unit, I still have quite a few Mr. Coffee's left if you need one :)

pp:And constantly belittling me is not a good reflection on you.

You may at some point learn to take constructive feedback. Or not.

Damage, you might want to read the COH and the user agreement again or maybe for the first time in your case. ;-)

Thanks Cynthia. and thanks for using my comment as an example.

See, I tried exactly what you said to do three times when, in fact Feisty called me an ass hole and I got no response from Newsvine.

I will be anxious to find out if you get a reply. I have been waiting for someone to tell me that I had been reported for using that comment.

Because then, of course, this would be a perfect example of a double standard.

Jas1,

Well you know how hard it is for someone of "my limited understanding"

Maybe you should look in the mirror, too.

No double standard on my part....I didn't report it and I don't intend to. I gave you an example of how to report it. Reports go into your user history and determine if a suspension is warranted and the length of said suspension. Sometimes "slapfests" are completely removed/deleted depending on the amount of reports received. "above all else, respect others, avoid making personal insults...

Cynthia, tell it to Feisty.

WCA,

Rarely does anyone get suspended for comments made on First Read articles. If you look at the banned/suspension list you will see that most, if not all, of those punished were for comments made on other MSNBC articles. It is also extremely rare for either Tyler or Sally to post a comment on this site, unlike all the other Newsvine sites and articles.

When First Read contracted Newsvine to moderate this site there were exceptions agreed to, to the normal suspension use. When a user gets suspended or banned for comments made on this site there won’t be any statement from Tyler/Sally.

Here's a FACT from the WSJ:

"The Bush administration created about three million jobs (net) over its eight years."

The simple truth about why there is a fuss about Romney's tax returns is that people, including republicans and republican candidates, do not trust him for many reasons. That mistrust is what is driving the issue. He inherited millions, made multi-millions more, there's Bain Capital, there's his lack of principle in political beliefs evident in the flip flops. The fact that Romney continues to hedge on releasing his returns has less to do with when candidates normally release them and more to do with the inherent mistrust of the man by republicans not just democrats and independents.

Well, WCA, just like any 3 day holiday weekend, there are litrally hundreds of reports to catch up to on Tuesday. It all depends on when you made the report. No need to report the same incidence more than one time. Feisty has been suspended before, I don't need to tell her anything.

Damage & Johanna, re-regging will get you banned as will having multiple accounts. The list of bans and suspensions won't tell you who was a progressive or a regressive poster either. What's in a user name anyway? You can click on the #link and see where they were suspended/banned and why but that's about it as far as any political persuasion unless they were on your friends list or watch list.

JAS1 said: You may at some point learn to take constructive feedback. Or not.

There is hardly anything constructive about your feedback. Especially when you challenge someone's intelligence in your criticisms.

Damage & Johanna, re-regging will get you banned as will having multiple accounts.

Cynbad,

Sniffy knows all about being suspended - she has served a couple of 'time outs' herself! ;o)

Ben said - Here's a FACT from the WSJ: "The Bush administration created about three million jobs (net) over its eight years."

Since we need to create at least 125,000 jobs every month, on average, to keep up the people moving into the job market President Bush should have created 12 million jobs which means that our current President started out 9 million jobs in the hole.

Why would one want multiple accounts? I have a hard time with the one I have.

Byran E.: There is hardly anything constructive about your feedback. Especially when you challenge someone's intelligence in your criticisms.

I asked pp why she was so concerned about Romney's tax returns. Her only cognitive response was "I just brought the subject up to stir folks up so they would think about things.", but when pp is challenged on what she thinks, she quits responding and/or deflects.

Clear now? Good.

Jas1 gets a "pants on fire". I answered her several times. She either didn't like my answer or didn't comprehend it. :)

Cynthia. I was using Feisty Redhead's words taken from HER OWN AVATAR. If I get suspended/banned/deleted, it just proves what I was aying regarding the politically selective manner in which they discipline here. I will continue to describe Feisty Redhead using her own words because those words describer her better than anyone else here AND, I like testing/proving liberal hypocrisy on here whenever I get the chance.

It's very telling that Liberals ONLY like free speech when it's one of their own speaking. If you happen to be on the opposite side of a liberal's ideology, he/she attempts to demean you or label you " ignorant."

Most of the liberals on this blog resemble a bunch of Fascists who think that censorship is the only way to go in order for THEM to get their "kool aid" points across.

Sad but true.

Actually, I slipped up once and said something that got me suspended for a day. So, it's best to keep your composure.

JAS1 said: Clear now? Good.

As far as i'm concerned JAS1, there was no ambiguity. Hence nothing to be "Clear" on. Your criticisms are less than constructive, especially when you mock or challenge someone's intelligence. That in turn is a reflection on your intelligence.

Clear now? Good.

Leona, that's quite a broad brush you are using. Fascists?? ah..Godwin's law rears it ugly head yet again. Sad and pathetic.

Damage, what does her avatar have to do with her comments?

Cynthia, her avatar without any political conotations attached, is inflammatory.

WCA, if you consider any avatar inflammatory all on it's own, based on your analogy, should you also then consider all their comments, opinions and facts as inflammatory or of no value? I don't see the relevance.

Sure, there are many on MSNBC and affiliate blogs with avatars that are offensive/inflammatory, distasteful,etc to someone , but that would come under your 1st ammendment rights.

Phine - when you post...

It could be just a privacy issue with him, but when you are running for the highest office in the land, privacy goes out the door

Why just limit it to romney, isn't it also applicable to obama on so many levels? Seems more like politics as usual. Other than the IRS, who cares about someones tax return? The IRS will determine the returns legitimacy. Who really cares about GPA, etc?

WCA... Don't count on tyler or sally to do much about moderating FR blogs per newsvine CofH. FR is like the wild west days where almost anything goes and the law hid.

Ever wonder why you rarely see many FR posters post elsewhere?

If you want to censor what you see, go to advanced tools in your browser and uncheck "show images on webpages". It will then show a big red x inplace of an avatar, the ads and other images. It can, however, affect how the webpage acts or loads. Your choice.

Feisty - since your avatar came up, did you hear this one?

Right-wing Canadian Prime Minister Harper was trying to repeal a law preventing lying in the media - so that Fox News could broadcast in Canada. A quote from the article:

"Harper's attempts to make lying legal on Canadian television are a stark admission that right-wing political ideology can only dominate national debate through dishonest propaganda."

HA! As if we needed more proof, eh? I also read an article about a month ago that Fox accused Sesame Street of "brainwashing kids" against the rich - because they had a character in a skit called "Tex Richman." LOL

Cynthia, Feisty and anyone else, can put up and say whatever the hell they want. I have no power here. All I was trying to find out is if the COH was enforced at FR. From the comments I have read, I see that it is not.

So if Feisty wants to call me an Ass Hole or make fun of No Joe's children and husband, I guess that's OK by you and the Newsvine crew.

FUX is inflammatory, But you're right, First amendment and all, We'll just let the ass holes be ass holes and let their comments and the defenders of their comments be judged on that.

We'll just let the ass holes be ass holes

HA!

Poor WCA - I see your sphincter continues to strangle you there little buddy!

FUX is inflammatory

Sorry sweetie - not sure when you were promoted to morality police! lol

PS: You really don't do the martyr thingy very well!

PPS: Have I told you how happy I am that I cause you to lose sleep? ;o)

WCA, Dennis gave you the answer. If the Newsvine COH standards aren't as strictly enforced on FR, so be it. It's not OK by me. I'm not defending anyone other than myself and I no one deserves an apology from me for anything I've said. I don't make personal insults or attacks-it serves no purpose and only inflames others. The pen really is mightier than the sword and the little cuts sometimes hurt the most. I wish everyone would just knock it off or tone it down. And yes, I mean everyone.

Nothing like a Teflon Mitt to slip and slide to the GOP nomination.

So Da Noid, I watched Rock Center last night in order to see Colbert and learn about Super Pacs. They interviewed Santorum, who actually seemed almost human; when they told him how much money the Super Pacs have to attack him, his mouth literally dropped open. This election opens up a whole new world of money being spent to sway voters. Unbelievable.

Amy B. - Read my post below.

I don't see Romney as having a teflon coating.

He may be the eventual Republican nominee, but enough of the stuff thrown at him will still be sticking to him come the general election.

you have also just described every politician including Obama- he has changed his stance on everthing- the Healthcare bill was so upside down from his 1st proposal it's not even the same bill- it holds many of the taxes he opposes- disect it when you have the chance- there is even a tax buried on Xrays but he declares no new taxes call it what you may but if it's taken it's a tax. His stance has changed on nearly every country- 1st he was tough on Israel for not allowing a Pal. state and now he's not so he and Mitt should be a great match. We'll call it the Flip-Flop debate

If Romney was really any good, than why was he not nominated in 2008?

Romney was considered less electable than McCain back in 2008 and McCain got slaughtered.

Can anyone even explain to my how and why super PACs are legal? Was it the loophole to avoid excessive campaign contributions? They aren't contributing to the candidate's campaign, they are just campaigning on their behalf? Seems like a pretty flimsy distinction.

In a country where education standards have been trampled to death, and ignorance is rampant, a culture where the candidate with the most "face time" has the best chance of winning, is just that much more worrisome. We should be voting based on the issues. There should be one campaign fund, and everyone gets the same amount of air time and exposure. This would force the people to actually pay attention to what they have to say and focus on the issues and the candidates' positions. But then again, I think political parties should also be eliminated, and there should just be people, running for things, with opinions, that you either like or don't.

And why is lobbying legal, period? My recollection (which is admittedly vague) is that initially, it wasn't. Lobbyists weren't an entire class of professionals, they were behind-the-scenes, trying to stay hidden and not caught at their games, because it is essentially BRIBERY. Now they are the standard in Washington, and proud of it. What kind of person do you have to be, to be proud of exploiting your own country?

Jody,

I followed the debate from the tweets on line and read a "who done it". Great way to enjoy a debate!

Cool phine, letting someone elses tweets entertain you, but we already know who you won't vote for...

they are in my portfolio also, Canadians like their oil companies.

or Pelosi's brother's investment in that green energy company voted for by she and O- transparency right- or Solyndra or Pres O biggest contributor Corzine who lost a billion somewhere? transparency where?- dont pick only the Rep. investment both sides abuse the system both dems and rep come out rich

Excellent distinction, Nashville Fan. And why is it the paid pundits are incapable of that kind of analysis? It takes a comedian like Colbert to explain Super Pacs to the American people because the professional journalists are busy interviewing Golden Globe winners.

I just hope he skates better than he throws a baseball.

Why on earth would any Democrat have a problem with holding an event of such importance as our President accepting the nomination of his party in a stadium that is the largest possible venue? Who cares what the name of the stadium is? That said, why would anyone think that Democrats are against Bank of America? It does a service we all need and lots of people work there---the whole jobs thing. As long as it complies with the laws and regulations of the banking business and doesn't repeat the mistakes that it made in the past, why wouldn't we want it to succeed?

Uh--No Joe----just FYI, they play football at the Bank of America Stadium because it is OUTDOORS and can hold over 70,000 people. And I can promise you that it will be standing room only. So now might be a time to admit you were wrong and stop with the hockey references.

Steeler Fan,

Have you ever noticed that people compare sporting events to war and politics to sporting events? Think about that question? A great way to mess with someone's mind. :)

The so called professional journalists are busy trying to improve their ratings with entertainment rather than journalism it's sad they chose to be entertainers in stead of journalists. They just cover what ever tabloid news the day offers.

Nashville Fan, great point of distinction.

Corporations put their names at race tracks, too. Big difference between investing in a stadium to get your name as part of it, buying advertising space to promote a particular business--and buying an election with massive amounts of secret money stashed in a SuperPAC with zero transparency.

You all do realize that sports were brought about because people thought sports competition was better than the wholesale slaughter of people through hand to hand warfare. I mean most have gotten to the point of where no one usually dies! However if you look at the real sport of Canada as played by the Native people was a game played to the death.

Steeler Fan, terrific response to the daily rant; it's amazing the petty nonsense NJ posts.

Thanks, Jody. I guess my alternative was to let No Joe keep making stupid hockey references. Now she will have to find another way to express her hatred of our President. I have every confidence that she will.

Steeler Fan & Jody,

Maybe she could try curling references. Curling is an underrated sport that I love to watch when the Olympics are on.

Curling is my favorite winter Olympics sport, too. I'll bet President Obama would be great at curling---seems to require calm nerves and the ability to think a few moves ahead of the opponents.

Might he be too tall? Seems most curlers (at least on tv) appear to be shorter than the president. (Not only am I technically challenged, I am vertically challenged, too, and appreciate us shorter folks that participate in a sport)

Ice Hockey is the only major sport left for short people.

Well, how do you feel about Government subsidies given to sports aka "Sports Pork"?

I enjoy watching curling at the Olympics, too. One of my favorites and while the teams takes it seriously and certainly work for every tiny advantage, it has a silliness to it that makes it fun to watch.

The protective "cup" was invented and used for Hockey in 1874 and the helmet was first used in 1974. It only took man 100 years to figure out protecting his brain was important, too.;-)

No helmets were used long before that, just not at the NHL level. And curling is just an excuse to drink during the day.

Da Noid, what struck me in that piece, also, was when they asked a marketing executive why commercial companies don't use more negative advertising against their competitors. Well, that's because, if you claim a competitor's cereal is less healthy than yours, you have to prove that claim, or the FEC won't let you run the ad! Standards are higher for commercial advertisers than for political advertisers. Political ads can say whatever they want, because they are protected as "free speech."

Did you watch the extended interview online? Money is not "spent"...because of Citizens United, money is speech so money is now "spoken".

I thought the whole piece was amazing---didn't know there was more online--will definitely check it out.

No one ever brings up the other risk I see of these which is overseas money influencing our elections.

Da Noid, well said. What better way to point out to the people the idiocy of Citizens United and the impact on democracy and our elections than Stephen Colbert mocking the result of vast amounts of money secretly funding elections without ever having to put their names on the ads or list the donors. Bravo, Stephen Colbert.

Dan Rather was on Rachel last night. He indicated that even republicans who previously supported the Citizens United decision are now recognizing the dangerous aspect of it. He thinks there will be bi-partisan consensus in the future to change it. Judging from Santorum's mouth-drop last night, I hope Rather is right.

Regardless of how much money is spent on campaign advertising and where that money comes from it remains the responsibility of the voter to sift through the crap and vote wisely. Saying an election is bought is in reality a direct condemnation of a lazy electorate.

Super PAC advertising - and most campaign advertising for that matter - appears to be predominantly flash, little substance. Are we collectively as voters intellectually helpless chasers of shiny objects dangled out in front of us? This very conundrum has troubled me in the past to the point of at times staying out of the process completely - my carefully considered vote is just going to be negated by a lot more knee-jerks so why bother?

Actually, the bonus from last night was watching The Daily Show to hear Jon Stewart explain that he has "come into a little bit of money". He opened the show wearing a tiara which he claimed was from the Elizabeth Taylor estate sale and then had Mario Batali arrive on set and feed him a pre-chewed meal.

I think that both Colbert and Stewart have been masterful in showing the foibles of the situation. Their not-so-subtle examples show how silly this whole thing has become.

x

Mark in SoCal, you make some good points about voters but I must add that huge amounts of secret money from people or businesses who will gain from attacking the other side, millions with no transparency can influence even the most diligent voter into thinking something bad is good. If a person or business wants to spend millions on a campaign, fine, but I want to see those names in big, bold letters on the ad, I want to hear at the end "I'm Koch Industries and we approve this message" telling us how great the Keystone XL Pipeline is for America. My guess is that if the names of the person or business were required to be shown clearly on an ad, and spoken to endorse it, we wouldn't see as much money or as many.

MLK was happy registered Republican.

Perfect day for a Republican debate in his honor. Perfect day for it.

Jody,

Agreed.

Thanks for the Info Noid, I have to check that out. This is the stuff us folks in here need to be discussing and not this liberal vs conserivative baloney. Both sides have had their time in power over the last 4 decades and both are absolute failures, so why debate or tear each other down?

Kevin-2399224

Funny that Bank of America Stadium wasn't referred to as Bank of America Stadium. Obama is not giving and Speeches at any stadium named Carolina Panther Stadium. He is tying himself to his propaganda speeches to a podium in "Bank of America Stadium". Let's call this what it is.

I'll bet you'd have a hard time finding a sports stadium in any mid-sized or large city that doesn't bear the name of the mega-corporation that financed it. So you're spinning a goofy conspiracy theory based on nothing. However, it would have sounded better if Obama were giving his speech at Minute Maid Statdium here in Houston. Nobody's against orange juice.

However, it would have sounded better if Obama were giving his speech at Minute Maid Statdium here in Houston. Nobody's against orange juice.

Someone would have mentioned that it was formerly "Enron Field".

NONE of what you said matters, houston. The fact is, Obama has been telling everybody that banks are the evil enemy and stirring up resentment and hatred. Then the dumbass wants to do it in BANK OF AMERICA stadium. Too funny. I wonder, is he gonna have the big, arrogant, Greek columns behind him again?

We would have loved to have him speak here in Pittsburgh at Heinz Field! Who doesn't love ketchup?

Banking is a regulated industry for a reason---there is a lot at risk if banks break the rules, as we've seen. The President is not against banking or making a profit so long as it is done legally. Why would he want any industry to fail?

Do James Dobson's cronies pray for rain again this year?

It didn't work last time. Maybe this time they can Tebow and it'll work.

Kevin you and the other tea people GOP republicans are running out of material if all you've got is President Obama's speaking at Bank of America stadium.

All I can say is typical GOP whining--simply to hear the petty whine of their voices or see it in print-- whether it is about President Obama speaking at B of A stadium or daring to vacation in Hawaii in hard times--never mind that's where he spent most of his childhood. FYI, GOPers, it makes you sound petty and kind of stupid.

Kevin...Nice try. But, my state has several arenas named for banks who bought them specifically to commercialize their name. Several of these arenas in NJ aren't even from NJ or anywhere up north. Pettiness and nitpickery is unbecoming to righties. It makes them all appear small, unintelligent and insipidly hateful creatures who always want their own way ...just like most big babies.

That's right Mo - Repugnants tried, and failed, to make the birther issue stick. Now the rightwingnuts will try and make the Bank of American Stadium "scandal" stick, but will fail again. And all the while they try and bash President Obama, they don't offer us a single viable alternative. It's almost laughable if it weren't so sad.

If Obama gave a speech in the largest venue in my city it would be at the Taco Bell arena......so what's your point?

Brain Dzamaged:

NONE of what you said matters, houston. The fact is, Obama has been telling everybody that banks are the evil enemy and stirring up resentment and hatred.

Mittens is setting a bad example for the weak-minded by telling similar lies to the whopper you just told. Obama never said banks are "evil" or anything close to it.

Ashley, How many Libertarian meetings have you ever attended? If you haven't, you should. I did and what I saw and heard sounded more like some radical rich boi rally on steroids. Ron Paul, sans the Libertarian patina, might be great. But anyone who has taken the time and effort to study Libertarianism knows that they are comprised of rich bois in groups like Americans for Prosperity...of course they are American and of course they want prosperity...for themselves and no one else.

The problems in this country is that the wealthy have help getting that way and then they refuse to honor the paybacks they create the minute they involve others in their personal gain. Hence, greed is a vice...not a virtue to be adulated upon a pedestal by the lowly used and manipulated by the gods of greed. We elect a president, not a CEO. We had a CEO with a Harvard MBA for 8 years. Where did that get this country? To this day, righties are still having to swallow their stupidity for not seeing that huge error in judgment.

Wow, she's loose again .....eeeewwwwwwweeeeeennnnntttttttt !

The flamethrowing remarks you make surprise me. Everyone who disagrees with you is "stupid" although you continue to spell "boys" as "bois'. Where did you learn to spell ?

The article is about the debate, it was not an invitation for you to start class warfare round #3.

Ewent And we have also had another one with a degree for 3 yrs who has done nothing except increse our debt at record pace- so you are saying can the PHD types is that your point- theory is grand but it doesn't make a working man- it does however provide foder for college books

ewent, well said.

Jim, "bois" is made up hoity toity for groups of boys pretending to represent some grand uptopian pipedream of a "purist" ideology that is not only dangerous but unachievable. If you really look at what libertarians represent, it is not democracy but it is status quo and better yet, return status quo to the 1780's. Study the libertarians' anti-government philosophy, what you find won't be want Ron Paul sells on the debate stage or the campaign trail, there's a lot more to his beliefs than what he speaks and much of it does not remotely represent American ideals for all.

freelunch, that debt you refer to would be increasing at the same rapid rate if we were discussing a President John McCain. President Bush and his friends doubled it, did you complain then? Or as i suspect, only democratic debt count? We had a near Great Depression which started in Dec 2007 so stop blaming President Obama for the mess he inherited and YES, he has done a great deal to improve it without any help from the GOP.

Ron Paul's getting shunned by the media again and while I don't agree with all of what he says, at least he's consistent and most of his ideas make perfect sense. If Fox News was forced to acknowledge him last night, I don't see why MSNBC should skip him. http://rpflix.com/4583

Big Government= Democrat/extreme Left = Obama.

Small Government = Republican = Center

No Government = Libertarian/extreme Right = Ron Paul.

MSNBC has started their Anti-Paul campaign again. As of this point, even Fox News is less biased--which is appalling. http://rpflix.com/4583

That's disgusting. Romney may have his views, but to be so utterly disrespectful is way out of the line. He clearly doesn't give two @!$%#s about the common man. Letting him be President is like digging your own grave.

So calling Juan Williams.... "Juan" has some kind of implied EVIL MEANING ?????????? Geez, someone needs to tell Bill O'Reilly !!

Wow ! Creative imagination you have there .......LOOK OUT ! THE BOOGEYMAN IS AFTER YOU !!!!!

I guess you call yourself a "progressive". Newsflash: It was conservatives that stood up for Juan Williams when he was "fired" in an arrogant and repressive manner by National Public Radio.

Oh, well that's how you *pimp-on* the independents to garner that desperately needed vote ... especially the Latino vote ... simply refer to them personally and you're in like flint ... well, that's what Romney is doing ... haven't you seen his Spanish-Language-only *I feel for ya* ads ?

LOL.

No one in this world is more racist than a Liberal Democrat. They perfected the art of racism.

Liberals insist everyone be identified by the color of their skin, not the content of their character like MLK wanted.

Good thing MLK was a happy registered Republican, Too many rasicts in the Democrat party.

@EXOTIX #157.2,

We'll leave the "pimping" to the Democrats......Bawney Fwank's boyfriend has lots of experience and Mary Landrieu "sold herself" over Obamacare. So nice to see a "regressive" like yourself quickly deviate from a political discussion to words with sexual connotations. Nothing new there.

So why is Obama desperately trying to raise $1 billion for his election ?

Is Obama trying to buy his way back in after his abject failure with the economy ?

I am betting Obama will make "Republican negative ads" look like choirboys when he's done !

Really well put Randy. You watched the same debate that I did!

I sure hope Gingrich makes it! He's the BEST! Obama will MOP the floor with him!

OBAMA/BIDEN 2012

Yes Randy, the voice of a Faux Noize viewer ... the most dumbed-down people in the world since Bush ... wait, lemme ask, did Bush ever exist ? ... haven't heard one mention of Bush by neocons and teabaggers since 2008 ...

Well, Perry did blame muslim beheaders and contractors hanging from bridges during the Iraq War on Obama last night because our boys pee'd on dead Taliban terrorists ...

... and Perry did this without mentioning the word *Bush* ... so Perry may not be as redneck-hillbilly-dumbazz as everyone thinks ...

LOL.

Randy the tea people GOP republican crowd stood and applauded every time one of the candidates cleared his throat. So a crowd cheering because Newt cleared his throat is good reason to vote for him? Looks like you're a lot easier to fool than most voters, except Fox (aka tea people GOP republican propaganda machine) viewers, which are the most uninformed viewers.

Thanks Randy for unspinning the grossly inept ramblings of this website

ROFL@ Newt and the Juan responses.....

Old, old, OLD political tactic to single out a single group for lambastement (is that a word??) and reform of a group who can't or don't vote.

Sure single out the under 18 crowd. (and if you think this is just going to effect inner city children with tight school budgets everywhere, this is a mistake). I live in the western suburbs(Main Line...Google it) of Philly and these kids wont even cut grass or shovel snow... But I don't want any kids doing this labor. I want them in school, learning, getting ready for college.

Seems like a great idea right?? Wrong Newt!! I demand an education for my children's future. Besides we already have child-labor laws on the books......

Don't fall for the lie.....

I'm Just Sayin'......

Learning to work is also good preparation for college ! It helps with this little thing called ......MOTIVATION !!

Get off your high horse and recognize that SUCCESS is what happens when PREPARATION meets OPPORTUNITY. But even more, SUCCESS is 90% "elbow grease".

Do you also demand a job be waiting for them upon graduation or do you think they will have to earn it on their own ?

Jobs, Jobs, Jobs ?

Let's take a look at the progress of neocon teabag *motivation* for jobs creations ...

http://whenarethejobs.com/

That's why OWS is an excellent job ... Sad.

Sorry, but "Jobs, jobs, jobs" are famous words uttered by Nancy Pelosi. I can still remember the video clip.

Of course, her most famous words are "You'll have to pass the bill to see what's in it".

Ah, jim numbers, guess you missed all those Boehner promises of "jobs, jobs, jobs". Guess you missed the TP promises of "jobs, we'll create the jobs", elect us and see. We're still waiting for them to do something besides say no.

Well then Jody, if I accept your premise as truth, then you must give the Republicans all the credit for the ever-so-slight uptick in the unemployment numbers !

You can't have it both ways, blaming Republicans when numbers look weak but giving Obama all the credit when there is a slight, ever so slight, improvement.

Of course, if you could go to the Senate, physically lift Harry Reid's a$$ off those House-passed bills he is sitting on ..... who knows, maybe there is something positive in them. Of course, we will never know about Reid's deliberate OBSTRUCTION until the Democrats lose the Senate.

You painted yourself in a corner with that one !

sounds very similar to the water-walking obama...also a rich pig

American Citizen, really classy comment which tells us who you are but not one word to rebut what djj posted. It is, however, a good example of deflection which conservatives are very good at doing. Deflect from Romney's faults and make the accusation of President Obama.

newt the coot has no more chance of beating Obama than I do. There are Dems all over the country hoping and praying for newt to win the primaries. Walkin for the Pres.

Okay bart the fart ..... do you really think Newt is campaigning for the Democratic vote ? Are you that naive ??

If nominated, Newt will be going after the Republican vote and as much of the Independent vote as he can get. He will be after those who voted for the vagueness of hope and change, now realizing it was only smoke and mirrors.

Our country cannot withstand 4 more years of Obama's financial mismanagement of the U.S. economy.

hot daddy...Newt certainly did own the night. Of course the media will not see it that way. They want us to believe Newt is not "electable"...LOL...in fact Newt is the only contender that Obama is scared to death of. Newt has history, facts, and Obama's pathetic record on his side. Newt would so severely beat Obama in a debate that even I would probably feel a little embarrased for Obama. Yes old Newt is certainly a bigot, racist, and the antichrist for suggesting its a good thing to WORK!! He is out of touch because he thinks citizens at the state, county and municipal level know what is best for them...not some bureaucrat in WDC.

With the exception of Ron Paul, any of the candidates would be 100% better than what is in the White House now...so all you lefties pay attention to the debates, you'll be seeing and hearing from the next President of the United States.

hot daddy: "This is a closed primary hence you only have registered Republicans voting". Not true. SC has open primaries. You just can't vote in both (if you have both - only one this election cycle). I know lots of registered Dems voting saturday. Some won't out of G.P. and some won't because it could exclude you from holding a Demo party position.

I sincerely hope you meant "election" ..... otherwise, that is too damned funny !!!!!!!!!

Wow, what a disconnect by you ! I did not know Newt ran against Bill Clinton !! Or, perhaps as you unknowingly revealed, Newt did help force balance budgets by working WITH President Clinton.... something Obama seems incapable of doing ... working WITH congress. He also helped by bringing about WELFARE REFORM and Gingrich worked through several revisions WITH President Clinton until they reached consensus.

It's called "Leadership". Newt has demonstrated leadership in the past, while Obama and Pelousy have failed.

Bart B, I noticed that lack of respect, too. Just about every time one of these GOPer wannabees opens their mouthes to speak, it is obvious. It's one of those dog whistles they blow. Newt speaks of the "food stamp President" which is nothing more than a revamped version of one of Reagan Welfare Queen lies but those who hear the whistles understand the reference.

Boy, reading some of Damage123 he must have been part of that racially "sensitive" audience at the debate last night!! Cheers for voter suppression and conversations of poor people finding work as janitors, criticizing Obama at every turn, I just for the life of me cannot understand WHY the GOP cannot attract more minorities to they're Party????? As for you Damage, it's so nice to hide your Racism behind free speech!!!!

RLH: SC voters LOVE great political theatre and a good fight, regardless of party. I also suspect that quietly they enjoy seeing the mormon taking a hit. They will hold their noses and vote for him tho - wait and see

I saw a quote from the editor of the paper which endorsed Huntsman right before he dropped out---she analogized to a long courtship, consummated physically and then finding out the next day that the person was gay. Ouch.

I'm going to lean towards Cain, as that will be Colbert's voting bloc. No better way to point out inherent flaws in a system that making a mockery out of said system as a whole; If I were in SC I'd support that 100%.

I don't know if they have write-in votes in SC but if they do, I hope people write in Colbert.