GOP Legislators Risking Lives:
In order to separate victim from attacker, under current law, Police do not have to see the assault with their own eyes. Enter two New Hampshire GOP legislators who want to change 50 years of progress concerning domestic violence.

"House Bill 1581 would turn the clock back 40 years to an age when a police officer could not make an arrest in a domestic violence case without first getting a warrant unless he or she actually witnessed the crime."

"House Bill 1608, limits judges' ability to order the arrest of someone who has violated a domestic violence restraining order by contacting or abusing the person named in the order. It would also prevent judges from ordering defendants to surrender their weapons or block them from buying guns."

Police say these laws will stop them from intervening. They'll no longer be able to arrest someone threatening violence against anyone, young or old.

What on earth is the rationale for denying dependants police protection (usually women, children & seniors)?
Why go back to the days when an abused wife (or husband) or child must stand up to beatings, keep quiet about them. Who here doesn't understand that once the police leave the home, the terror often gets worse & the potential for injury and death increase?

For those who are following the anti-worker, anti-education, anti-progress, invasive policies being pushed by the (religious) radical right wing across our country:
Is there any doubt that there is a war being waged against our women, children and seniors? To the point of legislating to prevent a police officer - who is in the position to help - from doing his job. Are there to be no limits on the reach of the crazed right arm?

http://www.concordmonitor.com/print/307042?CSAuthResp=1327650879%3Adsm1gop6vq963ef4sp08ktnef0%3ACSUserId%7CCSGroupId%3Aapproved%3A242832447588128EDDC27C287DD24A9F&CSUserId=94&CSGroupId=1

For a President who campaigned for the job on a promise of “Hope and Change” and vows to “change the way Washington works”, Barry has sure done a piss poor job of delivering on those campaign promises. Gallup has done another poll with a huge sample size and a very low margin of error that shows Barry at near record levels of polarization among voters in 2011. Even worse, they are predicting that the level of polarization will increase in 2012.

No wonder we are stuck in a crappy slow-bama recovery as we approach the third anniversary of the official end of the recession in June 2009. Today’s GDP report for Q4 2011 shows growth of 2.8%, which is better than the dismal 1.8% in Q3 2011, but less than the 3.0% economists had been expecting. For the full year 2011, GDP grew at a pathetic 1.7%. Reuters also noted that Q4 2011 was helped by businesses rebuilding inventories and stated “but a strong rebuilding of stocks by businesses and weak spending on capital goods hinted at slower growth in early 2012.”

An article in today’s WSJ notes that the slow-bama recovery is unique, stating “After slumps, growth usually sprints forward—allowing the economy to not only regain its previous peak but also add enough on top to make it seem as if no recession ever happened. After the early 1980s recession, for instance, the U.S. notched five straight quarters of over 7% growth, quickly putting the economy back on its previous expansion path. That hasn't happened this time.

You’re doin’ a heck of a job, Barry.

BTW, I know all the FR lefty liberals are going to be swarming on the fourth paragraph below like flies on sh!t, but, just remember to ask yourselves “Wasn’t Barry supposed to be so much better a President than GWB, and isn’t Barry just barely beating out GWB a pretty pathetic accomplishment??”

Now all you thin-skinned FR lefty liberals that can’t handle the truth; let the post collapsing begin: 3… 2…1…

From Politico:

Poll: Voters polarized over Obama
By: Tim Mak
January 27, 2012 06:28 AM EST

President Obama’s third year in office elicited some of the most polarized job approval ratings ever, as the differences between Republican and Democratic views of the president stood at near-record highs, a new survey shows.

In 2011, 80 percent of Democrats approved of Obama’s job performance, compared to only 12 percent of Republicans, according to Gallup.

The gap of 68 percent is the fourth-highest on record, going all the way back to the Eisenhower administration, the pollster said.

Only President George W. Bush’s fourth, fifth and sixth years in office showed higher degrees of polarization.

It appears that the last decade has seen some of the most polarized views on the presidency ever. Put together, the Bush and Obama administrations account for the 7 most polarized years on record, and 8 of the top 10.

Despite all this, the polarization looks to get even worse in 2012.

“Americans likely view a president seeking re-election in more sharply partisan terms as they decide whether he is deserving of a second term in office. Thus, it would be expected that Obama’s already highly polarized ratings may become more so over the next 12 months,” according to Gallup.

The Gallup poll was conducted Jan. 20, 2011 to Jan 19, 2012, with a random sample of 179,170 adults and a margin of error of plus or minus one percentage point.

Dennis, the more I see this polling data about Romney able to beat Obama, the more I realize that the polling pundits are either out of their dollar-picking mind or they are intentionally skewing the data; the latter I more believe.

The pundits and critics are obviously delusional and have no credibility about what November looks like. They need to report the facts and that is President Obama has accomplished more than we could have hoped for and 'Ram'ney would totally kill what has been brought back to life.

Congrats to Mark & Sasha on the birth of their beautiful son Caleb!

Give him a {{{hug}}} from Auntie Feisty!

It's always a magical day when the First Read Family gets an addition!

In honor of Caleb's arrival - Mimosa's for everyone this morning!

Fly Newt to the Moon.

If Gingrich is supposedly a historian in his own right why doesn't he know he can not go to the moon with private investoer? You
need government money. It was so sweet to see Newt turn sour and then have Mitt sweeten him up by exposing Newts stocks in Fannie . He deserved it. Yes Newt you have have been outed. Mitt reminded your big head you have stocks in Fannie& Fredie Mac. With that addmission I suggest you taake your all white SC colony who voted for you and fly to the moon' since you don't like black people anyhow.

Newt is the most divisive of all the candidates seeking 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. He Lies, and the most expansive part of his vocubarly are 2 nouns; Obama And Regan

Gingrich Fabricates Facts To Smear Obama As Weak Ally To Israel
http://thinkprogress.org/security/2012/01/24/409984/gingrich-fabricates-facts-obama-israel/

Obama/ Biden 2012

"That's not fair." When we were in our teen years, we had boundless knowledge and KNEW what was fair. Something happened along the way to adulthood and by the time we had our very own teenager's in the house telling us what was fair, we KNEW they were wrong. "Fair" as it turns out is a very subjective term.

That didn't stop the Rev. Al Sharpton from badgering Kansas Tea Party Republican Tim Huelskamp on his show. Did the Congressman think it was fair that the wealthy pay a lower federal tax rate than lower income Americans, Sharpton wanted to know. Reverend Al asked repeatedly and Huelskamp dodged repeatedly.

What is or isn't fair is not the right question. The correct question is whether we intend to pay our bills. If we intend to do that, we must raise taxes and cut spending and waste.

My home is in Huelskamp's district. The southeast corner of the district is just a stone's throw from Wichita, headquarters for Koch Industries. Huelskamp has been instructed to insist that tax cuts alone will balance the budget. Asylum economics also insist that greater tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy are very good for the budget and of course, America.

Huelskamp's district covers about two-thirds of the state's land area. It is red, red, red, overwhelmingly agricultural, and virtually every town in the western half is dying. Social Security - a federal program - money and retirement savings are the primary sources of income and as residents die, the populations inevitably shrink. Welfare assistance is stunningly high.

Kansas farms proudly post signs that say "One Kansas Farmer feeds 128 Americans". (Farmers joke that the reason the bills of their hats are rounded is to make it easier to look in their mail boxes for their government checks.) If they don't have that sign they have another that has a message opposing abortion.

The U.S.D.A. has offices all across Kansas. This group dispenses all manner of farm subsidies - federal money - and creates cash from thin air via food stamps - more federal money. Record crop insurance payments - federal money - went out this year because of the high incidence of crop failure. http://www.weather.com/outlook/weather-news/news/articles/kansas-drought-claims_2012-01-26

The natural gas industry is drilling like there's no tomorrow. Given their exemptions from clean air and water regulations, there may indeed be no tomorrow for many citizens. Kansas sits on top of the Ogallala aquifer, essential for irrigating crops and providing drinking water, but also essential in fracking.

And so it goes. A Tea Party Republican like Huelskamp thinks the answer is to cut spending. Given the degree of dependence on government programs and spending in Kansas, you'd think Kansans would never vote for someone like him. But they do. Thomas Frank asked the question, What's the Matter with Kansas? Well, it's ill-informed voters who give us not only the Huelskamp's, but Jenkins, and Brownback and others of that stripe.

However, when you look around and see the Walsh's, the Cantor's, the McConnell's and Boehner's, there's a larger question. What's the matter with America?

The Buffet Rule

Dividends and capital gains on investment are taxed at a 15% rate, and the left goes into apoplectic outrage. Oh the unfairness of it all, ditch diggers and secretaries pay a higher rate than that! But do they really? One of the things the left never likes to talk about on this issue is the gains taxed at 15% have already been taxed once before. Another pesky little detail they don't like to mention is the effective federal income tax rate for the overwhelming majority of Americans is substantially below 15 percent.

First, consider dividends. Corporate profits are taxed at a 35% nominal rate, which works out to an average effective rate of somewhere around 25% once various deductions are factored in. And it is after tax corporate profits that provide the dollars for any dividends a company might decide to distribute. So if you do the math, these dividends have actually been subjected to a rate closer to 36% when factoring in both corporate and capital gains taxes. Most normal people would agree that's a big chunk of cash to cough up to Uncle Sam, particularly since the top marginal income tax rate is 35 percent.

Same deal with capital gains on an investment, stocks for example. A company could choose to return its after tax profits to investors in the form of a dividend, or it could choose to retain at least some of those profits and plow them back into their business. The latter scenario has the effect of increasing the value of a company's stock. And once an investor sells that appreciated stock the same double taxation described above applies and the portion of the gain attributed to corporate retained earnings is effectively subjected to a rate of around 36 percent.

So much for the canard that folks who pay the capital gains tax are somehow getting a pass that the rest of us aren't. Which leads to the other half of this story: how much do the "rest of us" actually pay in taxes and how does that compare with the capital gains rate? According to 2009 IRS data, the average effective federal income tax rate for all American taxpayers was 11 percent. This includes effective rates of 5% for those making between $40,000 and $50,000, 8% for those making between $75,000 and $100,000 and 26% for those making between $2,000,000 and $5,000,000. In addition, in 2009 there were 235,000 taxpayers who earned $1,000,000 or more and those folks paid 20% of all federal income taxes – more taxes than the 53,000,000 Americans who earned $75,000 or less paid that year. Anyone with a brain would conclude the rich not only paid their "fair share" but their share was more than fair.

Here's the bottom line: The president likes to wrap himself in the mantle of champion of the middle class. But when it comes to the Buffet Rule and the "fair share" nonsense, the tax policy Obama is trying to peddle to America is just another ugly example of his shameless penchant for calculated deception.

http://www.taxfoundation.org/blog/show/27899.html

Amen to that, Feisty----congrats to Mark and Sasha on their blessing. Do we think Caleb might grow up to be a journalist with those genes?! I'll have a mimosa made with Florida orange juice!

The Wizard of Ears and the Wicked Witch of the Southwest

(Previously from Big Dave):

… consider the photo of the Wicked Witch of the Southwest, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer. Finger in President Obama’s face, it is impossible to escape the notion that she is dressing down the nation’s Chief Executive ……

Actually she was trying to hand deliver an invitation for Obama to visit the border …. To see the progress being made and what still needs to be done to fulfill the Constitutional responsibilities of the “nation’s Chief Executive.”

Seems President Pantywaist wasn’t interested in that …. The important thing on the mind of the President of the United States was his hurt feelings – that he was still carrying a grudge and he wanted to “dress down” Arizona’s “Chief Executive” for a little excerpt in her book regarding a meeting with him last year.

I guess the mother instinct in her came out when she realized she was dealing the equivalent of a petulant child …. Her bad about the finger in the face …. (pretty funny though).

It was kinda funny (and more stunning) 5 years ago when Maureen Dowd mentioned then potential Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Obama ….. is “intriguingly imperfect,” citing that his “ears stick out” in one her New York Times columns.

Months later, following a press conference, Obama headed toward Dowd and scolded her and “put her on notice” for her remarks in the 12^th paragraph of the 14 paragraph column ….

Obama: “You talked about my ears. I just want to put you on notice: I’m very sensitive” adding “I was teased relentlessly when I was a kid about my big ears.”

No, it is not so funny now.

It is sad when a 45 year old “adult” still carries his childhood insecurities on his shoulder, but it is pathetic, evidence of a deep character flaw, when the 50 year old, most powerful man in the world, the President of the United States has a history of so little focus, so little since of purpose as to be undone by some excerpt from a book or a comment about his big ears.

I don’t know what Brewer said to Obama when she stuck her finger in his face …… but “it is impossible to escape the notion” that she should have told him what a mother or someone should have told him a long time ago ….. to grow up.

Very best wishes to Mark and his wife Sasha on the birth of their son! How very exciting for them that this new baby is here! Mark, gonna have some long nights while Caleb learns to sleep....good luck with that!

I wouldn't totally count Newtie out. Remember, he gets very very nasty when he doesn't get his way. Since the Republican establishment has come out BLAZING with fear that someone might take Newtie as a Presidential candidate seriously, you have to wonder how Newt will make use of that, and how the far right wing will like their insurgent candidate being attacked. Will that coalesce any support, or did the fringe right wake up to the idea that a serial adulterer and his morally deficit wife are not the pair you want representing the nation.

And the battle continues...stay tuned!

Congratulations to Mark and Sasha Murray on the birth of their beautiful son, Caleb.

Enjoy the journey of life with Caleb, may it be filled with good health, love and success.

Romney owned Gingrich...

More like b!tch slapped him! Newt could catch his breath, antime he made a statement Mit fire right back.

If Romeny is the GOP nominee Obama better bring his "A" game to the debates or look out.

Congratulations Mr. Murray to you and your wife on your new arrival. May your children grow up to be healthy and respectful citizen. I have 5 kids and they are one of my great treasures.

Please keep up you great articles.

Obama in 2012.

Welcome to the world Caleb! Irish babies rock, we have one in my family too. I bet Caleb is cute as a button. Best wishes to the new Mom and Dad.

Ditto what GBM said Mr. Murry. Free drinks and cigars down at the DDI this evening.

Dennis, good information and analysis of the road ahead. There will be bumps in the road this year and surprises. Since I am an optimist, the number of crises in the first three years of President Obama's term might mean we're due for a quieter year.

Backhouse, didn't hear about NH. It's beyond me why republicans seem so determined to willingly put women, children and seniors back into the hands of abusers by not allowing police interference. What's the matter with these yahoos; have they lost all common sense?

David Walker, well said, always a great read.

Congratulations to Mark Murray and Sasha, proud parents of Caleb.

Free drinks and cigars down at the DDI this evening.

Floyd,

In honor of our new addition to the FR family, I reckon we are gonna have to put together quite the shin-dig @ the Dew Drop Inn tonight...

One of the things the left never likes to talk about on this issue is the gains taxed at 15% have already been taxed once before.

This is perhaps one of the biggest lies the right likes to tell. GE, Exxon and others pay zero corporate taxes, yet you continue to lie to people that capital gains (redistribution of corporate profits among other things) are taxed twice. You have managed to get corporate taxes at an all time low, zero for lots of them, and capital gains taxed at a rate a lot less than labor. Nice job, but the public has started to catch on to the double dealing. You can put lipstick on it Bill, but it's still a hog.

Party is ON, Feisty!

Well, I will add my congratulations to the others, and wish Caleb a long, happy, healthy life.

To Dennis- ALL of those polls show Romney tied with Obama. There is an important little thing called the margin of error. Given the state of the republican nominating process, this is pretty bad news for an incumbent president.

Quarter IV GDP was announced at 2.8% growth. This is the initial forecast, based on incomplete data. Here is the bad news- the most important piece of data, imports, is not available yet. Imports are a subtraction from GDP; therefore, this number will be adjusted down in the second and third revisions.

(By the way, for all the Internet educated "economists" out there- this is where freight rate falls apart. There is no measure of the value of goods being moved, nor their origin.

It's the reason no real economist uses that particular fantasy as a measurement.)

This level of growth would be acceptable in a stable economy- it is woefully inadequate for a recovering economy. Obama's economic policies are at best ineffective; the only way to describe this recovery is "limping".

And the only way to reduce unemployment with these numbers is to once again shove a couple hundred thousand people out of the labor force.

The Nation (h/t The Obama Diary)

It is hard to read Remedy and Reaction, Paul Starr’s remarkable chronicle of the hundred-year effort to legislate universal health insurance in the United States, without recalling Robert Gibbs’s tortured quip that Democrats who’ve denounced the Obama White House for having knuckled under to Republican principles or intimidation “ought to be drug-tested.” Nobody with a sense of history—that is, nobody who reads Starr’s book—could doubt how sensible and brave was the president’s effort to drive the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 through Congress. Nobody with a feel for the present moment should doubt how imminent is the threat to the act, how urgent it is for progressive Democrats to rally around Obama—and without all the condescending qualifications that “independents,” who flock away from allegedly weak or incompetent leaders, interpret as contempt.

Starr shows that, even as Bill Clinton submitted his bill to Congress, some 70 percent of voters subscribed to the principles embodied in the legislation he proposed. Yet the bill didn’t come close to being enacted. True, Clinton was losing altitude by then, but to suppose his failure was largely a matter of leadership—you know, that he didn’t use his bully pulpit forcefully enough, the sort of gripe heard relentlessly on MSNBC, the Huffington Post and Daily Kos about Obama and the “public option”—is to suppose that willows really weep.

Obama’s actions were cannier than Clinton’s, but they also amounted to a profile in courage. When Obama came into office, Starr explains, only 11 percent of Americans thought reform would have a “negative personal impact,” but by August 2009 this segment of the population was trending to 31 percent. Both Rahm Emanuel and Joe Biden were urging retreat. Starr writes, “Obama not only resolved to go ahead; in September and again in the new year, the president took charge of the effort to steady the health-care initiative and prevent it from careening off the tracks.” Nor was the final bill anything less than what might reasonably have been expected, filling as it did the negative space left by four generations of government programs and serial compromises. Starting with clean sheets of paper was never realistic when one-sixth of the economy was at stake.

What emerges most vividly from reading Starr is how reckless it was for critics to charge Obama with not making his own views clear enough, or losing control of the narrative, because he resolved to leave to Congress—within an agreed timetable—the work of filling in the details. Yes, the schedule did slip a few months as Baucus worked his committee, but a few months in a century-long effort was a trivial delay. And it would have been widely recognized as such but for the righteous indignation Obama endured during his first spring in office, when anger over the bailouts was white-hot, and his administration’s determination to regulate rather than nationalize the banks (remember Tim Geithner’s “stress tests”?) gave critics, especially on the left, an opening to depict the president as a creature of Wall Street—catnip for the nascent Tea Party, as it turned out.

For the first African-American president, surely the cruelest charge from the left was that in pursuing healthcare the way he did, he had wasted an “FDR moment.” Unlike Obama, presumably, Roosevelt had summoned the courage to take a radical case to the people against Congressional resistance—to be transformational, not merely transactional. Starr’s review of the New Deal refutes that myth, reminding us that Roosevelt avoided a healthcare fight almost from the start, not only because he didn’t want to take on the doctors but also because he didn’t want to ruffle the feathers of Southern Democrats. Indeed, FDR’s entire reform strategy depended on holding together a coalition that required him to ignore, if not pander to, the grotesque racism of the South. He got Social Security (and other bills) passed by appealing to immediate and universal pocketbook interests, and with a larger Senate majority, which reserved the filibuster mainly for civil rights; to appease Southern Democrats, he agreed to exclude domestic servants and farm laborers (e.g., sharecroppers) from the initial Social Security program.

Well, I will add my congratulations to the others, and wish Caleb a long, happy, healthy life.

Does it get any more disingenuous than this?

Were your hands shaking while attempting to write something nice?

Why did you even bother Donna?

Epic FAIL Donna!

I can't stick around as I have tons of work. Great posts everybody!!!!!

Joe in Albany -- What else did todays GDP numbers show:

Government spending is at its lowest point since 1971.

The article below sites -- the earthquake in Japan, the euro crisis and our own debt ceiling crisis as the reason for lower than expected growth.

Us economy grew at its fastest pace in 15 years for 4th quarter. ; )

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/us-economy-grew-at-fastest-pace-in-15-years-in-q4-2011/2012/01/27/gIQA1r8IVQ_story.html?hpid=z1

I always enjoy reading history, but for some reason, yesterday I felt like reading some good fiction brushed with a heavy layer of hormonal histrionics. So I looked up what David Walker had to say in his morning FR dump … some good stuff.

"President Obama has never presented himself as the “Messiah”,

True … he has never actually dressed up as Jesus, (at least not yet), but he certainly doesn’t have a low opinion of his powers …

“I am absolutely certain that generations from now, we will be able to look back and tell our children that this was the moment … when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal; this was the moment … secured our nation and restored our image as the last, best hope on earth.

“We are the ones we have been waiting for.”

Wow … Is it just me, or is Jesus walking on water the equivalent of inventing “floaties” compared to Obama lowering the tides … Jesus healing the sick is a game of “Ouch” compared to Obama healing the planet?

Obama is the last, best hope on earth …. And you guys think Christians are the wacky-doodles?

Btw big Dave, might want to send a memo to Barry of DC, that the eschatological improvement of the state of humanity and the world can wait a few months / the slowing the rise of the tides blah blah stuff, but the “We are the ones we have been waiting for” generation …. Is still “waiting” for a simple, stupid budget.

But anyhoo, you are probably right … Obama didn’t “present “ himself as the Messiah … he presented himself as a narcissistic, Messianic Age joke to most.

”Yet the right-wing tools and fools continue to demonize the President, and in face of mountains of evidence to the contrary, insist he is divisive.”

From Obama ....

“If Latinos sit out the election instead of saying, “We’re gonna punish our enemies …..”

Yea ….. “demonizing” the other American political party as the Latinos’ enemy …. Is not divisive.

‘Clinging to their guns and Bibles’; ‘Slurpees’; ‘riding in the back’ …. Really great job, David.

And btw – I guess all the Americans polled …… Obama being the most divisive President in Gallup history … have it wrong too, huh?

“There is nowhere to be found a more perfect textbook definition of projection.”

Really … you got anything specific more perfect than what I just gave you?

When anyone starts off their post to me with 'Backwash', anything they say after that does not seem worth it.

No Joe,

The margin of error cuts both ways.

His lead could be double what the numbers show.

Mark: Congratulations to you, Sasha and Caleb. Cherish this time as it will continue to bring loving memories.

Maybe it's not the voters of Kansas who are stupid?

Nope, they're stupid. I live right smack in the middle of it. Likely not far from David. Maybe Democrats are sick of walking into a neighborhood cafe and having to hear some ignorant schmuck calling the POTUS a Nig*#%*. Maybe Democrats are sick to death of hypocritical people who celebrate their religion of self in their money temples as they tell us how to live our lives. They are not Christians at all. Maybe Democrats are actually interested in doing real research and talking to real Muslims so we're not afraid of them instead of getting our information from a slanted media tossing out debunked talking points to feed fear. Maybe Republicans in Kansas are so outraged because they have watched their so called leadership trip all over themselves in the past couple of months with their outright racism that they try to pass off as "humor" and now realize that yes Virginia, large numbers of them really are as stupid a people portray them.

ObamaNIACS (pronouned Obama-knee-acks, or Oba-MANIACS, whatever you prefer) are in for a long spring and summer. None of these GOP candidates are going to lay down for their boy, as did McCain in 2008.

2.8% growth, my @$$! Go buy a carton of milk or a gallon of gas. Try getting yourself an apartment in the tri state are for less than $1,200.00 a month. Buy your kid a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt, and you'll see what it's like out there!

This jerk neglected the economy for three years, now all of a sudden they're trying to sell us on the idea that things are getting better.

Yeah right!

DEMOCRATS FOR ROMNEY 2012!

A big welcome to baby Caleb Fenne Murray!!!! Congratulations to Mark and his wife! Hugs to you all!

damage What about condescending right wingers telling me what my "best interests" are. You know like sticking there noses in places where they don't belong. Who are you righties to tell a woman what she can or can't do with her body? Who are you to tell me that I should believe in your god. Who are to tell me that Democrats are soft on terrorism? Dude ask osama and that other guy if we have been soft on terrorism? It will be hard to get a answer from one of them.

Obama Biden 2012

Congrats!!!!!!

to Mark, Sasha and new baby Caleb. Buy a baby sling and hold him close for me!

*** … But Santorum at least rented Romney: That said, the winner of the CONSERVATIVE debate was Rick Santorum.

inSanatorium is the 2012 GOP / Tea Bag Prez *Jesus Candidate* ... so expect miracles from time to time ... LOL.

Bill,

“One of the things the left never likes to talk about on this issue is the gains taxed at 15% have already been taxed once before. Another pesky little detail they don't like to mention is the effective federal income tax rate for the overwhelming majority of Americans is substantially below 15 percent.”

The 15% is on the profit from the investment – not the investment itself.

The average rate is 11% plus the payroll tax which people like Romney do not pay. Also do not forget that NO ONE is taxed on their first $20,000 of earnings.

Bill in VA-

I wont try to argue the "already taxed" argument, it has been debated above already for better or worse.

How do you defend the 15% tax rate on hedge fund and investment manager's incentives/bonuses? They get paid to do a job - they invest other's money at no personal risk, and if succesful are rewarded with a performance-based bonus - which is taxed at 15%. I do my job, run a company financed by other's money, get a performance-based bonus if I am successful, and it is taxed as earned income.

I can agree that capital gains should be taxed at a lower rate, and we could debate what that fair rate should be; but the "carried interest" rule applying to those who manage other's money is inexcusable and unfair.

Us economy grew at its fastest pace in 15 years for 4th quarter. ; )

____________________________________________

Don't: I know lefty liberals "don't" know much, if anything, about how the economy works, but, I didn't realize they couldn't read numers correctly. Go back and click on your link and reread the headline v e r y slowly and you will find a decimal point between the 1 and the 5. ; (

Smitty-- Nobody has ever told you what you can and can't do with your body. It's you're baby they're worried about. At some point, thats NOT just some lump of flesh in there, it's a child. The fact that so many liberals think it's ok to kill him/her right up until the time he/she is born is a friggin' atrocity.

Nobody tells you that you have to worship their God, either. You can worship the moon for all anybosy cares. But don't be surprised when Christians, THE DOMINANT religion, by far in the nation, get upset when they are under attack from all sides by liberals, atheists, secular-progressives etc... who want to take God out of every aspect of life.

And ONE Dem is doing better now at fighting Islamic Facism. Incredibly, thats Obama. Though I'm pretty sure he's doing it for re-election purposes and to "appease" Americans who have common sense. Considering all the years previous where he and his fellow leftists spent every moment they could aiding the enemy and disrupting our own war efforts, he's not doing bad on that front.

Wow"Thine venom doth prove thy self" I love cute little babies and relationship to the mother, its beautiful to watch.

Um, Dennis? I have neither the time nor the inclination to educate you on the calculations. Let's use your reasoning-

Romney's lead could also be double what the polls show.

Once there is a nominee, the polls will show Obama losing, badly-outside the margin of error.

Get ready to salute President Romney. I just KNOW you will chastise those who use idiotic nicknames for him, in the interest of showing respect for the office of the presidency.

I will refer to him as Romney- in the same way I refer to Obama, Bush, Reagan and Carter. I do, however, refer to Bill Clinton, and GHW Bush- to avoid confusion.

Obama shelved in 2012.

Bill in Fairfax -- Averages are deceptive. The person paying the 35% gets the short end of the stick. As for the capital gains rate for carried interest income.....wonder what rate Bain paid? I bet way below "average".

Should hedge fund managers enjoy a 15% rate?

Joe -- LOL, my bad! ; ) You must be happy the rate of government spending is down, right?

Also do not forget that NO ONE is taxed on their first $20,000 of earnings.

____________________________________________

Dennis: Got an IRS link to back that statement up??

Correction to my first post: Fastest rate in 1.5 years!!

Why does Joe copy and paste Politico articles verbatim?

Never mind the fair use issues, if people wanted to read Politico articles, they'd go to... Politico.

No Joe,

“Romney's lead could also be double what the polls show.”

Romney does not have a lead in ANY of the polls I listed.

I.E. Obama +3% with a margin of error of +/- 3% thus the Obama lead could be 0 (zero) or 6%

Amused-- You poor thing. I can sympathize. Maybe you should come and live in my VERY liberal state. You'd enjoy all the Low IQ Democrats I hear NEARLY EVERY DAY saying that "anybody don't vote for Barack is a racist". Or "them white boys don't know Barack be the greatest president of all time and s**t." Yes, amused. Those are actual quotes. You'd enjoy living here. Being taxed on EVERYTHING to the point of being broke. Not being allowed to own a gun for protection in one of the worst crime-filled states in the union. Driving for miles at a time, stopping, witout encountering even ONE person that speaks English.

Yes, amused. That's life in Liberal Land. Hey! Maybe we could trade!

At this time in 1980, Carter was leading Reagan 62-31. Carter's approval rate was 43 - 45% - not far from Obama.

This is going to be a close race and history appears to favor even the least popular republican.

Great quote from David Skywalker: "The correct question is whether we intend to pay our bills. If we intend to do that, we must raise taxes and cut spending and waste.""""

Worker dude: Hi Boss. I'd really like a raise.

Boss Dude: I just gave you a raise last week.

Worker dude: Yeah. I need another one.

Boss dude: What?!?!

Worker dude: Yeah. I bought a polyester suit and a Chevy Volt.

Boss Dude: Is that essential to your life?

Worker dude: Um...Yeah.

Boss dude: You need to stop spending your money on stupid crap that's outdated and proven to be failures.

Worker Dude: Uh...yeah. I'll take a stab at it. So, um...where's my raise?

Congratulations Mark Murray and Sasha

If we don't see you on TV I'll understand. I know it's hard to pull away from a beautiful new born.

Good point, Akron. And some people would do well to remember how the Carter White House was "ecstatic" when Reagan got the Republican nomination. How'd that turn out?

J. Merle Stanley-2759623

ObamaNIACS (pronouned Obama-knee-acks, or Oba-MANIACS, whatever you prefer) are in for a long spring and summer. None of these GOP candidates are going to lay down for their boy, as did McCain in 2008.

So J. Merle Stanley-- where is your Hillary pitch? I think it's you how is in for a long, tortuous time.

Admit it you are a republican

At this time in 1980, Carter was leading Reagan 62-31

One small problem with your comparision - Willard is NO Reagan! ;o)

In fact, Willard is the most flawed Republican candidate in history...

Obama/Biden 2012!

Jody, thanks for your comment. (I see Mr. Sensitive now has his search & destroy mission on "go".)

This GOP legislation prevents Police from doing their job. So,

1. Is the objective to force more people to buy more guns to protect themselves in the absence of Police protection?

2. And/or are the GOP legislators just giving more lee-way to those who beat up their spouses and children?

damage a little touchy now aren't we now. All that is easy for you to say when you a man. Your not that woman who has to make that choice. That should between the doctor and the woman.

You got to love that christians are under attack. You make me laugh. If anyone who is under attack, its the people who don't follow your believes. You know damn well what I talking about. How is this attack line People with no religion have no morals. Or this one Your going to hell if you don't believe in gods teachings. How about this Those people don't go to church,there no good. I can go on and on. So please go to a church and pray for your own soul and leave mine alone.

This is perhaps one of the biggest lies the right likes to tell. GE, Exxon and others pay zero corporate taxes, yet you continue to lie to people that capital gains (redistribution of corporate profits among other things) are taxed twice. You have managed to get corporate taxes at an all time low, zero for lots of them,

...and how do they achieve such a low tax rate? Through credits and exemption in the tax code. How many times in the STOU did you hear the President propose another tax credit for business if they take a certain action. You don't think corporate tax lawyers are combing through the speech looking for new ways to lower their tax rates. Until you stop the insertion of tax credits and exemptions into the tax code you are going to have accept that large corporations will exploit them to lower or even eliminate their taxes.

Repeal corporate taxes and you will end the double taxation argument AND level the playing field between different industries. Oil and green energy would actually have to compete on their merits not their lobbying.

Also do not forget that NO ONE is taxed on their first $20,000 of earnings.

I am. I am taxed SS, Medicare and whole range of state taxes. Isn't this the same argument used regarding the fact that 47% don't pay Federal Income Tax?

Dennis those polls are as reliable as the polls that said OSU would roll over the Gators and they ended up getting demolished in Arizone in the BCS. Go Gators, get up and go!

and who the f are the murrays?

Dennis: How many votes did he buy w/ gov. money??

and another thing, don't let him grow up to be a liberal!

Damage123

Backwash- A liberal sure does have a lot of nerve complaining about a law that ties the police' hands behind their back. One of the biggest reasons for the explosion of crime in the 1960s and 70s was the the decisions of the liberal Supreme Court at the time and, of course, the liberal politicians. How many people during those years were murdered, raped, robbed and kidnapped?

So tell me Damage

Which do you prefer guns or lynchings? See, I have my decoder on today. I know what you are implying. it's comparable to Newt 's food stamps remarks. Like I said about Newt and his all white South Carolina colony who voted for him; you belong on the moon. There you needn't worry about Black people with guns.

Alan, NJ -- On tax issues we mostly agree. Repeal all corporate taxes???? Not sure about that. Would love to see more debate over the issue though.

Bill Fairfax VA:

Anyone with a brain would conclude the rich not only paid their "fair share" but their share was more than fair.

Anyone with a brain can see that you're fudging the numbers, or just cluelessly parroting numbers that someone else fudged. I pay 15% in federal income tax, slightly more than Mittens pays. But when you count Social Security and Medicare taxes, it's 20%.

And you've got a lot of nerve attacking President Obama's integrity when Mitt Romney, the presumptive Republican nominee, is a sociopath who has been repeatedly caught in lies like the one he told telling in the debate about not knowing of a campaign commerical that ends "I'm Mitt Romney and I approved this message", and the one about President Obama never mentioning Palistinian extremists use of rockets in his speeches.

GE, Exxon and others pay zero corporate taxes, yet you continue to lie to people that capital gains (redistribution of corporate profits among other things) are taxed twice.

My post clearly stated "Corporate profits are taxed at a 35% nominal rate, which works out to an average effective rate of somewhere around 25% once various deductions are factored in." That statement accounts for the full range of tax scenarios, from the low end where some companies pay no corporate taxes (and there are some of those) to the high end where some companies pay the full freight (there's some of those too). So explain to me again which one of us is lying?

BTW Amused, nice moniker. Your posts never fail to be very amusing.

Alan, NJ -- On tax issues we mostly agree. Repeal all corporate taxes???? Not sure about that. Would love to see more debate over the issue though.

Repeal all Corporate taxes and tax individual income (dividends, Cap Gains and Earnings) at the same rate. Think of the benefits. Reduce lobbying as there is no need to insert exemptions/credits. Pro market as you remove tax incentives for oil and solar so that they compete on a level playing field. Remember the government can still fund basic research and offer loans to influence future direction. Individuals would pay on all income at the same rate (bands) and I would also remove as many exemptions as possible. Remove the SS and Medicare taxes and pay for everything from the general fund (what happens in reality anyway). It would also remove the foreign tax credit which is used on overseas earnings. I'm sure there are downsides but I think it's the way forward.

Repealing corporate taxes?

I'm actually a fan of that.

As long as we get rid of capital gains taxation, too, and tax all income as wages and make the tax brackets even further progressive. I'm thinking a reversion to 1950's where multi-millionaires payed 90%-ish.

That will increase employment. A lot of people will get tired of paying 90% of their taxes and look to stick that cash elseware. Payroll is a great place to do it, as are services.

Great comments Alan ....

Repeal corporate taxes and you will end the double taxation argument AND level the playing field between different industries.

As you know, but for the libs - you also level the playing field within industries ... where the little guys who don't have hundreds of attorneys, tax specialists and lobbyists can compete with the big guys who do and use them to their unfair advantage.

I'm not IMPLYING anything, Beverly. I'm simply stating the FACT that crime began to SKYROCKET in the late 60s. Are you one of those moronic liberals who thinks it's a coincidence that HUGE increase happened at the same time as the libs were in charge of the entire government and the Supreme Court? Truth is Bev, the people who need to worry most about Black people with guns are OTHER Black people. Did you know that the leading cause of death for young Black males is MURDER at the hands of other young, Black males? Did you know that this was NOT the case before the liberals stepped into your lives and decided to make them better?

Of course you didn't.

Damage,

You've managed to re-hash the past a bit. And, honestly, if you can name one party which still holds true to their 1960's party-line, my hat is off to you.

Right now, the democrats are focused on rebuilding the middle class and the republicans are focused on supply-side.

So please, bringing up 50 years of history isn't just moot, it's downright arbitrarily divisive. Look to the future, man. The 60's are gone and passed.

Bill in Fairfax and his averages! Again averages sound nice only if your rate is on the lower end.

Congrats on baby Caleb. Get some rest, you're gonna need it.

Fiesty, on your comment to Donna: Shame on you. The birth of a child is almost universally praised as a happy event. To ascribe to another poster disengenuous motives is just plain wrong.

Dividends may be doubled taxed, but that is just one small portion of capital gains. Saying all capital gains are double taxed is a lie.

Capital gains also include any income generated from a rise in value of real state, stocks, bonds, other financial instruments, and sometimes even intangible assets. None of those receive any form of double taxation.

Dont_carry_it_all

Bill in Fairfax and his averages! Again averages sound nice only if your rate is on the lower end.

Yes. He must come from that average American family with 2.5 kids. He was the 0.5 kid.

Alan NJ:

Repeal all Corporate taxes and tax individual income (dividends, Cap Gains and Earnings) at the same rate.

Corporations are people, my friends. They need to pay their taxes just like every other people.

On the corporate/personal taxation issue: what would happen if the income tax was truly a tax on the income or revenue each person (including corporations since they are people too :) ) receives ?

Place a low tax rate on the top line, no deductions, no allowances, no credits. Since the expected tax revenue is 18% of GDP, why not just have a tax rate of 18% of gross receipts ? If that number is too high, come up with a different number, but eliminate the thousands of pages of tax code.

And you can deal with the shipment of revenues overseas by having the tax apply to sales or transfers of goods. If a product or service leaves the country, its taxed at the fair market value if it is not directly sold.

With the incumbent President in the lead it will be difficult for any of the current candidates to defeat him if the economy and unemployment continue to improve. There will be surprises as always happens and this President has yet to have a good summer. Gas prices will go to record highs causing the price of everything to increase. So there are bumps ahead in the road but the wind is at the Presidents back for now.

Pretty loose statement there Dennis. When you consider that there is no republican nominee yet. Polls at this early stage are never reliable and the way the winds of politics blow in this country, nothing is predictable. The bumps ahead are still over the hill we can't see beyond.

I do know this much though. It won't be the democrats or the republicans electing a president. It will be us independents. We are the card holders. We are the deciding factor. Only the republicans can decide on their nominee, but it will ultimately be the independent's choice who will lead this country. I didn't leave the republican party to abandon my conservative roots. While I can't speak for anyone I don't know, my entire family also left the republican party because the republicans abandoned conservatism. We will choose who is the most conservative out of the winable candidates. We won't throw our vote away by going with someone unable to win.

I guess what I am trying to say is, polls mean nothing. All they are is a weathervane. I don't care what the margin of error is, polls have never proved to be totally reliable. If you want a truer indicator of who will win in Novemeber, after the republican is nominated, seek out any poll that will indicate what independents are feeling.

I pay 15% in federal income tax, slightly more than Mittens pays. But when you count Social Security and Medicare taxes, it's 20%.

_____________________________________

I love it when lefty liberals add apples (federal income taxes) and oranges (Medicare and SS) and then say they are paying higher tax rates than St. Warren of the Left and Mitt Romney. The Medicare and SS taxes are effectively buying you an age 65+ health insurance policy and an age 62+ retirement annuity and those payments you make now will be more than returned to you in the form of benefits. St. Warren and Romney will get no more benefits than anyone else that pays in the same amounts as they do, and you will not get any less benefits than what you paid for.

It's comparing apple and oranges and it makes no sense at all.

I agree teknishan. Now, if we can just get the liberals to admit their "War On Poverty" failed, we can begin saving all that $$$ that way too.

Alan -- Would like to see the pros and cons of zeroing out the corporate rate. In theory it has some merit but who would make up for the loss of revenue? Should they not be good citizens and help pay for things they benefit from?

Houston! -- That's funny Not sure of .5 but he is old school republican. ; )

One of the things the left never likes to talk about on this issue is the gains taxed at 15% have already been taxed once before.

Fairfax Bill, your explanation of this is a nice attempt, but it just doesn't hold a lot of water.

First, Romney's income is mostly capital gains, not dividends. Capital gains income is not taxed twice (I'll explain below).

Second, Corporate dividends (not capital gains) have always been subject to "double tax". The Corporation pays taxes on its earnings (at effective rates that are the lowest in the world), and then the dividends paid out to shareholders are also taxed (but not deductible to the corporation). "Qualified" Dividends (those paid by a US Corp or Qualified Foreign Corp) are taxed at capital gains tax rates (15% now). This double-taxation rule has been around since Corporations were first formed. However, most Corporations have the owner(s) working for the entity, and can (and do) strip-out and profits by paying salary and bonuses to the owners, and then deduct the pay (essentially making the dividend deductible). Since there are some advantages to having a regular "C" Corporation (fringe benefits like health insurance, expense accounts and retirement plan contributions - including those for the owners - are deductible business expenses). Sole proprietorships (Schedule C businesses), Partnerships and Limited Liability Companies (LLC's) do not pay taxes at the entity level - they "pass-thru" the income (or losses) to the shareholders, members, or partners, and that income (or loss) is put on each's individual returns.

Third, while the profit after taxes and dividends can be retained in the Corporation, and MAY help increase the value of the Corporation's stock, it's the market that really determines the price of a company's stock. Just remember Google, Facebook, EBay, and Yahoo had extensive losses, despite their stock prices being huge. I don't think you can call that being taxed twice.

Fourth, we all make "investments" and take risk in our careers. Just because I made the investment in college and took the risk of making that investment and marketing my skills, does that mean I should pay a lower rate of income tax on my earnings (gains) than someone who didn't make that investment?

BTW, why does Romney even have off-shore bank accounts in Switzerland and the Caymans? He doesn't make any more interest by doing that, he doesn't have FDIC insurance on those off-shore accounts, and he's paying taxes on those earnings. I was waiting for Newt to ask Romney why he can't invest in American banks? Is Romney up to something else??

If having a zero corporate tax rate is such a good idea, how come all the countries that have no corporate taxes are in the third-world?

Sure. The War on Poverty failed.

The War on Terror is failing. The War on Drugs failed.

You can't declare War on an Abstract.

They need to go away and congress, which has the dubious honor of being the only branch of government authorized to declare war, needs to either reign it all in or declare wars against flesh and blood governments.

There you go.

Also do not forget that NO ONE is taxed on their first $20,000 of earnings.

____________________________________________

Dennis: Got an IRS link to back that statement up??

_________________________________________________________

Dennis: I didn't think so, since there ain't no such thing as "NO ONE is taxed on their first $20,000 of earnings" in the tax code.

LMAO!!!!

Reagan was no Reagan during the election! Hell I didnt even vote for him. I liked Mr Carter, he invited me and 12 other Sailors to be part of the Peace accord In DC. The Difference I saw between the two was that Mr Carter did not have control of his military advisors (hostage rescue attempt) and Mr Reagan did. (Qaddafi home bombing)

Alan -- Would like to see the pros and cons of zeroing out the corporate rate. In theory it has some merit but who would make up for the loss of revenue? Should they not be good citizens and help pay for things they benefit from?

Me too. However, it has to be don in conjunction with a revamp of the individual tax code. The way I see it individuals are the final recipients of corporate earnings. So if we eliminate deductions and exemptions from the individual tax code (and yes there will be issues with mortgage tax relief) we could aim for a pretty simple system. I see the elimination of SS/medicare taxing and just pay it from the general fund. So what I would see is an initial band of around 8% (the same as the employees contribution to SS/medicare) so no changes there. From here we can fight about the rates depending on what level you think the Federal Government should be funded, and how progressive you think the tax system should be. For example now that include all income, the band for millionaires can start 30% and you can be sure that is what they are paying. Using this system I think it would be fairly easy to see how much the government costs/needs.

I find it hard to believe that anyone with any sense could sit still and listen to the crap that these debates have subjected us too. Even harder to believe that this group thinks that they can be elected.Surely we as Americans are not that stupid!!!

Stopthecannibals -

Good post - I like to read a well-thought out, factual, intelligent response.

I am continually amazed at how much disinformation is propagated about taxes and our tax code.

Anyone who thinks our current tax code doesn't heavily favour and benefit the wealthiest hasn't taken the time to understand it.

The income tax that was originally designed simply to provide revenue has become a political tool used by both parties to reward their supporters or modify behavior.

The problem with any attempt to simplify the tax code is those who have the power to change it will find it too tempting to avoid using it as a tool again.

TNSEVOL -- Ain't that the truth! They have no self-control but are very good at controlling the masses via the tax code. And I am one of the lucky ones that enjoys a fairly low effective rate of tax.

Don't worry, Newt has a plan...

By the end of his second term we will have a base on the MOON. There will be a manufacturing and thriving tourist industry... and when enough citizens move to the MOON, it will gain statehood.

Yes, Newt actually said this.

And YES, Republicans are dumb enough to STILL vote for this guy.

Not only are the Repubs willing to ship our jobs offshore, now they are going to outsource them to other planets?

Similiar to the line Newt used on Calista "When I'm president, I want to go to Uranus."

Not only are the Repubs willing to ship our jobs offshore, now they are going to outsource them to other planets?

Detroit,

Apparently Newt believes our planet is sick... so it's time to move on to a new planet, with which he will request an open-habitation.

Beverly in Chicago

J. Merle Stanley-2759623

ObamaNIACS (pronouned Obama-knee-acks, or Oba-MANIACS, whatever you prefer) are in for a long spring and summer. None of these GOP candidates are going to lay down for their boy, as did McCain in 2008.

So J. Merle Stanley-- where is your Hillary pitch? I think it's you how is in for a long, tortuous time.

Admit it you are a republican

***********************************************************************

Sorry to disappoint you Bev.

But, I was a Democrat before you were even born, and I am STILL registered as such.

Fact is, you WANT me to be a Republican because you just can't fathom a moderate Blue-Dog who thinks for himself without being spoon fed the "mush" that ObamaNIACS like yourself spew around on this board and elsewhare in the media.

Face it, your boy is a straight-up FAILURE!

The economy still SUCKS after three years in office, and he isn't any different from any other politician in Washington. For all his big talk about "hope and change" and getting lobbyists out of DC....he himself did favors for two of his own biggest contributors, Solyndra & Siga Technologies.

So all the big loud talk about getting the money out of Washington politics was a bald-faced LIE!

Delude yourself into thinking that ALL Democrats will vote with you, Bev, and that I'm a Republican if you want. I really don't give a flying F***.

You'll find out the hard way, come November.

DEMOCRATS FOR ROMNEY 2012!!!!!!!!!!

So all the big loud talk about getting the money out of Washington politics was a bald-faced LIE!

DEMOCRATS FOR ROMNEY 2012!!!!!!!!!!

So instead of voting for Obama, you are going to vote for the man who paid an ARMY of lobbyists to go to Washington and fight for the lower tax rate that he wanted.

Yes, great idea. Let's vote for the guy who supports and spends millions on lobbyists... that will fix the problem. Did you see the report where the top 30 American companies now spend MORE money on lobbyists than they pay in taxes? And now you want to vote for the man that is part of that?

Good idea... let's make the problem worse.

I think the only thing that astounds me more than the support for the republican candidates is the god-like worshipping the liberals do for Obama.

How any of you from both parties can support these guys is just beyond belief.

The only time we'll have a decent president again is when we the people tell washington that we're not going to put up with all of this prime time reality shows called politics and smearing. We're not going to put up with super pacs, lobbyists, crony capitalism, congressional insider trading, lack of term limits, etc.

Mickey Mouse/Donald Duck 2012!

Mickey Mouse/Donald Duck 2012!

_______________________________________________

The Dems ALREADY have Mickey Mouse on the top of their 2012 ticket. And It looks like they are going to stick with Goofy for VP.

http://www.thoseshirts.com/mic.html

why not just have a tax rate of 18% of gross receipts ?

Because flat taxes are regressive, and we decided many generations ago that the just - never mind fair - thing to do was progressive taxation.

“I believe that there should be a very much heavier progressive tax on very large incomes, a tax which should increase in a very marked fashion for the gigantic incomes.”
~Theodore Roosevelt

@TNSEVOL:

The argument for "carried interest" and its tax treatment is fairly straightforward: the manager of a hedge fund or private equity fund is compensated with a profits interest in the fund and therefore that compensation is viewed as a return on investment (taxed at the capital gains rate) rather than salary (which would be taxed at the rates for ordinary income).

Personally, I don't have a big problem with all of that. I see this as a perfectly legal arrangement between consenting adults that provides a highly effective tool for motivating fund managers to produce outstanding results. If we ever get around to doing COMPREHENSIVE tax reform, then maybe it would be wise to reconsider these arrangements. But today, I'm not in favor of singling out those folks or anyone else for what is basically an ideologically driven attack that plays to the blood lust of the class warfare crowd.

x

Mitt Romney is my choice for President, but there are two issues that need to be resolved:

-- a mandate on anyone to purchace healthcare insurance, or pay a fine if they don't, is wrong

-- E-verify for immigrants, or anyone, is wrong

What is right is right, and what is wrong is wrong. There is no doubt in my mind that Mitt Romney IS THE MAN WE NEED to turn this country around economically, and who will correctly lead this country on many, many other issues that currently need to be resolved.

-- an individual mandate for everyone to have healthcare insurance is wrong -- just as making people pay a U.S. Postal Service mandate fee to receive their mail, just as making people pay a government mandate fee to keep the roads and highways in good shape, just as making people pay a government mandate fee to keep the air clean for them to breathe, just as making people pay a government mandate fee because we exhale carbon dioxide into the air with every breath we breathe out, just as making people pay a government mandate fee to provide services because we excrete human feces that need to be disposed of, just as making people pay a government mandate fee to the police "just in case" we need police protection, just as making people pay a government mandate fee to the fire department "just in case" we need fire department protection, or just as making people pay a government mandate fee for a local ambulance provider "just in case" we need an ambulance ---- all of these mandates ARE WRONG.

This kind of government mandating IS THE REASON WE BROKE AWAY FROM ENGLAND, and once it starts ---- it is very, very hard to stop. MANDATES LIKE THIS ARE AGAINST THE CONSTITUTION ---- AND EACH AND EVERY MANDATE LIKE IT WILL BE THROWN OUT OF THE U.S. SUPREME COURT, upon arriving there.

-- E-verify for immigrants, or anyone, is also wrong because IT ALSO IS AGAINST THE CONSTITUTION. The way to solve the immigration problem is very simple. The local police and sheriff's departments along the U.S./Mexican border know, for the most part, exactly where the crossings are occurring. You simply beef up the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and/or the U.S. National Guard in these areas -- you can build a fence if needed -- and each routine police stop of a vehicle in this country, or routine police encounter, where an individual cannot produce a valid state driver's license, or who is believed by an officer to be an illegal -- the officer on that scene should simply make a call to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Inforcement or to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Our police officers will not become immigration officers, they will simply refer an individual to the proper authority to be deported. If in that area support is lacking to properly deport and individual -- support there needs to be beefed up. We already have immigration laws that NEED TO BE ENFORCED.

StoptheCannibals said:

"Fairfax Bill, your explanation of this is a nice attempt, but it just doesn't hold a lot of water.

First, Romney's income is mostly capital gains, not dividends"

Umm, my post had nothing to do with Romney or his tax situation. My post was making the general case that the headline 15% number for the capital gains tax was misleading because of the double taxation issue, AND that the effective federal income tax rate for most Americans was substantially below 15 percent. Care to engage on the issues I actually wrote about?

"Capital gains income is not taxed twice"

Steve Pearlstein, business writer for the WaPo disagrees with you.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/steven-pearlstein-on-billionaires-secretaries-and-taxes/2011/11/21/gIQAGtBYyN_print.html

"Corporate dividends (not capital gains) have always been subject to "double tax". "

True. And your point is?

"The Corporation pays taxes on its earnings (at effective rates that are the lowest in the world"

Would you care to provide any proof to support that sweeping assertion? The aforementioned Steve Pearlstein in the same article says the effective corporate tax rate is 27 percent. And you think that's the lowest in the world??

"most Corporations have the owner(s) working for the entity, and can (and do) strip-out and profits by paying salary and bonuses to the owners, and then deduct the pay (essentially making the dividend deductible"

Umm, would "most corporations" include the household names we're all familiar with like Exxon-Mobil, Apple, Microsoft, Intel, etc etc? Or would you be referring to small business entities where the strategy to "strip-out profits" is actually feasible? Inquiring minds want to know.

"Sole proprietorships…do not pay taxes at the entity level"

So what? The conversation I started had to do with corporate taxes and the capital gains tax. You sure like to muddy the waters.

"it's the market that really determines the price of a company's stock…just remember Yahoo had extensive losses"

Good grief, and the sun rises in the east. But are you trying to make the case that a company's balance sheet has no impact on the price of its stock? Sorry, but using tech bubble examples to support that case gives new meaning to cherrypicking.

"Fourth, we all make "investments" and take risk in our careers. Just because I made the investment in college and took the risk of making that investment and marketing my skills, does that mean I should pay a lower rate of income tax on my earnings (gains) than someone who didn't make that investment?"

The investment you made in yourself was presumably for the purpose of enhancing your career earning power. The "risk" would have been if you had chosen not to make that investment. That's a personal choice most of us were faced with in our youth, and beyond that I have no idea what the point is you're trying to make.

"BTW, why does Romney even have off-shore bank accounts"

See above, my post had nothing to do with Romney so you'll have to ask him.

Thanks for reading, better luck next time.

Don't waste your time on Bill. Reading three or four posts will tell you he thinks corporations are people. You made a statement that all corporate profits eventually end up in the hands of people. However, there is a huge and growing portion of the value of corporations that never ends up in the pockets of workers or the pockets of capitalists! It is money that stays in the form of factories, machines, etc. and just grows for its own sake. It grows at the expense of the worker. We work for it not the other way around. Corporations are not people, and all corporate profit does not end up in the hands of people. I can site more examples, but I would be wasting my time. If your game is money, which for some of you it is, the truth is to be avoided at all costs.

The "effective corporate tax rate" totally depends on who's Kool-aid you're drinking. Right wing sites like taxfoundation.org will cite it at 27%. Others will cite it from 15% to less than zero. One site I looked at provides this information. "Over the 2001-2003 period, effective tax rates ranged from a low of -59.6 percent for Pepco Holdings to a high of 34.5 percent for CVS." Apparently CVS has very poor financial people.

But don't be surprised when Christians, THE DOMINANT religion, by far in the nation, get upset when they are under attack from all sides by liberals, atheists, secular-progressives etc... who want to take God out of every aspect of life.

"Every aspect of life"? Not hardly, if Christians want to erect crosses in their backyards, or put creches in their front lawn, or say grace at McDonalds, go right ahead. Practice your religion on your own property, in your own churches, on your own dime as much as you please, the unbelievers don't care. But when you try to take over the public spaces with your religion and get the Government to sponsor your religious displays using our tax dollars, or getting the Government to promote and favor your religion, then we certainly do object, and rightly so.

It is not the function of the US Government to prop up and favor any religion, any religion that cannot thrive without such support is hardly worth believing in. Christianity is strong in the US precisely because it must stand on its own and is not supported by the Government.

You want to weaken Christianity? Just make it the Official Religion of the State, and watch it get fat, soft and weak.

Voters who want wars, torture, assassinations, "humanitarian" bombings in oil rich countries, indefinite detentions, drone attacks that kill the innocent, erosion of civil liberties, domestic war on the people (drug war), out-of-control debt and spending, graft and greed, crony capitalism, pandering to special interests, bailouts, more of the same, must NOT vote for Ron Paul.

Voters who want peace, a humane foreign policy, restoration of civil liberties, an end to the war on drugs, sound money, balanced budgets, honesty, integrity and transparency in government, and a President wholly committed to Constitutional government can vote for Ron Paul.

Louis--when Romney answered the question about space exploration and going to the moon---first he said he would have a team of advisors brief him on what the options were for privatization of space. I thought---we already tried the "MBA" President with George Bush and look where that got us. And Romney's advisors are largely Bush retreads. Then later Romney said if someone came to him and said they wanted to spend a trillion dollars going to the moon he'd fire them (he seems to enjoy that). So he flip flopped on the issue within 5 minutes. We want this in the Situation Room when it is time to order the Navy Seals out?

Congratulations, Mark and Sasha, and welcome to future White House Correspondent Caleb Murray!

(And no, I don't babysit, so don't even think about asking!) :)

P.S. - Edit - Sorry, Louis and Steeler - meant this to go above!

**raises hand...bounces impatiently*** I do, I do! I LOVE To babysit!

Right this minute, I have two extra dogs. Actually I prefer watching babies!

No doubt about that. He'd fire the Navy Seals. This guy, along with the whole lot of them, would bury this country.

Romney did a better job at last night's debate than Gingrich but as each of the four candidates made their points about the other, their own vulnerabilities and flaws rose to the surface. Romney may have been better but consider who else was there.

first he said he would have a team of advisors brief him on what the options were for privatization of space.

OMG. Because privatizing the support functions provided to the military in Iraq turned out so well. The problem with Republicans if they never learned the scientific method: formulate a hypothesis, design an experiment to test it, examine the results, draw a conclusion, repeat.

I'm not so good with babies, but when it is time for Caleb to learn to golf or go to a Steeler game, I'll be there!!

I think we should all pitch in and get him a puppy!

Yeah. Like Mark Murray wants anybody from this board anywhere NEAR his baby.

Murray's wife: "Mark, that person calling herself "Auntie Feisty" is at the door again"....

Mark Murray: "Oh crap...Call the police!"

(#2.8 - And you would know, right?)

Hi Louis! Thanks and we sure are at a wierd place in politica.

Louis--he's probably working on a plan to outsource the Navy Seals even as we speak!

Damage123 - That is some funny stuff, I have to laugh at how delusional these people posting on here are. "Auntie Feisty" that's just ridiculous.

Damage.
First name: Brain.

Apologies....this printed up twice. Thought it was cancelled. Oh well.

Backhouse

Apologies....this printed up twice. Thought it was cancelled. Oh well.

Backhouse, my friend

No need to worry; even if it had not been deleted, It was worth repeating. In fact the truth being said a million times is never enough.

Some people really need to read the truth as much as they can.

These right wing nut jobs are very committed to their social conservative beliefs and will so any and everything to super-imposed their beliefs on society; without the realization the universe is vast and different.

Backhouse .....it bears re posting. The TP legislature in New Hampshire are ruining the quality of life for its residents. There was a time when the state, known as the 'Granite State' was a bedrock of common sense, not so much any more.

Backhouse, happens to all of us from time to time. Personally, I think it was worth repeating. Makes you wonder if those NH folks think "live free or die" means abuse is fine, it's just the price of living and dieing free.

Thanks Bev and Gingerbread M,

(This is very stark stuff in contrast with the happiness over Sasha & Mark's new little one.)

Verbal and mental abuse that is kept secret behind four walls is just as fatal as physical abuse, but here is something visible & obvious that our Police can help out with - and they are trained to do that. Police are about protection of citizens aren't they? We want and so appreciate that. Women and children especially really depend on them for help.

Here's one scenario:

"An officer is called to a home where she sees clear evidence that an assault has occurred. The furniture is overturned, the children are sobbing, and the face of the woman of the house is bruised and bleeding. It’s obvious who the assailant was, but the officer arrived after the assault occurred. It’s a small department, and no one else on the force is available to keep the peace until the officer finds a judge or justice of the peace to issue a warrant. The officer leaves, and the abuser renews his attack with even more ferocity, punishing his victim for having called for help. [...]."

If she'd had a gun she could shoot the bastard, but the liberal politicians in her area are against people being able to protest themselves against attackers. So it goes on and on...

bob-1805084

The Wizard of Ears and the Wicked Witch of the Southwest

Oh booby trap,

You try so hard to catch something noteworthy; but you just can't. You are really incompetent.

What of John Boehnor's ears? Listen to this.

'Weeper' John Boehner Lies That Republicans are Listening To The American People!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iF3GtdAeuNc

Okay where are the Jobs?

http://whenarethejobs.com/

It's over a year since the republican had the gravel and there are zero(0), nada, zilch, 'NO' JOBS. All republican do is gravel in, obstruct, and gravel out.

Where are the Job????

Jody thanks, Since the topic was raised by Mr. Sensitive above at #3.6:

This GOP legislation prevents Police from doing their job. So:

1. Is the objective to force more people to buy more guns to protect themselves in the absence of Police protection?

2. And/or are they just giving folks more lee-way to beat up their spouses and children?

x

It seems pretty obvious to me that the establishment is trying to divide the Santorum/Gingrich vote even further so that Romney can get the nod.

If Romney is the GOP nominee, then the establishment wins either way. Barack Obama and Mitt Romney are basically the same empty suit that can debate well and give a good speech. (Full of lies and deceit, but a good speech nonetheless)

I'm not saying Gingrich would be any better, but the status quo is getting scarier and scarier every day.

You try so hard to catch something noteworthy; but you just can't. You are really incompetent.

Bev,

With all the snide hate posted by this one, I think the more apt word is impotent.

Adam Gallegos

If Romney is the GOP nominee, then the establishment wins either way. Barack Obama and Mitt Romney are basically the same empty suit that can debate well and give a good speech. (Full of lies and deceit, but a good speech nonetheless)

I'm not saying Gingrich would be any better, but the status quo is getting scarier and scarier every day.

Even more frightening is people like you who believe it; Adam . I think you'd better put the kool-aide down and pick up the water

RedDevPS

Bev,

With all the snide hate posted by this one, I think the more apt word is impotent

Exactly, he is an EPIC FAILURE!!!

Ron Paul is the only GOP candidate to state plainly what needs to happen for this country to survive. Reform based on tiny tweaks put forth by the 3 also-rans will only satisfy the simple minded. We need a drastic change of course to avoid the disastrous multiple collisions ahead. Wake up.

President Ron Paul in 2012.

Ron Pau; is the only GOP candidate still in steadily getting next to no votes. unless you want to cout his heavy competition with Santorum is who is tired and went home to do his taxes. Need any more explination?

1. It is clear that there is less and less value placed on the labor of the service industry and manual labor. It is the new reality and only will only change by kids going to college and learning high paying skills. Are you suggesting we should have equality of outcome?

2. Your response is folklore. If someone drops out of high school, you are right, they are very unlikely to become rich. Hard work starts in elementary school, not in your first job.

3. It is true that the ultra rich have benefited, but I am sure you are aware that the ultra rich pay most of the taxes already and that taxes have dropped for the middle and lower classes during that same time period. Are you really opposed to others making your tax payments for you? In what position would we be without the ultra rich? Do you have any idea how much you would have to pay in taxes without them? Also the federal government has doubled in size in per capita, inflation adjusted dollars in the past forty years. How much of your freedom do you really want to give the government. Do you want to be assigned someone from the government to wake you up, tell you what to wear and say, make sure you finish a healthy breakfast? I for one do not want an all powerful nanny state, but I believe in personal responsibility and being held accountable for the choices we made when we were young.

4. This is down right silly. Look at the per capita income in the US versus all of our socialist brothers in Europe. PCI in the US is 50% higher than in France and Germany. This is even with the enormous dividend we pay to Europe by keeping the world safe with our ginormous military.

5. 400 x $270M = $108B, $108B * 39% = $42B. Taxes are paid on adjusted gross income, not gross income. Most of this income is investment income, which means the additional taxes would come out of investment capital available to others to build the economy. Taxes have increased every time the capital gains rate have been lowered. Or does that not matter, because like the president you would like to wreck our economy by making things "fair". Do you really believe it is fair that any individual pay $100M in taxes in a year while 47% of tax payers pay no federal income tax? If so you are a pathetic creature, consumed by envy and a distorted reality of "fairness". People pay federal taxes, employment taxes, tariffs, sales tax, state tax, property tax, etc. Our tax burden in the US is actually reasonably high when you add in all taxes. Let's go back to 1973 per capita, inflation adjusted taxes paid, and you will find that the deficit will disappear.

Thanks for this pithy post IR.

No matter how spot-on the analysis, there will be someone on the right determined to deny and derail the message. Especially to blame you for pointing out the blatant reality: that ordinary people are being exploited from pillar to post.

Income inequality is not the big topic right now for no reason.

Independent redneck

there are only 1200 - 1800 Millionaires according to the IRS that pay only 15%. Let's say you get 12 million a piece more in taxes on average, that would be a meer 24 Billion. Our Deficits are $1.5 TRILLION. The new spending each year is several time that $24 Billion. Thinking taxing them more will solve the deficit problems just simply isn't living in the real world.

Spending is the problem, not taxation.

They are both a problem, as much as you'd like to deny it. Income tax revenue is at the lowest level as a percentage of GDP since the early 40's... Yeah, I'd say that's a problem.

What I hate on this board in one form or another is the "we can't do everything, so we might as well not do anything" mentality. The most pernicious version is in the tax argument, which comes along the lines of "even if we taxed multi-millionaires at a higher rate, it still wouldn't pay off the deficit." Of course not, but then it usually follows with a suggestion that we not even bother and rely upon spending cuts alone to balance the budget. Well, that won't work either, unless you want to slash services to the point where you cause riots in the country. You only need to look at what's happening in Europe to see the effects of that. Any budgetary plan has to involve a mix of revenue increases and spending cuts--PERIOD. The only way you could do so otherwise is to eliminate all discretionary spending---ALL of it, so that the only that is left is mandatory spending (Social Security, Medicare, interest on the debt). This means that the government wouldn't even be able to fund the military, let alone its civilian law enforcement operations, at the appropriate levels--not to mention draconian welfare spending cuts that would make the 1960 riots look like a picnic.

DB: anytime anyone refers to 24 BILLION DOLLARS with the term "meer" we know they are not living in the real world. We can't begin to attack the problem of our deficits if one half of the cause is taken off the table.

The deficit is, by definition, the difference between revenue and expenditures. By the Republican methodology, the deficit is the difference between domestic expenditures for the poor and middle class and zero. The GOP definition requires the elimination of the poor and middle class (and expenditures on them) resulting in all income going to the top 5%.

When the top tax rate was nearly 70%, unemployment was near 3% and the budget was virtually balanced. Now that the top tax rate is less than 30% (and has been for over a decade) unemployment is over 8% and the budget is far out of balance.... do you see the correlation ?

Great post, IR--thanks for sharing. Seems to me we tried "trickle down" economics for 30 years and it doesn't work. That is enough of a trial period for me.

dirp - that money in the hands of industry, and that is what the rich will do with it, will become jobs creating more wealth and thus increase the tax base.

The biggest misperception about the rich is that they have the money in a savings account or checking account. They have that kind of money because they know what will increase it's value a whole lot better than you or I.

Keep dreaming DB.. outsourcing is more profitable.

that money in the hands of industry, and that is what the rich will do with it, will become jobs creating more wealth and thus increase the tax base.

Except they haven't, even after a full decade of Bush tax cuts. The reason? More profitable to "offshore" jobs, and it is far less risky to simply invest in the Treasury bills the Government sells to finance the deficits. Over 13 trillion dollars in the National Debt means a lot of potential investment money is being tied up in T-bills instead.

Ironically, the Bush tax cuts not only meant a lot more wealth for the wealthiest, it also gave them plenty of opportunity to invest that extra wealth in the National Debt! Literally selling the the US to the rich, and giving them tax breaks to help them do it.

Jody:

As always a splendid post. Thanks so much for the time and the effort you put into your - and now our - wrap.

As it happens, I do have some inside contacts here and there, and I have invited many of my friends to check in every Friday. One of them tells me, it's a far more enjoyable read than his daily intelligence reports.

So, here's a shout out to you, Jody. Here's a top-of-the-morning greeting to my friend in D.C. Please tell Michelle and the kids I said hello.

Welcome to Arizona or The Taming of the Shrew. Governor Jan Brewer

Excellent as always my friend!

Speaking of the shrew - take that picture and put it next to the one of Gabby Giffords & President Obama hugging at the SOTU address Tuesday night...

Talk about a sharp contrast!

To follow up on David's comment - you should be e-mailing your wrap to the DNC every week. If you don't want to do it - I WILL! ;o)

I love you post. As always you have the facts. Also, I agree with Feisty, that your wrap up post needs to go to the DNC weekly.

Jody, Iowa

"And that's the way it is...." this week.

The best analysis of the week that was as usual. Mark and Dominico should consider getting a little free time for other things by letting you help them. I love the way you break it down on succinct terms everyone can understand.

I was so glad to the Eye of Newt get what he deserved last nigh. He already has a helmet so zoom him off to the moon.

Thanks, Jody! Wonderful as always!

Where's Darryl Issa on that?

He's to busy trying to find some minuscule discrepancy so he can impeach the President. Issa is a GOP hack and a thug. They should be investigated Issa.

Great weekly wrap up Jody...as usual. Thanks!

Duke Cunningham, from his prison cell, announced he supports Newt Gingrich.

Oh, Jody, too funny! Gingrich definitly gets the disgraced politicians vote, because he is one.

Thanks again Jody Iowa - another great wrap up! I always check in to see "your" and as David says now "our" wrap ups. Thank you for your time and effort putting these together. Have a great weekend everyone!

Jody,

Wonderful, as always! Thank you.

In regard to OK state senator Ralph Shortley's proposed legislation. . . I'm at a loss for words.

Jody, Ohio - Good to see you again; haven't seen you around in a while.

Jody--another home run.

"Taming of the Shrew" indeed. What is worse than Gov. Brewer's behavior is the glee that the RWNJs took in such disrespectful treatment of the President of the United States. He was gracious in shrugging it off, of course.

P.S. I think you meant that Romney earns an average of $57,000 per day. $57,000 per month would mean he would have to struggle by on $684,000 per year. And let's not forget that Romney feels it is OK to combine his charitable contributions (made by choice) with his tax obligations (imposed by law) to say how much of his money goes somewhere else. Who invented that idea?

Sounds like Brewer lied about what happened anyway, according to witnesses that were there. She is a self aggrandizing "teabagger" with a very tiny brain.

She is a self aggrandizing "teabagger" with a very tiny brain.

What I'm hearing is, her brain is also 'pickled' from many years of cuddling up to Johnnie Walker...

Excellent Jody, and as always spot on! I often travel in my job and am able to choose the conferences I prefer to attend - I never, and I absolutely mean never, travel to Florida, Arizona, Indiana, Utah, or Texas because the republicans there are so rude and one sided - no reason to give those folks my money, if you state is going to support republicans I'm not going to support your state, and by the way, I don't shop very much in Tennessee either. We got some hometown folks with the slogan: eat local, play local, stay local. I could do that if they would only hire local, until they do, except for the basics I must buy at the local grocery store, it is Amazon or a short drive to KY for me (shot out to you Ricky in KY) and we get to visit the inlaws - whom I happen to like a lot while we are at it.

Was on a flight a couple of years ago (brewster the witch with a capital B was in office already), had to change planes with a short layover in Pheonix, I did not even buy a bottle of water in that termnal, and I usually do make purchases in most airports when I travel. Went to Florida last year to catch a cruise ship, got right off that plane, got in the cruise line's complementary car service to the dock, got on the boat and did not spend one dime in Florida - did the same after the cruise was over. We are already looking closely at states for our summer vacation travel, and it won't be in any red state that's for sure. If they are rich enough to support republicans, they don't need my working middle class money! See Rick P - there are a lot of ways to succeed from the union and this little money protest is our way, may not fit for everyone, but it works for us.

Jody: Outstanding as always.

Great post and thanks for taking the time to do it!

(did you mean 57k a day in interest rather than monthly? not that it maters cause id love to "earn" 57K monthly)

Thank you my friends for the kind words.

David Walker, I'm overwhelmed reading that; what can I say except it can't be that Michelle?

Correction thanks to screeminglib: That should be $57K a day. Guess ordinary brains such as mine can't grasp that much interest in one day!

Jody - Steeler fan took the words out of my mouth - Actually - a Grand Slammer! Look forward to your post every week! And the fans are right - You dhould send this to the DNC every week - what a great commercial spot it would make!

GOOO GIANTS!

Jody--as usual--great wrap-up! Everything has been said already, but I wanted to let you know how much I enjoy reading them! Thank you so much for taking the time to do this--and I agree--the DNC needs to have this! :)

"We have met the enemy and he is us!" Pogo by Walt Kelly

Excellent recap Jody, as always. And nice slap down on the Walsh and Bill-Fairfax myth that capital gains are double taxed. Although, I have to admit, I would love to be in a position to make $57k per day of "new" income on investments, all tax free.

And now I am off to see how many pensions funds and companies I can exploit (bankrupt) to fill my coffers with a few hundred million, so I too can achieve the new American dream of sitting on my haunches while pulling a cool $57k per day at the expense of others. Gone are my old lofty and passe ideas of working a 9-5 job for income and security (the old American dream). I mean, why work when it is more profitable to exploit?

That should be $57K a day. Guess ordinary brains such as mine can't grasp that much interest in one day!

Holy crap! That's a ton of cash! What the hell is Mitt running for President with that kind of loot?

Jody, my ordinary brain can't grasp that either.

Romney says he's "unemployed" at $57,000 a day. His Nibbs must be on the phone moving $$stuff around though, right?

Mz Jody, Oh Yeh!!

This week, I got all set up with the weekly big coffee and hunkered down for the read/ride.

"President Obama gave the State of the Union Address. Excellent speech; informative, sufficiently detailed, a reminder of how much has been accomplished, clear goals and ideas, full of optimism and patriotism, assertive when needed and a challenge to the Party of No--best of all, filled with fine poetry in all the right places."

Talent is talent, and that's what!!

Oklahoma State Senator Ralph Shortley filed legislation to ban the making and selling of food or products that use aborted human fetuses. "I don't know if it is happening in OK, it may be, it may not be. What I am saying is that if it does happen then we are not going to allow it to manufacture here."

How about a law to ban the production of Soylent Green? That would help with the senior citizens vote.

The CBS poll taken immediately after the SOTU showed 91% of viewers approved of President Obama's proposals. That's an astonishing number. What a fine kettle of fish for the Party of G"No"P because 91% means a whole lot of republicans and independents also agree with President Obama.

FYI: Rachel Maddow noted last night that that poll was for last year's SOTU speech, not this year's. She and several other news sources got it wrong. As Rick Perry would say, "OOPS".

newdayDAWNING...RETURNED

Sounds like Brewer lied about what happened anyway, according to witnesses that were there. She is a self aggrandizing "teabagger" with a very tiny brain.

Good Morning newday happy Friday to you

Undoubtedly, there is something wrong with Jan Brewer's brain.

Do you recall that long period of silence during her campaign debate session????

I've calmed down some. Yesterday I was livid. I didn't want to post anything suggesting violence; had it been me; I would have bitten that tea bagging wh***e's finger off. That is just how mad I would was. As usual, our President handled it in his calm, cool, hammer and a with a warm smile. This is another aspect of his personality that makes him a great leader. He has the ability to de-escalte problematic situations. When he spoke in Arizona about Gabby Giffords ' after the shooting his speak evoked tones of spiritual healing.

What made me mad is she said she felt THREATENED.

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/drama-clubbed-jan-brewer-says-i-felt-a-little-bit-threatened-by-president-obama/

THREATENED??? What a crazy "B"!!! Today I'm laughing because I now realize her elevator doesn't go all the way upstairs. Running toHannity and the rest of the RWNJs is only going to expose her insanity even more so nationally. I predict next go round like Pearce she'll be gone.

Get out your decoder. It's the scary Black man thingy Jan Brewer threw out their for all her ardent racists.

Funny you mention that Bev!

I was thinking the exact same thing yesterday.

If someone wags a finger in my face they damn well better be prepared to LOSE it!

The CBS poll taken immediately after the SOTU showed 91% of viewers approved of President Obama's proposals. That's an astonishing number. What a fine kettle of fish for the Party of G"No"P because 91% means a whole lot of republicans and independents also agree with President Obama.

Jody, great post as always, but don't read too much into the above stat. It's 91 percent of viewers. I'm guessing the blinded-by-hatred crowd didn't watch.

I think the only PINK SLIP Romney is worried about is the one he may be caught wearing while counting his cash,...LOL

Jody,...as always, EXCELLENT!

Holy crap! That's a ton of cash! What the hell is Mitt running for President with that kind of loot?

So he can add the Presidential salary to the loot, and eliminate his taxes altogether. Oh, and so he can add yet another "house" to add to his collection, at least temporarily.

Mitt. Good for billionaires, bad for the working class.

Job1

Thanks for watching, so the rest of us don't have to.

Job1 -

I got yet another chain e-mail yesterday from one of my Mom's friends in Florida who's a mega-conservative and who's always sending me anti-Obama stuff and prayer stuff, despite the fact that she knows full well that I'm a huge Obama fan and a devout atheist. Anyway, for once I decided to write back and ask her if she'd decided who she was voting for next week and why, and here's what she wrote back:

"I'm still trying to make up my mind. There's supposed to be a debate here on tv tonight & I intend to watch it. It will probably be the lessor of 2 or 3 evils. Will let you know."

I didn't get to see the debate last night, but from your recap, it doesn't sound like she got any more inspiration from it. The enthusiasm is really kind of underwhelming, isn't it?

Job1, excellent synopsis, that's the debate I saw and heard.......4 grown men, each talking past each other. A lot of I,I,I, blind trusts, etc. who we are going to blow up, not much of we, together, jobs...hardly a mention.

Abysmal candidates.

Romney destroyed Gingrich. I am a democrat and don't agree with the GOP ideas, but you have to admit Romney beat Newt at his talking points. He was resilient, threw Gingrich's plea for a truce back in his face. Newt got schooled.

Mitt made the speaker look foolish about the possibility of a moon base, he beat him on the immigration issue as well with the GOP base applauding his stance. He beat him when Newt tried to get personal about taxes.

That said, I hope Newt recovers to win Florida so this goes longer, he is definately the weaker one for the general election. Again, don't like Romney's ideas or policies buy he more than held his own against Newt. The only place he staggered was when Santorum hit him about the similarities to Romney care and the health care law. Mitt was using pretzel logic to conclude that his law was good, while the same scenario under Obama is the worst law passed.

What the debate didn't cover was what other than cutting taxes was their plan to turn around the economy. Not that I care but Wolf Blitzer's questioning focused on attack ads for much of the first hour. Some other thoughts, the big three all pandered at one point or another when they spoke about the Cuba embargo, when they talked about Puerto Rico, when the talked about a moon base.

The only time they didn't pander about is when people asked actual questions. They refused to answer what they would do for the jobless woman who had lost her insurance. The answer for them - Repeal Obama care. Apparently they want to make sure there is no way she can have insurance. How is that an answer?

Hi JoAnne,

I agree. The enthusiasm is very much so "underwhelming."

Job 1, that was perfect! President Ronald Reagan turned over in his grave again last night--rumor has it he sent a message not to hire any of those republicans.

Thanks for the recap Job1 - I missed the debate and was wondering if I truly missed anything. Obviously, NOT!!

There was also a lot of "I love Marco Rubio" on that stage last night, talk about kissing up.

Ronald Reagan, Ronald Reagan, Ronald Reagan.

Ronald Reagan sucked! Yeah I said it and I'll say it again. Ronald Reagan sucked!

The problem with the candidates last night and every night is that they suck worse than Ronnie!

Oh yes Jody, their VP choice.

Devie-- It must be nice to be smarter than the FORTY NINE state's worth of people who re-elected in in 1984. But then, it's just like a liberal to be driving the wrong way down a One Way Street and cursing at all the other "stupid" people going past you in the opposite direction.

Damage, I grew up in Reagan's California. He sucked as a Governor and as the President. Reagan was a buffoon! He was a liar and a corporate shill.

I am glad to say that I NEVER voted for him and from where I sit only Minnesota got it right in 1984.

Job1,

Fab analysis there and hilarious. Made me think of the cartoon where all the dogs & pups on the street are standing and wuffing into the night. And the translation:

"Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!"

Exactly as you wrote.

Hilarious...there was another debate last night?

Just saw a picture of beautiful baby Caleb on Chuck Todd's show . . . congrats to Mark Murray and his wife Sasha . . . lots of love to you all!

Best kid's letter I've seen since Virginia wrote to the NYT (I think) about Santa Claus. Congrats to the Murrays!

Frank.....cheers to this little child and cheers to you for posting it. There are times when children show us how we all should behave, this is one of them.

A pox on these so called adults who have never grown up and need a trip to the wood shed.

As she sips her 12th mimosa!

A very nice Facebook post.

Frank "Grimey", thank you for posting that "good news" and thanks to the young boy who showed what team spirit really means.

Welcome Caleb! Congratulations mom and dad!

Thanks GBM, I didn't notice my mistake even when I re-read it this morning before posting; my draft said per day but my head apparently rejected it. Even $57K a month is hard to wrap our heads around.

He was specifically addressing Santorum's red-faced, on-the-verge-of-hysteria, demeanor.

Look, I'm as anti Obamacare as anyone could be. If I lived in Massachusetts when the Romneycare bill passed- I'd move. Probably to New Hampshire.

The overwhelming majority of people in Massachusetts LIKE their bill. Bully for them. The vast majority of people do NOT like Obamacare. That is the major difference between the two bills.

One is for the people of one Commonwealth- the other is imposed on all inhabitants of this country.

I realize that the liberal line is to not comprehend the difference- but you really do make yourselves look foolish by ignoring the glaringly obvious.

So, by the way, did Santorum.

...says no jo who makes a daily practice of ignoring the obvious...

Romney then replied by issuing a defense of Romneycare that sounded a lot like the defense that Obama (who might have even been taking notes) is likely to give of Obamacare: “I didn’t say I’m in favor of top-down government-run health care. Ninety-two percent of the people in my state had insurance before our plan went in place.” (For Obamacare, it’s nearly the same percentage of people, only nationwide) “And nothing changes for them. They own the same private insurance they had before.” (As Obama likes to say, “If you like your health care plan, you can keep your health care plan.”) “And for the 8 percent of people who didn't have insurance, we said to them, if you can afford insurance, buy it yourself, any one of the plans out there, you can choose any plan.” (The same is true for Obamacare — except, as in Romneycare, for the large numbers of people who get shuttled onto Medicaid.) “There’s no government plan.” (There isn’t one in Obamacare either, as the public outcry caused the “public option” to be nixed.)

Referring to the individual mandate, Romney added, “We are insisting on personal responsibility.”

Santorum responded, “Does everybody in Massachusetts have a requirement to buy health care?”

Romney replied, “Everyone has a requirement to either buy it or pay the state for the cost of providing them free care.”

Santorum said, “Just so I understand this, in Massachusetts, everybody is mandated as a condition of breathing in Massachusetts, to buy health insurance, and if you don’t, and if you don’t, you have to pay a fine.”

http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/it-s-not-worth-getting-angry-about_618705.html

A while back, I had a discussion with a 50 year old who hates President Obama and the Health Care Reform act, along with hatred of all progressive ideas. This fellow said “no way is hell would he let anyone force him to buy health insurance. “ So, my question to him was if he had a major accident or illness, that lets say cost $100,000 or more, what would he do? His answer, “go to the ER.”

Of course with additional questions of how he would you pay for this, his answer was to pay $20.00 a month. Of course my response was $20.00 a month was not going to satisfy the hospital or ever going to pay the bill. I went on to point out that such as a plan of action on his part flies in the face of what his far right friends believe in, and that he would be considered one of the dead beats he and his far right friends accuse the progressives of doing.

So, we can say any adult who doesn’t want health care is not only a fool, but is pretty darn stupid.

newday: Simpy put, Donna has no class.

Yep: but I enjoyed your post to Mark and Sasha. Very gracious and true.

www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/it-s-not-worth-getting-angry-about_618705.html

...and there it is in a nutshell.

No, Santorum was not on the verge of complete red-faced hysteria as you suggest, "No Joe". Santorum just got Romney to admit that the bill he signed into law in Massachusetts and the bill President Obama signed into law are pretty much THE SAME THING!!!

...and presented with this challenge Romney says it's nothing to get angry about.

Well, I simply refer back to my original statements...the Tea Partiers ARE angry about it. If I'm a Tea Partier and I hear Romney question the legitimacy of my emotions on the matter then guess you I'm not voting for.

Dangerfield, I noticed the Santorum and Romney back and forth. It was Romney's only time last night where he didn't win the point. Yes other than the state vs. federal government doing the mandating they are both the same. Proof that Obama's #1 policy "achievement" is not a government take over and is GOP lite.

By the way, I don't think Santorum was red faced and angry, he was just passionate about what he believed in. Politcal stances and ideology aside, have to admit Santorum looked good. Don't get me wrong IMO he is wrong on many issues, forcing social issues and espousing failed economic ideas etc. However, he is authentic and not fake or condescending like Romney and Mitt.

If you watched the debate, do you agree that Romney other than the health care arguement won big time. Mitt's best attack was that Newt was going from state to state, promising things that couldn't be delivered. Newt responded by saying we need to cut taxes, we need to cut spending drastically but oh I forgot we need investment and infrastructure.

Newt is done, don't you think?

Da noid - Agree. Why don't you think more of the Tea Party isn't going for Santorum?

@Dog - and the saddest part is Newt's version of infrastructure investment is a moon colony, with those cute little moon bungalows financed by his stock investment companies Freddie Mac/Fannie Mae.

Ever notice that all the people who are in favor of abortion are already born??????

Ronald Reagan

Mark-

Have you seen the video of the cream of the punditocracy glibly pronouncing Newton "over" in JUNE? IN October? After New Hampshire?

Newton is up in the National polls (By NINE points in the NBC poll, SIX in the Gallup and SEVEN points in Rasmussen), and it is only the MSM that promotes the idea that a race is "over" if Romney wins First Iowa, then New Hampshire, Then SC. as the similarities between the media's "coronation" of candidate Obama and candidate Romney are becoming eerie...

Based on the yo-yo polling and dueling attack ads, I don't think anyone is done just yet. This comment from RCP is telling;

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

Agree.

"The three, mutually hostile wings of the GOP are personified by the current field -- so much so, that I don't even have to match them with their candidate's name them do I?

The Wall Street wing, the Social Conservative wing, and the Libertarian wing. The Wall Street wing will always be favored by the GOP Establishment. Gingrich is trying to be "everyone's second choice", and as such he can beat Romney. But as long as the anti-Romneys split the anti-Establishment vote ... Well, I would not be surprised to learn that some Establishment money is feeding Paul and Santorum."

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2012/01/27/santorum_reasserts_himself_at_fla_debate_112935-comments.html

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

Both parties are talking about the "good old days" but for the Republican field It is 1968...

I don't think Newton is "done", as there are 5 days left before they go to the polls in Florida, and the one thing that is certain is that 5 days is a lifetime in this contest...;)

The hypocriscy of the right over Health Care reform is amazing to me. They hate it until you ask them about insurance companies being able to deny people for pre-existing conditions--well, they want that. How about insuring your kids til they are 26? Well, they want that. How about finding a way for people who get sick to get treatment and not go bankrupt or just not pay for their care---well, that should be done. But all they know is they hate "Obamacare."

dangerfield - Yes, there is still five days. Stranger things can happen Gingrich could win. However, whether it is media or establishement driven, Romney has the financial support, he has the political elite's support (Karl Rove, superpacs etc.) He really looked strong in the debate, he made Newt fumble for responses. As your post stated RCP divides the GOP electorate into three groups and Romney is the benefactor of this division.

The only thing Newt had was the ability to win debates. The last two especially last night has been bad. What do I know, I'm a yellow dog democrat. I can't speak for the GOP voter but IMO, Newt lost big time. Just like before Iowa your going to see another roller coaster drop for Newt and an upswing for Romney - money talks.

NoJo: One is for the people of one Commonwealth- the other is imposed on all inhabitants of this country.

Either both are "for" their constituents, or both are"imposed". This is not either-or. Trying to trick us with word play simply won't work.

Do you want to be healthy, NoJo?

ReDdev - I agree, the Moon base is a non starter. Infrastructure here in the USA more important.

That said, I am not against the space program and would like NASA to be a government run program. That way science is given money to explore and discover. The private sector will not do things unless there is a profit. They will not show up to compete for Newt's science fair awards.

If Newt or anyone wants to think big about the space program, lets give more money for un- manned exploration, telescopes, probes, satellites.

Mitt Romney's support is fairly broad based. You do not see any stories about the PAC supporting him or his campaign being close to being broke. If not for one crazed gambling mogul, Newt would be done.

And was it my imagination, or was he totally dismissive of the Palestinian immigrant standing right in front of him ? What a total jerk Newt Gingrich is.

Newt 2012 FL announced today that 37 Florida-based tea party leaders have pledged their support to Newt Gingrich for president.

Members of the coalition of Florida tea party leaders said they will help Gingrich defeat former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for the Republican nomination and then beat President Barack Obama.

“I’ve considered all the candidates, and Speaker Gingrich has the right combination of vision and experience to lead this country out of the economic misery created by government overreach that has been occurring for generations,” said Peter Lee, founder and director of the East Side Tea Party of Orlando. “It is clear to me and many others in the tea party movement that Newt is the Reagan conservative that America needs — not a Massachusetts moderate.”

Similarly, Patriot Army founder Patricia Sullivan said, “I stand with Newt because I know he will stand up to the establishment and insist on fiscal reforms. Obama and his failed policies have met their match. With the speaker's leadership, and engaged citizens, we can restore prosperity to America.”

Read more on Newsmax.com: Florida Tea Party Leaders Form Coalition for Newt Gingrich

Wow. 37 whole people. Impressive. LOL

Like all elections, this one is full of
emotion and excitement. Folks from all walks of life express their
options. Some opinions provide value added insight and many are
empty cynical comments. Over the last few years I have experienced
some unfortunate economic events in my life, most of which have been
a direct result of the decline of our great nation. Yes, I said it,
decline.

I'm not wealthy, I'm a trained
professional, and I have a young family to provide for. This
election matters, as do all elections. But, this one may just be the
most pivotal in our lifetimes. I feel that BOTH Democrats and
Republicans have chronic cancerous differences that have caused a
political rift throughout our nation. A rift unlike anything we've
seen in the past 140 years. I voted for Obama, I believed he would
heal this nation. Unfortunately, the rift has widened.

Because of the weight of this election,
I have paid close attention to all of the candidates, I've read
their books, studied their positions on issues, watched how they hold
up when under attack, judged their moral character (as best I can),
and attempted to asses their intelligence.

I believe that America is a force for
good in this World and should ALWAYS stand for freedom for all
people. We MUST maintain that beacon of hope for the World to see.
Keep in mind that there has never been a democratic nation at war
with another democratic nation.

For me a critical question has been,
which of these candidates will promote freedom domestically and
throughout the world BEST? I think all four of these candidates are
good people, as I believe President Obama is a good man. But only
one can be selected. After serious consideration I believe Governor
Romney is the man who will best fill the post. Mitt's “Forecasting
America's Strength” was a convincing metric I believe that if
followed would bring a greater degree of peace, freedom, and economic
stability to our Nation and World.

You must live in IL where more than one vote is common practice! BO stinks and as much as I don't want him to return to my state, the thought of him not returning is so repulsive and unfathomable that I'll take the stench here to avoid another Stench of the P-Union from him!

I can't imagine a debate between Obama and any of the Repub candidates having "audience participation", so how would Newt get his "mojo"??

Romney got some good punches in last night, and Newt looked like a sullen, sulky, spoiled brat!

It's pretty sad when Sanatorium is seen as the winner!

OBAMA/BIDEN 2012

DaNoid. I think Newt Gingrich's problem is that he thinks he knows it all; therefore, no need for debate prep. That point was obvious when Gingrich called out Romney for having Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac stock without knowing he had stock through his investment broker. Gingrich looked like he swallowed about a dozen bugs all at once. Romney did his home work, Gingrich relied on his ego, his pompous notion that he's smarter and doesn't need to study for a debate.

Jody---Romney had obviously prepped for the debate and was ready for some of the questions that were asked. But he didn't know about an ad he was running against Newt---where he said "I'm Mitt Romney and I approve this message" in Spanish. And he was mistaken about all of his investments being in blind trusts. Now I know $200 million is a lot to keep up with, but you've been running for President for 5 years.

Wm, good points. Romney telling the Occupy guy "I'm right and you're wrong" is another example.

91% of viewers approved of President Obama's proposals in the SOTU. Romney's ideas are counter to those proposals. It won't be an easy election but from the polls, the ideas of President Obama and democrats are what people support. Even republicans support raising taxes on anyone making a million or more per year.

Yipes....

Houston, agree. I cannot imagine Gingrich winning beyond the south because he's a southern guy and knows what dog whistles to blow. I am no fan of Romney but he does a better job of avoiding that game.

Jody, Iowa

I am no fan of Romney but he does a better job of avoiding that game.

Yes. At least Romney doesn't spew the garbage about food stamps that so excites the folks with Confederate flags on their car antennas.

So true. If he is unsure of where his money is, how can we trust him with the money of the United States?

Clearly America deserves the empty suited deal they voted for in 2008 - the deal who never had a position on anything while an IL senator, the person who's never done anything while in office except complain that the mess we're in was inherited from Bush, the person who has never governed a state let alone a country...yes, we got the person we deserved because we've become a country who makes their choices based on a virtual person. BO is a classic example of such a person. He has no substance, he's done nothing but polarize, he has not one original thought. He came out of the corrupt Chicago political scene and attended the most racist church in the area with his entire family for over 20 years. Obama hasn't done anything in the White House except publish a children's book! He's a total disgrace with no credentials for any office let alone the highest office in the land. He's an orator and that's all! Sadly, we'll be cleaning up his mess for the next 10 years or more. How anyone can look at the numbers and determine that this man has done anything good for our country is beyond my understanding of anything and I can't wait to cast my ballot for Romney. Wake up America! Our government is big business and we need somebody in the oval office that understands that and how the world economy works, not somebody who's so one-dimensional that their most memorable moment in the White House was meeting the 1985 Chicago Bears! Obama will go home after the election and my only regret is that it will be to my state.

Ocean, well said. It's pretty hard to trust someone to run the country, hard to believe him when he says he loves this country when a lot of his money is vacationing off shore where the USA can't touch it.

Disgusted to the max, don't count on it. OBAMA/BIDEN 2012!!!!!

@Disgusted to the max:

Look in the mirror and repeat the dribble you wrote here without laughing! Betcha $10,000 bucks you can't!

I prefer the Obama kool aid to this GOP kool aid you righties drink. That GOP kool aid gives you bad smelling gas.

job1 - Try removing your nose from the GOP's rearend.

Never been there, because there is always a another GOP head stuck in there.

It was very kewl.

JoAnne, yes I saw that and thought Brian Williams comment perfect; there were no red states or blue states visible.

Mar1954. Thanks for the reminders; they are the tip of the iceberg.

Joe made a GAFF...that's not really news, now is it?? LOL!

OBAMA/BIDEN 2012

Bill, I get those annoying credit card calls a couple times a week; a good number of those calls come from outside the USA; you can tell when you push a button to tell them to quit calling. It's like that "Peggy guy" in the TV ad.

He was THE BOTTOM of the PILE! They all got picked off one by one, and THAT is how SATAN ended up where he did! Not by policies, not by debating skills, not by brain power....he is where he is because Teabags HATE Romney....PURE and SIMPLE

OBAMA/BIDEN 2012

This Country will never elect a social conservative President.

Isn't that how the Bible says the Anti-Christ will act? Acting all good and trusting, while running for the most powerful leadership position in the world?

James you want a true picture? Look at the president now.

TTTH, What has the president done, to be accused of being the Anti-Christ?

What about when Santorum said he didn't "buy into the global warming hoax" like the other candidates? Seriously? "Hoax"?!? That right there is absolute proof the guy MUST NOT BE ELECTED TO THE HIGHEST OFFICE OF THIS COUNTRY. And in general, what is the issue the GOP has with the EPA? If not for the EPA the air in Los Angeles would still look like that in Mexico City or Beijing. It would still be legal for companies to dump toxic waste directly into rivers. I could go on.

Do they like seeing the air they're breathing? Do they enjoy the taste of gasoline in their water? Sorry, meant Kool Aid. Are they so beholden to the corporations that they'd sacrifice their health, or that of their children, for a buck?

more liberal lies......Romney made money when he was working and that money was tax'd the first time.

Romney invested that same money and it is now tax'd AGAIN at a 15% capital gains rate.

Oh why, do I once a week, un-ignore loony Leona's posts and read the lies this Helmsley channeller posts? Romney is not double taxed on his investments. He is taxed only on what his investments earn.

Now, let's see if I can't learn a lesson and keep this insane, inane liar on ignore.

How can a president be too "constitutionalist?". Do you have any idea what you're talking about. The constitution made this country great, the destruction of it is why everything is falling apart. Think before you type.

Leona, don´t worry, once Castro dies, the Mormon dingbat will close all his Swiss and offshore accounts and invest his money in tourist resorts in Cuba. Thousands of US workers will also participate, no doubt!!

Keepcomposure, okay baby! But please vote Obama.

If you think Obama has a better chance at turning this country around than Romney you're wearing rose colored glasses. You may not like Romney; however, he has more practical, international, economic business sense than any candidate, especially Obama who has the least of them. I could care less if a candidate is a far right, far left or a centrist; give me the one that's best suited to unite people and parties, understand globalization, and provide solutions. Obama's campaign speech, I mean the State of the Union, proposed MORE government intervention, more spending, bigger government. What doesn't he get? It's the same speeches, and his actions are always a 180 from what he is saying to get votes. Obama walked out of Harvard, and with no significant experience outside of school was elected as a novelty act by those that wanted to be part of history. He is in way over his head.

You may not like Romney; however, he has more practical, international, economic business sense than any candidate, especially Obama who has the least of them.

We have been waiting and waiting to hear from Romney exactly what he would do that Obama hasn't done to turn the economy around, and he has not offered anything beyond cutting corporate taxes. Not one plan. Not one solution. So why would anyone believe either your claim or Romney's claim that he is the best one to turn the economy around?

Business sense does not translate to presidential qualities. Have we ever elected a president with business experience? Not in modern history, if ever. Americans have a fairly good sense that electing a business man as president would likely result in a shift to policies that would be anti-citizen and pro-corporation.

Leona- You reply that Romney paid a higher rate of taxation when he made the money the first time. How do you know that? What year's tax return was that or did he ALWAYS classify his earnings as venture capital and use the interest carry forward or whatever its called.

You state something as fact that you have NO way of knowing it to be true.

RepubliCONS and Teaparty- long on ideology short on facts

Red: Based on Obama's record and his speech the other night of wanting to grow government, create even more government agencies, I'd like to give someone else a chance and I think Romney is smart enough to do this. There's no way taxing the rich to create government jobs is going to fix anything, and that's Obamas plan.

Obama did not propose new agencies in his State of the Union speech. If fact, he asked for the authority to collapse some agencies. That is streamlining government, not expanding government as you falsely claim. No where did he claim he wanted to tax the rich to create jobs - another false claim. He did ask for a tax increase on the wealthy so that they pay the same rates as non-millionaires. He asked for tax relief and regulation reform/rollbacks to help small business, business that hire veterans, and business involved in infrastructure improvements.

It is great that you support Romney, but to make false claims against Obama to justify your support is dishonorable.

RedDevPS, Obama does want to collapse a few agencies, but he also wants to create several more. No lie there.

Unfortunately you have no idea what you are talking about especially when it comes to taking orders from the Mormon church. If you look at Romney's governing in Massachusetts you won't find one bit of evidence that the Mormon church told him what to do. In fact, there are plenty of Republicans out there who think Romney isn't conservative enough, if the church were telling him what to do, he probably would have done a few things differently. Your comment is false.

Obama does want to collapse a few agencies, but he also wants to create several more. No lie there.

From his State of the Union speech, name one agency he wants to create. He has not recommended any new agencies such as the TSA for IRS that employ thousands of people. It is this steady stream of misinformation from the right that needs to stop. Of course without it, the GOP/TP would have nothing to fuel the screams, rants, and raves in the quest to Obama bash.

Obama's State of the Union Campaign Speech reiterates his one goal only which is more Obamanomics with further government intervention and spending as usual and deeper in debt. Four more years of this should out us on par with Greece and financial collapse.