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Joe Raedle / Getty Images
Ray Roy sets up a polling station as they prepare for voters on primary day on Jan. 31, 2012 in Tampa, Florida.
Will tonight’s Florida primary mark the beginning of the end of the GOP nominating season?... Or just the end of the beginning?... Polls close at 7:00 pm local, but because some Florida counties are in CST, networks won’t call the race until 8:00 pm ET at the earliest… Will February be the cruelest month for Gingrich?... And will it allow for Romney to do something BIG?... Romney’s balancing act… His negatives spike with indies… An ideological split over unemployment benefits… And OR-1 and FEC filing day.
*** The beginning of the end? With Mitt Romney’s expected victory at tonight’s Florida primary, The New York Times asks a very good question: Will it mark the beginning of the end of the GOP nominating season, or will it merely signal the end of the beginning? On the one hand, Romney winning Florida would give him a victory in the largest, most diverse, and electorally important state so far. It would demonstrate his ability to bounce back from a major setback (the Jan. 21 South Carolina primary), as well as his organizational and financial strength. And, as our recent NBC/Marist poll suggests, a Romney win in Florida would represent his most impressive showing with conservative GOP voters outside of New England. As we’ve written before, Romney wouldn’t ever be a shoo-in for the Republican nomination until he won a GOP contest with support from the conservative/Tea Party base of the party. Florida might give him that kind of victory tonight.
*** Or is it just the end of the beginning? On the other hand, you could argue that the Republican nominating contest is far from being over. For starters, Newt Gingrich has vowed to “go all the way to the convention.” After all, Hell hath no fury like a presidential candidate who believes he’s been scorned. Ron Paul’s campaign will continue, too. Remember, even after John Kerry won all the early contests in ’04, Howard Dean didn’t end his campaign until after Super Tuesday and after Wisconsin. What’s more, there’s a LONG way to go mathematically. After tonight’s contest, just 115 delegates (or projected delegates) will have been awarded, but it officially will take 1,144 delegates out of a total of 2,286 to clinch the nomination. So we’re just 5% of the way through, and don’t be surprised if you hear that stat from Gingrich today. Finally, every time we think this race (or Newt Gingrich, for that matter) is over, we find out we’re wrong. And why are we wrong? Because it's clear the activist conservative base (read: tea party) just isn't satisified with Romney and they aren't going to roll over this fast. What has been clear is that this Republican nominating contest -- even if we’re just 5% of the way finished -- has taken a toll on Romney, especially among independents (more on that below).
With a comfortable lead in the Florida polls, Mitt Romney is displaying confidence ahead of today's Republican presidential primary. NBC's Peter Alexander reports.
*** The skinny on tonight’s primary: Polls close tonight in Florida at 7:00 pm local. Yet because some of the state’s counties are in the Central Time Zone, that means the earliest the networks can call the race is at 8:00 pm ET. At stake are 50 delegates (Florida lost half of total when it was penalized for moving up to Jan. 31), and it’s winner take all.
*** Will February be the cruelest month for Gingrich? As we’ve said before, February promises to be a cruel month for Gingrich and a pretty good one for Romney. Per NBC’s John Bailey, the next contests are Nevada and Maine (Feb. 4); Colorado, Minnesota, and Missouri (Feb. 7); and Arizona and Michigan (Feb. 28). After all, Romney won Nevada -- which has a large Mormon population -- four years ago, and he also won in his home state of Michigan. In addition, the caucus format in Maine, Colorado, and Minnesota will benefit strong, organized campaigns like Romney’s and Paul’s. Note: Missouri’s primary on Feb. 7 is non-binding; its results have no bearing on allocating the state’s delegates. Lucky for Gingrich, that's the case since he's NOT on that beauty contest ballot.
*** Will February allow for Romney to do something big? So we all know that February is going to be a cruel month for Gingrich. But what does Romney do in the meantime to improve some of his shortcomings? It almost seems as if Romney needs to do something BIG, something that adds to his narrative – which, right now, is that he’s a really rich guy who understands how the economy works (though Dems would add "how the economy works for HIM). What is the lesson we learned from Herman Cain? He took off (albeit temporarily) because he was selling something big (his 9-9-9 flat tax plan). By the way, when was the last time Romney talked about his 59-point economic plan?
*** Romney’s balance-beam act: Right now, Newt Gingrich has an interesting assortment of allies. Fred Thompson. Herman Cain. Michael Reagan. What do these folks have in common? They are conservative talk-radio heroes. (And you could even add Sarah Palin, who wants the GOP nominating contest to continue, to this group.) This presents a challenge for Romney: Yes, the lesson he and his campaign learned from South Carolina is that they have to continue to pummel Gingrich, and the Romney campaign today is holding a conference call with Nevada allies to hammer Newt in that state. But at the same time, Team Romney can’t entirely alienate Gingrich and his conservative supporters. So how does he walk that fine line? He eventually needs these folks in the tent.
Jonathan Ernst / Getty Images
From governor's son to presidential contender, a look at the life of Republican Mitt Romney.
*** Romney’s negatives spike with independents: It’s also clear that this whole race -- at least so far -- hasn’t helped Romney’s image among the very people needs to win over if he’s the GOP nominee: independents. According to our recent NBC/WSJ poll, Romney’s negatives with independents jumped 13 points in the past month -- which saw eight nationally televised debates since our last poll, as well as now four bitter GOP contests -- and 20 points since November. In November’s poll, he stood at 21%/22% with indies; by December, it was 21%/29%; and last week, he was 22%/42%. (Full write up here.) That should be a major red flag for the Romney campaign. One thing’s clear: Romney might have emerged as a better debater from the bruising primary process, but it has taken a toll on his image with the middle. And there’s probably no one who wants this fight over with sooner that Romney.
*** Ideological split over unemployment benefits: At first glance at two policy questions in the NBC/WSJ poll, there appears to be broad support for extending the payroll tax cut until the end of the year (55% good idea, 17% bad idea) and continuing to provide unemployment benefits for those out of work up to 99 weeks (52%/33%). But when you dig into the numbers, very different pictures emerge. For the payroll tax cut, support is broad and non-ideological. But for unemployment benefits, it’s the opposite -- a real partisan divide emerges. Among Democrats, it’s 69%/18%, independents 57%/26%. But with Republicans, the idea is wildly unpopular -- 29%/55%. It also breaks down along racial lines, with whites being much less likely to think it’s a good idea (47%/38%) versus African Americans (78%/11%) and Hispanics (56%/25%). Interestingly, among those who think the economy will get better over the next 12 months, 65% say it’s a good idea. But among those who say the economy will get worse, just 35% say so.
*** On the trail: Before tonight’s polls close in Florida, Gingrich makes a handful of stops in the Sunshine State… Santorum holds his primary-night watch party in Nevada -- not Florida… And Ron Paul stumps in Colorado.
Duricka / AP
Historian, author, member of Congress and speaker of the House — a look back at his public life.
*** OR-1 and FEC filing day: Also, don’t forget that today’s the special congressional election to fill David Wu’s vacant seat in Oregon. Politico: “Democrat Suzanne Bonamici holds a comfortable lead over Republican Rob Cornilles in public polling heading into the last day of balloting in the vote-by-mail special election to replace disgraced former Democratic Rep. David Wu. Republicans glumly acknowledge there’s little reason to expect the kind of upset the GOP scored last fall.” The DCCC spent A LOT of money on this race; some might argue TOO much. But as they will argue, a loss of this special would have been DEVASTATING to their national narrative of keeping the House in play. So overpaying to avoid that storyline was worth it to them. And it’s FEC filing day, and we’ll also be able to see the contributions to the Super PACs.Countdown to Nevada caucuses: 4 days
Countdown to Super Tuesday: 35 days
Countdown to Election Day: 280 days
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Never having been a fan of Michael Steele, I do have to give the man credit for doing the right
thing.
Priebus’s comments were inflammatory, disgusting & void of compassion. Not surprising given the current temperature of the modern day GNOP!
Being the last day of January, I can only imagine what we have to look forward to for the next 9 months from the party of family values & Christianity!
Annoy a ‘librul’ today & vote for Newt!
WALL STREET LOBBYIST GROVER NORQUIST HAS TO GO >>This Way>>>>.
At the State of the Union, President Obama asked once again for top US earners to pay the same effective taxes as ordinary Americans, and for everyone to play by the same rules.
Megalomaniac lobbyist Grover Norquist responds with impeachment, not compromise:
Norquist stated in a recent interview with the National Journal: If the high end Bush tax cuts are allowed to expire, as they are set to do at the end of 2012, GOP will impeach President Obama for it.
In other words, if you reject Norquist's plans to run roughshod over 99% of Americans, he calls it "high crimes and misdemeanours".
By saying "No" to the Norquist agenda, we understand that President Obama is looking out for us:
According to Norquist, the wealthiest group in the world wants to continue running the U.S. economy into the ground by extending the Bush tax cuts, wants to continue paying low or no taxes via capital gains, loopholes and special deals unavailable to ordinary Americans, and refuses to contribute fair revenues into at a time of economic recovery.
So far, GOP/Norquist/Koch have been unable to fabricate a scandal against President Obama. When Norquist was asked what his party should do if Democrats refuse to extend the Bush tax cuts, his answer was to "impeach" President Obama.
Meanwhile thanks to Norquist, the 'temporary' high-end Bush tax cuts have drained hundreds of $Billions from the Budget, and today cost us $11.6Million per hour of every day. Grover Norquist wants more.
Koch Industries lobbyist Norquist has been long-indulged by GOP at our expense. He has to go >>>.
http://costoftaxcuts.com/
It is my understanding that lefty liberals are always strongly in support of full and open disclosure of public records. After all, bright sunshine is the best disinfectant for unwarranted political secrecy. I am reminded of the lefty liberal OUTRAGE about the Citizens United decision permitting fundraising by organizations that are not required to disclose their donor’s names.
That’s why I find it Hillaryous that some of the signers of the petitions for the lefty liberal backed recall of Scott Walker are asking Wisconsin officials to keep their names on the petitions secret. If you don’t want to see your name on a public document, don’t put it there.
From Politico:
Walker recall petition release delayed
By: Mackenzie Weinger
January 31, 2012 06:27 AM EST
Wisconsin state election officials delayed the public release of the recall petitions for Gov. Scott Walker on Monday as had been planned, citing privacy concerns - including from a stalking victim, according to a report.
The state Government Accountability Board had given copies of the petitions to Walker’s campaign on Friday and said it would also put them online on Monday, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. However, after hearing privacy concerns about several people who signed the recall petitions, including a stalking victim, the board decided to wait before making the documents available online.
“Governor Walker’s recall petitions will not be posted online today,” the board said in a statement Monday. “The GAB staff is evaluating the privacy concerns of individuals who have contacted us about posting the petitions online.”
The board did not give a timeline for when a decision would be made about releasing the petitions.
The board has previously treated recall petitions as public records, the Journal Sentinel reported, and the petitions for four Republican state senators are currently available online.
Feisty. The Republican TEA Drinkers do not care what the rest of the world thinks. They cheer these types of comments, that's why Priebus double-downed on his comment on FOX News.
Extremist Republicans do not care about what happened during the times of slavery, Holocaust, disasters; they simply do not care. The only thing TEA Drinkers care about is being drunk on power. Spike the TEA with some nitroglycerin just to see stuff blow up. When guns are the only thing on your mind, then violence is the only thing on your mind and that's the make-up of the GOP. Guns are their religion.
Backhouse: Good post. Americans should be deeply offended that Norquist believes that not getting his way is reason for impeachment. Seems to me that he thinks he is the titular head of the country, and all who live here should serve him.
Time for the Republican Party to repudiate him. Now.
What happens when Romney loses Florida tonight? How will the media spin it for him to be the frontrunner...
But the entertainment value alone would be great, Louis.
Newday Dawning, Yes,
Norquist/GOP approach is: We're impeaching because we disagree and we refuse to debate.
This becomes one more way to bring government to a standstill, and another way to block President Obama from doing his job.
Priebus's comments were inflammatory, disgusting & void of compassion. Not surprising given the current temperature of the modern day GNOP!
So true Feisty. Priebus shouldd be fired
But the entertainment value alone would be great, Louis.
Romney: I worked in the private sector.
President Obama: Yes We Can - Emphasis on "We". "We" as in me and you, not the pundits, nor the cocktail crowd media elite who have never had to face what this President has had to face. They work one hour a day. Nor the rich white guy standing on stage who brags about his money, then goes and hides his money.
***************************
You know, from the way Romney talks he would have you believe that because he worked in the private sector and got filthy rich along the way, that only he has an idea about the economy and how to get it going. Read the below snippets from Bloomberg and see what is happening in our Rust Belt. It is truly something to behold. These aren’t stories you heard from people in the Rust Belt when Bain came to town many years ago.
All this began under President Obama’s Administration, NOT by Romney/Bain laying people off. Romney’s message is to appeal to the white upper class voters. These are the people who will vote for him.
President Obama’s message is directed to the rest of us and it is simple – roll up our sleeves and work together to get this country moving. With team work. And it’s working.
President Obama will never get filthy rich doing this. No. What he will get is a few more gray hairs, a voice that gets hoarser by the day, a few more lines around his eyes. None of that matters to him.
What is important is that he will get admiration and respect for not giving up on one single worker in this Nation. For not giving up on America.
Where was Romney during the recession? I know where President Obama was. In the White House, cleaning up the mess Romney’s friends made. Always with a smile and without a trace of envy or anger despite every door that slammed in his face by the GOP.
This is not a man of just good speeches. This is a leader. A real leader. Who has not so much money that he feels he has to hide in Swiss Accounts and the Cayman Islands.
Bloomberg-h/t Obama Diary:
From northern Michigan’s iron mines to Pennsylvania’s natural-gas fields, the industrial heartland of America is humming with jobs again as a region once left for dead recovers faster than the rest of the U.S. ….. The economies of Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania have improved faster than that of the U.S. since the recession’s depth in April 2009 …. Michigan is expected to lead all 50 states during the next six months….
…. from Detroit and Pittsburgh to Peoria, Illinois, and the town of Mellen in Wisconsin’s Penokee Hills, employers plan to add jobs and facilities …. Improvement in unemployment, which dropped 19% in Ohio and 29% in Michigan from April 2009 through the end of last year, is a key driver for the Midwest recovery …. The recovery isn’t just about autos and shale – it’s all sorts of related industries, said Steve Steinour, Huntington Bancshares Inc.’s chief executive officer. “We’re seeing now a revival that no one had expected in this sort of time frame”…
…. Michigan gained 66,000 jobs in 2011 ….. It was the first gain in the state since the turn of the century….. “We’ve always heard this Rust Belt thing about our region, even just a few years ago,” said Steinour, speaking of the disparaging image of closed factories and declining industry. “But you don’t hear it so much now, and we might not have to hear it much in the future.”
Koch Industries lobbyist Norquist has been long-indulged by GOP at our expense. He has to go
_______________________________________
Outhouse: Maybe you should start a Super Pac to get him voted out of office or start a petition drive to get him recalled.
Oh yeah, that's right, Grover Norquist holds no political office and is not an official of any political party.
So, I guess you're only recourse is to do your best to try to suppress his First Amendment freedom of speech rights.
How lefty liberal of you.
LMAO!!!!
Backhouse,
Thanks for keeping the impeachment threat from Emperor Grover in the news...
Hopefully, we won't have to explain to WCA the difference between impeachment & recalls AGAIN today! ☺
Will February be the cruelest month for Gingrich?... And will it allow for Romney to do something BIG?... Romney’s balancing act… His negatives spike with indies… An ideological split over unemployment benefits… And OR-1 and FEC filing day.
Of course, what else is there left for Newt Gingrich to go apart from from taking his all white colonist to the moon where there won't be any Black people? Besides Newt has done enough damage here on this planet with his adovation of tax cuts to the rich, incendiary remarks and LIES..
Romney is just not real;he is plastic
Joe in Albany,
Is there more to the article than you posted?
I am all for disclosure. The delay was due to someone who signed the petition who concerns that it would expose her to a stalker in her life.
So delete her name and publish the rest.
Joe, it is a slow news day..Florida is the center of the universe today....
BTW I had some fresh sockeye salmon the other night. Delicious! :0)
Job1,
Key word being 'should' - instead the right wing hate mongers elevate Reince to 'hero' status!
*shakes head*
Hmmmm…..
It seems to me that back a ways several lefty liberals were lecturing conservative poster’s on FR about how the Constitution requires all revenue bills to originate in the House. I’m looking forward to hearing them expound on how this Dem Senator’s political showboating is clearly unconstitutional.
Yeah, right.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fom Politico:
Senator tries for Buffett Rule vote
By: Seung Min Kim
January 30, 2012 12:23 PM EST
The Buffett Rule is making its way into Congress.
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) said he’ll introduce a form of the Buffett Rule – which would require that those earning more than $1 million will pay at least 30 percent of their income in taxes – trying to capitalize on momentum stirred by President Barack Obama’s State of the Union last week.
The bill is in a “much better position than we were beforehand,” he told reporters on a conference call Monday.
Whitehouse, who has been working on the so-called “Paying a Fair Share Act” for several months, rebuffed questions that his pushing the bill was political.
It will be "interesting" in November when the real race is held.
It is better to be Frisky, than feisty.
Very interesting. Romney and Gindrich are tearing each other apart. I love it. By the time they get done destroying each other there won't be much left for President Obama to finish off. They're helping him build a playbook which he will use against them. They'll have no weapons left with which to defend themselves.
Independents are fleeing Romney like rats from a ship. Is this the chance for Santorum to slid in and steal the candidacy? Could be. It could really be a fun GOP Convention to watch.
Glad to hear Santorum's daughter is getting better.
Obama in 2012.
Fesity, add his comments with Norquist who said the House will impeach President Obama because he will raise taxes on the rich. And Allen West - who told the Democratic leaders to get the hell out of America.
Quite a party these Republicans are. So full of humanity.
Backhouse, I saw the Norquist story yesterday. How clueless and selfish can these people possibly be?
Great post Feisty,
About Steele: Even if people "didn't die" - Priebus' comment was entirely inappropriate.
As you are saying.
Meanwhile over in the House, the GNOP is busily working on their latest J-O-B-S plan; Making English the nation's official language...
What happened?
Did they run out of Post Offices to name?
Good for Michael Steele. The RNC fired Steele by not re-electing him because of his sometimes off the wall comments but one thing Steele never did was disrespect the Office of the President of the U.S. Reince Priebus, along with the dozens of other "you lie" republicans, the finger-wagging Jan Brewer have by virtue of their disrespectful displays at President Obama shown disrespect for and thrown mud on the Office of the Presidency. The very republicans who lauded returning "respect" to the Office of the Presidency in the form of George W. Bush have shown themselves to be a hateful and disrespectful bunch of fools and idiots.
Pat & Backhouse,
Like I said yesterday, I am convinced everything that comes out of these clowns mouths is, coded & calculated!
They disgust me & should disgust anyone who has a beating heart!
Jody,
Who will ever forget - you're either with us or against us? Anyone who dared to question President
BushCheney was declared a traitor!interesting question feisty, post office are closing, no new names required. where is the insider trading bill? How does the govt create jobs?
at least they are proud of their country and not becasue their spouse gets elected to the highest office. interesting that Illinois is in a huge budget deficit. Obama can go home and organize the community and balance the budget.
being frisky is better than feisty
And what has changed in the last three years? I've heard that "T" word thrown around a lot here on the vine...
Jody: the dishonesty from the right about the disrespect shown this President is illustrative. They lecture others about respect for the office, but absolutely relish when one of their own yells "you lie" or equates the President with the captain who abandoned his passengers.
You can imagine what would happen if Democrats acted like that. We would see a whole round of ethics hearings, with the goal of expelling them, and demands for the head of the DNC to be fired.
You are right, "Grover Norquist holds no political office."
Norquist should mean zero-zero-zero to the American people, but he is controling the outcome of our Congress on major issues.
As for equating Norquist's control of Congress with "free speech":
Maybe in fact, we were all invited to be around the table with the Supercomittee and just didn't know it.
By your logic, if Wall Street Lobbyist Norquist was there, why weren't you?
Wow Feisty, I didn't even whistle and there you are.
You just can't get me out of your head.
Sad, very, very sad.
The delay was due to someone who signed the petition who concerns that it would expose her to a stalker in her life.
_________________________________________________
ONE of the people asking for their names to be kept secret is claiming to be a stalking victin, others are not making that claim. I have no problem if they want to delete their names from a PUBLIC document if they don't want the PUBLIC to see their names in a PUBLIC document. But, selective grants of secrecy in a PUBLIC document are unwarranted.
BTW, how do you know the person claiming to be a stalking victin is a "her"? The article is gender neutral.
Joe, it is a slow news day..Florida is the center of the universe today....
I guess I'm just one of those conservatives that thinks for himself.
There's nothing better than fresh AK sockeye salmon. I hope you didn't get any of that Canadian or NW US stuff. AK salmon trade groups are now pushing for establishment of a certification program that would allow tracking of highly desirable fish like AK salmon from catch to dinner plate or store shelf to cut down on mislabeling and fraud.
Feisty,
Never having been a fan of Michael Steele, I do have to give the man credit for doing the right
thing.
Neither have I GF. Since Micheal started hanging out with Rachel and got the gig @MSNBC he has started making sense.
Non Sense vs Common Sense.
President Barack Obama is still the world's most respected leader, according to a new six-country poll.
Released today by France 24 and Radio France Internationale, the Harris Interactive Poll asked 6,135 adults between the ages of 16 and 64 who live in the United States, Britain, France, Italy, Germany or Spain to name their favorite world leaders.
Racist Republicans have lodged the Most Smear Campaigns in the 21st Century; not to mention the the 20th Century.
Really, there is not enough space to list every Lie and smear; so I will just say people like Jan Brewr, Newt Gringhich, and now Preibus make absolutely no sense.
FYI: Righties when President Obama wins in 2012, it will be the End of the Czar's Stories & Right Wing Lies. Righties make NO SENSE!!!
OBAMA 2012
Yes WCA - you truly are a legend in your own mind!
PS: That's not meant in a complimentary kind of way either...
Maybe in fact, we were all invited to be around the table with the Supercomittee and just didn't know it.
_______________________________________________________
Sort of like those closed door Dem only meetings Nancy Pelosi held when designing Barry's ClunkerCare HCR??
Beverly, there is this as well:
Think Progress:
Despite a promise of “zero-tolerance” for unethical behavior, House Republicans are facing an increasing number of ethics probes. As the 2012 session begins, almost a dozen GOP lawmakers face questions about their financial dealings, and Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) “has not publicly admonished them.”
Beverly, thanks for your update.
President Obama earned it with hard work, patience, and a heavy dose of Intellect.
Backhouse, great post. I prefer to call him King Grover. The republicans who bow at his feet and kiss his ring are owned by him. The GOP is owned by a man who is not elected but is granted all the power over them every time they sign his un-American and un-Constitutional Pledge to him; it is not a Pledge to uphold the Constitution, it is a pledge to do "his" bidding. King Grover, in turn, is owned by those mega-wealthy people and businesses who pay him to do their bidding, to ensure their "favorite" tax loopholes and unfair tax rates are kept in tact at the expense of everyone else including the Nation. King Grover calls for impeaching President Obama if the Bush taxes expire; seems to me the ones We the People should call to be impeached are those who signed King Grover's Pledge.
Feisty, you nailed it.
Pat, Boston, terrific post; a pleasure to read. President Obama is working hard every day and has been since his election. His achievements are many and he does the work quietly without a lot of horn blowing.
Hey Bev!
I have noticed the same thing! I'm kind of starting to like him in a weird way! ☺
Republicans who make sense are a rare breed...
Were you all so OUTRAGED when Debbie Wasserman Shultz gave us this gem?--
"you have the Republicans, who want to literally drag us all the way back to Jim Crow laws..."
Of course not. Friggin' hypocrites.
Obama Diary comment:
After she played the Stewart clip, Maddow continued, “The reason Mitt Romney pays only a mini tax on the money he made closing factories at Bain is because Bain uses their share of the money they made to lobby for executives to keep paying that rate. So yeah, poor people do have sucky lobbyists. On the eve of the Florida primary, Mitt Romney is getting paid for laying people off in Florida, but money from his campaign and from his Super PAC has bought a whole lot of TV ads that make it look like he would be great for Florida.”
**************
I think once the primaries are over, people are going to see a stark stark difference between our President and Swiss Mitt during the general.
President Barack Obama is still the world's most respected leader, according to a new six-country poll.
Released today by France 24 and Radio France Internationale, the Harris Interactive Poll asked 6,135 adults between the ages of 16 and 64 who live in the United States, Britain, France, Italy, Germany or Spain to name their favorite world leaders.
________________________________________________
So, a French-sponsored poll of people in five-and-a-half socialist countries found Barry the worlds most respected leader??
I'm so shocked, I may just have to reconsider voting for Barry in November.
Did they ask the French poll respondents if they like smelly cheese?
Did they ask the Italian poll respondents if they like pasta with marinara gravy?
Did they ask the British poll respondents if they like Guiness Stout?
Did they ask the Spanish poll respondents if they like bullfighting?
Did they ask the German poll respondents if they like Octoberfest?
Did they ask the US poll respondents if they like free federal govt giveaway programs?
Thank you Jody. President Obama deserves credit, a great great deal of credit for the leadership he has shown in these oh so trying times of the past few years.
People were so busy doing nothing & blaming him, while he was busy getting people back to work. And ending a few wars, while at the same time seeing to the demise of a few leaders who literally hung around for years and years under other Administrations.
Gingrich failed, as far as I am concerned, unless the polls show differently tonight. The only legitimate candidates left with a chance of winning are Romney, and maybe Ron Paul. Santorum won't win, really, and should go back Ron Paul. Of course, if he drops, we all know he is going to back someone else. Nobody wants to back Ron Paul.
This isn't about issues, it is about strategy. I'm also not saying anyone likes these guys. But really, there's not a lot to gain given the negative campaigning that has been going on, other than to keep giving Democrats ammo.
That's the biggest difference I see between the long battle between Obama and Clinton, and what is happening in the Republican party. The long campaign served to help the Democrats. The long campaign will actually hurt Republicans.
I don't really see a happy ending, though. Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul can rally the base, but will never win a national election. Romney won't win the national election because he can't rally his base. Every shack owner is going to get out his shotgun after the national election, and sit out on his porch, and yell about revolutions and all that soon aftewards. Every snob with an ivy league degree will then start figuring out who to bribe based on what party benefits their corporation. The winners will think they did it themselves. It'll be the same deal all over again.
People wonder why Americans can get things going? Look at the majority of the posts above. It is pretty obvious.
This thing ended with Romney's win in three of the first four primaries/caucuses. 1) Fundraising, decisive Romney. 2) Organization, decisive Romney. 3) Iowa, Santorum squeaker. 4) New Hampshire, decisive Romney.
The media knows it, and only was trying to build a horse race out of thin air for ratings.
How much does money matter? Where it was overwhelmingly deployed against Gingrich, his poll numbers tanked. We saw that in Iowa, and now in Florida. And even if Gingrich somehow were to win Florida, he still wouldn't have the resources and organization to move effectively into the fast n' furious part of the campaign.
So now the Republicans have a weather vane, Book of Mormon thumper of a nominee who will say anything today to get elected, regardless of how much that contradicts what he said yesterday... unless we see something of a civil intraparty revolt leading to a very unusual convention.
Which Leaders Rock Our World? Drumroll, Please ...
Seventy-seven percent of those surveyed chose Obama, which is one percentage point higher than when Harris Interactive asked the same question in November.
President Obama and the Dalai Lama rank at the top of a new poll measuring the world's most popular leaders.
http://www.aolnews.com/2010/04/23/which-leaders-rock-our-world-drumroll-please/
The GOP foreign-policy debate and 10 other reasons why Obama will win in 2012
~snip~
Monday, November 14, 2011
Watching this weekend's Republican presidential debate on U.S. foreign policy, you might be forgiven if you thought it shed absolutely no light on U.S. foreign policy
After all, by definition ... and by God's good graces ... the views expressed represented those of people who will have precious little influence over America's international course. Only one of these people can be the Republican nominee. And, in part thanks to performances like what we saw on Saturday, even that individual is very likely not going to ever be president of the United States.
It is possible that some of the views that were offered by likely nominee Mitt Romney could be consequential. This would not seem to be good for U.S.-China relations except that there is virtually zero possibility that President Mitt Romney -- who would essentially be the hand-picked candidate of the business community and the major party presidential candidate with the closest ties to America's economic establishment in modern memory -- would actually follow through on his anti-Beijing saber-rattling once in office. Further, some of his statements were essentially meaningless to begin with -- like his assertion that a vote for him was the only way to avert Iran getting the bomb, not being backed by facts or even being remotely credible given how key what happens between now and when the next president takes office will be.
But more important still is that Romney isn't going to be the next President either. In all likelihood that will be Barack Obama. Here are 10 reasons why:
http://rothkopf.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/11/14/the_gop_foreign_policy_debate_and_10_other_reasons_why_obama_will_win_in_2012_0
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President Obama will win because the GOP/Tea Party makes "NO" Sense, and are a bunch of corporate raiders!!!!
N0body but Obama/ Biden 2012
Pat, so clear and thank you.
Your post at #1.10 draws a startling contrast between President Obama's work ethic and all-out dogged persistence for the American people ......and the GOP one-percenter candidates.
"Michigan is expected to lead all 50 states during the next six months…....Michigan gained 66,000 jobs in 2011 ….. It was the first gain in the state since the turn of the century….."
That is a show-stopper! The Auto industry recovery, so carefully nurtured by the Obama Administration, has created hot fire-power in that State.
Barack/Joe 2012
Backhouse -- Terrific posts on Grover!
Joe in Albany -- Yesterday you were praising China! Seems you really like them. Maybe you should move there where government controls everything.
Joe in Albany
So, a French-sponsored poll of people in five-and-a-half socialist countries found Barry the worlds most respected leader??
You know Joeey,
If you used your noggin for more than just a place holder you'd understand the way of the world!!!
First of all, who gives a rats ass what the Euroweenies think? Aren't these the same people that gave Obama a NOBEL PRIZE just for NOT being Bush? These countries have more cradle-to-grave entitlement programs than WE do. Hey! THAT'S why you like them so much! Because you want to be like them.
Did they ask the French if they like their annual riots, caused by the socialist policies and entitlements?
This is America. Get over it.
Backhouse, I agree - the Michigan turnaround is a wonderful wonderful story. I don't know why we don't hear about these things on MTP. Ever.
Ahh, Joe, there are many who would question your bona fides on the LIBRUL use of the word 'thinks' in the above statement.
lmfao at YOU,...oh, and that's HILLARYous!
Backhouse, you really ought to take note of what is happening here.
Indiana becoming a Right to Work state an Michigan is taking notice.
Governor Snyder has said he does not want to see a RTW bill on his desk, but he also wants a new bridge to Canada.
It was opined here over the weekend that the Bridge may be traded for the RTW legislation.
Lots of Union Construction jobs in that bridge. Time will tell.
The real fire power in this state has been brought about by the 2010 elections, which brought Republican majorities to all branches of government.
http://www.toledoblade.com/Politics/2011/11/28/GOP-capitalizes-on-majority-in-state-Legislature.html
It has nothing to do with Obama. Unless of course you want to balme him as well for the last three years of dispair.
Poor, poor Joe: if that Poll had showed Obama had LESS respect worldwide, you'd be on here whining endlessly about America's downfall...whine, whine, whine.
The very right-wing Rasmussen poll now has President Obama's job approval at 51%, although Rasmussen slices and dices the numbers in order to hype the supposed margin between "strongly disapprove" and "strongly approves while downplaying the positive job approval:
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/daily_presidential_tracking_poll
Of course, external factors like another European debt crisis blow-up could hurt Obama, not to mention the deluge of Romney's nasty negative super-PAC ads that are sure to come. The negatives ads were h9ighly effective against Gingrich because the attacks were essentially true. It will be interesting to see how effective they will be against Obama, given the fact that they will be mostly lies (like the one Romney bragged about that misled viewers into believe Obama was talking about himself when he was quoting a McCain aide.
Jody, agreed,
GOP/Koch Leaders have openly pledged for the last 3 years to block the President's every step to lift up our economy. GOP extorted concessions for the 1% via serial hostage-takings and threats. They've sworn an oath to do the bidding of a Wall Street lobbyist without elected office & without rank. This oath to Norquist takes precedence over their Oath to the United States. GOP relinquished the outcome of the Supercommittee to a Wall Street lobbyist who is bent on undoing our economy.
Are such actions treasonous? I say yes.
Joe in Albany,
It was just a wild guess on my part that the stalkee was female.
Yes, my salmon was Fresh Alaska salmon. There were having a special at the best boutique grocery store in my city. My all time favorite is Copper River salmon freshly caught around the end of May, early June. They fly it in daily to MN during the salmon run.
When all your party has is Black President Derangement Syndrome, this is the sort of attack you see.
Grover Norquist is a boil on the butt of this great country. Lance it and move on.
"Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country."
As I wheeze my last breaths I don't feel up to looking up that quote or who said it. I want to say Thomas Payne, but I can't remember. Sorry, no citation.
We are witnessing the destruction of the Republican Party from the inside out. A few, very wealthy and greedy individuals have created a movement that is tearing the GOP apart. I don't believe that was ever their intention. They just wanted what they wanted, more wealth, more power and they didn't give a crap who got hurt in the process. But they have created a monster, and an opportunity for great mischief. But even they do not realize the full extent of what they have done. They just want what they want.
It's "manifest destiny", or "American exceptionalism" if you prefer. They say to themselves, "We've worked hard for what we have, we've created jobs, we've built industries and we deserve to have our way." They see themselves as above the laws that govern the rest of us and woe betide the man or woman who would tell them 'no'.
So the monster they have created runs rampant and all they are looking at is the bottom line. Power, wealth, greed.
Once again, we are not seeing the vast conspiracy that is the forest because we are focusing on the individual trees. Mitt or Newt? Rick or Ron? We give them insulting names and argue with each other over who is right and who is wrong and who will be king of the mountain TODAY!
WE, the people, are bound by laws. Ironically, it is those very laws that keep us enslaved, because the slavers don't abide by any laws.
Florida is not an indicator of anything other than an election can be bought by the amount of money spent on advertising. That's all. Romney is winning that part of the skirmish and he will prevail tonight. Does that make it right? No. Does that matter in the long run? No.
Stop looking at the individual trees. Look at the forest. We need some good lumberjacks to cut back that forest. I'm not suggesting we destroy the forest only a major pruning. Create some firebreaks and thin out the second growth so new saplings can thrive and grow.
I know it's not as much fun as hurling spit wads at one-another, but we've got to look past 2012, to 2016. We need a Paul Bunyan for 2016 or the forest will overtake us and the first spark will create a conflagration that will destroy this country.
"Now is the time for all good men (and women) to come to the aid of their country (regardless of political affiliation)."
Obama/ Biden 2012
Joe, Albany:
The leaders of France, Britain, and Germany are all CONSERVATIVES. The same people who voted for those conservative leaders also approve of Barack Obama whether you like it or not. There is a significant difference between conservatism and the lunatic right-wing extremism that dominates the Republican Party.
The race is only 5% over and they are telling us that the nomination is sowed up.What a crock.
Hmmmm Awful lot of "head shaking" going on there in IL. How many shakes does it take to call it something else? sowed? Are the crops in yet!
Tell me Joe, so long as their signatures are verified as valid voters...why do you want their names?
NRC chainman lowlife Tea Retard Sir Priebus should stepdown or removed, even Steele slams him on captain Obama comparison. I know lifelong Republicans who think thr teapugs are destroying their party and they are planning on jumping the ship.
Sometimes l think the best part of the teapugs went down someones leg.
GOP, Stands for "Grand Old Pigs" The tea retards are on their last leg and getting very desperate. They lost their way and they are a dishonor to this Nation.
The "passengers" that died on "Captain Obama's" cruise liner were Usama bin Laden and a few Somali pirates.
If GOP "bleeding brain" Conservatives want to whine about that, then they should all high tail it out of the US and move their tax avoidance accounts to the bank of Kabul, Afghanistan.
So if the Buffet rule is to ensure that millionaires pay a higher tax rate than anybody else how does this 30% achieve its purpose? We have been informed that Buffet's secretary pays a tax rate of 35%. So if Warren Buffet pays 30%, and I'm sure he'll find a way to pay the minimum possible, then either
a) It just class warfare as the unfairness would still exist
b) Warren Buffet's secretary is paid more than $1M
Can you say political showboating anyone
Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL
Hey Bev!
I have noticed the same thing! I'm kind of starting to like him in a weird way! ☺
Republicans who make sense are a rare breed..
Feisty,
Since Steele has been on MSNBC I have started to give him some credit for actually having a brain. He is well respected by the host on MSNBC; unlike the way they would dog him out on FOX Noise; especially Hannity. His only function was that of a lawn Jockey lighting up the way for FOX NOISE to be more disrespectful and hateful towards, minorities and other religions. I used to get angry I'd want to throw something at my TV. Steele was pathetic. He did every thing in power to be subservient to Hannity. Steele would even bow his head to lick Hannity's boots while Hannity would not allow him to speak and would let the other guest gang up on Steele or go to a break.
Since being on MSNBC he has tried to articulate reasonable positions which support the lament Steele had about the GOP/Tea Potty's employing the "Southern Strategy" when he was RNC chair.
The problem with Steele is he has an a perpetual identity crises going on. I don't mean ethnically either. He just has no backbone at times
Backhouse & Jody, I would say the Grover Norquist pledge and those who have signed it borders on sedition. His threats are an act of treason.
Another clunker from the smartest man in the room.
Please remove the tinfoil hat and get medical help.
CBO is reporting and predicting some interesting information:
Source: http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/budget/207603-cbo-budget-economy-worse-than-estimated
I'm sure these items will come up during the campaign.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/cbo-federal-workers-make-more-than-their-private-sector-counterparts/2012/01/30/gIQAlxcEdQ_blog.html
...and its from the CBO so it must be true
Obama is projected to get zero votes today.....I hope the trend continues....
And Romney with his new tax cuts will add to the debt. Where's your outrage???
Joe in Albany -- Yesterday you were praising China!
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Sorrry, Don't, but, I was not "praising China". I was pointing out the fact that China and other lean and hungry countries are eating America's lunch economically because we have developed a fat and happy and lazy entitlement mentality and America has lost it's edge. I said the chances of America avoiding the socialist mediocracy fate of other former world powers was slim, in my opinion.
With statements like yours above, you and all the other lefty liberals will continue to whistle happily past the graveyard of America's soon-to-be former world power status.
You're doin' a heck of a job, Barry.
Joe in Albany -- You fail to recognize the government in China controls and funds business/industries....there is no "free" anything over there. So were you suggesting we look to China for answers? Outrageous Joe! You say eating our lunch economically??? Are you joking?
Tell me Joe, so long as their signatures are verified as valid voters...why do you want their names?
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What part of the term "PUBLIC document" do you not understand??
Bev in Chicago, well said about Steele. I watch him on Morning Joe and he tries to be reasonable for the most part. Though there is the identity crisis as you mentioned. I will never understand how he allowed himself to be used and abused by the GOP as he was. They used him to say "see, there's black people who hate Obama like us, so that makes it ok". They truly barely tolerated him and disrespected him time and again. It was shameful.
So were you suggesting we look to China for answers? Outrageous Joe! You say eating our lunch economically??? Are you joking?
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As long as it makes you feel happy, you just keep on misstating what I said and keep on whistling past that graveyard.
BOO!!!
Skip - I love you man, but "Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country" is a typing exercise, not a quote from Thomas Paine or anyone else that I am aware of.
I'm not sure how someone can be middle class(if that exists anymore), and vote republican. I personally think between government corruption, and corporate corruption, that no matter who is elected the downward spiral will continue.
But to actually want to leave your fate in the hands of greedy people like Romney, who made his money by gutting corporations and laying off workers, well its just insane.
Another thing i have noticed about the typical republican, is they actually have no idea what they are talking about. For example, they blame Obama for the recession, despite the fact that it was Bush's administration, and deregulation of the private banking giants that caused the downfall. Even the bailout, which is now viewed as bad(which it is), is blamed on democrats, even though it was the republicans who originally wanted the bailouts. It seems to me the typical republican voter just gets told what to believe, then actually believes it, then finds a way to blame democrats for their screw-ups.
And have you HEARD these candidates debate??? They are like elementary school children on a playground. Their name calling is silly at best, and at worst disgusting. I dont want a silly or disgusting man-child running this country.
Joe in Albany
If you think it's so great in China, why don't you move there? You can work in a factory inhaling toxic fumes and live in a barracks like the other workers cranking out IPads. One thing is for sure, you'll be neither fat nor happy. But better keep your unhappiness to yourself, because you might get a visit from the secret police if you complain too loudly about your miserable life.
Joe in Albany -- The government in China is using all its money to create their growth. They manipulate the currency. Quit using them for an example. They cheat Joe.
@Houston!
Good post, I agree completely. I like how the rich, and the poor who support them(still trying to figure out why), are constantly saying we are entitled and lazy? I thought those were called STANDARDS. And lowering them tends to anger alot of people. I'll lower my standards when every multi-millionaire/billionaire in this country lowers theirs.
I certainly hope all people from Albany aren't as idiotic as the one who posts here. Who knew France, Spain, Britian, Italy were socialist countries.
Imagine, a poll conducted that shows a positive Obama rating. Time to rip it to shreds using the conservative tactic of screaming SOCIALISM!!! Quick, everyone, grab a bat. Run and check the closets, check under the bed. There is a socialist lurking there that needs to be beaten with a bat.
Everybody in this country should be totally horrified by the behaviour of the Republican party. They take a pledge to Grover Norquist. How about the pledge to do your job and what's best for the American people? Where is that?
Romney is nothing but a greedy bazillionaire and so is Newt. Romney is just greedier. He did some great butcher jobs on business in Florida yet some of these Floridians are considering him fit to lead our country. He fired 850 people at one company he hacked in Florida and to this day is still receiving money from his debaucle. Why is he hiding money offshore? Where is that great American pride he says he has? He was singing about it yesterday to the crowds in Florida. He is a snake in sheeps clothing and if you think this country is in bad shape now after the Bush destruction, just you wait and see what the Republicans will do if they get another chance. It will be full blown depression, cut Medicare, cut Social Security and they will probably increase the Bush tax cuts while continuing to suppress the vote, destroy the unions and completely and totally break the back of the middle class.
They manipulate the currency. Quit using them for an example. They cheat Joe.
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And you don't think the Fed is manipulating US currency??
Moron.
While it is technically true that there has been a deficit of over $1 Trillion every year Obama has been President. But, it is not true that the budget for FY 2009 is Obama's. That budget was signed by Bush and went into effect over a month before Obama was elected as President, and three months before he was sworn in. So, the "largest deficit before Obama" was $1.4 Trillion, which BTW, is still the largest deficit.
"Beginning of the end of the GOP" as we know it!!
so alan, you claim that makes pledges to lobbyists representing a tiny, wealthy minority instead of the voters that elected them is anything other than treason?
every senator and house member that swore themselves to Norquist is guilty of treason.
at the rate the GOP is going, it will be replaced by brownshirts and jackbooted thugs, then we will be required to bow before anyone with a net worth over 1 billion dollars
With some artistic license & paraphrasing:
"They will provide the great design, what is yours and what is mine.
There is no more new frontier, they have got to make it here,
They satisfy their endless needs, and justify their bloody deeds,
In the name of destiny, in the name of God.
And you can see them there, on Sunday morning,
stand up and sing about, what it's like above.
They call it paradise, I don't know why,
They call someplace paradise, kiss it goodbye!"
The Last Resort - Eagles
Joe in Albany -- Didn't you read my post the other day where I criticized the Fed?
MkM
Typing exercise or deep thoughts from a bona fide deep thinker. It's still true. Now, more than ever, we need good men (and women) from across the political spectrum to come to the aid of their country.
Neither party has ALL the answers. It takes teamwork and cooperation.
The GOP has been sold a bill of goods by Dick Army, the Kochs and the usual suspects. They need to realize that and remember that the politics is the art of compromise. CONQUEST is where you impose your will on the unwilling despite their objections. You may quote me on that. And the conquered will remember it and act accordingly when the pendulum swings back.
This is about saving our country, we all need to have ownership of the solutions in order for them to work. That means left and right have to work together to solve our problems.
We get so worked up over who said what to whom and who's right and who's wrong that we over look the bigger issues here. We're too busy flinging spit wads at each other.
It's time for all good men to come to the aid of their country. See, I typed that without a single typo and I used all 8 fingers and both thumbs. My right hand and my left hand worked together to produce that bit of genius. Maybe we could take a lesson from that, even if it is just a typing lesson.
Obama/Biden 2012
My advice for Republicans is to watch Fred Thompson (a Gingrich supporter) discuss the two leading candidates with John McCain (a Romney supporter) on Meet the Press. Republicans have a choice between bad and worse.
It is the beginning of the end...for the Republican journey to the White House in November.
Joe,
So you admit that you support a lobbyist... or more importantly, you support candidates who pander to lobbyists. Nice to see where your true loyalties lie.
This is the perfect example of what is wrong with this country, people like YOU who are willing to hand our government over to lobbyists. I suppose you believe that these lobbyists will do what is in the best interest for you, as well. You are like a salesman's dream, willing to buy any lie they tell you.
So tell me Joe, in your world, Should US Voters be required to disclose who they voted for?
I'm in agreement with kaybeetoys that the end is not in regard to the current GOP clowns running in the current election, but rather the continued demise of the Teapublican Party in the form it has become.
Alan, NJ -- That old, tired right-wing propaganda is not working anymore.
The Teapublican Party is about to be hit by the perfect storm of: 1) income inequality that has been growing over the last 30-40 years, which is now at an unacceptable level; 2) the Great Depression caused by GOP/TP policies that's been deeper than past recessions, which affected more people, and is resulting in a slower, longer recovery at an unacceptable level; and 3) gridlock in Washington has become so extreme even the most apathetic citizen sees GOP/TP obstructionism at an unacceptable level.
Uprisings such as the Arab Spring, OWS (even the Tea Party when it first started as only fiscal and not fundamentalist) has not been seen globally and in the US like this before, and will continue to grow and become more violent if governments can't get their acts together. There could be another round of crisis from abroad, which won't benefit either Party, but the conversation is no longer controlled by Teapublicans so will be different this time.
The class warfare propaganda won't fly. It is too obvious even to low-information voters that Romney paid only 13.9% in taxes compared to what their tax rate is while struggling to make ends meet. It is too obvious that highly profitable companies like Big Oil, GE, etc. don't need or deserve tax payer subsidies--especially if they offshore jobs. It is too obvious that small business owners who are the real "job creators" don't benefit from the breaks given to the richest 1%-- real capitalism versus free market gone wild. It is too obvious that our deficits are so high we must raise revenue as well as cut spending--only one approach will not be sufficient.
In the past this message has been hard for Dems to sell. Right now is the best time for success regarding fair taxation, protecting the working poor and middle class, protecting/creating good jobs, and investing in our future instead of austerity that has failed in Europe. The Teapublican "Race to the Bottom" and vision (nightmare) of every man, woman, and child for him/herself will be soundly rejected in favor of a tide that raises all boats and gives hope for a better future for ALL.
Holy Cow -- I've never heard so many lies in one speech than the first few minutes of the one Gingrich gave tonight after the Florida primary. I don't know if Romney topped it, 'cuz I haven't heard it. But Gawd Gingrich takes the cake and the crumbs. It's actually offensive, and my guess is he can forget about the moderate, swing, Independent voters so is even more unelectable than we've already known.
I'm listening to one of his surrogates now talking about givng free enterprise a chance. Dude, we've already tried over a decade of helping the rich, and all that happened was the rich got richer. Like anyone really thought making the rich richer would help anyone else? You know hat they say about doing the same thing and expecting different results. It was time yesterday to try something else.
The beginning of the end was 3 yrs ago when the leader of the republicans (McConnell) declared the completely unhonorable and unwarranted, ANYTHING to make this a 1 term president. If I were a republican I would demand this idiots head on a plate.
Trillions in tax cuts
By Editorial Board, Published: January 29
THE REPUBLICAN presidential candidates claim to abhor debt, yet propose tax cuts that would add trillions more
The case for continuing the George W. Bush tax cuts, at a cost of $3.7 trillion over 10 years (including interest), is shaky enough. The cuts for the wealthy alone, which President Obama would end, would cost with interest about $1 trillion over the next decade. But the GOP candidates want to continue all those cuts — and add many more, the vast bulk of which would go to the wealthiest taxpayers.
Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney proposes additional cuts that would drain $180 billion from the treasury in 2015 alone, according to calculations by the Urban Institute-Brookings Institution Tax Policy Center. The nonpartisan center has not calculated the 10-year cost of the plan. But merely multiplying by 10 illustrates that Romney is talking trillions.
The centerpiece of the Romney plan is eliminating all taxes on investment income for taxpayers earning less than $200,000 per couple. Wealthier taxpayers would keep the 15 percent capital gains rate that allowed Mr. Romney and his wife to pay such a low share of their income in taxes. The corporate tax would be reduced from 35 percent to 25 percent. Like Mr. Santorum and Mr. Gingrich, Mr. Romney would eliminate the estate tax and the alternative minimum tax and would repeal new taxes on the wealthy contained in the health-care law and set to take effect in 2013. The benefits of his plan would be heavily skewed toward the wealthy. Millionaires would see an average tax cut of $146,000. Meanwhile, because Mr. Romney would let some lower-income Obama tax breaks lapse, taxes could actually increase on a significant share (between 16 and 20 percent) of taxpayers earning less than 50,000.00
The Gingrich plan is even more reckless. He would let taxpayers choose between the existing code, with the Bush tax cuts extended, or a 15 percent flat tax but one that maintains deductions for mortgage interest, charitable contributions and the child and earned-income tax credits. Mr. Gingrich’s flat tax would be on wage income alone; investment income, such as capital gains, dividends and interest, would not be taxed at all. The corporate tax rate would drop to 12.5 percent — unfortunately, without broadening the base by eliminating existing breaks.
These tax cutters gone wild will note, correctly, that the Tax Policy Center estimates are static: They do not take into account potential growth spurred by lowering taxes. But there is no rational economic scenario under which these tax cuts would pay for themselves through the magic of economic growth.
It makes no sense to further benefit the wealthiest taxpayers at a time when spending programs for the most vulnerable would be on the chopping block — of necessity, given the candidates’ pledges to cap spending. In their fiscal consequences these cuts would be disastrous; as a matter of fairness, even more so.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/trillions-in-tax-cuts/2012/01/26/gIQAGrwxaQ_story.html
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Folks listen to what these folks are trying to tell you.
In other words they (both candidates) are going to borrow against the last large sums of money in our accounts. That would be our Pension Funds, Social Security, Medicare and such like. They are going to replace the funds with debt. Then after they have profited all they possibly can they are going to rely on the full Faith and Credit of the United States (the taxpayer, you and me)to make good on the promise to present and future generations.
This is what this particular (peculiar) brand of capitalism is all about. It is how Mr. Romney makes 57,000.00 a day and pays 13 or 14 percent on it. Except this time instead of hollowing out companies and robbing the pension funds of the feller down the road they’re looking to do it to the American Public.
Shame on you if you let hatred and contrariness blind you to the realities.
Exactly right, IR. And Americans should be worried that Mittens will be able to implement the final destruction of the middle class.
Hey has everyone seen the latest Bill Moyers vids?
They are excellent in my opinion....
billmoyers.com/video/
Three full videos on left, watch bottom to top... Kinda puts it in a nutshell.
the middle class needs to get off their duffs and work, not all are cut to be millionares.
Anything- anything at all- to divert attention from the failures and corruption of the Obama administration.
USA Today has an article on the failure of the multi-billion dollar "green jobs training" program. It was supposed to train and find employment for several hundred thousand people- fewer than ten thousand have been trained, and not many of them have jobs. The Department of Labor's Inspector General declares that the program has failed, should be ended, and the funds returned to the Treasury- Labor says, Oh No! It's more successful than those pesky numbers suggest!
Then, there's the corruption. You can add another name to the list of failed companies that got taxpayer funds that, incidentally, are owned by, or heavily invested in by, big dollar Obama donors.
http://dailycaller.com/2012/01/30/more-solyndra-style-failure-obama-tied-amonix-inc-lays-off-most-of-company/
Kind of sad when $6 million seems like chicken feed, is it not?
Tell you what- when Romney takes the oath of office, he can shut down these boondoggles, and return any remaining funds to the Treasury. Then, he can dust off that GAO report that provided facts ad figures on $200 billion in failed or redundant government programs. He can also cut the federal workforce, and their compensation, back to, oh, say, Bill Clinton levels. Then, he can figure out who the Justice Department can go after to recoup some of the Dollars to Donors money. Of course, end Obamacare, with it's costs and tax increases.
Then we'll talk taxes, okay?
Egilman.
Only caught one of his programs last Friday.
So glad he is back on the air. He is a true journalist. His in depth interviews are very informative.
Hi IR,
Good one.
Buck,
It has nothing to do with work and every thing to do with bought and paid for politicians...
NorthstarDFL
Yeah the last three are some of the best he has ever done, it seemed to me that he's happier that he's on his own....
And Nojo just what does that diatribe have to do with Republican tax policy that is going to make paupers of all but the very few. Or were you just lacking a place to put your latest off the wall anti- Obama rant most of which bears no semblance to reality or truth in any way shape or form. Oh I forgot in your rampant superiority or stupidity I haven't figured out yet you don't feel you have to fact check things. Take your little ball of wax somewhere else darling. It's not welcome or wanted here and that's the nicest I can put it. You have become a delusional twit and that's your shame but you don't have to inflict yourself on the rest of us.
As a nation we tried it their way for 30 years and IT DID NOT WORK. Supply side/trickle down economics may sound good in theory but not only didn't it work, it has decimated the middle class. It is time to end this foolishness and get back to where things were the last time we had a balanced budget and a surplus--the Clinton tax rates.
IR, perfect!
The GOP accuses President Obama of "class warfare" when they have been waging war on the middle class and poor working people of this country for 30 years. Both Romney and Gingrich's tax plans are doubling down on the failed policies of President George W. Bush and Bush's policies were President Reagan's on steroids. The GOP candidates speak about a strong country yet the policies they plan would make this country weak. The GOP candidates will result in Corporatocracy and Aristocracy, not Democracy.
THE REPUBLICAN presidential candidates claim to abhor debt, yet propose tax cuts that would add trillions more.
Why is it liberals always equate tax cuts to debt increases? Liberal politicians raise taxes and it has negative effects on the economy. This is the counter to their claims of enriching the coffers of the government. Very short term gains are the effect of raising taxes. Don't you liberals ever think in long term effects? You blame our current fiscal crisis on the tax cuts from the Bush administration, but fail to recognize that Obama now holds those same tax cuts in his hands. Typical liberal trash talk, blame the republicans. You really need to get a better line, this one is getting VERY old.
This is nothing but Bullshi+. The simple fact of the matter is that liberals do NOT see the entire picture, they only see what they perceive is the problem. Let's break it down into the simplest terms. The government is lying to us.
What pays the department of defense: Corporate taxes
What pays our road taxes: Tax on gasoline
Who pays for education: Local taxes - the federal government doesn't fund local education
Do you liberals even realize that most programs are funded by taxes on goods and services?
There are over 100 assorted federal taxes on telephones, cell phones, internet, cable TV, Electricity, Natural gas, transportation, and so many more I'd waste your time reading them all.
Income taxes aren't even income taxes. The government taxes you for the privledge of working. The amount you make is how the rates are set. The best way to describe income taxes according to the Constitution is an excise tax. How many of you know that the 16th Ammendment was never ratified? That doesn't mean the government can't tax your wages though because it's covered in Article 1 of the Constitution.
So, for all you liberals that don't know, the taxation rate on the different classes are set by the IRS code. Stop blaming republicans for things you don't know about... Charlie Rangle (d) is in charge of the IRS code. Talk to HIM!
delusional twit IS the nicest way to put it, Floyd!
ahh well,...with all that hatred she's bound to leave a load on someone's porch,...sorry it had to be yours.
You guys need to watch those Moyers vids, it wasn't supply side, it was the repeal of Glass-Stegall that really killed us, Wolves in the chicken coop...
Really exposes what has gone on....
Clara - Just because you don't agree with her, doesn't mean you have the right to call her names. How would you like it if I called you names? Would that enrich your life? Would that make you feel justified? Would that increase your daily worth? I don't think so... so knock off the name calling. It's not necessary. If you disagree with her ideas, state why.
Jody - You really don't know, do you? You blame republicans... but you have no real knowledge of the real world... well welcome to the real world. It's not the republicans as you so state... it's the banks. It's the federal reserve. They are the ones waging war on the middle class. Do you know the history of the federal reserve and how they've held control in this country since the beginning of last century? Do some research on this topic and you will find that both democrats and republicans have supported the federal reserve and the central banks all along. It's not one party over the other.. they both are just as guilty. Always remember, those who own the gold own the people. It's not the republicans alone in this.
IR -- Terrific post. An example of how our tax policies favor the rich below. Shockingly, the article is posted on FOX business and MSN. Take your pick, same article.
http://money.msn.com/taxes/5-tax-breaks-help-rich-get-richer-bankrate.aspx
http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2011/12/07/five-tax-deductions-that-favor-rich/
That was a great post, NoJo. Too bad "Liberal Fake Redneck" and his truckstop hooker friend decided to get all nasty with you. Maybe they should have read it.
By the way. When will FR allow us to start posting pictures here? I got a great picture of the OCCU- DUMBFUX burning the American Flag that I'd like to put up here. Still no FR stories about them this week. I'm pretty sure there will be one if the police are forced to crack a few of their heads in D.C. It's cool though. They deserve it.
Thanks, Brian, but the fact that the only response they can ever, possibly, have is a vitriolic ad hominem attack simply proves that they have no REAL response.
The facts are the facts. They can't dispute them- so they rely on personal attacks.
It's what you do when you are losing. . .
If Mitt says Obama's health care sucks Obama will say I fashioned it after yours, Mitt was for Obamas bailouts and TARP and said he supported Obama's decision to strip American citizens of their most basic constitutional rights you can now be thrown in jail indefinatley without charges filed against you, without a phone call and no lawyer all this is in the NDAA Obama passed making us the biggest hypocrites in the world since we have demonized other countries for decades for doing the same things to their citizens. Not to mention he signed the patriot act twice after he said he would get rid of it in his campaign promises. They are both for big/expanding government too, So why are you Obama lovers so down on Mitt when his plan is to continue Obama's agenda, which is just a continuation of the Bush agenda?
Brianb -- Well both Republican candidates in the lead supported the bank bailouts.
So what happens after Mitt wins in Novemeber and begins work on the evil Republican Plan To Destroy The Middle Class? You liberals seem to know of the existence of this plan but never seem to be able to tell anyone WHY it exists, and WHAT comes after?
Seriously, after Mitt takes over and puts the final nail in the coffin of the Middle Class, what's next? Everyone becomes a Democrat? I really want to know. Is everyone going to be poor then?
And WHAT was the intended goal of the plan? Since the majority of the middle class is conservative and votes Republican, WHY are the Repubs planning to destroy their voting base?
NAFTA has ruined our economy. Outsourcing to foreign countries has ruined our economy. Both the Republicans and the Democrats are responsible.
I'm voting for Santorum.
Egilman - Excellent videos. I'll be adding him to my record list on the DVR.
So, if this were a plane going down, would the wealthy somehow get a better end than "the middle class"?
I ask because the CBO just released their deficit projection for this year- and it's worse than the August projection. Over a trillion, yet again
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0112/72205.html
Obama has already said that his budget will be "late". One supposes he means time wise- not "late" as in DOA. Like the last one.
You remember that one, right? Defeated 97-0? All the cultists on here insiste that Obama wanted it defeated- he was working on a better one!
He must be some slow worker, because we are preparing for a new fiscal year, that will be marked, as usual, by no budget, thanks to Senate Democrats.
And their leader, Obama, who is so lousy at budget preparation his own party does not support him.
$16 trillion in debt- $6 trillion added in three years.
They should have given him a Nobel prize in dystopia.
Don't Carry It - Yes! You see it... now carry that idea a little further. Who owns the politicians? All politicians! It's not just one party over the other... it's both parties. The banks own them all! They have the people all blaming the other party... now they can't control us independents because we don't support one party over the other. We are mostly ideology thinkers... The independents are composed of both liberals and conservatives without party ties. While we feel the effects of what the central bank does to the government, they can't sway us like they can party loyalists. Being an independent, I have stepped out of the normalicy bias and can truly see what the banks are doing... and have been doing for well over 100 years.
Brianb, are you going to call out Damage for a truly hate-filled, name-calling, derogatory attack?
brianb
Get over your faux self. DONNA has created her OWN reputation as resident liar and @!$%# stirrer,...if she can't handle the heat,...she should get out of the proverbial kitchen. And what are you, the self appointed moderator?
In reviewing your OWN history on the board,...perhaps you'll understand my disdain for your recent 'found' self righteousness?
PS. Why Donna would even want to attach her garbage to the "Tree House Gang" threads speaks more about HER desparation for attention than anything. But how downright CHIVALROUS of you to defend her 'honor' - which in turn says MORE about YOUR judgment, right?
*STANDING O*
But, you forgot Granny Poll Dancer GF! ;o)
Bingo!
Once these self appointed monitors start showing a hint of balance, they might just get taken more seriously!
Until then, their lack of conviction is nothing more than poutrage!
no joe, no bo, nj
"So, if this were a plane going down, would the wealthy somehow get a better end than "the middle class"?"
Lousy analogy, you presume they are on the same plane, and you know they are not.
"Then we'll talk taxes, okay?"
Why wait?
Clara, does this mean that you find name calling and defamation to be acceptable forms of rebuttal? It appears so. Now tell me, if name calling is the "happy" way to respond how come you are so happy? Ohhhh... happy isn't the right adjective. How about hateful... now that's appropriate. Your response is hatred.
Clara, for your information, I do not name call. I use words like liberal to describe the ideology... if you find offense in that, I'll repeat your words... get over it. Besides, if you are liberal, you should be proud of it... shout it out! Make a big deal over it... it describes you perfectly.
I wasn't defending her honor. I was making a statement about name calling. Apparantely you feel name calling is acceptable. If that's the case then I'll rebut it... Name calling isn't acceptable. More on.....
Ideo - ummmm... what about "First Class?" Hmmmm?
ones who caused this mess. The Banks are not the culprits. This is true. The democrats, to include Obama are the ones who must carry the blame. Please read,"Architects of Ruin". Read what banks were more or less blackmailed into doing. The more I read the more I wonder how anyone can back activists who not only disgrace our country but help ruin it. If you are so big on government being run by people who cheat, lie , and bring America to their knees, you are rooting for the right people. The hard part about this is knowing we have honest democrats in office and they have to live with this bunch. Just as some republicans have to live with the bad ones in their party. The captilist used the race and poor people, who they also promised to protect. Jessie Jackson, Bill Clinton, Obama, Nancy Pelosi, it goes on and on. It goes on and on. Please read the book.
Red Betty
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Never let a hateful moment go by, do you?
Brianb ... how about private jets ... hmmmm?
Did you get the link I posted for you yesterday? (and invitation)
This is what America has become. This video is long, but open your mind and if you have a little over an hour, take a look at this. It was made during the Bush administration and the guy who made it was killed. By whom? Many say the CIA.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUpZhhbKUBo
m.correll
I would suggest to you any book if not all by Michael Lewis.
Private jets, you say... Well maybe by the ultra rich... people like Al Gore? OK, I'll include Rush Limbaugh in it as well, to keep it equal.
I did get your link... I watched it, but got busy and didn't sign up. I saved it to my favorites as I did the one you posted the day before. (The predictions). Thanks, we do think alike in many ways...
Uh, brianb?
I rest my case.
@Clara: The anointed moderator can't keep his story straight.
Blah, blah, blah, name call, blah, blah, blah. Yet, here is this gem from a recent post from the anointed one:
Apparently, calling someone delusional is not name calling. I don't know about you Clara, but the anointed one seems to be using the Newt hypocrisy theocracy .. do as I say, not as I do. Keep up the excellent posts Clara.
In BB's little world 'Red Betty' is not considered name calling! lol
They sure can talk the talk... too bad they can't walk the walk!
Feisty - all they can do is crawl. Advancing to an upright life form is beyond their grasp.
OMG! Brianb - you are making yourself a LAUGHING stock. Do you NOT see the twig for the BRANCH in your own Frickin' eye?
Red Betty? Really? Here, let me just post a few of your OWN words:
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/05/9232274-gingrich-tangles-with-pelosi-over-ethics-info?commentId=60485800#c60488382
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
You've pretty much played the victim, the moderator, the defender of 'honor' and what you seem to miss is that you've already been cast as 'THE HYPOCRIT".
I'd like it just fine if you called me names. At least then your hypocrisy wouldn't come and go as you see fit.
Your post at 2.31 exposes you for the little asswipe you are. I can see your feathers are all ruffled because I called you out on it. Grow a pair, wee man. and really, you should be careful who you align yourself with. Reputations are such a fragile thing. Before you know it,...you're mad enough to become the VERY thing you claim to despise,...in others.
and to coin joey from albany,...I simply cannot stop laughing my ass off at you. PRICELESS exchange here, Einstein. PRICELESS!
Clara,
BB is not the only one around here who is a FR drama queen! ;o)
I'm anxiously awaiting watching BB do his crab-walk back from your smack down!
Excellent job GF!
Feisty/Clara - the nice thing is that once you smack him down, he tends to stay away. I posted this yesterday, and it finally got him off my back.
Pussies like BB usually do...
How's THAT for name calling? lol
Wow!!! The vengance from the left. The moderators of all evil on these boards have spoken. The great and powerful Red Betty has made her decree. Clara the great has proclaimed that I am a laughing stock.
The left shows their anger because someone from the right wants civility. What does this say about the left? They are angry because civility is being called for. The left doesn't want civility, they want to be able to call people names at will. They want it and they want it NOW!
Well if stirring up the hornets nest exposes the left for who they are, I'm glad it happened. You own it now!
Clara - that Dec 5th post says it all. Of course it's way beyond your understanding. Again it was a post in retrubution for one of your very own left calling me names and defaming my... ideas. There was no rebuttal to my ideas... only name calling.
It would be very fitting for those on the left to just admit that when they don't have a rebuttal to someone's ideas... they should announce it in the beginning of their post.... THIS IS A NAME CALLING POST BECAUSE I CAN'T COME UP WITH A REASONABLE RESPONSE. Then we would all know up front how much hatred emits from the left. Actually we all know it... you deny it.. so who's the hypocrites Clara? Better look at those 3 fingers pointing back at yourself.
Sorry to disappoint you RedDev... I do, on occasion have things other that these boards to tend to. I didn't realize you were interested in sausage action. If that's the case, I'll put you on ignore. I don't swing that way... maybe you do, and if that's the case, I really don't want to interfere with your search for it. You can bypass me all together. I didn't realize that was your intention. Considering this is an anynomous board, gender isn't always revealed in a name. Now that I know, feel free to find it with another person. Bye.
Oh Dear!
Poor little BB has now assumed the role as victim! lmao
Looks like we struck a nerve with you little buddy!
PS: Here is a new shovel for you, you've worn out the one you have!
Carry on with your digging, your hole is only getting deeper!
Red Betty - why not just admit it... you don't know how to respond to me. Your only course of action is to throw insults out there. Your liberal minions love it... since they are all involved in the hatred scene, they cheer you on. Good for you... good for them. Must be wonderful to be known as the queen of hate.
I never realized cheering you on was acting like a victim. Ooops, guess that discredits that theory, eh Red Betty?
Buck Naked Sr
the middle class needs to get off their duffs and work, not all are cut to be millionares.
=========
.........A truly ignorant statement, but perhaps it does accurately exemplify the attitude of those at the top of the mountain looking down at all the insignificant little people below them. Does Buck Naked describe the inside of someone's head? Yes, it's all the fault of the Middle Class, that lazy, worthless scum who never did want to work, who would rather get $800/mo in welfare rather than $80K/yr in pay.
Well, Feisty, I see he STILL intends to carry the torch of Peace and Harmony. And ONLY HE can retaliate to someone's filth.
No mention of nojo's stealing from us, eh? Or MUMBAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII? Cuz' you know when they don't KNOW the story,...they crouch in their own fetal position and sling their invectives RIGHTEOUSLY.
I am not a hypocrite, brianb as I have repeatedly said this board is open to ALL who choose to post in the tone they choose to post in. I don't try to decide WHO gets to say what and to whom and on what topic. YOU 'my friend' are the one acting like I give a good damn what you think you know about me. And YOU are the one who is attempting to decide WHICH retaliations are warranted and which ones are merely beneath you,...
Go piss up a rope. I'm done schooling you on the behavior of a hypocrite. You wear the cloak SO well I doubt you'll be able to take it off. All Hail Brianb,...HE and ONLY he can decide what is allowed.
STTS,...
Sorry BB!
WCA has already wrapped up the nomination for best-supporting 'victim' in a drama series!
Better luck next year!
♥
The Queen of Hate! Nope BB doesn't name call! ROTFLMFAO!
A Ram Jam tribute
whoh Red Betty (bam-a-lam), whoh Red Betty (bam-a-lam)
Red Betty hates the right (bam-a-lam), Red Betty's got no sight (bam-a-lam)
She posts all night (bam-a-lam), she's never ever right (bam-a-lam)
I said whoh Red Betty (bam-a-lam), whoh Red Betty (bam-a-lam)
Woah, Whoa, Woah, Red Betty
Just can't help yourself, can you Clara? gotta throw that hatred out there, don't ya? Can't stand it that I think civility is better and you just can't bring yourself around to it. Keep on pushing the hatred Clara... It's nothing new from the left. Go ahead... call me more names if it makes you feel better... that's what it's all about, isn't it? Making YOU feel better.
Feisty/Clara - I think I got the best deal out of this. It is rather a relief to know I'm on ignore.
Yep, RedDev
LUCKY YOU!
Feisty, just like OLD times, GF. Still chuckling,...
Anyone ever notice that the GOP fanbois (and girls) never mention that all these democrats talking about raising taxis on the rich are rich? In other words, they want to raise taxes on themselves for the good of the country. We call that patriotism, where I come from.
As for the beginning of the end, I think the beginning of the end (for the conservative movement) was Jan. 21, 2000. It's a dead movement stumbling, and just hasn't hit the ground yet. By the desperation I keep hearing, from supporters and politicians alike, I'm guessing it's breathing its last.
The Republican Party has deep troubles that not even an establishment victory in Florida will be able to fix. Romney has clobbered Newt over the head and kept him at bay for now, but the near;y 100 percent negative campaign run by Romney and his allies gives the candidate nothing to stand for. Romney has no clear policy and no clear agenda at the moment, other than to destroy Newt. He will enter the general campaign with Obama a battered candidate with a trunk full of negative ads and nothing more. This is why Mitt's national negative ratings are going through the roof, and why Obama has a real shot in November. http://www.sunstateactivist.org
Still waiting for someone to ask Mittens why he thinks he should be President. He has made no argument as to why he is the better candidate, only gone on the attack against Newtie.
I am wondering if Mittens has a reason, other than "gee golly, just getting revenge because you were mean to my dad." Or, probably more to the truth, "I just want to outdo my daddy."
The real problem for Republicans and Americans if Romney wins is that Romney desire to be president is “to be President”. He cannot name a single other reason that drives him to become President.
I agree, Dennis. It is not about country, it is about Mittens and his need for that title.
I hope Newt and Willard keep this battle going for a long time, because Willard needs to be taken down a notch. Hopefully, they will take this fight to the convention, and beat the heck out of each other along the way.
Go Newt.
Ity is important so Mrs Romney can be proud of her country, excuse me I just threw up.
frisky is better than feisty
They keep it going much longer the people will be looking elsewhere...
You're recycling Teddy Kennedy issues, Dennis?
Cute. Won't fly.
See, Romney has articulated why he wants to be president. He wants to turn the economy around. He wants to cut spending, end the corruption, and, (what should be more important to you that anything else), end the gridlock and actually get more done than just,put taxpayer borrowed dollars into donors' pockets.
Spin away, but the fact of the matter is, that is all you are doing- spinning. It looks pretty foolish when there is plenty put there showing why Romney wants to be president.
And what he plans to do when sworn in.
No Jo,
I'm on your side and I don't know what he's going to do yet, I've been looking for his plan so I can rip it apart as the Status Quo I know it's going to be, so if he has posted one somewhere Please let us know!!!
As is the usual, no jo misses the point. Other than attacking anyone who thinks that they can get in Romney's way for the highest office in the land, he has said nothing about why he is the BEST candidate to turn the economy around (which your President seems to be doing, no jo, even though you are deep in the well of denial.) and what he might possible do to turn it into a rip roaring success for the MIDDLE CLASS.
He can't because, he won't. The only people that will benefit are those who already are. The corporate raiders, like Mittens, who have preyed upon this country since Reagan was in office.
Buck: your boy will have to come up with something besides "cause I'm rich". Sounds like its enough for you anyway.
Matt, good points. I saw a poll yesterday that shows Romney and Gingrich with much higher unfavorable numbers than favorable. Since neither is an incumbent president, that is a most informative number; it is also highly unusual.
Egilman, it was introduced in September.
http://mittromney.com/sites/default/files/shared/BelieveInAmerica-PlanForJobsAndEconomicGrowth-Full.pdf
All this hubub about the republican nomination. To be perfectly frank about it, it doesn't matter who wins, we all lose. I'm even talking about the general election. It doesn't matter if Obama wins or the republican wins. We are going to be screwed either way. Last night I did some heavy research into what the real problems are in this country. While the general masses are pointing fingers at each other's party, no one is noticing how our economy is being stolen right out from under our feet... and it's not by the politicians... it's the banking system and the Federal Reserve.
I've read many claims by liberals that the banks are the real culprits. Wall Street is tied to the banks. Just a simple question... this is not to offend anyone, but have you asked yourself how many bankers Obama has in his administration? How many bankers are tied to the republicans? Who owns the politicians?
Brainb
Watch the Bill Moyers videos of his new program.
Yup ,the system is rigged....
Hey NoJo, your statement is very telling. You actually trust a "corporate raider" to end corruption. Absolutely amazing.
I was watching Morning Joe this morning and Joe told the story of a Republican former governor who privately asked Romney THREE times why he wanted to be President and never got a coherent answer.
What happens When Romney loses?
Well then Louis, I suppose you will call someone a racist.
Gingrich. David Duke. Santorum. Shall I continue?
Chicago called, they need some budget assistance "interestingly"
Louis-- Can't get much more racist then telling Black folk that they aren't smart enough to make it ANYWHERE on their own and need the help of government and White liberals to make it in life.
Louis, you mean when Romney loses the general? Oh, well I suppose he goes back to his number one priority...making money.
Damage: what the hell are you ranting about? (get a clue genius: most folks on public assistance are WHITE).
I know that, AP. But those White folks don't benefit from Affirmative Action, quotas, preferences, set-asides etc...because they don't have a built-in excuse. The built-in excuse that causes LIBERALS to tell them that they can't get by without their help. That's what I was talking about.
As a coservative, I believe the playing field should be LEVEL. The above mentioned things cause resentment, racism and suspicion.
Damage123. I find it funny that, while you go around rampantly spewing out hate, you have the sheer audacity to accuse others of racism. He who points out Obama's middle name, Hussein, in a bigoted manner. As far as I'm concerned, you're just going to write this comment off as 'lefty' garbage. Everything aside, I took a peak at your history of comments on newsvine, and it's pretty remarkable. While the times we live in deserve loads of negative sentiment, you, buddy, take it to a ridiculous level. They're all so... HARD to read, because every painful POINT that you wish to MAKE is typed out in CAMPS. One button. You simply have to discontinue pressing down on ONE button just to not sound like a complete moron.
Kudos.
Damage, I don't believe you were on the board when I addressed the issue of Obama's middle name.
Since the use of his actual middle name is verboten by liberals,(who should direct their ire at his mother, who gave him the name, and not to those who use it), I decided it would be more appropriate to give him a more fitting one.
Using the revered democratic method, I allowed a vote.
FUBAR won.
He is now known as Barack FUBAR Obama.
Suits him, don't you think?
Brianb, more name-calling for you to note...
FUBAR! That's pretty cool. Best of all, I get to use my CAPS button whenever I type it. Contrary to what Rorwell thinks, I've NEVER typed anything while in a camp. I'll leave that to the OCCUJACKASSES, who apparently can type between flag burnings and attacking police. Again, why no discussion of them on FR? I thought they were an important "movement."
I really don't understand what the big deal is with with FUBAR'S middle name. It seems Obama is ashamed of it and so are his groupies here. It's his REAL MIDDLE NAME PEOPLE! What's the problem? Remember how fond you people were of calling Nixon "Milhouse" because you thought it was so odd and hilarious? Maybe I should go do a quick count on how many of the dimwits here constantly call Mitt Romney "Mittens" or "Willard" ???????? Those hateful, anti-Mormon bastards!!!
Louis J
Historically, Racism has been a part of both parties - more so the Democrats than the Republicans.
The Republican party sued to get Duke to stop using the name Republican - and lost in court. The Tea Party had a similar problem - groups self-proclaiming they were tea party - when the weren't. A number were actually promoted by Democrats.
Republicans throughout history since 1956 have always supported as a whole racial equality. They would best be termed color blind as Dr King desired all of us to be and as it should be.
Lincoln not only freed the slaved (was actually the secondary issue - his first was to preserve the union) but actually began desegregating the army. His support of racial equality was why he was assassinated. Johnson was actually a democrat and did not do everything Lincoln planned to do to help properly integrate african americans into society. Although repblicans swept the south, the lack of support from Johnson and those republicans who followed saw the south fall back to democrat control. As the states fell back to democrat control, in came the "Jim Crow" Laws.
Here's where the republicans get in trouble. They are typically color blind, as MLK promoted, but are often indifferent to African American needs - just like Andrew Johnson.
A real setback occured when Woodrow Wilson became President. He re-segregated the military, and the White House and during WW I rounded up Germans into interment camps.
Harding an Coolidge were accused of racsism, but actually tried to get congress to consider a commission to integrate our society. The Republicans controlled congress at the time, but couldn't muster the votes to pass anything.
Hoover did nothing, but then, when your economy falls apart and you do all the wrong things to recover from a crash that's no surprise. FDR started with the status quo, but in 1940 began to work toward desegregation. Truman thought to introduce civil Rights legislation, but saw no support. In the 50's Republicans introduced civil rights legislation - and if failed miserably. Once again, not enough of the republicans supported the civil rights legistlation and had no help from the Democrats.
Enter JFK. JFK thoughout his carreer was racially indifferent . . . until 1963, when he came out in support of civil rights legislation. This change took place shortly after MLK Sr met with JFK pleading for the release of his son. The epiphany may not have been so much that civil rights was the right thing to do, but rather, gaining of a new and fastest growing block of voters.
But Racism runs deep Louis J. It runs very deep, and it does not like to die, so it changes form to exist.
Even though JFK came out in support of civil rights, up to 40% of his party voted against it. If it weren't for 80% of Republicans voting for it, the legistlative battle would have continued.
In the 70's I used to spend weeks at a time with my cousins in South Carolina. They lived in front of a very rough, very poor, very violent, solidly African American community. They could hear the white democrats visit every year at election time to remind them to vote for them and they would make sure that they would keep their welfare checks. That's slavery of a different kind.
I had an African American boss in Cleveland a number of years ago. He and his wife and he had studied and recieved their law degrees. She decided to run for judge in a specific court. The party told her, no you run for this other court. She said no, and they said you can still run for that judgeship, but we won't support you. She ran and lost. About that time I heard him shout, in the office, "one day we are going to make the white man pay for what they have done". I don't think he knew I was present at that unguarded moment. He and his wife are democrats, not republicans.
I don't have any problem with the President's middle name.
Barack Who's Sane Obama.
What's the problem??? :)
Speaking of racist.
http://www.wnd.com/2012/01/georgia-judge-considered-default-against-obama/
GEORGIA JUDGE CONSIDERED 'DEFAULT' AGAINST OBAMA
Ruling could have brought immediate recommendation to remove name from ballot
Joanne in Pa, That was pretty funny.
Thanks, Lisa, but I can't really take the credit - I saw it on a sign someone was carrying in one of the pictures from Jon Stewart's Rally to Restore Sanity last year. Speaking of which, I hope he's planning to make it an annual event!
How much would Newton's Lunar Colony cost us?
In 2004, when President George W. Bush introduced a space exploration initiative that aimed to establish a base on the moon (among other goals), costs were projected to be about $100 billion through 2020. President Obama, however, canceled the mission in 2010, because it was running behind schedule and was costing too much money.
Plus, NASA's tab would have probably been much higher than $100 billion by the time it completed its mission and built a moon base, said John Logsdon, professor emeritus at George Washington University and founder of the school's Space Policy Institute. He says a similar mission today could cost somewhere between $250 billion to $500 billion.
money.cnn.com/2012/01/27/pf/newt_gingrich_moon_colony/index.htm
Da Noid, would the secret word for today be "interesting"? Some old nude guy keeps harping on it. Should I laugh now or should I wait until the GOP further implodes? ;-)
Gingrich takes that "giant leap for mankind" to a whole other level.
Cynthia, I guess that old nude guy thinks he has something special? ROFLMPO
Florida, Florida, Florida. It's Florida's big day. All those electoral votes will likely to seal the deal for a candidate who wins the state. Except, it's not as big a reward for candidates this year just as it wasn't in 2008. By pushing ahead to have a bigger voice, Florida actually diminished its voice. If Romney or Gingrich loses, he won't be as wounded. Florida played political games and pushed ahead in line meaning only half those electoral votes will be awarded. Since Florida is a repeat violator of the RNC and DNC established dates, losing all their delegates might force them to quit playing games and to quit compressing the primary campaign season and quit diminishing its own impact.
Floridians will be happy to have their TV and radio stations back minus the nonstop campaign ads; glad to answer the phone and have it be someone other than a robo-call or a pollster. Polls show Mitt Romney way ahead of Newt Gingrich. Apparently the establishment GOPers have once again emerged from the shadows and blitzed Newt just as they did in Iowa.
Since I am a "leftie" liberal, it does not matter to me which GOP candidates wins the nomination. Despite the claims from Gingrich that he is the real conservative, Mitt and Newt are two peas in a pod. One may seem more moderate than the other but both plan to cut taxes even more for the wealthy. Both want to "change" social security and medicare meaning getting rid of them. Both think deregulation is the answer ignoring the devastating results of 2008. Both believe that by giving more tax breaks to the wealthy, Reagan's trickle down might actually work this time. Trickle down has not worked in 30 years despite repeated swings at it. The list of similarities between Newt and Mitt is long. Their views are not different; therefore, whichever one republicans choose as their ultimate nominee, the result will be the same because both still embrace the failed policies that brought us to where we are today.
Neither Newt Gingrich or Mitt Romney represent change, they represent the status quo. Both Newt and Mitt are President George W. Bush all over again.
interestingly anyone is better than what we got now
Supply side worked REAL well, until the repeal of Glass-Stegall let the foxes into the henhouse...
Rachel Maddow had a story last night, Jody, that suggested that the "winner take all" Florida primary might not be winner take all. Don't recall the details, but I was left with the impression that if a Florida Republican challenged the results, there would have to be a hearing to decide if the delegates should be allocated proportionally. Surely there will be one supporter of whoever loses who will make this challenge.
This Country will never have a real conservative as President. President Reagan was a moderate Republican that we Democrats respected, even though at times we disagreed. Today such a figure as Ronald Reagan would be thrown out of the Republican Party as being too moderate.
Somewhere along the line the radical right hijacked your party.
Job: you don't know Reagan very well if you don't think he was conservative...Measured against the far right that has a stranglehold on the Republican party today, he'd be a moderate sure, but then so would Attila the Hun.
Hi AP,
Good one.
SF
wouldn't it just be DELICIOUS irony if Florida managed to ef up the Republican Primary?,...he he heh
It's getting real tired; all you liberals talking about Reagan not being a far-rightie. I guess guess it's because you are still in high school and don't remember him. If you did, you would remember that lefties throughout the nation and the world spent years calling him a "nazi" and a "facist" from the time he was governor of CA all the way to the time he left the White House. This became muffled a couple years into his term because he was EXTREMELY popular.
The very same people on this site who spout BS like "Reagan would be shunned by today's Repubs" are full of horse excrement. They are the same people that moaned, bitched and whined the most when he was in office. It's similar to the way you people just LOVED John McCain until he decided to make a run for the White House and block The Messiah's righteous stroll there. Then, to you people, McCain was a facist, racist war criminal.
Let's also not forget that it was only FOUR short years ago at this time you Obama groupies were calling Hilary and Bill Clinton the same things for the same reason. Remember? Of course you don't.
Supply side did NOT work well because contrary to the beliefs of conservatives having been sold the "myth", President Ronald Reagan threw a lot of it under the bus after one year in office. Supply side flat lined most workers wages and increased the incomes of the wealthy; it did not "trickle down" to everyone else. One only needs to look at the chart of earnings since 1979 to see what took place beginning with supply side efforts. Reagan did not return high-end earners taxes all the way back to the levels prior to his election but he did increase the rates; capital gains was increased to 28% by Reagan because he believed capital gains should be taxed at a level close to that of actual wages earned. It also did not work because prior to the repeal of Glass-Stegall, the deregulations had already brought us the Savings and Loan scandal. That should have been a warning to all, including future President Bill Clinton, that deregulating and removing protections was not a solution but rather would create a huge problem in the future.
Steeler, I did see Rachel; sounds as if anyone of Santorum, Paul or Newt's fans can demand the RNC put back the second punishment for FL's shoving in line.
Clara, indeed it would be amusing!
Egilman - ending the separation of finance, banks, insurance and investments (the one provision that was repealed of Glass-Steagall) did not cause the crash.
What caused the crash was a housing bubble made possible by actually holding banks to making loans according to what the FHA prescribes as a safe loan and how much should be paid to get the loan(less than costs of the banks). This so they could participate in the Federal banking system. The increase in housing demand increased the values artificially.
After making those loans they sold them so when they failed they would not be stuck with the losses. They sold them bundled with better loans to totally separate companies.
Once enough mortgages failed the housing values crashed. Once the housing values crashed so that crashed the asset ratio of those stuck with the lousy loans making many of them Crash. TARP was about propping up the asset ratio so those winners in the government lottery didn't fail.
Glass-Steagall was about we really don't know what happened but this is a possibilty so let's regulate it severly just in case it was the cause.
John Boehnor should do a "Gingrich". Either resign as Speaker or be expelled from the House.
http://illuminate.newsvine.com/_news/2012/01/19/10194131-six-reasons-keystone-xl-was-a-bad-deal-all-along
sign the petition here: Petition - Boehner Must Resign
Now, what about that insider trading bill in the House? It will either be watered down, defanged or have some many attachments it will be worthless. Still measuring those drapes for Boehner's office, Cantor? ;-)
Cynbad,
You should also google the Weeper of the House & his expense reports... verrrry interesting!
live is too short to be feisty, try being frisky
BNSr,
Your posts this morning seems to me to be personal advertizing.
It is againt the rules on this blog.
really? I am not sure what you said because I cannot read English, Spainish is my native language.
Nuck Baked, Sr. , I have an "interesting"insider trading tip for you. Buy shares of Alcoa & popcorn futures. Prices are rising steadily and should spike sometime tomorrow. Now, go put some clothes on!;-)
Podemos tratar de ser amable y respetuoso
Now I realize why BuckNaked Old Fart says it's better to be frisky than to be Fiesty. No self respecting woman wants anything to do with him. If only he would take a shower, shave, dress decent, use lots of mouth wash, he might be able to make some sense to his group of old ladies.
Supongo que no
Buck, and all your previous incarnations--your nonsensical posts tell all First Readers that you stalk people off line as well as on line. What a great reputation to have, you must be so proud.
phine, I'm as respectful as I can be with any banned re-reg. His days are numbered on here.
SallyAnn, Nuck Baked is stalking Feisty, again. However, I really can't agree with inflammatory remarks made to other posters even though he may deserve being on the receiving end. That said, I apologize for twisting his name
Cynthia,
Thanks for responding. Since he decided to go with Spanish, well, me and my little translator ap decided to act upon it. Sorry if I sound like such a Pollyanna, but the name calling from both sides anymore just grates. Both sides can make sound political points without the name calling (or, and some nojo, know who I am talking about, thinking they are superior to the rest of us poor mortals)
(Had to get that dig in.)
Well, I might be the only one on this board that can say this today...but I have done my civic duty and voted!! :-) Was surprised to find that my polling station (in my neighborhood) was a bit more crowded than I expected this morning.
Hi Frank,
phine will probably be here shortly to join you...
Morning Frank, Democracy is a garden in constant need of attention and voting is one of the many tools needed. Well done.
Good morning to my fine gentlemen!
Well, as a NPA, I did not vote, one thing I can say, I took the time to drive by my local voting site. Wow! Crowds were decent.
Grimey, don't know about you, but I will be glad to see the negativity gone. And no more fear of opening my mailbox!
i hope all you Floridians are going to celebrate tomorrow in the your well deserved peace and quiet.
Phine,
What is a NPA?
Good morning Northstar, A bright and beautiful day to you!
A NPA is "No Party Affliation" In one way it sucks, because you can't vote in Florida primaries (they are closed primaries). But it does give one a feeling from being identified to a particular party. Makes one look at the person running, not the party.
Don't forget John A and GBMama are also Floridians,...have they voted today?
Clara,
Unless in their district there are some non-partisan issues or some democratic party issue, this is a closed primary for the GOP.
Hi Clara...
I figured I was probably the only registered Republican in Florida among the regular contributors here. Apologies if I missed anyone. Is there even a Democratic primary today?
Phine,
So when you go to register to vote you have to declare party affliation or NPA? How strange.
We have open primaries in MN. No party affliation need be declared when you register to vote the first time.
Each state does indeed have their own voter rules.
I am also a registered Florida voter, but since Im a registered independent I am out of luck also.
Hope they check in and let us know what they think, Clara. Frank, bet you are glad that the ads are ending.
Are there no FL Congressional seats in play this year?
Phinephancy, When did you become an NPA. I thought that was your hubby?
Northstar,
In Florida, even 'independent' is considered a party. So, on my voter ID card it shows NPA. (To register you can declare a party or go NPA)
Frank "Grimey" Grimes, Thank you for doing your civic duty. How do you think Florida will go.
lisa,
I went NPA in December. Hubby has always been NPA. Decided it worked better for me.
Feisty,
It depends on the district if there are challengers to a particular party seat.
Feisty...generally if someone is running unopposed in Florida, they don't even put that race on the ballot. I am represented by a Dem right now, who I believe is running unopposed in his party.
Lisa...I think Romney will win by 10 or more. Not really anything scientific there...just informal polling of my friends and family, yard signs, and a gut feeling.
As for the ads...it's going to be weird. I have gotten so used to black and white commercials with ominous sounding music!! Of course, that's just the warm-up to the general election where we will surely find ourselves in battleground status once again! :-)
No I don't vote today, I hold fast for the Democrats. There will be another primary election in August for challengers for various offices.
Drove by my precinct, the deputy was taking a siesta in the sun. then drove around several others, all very quiet. From working elections, the busy times are most likely to be first thing in the morning, around noon and later in the afternoon. Have seen few signs even today, 1 Ron Paul, several for Romney and for Santorum, but none for Newt. I expect Romney to win in this area, Santorum is the surprise to me, so will be interested in his numbers.
Feisty, this is only the Presidential Primary, as I mentioned above, in August the others get to sort themselves out..regardless of party
Phine,
Thanks for the information. You have a voter ID card? Do you show that when you go vote? What about absentee ballots, do you have to show your voter ID to get one?
Is it easy for new voters to register to vote?
Sorry for all the questions but I really am learning from you and others who live in Florida. Your state will be hugh in November election.
Thanks for the clarification Grimey & Gingerbread Mamma! ;o)
Frank "grimey" Grimes, Thanks for the information. Phinephancy, I went NPA two weeks before Christmas.
Northstar, To register to vote, from the Supervisor of Elections Palm Beach Co:
If you are eighteen years old, a U.S.citizen, and legal resident of Florida you may register to vote. If you are sixteen years old you may pre-register and receive your card in the mail after your 18th birthday.
You are NOT entitled to register to vote if you have been adjudicated mentally incapacitated with regard to voting in this or any other state and you have not had your right to vote restored pursuant to law, or, if you have been convicted of any felony by any court of record and you have not had your right to vote restored pursuant to law.
If you meet the above requirements, you may register to vote in Palm BeachCounty either:
1. On-line
Select the following link to begin the convenient on-line application form.
- OR -
2. In Person / Telephone
You may obtain a voter registration application in person or by telephone by contacting:
The Supervisor of Elections Main office:
240 South Military Trail
West Palm Beach , FL, 33415
Office Number - (561) 656-6200
Or you may apply at any of these Palm BeachCounty locations: See the complete list
After completing the voter registration application, it can be mailed or delivered to the Supervisor of Elections office. A voter identification card will be mailed to the applicant approximately 2-3 weeks after the application is processed.
Please be aware of the following information if you decide to register to vote by mail:
HELP AMERICA VOTE ACT (HAVA) OF 2002
As a result of the enactment of the 2002 Help America Vote Act (HAVA) by the United States Congress, Florida law (97.0535, Florida Statutes) now has new requirements for anyone who registers by mail. As of January 1, 2003, if you are a new voter in Palm Beach County, you registered by mail and you have not voted in an election for Federal office in this county you must present a current valid photo identification or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or other government documents that shows your name and address. If you wish to vote by mail you must submit, with your ballot, the same documentation stated above.
To be exempt from the above qualifications you must meet one of the following requirements:
Northstar info on Absentee Ballots in Palm Beach County:
Absentee Ballot Instructions
Any qualified Palm BeachCounty voter is entitled to vote an absentee ballot. An absentee ballot may be requested in person at one of our offices, in writing, over the telephone or by completing our
on-line application. Telephonic, written or facsimile requests should be directed to:
Supervisor of Elections
P.O. Box 22309
West Palm Beach, Florida 33416
Telephone: (561) 656-6200
Facsimile: (561) 656-6220
When requesting an absentee ballot, the voter must provide the following information:
· Name
Please remember: Absentee ballots are not forwardable.
Notify the Elections office immediately should your residence or mailing address change.
If a member of the voter's immediate family* makes the request, the requester must provide the voter's information listed above, as well as:
* Immediate family is defined as: spouse, child, parent, grandparent or sibling.
A designee may pick up an absentee ballot for a voter on Election Day or five (5) days before Election Day. Designees must provide:
Please note: Florida Statute 101.62(4)(b)(4) limits pickups of absentee ballots by a designee to two (2) absentee ballots per election, other than their own or immediate family.
Download Affidavit to Pick-Up Absentee Ballot for a Voter Form (DS-DE 37)
It is imperative that when you vote by absentee ballot, you follow the instructions included with your absentee ballot very carefully! Detailed instructions are provided on the actual absentee ballots, as well as special instructions on the secrecy sleeve enclosed in the absentee ballot kit mailed to you. A voter must personally vote the ballot, unless assistance is required due to disability or inability to read/write.
In order for your ballot to be counted, your Voter's Certificate Envelope must contain your signature.
FloridaStatutes requires the CountyCanvassing Board reject as illegal any absentee ballot that is not signed.
Your voted and signed absentee ballot must be received by the Main Office of the Supervisor of Elections by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day in order to be counted. Branch offices close at 5:00 p.m. on Election Day.
Voted Absentee Ballots cannot be turned in at the polls!
Good for you, Frank!
Northstar, when voting in Fl a voter may present a current and valid photo ID with signature, a driver's license is ideal or a state issued ID. But you can have a photo on one ID and a signature on another. There are at least seven other forms of acceptable ID. If you cannot produce any ID, you may vote on a Provisional Ballot, which is checked by the Canvassing Board before being accepted or rejected, they will notify you if it was accepted or not. In Fl it is illegal to vote in a precinct you no longer live in, even if you vote by Provisional.
Gingerbread Mamma,
Thank you for the information.
And a big shout out for all the volunteer election workers in Florida and every other state.
thank you for your service.
Thanks Northstar, I'm sitting out today for a variety of reasons, mainly to take care of my little granddaughter.
Thanks for the shout out, I've been a Clerk for more than 10 yrs, it is not an easy job, in that it takes a lot of prep before hand to ensure it goes well, but worth it at the end of the day. I was always glad to do it.
Here we go again . . . I saw Mitt Romney trot out the old "Obama is cutting $500 billion dollars from Medicare" misinformation campaign to pander to the senior citizens of Florida.
Let's look at the facts, shall we?
Yes folks, Medicare Advantage is nothing more than another form of corporate welfare. Need proof?
Here is an excerpt from a post I made way back in 2009 when the GOP and the corporate people that back them first started spreading this same lie about health reform . . . I give you the TRUTH about the private insurance slush fund also known as "Medicare Advantage" . . . turns out the Advantange is for the corporate people:
Good Morning Nash!
Maybe, just maybe, one of these days someone will call them out on the bull@!$%#!
Until then, looks like it's up to us...
I'm in the mood for some kool-aid, care to join me?
Girl, some kool-aid sounds marvelous . . . as always . . . I'll take my favorite flavor . . . red! :o)
shut medicare and medicaid down it is unsustainable.
Naw Buck . . . we are going to shut the corporate crookdom down . . . that is what is unsustainable.
I'll take some, as long as you have lime....
Outstanding post, Nash. Thanks for sharing--hope you saved it somewhere because I suspect we will need it again....and again.....and again......
It really doesn't bother me if Medicare quits paying for a senior's gym membership. Let's get everyone some basic health care first and then worry about seniors going to Silver Sneakers (that is a popular program where I live).
Buck Naked: is that let em eat cake stuff working for ya yet??
Nashville Fan,
Thank you for detailing the truth about Advantage Plans vs fee for service for those who qualify for Medicare.
It is crazy that these insurance companies only spend 83-86% of the money they take in for benefits and the rest are profit!!
And I understand if you sign up for Advantage plan, the company gets your part B payment which comes out of your SS check each and every month whether you file a claim or not or use heath care service or not.
Most of the people I know that have an Advantage Plan do so because of the co-pays and the gym memberships. Just a little FYI.
We do have Advantage plans in MN . But all of our insurance companies need to be non profit. They need to set aside a certain amount of their profits in a "rainy day fund" to keep the increase in preminuims lower in years they have increase in claims.
We are the corporate headquarters for United Heath Care, the biggest insurance company in the US. They are a for profit company and do not offer insurance to employers here. Blue and a lot of managed care insurance companies sell insurance in MN.
A family member works as fraud analysist for UHC. They investigate "upcoding and other inaacurate claims" with contracts from insurance companies. The highest area for doctor's fraudulent claims are midtown Manhattan and parts of Florida.
Northstar,
United Health Care is super big in my area (and Blue). The fraud claims are also high in my area - we have a large retirement community here. Also a player here, but being turned down by a lot of the docs, is Humana.
Nashville -- It's amazing how they hate the system so much they are calling for huge cuts to the program through vouchers.....yet complain, scream and whine when smart cuts are made. Hypocrisy at it's finest.
This issue of vouchers is being kept to a whisper for now as they campaign but come general elections this issue will loom large.
Nice post!
Nashville fan, nice post and l agree. See you in Nashville U.S.A., Once a year l stop by the "Wildhorse Saloon, I'm a big fan of Country.
Thanks to everyone for your comments . . . much appreciated . . . and I'll be looking out for ya Patriotic American . . . although I must admit . . . I spend more time at Kroger than at the Wildhorse! lol
P.S. *waves to Steeler Fan*
Phinephancy and others - Medicare Advantage plans are indeed a boondogle for the insurance companies, but speaking as a senior, even though I know the plans are probably doomed and drive up the cost for everyone, a fixed income dictates what sort of insurance one can afford. Quick tutorial - Medicare is divided into several parts: Part A is basically hospitalization and is free; Part B is everything else except prescriptions and currently costs apx. $100 a month, which is deducted from my Social Security check. The problem for seniors has always been that Parts A and B only cover 80% of hospital and doctors, has a deductible, and doesn't cover prescription drugs.
Insurance companies invented Medicare Supplement policies to cover the 20% deficiency, but these policies are quite expensive and still don't address the prescription drug problem, which is the largest part of seniors' medical expenses. Enter Part D, prescription drugs, which sounds like a really good idea. However, Congress in its wisdom didn't fund this and, like supplemental policies, turned it over to the insurance industry to run, with another premium. Total premiums for Medicare, a supplemental policy and a drug policy can run $300 a month, a hunk of money on a fixed income.
Part C is the Advantage plans that usually roll A, B and D together for one price; the Part B premium already deducted is routed to the Advantage insurer and any additional premium is paid directly to the insurance company. Again, sounds like a good idea, but not funded, and run by for-profit insurance companies.
As Nashville points out above, the big winners are the insurance companies, but I admit to enjoying the benefits to me (smaller premiums to cover everything, no deductibles) however short term they may be. The answer, of course, is single payer, universal coverage, but I have to work with what I've got!
Nashville, great information. Hope you keep it handy to post repeatedly because as the campaign wears on, we're going to hear Mitt or Newt or whoever repeat the lie.
MKM, good points and post.
With the Affordable Care Act, there are no copays for preventive wellness checks, for preventive health screenings. Making preventive care less costly for everyone will ultimately reduce the cost of health care in the future because preventable and controllable problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes, can be caught early before they become major expenses and life-threatening ones.
As of fall 2011, I'm now on Medicare but I also have supplemental insurance through my former employer which includes an Rx plan. In January, thanks to the Affordable Care Act, for the first time I went for my annual physical with blood work, etc., and paid zero for the office visit, the required bloodwork or the mammogram. In years past, I always had to pay. In January 2012, the cost of the monthly medicare premium declined from $115 down to $99 plus change.
The GOP naysayers are wrong about the ACA as well as medicare. Too bad so many people who actually benefit from ACA and the changes made to help them willingly buy what the GOP tells them instead of checking for the facts themselves. ACA wasn't perfect, no public option for one, but it has many good parts to it. The most important thing is change has been implemented, a law passed and adding to or deleting things that don't work is easier now.
Thoughts from this Floridian,
I am registered NPA (no party affiliation), so I am not voting today. However, I have watched and listened. I have been bombarded with television ads, pundits and mailers. I have a little, I call my personal "poll" group that gives me insight to the GOP thinking. What have I learned? The GOP base is angry at the establishment. (60% of my group are voting Gingrich because of it). I have also learned that if the candidates have any real ideas to move the country forward, I have yet to hear them. All I hear from the two leading candidates is how bad each other is. (I never did see or hear from Santorum or Paul)
Listening to some GOP pundits, I have now learned they want the others (at least Gingrich and Santorum, they have no control over Paul) to drop out now, so Romney can spend the next 9 months going after President Obama. If the GOP establishment are now handpicking who their nominee is, why go through the farce of a primary season? Just go back to your smoke filled room in Tampa, walk out and say "Romney is our guy" and be done already.
To those of you ahead, my thoughts and prayers go out to you as the "show" comes to your state. My advice, keep the tv off - take the time to do those projects you have been putting off. Read a good book. The negativity will sicken you if you watch.
I love my home and my state. I want every single one of you to visit. But, please, leave your politics and negativity at home. I (and most other Floridians I know) am done.
Good morning Phine, glad to hear you will get some peace. The locusts will be gone in the morning and normal commercials on television will for a short while act as Advil. May pink garden flamingos regain their rightful place.
Ideology,
This morning while driving over the 312 bridge, I saw a pink spoonbill fly overhead. While not a flamingo, it has given me hope for a bright and happy day!
Congrats phine for making it thru this ugliness, er, nastiness, er, oh yes the "primary" even though you are NPA. Enjoy the quiet and the beauty of your state and thanks for your prayers!! Will be down your way next month for a week, hoping for great weather and no politics!
...and here, lost in everything going on in the Florida Primary, is the biggest story of the day!
Today we finally get names and numbers of who gave how much to which candidate's SuperPAC...but they're not allowed to coordinate...*wink-wink*!!!
Sadly, this will not receive the coverage it deserves.
Da Noid,
Well you wouldn't want them to let every one know who controls things now would you?
I agree Da Noid. I would like to see a lot of coverage on this. If we, the people, are being bought and sold, I want to know who is doing the buying and selling us down the river!
Morning phine,
Finally have a good nights sleep? ;-)
The cat took over my pillow, then my spot in the bed. I ended up on the loveseat. (Both he and Mr. phinephancy snore, and hearing it in stereo was more than I could take.)
But, it is a glorious day. Birds are chriping and the air is fresh. I feel good.
Colbert super PAC reports $1 million in donations
The super PAC run by comedian Stephen Colbert -- Americans for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow -- reported to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) early Tuesday morning that as of Monday, it had collected $1,023,121.24 in donations.
Along with its financial disclosure report, Colbert's group filed a memo with a statement from Colbert, which said, "Yeah! How you like me now, F.E.C? I'm rolling seven digits deep! I got 99 problems but a non-connected independent-expenditure only committee ain't one!"
www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57368783-503544/colbert-super-pac-reports-$1-million-in-donations/
That's gotta be a record for a non attached pac...
Da Noid,
This should embarrass those in Washington. Sadly, though, it won't.
Just goes to show you that some people have more money than they know what to do with in this bad economy.
Da Noid, I've also been cheering Colbert onward. Back after the last presidential election, some university ran a study to determine which television "news" shows created the most informed viewers. At the time, the researchers where shocked to find that The Daily Show's viewers were the most informed citizens about the presidential campaign issues. (Then on the other end, the "entertainment" channel of FOX News ranked with the least informed viewers.)
Based on that study, I'd say that the Comedy Central politics news shows have a very larger following and they seem to be good at informing a vast amount of people. With this in mind, I'm guessing that Colbert's PAC stunt has probably raised a lot of awareness amongst Americans. I can only hope that this will lead to better things in the future as the informed public finally starts to object to the current PAC rules.
In a way, the folks at Comedy Central educate the voting public with humor, rather than negativity (seems to be my theme for the day - that's what happens when you go through 10 days of the garbage we have had here in Florida). Seems humor is working.
ok, bottom of page one time for carrot top to move on
Well it's FEC filing day for the Super PACs. To continue his satire, Colbert has already submitted his PAC earnings along with a smark aleck cover letter. Per the filing, Colbert has raised $1,000,000 for his PAC (Americans for Tomorrow, Tomorrow).
Hopefully his stunt has raised the public awareness about how PACs work and just how powerful they can be. In time, perhaps the popular opinion in the USA will become strong enough to fight against PACs.
Obama 2012. Yes, a win is going to be that easy.
Poor Willard, the teabaggers don't like him.
We need a single primary day in this country. Most of the country has no say in who ends up running.
This Country will never have a real conservative as President. President Reagan was a moderate Republican that we Democrats respected, even though at times we disagreed. Today such a figure as Ronald Reagan would be thrown out of the Republican Party as being too moderate.
Somewhere along the line the radical right hijacked your party.
No concern about the radical left on your side of the aisle?
lvingbarefoot: The good news about the democratic party being far wider and far more inclusive than the Republicans is that Democratic presidents, if they can appeal to their diverse party, have a much easier time in governing from the middle (for instance, a democrat rescuing the nation's largest banks and taking tough military action against enemies as has just happened)...The bad news about the modern Republican party being dragged so far to the extremes, is that after playing their traditional race, class and every conceivable hate card in the primary, it's awfully hard these days to come back from crazy and woo moderates and independents anymore). When you alienate women, those with any education, all minorities and only appeal to religious and race extremists, things get a little dicey for you in this country. Unfortunately for the Republican Party, they're just not making angry old racist white guys the way they used to.
Jobs, I absolutely agree with this. There are plenty of moderate Republicans out there but they no longer are in control. Mitt Romney was one at one time (do you think Bluer than Blue Massachusetts would have elected someone like the guy we're seeing now?). Unfortunately, the TP wing of the party has banded together to demand unrealistic, ridiculously conservative values from ALL Republican candidates. Reagan was a conservative but a reasonable one who had some liberal views. The Limbaugh crowd has painted a fictional Reagan who they remember fondly as a champion of all things extremely conservative but, in fact, raised taxes on several occasions and made it easier for immigrants to come to America. Sad, really, because there are many who would like an alternative to Democrats but not this alternative.
lvingbarefoot, while I agree that there are radical left-wing types among the Democrats, they hardly have control of the party. It's a much wider group that gives voters options. The Republican field has given us an endless supply of candidates who spout off the same tired routine about how we have to lower taxes to raise revenue and cut the deficit. They may differ slightly on some areas (certainly Ron Paul is a large departure on foreign policy) but every one, including Paul, gives us the exact same, extremely conservative economic plan.
Nope.
Why would any of the top three contenders.....Mitt, Newt and Rick.....quit the race after only four states with so many states left -- hey, according to Obama, there are over 54 left!! -- LOL. Until today, each of them has one state under their belt. It could go any way. Florida doesn't define the race!
Why were the candidates that dropped out a long time ago still on the ballot?
I wonder how many who have second homes in the district of columbia and move to Florida in the winter months vote twice heh heh. And from another article, romney sure is showing a rich man's arrogance, breaking into song LOL. What a bunch of political jerks heh heh
I have more concern about Detroit where it was discovered that there are 17,000 more registered Democratic voters then there are people of voting age. The registrar of voters in Detroit has stated that "she cant do anything about it until after the next election. Its a guess that many of these people have moved to the suburbs, and can vote in the town they currently reside in then take the 20 mins drive to vote in their old district.
well since you have to show permanent residence to get a voter registration card (if you're a snow bird, you'd be voting absentee in your "home" state) --that'd be pretty hard (heh-heh).
Mitt may not be America's best, but is by far better than the others running. Certainly a lot better than the Big O for another 4 yrs.
and so in one short sentence, you've revealed why Romney will lose the general election. No ideas, no plans, no base, just any price paid in this country to get the guy out you hate. And you'll be wondering no doubt, how the heck your guy could lose with backers like you.
The sad truth to all of this he said/she said bull crap is at the end of it all the Republicans will not have a worthy opponent to run for the Presidency. They are all making total fools of themselves and I know 10 year old kids that are more mature than any of them. I mean Newt who is a cheater in his marriage which gives us clues that he is a cheater in politics which by the way was proven with his censure by congress. Also don't forget Newt served his first wife divorce papers on her death bed. What a way to find out your husband is cheating on you and divorcing. He could not even let the poor woman die in peace. Then we have Romney who hides money in oversea accounts to avoid paying taxes and then he is allowed to bring said money back to the US, pay only 12% tax rate on it , pay a small fine and gets no jail time for tax evasion. If that was a common man they would have been locked in shackles in the dungeon and forgotten. Then there was Cain who is also a cheater in his marriage and again is probably a cheater in other things. The other candidates that have dropped out were obviouly competent to run either. Then you have Sarah Palin endorsing Newt. I mean is she stupid enough to think she might be his VP, LMAO!!!!!!!! I know Newt, Sarah, and Calista the plastic woman can have a three way in the Lincoln bedroom. Republicans boot them all out and find someone worth nominating and put up a good fight for the Presidency because all of the clowns trying to get in are worthless and their makeup is running.
Jim, if you analyze the GOP field, they have no viable person for this election. Jeb Bush is waiting for 4 more years, (yuk), and that is about all they have. And Mittens hasn't shown his birth certificate yet. Think he ever will? Where is Oily Taint at when a person needs her?
I fell like they are handing Obama his second term with this bunch of clowns. There is more going on behind the curtains than people realize if that is the case.
"Also don't forget Newt served his first wife divorce papers on her death bed."
Jim, a pathetic post. Lie much?
bob: well yes, that was a bit of hyperbole...she was being treated for cancer and was at the hospital when he asked for the divorce, but she did eventually leave the hospital. Feel better about your boy now?
Bob---is it really that much better that Newt served the wife with divorce papers while she was battling cancer? I think this is the same wife that was his high school teacher, too.
At the time,...I would argue Newt had NO WAY of knowing she would pull through,...as with most people in cancer treatment,...outcomes are very unpredictable. So it has turned out that she wasn't on her deathbed; but rather merely just a sick wife dealing with a narcissistic cheating spouse.
That makes it ALL better.
Bob and Jim,
That's not true. Let's review what we actually know. Newt cheated on all of his wives way before he served them with papers or divorced them. He's admitted to that. He only served them with the divorce papers after they balked at the idea of having an "open marriage", according to at least one of the former wives. The other one was probably too sick with cancer to participate in anything like that.
Mitt Romney, on the other hand, has never cheated on his wife as far as we can tell. But looking at his stands on various issues, he would be willing to change his position on that and cheat if he could get votes by doing so.
bravo, mkemike
EXACTLY the point that should be made. If Cheating is en vogue,...Romney will be ALL IN - especially if it will garner some street cred with votes he needs.
Is there ANYONE on this board that would disagree?
I have seen most of the debates, and the only statement that impressed me, was made by Santorum when asked about his vote on right to work legislation. He stated that he voted against it because this is what his constituents wanted him to do. Romney said he thought Santorum was wrong for voting per his constituents wishes. Santorum said he didn't want to vote that way but it is what the voters wanted. Isn't that how it is supposed to work? I thought Santorums answer spoke volumes about his commitment to the people he represents. Damn shame he doesn't have a chance in hell.
After all the money the Romney people spent to buy Florida if he does not win it he is in big trouble.
We better hope Romney does not get the nomination because he wont beat Obama! people don't like Romney! I don't like Him.
Santorum or Paul
Paul, noone is going to beat Obama. Its just that simple.
Obama/Hiden 2012
Newtie is going to hang in there through the convention. Like any extremist, he will take everyone down with him. Good luck Newt. Keep up the good work. Remember the Alamo...and the Titanic!
Judging by Romneys "It's On" look up there
I Mitt he is gonna do some serious damage to clumsy fatty Newt tonight
Body slam him, put him in a head-lock then hurl him across the audience
With the title of this article, "Is this the beginning of the End for the GOP". The answer is yes and they might as well start planning the 2016 election because Obama will not be able to run for a third term.
Hey David, can you look into your crystal ball and let me know if I'm going to win the Lotto?
Don't kid your self, he might give an executive law and name himself KING.
HEY!!!!...I can do that, I'am looking into my "crystal ball head and see you winning.......a box of rotten tea leaves.