When a "win" isn't a win:

The results in Michigan are in: Romney gets 41% of the votes and Santorum obtained 38%. Last night Romney's talking point was "We didn't win by a lot, but we won by enough". Looking at how delegates will be distributed, both candidates will likely get the same amount. In light of not breaking the 50% barrier and getting the same number of delegates as Santorum, Mitt Romney really didn't do all that well.

The Romney camp wants to set the expectations low so that any kind of a victory looks good. But in fact it's not about expectations; it's about separation. Using Romney's own words, "We didn't win by a lot" reveals that he acknowledges the margin of victory just wasn't that great. Two other factors are in play here: 1) Romney outspent Santorum over 2-1, and 2) Santorum isn't the strongest candidate in the world. In fact, his off-the-wall comments make him one of the weakest candidates in the GOP. So, beating Santorum by three percentage points in his home state is not something Romney can boast about.

The primaries will go on, both Romney and Santorum will rip and tear at each other and the schism between moderates and conservatives will be more apparent. It's looking like whoever wins the GOP nomination will have a hollow victory. Republican Party insiders do have plenty to worry about. As John McCain recently said, "The Republican primary race is like watching a Greek tragedy". On this point John, you are absolutely correct.

New slogan, Winning Ugly VS Winning The Future...

Cool suave and smart president VS a clumsy riot inciter that has fired thousands. Their records will speak for themselves and it's a no brainer. President Obama wins hands down.

WTF!!

It's a No Contest

Backhouse and Ron both your posts speak truth.

Loose Lips (Santorum) and the Cadillac man( Romney) prove once again just how dissatified the country is with these two jokers

Unfortunately, republican politicians do not believe President Obama is doing a good job.

That's why their win is a Laughfest.

Hey, it's not only Republicans who have a direct line to God. I know it seems that way, what with Rick getting the low-down on the right kind of sex. Here's Newt telling us about his special relationship with God - so special that he can break God's rules and still be forgiven. Here's Mitt with his special insights into undergarments, abortion, and all kinds of good stuff - straight from God.

Well, there's good news. I happened to be fishing the other day, and from my hidden vantage point I saw a couple of old-timers having quite the discussion. Herewith, in beautiful poetic terms, I present the events as they unfolded:

Two wise old men basked in the noonday sun,

solving life's problems to the very last one.

Was it genetics or was it culture, or maybe a touch of each?

Was life a picnic at the shore, or was life a beach?

Could ten-thousand angels dance on the head of a pin?

Would one characterize life as no-lose or no-win?

Were black and white, colors opposed, or did they meet somewhere?

Was life simply a circle, or a move from here to there?

Did man evolve from ape, or was there a master plan?

Was there a God of omniscience who gave the earth to man?

Was man meant to be bigamous, or mate for life with one?

Was man just another animal, or was he second to none?

As the old men spoke the heavens spread, and God met their wide-eyed stares.

His eyes were lightning, thunder his voice, as he roared, "Who freakin' cares?!?!?"

Ford's CEO Alan Mulally said:

"if GM and Chrysler would have gone into freefall bankruptcy, they would have taken the supply base down and taken the industry down plus maybe turned the U.S. recession into a depression."

President Obama, 250% "Pro-Business" President.

Ron, thanks for those points this a.m.

Mr. Romney out-spent Mr. Santorum 2-1 and beat him by four points and Mr. Romney was in his home state. Seems the combat will not end any time soon.

LouisJ

New slogan, Winning Ugly VS Winning The Future...

Cool suave and smart president VS a clumsy riot inciter that has fired thousands. Their records will speak for themselves and it's a no brainer. President Obama wins hands down.

WTF!!

It's a No Contest

Indeed,

The sad part is they know they are losing on every issue , religion, women's right's civil rights, education, infrastructure, taxes, and most of all J-O-B-S

The GNOPee are truly ugly.

Well even though Mitt squeaked out a W in Michigan he still lost... Who only gets 41% of the vote in their home state and calls that a win? Looks like the Weather Vane had better start mending some fences back home.

Whoops, I opened the 'Ignoring author' of Damage123. An I have to say, just as crazy as ever. Oh well.

Romney wins MI, but by only 3% points. His "home" State. I call that a squeaker. It will be enough to keep the "Big Boys" from jumping into the race. Besides, their too smart, their waiting for 2016, they know they (or anyone else) isn't going to beat President Obama in the upcoming election.

Obama in 2012.

Enjoyed the terrific. informative and thought provoking posts today from Backhouse, Ron and other leftie liberal leaning folks. Then there was Bill, Fairfax, who continues his Reagan love by comparing the normal economic recession Reagan inherited to the total collapse of every aspect of the American economy in 2008 which was a near 2nd Great Depression--they cannot be compared in any way, shape or form. Albany Joe insists that leftie liberals are "hurt" because Romney barely won Michigan--now that is worthy of a HAHAHAHAHAHA; leftie liberals afraid of Willard, HAHAHAHA.

And then I read David Walker's wonderfully humorous poem and the sun which had been glimmering behind clouds came out of hiding completely.

Obama/Biden 2012!!!! Yes, we Can!

David, fun post!

The answer - is Right Now.

California Tom - Not to worry CA. He'll be carrying it in November as well.

Joe:

Ever wonder why the Main Stream Media is so named?

It is for people - and we must assume by your monicker, MSM, the majority of people - to form opinions by referring to a variety of Main Stream sources.

To argue that you get more truthful reporting from extreme polarizing sources is counter intuitive.

The indications are that Obama has carefully steered us on a road to recovery following a disastrous recession. You are entitled to disagree with Backhouse's assertions but I cannot understand why you are not happy about this successful direction.

"Who freakin' cares?!?!?"

And the proof is: the tornado missed you.

Belfast Lad - Tomato Tomato - It's all about perspective. You say he has steered us on a road to recovery. I say he has held us on the edge of the precipice. In November we'll see who's perspective gets the most votes.

.

Backhouse: Excellent post this morning. You are #1 in my book. Well said, well done.

Now that Willard won by an impressive margin in his birth state, does someone know if he will give an interview to anyone other then Dumb Fux News?

So true Feisty. He just want do an interview with a real network. I can't wait for the President to get him on the debate stage.

Apparently a lot of Santorum fans voted for Romney, because they believe Romney has a better chance at beating Obama.

This Anyone But Obama thing is malarky. Obama is further to the right than Reagan.

These people clearly, do not like the man.

I have news for you -- Obama has succeeded in spite of your bigotry.

He just want do an interview with a real network.

The only problem is, refusing to do interviews outside of his comfort zone, is going to blow up in the faces of the GNOP Grand Poobah's...

Just like it did with Bible Spice!

Willard; "I can see the right heights trees from my $20 million Malibu beachfront porch"! lmao

We can do it................and to your post I would add,the President is the better candidate by far.

Its funny Bill, what I don't understand is how could you say comparing our current economic situation to Regan's gives a more accurate comparison to comparing it to Bush? I am sure the global impact was just as strong then too. There were just as many if not more multi national conglomarates too, right? World-wide demand for natural resources was probably the same as well I suppose. Dont forget those high frquency trades and their effect on the stock market back then too. Oh and capital gains taxes were probably 15% so demand for Financial jobs and icome were just as high right?

They were two different times and though yes they can be compared I don't see how you can say it a better comparison then to the bush era. It's not that we are fanboys it just makes more sense.

As to Romney winning, hey I'm rooting for him. It would prove to me the GOP has not completely lost it. Though I think Santorum would make the easier win, don't forget once he is the candidate there is a possibility he wins the election. I would rather have Romney than Santorum so at the end of the day I would at least prefer his name on the ballot. However, I will be rooting for the President.

Feisty -- You make a great point. When will Romney do interviews with the mainstream media? It's strange that he has only granted a few. One would think a presidential candidate worth their salt would want to reach a wider audience with their message. What are his handler's worried about? His message? His inability to relate? His habit of saying the wrong things? It's all of the above, likely.

Bill Fairfax VA:

The fact is we are experiencing the worst economic recovery in our lifetimes

And another fact that the reason it's the slowest recovery in our lifetimes is because it follows the WORST recession in our lifetimes. Recovering from pneumonia generally takes a lot longer than recovering from a head cold. And the Republicans' voodoo economics ideology gave the economy a very serious case of pneumonia. But that's a fact that Bill won't acknowledge. Probably he'll just whine about blaming Bush and the Repubs for the things for which they are to blame.

Dont_carry_it_all

Feisty -- You make a great point. When will Romney do interviews with the mainstream media? It's strange that he has only granted a few. One would think a presidential candidate worth their salt would want to reach a wider audience with their message.

The reason is obvious: Mittens goes into meltdown when he has to answer even moderately tough questions. Remember the hissy fit he threw in his disastrous interview on Fox News, of all places?

Romney wins ugly in Michigan… But that win silences the talk about a white knight riding to the GOP’s rescue… February took a toll on Romney… Did Santorum lose Michigan more than Romney winning it?... On to Super Tuesday… And Snowe’s retirement gives Democrats a better than 50%-50% chance of holding the Senate in November.

That's my idea of a great news day!

OBAMA/BIDEN 2012

Bill -- I guess when one only hangs out with people that have the exact political leanings as oneself, only reads one newspaper that leans to their political views and watches only one "news" station that leans far right, then that person would come to the same conclusion you do in your #1.34 post.

Ron, thank you.

NPR reported that Santorum and Romney may have the same number of delegates in Michigan.

Houston --

Remember the hissy fit he threw in his disastrous interview on Fox News, of all places

I caught the "highlights" on another station. Pretty funny! He also did an interview on CNBC with Kudlow, I believe, again, I only caught the" highlights". He stepped in a few piles during that interview and had the conservatives questioning his bona fide conservative credentials once again. Perhaps that's why they keep him sheltered. They are afraid he is a MODERATE, lol.

"There was Gilligan (Rick Santorum) the skipper too (Donald Trump), the millionaire (Mitt Romney) and his wife (Anne Romney), the movie star (Sarah Palin), the professor (Newt Gingrich), and Maryanne (Michelle Bachman)... Here on Gilligan's Island!"

Bill reading your posts, the wise man was right, a fool is born every minute and the minute you were born it was you.

Bill the economy is rebounding and it's killing you isn't it. You tea people GOP Koch republicans cheering for the United States of America to fail are disgusting. The underhanded, lying dirty tricks you tea people GOP Koch republicans will do just for a win. The first step to winning an election Bill is to have competent candidates, which you have none at this point. So we all know where your anger is coming from.

Now that Willard won by an impressive margin in his birth state, does someone know if he will give an interview to anyone other then Dumb Fux News?

Gotcha Gregory mentioned last Sunday that MTP has repeatedly asked him to come on the show...

What is the Golden Boy so terrified of?

We should have a little sympathy for Willard, Feisty. Romney has a hard time speaking.

Have you ever tried to talk with your foot in your mouth?

GOP keeps doubling and tripling down on policies that have already failed. Trickle down doesn't work, austerity doesn't work, taxing the poor while giving tax breaks to the wealthy doesn't work. Hell, they even shut down Congress, which resulted in the drop in our credit rating. Despite all the roadblocks, Obama maintains a steady hand; and the economy shows a steady growth. Why would the American public vote against what is already working? If anything, voting out the obstinate Tea Party will help this President improve the economy that much more after 2012.

Downtown: so you were on here railing against Bush for gas prices just a few years ago?? (remember when he had to open the reserves to look like he was doing something?) The President of the United States doesn't set gas prices. You're going to try and make that an issue under the President who has overseen a record amount of oil and gas production opened up? And fyi: The great recession began under " He who must not be named"...what you're seeing now that is about to lead to Obama's re-election is called a "recovery"

Wow, talk about politicaly biased reporting.

Why no mention of the 50,000 Democrat voters that were robo-called and told to go vote for Santorum just to screw-up the process?

Even with a bunch of bored, half-wit Democrats voting against Romney just because they have nothing better to do while waiting for their next welfare check, they still couldn't change the outcome.

Well the right wing court jesters are out in force today. If you step back & watch, its easy to see & hear the comedy of errors the jesters speak.

Obama Biden 2012

I believe that should be: Earth to Albany Joe, Earth to Albany Joe--are the trees the right height on Planet Albany? Are the streets the right size on Planet Albany? Corporations are people, my friend; I've got friends who own NASCAR teams; I've been worried about getting a pink slip; I'm unemployed, too; I've known poor people; I've lived on regular streets; nice cheap raincoats you folks wear in Daytona. Earth to Albany Joe, Earth to Albany Joe......

Obama/Biden 2012. Yes, we will!!!

If it is possible, you wrote "Obama had to practically put the economy in shambles so he could..."

WHERE'VE YOU BEEN THIS CENTURY?

When President Obama was inaugurated we were losing 750,000 jobs a month and GDP fell to minus 8.9% (-8.9%) at the end of the Bush term.

In spite of of the OPEN FACT that GOP leadership vowed and BRAGGED they would not to help the President with our economic recovery, ever since he was inaugurated three years ago:

In the last 23 months, under President Obama - 3.7 million private sector jobs were created (even as GOP governors cut 700,000 jobs). Manufacturing jobs are up for the first time since the 1990's. The Auto Industry is back, the economy is back.

One million auto jobs saved, related and local businesses are recovering well. The Big Three making money and rehiring workers, GM #1 in the world. We did not fall down into a Great Bush Depression, thanks to President Obama.

Stop listening to the Faux spinners and bullies on the right. Stop pretending. Face up to it.

DownTownJulieBrown

Obama is going to pay big time for high gas prices.....don't forget his promise to have energy prices..."necessarily skyrocket" - that's been his dream since day one in office.

I've seen this repeated so many times that I finally used Google to find out what Obama was talking about. Politifact found that he really did say this during the 2008 campaign, but he was talking about the effect of "cap and trade" on carbon pollution. Since cap and trade didn't pass, the current rise in gas prices has absolutely NOTHING to do with cap and trade. The gas prices are rising because of the situation with Iran and the associated speculation.

Obama's choice of the words "necessarily skyrocket" was certainly poor, almost on par with Romney's comment that he liked firing people. But what did Obama mean by "skyrocket"? Apparently, not a very big rocket, according to Politifact, which gave the GOP a "Pants On Fire" for knowingly using a bogus estimate of the cost to consumers of cap and trade:

What's fuzzy, however, is how costly. PolitiFact has already looked into the issue and found that estimates vary. Republicans say each household will pay $3,100 a year, a figure they came up with based upon a Massachusetts Institute of Technology study that predicted a cap-and-trade proposal would generate $366 billion annually. On March 24, 2009, we gave the claim a Pants on Fire ruling because the GOP's calculation was badly flawed and because the GOP used the figure even though the author of the MIT study had told them it was wrong. And in an April 1 letter to House Republicans, authors of the MIT study said that the rep

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2009/jun/11/mike-pence/pence-claims-obama-said-energy-costs-will-skyrocke/

Mo said: Bill the economy is rebounding and it's killing you isn't it. You tea people GOP Koch republicans cheering for the United States of America to fail are disgusting. The underhanded, lying dirty tricks you tea people GOP Koch republicans will do just for a win. The first step to winning an election Bill is to have competent candidates, which you have none at this point. So we all know where your anger is coming from.

I'd like to step all over this spin... First Mo - your assertions the economy is rebounding is a false premise. Have you taken a look at prices in retail? Gasoline prices are rising daily. Don't you buy food? How about that nasty unemployment rate? Do you really believe the propaganda coming from the White House? What about the national debt? That bane of liberals, every time it's mentioned? Do you think our debt is a good thing for this country? Who has added multiple trillions to the national debt? Your champion, of course.

Liberals like you always think to douse conservatives with a good dose of Koch while totally forgetting that Soros is your champion. Tit for tat, so there. The only reason you don't think the republican candidates are competent is because you so totally ignore the incompetence from one Barak Obama. Actually Mo, you champion incompetence... Supporting the community organizer with so little experience on the government scene is a sign you have been lulled to sleep.

In Post #1.56, I accidentally omitted the last sentence in the Politifact article:

And in an April 1 letter to House Republicans, authors of the MIT study said that the report was being misinterpreted; by their count, estimates hover closer to $340 per family.

The Republicans claimed the cost would be over $3,000, knowing what they said was false and thereby winning themselves a well-deserved "Pants on Fire" Award.

pjam, that was posted by FR yesterday. Seems to me the question isn't about the democrats who were urged to vote for Santorum but rather the fact that it was Rick Santorum who paid for the robo-call in the first place. It wasn't democrats playing the dirty trick--it was Rick Santorum using the dirty trick. So typical, blame the democrats for a GOP dirty trick.

Sarah: I could hear the tune too! Great post.

The slowest recovery in our lifetimes is mainly due to all the signers of the so-called "Norquist Pledge". 41 Senators & 238 Congressmen (plus Mitt & Newt) are holding hostage this Countrys' lawmaking in treasonous Gridlock. If "Tea Party People" want "TRUE TAX REFORM"; they should follow their "namesakes", grab their "axes" and "AX THE TAX CODE". There is the source of the Nations "DEFICIT"???

comparing the normal economic recession Reagan inherited to the total collapse of every aspect of the American economy in 2008 which was a near 2nd Great Depression--they cannot be compared in any way, shape or form

You're entitled to your own opinion, but not your own facts. Unemployment rose to 10.8% in November 1982 at the height of the "normal" Reagan recession, higher even than the Bush/Obama recession. And I daresay, from the perspective of those who were unemployed the economy was in total collapse.

BTW from that peak, unemployment steadily decreased to 5.4% in January 1989 when Reagan left office. Not a bad record, eh?

You libbers are mighty overconfident, given that your guy has a track record that is probably somewhere behind Jimmy Carter's. The only thing missing is inflation and with $5 gasoline right around the corner, that is on the way.

What you cannot grasp is that it is still February. Obama has roughly 40% of the vote in the bag. He has the victim vote, the guilt vote, the union thug vote etc. locked up. Romney or whomever the GOP nominee is has another 40% locked up. Thinking people, job creators, business owners, people that value growth over government, etc.

That leaves about 20% that will decide the election. This is typical. The MSNBC crowd has decided. The Fox News crowd has decided. The middle 20% probably are not as involved as we are. They are going to wait to see what each candidate has to say. They will likely decide in September or October based on how they are feeling. All the hysteria about Bachmann, Perry, Cain, Newt, Santorum, etc. will be forgotten by then.

Romney needs a specific plan as to where he wants to take the country. He needs concrete ideas on job growth, spending, deficit control, defense, and many others.

Obama will at long last have to defend his record, which is frankly abysmal.

Incumbency is powerful. A weakened Clinton won. George W Bush won. The challenger must present a better alternative than the incumbent.

Me thinks the mocking and the celebration when you have 1.9% GDP growth ( 2011) and 8.6% unemployment and 4 years of trillion dollar deficits is a tad premature. It may end up hurting you. You will need crazy high turnout from the same groups that you had in 2008. Self satisfied, gloating people don't turn out in high numbers.

The reluctant choice Republican voters made last night was for the lightweight cynic, Romney, over the religious extremist, Santorum. What a terrible choice to have to make! Those poor voters will have a much happier alternative in the general election, though!

Obama in November! There is no other choice!

By: Alex Guillen, Politico

February 28, 2012 06:37 PM EST

The Energy Department isn’t working to lower gasoline prices directly, Secretary Steven Chu said Tuesday after a Republican lawmaker scolded him for his now-infamous 2008 comment that gas prices in the U.S. should be as high as in Europe.

“No, the overall goal is to decrease our dependency on oil, to build and strengthen our economy,” Chu replied. “We think that if you consider all these energy policies, including energy efficiency, we think that we can go a long way to becoming less dependent on oil and [diversifying] our supply and we’ll help the American economy and the American consumers.”

www.politico.com

In all reality America will always be dependent on oil......so maybe Obama and his buddies need to get out of the way...and let us produce what we can....

Houston! Thank you.

Fabulous post and explanation, re: the spinning of the cap and trade comment.

Yes voters will have a choice in November of the lightweight cynic as you put it, or someone who can read what others write from a teleprompter. To bad we couldn't vote for the teleprompter. Then we would have something that only tells us what we want to hear, but would be powerless to make the changes that have doomed the nation. Spend baby spend, what a great legacy.

Ahhh,

Au contraire, have not seen your 'Media Matters.'

The FACTS are out there - but you have to ignore Faux Entertainment.

Romney needs a specific plan as to where he wants to take the country. He needs concrete ideas on job growth, spending, deficit control, defense, and many others.

Romney has a plan and policies. The WSJ said it would add trillions to the debt.

When Romney is allowed to speak to the media, what will happen when they question him on that? Or how about his plans to privatize SS and give vouchers for Medicare? The elderly will run from him.

Methinks you need to think more.

Ido,

If you can't make a point without POINTING IT OUT in CAPS, then your post doesn't deserve to be read.

Righties these days...

I know IDO is pounding furiously on his keyboard, but all that comes up on my screen is "Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh!!"

...and Rick, if the lame teleprompter thing is the best you have, you might as well be making plans for your President Obama Reelection Party now!

Just wait until the REAL campaign starts.

I agree with you on that, Ido.

Bring it!! May the best man win.

OBAMA/BIDEN 2012

Very clever Sara. Nice job.

Wow, another close one for the Mittzter. It must suck to be Mitt Romney. I wonder if, when the final count is in, Santorum will snatch this "victory" away from him like Iowa. It's possible.

The sky is certainly looking blue and good sailing ahead for our team.

Mitt is going to be the nominee and he is going to be DOA at the polls in November. If his own party doesn't want him why does his think the rest of us will jump on the bus? Huh? Somebody tell me.

Well, the wheels on the bus go round and round, but the bus won't be hauling Mitt Romney to the White House and that's a fact.

So, rejoice children, we've got four years to find a viable candidate to face Big Chris Christie. Get to work, talk amongst yourselves. I wonder if Michelle would consider a run? Now there's an idea whose time has come.

Let me be the first to start, DRAFT MICHELLE OBAMA FOR 2016!

Obama/Biden 2012 Michelle Obama/ 2016! You go girl!

If the democratic votes that overwhelmingly went for Santorum were discounted, perhaps Romney's victory wouldn't be so "ugly", as MSNBC characterizes it. This is further proof that the democrats desperately want Santorum to be the candidate instead of Romney.

Anybody see the Jon Stewart clip on Morning Joe this morning?

He showed tape of Mitt Romney encouraging Mass. republican voters to vote in the Democratic primary for the worse candidate they could find. In light of his reaction to Santorum trying a similar tactic - it is hilarious.

mo -- for the record, is anyone with whom you disagree a "tea people GOP Koch republicans"?

Romney's ugly win
in Mich. dulls talk
of 'white knight'

So Romney wins in Michigan 41% to 38%. In Michigan where Democrats can vote in the Republican primary. Where Left Wing Liberal Wack Job Union Democrat thugs voted for Santorum in hopes that he wins the nomination thereby giving the Big Eared, Jug Headed, incompetent boob a better chance of holding on to the Presidency. If you subtract all the Wack Job votes for Santorum Romney won in a landslide. This should be very eye-opening to you true-believers who still think the Messiah has a chance. The Arizona results are much more indicative of the true outcome in Michigan.

Hi Backhouse,

A great fact based opener for the day. Good job.

They were two different times and though yes they can be compared I don't see how you can say it a better comparison then to the bush era. It's not that we are fanboys it just makes more sense.

Here are the FACTS: The National Bureau of Economic Research scored the recession as ending in June 2009, so today we are in the 50th month since the recession started – and to say that the recovery has been tepid at best would be an understatement. Indeed, after the recession officially ended unemployment actually continued to rise and did not start coming down until December 2010. And today nearly 4 years after the recession started there are still nearly 25 million Americans who unemployed or underemployed -- quite the recovery, eh?

But you prefer to deflect the blame for that dismal record by asserting that there are differences between the Reagan era and our current situation which completely explain the lackluster recovery. Heck, I can play that game too so chew on this. Reagan responded to extremely difficult economic times by unleashing the private sector via cutting taxes and reducing regulations. Obama by contrast has done just the opposite by stifling the private sector with burdensome regulations and the CONSTANT threat of raising taxes. So it's no surprise to anyone with a brain why the current recovery is falling fall short of our historical experience. It's only the Obama fanboys who don't have the good sense to recognize that.

Well Sailcat-#'s reading from a teleprompter was all the qualifications the Democrats needed to support Obama, and he has proven not up to the task. 6 trillion in new debt, gas prices soaring on the weak dollar, healthcare so well written exemptions had to be granted, Solyndra, Fast and Furious, more regulation, a larger government with more bureaucracy, no end to any war, reauthorized the patriot act, the apology tour, Gitmo isn't closed it gets a new soccer field, and the beat goes on and on. One disaster after another.

Obama will probably get a second term, as none of his supporters care about the condition of this country. They all have their hands out and Obama has the credit card. He has the media in his back pocket, he has bought the unions, and big oil is making more money with him then they did with Bush. Obama is the 1 percenters dream president. He might actually hold the record for talking out of the most sides of his face.

One thing is for sure. History is going to treat Obama very harshly, and it will be well deserved. He has set this country on a course of financial disaster it is unlikely to ever recover from. Future generations will get stuck with a tab and have nothing to show for it. Congress, and I mean all of congress will be treated just as harshly. There isn't an incumbent in Washington that deserves to be re-elected, and that very definitely includes Obama.

I believe that should be: Earth to Albany Joe, Earth to Albany Joe--are the trees the right height on Planet Albany?

_____________________________________________________

Jody: The trees where I live are actually taller and better looking than elswhere, a byproduct of good breeding. :~)

I guess when one only hangs out with people that have the exact political leanings as oneself, only reads one newspaper that leans to their political views and watches only one "news" station that leans far right, then that person would come to the same conclusion you do in your #1.34 post.

Umm, but I come here frequently and thereby am beneficiary to the penetrating insights provided by FR and the left wing brain surgeons who post here. So umm, I kinda sorta think I'm exposed to quite the range of ideas. The difference between you and me is that I take those ideas and actually form my own opinions. Thanks for reading.

Throwing in the towel already, Rick? It's probably for the best, I suppose. After the frankly hilarious GOP primary race and the reluctant choice by the voters of the rich, out-of-touch political hack, any attempt to deny the inevitability of Obama's reelection would appear pathetically delusional.

But the teleprompter thing? Really? Sorry, Rick, but fail, big time.

Two words for you willfully ignorant, deliberately self-deluded members of the right wing lunatic fringe: Obama Wins!

Feel better? I knew you would!

In a never ending quest to use their platforms to advance their own political agenda, a key storyline the MSM is trying to foist on us is the notion of a rebounding economy. Yes indeed, our new normal of unemployment over 8% and GDP growth staggering along at around 2% constitutes an economic recovery for which the masses should be eternally grateful. And the deserving recipient of our gratitude should be none other than the great one himself, one of the four best presidents of all time by his own estimation.

What a bunch of absolute hogwash. It is astonishing beyond belief that anyone but the lowest of low information voters would be persuaded by that nonsense. The fact is we are experiencing the worst economic recovery in our lifetimes.

It must kill you wingnuts to admit that the economy is recovering, doesn't it? You must have also forgotten that in 2007-2009, we experienced the worst economic recession in our lifetimes. The Raygun recession of 1982 was about half as bad and it took until 1984 for the economy to start recovering. And, that year one of the reason for unemployment numbers dropping so quickly was that the Raygun administration started using the method for determining unemployment numbers that is currently used, AND started counting people who enlisted in the Military in the Delayed Entry Program and people in the Reserves as "fully employed."

Santorum lost Arizona & Michigan, now they have Ricko on a Suicide Watch, its leap year for Ricko ? "Lets Celebrate this dirtbags lost." NOW this loose Nut Ricky is running to Ohio like a Chicken with its head cut off, this wacko is a total "Joke"

Rick, all of those candidates could do to use a teleprompter. Honestly the gaffes just keep on coming, every president uses teleprompters or note cards for speeches. History will not treat Obama harshly, racists do. All of those policies you complain about are extensions of Bush and just aren't so simple to resolve. Gitmo is great example, thank you. Yes he promised to close it and he soon realized that it is easy to being a running candidate and make promises but harder to make them happen. Years in detention and none of their home countries wanted them back, if they weren't terrorists before they sure are now.

Norquist-oil lobbyist literally owns the GOP, they have signed their pledge to protect THEIR interests. Something all of the conservative base dismisses, either you lack the intellect to understand the implications or you are just as crooked as them. Or your simply a racist who will put anyone WHITE in the white house rather than Obama.

Who really doesn't care about the condition of the country? You have nothing to base your accusations on and the republicans have a long history of cut taxes (for the wealthy) and spend huge amounts of money. Democrats end up cleaning up their messes. What should be the more financially wise party is just a bunch of greedy 1% pigs, a bunch of bible thumping morons and a bunch of racists who can't see past Obamas skin color all making up endless lies.

Here are the FACTS: The National Bureau of Economic Research scored the recession as ending in June 2009, so today we are in the 50th month since the recession started – and to say that the recovery has been tepid at best would be an understatement. Indeed, after the recession officially ended unemployment actually continued to rise and did not start coming down until December 2010. And today nearly 4 years after the recession started there are still nearly 25 million Americans who unemployed or underemployed -- quite the recovery, eh?

Unemployment is the last thing to bounce back after a recession, so it is normal to see unemployment rise, after the recession ends. It did during the Raygun recession. And do you have a source for your 25 million figure? And I find it hilarious that you wing nuts start acting concerned for people who are "underemployed" when a Democrat is President.

Comment author avatarldo

Ahhhh, Backhouse, and other Obama believers, must have gotten his "talking points" straight from Media Matters via the White House campaign control headquarters

Media Matters doesn't post talking points, they post "conservative" misinformation.

Lowest employment rate in 3 years: January was 7th straight month of adding a minimum of 100,000 jobs per month.
Best job creation rate for 2011 in 6 years, and second best in 12 years.

Looks good doesn't it until you factor in the 1.2 million that have fallen off the unemployment lists and forgotten about conveniently.

Sailcat-#'s, I just can't wait to see Romney up against Obama in the debates. Obama is nothing without his teleprompter, and it is just like the nations American Express card, he never leaves home without it.

Jan-#'s there is just nothing like the race card is there? Maybe its you who can't see past the color of his skin to the quality of his character or his ability to do the job. For the record, the Democrats have been in control of congress for the better part of the past 60 years, so there is more then enough blame to go around Washington if you can look past the color of ones skin.

As no conservative can actually back any of these candidates with real policy that they have to improve things back on point.

I would disagree that this was an ugly win for Romney, the fact that more catholics voted for him, the fact that democrats deliberately voted for Santorum in hopes of giving him a better position. A far easier candidate for Obama. Showed that things are on the down turn for Santorum, his arizona performance was dismal. I guess saying that separation of church and state making want to throw up, children shouldn't be college educated and his sexual obsession is catching up.

Bill -- Actually, you come here to post an opinion. Who are you trying to kid? But if you do in fact form opinions based on opinions then that explains your opinions. Try stepping out of the tunnel once in a while. You might be surprised that the world is indeed round!

That's it, Rick! Keep slugging even when it makes you look sadly deranged! That's the boy!

Sheesh...

Yes and Obama doesn't make continuous gaffes that annoy the voters either. I think all of those candidates could use a teleprompter. You know their campaign teams have to be smacking their foreheads with the stupid blunders.

Tad-401841

Lowest employment rate in 3 years: January was 7th straight month of adding a minimum of 100,000 jobs per month.
Best job creation rate for 2011 in 6 years, and second best in 12 years.

Looks good doesn't it until you factor in the 1.2 million that have fallen off the unemployment lists and forgotten about conveniently.

Except that it is false that 1.2 million fell off the unemployment list in January. In January, the numbers were changed to use the census data from the 2010 census. The two largest increases in population segments were under the age of 18 and over the age of 55. Most of those people were not working anyway. Nice try to use a wing nut talking point though.

Rick-3416939

Sailcat-#'s, I just can't wait to see Romney up against Obama in the debates. Obama is nothing without his teleprompter, and it is just like the nations American Express card, he never leaves home without it.

Obama didn't use teleprompters in the debates in 2008 and mopped the floor with his competition. He also didn't use one when meeting with republiCON senate members during the "health care debate" and left them wishing they never invited tv cameras to the meeting.

Thats funny Rick, during the Bush administration, the republicans dominated congress up until the end when they had completely annhilated the economy.

By the way, this constant blaming of the democrats and letting the republicans off the hook no matter where they are in D.C. is stupid. Its Obamas fault that Bush screwed the economy, but it was the democrats fault that the republican dominated senate and house with Bush screwed it somehow? You don't even make any rational sense.

Bill you ignored my point...

In your post you criticized "Obama fanboys" for comparing the President's handling of the economy to Bush Favoring Regan's as a better comparison. I simply gave you a few reasons why comparing to Bush gives a more accurate measure. I even say in my post, in the section you quoted, that you can compare the two I just do not agree that the Regan one serves as a better comparison.

Of course you ignore that, accuse me of deflecting. I did not deflect I responded to one of your crticisms.

In your post you are saying tax cuts are the solution. That they "unleash the private sector" So the Bush tax cuts are saving us right now huh? Oh and why were the Republicans so against the payroll tax cut extension??? I am not offering and opinion on either, its just both these scenarios run counter to what you stated.

Sailcat - while I admire your tenacity your prognostication is just a willful guess at this time. Unless you have an accurate crystal ball, no amount of wishing will erase the negatives from your hero Obama. As time goes on, we shall see how many of these negatives become exponential. Remember, mind control only goes to those that let it permeate their brains.

A common lie pushed by the left is that the reason we're experiencing the slowest recovery from a recession in our lifetimes is because the recent recession was one the worst in our lifetimes – you know the drill, it was a really deep hole so it will take longer to work our way out of it. Unfortunately, the historical record does not support that fiction. In fact, our historical experience is that the deeper the downturn, the more robust the recovery.

Consider the Great Depression. From 1930-1933 GDP contracted on an annual basis as follows: -8.6%, -6.5%, -13.1% and -1.5%. Now THAT was a deep and prolonged downturn. But in the next four years from 1934-1937 the economy expanded at a boffo pace: 10.9%, 8.9%, 13.1% and 5.1%.

I keep telling my friends on the left they're entitled to their own opinions but not their own facts. One of these days they'll listen.

http://bea.gov/national/xls/gdpchg.xls

Jan, to be totally clear, the downturn in our economy only came after 2006, when democrats took control of the house... While I admonish Bush for his lack of leadership concerning the economy, the democrats controlled the purse strings of the government. Never forget that... democrats had direct control of monetary issues after 2006... when the economy started tanking.

Detroit Free Press is reporting that voter turnout yesterday isn't likely to get to 20%. Of those voting, about 10% were democrats, mostly voting for Santorum, thinking He would be a weaker candidate against the President in the general. If these numbers hold, and it looks like they will, then the "ugly" detected by MSNBC last night, will indeed reveal, at least, several more family members of like or worse countenance. Poor republicans!

Yes Brianb, please remember that when you listen to Fox lies, Limbaugh, or Glenn Beck. No amount of making up things can erase the truth of the nightmare that Bush left us in. To which he admitted to and that is why he started initiated the bailouts, to try the stem the flow of the disaster before Obama took office. They had estimated that unemployment would go to 20%, they had not expected it to start recovering even within Obamas term. Unfortunately for the republicans, they just can't keep lying and convince people with 2 brain cells to ping together.

It seems to me that Romney has been very successful in getting his message out. The problem is that people are not responding favorably to his message. So, what the Romney camp is really saying is that they're going to re-script his message to conform to whatever it takes to win the primaries. That's not working harder on getting your message out. That's working harder on selling out.

The real trick in this race for the GOP is to turn from running extreme far right to win the primaries to then having to move left to center to expect to pick up independents and moderates. Move too far and you risk losing the base. Don't move enough and you're too far right for mainstream voters. And, in either case those early soundbites aren't going away.

Since your "facts" support our claim, do you admit it will take a long while for the economy to recover?

Brianb, you really don't know what caused the downturn? It wasn't war, it wasn't medicare part D, and it wasn't anything that was even done during the Bush administration. Those things just made the problem that much worse. Wow you republicans completely fail at equating policy to problems.

You and Rick share the same failure at understanding policy and how it effects the economy. To say that the crash was Bush's fault isn't really his fault. That was done during the Clinton administration. However the tax cuts with the massive spending just sent us down the tubes so much faster.

Hmmmmm...I don't recall the lib news media pointing out an "ugly win" in Iowa? I think that was an ugly win because 8 of the voting districts were unaccounted for, yet they called it a win for Santorum. The lib media surely does not want Romney to win, do they? What are they afraid of?

An Ugly Win in Michigan for Romney?

What is ugly about competition and an Election. No one forced people to vote.

Brianb-999431

Jan, to be totally clear, the downturn in our economy only came after 2006, when democrats took control of the house... While I admonish Bush for his lack of leadership concerning the economy, the democrats controlled the purse strings of the government. Never forget that... democrats had direct control of monetary issues after 2006... when the economy started tanking.

Please explain to us Einstein, how controlling monetary issues caused the housing bubble that led to the crash. BTW, even though the dems had a slight majority from 2007-2009. It was Bush who submitted the budget requests for those years. And, the only thing was increased from Bush's requests were for Veteran benefits. You can try to spin it all you want, but experts were predicting the bubble to burst in early to mid 2006, before the elections.

I don't know Cawf what are republicans so afraid of with Obama that they are obsessed with attacking him constantly to the point where they have totally failed to come up with any answers of their own?

Excuse me? How does one retiring RINO give democrats a better than 50/50 chance of retaining the Senate?

Did you read the article, Brianb?

*** Two points on Snowe’s retirement: We want to make two points about Olympia Snowe’s retirement announcement yesterday. One, it gives Democrats a better than 50%-50% chance of holding the Senate in November. If Democrats win in Maine and Massachusetts, then they’ve moved the bar to Republicans needing to win five seats (if Obama loses) and six (if he wins). We can see how Republicans get to four (North Dakota, Nebraska, Montana, and Missouri). And we can see how they maybe get to five (adding Virginia or Wisconsin or Ohio). But six? That would mean that Republicans would need to win in a New Mexico or a Florida or a Michigan. It's a tall order; they didn't sweep all the toss-ups in 2010, which was a much BETTER landscape for the GOP.

This is my favorite part:

Two, Snowe’s stated reason for not seeking re-election in 2012 -- increased polarization in the Senate -- couldn’t have been scripted better by David Plouffe or David Axelrod. “I do find it frustrating … that an atmosphere of polarization and 'my way or the highway' ideologies has become pervasive in campaigns and in our governing institutions," she said yesterday.

Olympia Snowe is sick of her own party...and who can blame her for that?

Cawf, the "librul media" called Iowa for Romney, and it turned out later that Santorum had actually won it.

Brianb-999431

Yo Brian, I have not sparred with you for several days. All is on the upswing with you I hope.

I am so glad to see all the conservatives on here are following the RNC's memo exactly as they were told.

We have Joe, Bill, and Ido following their instructions WORD FOR WORD. You guys all deserve a round of applause. I mean, the ability to follow the instructions given to you, like good little lemmings, is quite impressive.

Unfortunately your very own Fox News spilled the beans. On the show Fox & Friends, Steve Doocy actually lifted up the memo and read it, verbatim, on live television... explaining, word for word, the exact arguments they have been instructed to use. And did you see the look on Gretchen Carlson's face when he read that memo? LOL... it looked like she just dropped a load in her pants. You could literally see in her eyes the words: "Oh s***, we were not supposed to reference the memo." LOL

So good job, Joe, Bill and Ido. Like good little sheep... good little lemmings, you are following the memo word for word. What was it again? Discuss the debt, jobs, and really push the gas price issue (even though we all know that the President has nothing to do with gas prices). Yup, you are right on track.

You better check your inbox for your next set of instructions... don't want to make your masters angry.

@Backhouse - You "unbiasedly" left out the high gas price since he took office, from $1.84 to over $4.00+ today. Also, he vetoed the Keystone pipeline project, thus killing 1000's of jobs. How come you didn't mention these? More liberal lies and biased B.S. feeding from the left?

I'm sure you're "prospering" right now in this economy, is there anyone else?

LOL Fox is such a group of morons, the only one worth listening to at all is Sheperd Smith. The rest of them are pure RNC propaganda spin day and night.

Cawf, you "unbiasedly" left off the high gas prices in 2008 that was also over $4.00. He did not "veto" the Keystone pipeline and left it open to be approved after the State Department studies are complete. It did not kill 1000s of jobs either, maybe a few hundred. And, it would have done nothing to lower the price of gas. Since the only reason to send the oil from Canada to Texas was to refine it and put it on ships to go overseas.

Bottom line. Romney is the least crappy Rep, and Obama is the least crappy Dem. Still means we get crap either way, but a tad less smelly.

The keystone is stalled by a republican governor.

Michigan has an open primary. That means that anyone can vote in any primary. I suspect there were more than a few Democrats cast votes for the candidate they would prefer to run against Obama. I wonder what the outcome would have been if it was a closed Primary Like the one in AZ Romney 47% vs Santorum's 27%

Jan, all presidents will be raked over the coals. Bush did, Clinton did and on and on. BHO is just getting his presidential election year due like all the rest. They're not afraid of him, they don't like his policies. Romney is not even president (YET) and the lib media is already trying their best to rake him over the coals. They certainly aren't raking Santorum like they are Romney. Now, I ask again, what are they afraid of?

raddave - Yes $4+ in 2008 and six months later, what was it ($1.84)? Think today, six months later...what will it be? I bet not even $2.

I love how you wing nuts accuse Democrats of doing what you were calling for in 2008 with zero proof of it actually being done.

Taxpayers have spent more than $150 billion to prop up Fannie and Freddie, the most expensive bailout .... The government estimates that figure could top $259 billion to support the companies through 2014 ....

Bill --

I keep telling my friends on the left

Huh! If true at least we know you occasionally have fun.

Cawf, gas prices dropped suddenly in 2008 because the Saudis started pumping more oil, which actually caused a temporary glut on the market. Presidential polices have nothing to do with the price of oil. It didn't in 2008 and it doesn't now. Experts are saying the sudden rise in prices are because speculators are anticipating a shortage of oil in July, when sanctions are due to be imposed on Iran.

Santorum is getting raked over the coals too, because of the nutty comments he has been saying lately.

Backhouse - Romney 14 and Santorum 12. but one district was too close to with Santorum said to be ahead, but short some results. If Romney ends up ahead it would be because the 3 party leader votes.

Gas prices go up EVERY... SINGLE... YEAR... like clockwork.

They have gone up, and down, and up, and down... with every single President.

The fact that the right is trying to use this as a debate point shows just how desperate they are. The GOP is grasping at straws. Gas prices have never, and will never, be controlled by the President. The whole discussion is a pathetic attempt to shine a negative light on positive news. The smell of desperation is over-powering.

Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL Comment collapsed by the community

Now that Willard won by an impressive margin in his birth state, does someone know if he will give an interview to anyone other then Dumb Fux News?

Gotcha Gregory mentioned last Sunday that MTP has repeatedly asked him to come on the show...

What is the Golden Boy so terrified of?

So... once again we see the hypocrisy of the left.

They say (and I paraphrase) 'shame on you Willard for refusing to do interviews on a MSM network other than' (and i like this one) 'other than Dumb Fux News' (classy!)

They ridicule Romney for this yet they send praises on high to Pres. Yomama for refusing to do interviews on (quoting the left again) 'Dumb Fux News'.

Way to go libbies! Thanks for reassuring me that there is at least one constant in the universe... your hypocrisy!

(show me the clown nose, fisty!)

On the passing of Olympia Snowe...

Olympia last was elected with a 70+% vote in Blue Maine. For the naysayers (and you know who you are - that Olympia was a RINO), her vast wins were the result of being a moderate. Many, many voters crossed over to vote for here (ME) because you may not have liked all her positions, but she was straightforward and a problem-solver (not a bomb-thrower.). We Mainers respect that, regardless of party.

Regardless of your political preference, she "performed".

Given the state of dysfunctional Senatorial politics, the well-financed Tea Party proposed primary candidates who are incredibly weak, I do not fault her at all for "throwing it the towel".

Given the dissatisfaction with our Tea Party Governor, there is a very strong possibility that her seat will go to a Democrat (candidates for many years who were "sacrificial lambs" an Snowe was almost unbeatable.

She will be missed.

raddave - and the present administration backs exporting Canadian oil, which helps create that shortage. And this is info from one of your left wing nut links (see below). So, what was that about presidential policies have nothing to do with gas prices?

Wow, step away from the computer for a few minutes to make an omlette and all hell breaks loose.

Jan - The downturn was exemplified by the housing bubble. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were the two largest contributors to the loss in our economy. But of course I have to be a republican in your mind to say that it was democrats that were running the show on Fannie and Freddy... right? Wrong. I am not a republican... in fact I'd be ashamed to call myself one.

Kaybeetoys - I was commenting on the way you were jumping for joy over what the article said. Of course the article was totally wrong because they are enamored over the democrats... extremely obvious... They completely miss the mechanics of the upcoming elections and what is involved... therefore they claimed because of one person retiring, the democrats were an automatic shoe in at 50/50. Nothing else was mentioned about why she was retiring... your commentary is auxiliary. Snowe can always run as an independent and probably win.

Raddave - I don't have the time nor inclination to explain it all to you Yogi. Do your own research to figure out how Fannie and Freddie were mismanaged and completely failed in their attempts to obtain toxic mortgages. Who cares who was doing the predicting... the government oversight democrats failed to act properly... no spin, only facts... look it up on your own. I refuse to do your homework to discover the facts. Got that Yogi?

Idology - I miss sparring with you too... thanks for the concern... I am working out a deal right now that will put me back in Alabama... for more money and some pretty hefty bonuses. I will probably be making a trip there this weekend to scope out the building sites. It's pretty positive... and I get to use all my skills again... I'd hate to see them rust away sitting at home posting on FR... LOL!

What 5 idiots collapsed Backhouse's first post? Hey Feisty, please do your magic to restore him... Please!

Joe in albany, jody is an abomination to the mainstream here in iowa, She is a california transplant who wants nothing more than to see iowa become a another spendthrift state like california.

"Even with a bunch of bored, half-wit Democrats voting against Romney just because they have nothing better to do while waiting for their next welfare check, they still couldn't change the outcome." Posted by pjam09.

Well, I hate to rain on your parade pjam, but Rick stole my idea. I'm a collge educated, fully employed voter in Ohio. For weeks, I've been asking all of my friends to go to the polls Super Tuesday, request a Republican ballot, and vote Ron Paul. Hope it works. Obama's been doing just fine, considering the hand he was dealt and the obstructionist Congress. There will be a Republican candidate. Crazy Uncle Ron Paul makes more sense than Mittens"I was a Ken Doll in a former Life" Romney, Rick Sanitarium, or Puke Gingrich.

They ridicule Romney for this yet they send praises on high to Pres. Yomama for refusing to do interviews on (quoting the left again) 'Fux News'.

Well, since the President "Yomama" (nice race baiting, BTW), has done interviews with FUX "News', your point is moot.

I am working out a deal right now that will put me back in Alabama... for more money and some pretty hefty bonuses. I will probably be making a trip there this weekend to scope out the building sites. It's pretty positive... and I get to use all my skills again... I'd hate to see them rust away sitting at home posting on FR... LOL!

Congrats and best wishes, Brianb. How will you spin it though? It looks suspiciously like an improvement in the economy. :)

raddave - Sorry, here's the left wing link I mentioned previously.

Cawf

raddave - and the present administration backs exporting Canadian oil, which helps create that shortage. And this is info from one of your left wing nut links (see below). So, what was that about presidential policies have nothing to do with gas prices?

We don't "export" Canadian oil, Canada does.

Raddave - I don't have the time nor inclination to explain it all to you Yogi. Do your own research to figure out how Fannie and Freddie were mismanaged and completely failed in their attempts to obtain toxic mortgages. Who cares who was doing the predicting... the government oversight democrats failed to act properly... no spin, only facts... look it up on your own. I refuse to do your homework to discover the facts. Got that Yogi?

Fannie and Freddie did not cause the housing bubble to burst, it was sub-prime mortgage companies that caused most of it. And that period you are talking about, republiCONS were in control of both the house and Senate, so to blame it on Dems, is also false. BTW, my name is not Yogie, it is Dave.

Romney's win in Michigan means squat. For one reason mentioned in the article:

Santorum hurt himself with self-inflicted wounds. His debate performance in Arizona. His college/snob line. His attack on JFK's 1960 speech.

Santorum's extremism is showing. These are not gaffes. This is what Santorum is about, and he can whine all he wants about the media focusing on his religious positions, but these are the issues Santorum is really obsessed with -- A theocracy (no Separation of Church and State) including the education system.

With that said... Romney's narrow win in Michigan and other states does not bode well. Romney can win states with large Mormon populations like Arizona, of course Utah, and Idaho. The lower turn-out for the caucuses and primaries thus far, along with narrow wins, and inability to win in the south is proof that voters realize Romney is NOT presidential material.

Romney's speech last night seemed to have been stolen in part from Santorum in regard to the same old idiotic red meat from the Keystone pipeline to the Affordable Care Act. But Romney really pissed me off with his continued disrespect in referring to the president as "Mr. Obama." This is VERY telling, and smacks of Birther-type questioning of the president's legitimacy.

Romney has lived a life of privilege, of being the boss who is not challenged or even advised, who has avoided the press and gets snippy when questioned. Republicans should demand references. Where are the business associates or folks who worked with Romney when he was governor? Where?! My guess is Romney has stepped on people to make his fortune, and was difficult to work with when he was Governor. A president MUST accept advise, and MUST be able to interact with the media, and MUST have compassion for the "little people." Romney is NOT cut out to be POTUS.

As for the "white knight," there is no such thing. Jeb Bush said the Teapublican Party no longer aligns with his views. We're talking about a Bush, and we're talking about a Bush involved in the Terri Schiavo fiasco along with the likes of Santorum saying the GOP/TP is now so far to the Right that he's not interested.

Which dovetails into Olympia Snowes comments about polarization. As long as everything is filibustered (in particular without having to actually filibuster), the number of seats needed by either Party to control the Senate will be a super majority of 60 seats. So the math needs to be in accordance with this sad fact, and why people need to get out and VOTE for the president as well as Dems for congress and at the state level. We need to get rid of the Teapublicans in the House, 60 Dems in the Senate, and President Obama for four more years!

kaybee - No spin. I'd consider this an effort on my part to diligently work through my contacts and not giving up. A little luck was necessary as well. I've been working on this for over 30 days and just Monday, phone calls started coming in... a few of them weren't worth pursuing... this one happens to be. I've taken the necessary steps that involve my experience to help this along. It still doesn't help the several other people that were let go at my last project.

On a personal level, there are a whole lot less opportunities out there and only through diligence and hard work can a person replace a lost position these days. There's a lot of minimum wage jobs available if you know where to look, but also, the basic wages in my type of work have gone down. Supply and demand always dictates the wages... there's a lot of supply and little demand.

The 2 ugly things are, #1, The group of seventh graders who wrote this article, and #2, The ugly fact that Santorum pleaded for Democrats to vote against Romney in the Republican primary.

Also, as the seventh graders are apparrently ignorant of, Contributions given to Romney far out supply any contributions given to other Republican candidates.

Dear wonderful America:

I am not a democrat (and definitely not a socialist) but a concerned proud American, who loves this country to death, but the re"pig"licans ("con"servatives) have to go. I don't understand (unless it is just pure brainwashing and/or stupidity) how people vote for the republicans and conservatives. Obama is an amazing politician, person, and true American. However, the awful and hateful republicans continue to hurt and destroy this country by not allowing the government to pass these wonderful policies and laws that are being brought to the table by Obama and his administration and some other democrats. It's like he is giving us the solutions and corrections on what will make this country progress, develop, and get so much better, and then the crabby/difficult and manipulative/evil republicans do not support and vote for the potential policies and laws. And, they don't support them because they are not going to work or be good for America, but they don't support them because they are from a brilliant Democrat who is trying to help the country. We are having a difficult time because the republicans don't care about this country.

The dirty re"pig"licans want to continue to play games, slander others, lie, cheat, steal, and be (what needs to be said) racist. If Obama was white, the republicans would probably at least respect him a little. In addition, all the republicans care about is themselves and no one else, even not other republicans (unless you are a billionaire) and are going to donate a lot of money to their campaigns. If the policy or law focused on tax cuts for the rich and their businesses, the republicans would vote for those in a heartbeat, but when it comes to helping the poor and middle class, the republicans have to say that the potential law is going to be socialist and bad for the country. Are you kidding me?

Wake up America!!! Stop voting for re"pig"licans and their selfish and evil ways. Support the current President and his brilliant ideas. This country would be in such an amazing and better place if Obama and the other democrats have been able to pass more of their policies and laws due to the stubborn and mean republicans. In addition, which is also another long discussion, Obama is trying to clean up the infinite mess and devastating decisions that were made by Bush and previous Republicans. All Bush and the republicans did was drive this country into the
ground and steal millions of dollars for themselves. They also hurt millions of innocent Americans just so they could get rich. Shame on you Bush and all the republicans. You all are criminals and should be locked up or please just leave this country and get out. All you care about is yourself and your money. It is going to take decades for us to recover from the horrible and awful decisions that were made by Bush, previous republican presidents, and other stupid
republican policies and laws. America is about the people and helping people, not about keeping the rich rich and making the republicans more money. republicans are horrible and sick people.

Please support and continue to support these wonderful and amazing decisions, bills, policies, and laws that Obama and the democrats are bringing to the table. You will not be sorry. They are for the people and the greater good, not just for a specific group of people to help make them stay or get rich.

P.S. I am not a democrat but just really care about this country and its people and after decades of studying republicans, democrats, and other political ideas, it is obvious that the republicans are lying to everyone and have a selfish agenda. If everyone would stop taking sides, they would be able to see the truth of what the re"pig"licans and "con"servatives are really trying to do, which is try to make themselves rich and everyone else poor. Shame on all of you republicans and conservatives, especially the tea party members.

For you republicans who read my post, please please please wake up and quit being brainwashed and/or quit being selfish and think about the greater good. In addition, collapsing my post is proof enough that you do not want the truth to be told. And, you are the hypocrite because I do as I say and republicans/conservatives want people to leave them alone but want
to make others like them through laws. Keep your values and religion out of our laws and government. Shame on you.

As Jan-#s aptly stated, policies cause the problems. With Obama's spend baby spend policy this country is headed for major problems. Gas prices are soaring not because of supply, or middle east tensions, or speculators, but because a barrel of crude is the benchmark for gas prices. Since this country is printing money at a record pace, the dollar is devalued throughout the world and as such crude prices are climbing. The president that promised to cut the deficit in half in his first term has more then doubled it.

As gas prices climb as the result of Obama's spend baby spend policy so shall everything else. Consumer products are going to skyrocket as is food since it takes gas to get them to market. This country is on the verge of not just inflation, but hyper inflation. Then what are we going to do? Borrow even more money? Devalue the dollar still more worldwide and exacerbate the problem even further?

Jan-#'s is right, policies do create problems. Just like when Bill Clinton signed NAFTA into law and all the manufacturing jobs in this country headed to Asia (sorry Jan-#'s I am going back before your history book begins, try and keep up). NAFTA didn't happen over night, and even Clinton knew that the fallout of his pandering to special interest groups wasn't going to happen on his watch. But over the next decade the jobs steadily left this country. Clinton is more to blame for the lack of jobs in this country then either Bush or Obama, but as is in politics you take the good with the bad.

Obama takes credit for the increased domestic oil production which all began under Bush, but accepts no part of the economy which he has clearly made worse. But people like to harp on the Bush tax cuts as playing a major role in the countries financial health. Yeah right, as if tax cuts that over 10 years reduced the federal take by one trillion dollars is to blame, 100 billion per year. Congress wastes that much over lunch, and yet they can't seem to find a dime to actually cut. Reducing planned future increases is hardly a cut.

If Obama gets re-elected the day will come when the world will hear a collective 'whoops' from all his supporters when they realize the damage he has done. Of course by then it will be too late. McCain won or tied every age group voting block in the last election but one, the 18-29 year old. The uninformed. Those for whom history goes back 8 years. Those for whom mommy and daddy gave them everything, and they quickly latched onto a president making endless promises for handouts.

Yeah, there is no actual shortage of blame to go around Washington, unless you are simply too partisan to see it. United we stand divided we fall. There is a reason our presidents legacy could be summed up as the Great Divider.

Anyone who compares the '80s recession to what happen in '07-'08 was either not alive back then or is brain dead today. Did Raygun have to bail out the banks and Wall Street? No, but Dubya did. By the way I do remember Raygun cutting any unemployment extensions thus reducing the source for compiling such figures or as you righties like to try to point out "what about those that have stop looking". Please get a dose of reality. You scream out of one side of your neck about how bad things have gotten but you have no clue as to how fix the problem. By all consensus this was the worst economic collapse since the Great Depression the only thing that save this country from similar circumstances was the bail-out by "he who can't be named". Bite on that dose of reality.

Well, there's good news. I happened to be fishing the other day, and from my hidden vantage point I saw a couple of old-timers having quite the discussion. Herewith, in beautiful poetic terms, I present the events as they unfolded:

David Walker, you mock those who claim to speak for God, yet you write this creative poem that ends with a climax claiming to speak for him as well:

As the old men spoke the heavens spread, and God met their wide-eyed stares.

His eyes were lightning, thunder his voice, as he roared, "Who freakin' cares?!?!?"

Is saying God doesn't care speaking for him any less than saying he does care? What gives?

raddave - yes, which the keystone pipeline would bring the Canadian oil to U.S. But since we're not going to have it, Canada says fine, I know who wants the oil. Since the EPA idiots don't want drilling and can't get the Canadian oil, guess who's left with the shortage? Who's policies?

BTW - I guess URL's cannot be placed on this blog, but check the huffington post . com.

Rick, Obama has indeed cut the deficit from a high of $1.4 trillion for Bush's last budget. He certainly has not doubled it.

Zen Love - You are soooooo brainwashed and delusional. Been inhaling too many incense sticks.

Raddave said: Fannie and Freddie did not cause the housing bubble to burst, it was sub-prime mortgage companies that caused most of it. And that period you are talking about, republiCONS were in control of both the house and Senate, so to blame it on Dems, is also false. BTW, my name is not Yogie, it is Dave.

Dave, you can believe what you want. I can tell you haven't really researched this out to dig deep to find the truth of the matter. Fannie and Freddie were huge culprits in all this. The leads were democrats. They were telling congress that all was well with both groups. Nothing could have been further from the truth. Look it up... it's there! It's history. Subprimes were being gobbled up by fannie and freddie through bulk purchases from subprimes. Again take the time to learn about this. If your name isn't Yogie, then my name isn't Einstien... got it?

raddave - at least you're correct on this one. Yomama hasn't doubled the budget deficit. He's tripled it and well on the way to quadrupling it.

True Patriot - Why should I vote for dems? I don't believe in their agenda, nor their methods. Everything I believe is opposite of what dems stand for. In your little call for action, you are only speaking to those that already will vote straight democrat across the election field... Don't even think your little speech has convinced me of voting the only way I will vote.

Brian, sorry I don't do my "research" on wing nut "news" sites. Fannie and Freddie weren't the culprits, it was the sub-primes and the big banks speculation. Fannie and Freddie had to "gobble" up those morgages, to try to save the mortgage companies. Dems were NOT the leads in the years prior to 2006, so it doesn't matter what they were saying. You can try to spin it all you want, but the truth is, the republiCONS were in the majority prior to 2006 and therefore, could have done anything they wanted on any committee.

McCain won or tied every age group voting block in the last election but one, the 18-29 year old. The uninformed. Those for whom history goes back 8 years. Those for whom mommy and daddy gave them everything, and they quickly latched onto a president making endless promises for handouts.

That's why you think McCain lost? LOL

I hate to break your perfect little GOP bubble, where Republicans can do no wrong, but McCain lost because of one word... PALIN.

Every single moderate Republican and right-leaning independent was driven away by that Tea Party extremist and her blatant hypocrisy.

You want to know how your precious little GOP can win again? Huh, do you, champ? Ditch the Tea Party scum and every other religious extremist who wants to turn America into a theocracy. Support separation of church and state, and send the Tea Party back into the cold, dark hole they crawled out of. Embrace compromise... like an adult.

Then, after you do that... give Grover Norquist the middle finger and tell him to go f*** himself. Show the American people that you care about the people more than a lobbyist. Show the American people you will not allow some special interest, lobbyist douche bag to control your party.

Right now your entire party is ruled by a lobbyist, while they chant for religious fascism. And you think independent voters want anything to do with that?

cawf, Obama has reduced the deficit from it's record high of $1.4 trillion. Unless you think $1.2 trillion is triple $1.4 trillion.

cawf, Obama has reduced the deficit from it's record high of $1.4 trillion. Unless you think $1.2 trillion is triple $1.4 trillion.

raddave

Your so smart and up to date of the failure of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac please tell me who Barney Frank was sleeping with at the time.

Typical liberal democrat; had rather lie even when it's easier to tell the truth.

floyd, who cares who Frank was "sleeping with" at the time. Barney Frank was a member of the minority party, and powerless.

raddave - you're comparing eights years of Bush, and only 1 year of Yomama. Look at the total of the Yomama years. They've tripled all of Bush's 8 years and Yomama is on his way in quadrupling that.

Brianb-999431

True Patriot - Why should I vote for dems? I don't believe in their agenda, nor their methods. Everything I believe is opposite of what dems stand for. In your little call for action, you are only speaking to those that already will vote straight democrat across the election field... Don't even think your little speech has convinced me of voting the only way I will vote.

So you believe in the failed policies that melted down our economy?

No Cawf. I am comparing one year of Bush to one year of Obama. FY 2009 had a deficit of $1.4 trillion.

Bill Farifax VA:

You're entitled to your own opinion, but not your own facts. Unemployment rose to 10.8% in November 1982 at the height of the "normal" Reagan recession, higher even than the Bush/Obama recession. And I daresay, from the perspective of those who were unemployed the economy was in total collapse.

Uh, yeah. Only Bill and his far-right associates are entitled to their own facts. But it's still a FACT that the consensus among economists is that the 10% unemployment rate peak during Obama's first year in office would have been much higher had Obama done nothing and let the nation fall into a second Great Depression. Saint Ronald of Reagan inherited an economy crippled by an Arab oil embargo, but the economy was not in nearly as bad shape in 1980 as it was in 2008. And one of the reasons the unemployment rate went down during Reagan's term is because he blew a big hole in the federal budget with his deficit spending (his predecessor Jimmy Carter was a piker, who racked up far less debt). Oh, and by the way: Saint Ronald also raised taxes numerous times -- the unforgivable sin of the contemporary Republican party run by totally nutty ideologues.

I don't have the graphs handy, but charts show that the contraction of the GDP in 2008 was much deeper than the contraction during the 1980 recession. Bill is unloading total bunk when he pretends the two recessons are comparable.

Now that he just barely won Michigan, Mitt 'Plastic Man' Romney is becoming over confident about being elected President. He just ordered his buddies at Bane Capitol to start drawing up plans to liquidate the federal government and sell off the parts to China. That’s what corporate raiders like 'Plastic Man' do.

And who was in office in 2009? None other than Yomama!

Houston, Bill also made the assertion that Raygun unleashed the private sector by cutting taxes and regulation. When it was those tax cuts that caused the deficit to explode and for the recession that hit a year after he became President, and tried to blame on Carter. The economy did not start to improve until he started raising taxes.

Bush single year deficits never went over 1 trillion as compared to single year trillion $$ deficits for Yomama.

B.S. Cawf, FY 2009 was Bush's last budget, it had a deficit of $1.4 trillion. try again.

Cawf

And who was in office in 2009? None other than Yomama!

And when do Fiscal years begin? the October prior. meaning FY 2009, started in October 2008. Who was President then?

Cawf

After reading most of your posts, it's obvious you don't deal in facts. It seems you just make stuff up as you go along.... That's the true sign of a right wing troll. But the icing on the cake is your post #1.166, that post proves that what you really are is a right wing a racist troll......... I pity you, your world must be very closed and lonely.

raddave - And who had control over both House and Senate in FY 2009? The tax and spend Democrats! So who's responsible for that deficit? Democrats!

Cawf, who requested those budgets and signed them? The President of the U.S. So, who's responsible for the deficit? Bush.

Latest news is Santorum is not conceding the Michigan primary race.

Rick: I wish you right wingnuts would get OFF the teleprompter spiel -- EVERY PRESIDENT SINCE IKE have used a teleprompter for their speeches -- it's nothing inherent to President Obama. In fact, even ex-President Bush used it (OMG WTF)!! You show your total lack of intelligence every time you bring up this fact....it's ridiculous, incorrect, and has NOTHING to do with anything!! Find something meaningful to say rather than keep repeating the same inane comments!

Cawf

And who was in office in 2009? None other than Yomama!

Wow... you don't even understand what "Fiscal Year budget" means. Fail.

And who had control over both House and Senate in FY 2009? The tax and spend Democrats! So who's responsible for that deficit? Democrats!

Wait... you were just putting ALL the blame on President Obama, indicating that the President should take responsibility. Now you are switch to the House and Senate? Make up your mind.

You flip flop as much as Romney. Fail #2

You should quit while you're behind.

Raddave - so according to your logic, Obama can't be blamed for the current deficits, or the additional $5 trillion added to the national debt since he's become president. I know, it's all the republican's fault. In your little pond, everything that's wrong with the world can be blamed on the republicans.. and everything that's good in your world is accredited to the democrats.

Logically, I'd say you are truth impaired. Your beliefs defy reality.

Didi - The teleprompter is totally relevant to Obama. Every time he goes off it, he sparks some crazy new revelation into his inner core... Where do you think we RWNJ's get the best stuff from Obama? He can't speak without it. The presidential debates are going to be a real hoot this year... hopefully he'll have to answer, ad-lib about some of his failures... the teleprompter stenographer won't be able to keep up with the standard droning answers he'll have pre-programmed into his replies.

The White House could not approve the Keystone pipeline until the actual route it takes is agreed upon by the States and a review is finalized on that route for impacts to any affected parties. That's standard operating procedure for projects anywhere. Would your town approve putting up a new building without knowing yet where it was going to be built?

Meanwhile, it's interesting that experts are projecting that the pipeline would actually increase gas prices in most of the continental U.S.. It has to do with gas being cheaper regionally where it is refined, but that by moving most of that capacity to Texas, those States that were getting a break will see price increases, while the gulf coast States will likely see no difference. It also makes it much easier to load tankers and ship that fuel off to the far east where the oil companies will get the best price. So, this pipeline that's supposed to make us energy independent could end up with us having more fuel shortages by exporting more and higher prices for what does get delivered domestically. It's a definite win for the oil companies, but other than the construction phase doesn't seem like it'll do us that much good, and has the potential to do some real harm if the right quality controls aren't in place to make sure it's built to standards and not just out to the lowest bids.

And this wanna be President (a billionaire himself) pays less than 14% in taxes to the IRS. He has no concept of what it is like to be middle class or poor. Yet, he wants to do away with entitlements or at least cut them way back. He wants to gamble with them in the stock markets so that Hedge Fund racketeers and he can make even more money. He simply cannot be trusted with anything. And, he is all for businesses only regardless of what comes out of his forked tongue.

Obama can't be blamed for $5 trillion, because almost $2 trillion is due to Bush's last year. And another reason for the bump in the deficits was because Obama decided to include the costs for the wars in the yearly budget and not fund them through "emergency appropriations." The debt would not be as high if Bush hadn't have cut taxes in 2001 and 2003, which added $2 trillion to the debt, or if he hadn't pushed for medicare part D, which was unfunded and added about another trillion. So you are correct, it is the republiCONS fault.

Also, the teleprompter thing is overrated. As I mentioned earlier Obama did not use them during debates in 2008 and wiped the floor with his opponent, and did the same thing during the meeting he had with republiCON leader during the health care debate.

The teleprompter is totally relevant to Obama. Every time he goes off it, he sparks some crazy new revelation into his inner core...

As opposed to the gems we get from Republican candidates when they do not use a teleprompter?

"Women should accept their rape baby as a gift from God."

"We will have a moon base, and if enough citizens move there, it can be a new state."

"PETA is not happy that my dog likes fresh air."

"I believe in an America where millions of Americans believe in an America that's the America millions of Americans believe in."

"I should tell my story. I'm also unemployed

"...females have biological problems staying in a ditch for thirty days because they get infections and they don't have upper body strength... males are biologically driven to go out and hunt giraffes"

"One of the things I will talk about, that no president has talked about before, is I think the dangers of contraception in this country"

"I don't care about poor people"

Yup... they do great without a teleprompter.

Obama fanboys like to compare current economic performance to where we were when Bush left office, the only economic comparison in the known universe that can be manipulated to portray Obama in a favorable light. But when it comes to such a fundamental pocketbook issue, grading on a curve doesn't cut it. The standard for success is not a relative comparison of where we are now to where we were before, but an absolute comparison of where we are today to where we should be at this stage of a recovery. And our historical experience shows we should be in the second year of a BOOMING recovery by now.

Fairfax Bill, no two periods of time are the same. You should be smart enough to not try that trick. You may WANT things to always be the same, but we live in the real world.

Please try not to pound that one until you get blue in the face...it makes you look desperate.

I keep seeing comments about how if so many Democrats hadn't voted for Santorum, Romney's win margin would have been greater.....

I must have missed it - where did it say that a lot of Democrats DID vote for Santorum? I saw the remarks about Santorum "robo-calling" Democrats and urging them to vote against Romney, but I saw nothing to say that actually happened. Can anyone point that out?

Didi-376564Rick:

I wish you right wingnuts would get OFF the teleprompter spiel -- EVERY PRESIDENT SINCE IKE have used a teleprompter for their speeches --

Mitt Romney uses teleprompters. Rick Santorum doesn't, which explains why such incredibly stupid things come out of his mouth. Santorum's handlers should not allow him to make any impromptu comments if he wants to win. Same goes for Romney. Every time he goes off-script, he starts babbling about trees or how he likes to fire people. He is wise to never answer questions in debates and never go on talk shows where he'll make a fool of himself like he did in his few forays into talking-head land earlier in the campaign. All of GOP candidates should always be prerecorded and heavily edited before presenting them to the public if they want to beat Obama.

JLS-3799002

I keep seeing comments about how if so many Democrats hadn't voted for Santorum, Romney's win margin would have been greater.....

I must have missed it - where did it say that a lot of Democrats DID vote for Santorum? I saw the remarks about Santorum "robo-calling" Democrats and urging them to vote against Romney, but I saw nothing to say that actually happened. Can anyone point that out?

Last night on CNN, they said an exit poll showed that 10% of the primary voters were Democrats and 50% voted for Santorum while 15% voted for Romney. If true, that means that the Democrats added 3.5% to Santorum's total. to get to his 38% of the vote.

Those who post here from the Right are really cranky today; more than usual. Must be that they've come to realize that Mitt couldn't win in his "home" state. Yeah, the numbers are 41-38, but Mitt and Rick will probably split the delegates which means this circus will continue.

Did anyone notice the vote totals last night watching the results? They seem awfully low, even with Democrats voting in Michigan. No one takes this group of candidates seriously. They're slowly resigned to the fact that Mitt "I like firing people" Romney will be the nominee. They hate it, but they're resigned to it which is why he's winning, but can't capture even 50% of the vote against his half-wit opponents.

Someone, I can't recall who, said that when the nominee is chosen, conservatives of all stripes from all corners of the country will come together in their desire to unseat President Obama. Uhhh, I don't think so. If the party loyalists, who are those that typically vote in primaries aren't voting, why would rank and file voters race to the polls in November. The GOP is so disheartened right now, they not only are resigned to another term for Obama, they are risking losing the House and keeping the Senate in Dem hands at better than the present 53-47 margin.

If the Conservatives are in this mood after last night, I dunno what NEXT Wednesday will look like after Super Tuesday...

Indie - I don't care about the republicans... they are off the reservation anyway... but Obama I do care about because he happens to be the president. When he says something, it's extremely pertinent. So, for all your deflection back to the republicans, it didn't win any points... they are irrelevant until they actually win something and take control.

Raddave - Of course you have an excuse for everything Obama... typical liberal response... talking points obfuscated about the budget in an attempt to eliminate $2 trillion from Obama's spending habits... in your discourse, you aren't mentioning the $1.2 trillion in stimulus and Omnibus spending Obama approved in 2009.

Of course the teleprompter thing is overrated... but... it's undeniable that when Obama goes off it, that's when the best of the best comes out. I'll remind you the next time he speaks off the teleprompter of his latest and greatest remarks... they are usually a hoot.

Houston

I am sure that if Santorum had a teleprompter he would say even more stupid things. He would simply have faster access to his deranged, homophobic. racist, sacreligeous, sanctimonious, incoherent, thoughts. Jesus would be afraid to give the Ricker a rock. The Ricker would be the first one to throw it. He is no Christian. He is a religeous bigot with a very low IQ.

Those who post here from the Right are really cranky today

It's likely due to lack of something the right doesn't seem to partake in. They are called conservatives for a reason.

Raddave - Of course you have an excuse for everything Obama... typical liberal response... talking points obfuscated about the budget in an attempt to eliminate $2 trillion from Obama's spending habits... in your discourse, you aren't mentioning the $1.2 trillion in stimulus and Omnibus spending Obama approved in 2009.

That $2 trillion does not belong to Obama Brian, it belongs to Bush. And, the CBO estimated the debt for 2009 would be $1.2 trillion, three weeks before Obama became President.

I don't care about the republicans... they are off the reservation anyway... but Obama I do care about because he happens to be the president. When he says something, it's extremely pertinent.

So you don't care about the people running for President... even though, if elected, they will continue to do the thing you are against?

You also state they are "off the reservation" (agreed)... which I can only assume means that you do not support them, and you don't support Obama. Does that mean you will be voting for "None of the above" on election day?

While you're at it,why don't you also talk about how 2010's unemployment figure of 9.6% was the HIGHEST since Ronald Reagan was President in 1982, and it was 3.8% HIGHER that George Bush's last year in office (2008) Also, your post about the number of consecutive months with job gains is a BOLD FACED LIE. The numbers of jobs LOST during this administration is STAGGERING! According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, almost 276,000 jobs were LOST during the first two years of Obama's administration.

How fast do you think an economy as big as ours could turn around? It doesn't "turn on a dime", so to speak. The rate of job losses in the last months of the Bush Jr. administration hit a peak, and the rate of job losses declined after Obama took office - a chart of the rate of job losses formed the famous "Bikini graph" that Teapublicans like to pretend didn't exist. But it wasn't until 2010, a year after the Stimulus, that the rate of job loss declined to zero, then turned to job gains. That's why unemployment peaked in 2009, it took time to stop the job losses and turn the economy around. But it has turned around, something the Republicans don't like as it hurts their prospects of regaining power.

They ridicule Romney for this yet they send praises on high to Pres. Yomama for refusing to do interviews on (quoting the left again) 'Dumb Fux News'. Way to go libbies! Thanks for reassuring me that there is at least one constant in the universe... your hypocrisy!

And you've just proven your own hypocrisy, does that mean you're a "libbie"?. Hmm, which is more offensive and hypocritical: the insulting "Dumb Fux News" or the blatantly racist "Pres. Yomama"? You know, your argument might have carried some weight had you not stooped to wallow in the mud...

Brianb: good luck on your move! I genuinely hope everything works out for you!

On another topic you said, "The teleprompter is totally relevant to Obama. Every time he goes off it, he sparks some crazy new revelation into his inner core..."

You mean the time he said he'd bet Rick "Goodhair" Perry $10,000.00 over some idiotic fib Perry told? Wait, no, that was Romney. How about the time he griped about the two Cadillacs his wife keeps in the garage? ...no, Romney again. I got it! There was the time he was bragging about his buddies who own NASCAR teams...dang, that was Romney, too.

I have a feeling the President will do far better than his mentally crippled Republican opponent in a debate. Mitt's best bet is to just keep his mouth shut and smile...

Indie - I just might vote for none of the above come election day. I might vote for Mickey Mouse... he seems to have a better handle on things the current crop of politicians don't have, nor will ever have.

raddave - The budget from 2009 was still under Obama's watch... so even if Bush signed it, they didn't need to spend it... but spend it they did and Obama was the president at the time. He could have stepped in and slowed it down, but as we all know, Obama isn't about slowing down spending as been proved over the 2 years he was responsible for the budget... and I noticed you completely bypassed the $1.2 trillion in stimulus and omnibus spending that he initiated. Oh well... liberals always want to look at the bright flowers and never dig in the dirt.

thank you, Houston! I don't have cable television, so my facts are a little behind and I don't always catch everything, LOL

which is why i don't post as often as you and others - newday, David Walker, DaNoid, phinephancy, Backhouse, DCIA and others always end up saying exactly what I'd like to say, only about 100 times better than I would have :) i just read for the entertainment value, and occasionally throw in a comment or two for fun

oh and Sarah#s - loved your gilligan's island mockup above, and your posts from yesterday going back and forth with JAS1 - I think I fell in love with you!! They were priceless!!

Indie - if BrianB doesn't care about the Republicans you quoted because they aren't President but Obama is.....well what about a Republican President then? GWBush gave us more examples of foot-in-mouth than Obama could ever hope to.

"Fool me once, shame on me.....fool me...you can't get fooled again," anyone??

How bout when he tried to walk off stage through the fake door? Huh?

If anyone needed a teleprompter, it was him, although Romney and Santorum are definitely vying for the title on that one!

raddaveCawf, gas prices dropped suddenly in 2008 because the Saudis started pumping more oil, which actually caused a temporary glut on the market. Presidential polices have nothing to do with the price of oil. It didn't in 2008 and it doesn't now. Experts are saying the sudden rise in prices are because speculators are anticipating a shortage of oil in July, when sanctions are due to be imposed on Iran.

Actually the minute Pres Bush announced that he would open up more leases for offshore drilling the price dropped before he left the news conference and before Saudi started pumping more oil. In fact in April of 2006, the Bush Administration suspended purchases of oil to supplement the National Strategic Petroleum Oil Reserve, thereby leaving more oil for the consumer market and helping to bring prices down.

Yes, President's and/or World Leaders can affect the prices at the pump. To say they don't is saying Iran's leader doesn't have any affects on the prices, which would be an inaccurate statement. As for shortage due to sanctions on Iran in July that's hard to believe since both Canada & South America can more than make up for those loses. Might affect it a little bit, but its not going to increase like it is now, which is far more than 2006 & 2008.

Why is it increasing so much? Well there is far more then a temporary glut in the market today. Several factors are affecting the price of oil here in the US. Not necessarily in order but:

1. Instability of the Middle East

2. Falling Dollar

3. Stricter Regulations brought on by US & State Governments as well as the EPA.

4. Failure to implement the pipeline from Canada to TX

4. Refineries closing operations due to not being profitable to operate or closed for maintenance that will last 30 days or more. (The major reason we are seeing a hike in price) One of the world's largest oil refineries in the US Virgin Islands closed. Atlantic Coast refineries reduce output of the auto fuel therefore we are having to increase our imports from Europe which increases our costs.

It's not a simplistic as a single problems, but if this Administration announced immediately it was going to do the pipeline, even if we wouldn't get oil that day or a month from now, yes you would see a price drop at the pump immediately. See spectators spectate on the "future". But, all the other items need to be dealt with also in order for us to see below $3.50 a gallon and possibly below $2.50/gal. That's not going to happen anytime soon considering our debt, our refinery situation and the many regulations the States & Feds keep implementing.

Bush did NOT sign a budget for 2009. The dems passed a continuing resolution funding the govt thru march 2009. They wanted to wait for Obama to be sworn in, and then they were going to pass a budget. We're still waiting. The one time he put one to a vote, it lost 97-0. He couldn't even get a single democrat to vote for it. So pretty much everything spent in 2009 was the democrats and then the democrats with Obama.

http://www.opencongress.org/wiki/Consolidated_Security,_Disaster_Assistance,_and_Continuing_Appropriations_Act_of_2008

Gas prices? Obama's Energy Secretary Stephen Chu - "Somehow we have to figure out how to boost gas prices to the levels in europe"

Mission Accomplished, Mr Chu.!

http://sec.online.wsj.com/article/SB122904040307499791.html

Inflation? Under Obama the Fed is planning to devalue our currency on purpose by 30%. This means your savings, your retirement, everything will not be able to keep up in earnings. Plainly speaking, he will impoverish us all.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/charleskadlec/2012/02/06/the-federal-reserves-explicit-goal-devalue-the-dollar-33/

The President's administration is releasing funny unemployment numbers to try to get re-elected. Shameful.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/peterferrara/2012/02/09/dont-be-fooled-the-obama-unemployment-rate-is-11/

The President is trying to enact legislation by executive order to prevent ICE from enforcing our immigration laws. Oh yes, he can't get the dream act passed, so he legislates by executive order. Meanwhile, he sues any state that tries to protect themselves from the flood of Illegals.

http://www.ice.gov/doclib/secure-communities/pdf/prosecutorial-discretion-memo.pdf

President Obama is furiously working to destroy your constitutional rights! In direct violation of his oath of office, when he swore to uphold The Constitution.

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-december-7-2011/arrested-development---one-way-train-to-gitmo

Obama is a fraud. He is not a man that any true liberal could in good conscience support, not because of his race, or any of the other silly excuses his supporters make for him.

No true liberal could support Obama based on his own actions.

He is destroying our Great Nation.

Liberals for Ron Paul 2012

Cawf, I mean calf, I mean cough, you forgot to take your medicine for the crap coming out of you. it sounds like you have a case of the morons. it also sounds like you are brainwashed and very angry. as a mental health professional, I diagnose you as delusional. I, at least, know what I am talking about. from my experience working with the mentally ill, they are so sick inside of themselves that they treat others the way that they feel inside. I'm sorry, you have been corrupted by the manipulative re"pig"licans. It is so enraging that they want everyone else to think like them and do not accept diversity and change. America is and always will be about diversity and change. The re"pig"licans want everyone to be christian and live in this fundamental traditional way which is a virus to this country. The US will always be held back centuries and an eternity as long as re"pig"licans and "con"servatives have any or some power in our political system because all they want you to believe is what they believe, which is a little bit of people need to be rich and everyone else needs to be poor and only a little bit of the people have all the power. That sounds to me like an aristocracy or monarchy. It makes me sick to think that the re"pig"licans want America to be like a fascist or royal state. All they do is lie, lie, lie, and lie. They do not want what is best for Americans and the country, they want what is best for them. They are so selfish and evil and do not belong in this wonderful country. America is the greatest country in the world and has continued to be violated and destroyed by the greediness and deleterious ways of the re"pig"licans. Again, the US will never positively develop and be at its best and optimal performance until all re"pig"licans and "con"servatives no longer hold positions in any policitcal realm (locally, state, federal, house, senate, and presidency). The country will continue to suffer as long as re"pig"licans exist.

It's very upseting that the re"pig"licans blame everyone else for the country's problems but cannot take any responsibility for themselves and the problems that they cause. Forever, the democratic presidents and congress have been fixing the "con"servatives' misktakes and problems. When things are going right near the end of a democratic presidency and congress and then into the re"pig"lican's tyranny (thanks to the democrats), the re"pig"licans want responsibility for the success even though they did not pass any policies to add to the success. Then, when things go wrong near the end of the re"pig"licans tyranny and at the start of the democratic leadership and administration, they will not take any responsibility for the horrible mistakes that were made and the damage that was done and end up blaming the democrats for their stupid and ignorant policies and decisions. It is scientific fact that the country ends up with depressions and recessions again and again when the re"pig"licans have control as the president and in the house and senate. All they can do is continue to brainwash all of the innocent yet ignorant citizens by promising them with things they cannot deliver on and lie to them. I do not know what is worse, the aweful and evil re"pig"lican and con"servative politicians or the stupid citizens who vote for them. Ultimately, I balme the politicians. You cannot blame the victim for what the offender has done. Yes, re"pig"licans are offenders and should be arrested and be in prison for all of their crimes against the American citizens. They have stolen, lied, and murdered.

Ahh, Bill, still comparing Obama to your party's idol Ronnie Reagan??? Let me tell you one thing about the 1980s recession: IT WAS PALE COMPARED TO THIS RECESSION!!!!!!! Do you really think that you can compare this recession to the one Reagan had??? That is a new low. And you are right; the recovery is slow. Then again, so was the Great Depression, and as this is the biggest recession SINCE the Great Depression I would expect it to be slow. And you fail to acknowledge that unemployment was high under Reagan's first term, and it was declining steadily in 1984. Besides, that recession was engineered by the Fed to cut inflation down from 13.5%. And you think Ronald Reagan is so great, huh??? Well he tripled the debt with his defense spending; he even cut social services. Plus he brainwashed millions of Americans by scapegoating the government and his deregulatory policies set the stage for the Great Recession. Looks like you righties need to catch up on your American history.

OBAMA BIDEN 2012

DOWN WITH THE FASCIST ULTRA-CONSERVATIVE GOP 2012

DEMOCRATS 2012

Romney will never win Michigan in November - people here LOATHE him. I have republican officeholders in the family and they won't be voting for him (or Republican at all). The whole slate of Presidental noms are just so extreme, they are unelectable. Santorum barely won and he was running 'destroy the gays', 'keep women barefooot and pregnant in the kitchen' and 'eliminate the separation of church and state' ads here. And Governor Snyder is an idiot that's doing nothing but harm. it will be an ugly fall for Repubs in Michigan.

Romney's win was a classic ugly win. He won because Rick Santorum lost, who gave it away. Here you have a fellow, whose father was a popular Governor of the state of his birth, and he barely broke 40%. And with the 'win', he still hasn't offered any plans as to what he wants to to do differently from President Obama.

As the economy improves, it takes away Romney's one so called selling point. It is not enough to be just against the President, so what we may come down is a choice simply between two men. One who grew up and knows what its like to work hard to achieve and make something of your life, and another who has had everything handed to him from the moment he took first breath.

As we have few voters who grew up having a life such as Mr. Romney who so far is having a very hard time connecting with the voters, it behooves his campaign to present a plan, a workable plan, that will appeal to more than 40% if he wants to be successful in his quest. He has little connection with social issues, he has been all over the place trying to appeal to many who honestly don't believe him. It is obvious, he will say whatever to whomever to try to get a vote. In my judgement, there is no substance to him, or as David Pflouf the President's adviser, said he has no core, no core in a bloc of voters, no core in a vision, he is just a shell in a fancy suit.

Romney's win was a classic ugly win. He won because Rick Santorum lost, who gave it away. Here you have a fellow, whose father was a popular Governor of the state of his birth, and he barely broke 40%. And with the 'win', he still hasn't offered any plans as to what he wants to do differently from President Obama.

As the economy improves, it takes away Romney's one so called selling point. It is not enough to be just against the President, so what we may come down is a choice simply between two men. One who grew up and knows what its like to work hard to achieve and make something of your life, and another who has had everything handed to him from the moment he took first breath.

As we have few voters who grew up having a life such as Mr. Romney who so far is having a very hard time connecting with the voters, it behooves his campaign to present a plan, a workable plan, that will appeal to more than 40% if he wants to be successful in his quest. He has little connection with social issues, he has been all over the place trying to appeal to many who honestly don't believe him. It is obvious, he will say whatever to whomever to try to get a vote. In my judgement, there is no substance to him, or as David Pflouf the President's adviser, said he has no core, no core in a bloc of voters, no core in a vision, he is just a shell in a fancy suit.

The FR Gremlins are out this morning. Sorry for the double post.

...Romney and his, um, "special" brand on conservatism. Until the establishment manages to quiet the raucous right, this thing is nowhere near being over. http://www.sunstateactivist.org

Romney at 41% in Michigan with all the Time and money he spent here is a loss, no matter how you dress it up. Newt barely did anything here and he got 7%. "Home" state victory my ass. More like the "home" state punched him in the face.

mattpfl, you said it. This won't be over until the "fat lady sings" and I don't even hear the orchestra playing yet.

Gingerbread Mamma, Devie--well said also. The gremlins have been frequent visitors here this week. Last night, had trouble trying to write a comment let alone post it.

GbM ... "He won because Rick Santorum lost, who gave it away." Have you ever seen a front-runner manage to talk his way into a loss as effectively as Santorum did? I think he's actually surpassed Perry and Bachmann in the "ball lost in the weeds" category.

Agree Tired, I'm no fan of either one of them, but Santorum was astonishingly stupid, in the statements he made over the past week. He was so angry in some of those statements, you can only conclude it clouded his judgement, which opens up so many questions as to how good that is. Very poor I would conclude.

The headline on today's paper shouted: “True statesman is bowing out.” This is how the news that Olympia Snowe is declining to run for re-election is hitting Maine.

Will Maine's senate seat go to A Democrat? Oh, most assuredly. I predict it will be Mike Michaud's, the Democratic Rep from the most conservative district, who handily won re-election in 2010, even as the Tea Party swept into power. Michaud is a champion of Veterans issues, and a pragmatic booster of clean industries in Maine. He is that rare creature in today's political climate: a man of substance who is likeable.

The Republicans were not prepared for Snowe's retirement, and will likly run Pete Cianchette, the wealthy scion of a construction family, who made a fortune in investment, served as ambassador to Costa Rica, and dabbles in politics (aka Romney without the charisma.)

"(aka Romney without the charisma.)" Wouldn't that make him dead?

Michaud sounds like a good replacement for the reasonable Ms Snowe.

Snowe retiring is great news, Maine and the nation lose a RINO, and Maine finally gets the chance to run a real republican for the seat. Hopefully Collins will retire at the end of this term as well and the RINO's will be one step closer to extinction.

Spew all the fantasy you want about Michaud, but in truth he is nothing more then a big government tax and spend liberal that has been in lock step with Obama's fiscally irresponsible agenda. Michaud helped the Democrats turn Maine into a welfare state, and he offers nothing more for the nation. But he hails from a district in Maine addicted to welfare thanks to decades of Democrat control in the state, so promises of free handouts should easily buy him the seat.

(aka Romney without the charisma.)

I didn't know Romeney had any...

Rick numbers, exactly what is a "real republican"? While you're at it, what is a "real American"? Inquiring minds want to know.

Ms. was a true champion for the state of Maine and the United States Senate. Job well done Senator. I may not have agreed with all of her stances but I sure do admire her grit.

"Hopefully Collins will retire at the end of this term as well and the RINO's will be one step closer to extinction."

RINO? DINO? Those acronyms are stupid. You are either a member of the party or your not. Diversity is what makes a political party and also our country strong.

"Ohio, take a deep breath and hold it, That dirtbag Santorum is coming to your State"

Price your precious stock market in what matters -- gold, silver, gas/oil -- when obalmer took office and now and you'll find what you may have made in the market you lost in a depreciating dollar. Worse, goods and services being more expensive hurts those NOT invested or with no means to invest the worst.

Factor in those "long term unemployed" who quit looking and you'll find unemployment over 10%. Chicago itelsf has an unemployment rate of 10.2%. You can choose to believe a corrupt government or you can choose to believe actual facts.

Do what you want, the only path to prosperity is private investment, not government investment.

Isn't the phrase "white knight" racist?

Isn't the phrase "white knight" racist?

Romney's win in Michigan means squat. For one reason mentioned in the article:

Santorum hurt himself with self-inflicted wounds. His debate performance in Arizona. His college/snob line. His attack on JFK’s 1960 speech.

Santorum's extremism is showing. These are not gaffes. This is what Santorum is about, and he can whine all he wants about the media focusing on his religious positions, but these are the issues Santorum is really obsessed with -- A theocracy (no Separation of Church and State) including the education system.

With that said... Romney's narrow win in Michigan and other states does not bode well. Romney can win states with large Mormon populations like Arizona, of course Utah, and Idaho. The lower turn-out for the caucuses and primaries thus far, along with narrow wins, and inability to win in the south is proof that voters realize Romney is NOT presidential material.

Romney's speech last night seemed to have been stolen in part from Santorum in regard to the same old idiotic red meat from the Keystone pipeline to the Affordable Care Act. But Romney really pissed me off with his continued disrespect in referring to the president as "Mr. Obama." This is VERY telling, and smacks of Birther-type questioning of the president's legitimacy.

Romney has lived a life of privilege, of being the boss who is not challenged or even advised, who has avoided the press and gets snippy when questioned. Republicans should demand references. Where are the business associates or folks who worked with Romney when he was governor? Where?! My guess is Romney has stepped on people to make his fortune, and was difficult to work with when he was Governor. A president MUST accept advise, and MUST be able to interact with the media, and MUST have compassion for the "little people." Romney is NOT cut out to be POTUS.

As for the "white knight," there is no such thing. Jeb Bush said the Teapublican Party no longer aligns with his views. We're talking about a Bush, and we're talking about a Bush involved in the Terri Schiavo fiasco along with the likes of Santorum saying the GOP/TP is now so far to the Right that he's not interested.

Which dove tails into Olympia Snowes comments about polarization. As long as everything is filibustered (in particular without having to actually filibuster), the number of seats needed by either Party to control the Senate will be a super majority of 60 seats. So the math needs to be in accordance with this sad fact, and why people need to get out and VOTE for the president as well as Dems for congress and at the state level. We need to get rid of the Teapublicans in the House, 60 Dems in the Senate, and President Obama for four more years!

@Damage

By the way, David. LOVED your condescending, elitist, snobbish rant agaisnt Kansans yesterday.

I love it when you kids learn new words. The Republican spin doctors feed them to you and you just use them over and over and over again. Hey, you can put all the lipstick you want on those little piggies, they're still butt ugly piggies who happen to be wearing lipstick. My advise to you is, grow a tooth and we'll see you in 2016 after the GOP/tp goes back to being the GOP and gets rid of the tp. I'm pretty sure they will if they take the expected drubbing in November.

Independent ... now there's an idea that Santorum can use to show that he cares about JOBS. He can push for building a giant modern-day Ark.

Wonder how the folks in Wyoming feel about the Mayans, Hopis and Nostradamus?

TOG -- That's funny! LOL

Thank you'll fellers for adding to the humor this morning. This Republican/ T.P thing is just getting so pitiful that I feel the need to giggle at them a little ocasionally. Anybody in wyoming I might have offended my apologies and it should be known that you'll up there rejected this deal yesterday.

IR, after so many "you've got to be kidding" moments from repubicans, this one has to leave people asking if the GOP has anything left in their collective heads. An aircraft carrier in Wyoming proposed by Kermit Brown? Good thing I sat the cup of coffee down after the first sentence.

P.S. Loved your added humorous thoughts. LOL

Tired Old Guy - Oh heavens don't give Santorum any ideas! I can't take his walking backwards anymore.

Tired Old Guy, good one, too. I'll bet Santorum and the others are kicking themselves for not thinking of it first.

IR.......thanks for this giggle. I saw that as a headline yesterday, and then couldn't believe it was for real, thought it was from the Onion. Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction.

Jody, I'm sure you'll have this in your Weekly Review although this week so far has produced a bumper crop of idiotic statements and actions.

TOG...I'm with Katheryn.....dont give him any ideas, however, on second thought, if he were to build an Ark, I have a few names he could take with him, in fact, I have pages of names!!! lol

a giant modern-day Ark.

That's Great!

I cannot see how anyone can look at that and think "well that's a good idea".

The $1.6 billion price tax comes to about $7,500 per household, not so bad if Glen Beck has them convinced that Armageddon is around the corner. Plus by now they all should have their stash of gold (sold by the same Glen Beck).

If they could form an alliance with Idaho and Oregon, the may get a parking place on the Columbia. Bunch of skinheads in ID, they will sign up.

As for Texas, the better course would be for TX to exercise it's right to subdivide into five states. Austin has more residents than WY, we would make a fine state.

Independent R,

This is right up GOP's alley from all the angles.

Panic & Fear - are both longterm and shorterm strategies for GOP/Koch/A.L.E.C./Norquist.

The United States announced a major diplomatic breakthrough with North Korea Wednesday.

Under an agreement reached in direct talks in Beijing last week, North Korea has agreed to allow the return of International Atomic Energy Agency nuclear inspectors, as well as to implement a moratorium on long-range missile tests, nuclear tests, and nuclear activities at Yongbyon, including uranium enrichment activities, the State Department said. In return, the United States will provide North Korea with a major food aid package...................See there you'll Yahoo's. Food and Butter trump Bombs and guns every time. Good On you'll. One less problem to worry about.

Last debate Ron Paul looked at Santorum and called him a Fake with a smile, this is hilarious because l was thinking of the same thing. Ron - words of Wisdom !

IR -- I read that too. Let's hope they continue to talk and engage in the real world. At the very least the good news is that those starving may have a chance at survival. May good prevail.

IR - regarding n korea, you think this will work this go around? I mean it has always worked for us in the past right? So independent, what comes first the food or UN inspection teams?

on the other topic, doom and gloom. What is better a series of small course adjustments to restore rational economics or a hard course adjustment to avoid the ice berg? Many would prefer to look down the road to the horizon rather than the mantra of the left to practise business as usual.

Since you like carriers what takes longest to stop or turn 90 degrees? The carrier or destroyer?

Paul, I was thinking somewhere in the great beyond, Vince Lombardi was smiling. (Or Al Davis - "Just win, baby")

Sheesh, women. He was a pro coach, phine. :)

The NCAA thing works on a lot of levels, and probably best captures what's happening by comparing it to a BCS-ranked team that just needed a win to keep glory hopes alive, but by winning so unconvincingly in a game it should have handled better, that team manages to further ramp up anxiety levels among its fans. And if a ranked team loses a game it probably shouldn't, there won't be a BCS championship game for them. It was assumed the same might be true for Romney in Michigan (wouldn't have a chance to take on Obama for the title if he lost this one).

Plus, for the conspiracy theorists out there, another level is that so much of the BCS thing isn't decided on the field (analogous to elections) but instead decided in the ranking computers (analogous to rigged elections).

Yes, I know they were representative of the pro's, but they had such great lines!

However, in reading your theory and applying it to the BCS (which I hate - give me a playoff, please), I see your point. Romney didn't run up the score necessary (and how about the 'weight' of his win?) to garner more points to rise in the rankings.

Oh yeah, Romney is dropping computer ranking points. But, he's still alive. He's also helped by the fact that one of these guys is going to get into the title game. Here, the analogy falls short. If a Big 10 school was number two, then it would have to worry about an ugly win dropping it to third, behind an SEC school. In this case, there are only two BCS conferences.

Theoretically, a third party candidate could challenge in the general election, just as theoretically a Mountain West school could be ranked number two. But there's only so much fairy dust to go around.

Paul,

If Romney were to represent a Big 10 school going up against a SEC school - well, I would take the SEC school anyday. Big 10 never does well in the big bowl games. SEC loves 'em and does well (an aside here - I belong to Gator Nation, so I am biased for the SEC).

Let's see, Obama would definitely be Big 10, Gingrich would be SEC, Ron Paul would be Big East (soon to be ACC), Santorum would be Big East or Big 10 (that whole Pitt, Penn St divide), and Romney could claim Big East, Big 10, Pac 10, Big 12 and Mountain West so true to form would probably wait to see which gets the better bowl games. He also could claim Ivy League, but we all know how they do in sports.

And if American football doesn't work out, he does speak French, too. So there's hockey and soccer possibilities.

Paul,

The NCAA has penalized the Gingrich team for violating NCAA rules - no bowl game for him! And, depending on which Texas team, I don't see Dr. Paul in the Big East (ACC)

If Ideology is around, maybe he could direct us to some curling teams?

Phine - Ron Paul is a congressman from Texas, but he's originally from Pittsburgh. The kicker is that after all this time in Texas, he still has some of his 'burgh accent. And I don't care where you go, when you're from the 'burgh, you're from the 'burgh.

Great thoughts Jody.....IMHO I've noticed how the GNOP have not advanced 1 creative idea as to how to bring America forward...but rather are spinning proposals to bring us back to the dark ages...Our greatest days are when we keep moving forward..not backwards....C'mon America - wake up and see that the GNOP idea of forward thinking is to bring us back to the dark ages....

All the GNOP can say is how terrible Pres. Obama is...of course..you can't turn the Titanic around on a dime like the Rethugs wanted..but heck...stocks are up...unemployment going down...home sales increasing....I;m sure evryone wants it to go faster....but for one party that keeps say NO maybe it would have gone faster.

I watched Santorum last night and he just talks and talks, and says nothing. Gosh, I feel sorry for the poor Secret Service agents that are stuck with him.

Hello Jody,

Great insight on your part. I see Rick Santorum as a very dangerous person that is trying to force the country into following his cult.

Jody,

"You cannot legislate morality"

But Senator R. Blunt of Missouri (R) is sure trying. He has amendment to the highway bill of all things, to allow any employer to opt out of preventive care mandates in the HCA law because of "moral" reasons, not just religious reasons. Twenty organizations signed a letter stating that this is a slippery slope. It could include not providing insurance for" prenatal care for single mothers, no immunizations for children," what ever some employer thinks is morally wrong.

source: NYTimes.

@ Jody.....

Santorums' 'snob' list grew by leaps and bounds last evening as he admitted that even his mother was a 'nurse' and of course his wife is also a nurse and a lawyer....I guess they would be the good snobs!

His speech was rambling on and on about nothing as he and Romney continue their 'class warfare' against each other.

Santorum for the so called 'coal minning worker/industries' versus Romney for the rich folks.

Jody -- Yes, we need more debate. Tomorrow, the Senate is set to vote on Blunt's bill that allows employers to opt out of covering any health treatment they find objectionable. It's not likely to pass. But it shows the public (or at least those paying attention) where the Republicans stand when it comes to health care; you are on your own. They abandoned mandates when Obama picked up the idea and ran with it. Sadly, that is only one example of where the Republican's hypocrisy has surfaced. By pandering to a minority they are abandoning the majority. The time has come for more debates indeed.

Great Post Jody. You can't just hate the other candidate - you have to love your own candidate's ideas.

And the only ideas that are getting a lot of play for the Republican candidates are hatred toward women and anyone who's faith doesn't fall within a narrow range, the elderly on Social Security, anyone on medicare, and all the middle class blue collar workers who are union.

Thanks everyone. Had some time on my hands this morning while waiting for FT and what started out as a critique of the primary and why Santorum lost morphed into the GOPers wish to legislate morality. Some mornings are like that. The GOPers at both federal and state levels are hell-bent on it, too; it's as if they think it's their last chance so they have put aside the baby step approach and gone all out. Glad the GOP decided to do that, too, because one step at a time gets little attention but achieves one more step toward the goal and we're less likely to notice.

Blunt's amendment to a transportation bill is the typical sneaky, back door approach. Both the House and Senate with their many rules need to write one more--no amendments unrelated to the legislation are permitted.

Jody, a great post and so insightful.

On Blount's amendment, watch to see what Scott Brown does, he I believe, co-sponsored it, and if it passes, we can welcome Elizabeth Warren to the Senate, either way, he's toast. The GOP now have so many seats to defend between the House and Senate, they'll need more than Crossroads Superpac as they try to put out all the fires.

Jody, you say true, so true.

At the same time, we know GOP/Koch has cloth ears and will not even debate the American Jobs Act, or creating TWO MILLLION JOBS for us - even now when they should be doing everything possible to help America recover from a great recession.

As for Santorum, try not to snort your tea down yer nose. He said "The greatness of america is we have such diversity".

I don't think it's that big of a deal that he can only win his home state by 3%. That kind of stuff is overrated. For one thing, what the hell kind of mindless, shallow people vote for someone just because he's "from their state"? I live in a state where there are 22 counties. Our current governor won only THREE of them and won the election by a decent margin. We righties in the state hate that SOB so much he refuses to go to any of the 19 other counties where we live. When he runs for Prez in 2016 like they say he will, myself and millions of others will be right there to vote AGAINST him.

if he can't win easily in a place where voters know him best, Republicans are right to chew their nails about his chances of even coming up to par with the loses of "the maverick" and the moose lady. I see the R 'elites' have already all but conceded and are quietly shifting their efforts to hold on to the Senate. (but then again, ...perhaps 'two cadillacs in every garage' is going to surprise them and start catching fire!)

Anybody can beat Obummer, just look at HIS record. Americans can not afford another 4 years with this idiot being in charge of anything.

Put a fork in this idiot president, he is finished. Plan and simple....

How, you couldnt be more wrong. Get an education. Obama WILL win.

just your name

yes your right ..but like god says let the blind lead the blind..or in real term what the bible says let the dead bury the dead

when your done ehugging jody, listen for yourself on what the gop plans for prosperity. it was in mitts acceptance speech. annd good luck to baracalypse trying to defend his censored fabricated record on live tv during the debates. listen to mitts speech. baracalypse has lots a splainin to do! YAAAAAAAAAAAAY MITTT!

Romney wins!! The Teabaggers are on the run - Republican Party for Republicans!! Romney 2012!!

russ, here's an e-hug for you: hogwash. I did listen to Romney's speech and heard no specifics about his economics plan, no explanation of how he plans to create those jobs, no explanation of how he can cut taxes and make government smaller just a lot of Reagan repeat the trickle-down economic disaster chatter. What will Romney eliminate to make government smaller? His plan to save social security is to privatize it, hand the money over to Wall Street and let the games begin. A 20% tax cut for all--figure how much you get and then figure out how much a break Romney who earns $57,000 per day gets. If a person earning $1500 a month gets a 20% across the board raise, how much raise did they get? Compare that to the person earning $10,000 a month--how much raise did they get? Then come here and explain how a 20% across the board tax cut will benefit anyone but those who need no breaks. If Romney's current tax rate is 15%, it means that after a 20% cut, he will pay zero. Know anyone who actually pays a "death tax"? That's because it's empty words; rich people have their wealth sheltered from it and the rest of us don't come close to having to pay it. It isn't what Romney says, it is what he doesn't say. Try asking the tough questions, try digging below the surface--you might be surprised what you find or won't find.

How amazing it was to hear Romney speak about those awful off-shore accounts while his own money vacations in the Caymen Islands.

very well put

please no truth..

Is that because the republicans can't handle the truth?

hahaha yes

They ARE concerned. That's why Republicans with influence are turning their attention to trying to hold on to the Senate. They know they're going to lose with Romney...but can you imagine how a Scott Brown moderate in the Senate holds onto his seat when he has to defend why Republicans think education is "elite" and why vaginal probes for women aren't "intrusive government interference" but health care options are?

Wow elvis! That's quite a vocabulary you have there.

thanks I'm edumucated..the Texas way..we can call it dumb down way of talking like your man Romney

Actually, Reverend Al is quite good at pointing out the obvious. I enjoy his show; he doesn't suffer fools. I liked his line last night poking fun at those saying Romney had to hit his "win" speech out of the park and Rev Al, said he did, "a foul ball out the back".

Hey Noid, You make a very valid point. Where are Romneys "friends"? I haven't heard a word have you?

I am an independent with a Dem. lean/.

I thought Romney would have come out gangbusters to defeat Obama this time around. Instead not hardly a sound. I really don't think there is much difference between the two.

Oh there's a difference your boy is a puppet an i don't mean the pres,Vote dem

Really?

First Read writes "If the Democrats win Maine and Massachusetts..."

Bob reads "Scott Brown is going to lose."

Dude, put down your hatred and take a deep breath...it's clouding your reading comprehension skills.

Ha! Good observation.

A win for Romney or Obama is an ugly win. The country loses. Our short-term reality is we will continue to tread water. Our long-term reality is war and 'rumors of wars' brokered with allys now against another sovereign nation who is the newest boogie man. And a continued reality in the form of ever-growing and untenable debt. The stock market swings to artificial ebbs and flows - Greece, stock players, insiders. No anti-war stance exists. No legitimate diplomacy with Iran exists. Backroom coniving and agenda for 'change' in America - away from America - is a transparent agenda. Obama has done more to undermine citizen rights than any prior president and that will continue to escalate. Romney doesn't know any more about how to run the country than Obama, but he doesn't appear to have an agenda of undermining America at its core. Nor does he work to divide the People over increased NDAA restrictions that open up real threat against Americans, or punish religion in mischievious acts to undermine and diminish it, or have a stated mission to work to usurp the Contitution by acting outside of the political system, bypassing Congress to make the executive branch equal to a dictatorship. Obama belittles the Supreme Court in open Congress only to join a field who he says takes advantage, but not without him. Playing party against the country is hollow. Group pandering, insider manipulation and power grabs, all work to continue to undercut citizen rights. Promoting anyone - party affiliation irrelevant - who does not follow the Constitutional law of the country fuels the greatest losses we as a nation will ever suffer. It culminates in the loss of the nation. In that no pride exists, only brief and unlawful privilege. Narcissism is not the answer. The law that protects the individual rights of every citizen under law is.

Yes you are right, Greek Tragedys are very much like Buddisms. Where what you reap is what you sow. Or the do unto other theme. Or the more you give and the more you get. You know the ying and yang. Life is like that. I think it is a lesson learned for the Republicans this year, a year they they have had a big window of opportunity and have completely squandered it.

how are they going to win with the tea party again..hahahahaha

yayyy!

hahahaha

The Tea Party is on the ropes!! Good riddance, they can't even win here in Arizona anymore!! anyway I thought this was the Republican Party primaries not Tea Party??

did he win???with the fat vote...aww you just don't want to admit there are a lot of anti-Christ voters out there do ya...anti..means God fearing people who say they believe in God..but do the opposite like the scribes and Pharisees did..they killed the truth

aww the man on the bike lies..who works hard with his fingers at Wall street sell.. buy.

...and 4 years ago Rush Limbaugh called for "Operation Chaos".

What's your point?

I was actually pretty disappointed to see that Democratic turnout in Michigan constituted only 10% of the vote. I would have loved to see a bigger number. If I had been in Michigan yesterday, I definitely would have helped Santorum out.

The point is as I wrote it. If the primary voters were republicans, the margin of victory would have been higher, and not "ugly" as the article claims. Reading comprehension isn't your strong point, it it?

Glad to see Elvis is back and posting. His incoherent rants give me a chuckle. The kind of voter Obama needs to stay in power.

OL--It was that "fat-necked"Rick Santorum who paid for the robo-calls urging democrats to vote for him, said so himself right at the end "paid for by Rick Santorum". Who knew Rick Santorum was a union member?

That makes Santorum complicit and he's lost my vote. Unless, of course, he's the nominee. In which case, I'll support him. In fact, I'd campaign for a tricycle if it was running against Obama. It would be more qualified.

No Democrat would waste their time voting for Santorum to further advance his Draconian ideas. It does not matter who the Pukes hoist up to the top of their pile to face Obama. The Pukes will lose in November and lose big.