
Tannen Maury / EPA
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney speaks to customers while campaigning at Charley Parker's Diner in Springfield, Ill.
It’s shaping up to be another déjà vu week in the GOP race… With Romney’s Puerto Rico win, here’s NBC’s new delegate count: Romney 443, Santorum 184, Gingrich 137, Paul 34… Romney’s gas attack on Obama… McCain calls GOP race “the nastiest I have ever seen” (and that’s saying something)… Haley Barbour says he voted for Newt… Team Obama rakes in $45 million in February for campaign/DNC… Obama’s energy swing this week… Dem memo/poll: Lugar “fighting for his political life” in Indiana… And DCCC tries to make more hay out of Ryan, Medicare.
*** Deja vu: This is shaping up to be another déjà vu week in the GOP presidential race: Mitt Romney widens his delegate lead by winning all of Puerto Rico’s 20 delegates yesterday; Romney is poised to win Tuesday’s primary in Illinois, but it once again could be closer than all of Romney’s advantages (money, organization, front-runner status) suggest; and Rick Santorum continues to have a problem qualifying for a full slate of delegates (raising the question of whether Romney would still have a commanding lead if he didn’t face such a disorganized challenger). Campaigning in Illinois yesterday, Romney responded to his Puerto Rico win: "Those people who don't think Latinos will vote for a Republican need to take a look in Puerto Rico and see there that conservative principles and Latino voters go together -- and that Hispanic voters are going to vote for Republicans if we stand for something.” But a little caveat: Those Puerto Ricans who voted in yesterday’s GOP primary CAN’T participate in November’s general election.
Caption: NBC's Mark Murray and Domenico Montanaro discuss Mitt Romney's widening delegate lead over his GOP rivals and team Obama's raking in $45 million-plus in donations for the campaign and DNC .
*** NBC’s delegate count: After Romney’s victory in Puerto Rico yesterday, here’s NBC’s official delegate count: Romney 443, Santorum 184, Gingrich 137, Paul 34. (Note: This delegate count doesn’t reflect some caucus results, since those delegates haven’t been officially allocated yet and since the allocation will NOT be based on the straw votes that have taken place.) And get this fun fact: Romney has won 52 out of 54 possible delegates in all of the U.S. territories (Guam/Northern Mariana/U.S. Virgin Islands/America Samoa/Puerto Rico) that have participated in the GOP race -- and that represents 20 percent of his delegate lead over Santorum. Wow … just another reminder why organization matters.
*** Romney gas attack: Also yesterday, Romney leveled a new charge at President Obama. "There's one promise he's kept, one promise he's kept. When he campaigned he said he wanted to raise the price of gasoline.” But NBC’s Garrett Haake reported that independent fact-checkers have found that charge to be false. In a Jan. 2008 interview with the San Francisco Chronicle editorial board, then-candidate Obama said his cap-and-trade plan would cause electricity costs to rise, but he did not reference gas prices. At a second event, Romney corrected himself. "[Obama’s] one promise that comes to mind that he kept was the one related to energy. His energy policies he said would cause energy prices to skyrocket. And when asked one time about gas prices going up so quickly he said he would prefer they just went up gradually. Well we’ve seen the results of his policies." But Romney is wrong here again too, Haake says. The "policies" he is technically referring to, which Obama said would cause electricity prices to skyrocket, was cap-and-trade, which was never implemented.
*** McCain calls GOP race “the nastiest I have ever seen”: On “Meet the Press,” John McCain -- who has endorsed Romney -- summed up the conventional wisdom about the Republican primary race so far: It has hurt the GOP and Romney. “Mitt Romney will tell you, first of all, he's got to do a better job. He's working on doing a better job. He's got to focus more on the economy. He's been giving major speeches on the economy and jobs. And I think he is improving dramatically as a candidate,” McCain said. “But also, the proportional distribution of the delegates, any campaign before, we had winner take all. If it was winner take all, you would have seen those numbers significantly different. Also, the Super PACs have played a key role, unfortunately in my view, because most of them are negative ads. They've driven up the unfavorable of all of the candidates and made it much more difficult, frankly, to win the election in November.” He later added, “This is the nastiest [campaign] I have ever seen.” The fact that McCain -– who was the subject of a nasty attack in 2000 and who launched some tough attack ads of his own in ’08 -- is saying this means something
*** Barbour says he voted for Newt: Here’s another gut punch for Romney: Former Mississippi Gov. -- and onetime potential presidential candidate -- Haley Barbour said he voted for Gingrich in last week’s primary, citing his friendship with Gingrich. We’ve noticed so many big-name conservatives continue to stay on the sidelines (Barbour/Daniels/Jeb/Ryan, etc.). And it makes us wonder: What are they waiting for? They are not still debating between Romney and Santorum are they? Or Gingrich? Are they so afraid that coming out for Romney now COULD look bad for them with conservatives four years from now? Could some of these folks really be so calculating about how “supporting Romney” could look in a primary TV ad four years from now that they are afraid of going out on this limb in 2012? Or are they actually holding back because they think it’s only 50-50 that Romney gets to 1144 by June 5?
*** On the trail: All the activity is in Illinois and with just two candidates: Romney starts off his day in Springfield, gives an economic speech in Chicago and holds a town hall in Peoria … Santorum has rallies in Rockford, Moline and East Peoria.
*** Team Obama rakes in $45 million-plus in February, up from last month: On President Obama's official Twitter account this morning, the campaign announced that it raised more than $45 million -- for the campaign and DNC -- in the month of February. It added that amount came from more than 348,000 donors (105,000 giving for the first time), and the average donation was $59. To put that $45 million February haul into perspective, Team Obama raised $29 million in January, including $11.9 million for the campaign (with the rest going to the DNC and the Obama Victory Fund). And in comparison, Romney has already released his February fundraising total -- $11.5 million (that's strictly campaign money). Note: We won't know until the campaign officially files with the Federal Election Commission (the deadline is tomorrow) what the actual campaign vs. DNC split is. In 2008, however, Obama raised a whopping $57 million for his campaign in February, although that haul came during his historic primary battle against Hillary Clinton. Bottom line: Obama’s money situation continues to be GOOD, but not GREAT (at least by the 2008 standard; just see this Washington Post piece).
*** Obama’s energy swing: Given the heat on gas prices he’s taking from Romney (see above) and the Republican Party, Obama is making an energy-related swing this week “to promote and defend his energy policies -- including his approach to the Keystone XL pipeline,” USA Today writes. “Obama travels Wednesday and Thursday for energy events in Nevada, New Mexico, and Ohio, as well as Cushing, Oklahoma; Cushing is the starting point for the southern half of the Keystone pipeline. That segment ‘will transport oil from Cushing to the Gulf of Mexico, which will help address the bottleneck of oil that has resulted in large part from increased domestic oil production in the Midwest,’ said a White House statement.” Per NBC’s Shawna Thomas, this continues a pattern of Obama’s official outside-D.C. events focusing mostly on energy since late February. Actions speak louder than words, and it’s clear the Obama White House is worried, BIG TIME, about the politics of the energy and gas price issue.
*** Lugar “fighting for his political life” in Indiana: The pollster for Joe Donnelly (D), who is running for the U.S. Senate in Indiana, has released a survey showing that incumbent Sen. Dick Lugar leads his GOP primary opponent Richard Mourdock by just six points, 45 percent to 39 percent. From the pollster’s memo: “After more than 30 years as Indiana’s senator, Richard Lugar is fighting for his political life. Despite spending millions, Lugar continues to lose ground in the Republican primary and faces the very real possibility that on May 8, he will be out of a job.” But it’s also striking that the memo doesn’t reveal any of Donnelly’s poll numbers against either Lugar or Donnelly.
*** DCCC tries to make hay out of Ryan, Medicare: With House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan releasing his new budget this week, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee says it’s launching “a new paid and grass-roots campaign called “Medicare March” in 41 Republican districts to hold them accountable for the new GOP budget that chooses “Millionaires over Medicare.” More from the DCCC: “The first phase of the DCCC’s campaign will hold these targeted Republicans accountable with automated phone calls that will patch voters through to their Member of Congress' office so they can urge them to vote against the new Republican budget that ends the Medicare guarantee for seniors, while protecting tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy.”
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Countdown to Election Day: 232 days
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Let's hope and pray Santorem wins Illinois!
Let's hope and pray he wins the nomination! Best thing that could ever happen to Obama!
I know that Obama is not perfect, but what President have we had lately that has been an over achiever in office. But everyone seems to forget Bush/Cheney and all of their issues, started a war to help the economy. Andy you have to admit Obama had a lot worse hand delt him after GWB/Cheney, he was in debt up to his eyeballs, and then GWB had a surplus and blew it. If Americans want to go back to work, lets hope the right man get's in, but it is not mitt. I hope the people in Illinois, that no one votes for him. that would be great. if the only thing he has going for him he is the only person that can beat Obama, he is wrong there. The Repubs message is only (nothing saying how they are going to fix the jobs issue or anything, they only say Make Obama a one term president. How about we kick the Repubs out of congress and lets try to balance the budget, and help our vets and get americans back to work.
If you are truly interested in where the jobs are, you will need to first look at the 285+ bills and four budget proposals, one of which is Obama's, that currently lie, gathering dust on Harry Reids desk! Further research on this issue would then lead you to google Steven Chu, Ken Salazar, and Lisa Jackson. You'll find most of your answers doing that! This will also explain why Obama states that there is little he can do to reduce the price of fuel! Of course he could rein them in, but nah! They are clearly doing his bidding!
Regarding the price of fuel, "Of course he could rein (sic) them in, but nah!"
Exactly how could any President reign in the price of fuel without establishing price controls which in turn would lead to more accusations of socialism?
That $90 billion given the oil companies by the Republicans is working out pretty well with gas prices high while there's plenty of gas and the blame going to President Obama. Gotta say the Republicans know how to manipulate minds through manufactured problems. When gas prices shot up during Bush's reign he told Americans we were addicted to oil. Oil companies have used every excuse in the book to jack up prices except the real one... They can charge any price because they can. There is no real alternative and they will fight like hell to ensure there is no alternative.
I don't know the source of your "$90 Billion" but the figures for 2011 are slightly different! $2.82 Billion divided by 14,000 Companies was awarded to " Big Oil ". While $2.62 Billion was awarded to just three " Green Energy" firms, two of which were foreign owned, Iberdrola - Spain- $1 Billion and E.ON - Germany - $542 Million. These two created exactly '0' American jobs! "Big Oil" companies, over the last five years have created 158,000 American jobs!
ted- And for how many years have we been doing that? 90 Billions worth, that's how long! And they have been making record profit's for how many years? Every job that's been created, has been bought and payed for, by the American people!
Even if what you claim is true Hummbird, explain how it's better to give our tax dollars to foreign companies in return for ' 0' jobs! I'm not a Harvard Mathamatican but even i know that 158,000 is a larger number than ' 0'!
ted- Where has that oil gone? Do they sell it here? No they export it for maximum profit. Time for the subsidies "welfare" to end. That's my point!
I agree Hummbird, with this caveat, ALL subsidies to any companies! Otherwise it's a no go! By the way even if the product goes overseas the refineries make a profit from the process, and it stays here!
hummingbird......All companies should make record profits every year. They never adjust for inflation when they make that statement. It is the same as saying the Social Security recipients receive record payments every year and people making minumum wage make record wages.
Exxon/Mobil reported profits for the fourth quarter of 2011 of nearly $10 million - per day!
That's great Bruce. I'm certain that the pension funds and 401K funds that count on them making a profit will be very glad to hear it. Perhaps the dividends will make up for the lack of COLA increase for many seniors.
The Tea Partiers are constantly screaming for “more” which they claim will come from their “conservative” values. The Evangelistic Christian is shouting for upholding “family values” that they say are being abused. The politicians they support are encouraging the outcries with their own abundant rhetoric and “the money” is literally feeding the frenzy with their propaganda to excite and expand the emotion. Who really is in place to benefit from all of it?
The Republicans, with the Tea Partiers elected in 2010, have irresponsibly totally focused on pursuing their political ambitions at any cost to the people, by stubbornly blocking and faulting all efforts and by arrogantly withholding bipartisan cooperation, without even a hint of a conscience. They have established government gridlock as their strategy and have fought only for the interests of “the few” (like belligerently protecting the Bush tax cuts for the very wealthy). Bush-Cheney clearly established that the “trickle down” theory is a complete fraud that only makes the wealthy wealthier and solicits political support and that is what the Republicans want to return to. The right’s propaganda is that “big government” is the evil but, while smaller government, less spending and reducing the deficit are all valid goals, what caused our drastic problems is actually what they have continually supported, drastically spent on and now want to return to,... the placation of “the money”, their strong supporters and masters.
The continually growing gap between the very wealthy (1%) and the rest (99%) clearly documents that what they are pushing for is this country to be a two-class society with “the few” competing in having it all while the majority is left struggling. They repeatedly advocate as being “conservative” and as having benefit for the economy, to have maximum deregulation, totally lax enforcement, little oversight and permissive policies which then continually encourage exploitation by “the few”, with run-away greed, gross dishonesty and self-indulgence, that has resulted in crises for savings-and-loans, banks, dot.coms, the investment, mortgage and financial industries, as well as corporate corruption (like Enron) and even complete industry failures (requiring government intervention). The people, the majority are always left with the substantial costs and then just given more subterfuge to con and manipulate, while “the few” simply walk away “fat and sassy”.
Norquist, Cheney, Rove and others use the mega-millions provided by “the few” to coerce and intimidate their own (even frustrating and loosing the likes of Sen. Stowe) and to squelch individual consciences in order to assure unity behind “the few’s” interests and then just to support their “puppet” candidates. The power, influence and the money of “the few” are being aggressively used to con the people and to manipulate public opinion, without any constraint of conscience. Who stands to benefit? Well it sure isn’t the majority, definitely not the middle-class, and, with the deception put aside, it clearly is not even the Tea Partiers or the Evangelistic Christians.
Regardless of how long it takes, Romney will get the nomination and then will defeat Obama in the fall. Obama's policies are horrendous. Gas is almost $5/gallon where I live. It doesn't matter who the GOP nominee is because Obama is a failed president. I am amazed there is anyone who is ignorant enough to still support Obama.
“The next time you hear a politician say that he or she will bring down oil prices, understand it’s complete BS"
Bill O'Reilly --- Fox News commentator
Jeff, Chicago: I am amazed there is anyone who is ignorant enough to still support Obama.
well jeff...there are just enough of us ignorant sheeple to save the country from the roughly 45% of you ignorant rwnj's.
Obaahhhhma 2012!
Does Mitt Willard Romney ever mention George Dubya Bush in his stump speeches?
I'm surprised anyone is still ignorant enough to support Romney. He's only in it for himself and will do nothing to help the American people.
Romney has done nothing but state that he can beat Obama over and over. He has given no explanation of what he would do as president or even stand on any of the major issues of the day. He side steps any question that would require that he actually take a position on anything. He stands for nothing and is nothing.
Chris, I'm with ya. Even for those who worshiped him, what has he accomplished. Don't say Obamacare, that is going to be the biggest mistake yet. The cost has almost doubled from what he projected. He can't even take credit for the economy improving because the leftys claim the GOP has blocked everything they have put forward. All the guy ever did was be an activist. That job entailed how to get money from others who work, and give to others who don't work. Great qualifications to be the President. Never held a REAL job, never served in the military and spent very little time in politics. That's their hero.
Joe, and there is Mitt who has no idea what a W-2 Form is and Rick who should be running for Pope! So your vote goes to whom?
Please !!!!
joe-2849984
Chris, I'm with ya.
joe...glad to see we converted you! Welcome to the future! He is your President/Hero too!
Obaahhhhma 2012!
You're so right, Jeff. I'm an ex-democrat from Chicago, and it's Obama that turned me away from the democratic party. With all due respect to the man, he's a sheep trying to be a shepherd. He's incapable of leadership. All he knows is compromise and appeasement. He can't make a decision on his own without calling in his advisers and appointing a committee to do his thinking for him. He's a disaster.
What an absurd statement. Just because he has been successful in his life and is able to live off of his investments leads you to believe he doesn't know what a W-2 form is? How do you think he got the money he invests in the first place? Do you really believe he worked in the private sector for 25 years without a W-2?
Some of my Republican friends seem to need some help. They seem to be suffering from anxiety attacks, depression, delusion and paranoia now that the economy is recovering and we have a effective pragmatic President managing our country. My prescription is to STOP WATCHING FOX NEWS and listening GLENN BECK. Take some time with your family, take your wife out to dinner, go visit your grand children. You will find that you will be much happier and your family will appreciate it.... and guess what our country will survive. THERE’S NO CHARGE FOR THIS HELP ..Your 401 K will continue to grow, your social security will be there when you need it, you will have health insurance and the jobs are out there and growing and gas prices will come down as they always do in the fall. Obama 2012
Papa:
"Your 401 K will continue to grow", really? Obamas wonderful Mortage Relief Act, valued at $26 Billion requires that the Financial Institutions pay 5 % to 7% of the costs, the remaining 93% to 95% comes from our 401 K's, Annuities and Mutual Funds!
"Your Social Security will be there when you need it", again Really? The wonderful " 2% Tax Cut" that Obama is so proud of, comes not out of our Federal Income Tax. Instead it comes out of our premium payment to our Retirement Fund, S.S.! It was allready our own money!
" The American Republic will endure, untill the politicians realize that they can bribe the people with their own money" Alexis de Tocqucville 1787
Ted de Tocqucville did not envision career criminals employed at Goldman Sachs, Lehman Brothers,Citi Bank, Bank of America, Countrywide Financial, Madoff Fund, etc.etc,etc,etc,etc. Not everyone can ship their money to the Caymans and Switzerlandexcept drug lords and Mafia capos and a few other priveleged people. How did your 401K make out during the Bush years? The aforementioned people and acompanies did very well.
Of course he did Charles! Do you think that criminale are some new invention? They have been around since the first cave man! The difference between corrupt businessmen and corrupt politicians is that I'm not required to deal with the businessman!
" The two enemies of the people are criminals and government, so let us tie down the second with the chains of the Constitution so the second will not become the legalized version of the first" Thomas Jefferson 1787
I tremble for my country when I fear that God is just--Thomas Jefferson.
The real question is why Santorum can't close the sale. He was leading in Ohio, and almost a dead heat in Michigann-yet in both efforsts Santorum fell short? Why-because when he switched from is personal biography (son of a coal miner) this dishing socail issues like he was a columnist for a gossip maganzine carrying on about contraception and ultra sound abortions that wuickly morphed int MANDATORY testing he lost his small gov't crreds in favor of big brother is watching you.
He gave aid and substance to the seth Meyers crowd; You're for small goverment, really? You don't believe in madates, really? Then what's all these suddenmendates? what's this about having to inform your em,ployer if you take birth control pills-as a new Arizona republican legislative act madates.
Team Romney as been kind to Santorum so far. they could and should ask detailed question about Santorums proposal to exempt manufacturing from hjave to pay income taxes. Isn't this a give away to CM andd Ford and others? GM already has $20 billion worth of unused tax credits-thanks to carry back/carry foward loss proccions inexisting law. And that for the next 20 year. Why would they need more?
Why would industries that have $2.3 trillion in the bank today need more tax breaks when they fail to use the money that have? Why would they need a tax break to bring back over seas profits-when under Bush the cut was cut and not one net new job emerged because em,ployer pocketed the money.
Team Romney hasn't raised hard question about Santorums econimics-if he has any. They didn't raise in Ohio Santrum's votes agaist right to work laws as a US Senator-and Ohio is a anti-union pro Taft-Hartly state .
Instead Team Romneyhas been coming to enjoy cliff haner drama. Why? It sucks the coverage out of Team Obama. It prevents Team Obama from crowing about the Dow that's over 13,000 and the uniterrupted job growth. They would rather talk aboutSantorm as opposed to backing up Obama on the necessityfor taking the hit on gas prices becaue Iranhas stopped selling oil to Europe which forces Europe to buy eslewhere driving up priv es that are reflected at the pump. If you spend your time atting Sanorum you don't have to confront umpleasant realities.
The Perils of Team Romney makes great politcal theater just as the Peirils of Pauline did in the silent films. You have to tune into find out what happens next-and it's imporabale to script. All we need is a few hot babes and scandals and the auience is hooked.
Team Romney may very well let Santorum win the beauty part because Santorm loses the degelgate part. And you have to vote four different places on the Illionis ballot for delegates-and thats the machince politics advatage the beats the undisclined amautersa. Concede the popular vote, Romny people say-delegates are where it's at.
Illionios is where the professional beats the amatuer.
Can't close the deal because his wife is a whore and he sleeps with dead babies.
Arlin, have you heard of a clever device called a "spell checker?" It's really not that hard to use. Then we won't have to stop and figure out what "atting" might mean.
The answer to your question of why Team Romney doesn't ask the hard question is because it would require that he take a stand on these issues himself and he won't do that. He won't stand for anything. He never has and he never will.
Romney is fake, Santorum is crazy and Gingrich is slimy. It's almost enough to make you want to vote for Ron Paul.
You are truly a classless act aren't you jesusismydog!!!
What exactly does Santorum bring to the table that I couldn't get froma cardboard conservative figurine?
- study the facts on santoirum and you;ll find out that his wife was maired to an abortion doctor/gyn. This doctor who was 30 years her superior was also the doctor that delivered her as a baby. Now this is the woman that is standing with Ricky boy trying to preach to the masses about righteousness?
- Rick did sleep with his dead baby after it had died. FACT!!!
The block everything do nothing Republicans can spin all they want about the deficit ... but the deficit belongs to them/Bush and the continued idiocy of the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy that are suppose to create jobs! They started the massive job losses, the bank failures, the auto industry in bankruptcy all with a needless unpaid for war. I'll take the present economy any day to those idiots. We've got an effective pragmatic leader in Obama who is cleaning up the mess with no help from them so celebrate our success in avoiding a massive depression caused by Republican leadership and the needless war! The deficit is coming down and will come down further!
How things are better in the last 3 1/2 years: I know the list of successes for this President will never be long enough for the Republicans..... even when the Dow hit 14,000 and their 401Ks have spilled over with money!......it will still be about banning contraception and going to war with them.
Negotiated a nuclear moratorium with North Korea!
24 months of job growth, rather than the 4,000, 000 jobs lost in the last 3 months of Bush
Bin Laden dead, Bush said he didn't care where he was..he didn't think about him much
Kaddaffi dead
Auto industry back and growing
Health care reform.. with preventive care which saves you money
401 Ks back
Credit card protection reform
Banking protection reform
Equal pay for women in the work force
TAX CUTS PROVIDED TO YOU unless you make over $250,000
A positive GDP
Ending of a useless war In Iraq
Stock Market back
Student loan reform
Pell Grant reform
Lowest interest rates in 50 years!!!
Killed 11 times as many terrorists as GW - That is a bonus
Started the withdrawal from Afghanistan
Removal of DADT
Managed a Natural disaster in the Gulf better than Bush handled a hurricane response.
Oil production coming from the US is at an all time high..rising oil and gas production, and a greater mix of energy sources and decreased consumption.
Stopped a pipeline that was opposed by the state it was going to run through until they can reroute it away from the aquifer.
Did I help you out and answer your question… Obama 2012
WOW!! You must be very, very dizzy after all that spinning!
ted, care to list where Papa 'spun' anything?
Papa, I think you are scaring the Republicans with so much positive information about the current administration. There is nothing anyone can say for them to see clearly. The goal is and has always been to get the black guy out of the White House. It doesn't matter what he accomplishes, they will not acknowledge. Indeed, there is none so blind as the one who refuses to see. Instead of talking or trying to explain things to them...let's just SHOW them in November. OBAMA 2012!
" Romney gas attack"
- the side effect of cheesy grits...
Romney, that gas hole will say anything to get elected.
No, the new PPP poll shows that it will be a BLOWOUT for Mitt Romney.
That's not the results of any poll I've seen. What poll are you sighting? It's early in the process. After Romney secures the nomination, Team Obama will slice and dice Romney the flip flopper. As a result of the GOP foolish birth control debate, women and independents will break towards Obama, resulting in a Obama landslide. Bet on it.
Yep...He'll be blown out of the race by Obama. OBAMA 2012!
Peggy Sue- And I have some ocean front property for sale here in Co. Turn off the Fox noise!
Duh, really. So let's stop having primaries, and caucuses, and conventions and swear in Romney right now if it is such a done deal. Conservatives in particular are prone to speak of uncertain future events as if the outcomes were known facts. "Obama is going down, Obama will lose, etc." But then, conservatives always have trouble dealing with facts. For them facts are wishful thinking and what Fox News, Limbaugh, and the oil companies tell them.
Conservatives are like a religion. Believe in things that you can't prove because otherwise you have admit that you just don't know.
To all hypocritical Republicans that watch FOX NOISE and have gas! GAS PRICES WENT OVER $4.00 PER GALLON UNDER BUSH AND YOUR BUDDY BILL O'RIELY IS ON TAPE SAYING THAT PRESIDENT BUSH HAS NO CONTROL OVER GAS PRICES..... You would be calling OBAMA a socialist if he implemented price controls ... or if he took any control of a private business.
Obama 2012
Obama will never catch a break with wing-nuts no matter which side of an issue he takes. Their hatred for him borders on insanity. I worry what they'll do when Obama is reelected. I fear their anger will drive them to violence.
Isn't it just a hypocritical of democrats saying that the president has no control, but then under Bush they were crying like children that it was all Bush's fault and claiming he was responsible? Obama doesn't need to implement price controls, but it would a good idea to actually promote production in the US instead of hinder it. All the growth that has happened is because of Bush and private property owners.
The Keystone Pipeline proposal would take oil sand and process it in the Gulf States - more jobs. Then the refined oil would be shipped overseas to the highest bidder(s) which are currently India and China - no reduction in gasoline prices domestically. Winners: A few hundred (maybe a couple of thousand) jobs and even higher profits for the Oil Industry Oligarchy! Losers: Everyone buying gasoline in the USA.
Currently Michigan is in their second year trying to clean up oil sand out of the Kalamazoo River from a pipeline break. Folks this stuff sinks to the bottom in water... almost impossible to clean up. But the PARTY FIRST REPUBLICANS want you to believe it's about jobs when it will only creates a few temporary jobs. When a spill happens the cost will be substantial. Better to be a pragmatic thoughtful President than one that shoots from the hip! Been there done that!!! Obama 2012
Bruce - so your preference would be to ship the crude oil directly to China so that they can refine it there and keep their money in their economy rather than us selling it and putting money into our economy? Can you explain how that possibly makes any economic sense whatsoever?
Romney's business advice on General Motors, contrasted with President Obama's reform and restore action, demonstrates the kind of businessman Romney is. Romney totally misconstrues the facts and causes of petroleum pricing as well. Now he promises to both drastically reduce and increase government spending and make further cuts to government revenue, while balancing the budget and paying down the debt. If you are having trouble making ends meet, the Romney advice is to ask your employer to lower your pay and, at the same time, buy a new home theater system.
Romney made a fortune putting marginal businesses out of business by stripping their assets, leaving them bankrupt, and leaving the government with the responsibility of refunding employee pension plans out of the federal treasury. Of course Romney has $250,000,000 in assets, after pulling foreign banking tax evasion in giving each of his five sons $100,000,000 without paying any of the normal inheritance taxes on the transfer. Romney does not depend on the American economy, so his wild strategies are no threat to him or his family. Economic experts are in complete disbelief.
It's all very simple. Either Romney lies or he is incompetent. No problem.
Actually, one thing you are incorrect about here.
It is estimated that Romney is worth $270mil based on what he pays taxes on. However, he has tax shelters setup in both Europe and Cayman Islands that no one had idea what they are worth. There is no way to telling how much Romney is really worth or what percentage he really pays taxes on. For all we know that $270mil is only a quarter of his wealth and he's really a billionaire.
face it romney has been basically a rich kid with no real job his entire life, the last 5 years he has did nothing but give speechees on the campaign trail yet manages to make over 10 million a year in the stock market, the rich boy is the spoiled brat you would think he would be
Every time you fill up your tank, $15 of it goes to Romney's buddies on Wall Street. That is an unfortunate fact.
What? Sounds like an unfortunate lie.
What are you liberals going to do in November when your man Obama loses?
Wake up and realize it was only a nightmare.
I have no problem with Obama losing to better leader. It would be nice if the Republicans would actually run one.
If the U.S. can survive Nixon, the two Bushes,Hoover,Coolidge,Reagan,etc , so-called liberals will survive!A country that can produce an Abraham Lincoln will always survive.
I probably will be ok for the next 12 years as I wont have to go on social security until then, however all of you cureently on ssi and medicare will be screwed big time with a gop win, for profit medicare for old people what a joke!! noe of them will be able to afford the premiums unless there a romney
Joe, I worry more about what right-wingers will do when Obama wins.
Good luck, your guy is a proven phony who never had the credentials to be the President.
joe, by 'credentials' do you mean that Obama was not legally qualified to be on the ballot in 2008? I have been amused by your postings but gave you more credit than being a certified birther.
Bruce - I think Joe was referring to the fact that President Obama has absolutely no experience that would possibly qualify him to perform the job. He has not been in an executive position in either business or government. He has no military experience. He has no experience with the economy. The only thing he knows is law and legislation, neither of which are well suited to being the head of the Executive branch of government.
Considering that Santorum isn't even eligable to win 10 of Illinois delegates it is highly likely that Romney will come out ahead on the delegate count there. The question is will it be enough. Romney still needs to get to that 1144 to get the nomination otherwise this goes to a brokered convention. It doesn't really matter that if Romney won PR or not. It is a territory and he has the money to campaign where people can't actually vote in the general election. I would like to see the ads he played there though. It would be interesting to see if he tried to claim Latino roots again like the did with Florida. Maybe he ate a taco this time.
Santorum campaign slogans--Vote for me , the disorganized candidate----Where is Mitt s birth certificate?---Why do not women listen and obey men?
GOP=Goodbye Old Party
SOUNDS like romney is either a complete liar or too stupid to know the facts about obama before opening his big mouth and makin a fool out of himself
A Conservative, A liberal and an Independent walks into a bar----The bartender looks up and says, What will you have--Mitt?
good one
How can we move forward with so many thinking backward? The whole conservative movement, fueled/twisted by the addition of tea-party radicals is a throwback to the 1950s. Do we really want to go back to a time when women and minorities were treated as second class citizens by a country firmly in the grasp of white males? I can still remember the attitude of my father toward my mother and even children who (should be seen and not heard).
I may sound like a defeatist, but it will make no difference who occupies the White house. If it is Obama the Republicans will continue to stifle progress at every turn, if it is a Republican the Democrats will likely seek to do the same, if it is an Independent, no one will listen to him at all. It just seems hopeless. Our system is so broken, so corrupt that it is a wonder we are still a nation united.
It all depends upon where we are trying to "progress" to.
It's fact now that a communist community organizer is not what we need to build our capitalist nation!!!
Vote comrades soros, van jones and obama OUT!!!!!!
Gary, what office does soros and van jones occupy? When were they first elected? Hate to tell you this Gary, but you really are a dumb pile of manure. Yes, Obama was elected, but the other two?
Sally soros pulls obama's strings and van jones runs obama's ows they are all joined at the lips!!!
Like I say Vote comrades soros, van jones and obama OUT!!!!!
Gary you are too funny, still out there parroting Glen Beck!!!
Beck was way too crazy for Dumb FUX NEWS so they got rid of him.
The only thing I miss about Beck is how Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart used to make fun of him...
I imagine "Beck the lunatic" is hunkered down in a bunker somewhere waiting for the world to end...
Vote comrades soros, van jones and obama OUT!!!!!!
Instead, vote in the Koch Brothers, Limbaugh and Norquist. No thanks.
Gary-be careful--Jesus was a community organizer and a communist--Read St Luke,St Matthew and St. Mark.
Gary, ours was never a true capitalist nation. We've always had those who join together to manipulate markets from the days of Rockefeller and J. P. Morgan. Today, it is not individuals but corporations who have joined together - with the blessings of the Supreme Court - who are the manipulators; Exxon, BP Conoco, Aramco, Shell, Standard Oil.
We can't have a capitalist system until our markets are freely accessed and competitive - which they are not currently.
Gary--You must stop punching yourself in the lower abdomen---It is starting to show.
The pugbags have been passing a book around, written by a pugbag, on how to pickup hookers, and how to buy drugs, here and outside the country. So much for that "family values." I wonder if Ricky got his copy.
I would vote for moon base Newt over hypocrite Rick. Two career politicians that have never worked in the real world.
You can tell America is no longer a Christian nation when you have a mormon cult dirtbag running for president.
romney does not know a thing about God or Jesus. He is just a complete flip flopping fool. America deserves what it gets for turning their back on God. May God's justice be swift and fierce on this ungodly nation.
May God especially judge all the fools who think the mormon cult has anything to do with Christianity. They are as far apart as night and day. Praise to Almighty God for taking care of America before the mormons ruined it.
Alex, Obama's cult is now the national religion, of your choice????
By BRIAN ROSS (@brianross) and REHAB EL-BURI
March 13, 2008
Sen. Barack Obama's pastor says blacks should not sing "God Bless America" but "God damn America."
The Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Obama's pastor for the last 20 years at the Trinity United Church of Christ on Chicago's south side, has a long history of what even Obama's campaign aides concede is "inflammatory rhetoric," including the assertion that the United States brought on the 9/11 attacks with its own "terrorism."
Interesting that modern day Christians think we turned our backs on God because of Mormons, gays, abortion, etc.
Yet those same conservatives applaud how much we spend on the military and WMD's, have kept us in a state of perpetual war, coddle the wealthiest individuals & corporations and then blame our financial problems on the old, the sick and the poor.
God left this country in disgust over his followers ignorance...
How can Obama be a Muslim if he attended a Christian Church for 20 years?
Gary K... you are delusional... The Lutheran Church in it's creed prays that we be forgiven for what we have done and for what we have left undone. Pastor Wright said that "God (will) damn America, the Bible says so" referring to the deeds we have done or left undone. Get your quotes right before your publish garbage! Pastor right who is Pastor of a "white" denominational Church was saying nothing more and nothing less than is said at many Churches.
Gary K
Some of my Republican friends seem to need some help. They seem to be suffering from anxiety attacks, depression, delusion and paranoia now that the economy is recovering and we have a effective pragmatic President managing our country. My prescription is to STOP WATCHING FOX NEWS and listening GLENN BECK. Take some time with your family, take your wife out to dinner, go visit your grand children. You will find that you will be much happier and your family will appreciate it.... and guess what our country will survive. THERE’S NO CHARGE FOR THIS HELP ..Your 401 K will continue to grow, your social security will be there when you need it, you will have health insurance and the jobs are out there and growing and gas prices will come down as they always do in the fall. Obama 2012
Alex, you take every possible opportunity to bash the Mormon religion. Enough already, we get it, you hate Mormons. Your repetitive rants are getting really old and only show how threatened you are by something that you don't understand. And I'm sure in response you'll be more than thrilled to prove all your points about a religion you know nothing about. Seriously dude, have you nothing better to do with your time? Why do you feel it your mission to bash a religion? Perhaps you need some counseling to bring your troubled mind back to earth and focus your endless efforts on something productive and good.