American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Injury:

A broken nose (nasal fracture) can significantly alter your appearance. It can also make it much harder to breathe through the nose.
Getting struck on the nose, whether by another person, a door, or the floor is not pleasant. Your nose will hurt—usually a lot. You’ll likely have a nose bleed and soon find it difficult to breathe through your nose. Swelling develops both inside and outside the nose, and you may get dark bruises around your eyes (“black eyes”).
If you’ve been struck in the nose, it’s important to see a physician to check for septal hematoma. Seeing your primary doctor or an emergency room physician is usually adequate to determine if you have a septal hematoma or other associated problems from your accident. If a septal hematoma is present, it must be treated promptly to prevent worse problems from developing in the nose. If you suspect your nose may be broken, see an otolaryngologist—head and neck surgeon within one week of the injury. If you are seen within one to two weeks, it may be possible to repair your nose immediately. If you wait longer than two weeks (one week for children) you will likely need to wait several months before your nose can be surgically straightened and fixed.

***************
Everything we know is taken from Zimmerman’s own mouth and actions as we go through the tapes, as well as the police video and eye witness accounts. Eyewitnesses say that Zimmerman got up and walked away from this incident. Got up and just walked away on his own. Uninjured.

This is what the Zimmerman family alleges:

George Zimmerman has a broken nose. Plus, he has a cut on the back of his head. So he has injuries in the front AND back? The medical examiner said there were no cuts or bruises on Trayvon's hands to indicate a fight. And from the article above, a broken nose is a serious injury. Yet we see video of Zimmerman taken about 1/2 hr after the shooting and his face shows absolutely no indications of a broken nose.

No where on the 911 tape does Zimmerman say that Trayvon is causing property damage or assaulting anyone. No where on the tapes does Zimmerman witness Trayvon breaking any laws. Trayvon is alone, just walking home. Yet Zimmerman says “these **** always get away with it.”

It is also quite clear from the 911 tapes that Zimmerman went after Trayvon. He went looking for him once Trayvon ran away, who undoubtedly was scared out of his mind. He's all alone and knows he is being followed by a complete stranger, who as it turns out, had a gun.

Zimmerman states quite clearly on the 911 tapes that he has lost sight of Trayvon and then starts running to try and find him. Why? Within I think 2 minutes after this, Trayvon has died from a gun shot wound.

And Zimmerman’s father has the audacity to accuse President Obama of stirring up hate. A young man who was simply walking home has lost his life and this is what Zimmerman’s father has to say?

Now What?

In the wake of the Solicitor General's clumsy defense of Obamacare before the Supreme Court, the left is reverting to a political defense of a law which is indefensible from a constitutional perspective. While the scope and reach of the commerce clause authority is at the heart of this case, the left is singing the praises of the expansion of coverage and other goodies that would ensue once Obamacare is fully implemented. In other words, they prefer to spin the debate in terms of the outcomes of the law which might be taken away rather than the law's questionable constitutional basis.

In their telling, Obamacare addresses some fundamental and enduring problems in the health care system. Therefore, the ends are noble and the means to achieve those ends are necessarily just as noble and thus entirely legal. Indeed, in their view any court that would dare strike down the entire law or the individual mandate is a court that's showing its partisan stripes and engaging in unabashed judicial activism. That's how liberals view the legal system: as a tool to advance their goals, with any impediments being portrayed as an inappropriate exercise of dictatorial judicial power.

There are some good reasons why the left is already pushing this narrative. First and foremost, an adverse ruling would humiliate the president going into the election. It would be a dramatic rebuke of the president's judgment, a rebuke made particularly harsh since this man supposedly is a constitutional scholar. Secondly, a decision to strike down the mandate or the entire law would give greater legitimacy to the broader conservative argument that Obama has been expanding the size and reach of the federal government beyond what the Constitution allows.

So in an attempt to turn these impending lemons into lemonade, there is already some buzz that the president will add the Supreme Court to the list of boogeymen he will run against. Yup, he'll channel Truman by running against Congress, FDR by running against the Court, and Teddy Roosevelt by running against big business. And the president will thereby energize a base that is outraged at all manner of evil that their knight in shining armor has been prevented from eradicating.

That is, of course, one really big crock of wishful thinking. If Obamcare is struck down the left will be devastated and their progressive agenda will be pushed back for a generation if not more. Then with his signature legislative achievement swept aside, the president will have precious little to show for his time in office. Toss tepid economic growth and high gas prices in the mix and this man will be staring into the jaws of a landslide defeat.

That would be a bad thing for Obama, but a good thing for America. C'est la vie.

Excellent article. It "ain't cutting it for me" either, IR.

This election is more critical for the working class and the country than any I recall. We cannot continue Reaganomics and expect to have a strong nation with a strong economy and a strong middle class where everyone has a chance at success. The voo-doo economic policies of the GOPTP have been proved irresponsible twice, a third time would guarantee even greater economic disaster.

IR, what an excellent article. You just have to wonder why the American public isn't jumping up and down and saying, "Enough of this crap!" Look no further to understand why this nation is sliding inevitably from its perch as the greatest country in the world and heading towards a Rio de Janeiro of slums and poverty.

Pat, terrific post. Zimmerman had absolutely no reason to follow Trayvon Martin, was told not to yet he did anyway. This unjustifiable killing is every parent's nightmare.

Amen, IR---makes me wonder just how much income inequality is enough for the 1%. My answer is, sadly, they will never have enough. Well, it is time for the rest of us to recognize the fundamental unfairness of our tax system and make changes before it is too late.

Zimmerman is a murderer. I know it, you know it and the police know it. So why is he not in jail awaiting trial for murder. Could it be that the boy's victim was black? And that Zimmerman's father was local ex-judge? And that it's Florida where people think it's still the 40's and there still should be segragated bathrooms and schools?

I think all of the above. Let's see some justice here for this young man.

Obama in 2012.

Hopefully we will see justice in this case for Trayvon and his family. Hopefully. Thank you MSNBC for allowing the journalists and tv hosts cover this story. It's an important one.

Zimmerman is a murderer. I know it, you know it and the police know it.

That's funny I hadn't heard he was convicted in a court of law.

Of course "innocent until proven guilty" doesn't apply here, right?

Sorry about the "boy's victim" error. Should have been just "boy". They have spell check, but no "BRAIN" check. Damn it's hard trying to be perfect. But I'll keep trying.

Obama in 2012.

Alter Net/Tara Lohan

5 Ways Virginia May Be the Worst State in the Nation

It isn't known for being a bastion of liberalism, but even for a 'purplish' state, Virginia has taken extraordinarily conservative actions recently.

March 29, 2012 |

Bottom of Form

Reading the news these days is like going through a time warp. States across the country are racing toward the past. It's 2012 and we're still forced to stomach "debates" on birth control and whether we should be teaching science in the classroom. Georgia may pass a law banning protests at or near private homes. In Missouri Republicans are stripping healthcare provisions for the blind. We've hit a new low. And one of the states leading this mad dash to the bottom is Virginia.

It isn't known for being a bastion of liberalism, but even for a "purplish" state, Virginia has taken extraordinarily conservative actions recently. The push has come from the Right -- and the perfect storm of a Republican governor with eyes on the vice president's mansion in Washington: an ultra-conservative attorney general (who thought the goddess on Virginia's state seal, which dates back to 1776, was dressed inappropriately); and a GOP-controlled state legislature. The combination has been bad news for women, gays and lesbians, the environment, and just about everyone else in the state, too. Here are five recent examples of just how bad things have gotten.

1. The More Guns, the Merrier

On February 27, three students where shot and killed by a fellow classmate wielding a handgun at Chardon High School in Ohio. The next day, in a state scarred by the worst school shooting in the country's history -- at Virginia Tech in April 2007 -- Republican Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell signed a new gun law -- one that makes it possible to buy more handguns. The law was a repeal of a 1993 law that limited handgun purchases to one per month.

"The [1993] law was intended to stanch the flow of guns from Virginia to New York City and other metropolitan areas in the Northeast," the AP reported. "In 1991, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms found that 40 percent of the 1,236 guns found at crime scenes in New York had been purchased in Virginia."

New York's Mayor Bloomberg told the NY Daily News, "Virginia is the No. 1 out-of-state source of crime guns in New York, and one of the top suppliers of crime guns nationally."

But the Republican-controlled Virginia state legislature and the state's governor sided with the gun lobby instead -- despite the opinions of a majority of their constituents.

Victims of the Virginia Tech shooting, where 32 peopled were gunned down and 17 others injured, met with Governor McDonnell days before he signed the bill. One student, Chris Goddard, who was shot four times, said McDonnell "offered sympathy, not solutions."

"McDonnell seems to have learned little since that horrible day about our desire to be safe," Jim Winkler of the Faiths United Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence wrote in the Richmond-Times Dispatch. "Sixty-six percent of Virginians told the Richmond-Times Dispatch that they wanted the one-handgun restriction to remain in place. Clearly, who has a legitimate need to buy more than one handgun a month? But our governor put the agenda of a lobby ahead of the people he was elected to represent. He put the gun lobby's agenda ahead of protecting the residents of his state from the life-altering and life-ending horror of gun violence. Innocent lives will be lost as a result. It is not only shameful that the governor did this, it is immoral."

Virginia is already a gun-friendly state. The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence reports that, "Virginia has weak gun laws that help feed the illegal gun market, allow the sale of guns without background checks and put children at risk." The organization has given the state a dismal ranking of 12 out of 100 points for gun control laws. And now, things may get even worse.

The rest of this article may be viewed here:

http://www.alternet.org/health/154753

What has happened to you Virginia, one of the prettiest states in the Union. Filled with history, blessed with great educational facilities, a joy to visit and explore, a state I wished I could have lived in the many times I’ve stopped there on my way north. It seems you have allowed yourselves to be taken over by extremes, lacking in logic, tolerance and an understanding of our history.

There was a time when beautiful Virginia was known through their licence tag, “Virginia is for Lovers” not much anymore, it is more like, Virginia is for Loons. You appear to have lost your way. What a pity.

(with apologies to my friend IR)

Calif. Tom -- I didn't believe you were a racist. What gall you have calling Trayvon a "boy." You would be all over someone else's ass for making that unintentional (snicker) "slip up."

The truth needs no apology GBM.

Bill in Fairfax is desperately spinning out of control! Reminder Bill. The mandate was pushed by conservatives and their think tanks for decades up until a few years ago. What happened? The President looked at that option and decided to use it.

Pretty pathetic when a right wing poster uses the Texas case as comparable to a teenage kid walking down the street, not causing a disturbance, not throwing rocks at houses, not spraying graffiti but simply looking "suspicious" in some cop wannabees eyes. These laws are irresponsible and give anyone a license to kill, to ignore police orders, and worse allow the acquittal of a Texas man for killing two people who were not threatening him. Guess we can assume that those claiming both of these incidents as fine with them, are a-okay with it happening to their child walking down the street, talking on a cell phone and some vigilante decides to take the law into his/her own hands--and call it justice.

IR, that post of yours was very enlightening, thank you for doing so. Everyday the urgency to change course on how the country will survive these nefarious politicians, who appear to have the goal of running the country into the ground, and then blame the black guy, as they block and tackle every effort he makes, even if it originally came from the Republicans/TP.

This train of thought seems to permeate every aspect of life these days as what I posted too also speaks to this neanderthal mentality. I also am of the mind, there is a train of thought, in this election cycle, that seems to be pushing the race and equality issue, in the hope that it will evoke a riot, similar to the 60's and 70's, thereby the President would be blamed and considered to be the cause. This Zimmerman case is a good example.

Great post Pat!

I just wonder what is the weight and height of the liar Zimmerman that he can say that the teenager got the better of him physically?

Here's something that JoAnnaSmith1 and the rest of the motley crowd will have to work super extra hard to ignore: In an interview with Greg Sargent, Ronald Reagan's Solicitor General Charles Fried gave a scathing critique of how the right-wingers on the Supreme Court are handling the ACA case:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/how-did-obamacares-backers-get-it-so-wrong/2012/03/29/gIQArH5wiS_blog.html#comments

“I was appalled to see that at least a couple of them were repeating the most tendentious of the Tea Party type arguments,” Fried said. “I even heard about broccoli. The whole broccoli argument is beneath contempt. To hear it come from the bench was depressing.”

Greg Sargent also writes:

Which raises a question: How did so many commentators predicting this would be a slam dunk for the Obama administration get it so wrong?

Well, I guess I'm not much of a pundit, because I've gotten it right so far. I fully expected the clown act that the Broccoli Boys Scalia, Alito, and Roberts are putting on. I expect them to overturn the entire ACA on the 100% political grounds that it will hurt President Obama and help the Republicans.

Bill, Fairfax VA

In the wake of the Solicitor General's clumsy defense of Obamacare before the Supreme Court, the left is reverting to a political defense of a law which is indefensible from a constitutional perspective.

It seems that Ronald Reagan's former Solicitor General disagrees with you. But what does he know? He's not a legal expert on everything like you.

That's it, Romney is taking his Etch-A-Sketch and going home. Newt and Rick can play moonbase without him, it's time he starts acting like an adult.

Bill,

I thought you liked the free market? The mandate was a free market solution originally put forth by the Heritage Foundation. I know you'll call single payer "socialism" so please, what is your solution?

In regards to Trayvon...

Zimmerman's story is similar to someone trying to convince you that 2 + 2 = 10. It's just not adding up. No one is crying for his conviction, they're crying for an arrest, which they have the necessary probable cause for. They want a chance for the justice system to do its job.

The Stand Your Ground law is the problem, Zimmerman is the symptom. The law is written ambiguously. "Feel threatened" is subjective to the person.

Let's ponder this...

The official police report, which I can post a link to if needed, listed Trayvon at 6' and 160 lb. If you take the most conservative estimate of Zimmerman's weight and place him at 200 lb, the weight difference between Trayvon and myself, is about 10 lbs less than the weight difference between Zimmerman and Trayvon.

If Trayvon had disregarded a 911 operator, followed me through the dark, when he was armed and I wasn't, and I freaked out and started fighting him, would Trayvon have been justified in shooting me and using the defense that he felt threatened?

That puts a different perspective on this, doesn't it.

Jody -- You can have your opinion on the laws but not on the facts -- yet to be determined by a proper investigation -- of the incident. There are eyewitnesses telling a different story.

Damage - Even Liberals are telling Feisty... to tone down on their "feel good" justice crusade.

I wonder when a "rightie" of conscience will tell you to tone down your daily diatribes and false equivalency rants.

Straight up question, what is wrong with having Zimmerman sitting in jail or forced to make bail, while a grand jury investigates whether they bring charges. The outrage and questioning that many rightfully feel is why this vigilante is not treated equally under the law.

Pat, thank you for posting that piece. I am outraged at Zimmerman's father and his accusations of the President pushing hate. If this is an example of his mindset, is it any wonder, his son, the shooter, acted the way he did. OMG this song from "South Pacific" says it all:

You've got to be taught
To hate and fear,
You've got to be taught
From year to year,
It's got to be drummed
In your dear little ear
You've got to be carefully taught.

You've got to be taught to be afraid
Of people whose eyes are oddly made,
And people whose skin is a diff'rent shade,
You've got to be carefully taught.

You've got to be taught before it's too late,
Before you are six or seven or eight,
To hate all the people your relatives hate,
You've got to be carefully taught!

Straight up question, what is wrong with having Zimmerman sitting in jail or forced to make bail, while a grand jury investigates whether they bring charges

Well they can only hold you for what, 24 hours without charging you? But they have to have probable cause for making the arrest. With the media twisting the evidence and presenting an unclear picture, and all the hype going around, none of us can be certain what exactly went on that night.

There is only one thing of which we can be certain: innocent until proven guilty.

“I was appalled to see that at least a couple of them were repeating the most tendentious of the Tea Party type arguments,” Fried said. “I even heard about broccoli. The whole broccoli argument is beneath contempt. To hear it come from the bench was depressing.”

I second Fried's opinion. The dumbing down of America reached new heights with that comment.

Here's the way an opinion piece by Krugman in NYT summed it up:

Why? When people choose not to buy broccoli, they don’t make broccoli unavailable to those who want it. But when people don’t buy health insurance until they get sick — which is what happens in the absence of a mandate — the resulting worsening of the risk pool makes insurance more expensive, and often unaffordable, for those who remain. As a result, unregulated health insurance basically doesn’t work, and never has.

Another good quote from Fried is found in the same piece by Krugman:

Are these fundamentally different approaches? Is requiring that people pay a tax that finances health coverage O.K., while requiring that they purchase insurance is unconstitutional? It’s hard to see why — and it’s not just those of us without legal training who find the distinction strange. Here’s what Charles Fried — who was Ronald Reagan’s solicitor general — said in a recent interview with The Washington Post: “I’ve never understood why regulating by making people go buy something is somehow more intrusive than regulating by making them pay taxes and then giving it to them.”

Gingerbread Mamma, great article and comments. The extremists have taken power and they are determined to enforce their version of religion, birth control, guns, and everything else on the entire country even if most of the voters do NOT want it. Some democracy we'll have, a country run by fanatical extremists who do not understand what "liberty and freedom" really mean. Iowa's GOP House has tried this year to do what other GOP states have done on abortion, birth control, collective bargaining and weaken existing gun laws. They've even tried to add a law similar to FL's Stand Your Ground Law. The NRA is the most powerful lobby in this country; it uses its power not for safe and responsible gun ownership and reasonable control of same but rather to promote the sale and manufacture of as many guns as possible.

Don't Carry, more great information. I agree with Fried and your comments. I also found Scalia's arrogance about not wanting to read the "2700 page" law as telling. Of course, his staff will read the law but when a Supreme Court Justice is going to rule on such an important law, he has a responsibility to also read that law him/herself. Scalia has had months to read it but apparently, it is beneath him.

Mark:

Straight up question, what is wrong with having Zimmerman sitting in jail or forced to make bail, while a grand jury investigates whether they bring charges. The outrage and questioning that many rightfully feel is why this vigilante is not treated equally under the law.

That's what's so infuriating about this case. There is another Florida case where the situation was similar but the races were reversed. A black man got into an argument with a white man, who wrestled the black guy to the ground. The black man shot and killed the white man, and was arrested and is now standing trial, using the same "stand your ground" defense that reportedly was the justification for not arresting Zimmerman.

Nobody is protesting the arrest of the black guy. He and the man he shot will get justice in a court of law. That may not be the case for Zimmerman and Martin.

Jody,

So true. I have no issue with guns, per se or gun ownership. If you want to own one great, it's the frothy concoction of machismo and fear that the NRA mixes up in people that really gets my goat. Their arguments just don't hold water.

Crime prevention needs to be looked at through the lens of a hybrid social science that includes criminology, victimology, sociology, and psychology. You can't simply say, "Guns make criminals think twice." No, they don't. Crime is motivated by all sorts of different social and cultural factors, by all sorts of different individuals, and each crime comitted by each criminal is different. Guns would only make them think twice if each criminal and each crime was rational.

Self defense also needs to be taken a case at a time. There are only a few instances, under an alignment of a perfect set of circumstances where a gun would work. Think about it... Timing, location,the circumstances of the crime, the mental capacity of the victim, the lifestyle of the victim, the relationship between the victim and the perpetrator... I could go on and on. An example, drive by shootings, a completely innocent person caught in one, is dead, long before they could pull a gun. Rape? Most rape is acquaintance rape, where victims tend to freeze or not even realize what's happening until it's too late.

And the government, really? First, who are these people, that we voted into office I might add, that want to usurp our liberty? Why would they want to destroy the very system that gives them their power? Why wouldn't checks and balances stop them? How would they go about doing this? Would they get our military to join them? If so, why would our military WANT to? If not, why wouldn't we use our military to stop them? Think about it. The 2nd Amendment was written when a red coat or "injun" could literally show up at your door, with zero notice, and kill you, while help was days, if not weeks, away. Now we have radar, cell phones, police, national guards, and we're all pretty much crammed into cities or suburbs.

If we want to cure childhood obesity, no one proposes that we build a MacDonald's on every corner to teach kids self restraint? So why do people assume that if we want to fix gun violence, we need to add more guns? And no one ever brings up the people killed with LEGAL firearms

Gingerbread Mama: Looking at what his father has to say, I agree - he was taught by his father to hate blacks.

And yes we all know you have to be proven guilty according to the law. Yet the Police Dept. shut this case down immediately. Glad to see the Police Dept. is being investigated.

And now we learn George Zimmerman has quite a history of anger management. If George Zimmerman is found guilty, his father should hold his head in shame.

The only thing wanted in the Trayvon Martin case, Ruken, is a thorough investigation, all the evidence presented and an arrest made or not based on that evidence. That was NOT happening until this killing was brought to the media's attention; the prosecutor determined that on the scene and overruled the chief investigating officer who did not believe Zimmerman was being truthful. He is innocent until proven guilty but in order to prove innnocence or guilt, there had to be an investigation and without all the publicity, it would not have happened. That's the sad truth and that is why there is a public outcry.

With regard to the Trayvon Martin I wanted to add something that I found when reading the "Stand your Ground" law in FL.

It appeared to me that the law was adopted in FL to help protect individuals from great bodily harm/death and the possibility of future civil actions to an individual at a later date. Many states have and use versions of the same law. Here is what I feel is an important part of the law.

776.041 Use of force by aggressor. —The justification described in the preceding sections of this chapter is not available to a person who:

(1) Is attempting to commit, committing, or escaping after the commission of, a forcible felony; or

(2) Initially provokes the use of force against himself or herself, unless:

(a) Such force is so great that the person reasonably believes that he or she is in imminent danger of death or great bodily harm and that he or she has exhausted every reasonable means to escape such danger other than the use of force which is likely to cause death or great bodily harm to the assailant; or

(b) In good faith, the person withdraws from physical contact with the assailant and indicates clearly to the assailant that he or she desires to withdraw and terminate the use of force, but the assailant continues or resumes the use of force.

From the onset, it was said that Zimmerman wasn't arrested because of the Stand Your Ground law. How would this apply?

Clearly, Zimmerman failed to exhaust every reasonable means to escape such danger of great bodily harm or death by following Trayvon in a close proximity.

I have been part of a neighbor watch in the past. Police officers came to meetings and gave clear directions of how we could help secure our homes/property and what we should do to take action against any perceived threats to property/homes/person. At no time was I or anyone else under the impression that we were to take action unless there was imminent personal threat. Otherwise we were to call the police. If that might take to long, call 911 for immediate resolve.

Zimmerman clearly had the time to call the police. If he truly felt that young Mr. Martin was posing a threat, he could have called 911 and watched him from a distance with binoculars at the very least. He was even given instruction by the 911 operator to refrain his persuit. There is no where in this law that I can see where Zimmerman would be protected under it's intent.

Jody -- Add a little anti-woman rhetoric to the mix and we will have summed up the make-up of a few on the Supreme Court. When you catch glimpses like that from the highest court in the land it's very telling. Hope people are paying attention.

IR:

Great post. Here's some gallows humor for you. Nineteen per-cent of Americans - 19% - believe they are in the top one per-cent. Yep, the top 1%.

Pat Boston:

As the information continues to trickle out about the embarrassingly awful reportage of the Trayvon Martin killing, not one shred of it validates Zimmerman's story. To the contrary. Zimmerman will be arrested.

Ben lotsanumbers:

No, the hero in your story was not acquitted. Why can't you guys get anything straight? In one of the most incredible miscarriages of justice, the guy never even went to trial. The guy was not standing his ground. He left his house, and cold-bloodedly killed two burglars.

You don't have brains enough to understand how easily that could happen to you. The Texas burglars were stealing stuff. That's right. Stuff. It's OK in your world to kill people for taking stuff? Trayvon Martin had tea and Skittles. He didn't even commit the capital crime of stealing stuff. Nope, nothing like that could happen to you.

Is it me or are the lefties deflecting this Romney story into the Trayvon story? Where in the hell did that come from? Pat in Boston, did you post on the wrong vine? You were the first to mention it.

My Republican Muslim Brothers, we will stand united for Cleric Romney! The Chinese Communists must be thrown out of the White House and nothing will do it better than the Republican Party, Party of the Koran! Tell Mullah Santorum to sit aside now and place that aspirin between his knees.

And what is this side talk of the shooting in Florida? It was two men, right? Then the only thing that matters is if Zimmerman followed the Koran. If he did, then it was God guiding the bullet and he has nothing to fear. Republicans know about martyring themselves, and this should not be an issue.

Get those Chinese communists out of government now! Vote Republican Muslim extremist in 2012!

Derek,

Of course, silly me, it's the Koran he was following. He wouldn't have shot me, he would have transvaginally ultrasounded me.

Talk to the Hand,

Here's what you said yesterday:

I love all these "yeah stop giving our tax dollars to the oil companies". People, read. We don't give them anything. GovCo doesn't write them a check, the subsidies are in the form of tax breaks. It isn't us paying them. It is the government allowing tax breaks. It costs the government nothing (and therefore you and me) if they didn't have it in the first place.

Yea! It costs the government nothing and therefore you and me! Yea! The Tooth Fairy is here! Everyone wins! No one loses! Tax breaks don't cost anyone anything! Yea!

Every day I read something on these posts and think: It can't get any stupider than this. And then someone says something every stupider than the last person. Talk to the Hand gets yesterday's award.

Houston, exactly the point and it is why the Martin case has created public outrage.

Sarah, great post. The problem is these legislators campaigned on issues that made sense to voters, jobs, the debt, etc. but once they were elected they did an about face and began their pre-planned assault on democracy and freedom. Sadly, the corporate backed candidates are picked not because they are intelligent but because they are the true social/cultural warriors who aren't bright enough to figure out their freedom and liberty is being stolen from them as well.

Fresh off the embarrassment handed to the Obama administration in the Supreme Court, Obama doubles down on Constitutional stupidity.

See, the Constitution precludes selective taxation. That is to say, if R and D tax credits are written into the tax code, they must be available for all who engage in R and D. The only exception to this rule is the application to income caps- that is, the higher the income, the lower the benefit of a tax credit or exemption.

So, why would Obama put himself on the wrong side of the argument again?

Well, he revealed his strategy in a speech masquerading as a press conference- he wants the extra money for his Dollars to Donors program.

Yes, indeed- the dozens of failed companies headed by, or heavily invested in by, his big dollar donors, (which cost the taxpayers billions in borrowed funds), were not enough to keep him out of the market. No, he wants to "double down" on investing OUR money in ventures like Fisker Automotive, Solyndra, LightSquared, Evergreen, and a host of other ratholes.

You'd think the media would call him on it- but they don't even bother reporting on the failures that cost us billions if they can avoid it.

Refer to it as the "scandal du jour".

Cause, face it, the misuse of billions of taxpayer borrowed dollars is unimportant, compared with keeping their idol at the head of the cult.

no jo,

I think you need an enema.

TalktotheHand,

Well the article is about Republicans and they are the party of "Guns, God, and Gays". As in use the guns, to shoot the gays (or Muslims, or blacks, or women, or poor people, or immigrants...) and than claim God has got your back.

At least that's what they're fast developing into. The sane, good Republicans need to take their party back, it's been crashed by the smelly, weird kid who lives down the street.

nomoresameo, terrific post; thanks for posting portions of the actual law.

About Solyndra

After months of investigations into Solyndra and other Department of Energy loans failed to produce a smoking gun, one Republican lawmaker let slip why House Republicans have kept up the charge.

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) conceded that Republicans' ongoing probes of the program -- from which the bankrupt California-based solar company Solyndra and others benefited -- are largely a play to win votes in November. "Ultimately, we'll stop it on Election Day, hopefully.

IR -- Loved your post today. There is a privileged class and they had the money to pay our legislator's to make sure they retain their status. Look out for those who accept the money and do their bidding, they need to be voted out.

Jack - If you go to the store and something is on sale for 25% off and it looks like a good deal, do you buy it to save the 25% even though you don't need it? Or do you not buy it and save the whole cost of the item?

If you don't have the item and don't need it, you don't miss it.

If the government never sees the collected taxes that they give in the form of the tax breaks, they don't miss it. They never had it. And couldn't spend it.

You get the deflection award for today for posting something from a very different story on a very different day that has nothing to do with the topic of the article commented on.

This is my thing about Solyndra, regardless of whether the company was successfull or well run, it doesn't alternative energy or our need for it.

If I had stood in front of the Hyndenberg and spoke about the future of air travel, would I have been wrong about the future of air travel?

Was there some shady poltical goings on, probably yes, but that's what happens when you have money equaling speech and corporations as people. Folks should focus their anger at THAT.

Ruken

You speak an inconvenient truth. Zimmerman is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. He is not a "murderer" until a jury of his peers or a judge in a court of record says so.

I blogged extensively about this yesterday but, as usual, my observations went largely ignored.

The "lynch mob" hysteria of both sides is hampering the investigation. There are only two people who know what happened that sad evening and one of them is dead. There are no eye-witnesses, there is no video. There is only a dispatch recording of Zimmerman and of the people who called the police because of the disturbance.

But here you are, ready to jail Zimmerman when no one, not a single person commenting, knows, beyond a shadow of a doubt, what actually happened.

Why don't you folks go ask Amanda Knox how she felt about being "Guilty until proven innocent" in the Italian criminal justice system. That's the norm in much of the world, not just Italy. Our quaint little custom of presumed innocent until guilt is proven is somewhat unique and personally I'm very proud of us for having it.

So, why are we so quick to toss it out the window?

Freedom of speech and equal justice under the law are inconvenient when we are talking about the Ku Klux Klan or the Neo-Nazi's marching through Skokie, Ill. But it is all the more important that those freedoms be preserved even when they bind and are uncomfortable or protect the hillsboro baptist church. We all have our OPINIONS about what happened to Trayvon Williams, but you don't arrest people or throw them into jail or charge them with crimes on OPINIONS. You do those things after a careful and rigorous investigation and only if the evidence indicates that it is appropriate to do so.

NJNB -- Maybe you should be more concerned with the "special" tax codes that grant the "privileged" loopholes to get around things such as income caps the rest of us must abide by.

What is wrong with you Muslim extremists, arguing about Zimmerman's innocense? Did pray to Mecca? If you did, you wouldn't have to make these ridiculous arguements defending him. Those who think Travis died by anybody other than God's hands are infidels! Unless Zimmerman was an infidel, in which case, he TOTALLY shot Travis!

Concentrate on reading the Koran and vote for Romney. This is what is best (note I am pointing my finger at the sky when I say this, so it means I mean it).

Who the hell is Travis?

And Sarah-

Was there some shady poltical goings on, probably yes, but that's what happens when you have money equaling speech and corporations as people. Folks should focus their anger at THAT.

I think it was more the morons with an agenda that heard what they wanted to and bought into it with our money. That is what I am angry at.

I think you need an enema.

Ah yes, the left wing luminaries once again show their unerring ability to add penetrating and insightful commentary to the debate. This place just wouldn't be the same without them.

Talk to the Hand,

If you don't have the item and don't need it, you don't miss it. If the government never sees the collected taxes that they give in the form of the tax breaks, they don't miss it. They never had it. And couldn't spend it.

I work in the tax credit world, and I can most assuredly tell you that there is a cost associated with this. It's not free. There are winners and losers.

Somebody else is going to have to explain this to him. I don't have the patience.

Its Trayvon, technically, but I shortened it to Travis because I want to make the point that the only accurate reading that matters is reading the Koran. Don't make me have to tell you how God types my words, because if I do, you are probably one of those Godless Communists. Back to praying to Mecca with my fellow Republicans. You should do the same!

I don't have the patience.

I don't either, jack. But I will caution those tempted, that it's not worth the time involved. They won't listen!

Oh look below: JAS1 is here to impart her wisdom lack of understanding of reality.

Houston: Here's something that JoAnnaSmith1 and the rest of the motley crowd will have to work super extra hard to ignore

Here's what you have to ignore Houston. 9 justices will sit in a room today and take a vote on what they think of ObamaCare. More than likely 5 or more of them will vote to repeal the law. They'll take a couple of months to write their briefs both for and against the law, and then they'll tell us their decision.

So you can stop with all your smoke screens, excuses, and who said what about what, and of course your whining, because none of it matters.

Reality sucks for Liberals.

The sane, good Republicans need to take their party back, it's been crashed by the smelly, weird kid who lives down the street.

They should start with the Moral Majority freaks and the Tea Baggers. The GOP has became a freak show and the laughing stock of American politics.

Skip, I noticed your thoughtful post yesterday.

Enlighten me Jack. Just give me the Reader's Digest version if you don't have a lot of time. I would be very interested in learning what the costs and winners/losers point are. Really. I want to listen. I just don't see it and someone as close to it as you claim to be, would be a big help.

Folks should focus their anger at THAT.

How we Liberals and focus on what the Council for Biotechnology Information is trying to brain wash our children and are screw the world's farmers. Check it out for yourselves.

http://www.nationofchange.org/outrageous-lies-monsanto-and-friends-are-trying-pass-kids-science-1332862386

Hey Talk to the Hand -- Are you willing to come out of the forrest and listen? What's that? You're lost, you say? Well that explains a lot. Take a hike, clear your mind and think on it all for a while. Perhaps you will begin to understand the dynamics involved in what it takes to run a country as great as ours. Here's a hint: Revenue.

We all have our OPINIONS about what happened to Trayvon Martin, but you don't arrest people or throw them into jail or charge them with crimes on OPINIONS. You do those things after a careful and rigorous investigation and only if the evidence indicates that it is appropriate to do so.

skip, there would have been no investigation if Charles Blow/NY Times hadn't wrote about this incident. That's the point we're all making. Activists pushed for an investigation and for the Police Dept. to revisit this crime. And now we see the Police Dept. itself is under investigation and one man forced out. The lead investigator didn't believe Zimmerman's story. That's very important. Something may have been swept under the rug here.

There are people in this country who refuse to stay silent until justice is served. It's the way it should be. It's what journalists and activists are supposed to do.

It's disappointing to read these boards and hear people claiming they know Zimmerman is guilty. What ever happened to innocent until proven guilty?

If he's guilty, then I'm all for throwing the book at him - but I'm not going to rush to judgement until the authorities have done a thorough investigation and reached their conclusion.

Willard

Says "Repeal and Replace Obamacare"

Has anyone heard of his or any GOP replacement plan?

That is what they told the voters in the midterm 2010, repeal and replace Obamacare.

I am waiting, what will Romneycare for the US look like.

JoAnnaSmith1

Houston: Here's something that JoAnnaSmith1 and the rest of the motley crowd will have to work super extra hard to ignore

Here's what you have to ignore Houston. 9 justices will sit in a room today and take a vote on what they think of ObamaCare. More than likely 5 or more of them will vote to repeal the law. They'll take a couple of months to write their briefs both for and against the law, and then they'll tell us their decision.

Excellent job, JoAnna! I knew you were up to ignoring the fact that a conservative legal expert who worked for Saint Ronald of Reagan thinks that the conservatives on the Supreme Court are saying things that are "beneath contempt." But you've been beneath contempt for so long, I guess that wouldn't matter to you.

So you can stop with all your smoke screens, excuses, and who said what about what, and of course your whining, because none of it matters.

Nothing matters to you but the exercise of naked power by the radicals on the out-of-control Supreme Court.

Looks like a nice relaxing filet mignon-AK sockeye salmon-Sam's-filled weekend!!!!!

Life is good (as long as you are not a lefty liberal).

Stocks Edge Up on Last Day of First Quarter

Posted By: JeeYeon Park | CNBC.com Writer

CNBC.com| 30 Mar 2012 | 12:04 PM ET

Stocks edged higher Friday, with the market on track to posting its best quarterly gain in almost 14 years, helped by a handful of better-than-expected economic news and after the euro zone agreed to raise its bailout fund.

Major averages are poised to log the best start to the year in almost 14 years.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed, led by Pfizer and Travelers , after squeezing out a gain in the previous session. The blue-chip index is on track to log its sixth-consecutive month of gains.

The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq were also higher.

Joe in Albany

Life is good (as long as you are not a lefty liberal).

What makes you think only you kooky connies have investments?

Stocks Edge Up on Last Day of First Quarter

EARNINGS, INVESTMENT STRATEGY, ECONOMY, STOCK MARKET, FUTURES

Yeah, but just think how much richer you'd be if it wasn't for Obama making the recession worse. That's what Mittens said he did, and Mittens wouldn't lie, would he?.

DCIA,

Hey Talk to the Hand -- Are you willing to come out of the forrest and listen? What's that? You're lost, you say? Well that explains a lot. Take a hike, clear your mind and think on it all for a while.

Precisely. Even Winnie the Pooh, the bear of very little brain, would be able to figure it out with just a wee bit of thought.

Albany Joe wrote: Looks like a nice relaxing filet mignon-AK sockeye salmon-Sam's-filled weekend!!!!!

This is so bizarre it's laughable. Who does this joker think he's kidding?

Joe in Albany -- For the first time in a while I voted you up. Thanks for the good news. Us lefties are enjoying the gain too. Cheers!

Jack -- Perhaps they are listening to Eeyore where all is gloomy!

Houston: I knew you were up to ignoring the fact that a conservative legal expert who worked for Saint Ronald of Reagan thinks that the conservatives on the Supreme Court are saying things that are "beneath contempt." But you've been beneath contempt for so long, I guess that wouldn't matter to you.

It's not that it doesn't matter to me Houston, what is important is that it doesn't matter to the 9 justices.

Houston: Nothing matters to you but the exercise of naked power by the radicals on the out-of-control Supreme Court.

Yeah. What you're doing Houston is setting up your Excuse Express. You don't agree with the [pending] outcome, so you've already started with your innuendo and trashing of the entity, in this case the Supreme Court. Something right out of the Liberal Playbook.

Hey Jack -- Give Joe some credit today. I see two positives in his post. Bizarre but true!

One fact that has been ignored is that the Wisconsin primary is an open primary. Which means that I, as a Democrat, can vote on the GOP side if I wish. Since there are no challengers to Barack Obama, and our chance to recall our idiot governor isn't until May, my democratic leaning friends and I have decided to mess with the GOP and vote for Rick Santorum, just because he'd have no chance of carrying Wisconsin in the general election. Quite a few Democrats around the state share the same view. Since the GOP turnout is projected to be so low anyway, it wouldn't take too many votes to give Santorum a win and keep the GOP circus going. I think that sounds like fun...........

JAS,

I'm just wondering, since you're anti-Obamacare, are you for a single payer system? If not, what are YOUR suggestions as to how to fix healthcare?

DCIA,

You're right! It's straight out of the Incredible But True department.

Bless you, Joe!

Sarah,

Smiff isn't for anything. She's against.

Sarah -- JAS1 likes a dystopia based on individualism or in other words, you are on your own society. There is no neighbor helping neighbor or even kindness in her world. Just my observation, anyway.

Talktothehand

You are wrong in your idea on taxes. A tax break does have a cost from the goverment

Your first problem is your idea on taxes they are not something that is owned they are owed. You cannot make the comparison of buying something you don't need (and even if you did since we are running a deficit I am not sure how your example makes sense). It would be more so like forgoing a paycheck you worked for. Still a bad example but gives a better understanding.

Any detail about who the winners and losers are and such is not possible without a baic understanding

Pat,

Thank you for the response. I hear what you are saying and I agree there needs to be an investigation but a lot of people on this blog and elsewhere have created a lynch mob hysteria. Some are calling Zimmerman a "murderer" and they are calling for his immediate arrest and incarceration. He's not a murder until the courts say he is. Period. And until then he is innocent until he is proven guilty. That is the standard in this country and I'm damned glad it is.

Zimmerman may or may not have shot Trayvon Martin in cold blood. He may or may not have been attacked by the frightened teenager and the shooting was accidental. I guess, as long as we're speculating, that Trayvon Martin may or may not have gone to the store to get some candy on a pretext so he could be up to some mischief and when confronted by Zimmerman he attacked and was shot. We don't know. We have opinions, we have concerns, but WE DON"T KNOW. We have no proof.

My point is we need to calm down and let the various investigations get to the bottom of this as best they can. The Federal, State and local authorities do their jobs and see where that leads before you buy a rope and start looking for a tree.

The real villain here is not the Sanford Police or their Chief (who I thought stepped down voluntarily until the investigations were complete and the findings released). The real villain(s) are the men and women who voted for the "Stand your ground" law and the Governor who signed it into law. THEY have created the maelstrom in which the Sanford Police are now trapped.

If you want to rant and rave about something rant and rave about the fools in the Florida legislature.

Without the Stand Your Ground law Zimmerman would almost certainly been arrested and would face charges if the police investigation found they were warranted.

Innocent until proven guilty.

Say it with me.

Innocent until proven guilty.

Get the names of every Florida Legislator who voted for the law and the governor who signed it into law and start an email campaign, a petition drive, get those idiots out of the state government. That will keep you busy for a few months so the investigators can do their jobs.

But, keep in mind, at the end of the day, lacking any evidence to the contrary (and I don't think there is any) the STAND YOUR GROUND travesty will keep authorities from charging Zimmerman and it is the Florida legislators are the ones with Trayvon Martin's blood on their hands. Zimmerman was just the weapon they used to kill Trayvon Martin.

Thanks Akeem. A little better understanding now yet I still would like to know what it costs the government other than the fact they don't have that money to spend. It is not, to me, a cost as much as it is a lack of planning or a shortfall in recognizable income caused only by themselves.

What makes you think only you kooky connies have investments?

_____________________________________

Houston: It is my sincerest hope that you do so well on your investments that you become wealthy enough to despise yourself. Good luck!!!

JoAnnaSmith1

Houston: I knew you were up to ignoring the fact that a conservative legal expert who worked for Saint Ronald of Reagan thinks that the conservatives on the Supreme Court are saying things that are "beneath contempt." But you've been beneath contempt for so long, I guess that wouldn't matter to you.

It's not that it doesn't matter to me Houston, what is important is that it doesn't matter to the 9 justices.

How do YOU know what matters to them? It sounds like you're as certain as I am that the radical right-wingers on the Supreme Court will toss the Constitution out the window and rule on the purely political motive of assisting Mitch McConnell in making Obama a "one term president".

Houston: Nothing matters to you but the exercise of naked power by the radicals on the out-of-control Supreme Court.

Yeah. What you're doing Houston is setting up your Excuse Express. You don't agree with the [pending] outcome, so you've already started with your innuendo and trashing of the entity, in this case the Supreme Court. Something right out of the Liberal Playbook.

You've already decided that the Supreme Court is going to rule against the law. And I agree with you that that's the most likely outcome. Now, all you're doing is taunting. "You lost, tough". I'll bet you'd be doing the same if you lived back in the 19th Century after the Supreme Court came out with its Dred Scott ruling. And that WAS tough. Tough for America. It was one of the factors that led to the Civil War that killed more Americans than any war before or since. If the Roberts Court throws out the ACA based on gibberish about broccoli that even conservative legal experts find contemptible, that will be tough for America, too.

BTW: I'm NOT using innuendo. I've come right out and said that the radical Roberts Court is most likely going to rule against the law based on purely political motives with some lame argument about brocolli and gym memberships as a cover.

Joe in Albany

Houston: It is my sincerest hope that you do so well on your investments that you become wealthy enough to despise yourself. Good luck!!!

As it is, I haven't been able to look at myself in the mirror for months, since Obama's "failed policies" spoiled Bush's beautiful economic disaster.

I think Fiesty and others must be related to Nifong as they seem to have convicted a man without the facts being presented. Couldnt agree more with you libs who say why not put the case in front of the grand jury and see if there is enough to indict--probably true and let it play out. But those of you who convict him without knowing a real shred of evidence again you should be ashamed. Arent you all the same people who are against the Patriot Act and any type of profiling based on the same presumption of guilt which you are currently doing yourself?

As for single payer system Sarah, there is nothing with the individual mandate that would prevent a single payer system and it probably would be a much better alternative to ACA if that were the direction this country wanted to go. But its such an uphill climb because it will mean that the current 85% of the country that gets employer provided insurance and specifically all the union plans will get dramatically reduced benefits. Everyone will have the same quality of benefits so the union cadillac plans and senior executive cadillac plans will no longer be an option. Even if its paid for via a progressive tax and even if you assume that benefits are reduced enough to make this a an overall aggregate cost neutral plan (something I dont believe would really happen), most people would end up with a tax bill greater than the premiums and copays they are paying now for greater benefits. That said, doesnt mean we shouldnt do it, I just think its almost politically unlikely that either party would advocate a program that will cost more to all of us and we get less benefits.

Houston--I dont understand why you think the court will rule against existing constitutional law. I know you keep citing the militia case from the 1700s but that wasnt a case that was under the interstate commerce clause and most constitutional scholars whether conservative or liberal have understood the uphill climb for the individual mandate. Obama had an easy fix by creating a tax rather than forcing individuals to purchase from a private enterprise but he didnt. You cant make up law in order to create the outcome you desire you create a law that creates the outcome. You really dont want a conservative president coming in under the same regulating interstate commerce clause and saying liberals have to purchase a gun from private enterprise in order to create greater safety do you? My guess is that the individual mandate goes down in a vote greater than 5-4 but the whole law might be tossed out in a 5-4 vote or upheld in part in a 5-4 vote.

Ron-186.... To bad Zimmerman didn't get the part about "innocent until proven guilty" when he acted as judge, jury and executioner. Too bad the police weren't allowed to do their jobs and press charges against him as the chief investigator that night wanted to do. Too bad Zimmerman didn't require medical attention for the "broken nose" he claims to have since that MIGHT have given some validity to his distorted account of the events. Too bad his daddy was a judge and possibly stepped into the proceedings and got him released without even a slap on the wrist. Too bad regular tests were not given to him such as alcohol and drug tests - which would normally have been given to anyone who did what he did. Too bad a young man is dead because a vigilante couldn't keep his gun in his pants.

Houston--

I dont understand why you think the court will rule against existing constitutional law. I know you keep citing the militia case from the 1700s but that wasnt a case that was under the interstate commerce clause

The right-wing complaint against the individual mandate is that it forces people to buy products. The commerce clause doesn't prohibit it. Washington was presumably basing the individual mandate to buy weapons on the stated purpose of the Constitution to "provide for the common defense." The ACA is based on it's other stated purpose to "promote the general welfare." There's nothing in the Constitution that says Washington was in violation of it, and there's equally nothing that says Obama is, either.

You cant make up law in order to create the outcome you desire you create a law that creates the outcome.

Huh? All laws are written to create an outcome that someone desires.

You really dont want a conservative president coming in under the same regulating interstate commerce clause and saying liberals have to purchase a gun from private enterprise in order to create greater safety do you?

I wouldn't want it, but I don't see how the Supreme Court could overrule it any more than they would overrule Washington's mandate to buy weapons. I doubt the politicians who voted for such a law would survive the next election, though. Same goes for broccoli.

Talk to the Hand

If the government never sees the collected taxes that they give in the form of the tax breaks, they don't miss it. They never had it. And couldn't spend it.

You seem to be lacking in a basic understanding of economics, Hand. The U.S. government is deeply in debt, so why are we giving subsidies in the form of tax breaks to Big Oil, the most profitable industry in the history of the world??

Our government coffers would be empty without tax revenue, and as it is, tax breaks for the wealthy and for corporations have robbed our treasury of much-needed funds. Big Oil should be paying their share of taxes...they can certainly afford to.

"They don't miss it"?? We have plenty of good ways to spend those tax revenues we don't get from Big Oil. Education, infrastructure, paying down the debt, etc.

"They never had it and couldn't spend it"? The government has already spent money we don't have. That is what the word 'debt' means.

I'd love to see how you would react if your employer told you he was not going to give you a raise or improve your benefits because 'you never had it and so you'd never miss it'.

I worry about you, honestly.

Kaybeetoys,

Well put, from beginning to end.

Love MSN cherry picking the poll results. Sure, Obama beats Romney or Santorum.

But not Ron Paul!

Accept us or FAIL Republicans!

Republicans will vote for the republican nominee regardles.

Only Ron Paul attracts dems and independents.

Only Ron Paul can win it all.

Even HuffPo is coming around! Liberals for Ron Paul!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/laura-trice/why-dr-ron-pauls-national-defense_b_1384267.html

The entire Republican party is ovedone, but they will be back. Evil never dies.

KAYBEE AND JACK - I understand all of that but, take all 80 billion they "profited" and put it in the coffers. Not much of a dent in that 16 Trillion now is it? Even if you put in the profits for the last 10 years, still no dent. The problem is not lack of revenue (as they should know approximately what is incoming) it is out of control spending and spending what you don't have. I agree, take away the subsidies, increase "revenue", tax the rich at 90%. Still no dent. The government (All of them over the years) have overspent with no control. If they gave the subsidies for whatever reason, it is their own fault. It is like you giving 60% of your income to charity and then realizing you can't pay for your necessities. And instead of curbing your giving, you increase it to the point of bankrupting yourself. I am not saying don't retract the breaks, I am saying don't give breaks if you need the revenue. Becuase they gave the breaks, they don't have the revenue and that means they shorted themselves. Actual out of pocket is zero. They didn't have it in the first place. A shortfall indicates a lack of responsible outflow of cash.

I understand simple economics as well as what you guys are saying. I am saying they were stupid enough not to collect and therefore it "shorted" them not "cost" them.

And I haven't had a raise in three years, am working at 66% of the income I had in 2008 due to job loss and taking a job I could find, and am just fine. I never lived outside of my means and therefore the 66% has just reduced some frivolous spending. I didn't increase my outflow, although I could have, and planned for any shortcomings of the future.

Thank you both for the quasi education yet what you failed to do is simplify it. You applied economic principal to an unprincipled government and acted as though they should have unlimited funds and spending ability. Yes I know that the increase in revenue would have lowered the pain slightly yet, they didn't think and now, all those they gave the tax breaks to, except the 47% who pay no taxes and get extra back in a majority of cases, are expected to "give it back". It is a hell of a lot easier to give than to take away.

Evangelical Christians & Tea ReTards bring shame to Religion when they Vote for a loose Nut like Santorum.

Romney told what he thought was a funny story about his dad closing a Michigan AMC auto factory and moving it to Wisconsin then running for MI Governor to the sounds of On Wisconsin band music instead of the Michgan fight song--hehehe. Nothing like voluntarily reminding voters of "Let Detroit go Bankrupt."

I wonder how the trees are in Wisconsin? The Weather Vane strikes again!

Another fine wrap up you've gotten us into Jody my dear! Thanks!

Great choice for The Bachmann "Chitspa" Award this week. Great wrapup Jody, Thank you.

Another home run, Jody! Thanks for putting all the insanity in one place!

Gotta love that Mitt Romney---treats his cars better by building elevators for them than he treated poor Seamus. Maybe Mitt thinks "cars are people, too, my friend!"

Corporations are people ... trees are people ... cars are people ..........

Great wrap, Jody. I hadn't known about the Ellis the Elephant costume and the promoting of Helmet-Head's book. Only in the USA could this sort of thing happen and not leave people scratching their heads. Unless. . . people have caught on and that's one of the (many) reasons for Newt's decline.

Yes, elevators and cars "are people, too, my friend". Mitt Romney wonders why he has had trouble winning and why there's such an enthusiasm gap--it isn't because he's rich, it's because he can't relate to and seems oblivious, out of touch with those who aren't. There's no connection with ordinary people and those people sense that.

Ellis the elephant was new to me, too, until I saw a video of it. Ann Coulter said republicans have more charalatans than democrats.

Thanks, friends.

Biggest story of the week - ACA is reviewed by the SCOTUS and per the transcripts, things do not look good. Analysts like G. Stephonopolous and adminstation officials say an overruling could be good, politically for Obama. The reasoning being that an over rule would galvanize the Dem base and lead to sweeping Presidential and Congressional chamber victories. They are delusional. An overruling on the law will be a crushing blow leaving the Obama term, should he lose, a series of GOP type tax cuts and big business supported policies. The latest of these being the GOP themed non-jobs act and the temporary extension of the transportation bill.

Not the second biggest story, because it will come to naught, but the second biggest issue concerns the budget. The Ryan plan passes, proudly claiming to balance the budget by 2040 - about the time I will retire. I can look forward to no social security and perhaps a one time usage coupon for medicare.

The democrats push to discontinue the oil subsidies, a worthy cause, but much like the idea of the Buffet tax it is pretty insignficant. A millionaires only tax and a $4 Billion subsidy will not make a dent in our deficit. Only thing that will make a dent is to increase taxes on everyone. Pardon me for using a vile, accursed word; Oops I meant to say - Only thing that will make a dent is to increase %&$* on everyone.

Sideshow of the primary is over. Romney won and done.

Honorable mention story - Walker recall, waste of time. There was a time when elections were held and the winner took office. The opposition fought their policies but waited for the next election to convince the people to vote him out. Not anymore. Walker, whose policies I in no way support is not allowed to govern. He is challenged to a recall instead. Similar to what the GOP did to the ACA. Instead of just fighting the law, the try to repeal it by way of the Supreme Court. I predict things will get worse, victories on either side will always be questioned and fought.

Another great wrap-up, Jody! I look forward to them every Friday, like many others.

On a different note, I just finished listening to Bruce Springsteen's new album "Wrecking Ball". He does an excellent job of presenting an audio "state of the union". I highly recommend listening to at least "Shackled and Drawn":

gambling man rolls the dice, working man pays the bills
it's still fat and easy up on bankers hill
up on bankers hill the party's going strong
down here below we're shackled and drawn

Jody -- Thanks for the wonderful wrap-up! Another little dust-up this week concerned Bain and company, including Romney. Apparently they enriched their IRA's using a special share class. Nothing illegal, but some of shares values seem to have been low-balled. Boy did they make out big time!

Rove had another op-ed piece in yesterday's WSJ. Nothing special, he was just spinning as usual. This time about Obamacare and the Supreme's. He thinks it will huge political ramifications. I guess he doesn't understand the democrat electorate.

Thanks Jody for all the work you put into the week that was...

Now my week is complete! ☺

I wonder how the trees are in Wisconsin?

Devie,

Don't know about the trees but the cheese is just the right height & brats just the right length in Willard's warped world...

Good Stuff Jody. Thanks

Mitt has enthusiastic support from those with slightly less money than he. They envy him and he can relate to that. The poor do not envy the rich, they envy their neighbor who has two more slices of toast and that befuddles him.

Well done again Jody ... Kudos.

Don't know about the trees but the cheese is just the right height & brats just the right length...

Feisty, You sly fox! the right length? LMAO! He sure does his best to slip it to the electorate don't he?

Man, oh man which ever way the wind blows. I guess he thinks this is the Fifties and know one is watching or listening.

@Dog

The democrats push to discontinue the oil subsidies, a worthy cause, but much like the idea of the Buffet tax it is pretty insignficant. A millionaires only tax and a $4 Billion subsidy will not make a dent in our deficit. Only thing that will make a dent is to increase taxes on everyone. Pardon me for using a vile, accursed word; Oops I meant to say - Only thing that will make a dent is to increase %&$* on everyone.

I know the oil companies are making huge profits but think what removing this tax break would mean. Any new invest that involves capital equipment will be re-analyzed to calculate the new rate of return. The bill would also face a challenge in court as I believe it only target 5 companies.

I still don't understand why the Administration does not propose major tax reform before the December train wreck. No action will mean a tax increase of 400m at the same time as 120B in cuts (annual figures). That's a lot of money to remove from the economy at once. Also, if the Bush tax cuts are simply allowed to expire it will affect the working poor more than the uber-rich.

I'm sure they could get an agreement to lower rates and remove deductions from both the corporate and personal tax codes. Personally I would end corporate taxation and allow businesses to deduct investment as a cost of business. To compensate I would increase the rate on dividends and capital gains. This would be an incentive for businesses to retain earnings and increase investment.

I am also for a phased removal of the mortgage interest deduction, particularly for large loans. They could start at 300k or 400k and lower each year.

Another point that was raised this week was the effect of Medicare on discretionary spending. If Medicare does not change then discretionary spending will be cut drastically. If you think infrastructure, education, research etc are important then medicare has to be restructured. I don't particularly like the idea of a voucher scheme but I'm waiting to hear the alternative proposals.

Alan,

I am also baffled as to why there cannot be some bipartisan agreement on tax reform. I would think both parties could agree to a revenue-neutral simplification of both the corporate and personal tax codes as a starting point.

Jody, as always, much thanks for a great job. I especially appreciate it this week having been away, it brought me up to date.

You will be kept busy for the next few months, our 'friends' on the right never disappoint, do they?

Jody:

As Domestic God of our household, I am obligated to run errands, handle the household chores, and the like. Lists are a great aid in making sure everything is done.

My Friday list includes your wrap. It is a must. Thank you so much.

Rick & Damage: It's "quite" obvious Obama did NOT usher in the "bigotry & hatred', its always been there?? Since his election those people are just determined to make him a "one term president"?? Much earlier in the week, I read about 4 (Four) GOP Senators trying to base a Program for "everone" on the FEHBP (Federal Employees Health Benefits Program)?? NOW, That's an IDEA?? Never heard NO MORE about it?? EVERYONE including ALL "branches" of Government. Wonder IF and how quick they would sign up?? If THEY were on it, BET they could FIX it??? That goes for Social Security TOO....???

Yellowdog,

I always look forward to your comments. You are one of the few that can make a point without insults.

You don't know me from anyone else here, but I'm finally compelled to say after many weeks of following your summaries; it is a great pleasure to read a both concise and insightful review of the week's political happenings. I'll probably start ripping you off really soon. No just kidding, don't want to despoil a valuable resource.

I was thinking that Ryan's endorsement brought to mind Coleridge's "Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner", but then I remembered the albatross died. Then I thought, "Which one is the albatross?"; then I thought, "I don't think we could get that lucky."

P.S. Trayvon Martin, lynched by a gun.

Alan I agree, I suggested something simillar a few months back. The more I hear about corporate income taxation the less I see the point, especially when competing with global forces. An increase in taxes on capital gains and dividends sounds better and stops the uber rich from paying such low effective tax rates.

Akeem and Alan, I couldnt agree more. Eliminate the corporate income tax or make it very low and increase the tax to the owners so we have a single tax system and allow investment capital to be used in a tax neutral manner. The US would compete so much more effectively against foreign competitors and increase jobs. Its politically tough though because it really is a less than transparent tax on all of us that isnt politically a tough sell to constituents because they dont understand how corporate tax works.

Jody, the hyperbolic statements that Romney or Ryan are going eliminate medicare or medicaid and millions of people will be dying on the streets just prevents real discussion of the issues and reduces the liberal credibility. All your answers are tax tax tax. Instead of copying and pasting think progress pablum why not provide a critically thought out response to Ryan's plan explaining why his proposals wont work as proposed. Just like the substantive arguments that claim increasing tax actually reduces revenue or vice versa based on historical data, why not explain in detain why Ryan's plan to provide individual subsidies wont work? Explain to us the economic dynamics that would cause people to die in the streets? That would be more credible or persuasive to many of us if you can provide those arguments than blatant incorrect outlandish politically charged claims

Rick - clearly you have a very distorted view of the world. The President ushered in hatred? Totally warped mind you have. After listening to the right wingers you actually have the audacity to blame the division of this country on Obama? You clearly have no integrity or intelligence and are far too willing to show it!

Thanks Thetotas, I try. As an architect/owner's agent I often have to arbitrate conflicting issues between engineer, owner and contractor. If you think these blogs get hostile or unprofessional you should hear what goes on at my construction visits and site observations when money is involved.

Just read yesterday that, THANKS to all you Libs and your lies and BS about a "War On Women", RUSH LIMBAUGH'S ratings went UP on 600!!!! stations!!! How great is that? Are you all proud of yourselves? I SURE AM. Bwahahahahahaha!

I hope his ratings didn't go up because then it will be necessary for all Americans to examine the reality of our lack of integrity toward all people, not just his stupid comment degrading women.

Damage123 - maybe his ratings went up but many sponsors left him for the last time. And, if you can't see the GOP has a war against women then you're clearly not part of the solution - you're the problem!

Hey Noid, will you be singing this tune in the Fall when Obama is outspending Romney?

Or, as usual, will it be OK then?

Hey Noid, will you be singing this tune in the Fall when Obama is outspending Romney?

That must be some nice crystal ball you have there.

DaNoid,

Romney leads in WI, but WI is more concerned about the recall election which will remove the tea party governor who has contributed to WI coming in last in new jobs and strangled the education system.

At least Idaho and Utah has backed off for now their crazy assault on women's health care.

The GOP primary provided lots of cover for these regressive laws put forth by the GOP/teaparty/religious right in various states.

Nah Ruken, just common sense.

A quality that is really lacking here at First Read.

Nah Ruken, just common sense.

A quality that is really lacking here at First Read.

That's too bad.

I was hoping you were actually capable of seeing the future so I could get the Mega Millions numbers from you.

And Ruken my friend, if I knew them ahead of time, I would surely share them with you.

As it stands, I have 2 tix for the drawing tonight. Hardly ever play the Lottery, but How can I pass this one up?

Heck, if I win, the City tax alone may save Detroit from bankruptcy!

As it stands, I have 2 tix for the drawing tonight. Hardly ever play the Lottery, but How can I pass this one up?

I went in on the office pool. There's (lucky?) 13 of us in on it. ~$30M after tax.

We told our project manager if we win that he can put in our collective resignations into corporate.

Ah, the lottery is truly a non partisan entertainment.

It puts money in the State coffers and buys everyone a dream for a day.

Ruken:

Forget WCA, I know the numbers that will win in Mega Millions. I have them all. The trick is picking the right six numbers. I haven't been able to do that yet.

Forget WCA, I know the numbers that will win in Mega Millions. I have them all. The trick is picking the right six numbers. I haven't been able to do that yet.

Yea, the chances are what, 1 / 54! (54 Factorial)?

I'm taking numbers for the Jackpot. Your odds are as good as mine. ; )

Ruken:

I don't think it's 54!, because you're drawing without replacement.

Regardless, I'm using Republican arithmetic on this drawing. I have a 50/50 chance of winning. Either I win it, or I don't.

DW: HA!!!!!! Nice! I just went in on the office pool but I never do these things... I'm not the type that likes to spend money on a hope and a dream but I thought I should be a part of the fun this time because everyone is so excited about it. I wouldn't make much of a gambler but I tend to think I'm a great philosopher! ;-)

How 'bout that Romney huh? He really doesn't mind spending those dollars. Can you imagine having as much money as that guy has? No wonder he has no concept of reality and what it would take to make it in the world on minimum wage or even my salary.

There was a probability professor (yep they have those) on TV last night. Said buying a lottery ticket gave you a one in 175,000,000 chance of winning. Oh well - someone will do it!

Thanks for the links, Steven. Will check them out.

It is time for this country to rise above the bigotry and hatred that Obama ushered in during his first presidential campaign. Obama hates this country, and with friends like George Soros, Bill Ayers, and Rev Jeremiah Wright there can be no doubt. Our allies should be worried if Obama is re-elected as WhisperGate with the Russians proves he has motivations that the American people will not like, or why would he need to wait until after the election?

Here is a clip showing what the Obama's really think of this country, and the same words have been uttered and worse by Obama's friends.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJgWMI0hch8

This country simply cannot afford to risk four more years with Obama.

It is obvious that all the hate is coming from you Rick. Why should we blame our president for that?

VOTE FOR TRUE FREEDOM.....VOTE OBAMA/BIDEN 2012

Americans First, HAHAHA

VOTE FOR TRUE FREEDOM.....VOTE OBAMA/BIDEN 2012

If you really beleive that's true you need to pull your head out of your you-know-what.

Have you heard of the Patriot Act? The NDAA? HR347 makiing it a FEDERAL OFFENSE to protest on Federal land or near anyone with secret service protection?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEDlr-jYTrc

It doesn't matter if you are a woman or not Obama has stripped you of more civil liberties than ALL OTHER PRESIDENTS COMBINED!

Other than the fact that the republicans wrote and pushed the patriot act and the NDAA why only blame one side. NDAA law was less radical because the president was threatening to veto it. So are you trying to say that a republican president wouldn't have signed those laws also?

While I wanted the patriot act gone and the NDAA never signed I also knew a republican would sign them as it was republicans pushing them. Unfortunately President Obama is no where near as liberal as I would want him to be, but he is a 100 times better than letting republicans get in control of our country again.

I thought we lost our civil liberties when Bush signed the patriot act the first time. Interesting how you think that President Obama stripped us of liberties that were already gone.

It seems to greatly disturb you that men have rights taken from them, but the fact that republicans in states all around our country are mandating women to have unnecessary medical procedures and then expecting the women to pay for them appears to be just fine with you.

Or how about the fact that all the republican nominees for president have vowed to overturn Roe v Wade. It is bad enough to have control over my rights, but control over my body sounds more like slavery than freedom.

VOTE FOR WOMEN'S FREEDOM.....VOTE OBAMA/BIDEN 2012

Rick-3416939 & 96ws6 - my guess is you two are related. Same demented thinking. You two are really sad little people who just absolutely live to hate our President. Pathetic and moronic!

SeekingSanity your name says it all, maybe you will get there someday. But one thing is for sure, you are blinded by your support for Obama. Who will go down in history as the worst president ever. Jimmy Carter is finally off the hook. The day you find sanity your love for Obama will vanish. Idiot voters elected the most unqualified ideologue, you among them.

Jimmy Carter is finally off the hook

I hate to break it to you one trick Rick, but Carter got off the hook after the moron 'W'!

You may now continue your regularly scheduled spamming... lol

Rick-3416939 - I keep seeking sanity from the GOP but, as you so clearly prove over and over again, there is none to be had. George W. Bush is now and will be the worst President of our lifetime - no exceptions. President Obama will go down as a great President - accomplishing a great deal in his two terms in office!

Idiotic voters pulled the levers for McCain/Palin who didn't even acknowledge we had economic problems in this country. And, idiotic voters twice pulled the lever for Bush - you definitely among them!

Well SeekingSanity, never you shall find. Your threshold for greatness are words and broken promises. All it takes for your adoration is telling you what you want to hear. What a foolish child you are, and how compromised a country as a result.

AmericansFirst,

It bothers me seeing OUR rights stripped PERIOD. However I don't think I should have to pay for birth control or abortions either.

We did loose our rights when Bush signed the Patriot act then again when Obama signed it TWICE after his campaign promise to get rid of it. He had the power to veto NDAA, it would have been re-written without our rights being trampled if he did. He did not have to sign HR347 either so your argument is weak at best.

The hard truth is that he could have gotten rid of all three but chose not to.

BTW the NDAA was witten by McCain (republican) and CARL LEVIN a democrat.

There is no longer a 2 party system. They are one in the same. Once that level of power has been reached, there is only one motive - and that is ultimate power.

If only half of the people actually took the time to read the Executive Orders the president has been signing they would be in for a rude awakening.

You can be proud to be a Democrat (which I am). You can be proud to be a Republican. But that doesn't mean that you should support criminals because they share the same letter (D or R) as you.

The Bill of Rights is being flushed down the toilet. You can deny it all you want, but your are doing so at your own expense.

You may not like Ron Paul for whatever reason. But he has ALWAYS stood by our Constitution and Bill of Rights. He never took a dime from Wall Street or special interest.

Bush/Cheney were war criminals. Obama lied about every promise that he made during his campaign. Obama had the power to veto NDAA, HR 347 etc. He went further by bypassing Congress to pass Executive Orders that put our nation in the hands of the United Nations. EO13575 (federalized version of United Nations Agenda 21) is but one example.

Ask yourself who has your best interest at heart without selling out the people, America, and what she stand for.

We as Americans, first and foremost, should understand that we are the Land of the Free.

Ideology,

Whenever someone posts about their Canadian ‘friends’ hating their healthcare system, do not believe it. Any political party up here that would dare move to have it scrapped would be turfed out for decades.

Agreed. I spent 2 years living in Canada, and then decades later spent another year in your wonderful country. Both times I needed medical attention for sports-related injuries. I received immediate, first-rate care, and neither time did it cost me more than a couple of bucks (if that) out of pocket.

If you could superimpose Canada's health care system on the U.S., within one year 80% of the people in this country would fight tooth-and-nail to prevent it from reverting to the current system. It is sane, rational, affordable health care delivery.

I worked for two companies who had manufacturing operations in Canada, and talked extensively to my co-workers there. The only major complaint was finding a good dentist, no one complained about the doctors or nurses.

They found it especially strange that someone in America could get sick or injured and end up bankrupt just trying to pay the bills.

This same issue was brought to light by the recent tragic death of the American skier. Her family luckily received donations from many concerned friends and fans, otherwise they would have faced insurmountable medical bills for the medical attempts to save her life.

ideology,

Thanks for keeping the record straight.

It would be instructive if many Americans got out of their neighborhoods and tunnel vision and took a trip to another country. But then Americans have one of the lowest % of having a passport compared to other countries.

Travel does expand your view...

And ask Massachusetts how they're liking RomneyCare... Last I heard it was something like 98% approval or something...

Hey Conservatives: THIS WAS A CONSERVATIVE IDEA IN THE FIRST PLACE TO FIX A REAL PROBLEM!!!

The only reason it's hated by the moonbats now is because Obama is associated with it! Ridiculous!!! (and I thought the Supreme Court was above all this political nonsense... lol)

TNSEVOL,

Actually, way back in 1978 a dentist in Montreal tried out a new procedure on me that worked quite well, and has since become adopted here.

But like you, I had many Canadians friends who simply couldn't understand why Americans insisted on maintaining a health care system whose primary beneficiaries were corporations rather than patients.

RushISaPIG

And ask Massachusetts how they're liking RomneyCare... Last I heard it was something like 98% approval or something...

My Mass health insurance went up $10/month this year which means that I will be paying $1.25 per week more (while my employer pays $1.25 too). I can live with that increase.

I also like the fact that I do not have to worry about preexisting conditions if I ever change jobs.

The only reason it's hated by the moonbats now is because Obama is associated with it! Ridiculous!!!

Yes, Bush1, Romney, Gingrich and other Republicans were all for the individual mandate - of course, until Obama signed his name to it. Bush1 wanted to do what Obama did but lost the election to Clinton.

On the Healthcare issue, while doctors are taking the Hippocratic Oath, the GOP seems to be taking the Hypocrisy Oath along with a number of other oaths other than the one to serve its citizens first ... the Oafs of Oaths Club.

ideology, I don't think the GOP even knows how the Canadian, or any other foreign country with similar plans, health system works--the only thing they know to say is socialism. I'm not positive but I believe it was around the time of Ronald Reagan that the GOP turned stupid, selfish and greedy. I just hope it doesn't take another 30 years for them to find their way back to sensible and closer to center.

The "socialism" argument is born out of ignorance. Dictionaries for all I say. That's a start anyway. The next step is to have a massive campaign educating them on what healthcare is, what it costs and showing them what the "best" options are for the money.

Here is a clip showing what the Obama's really think of this country, and the same words have been uttered and worse by Obama's friends like George Soros, Bill Ayers, and Rev Jeremiah Wright. You can ignore the truth about the Obama's, but you cannot hide from it forever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJgWMI0hch8

This country simply cannot afford to risk four more years with Obama.

Ideologyspoilstheview and your statistics come from where? We have family in the UK and they don't even like Cameron let alone our President. Also who cares if his approval is great in Europe, all that matters is whether US citizens like the job he doing.

GranCanyon

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0910/42185.html ... and many others

As to who cares ... the righties on this blog who post that Obama has ruined America's good name overseas.

Ideology, I too am Canadian and are now living in Iowa. I loved our health care, scared the heck out of me to move here with all the bankrupt stories I heard about.

Rick3416939 - really? Again with the "clip." Do your lies ever just make you embarrassed to be you? Now go back down to Mommy's basement and play with your Star Wars stuff.

GranCanyon - don't know who you pretend to know in the UK but they absolutely LOVE our President as do most of the US citizens. His ratings are going up more and more every day. And, if it wasn't for the lies the far right tries to pass off as facts, many more would appreciate the job he is doing.

SeekingSanity when we rise above the silver spoon crowd for which you are obviously a care carrying member, then maybe this country will have a chance. So why don't you go hit up your mommy for your allowance and some gas money. Don't forget to tell remind your mommy to do your laundry.

Rick-3416939 - Since I pay all my own bills I guess it is jealousy on your part that you don't. Again, go play with the Star Wars toys. They are much more your speed and clearly more your intelligence level. Actually, they're a little above your intelligence level.

If you would stop posting your lies people might actually take you seriously - oh wait - probably not!

Well SeekingSanity I have two all expense paid vacation to Southeast Asia on my resume you snot nosed little silver spoon fed brat, so I know what it takes to allow vermin like you to be able to spew your disdain for the ideals for which this country was founded. Your mommy and daddy send you to private schools? Pay your way to college? You are nothing but a little liberal wandering through no coherent ideology or purpose. You wouldn't know greatness if it knocked on your door. Many people have died so you can be a snot nosed little brat, and espouse the heroics of a man who has done nothing but tear at the fabric of this nation. Obama is by far the worst this country has ever seen, hopefully we sink no deeper.

Rick,

All I see you do here is show hate for everything that is American. It's not surprising that you hate America, however, as you are a right wing idiot. Remember, it was the republicans that told us, during the Bush era, that if you ever disagree with or criticize the president, you hate America (republicans don't like it when you remind them of their own words.)

So, you see Rick, by your own standards, nobody hates America more than you do.

Have unbiased links to prove your statements?

Obama's total failure with the national economy : the moonbats blame the Legislature and the previous Administration.

The Massachusetts economy under Romney as Governor: moonbats blame Romney only.Even though my native state has a legislature dominated for decades by crooked Democrats...

Funny, aint it?

The difference is Romney is running on his record as Massachusets governor, saying one of the reasons he should be elected is that he knows how to run an economy and create jobs.

He can't run on his record AND run away from it.

If what you say is true, then as Massachusetts goes so goes the country. Lost jobs (overseas) manufacturing sector, increased debt (deficit), so Mitt would be perfect then at carrying on the Obama plan.

Talk to the Hand -

so Mitt would be perfect then at carrying on the Obama plan

Obviously that was a typo, so I corrected it for you:

so Mitt would be perfect at carrying on the Bush plan

You're welcome!

No I had it right but thanks for playing.

Anyone would be better then risking another four years of Obama. Here is a clip showing what the Obama's really think of this country, and the same words have been uttered and worse by Obama's friends like George Soros, Bill Ayers, and Rev Jeremiah Wright. You can ignore the truth about the Obama's, but you cannot hide from it forever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJgWMI0hch8

Rick-3416939 - the basement is calling you. Dr. Spock is lonely without you there to play with him!

SeekingSanity, what no racist comment? That is the liberal mantra, if you disagree you are a racist right? Well keep your handout to the government and the silver spoon where the sun doesn't shine and wait for your free handouts to turn into IOU's. Then maybe you will have to get a real job instead of being a paid blogger for a failed bunch of left wing lunatics. Quick see what the talking points tells you to write now.

Actually TttH & TNSEVOL,

Lemme fix it for both of you...

....so Mitt would be perfect then at carrying on the Bush/Obama/Goldman Sucks plan

There that's much better, and a much more honest appraisal of the situation....

Rick-23416939 - again with the stupid handout comment. That all ya got? Since I pay my bills I know you can't relate. But, too bad. And, a paid blogger - not likely. It might be fun but not really my thing. But, I can see you rely on the far right for you lies so, go ahead and post more. Pretty pathetic really!

SeekingSanity is a snot nosed little silver spoon fed brat. Nothing about your being is anything but a meaningless meandering among the gimme crowd. We know the type, everything in life has been handed to you. You probably work for your dad's company. Does he still wipe your nose for you?

Obama's total failure with the national economy

Total failure with the national economy?? If this is failure, let's have more of it.

Facts Republicans Hate:

Job losses per month in January 2008: 700,000

Job gains last month: 227,000

24 straight months of private sector gob growth

GDP growth in 2008: negative 6%

GDP growth last year 2.9%

Dow Jones Average in January 2008: Under 8000

Dow Jones Average today: 13,000+

Record domestic oil production

GMC – all time record profits

Near record corporate profits across the board

Osama Bin Laden --- dead

Iraq war --- over

Brent -- Because Sponge Bob Square Pants could beat Obama. You could beat Obama. Paul will not run third party, so don't waste your right to cast your vote.

Ben,

Maybe if the election was held in Bikini Bottom or some other Nickelodeon fantasy land!

Here in the real world Obama is polling well enough in the swing states to win, and the campaign is just getting started.

Ben, Ron Paul will run and if he doesn't I would never vote for Romney, Santorum, or Gingrich anyway and I do not believe there are enough republican voters to beat Obama. The GOP will not pick the candidate that can win the independents vote and therefore will not be able to win the election.

(Obviously, this is just my opinion but it is a logical opinion).

Brent

Independent thinking people are why The GOP is scared to DEATH of the thought of a brokered convention and they are doing everything they can think of to avoid it. At a brokered convention it would be impossible for the GOP to pull the voter fraud they have been pulling in EVERY caucus state and many others and we would have the possibility of getting a candidate we actually WANT instead of the one they are trying to shove down our throats.

8 missing counties in Iowa that NEVER got counted, several in Maine that were never added to the "straw vote" and now look at the fun in Missouri...and this kind of thing has happened in several counties. Looks like they have given up trying to even cover up their fraud at this point. Unless you call a no cameras rule a coverup, (In this day and age I find it hard to beleive any idiot would think that would work)

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

Brent, while I may disagree with you about Ron Paul being the best candidate overall, he is probably the best GOP candidate still in the race. I appreciate your nicely written post and your opinion. There are many things I like about Ron Paul, he's right about perpetual wars and he's straight forward to name a few but he also has some troubling ideas that I think are ideologically impossible and even dangerous for democracy. He is a purist and there is no surviving pure government in the world. I can't recall at the moment who said it but it sums up my concerns about some of his positions and many republicans as well--if all men were angels, there would be no need for Government. Paul and the GOP seems to believe that people will always behave as they should, will be fair to all, that corporations will do what is right--it just won't happen. Paul's version of Government is Utopia and we know such a place does not exist.

The real problem with Ron Paul is that he along with the rest of the republican nominees have signed a pledge to overturn Roe v Wade.

It seems Ron Paul is all for freedom and rights only if you are a man. In Ron Paul's world the government is just big enough to control a woman's body functions.

VOTE FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS.....VOTE OBAMA/BIDEN 2012

Americans First: Please provide some type of proof for that ridiculous statement. Ron Paul has done no such thing.

If he had, he would not have near the support he does.

Americans First,

AGAN I ASK:

Have you heard of the Patriot Act? The NDAA? HR347 makiing it a FEDERAL OFFENSE to protest on Federal land or near anyone with secret service protection?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEDlr-jYTrc

It doesn't matter if you are a woman or not Obama has stripped you of more civil liberties than ALL OTHER PRESIDENTS COMBINED!

BTW although Ron Paul is PRO LIFE he also believes it is not the federal governments place to make laws concerning birth control and abortinos but that the government/taxpayers sould not be paying for it either. So what are you REALLY worried about? Getting tax payers to pay for your birth control?

Obama was an unqualified community organizer, and the country has paid a heavy price for believing in hope and change. This time the radical ideology of Obama will be fully vetted, and it will pave the way for anyone to beat him. Late revelations will swing the independents.

Here is a clip showing what the Obama's really think of this country, and the same words have been uttered and worse by Obama's friends like George Soros, Bill Ayers, and Rev Jeremiah Wright. You can ignore the truth about the Obama's, but you cannot hide from it forever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJgWMI0hch8

This country simply cannot afford to risk four more years with Obama.

Rick you have obviously never seen any of the bad lip reading clips. That is all your clip is, you don't have a clue what she really said. You just made-up what you haters wanted her to say.

Rick your hate has colored the world around you.

I mean how horrible we just might just keep climbing out of the ditch the republicans left us in. And even more horror what if we got out of another war. Another horror and fear of the republicans is that we might tax the rich to put the people back to work.

Much to the dismay of the true haters of America we wouldn't be cutting everything and I mean everything for the people to build up our war machine and to give more tax cuts to the rich.

VOTE FOR AMERICA.....VOTE OBAMA/BIDEN 2012

96 I can't provide a link, but just type ron paul signs personhood and you will get an entire page of articles to pick from.

I think Ron Paul is scarier than most because he hides the real him and supporters like you have not heard this before.

Ron Paul only believes in freedom and rights if you are a man.

VOTE FOR WOMEN'S FREEDOM.....VOTE OBAMA/BIDEN 2012

At Americans First: I was completely wrong when I had said he signed no such document. He obviously had and after reading that, I almost did a complete 180 with my opinion of him, then after I kept reading, I found that the members of the "Personhood" movement(?), or whatever it is called, and they want to know why or how, "If Rep. Ron Paul believes in the “unalienable right to life”, why does he believe the federal constitution, specifically the 10th amendment, requires that the states have the authority to sanction murder, if they so choose?"

I think maybe because it's because he doesn't believe the Federal government has the right to pass laws such as this but felt it might help him with his chances of getting the nomination.

You should quit falling for sound bytes and article clips if you are not going to do your own research.

No matter what excuse you give to Ron Paul, he still signed a pledge. If he were to get the nomination you think he would disavow his pledge?

Ron Paul is for men's rights only or he would have never signed the pledge in the first place.

Besides that no one ever thought he would get the nomination ever anyway so why sign a pledge to help him with his chances when it goes against everything he claims to believe in?

What is your point that it is okay Ron signed it because he didn't mean it anyway? That your a man and your not worried?

VOTE FOR WOMEN'S FREEDOM......VOTE OBAMA/BIDEN 2012

I think if he got the nomination he would uphold the constitution, not try to change it. (It's like some of you people don't seem to realize our government should not have as much power and influence in our lives as it does. The Federal Government should be about military and infrastructure only. Let the people of the states decide which laws they put into effect for their state, not the politicians in D.C.)

"What is your point that it is okay Ron signed it because he didn't mean it anyway? That your a man and your not worried?"

--- And for your question: No. I am not worried. I can understand why he would try to win over those on the right, who seem just as confused and wrong as those on the left,,, with how our Federal Government should function.

It's too bad so many people don't understand this fact.

OK "Americans first" we get it. You want to be able to have the right to have an Abortion. This is why you are scared of anyone that would sign a bill stating life begins at conception. It would give a legal name to what you are. A murderer. Here's a thought why don't you use birth control? Or are you waiting for a government program to provide it to you for free?

No wonder journalism is ranked by the public at the bottom of the public's ethical trash heap, along with used car salespeople and ambulance-pursuing lawyers

Actually that would be the Republican Congress and their leaders.

No wonder journalism is ranked by the public at the bottom of the public's ethical trash heap, along with used car salespeople and ambulance-pursuing lawyers

Where is Spanky, he needs to defend himself.

job -- Congress is comprised of both houses. Republicans have the majority in one and the democrats in the other. So there is no Republican Congress.

There is a Congress of which both sides are showing a complete lack of leadership.

Poor deluded liberals conveniently forget that Dingy Harry Reid is the leader of the US Senate. One of two branches of the unpopular Congress.

That will change in 2013.

Cut Job1 some slack. I don't think he(she?) has taken American Government yet.

Pretty sure you have to wait until you get to High School to take that class.

Actually that would be the Republican Congress and their leaders.

I stand by my statement. If we vote out as many of Republicans as possible, the country will be better for it.

I stand by my statement. If we vote out as many of Republicans as possible, the country will be better for it.

There is only 1 Republican I can vote out of Congress: Michele Bachmann. And you have to believe I'd be voting her out no matter what party she was.

Ruken - she is a total embarrassment isn't she? Hopefully there will be thousands of you voting her out. As a woman I just cringe when she opens her mouth. How did the GOP get such totally stupid women? Palin, Bachmann, O'Donnell (I am not a witch).

Bob - It will change in November - Pelosi will be Speaker and Reid will still be leader in the Senate!

Ruken - she reminds me so much of Palin. Neither of them could figure out how to wind a watch - even if all it meant was to replace the battery!

hummbird, good catch. Loved that movie and the TV version of it, The West Wing. Whether it is jobs shipped overseas, blame the unions; low wages, blame the illegals; education in decline, blame the teachers especially the teacher unions; deficit and debt, blame the public sector work force; 9/11, blame all Muslims. It's true, the GOP is good at making people fear something and then making sure those who fear know who to blame for it. Art imitating life.

While the number of employed people over age 16 in the United States rose by nearly 8 million, or close to 6 percent, between 2002 and 2006, the number of employed residents in the Commonwealth is estimated to have modestly declined by 8,500. Massachusetts was the only state to have failed to post any gain in its pool of employed residents. The aggregate number of people 16 and older either working or looking for work in Massachusetts fell over the Romney years.

Wait - I thought Romney KNEW how to grow jobs? Isn't that what he has been running on?

TNSEVOL - he knows how to grow jobs in China - only China!

That he might be giving the Justices more respect than some of them have given him

Nah!

Much easier to take pot shots from the FR cheap seats!

And yes, I'm l@@king at you Chuck...

Ben---I beg to differ. In my experience most attorneys have respect for the Constitution and the form of government it represents that has lasted so long and been a beacon to the rest of the world. And a Constitutional law professor would have an even deeper understanding and respect born of more in-depth knowledge. Now I don't presume that the President respects Congress---I know I sure don't any more.

Steeler Fan,

Ben just talks to hear himself talk. He doesn't care whether it's the truth or a lie or something in-between. He has nothing to say of any importance.

Steeler, I don't think it is respect. Understanding possibly. You have to study something and understand it to effectively and thoroughly disassemble it. That is what his study focus was and is evidently.

steeler - your comment about the President respecting a co-equal branch of government is in complete contrast to when he broke with tradition and scolded the members of the Supreme Court that attended his State of the Union speech in 2010.

Can you describe when one of the members failed to show respect to the President? Is it after the President's irresponsible comments in the aforementioned SOTU?

DUMBFUX FEISTY....I love it.

Steeler Fan, great point. Why would any White House comment on any case being reviewd by the SCOTUS prior to an actual ruling? It would be wrong to do so.

James, big difference--that was AFTER the Court had ruled and don't forget, John McCain has also called Citizens United decision "one of the worst the Supreme Court has ever made".

Media Matters/MSNBC would beg to differ. Their relationship with the Obama reelection team is quite healthy. Pres. Obama comes from the land of FIBs (although, to be fair, not all its residents qualify--just those who meet the criteria) and tells a lot of them. Media/Matters-MSNBC sees their role as making it plausible.

"the downfall of our people"

"Our people" being the thieving crooks of the ultimate special interest group , the real boss of the Democrat Party, the UAW, correct?

Bob in Virginia-5210392 This is James in Virginia, I guess you side with Vaginal Probe McDonnell too.

Now you have the ultimate "I hate the poor" candidate running for President "Flipomney". If President Obama is for it then I'm against it. If President Obama is against it then I'm for it. That's a winning strategy for the GNOPer's. We'll just have to wait and see who side the majority of the country is on. Not that you should take into effect most of the country is working class - poor. You would have to convince all 400,000 of the richest people in the US and 56 million working - poor people to vote GNOP in Nov 2012. Good Luck with the Rich Guy at the top with that BS selling job.

My take is most Americans will give Flimoney the middle finger.

Bob's just here for the entertainment. Bob pray's to the Koch Bros. and Limberger the nitwit

WHY Yes my good Man! they do wear the same specs old chap.

When they give them to someone new, I wonder when they put them on, do they think, "These things smell funny".

What do you think the Great Divine "For the Wealthy" will do for the country that is not already being done?

Yeah line-up all the poor, elderly, children, disable and middle class people and run them over with his "Brand New Car"

Or make the county better because a black man is not the President any more? Just Because - not everything is back to normal.

The GNopers still wont will you can convince enough people that they are white and should think white for that BS to happen. If you haven't notice America is not all white anymore and never will be. I'm white and can see it you should too. Unless you want to kill off everyone who does not look like you or me. I can feel the hate in you. God Bless you and have a F-UP Day.

Beyond having an "R" by his name, perhaps Joseph Parent can tell us the differences between Mitt Romney's positions and President Obama's? My money says those voting for the "R" have no idea what Mitt's real positions are because he's had the same ones as President Obama for much of his time--he just flip flops as needed.

Oh Joseph - you are going to be soooooo unhappy come November. Luckily for the United States, President Obama will be elected to a 2nd term - followed by Hillary. I'm guessing you'll spend the next 4 years - or 12 - just running in circles screaming!!!!

So you want his money. Typical lib

For Pete's sake Willard, its an election year! Couldn't you have waited till after the election to build your consolation prize?

Construction workers. Elevator sales. People working and spending money.

Ya I see how this is against the Democrats way of life. If it were given to Mr Romney then it would be ok.

You twits do not need to reply. You have no sense.

Isn't it amazing how some people on here are defending the rich now? Guess that's what FOX is feeding them, the poor rich people needing more.

When I first learned of the car elevators, especially in an election cycle, I was not the least surprised. I was hoping, though, that he would try to bring dog lovers back into the fold. After spending all that money. You know, something like "....and I bought a new cadillac for the family dog when I put in the elevators and hired a personal driver for him....job creation...." His way of relating to the typical American family at the same time atoning for The Seamus Incident.

Good grief, what is this man thinking?

Forget the Etch a Sketch. Reminds me of the old saying where I live: "If you don't like the weather just wait a few minutes. It will change."

DON-X,

All I want is to know that the harder I work, the better off I will be...

Sorry, no such guarantee exists in America today. The deck is stacked against those who work hard unless you are "better off" to start with.

...Not to find there is a curve that diminishes the reward of work

All the US tax rates are progressive, so no such curve exists - except in your imagination.

and an inverse curve which rewards not working

I don't see unemployment or welfare as a "reward for not working". I am sorry that you do.

Don-X is absolutely correct! If you get the tax pamphlets from the IRS, or use a tax program like Turbotax, is is very easy to draw the curve: choose an hourly salary then plot the amount you get to keep vs hours worked in a year. It is obvious that he is right on that issue.

Now look at the benefits for the "poor": With federal, state, local and private handouts, someone reporting less than $14k per year can get around $30k in benefits. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2377114/posts

This link can't even be considered an credible article, of course coming from freerepublic, what should one expect. Outlandish claims, with even more outlandish conclusions drawn by Kannin. Since none of the claims in the article are backed up by references, such as "Over the next decade (2009-2018), President Obama will spend $10.3 trillion on welfare programs" one can only conclude that the rest of the claims are bogus as well.

I particularly like this comment:

All of the programs for the "poor" are forms of redistributing wealth. Support for this derives from the view that there is unfairness in life. Yet aside from criminality (which must be prosecuted), nature rewards productivity and punishes ineptitude.

So, apparently, when you are a productive burger flipper at $6 per hour, you are not worthy to be considered a productive member of society. You are only a productive member of society if you are making $57k per day campaigning for president.

In 1995 the Cato Institute released a study comparing the benefits available from entitlement programs with income available from work. In May 1996 the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities issued a critique of that study. A review of the original study published by Cato and the criticisms in the CBPP study shows that the Cato study remains an accurate appraisal of the level of welfare benefits.

The Cato study authors' original conclusions remain unrefuted. The pretax value of the total welfare benefits package exceeds the wages for the type of entry-level job that most welfare recipients can expect. http://www.cato.org/pubs/briefs/bp-027.html