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Subscribe to RSSWe’ve entered the silly season… In fact, there have been three manufactured controversies in the past month (Etch A Sketch, hot mic, and Hilary Rosen)… What yesterday did teach us: It didn’t take much for conservatives to rally to Romney’s side… Team Obama’s not-so-good week… Romney calls Obama “incompetent” after North Korea’s “incompetent” missile launch… Romney addresses NRA at 2:20 pm ET, while Obama gives a speech in Tampa, FL at 1:20 pm ET and sits down for interview with Telemundo before departing to Colombia… Lugar gets Super PAC help… And “Meet” interviews Treasury Secretary Geithner.
*** The silly season: If this first week of the general election has taught us anything, this is going to be a long next six months. It started with the Obama White House and campaign hammering away at the "Buffett Rule," which was more of an effort to embarrass Mitt Romney (and his low effective tax rate) than a realistic policy proposal. And then on Wednesday and Thursday, the Romney campaign seized on comments by Hilary Rosen, a Democratic strategist with thin ties to the White House, who said that Ann Romney has never worked a day in her life. It was a manufactured controversy -- fueled by Twitter and social media -- because no serious political actor in this presidential contest is criticizing stay-at-home moms or the value of the work they do. In fact, Rosen was referring to the Romneys’ wealth, not Ann Romney’s decision to raise her five sons at home. While the two major parties are fundamentally divided (over taxes, entitlements, the role of government, and national security) and while so much is at stake (control of Washington, potentially two Supreme Court justices), we find ourselves smack-dab in the silly season.
*** Three manufactured controversies in the past month: Of course, manufactured controversies are nothing new in American politics. There was Nixon’s famous “Checkers” speech. Even four years ago, political observers were obsessing over Michelle Obama’s patriotism and John McCain’s seven homes. What is new, however, is how much faster and professionalized -- due to Twitter and the drive to make something go viral -- these manufactured controversies have become. Indeed, we’ve now seen three of them in the past 30 days: Etch A Sketch, hot mic, and Hilary Rosen. Now all three were related to a bigger issue or narrative (doubts about Romney’s true beliefs and ideology, conservative suspicions about Obama’s intentions, and a real gender gap in American politics). But, unfortunately, we talk about the manufactured controversy and not the real story here (that a general-election candidate always moves back to the center, that a president’s second term with no more elections on the horizon does give him more flexibility to do certain things, and that women do have real anxieties about the balance between working and raising a family). The fact is, these next few months before the conventions are probably going to be filled with these manufactured “shiny metal object” controversies because of what we noted -- just how professionalized both political parties are at creating them. And some in the media are easily susceptible to helping these manufactured controversies go viral because they are seen as simply “more interesting” than the serious “eat your vegetables”-like issues that divide the two parties.
Steven Senne / AP
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney speaks with his wife Ann.
*** Rallying around Romney: Yesterday also taught us something else: Conservative elites are going to rally around Romney. They needed just the tiniest spark (Hilary Rosen) and they went into overdrive for Romney. It remains to be seen whether conservatives will stick around the former Massachusetts governor when the going gets tough -- that’s the true definition of a strong base (see African Americans for Obama, evangelical Christians for George W. Bush) -- but the folks in Boston have to be pleased with the past 24 hours. But today will be an interesting when Romney addresses the National Rifle Association’s conference in St. Louis at 2:20 pm ET. After all, it’s been well chronicled that Romney, who only became a “lifetime member” of the NRA in 2006, lacks a natural appeal with gun-rights groups, having supported some gun-control measures in the past. But so far this cycle, he’s avoided awkward missteps like in the ‘08 cycle, when he said (falsely) on Meet the Press that he’d been endorsed by the NRA, claimed to have been “a hunter pretty much all my life,” and the “Varmint” hunter press conference. By the way, expect a lot of anti-Obama chatter out of the NRA convention. While not surprising, do consider this so-called anti-gun president signed one of the largest expansions of rights for gun owners in recent history, allowing loaded guns to be carried in National Parks.
*** Team Obama’s not-so-good week: This was supposed to be a week when the White House and the Obama campaign focused on tax fairness and Mitt Romney’s wealth, punctuated by today’s release of Obama’s and Biden’s tax returns (more on that below). But the last seven days have been rough for Obama. There was last Friday’s disappointing jobs report (which led to a nervousness and recalibration on Wall Street and in the economic community in general), the rallying around Romney (due to Rick Santorum’s exit and the Hilary Rosen flap), and the Romney campaign’s success in manufacturing a distraction (when Romney was having a rough time erasing his gender gap). Even yesterday, one of Obama’s local TV interviews didn’t go so hot, with the RNC clipping this exchange. That said, it shouldn’t be lost that Obama has had a GREAT last three months -- with strong jobs numbers, the divisive GOP primary season, and the GOP’s focus on abortion and contraception. But the last seven days haven’t been as good for Team Obama, and these last 7 days constitute the first REAL week of the general election.
*** Obama campaign to urge Romney to release his tax returns: Speaking of tax returns, the Obamas and Bidens will release theirs today -- with a statement calling on Romney to do the same, the New York Times reports. “While Mr. Obama has long acknowledged being in the nation’s high-income echelon, thanks largely to sales of his best-selling books, he and his wife, Michelle, have paid an effective federal tax rate nearly twice that of Mr. Romney and his wife, Ann, according to tax returns released by both couples. The Obama campaign will post the 2011 tax return for the Obamas, as well as those dating back to 2000, on the campaign’s Web site, an official said. It will also post tax returns for Mr. Biden and his wife, Jill. In January, under intense pressure from his Republican rivals, Mr. Romney released his tax return for 2010, plus an estimate of his tax payment in 2011. But he has not released returns from earlier years, when he was governor of Massachusetts or a financial executive at Bain Capital.” Obama gives a speech in Tampa, FL at 1:20 pm ET and sits down for interview with Telemundo before departing to Colombia.
*** Romney calls Obama “incompetent” after North Korea’s “incompetent” missile launch: Last night, Romney released a statement criticizing Obama for North Korea’s failed missile launch. “President Obama sought to appease the regime with a food-aid deal that proved to be as naïve as it was short-lived. At the same time, he has cut critical U.S. missile defense programs and continues to underfund them. This incompetence from the Obama Administration has emboldened the North Korean regime and undermined the security of the United States and our allies.” Two things jump immediately to mind with this release: 1) Wasn’t the real incompetence was on North Korea’s side due to the failed launch and the nation squandering its chance at food aid? 2) The tone of this statement appears to reinforce a growing perception in serious foreign policy circles that Romney is willing to say anything, no matter how knee-jerk, to try to get an upper hand on these issues. What would Romney do when it comes to North Korea? Isn’t his criticism of Obama on North Korea also a criticism of Bush’s handling of the country as well?
*** On the GOP trail, per NBC’s Adam Perez: As mentioned above, Romney speaks at the NRA conference in St. Louis at 2:20 pm ET, while Gingrich addresses it at 3:00 pm ET.
*** Veepstakes watch: NBC’s Jamie Novogrod reports on Rob Portman stumping last night for Romney in Pennsylvania: Portman began his academic-feeling speech with a lengthy tip of his hat to Santorum in an effort to nurture a spirit of party unity. But later, Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), the evening’s keynote speaker, seemed to resist Portman's entreaty, stopping short of rallying would-be Santorum voters behind Romney. “We’re going to have a presumptive nominee for 2012 really soon,” Blackburn said tepidly, per Novogrod. Blackburn, in fact, did not mention Romney by name during her speech -- and only later, during an on-camera interview with NBC, did she say: “I will support our nominee. We are moving to having that presumptive nominee, and it’s going to be Gov. Romney from what it appears, and I look forward to supporting the nominee.”
*** Lugar gets Super PAC help: Politico: “After massive ad buys against Indiana Sen. Richard Lugar by national conservative groups like the Club for Growth, the establishment cavalry is coming to his rescue, with the American Action Network launching a nearly $600,000 broadcast buy just in Indianapolis… The ad, called ‘Problems,’ is an ad slamming Lugar's primary opponent, state treasurer Richard Mourdock, accusing him of ‘receiving illegal tax breaks,’ and hitting his ‘failed stewardship’ of his government office, according to a release. The ad, which launches tomorrow on broadcast, will run through May 4. The cost of the flight is $590,000. There will also be a digital ad component, and a limited statewide mail buy, in the AAN campaign.”
*** On “Meet” this Sunday: On Sunday’s “Meet the Press,” NBC’s David Gregory will interview Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and have a roundtable featuring Hilary Rosen, Michele Bachmann, NBC’s Savannah Guthrie, Harold Ford Jr., and Mike Murphy.
Countdown to the CT, DE, NY, PA, and RI primaries: 12 days
Countdown to Election Day: 208 days
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Don't think we haven't noticed. From the GOP perspective, the 2012 Presidential race centers on their million/billion dollar Disinformation Advertizing machine.
Con-artists and very expensive lies.
Mr. Rove knows that oil is a global commodity, and no Congress/Administration/President can set global oil prices.
So why is his Crossroads GPS spending obscene amounts on advertizing that blames gas prices on President Obama?
Is it because we're being wrangled into a world of zero standards of truth, where 'corporations are people'?
Is it because Mr. Rove believes he'll convince us of the President's magical power to change global oil & gas prices, after decades of perennial gas hikes?
Is he deflecting your attention towards the President -- and away from those who are in favor of crushing you under the Ryan plan, or ramming large state-mandated probes into your orifices?
Q. What percentage of the American people do you think American Crossroads & related conservative groups represent?
(Chart showing how global prices in all countries go up and down in tandem:
http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2012/03/17/opinion/sunday/0318-web-edit1.html?ref=sunday)
Good Morning Backhouse!
;o)
I notice Willard isn't on the guest list... Curious now that he is the presumptive front runner... don't you think?
Oh well, looks like Willard is pulling a Palin...
A phone rings and a lady answers: “Hello.”
“Ms. Rosen, this is Barack. I am just calling to say you earned your pay today and thanks.”
(She knows it is Barack because after each “S” he says there is a cute little whistle lisp.)
“Why thank you Mr. President,” she says in her best Marilyn Monroe voice. “I’d do anything for you. Anything,” followed by a deep sexy sigh.
Then there is a pounding on the door: “Mr. President!!!!! Mr. President!!!!!”
“Hold on Hil,” Hussein the Magnificent said. “What is it??? I am busy with some phone se(x) oh er , I mean conversation. I’m on the phone!!!” (BHO’s mind drifts and wonders if it was this hard – or soft – for Bill.)
“We have to warn and remind you about your stern statements four years ago about attacking Michelle and wives being off limits,” a trembling voice can be heard.
“Oh Sheeeeeee (a very long whistling “S”) it!!!! I’ll have to call you back but watch out for that bus Hil,” Barack said while rubbing his hand slowly over his forehead up and over his hair. Oh, God another grey hair he thought to himself. “She was hired to improve the PR for the DNC?” he murmured.
“Okay call Axle Rose and Little Boy (those are the pet names BHO has given to David and Jay). Get them to set up interviews and write some indignation fake apologies to head off the problems,” he ordered. “Then call our lackies at the news organizations and get me in front of the cameras late in the day so most will be buried (Oh why couldn’t this have happened on Friday he thought). “Call Hil, er Ms. Rosen, Was-a-man and any one else and tell them to back pedal on this fast. AND GET THAT IDIOT VICE . . .
Then the phone rings and interrupts the president: “YES!!!!” in a loud voice as he picks up the phone and on the other end of the line he hears – “Mr. President this is a big f**&ing deal!!!!!”
“STFU Joe,” and the phone slams.
Apology not accepted Mr. President. You are a liar Mr. President. You are a fake. You are a false idol that ignorant and uninformed people worship. The first law that you signed was what????? Didn’t that have something to do with equal pay for women??? Why is it then after nearly four years in office women in your administration are making 18 PERCENT LESS than their male counterparts? Are there more in menial jobs???? Women of America wake up!!!!! This man is a charlatan speaking out of his ass!!!!!!!
It’s not working Mr. President. Your record on the economy is a failure. Your seemingly lower jobless claims numbers end up being “revised” upwardly and now the levels have risen to January levels. I guess there are some areas you just can’t control -- you ego maniac.
The vast majority of Americans want your health care gone but you are too stupid and anti-American to see that Mr. President.
You are scared Mr. President. Now all eyes are on you and your failed record. You are being vetted like you should have been 4 years ago. Go hide behind the crotches of the mainstream media. Get them to promote your lies you scared little boy.
Albert Pujols and Income Inequality
Everyone knows who Albert is, right? He's one of the best baseball players in the game these days, and before the season he signed a new contract worth a bazillion dollars. Some might say he's being paid an obscene amount of money just to play a game, and maybe they're right. But today I want to use Albert as an example to explain why the left is completely out to lunch on the issue of income inequality.
Economic prosperity is not a zero sum game. What that basically means is Billy Bob's economic prospects are not influenced by how much Mary Sue earns. To the contrary, they can both thrive economically at the same time and during periods of broad based economic prosperity that's exactly what happens in this country and other countries around the world. So Billy Bob doesn't see his income prospects diminished just because Mary Sue landed a 10% raise.
As for Albert, his good fortune has absolutely nothing to do with the economic prospects of anyone else: zero, zilch, nada. For example, my ability to thrive economically is a function of the skills I bring to the employment marketplace and the value that marketplace assigns to those skills. There could be hundreds of baseball players or football players or rock stars or CEOs who make more in a day than I might make in a year, but whatever they make has no impact at all on the salary I can command in my own line of work. To broaden the argument, the fact that the top 1% has seen their incomes increase faster than others has no bearing whatsoever on the income prospects of the other 99 percent. Because economic prosperity is not a zero sum game.
But that's not quite the way the left sees things. In their view, the fact that Albert and his rich buds make so darn much money somehow means that folks at the lower end of the income scale aren't making as much as they could or should. So when CBO reported last October that the top 1% of earners saw their incomes increase much faster than lower earners, the left went ballistic and channeled the OWS mantra to assign the blame to the evil 1% for sucking all the economic oxygen out of the air. But that's absolute rubbish. Income inequality is just a symptom of a much deeper malaise: folks at the lower end of the income scale don't have the skills required to prosper as much as those who do have the skills.
And sad to say, this is a problem that has been with us for generations – despite the hundreds of billions if not trillions of government dollars that have been spent over those generations to fix the problem. So, you want to reduce income inequality? Then figure out how to motivate the poor kid from the poor neighborhood to do what it takes to improve his life. But don't blame the evil 1% if that kid gives you the finger and then runs off to score some dope. Look instead at the cultural inequality that leads to the family breakdown and self-destructive behavior that breeds the poverty and despair in that kid's community.
The inconvenient truth is that income inequality is a consequence of cultural inequality. Albert's salary doesn't matter, my salary doesn't matter, nobody else's salary matters. What matters is changing the value set of the prospective economic losers among us before it's too late for them. Until that happens, a big chunk of our population will remain hopelessly behind the rest of us. Blaming the 1% by attempting to redistribute their wealth and the wealth of other "rich" folks does nothing to change that underlying reality.
All that does is salve left wing guilt while this intractable problem continues to smolder.
Feisty, top o' the morning!
The real race is between the Democratic party (the facts), versus an artillery of lies perpetrated by Rove on behalf of the rich and powerful.
Last November, Koch Lobbyist Norquist said all that is required is "Someone with enough digits to handle a pen"..."We just need a President to sign this stuff."
Mickey Mouse might as well be running for the Republican party because the GOP nominee for the 2012 election - is a truth-free corporate advertizing machine.
Like so many problems that afflict women, men simply do not understand the full extent of some female maladies. So it is with PMS, but there is some very good news about this. Women will soon be able to immunize themselves against a particularly pernicious form of PMS. Symptoms include profound depression, perhaps lasting as long as four years. Many women report a feeling of insecurity and in extreme cases show signs of paranoia, believing they are under attack.
An inoculation will be available in early November that prevents this vicious iteration of PMS. Expect a great deal of advertising and loads of information about this new preventative - BHO. While BHO is particularly effective for women, it also has enormous benefits for males. So men, when your favorite women folks - your wives, daughters, mothers, and sisters tell you of the dangers and horrors of PMS, listen to them. Prevent President Mitt Syndrome. Vote for Barack Hussein Obama.
On this special Friday the 13th, I have also written a poem to honor god-fearing, humanity-loving, and women-respecting Republicans - the Teavangelicals.
The Miraculous Gift
Search your mind for a miracle, for something beyond compare;
Something extraordinary, something exquisitely rare.
That overwhelms one with wonder, that strains the bounds of the mind,
that challenges one's very senses, yet is as common as all of mankind.
What a fantastic paradox, something rare, yet almost mundane.
That miracle is the gift of life, that miracle some view with disdain.
God's wisdom and perfection are manifest at birth.
Yet, man gives life a value and decides what life is worth.
Man would take God's power, and choose who should live or die.
Man would deny the gift of life and deny a child's birth cry.
He tampers with the infinite, with truth that escapes the mortal mind.
He takes God's mantle of power, and his hubris renders him blind.
But in taking the power of God, man assumes Satan's role.
He forfeits his gift from God, his life and eternal soul.
Share with God, reverence for life, respect for the life of a child.
Love with God this miracle, never to be defiled.
The divine call comes to rescue, to save the lives of the unborn;
that they might see the light as we, and drink of God's new morn.
Love our God, and know the truth, and heaven shall come to pass.
Listen to God's Holy Word, or I'll kill your f****** ass.
How would you know??? Your name is David right????
Gee, Bill, obviously you believe what you wrote; therefore, you have my deepest sympathy.
I can't believe the President's campaign staff fell for this stupid manufactured controversy and condemned a fellow Democrat. Rosen spoke for me. She just forgot the words; Anne hasn't worked "outside of the home" a day in her life. She has a choice that the 99% do not." But the Mad Men were ready to bounce. Mad Men on both the Democratic and Republican side of this issue. Just a little to quick to denounce as far as I'm concerned. But then it was just a woman talking right? Gentlemen remember I, and fellow woman, are the majority. Not a special interest group. Woman up!
Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with the important matters.
- Albert Einstein
Boston.com:
The leading donor to Mitt Romney’s super PAC is Bob Perry, the same man behind the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth campaign against John F. Kerry in 2004.
Think Progress:
Mitt Romney has not publicly stated his opinion on the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), the reauthorization of which Republicans are delaying this year because of added provisions for marginalized communities.
But Romney’s absence from comment may not be an attempt to avoid embroiling himself deeper in the war on women: In 2008, Romney didn’t even know what VAWA was:
During an “Ask Mitt Anything” forum at the Derry-Salem Elks Club here, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney demurred when an audience member asked him whether he would hold up reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act on the grounds that it kept men from visiting their children.
“I’m not familiar with the Act,” Romney replied.
The answer surprised some women’s rights advocates, since the Violence Against Women Act — which established new federal crimes for domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking — has been federal law for more than a dozen years. Former President Bill Clinton signed it in 1994, it was the subject of a high-profile Supreme Court case in 2000 and has been reauthorized twice by Congress. Bush signed the most recent version in 2006.
**************
Please younger generations - put your future in YOUR hands and get these people out of office. Doesn't matter how much money they spend, or much they lie. Their history is all you need to know.
Help GOTV. That's all you need. Votes.
Mitt Romney is stupid and without leadership. You cannot put either you and your children's future in his hands. You can't. He's about as clueless as they come.
What's the matter David? Need to write another "I love women rant" because the wife's mad at you again?
Hey. You know why they call it PMS???
Because "Mad Cow Disease" was already taken. Hahahaha (in case you missed it last week).
You all need to stop this "Republican War On (group it is this week)" crap. Seriously. It's not working. Know what else is NOT working? Getting rid of Rush Limbaugh. He's still on the air with more sponsors than ever! What the hell happened?? LOL
Obama minion/spinner/flunky David Axelrod suggested Hilary Rosen doesn't work for Obama but in fact works for CNN.
The question that begs is, what's the difference?
Source: http://www.politico.com/politico44/2012/04/axelrod-to-cnn-rosen-is-your-employee-not-ours-120396.html
"Leaders don't inflict pain. They bear pain."
- Max DePree
This is a repost due to the collapse whiners on here -- and it will continue to be reposted each time.
A phone rings and a lady answers: “Hello.”
“Ms. Rosen, this is Barack. I am just calling to say you earned your pay today and thanks.”
(She knows it is Barack because after each “S” he says there is a cute little whistle lisp.)
“Why thank you Mr. President,” she says in her best Marilyn Monroe voice. “I’d do anything for you. Anything,” followed by a deep sexy sigh.
Then there is a pounding on the door: “Mr. President!!!!! Mr. President!!!!!”
“Hold on Hil,” Hussein the Magnificent said. “What is it??? I am busy with some phone se(x) oh er , I mean conversation. I’m on the phone!!!” (BHO’s mind drifts and wonders if it was this hard – or soft – for Bill.)
“We have to warn and remind you about your stern statements four years ago about attacking Michelle and wives being off limits,” a trembling voice can be heard.
“Oh Sheeeeeee (a very long whistling “S”) it!!!! I’ll have to call you back but watch out for that bus Hil,” Barack said while rubbing his hand slowly over his forehead up and over his hair. Oh, God another grey hair he thought to himself. “She was hired to improve the PR for the DNC?” he murmured.
“Okay call Axle Rose and Little Boy (those are the pet names BHO has given to David and Jay). Get them to set up interviews and write some indignation fake apologies to head off the problems,” he ordered. “Then call our lackies at the news organizations and get me in front of the cameras late in the day so most will be buried (Oh why couldn’t this have happened on Friday he thought). “Call Hil, er Ms. Rosen, Was-a-man and any one else and tell them to back pedal on this fast. AND GET THAT IDIOT VICE . . .
Then the phone rings and interrupts the president: “YES!!!!” in a loud voice as he picks up the phone and on the other end of the line he hears – “Mr. President this is a big f**&ing deal!!!!!”
“STFU Joe,” and the phone slams.
Apology not accepted Mr. President. You are a liar Mr. President. You are a fake. You are a false idol that ignorant and uninformed people worship. The first law that you signed was what????? Didn’t that have something to do with equal pay for women??? Why is it then after nearly four years in office women in your administration are making 18 PERCENT LESS than their male counterparts? Are there more in menial jobs???? Women of America wake up!!!!! This man is a charlatan speaking out of his ass!!!!!!!
It’s not working Mr. President. Your record on the economy is a failure. Your seemingly lower jobless claims numbers end up being “revised” upwardly and now the levels have risen to January levels. I guess there are some areas you just can’t control -- you ego maniac.
The vast majority of Americans want your health care gone but you are too stupid and anti-American to see that Mr. President.
You are scared Mr. President. Now all eyes are on you and your failed record. You are being vetted like you should have been 4 years ago. Go hide behind the crotches of the mainstream media. Get them to promote your lies you scared little boy.
I must say that President Obama exhibited far more grace than I might have done in the wake of the Hillary Rosen flap. Right-wing pundits have never been as gentle with Mrs. Obama as he proposes to be with Mrs. Romney.
There is one serious observation to be made here that might bring me under some fire, but as a professional woman, who has been a working mother, as well, I do feel entitled to make it.
No one is judging Mrs. Romney's choice to be a stay-home wife. She had the means to do it. I only wish I had had the same opportunity.
What everyone does need to understand, however, is that she cannot use her status as a stay-home wife to shield her from criticism when she knowingly and voluntarily enters the political arena as a supposed voice for women's issues. In that case, as she has clearly done through her husband Mitt, women, and especially those of us who are or were working mothers, have every right to point out the narrowness of her perspective.
Like Sarah Palin, Ann Romney cannot use her status as a woman as both a sword and a shield. If she wants to make herself a spokesperson for women, then she must be prepared to be criticized for what she says. If she does not want to be criticized, then she should stay completely out of the fray.
As far as Hillary Rosen being merely an adoptive parent, rather than a natural parent, right-wingers again show their true colors and their hypocrisy. In that calculus, women are valued only for the viability of their uterus. In addition, those who make that criticism unwittingly blow up their own case for banning abortion. The availability of adoption plays an important role in making that case.
Great quote Pat and Obama is inflicting the most pain seen in years.
Pat,
Wall Street lobbyist Norquist spelled out the kind of leader they're looking for. His words were strung together with not-this and not-that. They want someone malleable, sound familiar?
Hi David, You'reapoet...and youdon'tknowit.
Obama will win in 2012. Romney will become a joke by October. Anne is not off limits if she is out campaigning just like the first Lady is not off limits and constantly insulted by Fox and Republicans.
Exactly Anna Molly!
I have never seen lipstick wearing pit-bulls pivot to poodles peeing all over themselves faster then those two!
As we inch closet & closer to a society equal to The Handmaid's Tale...
Anna Molly, I couldn't possibly agree more with what you stated. I have no intention of keeping quiet if she enters the campaign as a supposed spokeswoman for women's issues. haha
If she cared about women's issues, she wouldn't be married to Mitt nor be a member of the Republican Party.
I remember full well how Mrs. Obama was treated by both the GOP and the media.
Maybe Barack Hussein "I Love Women!!" Obama can explain why the women in his administration make 18% less than the men.
Source: http://freebeacon.com/hostile-workplace/
This may be a case the EECO might need to look into.
Great post, Anna Molly - and speaking of the "Silly Season"......lost in all the cacaphony over the Hilary Rosen/Ann Romney debate yesterday was the kind of sad fact that here in 2012 we're still even debating the idea of "working women" vs. "stay-at-home moms" - as if those are still the only options for raising a family. Think about it - can you imagine a world where June Cleaver is the family breadwinner and wise advice-giver at the end of the day while Ward stays home all day folding laundry and dusting his already spotless house and wondering what to fix for dinner? And I'm not talking about 1958, I'm talking about here and now in 2012 - where apparently only women still have to make the choice between whether to work at home or work both at home AND outside.
The movie "Mister Mom" came out way back in 1983. Here we are, 29 years later, and has workplace equality or society's mindset changed enough to where stay-at-home DADS are really much less of a novelty than they were back then? Would we have been having the same debate yesterday if Ann Romney were the candidate and Mitt was the spouse? No - we'd still be expecting Ann to juggle both roles.
You've come a long way, baby.....right back to where you've always been.
Anabanana said:
Hi Ana...I disagree with you a bit here. I am the son of a police officer and my parents made the decision that my mom would stay at home with my siblings and I. It meant a lot of sacrifices on things like eating out, vacations, etc. But they made the decision and made it work. Now obviously, as a police officer, he was not a 1%er. Likewise, when I had kids, we made the decision that my wife at the time would stay home with them. I assure you I am NOT a 1%er.
Now I do agree with you that there are many families out there where there really just isn't a choice. And it's a shame that that is the case. But I don't think it's quite 1% versus 99% here.
Have a good weekend all!
Ann Romney didn't complain about Rosen's comment. The Democrats though completely lost their tiny minds over it. Obama lost his "silly" (as FR calls it) talking point that they are oh so much in favor of women. See post #1.20 on how much Obama is for women. No, the Democrats had a simple story for the Main Stream Media, one the media could understand (those complex economic issues really confuse them) and now it's gone because a close adviser to Obama made a stupid comment. Obama has a right to be upset with his people, and now the Democrats are cannibalizing each other because of it. Fun to watch for sure.
I AM SPEECHLESS. SPEECHLESS.
Boston.com - In a new radio ad released today, US Senator Scott Brown wraps himself around the legendary Fenway Park and the celebration of its 100th anniversary.
He heaps praise on the current Red Sox ownership for “improving what we have instead of starting over somewhere else.”
What Brown doesn’t mention in the 30-second spot is that it represents 180-degree turn from the public position he took a decade ago.
Back in 2001, when the Red Sox ownership was looking to relocate the Red Sox, Brown, then a state representative, not only pushed to remove the team from the storied park, but also out of Boston.
As a state legislator, he pressed to have the Sox move to Foxborough, the town adjacent to his own town of Wrentham. In a letter dated January, 2001, Brown asked Patriots owner Robert Kraft to consider using property around his football stadium to build a new ballpark.
That’s a sharp contrast to today’s radio ad, in which Brown extols the current Sox ownership and the old park itself.
“Think of it: the park opened in 1912 - the same year as the sinking of the Titanic,’’ he says. “It’s not only the home of the Red Sox, it also connects us to our past....”
Brown campaign spokesman Colin Reed said the senator acknowledges in the ad that the calls for moving the team out of Fenway were wrong.
*************
Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies.
Terrific post, Anna Molly.
"The failed Korean missile launch was Obama's fault." This is a quote from Wierd Willard. He knows these things. I don't know how he does it, it's amazing. I'm in awe.
We have also heard that President Obama was personally responsible for the 30's Great Depression, World War II, and yes, believe it or not, The Great Biblical Flood, (this directly from N0AH himself ).
These facts will all be verified by FOX NEWS later today.
Obama in 2012.
Maybe we should instead look at the structural bodies in place that write rules, regulations and laws that allow the crooks and thieves on Wall Street and in Business to legally steal from society and skip out on paying taxes. Paid lobbyists and insidious think tanks are writing the laws of the land today. They are the corrupters of society. It was their lack of morals that caused the Great Recession. Not the poor person. The laws are skewed in their favor. That's why they thrive Bill. The entire system has become morally bankrupt. Wake up.
And you have mine. Sorry you don't understand reality.
Thank you, everyone, for the kind words. Sometimes people tend to lose perspective on this issue, which is very similar to what the religious right does whenever anyone dares to question them on their own injection of their beliefs into the political arena.
@ Feisty, "closer and closer," indeed. It isn't so far away.
@ JoAnna -- I reviewed those White House pay numbers with some care the other day, and I confess that I didn't see the obvious disparities you suggest. Indeed, there are several women on the White House staff who earn the top of the pay scale -- $172,200, and there are several men who earn in the low to middle 40's, which seems to be the bottom of the pay scale. In any event, in order for this study to have meaning in the "equal pay" context, all positions would have to be examined against other "equivalent," and not merely "comparable" positions. Nowhere in any of your posts do I see any analysis of that kind. You may be right, but until then, your numbers are largely meaningless.
As for who lost their minds over President Obama's comments, I would say the prize for that has to go to the right-wing pundits who degraded Rosen because she was not a "natural" parent. How dare they?
Breaking News!!!! Consumer sentiment down again in April.
Rosen has "thin" ties to the white house???????. The records show she has made 35 visits to the white house during this administration.
It seems a woman must work out side the home or she isn't smart enough to know that the economy is in trouble. She can't possible know that people have lost jobs or that the price of goods have skyrocketed.
There's a lot of jealous people out there that "wish I would've had that opportunity". Well Honey, you and I chose the wrong husbands. I too was a working mom.....a single working mom. I could have done a MUCH better job had I been with my children full time........and it IS a job. I'm happy for the children whose mothers choose to stay home instead of paying someone els to raise their children.
First Read's False Equivalency of the Day:
None of these incidents are of substance by themselves, but some of them symbolize an underlying truth. The Etch-A-Sketch comment was made by a Romney campaign ADVISER and it neatly summarized Romney's casual flip-flopping and serial lying. The comment by Rosen, who was NOTan Obama campaign adviser symbolized ... what? Obama's War on Mommies??
PS.......the heading for the article should've read " the Silly Author"
I wasn't aware that Ann Romney has been whining about any brickbats thrown her way. To the contrary, she took the high road in her response to Rosen's ill considered remarks. Besides that, she consistently comes across as a likeable, enagaging person and is decidedly a net plus for the Romney campaign.
The Dems stepped in it this time and Republicans are just thanking them for the gift.
Pat Boston MA.
Ir wasn't that long ago that the right wing nut jobs were attacking Michelle Obama in the nastiest and most hateful terms for have an occasional milk shake and hamburger. According to the RWNJs, that made her unqualified to talk about the child obesity problem, despite the fact that obesity is the result of feeding kids shakes and hamburgers as a diet staple, not as an occasional treat.
You can have an occasional burger and still understand good nutrition. But you can't go through your life married to a multimillionaire, never holding down a paying job, and then get away with pretending you're the voice of working women worried about the economy.
This is where I have to disagree with you Houston!
If you have the intestinal fortitude, wander past the first page on these threads & see what the
Christian conservativesfamily value freaks have to say about the First Lady daily...I hope they don't kiss their kids what those mouths...
PS: I'm still convinced Mr. Me First from Fairfux is paid by the word... ;o)
Romney willing to say anything to get the upper hand in national security and foreign policy issues? Nah. Ya think? Say it ain't so...
Anyone who doesn't know that Romney will say anything, regardless of whether or not it contradicts his "deep beliefs" as expressed the day before, simply hasn't been paying attention.
Biggest liar I've ever seen either major party set to nominate. And this is, of course, talking about career politicians, so the bar is already pretty high, there.
Houston, Feisty, "monkey" is a prominent word in the right wing world. I hope the younger generations are paying close close attention and realize that by voting "R", then these are the people the younger generation is aligning themselves with.
They are Mitt's base now.
السلام عليكم to my main Muslim Republican Brothers, Ben-636050, Bill, Fairfax VA and JoAnnaSmith1! Remember, wives ARE off limits, as long as they are home, or accompanied by their fathers/husbands. So take a chill and read your Koran more!
你好 Feisty, Backhouse, and Pat BostonMA! Your Communist Party dictates that you need to wear less clothes, give up driving, and stop buying more than one brand of food because the economy doesn't need to be fixed. Just healthcare.
I hope you are all up to date on your mass prayers/celebrations of your respective Clerics/Great Leaders. Keep in mind that it is important to repeat, not think. Happy day to you all!
Would that it were so, Miss Feisty. I'd be in that evil 1% in no time.
Anyone that will believe what the flabby redhead and the outhouse has to say is a raving delusional idiot !
Feisty -- If true, and Bill does get paid by the word, it's worth about two cents. Yep, that's all it is, his two cents. Some men just need to get over themselves. Reminds me of the saying... even IF I'm wrong it doesn't make you right. There's never an IF with Bill. He thinks he's right. Period. It's the ideologue's mantra.
DCIA,
I don't know about you, but I wouldn't offer Mr. Fairfux a 'penny for his thoughts'...
Congratulations to Mayor Corey Booker D Newark, N.J. he rescued a neighbor from a burning building last night.
No, she didn't. Rather, she -- and her husband -- are letting the political attack squad do their dirty work for them. Just like Romney does with his own religious views -- or what appear to be his views. He takes positions that plainly reflect religious values, and when those positions are questioned, he lets the pundits accuse the questioners of wrongfully attacking his religious values.
Similarly, by filtering his own remarks about women's issues through what he claims to be his wife's viewpoint, Mitt Romney is hiding behind his wife's skirts, which is cowardly in and of itself, and gives him an opportunity to find double protection in that, as well as the right-wing pundits' over-the-top reaction, e.g., to Rosen's criticism.
Rosen's remarks were fair, and frankly, I don't think she needed to apologize. Facts are facts. What Rosen said is true.
It was Romney who first put his wife out there as having special knowledge of what women think. That makes her viewpoint fair game. Taking the position that his wife cannot be criticized is the equivalent of saying that Romney can't be criticized, as he has apparently has no opinions on women's issues that are not fed to him by his wife.
Romney no doubt thinks it was a clever strategy because it draws approval from folks like you, and because it works in other contexts. As I said before, it is what the religious right usually does when they want to deflect criticism for their own political commentary.
The REAL "high road," Bill, would be for Mitt and Ann Romney to admit that she has become a political partisan and then to accept the criticism that rightfully flows from that.
If she can't take the heat, then she needs to stay out of the political kitchen.
Only the weak-minded ones.
I'm not jealous. It is what it is. My daughter did just fine, actually, and probably because she had an early entre' into the real world, not just the world as filtered through her mother.
I didn't say I made the wrong choice. You said that. Not every woman is looking for a sugar daddy.
Feisty -- Exactly. Let me expound a bit on that saying, just for Bill.
Even IF I'm wrong, it don't make you right, no, you ain't right.
Have a great day Bill. Think about others for a change.
Anna, it's a losing argument. That's why Obama and Biden both distanced themselves so quickly. It doesn't matter if what she said is true or not. It only matters that it was a dumb attack that threatened to suck oxygen away from the intended campaign message.
It was only "dumb" because people -- including the President -- predictably cowered before the ravings of lunatics.
Houston has it exactly right --
And you can't pretend you're the "voice" of women worried about the economy and then claim you're not open to questioning or criticism about what your voice "says."
Ann Romney's opinions about women, as expressed through Mitt, are fair game. Period. She -- and he -- are both responsible for what she says, even if she says it in the bedroom, if he then repeats it on the political trail.
This was a great week for Romoney? I'm sure Mitt hopes so, in fact he's probably thinking, "I can see light at the end of the tunnel! Ann are these railroad tracks we're standing on? Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! (I never once thought Mitt was so bright as a dim bulb)ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!!
I'm not pretending to be the voice of women at all, lol. I tend to think Jack N's character pretty much nailed that one in his applicable line in "As Good As It Gets."
This is politics. It's a brutal, contact sport. Dumb is anything predictably inneffective. Dumber is anything predicatably counterproductive. It was the dumbest I've seen this campaign season.
Just wondering how long Mitzy is going to take to release his 2000 thru 2009 tax forms? Quite possibly, hell will freeze over first! Expose your self Mitzy, just like Ann said "We need to unzip him".
Let me clarify a little here. You are, of course, right about that. I came here this morning only because I wanted to do a little something to counteract it.
Rosen's remarks were predictably ineffective ... but not because they weren't true. They were predictable ineffective only because political discourse has gone completely off the rails of logic and reason that a person can be villified in such an extreme way merely for having the courage to tell the truth -- and ironically, telling the truth about a well-known liar like Mitt Romney.
In this direction lies chaos.
And that's all I was hoping to point out.
Have a great weekend, Paul.
Anna -- Well said!
Unlike the peanut gallery simpletons around here, I lay out reasoned arguments almost every time I post. If you take issue with my remarks, then respond with a cogent counterargument of your own rather than relying on your typical ad hominum snark.
JoAnnaSmith1, I'm pretty sure CNN pays better ... else Sanjay Gupta might've been Surgeon General.
I, for one, resent this. My ad hominem snark is NOT typical. ;-)
I don't know about anybody else, but all this name-calling Romney is doing, coupled with the fact that he has no message, makes me wanna puke.
Romney, beating the war drums. We already have enough weapons to destroy the planet 100 times, but that's not enough for warmongers.
I think Romney is stupid for underestimating a foreign country with nuclear capabilities. Romney doesn't sound "tough", he sounds ignorant.
Obama / Biden 2012
Mr. Fairfax: First of all great post. Second, you're wasting your parsley, sage, rosemary, and time(thyme) with these people. If what you are saying is true, then they're whole existence is a sham. That is why you see the hate dripping from their ignorant words.
Some of us can enter the halls of higher education and filter the wheat from the chaff. Others believe everything they are told by the liberal professors who have not "worked a day in their life" in the REAL world and rely only theory as their foundation for truth.
It's sad really, because they have the IQ to understand what you said, but are so programmed that the reality of your words repulse them. Ignorance is bliss.
Silly season indeed.
We've watched the right take what was on its own a rather simple statement, and one which has its basis in fact, and turn it into an event.
They have overemphasized the statement, its context and the person who spoke it. They have manufactured monsters where ther are none. They have distracted from the topics that really matter and that really need to be addressed. They attack any defense and those who do the defending.
And in spite of all of this, they are still on the wrong side of the issue of women's rights.
It is unbelievable to read a story about manufactured controversies on MSNBC, as there have been no such stories when everything was aimed at the right. But as soon as the left gets embroiled in a controversy of their own making, then it is silly season. Silly season combined with the endless excuses and explanations for what was communicated in plain English by a prominent Democrat that visits the White House regularly.
It was the left that made up this phoney Republican war on women, yet not a peep from MSNBC. Especially since it has been a liberal war on conservative women and stay at home mom's for the past 4 years or so. Of course what else can the left talk about but made up controversies? After all it is not as if any of the policies of the Obama administration have worked.
AtticusFlinched - too bad you didn't learn that you don't know all their is to know. Your wide painting of liberals as ignorant only goes to show how truly ignorant you are. But, I expect nothing more from a Republican. It's all you know to do.
To Feisty, American Girl, Anna, et al - what a classy First Lady we have. She immediately stepped up last night to say that all mothers work - whether in the home or not and that they work hard. She certainly didn't have to make the statement but it shows the complete Lady she is.
Have you ever really listened to yourself, Professor Garfunkel?
All of us do that. The only difference is what we consider wheat and what we consider chaff. To a certain extent, predisposition by life determines that.
So, are you suggesting that people should NOT believe what their conservative professors tell them? ... because many of them have not "'worked a day in their life' in the REAL world" either.
Or is that somehow different?
Nothing that Bashful Bill says repulses me, but the condescension dripping from your words does.
Well, maybe. You do seem pleased with yourself.
By the way, I suspect that Harper Lee would roll over to see how you've profaned her beloved character's name.
JoAnnaSmith1
The difference is that teabagger Erick Erickson is a paid talking head for CNN just like Rosen, except he's on much more regularly than Rosen is. Congratulations, JoAnna. You've outdone yourself with your mean-spirited stupidity today.
Ann Molly:
On second thought, I'm not sure I was exactly right. Maybe Ann Romney CAN pretend she's the voice of working woman as long as there's a phony nontroversy to distract attention from the fact she's never been in the work force.
Does anyone know exactly what her voice has said? Actually, I don't know a single thing she's ever talked about other than what a wonderful hubby she has.
Oh lord this fun......silly controversies, indeed. Hey NBC, you and your media buddies are the ones who take these little incidents and create "controversies" out of them! And, you usually do it to make the GOP look bad. However, the open mic, Hilary Rosen, the Limbaugh war on women have all blown up right in your and the Dems faces. You'd better back off for awhile. Obama's awful record is enough of an uphill climb for him in this election; he doesn't need the blundering efforts of you and the party "operatives" to make it any worse!
Bingo. She can do it as long as liberals buy into it. As for her voice, she gives a speech on behalf of Mitt after almost every primary. And I do believe she's given speeches and been on the talk shows, too, professing her own opinion about women, her husband, and the economy.
What frustrates me the most is that Republicans have now successfully turned this incident into a declaration of war on working women, and even gotten the President -- and the Vice President -- who both appear to be clueless here, to participate in it by giving the Romneys a get-out-of-jail-free pass.
Feisty is the one who is actually right -- THE HANDMAID'S TALE, here we come.
spider - No one has to make the GOP look bad. They just do it to themselves. If anything is going to blow up its Romoney chances to be Pres., instead of just a wanna-be. The POTUS is doing just fine and thinking and grounded voters will agree, as for the RWNJ's like the saying goes "you just can't fix stupid" Just saying.
MSNBC, the "unofficial" propaganda arm of the Democrat Party and that Of President Obama has declared it silly season! Funny if a Republican commentator had said This or anything else negative about the Obamas they would be the loudest offended voice. Since it was made by an extremely liberal commentator they Declare its "Silly Season". Talk about the pot calling the Kettle black.
What we need is some REAL Investigative Political Reporting
The Silly Stuff is for the Conmic Books
Lois Lane: And let's get something straight, I did not work my buns off to become an investigative reporter for the Daily Planet just to baby-sit some hack from Nowheresville! And another thing, you are not working with me, you are working for me. I call the shots, I ask the questions. You are low man - I am top banana and that's the way I like it, comprende?
Good grief AM, and I've been trying so hard...
@ RI Mom -- LOL Is that, by chance, Brenda Starr in your avatar?
I know, Bill, and I appreciate that. You'll just have to try harder.
Ironic statement, considering your earlier thinly-veiled attempt at erotica ... that you were compelled to post twice.
Admit it: you got a bit of a chubby writing that trash, didn't you?
1.71
Yup...
Can't rely on the Maytag campaign strategy forever. At some point the spin cycle will be over. With all the hot air being posted here - this must be the fluff cycle.
Anyone happen to notice that MITT Romney is not receiving any support? Everyone (including the Democratic candidates for President and Vice President) is defending ANN Romney. Still think the RWNJ is backing the 'right' guy?
A left wing nut job makes an offhand remark - and - the right wing nut jobs go ballistic? Fake politics fueled by fake outrage? How fake can the RWNJ become?
Mitt Romney addresses the NRA today. Does that mean Romney will shoot his mouth off? Every time Romney is on a stage - it is an 'open mic' moment. Better find another Maytag campaign issue ...
:o :D
R I Mom -- Best comment of the day! : ) #1.69
@ Derek -- Oh, behave. ;-)
Bill -- Typical one dimensional right winger. I'll change my opinion of you when you start telling the whole truth. There is a lot of space between A and B and it's not or. You just do not see it. You don't care for my opinion. I assure you that sentiment is mutual.
@Anna Molly: I'm having a hard time taking anything seriously anymore, I admit. Sorry. So, you know, when someone is funny, I have to throw them a huge applause. Well done to you, and to RI Mom.
Bill in Fairfax.
You really don't consistently lay out the facts. You do consistently lay out your ideological point of view, and any anecdotal facts that may appear to support it.
Take, for example, your commments on income inequality. You projected what ideologically you think you are supposed to think the left sees things. You have to think that the left sees things this way in order to believe the silly crap you posed next.
The income inequality is the result of the economic policies of less regulation and historically low taxes on the wealthy. Taxes, btw, that do not significantly spur economic growth. This is mostly because people who have everything they need generally do not directly spend the tax breaks they get, and therefore it does not go directly back into the economy.
And this is just one of the reasons the income inequality gap is bad for the country. Another is that with less of a tax base, things like medicare and social security add more to the debt.
This is not about guilt or even fairness. This is about what works for the country. A large income gap does not work for the country as a whole, and the end result is boom and bust economies. Not too mention we already have countries in this world with all the wealth at the top. They are referred to as third world.
So, Hillary Rosen said that Ann Romney never held a job and that somehow got turned into an attack on stay at home moms, but the way people respond to a truth they don't like is by changing the subject which is exactly what the GOP did on this. So, back to the original claim, besides being first lady in Massachusetts and being on the campaign trail, I haven't seen anything that refutes the statement that she's never had a job in her life.
You may disagree, but that is relevant if she is currently being quoted by Romney as an adviser to the campaign. Romney opened this can of worms by saying he was taking advice from her to use in his campaign, so if his policies are based even in part on her advice, then she's fair game for scrutiny as a high ranking member of the campaign, especially if her advice being given or her qualifications to give it are questionable.
So it's a lose-lose situation for Mr. Romney. Either he was just pandering to women and he really isn't taking any advice from her or she is an influential member of the campaign team. It clearly has to be one or the other.
Bill in Virginia,
Thank you for bringing up Albert Pujols. Using Pujols as an example, however, does not really make your case. It actually makes the opposite case.
What Pujols is paid has no effect on me or on most other people. But, it does affect other ballplayers. And, as other ballplayers seek similar compensation, teams like your precious Washington Nationals are not going to be able to compete for players.
Lacking talent, teams in small or medium-sized cities will eventually go out of business. Suddenly Major League baseball will only be made up of teams like the Angels, the Dodgers, the Yankees, and the Red Sox.
This is not good for the game. Fans will lose their teams and many baseball players will lose their jobs because their won't be as many teams to hire them.
Preventing baseball teams from paying players outrageous salaries (however "outrageous" is defined) would have a positive effect on baseball. Fans in Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Baltimore, and Oakland won't have to worry about losing their team. Teams won't go out of business, and so there would not be a reduction of jobs for baseball players. (Maybe there would even be more jobs for baseball players as cities like Buffalo, Portland, and Charlotte could afford to support teams.) Baseball teams in more cities can sign more talented players. This would mean more baseball fans in more cities can enjoy competitive pennant races.
If it is better for baseball that the pay scale is not so wide in baseball, wouldn't it also be better for society if the pay scale in society was not so wide?
By the way, I am a Yankees fan so the current system is to my advantage, but I recognize it is not an advantage to the game as a whole. Just like some very wealthy people today recognize that, even though they benefit from the current economic system, it is not good for the country as a whole.
Republicants: You know facts are relative, right? Fact: the left makes things up out of thin air. Danny Boy Rather comes to mind. Also, the Himalayan glaciers will be gone by 2035 was a good "fact" too.
Go ahead with the cliché Faux News comments.
Whew!
All the stay at home moms who were outraged over being told their jobs aren't "work" feel much better now that MSNBC has explained to them that the controversy was "manufactured".
Now they understand that if told their efforts aren't worth much, they shouldn't be upset because such outrage is "manufactured".
Actually you are judging Mrs. Romney and you assume without verifying facts that she has "always" had the means to be a stay at home Mom.
Mitt Romney is a "self" made millionaire. Definition, he made his money with hard work and struggle. That means during this struggling time, they made a choice for her to stay at home with the children. They had their first child while college students living in a one bedroom basement apartment. They lived off American Motor Shares his father started buying when he took it over and bought Mitt a few each year for his birthday which were worth $6 a share. He would cash in those $6 shares to pay for food & rent. 5 years after his father took over AM, the stocks went to $95 a share and Mitt cashed them in to survive going through college the rest of college and supporting a wife & 3 kids. Romney received his first paycheck when his 3rd child was born. They were married 5 years before any income came began to come in. Mrs Romney worked part-time at the Shipping Company before she started having children. Lord knows he wasn't making the money with 5 children that he is today.
So its presumptuious to think that they didn't have their own struggle without actually researching it. If you'd bother to do a bit of research you'd seen this. Like many, they also struggled financially in their earlier years when they were college students and starting out in his career. Everyone in some point in their life have struggles they have to go through.
Staying at home is not defined by you having or not having the means to do so. Every Woman who is not a single mother, who has a husband or partner that has a steady job, like Mrs Romney, has the opportunity to stay at home and raise their children. The difference is what your personal priorities are. The Romneys chose to struggle financially so she could stay at home. The majority of our mother's generation stayed at home and raised the children. How? They did without the luxuries and the big home that our generation seem to think they need or have to have in their 20's & 30's. Unlike our parents who acquired those things after their children were raised or the children were in HS. Again, it's all about priorities.
Good job, Ben,
Your multiple posts demonstrate that some people still fear miscegenation today as much as they did in the antebellum period.
The #1 Silliness of the Silly Season -- Use of Karl Roves' GOPee Wee Herman's "I know you are, but what am I?" fallacious attacks. Romney takes first place, with Scott Walker coming in second.
In regard to the GOP/TP overall, here are a couple of examples off the top of my head: 1) Comparing political commentator Rush Limbaugh's 3-day rampage filled with lies against an average citizen to comedian Bill Maher saying a name only once in regard to a public figure and therefore fair game; 2) Comparing the Teapublican War on Women based on substance (Top 10 Shocking Attacks from the GOP's War on Women - http://pol.moveon.org/waronwomen/) to a pundit making one comment that was factual though perhaps not well-stated as the president having a war on mothers. Really, seriously!?
I stand by what I posted yesterday, and with Hilary Rosen who's full commentary was to make the point of what a credible source is. This is the most basic point, that Romney's "source" on women's issues are not expert advisers on his staff, but only one person, his wife. Sorry folks, but a survey of one person is not reliable, no matter who that person is.
Aside from the fact that the spouse is relevant from the point of representing the nation as First Lady (after the attacks from the right-wing on Michelle, I can see why the president took the position he does), Romney's one source does NOT represent most women in America on many levels. The Republican Mormon women out there still don't identify with the wealth of the Romney's, but all the other women who are not those things sure as heck don't identify with her.
All the muddying of the water about how hard it is to raise kids--well then Teapublicans we can talk about states where mothers are compensated with a "wage"--but there is no more of a war on mothers than there is a war on Christmas and all the other supposed wars Republicans try to manufacture--and being the hypocristes at the same time criticizing progressives for supposedly using the the word "war."
Right-wingers, your desperation is showing, and your lies are growing! (John Kyl saying 90% of what Planned Parenthood does are abortions, Romney saying 92% of jobs lost were women's jobs, Allen West saying 78-80 Democrats are card-carrying Communists.) Just like Mitt, "We don't believe you!"
Uh .... Exhibit #1 to the contrary:
Lordy, that must have been tough. I lived off what I could earn during the summer and my 10-hour a week job while I was in school -- and that includes my tuition and room and board. I ate hot dogs, carefully counted out for each meal, white rice, white bread toast, and for a while drank powdered milk. All of which I "worked" for.
Instead of stocks and bonds, my parents sent me care packages of cookies now and then.
Holy Cow -- how rough is that? Can you imagine the deprivation of having to live on stocks and bonds until your first paycheck finally comes rolling in?
Amazing. A struggle so brutal that his wife actually had to actually work part-time. Oh, the self-made sacrifice of it all.
Good grief.
By the way, exactly where's the personal responsibility in that? If the Romneys couldn't afford to have children during those years, then why didn't Ann just use some aspirin between her knees?
Bill, in Fairfax - Having read your lamentable post #1.54, I, a compassionate liberal, decided to re-read your post 1.3 and respond. Not to be critical, but your post could be shorter, Having said that, I have no doubt I have been just as guilty, this was just a suggestion not a rebuke.
Here's the problem as I see it. Income disparity, historically speaking, has resulted in bloody revolutions. Not a situation, I would ever want to see. Progressive taxation in no way inhibits anyone from striving to have the biggest pile of money. At worst it may just take a few more years to reach that kind of goal. Even the Republican ideology pays lip service to the betterment of all citizens by having a "trickle down theory" to make the lives of everyone be more prosperous.
To hear the rights, screaming bloody murder, anytime there is talk of a tax increase is hilarious. If you didn't know any better, you might come to the conclusion damn near all of their money was going to be confiscated as opposed to a few % points. This of course is not in anyway going to impoverish or lead to their destitution. I am retired and pay quarterly taxes every year(10 years and counting). Am I grateful for having been born in this country, ya betcha. Do I consider myself fortunate to have retired at 52, my wife was fifty, ya betcha. Do I resent having to pay taxes in my retirement, hell no! I believe I live in the greatest country in the whole wide world, nothing good comes cheap. This country gave me the opportunity to earn what I have. Do I "wish" everyone could do this, sure, but I live in a reality that knows its not going to happen now or for that matter probably ever, I can ony hope I'm wrong. That's why I don't resent the poor getting a helping hand and financial help. Going to stop for now because I don't want to be guilty of going on to long. Hope to discuss issues in future meetings.
As stated in my post above, by all means let's have the federal government compensate women for their work as stay-home mothers. Hmmm, why do I suspect the Teapublicans would be outraged at this? Puleeeze, you and AtticusFlinched wouldn't know a fact if it bit you in the arse. Let's stick to substance:
Top 10 Shocking Attacks from the GOP's War on Women - http://pol.moveon.org/waronwomen/
The focus has been mostly on anti-abortion legislation, also in relation to health care and contraception (e.g., Planned Parenthood), and we've been discussing equal pay, but included in the list above you'll see other disrespect for women such as taking away protections/rights of rape victims. Wow, just wow.
clb-462357 -- I see AM has already replied -- You write that whole, long diatribe and neglect to address two simple things: 1) Mitt received inheritance from his father (yes he did), so had a significant advantage compared to most Americans, and; 2) among most Americans there is President Obama who also had to overcome his name and mixed race.
So in NO way can anyone of sound mind claim that the Romney's relate to the struggles of most Americans in comparison to President Obama and his life's experiences. Stop with it, give it up!
And my thanks to other FR members who have already replied to the "Bills" -- Gees!
clb, what a f--ing crock! You're pissed that anyone would judge a stay-at-home mom, then turn around and judge those who work? Just because a woman works does not mean her "priorities" are screwed up or that work is more important than her children. My mother was an excellent mother who worked, even though she and my also-employed father were and are still married. Contributing to society and the financial viability of our family unit (we lived modestly, even with her working) was part of how she was a good mother, raising the three of us with the values of hard work. Her desire to make an impact outside of our little household was fulfilling to her and I would never have dreamed of taking that away from her. And shame on you for suggesting we were any less of a priority for her because of her choice to be and do something more. Women absolutely have the right to stay at home if that is what they want -- but it is the easier route, no two ways about it. Working mothers pull virtually all the same weight at home, plus working. I'm sorry if that hurts anyone's delicate feelings. As for the idea that any woman can stay home if that is where her "prioritues" are, again, I call BS. If I stopped working when my husband and I have children, even if I wanted to, we would lose our modest house. We both make decent incomes, but have a mound of student debt. Why the student debt, you ask? I felt I needed to prepared to support myself in life instead of waiting around eating bonbons waiting for my prince charming to arrive. Good thing I did, too. When I did meet my future husband, I was 29 years old. Any argument you might give for why I should not have gone into debt for the education that made my career possible would amount to an argument that there is no real need to educate girls, anyway, since they should just marry and let their husband's support them and their children. That's the path to Afghanistan, my friend. That is the very reason Muslim extremist do not want to educate girls -- they might get ideas and not be satisfied as the child bearer for her appointed man.
Why are stay-at-home moms so touchy about being called out as stay-at-home moms, anyway? If they are so superior to those who work, shouldn't they be proud, not defensive? Maybe they're not all as happy as they would like others to think. Just a thought.
And the Romney's never struggled financially. Not really. Get over that little piece of campaign-crafted fiction. Romey is not a self-made man. Even if daddy didn't hand him a fortune on a silver platter, his family background and connections gave him advantages that most people could never dream of.
Hmmm, now would that be YOUR ideological projection? Go back to your room junior, you've become quite predictable – and boring.
The Republican agenda is to heavily arm the ignorant (result of our broken and anti-science education system) masses, enact church-based anti-woman morality laws, lie and steal from the working/middle class, purchase democracy and control government, suppress minorities, and to start wars across the planet wherever possible. Basically, they want fascist theocracy.
Looks like Republicans are trying to turn America into Iran. The American Taliban.
Obama 2012 (or rational people may have to flee to safe countries)
Speaking of boring ... any more fan fiction to share, or are you just down to insults at this point?
Rick-3416939 -- Do we need to remind you what a circus the GOP/TP primary has been? Let me guess, you think there's an MSNBC conspiracy to make it only LOOK like a circus. Riiiight.
As a side note, Margaret Atwood received a lot of hate mail in regard to The Handmaid's Tale as an attack on Christians. Though fiction, not one religious part of the story was made up, but rather these things actually happened somewhere at some time in history (derived from all religions including Islam). Brenda Starr, excellent RI Mom, but the insult to the character of Atticus Finch is NOT appreciated, damn trolls.
Bravo, Saddened.
@True Patriot
I don't care if you have an inhertance or not. Raising 5 kids is a boat load of WORK.
If you don't think it is, then you have clearly never spend a day alone with young children.
Try, just for 3 hours babysitting 5 kids.
It is work, and any stay at home mom will attest to that fact.
You can pretend Obama is an "anyman" all you want, but we don't know how he "overcame" the financial burden of paying for school. As he hasn't told us. And his wife was paid $700,000 a year to do a job so unnecessary, that when she quit to move, they closed the position permanantly.
Moreover:
What the eff does Mitt's inheritance have to do with someone telling a stay at home mom who raised 5 kids she "never worked a day in her life"?
Why is it you feel the need to attack the Romney's as a defense to a universally insulting comment by the fool lady?
Marty great job on countering Bill's point
And btw Bill CONGRATULATIONS!!! If the theories in your post are true you just disproved trickle down economics.
Could you please explain how if how much income the rich have does not effect me in anyway, how would taxing them more lead to me losing my job?
To all the RWNJ - and - LWNJ riding the washing machine on this issue -
why are you ignoring the REAL issues?
Why are moms the only ones that should stay home and raise kids? Why can't dads have the same opportunity? Is it because dads are paid more for working? Why isn't that an issue? Why doesn't this nut job fluff highlight gender biases in our economy?
Everyone seems to suggest that staying home to raise children is a valuable form of work in our society? What is being done to support and encourage that valuable work?
What is the role of government assistance programs in supporting those that stay at home and raise children? Don't those assistance programs help relieve the economic burdens of raising children - and - support this form of valuable work?
Will political discourse examine the structure of our society - and - what we value in our society? The RWNJ and LWNJ are only using the issue to score piddly points - AND - both sides are ignoring the REAL issues.
Another opportunity lost to empty nut job politics.
Between now and November we can expect a non stop flood of GOP lies and non issues. The Republican/Tea Party is so desperate that they will do or say anything to divert public attention from the truth and the truth is the only things they have to offer this country are greed, bigotry and fear.
I don't know if it's a reading and comprehension problem, but what we have here is a failure to communicate (though I suspect you're just trying to twist people's words).
No one ever said it's not hard work raising kids, not even Hilary Rosen. The only people making an issue of this is people like you. And you still have not responded to paying women for being stay-home mothers -- If we did this, then the fake outrage from the Right would stop and the real outrage would start -- THIS is why this is the "silly season."
What Rosen said is Ann has not worked a day in her life, obviously meaning as an employee in the private sector -- Which is relevant to most women who are in the workforce and are also mothers, because it is a LIE that is is a choice to stay home -- they don't have a choice.
And don't you find it odd that the GOP/TP values "business experience" so much in regard to her husband, but view women differently, perhaps more than differently, perhaps in a second-class citizen way? Nerm_L also makes the point about gender and roles and why men are discriminated against if they are in a position to stay home.
In trying to dig your way out of this, you are all only digging a larger gender gap for the Teapublican Party. Keep up the good work!
Whoever said it's not? But it's a lot easier if you have resources and don't have to work, than if you don't have resources and you do. I've known women who held down full-time jobs AND raised bunches of kids. Talk to THEM if you want to know how much work it is to balance work and family. Ann Romney never had to do that.
But don't fall into the trap that the right-wing pundits are trying to set for you. The whole point is not whether it's easy to be a stay-home mother. It's whether that gives her perspective to generalize about women's economic concerns.
It's a legitimate question, especially when Mitt Romney advertises her that way.
Maxwell, I came from a house with four kids and the older kids help out a lot. All five kids were not babies at the same time. Kids do chores and help cook and clean. Being a Stay at Home mom or dad is not that tough especially when you have a nanny and a maid. PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE. I do all of this and work.
Me and my wife must work to survive, and then we raise our son together. I love all of the ladies out there but please dont act like all of you raise your families by your self, because if you do then find a real man. I work in an office and at home as i am sure many men do. My wife works at an office and at home like many women do. This is a nontroversy. I would jump at the chance to be a stay home dad. I would much rather deal with a real kid at home than the grown kids at my job.
Rather than discuss things that do not matter I want the President to explain how he is going to keep his promises on the economy to the American people. For example, the President promised, without conditions, that he would cut the deficit in half by the end of his first administration. To keep the President's promise the 2012 federal deficit cannot exceed 229.27 billion dollars yet the Obama White House is predicting a deficit of over 1.3 trillion dollars which is more than 5 times what the President promised the American people. With more than 15 trillion dollars of current debt and huge deficits predicted for at least the next decade, I predict that the additional trillion dollars is going to end up costing the tax payers more than 9 trillion dollars to pay off over the nest 170 years. I want the President to explain how, without any action of congress, this year's deficit will not exceed 229.27 trillion dollars. I want him to present a program for repaying all of this money that we have been borrowing. I want to know how much it is going to cost the tax payers and how long it is going to take.
Sure. Me, too. Right after Mitt Romney explains in detail how the "social safety net" that he says protects the poor will continue to do so when the Ryan budget is enacted. And right after Paul Ryan explains how HE plans to reduce the deficit when his budget doesn't even propose to balance the budget until 2040.
Or didn't you know that?
Bill in Fairfax Virginia:
Thx so much for your intelligent and cogent as well as well thought-out comments on wealth and the so-called in-equality of income. I couldn"t agree with you more.
The author is partly correct. There are a lot of distractions. The only issue in this election is the performance of Obama. And, by all accounts it has been a disaster. Around 20% are really unemployed and the economy is barely crawling. Obama and the dems have done nothing improve things. You'd think that by spending more than the budget for national defense defense the unemployment rate would be around 3%. Instead, nothing happened other than payments to his supporters, the theft of the money and then bankruptcy for the companies, or big bonuses for his supporters. With this being the only issue, and Obama and the dems totally unable to run on their dismal records, it's no wonder they come up with phony issues.
Bill, Fairfax Va. - Thy name is bull@!$%#!
Aunt Molly - I'm sure you tell all the baby making welfare queens that they shouldn't have had children they couldn't support like you wrote about Anne Romney. I'm all for your goverment tit sucking voters to keep an aspirin between their knees instead of sponging off the government. The different between Anne Romeny and the democrat voting base is she went to work to help support the three children see had unlike your voters who have never work a day in their life. She also wait until she was married to have children.
The first line in this article reads -- "We’ve entered the silly season" That's not true. Republicans have been in the silly season since the 2008 campaign and have never stopped since.
Only in Wacky World does a democratic strategist saying something stupid equal Romney "manufacturing a controversy".
Don't you guys ever get headaches from suppressing the logical part of your brain?
Funny how the left disowned her like yesterdays sour milk, but in actuality, she is one of them
Controversial Democratic strategist and CNN contributor, Hilary Rosen, was hired by DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz to coach her on media appearances.
According to a Wall Street Journal report in February, Obama advisers told Wasserman Schultz to "tone it down," suggesting that they hire "two seasoned Democratic female pros, Anita Dunn and Hilary Rosen," for media training, in preparation for the upcoming campaign. Wasserman Schultz willingly accepted.
But Republicans at the Republican National Committee, have already pulled data on payments made by the DNC to Rosen.
"DNC has paid $120,000 to Rosen's firm since 2011 for both a "communications consultant" and "media consultant," tweeted Joe Pounder, the director at the RNC, "Sounds like Dunn and Rosen."
Rosen is a lesbian who left her position to spend more time with her partner and adopted twins but they have since separated…which explains WHY she doesn’t like stay at home moms!
Yes the failed missile launch is Obama's fault. He promised retribution for the launch of that missle yet retribution will never come Obama is an empty suit and the enimies of the US know that any threats of retribution coming from this president is nothing but hot air and they all feel like they can act with impunity.
This is exactly the same as bin Laden saying,"When they bleed, they leave." after eitht years of empty rhetoric by Bill Clinton and then attacking the US on 9/11. Looks like Obama is taking us right back there.
Gee Al, did you think that one up all on your own? Can you say "Polly want a cracker" too? Let me guess, you profited from the GSA conference? Perhaps Solyndra? Those were non issues too? Must be nice to be able to waste all those hard earned tax dollars. Who is really diverting public attention from the DISMAL economy by using Trayvon Martin as a ploy? SHAME ON THE DNC!!!!
"He promised retribution for the launch of that missle yet retribution will never come..."
All food and economic assistance scheduled for North Korea has been cancelled, Ricky. They needed food far more than they needed a rocket and now they have neither. Furthermore, according to the Washington Post, "U.S. officials have extensively discussed in private the possibility of increasing military exercises and consultations with allies in the region, including Japan and South Korea."
I'd say you just got busted in yet another lie.
The Republican War on the Girl Scouts
By: Hrafnkell HaraldssonApril 11, 2012
If you need to know what’s wrong with American conservatism in the early 21st century you have only to look at their view of the Girl Scouts. You would think that legislatures would want to honor the 100th anniversary of an organization like the Girl Scouts but empowering women isn’t exactly what the patriarchal GOP is about. Even worse from their standpoint is an imagined connection between the Girl Scouts and Planned Parenthood. The end result is that anyone seeking to empower girls and women is radical.
Whoever thought the Girl Scouts would be presented to America as pariahs? But they are; as Washington Post columnist Robert McCartney writes,
“But some religious conservatives see something very different: representatives of a dangerous, secular organization that aggressively promotes abortion and quietly encourages paganism, homosexuality and other alleged social ailments.”
If only! Since when did the Girl Scouts become required to align themselves with 21st century Republican political theology?
Rep. Bob Morris (R-Fort Wayne). Morris became opposed to the idea of honoring the Girl Scouts because he did a very dangerous thing: he looked at the Internet and did what so many people do: believed what he read.
In a letter to fellow lawmakers, Morris wrote that,
“Abundant evidence proves that the agenda of Planned Parenthood includes sexualizing young girls through the Girl Scouts, which is quickly becoming a tactical arm of Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood instructional series and pamphlets are part of the core curriculum at GSA training seminars. Denver Auxiliary Bishop James D. Conley of Denver last year warned parents that “membership in the Girl Scouts could carry the danger of making their daughters more receptive to the pro-abortion agenda.”
He claims the Girl Scouts “ promote homosexual lifestyles” and study “feminists, lesbians, or Communists” as role models while ignoring those with a religious background, citing a noted sensationalist tabloid, World Net Daily, whose journalistic standards are on a par with those of the National Enquirer. On the basis of some very poor research he warns against “extending legitimacy to a radicalized organization.”
The St. Timothy Catholic Church in Chantilly, Virginia, now says it will not allow the Girl Scouts to use their church as a meeting place or to wear their uniforms on church property (including the St. Timothy School next door). A spokesperson for the diocese released a statement that reads in part: “Every pastor in the diocese has the responsibility to determine how best to use their parish facilities, consider the requests of outside groups, and reconcile such requests with the needs and mission of their parish community,” and according to the diocese, “the pastor did not believe the National Girl Scouts membership to the World Association of Girl Guides & Girl Scouts aligned with the message of the church, stemming from a perceived connection between WAGGGS and Planned Parenthood.” In other words, if the Girl Scouts do not toe the Catholic doctrinal line, they’re not welcome. The Catholic News Agency goes so far as to claim, “The Girl Scouts (GSUSA) has yet to refute even one piece of documented evidence” and concludes that “sponsoring churches like St. Timothy–are right to protest the deception and pull their girls out of the organization.”
In Washington State, Hans Zeiger, a Republican candidate for the State House of Representatives wrote, before hurriedly taking down this and other of his comments and many other extremist diatribes so he could run for office,
“The Girl Scouts allow homosexuals and atheists to join their ranks, and they have become a pro-abortion, feminist training corps. If the Girl Scouts of America can’t get back to teaching real character, perhaps it will be time to look for our cookies elsewhere.”
Also taking up this cry was Rep. Wess Keller of Wasilla, who seems to prove the old Biblical cry, “Can anything good come out of Wasilla? Keller, like Morris, was predisposed to dislike the Girl Scouts and for the same reasons. It was not difficult for him to also find affirmation of his prejudices so he pulled a Morris and blocked what should have been a routine resolution in the state legislature to honor the Girl Scout’s 100th anniversary.
This is what Keller had to say to the resolution to honor the Girl Scouts:
“I’m sure you are aware of the information that’s floating around the internet, and I’d like to give you the opportunity to respond to your connection, the Girl Scout connection, with Planned Parenthood and the activist role in that — is there a connection? Is there not? Frankly, I haven’t looked into it but I see it’s out there.”
The Girl Scouts responded as you would expect: with the truth. Morris had written to his fellow lawmakers that,
“The Girl Scouts of America and their worldwide partner, World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), have entered into a close strategic affiliation with Planned Parenthood. You will not find evidence of this on the GSA/WAGGGS website—in fact, the websites of these two organizations explicitly deny funding Planned Parenthood.”
The real reason there is a war on the Girl Scouts is because there is a war on women and if you go after women you have to go after the “hatchlings” as well. As infamous former Methodist minister and missionary Colonel John Chivington said before slaughtering Native American children at Sand Creek in November 1864, “Nits make lice.”
And that seems to be the issue here: if you let little girls grow up feeling good about themselves, empowering them as genuine human beings and not breeding stock for Republican men, you let them grow up as radicalized feminists, meaning “females who they think they’re people too.”
http://www.politicususa.com/the-republican-war-on-the-girl-scouts/
______________________________________________________
Weeell I’m glad to see that you’ll Yahoo’s have decided to pick on somebody you’lls own size.
What the matter get tired of those Big Girls constantly kicking your sorry old butts?
Seriously Dudes and Dudeets. Now I’m supposed to believe the crowd of young ladies with skinned knees and little button noses that giggle their way to my front door about this time every year to see whether Old Uncle Redneck will purchase a box of cookies ( they know I’m a soft touch) has suddenly morphed into the Red Menace. Get outa here.
You mean to tell me that the youngsters who set up their tents several times a year in my Back Forty and whisper their secrets and tease each other with frogs and bugs till the wee hours are Closet Lesbians and Atheist’s. Damn I must be getting senile or something to let that slide by me.
If I was you Mental Midgets I wouldn’t start in on a battle of wits with a bunch of little girls ‘cause the little girls would have the advantage of you. Shucks they may even turn you into a Merit Badge.
In the meantime I’m just going to set over here in the corner and giggle at you’ll just a little bit while I eat my cookies. And I don’t really care if they were delivered by a communist, socialist gender bending nonbeliever with knobby little knees and a winsome smile. I like the Mint ones. Finest Kind.
The weekly jobs numbers don’t tell the whole story and we all know it. True unemployment numbers are known to be at least double than what is reported. And heaven forbid this failed administration will even comment on its failure to the black and student communities where unemployment numbers are outrageously high. But more importantly buried deep in the data is the fact that even with the “new private sector” jobs created, earnings and wages are dropping. With high gas prices, food prices, etc. middle America is barely feeding their families. This administration is a plague and a hindrance to working class Americans.
Thank you Mr. President or should I say Kreskin.
And before you begin the attack with – but at least they are working – just remember you LWNJs the attacks and criticism you made on these blogs about how Gov. Perry’s jobs created were minimum wage jobs. Paybacks are a bitch huh?
Consumer prices increased again. I wonder what the increase would include food and energy components???
The "War On Girl Scouts"??????????? I don't know wheter to HO-HUM or LOL. What a joke you people are.
Hey, seen the latest poll with Romney AHEAD of Hussein? Looks like all your manufactured "Republican War Against (fill in the blank)" aren't working out too well. Especially when you have obnoxious lesbians saying on live, national TV that because a woman is well-off, has 5 kids and stays at home, she hasn't "worked a day in her life." Typical elitist BS.
Damage -- right on target. I spewed my coffee when I read that. Desperation as the wings fall off is amazing.
Republicans attacking Girl Scouts. Not only are they attacking women as adults,but they are starting their attacks on young girls.
What's next?
Ladies,I hear Burkas now come in Red,White and Blue.
I guess we can all sleep better knowing that those watch dogs of the Republican party are focusing on lies they see on the internet and acting on them to protect us from this insidious risk. Too bad it has deflected them from job creation but the American economy will just have to pay the price for their vigilance.
Snark off---What a bunch of hogwash. And what an embarrassment for these people.
P.S. I think the mint kind are best, too. We freeze ours and enjoy them all year long.
Hey Damage what about the war on Iraq, the war on Afghanistan, the war on Iran, we all know how much you tea people Koch republicans love wars. If it isn't a war you people don't want anything to do with it. What a bunch of jokers you people are. You tea people Koch republicans are really grasping (struggling) for something to campaign on.
IR:
Thanks for yet another documentation of right-wing insanity. You want to say it can't get any crazier, but it does.
Lesbian Girl Scouts? Really? It just doesn't stop.
Also, it cannot be repeated enough, Planned Parenthood is NOT an abortion mill. One in five women will get medical assistance through this wonderful organization.
Only right-wingers find UNplanned parenthood to be a good thing.
x
Damage --- What does wheter mean? Are you still a bed wheter? Also, that latest poll is a Fox news poll. Kind of makes it a joke.
Disturbing article and excellent comments, IR. Thanks for posting it.
The GOP really has fallen off the edge into complete insanity and any conservative poster who believes this anti-girl scout nonsense is as dumb as the GOP legislators, the churches and their comments prove. Oh, I see they're here to post their affirmation of insanity.
That's cool Tom. But I refuse to believe ANYTHING coming from the liberal media these days. If MSNBC shows a poll with Obama waaay out in front, it's a joke. You have your polls. I have mine. The only one that counts will be in November. Of course, if THAT one doesn't go your way you'll use one of many excuses that Dems have whined over the years "It was "stolen", the American people are stupid and/or duped", Willie Horton"...blah blah blah...
I do to Steeler. But they are best broken up in a big old bowl of Breyer's Vanilla Ice Cream. I see some of our Mental Midgits are busy this morning. Looks like I'm well on my way to my honorary Merit Badge. Glad to see that you'll boys are capable of taking on somebody that you'll may be able to get to cry and go home
“The Girl Scouts allow homosexuals and atheists to join their ranks"
Umm, how do they know? I was seven when I first became a Brownie. I'm pretty sure I didn't have the slightest idea at the time what homosexuals and atheists even were, and I'm downright positive I never had to fill out a questionnaire indicating I was either one. I guess these conservative yahoos can tell just by looking?
Hey, IR, you're lucky you still live somewhere where they still sell them door to door. I wanted to buy some for my Mom for Valentine's Day and actually had to go on line to find out where they were selling them.
But oh, yeah - Thin Mints. If you get Edy's Ice Cream in your neck of the woods, they make a Special Edition chocolate with the Thin Mints already crumbled in. Finest kind!
My repost due to the collapse whiners on here:
These are the best of times and the worst of times. The S&P 500 corporations are doing better than ever with 80 percent of the record profits being attributed to and held overseas (reportedly $2-$4 Trillion) while American families continue to struggle under this failed administration. Thank you Mr. President or should I say Kreskin? You are an illusionist. You feed your base lies about being anti-corporation, anti-bank, anti-Wall Street all the while allowing them to profit while others suffer. You support and pass legislation aimed at smoke and mirrors to give the illusion you are the Lone Ranger but in reality it is legislation with no teeth.
Your rhetoric is forcing more and more corporations into expat status. Your focus on taxing more and hitting them with more regulation will not repatriate them. It only forces more and more of them out of the country. Thank you Mr. President. But it does fit into your plan of fundamentally changing America and making us a totally dependent government society.
Here is a collapsed repost from Damage to which I totally agree with:
Wow. Ol' Damage should go to Vegas! I started predicting months ago that, once Romney became the clear nominee, the anti-Mormonism would heat up from the mindless, hateful LEFT. I was right.
Seems Crazy Larry O'Donnell has been forced to apologize for an anti-Mormon rant he spewed WEEKS ago. When will this looney bastard go the way of KeithO?
From Mediaite- Mormonism-Is-An-Invented-Religion-Gate
The most recent apology to come out of the cable network at 30 Rockefeller Plaza is The Last Word host Lawrence O’Donnell. On an April 3 segment, O’Donnell characterized the Church of Latter Day Saints as an “invented religion” and said that Mormonism was started by “a guy in upstate New York” who “got caught having sex with the maid and explained to his wife that God told him to do it.”
That understandably offended some, and O’Donnell was forced to publically apologize on an April 11 broadcast. “I am truly sorry if I said something inaccurate about Joseph Smith,” O’Donnell said. “I am happy to provide time on this show to a Church of Latter Day Saints spokesman to correct any inaccuracy.”
But the apology parade only begins there. A quick trip into recent history reveals a troubling trend of apology-worthy offenses.
But that ain't all folks! In addition to that and NBC's blatant attempt to stir up racial hostility, resentment and violence in the Trayvon Martin case by lying, decieving and omitting, there are a whole SLEW of apologies recently coming from cable news' LEAST WATCHED NETWORK....Read them here....
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/msnbcs-year-of-apologies/
Too bad FR doesn't come out at night. We righties could play drinking games where we have to do a shot of Jim Beam each time some nitwit on here today slams Romney's religion. We'd be tanked up but we'd still be more sane and have more sense than Crazy Larry or any idiots that think he's cool. Watch and see.
And speaking of MSNBC's participation in the whipping up of race hatred, when is MSNBC or ANY of the liberal media going to start reporting on the cases of Black on White viloence related to the Zimmerman/Martin case that have been occurring all over the nation? A 78 yr old White man beaten in Ohio by youths yelling "Trayvon!" That's just one. Should I post all the links so you liberal bleeding heart, wwhite-guilt trippers believe me?
To show I reach across the aisle for those who have been censored, this is a repost -- that I don't agree with -- from Gingerbread Mamma:
I get so tired of listening and reading the whines from the right. They have no plans as to how they would, if given the chance, make a difference.
Yesterday, was a perfect example of 'blown out of proportion' nonsense. Anyone with a lick of sense, looking at Ann Romney, would know she had the better deal in life as the result of whom she married. It's no secret life has been good to her. As with all of us, there are difficulties in life, whether it be health, personal happiness with our lot in life, and if that lot contains a well heeled life style that helps to a great degree.
Some of us really didn't have choices as to whether they could stay at home or have a career, when a husband and father's health fails, as it did with my husband, there are no choices, but to get up every day and work to keep it all together. I have never faulted those who didn't have to do that, you play the cards you're dealt and keep going.
The Romney campaign, have nothing to offer the women of this country, sothey take an ill thought out observation and try to turn it into a diamond of victimization. Republicans are very good at playing the victim, at seizing a minor remark and turning it into a tome on unfairness. So Ann, put on your big girl panties , pull 'em up high and let's get real.
Women have a raw deal whether it be in the workplace or at home with kids, they never have it all....even when they have buckets of money although that helps a lot.
I think it's a little early for the door to door sales yet JoAnne. I'm still working on my Freezer supply which because I'm a soft touch is never ending. Edy's is good but it's just a hair off being the same for a Connoisseur. Wonderful comments down below by the way.
My repost due to the collapse whiners on here:
These are the best of times and the worst of times. The S&P 500 corporations are doing better than ever with 80 percent of the record profits being attributed to and held overseas (reportedly $2-$4 Trillion) while American families continue to struggle under this failed administration. Thank you Mr. President or should I say Kreskin? You are an illusionist. You feed your base lies about being anti-corporation, anti-bank, anti-Wall Street all the while allowing them to profit while others suffer. You support and pass legislation aimed at smoke and mirrors to give the illusion you are the Lone Ranger but in reality it is legislation with no teeth.
Your rhetoric is forcing more and more corporations into expat status. Your focus on taxing more and hitting them with more regulation will not repatriate them. It only forces more and more of them out of the country. Thank you Mr. President. But it does fit into your plan of fundamentally changing America and making us a totally dependent government society.
Here is a collapsed repost from Damage to which I totally agree with:
Wow. Ol' Damage should go to Vegas! I started predicting months ago that, once Romney became the clear nominee, the anti-Mormonism would heat up from the mindless, hateful LEFT. I was right.
Seems Crazy Larry O'Donnell has been forced to apologize for an anti-Mormon rant he spewed WEEKS ago. When will this looney bastard go the way of KeithO?
From Mediaite- Mormonism-Is-An-Invented-Religion-Gate
The most recent apology to come out of the cable network at 30 Rockefeller Plaza is The Last Word host Lawrence O’Donnell. On an April 3 segment, O’Donnell characterized the Church of Latter Day Saints as an “invented religion” and said that Mormonism was started by “a guy in upstate New York” who “got caught having sex with the maid and explained to his wife that God told him to do it.”
That understandably offended some, and O’Donnell was forced to publically apologize on an April 11 broadcast. “I am truly sorry if I said something inaccurate about Joseph Smith,” O’Donnell said. “I am happy to provide time on this show to a Church of Latter Day Saints spokesman to correct any inaccuracy.”
But the apology parade only begins there. A quick trip into recent history reveals a troubling trend of apology-worthy offenses.
But that ain't all folks! In addition to that and NBC's blatant attempt to stir up racial hostility, resentment and violence in the Trayvon Martin case by lying, decieving and omitting, there are a whole SLEW of apologies recently coming from cable news' LEAST WATCHED NETWORK....Read them here....
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/msnbcs-year-of-apologies/
Too bad FR doesn't come out at night. We righties could play drinking games where we have to do a shot of Jim Beam each time some nitwit on here today slams Romney's religion. We'd be tanked up but we'd still be more sane and have more sense than Crazy Larry or any idiots that think he's cool. Watch and see.
And speaking of MSNBC's participation in the whipping up of race hatred, when is MSNBC or ANY of the liberal media going to start reporting on the cases of Black on White viloence related to the Zimmerman/Martin case that have been occurring all over the nation? A 78 yr old White man beaten in Ohio by youths yelling "Trayvon!" That's just one. Should I post all the links so you liberal bleeding heart, wwhite-guilt trippers believe me?
IR-- The "Mad Men" are trying to take over the country! They truly are mad in every sense of that word. Disheartening really. Is it 2012 or am I just dreaming it is? Thanks friend for keeping it real each day by shining a spotlight on the outrageous shenanigans of the far right. We need the reminder. It makes us more determined to push back harder against that kind of madness.
In the FOX NEWS poll...
40% were democrat,
39% were republican,
19% were independant.
-->Pretty sure a reflective sampling of our electorate doesn't shake up that way. At all.
Last estimate was 36% D, 27% R, 33% I
And according to Pew, Indies like Democrats by a 3:2 margin currently.
IR,
As a Junior Scout Troop leader, I want to THANK YOU!
and pair your comment with Anna Molly's about what appears to be an entire PARTISAN 'caring more for a viable uterus than the enriched, developed hearts and MINDS of young girls' BS.
The nutjobs have gone down the rabbit hole only to find that it was a snake hole. Yet, they want to claim otherwise.
It seems to me far too many of these 'adults' (for want of a better term) are more concerned about what's UNDER the sash than in the hearts and minds of these children. It is beyond disturbing that they are reduced to whisper campaigns to denigrate the inherent goodness in ANY organization; but particularly one that was designed to be inclusive and promote sisterhood, character and a spirit of charity and caring for others.
How they manage to conflate the Girl Scouts with any nefarious message can only be described as a bit of PROJECTION from their own cold, calloused 'hearts'.
I am DISENFRANCHISED by anyone who purports to malign the few safe havens left in society. I certainly hope any overhearing their garbage repudiates them with a STRONG and visceral message of intolerance for their ignorance!
They should be BETTER than this; but alas, anything to score a political 'strike' against the Fauxnemy (Planned Parenthood); by hook or by crook.
What a sad, sorry lot! PS. I have chosen to let the 'getting cookies elsewhere' comment go; but the joke was scathing and targeted, I assure you!
I am certainly gaining insight into why teen pregnancy is higher in RED states, eh? There's the message these daddies are telling there daughters about respecting themselves,...and well, then there's the REALITY of their misogynistic ways. Telling, very, very telling, indeed!
The GOP is a shameless group. Attacking young girls whose only crime is to be inclusive is beyond disgusting - it's Republican. Republican is going to become the adjective people use to describe any low, classless, demented (yes Damage - perfect fit) ignorant, act conjured up by senseless people. Attacking the Girl Scouts is beneath contempt - it is Republican. However, a lot of us took this attack personally and doubled our orders for cookies this year.
How low the GOP has fallen and yet they keep trying to outdo themselves and sink even lower.
Since he was mentioned in the blog: does anyone know if the good Senator Lugor will even be able to vote in the primary ?
Wouldn't it be hillarious if the GOP lost this "safe seat" because Lugar got Tea Partied out ?
Popcorn anyone ?
Here's an idea, How about BOTH the republicans AND democrats cut the getting sidetracked over bs and political talking points and address the real issues that women, men, minorities, and everyone else (according to polls by both parties) are most concerned about!
The Economy! Remember the quote "It's the economy stupid!" ? Yes other things are important but if the economy is broken and we go bankrupt then we can't help women's and men's healthcare, we can't save the environment, and we can't defend the country. So STOP the political BS on both sides of the aisle.
The media also needs to stop fueling this debate over stupid stuff. Do we really need to analyze a sound bite from someone's 3rd cousin that they haven't seen in 20 years? Again, this campaign should be about the issues only, but since both parties and the media ("MS" NBC) are in the pockets of big corporations and the wealthy nothing will change because if it changed certain people wouldn't be getting richer.
Perfect example: Congressmen and women from both parties failed to pass meaningful legislation to truly prevent insider trading by elected office holders. Members of both parties have made millions of dollars off of it and everyone would agree it is unethical. Yet, both parties were able to magically come together for their own pockets to stop that legislation, yet they can't seem to find the political will to do what is best for the American people. That is a shame!
Well said Mike!
IR,
Thanks for this because I'd heard a little about some sort of attack on the Girl Scouts but I really didn't think it would be a real attack on those sweet little girls (I used to be one). I can't believe the intensity with which these conservative politicians are going after anything and everything female! This is really shocking to me. They are little girls and I can assure you that after 6 years as a Girl Scout there is no underlying mission to turn girls into anything but better people who can do just as much as any "man" can (tie knots, build fires, survive in the wilderness etc etc). Really?! Turn them into lesbians or abortion mongerers?! What is the U.S. becoming?
Mike,
I'm going to have to agree with you on this one. It's pretty sad when almost everyone in the legislative branch is too worried about themselves to pass anything that will actually help the country. Americans are getting pretty tired of it (9% approval rating shows that)!
P.S. Is anyone getting tired of the conservatives (esp. Ben posting and reposting stuff on every feed) being obnoxious on the vine? I would put them on ignore but sometimes they say the funniest things! I don't have that much comedy when I'm at work....
@Damage123, yes it was brought up, undoubtedly, to rub it in about which party some knucklehead belonged to. Same thing with the genius who thinks staying at home and raising 5 kids isn't work. Now yes, we could pick on Mitt Romney's wife versus someone who doesn't have a lot of money, but that doesn't make the statement less stupid.
Point is, really dumb things get said by seriously dumb people in either party, and you have to wonder why the bar is so low on politicians today. Really? The Girl Scouts are enemies? Really? A mom raising kids at home isn't doing anything? These are the hyper statements that politics get made all about these days. While I agree I just want to take these rock-for-brains and shake them up, it would be nice to have really actually imporant stuff be the topic.
Wait, what am I saying? I am sounding like an INFIDEL! 20 lashes! Administered to me by myself!
From the article: "Last night, Romney released a statement criticizing Obama for North Korea’s failed missile launch."
That has got to be the most feeble political attack ever launched by a soon-to-be-forgotten presidential wannabe in the history of American politics. I mean, damn...
Sailcat - I knew that was going to happen as soon as I heard that the launch had failed last night. Somehow it was going to be Obama's fault. According to the Romney, Obama is almost "godlike" in his ability to control everything.
When Slither Sarah announced her plans, who couldn't notice the number of GOP Males who expressed an "interest" in humping the Alaskan Dog ?
When Michele Bachman was still sucking air,
how could anyone miss the GOP male attraction for a "Hair-do" atop an empty head...
the number of guys wanting to get into her bundled undies was incalculable !
BOTH WERE MARRIED,
yet that prevent none of the GOP Males from frothing & expressing their immoral desires .
WHY, have none of these "Breeders" or "Studs" expressed the SAME INTEREST IN Willard's "Baby Machine" ?
She's a Blonde, has money, access to power....did I forget to mention she's also married
so what the problem GOP Richards ?
Why ain't old lady Romney the target of your flaccid aggressions like Bachman & Palin...
perhaps she's not bat@!$%#crazy enough for you guys ?
or maybe it's the "Magic underpants" ?
–MOVE ON LAUNCHES ANTI-ROMNEY ‘BIRDDOGGING’ EFFORT
moveon.org supported by insanely wealthy hedgefund manager Peter Soros and insurance magnate Peter Lewis plans to launch a media blitz to swing the "War on Women" talking point back to the Democrats court"
Wow. Ol' Damage should go to Vegas! I started predicting months ago that, once Romney became the clear nominee, the anti-Mormonism would heat up from the mindless, hateful LEFT. I was right.
Seems Crazy Larry O'Donnell has been forced to apologize for an anti-Mormon rant he spewed WEEKS ago. When will this looney bastard go the way of KeithO?
From Mediaite- Mormonism-Is-An-Invented-Religion-Gate
The most recent apology to come out of the cable network at 30 Rockefeller Plaza is The Last Word host Lawrence O’Donnell. On an April 3 segment, O’Donnell characterized the Church of Latter Day Saints as an “invented religion” and said that Mormonism was started by “a guy in upstate New York” who “got caught having sex with the maid and explained to his wife that God told him to do it.”
That understandably offended some, and O’Donnell was forced to publically apologize on an April 11 broadcast. “I am truly sorry if I said something inaccurate about Joseph Smith,” O’Donnell said. “I am happy to provide time on this show to a Church of Latter Day Saints spokesman to correct any inaccuracy.”
But the apology parade only begins there. A quick trip into recent history reveals a troubling trend of apology-worthy offenses.
But that ain't all folks! In addition to that and NBC's blatant attempt to stir up racial hostility, resentment and violence in the Trayvon Martin case by lying, decieving and omitting, there are a whole SLEW of apologies recently coming from cable news' LEAST WATCHED NETWORK....Read them here....
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/msnbcs-year-of-apologies/
Too bad FR doesn't come out at night. We righties could play drinking games where we have to do a shot of Jim Beam each time some nitwit on here today slams Romney's religion. We'd be tanked up but we'd still be more sane and have more sense than Crazy Larry or any idiots that think he's cool. Watch and see.
And speaking of MSNBC's participation in the whipping up of race hatred, when is MSNBC or ANY of the liberal media going to start reporting on the cases of Black on White viloence related to the Zimmerman/Martin case that have been occurring all over the nation? A 78 yr old White man beaten in Ohio by youths yelling "Trayvon!" That's just one. Should I post all the links so you liberal bleeding heart, wwhite-guilt trippers believe me?
These are the best of times and the worst of times. The S&P 500 corporations are doing better than ever with 80 percent of the record profits being attributed to and held overseas (reportedly $2-$4 Trillion) while American families continue to struggle under this failed administration. Thank you Mr. President or should I say Kreskin? You are an illusionist. You feed your base lies about being anti-corporation, anti-bank, anti-Wall Street all the while allowing them to profit while others suffer. You support and pass legislation aimed at smoke and mirrors to give the illusion you are the Lone Ranger but in reality it is legislation with no teeth.
Your rhetoric is forcing more and more corporations into expat status. Your focus on taxing more and hitting them with more regulation will not repatriate them. It only forces more and more of them out of the country. Thank you Mr. President. But it does fit into your plan of fundamentally changing America and making us a totally dependent government society.
I get so tired of listening and reading the whines from the right. They have no plans as to how they would, if given the chance, make a difference.
Yesterday, was a perfect example of 'blown out of proportion' nonsense. Anyone with a lick of sense, looking at Ann Romney, would know she had the better deal in life as the result of whom she married. It's no secret life has been good to her. As with all of us, there are difficulties in life, whether it be health, personal happiness with our lot in life, and if that lot contains a well heeled life style that helps to a great degree.
Some of us really didn't have choices as to whether they could stay at home or have a career, when a husband and father's health fails, as it did with my husband, there are no choices, but to get up every day and work to keep it all together. I have never faulted those who didn't have to do that, you play the cards you're dealt and keep going.
The Romney campaign, have nothing to offer the women of this country, sothey take an ill thought out observation and try to turn it into a diamond of victimization. Republicans are very good at playing the victim, at seizing a minor remark and turning it into a tome on unfairness. So Ann, put on your big girl panties , pull 'em up high and let's get real.
Women have a raw deal whether it be in the workplace or at home with kids, they never have it all....even when they have buckets of money although that helps a lot.
I get so tired of listening and reading the whines from the right. They have no plans as to how they would, if given the chance, make a difference.
Yesterday, was a perfect example of 'blown out of proportion' nonsense. Anyone with a lick of sense, looking at Ann Romney, would know she had the better deal in life as the result of whom she married. It's no secret life has been good to her. As with all of us, there are difficulties in life, whether it be health, personal happiness with our lot in life, and if that lot contains a well heeled life style that helps to a great degree.
Some of us really didn't have choices as to whether they could stay at home or have a career, when a husband and father's health fails, as it did with my husband, there are no choices, but to get up every day and work to keep it all together. I have never faulted those who didn't have to do that, you play the cards you're dealt and keep going.
The Romney campaign, have nothing to offer the women of this country, sothey take an ill thought out observation and try to turn it into a diamond of victimization. Republicans are very good at playing the victim, at seizing a minor remark and turning it into a tome on unfairness. So Ann, put on your big girl panties , pull 'em up high and let's get real.
Women have a raw deal whether it be in the workplace or at home with kids, they never have it all....even when they have buckets of money although that helps a lot.
Gremlins at work AGAIN!!!
Sorry for the double post. I wish FR would fix these da*n problems, it is getting tiresome.
Good double post GBM!!!!! Thank you. What it does is force the well written lies and misconstrued Mr. Peabody's history down further on the page.
Beautifully said GMB,
Wealthy families do have options, while others might not see any light in the tunnel at all. Every family has issues to resolve. A woman may be out of work for all kinds of reasons. She may opt to live very frugally so as to stay at home with her children, if it can be done.
But for many women it is just not possible. The majority of breadwinners in our homes these days are women. And when you realize - about 200,000 teachers have been put out of work by Republican Governors - and the majority of teachers are women.
Great post GBM!!! Never hear ANY whining from the left, do we? Nope. NEVER. No whining that "soon, the Republicans will want us to wear BURKHAS!!!!" Waaaaaaahhhhh". Nope. Never hear that, do we? Never hear any lefties whining about contrived bulls**t like a "war on women", do we? Nah.
"If I had a brother who was a baseball manager and a communist sympathizer instead of a homeless illegal alien, he'd look just like Ozzie Guillen" - Barack Obama
Oh, Damage. Poor thing. Always so angry-sounding and -- apparently -- confused, to judge by your continued ramblings.
Cookie?
typical "War on Women" democrat here.
"And that's the way it is"....this week
New Gingrich bounced a $500 campaign check sent for the Utah primary. Maybe Callista will give him some Tiffany's jewels to pawn.
The audacity of Mitt, "we have a President who's a nice guy but he spent too much time at Harvard and not enough time in the real world." Tin-Mitt spent 4 years at Harvard compared to Obama's 3. Being in the real world is not time spent as vulture capitalist, it is being a community organizer working with the poor and impoverished to help people unlike Mitt who destroyed companies and fired people.
GOP Senator Orrin Hatch warned that democrats might attack Romney's Mormon faith and that his faith should not matter. Hey, Orrin, remind Mitt to stop telling voters President Obama is a secret "secularist" and then tell FOX to quit recycling and regurgitating Rev Wright and"secret Muslim"--religion doesn't matter now, does it Mr. Hatch?
President Obama honored the 50th anniversary of the movie To Kill a Mockingbird with a White House screening. It was also shown after a brief presidential comment on the USA channel Saturday evening. Sadly, even after 50 years, its subject remains relevant today judging from the hateful rants regarding the killing of Trayvon Martin and the subsequent arrest and charge of George Zimmerman.
Republicans continue to deny the GOP is waging a war on women. Romney said "it's not true"; Mitch McConnell agreed saying, "talk about a manufactured issue, there is no issue" just ask the GOP women senators who....wait, no, those GOP women senators think there is a war on women. Mr. MaGoo, were you absent during their remarks on the Senate floor, did you miss the meeting?
In Iowa, 25% of the GOP House majority, 11 of 46, incumbents including 6 first term representatives are facing primary challenges. Wonder if the 11 are not Tea drinkers or drank too much Tea.
By opposing the individual mandate to purchase health care, the GOP embraces "freeloaders" on the medical provider system because the rest of us are paying for their "choice" to be "free loaders". Think about it.
Romney said women care about the economy...the price of gas "when they drive the kids to school or to practice!" Out of Mitt's mouth, his understanding of women. Caterpillars, think caterpillars.
A Pentagon official approved the death penalty trial of Khalid Sheik Mohammed and four co-defendants accused of orchestrating the 9/11 attacks. Barely a blip on the media's radar--it's more profitable to push a partisan political food fight.
Iowa's Senator Charles Grassley tweeted that President Obama is "stupid". We're still waiting for an apology, Chuck.
Behind closed doors, GOP Gov Scott Walker signed three bills: 1) weakening Wisconsin's equal pay for women law; 2) banning abortion coverage by private health insurance companies participating in the upcoming ACA exchange; 3) requiring women seeking an abortion to undergo a one-on-one exam with a private doctor to determine if someone is pressuring the women to have an abortion; doctors not correctly following the law could be charged with a felony. But the GOP says they are not engaging in a War on Women!
From Mitt Romney who called Walker a "great leader" and "courageous", echo The Sounds of Silence....while filling the backdrop for his speeches with women.
Newt Gingrich said he "didn't know running for President would be so hard." Seriously, you can't make this stuff up.
Mitt Romney went body surfing at his La Jolla beachfront mansion. Where are the John Kerry-like photos? I mean, Mitt owns his own "elite" beach and Kerry just borrowed a spot on the ocean!
Bad news for the GOP. In MN, the party is over $1 million in debt and isn't paying the lease rent on its headquarters. In CA, IL and NY, the party is out of money. In OH, NV, NH, ME, IA, MO, WI the state parties are in disarray. But never fear, "Wonder Dog" Crossroads GPS is here to infuse millions into state campaigns--not directly, of course, that would be illegal!
Sean Spicer, GOP spokesman, said using the word "war" in a political metaphor is a problem. This coming from the party which has said President Obama is engaging in "class warfare", is waging a "war on religion", a "war on business". Guess the backlash against the GOP's "war on women" has them rethinking their choice of words....until next week anyway.
Iowa's TP Rep Steve King wants a congressional investigation into the finely textured beef hoopla and the person who started the internet campaign calling it "pink slime". Ahh, free speech...GOP style.
Last check Romney still had $3 million in a Swiss bank account. As Senator Durbin pointed out "when was the last time we had a presidential candidate with a Swiss bank account? Never."
Poor Mitt Romney, he can't catch a break. Rick Santorum suspended his campaign, Mitt was gloating when rising like a Phoenix from the ashes George W. Bush emerged to smirk and remind voters what a disaster both he and his policies--which are Mitt's policies--were for the economy thus hanging a Bush-ephant around Willard's neck. For liberals, it was Christmas in April just watching "Dubya"--reminded us why so many were singing "na na na, na, hey hey, hey goodbye!"
Bush tried to be funny by saying how much he enjoys mountain biking but hates to get beat by a "one-legged veteran". Where's the GOP outrage for that?
Michigan GOP Rep Dan Benishek ran into a tough crowd of senior citizens at his town hall. Seems those seniors were not buying his sales pitch about the Ryan budget, medicare, social security and health care. They told him to end oil subsidies, increase taxes on the wealthiest 2%; and he told them there are "no oil subsidies" and raising taxes is not an option--guess it's against his King Grover religion. Looks as if the GOPers are in for another rough town hall season. Sweet.
Senator John McCain appeared at the Syrian/Turkey border advocating for US military intervention.
FL GOPTP Rep Allen West said he believes "there's about 78 to 81 members of the democratic party that are members of the communist party". As Rachel Maddow said, anytime liberals and democrats are on the winning side of an argument, up pops a GOPer to shout "communist"!
Mitt Romney said "this president will do, in his campaign, anything he can to deflect from his record." This coming from the well-oiled human weather vane who has been for and against every issue proving daily that he "will say and do anything" in his campaign to deflect from his own record.
NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg urged repeal of Stand-Your-Ground laws in the 25 states which have them. As he said, "let's call it what it is...vigilantism."
Arizona legislators passed three anti-women's rights bill this week. 1) defines pregnancy as two weeks BEFORE conception, sponsored by Rep Kimberly Yee. 2) bans abortion after the 18th week. 3) requires schools to teach students that adoption and birth are the most acceptable outcomes for an unwanted pregnancy....but there really is no GOP war on women's rights!
When Sam Stein asked the Romney campaign if he supported the Lilly Ledbetter law....silence...then "Sam, we'll get back to you on that." After figuring out what it was, Mitt supports "the intent" and would not repeal it. Well, supporting the "intent" is not reassuring to women.
Romney sent two GOP legislators, Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Mary Bono Mack, out to run interference and convince voters Mitt supports women--trouble is, the two surrogates voted AGAINST the Lilly Ledbetter law. Ha! Nice try, Mittens.
Democratic strategist--not an Obama advisor as the GOP claimed--Hilary Rosen gave the Romney's a belated Easter gift in a poorly worded comment about Ann Romney not working. Rosen apologized to Mrs. Romney. Anyone remember republicans or Cindy McCain apologizing to Michelle Obama for implying she was unpatriotic, hated America or any other GOP apologies for the many far more disparaging remarks about Mrs. Obama? Thought not. As President Obama said, spouses are off limits. Pssst, that mean both sides.
The anti-abortion National Right to Life group announced they endorse Mitt Romney; never mind they have no idea if he pro-life or pro-choice. So much for lining up all those women behind him on the stage, Mitt. Poof, the Rosen belated Easter gift is gone--replaced by a war on women's rights goose egg.
The State of Connecticut legislature voted to abolish the death penalty. Governor Dannel Malloy will sign it. Progress in a society which claims moral superiority.
Michigan Gov Rick Snyder is poised to appoint another emergency manager, this time for the Muskegon Heights School District. How much more democracy will Snyder eliminate in Michigan?
North Korea's big rocket launch failed. Bet they wish they hadn't invited the press to show off.
Wisconsin State republican lawmaker Grothman wins the Bachmann "Chitspa" Award. He justified Walker's unequal pay for women's work law by saying that "money is more important for men...they should get better pay...they hope to be breadwinners." In other words, widows, single women, single mothers are not breadwinners so why pay them as if they were. Chutzpah running amok with stupidity.
Old John reminds me of the 'war monger' version of Where's Waldo? lol
I don't know how you do it every week Jody - so much material to work with & so little time...
AWESOME!
So I'm curious Jody. How many jobs did Barack Obama create as a Community Organizer. What exactly does a Community Organizer do? Is it simply to pressure local government to give an aggrieved group some taxpayer money? Do we have any evidence of Barack Obama even finding a displaced worker a new job? Or did he facilitate more dependence on the government?
Yesterday, someone posted that 22% of Romney's investments failed. Anybody who has a business education knows that the failure rate for businesses in the first three years is around 50%. If Romney was taking distressed businesses and saving almost 80% of them then that's a hell of record.
Another great wrap up,Jody. Your wrap ups deserve a wider circulation. I wish you would post these on Newsvine
That's the tea people Koch republican way Alan, when you don't have anything to say just repeat four year old talking points. The tea people Koch republicans are bankrupt of any new ideas, just the same old worn out crap they've been spewing for four years.
You know Jody, it might not be the brightest idea to bring up John Kerry. I don't remember Democrats questioning his wealth in 2004. I don't remember questions from the left asking how he, and his stay-at-home because I'm worth 750m wife, could relate to the struggles of ordinary people. I don't remember his judgement being questioned when he picked one of the most immoral and reprehensible politician to be his running mate. As much as the left attacked Sarah Palin, if Ohio had voted differently we could be looking at a John Edwards Administration.
I often wonder where I should park my 7 million dollar yacht.
You attack a candidates past which included saving and creating jobs. I simply compare it to the other candidate's past. How is it a talking point? Did I write anything that was false?
BTW When you write one of these posts is it mandatory that you put tea party, Koch and Republican all in one sentence? Can you even think for yourself and produce an original idea?
Jody:
Another stellar wrap for the week.
On that note, lefties consider this. It's little wonder that right-wing men don't like women. Look at the women who spout the right wing view - they're shrill, uninformed, generally downright nasty, and have no sense of humor.
On the left, the women folk are bright, they can support their opinions with fact, not dogma, and they have a sense of humor.
Thanks for that ladies. I'll forget some names for certain, but I am thankful for Jody, Amy, DCIA, AnnaMolly, Bev, JoAnne in PA, Pat, Feisty, Ben, Newday, and many more. Eat your pea-sized hearts out right-wingers.
Oh my Jody - you sure have
Mel the anti-SemiticAlan worked up into lather this morning...It's always a good morning when you can get under their thin skin the way you did! lol
You can lead a Republican't to knowledge, however, you can not make them think!
Good Morning Troll. How are you this fine morning?
Just a bit of a correction there. That should have been Bev NOT Ben.
A whole lot better then you...
Thanks for asking! ☺
Another awesome wrap up, Jody. It must be challenging to pick the most inane items!
I'm glad to see Mayor Bloomberg speak out against the "stand your ground" laws. I don't recall hearing debates or discusions about them as they were enacted and it is time we had that discussion as a society.
Good luck to the Republicans trying to make Mitt seem "in touch" with average Americans.
As usual Jody, wonderful. You hit a grand slam this week. I appreciate the time you take to put this together as it is very helpful to someone like me who can't always keep up on all the news.
IR.....thank you for that post. It is very distressing to learn that such a worthy organization such as the Girl Scouts is being vilified by zealots. It is especially distressing to learn that the very organizations who claim to be caring of children and families would make it more difficult for the GS to help these girls and their families become better human beings.
I am ashamed for these terribly misguided Catholics, they are so wrong in so many decisions they make and implement.
as always Jody - FANTASTIC!
Just goes to show how the GNOP CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!
Thanks everyone. There was a lot on the cutting room floor last night.
Alan, I figured out some time ago that answering or responding to any drivel you throw out serves no purpose because you do not want to read the answer, you will ignore the facts because you simply want to deflect from the truth or the topic. So if you seek honest answers to your questions, I suggest you use Google. BTW, your hissy fits are unbecoming. Guess all those State GOP anti-women's rights laws being passed proving the GOP is waging a War on Women hit a raw nerve this morning.
Alan, NJ : "I don't remember Democrats questioning his wealth in 2004. I don't remember questions from the left asking how he, and his stay-at-home because I'm worth 750m wife, could relate to the struggles of ordinary people. I don't remember his judgement being questioned when he picked one of the most immoral and reprehensible politician to be his running mate."
If you want to make Romney/Kerry comparisons, Alan -fine - but apparently you also don't remember that Kerry LOST.
Oh, and you're not seriously trying to suggest that Kerry already knew that John Edwards was immoral and reprehensible when he picked him for his running mate, are you? Oh, of course you are - even though I don't think even the late Mrs. Edwards was aware of that at the time. Don't let that get in the way of your lame argument, though.....
Ginger Bread,
Oh for God's sake, the GOP legislature and now the Catholic church are questioning the Girls Scouts!!!
As IR posted, Leave the little girls alone. If not remember, little girls grow up to be women who will not settle for bullies running their lives.
Does anyone realize that there are women in the GOP? You all speak as if the right is a Men's Club. It isn't.
Jody -- Terrific as usual. You friend, are going to be very busy from here on out trying to keep up. It's getting crazier and crazier. As I said to IR the other day, you just can't make this $hit up. The truth is indeed stranger than fiction. Thanks for all your hard work every week. Keep on keeping on.
Why, I do believe David pointed it out above - just in case you missed it;
Thank you for confirming his observation... honey...
Jody--as usual--brava for the great updates! Since I come on later in the morning--west coast time--I see this later than others--but I still appreciate all of the hard work you do to provide us with the wonderful synopses of the week! Keep up the great work, and many thanks for doing it! We must continue to light our candles against the dark!
"We have met the enemy and he is us!" Pogo by Walt Kelly
The state GOP passing anti-abortion laws do not concern me as most will be found to be unconstitutional. I am pro-choice but personally economic issues trump social issues for me. The one law that is interesting is the Arizona law. I think 20 weeks is a bit early but there is definitely room for debate as to when an abortion should be legal. This line is being pushed back as medical technology improves. I am not for abortion when the fetus would be viable outside the womb. I know this is a slippery slope argument for people who are strongly pro-choice but this is where I am on the issue.
On your other comments. You are the second poster who has said they'll not respond. Fine. I didn't think you had a good answer and it shows that the point is valid.
Noting all the GOP anti-women legislation being passed this week and during the past few months has been frustrating and disturbing but despite all the GOP legislation mandating vaginal probes, ultrasounds, etc., Arizona really trumped the lot of right-wing insanity by declaring personhood (pregnancy) exists two week BEFORE conception and passing it as a law. No doubt Jan Brewer will sign it, she's as loony as the state's GOP lawmakers. That one really should get more attention nationally.
Jackie, of course there are women in the GOP but a good number of them do not like what they are hearing. Check the polls.
I see. His moral compass was f...cked after his wife got cancer? Before that he was moral?
You really want to go down this road and defend the indefensible?
BTW in 2004 were you concerned that Kerry may not be emphatic to the concerns of regular Americans?
Alan,
"The state GOP passing anti-abortion laws do not concern me as most will be found to be unconstitutional."
Why are the GOP in many states think this is the burning issue for citizens? Why should anyone believe that the GOP on the federal level if they controlled both Congress and Senate would not do the same?
Why the emphasis on these social issues instead of middle class economic issues?
Alan, NJ:
Please! You show yourself to be incredibly obtuse and transparent at the same time. You wrote:
I can tell you, as a certainty, there are other posters who also refuse to respond to you, although they have not felt it necessary to post that fact. There's considerably more than two. That you take a refusal to respond to your frequently inane and indefensible positions as validation is to deny reality.
After a point, it becomes clear you have no interest in debate. Like damage, you come to troll. It is a waste of time to challenge dogma-based talking points.
Beats me. I think they're wasting their time. In NJ the Republican governor is on the up side 60-36 in the polls. He finessed the gay marriage issue, which the Democratic legislature passed to create a political point. If there's a referendum it will pass, which I would support, and that issue will be resolved.
However, on economic issues Christie has been superb. He has explained to the unions that their benefits are unsustainable. If things don't change then there will be even less in the future. They don't like it, and most fire fighters I know will vote against him, but for the rest of the state it has been a breath of fresh air. We really got a twofer here because Jon Corzine was the alternative. I did not vote for Christie as he was a real unknown but he has turned out to be a great governor.
I have answers, Alan, plenty of them but as I pointed out, I have learned over time that providing them to you serves no purpose because you are not interested in my answers merely in asking more questions--you are just more articulate than Spanky is.
I've said this before, abortion is a personal choice that should be left to the woman, her doctor and her faith. It is simply not my business to tell another what that choice should be simply based on my own personal beliefs. Outlawing abortion will not end it, it will merely send women to the back alley quacks. Those who think banning it will stop it are self-serving and delusional. The goal, as President Obama and democrats have said, should be to limit the numbers. The best way to do that is through education beyond abstinence only, and making contraception available to those who want and need it. The new ACA provision requiring contraception be paid for through insurance is one more step toward reducing the numbers but that has the GOP in a tissy which tells me they are less concerned about abortion than they are about having the issue to fight every two years. It would seem that even conservatives who are pro-life could support that concept but they won't because in their world, it is their way or no way.
Right back at you big guy.
Did you read my post? Do you think there is room for debate as to when an abortion can be performed? If you don't I understand your position because I can see the slippery slope argument and I have no doubt that if a law was passed that banned abortions after 30 weeks for example, the first thing pro-life groups would do is push to move that date back.
However, and this is my position, I am uncomfortable with abortion if the fetus is viable outside the womb. With medical technology that number seems to be around 28 weeks at the moment and I have no doubt it will become less as the technology improves.
On contraception I have already stated, I have no problem with it being included in insurance but no one has come up with a good reason as to why it should be excluded from co-pays. On the other hand I don't like all the mandates being issued as to what and medical insurance policy should contain.
Jody, truth is good for us.
Hatch's "religion doesn't matter" really matters! - only let's see it catch on and allow people of all faiths to enjoy being at home.
And someone from the Communist Party actually spoke up for the Progressives that West slandered --- and said there are absolutely no communist party members in Congress.
Think of it though, (R-FL) Rep. West had the bald-face to fabricate a number ("78-81") to pump up his lie about his fellow Congressionals. Wouldn't want to be him on-campus next week.
Thanks Jody.
Maybe Callista will give him some Tiffany's jewels to pawn.
I wouldn't count on it, Newt. Diamonds are a girl's best friend. Callista doesn't look like the type to bail out an old man.
Libya not okay, Syria Okay. Got it! Thanks John!
Great post Jody. As usual...
Jody, thanks for the weekly update. I like to read what is happening throughout the country.
I thank God I live in Illinois. We may have a higher tax rate than the surrounding states, and there is a 50/50 chance that the governor will end up in federal prison (based on history) but you can also be pretty sure that we love and protect the rights of women and that you won't have to worry about some gun toting yahoo will be shooting you or you kid for walking down the street. Yes, there is still gun violence, however I think it would be much worse if we allowed conceal carry and "stand your ground."
A friend of mine grew up in Cicero, Illinois. He decided he didn't like many of the local politicians (all Democrats) and was going to be a Republican. He found out that in his town there was a Republican Party, all 3 of them. They meet at the local DDI and solve the problems of the world every Friday at about 7:30pm. I haven't seen him for a while, but I know he enjoys the "silly season." Its always great to laugh at politicians. The alternative it is to cry at how bad they really are.
Jackie -149.... Yes we know there are women in the GOP. You DO remember they were left off the panel discussing reproductive rights, correct? 'nuff said!
All I can say is that you have far to much wasted time on your hands....
clb - yet you read and posted about it! Go figure!
clb lotsanumbers:
You wrote:
Well clb, if that's all you can say, there's no point in repeating it, is there? So, let me bid you adieu. Lest you feel that you are wasting YOUR time, let me leave you with something of value. In the context within which you were writing, the proper spelling of "to" is "too".
Bye now, and have a good life.
We may want to click "Ignore" on some of these guys who make no sense and have no facts. It's a waste of time the read "stupid".
I happen to agree with Senator McCain on Afghanistan,but he has to know that the American people are tired of constant war.
But Syria? Come on Senator. Why don't we let Turkey and Saudi Arabia lead on this one.
If the chickenhawks of the GOP had their way, they would have our brave soldiers fighting and dying in Syria, Iran, North Korea, Pakistan,...
SAILCAT...you couldn't be MORE WRONG !!
If the GOP HAD THEIR WAY... only the children of LIBERALS would fight our wars.....
that is the GOP wet dream...send the liberals kids off to fight & die FOR THE GOP COUNTRY .
Now ask yourself as a LIBERAL,
how secure would you feel sending the KIDS OF YOUR ENEMIES TO FIGHT YOUR WAR ?
The GOP has forgotten that THEY sent kids to Viet Nam who are now "older wiser men" wise enough to remember EXACTLY who it was that was RESPONSIBLE for an extra 25,000 deaths of their war Buddies .
(Nixon had a "secret plan" to end the war, "Just elect me & I will reveal it"..... 40 years later & still waitng!)
The GOP doesn't have the brains of the box that the rocks came in .
Jody, Iowa
Wow!!!Arizona must have a staggering death rate then.
I guess as long as you are a progressive, man hating female you are ok with the lefty liberals but God help you are a traditionalist as illustrated by the attached. Looks to me like liberals absolutely, positively hate real women.
David Walker
"I guess as long as you are a progressive, man hating female you are ok with the lefty liberals..."
And as long as you are an ignorant, hate-filled, misogynistic semi-literate semi-male you are ok with the failed ideologies of the right wing lunatic fringe, right, Ricky?
A bit of advice Mr. President for your Etch A Sketch. You need to give an order to your Marine Corps (that’s pronounced “core” not “corpse” – just an fyi) to tell the atheists to “Go To Hell” because the Marines at Camp Pendleton and throughout all branches of armed service have earned the right to honor their fallen comrades and American heroes any way they see fit.
Don’t worry Mr. Kreskin, you’ll be able to whisper off mike (chuckle, chuckle) that after the election you’ll reverse yourself ‘cause you’ll have more flexibility.
Nice try Ben, but the whole country knows Romney is the Etch-A-Sketch man. Remember his advisers were the ones who called Romney an Etch-A-Sketch. The advisers are the ones that said Romney would flip flop for the general election.
And Obama has demonstrated he will flip flop and has flip flopped as well. Besides most of us had Etch A Sketches. In fact our lives are Etch A Sketches if you are truthful.
Actually Mohammed. Things move quickly in campaigns. People have pretty much forgotten about the "Etch-a-Sketch" business for now. This week, Romney is being known as the guy whose wife was attacked by Democrats for being a stay-at-home mom.
Wrong again, as usual, Damage.
Ann Romney was not attacked for being a stay at home Mom. Despite how you choose to interpret it.
Ann Romney was criticized (not attacked) for presuming to speak from a point of knowledge to women who are struggling to make ends meet. For any number of reasons. Basically, the statement was true, even if it was poorly worded and has been further distorted by posters like you.
Further, if one doesn't want to deal with a conversation, one should not choose to get involved in the first place. Ann Romney got involved, so now she has to deal with it. As do you, Damage.
Damage123 - "people have pretty much forgotten about the Etch-a-Sketch"? Are you in fantasyland - again? No one has forgotten but the "attack" against Ann is being forgotten as we speak. There is so much more to focus on. But, you go ahead and wish and wish and wish - maybe Etch-a-Sketch will be forgotten - NOT!
Damage has elevated wishful thinking to an unhealthy level if he thinks Etch-A-Sketch is forgotten or if Rosen's opinion of Ann will be remembered much past this afternoon. He might want to seek professional help...or at the very least he may want to remain sober for a day or two. Just to dry out, you know...
fielden
Ann Romney was attacked and that is the way it is going to play out like it or not.
There is a very important distinction between being attacked and playing the victim. Ann Romney supporters should learn that distinction.
As soon as she bragged about the "early gift" and "loving it",...well, I'd say the ATTACK clearly missed its mark, eh?
Phony, manufactured outrage is their SPECIALITY!
In Defense of Rick Santorum
Relax, fellow libs - I haven't gone over to the dark side! I said the other day that I thought he was a self-righteous prig and a dangerous fanatic, and the only thing I'd change about that is that I meant to say another word that just sounds a lot like "prig". But it occured to me this week, in the aftermath of Santorum suspending his campaign, that despite the number of primaries he won and the millions of votes he received, I could not recall a single poster on here ever proudly declaring that they were voting for him and why they thought he would make a great president. That seemed both strange and a little sad - I mean, just because I can't stand him myself doesn't mean that I don't understand what someone else might see in him. I actually was impressed that he did visit all 99 counties in Iowa before winning there. He came from way behind in the polls to outlast several other GOP candidates, he did it with less money, and while his values and principles are the polar opposite of mine, at least he seemed to honestly believe in them and was willing to passionately defend them without wavering. So where were all the posts here praising him and arguing on his behalf?
And then I thought, hey wait a minute - with the exception of Ron Paul's supporters, who are nothing if not steadfast in their loyalty! - you could pretty much say the same thing about every other GOP candidate this year, including of course the now presumptive nominee,Mitt Romney. Where were their posts too? And I don't mean the "Anybody But Obama" ones we see here every day by the dozens. I mean where are the posts from people telling us why they absolutely LOVE Mitt Romney and how he's so great that he's inspired them to give up their free time for the next six months volunteering to work on his campaign? Come on, I absolutely LOATHE Rick Santorum and even I just found a couple of positive things to say on his behalf.
You know, we Obama supporters have spent the last four years being accused of everything from worshipping him as a messiah to being a KoolAid-drinking cult because of the depth of our admiration and our passionate support for him. One of my best friends here is continually mocked for having once said she would walk across hot coals for the President - by the same people who apparently can't even fill in the blank in a sentence that starts "I really like Mitt Romney because ______" with anything other than the words "he's not Barack Obama". In fact, if pressed to come up with a list of the top 10 things they like about Romney, I'm guessing 11 of them would be "He's not Barack Obama".
Well, fine. If you think that's a winning strategy, then by all means go for it. I mean, it's not like you're marrying Mitt Romney, you're only voting for him to represent your country as the leader of the free world, right? I guess you don't really HAVE TO actually like him. But geez - wouldn't it be a lot more fun if you did? Wouldn't it make it easier to convince other people to get out to vote for him too? And be honest - haven't you ever wondered just a teensy bit what the heck is in that Kool-Aid anyway? Well, funny you should ask, because.....
Secret ObamaKool-Aid Recipe Revealed!
Take one exceptionally smart, principled, hard-working young man. Any variety will do, but if you can find one that was raised in a rich mixture of racial and cultural experiences, it'll add that much more diversity and will mix better with other ingredients. Add superior education, then simmer a few years as a community organizer to add even more depth. (Reserve organizing skills for future roles).
Combine with one equally smart, principled, hard-working woman and allow a shared passion for helping others to grow. Add two beautiful little girls. Fold in just enough years in Washington to enhance previous experience (but not so much that it becomes rigid and stale). Blend all of this with a mixture of courage, integrity,
insight, compassion, good judgement and grace under pressure, and season with a large helping of empathy and the ability to inspire others with your words. Garnish with a self-deprecating sense of humor, a really cool singing voice, and a really mean jump shot.
Serves just over 313 million - but only if they want to be served.For some reason, many people would rather die of thirst than even try one sip. Go figure.
Goes especially well with hope, change, and of course -***popcorn***.
Stays cool and refreshing for at least eight years.
Cheers!
Okay, I fully expect some ribbing for that, so I may as well go all the way. I started thinking about the Kool-Aid thing last week while watching Meet The Press, when Joe Scarborough brought up what is probably an apocryphal story in Washington about an old man on his knees, sobbing tears at FDR's funeral procession. Supposedly, someone asked him if he had known the late President, and his supposed reply was "No - but he knew me".
No, I'm not for one minute suggesting that President Obama is FDR. What I am saying is that from the first time I ever heard him speak (the "There are no red states or blue states" speech at the 2004 Democratic convention) I've just had this uncanny sense that Barack Obama knows me. And cares about me. I can't explain it. But 99 times out of 100 when I listen to him, I find myself saying "Yes! That's exactly what I feel!" And even on the 100th time, when we disagree, I respect his reasons and feel as if he would respect mine just as much. He's the first and only President in my lifetime that I can say that about. The first and only politician of any kind.
If that's Kool-Aid, then I'll have another glass. And this time, make it a double.
Terrific posts, JoAnne. I'll have some of that kool-aid. How sad has our politics become that having a genuine admiration for our President and his accomplishments earns ridicule from the other side. They don't have to agree with him or us but we are not treated with respect in our decision and that is sad.
I don't agree with Santorum either but I never once questioned that he loves his country and wants what is best for it. Why is President Obama not given that same measure of respect?
To quote Mrs. Obama on Colbert's show - "He's my man!"
Obama/Biden 2012
JoAnne, terrific post. As you said, with the exception of Ron Paul supporters, there have been few conservative posts extoling the wonders of any of the GOP candidates. I assume it is because they don't like or want any of them.
Steeler Fan - The only "True Believers" can only believe according to the GNOP Doctrine....If even though us "Liberal" heathens love America as much as anybody else and have shed blood for it like many conservatives - because we don't adhere to the "GNOP Doctrine" we obviously don't love our country as much as they do...
GNOP - can't stand facts..."THEY CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH"
JoAnne
Barack Obama is a better President than I could have imagined. I am especially pleased with his approach to foreign policy. It's such a relief to me to have a President who sends a foreign affairs expert to the UN (Susan Rice), instead of a guy who thinks the UN should be abolished (Bolton, under Bush.) Obama has a Secretary of State who is recognized all over the world from her husband's presidency, and who commands respect from other heads of state,and receives affection from our allies. Does anyone remember Condi Rice's diplomatic successes? No, because she spent her time trying to mitigate Dick Cheney's rampent hostility towards the world. Hillary is lucky in the President she works for, and he is lucky to have her.
Great post, Amy---hasn't Hillary Clinton been great as Secretary of State? She has worked tirelessly for our country and we owe her thanks for that. I really hope she takes some time off and considers a run in 2016. She would have my enthusiastic support.
Steeler Fan. Hillary has been great. I'd say she has fulfilled the promise of the Women's movement of the 1960's, when women were fighting for the opportunity to have careers and earn equal pay.
Steeler Fan and Amy - I also am very pleased with Hillary as Secretary of State.
Of course I think her true testing ground is coming up.
She works closely with the military,so she has a good sense of not only the negotiation side,but what the defense says can be done.
I wonder if she would consider another term as Secretary of State. That has got to be the toughest job behind President.
JoAnne - here is a true (not apogryphal) story about FDR's death. My husband and I live in a town that is on the rail line that runs through Georgia and points north that was the route of FDR's funeral train. My husband's father was slogging his way through France as part of Patton's army when FDR died in 1945. His father nor his grandfather were big fans of FDR, but his grandfather took my husband to the train station, where they stood in solemn silence with a crowd of other people as the train rolled past. What has happened to that kind of respect for the presidency?
JoAnne, I completely understand what you mean! I've felt the same way since I read his book. I, on the other hand, thought to myself, "He IS me!" Most of his policies are exactly what I would do or have someone else do. I'm so amazed by him. I disagree with some of the things he's done since he's been in office but those things are understandable and more about him trying to be nonpartisan. He's really more middle of the road than conservatives try to shade him. He's really the greatest president I will ever see in my life time. When people criticize him with absolutely nothing to back up their claims with I feel like it's my very best friend that they're talking about and I have to restrain myself from getting really angry.
SF, Amy, and Katheryn, I'm very glad that he (Obama) offered the position to her AND that she accepted because she's been great! They may have contended each other in the primaries but they have mutual respect for one another and that's something that usually can't be said about rivals (of sorts especially in politics). I really admire both of these people (although I didn't always like Hilary because of the way she handled Bill's affair. But, although it's not what I would have done, she handled the situation with grace.
The Obama "kool-aid" IS quite a bit better than that bitter dreck the Repub. seem to produce.
Holly-457482
I am pretty sure that is the same thing Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme said about Charles Manson
""NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg urged repeal of Stand-Your-Ground laws in the 25 states which have them. As he said, "let's call it what it is...vigilantism."
Bloomberg needs to STFU and worry about his own city. Just because people in cities can't handle their firearms, he wants to take them away rights from EVERYBODY who does know how to handle them in all other parts of the country. Go to hell Mike.
Again Damage -- right on target. The collapse Nazis are not too far behind on your posts today.
Hey, "Damaged"...did you ever stop to consider the possibility that "Stand Your Ground" could have possibly been invoked by Trayvon Martin as well as George Zimmerman?
Might that not be the problem with "Stand Your Ground"?
...that people are free to assume that they are in danger and can, therefore, escalate?
Possibly, Pizza Boy. But I don't live in FLA so I don't know the reasoning behind enacting it in the first place. And neither does the mayor of some far-off northern metropolis. It's Florida's business, not his, or mine, or yours.
Besides, I heard that gang members in Miami were using the "Stand Your Ground" law as a way of killing each other at a more rapid rate than usual. For that alone it seems like a good law.
The only thing Damage considers Da Noid is hate. Damage's whole life consists of hate and cursing anyone that doesn't agree with him. The only reason I read his posts is it's fun to watch Damage self destruct and he's self destructing at a faster pace everyday.
Mo, Damage's posts are much more than fun, which is why I would NEVER vote to collapse them. To paraphrase that line at the end of "It's A Wonderful Life", every time Damage speaks, another person registers Democrat.
I'll bet we've picked up a couple of thousand just this week alone!
Mohammed & Joanne- Okay. Sure. If that's what makes you feel good, go ahead and think that.
For years the GOP has warned us that North Korea was going to launch a rocket. That moment finally came last night...early Friday morning in North Korea.
To my friends in the GOP, I wish to extend my gratitude. Thank you for the warnings...
...now, will you be so kind as to warn me if and when North Korea ever considers launching a rocket that, you know, can actually fly?
I'll put that on my list of things to do ten minutes after a North Korean rocket lands in your back yard.
Nothing like the rush you get when your helping out a DemocRAT !
lawdog, what did President Bush do to stop North Korea's launches? It's easy--nothing. In fact, it was Bush's calling them part of the "axis of evil" that added to their paranoia and that is when they ramped up their nuclear weapon efforts and well as their rocket launches.
People in this country would be wise to stop buying the fear that every enemy is headed this way; that the bomb will land in their back yard. They aren't stupid, N Korea knows that if they dared launch a missile in our direction, they would cease to exist.
Honestly I'm not sure exactly what our policy toward North Korea should be.
I do not like the fact that they keep saying they will sit down at the negotiating table and then once they get an agreement for food and energy aid,they pull a launch. Then it's back to the table again and we repeat. Urgh!
If I had my druthers I would say let's have a total sanction,including humanitarian aid and make China bear the whole brunt of shoring up Pyongyang's policy.
But Bush tried that for four years and all it did up was ratchet up the military tension from North Korea and they increased the speed of their nuclear program.Bush spent the next four years trying to figure out how to get North Korea back to the negotiating table.
North Korea effectively has everyone by the short hairs (perhaps especially China ) and they always have.
@DaNoid - didn't you hear, that rocket was suppose to land smack-dab in the middle of Pearl Harbor. I'd say it missed it goal by somewhere around 5000 miles. Rick 'oops' Perry must have been involved in the launch, or perhaps it was Batsh%t Crazy Bachmann's bat-sonar that was responsible for the miss. Perhaps the rocket was in a perpetual Romney flip-flop, turning first east, then west, then north, nope south .. finally exploding from the G-forces caused by constant directional changes.
What we do know is we didn't need to nuke N. Korea and China to get the event to fail. Seems like cooler head prevailed, and letting them fail on their own was the best course of action.
RedDev - that launch really did show what incompetents North Korea has in the military.
I hope this fiasco cements Jong-un Kim's move toward the Worker's Party instead of the military hiearchy. The military has not done a great job lo' these many years except ensure their own jobs.
The reality is, that unless the US and China both decide that the government of N. Korea needs to be replaced, the current system of containment will stay in place.
N. Korea acts as a buffer against S. Korea. Taiwan acts as a buffer against Japan. Neither is pure and neither is 100% effective, yet China and the US both want to keep the status quo.
The alternative is to engage in an active war. In such an alternative, the Kim family would launch nuclear weapons if they felt that they were going to lose. Like Hitler at the end of WWII, the paranoia in the little people gets them thinking everyone is against them. When other nations attack, they get very freaky.
By God, you nailed it dirp!
Obama warned of dire consequences if North Korea launched that rocket. Now we know any of our enemies will think twice before they threaten us again. Obama is a leader that means what he says what he means and means what he says...........sometimes
The Republicans have provided so much ammo for the Democrats i really dont see how they will continue to control anything
Friday follies are running strong...the crazies are more rabid than usual. Any chance the Chinese sabotaged the launch?
I think Richard Engel did it. (I saw his report on the news). The Koreans were foolish to let him in the same room with the re-conditioned Atari equipment controlling the launch. He probably tapped the joystick serendipitously, sending the rocket into the ocean.
I love it Amy!
Fancy - I wouldn't doubt it! China has got a tiger by the tail with Korea. What an albatross for China. Korea refuses to deviate from a Stalin era policy, while China has moved on.
If I were China, it would be a toss up which would be worse - a maniac Pyongyang with it's "military first" policy and the constant threat of a flood of refugees if they allow North Korea to collapse economically or a stable united Korea with the U.S. effectively right on their border.
I'd take Seoul and the U.S. over the wack jobs in North Korea any day!
DaNoid,
In fact Rob in MA was warning us this week that the rocket was" coming our way". Run for cover.
Waiting for Rob's next warning, it should be a dilly....
Well, now, Rob may have had a point depending on which direction the rocket was
crashingtravelling. Still, 90 seconds...hardly a threat. There is no greater defense than our enemies' incompetence.Chicken Little was a Republican.
Poor lil BO had a rough week while America had even a tougher week as thousands quit looking for jobs and more filed for unemployment. Is the POTUS still pivoting towards jobs? His haphazard approach toward the economy and employment (similarly to most everything he tries) belies his inexperience and incompetence. Result: nothing much improved. Which explains his campaign strategy. No meaningful accomplishments. 4 more years? Of what? Dismal performance. Blame. Banal cheerleading to the masses. This is what the POTUS has devolved to under BO's quackery.
Right on.
No meaningful accomplishments? Does your TV filter out the good news America has had since Bush left office or are you just trying t help Romney?
Osama bin Laden was executed in a daring raid in Pakistan. Do you remember him? The mastermind who planned 9/11 with no help from Saddam Hussein. (Saddam, Iran's biggest enenmy, the guy Republicans spent trillions to take out.)
Qaddafy is dead and Mubarek is out of power. Neither development cost America an arm and a leg, although we did provide air support and weren't on the wrong side, for a change!
Troops have been withdrawn from Iraq. And McCain is still complaining.
The big three American automobile companies are all profitable again. We're back, baby! Obama's bail out plan for that industry worked! And Romney wanted to let them go bankrupt.
Because of Obama, insurance companies cannot soak you for premiums for years, than drop you when you get sick. You cannot be denied covereage because you have a pre-existing condition. Parents can keep their young adult children on their insurance plan up to age 26. This is huge!
That is a better question for the party that ran on that platform in 2010 and won. So where are the jobs GOP/TP. The only jobs they have offered is a big giant SNOW JOB.
We as Americans need to review the news (different sources) and form our own opinions....listening to video/photo ops from the White House (Ob lmm er) is not the final word on an issue...in fact, it will probably be ladden with F ! b s.......manufactured to get "T he O ne" re-elected to continue his destruction of the country/system that en sl aved "his people"....when in fact it was "his people" in Africa that sold their own into slavery.....Conservatives/NRA/GOP need to rally around Mitt (the attack on his wife was stupid....she has been stumping and talking with Americans regarding their concerns-hence women/job).....Also, Gingrich needs to withdraw - he has lost it...now attacking FOX and turning to CNN.............
So Newt has dared to attack the Holy Grail...that bastion of Truth and Honest Reporting????? and gone rogue to CNN??????
How Dare He.....cut off his campaign funds.....cut Calsita's credit line at Tiffany's - How dare he speak the TRUTH......
GNOP - "THEY CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH"
JustMee, if you want to be taken seriously regarding Mrs. Romney and the rest of your suggestions, then leave off the disrespectful use of President Obama's name. How can we respect Ann Romney or Mitt Romney when so little respect is shown President Obama by people like you?
JustMee - so you prefer to rally around the biggest liar and flipper in history - Mitt? Why doesn't that surprise me?
If you're a good little boy/girl - Mitt will let you ride the car elevator - providing you're bringing the car up to Ann. Otherwise, he wouldn't let you in the house!
SeekingSanity
It looks as though you are a little unsure there and I can understand why.
Rick - You still at it? I notice that you still only have one follower - crazy boy.
So who is following you? The only reason I have so few followers is because I tell the truth, something you liberals don't want to hear.
You are a Gas Bag with no sense of humor. Get over yourself.
So I guess you are one of those pseudo-intellectuals. You all just don't get it. Just because you call yourself a liberal that doesn't make you smart. I have not seen you post ANYTHING any substance.
Rick - And you are an intellectual because you are a conservative, because you think you are, because you say you are? I haven't gasped in astonishment and admiration at any of your posts either. You don't have one original thought. Shall we just agree that we don't like each other or agree with each other or respect each other?.
Rove is never going to let Lugar lose the primary. He's not going to risk another "I am not a witch candidate." Even if Murdock would still have a better than 50-50 chance of winning and is a more pure conservative, the GOP establishment is not going to take that chance. And I would strongly urge the writers here to look in the mirror - you do realize that you are the ones who manufacture the controversies for the silly season. It's like starting the fire and then reporting on it. And please get Rosen's position (none!) correct. She's been to the White House and so have I. That doesn't make either of us Obama confidants. You just feed Hannity and Rove's blatant, outrageous lies, neither of whom would know the truth even it was latched on to their big fat b#*ts.
Except the establishment GOP isn't voting in the primary, it's the ultra conservatives tea people who don't give a hoot about Karl Rove or what the establishment wants.
Trust me, Rove, Mitch Daniels and Mike Pence are not above stuffing ballot boxes if it has to come to that. It will take more than death to keep Lugar from winning the primary. Just like Dan Coats in 2010, you don't have to live in Indiana to be elected a Senator from Indiana.
Wm.-375815
Yep, I hear ACORN was pretty good at it as well.
Mr. Farifax - I don't believe it has anything to do with what a person "earns". It has to do with what those at the top pay in taxes. You wrote about the "losers" among us. Take a look at our educational system. When states need to cut budgets they usually start with our schools. Then they scream about how our youth isn't prepared to compete on an international level. When a kid can get a college loan so that he doesn't become one of those "losers" he's in debt for most of his life.
Ah, the rightwing lunatics are out in full force today....it IS Friday the 13th. What amazes me most is that Mittens attacks the President because N. Korea launched a missile...into the sea. Really? Then goes on to chastise him for actually offering food to the starving people in N. Korea. What a nincompoop Romney is. You rightwingers actually think he's going to win in November? Hahaha....after Nov. 7th, Mrs. Mittens can go back to the hard life she's led all these years. Pushing those elevator buttons for her cadillacs is tough work.
Dee - personally I would like to see humanitarian aid withheld from North Korea. Let China assume full responsibility for North Korea's needs. Actually there has been virtually no aid to North Korea from the U.S. since 2009.
But we know the hard line does not work - Bush/Cheney tried that for four years and it did not accomplish anything. Just gave North Korea's military a good excuse to tighten their hold over the leaders.And North Korea sped up it's nuclear program as a result.
Is Romney saying he is going to roll back Bush's failed North Korean policy? Instead of criticizing,Romney needs to lay out the specifics of his North Korean policy.
Katheryn
Yes, just heard the Administration is cutting off food aid. It's a shame, but I think the proper thing to do. I agree also that China needs to bear the brunt of N. Korea at this point. Let them deal with it, although I don't know how much of a stronghold they could be with them.
Romney doesn't have a clue....someone else tells him what and how he should think. Someone comes up with the talking points, and he just goes with it. Sad.
Dee -North Korea has everyone's number - including China's.
Everyone just wants to keep Pyongyang stable -each for their own reasons.
Frankly I think North Korea is playing all of us,but what can you do? We've tried every angle and none are a clear cut winner.
I like the hard line approach,but it didn't work the first time.
And you liberals complain about flip floppers. And you three are flip flopping like a fish out of water.
Rick - you have not offered up an informed opinion, just standing on the sidelines taking potshots.
Offer up what you think should be done. It's so much easier to just criticize what everyone else says or does - doesn't require facts, thinking or reasoning.
And that's not the conservative or liberal way - that's just the uninformed way.
Katheryn Brandy
A lot of you liberals like to take cheap shots at Bush, the role he played in he housing bubble and the collapse thereof, the derivatives market and the Clinton surplus. I have posted my opinion on that several times and all I got was one or two liners like I gave you. WHY DIDN'T YOU COMPLAIN THEN?
But Rick - this thread is not about the housing bubble or any other domestic issue - this particular thread you have jumped on it about the North Korean issue. And you still have not offered your opinion on the topic....once again, you are bashing a political group,not discussing the issue.
If you would note - I favor taking a hard line with North Korea,which is what Bush did in his first 4 years and what Obama has done and which South Korea has recently done. But as all of them have found - it has not worked. And so all of them then revert to a different tact.
I'm not bashing Bush - I'm bashing those who make statements that either whatever method Obama is taking either all works or all doesn't work. Because the issue is not a simple soundbite.
And I really would like to hear what your opinion on the subject is -not what your opinion is on some other topic or just to bash Obama. I'm seeking discourse here.
I'd have to agree with Hilary Rosen...Mitt's wife has never worked a day in her life...unless you count shopping at Neiman..she's more then likely had nanny's and illegal maids doing all her dirty work. Maybe she should try working 8 - 10 hours and them coming home to take care of those 5 kids on her own without a millionare husband.
Actually, it would be nice to have a first lady that butts out of Americana's daily life. The last thing that we need is more of Michelle Obama's intrusion into our homes and our personal business.
Michelle can't butt out fast enough !
lawdog -There has not been a First Lady in the White House in modern times who was not actively involved in some aspect of American's daily life.
Even when they don't want to be. Their handlers require that they pick a platform.
Personally - if I had to have a First Lady pick one of significance - I will go with benefiting our soldiers and physical fitness of our youth.
Although I have not seen a First Lady program that I didn't like.
but you don't like the programs Mrs. Obama has chosen? Soldiers and youth fitness?
It is the President that is elected to office, not the first lady. Why not allow the President's wife the opportunity to be a stay at home wife ? Why do Americans require anything of the first lady, other than being that, a lady?
As far as Michelle goes, I have a right to criticize her whenever she makes blanket statements about Americans. Why, because I am one. So far as the issues she has taken on, I do not have a problem with that. I do have a problem with her methods and ideology of what is the best way of tackling the issues. Of course, she is probably taking direction from her brilliant DemocRAT handlers.
lawdog - good luck on getting the White House handlers letting any of the First Ladies not have a "cause". It's a requirement.
Can you imagine how horrible it must be for someone who is dreadfully shy to have to go through the three ring circus they set up for those women(or First Husband someday (poke,poke).
lawdog - Our First Lady is an example for young girls and women in this country. She has taken up GREAT causes - childhood obesity and military family issues. The fact that you have a problem with that says more about you than it does her. And, what it says about you isn't good.
For those who forget, Romney had a chance to serve out military during Vietnam.
Rather than serving, he did missionary work in FRANCE. Not a third world country, but a major developed country.
Romney roughed it by riding a bicycle through wine country while Americans were fighting for their country.
None of Mitt's 5 sons has served his country in the military, despite the 2 wars that have gone on for the last 10 years. I believe Mitt once answered that they are serving their country by campaigning for his election.
That's weird I must've missed the article on President Obama's military service. Oh wait.
GOP I have a question:
Why are tea party members running against incumbent Republicans for Congress? Down here in TX, the tea party is acting a fool and I cannot understand why. Texas is going to be a red state, regardless of the outcome of the General Election. (wish it would turn blue) The GOP needs to control the tea party. I know the tea party does not control the GOP, but damn if they are not trying to. The real republicans might want to push the tea party back under the rock they came from.
Just what the country needs ,another HEN PECKED GOP politician that has to keep going to his current MOMMY when ever things get a little touchy. That is exactly why Romney doesn't stand a chance in the world of getting elected.all his money can not buy him the backbone to stand up for himself and make a decision.Where does the GOP find these losers.
Why is no one talking about Foster Freezes comments about the President on Wednesday?
"Prominent Rick Santorum donor Foster Friess again waded into controversy Wednesday night, saying he hoped President Obama's "teleprompters are bulletproof" now that Republicans have coalesced around Mitt Romney's candidacy."
So, he can threaten that the President needs bullet proof protection? And Hillary Rosen gets in trouble for suggesting the truth? That Mrs. Romney, due to her extreme wealth never has had to work outside the house? Never had to worry how to pay bills? How to feed the kids? How to pay for health care? But, someone warns the President needs bullet proof protection, and nothibg is said?
WOW!!
And where is the outrage when a member of Congress accuses "78-81" of his colleagues of being Communists? Why is this shrugged off?
And let's not forget that Mitt Romney uses a teleprompter----maybe it is time for the Republicans to let that one go.
Brad Cantor, I didn't see that Foster Friess comment until this morning or it would have made my weekly wrap. His entire remark was "now that they have trained their barrels on President Obama, I hope his teleprompters are bullet proof". The right is upset about a democrat saying Ann Romney never worked yet they are strangely silent about this comment. The media seems to be ignoring it as well. So much for that left wing media bias the right whines about daily.
So when conservatives like Romney say President Obama never had a "real" job because they believe teaching Constitutional Law at one of the world's best universities, or working as a lawyer at a private company, or working as a community organizer helping to improve people’s living situation on south side of Chicago, has nothing to do with “real” work.
But when one Dem suddenly says she believes that what Ann Romney has done in her life cannot be called “real” work, then all of a sudden the Romney’s get upset…LOL!
Dragon, you hit that out of the park! Hypocrisy, thy name is Romney.
TwoGud2BTrue - I'm always surprised by the stupidity of people who say those of us leaning left "hate" the rich. You do know there are more Democrats who are 1%ers than Republicans, don't you? I personally have a few friends - one I date - who is a millionaire. He's a great guy and wouldn't pull the lever for Romney if he was the only one running. See, he made his money by REALLY working. He gives time and money to those less fortunate and he thinks women should have all the rights me do.
Why do you hate people who aren't stupid????
Oh that would be men - not me!
Wow, TwoGud2BTrue, that's the fastest re-register after a ban I've ever seen! tic, toc, tic, toc... ;-)
You caught that too eh Cynbad?
Tick Tock allwaysfaithfull tickity tock!
Rosen was spot on with her comments!!! No one was talking about Ann Romney's work raising her kids. Most woman have to do both, work and raise kids...without help from nanny's or maids. She has never had to worry about money... being laid off, health care, money for your kids lunch...so she knows nothing about the economy. Oh, and when she appeared on FOX - she came off as being very bitchy!! A lot less classy then I thought she was.
For a woman with three houses and sixteen grandkids, Ann Romney doesn't have very much help around the house, according to her 2010 tax return.
IRS forms released Tuesday by Mitt Romney's presidential campaign show that despite reporting income of $21.7 million, the couple paid only $20,603 in taxable wages for household help in 2010. This figure was divided among four women: Rosania Costa ($4,808), Kelli Harrison ($8,667), Susan Moore ($2,238) and Valerie Cravens Anae ($4,890).
According to a number of Boston-based domestic staffing agencies, the salary range for a housekeeper is between $20 and $30 an hour, which adds up to an annual salary of $40,000 to $50,000 based on forty-hour weeks and two weeks of paid vacation a year.
But this number is only for one house, and the Romneys have three houses -- a 2,000 sq. ft. townhouse in Belmont, Mass., a 5,400 sq. ft. lake house on 11 acres in Wolfeboro, N.H., and a beach house in La Jolla, Calif., that is undergoing renovations to double its size.
Even if the Romneys avoided spending time in La Jolla in 2010, they spent plenty of time in New Hampshire, with regular visits in the summer from five sons and their families.
Yet the Romneys still paid only half of the lowest range of an average housekeeper's salary, which raises the question of who cleaned the Romney houses the other 50 percent of the time. A Romney campaign adviser declined to respond to questions from The Huffington Post about the housekeeping salaries.
illegal immigrants?
She is not working, maybe she did the cleaning.
Dragon - duh! her children are GROWN!!!! And, why does it not surprise me that the skinflint Romney's paid their help less than minimum wage? Can you say slave labor????
thetotas - oh yeah! Like that really happens!
Perhaps, they hired these few people on a part-time basis for special events. They may go through the many maid service, catering, lawn care and other services that have their own employees and provide these services for a fee. More and more people are doing that for domestic services these days.
I was watching a hole in one contest at a golf course in an exclusive Northeast Florida neighborhood. A car with a Merry Maids logo drove up, three women got out, went into a house, "cleaned" (I would assume) for a couple of hours and left. Merry Maids pays the salaries and all the taxes, the homeowner pays a fee to Merry Maids which is not tax deductible.
fairfax bill, i like your annalogy on pay equity, but it doesnt make sense.
the rich are wealthier thanks to regan tax cuts and bush tax cuts.
the rest struggle looking for employment that no longer exist, finding lower pay at ones that do, struggling to keep up with the higher cost of food, fuel and health insurance.
i have nothing against people who can demand money from the rich and get it, but i do have a problem when they do not pay their fair share of taxes, which they are not.
historically speaking, when the wealthy pay a high tax the country's economy is strong, and when they dont the other 90% suffer.
the baseball owners and all other sport owners are swimming in cash, not all, but the ones buying a championship certainly are, because they are obsessed with winning. the wealthy are buying elections due to their super increase in cash flow.
i can assure you that if regan and bush had not cut taxes we would all be in a better place.
The Americans making the top 10% of income pay 70% of the income taxes. Do you want to see them pay 90% of the taxes? Where does fairness begin? The bottom 50% of American's pay less than 3% of the taxes. This country has the most progressive tax structure in the world.
What about the Buffett tax? Would you exclude tax free municipals? If you don't, the interest rates of muni's will move up to the level of corporate bonds. Then local and state taxpayers will pay out 30% more in interest for projects funded with bonds. On a $10 million bond issue, this is $150,000 per year or $4.5 million over the 30 year lifetime of the bonds.
If you do exclude muni's then where is the fairness, the people earning over $1 million per year just switch from other investments such as stocks or corporate bonds to muni's. The Buffett tax makes no sense.