I.R.:

Another goody. They key is that everyone must be included in a health care insurance program. As the system is currently structured, we are going to pay the costs of health care one way or another. That fact is what Republicans ignore, OR simply don't understand. Everyone has to pay for this. No free rides.

And as far as Romney's wealth, you hit the nail on the head. There's not a soul reading these posts who understands what it means to have so much money that absolutely nothing is beyond their financial reach. Romney cannot possibly understand the tenuous existence of people who are living day to day.

What are you and yours going to have?

Even more coal in our stockings, courtesy of the Obama "recovery".

DW: That fact is what Republicans ignore, OR simply don't understand. Everyone has to pay for this. No free rides.

So true. Here Daivid, lets make a deal! I'll pay for mine, you can pay for yours.

We'll see there won't we Mr. Bill

Obama's Lack of leadership is coming to a head, after 3 years.

The GSA Scandal, the Secret Service Scandal, it was inevitable.

When you have a President who's been incapable of getting his Budget passed after 3 Years;

a President who thumbs-his-nose at the Constitution;

a President who disrespects the role of the Supreme Court,

Our nation is Crumbling under Obama's non-leadership!

Gosh!...What about a President who takes this country to war on lies?

Now, that's leadership?

DW: That fact is what Republicans ignore, OR simply don't understand. Everyone has to pay for this. No free rides.

So true. Here Daivid, lets make a deal! I'll pay for mine, you can pay for yours.

Oh, GREAT deal JAS1; but please explain to the readers of this thread: What exactly do you compasionate, Christian conservatives [GOP-TEA] propose to do about the millions of aging boomers who will not be in position to afford necessary medical services nor have insurance coverage???? Are you stating unequivicably that you Republican/Tea people promote "just let them die"??????

Certainly sounds that way, "I'll pay mine, you can pay yours."

Want to state it in no uncertain terms? (Or are you going to waffle and/or flip-flop like Romney?)

Well, Bill, here's a little coal for your stocking...;-)

The U.S. is exporting coal at a rate not seen in 20 years.

• South Korea: Up 81 percent to more than 10 million tons.
• India: Up 65 percent, to 4.5 million tons.
• Japan: Up 119 percent, to almost 7 million tons.
• Europe, particularly, Italy and the Netherlands want US coal

These nations are signatories of the Kyoto Protocol, unlike the USA and would be burning our coal in plants that scrubbed the coal either before or after burning. If they can afford to construct power plants that scrub coal; so, can we.

Tracking US coal exports

Stupid: Oh, GREAT deal JAS1; but please explain to the readers of this thread: What exactlydo you compasionate, Christian conservatives [GOP-TEA] propose to do about the millions of aging boomers who will not be in position to afford necessary medical services nor have insurance coverage????

Well we have Medicare to cover that, don't we Stupid? According to the Democrats, Medicare is just fine, funded well, running like a finely tuned clock. So what exactly is the problem you're whining about again?

And recall Mr. Walkers compassionate statement:

"Everyone has to pay for this. No free rides." David Walker 2012.4.18

However, it took longer -- up seven days from last year -- for patients to see a primary care physician for non-urgent care, while waiting for an internist improved by five days from last year, the report said.

Thanks for sharing IR. I am not in Mass., but let me tell you I am envious of a 7 day wait to see a primary care physician. In my area, that is a 2-6 month wait for a routine visit. And then the fabulous ER system .. temporarily blinded in one eye, it took 48 hours to get medical attention. A cut on the hand took a 7 hour wait. Then the best story of all, in both instances, my medical insurance group sued my homeowners insurance group for payment. Gotta love the old system - NOT! Go Obamacare!!

Well we have Medicare to cover that, don't we Stupid?

What are you, 10? Yeah we have medicare that won't exist if Rand's budget gets passed, and even medicare covers just a small fraction of health care costs for seniors. Come on, quit flip flopping around - admit you and the party of family values wants millions of boomers to die simply because they chose a blue collar job instead of getting wealthy sucking the resources out of the middle class.

First, no matter if it is the democratic or republican primary none of the candidates are very specific about any policies or topics. It isn’t until the individual becomes the republican or democratic nominee that they begin to speak in more detail about where they stand and go into detail about specific ideas. If he/she were to go into detail about anything during the primary people would be bored to death (American citizens attention span isn’t the best so we just like bullet points). Everyone should go on each candidate’s website because most offer detailed descriptions of their ideas and plans. Though, most Americans don’t like to read so it is our own fault if we don’t know how the candidate stands on certain issues or his/her economic plans are.

Second, every registered republican will vote for Romney. There are very few if any republican that like President Obama’s time in office. Actually, from the time he became President every republican’s goal was to make him a one term president. Obama has to get the independent voters on his side (right now they seem to be leaning more to the republican candidate) and get the young people out to vote for him again (right now the young people don’t seem as energized as they were last year). Also, registered republicans always go out and vote…they rarely if ever do not vote.

Finally, if the economy starts to improve gradually on a consistent basis then Obama wins. Though, if the economy is stagnate or like a roller coaster ride then there is a very good chance he doesn’t win. Remember a majority American’s attention span is small so we forget about his accomplishment in the past – we what to know what he has done recently and what he is going to for us right now.

My prediction is that economy doesn’t improve and stays stagnate but I have been wrong before in life.

"It's the economy, stupid" was a phrase in American politics widely used during Bill Clinton's successful 1992 presidential campaign against George Bush

JAS1:

That's EVERYONE, as in all of us, not as in each person needing medical assistance at a particular moment. As it stands, and you seem incapable of understanding, we are paying for that care one way or another.

The problem with the current arrangement is that there is a private insurance sector that skims money from premiums and delivers not a whit of medical care in exchange. That skimmed money needs to go to cover the cost of medical care.

Only a fool denies the fact that Medicare is in trouble. Yes, it needs to be reformed, repaired, and overhauled...........NOT killed as Ryan would do.

JoAnnaSmith1:

Your response/answer to my post looks like a duck, waddles like a duck and quacks like a duck, so I believe

IT IS A DUCK!!!

You did not answer my very simple question to you and the "compassionate Christian conservatives" regarding healthcare over the next twenty five or so years....

I asked if you and you ilk take the position of "just let them die" if they can't afford medical services nor insurance coverage...

This is not Panmunjom - a simple "Yes" or "No" would suffice.

How 'bout it? HMMMMM?

These concerns will fade come November when the choice is either Romney or 4 more years of vacuous verbiage and empty-suit leadership.

Oh, GREAT deal JAS1; but please explain to the readers of this thread: What exactly do you compasionate, Christian conservatives [GOP-TEA] propose to do about the millions of aging boomers who will not be in position to afford necessary medical services nor have insurance coverage???? Are you stating unequivicably that you Republican/Tea people promote "just let them die"??????

What do you think happens elsewhere? What exactly are you advocating? That we pay all medical costs for all people regardless of cost? At some yes you have to let people die, it's part of life. Can I turn this around and ask you what do you think the government should cover for geriatric medicine? Understand that there are limited resources so you have to make choices. Do you take resources from education, infrastructure and research? Because that is what the Administration and Congress agreed to last year. Medicare would not be touched, but discretionary spending would be cut.

So demagogue away. Sooner, rather than later, you won't be making the decision anyway because the borrowing to keep medicare going is going bankrupt us.

On the issue of the state run program lowering premiums, any idea the level of taxes required to subsidize this program or how much cost shifting occurs from private insurance?

I will pay for mine and you pay for yours, yet you are against an individual mandate. Your post are always pointless and disturbing. What a hack.

kod: Yeah we have medicare that won't exist if Rand's budget gets passed

Oh, so now you leftwingnuts admit Medicare is failing. Where is the Lefts solution to the problem? Paul Ryan and the GOP have one. The Democrats though sit back and criticize Ryan's solution without lifting one finger to come up with their solution. Typical Democrats. No budget, no plans, no ideas.

kod: Come on, quit flip flopping around - admit you and the party of family values wants millions of boomers to die . .

You are one sick puppy to make that statement. Moronic even.

And if nothing is done for Medicare, that's exactly what will happen to seniors. So keep sitting on your fat-ass being critical of the GOP plans while you have none of your own.

rob: I will pay for mine and you pay for yours, yet you are against an individual mandate

You can choose not to purchase insurance and take your chances. You are Pro-choice, correct?

Your post are always pointless and disturbing.

And you've added so much to the conversation.

critical of the GOP plans

What plans? I have yet to hear a single one from Romney.

Can Obama unite all Republicans and a sufficient number of Independents to vote FOR Romney in November? YES, HE CAN !

Adios, Obama.

I doubt it, he has no ideas, no solutions, no plan really - all he is is a hairpiece puppet with Grover's hand up his backside - which is a bit too obvious and will repel a large swath of republican and more importantly independant voters.

there are limited resources so you have to make choices. Do you take resources from education, infrastructure and research?

You enact President Obama's healthcare initiative, tweek and improve it, and allow ALL American Citizens to have access to healthcare in their advancing years, instead of opposing, amending, and attemping to repeal it primarily because it was proposed and signed by a young, black, Democratic President. That, Alan, is stupidity personified.

So, as I asked JAS1 without answer, are you compasionate Christian conservative Republican/Tea people advocating the "let them die" path for future healthcare expense?

You almost said so in your first statements;

Will you make the statement simply and clearly for us voters? Do YOU advocate "let them die" is they can not afford medical treatment nor insurance coverage? Yes or No?????

Please give us the GOP/TEA position on this

Where is the Lefts solution to the problem?

The same one every other civilized country came to years ago, realizing that profit for death and sickness doesn't make sense. Healthcare is a right and should be covered regardless of your current wealth status. It is something everyone needs at some point, and something that should be nationally run without thousands of middlemen insurance scammers trying to figure out how to raise costs and slash services constantly. Single payer is the only real solution to this problem and it is eventually going to happen, like it or not.

David -- I think a mistake democrats make, with respect to republican reform proposals, is that they often make statements like this one from Leader Pelosi:

Pelosi [argued] that Ryan-Wyden still would ultimately end Medicare as we know it, and that this is a case Dems can take to the American people.

So if we don't end Medicare as we know it will die its own painful death.

It would be useful if this type of rhetoric could be stopped and a serious attempt made to develop something better. Rather than demonizing an idea why not take it and modify till agreement is reached.

Stupid: You enact President Obama's healthcare initiative,

You mean the unconstitutional one? That one would leave millions without insurance? Besides, it's not happening, that silly Constitution keeps getting in Obama's way.

Stupid: was proposed and signed by a young, black, Democratic President.

Yeah, bringing out the Big Ugly now (and I don't mean Dumb Fux). So you break it down into simple terms like racism, something that you can understand. You really are stupid Stupid.

kod: Healthcare is a right and should be covered regardless of your current wealth status. It is something everyone needs at some point, and something that should be nationally

Nationally? Government run you mean. Would it be run like the Post Office? The GSA? The Secret Service? Will it be managed like Social Security?

You have no clue, do you?

You enact President Obama's healthcare initiative, tweek and improve it, and allow ALL American Citizens to have access to healthcare in their advancing years, instead of opposing, amending, and attemping to repeal it primarily because it was proposed and signed by a young, black, Democratic President. That is stupidity personified.

What can you tweek and improve? He took a system that cost more and has worse outcomes and added another 30m. What Americans are prevented from having access to health care in their advancing years? What Americans are not in Medicare? Your statement makes no sense.

The question is how do you pay for Medicare as the number of recipients double, and the number of people paying for it stays the same. You have to make some hard choices because of the high costs of care in the last year of life. And yes that does mean allowing people to die, because if we don't get some resolution of this, many more will die when the money runs out.

BTW your comment that my opposition to Obamacare is because he is young, black and democratic is stupidity personified. I won't even say he proposed it because he campaigned against this very system. He opposed Clinton's proposal by stating that people should not be forced to buy insurance. He then signs legislation that is the opposite of what he ran on.

@ David Walker, really? If they can't pay now how is this law that you support going to make them be able to pay then? Not everyone will be paying as you say. Another component of this law is that the government will have access to your bank accounts. It is sad that you are willing to give up something so personal for what you consider to be a good law. How about we just give them total control of everything we have and do; if we let them they certainly would take it. The government has proven time and time again that they can't run a lemonade stand successfully and you would have them run your healthcare. This is just absurd. If you think you have it bad now concerning health coverage then you have no clue as to the storm ahead.

Goldcoast,

Obama will need to..... get the young people out to vote for him again (right now the young people don't seem as energized as they were last year

You are dead wrong on that one. The top issues for young people are:

• End the wars and by doing so, stop flushing our money down toilets like Afghanistan and Pakistan. (they voted for Obama because he said he would "end the Iraq war by 2009" in his campaign but then he just shifted troops to Afghanistan in a transparent political move to pacify both war profiteers and those that are anti war. Those that are anti war saw right through this and know they were lied to and betrayed)

• Protect our civil liberties (they voted for Obama because he said he would get rid of the Patriot act, but they were again betrayed, Obama lied and signed it again twice then with the NDAA and HR347 rubbed salt in the woulds with further betrayal of those worried about civil liberties)

• Last but not least the young are worried about all the debt they are being saddled with (and rightfully so) so they voted for hem because he said he would cut the deficit in half by the end of his first term. But sadly they were betrayed again

The young are still out and energized they are just following Ron Paul instead of Obama now. They are not stupid enough to fall for Obama's lies again.

The same one every other civilized country came to years ago, realizing that profit for death and sickness doesn't make sense. Healthcare is a right and should be covered regardless of your current wealth status.

And where is healthcare a right if there is no money?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/aug/05/greece-healthcare-brink-catastrophe

Understand we are borrowing 40% of the federal budget just to keep the current system. The current system will have to absorb 40m more patients and will cost 100B more every year for the next 10 years. When the borrowers stop lending you be sure to stand up for your rights.

JAS1 = STILL no answer?

That is okay, keep on deflecting and ducking. We have come to realize that the Republican/Tea double standards require responsibility only from the Democrats and Progressives.

Alan: your GOP-TEA talking points are inaccurate, incomplete, and irrelevent; but the RNC would be proud of you...

The young are still out and energized they are just following Ron Paul instead of Obama now. They are not stupid enough to fall for Obama's lies again.

Most aren't stupid enough to vote for the guy with 0% chance of winning either.

And where is healthcare a right if there is no money?

You do more to prove my point than not, your increases will bankrupt it anyway without major reform. The more the costs get jacked up on basic services to the point nobody can afford it, the fewer people that will be paying them and the higher amount of losses they will incur. It has already gone past a point of affordability and a very large part of that is due to profit motive. We need to get back to a point where doctors to go school because they like medicine, not because they want to be filthy rich. Make their education a write off, cut their rates in half, get rid of malpractice insurance except in very extreme circumstances - problem solved.

Paul:

You have stated that the GSA scandal is a result of Obama's leadership. I saw on the news last night (not fake news) that the GSA is under investigation for wild expenditures in Las Vegas during 2007 and 2008, before Obama was even President. I can understand you soaking up the Fake News as they feed you what you want, but when you post that garbage here, intelligent, open minds are going to call you out on it. GET OFF FOX NEWS, it rots your brain.

Alan: your GOP-TEA talking points are inaccurate, incomplete, and irrelevent; but the RNC would be proud of you...

Wow...how very specific of you. Of course you make no attempt to debate or refute my points which I claim to be my own.

We need to get back to a point where doctors to go school because they like medicine, not because they want to be filthy rich. Make their education a write off, cut their rates in half, get rid of malpractice insurance except in very extreme circumstances - problem solved.

I don't know if there ever was a point that doctors did not want a generousness financial reward but I do agree with you that the cost a medical degree (in fact any degree) is outrageous. Your idea of writing off their education in return for a cut in rates should be explored but I'm not sure it will be productive. Perhaps a loan in return for community service or a percentage of medicare/medicaid patients. I do believe we should move to a catastrophic/chronic insurance system and pay for primary care directly. Also, the cost of drugs is way to high and the incentives for the creation of new drugs are all in the wrong place.

On the profit motive, if you look at other systems around the world they are all looking for ways to incorporate market incentives as way to lower costs. It's needed but how its used will always be difficult in an area that involves life or death.

Funny the report cited at the beginning of the thread says premiums are going down on average 5%. Most of my cusotmers and I have seen it going up about 10% per year since this program was put in place and I live in Mass. Some people can spin numbers anyway they want to and make them come out in a positive way.

I doubt seriously premiums for the Federal program (if SCOTUS leaves it in place) will do anything but rise as well.

James lotsanumbers:

It seems we may have some interesting exchanges, and you may learn a great deal because I am never wrong, except when I am.

I couldn't agree more with your post in in this area. There is a serious element of cowardice/denial in the Democratic Party on entitlement issues, particularly Social Security and Medicare. Unfortunately, the Republican solution is simply an opportunity to transfer money from government to the private sector, which according to virtually all statistics is NOT delivering the quality of care we should expect based on its cost.

Let me preface this by saying, I am usually more circumspect when I refer to Republicans as the enemy. The enemy is the insane right wing that is utterly bereft of reason and has no grasp of finance and economics. Unfortunately, the leadership of the Republican Party has embraced these idiots. That should be a mark of shame for the G.O.P. and that is the reason I left the party to go independent. They are not the loyal opposition. The are simply opposed to anything that comes from President Obama or the Democratic Party. Gridlock is deadly.

Let me return for a moment to the Department of Education. You cannot overlook the importance of the funding that goes to local districts. Please remember I pointed out that UNTIL an alternative to federal financing is found, they're just going to have to continue to try to balance funding. Remember the "separate but equal" crap?

Also, as my friend fielden pointed out, we have some of these states going off and deliberately butchering facts and reality. Texas is writing its own revisionist history. Kansas and Tennessee are doing their level best to deny evolution. Southern education levels are an embarrassment. There has to be some sort of standard. That can be done, and rather objectively, at the federal level.

Bone - lotsanumbers:

You asked:

"If they can't pay now how is this law that you support going to make them be able to pay then?"

Look, they can't pay for submarines or tanks either, can they? Right-wing Republicans solve that problem by whining that half the people in the country don't pay taxes, and then they increase the defense budget. (One of the reasons I'm not a Republican is because I actually experience cognitive dissonance.) Can't pay your taxes? Well then, we're going to increase your tax burden. Hello!!!!!

The government? Access to our bank accounts? Spare me. I have been yelling, screaming, and fighting government intrusion into my life since I realized how awful the problem was. Virtually everyone has access to your SSAN. That's because these damned sissies in this country are afraid of their shadows and will give up their freedom in exchange for security. There's a saying about that. You don't get either.

I am in a single payer system right now, and the quality of my care is far superior to what I received in the private sector and the efficiency is stunning. I'm really sick and tired of this mantra about the hyper-efficiency of private enterprise. Only people who have never dealt with a cable company, or a wireless service provider, or - get this - a private health care insurance company think private enterprise is the best thing since god.

Private enterprise is the perfect example of why you do not put a price on health because you derive profits by denying health care. That's the long and the short of it, and that point is beyond dispute.

JoAnnaSmith1- The only solution is to go to a single-payer system and take the profits out of health-care like the rest of the free world has done! We are the only major country that is trying to hold onto this unfair system and, as a result, we are rated last or near last on every major world health study, yet our system is by far the most expensive. In the rest of the world, they don't pay Health-care corporation C.E.O.'s hundreds of millions of their health-care dollars as we do! Our American Medical Association (Dr. Union) restricts the number of new Doctors being trained on purpose to keep their numbers low so they can charge what they want without competition! If the Republicans would have let Bill Clinton enact this 15 years ago, we would have solved this problem by now, but instead, we are still debating and our For-Profit-System is getting worse and more expensive!

“He has a lot of work to do. But it isn’t an impossible lift.”

He hasn't even started to define himself to the general electorate, so there's plenty of time before the election.

Obamacare will be decided by the Supreme Court well before the election, so it won't be much of an issue in the election.

The election will be about the economy and jobs, something that Obama has failed at - miserably. We still have a lot fewer people working than when Obama took office - almost 4 years ago - despite the fact that we have about 6.7 million more people in the working age group because of population growth.

Unemployment figures are bogus because millions of workers have given up looking for work because the job market is so bad. Using the same 'labor participation rate' (percentage of eligible workers based on population) that were working in 2008 (Bush's last year), the TRUE Unemployment Rate is about 12%.

Roy - Mitt's can't define himself. He doesn't know what he stands for because he stands for nothing. He just wants to be President - no plans, no programs. He is an abymismal failure as an individual. He is only great in his mind and that of his family (forget the dog - doesn't think much of him either!)

He is nothing and is NOT qualified to do anything.

President Obama has done a good job in reversing the downward spiral of this country and cleaning up the mess left to him.

So Florida gave up delegate seats in exchange to try and trick the American people by moving its poll election date up because they were sure it was a Romney state.

They wanted to use the press to portray him as the guy all Americans want and that the rest of the country just falls right in line behind him like a cow does heading right into the slaughter house. .

Because they did this they also left the door wide open to an action that will cause it NOT to be a winner take all state.

So now that Americans know Romney is a liar, a fake, and a mockery of our election process the GOP insiders at the top are saying, whats going on here? Romney can't beat his way out of a wet paper sack, let alone beat Obama.

LISTEN TO THE GOP PARTY INSIDE SCOOP at the top levels in the link below... Afterwards, look up for yourself at why everyone is joining the REVOLUTION to defend true LIBERTY...

Learn how to truly vote.. Just HOW to be truly counted.. Learn how to DELEGATE..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDlhRzRumb4

But a focus group of 12 Republicans and GOP-leaning independents that Democratic pollster Peter Hart conducted last night here in the city that will host the Republican convention in August painted a more complex picture.

LOL! That this can be taken seriously enough to write a story is beyond me. Other than the Leftist are starting to get the unsettling feeling of impending Obama doom. You're starting to get a taste of what we've felt for the past 3 odd years. Hope you enjoy!

First, a little background on the participants of this focus group

These 12 people -- a mixture of diehard conservatives and at least one moderate who said he no longer felt comfortable in today’s GOP -- all had either voted for McCain in ’08, Marco Rubio in ’10, or Rick Scott in ’10. As it turns out, four said they actually voted for Obama four years ago. Now? Seven said they are “definitely” voting for Romney; two are “probably” voting for Romney; two are voting for Obama; and one said he’s undecided.

Come on! And the writer actually thought this would be taken seriously? Four voted for Obama? Two are going to vote for Obama? When I first read it I thought it came from the Onion. Nothing but a manufactured story. The MSM must really be scared.

When is the negative press going start on Obama? HA! that's a joke.

96ws6,

You are dead wrong on that one. The top issues for young people are:

• End the wars and by doing so, stop flushing our money down toilets like Afghanistan and Pakistan. (they voted for Obama because he said he would "end the Iraq war by 2009" in his campaign but then he just shifted troops to Afghanistan in a transparent political move to pacify both war profiteers and those that are anti war. Those that are anti war saw right through this and know they were lied to and betrayed)

• Protect our civil liberties (they voted for Obama because he said he would get rid of the Patriot act, but they were again betrayed, Obama lied and signed it again twice then with the NDAA and HR347 rubbed salt in the woulds with further betrayal of those worried about civil liberties)

• Last but not least the young are worried about all the debt they are being saddled with (and rightfully so) so they voted for hem because he said he would cut the deficit in half by the end of his first term. But sadly they were betrayed again

Huh? I thought finding a job would have been one of them. Maybe not. From the looks of it all they care about is their next entitlement.

This article is about GOP reservations about Romney. We know Romney and the Haters want to ignore Romney's lack of qualifications, and instead try to attack the president with their usual "I'm rubber, you're glue" lies. Good try, but voters are on to it.

Let's talk about GOP oligarchy -- Pro-Big Business whether owned by lobbyists, and now A.L.E.C. where corporations and Teapublican congress persons meet behind closed doors with the corporations funding rapid and mass produced cut-and-paste legislation nationwide, which voters didn't ask for and don't want, to Citizen's United and unlimited corporate influence in elections, to the Emergency Finance Manager dictatorship in Michigan. What we don't need is a plutocrat like Romney at the helm.

May voters have a voice -- End corporate subsidies, pass a Jobs Bill, and make the tax code fair starting with the Buffet Rule -- Obama/Biden - 2012!

Hey First Read maybe tomorrow you can do a story about how some Republican pollster took some Democrat independents and got results Obama should be worried about. This would off course break your 16 negative Republican stories to every 1 positive Obama story rule, as well as your rule of getting most of your information from Democrat pollsters, contributors, websites, and think tanks.

Don't get me wrong I'm not mad about the worthless, baseless stories, or the pathetic bias, it makes me laugh daily and is why I come back for more. Keep dishing out the liberal red meat for your liberal die hard posters.

We know Romney and the Haters want to ignore Romney's lack of qualifications

LACK OF QUALIFICATIONS????? Are you high? Romney was Governor, head of the 2002 Winter Olympics, and has worked in the real world world for many different private companies. Obama never ran anything, and his claim to fame when it comes to experience was community organizing. Completely laughable to compare resumes, stick to what you guys know, attack, attack, attack.

Svenolafson "Last but not least the young are worried about all the debt they are being saddled with (and rightfully so) so they voted for him because he said he would cut the deficit in half by the end of his first term. But sadly they were betrayed again"

Good point. I think the young voters are just beginning to realize that THEY are the ones that will get stuck with the bill for Obama's wild spending.

Here are some interesting FACTS;

The total amount of Interest paid on the National Debt in 8 years under Clinton was $1.813 Trillion.

The total Interest paid on the National Debt in 8 years under Bush was $1.591 Trillion (Yes, less than Clinton).

If interest rates under Obama average the same as under Clinton, his 8 years of Interest would be $5.856 Trillion. That increase of $4.265 Trillion - just for Interst expense, will have to be paid through higher taxes on - The young. And that's just for 8 years under Obama - That crushing Interest expense on the debt will go on indefinitely - Obama's 'gift that keeps on giving'.

The debt figures for Obama are from his own 2012 Budget projections.

seeking -- abymismal? what exactly is that?

no plans that you like does not mean he has no plans.

a failure by what measure?

did you recover an old talking point that the right used against the President? Not qualified?

your animus towards Governor Romney is apparent.

Willard "Mitt" Romney has more flip flops than the shoe check girl at a Baghdad mosque.

'The TARP program... was nevertheless necessary to keep banks from collapsing in a cascade of failures.' ^[1]

'When government is... bailing out banks... we have every good reason to be alarmed.' ^[2]

'I like health care mandates. The mandates work.' ^[1]

'I think health care mandates are unconstitutional on the 10th Amendment front.' ^[2]

'I respect and will protect a woman's right to choose.' ^[1]

'I never really called myself pro-choice.' ^[2]

'I believe the tax on capital gains should be zero.' ^[1]

'Capital gains taxes are a tax cut for fat cats.' ^[2]

'Roe v. Wade has gone too far.' ^[1]

'I believe that since Roe v. Wade has been the law for 20 years we should sustain and support it.' ^[2]

'I'm not trying to return to Reagan-Bush.' ^[1]

'Ronald Reagan is... my hero.' ^[2]

'When I first heard of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy, I thought it sounded awfully silly.' ^[1]

''Don't Ask, Don't Tell has worked well.' ^[2]

'If Massachusetts succeeds in implementing health care, then that will be a model for the nation.' ^[1]

'What works in one state may not be the answer for another.' ^[2]

'In Massachusetts...the costs of health care will be reduced.' ^[1]

'We were unable to deal with... health care costs in Massachusetts.' ^[2]

'I've been a hunter pretty much all my life.' ^[1]

'Any description of my being a hunter is an overstatement of capability.' ^[2]

'I'm going to take burdens off the back of the auto industry.' ^[1]

'Detroit needs a turnaround, not a check.' ^[2]

'I would like to have campaign spending limits.' ^[1]

'The American people should be free to advocate for their candidates and their positions without limitations.' ^[2]

'I supported the assault weapon ban.' ^[1]

'I don't support any gun control legislation.' ^[2]

'Based on the numbers of American Muslims... I cannot see that a cabinet position would be justified.' ^[1]

'A person should not be elected because of his faith nor should he be rejected because of his faith.' ^[2]

'I'm not in favor of privatizing Social Security or making cuts.' ^[1]

'Social Security's the easiest to privatize and that's because you can give people a personal account.' ^[2]

'I don't line up with the NRA.' ^[1]

'I'm a member of the [NRA].' ^[2]

'The all-Democrat stimulus that was passed in early 2009 will accelerate the timing of the start of the recovery...' ^[1]

'The all-Democrat stimulus passed in early 2009 has been a failure.' ^[2]

'I saw my father march with Martin Luther King.' ^[1]

'I did not see it with my own eyes.' ^[2]

'It does take a village to raise a child.' ^[1]

'It takes a family to raise a child.' ^[2]

'I'm a strong believer in stating your position and not wavering.' ^[1]

'I changed my position.' ^[2]

Well, IR, looks like we are on the same page today about refunds from insurance companies due to provisions in the ACA(Obamacare). I'm reposting my deleted comment.

The ACA (Obamacare) is working...

By Bob LaMendola, Sun Sentinel

Floridians who buy health insurance without the help of an employer can expect estimated rebates of $143 to $949 in August because of the federal health care overhaul.

About 157,000 individuals and families qualify. In addition, an estimated $65 million in health insurance rebates are in line to be split among workers covered at 352,000 small businesses, the Sun Sentinel found by analyzing reports filed this month by 15 of the largest insurers in Florida.

Don't expect cash back if you get health coverage from an employer of more than 50 workers. Few of their insurers will owe rebates, and many companies are self-insured and not affected by the health law, insurance experts said.

"This is important for consumers," said Richard Polangin, health care policy coordinator with the advocacy organization Florida Public Interest Research Group. "They already pay extremely high prices for health insurance."

Individuals don't need to do a thing to obtain their money. Insurers must notify them by Aug. 1 if they are due a refund and pay that month.

The rebates can be paid with a check or a credit toward next year's premium. Rebates on group policies go to the employer, which must promise in writing to pass the money to employees or use it to benefit their health coverage.

The rebates stem from a rule in the health care overhaul law that said, starting last year, insurers had to spend at least 80 percent of their premiums on medical costs. The rest can go to administrative costs and profits. If insurers spend too much on overhead, they must refund the difference to policyholders.

The Sun Sentinel calculated rebate estimates from 2011 year-end financial reports that the 15 health insurers filed this month with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Insurers cautioned that the figures were preliminary and may change in a final report to the federal government on June 1.

The analysis of the 15 Florida insurers showed that 11 would owe rebates of $48 million on individual policies. Topping the list was national giant Humana at $16 million, Connecticut General at $7.7 million, Time Insurance at $6.9 million and Coventry Health at $5.3 million.

Humana officials declined to comment.

Three of the companies also would owe small employers, including Florida Blue (formerly Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida) at $39 million and United Healthcare at $17.7 million.

"More money should go for health care costs and less should be siphoned off. It makes our health care system more efficient. It limits excess profits to investors," Polangin said. "If some insurance companies can comply and have been for quite some time, why can't the others? They have to get rid of their excess costs."

Last year, when officials tried to predict the rebates, estimates were much larger. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services pegged Florida's figure at $174 million for individual policies alone. But insurers took steps in 2011 to avoid rebates, by lowering premiums and co-payments and reducing overhead, HHS officials said.

Consumers with individual policies may get $143 to $949 each..

Health insurers will owe rebates to customers in August if they spend more than 20 percent of their premium dollars on administration, profit and overhead.

An analysis of preliminary financial data filed by 15 large insurers in Florida found that the following are in line to owe rebates. Insurers will issue final figures in June.

Company
No. of policies
Est. total rebate
Est. avg. rebate


Humana Health
30,657
$12,320,241
$401.87


Connecticut General
35,249
$7,793,997
$221.11


Coventry Health Plan
21,603
$5,267,086
$243.81


Time Insurance
6,144
$4,366,021
$710.62


Humana Insurance
14,287
$3,733,534
$261.32


Mid-West
2,818
$2,631,995
$933.99


Preferred Medical
18,022
$2,574,950
$142.88


Time Insurance mini-med plan
2,754
$2,554,849
$927.69


Florida Blue mini-med plan
14,109
$2,275,980
$161.31


MEGA Life
2,478
$1,930,486
$779.05


United American mini-med plan
5,223
$1,179,045
$225.74


Freedom Life
2,705
$998,130
$368.99


American Republic
594
$563,751
$949.08


Total policyholders due rebates
156,643
$48,190,066
$307.64

http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2012-04-13/news/fl-health-insurance-rebates-20120406_1_health-insurers-individual-policies-insurance-commissioners

James...I am no lover of Obama. I was in his camp in '08 but am disappointed in many of his decisions. However, misspellings notwithstanding, SeekingSanity is absolutely correct. If Romney has anything compelling or convincing to say, I haven't heard it yet. He should have had the balls to stand on his record but he ran and hid from that. He hides from questions about his faith. Anyone who doesn't want to answer questions, can't have my vote.PERIOD. Remember the debate where the moderator asked him a question and he answered a different question? When the moderator called him on it, he said," you get to ask the questions you want and I get to answer the questions I want." That is Romney's problem in a nutshell. He is a gutless chameleon who only stands for whatever is convenient to stand for today. Anyone who supports him must be unbelievably naive because you don't really know exactly what you're supporting. Is he a liberal? He says no, though his record says yes. Is he a centrist? No. But he'll try and convince us he is starting now. Is he a conservative? Absolutely not though he has been gluing feathers to himself and trying to convince the teabaggers he belongs to their flock. Is he a liar? ABSOLUTELY AND UNEQUIVOCALLY. He is the worst and most repetitious liar I have ever heard. And it makes we want to puke to hear him claim he's a Christian while Lying and refusing to discuss his religion. His only core conviction is the desire to be president and the willingness to sell his soul to do it. You know, what's truly a shame is that the repugnicans actually had at least one candidate who was a straight shooter and well-qualified and he was trounced almost before the process started because he wouldn't make out with the teabaggers...what a shame...the prerequisite seemed to be a willingness to lie and sell out your country's best interests. I'm talking abour Ron Huntsman, the only 'pug with an IQ over 80. Your party is in its death-throes right now. The only question is whether the country goes to the Grim Reaper with it. 2007 was all repugnican made. 100%, undeniable and undisputable. And until your party wants to take responsibility for the disaster they created- with some help- they don't really deserve to be listened to again. They few sane voices in your party get dismissed as ,"not one of us". (Though I think that's a good thing.)

Are you better off now than 4 years ago?

A timeline of major events:

2007

January

Countrywide Financial, the biggest U.S. mortgage lender, warns that homeowners are having trouble repaying loans. Within weeks, investment banks begin writing off millions in investments backed by risky mortgages-early signs of the global financial crisis to come.

September

In a sign the "green consumer" trend has taken hold, Wal-Mart launches a private label energy-saving compact fluorescent light bulb. One month later, former U.S. Vice President Al Gore wins the Nobel Peace Prize for raising awareness about global warming. By 2009, Wal-Mart will have sold 145 million of its light bulbs.

October

The Dow Jones industrial average records its highest ever close, 14,164.53 on Oct. 9. A week after the market peaks, Fox Business Network debuts to challenge CNBC.

October

On Oct. 15, Kathleen Casey-Kirschling files for early retirement, becoming the first of an estimated 80 million baby boomers to qualify for Social Security benefits.

December

Las Vegas gambling receipts peak at $10.9 billion. By decade's end, 37 states will have some kind of commercial or Indian-run casino.

December

The official start of a recession according to the National Bureau of Economic Research. It won't be declared such until full year later.

2008

March

Gold prices surge to more than $1,000 an ounce for the first time ever.

March

On March 16, Bear Stearns is sold to JPMorgan Chase for a fire-sale price of $2 a share, or $236 million, as the collapse of the subprime mortgage market brings down the fifth-largest Wall Street investment bank, foreshadowing the broader financial crisis.

March

Visa Inc. stock debuts on the New York Stock Exchange with the largest-ever IPO, raising $17.86 billion.

July

California lender IndyMac Bank fails at an estimated cost of $10.7 billion to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. A total of 25 banks will fail by the end of the year. Failures will skyrockets to more than 133 in 2009.

July

Oil reaches $150 a barrel; gasoline spikes to $4.11 a gallon. Gas prices become a topic of debate on the presidential campaign trail.

July

"Dark Knight," the second film in the reboot of the Batman series, premieres. Movie-goers will ultimately shell out more than $533 million, enabling the film to surpass "Star Wars" as No. 2 on the all-time list for domestic box office receipts.

September

On Sept. 15, the subprime mortgage crisis forces Lehman Brothers to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, setting forth a worldwide financial meltdown.

September

On Sept. 29, the House rejects the government's $700 billion financial bailout plan, triggering the largest-ever drop in the Dow Jones industrial average, 777.68 points.

October

As part of the federal bailout of the financial system, FDIC insurance on bank deposits is increased from $100,000 per account to $250,000, until 2014.

November

Riding a record-setting wave of $748 million in campaign donations, with more than 45 percent of the donations of $500 or less, and made by individuals, Barack Obama is elected the first African-American U.S. president.

December

Bernard Madoff is arrested by the FBI after confessing to his sons that his investment firm is a Ponzi scheme. Investigators later tally the real losses for his investors at more than $21 billion.

December

Revolving debt held by U.S. consumers, mostly on credit cards, tops out at $988.2 billion. The number of outstanding credit cards, once 425 million, will drop to 325 million by late 2009.

2009

January

President Barack Obama is sworn in. In his inaugural address he notes: "The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act-not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth.

Are you better off now than 4 years ago????/

Thomas Blue:

I don't know when I've read a post that was so perfectly in line with my views. That was a truly awesome post.

Thank you, David.

Thomas Blue - thank you - occasionally the fingers have a mind of their own! Posting while working is always dangerous!

Well said!

That was a truly awesome post.

I second what David Walker said!

Is President Obama perfect, hell no, but allowing the alternative to regain power is much worse!

Much... much... worse...

Thomas Blue thank you for stopping by today and adding a well thought out comment. I hope to see many more of them. I truly do appreciate it when someone like yourself takes the time to add a little something to my wanderings.

Thomas Blue, terrific post. And i agree with David, really awesome. Please stop by as time allows and lend your perspective to the debate.

President Obama has had a hard row to hoe from day one. While not perfect, which one of us is, he cares deeply for the people of this country and with a little extra help from a Congress that should care about the country, he would be even further along. So contemplating the alternative, he is the best for the job.

LogicReguired --

Romney ran for the Senate in 1994 and lost. He was washed up in politics, until 2002 when he became involved in the Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the Winter Olympics. He was not the "head of the 2002 Winter Olympics" and involved in large part due to Mormon connections in Utah. According to Politifact:

Not everyone is ready to declare Romney a gold medal winner for his Olympic performance. David Wallechinsky is an author and the vice president of the International Society of Olympic Historians.

He said thatRomney improved the situation in Salt Lake, but that the claim in the Romney ad, that he "helped save the Olympics" is too broad. The bribery scandal was a low point for the Olympic movement, Wallechinsky said, but it wasn’t an existential threat.

"It wasn’t going to threaten the Olympic movement, which survived two world wars, major boycotts and terrorist attacks," Wallechinsky said.

Our ruling

While it may be stretch to suggest the future of Olympics themselves were at stake during Romney’s time in Salt Lake, by all accounts, he did help the city’s moribund Olympic committee reverse its fortunes after an embarrassing scandal and brought the 2002 Winter Olympics to a successful conclusion. We rate Romney's claim Mostly True.

After the Olympics put him back in the public eye, Romney ran and was elected as Governor of Massachusetts that same year (2002). However, after serving only one term, Romney did not run for reelection in 2006. Once again, his success as governor is debatable with one exception, his health care law that he now runs away from. But ultimately Romney's only interest has been the presidency and has been running for president until it is "his turn" according to GOP tradition.

True that Romney was successful at Bain Capital, but once again business acumen does little for his qualification in regard to foreign affairs (aside from draft dodging, no committee experience), or leadership skills in regard to public policy and congress, and just lacking the proper temperament, which is also key to managing the press and a whole range of presidential requirements.

This is why there is an enthusiasm gap among conservatives, and not just my assessment. And as others state above, we do not have to guess whether President Obama cares deeply for the people of this country, and already know he is the best for the job.

I live in Utah, Romney had next to nothing to do with the olympics in 2002. He skipped the state halfway through his term to go chase a more lucrative position elsewhere - the guy is a used car salesman with a lot of money, and trying to win based simply on hate for the other guy is never a solid strategy.

Grover Puppetmaster has publically said he wants Romney to win, because he has his hand up Romneys butt and will control the economic policy completely if he does by some miracle bull@!$%# enough voters. That in itself should give any American with more than half a brain a lot of cause to prevent some toady from seizing indirect control of the entire country.

JAS1-- The point is by not getting insurance you do not take your chances, others are paying for you with increased ins. premiums and the increased cost of medical services. You really are just a political hack with no ability to think before you post. Now I understand why Republitards will vote for Mitt. You only know that this POTUS is wrong but none of you have any ideas of what you would do to make it better.

You only know that this POTUS is wrong but none of you have any ideas of what you would do to make it better.

Deep down they already know that any real solutions are completely diametric to what their cult stands for - lower taxes, trickle down, slash benefits and hand out bonuses to those who don't need them. These are the things that caused the problem and these are the things they refuse to stop doing which is the only solution.

Maybe you should spend your time getting to know your own party.

There is a pretty interesting story taking place in North Carolina- but you'd never know about it if this were the only "place for politics" you visited.

Late yesterday, I was intrigued by a headline on realclearpolitics- something to the effect of Gov. Perdue to reporters, "Get Over It".  Could not help but ask the question, "get over what?", so I clicked the link.

Seems they've got quite the scandal going on down there- of the harassment, hush money, variety.

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/politics&id=8620473

So far, one high ranking official has been forced to resign, while there are calls for the head of the party to, also, step down.  Jay Parmley, who was brought in  as Executive Director from South Carolina, resigned on Sunday.  There are now calls for Party Chairman David Parker to resign.  Seems he was the guy who oversaw the hush money payments.

There has been quite a bit of turnover at party headquarters.  From the link

"We also spoke to a long time party employee who resigned in February. When asked why, former Director of Administration Sallie Leslie told us: "I resigned because of unethical actions of party leadership, which I'll not be a part of or have my name and reputation associated with."

By the way, the Miami Herald, the Baltimore Sun, the Kansas City Star, the Sacramento Bee, and a host of other news outlets, have the story.  So, you might wonder why NBC seems to be blissfully unaware.  Well, fear not!  They have it!  Yesterday, Chuck Todd tweeted about the story, wondering what Chicago's 'take' on the situation was.

Just because they have it, does not mean they will report on it.

This story raises several questions, the most important of which is, where did the hush money come from?  No political party earns money- they get it from contributors.  Think those who contribute to political parties want their donations used for payoffs?

I don't.

Sexual harassment in the workplace is illegal- and it seems quite a few people within the Party knew about this.  Over the weekend, at party conventions, this matter was fully aired.  Too bad nobody at NBC saw fit to report on it.  

Ignoring it will not make it go away- any more tan ignoring the GSA scandal removed it from public view.

Gingerbread Mamma,

So true. Willard Flip Romney is the biggest liar of all, and I don't trust him one bit. When you think about it, others are pulling his strings.

OH JAYSUS!!!

The nut job from NJ has already had a couple of cups of her favorite 'conspiracy theory' this morning...

Try de-caf next time Donna!

Right on target. Like , I think it was Norquist who said something like: ..."we only need someone to be able to hold a pen and sign thier name." Maybe not the exact quote, but close. When pushed on policy specifics, lets see what he says. He hasn't been pushed yet. But then again, he could very well say all the right stuff, and do the exact opposite when/if elected. A very real possibility.

Oh well, the Republicans have plenty of their own scandals to worry about. The pot calling the kettle black.

Gingerbread Mamma:

A truly excellent exposition. Romney is a stone-cold liar, but what makes that so terribly awful is what we know to be fact. There is only a small sliver of the electorate that will pay any attention to that fact. About 95% of the electorate is going to vote "identity politics". It is only the remaining 5% that will vote based on genuine issues.

It seems to me the most important question before you ask any others is: Can I trust this guy? With Romney, the answer is: No, hell no!

When pushed on policy specifics, lets see what he says

Willard's "Policy specifics" I believe are identical to what the younger Mr. Koch stated:

"I just want my fair share, and that is all of it."

'Nuff said!

President Obama for President 2012!

As I said last night Feisty, I think you're a Republican trying to make the liberals look bad. Your first post this morning quoting the next president, Mitt Romney, was perfect. It is a completely true statement.

Im applying for a new job......I want to be a US Gov speculator policeman. I want to travel the globe arresting people in other countries and extraditing them to the US to stand trial....... What....we cant do that! Who says! Huh....... maybe we can extract them like the SEALs do. Yea...man Im so excited.

I saw a clip of Romney at one of the multitude of primary debates when the moderator asked him if he planned to release his previous tax returns and he blurted out "maybe!" in this defensive, hostile tone.

Now Romney says emphatically, he will not release his tax returns, beyond 2010. If that doesn't raise a million red flags, I don't know what does. Especially since he gave a decades worth of tax returns to the McCain campaign in '08, when he was being vetted for VP. Don't the American people get to vet him as much as McCain did?

mamma, et al. -- Politifact reports that while campaigning in 2008 for the Presidency Senator Obama made approximately 500 promises. In the intervening period they now report that he has kept his word on 34% of those promises. The remaining 66%, having not been fulfilled for one reason or another, may be construed as lies using the same criteria, as defined here by you and others, to characterize what Governor Romney says.

So yes, a politician's ability to lie is amazing. Regardless of the cute campaign slogans that are invented for a candidate this one thing remains a constant.

My wife quit her job to raise our kids because she made less than what it would cost for daycare and neither I or she takes offense to that statement.

People who take offense to that statement are the ones living off entitlements paid for by your tax dollars. You know, the money they take out of your paycheck when you actually work for a living. The statement is meant to pertain to those who choose to live off the system.

Gingerbreadmoma,

I am sure that if you appreciate a smooth liar you will be happy to vote for Obama again. He ia as good, if not better at it than Romney.

You have been reported for advertising, gingerbread.

Whats with you FR Obama cheerleaders and jumping into a thread and pasting a story that usually has nothing to do with the article above?

Have you completely run out of positions on which to defend Obama?

James....what's his plan? Every candidate offers plans and promises as to how they will improve things, as voters, it is up to us to discern if those ideas are feasible. No individual can get everything they want or promise, so as a voter, I tend to take some of that with a we'll see attitude. In doing that, I look at the person's character and how they relate to others. The likeability factor plays a big role because it plays into how much we trust the candidate, and believe that given the right set of circumstances they will do the right thing for the majority of the country......but then you have Congress and those that want you to fail and that's the nub of the problem, especially in trying to keep promises.
President Obama is not perfect, but I believe he will always try to do the right thing for the country. Don't think Mitt Romney would do that, his character is lacking in basic human values....i.e. the Golden Rule. His rule comes across to me as do unto others before or in case they do it to you. Or to put it more bluntly "I've got mine, F*** You.

Character- you mean the kind of character it takes to blame your every failure on your predecessor- including things that happened well after that predecessor left office? When the person YOU put in charge oversaw the wasteful spending, fraud and abuse at an agency- and kept quiet about it?

That kind of character?

As to doing what is right for the country- like spending over $16 billion taxpayer dollars from ONe agency for the purpose of putting money into the pockets of your big dollar donors? Companies that then went bankrupt? That was right for the country?

As to lying- there is nothing so contemptible as lying about your dying mother fighting with her health insurer- which was not true- for political gain. Then compounding that lie by saying you were there to hear it- when you were never at her bidside at all.

Oh, yeah. That Obama is some character, all right.

mamma -- Governor Romney's plans / ideas are visible to all at his website. Every candidate does make promises and the President is no different. I thought many of President Obama's ideas were rather spur of the moment to get approval from the crowd he was speaking too and not very well-thought out. I think that was an inexperienced person in action. Looking at a person's entire character is important. Romney has both good and bad points as does the President. I am not much into the likeability thing. I want a leader that commands respect, not one that tries to buy or smile his way through a job. Every President has to deal with Congress. I believe the mark of a true leader is their ability to get the job done regardless of the obstacles.

I think that many of the President's policies are bad for the country and not done for the good of the country but rather done to further an ideology. I believe Governor Romney is a man of honor.

Sorry you felt it necessary to drop into the gutter with your last remark.

Can we agree to disagree?

Gingerbread Mamma: You rock. Mitt Romney is a man without a conscious. However, the hatred toward Obama, wooden Mitt's money and the propoganda machine that influences low knowledge voters will make him a legitimate contender. It is really too bad that is what it takes to perhaps become the most powerful man in the world. In reality, Willard has outlined very little of his plans, except of course to reduce taxes on the wealthy and regulation of corporate raiders. He has been feeding off the hatred of the far right with some moderates tagging along who buy into the "it's all Obama's fault" nonsense.

Nojo.......you're a fine one to define character. You who constantly lies and twists the truth to fit your hatred of a duly elected President whom you have irrationally hated and undermined since day one. AND, a fine one like you, who posts others private discussions for all to see, when you KNEW they were private. You wouldn't know character if it jumped up and bit you, don't insult my intelligence by talking such moralistic nonsense.

James, yes we can agree to disagree, and I apologize for my last remark, however, the gutter seems to be where you will find most of the republican support, looking at you Ted Nugent, and it seems to be perfectly acceptable to all on the right, you included, as I didn't yet see anything about it being wrong to threaten the life of the President and his supporters, only a lot of wishy washy nonsense. Please, this would be the perfect time for Mitt Romney to stand up and say, this is wrong, I refuse your support.....that would be showing a lot of character.

Upset...thank you for the kind words. Keep posting, peace!

1) Nothing is Obama's fault, you know it is all George Bush's fault. Look forward to another 4 years of an unaccountable president.

2) How could you possibly know anything about the contents of Mitt Romney's conscious.

3) Do you really think Romeney's reason for running for President is to give tax breaks to succesful people and to help corporate raiders. I believe he is running because he thinks that the American people are the key to our success not the government. And we should have an enviornment in which people aspire to greater things, not to look for the next hand out. We have gotten to the point where the people who have worked hard and won are viewed with disdain. The single mother who has banged out 5 kids without a husband is our new hero.

4) I am a conservative and fairly financially successful. Believe me I have no hatred towards Obama or anything about this great country. I think what drives most liberals nuts is how happy the average conservative is. Join us, life is great!

Obama is a better liar than the liar of all liars, your buddy Bill Clinton.

liar of all liars, your buddy Bill Clinton.

That's why the perjury charge stuck so well right?

Bill Walker - if the GOP would stop dumpster diving for it's candidates, they might have something to offer. But, that's not happening. Mitt Romney has shown no character. He has no values which speaks to his conscious. He is running for President to go one better than his father - no other reason. He has nothing to offer; no plans; nada; zilch; zero. I don't know why your hero is a single mother who in your crass words "banged out 5 kids with no husband" but your words say everything about you. Your ignorance and arrogance are quite telling.

Why would anyone join a group whose main goal is to defeat our President and take the country backward. Sorry, liberals are very happy people. We just feel sorry for those of you whose hatred for anyone not like you is so palpable. And, by the way - life IS great!

Floyd - you're a pathetic excuse for a human being. But, I'm sure you know that!

Obama is the biggest liar of them all because he hasn't come out of the closet and confessed that he is a communist out to nullify our Constitution and turn us into a poor nation like Cuba is. Castro said he was going to "spread the wealth" before he took over and look how well that worked out for the Cubans. Look at Obama's past. He was a community organizer, race baiter and instigator, still is. He hung around with radicals like Bill Ayers, his preacher was man of God who preached hatred of America and the Jews. He said he was going to "fundamentally change America". Well with his past experience what do you think America is going to look like if he gets re-elected? I am going to repeat this until you want to vomit. I would rather have a supposed flip flopping liar in the White House than a Commie. At least Ronmey isn't a Commie.

Against Union Thievery - oh please! Your ignorance is pathetic. I already want to vomit just reading your stupidity once. What an imbecile with nothing to offer you are.

The stupid "commie" comment. What are you - first grade? You should be embarrassed to even be posting such absolute nonsense but it shows that's all you've got - nonsense. No facts; nothing real; just the little stupid goblins in your mind!

James#s, you said:

"Every candidate does make promises and the President is no different. I thought many of President Obama's ideas were rather spur of the moment to get approval from the crowd he was speaking too and not very well-thought out. I think that was an inexperienced person in action."

Yes, every candidate makes promises that they may think they can keep and then find out that there is absolutely no way their aspirations can break through the reality of beaurocracy. No one likes to feel like they've been promised the sky without anything in return but that's the way it always is. I wish we could go back to every presidential election in this country just to see the amount of promises broken compared with the promises kept. That would really be interesting wouldn't it?

On the subject of broken promises; Romney promised (at more than one of these Republican debates) that he would over turn the ACA the first day he took office. To anyone who know anything about legislative process knows that this is impossible. That's a pretty bold face lie (he HAS to know better because he's got experience in politics and legislation being a former governer and all) and in the form of a promise no less. I could go on about Romney's promises but I won't.

"Looking at a person's entire character is important"

I was always taught that adversity builds character. I've got plenty of both lol. Romney on the other hand doesn't really seem to have much character at all and what I mean by this is that no one really knows who he is. That's such a broad statement and is hard to explain because it's really a feeling one gets after hearing/reading his speeches. He also contradicts himself often which makes it hard to understand where his values are. I think he wants it this way (etch a sketch if you will) so he can be whoever he needs to be at the moment. This is a not-so-cleaver political tactic and it's been done to death so most people see through it. I agree with others on the vine that think he will become a puppet for those around him like Bush was for his VP and other elites in the GOP.

On the other hand, Obama has plenty of character (and past adversity to shore it all up for him). You can see the character on his face. He seems comfortable wherever he is because he is comfortable with himself and beliefs that he has cultured throughout his life. People learn best from being in a situation and either getting yourself out of it or just seeing what happens. You won't see that in Mitt. He is not comfortable with himself and that's clear enough from watching him.

I've been lied to by some of the best and I've been schmoozed by men who are trying to represent themselves as a sort of blank slate and agree with everything I say so that they might have more in common with me, though they never did. Mitt Romney reminds me of a lot of these men. I have also been courted by the sweetest man in the whole world who can lie, but not very well, and sees things as a complete world view. He wasn't too pushy but made his point about why we belong together and was convinced he was right. He hasn't lied to me in 7 years (not counting lies of omission and those were silly lies about how he didn't like corn etc). I married that man who President Obama reminds me of and I couldn't be happier.

" I want a leader that commands respect, not one that tries to buy or smile his way through a job. Every President has to deal with Congress. I believe the mark of a true leader is their ability to get the job done regardless of the obstacles"

A few things on this comment. Yes, every President has to deal with Congress. Few have to deal with a Congress that has decided to make them one term Presidents. The flip side here is that Congress has to work WITH each other AND the President, none of that is happening now despite Obama's efforts to be bipartisan (using a republican idea like individual mandates in his signature health care bill etc). The President must lead without being too partisan.

Also, Congress and the Executive Branch is setup the way it is so that no one can really pass a bill without there being a lot of approval for said bill because if one party gains the House, Senate and the Presidency (I think our founding fathers foresaw this) massive amounts of bills would pass quickly and turn government upside down with changes all at once (not fairly either because that's one of the main reasons we have a two party system, although I wish there were more viable parties, because one party should not be allowed to make decisions for the entire country.

However, Obama did that with his health care bill and I have to hear about how not a single Republican voted for it etc and how Obama is FORCING his Act on the American people who didn't want it. Either the President is imposing his will on the American people or he can't lead. It's a lose lose for him. I worry about him every day.

MGATES73 - no President has EVER had to deal with the contempt this Congress has shown for President Obama. No Congress has EVER put their political party above the interests of the country like the GOP has done. It is pathetic to see but the GOP will pay in November!

Obama/Biden 2012

SeekingSanity,

It's too true and very sad that a party that claims to be so patriotic would obstruct progress like they have... very disappointing to the voters that put their faith in them.

MGates73 - and it's more disappointing to see people defending those same actions. I don't believe there has ever been a time in this country when one party has taken actions that put us in such peril.

SeekingSanity,

At the risk of sounding like on of "THEM"... it's really an act of treason.

MGates73.......terrific post @ 3.28. Character does matter and the President has a good one. Well said.

Hypocritical Democrats. How about that Sexual Harassment Scandal within the Democratic Party in

North Carolina?

From what I've read so far, the Democratic Party was raising funds --- to PAY-OFF victims of the sex scandal ! HUSH MONEY.

And so many little "girls" think the Democratic Party supports them......

The Democratic Party is using women as Pawns, because they have nothing else to run on.

I am not a Democrat ... just your run of the mill Canajun mullah loving hypocrite who wants to see Gideon's Bible in every vagina. I say to hell with 73 virgins, just give me one who is 73 that I can boss around.

paul,

Sexual scandals are certainly non partisan.

Here in MN the GOP Marjority leader of the Senate was having an affair with a Senate staffer. Pressure from other state leaders forced Amy Koch to resign her position of leadership. She will not run for reelection in November. The male staffer was fired.

Amy Koch

That chick is absolutely disgusting.

Of course if it were a dude, there'd already be sexual harassment and abuse of power charges filed.

Northstar- it should not have to be pointed out to you that there is a difference between an affair between consenting adults and sexual harassment.

The latter, by the way, has absolutely nothing to do with consent, and is a form of emotional rape. Trying to equate the two completely different situations is revolting.

Ideology - Had me rolling in the aisles babe. I would sleep with one eye open if I were Romney and had Nugent as my VP. Before the NRA convention,I would never have associated the two.

Paul - and Romney wonders why those "little girls" aren't flocking to his side with such stalwart defenders like you on his side.

Only in No Joe's world can the situation involving the Democrats be wrong but the situation involving the Republicans (the majority leader of the Senate with a staffer) be perfectly OK. Reverse the party affiliations and she'd be making a different argument.

Actually, Steeler- in anybody's world the two are completely different things.

I suggest you read the statutes about sexual harassment. You might learn something.

No Joe---in a workplace, the job inequalities between the Senate majority leader and the staffer is an example of a situation of harassment.

no joe, I'm sure I'd find similar post from you regarding Cain's sexual harassment of numerous women - or do we pick and choose when to find it offensive?

no joe doesn't want to talk reasonably and how dare you call her on her admitted discrepancies. She calls green blue and red yellow and everyone is just supposed to go along with it. As most real women know, the job inequalities certainly represent sexual harrassment. But then, most of us don't just lie and print stupidity to get our points across. no joe is without embarrassment as she just doesn't understand.

Thank you Steeler Fan, I thought I was going to have to correct no joe myself. But to elaborate.

The person of lower ranking feels like their job (or professional reputation etc) is in jeapordy if they don't cooperate with the advances of the person in a higher power position. It's a type of psychological/emotional harassment/abuse. Look that up.

MGates73 - no joe still won't get it! Or, let's just be real - she doesn't want to!

SeekingSanity,

No Joe's got problems with cognitive skills but sometimes she's entertaining. I kind of enjoyed this one although it wasn't much of a challenge. :-)

Sorry, Noid, but I can find no humor In this story. These people have extremely important, sensitive jobs. There should be nothing- and I mean, nothing- that interferes with their focus. That certainly includes anything about which they could be blackmailed.

Every one of these agents should be fired- and they should forfeit their pensions as well.

Why so serious?

C'mon, lighten up. While, yes, in the end this is serious even you have to chuckle at this particular scenario. Two agents wanting engaging in extra-curriculars with the same prostitute and then wanting to "Go Dutch"?

In the words of Larry The Cable Guy, "I don't care who you are, that's funny right there!"

In the grand scheme of things, it's not as serious in my book as, say, when the Salahis crashed the White House dinner.

No, no, no..... the number of Secret Service involved in this Scandal is deeply disturbing, this IS a Big Deal.

And I do believe its a symptom of bad leadership, non-leadership from the very top.

The GSA Scandal is another sign of lack of leadership., too.

When your own President is breaking the law, because he's incapable of getting his budget passed by

Senate Democrats, it resonates in his cabinet, with every agency, every department below him.

Hey, Paul, last I checked it was the Secret Service that was responsible for protecting the President and not the other way around.

...and where was the President when this incident took place?

Here's a hint...he wasn't in Colombia.

Are you suggesting that such improprieties have never happened before under previous Presidents? How Pollyanna can you be?

And I do believe its a symptom of bad leadership, non-leadership from the very top.

The GSA Scandal is another sign of lack of leadership., too.

When your own President is breaking the law

What logic did you use to arrive at this conclusion?

Actually, those gate crashes were the first clue that there was a big problem. Kind of makes you wonder if the agents involved in this were reassigned after that. . .

But I digress. There is evidence that the wrong people are in charge of securing the safety of the American president.

They need to be fired.

But I digress. There is evidence that the wrong people are in charge of securing the safety of the American president.

They need to be fired.

Oh hey! We agree on something.

Ruken - same logic that Tony Perkins uses to blame the repeal of don't ask, don't tell on why the Secret Service agents engaged prostitutes.

Paul, the level of GSA spending on conferences increased 102% under, wait for it, President George W. Bush. So, was that Bush's failed leadership? Where was Darryl Issa's investigation then? The Secret Service incident is a serious but don't forget to blame the 10 military personnel who also participated, who also had women "guests". It must be investigated but does anyone think that a stray agent over all these years of both republican and democratic presidents has not engaged in "extra-curricular" activities; no doubt they lost their jobs when discovered. Most Secret Service Agents take their responsibilities seriously but there are always a few in any agency or business both public and private who do really dumb things; there is no excuse for it, there never is. This was a level of dumb that could have caused serious harm to our President and the staff traveling with him, the other Secret Service agents and military personnel involved; plus it gave the US a big black eye internationally. That said, to blame President Obama for it is petty, partisan, political wishful thinking.

...and don't forget, if these agents were on their own time then aren't they ultimately the ones responsible for their behavior?

(Isn't this the part where the GOP is supposed to preach about "Personal Responsibility"?)

The Republicans have reservations about RoMONEY$$? Would they have the same reservations about Jeb Bush? You bet not. But, the GOP should have reservations about RoMONEY$$. Because of his flip flopping he isn't the ready puppet the GOP must be assured he would be.

The GOP is amusing. They knew Reagan was too old to be president and I dare say also that he was borderline Alzheimer's. All they had to do was get hold of his medical records like they do everything else. They never had to worry about Bush '41, he was a GOP puppet since Nixon. Same with Cheney who presidented from behind his White House office door when Bush '43, puppet of his old man and Cheney's machinations managed to get him elected through some very suspicious circumstances. Just imagining if President Obama's election had hanging chads, a Supreme Court making the decision or the final results came down to his brother's home state. The right wing would be eating their shorts with rage.

RoMONEY is a man who can blow hot or cold but never forget one thing. He's a Mormon. The fundamentalists in red states won't vote for him. There are whole areas of Utah where only Mormons own land and are the only elected officials. That's the real reason the GOP has reservations. His billionaire status is a plus. His blowing hot or cold at the whim of his religous beliefs isn't.

There are whole areas of Utah where only Mormons own land and are the only elected officials.

The only place where this is even close to accurate is in the FLDS communities in Hildale Utah which is on the border of Arizona. The FLDS group is the sect that broke off from the original LDS church and still continues to practice polygamy. Their leader is Warren Jeffs.

The land in question is the land owned by the FLDS church, that Jeffs used to determine who was 'worthy' to live on. While not actually part of the law, the elected officials are usually in their congregation because they are the majority of people in this area. They tend to cause a lot of problems for people who are disillusioned with Jeffs. The state of Utah has recently enacted laws that will allow them to place people that are not from the area into the police force because of the issues they have had.

These values are polar opposites of what the Mormon / LDS church teaches.

It is time to hire female secret service agents only.

What logic did you use to arrive at this conclusion?

Twisted...

i read that the President's schedule was in the rooms where the secret service guys had their party.

if true, i would expect that to be sufficient cause to fire them. the President's life could have easily been put in danger.

it is not about $50 -- it is about the President.

and no, I do not hold the President responsible for this but the Director who has been in place for both the gate crashing and this does have responsibility and needs to be held to account.

Good one Ewent, have not seen you for awhile, nice post.

You people crack me up...This was an article about how people are not sure about MITT

I like Uncle Ted (DAMN YANKEES...super group)...but not his rhetoric

Do you know what ILLEGAL means? Usually, it means-- you get thrown in jail, or at the very least, thrown out of the country.

So, I think Rubio's being extremely, Extremely reasonable and Fair !

Ursula, well said.

Ursula---there's a dream to hold on to---you were brought here as an infant or toddler, grew up to share American values, worked hard to get through high school and college and now you can give up the dream of citizenship and not vote. And this from someone who is supposed to be more sensitive to the Latino community based on his own background?

Ursula, Unless the requirements for joining the military has changed since I retired in 1980, illegal aliens can not enlist in the military. To join the military one has always had to show proof of legal residence in the U.S. (Birth certificate, green card, or naturalization certificate).

Paul,

Dude, you KNOW Rubio wouldn't even THINK about putting this republican DREAM act forward if he didn't know that they were already in DEEP doo doo with the latino voting block. They really need to call it the "pipe dream designed to make latinos think we really like them" act.

So, I ask:

In a way, yes, but is it the FAULT of OUR country that ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS chose, of their own FREE WILL, to bring or have children into a country they were NOT authorized to be in?

Do we, the CITIZENS, bear the responsibility to look after these interlopers? To raise THEIR children, at our expense? I know it isn't the "FEEL GOOD" thing to do to get them out of the country but IT IS the right thing to do for our COUNTRY!

There are about 7 BILLION people on this planet! The majority of these people think that OUR POOR are RICH in comparison to their plight! What will happen to OUR country if we bring all those downtrodden here? We will, in a few generations, turn into the countries they left!

We could let a BILLION come in (for the open borders folks) and then we'd be like China and India! No resources to support them and we wouldn't have made a DENT in the misery of the other 5-6 BILLION who struggle each day to survive.

We invite people who will be an asset to the strength and viability of OUR Country. There aren't enough "No Skill" jobs to absorb (and provide a meaningful life) endless hoards of "No/Low Skilled" immigrants! Where do you "Open Borders" folk draw the line? We already have the highest level of "Public Support" in our history! Who is going to pay for the millions more you want to join us in our spiral to the bottom?

PappaDave-956353 - you need to read the quote on the Statue of Liberty - it's been around a little longer that your un-American opinion of who should be allowed in:

“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me:
I lift my lamp beside the golden door.”

Ursula-279622 - nice one!

Hi Chris.....yes I caught that. Between his 'start packing' comment and her saying, its now Mitt's turn, in addition her explanation as to why their poor dog was on top of the roof, was a jawdropping few moments. These are so insulated against the real world, they have no clue. They are self absorbed to the extreme.

Good to see you posting.

Did you catch Michelle Obama yesterday, telling us her husband had brought us "out of the darkness and into the light"?

I guess Obama is back to being the Messiah. Impretty sure cult membership has shrunk considerably.

Actually Ann, it's up to the American to decide whose turn it is to be President. Remember Ann you live in your little one percent bubble, and most people see you and Willard as plastic.

Obama - Biden 2012

It is up to the American people to decide. Lets hope the majority gets it right this time.

Keep going with your rich vs poor idea and we will have an actual President this time. That ploy is backfiring on you and your to silly to see it. Some one will send you the MEMO soon job1 and you can stop that rant and post the next false attack. Then that will be debunked and you can start the next false attack and so on and so on.

Lets actualy elect a President this time. No more games and social experiments. We have a country to get back on its feet.

I saw the Sawyer interview also!....Ms. Ann is... well Ms. Ann! Entitled, so she/they think! Crass language to describe Seamus as having the 'runs' after eating turkey off the counter....Yikes!

no joe, no bo, nj

Did you catch Michelle Obama yesterday, telling us her husband had brought us "out of the darkness and into the light"?

I guess Obama is back to being the Messiah. Impretty sure cult membership has shrunk considerably.

Maybe MIchelle's comment was a little hyperbolic, but the eight disastrous years of George W. Bush were the darkest days for America since the Great Depression.

We have a country to get back on its feet.

We will let President Obama handle this one. He has done GREAT JOB so far, and we the majority want him for 4 more years.

Obama - Biden 2012

For anyone interested in the context part that NoJoe conveniently left out:

First Lady Michelle Obama on Tuesday put the Supreme Court at the core of President Barack Obama's argument for reelection, telling supporters that the vote in November could affect Americans' security, freedoms and whether they can "love whomever we choose" -- a reference to the fight over gay and lesbian rights.

"This President has brought us out of the dark and into the light," she said in a speech at a rally in Nashville. "I hope you all are fired up and ready to go."

Her comments came as Washington awaited a ruling from the nine justices on whether her husband's landmark health care law is constitutional. A decision could come in June.

"We cannot forget the impact the Court's decisions will have on our lives for decades to come — on our privacy and security, on whether we can speak freely, worship openly, and love whomever we choose," she said in a ringing defense of the president's record. Asked about similar statements in the past, the White House has denied that they reflect any newfound White House support for gay marriage. Kristina Schake, the First Lady's communications director, said Tuesday that it "refers to the importance of the Supreme Court for deciding many issues."

"The President and First Lady firmly believe that gay and lesbian Americans and their families deserve legal protections and the ability to thrive just like any other family," she said.

Obama press secretary Jay Carney, asked about similar comments from the First Lady in March, said she was specifically referring to the president's decision to stop defending the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which bars recognition of same-sex marriage.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/lady-michelle-obama-supreme-court-stake-election/story?id=16159124

Entitled means you keep having babies because the "gubermint" is willing to spend over $30,000 a year

to support you with Food Stamps, AFDC, WIC, Public Housing, school lunch for your kids, Medicaid which provide you free eyeglasses, free shoes, complete dental coverage, long-term hospitalization, drug counseling, psychiatrists............. while the hard-working TAXPAYERS PAY FOR IT.

That's what ENTITLED is.

And THAT'S what any honest, hard-working American should be UPSET about!

No Joe----I don't expect you to understand a metaphor like Michelle Obama used--that would be beyond you plus it would require putting down your hatred of anything relating to the President.

Instead of a metaphor, Ann Romney directly stated it was their turn to be President--as if they were entitled. She then went on to laugh at the incident with their poor dog and noted that he had been sick when they put him into the carrier---making the incident even worse.

Apparently none of you liberals have ever transported dogs in the hunting category. If you know anyone or hunt your self you would know that those particular dogs are transported in Crates either on top or in the back of a pickup truck. A big dog can interfere with your driving and cause accidents. Its not uncommon in the mid west and northern sections of the US to see dogs being transported that way during Duck/Pheasant hunting season. I raised German Shepard's for a while (before my current Yorkie brood). Try carrying 3 Shepard's in your car to the vet, they all loved and eagerly jumped into their crates. Now my yorkies all travel in the car, and when they all go off at the same time I want to jump out onto the roof.

Apparently none of you liberals have ever transported dogs in the hunting category. If you know anyone or hunt your self you would know that those particular dogs are transported in Crates either on top or in the back of a pickup truck. A big dog can interfere with your driving and cause accidents. Its not uncommon in the mid west and northern sections of the US to see dogs being transported that way during Duck/Pheasant hunting season. I raised German Shepard's for a while (before my current Yorkie brood). Try carrying 3 Shepard's in your car to the vet, they all loved and eagerly jumped into their crates. Now my yorkies all travel in the car, and when they all go off at the same time I want to jump out onto the roof.

So because others are mistreating their animals as well, that somehow makes it right.

Jo Ann, the context makes it no better.

Steeled, you like the metaphor? I understand. You are a high priestess in the cult, your religious books are compilations of Obama speeches and his autobiographies.

The rest of the country, however, has had quite enough.

In the interest of fairness, though perhaps some of you can write him and provide him with some worthwhile reading- a book on geography, perhaps, or a Rand McNally world atlas. That way, he won't make a fool of himself by referring to the Falklands as the Maldives again.

You might also clue him in to the fact that it was the Transcontinental Railroad that was built in the 19th Century, NOT the Intercontinental railway. That's why he flew, rather than taking IT, to South America.

Oh, never mind. He'll just blame his ignorance on Bush- and the cult will buy it.

Hey, Ruken?

At least the Romneys did not EAT the dog. Unlike, say, another candidate for president- as admitted in one of his autobiographies.

Poor Bo! It's bad enough to be named after someone so egomaniacal that he names the dog after himself- poor animal needs to worry every day when he's called to dinner that it might be his new name.

At least the Romneys did not EAT the dog. Unlike, say, another candidate for president- as admitted in one of his autobiographies.

You know in many countries they do eat dog, cat, etc. right?

That said, did this 'other candidate' butcher his own pet? Or just happened to consume dog meat? Details please.

That's what ENTITLED is.

And THAT'S what any honest, hard-working American should be UPSET about!

Red States are the number one is pay outs. Darn Republicans.

Entitled means you keep having babies because the "gubermint" is willing to spend over $30,000 a year

That's right, we should hate the entitled little brats when Dad is killed on the job in a 'no fault' state, leaving dear old Mom to fend for the brood without a primary wage earner. I tell ya, the outrage of having to shell out money to keep that family afloat is a disgrace. If dear old Dad was stupid enough to be killed on the job in unsafe working conditions, we should throw the whole lot on the street. I mean, how dare that family not have a Romney income of 57k per day to keep them afloat in times of dire need. Public assistance, indeed. It just isn't needed, is it Paul.

jolly - I live in an area where most males hunt - seen lots of dogs in crates in the back of pickups - makes sense. Have never seen one animal in my entire life,nor ever heard any hunter ever say that they put their hunting dogs in crates on top of the roof while they make a 12 hour drive on an high speed interstate to their destination. Is that how hunters treat their hunting dogs up north?

have always had big dogs ,labs - they are a pain to travel with, they stay in the back of the car -either crated or not.Would never think of putting even the worst of the lot up on the roof

I would not expect and do not expect anyone you to agree with me. Its your duty as liberals to disagree with anything said that does not support your beliefs. I dont always agree with what both sides say. However on this one I do!

Ruken, I don't know- and don't care to find out. TMI.

However, I must say that the knowledge that Obama did eat a dog kind of calls into question the wisdom of the marshmallow-and-licorice Bo decoration at Christmas.

Nothing like stirring up old appetites. . .

As an avid hunter in the Midwest, I have NEVER seen a dog transported on the roof of a car by fellow hunters. And to say that the back of a pickup is the same as ones roof? Well, that just shows you haven't a clue. And as a businessman in the retail sporting goods industry, I know of no pet carrier made specifically to carry a dog on the roof of a car.

The hunter's I know transport their dogs safely. A pet carrier strapped to the roof of a car for travel on the Interstate Highway System for hours is not safe, much less humane.

Clueless. Just like the Romneys.

Dog, cat, and various other animals are eaten in other parts of the world.

Americans are viewed as sacreligious in some parts of the world for eating pigs and/or cows.

Any form of this story is a non-issue. Let's get back to the real issues.

jollyoldsoul1 - would those same hunters transport a dog they "knew to be ill"??

I know MANY hunters and they all take great care for their animals. A sick dog wouldn't be anywhere near the other animals, nor would they be transported ANYWHERE except the vet.

PS. 'ol Stella here has joined D.A.R. - and they're spitting mad

I saw two go by on the highway on my way home for lunch. Followed by a pickup with 4 crates. As I said, you can state your beliefs and opinions. But you cant change what I saw with my own two eyes. I know that probably upsets you, but its not my fault. And my great grand mother and grand mother where both D.A.R. members and my wife has a relative buried at Bunker Hill. I also observed a pickup driving down the interstate last week with Obama/Biden stickers on it with a lab running free in the back bed. I dont claim that all liberals ride around with their dogs loose in the bed of pickup truck.

Nice try. Now I know you're full of cr@p. Four pet carriers or dog crates wouldn't fit across the back of a pickup. I can barely get my two dog crates to fit securely straped down and in side by side and I have a full size pickup.

Better get your jolly old eyes tested, they've been focused on Faux news too long.

Now I know you're full of cr@p.

Ask Jolly to regale you with his tales of coming home from Viet Nam while being pelted with blood & urine filled balloons...

Only problem with his fairy tale is he was still in High School when the war ended...

Quite an imagination old jolly has... jack of all trades and master of NONE!

JustSlapMe - jolly is totally lying. My brother is an avid hunter and would no more transport his dog in a crate on top the car than he would his wife! That is just totally stupid!

no joe - your ignorance and stupidity continue to grow. Why do you insist on looking stupider every day? Eating dog in another country is done a lot. If the President did, it may very well have been not to insult his host. But, it really doesn't matter - your ignorance of other customs is your problem not ours. Please try to find something you can discuss intelligently - oh wait - that's nothing!

Great comment Mark!

I couldn't agree with you more!

McCain had enough sense to reign in Palin at her mob rallies before things got out of control!

Why isn't it Palins' turn?.....lol

Romney handled Nugent's latest insane rant the same way he handled Rush Limbaugh's sicko attacks on the woman advocating for birth control. Romney equivocated. When Romney isn't outright lying he's equivocating.

To most women I work with, yes, Rosen's comments were pretty startling. They didn't expect that kind of clueless comment to come from a woman.

One woman said it was like a knife going through her heart;

Another woman said Rosen set women back 40 years;

Another woman said it was just typical of feminists;

Another woman said Rosen doesn't relate to most women;

Another woman said Democrats don't respect stay-at-home-moms;

ETC.

Yellow

It’s the daily fight hypocrisy with hypocrisy don’t ya know. Seems you’re a little selective in your comparisons. There is no comparison between Ted’s 10 second rant and the entire movie the libs made about killing Bush. Typical case of “can dish it out but can’t take it”. Go ahead, you denounce the movie and every other vile thing you and your ilk said and did against Bush and then we will talk about some “has been” rocker’s comments.

I'm disappointed that FR would have a false equivalency between Hilary Rosen's remarks and Ted Nugent's. One was spoken by a pundit on TV and one was an incitement to violence. As we have seen all too many times, there are unhinged people out there who will pick up a gun and shoot people with less provocation than that. I respect Nugent's right of free speech to criticize the President---couldn't he find any better words?

Well Mark, I feel somewhat qualified to comment on the Motor City Mad Man's comments.

He was way out of line with his comments. I happen to be a fan of Ted Nugents music. I have seen him here in Detroit several times. Always puts on a great show. Even saw him play in the Amboy Dukes when I was just a little kid.

He is a national Sponsor of DARE, (Drug Abuse Resistance Education), He does not smoke or drink. He is married to a girl I went to High School with, Shemane. He has kids.

He is a very over the top kind of guy. He always has been. Personally, I do not believe he was threatening the President, but I can see how some may take it that way. I just don't think he is that stupid. I don't think "throwing him in jail" will help the Left's cause, though.

He is a celebrity and I don't really care what any celebrity ahs to say about politics.

The bottom line is that he is everything that the Left hates and so today they have a new Bogeyman to hold up. Limbaugh didn't work and eventually this will go away to.

Pretty soon all we are going to have left to talk about is the economy.

I can't wait.

Steeler Fan

I'm disappointed that FR would have a false equivalency between Hilary Rosen's remarks and Ted Nugent's.

I'm disappointed, too. But not surprised. No matter what vile offense a right-wing extremist commits, the corporate media will desperately search for something a Democrat did that they can pretend is equivalent. Maybe Chuck Todd is living in fear that if he were actually objective, Ted Nugent would be threatening him, too.

Romney has to bow to the rabid, right wing gun lover crowd who are paranoid that Obama will take their guns.

Willard and the Republicans can always count on the Red Neck vote.

WCA - Appreciate your response and viewpoint. However, I agree with Steeler Fan. There is no question that Nugent is not going to do something himself but the problem is his words might incite others. Did you see the cheers and angry nods, perhaps just some guys venting but one of those guys present or watching on TV...I shudder to think. A couple weeks ago, I posted here that I genuinely feared what a delusional idealogue or mentally unstable person could do on the first Wed. of November if they disliked the results. Nugent's rants gave me more trepidation.

Yes he is a has been, but he should be made an example of, don't care if it helps or hurt any political cause. A TV or radio personality/anchor can slip and use a four letter word and be fined/fired, but we are expected to overlook when inciteful hateful threats like this takes place. I say no.

WCA - Talking about the economy, it seems that gradual recovery and continuous increasing job numbers for twenty six straight months is positive.

Mukwa - I denounce every personal attack calling for harm against Mr. Bush. I did not see that movie but will denounce it as well. I believe Mr. Bush and his unfettered capitalism, sans regulation philosophy helped ruin our economy. I think his blatant disregard for civil liberties, wire taping, rendition of suspects and torture should have gotten him impeached. I blame that man for the lies and distortions that lead us into Iraq. I blame him for our perpetual nonwinnable War on an emotion - (Terror) when he and our intelligence agencies dropped the ball in Sept. 2011.

Mukwa_

There is no comparison between Ted’s 10 second rant and the entire movie the libs made about killing Bush.

You're right. There is no comparison because the Democratic nominee for the office of president didn't seek out the endorsement of whoever made that movie the way Romney cravenly sought out Nugent's endorsement in order to appease the far right.

Mark, I understand where you are coming from, but I just can't stand the double standard of your friends on the left. The vitriol and hate that was spewed to incite violence in Florida this month has been deafening, yet , I read here every day people supporting it.

No, you can't yell fire in a crowded theatre, but I think that saying that Ted Nugents words, may push someone to go after the President is really a stretch.

If someone is nuts enough to do that, they don't need the words of a 65 year old former Rock Star to give them the push.

This, to me is really not much of a story. When I first saw it, I figured Ted must have a new album out or new TV show that he needed to get some attention for. This will be forgotten by the weekend, unless FR and MSNBC decide to cover it every day and I see they already have a thread about Ted being investigated.

Speaking of investigations, wonder why FR hasn't mentioned the one about the DNC Sexual Harassment case in NC? Guess it doesn't fit the their template.

I wonder why the New Black panthers who put the bounty on Mr Zimmerman and threatened to burn Detroit to the ground if "whitey" tried to take over the city are not being prosecuted.

jolly - idiot! They were arrested and ARE being prosecuted - all 4 of them!

Paul 440967 - you don't know any women. Women of intelligence looked at Rosen's comment and read it for what it actually said. She was not attacking mothers - she was pointing out that Ann Romney had not worked outside her home so was not able to comment on the issues working women face every day. Again, doubtful you know ANY women.

hispanic female here voting for Romney. And by the way, people who suggest that the hispanic vote is suppressed by voter ID laws have insulted me beyond belief. I think I will vote straight Republican on that alone.

I think I will vote straight Republican on that alone.

That's right honey .. in typical republican fashion, it is all about you and screw everyone else. Go ahead and cast your vote to ensure the elite continue their entitlements, and gasp, to ensure you are never insulted again.

3 YEARS OF OBAMA, AND WHAT DO WE HAVE TO SHOW FOR IT?

3 Consecutive years of Unemployment over 8%;

3 Consecutive years of Under-employment over 16%;

Astronomical Debt, over $15.6 TRILLION;

Astronomical deficit, over $1.1 TRILLION;

U.S. credit rating Downgraded for the first time in history;

Half-a-Billion Dollars LOST on Solyndra alone, along with 1,100 jobs lost at Solyndra too;

Fast and Furious Scandal;

Secret Service Scandal

GSA Scandal;

ObamaCare in the Supreme Court; 67% of Americans want it Repealed; 27 States voted to Repeal

ObamaCare too.

So Paul,

Lets compare that with the first three years of the previous administration and see whether we are better off as a nation with the Republican/Tea or with the Democrat...

Red, keep spouting off about republicans being for the elite. There are enough people who know that's a lie. The truth is that Democrats are the party of controlling the masses instead of letting freedom ring.

Red, keep spouting off about republicans being for the elite. There are enough people who know that's a lie.

Indeed. Just look at the top 10 states in welfare spending: 8 are Republican.

ruken -- interesting statistic. can you please provide the source? i see many things on the internet some of which may not agree with what you show.

Thanks

It's laughable that neocons call themselves "conservatives'. Conserving THEIR money while spending yours. Isn't that what Bush did for 8 years? But let's not blame Bush. After all, Cheney was the back room GOP president, wasn't he?

Idiots of the right love to bash healthcare reform, financial reform, campaign reform and consumer protection reforms. Why? Pssssst.....they work for HMOs, banks, on GOP campaigns or own businesses that regularly skank away at their customers. Of course, they must defend the indefensible. Their paychecks demand it. Face facts, these clowns of right wing extremism rode a Gravy Train since Reagan. The worst nightmare for them is the Gravy Train ride is over.

Wasn't it sooooo nice for them when they could demand once predatory price increase after another, savage employees paychecks and then demand we ignore their obscene wealth? Hey, if the only way you can earn an obscene salary is by exploiting your employees, customers and taxpayers, maybe you don't deserve it.

ruken -- interesting statistic. can you please provide the source? i see many things on the internet some of which may not agree with what you show.

http://thecentristword.wordpress.com/2012/01/26/red-states-addiction-to-welfare-a-gop-dilema/

http://www.sodahead.com/united-states/what-states-are-leeching-off-the-taxpayer/question-2475027/

There's a bunch more.

Over reporting and collapse cowards!! Why was my post @#10 deleted?? It wasn't plagarism nor advertising nor off topic and I cited/linked the source! If you don't know how to use the reporting tools you are given, get informed. Abuse of the reporting features can result in suspension and/or the priviledge to use that function.

Funny how most of the comments are attacking Romney for his "alleged" falsehoods. The reality is, Obama now has a record he has to run on and we all know it is an awful record. So what does the self-proclaimed "Great Uniter" do? Enlist the help of all his minions to blast Romney. Once again, nothing is ever Obama's fault: Bush, tsunami's, Arab springs, speculators, you name it; he has the excuse. Facts are in his own words: if I can't turn this thing around in 4 years then I will be a one-term president. People, hold him accountable. What America needs is a a turn-around specialist. This is what Romney does, ie the Salt Lake Olympics and how he turned that around. No doubt, it will not be highlighted by the mainstream media for obvious reasons, but with the hole America is in; given the alternative of re-electing Jimmy Carter for a third term, Romney is the best alternative. We are facing some tough decisions on both sides of the aisle. The truth is, this isn't a Republican or Democratic referendum vote. This is an American vote. We can't keep going on our current pace of spending more than we take in. Look at Greece, Spain, Italy and Portugal. THAT WILL BE US in no time! No one wants to admit it, but it is the truth. The numbers don't lie. We now spend, under the current administration, a trillion dollars a year more than we take in. Our tax base has dwindled. We need more tax payers not more taxes. This means we need jobs so there is a bigger tax base. It is that simple. If we did away with all of the entitlement programs, we would be out of debt entirely in 2-3 years. Don't over complicate things and make it about "like ability factors or party affiliations" make it about the numbers and how we desperately need a turn-around specialist. This means Romney.

Someone didnt like your opinion. Happens all the time here if your opinion is different. which is why I dont defend my opinion, its mine.

No, Jolly, that would be a collapsed comment-not a deleted one. Deleted means others are falsely marking a comment as advertising. The only other comments that are deleted are those of a banned user or if the moderators find a comment so inflammatory or a derailment that it warrants deletion. Mine was neither. Well, the moderators know who is doing it, anyway.

Cynbad,

They did the same thing to me last night!

Until Newsvine/MSNBC steps up and addresses the abuse it's only going to get worse...

My only advice is to keep a hard copy of everything you post!

I reposted my comment and in doing so, I realized there was an advertising link within the comment. I have removed the link upon reposting. My apologies to MSNBC.

I agree, sloppy leadership and morals will trickle down to the troops, However these men are the best of the best and must rise above poor leadership. I have no doubt that any one of them would be a better leader than we have but they still have the responsibilty to be better than the man they guard.

So Paul and ruk...

having made those statements regarding the President, got off his back for attempting change/improvement and support his proposals so the things YOU are complaining about are rectified.

You can NOT blame President Obama for Senate Republican/Tea fillibusters nor for a stonewalling, hostage taking House of Representatives.

Complain about THEM instead, and America will be better off.....

Corruption in the GSA extends back to 2006. Oops, my bad, I forgot, we're not allowed to refer to the Bush years.

But you did!

Yes, Amy...

Tea/Republicans would have us believe that all the ills this country suffers have been initiated by President Obama. They would truly like for voters to FORGET that they took a balanced federal budget and in eight years led us to the disaster President Obama inheireted in 2009 while creating the largest transfer of wealth from the lower & middle class to the wealthy in the history of the world.

They really can not stand for voters to see the truth about what their "trickle down" economics and greedy, selfish politics have done because they want to convince us to give them another chance to rape America of her resources and wealth some more.

Sad.

Paul: Obama sent a clear message when he failed to pass a budget

The President does not pass a budget, Congress does. The President has submitted a budget every year. Conservatives in Congress has fillibustered it each time.

Actually, President Clinton was the last to get a budget passed - a balanced one at that - in 1997; Congress has been remiss in this regard since that time:

http:/ /prospect.org/article/does-congress-even-need-pass-budget

Check this out - you will have to close the space between the // to make it work, but very interesting information.

Paul - again with the STUPID posts. The Secret Service scandal has NOTHING TO DO WITH OBAMA'S LEADERSHIP!!! You do realize he had nothing to do with leading the Secret Service right??? Stupid!

The lottery draft that was so famous during the Vietnam war started in 1969. Before the lottery was implemented in the latter part of the Vietnam conflict, Local Boards called men classified 1-A, 18 1/2 through 25 years old, oldest first.

He would not have been drafted until 1969 anyway.

Besides, if you are going to dodge a draft, you should probably not choose to do something that only gets you out of it for 2 and a half years, when you remain eligible for seven.

On a side note, missionaries do not get to choose where they serve. They put in their papers and the LDS church assigns them a location. Choosing to go out and preach to others does not seem like the most selfish of motives.

Since parents have to pay for the missionaries of their children, it is more likely that $$$ determine where you serve. Being badgered by these young men about a non-Christian religion is not fun if you have ever been encountered by them. They have been brainwashed in the Mormon doctrine but cannot answer any fundamentals in the Bible. I cannot vote some someone who does not believe in the cross that Jesus died upon.

tooelemom - Mormons are Christians with as much right to claim their Christian faith as any other denomination of Christianity

Katheryn Brandy - Mormons are certainly entitled to their religion but they are not Christians by any standard. Even the book of Mormon is against the Bible. They are a true theocracy and that's OK just don't claim Christianity.

Money is not considered when placing a missionary. The General Authority that places the missionary does not have their financial records when deciding where they should go. The missionary forms do not ask how much money your family makes.

The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ. The first testament is the Bible. The two are complimentary to each other. If you look at the Mormon scriptures online, you will see hundreds of footnotes that link back to the Bible, and vise versa. (see www.lds.org/scriptures)

We believe in that same cross that you do. We believe that Christ died to save all mankind. We believe in the same Christ in the Bible. Our entire religion is about Christ. As one Catholic scholar recently put it, we are obsessed with Christ. By this standard, we claim to be Christian.

We do not subscribe to the Nicene creed. Whether you determine a Christian by their belief or by their creed, I don't care. It makes no difference to me if you call me a Christian or not. I believe in Christ, in His atonement and resurrection, and that He is the Savior of all mankind. What classification you give us is not nearly as critical.

I understand that RandyToast and tooelemom are not interested in the truth, but I thought the rest of you might be interested. Missionaries do not select where they go. That is left to the church leaders in Salt Lake City who do so through inspiration and prayer. He did get the part right when he said that the missionaries and/or their parents pay the costs of the mission; however, every missionary pays the same regardless of where they go, United States, South America, Asia, Africa, or Europe. Just because we do not have a cross in our chapel does not mean that we do not believe that He died on one. We just focus on his ministry, what he taught, and his resurrection instead of how he died.

You know tooelemom - I honestly don't know, so you very well may be right.

But I do know this - it is a moot issue -whatever his faith is, Romney is a good man and that's all I need to know about his beliefs.

Does he eat the rabbits and rodents or just kill them for the "fun" of it?

Kinda like how he enjoys firing people just for the fun of it?

The outright blatant pandering is what kills me. "I like cheesy grits Y'All"

Sure, most politicians do it but but at least don't make it so blatantly obvious.

I hunt and eat rabbits. So do a lot of people in Michigan. And to be honest Ive eaten Squirrels and Pigeons also.

And he still is much, much better than Obama, making Obama a true POS.

Randy--it is like George Bush---Romney just wants to be the President--he doesn't really want to do anything or help anyone. He just wants the title because he feels he is entitled to it.

Jerry40yeardemocrat - Jerry - you are no more a 40 year democrat than I am a man. President Obama is an excellent President. He's dealing with a quagmire no President of our time has had to deal with and is doing so very well. Of course, if he didn't have the GOP trying to obstruct everything he works to do, he'd be even better! His second term will definitely be better than his first has been!

Obama/Biden 2012

ObserverNYC - hate to clue you in but, typing it in bold doesn't make it real. Not going to happen!

Obama/Biden 2012 in a landslide!

plans to air "positive" TV ads

"We'll even warm up the ultrasound 'wand' for you before we stick it in your [blank]."

Vaginal Probe McDonnell shot his wad on his premier legislation against the women of Virginia. That will be his legacy - not as VP on the Republican ticket.

I'm sure Romney heard how both McDonnell and the Virginia legislature poll numbers dropped among women after all the Vaginal Probing deal.