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Subscribe to RSSAnother weak jobs report helps Romney get back on message … But Obama leads in Virginia and two words – gender gap. It’s tough to see a great path to 270 for Romney without winning Virginia. … Is McDonnell veep possibility hurt by good VA economy? … The 17 “Swing Markets” – Obama’s going to two of them this weekend … China became the political story yesterday … Romney and religion, the need to coalesce but reach out to swing voters … Santorum, Romney meet, but no endorsement expected today … Romney addresses Grennell … and Lugar’s last chance: the last big weekend of campaigning in Indiana. It’s statesmanship vs. the Tea Party (and the Tea Party’s winning).
NBC’s Chuck Todd, Domenico Montanaro, Natalie Cucchiara, and Brooke Brower
Jewel Samad / AFP - Getty Images
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney speaks during a campaign event in Chantilly, Virginia, on May 2, 2012.
*** Another weak jobs report helps Romney get back on message: The bin Laden anniversary, a secret trip to Afghanistan to announce staying in that country for 10 more years and simultaneously the ending of the war as we know it, a diplomatic crisis, a presidential candidate drops out, and the latest report on the most important number this election – unemployment. All in a week’s work. It was another weak jobs report. Just 115,000 jobs were added, though the unemployment rate dropped to 8.1 percent,” and CNBC notes that the rate dropped because there were fewer people in the workforce. It was clear in the last NBC/WSJ poll that economic optimism had flat-lined. These jobs reports do have an impact on how people view the economy. We noted earlier in the week that Romney was having a tough week because of all the national security news that dominated. This will allow him to get back on message for a month. “This is not progress. This is very, very disappointing,” Romney said this morning. The upside inside the report was the fact that job gains were revised UPWARD for BOTH February and March, accounting for SOME of the drop in unemployment. But again, the shrinking workforce is the story.
The Daily Rundown's Chuck Todd talks about the April jobs report, in which unemployment fell to 8.1 percent with the economy adding just 115,000 more jobs.
*** Obama leads in Virginia: With Romney in Virginia yesterday, the Washington Post is out with a poll poll in Virginia, where Obama leads 51%-44% over Romney. It’s the fifth swing state poll in two days – WI, FL, OH, PA, VA. What have we learned from those? Romney’s got a lot of work to do. The common denominator on all these – we thought he might get a bump after being the de facto nominee, and while he showed improvement in some places, particularly Florida, he didn’t get much of a bump out of becoming the nominee. Virginia may very well be the scariest state for Romney. If Obama wins Virginia, he could win the White House without FL or OH. If Romney loses Virginia, he doesn’t have a path if he also doesn’t win any of the swing states out West.
*** Virginia, not just for lovers, but also for candidates – but two words – gender gap: Assuming the West becomes out of reach due to the GOP’s problems with Hispanics, then Romney HAS to win one of the following four: PA, VA, WI, or MI. And of those four, Virginia is clearly the most winnable. And of all the swing states, Virginia’s was closest to the national number in 2008. And it has moved with where the country has moved from 2005 forward. “I think most would say it's a very tough path for a Republican to win the presidency without winning Virginia,” said Gov. Bob McDonnell, who appeared with Romney yesterday. “So that's why you see Mitt here last night, today and he'll be here next week a couple times. This is clearly on the top of his list. The president's here today and the president's here on Saturday, so everybody knows Virginia's in play.” Digging deeper into the Washington Post poll and one result stands out above all others: the gender gap. If you didn’t think before that the fight over transvaginal ultrasounds hurt the GOP, then simply look at this gender gap in this poll. That fight did damage to the GOP’s brand with suburban women.
*** The Swing Markets: There are swing states and then there are swing MARKETS inside those swing states. And it’s these swing markets, where you’ll not just see TV ad spending but the candidates themselves. Our ad-tracking partners, SMG Delta crunched the numbers to break down the 17 “swing markets” within the broader group of battleground states. These are the ONLY media markets in these 12 battleground states where Bush won in 2004 and Obama won in 2008. We break down the list of those places here. Interestingly, Virginia sports three of the 17 markets (including Richmond) and Ohio sports two of the 17 (including Columbus). And where’s the president going for his first two official campaign events on Saturday? Richmond, VA, and Columbus, OH. By the way, margins in media markets matter as much as whether a candidate carries it. For instance, Colorado does not have a “swing” market. Kerry and Obama BOTH won the Denver-market. Obama just won it by a MUCH larger margin.
*** China rising: We noted yesterday that the story of Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng would become a political story, and did it ever – with Chen himself even calling into a Capitol Hill hearing. Romney criticized the Obama administration, charging that yesterday was “a day of shame for the Obama administration." Romney wasn’t very specific about would he’d do if he were president, but an aide indicated to NBCPolitics.com’s Mike O’Brien that Romney would have offered him asylum. State Department spokesman Mark Toner contended, however, “You cannot achieve political asylum unless you are outside of the country you are trying to flee.” This morning China says Chen can apply to study abroad, which seems like a way for everyone to save face. We can’t imagine Secretary Clinton leaving China without a firm deal in place.
*** Quick on the trigger: Romney rolled the dice a tad by deciding to jump on the Chen story. Yes he couched his comments with “If the media reports are true” but what if they aren’t. There’s a backstory here that no one is quite sure of. Why not wait a day? Why not wait two days until all the facts are known and the Secretary of State is back in the country? Of course, Republicans might argue that they put pressure on the administration to fight for Chen. This morning, Clinton, by the way, said, “All of our efforts with Mr. Chen have been guided by his choices and our values,” per NBC’s Sarah Blackwill. “And I'm pleased that today our ambassador has spoken with him, our embassy staff and our doctor had a chance to meet with him and he confirms he and his family now want to go the United States, so he can pursue his studies. In that regard, we are also encouraged by the official statement issued today by the Chinese government confirming that he can apply to travel abroad for this purpose.”
*** Close up: Romney was asked by local NBC Virginia affiliate WAVY if he believed his religion was part of the reason conservatives were slow to embrace him. Romney replied, “I've got great support from evangelical voters - a number of states that we had primaries in I was the leading contender.” Evangelicals were not a strength for Romney; it’s a big reason he lost South Carolina and didn’t win a single culturally Southern state. He won evangelicals in NH, MA, FL, NV, VT, MD, VA (where only he and Paul were on the ballot). He acknowledged, though, “I know there will be a narrative perhaps to that degree….” But he said, “I want all elements of our party to come together and support me, but I also have to get those folks that are the undecideds, the independent voters, women voters, Hispanic voters, young people, I've got to get them, too.” How tough has this pivot been for Romney? AP notes today that members of the Mormon Church are nervous about the church coming into the spotlight, having again to defend the church amidst “vetting” that “will take place amid the emotion of what may well be a nasty general election.”
*** McDonnell hurt by good VA economy ironically? McDonnell noted yesterday that Virginia has the lowest unemployment rate in the Southeast, and he’s running sunny ads about the state of the Virginia economy. If you’re wondering how he did in the audition, he might not make as much sense now, because he throws Romney off his “bad economy” message a bit. McDonnell would argue that it’s because of his pro-business policies that have helped create jobs in the state. But it’s hard to have it both ways. "Remember three and a half years ago, we heard that tune about hope and change?" McDonnell said. "Now what do we have? We have recession, division and malaise. It’s time for a change, don't you think?" But when you peel back the onion of the Virginia economy, you realize just how much the federal government is such a vital part of the economy. Two words: defense contractors.
*** Santorum, Romney meeting but not expected to appear together publicly: Romney will appear with Rick Santorum on his home turf in Pittsburgh today, but there isn’t expected to be an endorsement and, NBC’s Andrew Rafferty reports, the two aren’t even expected to appear together PUBLICLY. Santorum is really running out of political capital here – whatever’s left of it. Even Michele Bachmann, who once said Romney couldn’t beat Barack Obama, endorsed him yesterday. As AP’s Phil Elliott pointed out, Santorum endorsed Jon Bruning yesterday in the Nebraska Senate primary, but still hadn’t yet endorsed Romney. Romney holds an event at noon ET. The last time Pittsburgh hosted one of these meetings was for Bush-McCain.
*** Romney addresses Grennell – ‘wanted him to stay’: Mitt Romney address the Richard Grennell controversy for the first time this morning on FOX. “We wanted him to stay with our team,” he said, per NBC’s Garrett Haake. “He's a very accomplished spokesperson. We select people not based on ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation... We select based on ability.”
*** Big weekend of campaigning in IN and WI: It’s the last chance for Richard Lugar to turn the tide in his bid to retain his Senate seat against upstart Tea Party challenger Richard Mourdock, the state treasurer. Bloomberg today sums it up – pitting Lugar’s “statesmanship” against Mourdock’s fight for conservative purity. In Wisconsin, two Democrats – Kathleen Falk and Tom Barrett have their last chances to sell Democrats on why they would be best to take on the well-funded Gov. Scott Walker, in the recall fight. Barrett is favored by double-digits, according to a poll out Wednesday.
*** Get the NBC Politics app: Get the power of our political reporting and analysis where and when you want it with the new NBC Politics app. Get the latest stories and video from First Read, The Daily Rundown, Meet the Press, and more. Read our daily Tip Sheet to stay in-the-know with Decision 2012 and check out our national and state contest results. The app features an exclusive battleground map game that allows readers to carve out each candidate’s path to 270. Share those maps with us via Facebook or NBCPolitics.com and we might feature them online on air. Download it now for your iPad or iPhone. In this week’s Press Pass, David Gregory interviews actor Robert DeNiro from near Ground Zero. And check the blog this afternoon for The Week Ahead and The Week That Was.
*** The schedule: President Obama speaks against about student loan interest rates, this time at a high school in Arlington, VA, at 11:50 am ET. Then he hosts the 2012 NCAA Men’s Basketball champion Kentucky Wildcats at the White House at 4:50 pm ET. … Vice President Biden speaks about women’s issues at the YWCA Annual Conference in DC at 1:15 pm ET.
Countdown to Indiana Senate/Wisconsin recall primaries: 4
Countdown to Wisconsin recall election: 32
Countdown to Election Day: 186 days
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Leave a Comment:
The tax cuts for the wealthy are creating lots of jobs aren't they?
YES, in the Philippines and China,
thank God for Obama, it would be tens time worse, without him.
Obama isn't a christian, so why are you Thanking God ?
You're right it is Ten times worst with Obama in the house.
Time to rid of "Obama Drama".
Then why did he spend so many years in a "radical" Christian church that espouses the "unamerican" concept of social justice?
You Conservatives really need to keep your lies straight.
The American people sacrifice trillions in government revenue to ensure the funding of the Republican Party. From those to whom much is given, much will trickle down into campaign coffers of the givers of tax funds diverted from the Treasury. Republicans have earned 1% of the vote by waiving taxes for the wealthy (new people with names like Exxon, not created by God but by the Roberts court).
Why is Romney reaching out to swing voters? Does he assume that swing voters are lost and by disenfranchising them through many forms especially when the Patriot Act is used to monitor someone the community that does not listen to religious conjecture but lives by the Constitution of the United States and has been labeled a possible terrorist because they wont change what they believe that fits how the rest of community is made to believe by religion that somehow Romney will be the light that shines through the darkness for them to take the burden that the religious right has placed on the American away making Romney a hero.
I constantly read about from the Tea Party how Obama is a Communist, how Obama is a Socialist. At last check both of these sentiments are consistent within the religious right wing and the GOP as they continue to brainwash Americans into thinking that organized religion is necessary for America to continue and survive and that the Constitution is not necessary.
The more that the religious right wing under politicians like Romney continues to be present in American politics the more America becomes a Socialist Communist nation because of the religious right wanting all the free money that they can get through the use of fear that religion plays on in the minds of Americans.
The GOP = If Don't come to church or believe in what I tell you to believe and god will strike you dead---Communism
The GOP = If Don't pay your then weekly tithes, which are tax free for the church, then God will strike you dead---Socialism
The Constitution provides for Seperation of Church and State for the main reason that the more that the Church is allowed into places of political power the more religion will create laws that take away the rights of American citizens because the religious right hates the Constitution because it protects the rights of Americans to make a choice based on the individual liberties of each American to make a choice which benefits each American individuality instead of making a decision based on what the Church wants an American to decide which only benefits the ability of the Church to continue to force its Socialistic and Communistic laws, edicts and doctrine over the American which only benefits those who are receiving tax free money from Americans showing up to listen to words that can be read by Americans in the comfort of their own home.
Does America need more religious laws,edicts and doctrine to determine how each American should be so that a free loader can make tax free money off of Americans through the use of fear.
Or does America continue to want to be able to live in a free society where each American can make a choice based upon what they choose freely and without consequence of the religious right forcing its viewpoint on American's to say that Americans are wrong just because the religious right has been brainwashed into being fearfull of any choice that is not given to them.
The religious right equals Socialism and Communism
The Constitution equals liberty and freedom of choice.
The unemployment rate has been calculated using the same criteria i.e. underemployment and not looking for the past 17 years. Thus, Romney must be careful to not overdue the criticism. Several administrations including Bush have used these unemployment numbers to promote how well they were doing.
This is excellent news for the president.
He will be able to get back on message.
The economy is getting worse but at a better rate.
Economy is getting worse? More jobs, lower unemployment, higher stock market, higher corporate profits.....and GOP says the economy is getting worse?
That says a lot about their fiscal acumen.
Mark...
Not to worry, you'll recover.
DId I state anything inaccurately Nothing?
As I read all these comments in this blog I see one constant Righties your all in denial if you stayed away from your media and right wing web sites and went to real non-partisan sites and fact checked these issues you'd see the truth try the CBO for one Factorfiction for another or factcheck.org but we know you won't because you can't face facts and the truth, if your going to stand for a party at least know what your standing for the current repug party is not the republican party of the past this party is full of right wing radicals that won't help you or anyone in your family please try and find one thing in the ryan plan that would benefit you or family try and find one thing in flippers plan that would help you well you can't do that because tommorow he'll be on the other side of that issue.
We are faced with a potential dilema once again. Already knew prior to last election that between McCain and Obama that Obama was the Greater of the 2 Evils and why would we continue the same path to Destruction.
Vote for Romney (not the best candidate the GOP has ever came up with) as he'll clean up the Huge Mess that OBAMA DRAMA has done.
The United States has gone from the Great Recession into the Greatest Depression the World has ever seen with Barack Obama. He's not christian, not born in the U.S., and not my President since I did not vote for him. Maybe he's Socialist or something. I don't care what he claims as it 's time to get Obama out of the White House.
I enjoy the movie " Brewster's Millions " with Richard Pryor as Monty. He spent money to change the Mayor election race and said " Vote for None of the Above" only that the people ended up voting for him. lol
Well that is what I am suggesting that we FIRE all our Politicians and rid of them all. Let the Common People govern our Great Nation.
Romney won't help and Obama is worst yet.
You obviously did not learn your American history or study the Great Depression when comments such as yours are made. Bush and Co had us headed into a second "Great Depression" all by himself. But for choices made during the Obama Adminsitration, we would have had it in full force. How is it that Bush, taking power during good times, with a balanced budget could cut taxes twice, get into unfunded wars, and end up with over 5 Trillion in deficits and a pending depression, using the same failed economic theories as now pushed by Ryan and Romney, and the Right Wing GOP has the nerve to call them "Solutions"?
I call it insanity, As of now, three GOP Administrations have proven trickle down economics do not work, it just creates deficits, and transfers wealth to the top 2% which the 98% have subsidized,and will have to pay off. It does not create jobs.
Now, Romney/Ryan, and the GOP want another chance to prove it works. I guess most Republicans belive that once the top 2% accumulate 50% of all wealth and assets of American, then they will feel sorry for the masses and create a bunch of minimum wage jobs of the goodness of their hears, as they have no economic incentive to do so now, or under the proposed Ryan Budget. They are now making more money than ever before, so why do anything differently?
Apparently, Romney and Ryan agree.
Onteresting rant -- not based on any truth or facts. Just right-wing "FOX feed' nonsense. But you have every one to your opinion -- no matter how racist, mis-informed and misguided it is!~
Cut spending 20% across the board and raise taxes across the board by 5 to 10%.
Nothing else will work. There is no time left for "fine tuning" the economy. It is gangrene now up to the knee and the Hatchet Job is all there is now that will work. IF there can be any fine tuning it will not be for decades because the National Debt is the problem. Interest and Principal WE THE PEOPLE OWE is out of control. Can you spell BANKRUPTCY, well you might consider learing how to.
Many people criticize the Ryan budget plan as evil and mean. At least he is putting something forward, and yes it is going to hurt many people.....because we are there at the point where SOMETHING has to change to get us to financial responsibility. There HAS to be cuts, and it will hurt many who do not deserve it. It has to happen, as we are there now. Spending trillions in three years is so wrong, especially for a candidate who ran on cutting the spending and not raising the debt ceiling because it was Un-American, and not responsible to hang our children with such debt.
Business people are not going to hire many people until the Obama health care is eliminated and goes away. It is so crazy and ridiculous to think an employer needs to pay for health care of a part time employee and his family if he has one. That will not fly, but now that we can read what the evil stupid sooka Pelosi pushed thru along with ALL the other pathetic wear your emotions on your shirt sleeve puke liberals.
JUDGE KITHIL wrote:
**
Page 50/section 152: The bill will provide insurance to
all non-U.S. residents, even if they are here illegally.
**
Page 58 and 59: The government will have real-time access to an
individual's bank account and will have the authority to make
electronic fund transfers from those accounts.
**
Page 65/section 164: The plan will be subsidized (by the
government) for all union members, union retirees and for
community organizations (such as the Association
of Community Organizations for Reform Now -
ACORN).
**
Page 203/line 14-15: The tax imposed under this section
will not be treated as a tax. (How could anybody in their
right mind come up with that?)
**
Page 241 and 253: Doctors will all be paid the same
regardless of specialty, and the government will set all
doctors' fees.
**
Page 272. section 1145: Cancer hospital will ration care
according to the patient's age.
**
Page 317 and 321: The government will impose a prohibition on
hospital expansion; however, communities may petition for an
exception.
**
Page 425, line 4-12: The government mandates advance-care
planning consultations. Those on Social Security will be
required to attend an "end-of-life planning" seminar every five
years. (Death counseling..)
**
Page 429, line 13-25: The government will specify
which doctors can write an end-of-life order.
I for one gobbled up all the Hope and Change in 08, and now I feel like I am curled up in the shower sobbing knowing I just had sex with a man when I thought it was a woman....
ANYBODY with a pulse in 2012 except Super Barack and twiddle dee Biden...
Today's numbers are further proof that tax cuts for the wealthy don't create jobs. We would be far better off to nix those tax cuts and spend the money on much needed infrastructure improvement hiring Americans to upgrade America rather than upgrading the wallets of the wealthy.
Therm: The numbers prove that President Obama is not a very good leader. Sorry!
Mitt will win in November.
Sorry Thermen, we are 16 trillion in debt. Any money raised needs to go to the debt - unless we want to end up like Greece.
I can't believe how some people can so MISS THE POINT. Are we just one more tax increase away from prosperity? Go ahead raise taxes it still not going to solve the main problem this country needs to address.. Out of control debt.. just look at Greece if you want to see our futures about 10 or 15 years from now if we do nothing.
JJD, no one is saying higher taxes solves all our problems, even though that's what the GOP is claiming is being said.
What democrats are saying is that higher taxes are a part of our debt problem, which is undeniably true.
Just list the long term structural cuts to any entitlement program that Obama has put his name to.
Mark:
Now the the "recovery" is slowing, and since President Obama said in 2009 that it was a bad idea to take money out of the struggling economy by raising taxes and kept the Bush tax cuts in place, don't you think it's a good idea, at this point, to stop the talk about increasing taxes?
Follow the logic and it might lead to the fact that government is highly ineffective in managing the economy and trickle down does work. It was true 2 years ago when President Obama said those words and its true now. Let it go.
Vote Mitt
JJD, neither Obama or democrats will sign onto structual cuts until republicans sign onto tax increases. They do want to be re-elected after all.
Atticus, Obama was referring to taking money out the economy via tax increases on the middle class, not gazillionaires, which is exactly what he proposed.
Thank You for saying it. He is refusing to lead.
Taking money out of the economy is taking money out of the economy Mark. You need to stop lying to yourself. Take Mitt. Almost all his money is in investments. Investments help the economy grow. Right? When the economy grows the job market improves. Trickle down works. Where would we be now without it?
@JJD: Apparently you are not a real student of Americn history (put aside economics for the moment) --taxing the richest business and person in this country is a very bad, and negative thing-right? Will damage the economy --you say?You should never tax the "job creators"- --correct? Were you aware that the Unites States enjoyed a very robust economy in the 1950's and early 1960's -- do you know what the tax rate on the "richest Americans" was back then? - close to 90%! And somehow they managed to eat and houset themselves and GROW businesses and employ American workers at good wages and we had fairly low unemployment -- and we alsorecord construction of roads, bridges, etc -- and had one of the greatest period of middle-calss growth, home construction and homeownership -- How did that happen? By your logic it would not and did not! if more people have decent jobs making good wages -- instead of just the top 1% -- and everyone pay their "fair share of taxes -- that how -- Reality -- look into it!
If the Republican congress would just work with Obama there just might be jobs to talk about, but these idiots in congress don't want to work with Obama. They ought to be ousted. Another thing, if the rich would pay their share of taxes, maybe that would help out our economy. It's wrong the rich don't pay. We are tired of carrying their load. Let the rich pay their own way.
So clearly we need to change the Constitution, because what you're suggesting is that unless one party controls everything, nothing will get done. Of course, you want all Democrats, but there are just as many people who want all Republicans. Of course, "let the rich pay their own way" is a misnomer - pay their own way for what? Basically if you are wealthy in this country the left seems to think you're soul purpose for existing is to give your money to they government because they know better than you what to do with it.
Trickle down economics = peon -- While I am sure we would all enjoy being the one doing the "peeing down' -- I am not --and speaking for the vast majority of Americans -- Please don't "trickleing down on us and than tell us it's raining - and then try to sell usover-priced raincoats (made over-seas)!!
The real reason jobs are slow right.
Big Oil and its White Whale
The only reason that jobs seem weak right now is because of the gas prices. The increase in gas prices has been fixed so that job growth does not occur based upon the freedom of choice based upon the freedom to start a business which is protected by the Constitution of the United States. But because of the Socialistic nature of Big Oil in not wanting new business to come along that would take away from their power base such as natural gas powered cars and solar powered homes is the reason why job growth is slow.
Americans have grown tired of the Big Three Big Oil companies and the only way that they can remain in political power is too keep job growth or the new from becoming more than just a sprout from the ground.
But what the Big Three don't realize is that even though their seemingly un penetrateable three point attack may protect them from all sides in a flat world, in a three dimensional world they have forgotten about the future or what is overhead of their formation and the past or what lays in the ground beneath their feet.
If the Big Three continue to raise the gas prices in order to maintain their political hold over America they will continue to affect the economic growth of America because Americans will not be able to travel or do the things that they did when gas prices were around $1.00 a gallon. With the increase in gas prices future generations will strive to look for better systems that will create a large base of jobs while protecting the rights of America's Freedoms and what each American chooses to do with their time and freedoms.
If the Big Three lower gas prices they know that Americans will flock to vehicles that do not use gasoline but will use natural gas, electric or hybrid forms of combustion such as the hydrogen fuel cell cars in order to take back our freedom of choice and rights.
The bi three of big oil have backed theirself into a canyon that they cannot escape from and are surrounded on all sides by the free spirit of America that will not be segregated or regulated to small communities just so the religious right and big oil can continue to rake in free cash at the expense of Americans every Sunday.
For 80% of the population it doesn't matter what the unemployment rate. It could be 20% and 40% of the population will still blindly vote for Obama. It could be 3% and 40% of the population would still blindly vote for Romney. The other 20% is rarely represented on these type of boards because they are often not as passionate as those on the left and right.
So how are those tax cuts for the wealthy working out?
So how is 4 years of Obama working out? Hmmm?? Nearly 15% true unemployment for his entire tenure. Happy days are here again!!
Did you know that the increase in gas prices is unconstitutional because it takes away from the liberties and freedoms of Americans to be able to enjoy what they do based upon the freedom of choice?
Big Oil is the problem in America and with the increase in the gas price at the pump will only increase the sprawl of socialism and communism in America.
Mitt Romney and the GOP are happy as clams that the economy sucks. Just so they can get elected to give the 1% a bigger tax break and ship more jobs overseas. What's wrong with this picture?
I love laughing at you libs. One post on here says "The economy is improving and jobs are being created", and the next post says sarcastically, "The tax cuts for the rich really helped create a lot of jobs, haven't they"?
Make up your minds, jackasses
The economy is improving and tax cuts for billionaires didn't help.
How's that?
Criticizing Obama for the weak economy is alot like criticizing the Doctors who saved Gabrielle Giffords because she hasn't "fully recovered " from her wounds. The President inherited a mess from the previous administration....record job losses,a devastated stock market,two unpaid for wars,two ill advised tax cuts,lack of financial regulation,and almost total non-cooperation from Republicans in Congress. It is amazing we are doing as well as we are.Just as it is amazing Ms. Giffords is doing as well as she is.It will take years for a critically wounded patient to recover and years for a critically wounded economy to get better. It is not about blaming Republicans,it is about acknowledging that critical wounds that could have killed an economy.....take time to heal.
Why will it help Romney? Look at three GOP Administration's job creation records. Reagan's was 5th out of the past 6 Presidents. Bush floated along on an economic bubble created by deregulaion, but tax cuts for the "job creators" did not create jobs, just 5 plus trillion in deficits, not including the additonal 3 trillion of the current Administration, directly attributable to the Bush Economic Meltdown, and lost tax revenues, (Not massive spending as the Right Wing likes to claim, as other than the bailouts, the rest was caused by Bush & Co, along with the GOP who used to claim that "Deficits don't matter" unless they are out of office, then they do)
The proof is in our own economic history. Tax cuts for job creators only creates more wealth in that group, and more deficits, not jobs. Austerity, other than the continued gifting to the top 2% only will cause a new recession. The Romney/Ryan "Marvelous" Budget will do just that, as futher subsidizing the top 2%'s continued accumulation of wealth (They are hoping for 50% of all American Assets by the end of an 8 year Romny term up from 40% now, and only 8% in 1970.
So, with all the tax cuts during the Bush Administration, where were the jobs? It does not work. It is smoke and mirrors, nothing more, a plan in which the 98% subsidize the 2%'s accumulation of wealth, in the vain hopes they will invest in jobs, rather than accumlating more "Stuff".
So, if you want to insure the 2%s continued accumulation of wealth, and income (only up 275% while the 98% lost 10%, and 50% of all Americans now live in poverty, based upon a 22K income for a family of 4) vote for Romney/Ryan.
Or, you can wake up, and vote out of office any Representative or Senator who signed the Norquest "No new tax pledge". It is time for taxes to be revamped for all of us, with simplification, and a progressive tax based upon the code during the Clinton Administration, with credits and deductions based upon new jobs for Americans created, investment in alternative forms of energy, manufacturing, etc.
Only then will you see the 2% actually creating jobs for Americans, when it becomes economically advantagious for them to do so. Under the GOP tax cut plan, it is a no brainer, they simply accumulate more stuff, and do not create jobs.
GOP equals no solutions, no plan, no answers, just the same failed policies that created our current economic disaster.
I am glad that Romney has finally come out and stood up for Richard Grennell. But I am sorry that the conservative right placed Romney in a position that Grennell felt he had to resign. You would think that if Dick Cheney can acknowledge Mary's sexuality and can campaign for same sex marriage in Maryland,the GOP would let this be an issue they can let go.
The far right, teabaggers is what is crippling the GOP. Why can't the GOP silence these fools? Why did it take Romney days to stand up for Grennell?
I agree Tx - waiting to see if it will die down on it's own is not as courageous as the action could have been. When Romney does this waiting to avoid political fall out routine, he feeds into the perception he has no spine.
Romney said yesterday we should be creating 500,000 new jobs a month now....
1. he should let the Republican House in on that with his specific plan right now!
2. if elected we should be able to see 500,000 new jobs by the end of February!
Keep that shovel handy Mitt - you'll be needing it!
Romney has been successful in EVERY job he has had.
1. Governor -UR @ 4.7% and balanced budget-Just like he said he would.
2. Bain- Made money for his investors- just like he said he would.
3. Olympics-Fix them when they were in trouble- Just like he said he would.
Now when he says 500,000 jobs by February you don't believe him?
Look, I know a lot can be said to the negative about all the above. It does not change that fact that he had a job to do and the did it.
Vote Mitt in November!!!
Why did you leave out that when he was governor MA ranked 47th in new job creation?
** job growth increased 1.3% during Romney term
As most repubs do you have "selective memory"?
As for the balanced budget - that's a lie - he left MA in the hole and the new governor had to make 500 million program cuts immediately!
And of course the "fixed the olympics"....guess anyone could have if they had the Fed govt bail them out!
You spin how you need to spin....there are more then just teapublicans on the vine who won't let you just lie!
Romney said this morning that we should be adding 500,000 jobs a month.
Problem … only 4 times in our history has that happened.
Clueless
nice to see the mutual admiration society is back basking in the sunshine of more cooked unemployment numbers.
enjoy, because the bull@!$%# ends for both sides when the votes are counted
keep those happy thoughts!
Europe is going to hell as we speak. Watch the market drop Monday after the results of the Greece and France elections on Sunday. Economists are saying that this European crisis is going to affect our economy in such a way as to make 2008 look like chump change. Donald Duck would defeat Obama once the smoke of this new carnage clears.
this good news..I MUCH prefer the duck to the dork
Don't be silly Donald Duck only votes on Fox News
Your a deluded idiot.
France is going to elect a socialist President who will stop the destructive austerity measures in favor of repairing their economy the old fashioned way. Put money in the pockets of the middle class, who then spend that money on things they need. Which then creates a DEMAND in the market for more products, which creates DEMAND in the markets to HIRE people to make said products. Especially if one makes sure the products are manufactured in your own country.
The rethugs forced the removal of the "Made in America" portion of the stimulus, republicans are NOT in favor of the American people. They are FASCISTS, whose only allegiance is to their corporate masters.
So,,, What's Romney's Plan? --- His plan really sucks, republican cuts have already cost the jobs of thousands.... Romney's plan cuts thousands more
More cutting jobs or bailing out the states who aren't doing their part to create jobs?
For some one who said "Government doesn't create Jobs" one would think he's barking just to be barking like a dog that becomes a neighborhood nuisance
His Trade Policy out sources all our manufacturing right back to China