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Subscribe to RSSBoth campaigns were taken off script this week. The Obama campaign didn’t think this week would be about gay marriage when it began, and the Romney campaign certainly didn’t think it would have to be talking about doing “stupid things” 50 year ago about his behavior in prep school. … What does the story mean for Romney? For one, it highlights that he hasn’t been clearly defined. ‘Who is Mitt Romney?’ is still an open question and not completely filled in. … Why it doesn’t make sense to chide a local reporter. … The White House tries to re-write recent history … Obama’s up with his first bailout ads … And Romney’s paths to 270.
From NBC’s Chuck Todd, Domenico Montanaro, Natalie Cucchiara, and Brooke Brower
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U.S. President Barack Obama, Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.
*** An off-script week: This is how the week began and ended -- you’re Team Obama, you thought the week was going to be about your campaign launch and your $25 million ad campaign kickoff (first Detroit bailout ads, morning in America, don’t change horses in midstream – see more below). Instead, the week will forever be known as the time you came out for gay marriage; not exactly the campaign rollout they envisioned. You’re Team Romney, you thought this be the week would be about you responding to Obama’s launch and be able to respond with the economy, do your own national tour of sorts, going to some swing areas like Ohio, Michigan, Colorado and Omaha, NE. Instead, you end the week on having to defend yourself against a 50-year-old story about your candidate’s behavior in prep school – a reminder that you may have high name ID, but people still don’t know who you are.
*** Crisis management 101: On a technical front, the Romney campaign appears to have picked the fastest path of trying to get this story behind them. Let the candidate vaguely address, accept the fact you’ll have a bad news cycle or two and hope it’s done by next week. Deciding to sort of acknowledge overall behavior issues but denying the specific charge was a calculated risk, and they seem to be employing two techniques – (1) With the mainstream media, Romney is apologizing without owning up to all the details, but (2) In the Twitter world and with the base, they’re feeding conspiracy theories on media bias. Jumping to media bias is always at the top of the crisis management 101 playbook in the GOP. And it usually helps in weathering a storm.
Mitt Romney learned that running for president means every aspect of your life is open to exception – even high school – as he spent a day apologizing for something he didn't own up. The Daily Rundown's Mitt Romney.
*** Who is Mitt Romney: But this story exposed a bigger problem for Romney. The first thing anyone running for office has to do is own their own narrative; they need to define themselves before the other side does it for them. And the bigger issue here is that the story brings to light how Romney – despite running for president for five years – is still not completely defined; his narrative is still being formed. The question of, “Who is Mitt Romney,” is still out there. Just because you have high name ID, doesn’t mean people know who you are. It’s the great mistake that John Kerry made in 2004. When you first start running as a presidential candidate, you’re usually a two-dimensional figure. By the general election, you’re 3D; you’re fully formed. Romney’s STILL not yet fully formed despite fact that he’s run for president for so long. The story’s a reminder of how easily others are trying to fill in the blanks. Which begs the question: why is Romney still not fully-formed in the minds of the public?
*** Romney abandoned two planks of his biography: It all goes back to that Romney has not RUN on a clear, defined biography. Sure, he talks about family and business, but he doesn’t run on his biography, his personal story, the way Obama and McCain did – both of whom had compelling narratives. Romney has compelling narratives too, but he’s avoiding them. There were three narratives you could see him using: (1) The successful businessman, (2) A competent governor; and (3) A man of faith. He chose not to focus too strongly on his record as governor or man of faith for what look like political reasons in a primary. On faith, it’s always been a double-edged sword. You continue to hear that the more he grounded himself in his faith, the more it made him the man he is character-wise (that is revealed in the Washington Post story for instance) – but nobody talks about it any further. It’s a calculation that all members of religious minorities make and have made in the past. But what it’s done is made him overly cautious. And it only feeds into the fact that he’s still more of a distant 2-D figure; as one person remarked to us, he’s a postcard.
*** Best case, worst case scenarios: The BEST case for Romney on this Washington Post story is that it establishes him as someone who went to prep school – not a regular high school – not only is he a man of privilege but he was a boy of privilege, too. We know the worst case. The middle case is it can make people think back to high school, and say, oh, he was THAT kid? The point is, at a bare minimum, this Washington Post story establishes Romney as a child of privilege and feeds the narrative Democrats are trying to build that he’s a man of privilege only looking out for folks like him. And while Romney will survive this story: plenty of folks believe high school is simply not fair game, it’s another paint brush stroke on the unfinished portrait of Romney.
*** Times have changed: The other part of the story is -- what was reluctantly acceptable behavior in high school 30, 40, 50 years is not today – a point the New York Times makes. An incident like the one highlighted in the lede of the story would likely make news today and would probably get you kicked out. Society’s morality of this kind of behavior, with all the attention on bullying, has changed. Romney’s apology for his overall behavior was missing some empathy, particularly for this kind of behavior. He could have condemned behavior like that without owning it. At the end of the day, though, this was 50 years ago. It’s a day-and-a-half story, doesn’t define this election or change much likely, especially since the contours are still going to be shaped by the economy. But it is a reminder that the campaign has a lot more work to do to fill out and answer the question, “Who is Mitt Romney?” -- beyond issues and ideology; it’s who is this guy to his core. You could see Restore Our Future trying with the Saved ad about Romney’s efforts to rescue a kidnapped daughter of a co-worked. But the ad itself is five years old; they didn’t even bother updating the interviews. By the way, remember that Obama had to answer questions about his high-school drug use in 2008: “The American people are pretty clear about who I am,” he said then. “I wrote a book about it. That’s the only reason these issues are coming up. It has to do with when I was a teenager, and I think they recognize that 30 years later as a father of two and a husband and a United States Senator that I’m prepared to lead the country.”
*** Just answer the question: Another item that flew under the radar was Romney in Colorado, chiding a local reporter – in a one-on-one interview -- after she asked questions about gay marriage, whether children of illegal immigrants should get in-state tuition, and medical marijuana – all hot-button issues in Colorado. “Aren’t there issues of significance that you’d like to talk about?” Romney asked. The reporter responded: “This is a significant issue in Colorado.” Here’s what’s perplexing. It doesn’t make sense to chide a local reporter, because the whole point of doing local press is to get positive local coverage. Sure, Romney’s smart to want to always pivot back to the economy; but he appeared to look annoyed while doing it; that’s fine when you are appealing to a base voter who already hates the media; but swing voters? Suburban women in Colorado? And what did the local station highlight: that Romney “got flustered,” and the headline on their web print story: “Romney Loses Cool When Questioned About Marijuana, Gay Marriage.” By the way, AP reports today that medical marijuana supporters are out with their first ads today in Colorado. It will be on the ballot there this fall.
*** White House tries to re-write recent history: It’s pretty clear the White House doesn’t want the first draft of history on President Obama and gay marriage to be Joe Biden forced him to do it. There are a lot of “record-correcting” anecdotes now starting to leak out about how Biden apologized for jumping the gun and that, oh, they were fully prepared to make this announcement themselves before the election, that the whole point of scheduling time on “The View” was when he was going to do it. The White House appears to be more worried about the president looking like a waffler – they’re still trying to fix that, and it can come across as ham-handed.
*** First Bailout ads from Obama: We asked if the Obama campaign would come out with another positive ad ever again after its launch ad – and it has, three more, in fact, including their first ones on the auto bailout. The most powerful of the three, however, highlights an auto worker, who the ad claims, lost his job and got it back because of the bailout. The Weekly Standard, though, writes “The ad itself seems to be misleading. It is not because of Obama's auto bailout that Slagle has a job. In fact, Slagle has been employed with Johnson Controls since February 2006, according to his own Facebook page." The campaign didn’t immediately respond to an email requesting a response.
*** Romney’s path to 270 – a focus on the industrial Midwest: Romney’s path to 270 is narrower than President Obama’s, we’ve noted before. The Romney folks made the rounds yesterday chatting with various DC reporters about their paths. We learned they believe this election is about the industrial Midwest, in large part – about doing well in places like Ohio and Iowa, and making inroad in Wisconsin and Michigan. If Romney sweeps the key Southern states of Florida, North Carolina, and Virginia, he has to win one of those Midwest states. If he loses one of those Southern states, he has to win more of those. The West is trickier; it’s clear they don’t want to have to be relying on the West, though, Nevada, where the president is today is their BEST shot of the swing states there. Nevada still has the highest unemployment and foreclosure rates in the country.
*** On the trail: President Obama travels from Los Angeles to Reno, NV where he will meet with a local family and call on Congress “to act on create jobs and help restore middle class security.” … Romney attends an event in Charlotte, N.C., at a pipe and foundry company.
Countdown to Wisconsin recall election: 25
Countdown to Arizona 8 (Giffords seat) special election: 32
Countdown to Utah Senate primary: 46 days
Countdown to Election Day: 179 days
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The real question about Mitt Romney is why he doesn't just come out and endorse President Obama for reelection. How do you shake the feeling that Romney is doing his level best to alienate all but the most fervent, fevered, and insane right-wingers? Romney's reliance on identity politics is the answer. That alone will make this a close race. What is this identity? It's the G.O.P. - the party of the perpetually aggrieved and the LDS.
Forget the cult label for a moment. The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints - Mormons - is notoriously clannish. That is Romney's most loyal base. Loyal is the operative word. His other supporters are not loyal at all, but rather are united in their hatred for "The Other".
The media paint a picture of "The Other" as a President who is hated simply because he has dark skin, or he is Kenyan, or a Muslim. Truly, there are those who do hate President Obama for those reasons alone. God Himself could not get these idiots to accept the fact that the President is a dark-skinned, Christian American. This is classic Obama Derangement Syndrome.
The media are only partially correct, when it comes to defining "The Other". For the hate and fear-driven majority that controls the Republican Party, "The Other" is whomever they do not like. If he is smarter, "The Other" is an elitist. Skin not white enough? An illegal alien. Doesn't support war? An unpatriotic wimp. Isn't an evangelical? An atheist, who wants religion banned and houses of worship burned to the ground. Doesn't think an arsenal is a necessity? A yellow-streaked, lily-livered coward.
It's great to be an ideologically driven, identity politics kind of guy. There's just so darned much that makes you angry. Come on in to the all-you-can-hate G.O.P. buffet: Government, science, Anthropogenic Global Warming, George Soros - everything that damned President Obama loves. "Fill my plate with dogma food, and I'll have a glass of fool-ade." Yummy.
So it is, Mitt Romney supports President Obama. Illegal aliens. There must be a bazillion, gazillion illegals here. They should self-deport. Never mind that they work hard and that they are reliable. Never mind that many of them ARE NOT here illegally. What they will do is self-propel themselves to polls to vote for "The Other", because they are "Others" too.
Women? Well, those darned uppity women think they're as much a citizen as Mitt Romney. They're kidding, right? They're undignified incubators with legs. Want dignity? Get a damned job. They're going to get a job all right. They're going to the polls to vote for "The Other", because they are "Others" too.
LGBT's? Well they're just way too weird. There's only a couple of things you can do about them. First, you have to deny them the rights that you have. Doesn't the idea of them marrying just make your skin crawl?. Secondly, well hell yes it makes your skin crawl, so you should just beat 'em up. Gang up on them. Cut their hair. Maybe brand a big red "Q" on their forehead. They'll be going to the polls to vote for "The Other" because they are "Others" too, and they don't like the Republican brand.
Sure the economy is important. It always is. Sure President Obama has made mistakes. All Presidents do. He is not perfect. None of us are, and if there is anything that unites us, it is that we recognize the fact that each and every one of us is an "Other".
Mitt Romney is wrong over & over again on his economic plan that spends $Trillions on tax cuts for corporations & the wealthiest -- way MORE than the Bush tax cuts, and gives NO details on how to stop its disastrous effects on the federal budget.
Recently a spokesperson for the RNC said Mitt Romney and the GOP are forwarding policies "of the Bush administration...just updated":
1. Bush passed a huge tax cut plan, mostly benefiting the wealthy. Romney's tax cut plan is four times larger, more heavily weighted to benefit ultra wealthy.
2. Bush signed the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law. Romney supports repealing virtually all campaign finance laws.
3. Bush supported comprehesive immigration reform, a path to citizenship for 12 million undocumented immigrants and provisions of the DREAM Act. Romney opposes all of it.
4. Bush enacted a historic expansion of Medicare. Romney wants to end Medicare as we know it.
5. Bush signed a substantial increase to the minimum wage. Romney opposes increasing the minimum wage.
6. Bush created higher fuel efficiency standards. Romney says even current standards are too high.
7. Bush acknowledged global warming is caused by humans. Romney says "we don't know."
8. Bush lauched one of the biggest land conservation programs in U.S. history. Romney says the federal government owns too much land.
9. Bush supported civil unions for gay couples. Romney opposes them.
This just in;
There is no known cure for bullying!
May explain why Willard's career choice was to become a vulture capitalist...
I gotta hand it to you guys. You sure know how to make a fella's day! Yesterday you all had me literally rolling on the floor with all your outrageous indignation over a teenage Mitt Romney cutting the bangs off some Peter Noone wannbe 47 years ago. I haven't read anything that funny since Feisty Dumbfux proclaimed professional schoolgirl/activist Sandra Fluke as the new ROSA PARKS. LOL Ahhhh...stop it...my sides are hurting again!!! Hahahahahaha!
Use, buy (and probably sell) cocaine and other drugs in your youth? No problem. Eat a nice tasty German Shepard's Pie? No problem. Befriend and socialize with an unrepentent domestic terrorist? No problem. Spend 20 years being mentored and preached to by a America hating, racist anti-Semite? No problem. TRIM SOME POOR SAP'S MOPTOP? OMG!!!!!!!! Bully!!!! He should be arrested!!!! LOL. Yall are so (unintentionally) hilarious. Well, if that's all you can slam Mitt for...and you have to go all the way back to 1965???? I'd say Mitt has you jerkoffs shaking in your boots.
By the way. The main witness that the WaPo used in the hit piece? Turns out he wasn't even there at the time and didn't even hear about the "incident" until a couple weeks ago. Hmmm, that's kinda strange since he said that it's bothered him for years, don't ya think? Oh and...big surprise; he "leans" Democrat. Yeah.
The railroading of George Zimmerman by the liberal media taught me to, once-and for all, not believe a GD thing they tell me when it comes to stories where they have an agenda. I was right. When are you people gonna learn?
How many different attacks are gonna backfire on you people and blow up on you before you finally stop with your lies and BS?
Remember....Hilary Rosen, a lesbian who is somehow an expert on "women's issues" says that stay-at-home moms don't "work." KABOOM!
Romney put his dog on the roof on a trip 4 decades ago? Then we're reminded that Da Prez used to enjoy the occasional Poodle Salad.
Anyway, no matter what Romney did 47 years ago in high school, it appears he has....c'mon....say it with me now....ready?....EVOLVED.....LOL
More high school classmates of Mitt Romney have come forward in the wake of a blockbuster Washington Post story on his bullying of a presumed gay classmate, with one telling ABC News that Romney engaged in “bullying supreme”, and saying that he witnessed one event that could be considered “assault and battery.” He described Romney and his friends as a “pack of dogs” that targeted other victims.
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/05/former-romney-classmate-describes-bullying-supreme-a-pack-of-dogs-who-targeted-differentboy/
You start your post with a bigoted rant against Mormons- and then go on to accuse those who oppose Obama's destructive policies of merely being "against the 'other'"?!?!
Consistency is another quality liberals do not possess- in fact, they simply cannot understand what it means.
By the way- looks like the WaPo hit piece is falling apart at the seams. The sisters of the alleged "victim" are speaking out against the story- and one "source" in the story, quoted as having grieved over the incident "for years"- told ABC News he was not there, and only heard about the alleged incident when contacted by the WaPo.
This is starting to look like Dan Rather all over again.
It also looks lame and stupid. Honestly- digging into someone's high school years, when we've been told for the last four years that there is no need to see Obama's college transcripts- we're just to assume that he is brilliant, because all those in his cult preach that he is brilliant?
It's got desperation written all over it- but, I must say, I'm glad it came up. See, when the same thing was done to Rand Paul, the polls were pretty close. They broke wide open when his college prank story came up- to his, not his opponent's advantage.
Distractions are not working. It's the economy- first, middle, and last. Which is why,
Obama shelved in 2012.
nojo
guess you didn't hear....Romney owned up to the story!
so will Lauers sisters call him a "liar" as well and say it never happened?
do you think they might be trying to quiet the story because of the "gay" allegations!
Let's talk about "desperation".....it is written all over the faces and in the words of you teapublicans!
David W, Backhouse terrific posts to end the week.
Despite the poll showing Romney leading President Obama on the economy, that will likely change once voters are more informed of what Mitt Romney's economic plan is. Right now, all they really know is Romney ran a successful business, was a one-term Governor and saved the Olympics. They know few details. It's the details that will give Mitt problems which is exactly why he has yet to provide specifics of his economic plan which is President Bush's policies on steroids. He gives clues such as the Ryan Budget is "marvelous" but beyond that, nothing much. The devil is in the details and it is doubtful voters will embrace a re-run of the Bush years with even more drastic tax cuts for the richest while burdening everyone else.
Good Morning David,
A GREAT opener for the day. I'm left to wonder how anyone that is sane can be part of today's GOP.
Thanks
Truer words. And that's one of the themes coming out this election cycle, and we don't need any Main Stream Media outlet or a political commentator hack to tell us, it is really quite clear that Obama is incompetent and doesn't know how to be president. You just have to look at his behavior lately. From the Buffett Rule, from his nutty populist rhetoric, to student loan interest rates, the man talks small (these are not the big issues) and looks small. Obama is all talk and no action, he can barely work with his own Democrats, let alone with the Republicans. Even convicted felons get 41% of the vote against him in state wide elections, that has to be chilling for Obama and his election team.
And the country seems to be taking notice as Obama is running against a fairly mediocre candidate, and is struggling to keep up with him. All of Obama's political hatchet men, led by Chicago's own #1 hack job artist David Axelrod, can't put out enough garbage stories out (Seamus the dog, "bullying", etc.) to impact this election. This strategy worked well when Obama ran for the Senate and Alexrod pried court sealed divorce records out and made them public about Obama's opponent Jack Ryan (which forced Ryan to withdraw from the race), but it won't work now, because you see, Obama has something he didn't have back then, a record. All the pretty speeches from Obama now mean nothing, because they just show what a hollow, flip-flopping, ineffective, deceitful, petty, and incompetent man Obama has always been.
Sarah Palin is endorsing candidates, but none yet for Willard.
Ron Paul is collecting delegates.
Rush is bashing Smith on Fox.
The GOP Cannibal Convention is going to be fun to watch.
They will all be under the same tent.
Fired up and ready to go: FORWARD
Obama 2012
Yeah the guy in the gay bullying incident reported in the Borowitz Report and proudly cut and pasted by Feisty is a lie. At least it is a lie according to the person it is supposedly about. He says it never happened, and yet here it is being touted as fact by Obama supporters. Nothing like saying anything, or making anything up to get elected. Any means to an end can be justified by liberals, even lies.
sandy-1851937
And Marie Osmond declines to endorse fellow Mormon Mitt Romney, saying she will vote for a candidate that defends the constitution. (code for she supports Ron Paul?)
Snookie-Joe,
One small problem with your fantasy, Willard has NOT denied it!
Why would he apologize for something that didn't happen... hon?
My daughter who teaches the visually impaired was completely repulsed at tricking a blind person to walk into a door!
Real funny stuff... eh?
WOW ! The Clooney Fundraiser nets 15,000.000. Not a bad nights work. But that's just "walking around" money for Willard. And when he's not just walking around and mouthing off, he's beating up little boys. What a man. And it only took 5 or 6 other guys to help him. There's no questions he's a tough guy, just looking at him you can tell. Yet watching him I see the same mannerisms in him the the little boy he beat up had. Question? No comment.
Obama in 2012.
Strange, since the victim is DEAD!
Little Ricky,
With some serious practice - you too can proudly cut & paste! ;o)
Excuse me, First Read, but to say that Romney hasn't yet been "clearly defined" exposes either some cluelessness or a gross failure on the part of the media.
The clueless part is that the media has long since defined Romney as not likable, and even somewhat insensitive, and yet seems completely shocked to learn that he might ALWAYS have been unlikable and insensitive.
The gross failure part is that this man has been running for President for more than 5 years, and yet you are claiming that only now are you getting a whiff of the real man?
Seriously?
What DO you do with all that Citizens United advertising money, anyway. Spending it on investigative journalism doesn't seem to factor in.
@ Rick -- I believe that the original report by one of Romney's high school chums was in the Washington Post. Take it up with them.
Happy Friday Tom!
What is even more impressive is roughly half of it came from $3.00 online donations! ☺
Feisty, if that's a real letter and Mitt's definition of a merry prankster, he's one sick puppy with a seriously flawed character.
Dennis, there's probably plenty more of Romney's classmates who will step forward to express similar views as you've posted. I hear the Romney campaign has put out a call for classmates willing to defend Mitt which means they are in all-out damage control.
Rick, the guy whose hair Romney cut died several years ago so unless he's speaking from the grave, he did not say the incident never happened.
Brain Damage123
The railroading of George Zimmerman by the liberal media taught me to, once-and for all, not believe a GD thing they tell me when it comes to stories where they have an agenda. I was right. When are you people gonna learn
Apparently, you haven't learn to comprenhend what you read. When will you learn??? If you are reading the news from other sources you have failed miserably.
The problem with Mitt is that he lies constanly. Can you understand that? Ditto Zimmerman. He lied about the money he had collected from his website.
Also, I'm almost certain he photo shopped blood on his head which is a LIE. What concerned citizen will take a picture of Zimmerman's bloody head and not one of a dead man laying on the ground?
Think about it.
And Romney's plan is ..................... (I'm still waiting)
And in other news, the Obama administration again managed to spend $4 billion dollars in deficit spending yesterday. This keeps them on track to achieve another $1+ trillion deficit for the year. Another promise kept.
It's certain to be the lead story on the all the news shows tonight. Right after Seamus the dog, and a bunch of stories on bullying, and a psychiatrist talking about how the human mind "evolves", especially on gay issues. Maybe they newies will touch on it during the wrap up of their show.
Jody, thanks,
Just reported on NPR that the bank JPMorgan Chase has lost $2Billion in risky investments.
And Mitt Romney says there should be NO oversight, ZERO rules, and unfettered do-as-you-please on Wall Street - he wants to REPEAL the President's Wall Street Reform Act.
Anna Molly, great points! Apparently the media buys the notion that Etch-a-Sketch is acceptable in "defining" Romney.
Good morning, Backhouse. Great post up above, along with David's.
Looks like Chase will be raising its credit card interest rates again. Gotta make up those losses somewhere. Good thing Republicans have had the foresight to do away with the usury laws, ain'a?
@ Jody -- Thank you. The media likes Etch-a-Sketch because it matches so well with its own attention span.
I've said it before and I'll say it again on this thread...if this is how the Democrats plan to defeat Romney, I predict Obama loses in November. I'm sure pulling up 50 year-old things riles up the party base (at least, it seems to here), but independent voters like myself are focused on which candidate we think is best for the country. All this stuff does is tick me off and push me towards Romney because I hate negative campaigning.
And when he's not just walking around and mouthing off, he's beating up little boys. What a man. And it only took 5 or 6 other guys to help him. There's no questions he's a tough guy, just looking at him you can tell. Yet watching him I see the same mannerisms in him the the little boy he beat up had. Question? No comment.
Tom,
This is good.
I like to bet Willard $10,000 that he and he alone can't cut my hair.
Good Morning Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL
What is even more impressive is roughly half of it came from $3.00 online donations!
I donated several small donations in hopes of winning. Had I won, I probably would have fainted from being in the room with George Clooney and President Obama!!! ☺
But you really dig lying, cowardly bullies.
Gotcha.
Oh, by the way, what was that campaigning tactic that Romney used against Newt Gingrich in Iowa if not "negative"?
Maybe you should ask Gingrich about that.
Here you go, anomaly
http://www.mittromney.com/sites/default/files/shared/BelieveInAmerica-PlanForJobsAndEconomicGrowth-Full.pdf
See if you can understand any of that better than you understand the Establishment clause- particularly as it regards prohibiting the "free exercise thereof".
Seems to be one of the points you missed in law school.
And in other news, the republicans voted yesterday to take away billons from kids and women by raiding funding for food stamps and women's cancer screenings.
This keeps them on track to divert money from those in need to the wealthy. Another proud moment for the GOP.
Amazing to think the Obama camp seems more then capable of digging up dirt on a 50 year old story no one can prove. But since Fast and Furious came to light a couple years ago, no one in the Obama administration can find out who authorized it.
Anna Molly,
I don't like negative campaigning from anyone. So, yes, I didn't like what Romney did to Gingrich in Iowa and I have that recorded as a negative in my personal list. As the campaign progress I'll be adding to that list, and come November, I'll decide who to vote for based on that list.
If Romney had taken those actions 5 or 10 years ago, then I think they would be relevant. But, they didn't happen 5 or 10 years ago...it was more like 50 years ago. Plus, it was in high school...I know my world views and actions have changed dramatically since high school - so I'm not going to hold anyone's high school actions against them unless it was something extreme like rape or murder.
As an example, I've heard reports Obama may have dealt drugs 20 or 30 years ago...I don't care if he did, and I don't hold this against him. If I heard he had dealt drugs 5 years ago, it would be a negative for me.
My, my, the lies just keep adding up for Lizzy. She'd probably lose an election to a con sitting in a prison in Texas right now.
Imagine that, Limousine-Lib-Lizzy, blond-blue-eyed-Lizzy, so discriminated against Lizzy, taking advantage of minority set asides.
Nothing like milking the system for personal gain, right Lizzy?
Imagine the University of Pennsylvania, who like Harvard had Lizzy listed as one of their "minority" faculty members, bringing out blond-blue-eyed low-cheek-bone Lizzy and claiming "Yes, here we have our Native American". Talk about getting laughed off the stage.
Me too Bev!
Talk about a dream sandwich... lol
I'm not ready to throw Romney under the bus for the bullying thing. While I abhor bullies, and am a strong proponent of equal rights, I'm not that far out from high school (although farther out then some of you like to accuse me of being). Kids are stupid, viscious, and hurtful. I highly doubt that Romney would engage in such behavior as an adult.
No, what worries me more are the things that we WOULD do as an adult and his complete lack of plan beyond, cutting taxes and bombing more people. THAT is way more concerning to me.
When a piece comes out like the Washington Post piece on Mitt Romney's high school days I always view it with a deal of skepticism. (Had a great discussion with New Day about it yesterday). These are major accusations. Now, I personally, don't think things that happened 50 years ago are relevant to my vote. Nor do I view actions from teens and early 20's to be terribly relevant. I know it's been trumpeted that the President used cocaine in his youth. That doesn't influence my vote either...different time and different person.
That being said, I'm a bit disappointed in the Post. They quietly changed their article without posting a correction notice, as is their own policy. They said that one of the witnesses, Stu White, was long bothered by the incident. However, when interviewed by ABC News about it, he said, “he was not present for the prank, in which Romney is said to have forcefully cut a student’s long hair, and was not aware of it until this year when he was contacted by the Washington Post.” The Post changed "long bothered" to disturbed, since hearing about it several weeks ago. If what Mr. White says is true, then the Post deliberately printed a lie in their original article, since they are the ones who told him of the incident.
Also, here is a statement from the family: “The family of John Lauber is releasing a statement saying the portrayal of John is factually incorrect and we are aggrieved that he would be used to further a political agenda. There will be no more comments from the family.”
I think the Washington Post has some explaining to do.
Not really. I just missed the part about the exception for criminal activity that you mentioned.
Because that ain't in there, no joe. That's been interpreted in, to prevent religious wackos from carrying out ritual killings and stuff.
None of the freedoms of the Bill of Rights are absolute. They are all subject to reasonable government regulation. I didn't miss that part in law school, either, but it must not appear in your Cliff's Notes version.
damage, no jo, JoAnna, Rick
Too bad the media does not have Romney's record to report on.
What has Romney done since, he lost in 2008
Here is yet another example of Obama's stunning, foreign policy "successes".
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-05-10/putin-s-obama-snub-signals-harder-russian-policy-as-reset-fades.html
Looks like you can add Putin's name to the list of people who do not swoon at Obama's feet.
Or, maybe, Putin realizes that Obama is already a lame duck, so he'll just wait for President Romney. It'll be a change for him- dealing with somebody who actually knows how to negotiate. Maybe he's looking forward to the challenge.
Voting for Mitt Romney would be like voting for Prince Joffery from Game of Thrones.
You should change your moniker to "nitpicker".
Yes, SCOTUS has held that an exemption to the free exercise clause exists where criminal activity is explained away as a religious practice. So, human sacrifice is out.
YOU continually take that many steps further- by proclaiming that government has the right to violate sacred tenets at will. You did so with Obama's insistence that the Catholic Church violate its teachings, and, yesterday, proclaimed that the Methodist church had no right to stand by its tenets.
Even non-lawyers understand the problem with your position- well, those who took and passed sixth grade civics,, anyway.
****RIDDLE ME THIS****
What do the liberal media (including First Read) and liberals all over the nation, including the dimwits on this board, have in common?
The more they can make Romney's high school pranks an issue, THE LESS THEY WILL HAVE TO TALK ABOUT OUR SH**TY ECONOMY. Haaaa! I kill me!
@ JoAnna -
You might benefit from taking a peek at this, JoAnna --
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/05/06/1085891/-First-Nations-News-Views-Elizabeth-Warren-UN-Special-Rapporteur-Indian-energy-Apache-skaters
You can debate all day and all night, as this diarist does, whether Elizabeth Warren originally checked boxes about her Native American heritage for "valid" reasons. And you can criticize both her and Harvard for what happened after that. Just like a reasonable person might debate the reasons why George W. Bush joined the National Guard and criticize him for what happened after that.
But what you can't debate -- and never seem to want to debate -- is that Elizabeth Warren DOES in fact have Native American heritage and IS eminently qualified to be a United States Senator.
Oh, well, see, there you go. No wonder I missed it. I was just starting to play footsies with boys in Sixth Grade Civics. Dang that puberty, anyway.
Yours truly, Nitpicker
p.s., I think there's a song about that. Something about there being "1352 guitar nitpickers in Nashville." So I'm in good company, I guess ....
There is a major problem that the DailyKos, (surprise, surprise), fails to mention-
There is no proof that the ancestor Warren claims was Cherokee was, in fact, Cherokee.
Actually, in a rather interesting turn of events, it seems that the husband of said ancestor- Warren's great, great, great, grandfather, was in the Army company that rounded UP the Cherokees to boot them off their traditional lands. You've heard of it- unless you were too busy playing footsie with the boys- it is called The Trail Of Tears.
Turns out its a lot more likely that Warren's family has Cherokee blood on their hands than in their veins.
Good points!
@Grimey
More than the actual Washington Post story is the timing. How convenient that the same week President Obama announces his support for gay marriage, the Post runs a story about Romney bullying a potentially gay kid. It's just too cute.
Eugene Robinson could not hide his discomfort this morning when he was asked about this. His only response was an insincere giggle (pretty pathetic from a Pulitzer Prize winner).
This from the paper responsible from JournoList in 2008.
Common Sense dictates that there was collusion here and I have no doubt someone will spill the beans.
BTW What is apparent is the President's laser focus on jobs is just BS, and he will pay for that come election time.
The Daily Kos? Seriously?
Why don't you just go completely over the edge and camp out at Think Progress?
The only "valid" thing Warren did was milk the minority set aside programs for her advantage and for the schools that employed her to be able to claim they did not discriminate. Both were wrong in what they did. This is what you get with identity politics.
Lets call Lizzy and these schools what they are, fakes and frauds. These are the kinds of people and organizations the government says they are going "Clean up" and "Get rid of the waste and fraud." They're talking about Lizzy when they say that.
No doubt about that. She's already a crook.
Oh, and nice touch dragging Bush into your story.
Sarah,
Romney's anti-woman, anti-ordinary income earners, anti-immigrant, anti-stance IS an extension of his Bullying = narcissism.
When in school, his father was Governor, and Romney continues to bully folks who are NOT HIM and his privileged position in life.
Says the girl who worked the "Obama ate dog" thing like a dog with a pork chop.
Yeah, maybe, and it turns out that I may know a liberal or two who have KKK blood in their background.
And more than one conservative.
Your point?
Frank "Grimey"........I am so disappointed in you. Here I thought you were that rare bird, a reasonable and moderate republican. But you're not. I am not defending the Post, I haven't heard about that, but I have to ask you, are you not disturbed by these revelations? Does it not raise questions in your mind about this man's character?
When five or six in separate interviews, tell the same story, it has to raise questions. He hasn't denied it, he just says he doesn't remember. His offhand typical republican apology carries no weight. I know one thing if I didn't do something like this, I sure as hell wouldn't apologize for it...and in that blanket opaque statement right there tells you a lot about him......if you want to be reasonable and see it for what it is.
You do know the Catholic Church is against the Ryan/Rubio/Romney budget.
Where is your outrage that the republicans would ignor the church?
Apparently no jo taking from the poor to give to the rich is just fine no matter what the church says.
And yet you are more than willing to attack President Obama if he says anything that does not agree with the church. You claim it is a war on religion.
Too bad your hate is stronger than your intelligence.
VOTE FOR AMERICA...VOTE FOR A DEMOCRAT 2012
@Anna Molly
My problem with the Warren story are the inconsistencies. In her application to both Harvard and now Pennsylvania she states that she did not claim minority status. However, both these schools listed her a minority member of the faculty.
If she did not use this in her application, how did they know that she was a minority and what minority she claimed to be? Her campaign, nor the schools, have answered this question.
Backhouse,
I get what you're saying, but I also think that there are significiant differences. The policies Romney supports and would put in place, aren't specific unto him. They are the positions and policies of a really skewed, screwed, system and party. (Not that democrats are much better).
I don't think Romney "hates" gay people, although I do think he is biased against them, I think Romney's pandering to a hateful base of his party.
I don't think Romney "hates" immigrants, although I think he's probably callous and unaware of their reality, I think he's pandering to a hateful base of his party.
I don't think Romney "wants" to bomb more people, I think he's pandering to defense contractors that give him money.
I could go on and on, but I'm sure everyone gets the point. In fact, I would have more respect for Romney if he DID hate those groups, or want to bomb more people, because at least then he'd actually stand for something. No, I think he's using the hate and prejudices of the far right and the money of special interests to live up to a dream is father had, but that he's actually ambiguous about.
The thing about Romney's hair cutting incident is that it speaks to a lifelong pattern;
That nagging feeling you have deep down inside that says Mitt Romney isn't to be trusted? It's trying to tell you something. You should listen.
You know there was one major thing I had wrong with this article.
High school is not fair game...but being 10 years old and having dog as food...that's perfectly fine. In fact, lets make a big deal about that, but don't touch high school...
They are also against contraception so are you also outraged that Democrats in general, and the President in particular, are ignoring the church?
What exactly is your point?
AmericansFirst,
I love this question, because it brings home the screwyness of GOP/TP economics so well...
Why does taking money from poor people inspire poor people to work harder, but giving money to rich people inspires rich people to work harder?
Sarah - I completely agree with your post 1.35.
JoAnna Smith - Your Elizabeth Warren posts are tiresome.
Feisty - Would be good to point out that your post is completely false or purely satire.
I have a blind son, he called me yesterday to tell me all the stories in High school he had. People messed with him.....and he messed with people. He purposly ran into doors to make people laugh and really enjoyed playing soccer (beeping soccer balls) he got to kick kids and not get hit back. Sorry Im blind (haha) We once got pulled over by local police leaving a bar, telling the officer that he was at a bar and had too much to drink so he couldnt drive, oh yea that and Im blind! The officer laughed and told us to go on. Funny how handicapped kids attitudes reflect their experiences. He never has been a poor me pity boy and has accomplished to graduate from Tech college with several Microsoft certs. I taught him well how you interact will the rest of the world with that big a disadvantage. The worst part was dealing with the liberal/union crap once the Connecticut booard of education for the blind took him from us (education wise). In Ct they make them wards of the board of education and run his education from k-12 with a yearly meeting to tell you what they are doing. It wasnt pretty, but we managed to fix the mess and once he was out of HS it all changed since I was paying for everything.
Alan,
The difference is the hypocrasy. When the POTUS ignored the church about the contraception thing, the GOP/TP whined like tween girls.
But now, the GOP/TP is ignoring the church in regards to the Ryan budget.
The Dems, never claimed to want to listen to the church about anything. The only reason they point it out in the case of the Ryan budget is BECAUSE of the hypocrasy, not because they've somehow buddied up to the Catholics. They'd be opposed to the Ryan budget, regardless.
HAI crazy people in first read! Post something insane and don't actually consider the counter arguement. WWOOO WOOOO HOOOOO!!!
Yes, because that is what America needs!
So the swift boating of Mitt Romney begins.
Just another example of how Barack H. Obama and George W. Bush are joined at the hip. Prolific spenders, disregard for the constitution, highly partisan, arrogant in victory, dismissive of opponents. They are the worst and second worst Presidents in living memory.
...and I don't care who you choose as the worst.
So take your business to Wells Fargo, or Citibank, or Morgan Stanley, or Bank of America, or your local credit union. Don't try MF Global though, I've heard bad things about them.
Isn't it nice to have choices?
Im going to give you an answer, AF- not that I think you'll understand it or respect it, but I'll answer you, anyway-
There is a world of difference between the Church advocating for or the poor with the government, and forcing the Roman Caotholic Chirch or any other church, mosque, or synagogue, to violate their religious tenets.
The Church urged members of their faith who hold political office of the Church's teachings on social justice. There is no power to force those politicians to conform to that teaching, nor is there any implication of such power.
On the other hand, the government now seeks to use its power to force, not just the Roman Catholic Church, but many others, to provide services in direct violation of their religious tenets.
Therein lies the difference.
Really? It took 2 seconds to find a link of a Democratic congressman quoting the church to attack the Ryan budget.
So how is one side hypocritical and the other is not? They use whatever they can to support their case, and ignore it when it is convenient.
Pardon me, Mr. Perfect!
I was under the impression readers of this board were familiar with Andy Borowitz & able to recognize satire when they see it.
I guess I gave them to much credit.
I stand corrected...
Sarah I echo your statements about Romney. Though I do disagree with many of the things he says, I do not think what he has said defines him.
One of the problems many Republicans said about Obama in his first few years was that he was a bad choice because he generated so much "uncertainty". Although at the time he was extending many of Bush's policies they were afraid the political climate may shift. I do question why this is not a pressing concern against Romney.
It seems this whole election he has been pretending. You can see it in how uncomfortable he has been in the narrative he has been trying to sell this election cycle. The mistakes he has made and the errors of his campaign are not one's I would expect for someone who has achieved the success he has in the business sector. If he had made those same mistakes trust me he would not have come so far.
I, personally, do not think Romney lies too far of that from President Obama except for economic policy and more specifically the taxes vs government spending argument. However there are too many unkown's with him. Hopefully as the election draws nearer we start to see more of where HE stand and not his base. Though I support Obama fully you cannot forget he can be elected and in that case he would have to be accepted as president. If that is the case I would at least like to have some idea of who he is.
As far as the bullying thing in high school, it is awful I agree. I was no saint in high school and have been on both ends. I would hate to be judged by my transgressions then or for those who acted against me to be held against theirs. It is tough to judge someone from that. If there was a history that continued from that story, then maybe it would be more relevant.
Then don't read them.
I just assume all her posts are completely false.
Alan,
Alan, because the democrats have never claimed any "high ground" with the church. They've never supported them, in terms of public policy. The GOP has, ergo, when the GOP picks and chooses what to pay attention to in regards to the church, they are hypocrits.
Apply the "but for" test. But for, the GOP's rigid, church based stance on contraception, while simultaneously ignoring the church in regards to economics, would the Dems be speaking about the church at all?
Would that dude you quoted, change his position based on the church, or do they just happen to agree in this area? He isn't pointing at the church and screaming "freedom of religion" and using it as a political tool, i.e. the GOP with contraception, he's saying, "Hey we agree here".
That's the difference. I don't know if I'm articulating it very well, but I'm sure you can grasp what I'm saying.
Akeem,
You're a cool dude. Well said. I, myself, was often accused of being a "Mean Girl". Although, I believe I was only mean to the actual "mean girls", who knows? I do know, I was far, far, far, from a saint, and I too would hate to be remembered for that abject immaturity and stupidity.
A high school classmate of presidential candidate Mitt Romney told ABC News today that he considers a particular prank pulled at Michigan's Cranbrook school to be "assault and battery" and that he witnessed Romney hold the scissors to cut the hair of a student who was being physically pinned to the ground by several others.
David Muir
Hi GBM...
My issue right now is that this story has just hit the airwaves in the last 24 hours. The issuers of the story, The Washington Post, have committed some serious journalistic faux pas (I probably butchered the spelling there...sorry) in the story. So I'm trying to withhold judgment until this story has been properly vetted. IF, the stories are true as written in the Washington Post yesterday, then absolutely, they would be disturbing. I understand that they have 5 people saying things...but it turns out that they flat out lied about one of them. I don't think it's a stretch to question what they wrote about. I would do the same thing if a piece came out on President Obama on Fox News where 5 Republican leaning former friends said something about him concerning something he did in the late 70's. I just don't always trust what I read.
I apologize if I have disappointed you. I try to look at things a little more in-depth and with a bit more skepticism when they are presented in the heat of the campaign. I completely respect your opinions and always enjoy chatting with you.
Have a great weekend! :-)
I get your point in general but in this specific case the Government was mandating the Church to pay for a benefit that directly contradicted their beliefs. That's why the freedom of religion argument was used.
Sarah,
If you are worried about stopping the bombings I am sure you know by now that President Obama got even more donations from war profiteers like GE, General Dynamics and the like in 2008 than war monger McCain and that we are surrounding Russia with missles.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULVY_-kUQhk
Job1 Comment collapsed by the far right
Re-post:
Good Morning David,
A GREAT opener for the day. I'm left to wonder how anyone that is sane can be part of today's GOP.
Thanks
@GBM Frank "Grimey"........I am so disappointed in you. Here I thought you were that rare bird, a reasonable and moderate republican.
GBM - From what I have seen Mr. Grimes appears to be a very reasonable and moderate republican. I will not attempt to speak on his behalf, but what he and others have brought up are good points. My only comment on the family statement is that perhaps they feel angry that their deceased son is being remembered and used this way. Clearly entirely possible that everything took place, but I'm sure his family doesn't want his entire life's legacy be reduced to this.
That said, it just looks fishy. Now, I don't claim that the DNC or administration put this story out, but this stuff is way out of left field. I've heard of a Oct. surprise, but what is this? It is not relevant to the majority voting public. I'm not talking about the true blue democrat or the die hard republican new junkie. Normal people roll their eyes when they hear this stuff.
All these trivial, silly stories, talking points are contaminating the news. Believe me, I want to see Romney beat. I don't care if he is a nice guy or not. I put more relevance to what he had done in his adult life and what he will do if he wins. I believe Romney will continue unsustainable tax cuts, saber rattle us into further conflicts in the middle east, cut medicare, social security and medicaid to razor thin levels, sacrifice the environment in favor of big business.
I agree with you. There are lots of questions.
But there is no argument that she DOES have Cherokee blood. No joe would like to visit the sins of her ancestors on her, but that's SO Old Testament. And even more remote than holding Mitt Romney's high school "hijinks" against him, don't you think? Indeed, it would be more in line with holding Romney's grandfather's polygamy against him just because he, too, is Mormon.
Indeed. Just like I can -- and do -- choose to bank at a credit union and not to carry credit card balances, but not everyone is that lucky.
Because, unfortunately, Chase's accountholders and cardholders, of whom I am one, were given any choice in how they invested their money, but they -- and not the executives who lost it -- will no doubt be the ones who make up the difference for whoever left the gate open on this one.
Oh, yes, it's nice. Very nice. If you're Chase.
96,
You'll never be able to quote me as having supported Obama's donations. You will be able to quote me numerous times in regards to getting money out of politics.
That isn't a left/right, Rep/Dem, issue. It's an American one.
Frank Grimey Grimes, You haven't disappointed me. I still think you are a very reasonable person. You have a great weekend.
Yellowdog...
Thanks...you said that very well. And while on the subject, there have been some people on my side of the aisle saying, "Yeah, well Obama pushed a girl at the age of ten." That is just ridiculous to even bring up.
In the end, this election is going to be decided on who Americans believe can better lead our economy forward. At this point, I think it's anyone's game and will be highly dependent on the state of the economy in the next few months.
Have a good one my friend!
This is a mighty big stretch based on one incident involving one couple and one church, unless we throw in the birth control debate and you and I have already had that conversation.
But I still say your argument is founded on a misinterpretation of the law with regarding the Free Exercise Clause, much the same way I believe that the Supreme Court's recent Second Amendment rulings are based on a misinterpretation of that Amendment, and that Citizens United is based on an obvious misinterpretation of the Fourteenth Amendment. There are lots of people who would agree with me. And just like you and lots of others might say that Griswold v. Connecticut, Roe v. Wade, and Lawrence v. Texas are based on a misinterpretation of the various amendments that make up the Penumbra of Privacy in the Constitution.
Because, you see, as John Marshall foreshadowed so long ago, interpretation -- and misinterpretation -- are usually in the eye of the particular judicial beholder. And nowadays, judicial beholders are often beholden to others in a way that we have never seen before in our history.
Sarah,
Point is:
If you want to find out what someone is really "for" look at where the donations come from.
Sarah,
I didn't use the word "hate" and rarely do so.
Romney has zero understanding or concern outside his privileged experience, and its goals. His party, the New GOP/Norquist/Koch party, demonizes what does not reflect its values.
Romney was a Bully back at school, and he is still a Bully today.
In looking out exclusively for the wealthy, one does not have to hate - as you are calling it - one only has to not give a damn about everyone else.
John B --
Exactly. It would be different if Romney were now taking the liberal positions on gay rights issues that he did while he was involved in Massachusetts politics, but everything about this incident is totally consistent with the intolerant Romney that he was before that time, and has been ever since.
As you rightly say, there is a "pattern" here that is not explainable as mere high school pranksterism or experimentation.
The obvious insensitivity in beating up -- or taunting, which Romney did as well, according to reports -- a kid because you think he's gay and cluelessly strapping a dog in a cage to the top of your car is simply not in the same league with someone who eats a certain animal as a child because it is part of his culture.
Backhouse, good way of putting it. The idea that it is not hate, it his lack of concerns. I would not call him a bully, however. His disconnect seems to come more from ignorance rather than malice. He thinks the average American truly can relate to his experiences. Think of his life it was not often he actually had long interactions with the average American. I am sure he knows that not everyone has what he had. I think his misunderstanding is just how far away from what he had the average American is.
Lines like borrow 20,000 from you parents to start a business showcase that.
Alan -
I get your point in general but in this specific case the Government was mandating the Church to pay for a benefit that directly contradicted their beliefs. That's why the freedom of religion argument was used.
I politely disagree. The government did not mandate that the Church pay for these benefits, nor did they mandate them for Church employees.
The government mandate was that these benefits be included in the partially employee-funded health insurance policies of employees who worked in church-owned or Church-operated public institutions (universities, hospitals) that accept federal funds or financing.
These employees may or may not agree with the Church's teachings, and are free to follow their own religious beliefs.
no joe, no bo, nj
On the other hand, the government now seeks to use its power to force, not just the Roman Catholic Church, but many others, to provide services in direct violation of their religious tenets.
Therein lies the difference.
Wrong Again, No Jo, All Blow
The difference is called "Seperation of Church and State"!
And as the GOP posters here suggest, let's get back to some real issues like the economy.
Very good. Here you go, in breaking news today - 'consumer confidence hits a new high'.
That's correct, consumer confidence is at the highest its been since 2008.
Feisty dead-heads daughter teaches the blind? Now that's called "irony". I think she needs to shift her focus to her own mother because feisty is one of the most sightless people I've ever come across.
Nice lengthy false bad satirical hunk of shi$ articular that she posted too. It's no surprise that she would copy an entire really bad satirical piece to try and win some popularity here. It's actually par for what she usually posts so I guess I'm not surprised. But then she makes a comment as to give the story credibility. Thus, I give you the example of blind. I wouldn't doubt if she truly believes the story to be real.
Let's see 1 of the five "witnesses" to the 47 year old Romney prank was completely false, three of them are very left, and one actually worked on the barack campaign last time around. Hmmm, now I know why dead-head jumped on the story before every one else yesterday. She works with the guy!
If ANYONE on either side doesn't see the Romney story as a political posturing piece from the left you are in desperate need of schooling from feisty's daughter. Beside the fact that "gullible" doesn't even begin to describe you. barack bullied around a girl, why aren't any of you hypocritical liberal, libber, bimbo's up in arms over that one? Answer; because you're hypocritical, liberal, libber, bimbo's and that pretty much tells the story.
You know the last place I want to be is defending the catholic church and it's stance on contraception. However, how would feel if the employer decided not to offer any benefits rather than go against their beliefs? I personally would not work for a religious organization, although in this economy you may not have the luxury of that choice, but understand that benefits used to be decided by the employer, not mandated by the government. This is how it can be argued that the government is now increasing regulation and responsibilities of businesses. And this is happening in the real world. You honestly think McDonalds will offer any health insurance benefits after their waiver runs out? What do you prefer half a loaf or none?
JoAnnaSmith1
what is your obssession with Warren?
Akeem, Yes,
Mitt Romney told a woman who had genuine concerns about how to pay her school bills and take care of her family, that he wished money was free. Nothing more, no solutions.
On Planned Parenthood that provides basic health care for millions and is the only health care source in some rural areas - Romney said "I'm going to get rid of that".
It is more of the GOP "Just Close Your Eyes" strategy. No solutions, just search out what is beneficial for the middle class and destroy.
Rightwingwac - you of all people should not be calling anyone hypocritical or a bimbo since those terms so rightly fit you.
President Obama has not bullied anyone. He had wiped the floor and continues to do so - with Romney but that's a different matter altogether.
The fact that you have to resort to lies to try to deflect from the person that Obama is says it all. We have a President who is classy, has character, is intelligent and who will serve a 2nd term.
Get over it - bimbo!
Seeking...or is it Kim,
How does hypocrite rightly fit me? Did I touch a little nerve with the "bimbo" statement? Oh yes I think I did. You guys are so fun and easy, you can call every name in the book and one little silly name comes across the wire and you're ready to burn your bra. There you go with your "liar liar" crap again. How am I lying? You obviously read one story...no never mind, you read one headline and that's the truth to you. How am I lying? How am I a hypocrite? I'm actually voting you guys up now to help your frail little disposition.
At the direction of your leader feisty shouldn't you be ignoring me? Oh, you just do her bidding for her and report back huh? Okay, no bimbo....hey how about "floozie" does that suit you better? Okay, see ya round floozie.
oh yeah...Seeking
Why don't you answer the question about barack? Hmmmm? Don't you just hate a "man" that shoves a woman around and bullies her? Where is your outrage? I know where it is, it's at the guy that called some of you (you, now that you jumped in the frey) bimbo. That's funny.
You're own mother could be getting a beat down from your alcoholic father and you would have the shovel in your hand to put a stop to it but instead of addressing the issue you turn and chase after the guy on the bike that called your family trash...leaving your mother to fend for herself. No wonder nothing gets done when dealing with libs.
@no joe,no bo,nj #1.5: Notice you took issue with "Walker" for pointing out Romney's Mormonism. Why would you do that? He's a Mormon. Also claimed "liberals" aren't consistent. Why would you say that? Walker is continually pointing out the rank stupidity of the republicans, and does so with the consistency of the level of pond water. I think Romney's mental shallowness chafes you as much as the Presidents intellectual depth. Really aggravating trying to sell "boiling bones" by hawking the flavor of meat they once held.
hey VP Biden, what other secrets can you tell us about obama?
every one take a good look at obama, look what he's doing! first the college kids, then reversing his opinion about same sex marriages, now he's gone to hollywood for a sponsered fund raiser! doesn't this sound familiar? think back 4 years ago, with the exception of coming out of the closet about the s.s.marriage issue, his platform has not changed. if he is re-elected, is this what we have to look forward to? haven't we learned enough this first time around?
if we want anything left of our country, now is the time to get obama out of the white house and start over. Mitt Romney is the best candidate to get us back to rights.
vote no on obama! save our country!
Sarah304--/I do enjoy your comments.You definitely appear to be of a liberal mind. Near the start of this series of comments there were a lot of collapsing going on F Red.I see that you are not being collapsed as much on this No. I don't understand why most of yours have been? As far as Damage-- is concerned, the only ones who should collapse his comments ,are the right wing of the Republican party,but I doubt that the T.P. and the R.W.of the Reps. have enough fairness in their make-up to realise the damage that persons,with his point of view, are doing to the Reps. there are many Reps. who are what I consider lliberal Reps. Most of my friends and family are so. I have learned to not discuss politics, with the ones whom I consider to be too far right . To those who consider Liberals to be a dirty word. You should look up,in the Dictionary, the word liberal especially the word Pol. liberal.
Rightwingwac - again, your ignorant post says everything about you. None of it is good.
Sorry - not Kim - not even close but apparently you have a thing for Kim.
My father wouldn't touch my mother in a bad way - now you're deflecting your actions onto people. Bad, bad, bad! Since Obama has NEVER bullied a woman I have nothing to defend him for!
Clearly I hit a sore spot with you about your lies and your lying candidate! Too bad if the truth hurts so much and shows you have no character!
Obama/Biden 2012
listoire
Why should anyone be collapsed? There are people on this vine that despise me and likewise. But I don't want them collapsed, it's a silly practice and really it's a bit more juvenile than many of the comments that get people collapsed in the first place. I've seen hundreds of posts on here from both sides that just make a simple and logical statement but end up collapsed, why? The vine should get rid of the feature. When someone is collapsed it makes me instantly want to read them whether good, bad or indifferent. I think it brings more attention than if left alone but whatever, I don't make the rules. Point is; I'll bet nearly everyone can agree that collapsing is a bit silly.
@Seeking
"My father wouldn't touch my mother in a bad way - now you're deflecting your actions onto people. Bad, bad, bad! Since Obama has NEVER bullied a woman I have nothing to defend him for!
Oh my God! You are simpler than I thought. Never said your father actually would or did do anything you meatball. It was an example of your thought process but thanks for elaborating how your thought process works, or should I say "doesn't work".
Obama wrote about pushing a girl around so based on your denial of that alone you may want to brush up on YOUR candidate a bit. Sheesh, the sheep really do wear masks don't they? You guys are so funny, when you see something that burns you, you repeat it and throw it back like a "I know you are but what am I"? statement. Oh, you certainly keep it fun.
There's a book out that pertains to this situation and it's fitting when dealing with you. It's called "arguing with idiots". I should have read it because this would be a perfect case for it.
Didn't even brush up against a nerve sweet cheeks and as far as "kim" goes. Yeah, okay...but feisty called one of you bimbo's "kim" the other day so I took a shot. Have fun in your blind little sheepish world where you don't even know the candidate that you will spill your blood for.
Glad I could get you all frazzled up. It seems easier and easier every day.
I agree, but if everyone else agreed, it wouldn't happen. Unfortunately, they don't.
It's a level of juvenilia that explains a lot about some of their political positions, and in particular the level of tolerance that some folks out here are willing to afford Mitt Romney.
They're tolerant of Mitt because they're still playing juvenile pranks themselves.
Rightwingwac - too bad you didn't get me frazzeled. You're nothing but a joke and every post you make re-enforces that. It would take a MUCH better man than you to frazzle me.
But, you are right about one thing. Arguing with you is definitely arguing with an idiot. You offer nothing of substance; nada; zilch; zero. And, frankly, you're not even worth a laugh.
Half Fortnight Follies:
(though we all know Jody does it better)
The dominating story this week, the recognition by both candidates that homosexuals deserve rights in this United States of America. President Obama recognizes that the L.G.B.T. community should have the full rights granted to heterosexual couples and the Mittronic Rombot believing that the gay community deserves some "slammin" hair styles. Latent much, Rombot?
In a related story, North Carolina codified hatred into law this week with their passage of the one man, one woman, nobody else constitutional amendment on marriage. Unintended consequence, the amendment was so written that even hetero-people shacking up together don't get any benefits, but I'm sure that all those shacker-uppers will rush right down to the Baptist church and get all nuptialized post haste. On an editorial aside, I believe if you were to exchange the word "gay" with the word "black" you would capture the zeitgeist as history once again tragically reruns like any programming from which people have failed to learn better. (Looking at you, Limbaugh!)
Speaking of failing to learn, Wisconsin Republicans desperately bail their sinking ship as the recall is less than a month away. The Republican party "salted" the Democratic primaries with ersatz candidates, in violation of campaign law in the state. Tragically for them, all their "faux Democrats" were blown out of the water by an informed and responsive electorate. With a criminal investigation against the Walker administration and a dead heat in the polling, it looks like one of A.L.E.C.'s poster boys may be in for some time at the unemployment line.
In the world of ruining the economy, golden boy Jamie Dimond took JP Morgan/Chase to a $2 billion loss this quarter and an expected $1 billion next quarter in an outlook that is characterized as "turbulent". However, just because the derivative trading they were engaged in was "complex, poorly reviewed, poorly exercised and had egregious mistakes" doesn't mean it was wrong. Dimond later lamented that this would hurt the banks image and give more credence to the call for government supervision over financial institutions. The "Masters of the Universe" seem to share candidate Rombot's position of, "Hey it's not our money, let's piss it away on global financial...Yahtzee!!...oh wait, maybe not."
Finally, proving that you'll always be embarrassed forever, three year old (and Mensa mind taker) Emmelyn Roettger appeared on the Today show for segment on childhood development. Emmelyn had been preliminarily diagnosed with autism by her pediatrician after showing a delay in rolling over and sitting up behavior. Her mother, tenaciously believing in the child, took Emmelyn to an ophthalmologist where it was discovered Emmelyn need glasses. After being fitted, it turned out Emmelyn had a 135 intelligence quotient. While this might prove embarrassing in the future, the immediate incident was on the set of the Today show where little Emmelyn announced her urgent need to go to the bathroom with the pronouncement, "I have to go poop!" This frank statement of unrequited urgency will now haunt every graduation, commencement and other event where the "mean girls" congregate. It is only hoped that the love and caring of her parents will allow this episode to be put in the humorous perspective it deserves as Emmelyn goes on to a life of grade-curve wrecking and other singular achievements.
Follies out.
Seeking, seeking seeking.
Sitting here with a friend, as I wrote "arguing with idiots" I turned and said; "watch this moron is going to fire that line back at me...just watch, I guarantee it." Sure as shi$ there you go. Hey, if we ever have the displeasure of meeting I'll be sure to buy you a drink becuase you just won me $20. That's absolutely awesome! This is officially my favorite moment on the vine. You are precious, and now you're a money maker to boot. I have truly only laughed at a couple of posts out of thousands but I'm laughing so hard I'm crying right now. Oh the sweetness of success.
Go ahead, your turn...I'm putting more money down, we're going double or nothing so lets see if you come through for me again.
Apparently you are worth a laugh...ohh this was a good one.
P.S. where is all the "substance" you're offering about your president? You know, other than "he is a caring and great man and a world class individual". All subjective comments by the way.
Whoo, I'm finally catching my breath. Okay, lets see what you've got insanity.
You know the old saying about arguing with an idiot?
They drag you down to their level & beat you with experience every time! ☺
Feisty - He's definitely not worth it! :-)
ForePlinger - I LOVED your post! Poor little Emmelyn will be living that down for the rest of her life! Have a great weekend and, again, great post!
There she is...mizz dumb fux herself; feisty dead-head. I knew I could count on you showing yourself to make a comment on something you "don't care about". Shi$ I should have put some money on that.
Anna, give me a break. You think only right wingers collapse posts. You need to pay some more attention.
Feisty and all the other wonderful, strong and intelligent women on this site - Happy Mother's Day. And, if you're not a Mother, I hope yours is still around to celebrate. Lost mine two years ago so this weekend is still a little bittersweet. But, I still celebrate what an incredible woman she was.
Happy Mother's Day to all!
Seeking, I might not be worth it but you're worth at least 20 bucks! I'm still smiling from that predictability. You're right though, I'm not worth you arguing with because sweetheart, you aint gonna win nothing until you start actually bringing some type of argument to the table. So I don't blame you, I wouldn't want to get pummeled either. Still waiting on that barack substance that you're preaching about. Did you read his book already and decide not to comment? It's okay, liberals are wrong most of the time...it's something you'll get used to.
Rightwingwac - only in the minds of mental midgets like you are liberals wrong most of the time. But, go ahead, convince yourself. It's all ya got!
Seeking Sanity,
Same here - so far time has not healed the loss!
From one mother to another - right back atcha!
Seeking,
You just really pissed my friend off because he said you would ignore me for the rest of the day. I said "no way and there will another name called". You've now made me $60. Keep it up and I'm going to owe you dinner. He's pissed, I just asked about the next bet buy he's not taking.
I thought I wasn't worth it. Good pulling out the old "mental midget" line though. Not only did it get me a little more bread but it showed you're discriminating huh? That's a direct derogatory remark against little people. Don't you know to not use words that discriminate on here?
Since I've already got your panties in a bunch, here's one that will surly make them disappear.
Liberalism = Anti-Americanism and I am the "anti-liberal" baby.
So many of you are like flies, just buzzing around not saying anything and waiting to be swatted. (something I'm sure feisty enjoys). Some of you are worthy adversaries...not you in particular though, or Feisty, or Beverly, or patriotic, or race baiting girl....With you guys I just enjoy your playground antics and the pointlessness of your posts make it even more fun.
Hey, where are the answers to my legitimate questions? Where is your substance on barack? How was I lying or hypocritical in an earlier post? You still can't address those things! You could shut me up in a heartbeat if you would just give some substantive proof of what you claim.
I've got proof of my conceding to certain points on the vine. But you spend all of this response time attempting to cut me down instead of proving me wrong, thinking that you're right just because you call someone a liar? If you spent that much time studying what you proclaim to know I might just be marginalized. But you just keep feeding the fire. Should I rest my case about you guys being wrong? If you want to be right try moving to the right.
You've really brightened my day seeking...$60, looks like I'm buying for "he who had faith in you" sitting next to me. I just made my point to him. NEVER bet on the word of a liberal.
See ya!
Seeking
"Feisty and all the other wonderful, strong and intelligent women on this site"
No doubt there's some of those out here, I've read them, seen them, disagreed with some, agreed with some. There are definitely those that you just described found on the vine.
But when it comes to feisty, you and I'm assuming I know the handles of some others that you're thinking about. I think the words you're looking for are; pathetic, brainwashed, pointless kitty cats. Doesn't it suck when someone plays your game down at your level?
I didn't say that. Being the generous person that I am, I thought I would leave the rest to you.
In a similar spirit of bi-partisanship, you could at least give me a little bit of credit for agreeing with you.
You're overqualified.
Feisty - Loved your letter. I sent a copy of it to two of my best friends who are also misguided, liberal, progressives. It really made me laugh and the irony is, it probably isn't too far off from what he actually thinks. Got to go, this JoAnna Smith person is really starting to irritate me so I'm going for a walk. Sorry you lost your Mom. My Mom is 88 years old and a life-long liberal Democrat. She protested against above ground nuclear testing back in the 50's. She is a real pisser.
MittTaxPittance Rommel's Bullying 47 years ago?? Not important compared to what he intends to do to ALL of US IF he and his other republicanCrimeCartelSoldiers get in power... Look, Prez O is The Lesser Of The Two Evils, face it. Rommel intends on TAKING Your/OUR Social Security and plowing those funds into new Profitable wars and his own pockets. No medicare for US, Sick???...Die Quick!!!! Unless you have an incredible healthcare package like Rommel has, compliments, the US taxc payer et all other perks this scoundrel gets. And! And!! AND!!! to date We, America does Not have An American Universal healthCare System like our Allys, which is an American Disgrace!! Because it is just to profitable for "health insurance industry" companies to allow such a system; You know what the ceo of UnitedHealthCare take home salary in 2008 was?? Sitting Down??...$128,000,000 for that year while Policy paid insureds were denied and died..Here is a helpful post down from Memeory Lane and I am sure Presidents Lincoln and Trumen are doing 50,000RPMPresident Harry Truman in 1948: "The Republicans … will try
to make people believe that
everything the Government has done for the country
is socialism. They will
go to the people and say: "Did you see that social
security check you
received the other day—you thought that was good for you,
didn't you? That's just too bad! That's nothing in the world but socialism. Did
you see that
new flood control dam the Government is building over there for the
protection of your property? Sorry—that's awful socialism! That new hospital
that they are building is socialism. Price supports, more socialism for the
farmers! Minimum wage laws? Socialism for labor! Socialism is bad for you,
my
friend. Everybody knows that. And here you are, with your new car, and
your
home, and better opportunities for the kids, and a television set—you
are just
surrounded by socialism! Now the Republicans say, 'That's a
terrible thing, my
friend, and the only way out of this sinkhole of
socialism is to
vote for the
Republican ticket.'" And that was 64 Years
Ago!!!, the republicanCrimeCartel is still doing the same exploitation of people
THEY ARE NOTORIUS FOR. Now, according to KingGeorgeTheVacuumBrained, it is
called "free market" capitalism; with families in the streets and 21%
Unemployment.......
Remember Fellow and Sister Americans: A vote for ANY
republicanCrimeCartelSoldier, Rommel, is a vote Against Yours and Your Family's
WellBeing
Anna
Damn, I honestly thought I was going to come back and apologize for mis-reading your post. Then I read it again and no, you weren't being bi-partisan at all. You used it to throw in digs about people who don't hate Romney. To top it off you indirectly noted the crap he "allegedly" pulled 47 years ago. Nothing about what you wrote was bi-partisan. You seem to think (by insinuation) that libs have some sort of minority on this vine...that's anything but hilarious and oh so wrong. So nice try but my original statement to you stands.
As far as the "over qualified" statement. I absolutely agree, when libs come out and try to pull the holier than thou routine while wallowing in their muddy snake pit, I am absolutely over-qualified to beat the crap out of them at their own game. I will gladly oblige every time they do it.
Issues where Romney has yet to state his position:
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT – Said he is not familiar with the issue
PAYCHECK FAIRNESS - Refused to say if he would have signed the Lilly Ledbetter law
PAYROLL TAX HOLIDAY - I'm not going to throw gasoline on what is already a fire
MISSISSIPPI PERSONHOOD - Repeatedly refused to take a position on this bill
AFGHANISTAN - Leave it up to U.S. military commanders
IMMIGRATION - Still deciding what his position is
Good morning friends, Dennis to that great list, he doesn't stand up for anyone the base does not approve.
The fellow he hired to be his foreign policy adviser left after two weeks, because as an openly gay man, the base didn't want him. It is really telling that Romney wouldn't stand up to the bigots and tell them to take a hike.
And now we have the high school stories, these speak again to that privileged, elitist background, where he got away with assaulting a fellow student, most likely because he was the governor's son. The man has no moral compass and was pampered from day one.
Good morning Gingerbread Mamma
Dennis to that great list, he doesn't stand up for anyone the base does not approve.
Might I also add, since Romney was creul to his classmate, his dog, and staff worker; perhaps Mitt should be vetted for his abusive ways. I bet he abused animals when he was young.
Dennis, great reminder. Romney is also "deciding" on immigration which means he doesn't want to alienate Latinos but he doesn't want to alienate his rabid, anti-immigration base either so he'll take a pass right now. I have concluded that Romney isn't capable of taking a real position because as Huntsman described, he's "a well-oiled weathervane"; Romney's policies are whatever people want them to be on any given day. I honestly believe David Plouffe is correct, Romney has no core.
GingerbreadMamma, Beverly also great points. Romney's behavior of abuse show a pattern and it is problematic.
HI Bev and Jody, that list will grow longer as we get closer to November....count on it
David
Add to the list What has Romney done since, he lost in 2008.
Dennis, Gingerbread M, Bev, Jody, sandy,
Romney was a Bully back then, and he is still a Bully today.
If the subject is not a rich, white mirror image of himself - he is against it/him/her.
From the family of the victim of Romney's vicious, despicable, atrocious on-a-par-with-Charlie Manson hate crime: “The family of John Lauber is releasing a statement saying the portrayal of John is factually incorrect and we are aggrieved that he would be used to further a political agenda. There will be no more comments from the family.”
Does anyone know of anyone that even knew Mr. Obama in HS? Or are all those people dead from drug over doses or in prison. From the sounds of it he was deeply entrenched in the Drug world then. I have often worried about knowing so little about someone like that. Most of us (as I have) talked with people they went to hs with.
I know this whole "Romney clips a moptop" thing has got you all clutching for straws out of desperation, wringing your hands and probably has David Walker wetting his bed more than usual, BUT am I the only one here who is chuckling because I can't help but be reminded of that episode of "Gilligan's Island" where a Beatlesque pop group is temporarily stranded on the island and Mrs. Howell keeps chasing them around with a pair of scissors? Heh heh heh...
P.S. I almost cut DAVID CROSBY'S HAIR. Haaaaa! I kill me!
I don't get it. For at least two weeks we've had to listen to hundreds of snide comments and lame "jokes" and false accusations trying to hold President Obama accountable for eating dog meat or forgetting the name of a magazine he saw once in a waiting room when he was 9 FREAKING YEARS OLD and living in a third world country - even to the point of accusing him of still eating dogs (remember all the "Bo jokes"?) and making up the entire magazine story for no apparent reason - and that was considered not only fair game, but hilariously funny. Yet now the very same people want to declare things Mitt Romney did as A SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL as being off limits. Why the sudden double standard, people?
But that's not all - yesterday, when Romney was claiming he "didn't remember" any of these various incidents (the hair-cutting thing was only one of a number mentioned in the Post article), right wing posters here were falling all over themselves with examples of similar "pranks" they played in high school - which apparently they had quite vivid recollections of - and they didn't even realize they were pointing out the fallacy of Romney "not remembering" as they rushed to say that kind of stuff is just a rite of passage (or as one poster put it, a "right" of passage, which even if it's the wrong spelling, somehow seems to be even more appropriate in this case).
Of course, perhaps if Romney had been the victim of this innocent little "prank" instead of the perpetrator, maybe his memories would be a little clearer?
Dennis - unfortunately, this is not surprising. Romney constantly refuses to take a stand on issues. He'll wait to see what the far right and the Koch Bros. tell him to say before he says anything. Then he'll change his position next week - as we've all come to see over and over again.
Romney shows he is spineless and lacks conviction regarding anything except his own "right" to be President.
He is sorely lacking in character and integrity. We as a country deserve more.
Obama/Biden 2012
JoAnne,
I agree that this is something that he should remember. I know personally as I grow older I think about the mistakes that I made while I was younger more often not less often. It does raise character issues. I never personally like Mitt Romney in the fist place. He does have a problem making a stand on issues.
I cannot say that this article is false, I will ask though if this is true why is it just being reported now? This is a great disservice to our country. If President Obama wins re-election due to this issue I guess that is the way it goes. The world is not always fair.
I personally did not make a comment about President Obama's childhood. I do agree that is a case of double standards.
Oh well we will just have to see what happens.
subnormal -
I doubt that in the long run the election will be decided by this particular issue. As for why it's just being reported now, my guess is that now that Romney is the presumptive nominee, everyone in the media (okay, maybe not Fox News, but everyone else) is out there tripping over each other trying to get a big scoop on him. Kind of comes with the territory when you run for president, like how they were all over the Rev. Jeremiah Wright story. Some people actually base their votes on this kind of stuff, but overall, I doubt this is really going to change anyone's mind. If you read all the other posts here, it pretty much boils down to this - if you didn't like Romney before, this just reaffirms your dislike. And if you did like Romney before, you'll go out of your way to make excuses for him. You're right, it's not necessarily fair, but it sure is human nature.
P.S. - On the other hand, I've yet to actually hear from anyone who actually LIKES Mitt Romney. They mostly seem to hate Barack Obama. And I don't think that's going to be enough, but that's just my two cents worth......
If you watch Romney's debates, the man/ puppet is almost always unclear about his stance and ends up resorting to makeing a wise-crack joke towards Obama messing up and not doing his job as the current leader. Even though I also believe Obama DIDN'T so many of the things he said he would when he got into office, and seems like now he wants to talk about all these controversial issues which the exact issues or topics he brings up of course are targeting set groups of people in order to stir up votes. And Romney is just a joke. That is why I believe in Ron Paul for 2012, the well the man presents himself is honest and he gives you a very clear picture of what he is trying to do and most important he is the only one trully defending the constitution's original purpose which has been exploited to hell. A smart articulate man who actually had a "Job" and knows what it is like to work in this country, as he was a Doctor, has valuable insight if you watch his debates. Instead of preaching that he's going to change that and cliche things like we all need to stand together, he actually has logical reasoning behind what he is saying and looks at the "root" of the issue and what is causing the problem, not just saying we need to fix this.
Ron Paul 2012
It looks like Mittford's going with the fourth narrative: (4) I'm the biggest A-Hole in the country. I'm "W" on steroids! Now all you knuckle-dragging repug-nuts get to work and elect me.
........and if you don't, I'll hire five or six guys to come to your trailer and hold you down while I pull those last three teeth out of your head!
Just think of it as my Romneycare Dental Plan. Hey that's pretty good! Someone hand me my Etch-a-Sketch.
MSN, keep on ignoring the other GOP Presidential candidate Ron Paul.
Keep promoting your corporate candidates Romney and Obama.
Keep promoting wars we do not belong on.
Keep promoting the FED who keeps printing money out of thin air.
Keep promoting wedge issues that are never going to be formally addressed just used as a distraction for the masses (gay marriage, abortion).
Keep stealing the wealth of this country.
Keep hiding the truth from the American people.
Keep it up MSN you're doing your part!
If anyone is tired of this crap please cast a protest vote for Ron Paul, the man who has not sold his soul and offers the only real change for the better.
Derek and the others for Ron Paul - You need to look up what the man really stands for. His first run for president says it all. He is even to the far right of the "Tea Party. No gov, regulations, no federal taxes, no help for schools, no help for students trying to better themselves by going to college, and many more No's. The Tea Party is trying to take us back to the roaring 20's, he is trying to take us back to the 18th century. If you really want this, then vote for the Libertarian party.
Wonder about age/young voters in this issue. When my son (22) heard the haircutting story he was. Back in 1969 my cowboy cousin and his buddies ganged up on the only long-hair guy in their town, beat him up, cut his hair with fencing snips (this was MT/ND border) which certainly labeled my cousin as a redneck in my eyes (I lived in MN, near the hometowns of Dylan and of Gus Hall, the perennial Communist Party pres candidate).
Today we have Huffpost quoting Romney as saying BOA protesters are too young to understand how banking works--while JP Morgan confesses they don't know how it works either. Romney sounds like he was teleported to this decade from the 1950's.
And what is with being "ok" with gay adoption but not marriage? Seems to me if a gay couple adopts children there is a particular need to have the other legal components of marriage in the mix. (FWIW although news reports indicate most states allow gay adoption, private agencies typically handle the actual adoption process with govt subsidies, they are usually faith-based, and some states allow the faith-based agencies to refuse to place kids with gay couples)
Happy Friday all
GO Obaaaahhhhhma 2012!
In 2007 the deregulated banking system showed us just how flawed the Conservative, Ayn Rand-inspired view of the world can be. The world came within days of falling into complete failure of the banking system and a second Great Depression. Even now we struggle to recover from the mess created by the Wizards of Wall Street.
The good news that should come from such an event should be our ability to learn from such experiences and improve the system and prevent a recurrence. Unfortunately Conservatism lives in a world where the only lessons worth learning come from Atlas Shrugged, and Republicans are more impressed by their ability to veto any action the government might take than they are with the inherent, time-tested ability of our political system to reach sensible compromise and consensus.
YEARS after the Wall Street Casino crashed the world economy the GOPTP continues trying to eliminate the improvements and protections of Dodd-Frank and they've totally blocked the major reforms needed...like eliminating the concept of "too big to fail."
So it's really not a surprise to find out that Wall Street continues to gamble with OUR money, and continues to fail;
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-0511-jpmorgan-chase-20120511,0,4625412.story
Excuse me, but WHY WOULDN'T YOU HAVE EXPECTED IT??!!! The giant banks have REPEATEDLY demonstrated their ability to fail on a massive scale. Republicans have REPEATEDLY demonstrated their complete unwillingness to allow reasonable regulation of the financial industry. Do the rest of us have to REPEATEDLY suffer their failure before we demand better?
Jp Morgans loss could be more than 2 billion. Isn't JP Morgan part of the Federal Reserve?
JP Morgan revealed yesterday that it lost $2 billion over the last six weeks, and regulation advocates see it as proof that big bank regulations are necessary. CEO Jamie Dimon said on a call with investors yesterday that the loss “plays right into the hands of a bunch of pundits out there” who support the Volcker Rule, which regulates how banks invest.
http://www.nationaljournal.com//economy/surprise-j-p-morgan-loss-of-2-billion-could-help-volcker-rule-proponents-20120510
And Mitt Romney wants to do away with Wall Street regulations … not looking like a good idea
I haven't heard any politician (Rep or Dem) say we should get rid of all Wall Street regulations. What I have heard is heated debate about what are appropriate regulations...
$2 Billion in 2 months lost by JPMorgan Chase and these jokers seriously want us to go with fewer regulations?
THEY CAN'T BE TRUSTED!!!
Chris, ditto that. Obama/Biden 2012!!!! Obahhhhhhma!
John B, great post. Ayn Rand taught selfishness and greed; those who embrace her teachings clearly display that trait--Paul Ryan and the modern GOP is the embodiment of Any Rand. The fact that J.P. Morgan Chase lost $2 billion dollars should be a warning to all that despite the disaster of 2008, Wall Street Wizards have not learned any lessons, they retain their lust for greed.
Ron numbers, then you haven't been paying attention least of all listening to republicans. All the GOP candidates have said they want to repeal Dodd-Frank including Mitt Romney. That's part of Romney's stump speech, it comes right after repeal ObamaCare.
lisa s, JP Morgan Chase is a private bank and investment firm.
Jody,
Just because someone wants to repeal Dodd-Frank doesn't mean they want to repeal all regulations. I've heard numerous Republicans say they support some of the rules in the bill, but disagree with other parts - hence their desire to repeal the bill - so it can be redone. Personally, I have a huge problem with the fact it codifies "too big too fail". To me, this just tells the big firms to keep making extremely risky business decisions because the taxpayers will just bail them out again...and, yes, I want this provision removed.
Da Noid,
Adding more regulations doesn't guarantee better results. There were tons of regulations in place before the meltdown - but they didn't stop the crash.
What we need are good regulations that prevent abuses, without strangling businesses.
Latest poll has Romney +7% over obama. Hopefully, intelligent people will vote in this election, which will mean bye, bye to obama.
Adding more regulations doesn't guarantee better results...but destroying the regulations put in place in the 1930s brought us a calamity of epic proportions.
It's a Rasmussen poll Jeff, the most politically biased and least accurate of all pollsters.
Ron numbers, Dodd-Frank does eliminate too big to fail and banks took notice of it last fall. It's a mistaken notion that it doesn't. Romney doesn't say repeal Dodd-Frank and replace it, he just says get rid of it. You may not want to face reality but if republicans had their way, there would be zero regulations and all one needs to do is listen to their words because one of them makes that claim nearly every day. The fact that you seem not to be one who believes in eliminating all regulations, you should be asking your republican candidates specifics about it; get them to tell you what they would keep. Odds are, you wouldn't like the answer.
Right Jeff, all of us intelligent people want to follow England into another recession. That is the only plan that republicans have for America.
Lets all follow the austerity plan that has failed in England. No growth only another recession.
Republicans love to claim how smart they are. First the republicans created the deficit on purpose and now want to drive America into another recession on purpose.
Please God, save us from republican intelligence.
VOTE FOR WOMEN'S FREEDOM...VOTE OBAMA/BIDEN 2012
I think there is a lot of truth to this statement. I'm a Volker fan myself. I realize the rules he wants to put in place would have a negative affect on growth in the short term, but I also think they would minimize the chances of another financial meltdown (not prevent it...remember the S&L crisis in the late 80's).
My main problem with Dodd-Frank is codifying "too big too fail". If you tell anyone that, no matter what they do wrong, you will bail them out - it just encourages them to take outrageous risks...do me, that's a huge problem.
More government.....we need a one on one relationship....with a Gov atty sitting next to each investor. Good liberally educated atty's by the droves. making 250k a year to start. Get all those OWS people off to regulation law school.
Jody, The Federal Reserve is not a branch of Gov't it is controlled by private banks. Google it
The important matter on this story is that only a few years AFTER the entire world economy tanked thanks to poorly understood risk in Credit Default Swaps and other unregulated derivatives another big bank is losing BILLIONS in that same market. How many other banks are playing in that same sandbox?
Only a few years after some of the biggest banks proved themselves so big they couldn't allow them to fail due to the danger the presented to the economy they're EVEN BIGGER.
When do we learn?
John B,
Do your homework. Rasmussen has been the most accurate poll in the last two elections (counting congressional). They were off by .1% in 08. Nobody else comes close. Your "political biased" remark is completely false. They poll in the real world. I don't personally put a lot of stake in polls until the last few weeks but to make a statement like you did is just an outright falsehood.
lisa s, then why did you ask the question?
Jody, I was trying to point out that the banks are part of the corrupt system called the Federal Reserve.
lisa s, I didn't say the Federal Reserves was a branch of government now did I? I don't need to Google it since I know exactly what it is and I also know how it works in relationship to the banking system.
Jody, Try to have a nice day.
Right wing, your comments are whack as usual. Here's the real scoop on Rasmussen;
http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/04/rasmussen-polls-were-biased-and-inaccurate-quinnipiac-surveyusa-performed-strongly/
Meanwhile the Kings of Wall Street continue to play with our economy as if it's a giant Lego set and there are no consequences when their models fall apart.
Private banks do not own or control the Federal Reserve Bank. This is a common misunderstanding due to membership requirements. All commercial banks must either be state or federally chartered. If Federally chartered, they must join the Reserve bank, maintain reserve requirements, and follow federal banking rules. Wikipedia provides a good recap of the Federal Reserve Bank. If you are going to read the anti-literature produced by Paul, I recommend researching it in depth. Paul would have us believe it is an evil institution bent on ruining the country. Because of the Reserve Bank, we have benefited from a more stabilized economy as compared to periods where no central bank existed.
"And that's the way it is"....this week.
Last Friday, Romney tried to pre-"frame" President Obama's campaign kickoff speech in Ohio. At Obama's rally, the place was standing room only with 14,000 cheering supporters; Romney's speech in Ohio drew about 500--how's that for "framing", Willard?!!!
Mitt Romney tried his darnedest to claim credit for President Obama's saving GM and Chrysler. "I'll take a lot of credit" Mitt declared ignoring, of course, his previous stand of "Let Detroit Go Bankrupt" and if the Government gives money to them "we can kiss the US auto industry goodbye." As President Obama told Robin Roberts, Mitt's trying to take credit for saving the auto industry was one of "his Etch-a-Sketch moments". Good one, Mr. President!
When asked what he would do for the economy, Romney said "look at what the President's done and do the opposite." Seriously, Mittens...that's your plan????
Hollande, a moderate socialist, defeated Sarkozy in France. Greece also said NO to austerity. The GOP keeps pointing at Europe and saying we don't want to be like them, pointing their finger at Greece, Ireland, Spain yet it is the GOP preaching the same austerity that has these European countries in a second economic crisis since 2008.
Arizona's Gov Jan Brewer signed a law banning Planned Parenthood from receiving money through the state. 97% of Planned Parenthood is preventive health care; no taxpayer money funds abortion yet AZ, like TX, dooms women--especially poor women--to no care, out of conscience? Nice job, GOPers, you really are a selfish, inhumane bunch and yes, you are waging a war on women.
Romney didn't have the courage to stand up to a woman who said that President Obama "should be tried for treason". He said it isn't his job to correct voters. That yellow streak up his back keeps getting wider by the day. Leader? No way.
Rick Santorum e-mailed his endorsement of Mitt Romney, 3rd paragraph of 16. No speech, no meet-up on stage, no Veep audition. Guess Rick and Mitt had a falling out somewhere around March.
Maurice Sendak died Tuesday. He wrote the favorite children's book, Where the Wild Things Are. These days, that title more aptly describes conservatives.
In Michigan, Romney wasn't so bold as to take credit for saving the auto industry--they're on to him--but he gave his condolences for Oldsmobile's demise during the Obama save. Well, Willard, GM made that decision in 2004 when Dubya was President because Buick and Olds were the very same vehicle with different names. Open mouth, insert foot.
The GOP Senators filibustered the student loan bill. Scott Brown joined them eagerly. The GOP is happy to give tax breaks to Exxon which earned $41 Billion in 2011 but they can't bring themselves to give tax breaks in the form of lower interest rates to students. Therein lies the truth about the GOPTP--all for the rich and powerful at the expense of everyone else.
Rick Berg, GOPTPer running for Senator in North Dakota wasn't able to answer a voter's question--what is the minimum wage? Even his staff was clueless. If one is going to argue against or for the miniumum wage, it is generally advisable to know what it is. $7.25 per hour federal and ND.
Senator Dick Lugar lost his Indiana GOP primary to Tea-publican Richard Mourdock who believes that social security and medicare are unconstitutional among a list of many things; he also believes that "compromise is democrats doing what republicans want." Change, only the GOPers can believe in.
North Carolina voters banned same-sex marriage Tuesday and in the process, they banned civil unions for heterosexual couples, too. Who knew?
In West Virginia, democrats gave 40% of their vote for president to a convicted felon currently serving time in a Texas prison. You just can't make this stuff up.
Mitt Romney said he's "deciding" what his position on immigration will be. In other words, Etch-a-Sketch is in the process of being shaken up to start over.
The GOP House plans to vote on a bill for a new Star Wars site on the East Coast. Odd, they can find $100 million start-up costs ($2-4 billion total estimate) but they cannot find money to fund education, help the poor or keep student loan rates low. Never mind that nearly 30 years and a trillion or more later, Star Wars still doesn't work.
The GOP House also wants $1 billion more for defense spending than President Obama requested. Maybe they should consider raising taxes on the wealthiest 10% to pay for it instead of starving the poor. Nope, not in their DNA.
Brian Fischer lambasted Mitt Romney for not being able to stand up to a "yokel like me".
The ousted Iowa Supreme Court Justices (via the efforts of Vandar Platts and his tea-nuts) who declared Iowa's DOMA unconstitutional making gay marriage legal were given JFK Profiles in Courage Awards. Also honored was Robert Ford, US Ambassador to Syria, for risking his life in support of opponents to Bashir Assad.
Romney declared that republicans are "extraordinarily pro-woman"....with his fingers crossed behind his back. Sounds as weird as "severely conservative".
President Obama became the first president to openly support gay marriage. Liberals cheered and conservatives got their undies bunched up. How ironic, the GOP speaks about liberty and freedom yet nationwide, they have systematically set about denying liberty and freedom to those who are different from them.
In the first hours after President Obama announced his support for same-sex marriage, his campaign raised $1 million.
Mitt Romney said there are 3,000 years of recorded history of marriage between a man and a woman. Hmmm, it hasn't been very long since his Mormon faith's definition of marriage was between a man and as many women as he could handle. In 1994, Romney promised the Log Cabin Republicans that he would run to the left of Ted Kennedy on gay rights. Yes, sir-ree, Flip Willard.
FOX's Shep Smith said President Obama is on the right side of history on this. Immediately after, FOX Nation took down their bold headline that President Obama declared War on Marriage and simply put Obama flip flopped. Obviously, when Shep Smith speaks, the rest of FOX listens.
Not to be left out of the right-wing hysteria over President Obama's support of same-sex marriage, reliable blow-hard Rush Limbaugh said "there's pink smoke coming from the White House" and "the President is waging a War on Tradition". Remember Fidlar on the Roof...the song TRADITION led to re-thinking by the father who loved his daughters and wanted them to be happy.
In Colorado, the GOP killed 30 pieces of legislation for all kinds of needed things in order to kill the legalizing same-sex civil union bill which looked like it would pass. Fear drives intolerant people to do stupid things.
The Capitol Police assigned extra security to Senator Claire McCaskill after a Tea Party activist told the DC crowd, "we have to kill the Claire Bear, ladies and gentlmen." Crickets from the GOP.
Mitt Romney is in damage control mode after it was revealed he was a high school bully who picked on boys presumed to be gay and walked a nearly blind teacher into a closed door for fun. This wasn't drinking beer or dabbling in drugs or silly pranks, this was mean and reflects on Romney's character.
First Read regular Jersey's No Joe gets the Forked-Tongue Award this week. She has been beating the Obama ate dog-meat drum for over two weeks, ignoring it happened when he was 9, in a country where eating dog was acceptable and kept people from starving. Now she says that Mitt Romney's bullying in high school is a 50-year old nonstory. Henceforth, Jersey Shores will be known as Snookie Joe Forked-Tongue.
The Bachmann "Chitspa" Award goes to none other than its namesake, Michele Bachmann. She withdrew her nearly 30-year dual Swiss citizenship this week when it became a hot topic. This from the woman who had the chutzpah in 2008 to demand a full investigation into those "un-American" democrats in Congress, this from the woman who questioned President Obama's citizenship. Where's the GOP outrage? She was running for President and had allegiance to Switzerland? Oh, the horror of it!
I love how the media has thrown in that "presumed to be gay" crap. That way they can make Romney look like he was victimizing one of the liberals protected grievance groups. I call BS. If it comes from the liberal media, it's most likely a LIE anyway.
Romney should have done what ALL normal boys who grow up to be president do; buy/use/sell dangerous and deadly drugs and hang out with anti-Americans and Whitey haters.
Jody,
Great weekly wrap up !!
I will add a postscript to your last item : Michele Bachmann.
http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/151057045.html
She is now renouncing her Swiss citizenship which she has had since 1978!!!
BTW, she told reporters in 2010 that her in- laws came from Switzerland to "flee socialism" ???? Yup,in 1950 Switzerland was a hot bed of socialist Swiss bankers. :)
Romney is the cream of this crop of GOP wackos who were running for the GOP nomination.
I ♥ IT! lol
***laying down the Snookie Joe repellent***
Damage
"it's most likely a lie anyway"...
very firm statement, eh? you sound like someone giving Mitt an endorsement...wishy washy!
if you think it is a "lie"...why not just say that? why hedge your bet?
Jody, great crunch-down of lots of news.
So many negative insights & facts on Romney lately.The bullying reports say a lot about Romney.
Folks can say "Oh, youthful mistakes", but Mitt Romney continues on relentlessly with the same nasty attitude he demonstrated earlier on in life:
Via his anti-gay, anti-immigrant, anti-women proposals & opinions - all stated, reported, and on-tape.
Arizona's Gov Jan Brewer signed a law banning Planned Parenthood from receiving money through the state. 97% of Planned Parenthood is preventive health care; no taxpayer money funds abortion yet AZ, like TX, dooms women--especially poor women--to no care, out of conscience? Nice job, GOPers, you really are a selfish, inhumane bunch and yes, you are waging a war on women.
I can't tell you how many women I know rely on Planned Parenthood for their healthcare. Any woman who votes Republican is out of her cotton picking mind.
GREAT Jody. Your post backs up a simple fact that the Republican party has been hijacked.
It's the same method of operation used when the media describes George Zimmerman, who is 1/4th black, a "white Hispanic", as it is for the media to describe Lizzy "Pocahontas" Warren a "Native American" when the media had to quickly defend her and dig around to find that her great-great-great-great-grandmother might have been Cherokee (isn't ancestry.com great!). Too bad they didn't look too much into the history of her great-great-great-great-grandfather who was one of the guards for the forced relocation of Native Americans during the "Trail of Tears".
The media makes stuff up. They have to sell papers, so they just insert crap like "presumed to be gay" in an attempt to stir the emotions of people. These comments need to be called for what they are - lies.
Great job as always Jody - again the GNOP can't handle the facts
"GNOP CAN"T HANDLE THE TRUTH!"
Jody, Iowa:
As always, a fabulous wrap-up. I haven't missed a week since I discovered it. I may get there late, but I get there.
It's great you get the lefties here, so we can be reminded of what has happened. Speaking for myself, I not only miss some of this this stuff, but being long of tooth, I forget some too.
Now, it appears you have become a must-read for some of the right-wing crazies. Can you imagine how many people would vote for President Obama if they could also comprehend what you write?
Damage 123 has proven once again that he is Damaged Goods. Net!
Great Jody, thanks for keeping me updated. Hope you are saving these wonderful weekly posts, some day they will make the basis for a great book.
I have sprayed some of that Snookie repellant, hopes is helps.
I'm telling you. The moronic libs just can't learn a lesson. Every ridiculous thing they've tried to hang on Romney the past few weeks has turned around and bit them in the ass. Don't be a bit surprised if this latest farce does the same.
I gotta go! The cops are at my door! Apparently some liberals told them about me giving Stevie Jones a wedgie in homeroom back in 1978!
Brilliant, Jody and No Jo deserves the award you gave her. Seems to me she has been after her President for what she claims is his lack of support for LGBT issues.
She says NOTHING about this. Always the same with no jo; hypocrisy and bullying.
Shame on her for supporting someone who targeted a gay young man.
Hey Jodi--great commentary! It is so funny to watch all the right-wingers fight over who is going to get the awards this week. So many candidates, so few awards! Congratulations on the newest one: the Forked-Tongue Award! Does anyone have any Snookie repellent to share?
David Walker--great post and a great way to start our weekend!
"We have met the enemy and he is us!" Pogo by Walt Kelly
Damage
If the cops are at your door it is probably because your family has finally decided to have you comitted....enjoy the rest and meds!
btw - see if you can sound even more desperate in future posts....getting tough to swallow, eh?
Another stellar wrap up, Jody. Thanks for all your hard work.
Maybe Michele gave up her Swiss citizenship when she found out she didn't automatically get a Swiss bank account with it. She saw what having one of those has done for Romney.
Congratulations to NoJoe for winning the Forked-Tongue Award---it is long overdue.
Thanks, friends, I really appreciate the kind words.
Damage, I doubt you'd accept truth even if it landed in your lap with a sign on it let alone if it bit you on the backside.
Great post Jody!
One more reason to look forward to Fridays.
I still can't get over Mitt taking credit for the auto bailout. How could anyone lie so easily and obviously?
Amy B. Portland, ME
I can't tell you how many women I know rely on Planned Parenthood for their healthcare. Any woman who votes Republican is out of her cotton picking mind.
I can tell you AZ Gov Mummy Face Brewer doesn't need any. I still can't believe she's human.
She was probably found mummifed in the AZ desert sands and revived.
Feisty Dumbfux, David Walker, Job1, Beverly, GBM---
"Why all the hate?" "Is that what fuels you?"
Thanks for the great read Jody. I enjoyed it as always.
You made me chuckle with the Snookie bit.
Loved your weekly wrap Jody.
@ Nash Hi; if it is warm down there send us warm weather. It's been too cold up here for too long.
Jody, excellent wrap up as always!
@Jody
"Standing room only" means no seats left. The arena held 20k, there were 14k in attendance. By any concert promoter the show would have been considered a bust. You can compare all you want to Romney's crowds or whetever but he's not even the official candidate yet and the train is just starting to move. No matter how you slice it for a sitting president that is supposedly the next thing to God to launch his campaign and only get 2/3 capacity is a telling sign.
Go to any event in an arena and put 2/3 capacity in and the consensus will be that the event didn't do well. That's just basic event promotion math. barack and his handlers over estimated his popularity and let his ego take control...yet again. If he were smart he would have done it in a 10k seat venue and then had a huge number of people outside on a waiting list. But the operative word here is "ego" and his is off the chart like the debt is.
Beverly
As usual, awesome post! Let's make an argument about someone's looks. Bravo babycakes, you do your party proud.
Jody - reading your weekly wrap is a great start to Fridays. Thank you for taking the time to do it! It's always outstanding!
That's pretty funny stuff, rww...so by your measure how big a failure was the Romney rally with 1,400 people in an entire footall stadium?
http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/image_full_width/hash/70/c1/70c167b064886f05c9bf1302f6c7ae38.jpg
John,
Sure I'll address this: See, I don't run and hide from a question or opposing view like feisty, Beverly, patriotic, seeking blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.
First of all it sure doesn't look like they expected anyone even in the grand stands by the way the stage is set. It appears to be a venue that was available. Now saying that, would I have done put it in a stadium if I were promoting it? Absolutely Not, becuase goof balls like you will bring it up in irrelevant circumstances. If you showed me that picture with a round stage in the middle and PA flying for an "in the round" event with jumbo-trons and it had the same turnout, hell yeah I would think it was as lame as lame gets. But you're mixing apples and oranges.
Romney's people shouldn't put him in any type of stadium for just this reason but he's not the sitting president and I don't know for fact but I'll bet that event wasn't promoted anywhere near how baracks was. But that's all beside the point becuase it wasn't the same type of event. Also, I'm not on a stump claiming there was some phenomenal turn out for anyone. baracks disciples on this vine were incorrectly stating something about a packed house for his launch. They were wrong, and that's a fact and that's what I truthfully pointed out.
If you want to get in a pissing match about who has more followers just wanting to get a glimpse of their "leader". I'll concede all day that it's barack. He's the sitting president for Gods sake. A large number of people will turn out anywhere because he's the president let alone he's launching his campaign. Again, point being; there wasn't a packed house by any standards anywhere.
I'll show you a picture of Van Halen playing in front of 75 people in 1988 when they were the biggest rock band in the world. Although it's all political you're trying to compare two irrelevant things. Show me a picture in September of both people in the same type of event and I'll bet barack still has more people but he's the president, he should have more people no matter what. I know you guys think it's going to be a blowout and that's fine but I think you're fools if you base election results on public crowds at this stage in the game. Especially when it comes to a sitting president that has worshipers like barack.
So now let the libs come out and tell me how disillusion my post is and how ignorant it is because I have no clue yada, yada, yada. But I'd be surprised as hell if anyone on the left was objective enough to get this.
Jody,
Beautifully done, when I grow up, I hope to be as comprehensive as you.
Stay wonderful. :>)
Now I understand;
Barack Obama walks into any room with an empty seat available and it's a failure.
Mitt Romney walks into any room with people and it's a win.
You've made my point, I'm done with this subject. Bye.
Damage - You accuse others of being hateful yet you are one of the most hateful people on these posts. I haven't seen you contribute one valuable thing. You just yak up insults. Practice what you preach, tough guy!
Jody - Thank you so much for the wrap up. I always look forward to it. Great job!
Holy shi$ John, you're honestly too fu$%ing stupid to argue with.
And he has nothing left but insults.
My work here is done.
John B
That's the only thing you can read or comprehend. Insults, and when the shoe fits, you're going to get them. You didn't read a damn thing I wrote and for a split second I thought maybe, just maybe you were going to be someone who would actually make some sense. Then you posted that absolutely dim-witted response. So yeah, sometimes insults fit and I'll say it again...too fuc$%ing stupid to argue with, in fact after explaining myself and laying out a totally objective look at things you still come up with that drivel I'll include "dick" in my insult...how's that buttercup?
My work here is just beginning. It will end when you're messiah is crying on michelles shoulder.
barack/obiteme 2012
*hope for change, anyone but barack 2012*
Seems like everytime we get more information about what Mitt Romney is like when he is not running for President, all clues seem to point to a cold, clinical, calculating, and dare I say it, cruel type of guy. And did I mention that this guy tells lies as easily as he breathes air? It's pathological . . . you saved the auto industry Mitt? Really?
Just not sure a guy who thinks that most folks can borrow a couple grand from their parents and thinks that corporations are people is the person to help the average human person get a fair shake.
And even if he was the right guy, I wonder when he is planning on telling us what it is that he is proposing to do . . . has anyone ever run for President who provided less specifics than Mitt Romney?
But that's just one woman's opinion. . . to those who feed their minds a steady diet of conspiracy theories based on nothing more than the drug fueled rants of a college drop out, Mitt Romney is the lesser of two evils . . . and that is what is really wrong with this country . . . a dumbed down electorate that bases their decisions on who says what they want to hear instead of what is actually true.
I just don't see how anyone can actually look at Mitt Romney's record of hoarding money by doing nothing more than buying companies and bakrupting them, outsourcing jobs, and saying whatever he thinks folks want to hear to get elected and see the makings of a good President.
I certainly can't.
Nashville Fan-
I totally agree. In 2008 I could see understand why some people would vote for McCain based on his accomplishments and biography. I have yet to understand why anyone could possibly think Mitt Romney deserves a vote for president.
He can't run on his record as governor, because he has changed all his views since then.
He can't run on his business experience because he didn't show any commitment, leadership or vision.
He can't run on his background and faith because they expose him as an "out of touch" elitist.
He can't run as a Washington outsider because the ony difference between him and a career politician is he lost most of his elections!
He shows no principles, leadership or integrity - he is an empty suit.
Nash & TNSEVOL
***standing O*** to both of you!
I raise a glass of red kool-aid in your honor! ☺
Nashville, TNSEVOL, terrific posts. It's beyond me how Romney can be this far into a campaign without providing any specific details about his economic plan or his policies. All we have are suggestions when he praises people like Paul Ryan and then we have his list of "not familiar" and "deciding" which Dennis Ohio posted and others added to in thread #2.
Nashville and TNSEVOL:
Absolutely spot-on. Romney's behavior is pathological. Yet, this will be a close election.
After 2010, I do not make predictions on election outcomes. However, I would be surprised if Romney doesn't get at least 46% of the popular vote. There's AT LEAST that many people who either do not know or do not care that Romney is a stone-cold liar.
I agree with this 100%, if Romney want's to get elected he needs to do the following.
1.) Embrace the false dichotomy and lie that is American politics.
2.) Promise everyone everything.
3.) Embrace celebrities as if they are the common man and use them as pitchmen for his false political ideals.
So far he has only mastered number #1.
Hey, FR--here is a novel idea---maybe Romney has defined himself. I did not support John McCain in 2008 but I had a sense of his history and I didn't think he was defining himself when he told his story---it simply was his story and it was a compelling one of bravery and service. I didn't support Senator McCain because I didn't agree with his ideas. So far the story that I know of Romney is that he was raised in great wealth and privelege and went on to amass great sums of money, often costing people jobs in the process. What other defining can there be?
Exactly Steeler Fan . . . you nailed it! :o)
Bingo SF! What one sees one gets.......no core
I like to bet Willard $10,000 that he, and he alone can't cut my hair.
bravo sf...bravo
SF, cheers for that perfectly hit homerun.
Steeler, beautifully said.
We are all supposed to be placated and cheer with glee for Romney's personal wealth, no matter how he came by it - or who suffered for his $57,000 per day.
Romney's lack of understanding about how other folks get by does not concern him. The multi-millionaire RyanRomney Budget is openly out to gut the 'other' 98% of Americans.
I have heard some comments about the fact that the President is not too important in the actual policy making arm of government. That,in my opinion is wrong. G.W.B. was able to water down some of the Democrat proposals, because all of our Representatives believed that he was prepared to veto all that he didn't like. Unfortunately,our present President is trying to run our nation on a humane,as well as business sense and the T.P. and their ,Me too, cohorts know that ,so are refusing to compromise . I hope,expect that he will be re-elected and hope/ expect that he will be better prepared to deal with them. If we had a normal make-up in our representatives of political give and take it wouldn't be too bad,but with this our way or the highway viewpoint of the extreme right,I shudder to see what our near future may be .
Name his watered down dem proposals then . Hurry it should not take you long . you have that stuff on your comp CORRECT ? Or did you make a broad Conclusion and think , No One would call you out ?
David, Backhouse, Jody...
Fine, fine reads today. Thanks.
You're welcome, Frank. Have a great weekend.
Thanks Frank.
Remember enjoying your post yesterday about 'Doers versus self-made men".
See you again,
Thank you Frank, from one other to another other.
David,
Was wundering whether you'd get in a lather, ditherin with another other 'a 'nother mother' bother-ation.
But noooooh.
Sorry, folks, but I can't get worked up about "Mitt The Bully". He was a kid...same as the President was a kid when he says he tried dog meat.
Plenty of other reasons to be opposed to Romney. Let this one go.
Yeah, but couple this with Mitt's seeming joy in discussing firing people and you get an image of someone who hasn't grown beyond adolescense as a person. What happens to schoolyard bullies? All too often, they become some poor b@st@rd's BOSS!!!!!!
Noid, Romney was 17/18 almost a legal adult and certainly old enough to know better if he had been raised correctly.
President was a 10 yr old kid, living in a foreign country amongst people he knew little of their customs. There is no comparison.
da noid: Not the same at all.
In some cultures they eat dog meat, snake, insects, etc. When you are a child you eat what you are told to eat and what is available.
It is a different story when you are a young adult who bullied and tormented others. Let me ask you, did you ever bully or torment anyone...like holding someone down and cutting their hair??? I doubt it. Someone who would do something like that as a young adult had some serious issues, and probably still does.
Da Noid -
I would agree with you, except for the fact that Romney refuses to admit that he did it and it was wrong.
If he would have come out and said, "yes, I did that and it has bothered me for years. Thank God I have realized the error of my ways and become a better man. I apologize to him and any one else who has been a victim of a bully".
Instead he said (paraphrasing) IF I did something like that and IF it hurt anyone, I guess I would be sorry.
Admit it, apologize and show that you learned your lesson.
Obama ate dog meat when he was a kid because that's what his parents gave him to eat. I doubt that George Romney, who seems to have been a pretty decent guy, encouraged his son Mitt to bully kids for being different.
I bullied someone a long time ago and I found that person and apologized. I myself think that this issue with Romney years ago just proves that he can't man up and admit his mistake. He just wants to lie about everything.
What is more telling to me than the incident, Da Noid, is Romney's reaction to it today. He could have said---it was a mistake I made that I deeply regret. Instead he said he couldn't remember (would you forget this?) but that he didn't know if the guy was gay or not (as if that mattered). Then he gave that nervous giggle. Also--he's been running for President for 5 years---why isn't he better prepared for this kind of question?
Willard is a flat out liar, and it would be a BIG mistake to elect him.
Do anyone of you remember HS? When I started HS I was no a very big boy and I caught hell from the seniors. Long hair part of the "in" crowd popular with girls. I didnt have summers off I mixed cement and carried brick for my grandfather masonry comp. So by the time hit mid sophmore year I was bulking and by the time i hit my junior yar I was bigger than most of the jocks. There was a few weeks of tension with the football players (I played club hockey). It ended up with a 3 on one (me and 3 of them) on the "smoking" field "gasp yes we had one of those" in which I straightened out who they were NOT going to mess with anymore. Probably a moment just like this one. Thank god my father and grandfather took my side and taught me how to stand up for my self and others. The main reason I joined the military on early entry in my senior year. This is an old non issue that many on both sides have dealt with.
DaNoid, he was 18, old enough to vote; 18 is considered an adult by most and old enough to know better. If all Romney did was pester other kids, put tacks on desk seats, throw spit balls or tie shoes together, you'd be right. He and four friends literally attacked a boy, hauled him to where no one would hear or see, held him down and cut off his hair because they didn't like it or him. That's not a youthful prank, that's a bully with a mean streak.
He was a mean spirited ass then and he still is. He used his Dad's standing as an Automobile Exec and as the Governor of Michigan to leverage own standing at school.
Sorry, I'm not buying the lie I don't recall and the blanket apology. He and his friends beat up weaker kid because he had hair they didn't like.
I don't remeber/recall how Reaganesque of him. Just what we need a forgetful, flip flopper at our nations helm.
jollyoldsoul -
And again - however inadvertently - you just proved the point of what's wrong with this story. You have apparently quite vivid memories of what you did as a sophomore and junior in high school - yet have no problem with Romney conveniently not remembering even one of these incidents he participated in as a senior - even though the others who participated with him in the same incidents at the same time also have no problem recalling them all these years later, and in fact were interviewed separately for the Post story and each told pretty much the same story.
Romney just seems to be the latest in a long line of politicians who don't seem to get the fact that if you admit to a wrong-doing upfront, apologize sincerely, and move on quickly, it never ends up being half as much trouble for you as if you try to play innocent and worm your way out of it.
Call it the Nixon Rule of Politics - It's Never The Break-in That Brings You Down, It's The Perception Of A Cover-Up.
You sure have made up for it now.
Time has not been very kind to you... Bluto
Steeler Fan-380417
A far more immediate character defect than bullying is that Romney reflexively lies to get himself out of trouble. And he's obviously lying about not remembering incidents in high school that everyone else involved remembers. He could have owned up to it and said he deeply regretted bullying other kids when he was younger, but as the title of his book "No Apologies" suggests, it's just not in his character. Maybe that's because he has no character.
Da Noid has it right plenty to oppose about Mitt, let it go.
Steeler Fan gets it right, Mitt's apology statement was akward. If he did it should've just said exactly what SF wrote.
JoAnne Pa and Houston are right. If he did it there is no way he would have forgot, if he didn't there is no way he would have apologized.
Feisty gets it wrong. By the way, if I was Mr. Perfect, I wouldn't have chuckled at your slam on Jolly.
Sorry Jolly, I apologize.
lmao.....thats all you have?
Repost
No Suprise that MSNBC is running this LUDICROUS, 47 year Old, Unsubstantiated Romney "Hit Piece". Republicans "flip flop" and Democrats "evolve". There should now be NO DOUBT about Media Bias.
Here's something that MSNBC would NEVER Mention about Mitt that gives some balance to THEIR Chatacter Assassination of the Next President of the United States.
On Romney's character....
Sometimes, this facet of Romney’s personality isn’t so subtle. In July 1996, the 14-year-old daughter of Robert Gay, a partner at Bain Capital, had disappeared. She had attended a rave party in New York City and gotten high on ecstasy.
Three days later, her distraught father had no idea where she was. Romney took immediate action. He closed down the entire firm and asked all 30 partners and employees to fly to New York to help find Gay’s daughter. Romney set up a command center at the LaGuardia Marriott and hired a private detective firm to assist with the search. He established a toll-free number for tips, coordinating the effort with the NYPD, and went through his Rolodex and called everyone Bain did business with in New York , and asked them to help find his friend’s missing daughter. Romney’s accountants at Price Waterhouse Cooper put up posters on street poles, while cashiers at a pharmacy owned by Bain put fliers in the bag of every shopper. Romney and the other Bain employees scoured every part of New York and talked with everyone they could prostitutes, drug addicts anyone.
That day, their hunt made the evening news, which featured photos of the girl and the Bain employees searching for her. As a result, a teenage boy phoned in, asked if there was a reward, and then hung up abruptly. The NYPD traced the call to a home in New Jersey , where they found the girl in the basement, shivering and experiencing withdrawal symptoms from a massive ecstasy dose. Doctors later said the girl might not have survived another day.
Romney's former partner credits Mitt Romney with saving his daughter's life, saying, "It was the most amazing thing, and I’ll never forget this to the day I die."
So, here's my epiphany: Mitt Romney simply can’t help himself. He sees a problem, and his mind immediately sets to work solving it, sometimes consciously, and sometimes not-so-consciously. He doesn't do it for self-aggrandizement, or for personal gain. He does it because that's just how he’s wired.
Many people are unaware of the fact that when Romney was asked by his old employer, Bill Bain, to come back to Bain & Company as CEO to rescue the firm from bankruptcy, Romney left Bain Capital to work at Bain & Company for an annual salary of one dollar.
When Romney went to the rescue of the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics, he accepted no salary for three years, and wouldn't use an expense account. He also accepted no salary as Governor of Massachusetts .
Character counts!! (and yes...that's worth reading again!)
Liars lack character. Mitt's got a helluva lotta explaining to do about his seeming ability to change with the wind.
AF: I'm just curious. Do you not believe that President Obama lies too? If you don't, I feel sorry for you. Now I know why people say that liberals are cult like; they can't see that their leader is an even bigger liar than Romney and follow him blindly and with fanaticism.
That's what he should have done...... And when you have more money than god you can afford to be magnanimous, what's that got to do with good moral character?
char·ac·ter
noun
1.
the aggregate of features and traits that form the individual nature of some person or thing.
2.
one such feature or trait; characteristic.
3.
moral or ethical quality: a man of fine, honorable character.
4.
qualities of honesty, courage, or the like; integrity: It takes character to face up to a bully.
5.
reputation: a stain on one's character.
atticus: Guess when you are the boss you can shut the entire firm down to help with a search.....and hopefully paid for their flight to NY. Bet the employees had to do as they were told....no choice on their part.
Romney is worth about 250 million, he "earns" about 20 million a year in interest....he doesn't need a salary....if you or I had that kind of money we wouldn't take a salary either....would we?
Dragon: Your post is exactly why liberals should not be in power. They are obsessed with other people's money.
atticus: You brought up the money, didn't you? You talked about Romney not taking a salary...didn't you. Are you obsessed with money?
Tell me what I posted that is not correct....not "obsessed", just facts.
Atticus -
Everyone SHOULD know that about Romney, he has exploited it for his own gain in at least two election cycles now.
Romney then turns around and criticizes Obama for discussing the decision-making that went into the Osama Bin Laden raid? How does that show character?
Dragon: Don't you think someone not taking money for doing work is commendable. You, however, turn it into a negative. Why?
TNSEVOL: Romney has done a lot of good with his money and with his time. This man has more character that our current president. SoRRy!
Can you list one character flaw of President Obama? I ask this because there are plenty (everyone has character flaws) and it just seems you can never get a liberal to concede even one point when it comes to Obama. This equates to intellectual dishonesty on the part of the libs.
Atticus, do you have any specific lies?
Below is a list of Obama’s documented lies so far with the most recent lies first. If you see we are missing a documented lie Submit the lie here.
Lies During Third Year
In his 2012 State of the Union Address, President Obama said that American oil production is the highest that it’s been in eight years.
www.breitbart.com
I’ve done more for Israel’s security than any President ever
Obama aided Islamic Extremists take over of Egypt/ Libya – Weapons pour into Gaza
Virtually every Senate Republican voted against the tax cut last week
Examiner
“Every idea that we’ve put forward are ones that traditionally have been supported by Democrats and Republicans alike.”
Like Raising taxes?
Obama met highly qualified out of work teacher Robert Baroz
He wasn’t out of work and Obama never met him.
GOP Responsible for Obama Jobs Bill Not Passing
Dems Rejected Jobs Bill
You have 80 percent of the American people who support a balanced approach. Eighty percent of the American people support an approach that includes revenues and includes cuts. So the notion that somehow the American people aren’t sold is not the problem
Gallup Poll: Only 69%
These are obligations that the United States has taken on in the past. Congress has run up the credit card, and we now have an obligation to pay our bills.
Looks like it’s been incurred mostly in the years of Obama
Jobs Bill Paid for
Seems not so much Paid for
Then you’ve got their(GOP)which is dirtier air, dirtier water, less people with health insurance
Barack Obama, campaiging in Asheville, NC, 10/17/11
I cannot guarantee that those checks go out on August 3rd if we haven’t resolved this issue. Because there may simply not be the money in the coffers to do it.
American.com
USA producing more oil than ever before
Petroleum Insights
Fence between US and Mexico is “Practically Complete”
Department of Homeland Security says 5%
Rich doesn’t pay their fair share.
National Taxpayers Union
Lies During Second Year
Obama claimed the SCOTUS decision in Citizens United v. FEC, “open[ed] the floodgates for special interests — including foreign corporations — to spend without limit in our elections.
nationalreview.com
No signing statements to nullify or undermine congressional instructions as enacted into law
Obama Lies to Keep Czars
No “boots” on the ground Libya
Anyone that has worked with the AC-130 gunship can tell you, you need spotters to let aircraft know where the targets are. Usually it is Special Forces, Rangers etc trained for this mission. It’s CIA Agents in Libya on the ground
Reform will also rein in the abuse and excess that nearly brought down our financial system. It will finally bring transparency to the kinds of complex, risky transactions that helped trigger the financial crisis.
Obama Lies About Financial Reform Bill
All Americans WILL BE were, “surprised, disappointed and angry” about lockerbie bomber
Obama Memo
I will not rest until the BP Oil Spill stops
Obama’s Schedule
The health care bill will not increase the deficit by one dime.
Campaign and Presidency
If you like the health care plan you have you can keep it
TownHall
“Under our plan, no federal dollars will be used to fund abortions, and federal conscience laws will remain in place.”
U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C., September 9, 2009.
ObamaCare Fee is not a new tax
Obama denies healthcare is a new tax on all Americans
We have run out of places in the US to drill for oil.
Obama’s oval office speech in June 2010
Now suddenly if you don’t have your papers and you took your kid out to get ice cream, you can be harassed, that’s something that could potentially happen.
Arizona Immigration Law
Doctors choose amputation because they get better compensation. Greedy Doctors taking out tonsils for more money.
Claims never documented
The Health Care Package will pay for itself
Time
Republicans don’t have a single idea that’s different from George Bush’s ideas — not one.
Hmm Immigration?
We shouldn’t Mandate the purchase of health care
Democratic Debate Lies
Obama says he’ll save average family $8,000 in gas
Video Proof
I am immediately instituting PayGo “Pay as you go”
Said during a speech immediately after the Trillion Dollar “Shovel Ready” bill.
I got the Message from Massachusetts
Daily Bail
Lies During First Year
We began by passing a Recovery Act that has already saved or created over 150,000 jobs.” – caught cooking the books and now changed to ‘jobs supported’ versus ‘created/saved’
AP fact Checker
Number one, we inherited a $1.3 trillion deficit. … That wasn’t me.” – Congress, under Democratic control in 2007 and 2008, controlled the purse strings that led to the deficit Obama inherited.Obama supported the emergency bailout package in Bush’s final months — a package Democratic leaders wanted to make bigger.
AP fact Checker
Collective salvation
Obama calls himself a Christian
I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.
Obama Inauguration. 20 Jan 2009
Cut Deficit in Half by end of first term
Associated Press Video
Health Care deals will be covered on C-span
Obama Lies
As President I will recognize the Armenian Genocide
ABC
Recovery Act will save or create jobs
ABC News
Unemployment rate will be 8.5% without stimulus.
Obama Lies
No Earmarks in the $787 Billion Stimulus
CNN
I happen to be a proponent of a single payer universal health care plan
Specator.Org
We have launched a housing plan that will help responsible families facing the threat of foreclosure lower their monthly payments and refinance their mortgages.
Obama Lies
I am not somebody who promotes same-sex marriage.
NPR
Guantanamo bay to be closed within a year
Council on Foreign Relations.
Won’t Raise taxes on those making less than 250,000 per year.
Businessweek: Obama Agnostic on taxes
List of Tax Promise Violations
2008 Campaign Lies
No more wiretapping of citizens
Youtube
Mr. Ayers as “a guy who lives in my neighborhood,” but “not somebody who I exchange ideas from on a regular basis.
News Busters
I had a uncle who was one of the, who was part of the first American troops to go into Auschwitz and liberate the concentration camps
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Obama campaign would accept public funding
ABC
Minimum Wage will increase to $9.50/hr
A Socialist
Ann Dunham spent the months before her death in 1995 fighting with insurance companies that sought to deny her the coverage she needed to pay for treatment.
Mounting Heath Care Lies
Didn’t know Jeremiah Wright was Radical
Dreams of My Father – A radical Socialist.
Would have the most transparent administration in History
Cato Institute
We will go through our federal budget – page by page, line by line – eliminating those programs we don’t need, and insisting that those we do operate in a sensible cost-effective way.
Boston Globe
I have visited all 57 states.
Snopes
I’ll get rid of earmarks
Source: Any bill passed during presidency
When a bill lands on my Desk, The American people will have 5 days to review it before I sign it.
Campaign Speech
My father served in World War II.
The Videos and the Facts
Have troops out of Iraq by March 31, 2009
News Video
Seniors Making less than 50,000 will not have to pay taxes
YouTube
Would not vote for any bill supporting troop funding without a firm withdrawal commitment from the Bush Administration.
He has done nothing but continue the Bush admins strategy and to explain how the “surges total failure” has now become his greatest achievement.
Present Votes Are Common In Illinois
NPR
I Won Michigan
Huffington Post
I won Nevada
The Nation
I don’t Have Lobbyists
US News
My Campaign Had Nothing To Do With The 1984 Ad
Crooks and Liars
I Have Always Been Against Iraq
Washington Post
My Wife Didn’t Mean What She Said About Pride In Country
CNN
Barack was never an ACORN trainer and never worked for ACORN in any other capacity.
Obama Campaign Video
I Barely Know Rezko
Sun Times
My Church Is Like Any Other Christian Church
Atticus -
I didn't say that Romney didn't do a lot of good with his money and his time, I said he shows a lack of integrity which I think would be essential to a person of character. But let's take a closer look at what he does with his time and money.....
He used his money to run a very negative and deceptive campaign against his rivals in the Republican primaries.
He took the time to deliberately misquote Obama's statement repeating what McCain said about the economy.
He used his money to run ads exploiting his partner's lost daughter for political gain (twice at least).
He took the time to lie about his position on the auto bailout.
Over time he has reversed his position on Healthcare, Abortion, gay rights, and many other issues.
Give Romney enough time and he will take all of our money.
Auntie -- Cannot believe you asked this question. There are so many, where to start.
January, 2006, Meet the Press:
MR. RUSSERT: But there seems to be an evolution in your thinking. This is what you told the Chicago Tribune last month: “Have you ruled out running for another office before your term is up?” Obama answer: “It’s not something I anticipate doing.” But when we talked back in November of ‘04 after your election I said, “There’s been enormous speculation about your political future. Will you serve your six-year term as United States senator from Illinois?” Obama: “Absolutely.”
SEN. OBAMA: I will serve out my full six-year term. You know, Tim, if you get asked enough, sooner or later you get weary and you start looking for new ways of saying things. But my thinking has not changed.
MR. RUSSERT: So you will not run for president or vice president in 2008?
SEN. OBAMA: I will not.
How many more do you want?
Atticus-
Sorry, I see no "Lies" in your lists - just opinions and propoganda masquerading as facts.
You equate lying to not being able to fulfill all of your campaign promises because of changing economic conditions, lack of cooperation from the opposition, and changing priorities? If so almost every president in history including Reagan, Clinton and both Bushes are serial liars.
Not a very compelling argument.
TNSEVOL: I usually like to stay away from hurtful comments but I must say you just might be delusional. Sorry!
Tns -- Now you get it. Obama is as big a liar as nearly every other politician.
Some of his campaign promises were no more than pandering, like most other politicians, but when he said he would close GITMO he was either deluding himself or was too inexperienced to understand that he alone could not do that.
Now you did quickly go to the if it was ok for others it is ok for obama argument -- not sure how that fits with his hope & change thingy.
Good job Atticus you made a list of statements that already have proven were republicans lies. You know claiming the statements that President Obama never made as lies.
Just as an example how would you know if President Obama's church is not like any other Christian Church? Do you go to the same church?
Republicans unfortunately have more hate than brains.
How dumb do you have to be to vote for the republicans to create another recession in America? Couple that with voter suppression and making women into second class citizens. Republicans have the heart of a bully, no wonder Romney's past doesn't bother them.
VOTE FOR AMERICA...VOTE FOR A DEMOCRAT 2012
James,
I was not saying it was okay because others had done it - Atticus was the one defending Romney by saying Obama was a worse liar. I was merely pointing out that in my opinion there is a difference between a lie and a broken campaign promise.
If you review the list Atticus "cut and pasted" almost all of the items are not factually disputed but politically disputed - like including Obama's oath of office as a "lie"? How can you treat that as a reasonable, intelligent argument if it includes things like that?
A short list of actual falsehoods, not misstatements (like 57 states) would present a more rational basis for his argument. Including these things basically invalidates his position.
Your post of the discussion between Tim Russert and Obama is a perfect example - it is hard to argue that Obama didn't go back on his word in that instance.
Americans First -- Are you on the "Obama Never Lies" bandwagon like others posting here?
tns -- Obama went back on his word. Does that mean he lied?
james -
I am sure if Obama was asked about his interview with Tim Russert he would admit to breaking his word. I doubt he would say he didn't remember it or meant it differently.
The initial comment was about Romney's character. When his character was questioned (using specific examples) the rebuttal was "Obama lies too - and he is worse".
No defense of Romney, just an attack on Obama.
Of course Obama has changed his mind or his views for political reasons - he is a politician. In my opinion he is has been more open about his positions and why/when he has changed them. In general Obama has "tacked" along the same lines - some campaign promises were broken, many more were kept.
IMO Obama has not done or said anything that is out of character with who he presented himself to be during the 2008 elections. Romney has constantly reinvented himself and completely reversed course on many issues, and misrepresented his views and others on many other occasions.
I find him lacking in integrity and therefore character.
Atticus lost me when he posted Breitbart.com as proof to back one of his alleged lies. Nothing worse than a person who quotes liars accusing someone else of lying, et tu, Atticus!
As for President Obama saying he would not run for President on MTP, at that time he was not planning to run. There is a difference between changing your mind and lying but apparently that notion slips past the conservative brain.
Jody: I never had you to begin with. So no loss for me.
Most Republicans can agree that Romney says thing that are politically expedient. I wish he didn't but he has and does.
My problem is with you and your liberal friends. You NEVER see the truth when it comes to President Obama. Either all you're all really dumb (I don't believe that) or you're all delusional.
@attaboy flinch ; you called me a bigot , when i expressed my views of joe smith's hand written polygamy bible. you my friend , are mistaken , or just plain delusional. no matter how you slice or dice it , it still goes against the king james bible. therefore i think it should be brought out , the fact that he worships a false god , named MORONI !!!!!! IF YOU THINK THIS SHOULD BE IRRELEVANT IN A CHRISTIAN FOUNDED COUNTRY , '' YOU MY FRIEND , ARE THE DUMB ONE !!!!!!!!!
Atticus, how sad that this weighs so heavily on you.
How sad that you cannot differentiate between lying and breaking a promise. Particularly when the broken promise might be as a result of factors outside the speaker's control.
How sad that you attribute as being lies events that are outside the speaker's control or influence.
How sad that you cannot see the faults of both sides.
How sad for you.
AtticusFlinched - none of us are delusional. However, we check our facts and see that your entire post is made up of opinions - not lies. You show, again, that the delusional ones on this site are the GOPers. I don't see any Republicans on this site EVER saying Romney says anything wrong. They are constantly defending him or deflecting from his constant flip flopping.
Nice try seeking,
Show me one liberal on the vine who has said anything negative about barack. I'll show you plenty of people who have stated that they didn't approve of everything Romney.
Bottom line is the country's sentiment;
*hoping for change, anyone but barack 2012*
Atticus
Putting a story about Romney like that on this vine is like putting a cow in Piranha infested waters. The Piranha don't even look to see what it is, they just start chewing it up as fast and furiously as they can using no brain power, just instinct. Keep doing it though, sometimes you catch them staring at a shiny object or something and they really are kind of cute...dumb but cute.
Attlas .Flin// So you prefer Romney to Obama,well you are either rich or delusional or living in the past when the Republican Party was concerned about the conditions of the poor and the working class . They are now the party of the 1% and the rich. Their political aims are the ones advanced by the greediest and most powerful class ,with few exceptions,that we have in our country.They and their sycophants are never satisfied with any,except their own ,conditions of advancement. Even most of their Presidential offerings have some concerns about the hopes and concerns of the 99% ,but most of us especially the liberals have strong reservations about your Romney.
listoire
well you are either rich or delusional or living in the past. Why? when the Republican Party was concerned about the conditions of the poor and the working class Are you kidding? What do you think the anger is all about. The Republican party is wanting to build up a country where people can actually get out of poverty and follow an American dream. The democrat party says they're on the side of the poor but the reality is they only want to entitle the poor and once someone gets a free check no matter how small it is, it's hard to ween them off of it. Democrat leaders are typically wolves in sheep clothing. "Keep 'em down so we can rule 'em and they will rely on us for their every need" should be the democrat motoThey are now the party of the 1% and the rich. No they're not, liberals have labeled them that but the most wall street money and rich elitist money goes to the dem party every time. Wall street gives more to barack than the Republicans. Their political aims are the ones advanced by the greediest and most powerful class ,How do you figure this? Because they don't want high taxes. Because they belive if people control their own money more people benefit? If you're laying claim to this back it up with something please. with few exceptions,that we have in our country.They and their sycophants are never satisfied with any,except their own ,conditions of advancement.It's called a philosophical belief and the same can be said about democrats. If everybody was on the same page we wouldn't be having this discussion. I could easily say the dems only want their way or no way and if it doesn't involve raising taxes that's it, all deals will be off the table. Even most of their Presidential offerings have some concerns about the hopes and concerns of the 99%h.
The republican plan is the same plan that brought another recession in England.
Why is it again we should listen to republicans on the economy?
I am , ashamed that Barack Hussein Obama did not FIX all the Fooking REPUBLICAN mistakes in 1 year . I am Ashamed i say . That The President Of The United States , Could not fix 8 YEARS of Stupid In only 3 . Its a sad day to be Republican.
I'm ashamed that fools put barack in the white house on his own promise that he could fix the whole shebang in three years. I didn't buy that B.S. you did, and your sheep-like friends too. So you should be ashamed, you should be ashamed of being so frickin' gullible that you actually thought barack obama was going to bring hope and positive change to this country. He brought divisional hatred and negative change.
So you're right for being ashamed, you and those like you should absolutely be ashamed of yourselves. On behalf of the "RIGHT", thank you for admitting it.
Steeler Fan,
" So far the story that I know of Romney is that he was raised in great wealth and privelege and went on to amass great sums of money,"
Your sentence says it all.
There is no "there" there.
You said it better than I did, Northstar.
I was thinking about this last night and it occurred to me that we assume people have certain characteristics based on what we feel certain traits must give a person. For example, if a person has a lot of money, he must be smart. If a person has strong religious beliefs, he must be a fundamentally good person. It behooves us all to look more deeply at all of our candidates.
Yes MSM we are well aware you are working hard to keep off important subjects like unemployment and the economy and would rather have us bickering over Gay marriage and how Romney was a bully and how He and the President treat and eat dogs. Great job reporting!
96: Well you read the article and posted....didn't you? So guess it worked...LOL!
Actually I only had to read the title to know that the rest of the article contained. Sad really.
So Dragon, looks like you called it correctly. 96ws6 doesn't know or care what's in the article...only that it's important to throw mud on it.
John - it's all 96ws6 does.
WOW.. We (other classmates and I) once brought a bar of soap and a wash cloth to school and gave it to a kid that had a personal hygiene problem... Guess I better not run for President.. But on the other hand, I experimented with drugs so maybe I am qualified after all??
ellie: You compare that to holding someone down and cutting their hair.....really???
Ellie Mae-
The difference is you seem to remember the incident, and if asked would probably apologize if you realized you had hurt that classmate's feelings.
Romney did it, won't admit to it, and refuses to apologize for it except in the abstract "if I did it and if someone was hurt I guess I would be sorry...."
I dont remember everything I did in HS...do you?
jollyoldsoul-
So at least four other people present remember that incident and Romney doesn't - even after reading and hearing about it he can't recall it?
I don't remember everything in high school, but I certainly remember every time I was bullied or had a physical confrontation with someone.
So are you saying Romney cannot recall that specific incident because there were many more like just like it and they were all a blur? :)
No one remembers all that they did ever,but we do remember things that were important to us. I still remember a time ,I was about seven years old at that time ,and a few of us were being subjected to bullying. I suggested and led a group of about eight of us younger kids and caught the bigger leader of the bullies. We tied him up and rolled him down a steep embankment . Unfortunately at the bottom of it was a railway line .Fortunately it wasn't used too much and his screams lead the schoolyard teacher to him. We,of course, were punished but it did accomplish what we wanted. the bullying stopped. I have never ever been indifferent to bullying. Most kids at school are against it . All kids that receive or give it know when it is being committed .For ever!
Maybe bullying just wasn't unusual enough in the life of Mitt Romney for him to think it important.
Belated congratulations to Congresswoman Michele Bachmann for becoming a Swiss citizen earlier this year!
(Oops...we found out, didn't we, so you had to renounce your citizenship. Sorry!)
Actually, she became a dual Swiss citizen in 1978; she just withdrew it this week saying she didn't want anyone to think she wasn't a proud American--ignoring of course, the 34 years in which she was part Swiss citizen.
Not surprising all the 'do-nothing-but-expect-everything' liberal losers are on this site right now. The RIGHT is WORKING to pay for all your freebies. Sooner than you think the working class is going to revolt. Then where ya gonna get your money???? Back to work for me, it will pay off when I leave this country. The hippie liberals have ruined it beyond repair. Anyone who does not see that is DILLUSIONAL.
Don't let the door hit you on the arse on the way out!
It's "delusional". "Dillusional"? Is that a pickle in your pocket or are ya happy ta see me!!??
GermanGem - Bye! Bye!
and americans are still suffering under the obama administration...yet this is not news.
...it would be news if obama was a republican or an independent.
We are? Sounds like you are suffering from the "W" hangover. You can thank your boy Bush for that.
lmao..... Bush!
you can get your boy obama a job next spring right ?
keck - the only "boy" around is you. What are ya - 10? President Obama won't be looking for a job until 2017. And my guess is the offers will be pouring in to him then so don't worry your little small head about that!
Deflect, blame everyone else, deny, deny, deny. then just Attack, attack attack. Failed promises, non existent results. Elected to lead and failed miserably.
It's the Economy Stupid!"
23 million unemployed, 19% underemployed and CNN reports 86 million no longer looking for gainful employment. Who's in charge? Who's the President?
313,472,971 people in the USA and well over 100,000,000 would be workers not earning anything or a lot less than before. $1.5 Trillion added to the debt each year. $15.7 Trillion and counting! Four more years of tears?
Who gets the job in 2012? Romney, the anti-Obama
It was a shame how President Obama took an economy with a projected surplus and turned it into the largest deficit in our history.
Oh wait that was bush, President Obama inherited an economy bleeding millions of jobs every month. Due to the stimulus our country is growing slowly, if would be faster if the republicans did anything but obstruct.
Republicans like to pretend it went straight from Clinton to President Obama and bush and his bad policies of creating the biggest deficit in our history, the loyal republicans like to pretend bush never happened.
Lets all pretend that President Obama wrecked the economy, republican are really dumb enough to believe us. Right, Dahly?
VOTE FOR AMERICA....VOTE FOR A DEMOCRAT 2012
" The point is, at a bare minimum, this Washington Post story establishes Romney as a child of privilege and feeds the narrative Democrats are trying to build that he’s a man of privilege only looking out for folks like him."
Thanks for stating the obvious...The Washington Post has been "feeding the narrative the Democrats are trying to build" for the past 40 years.
This has been a good week for Romney politically . Although the media based in New York and California tries to convince us that gay marriage is now universally supported, the fact is gay marriage support will hurt Obama in swing states.
The WaPost hack job also unites conservatives around Romney.
So Conservatives like unapologetic bullies and bigots? Big surprise there.
Which is why Obama is a better man and a better president than Romney would ever be. He has the courage to do what is right even if there may be political fallout among the great ignorant masses. Eventually this makes it to the supreme court where even this uber-political right wing activist court will have to uphold the civil rights of Gays. All laws to the contrary are blatantly unconstitutional and even Scalia and the rest of the righties on the court will be forced to state the obvious.
It is what it is, hopefully, no one will vote him in, but some people vote for the party not the person that is sad, he does not deserver to be President, lets hope the votes do not let him in. We all know he lies. and cheats and steals.
I totally agree. I always said Obamma was not fit to be in office and that is how he got in. Glad you agree.
If the only people who are qualified to be President are those who did not do something stupid as a teenager, we should eliminate the office.
So Bill, did you hold someone down and cut their hair when you were a young adult, like 18 or 19? That is not just a stupid prank, that is bullying and tormenting....BIG difference.
And it sounds like this was not an isolated incident, that Romney was cruel and bullying in general.
No but I did beat the living crap out of 3 football team seniors. So badly that their fathers punished them for getting beat, by a hockey player.
No, but I was asked by my grandmother to wear a nehru jacket to school one day (she bought it for me) late 60's nehru jacket long hair hockey player. Didnt go over well with the football team members. They picked a fight I ended it. Me and 3 of them. Their fathers punished them....because they had let me beat their azzes. Kids are cruel now, they were worse then. Many of our fathers were in Korea or WW2. We had reveille every morning and inspection, thats the way it was in my area, a housing group of 1200 homes mostly all veterans with combat histories.
When is the Washington Post, MSNBC, NBC, CBS, ABC, etc. going to start covering the accusations of Obama's sexually harrassing several men at Harvard the same way they are covering this story?
Bill: Post a link why don't you......haven't seen that "story" on any other new site.
I haven't seen the story of him being a drug dealer, either. Anything that comes from brietbart.com is a turn off and totally inaccurate. We all know his mentor Karl Rove and the underhanded tactics the rovian's use to undermine President Obama.
No need to go that far Diane.
Just read "Dreams of My Father".
He admits he was very high and drank in great amounts. Anyone knows that in those days most people who did that were dealing to be able to not pay for their own. Come on.....he was the only one using that much and not selling a little on the side. Not probable.
jollyoldsoul1 - so Bush was a drug dealer - who knew? I mean he was an alcoholic who used coke so - according to your theory he dealt drugs.
Bill-219..... why do you continue to post what you know is a lie? You know it is easily disproved but you clearly hope some mentally deficient Republican will read it and believe it. What a sorry excuse for a human being you are!
For 2 days we have heard nothing but "marriage equality" ad nauseaum..........and meanwhile, we still have REAL problems that need to be addressed. Democrats and MSNBC are peeing in their pants because they are soooo excited that Obama has approved same sex marriage...........give me a break!!!
First Read:
Romney has done a pretty good job of filling in the blanks himself: He's shown himself to be a serial liar, a serial flip-flopper, and someone who tries to steal credit for someone else's accomplishments. Now, he's adding high school bully to his resume.
First Read:
First Read "journalists" are the ones trying to rewrite history. Obama himself told an interviewer yesterday that he publicly stated his position on gay marriage sooner than he intended because of Biden's statement. He owned up to it completely. Why don't you report the news instead of making it up? This isn't Fox, you know.
Here's a CBS article about Obama's interview where he admitted Biden forced his hand. Why is it so easy for me to find this with Google, but First Read reporters have so much trouble?
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57431532-503544/obama-biden-forced-hand-on-same-sex-marriage-but-alls-well/
Ain't that the truth!
Mitt
wasis a bully and a rich elite preppy snob... and it continues with his campaign. Hardly shocking.Four years after this supposed event Mitt served a mission for 3 years in France teaching the gospel Jesus Christ. What a horrible person he is.
atticus: Ya, Mitt rode a bike around France, baptisting dead people so he could avoid joining the military....I agree, he is a horrible person, and a coward.
Mitt also lived in a very nice house in France with two servants. Oh, and he avoided serving in Vietnam because he was on his "mission".
That shows the kind of person he is, "rattle the sabers" for war in Iran but won't go yourself or send your sons. "Fortunate Son" must have been written about him.
Dragon/TNSEVOL: You don't know what you're talking about. Missionaries for the Mormon Church don't baptize dead people. People who serve missions do it out of love for their fellow man and for their God. But because he disagrees with you politically, he did it to run from military service. At least he didn't say "I loathe the military" while in France like some other famous Dem.
That "other famous Dem" didn't advocate invading other countries or starting wars. He admitted what he did and learned from it.
It doesn't matter if I agree with him politically, I certainly don't agree with his hypocrisy.
Hahaha - what a clear misunderstanding of Mormon missionaries. They have one mission, and one mission only, to convert the masses to Mormonism.
Atticus - Willard lived in a Chateau - while supposedly converting a Catholic country to Mormonism - net converts - zero - while avoiding the Viet Nam Draft
Do you want a list of all your "Chicken Hawks" - Republicans that are the same as him and a list of Democrats who did serve - easy enough to do
Good news he learned French same time that Anne Romney was taking French - after she dumped her boyfriend and decided that Willard was a better meal ticket
Does phoney come to mind?
Actually Atticus If I showed you all of your chicken hawks and our wonderful democrat heroes it would take up three pages - but you are so brilliant you can look them up yourself
All of your Republicans are Chicken Hawks minus one