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Subscribe to RSS“After attacking Mitt Romney and Bain Capital last week for their dealings with a Missouri steel company, the Obama campaign today is turning to the tale of a closed Indiana office supply company that then-Senator Edward M. Kennedy used to repel Romney in their 1994 race,” the Boston Globe’s Johnson writes. “Bain-owned American Pad & Paper bought SCM in 1994, only to cut wages and benefits before closing the Marion plant a year later. Over 200 workers lost their job. By 2000, Ampad itself was declaring bankruptcy, while the Romney-led Bain and its investors had reaped over $100 million in profits. ‘To me, Mitt Romney takes from the poor and the middle-class and gives to the rich,’ one former SCM employee says in the five-minute web video being released today by the Obama campaign. ‘He’s just the opposite of Robin Hood.’”
“Confronting an economic crisis that threatens them all, President Barack Obama and leaders of other world powers on Saturday declared that their governments must both spark growth and cut the debt that has crippled the European continent and put investors worldwide on edge,” the AP notes.
“As President Barack Obama and fellow NATO leaders herald the coming end of the deeply unpopular Afghanistan war, they face the grim reality of two more years of fighting ahead and more of their troops sure to die in combat,” AP writes.
The New York Times on Obama’s evolution on Afghanistan, and how he cut out military leaders: “[A]fter a highly contentious debate within a war cabinet that was riddled with leaks, Mr. Obama had reluctantly decided to order a surge of more than 30,000 troops. The aide told Mr. Obama that he believed military leaders had agreed to the tight schedule to begin withdrawing those troops just 18 months later only because they thought they could persuade an inexperienced president to grant more time if they demanded it. … A year later, when the president and a half-dozen White House aides began to plan for the withdrawal, the generals were cut out entirely. There was no debate, and there were no leaks.”
More: “Mr. Obama concluded in his first year that the Bush-era dream of remaking Afghanistan was a fantasy, and that the far greater threat to the United States was an unstable, nuclear-armed Pakistan. So he narrowed the goals in Afghanistan, and narrowed them again, until he could make the case that America had achieved limited objectives in a war that was, in any traditional sense, unwinnable.”
Obama in his weekly address, per Political Wire: "Unless you run a financial institution whose business model is built on cheating consumers, or making risky bets that could damage the whole economy, you have nothing to fear from Wall Street reform."
“Former President George W. Bush plans to return to the White House for the unveiling of his official portrait later this month, marking a rare visit by the two-term president who has largely shunned the spotlight since leaving office,” the New York Daily News notes. “The White House and Bush's office said Bush and former first lady Laura Bush will return to the White House on May 31 for the release of their portraits.”
Justice Stephen Breyer was robbed again – this time at his Georgetown home.
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Obama is still floundering and his focus on Bain Capital is merely to take the attention OFF his lousy record with the economy, no budgets, big run up in the national debt and high unemployment.
How about getting to the REAL issues Mr. Obama ? Where's the shovel-ready jobs Mr. President ??
President Obama has done an exceptional job in his FIRST term and will do even better in the SECOND term if more democrats are elected to help reshape congress.
The president has had to overcome the most obstructionist congress in the history of this great nation. He has done so with poise, integrity and perseverance. The economy is turning around and our unemployment continues to drop in spite of the efforts of the republican congress to make matters worse.
The republicans ran on a platform in 2010 stating that they would create jobs for Americans. Well they did. They created jobs for themselves and left the rest of the country out in the cold. The only jobs that the republicans are concerned with are the ones that they hold as elected politicians.
All anyone has to do is to look at the example of what Bain accomplished and ask if that is how they would like to have this country run. Do we want to have someone leading us by cutting more jobs? Do we want to have more companies file for BK that puts more people out of work and taking more tax revenue from the states they operate?
He has done a horrible job. Any way you look at it. He will be known as a complete failure as a President. He has no leadership ability and everyone who listened to his campain in 2008 understood that. Those who ere blind to it voted for him anyway. Hopefully a majority have woken up since then if not America is in bad trouble.
So funny that the president is being told not to attack Romney's past record, but everything about the president is fair game... I don't think so...
President Obama walked into a disaster the day he took office. And slowly but surely the economy (With resistance from a GOP lead congress) is improving... Fairness is what the president is all about...
President Obama has done a good job during his first term If we vote out a number of the GOP in Congress he will accomplish much more in his 2nd term. People are waking up the empty suit Romney represents and want none of it.
Obama/Biden 2012
The actual facts show that President Obama has done a Great job as President. Of course you will hear this extreme right wing say otherwise. However, they are not basing any argument on facts, but more on extreme right wing hatred of the President.
Job1,
Stating your "OPINION" does not magically elevate your thoughts to "FACTS". If Obama has done such a great job as you state, where are the results ?
Romney claims that he created 100,000 jobs which is a total lie. Romney claims that he gets the credit for creation of Staples which is a total lie. Romney says he should get credit for Detroit's success which is just ridiculous. Basically, without lies, Romney has nothing to talk about.
jim-1455434
For the millionth time: Obama was handed over the worst economy since the Great Depression - maybe even worse because at that time we did not depend on the wellness of the global economy as we do today. And in 2008, the US, and the rest of the world hit the rock bottom.
And for the millionth time: it took Bush EIGHT f*ckin' years to destroy this country but you have these high expections of Obama fixing this $hit in 3.5 years??????
bay lie,
When does the Democratic Party grow a pair and accept responsibility for the economy ? If Obama does get re-elected somehow, will you still be blaming his predecessor in 2015 ? You can play the blame game forever but it does not change the ineffectiveness of Obama's attempted cures ?
As for George Bush, his biggest problem was not fighting harder to control Democratic spending during his last two years of office.
jim-1455434
jimmy, until you can prove to me that the growing debt, growing government, growing military, growing interest on the Bush mortgage, growing expenses for the 2 wars, financial collapse, housing bubble bursting GOT ERASED RIGHT BEFORE OBAMA TOOK OVER, STFU.
jimmy, did Obama get a clean slate and got to start from ZERO???? When will you accept the fact that the Bush administration undid everything that the Clinton administration did?
Why is the Republican party treating Bush like the venerial desease? They all stay away from him - accept it!
For the millionth time: what am I "bayl lyin" about? Not once have you EVER provided a shred of evidence except your cutsie "bayl lie." A 3 year old could come up with that.
You mean the balanced budget that was put in place by a Republican controlled congress? Or maybe the budget surplus that wasn't a surplus after all?
Guess what, that statement will be applied to Obama either next year or in 2017 since he has done nothing to control it either. Hell, he can't even get a budget passed in the Dem controlled Senate for 3 years now.
bay lie,
Outside of George Washington, show me a U.S. President that ever started off with a clean slate ! Obama has previously acknowledged that the economy is his responsibility .... that is, until he waffles again and runs back for his crutch.
If I follow your line of reasoning and Obama loses to Romney, then for at least 4 full years I can blame Obama for the mess Romney "inherited" from him. The national debt is higher, unemployment is still very high, our foreign policy has the U.S. financially committed to supporting Afghanistan with billions ... and our wonderful federal government is suing various states over illegal immigration issues.
Then there is the impending mother-of-all clu$terf— — — ks that will go down in history as "Obamacare" !
We could take a year talking about all the issues of private equity companies, from efficiency management expertise (which Bain does not have), to venture capitalism of financing an idea to make something (which Bain does not do, nor Wall Street or banks anymore), to the ripple effect of the companies that did survive Bain like Staples, and how this put so many stationary companies out of business.
Right along with JP Morgan's loss, and hedge funds, derivatives, etc., and how our system of capitalism has become SO twisted. But the biggest debate should be corporate welfare. Private equity companies make a lot of their profits gaming the system to get government hand outs. Why are tax payers helping to build stadiums for the sports industry? How can anyone like Romney argue we need less regulation of the finance industry, when time and again, from the Savings and Loan crisis to the 2008 meltdown, to the most recent JP Morgan now 3 billion in losses we see how much we need regulations?
Or even the concept of equal opportunity -- Ezra Klein pointed out what we all know, and that it takes money to make money. His example was how Bono is able to invest at the ground floor of something like Facebook, let alone the Average Joe out there buying one measly share for $40. There is no such thing as a level playing field, so for Pete's sake at least have a fair tax code and programs to help the average American get ahead!
In any event, we cannot afford a plutocrat like Romney in the White House, and we cannot afford a Teapublican majority in Congress -- They would try to pass the Paul Ryan budget (Day 1 would be this, not the Keystone pipeline). People can criticize the president all they want, but he is a known factor with a known record -- At least "do no harm."
Hey MSNBC, Let's not mentioned that one of Obama's biggest donor was the guy in charge of the company that went under. Just looked up if you do not believe me.
How Bias can you be. Are you still getting chills up your legsssssss?
Jim: The shovel-ready jobs were buried under Mitch McConnel's filibuster and by all Republicans. Take away that power from them, and this country will rebound as quickly as a missed shot in the NBA.
The dividers are the Congressional Republicans where jobs are concerned. Their motto: Just say NO to ANYTHING Obama wants.
Sure, Fred owens, the most divisive President and Senate. That is why the country is so devided. Give me a brake, your Liberals/Socialist are just as Bad or worse. As feisty and her mob would say... lol.
Concern Citizen says as he uses the tea people Koch republicans most divisive talking points of the last three years. And yes we are still getting chills up our legs, in fact most independents and some republicans are starting to get the same feeling, thanks to Concern Citizen, rukidding, Jim and many others. Keep up the good work guys, the more you talk the more voters turn to President Obama.
Divisive, yes all the tea people Koch republicans have is to be divisive. Like their hero Scott Walker said, "the only card we've got is to divide and concur".
devided should be divided.
brake should be break.
Get an education you loser.
fred owens,
Hate to break it to you, but the "Stimulus" went through. What did not go through was the expected results promised by Obama. Nothing was blocked, the "shovel-ready" jobs concept was actually later laughed at by Obama himself when he acknowledged they were not so "shovel-ready".
Nice attempt though ... even if you are wrong !
Concern Citizen-856329
please give me examples (along with proof - Fox News doesn't count) how this President is the most divisive? Please, entertain the rest of us.
Fox News doesn't count ? Aaaahhh, the mind of a leftard. I suppose all "FACTS" need to come from the "Ed Show".
Obama said "we won" and "you can come along for the ride .... but you'll have to sit at the back of the bus". If a Republican had said this, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton would be marching and attacking !
jim,
not as your only source of PROOF.
Jim... don't you keep up with current events?
Fox = Rupert Murdoch;
Do you know he is being prosecuted in England for his "reporting" of news?
Of course you do. But you still want to listen to and believe everything this tabloid pusher tells you on his American "news" channel.
Hey Jim - this just in: Willard Romney was abducted by aliens in 1964 and is a sleeper agent for the Romulans. Has anyone seen his long form birth certificate? I don't believe he is even eligible to run for President of the U.S. Not sure he is an American citizen since he has never been vetted.....
Better be careful of the precedents you RWNJ's establish because this year they will come right back to you.
Mr. Concerned Citizen, Divisive political behavior has always been with us. But, in the last 11 Presidential elections that I have been alive for, there has never been so much vitriol and polarity. This started in 1994 just before the 1996 candidates were declaring their intent to run for office. At that point, compromise was beginning to be a mark of shame for any Republican running for office.
Today, there is evidence (see Dick Lugar, et. al.) that any attempt at compromise can be dangerous to re-election. This country was built, and became great BECAUSE there was compromise. I don't care that you are convinced that you are right, because NOONE is ever 100% right on anything.
Divisiveness is the chasm of two parties insisting that their way is correct for the nation. Political discourse should be polite and presentation should be left for the voters to decide on issues, not party affiliation.
"American Pad & Paper"... can anyone possibly guess why this business may have been in trouble in the 1990s? Anyone? It was all Mitt Romney's fault, of course...listen to some union stooge whine about how his company closed and blame those who tried to keep it going....
Too bad AmPad isnt stilll around, just the kind of union-dominated, old style money-losing business which the Obama stimulus could have wasted, er invested , billions in taxpayer dollars...after all, pad and paper is what business relies upon, right? Along with the snail mail of the Post Office, which the leftie loons want to prop up with taxpayer dollars...
Bob,
In 1992, Bain Capital acquired Ampadand and started buying out similar companies in the same industry in order to expand revenues and cut costs. Through Ampad, Bain bought several other office supply makers, borrowing heavily each time. By 1999, Ampad's debt reached nearly $400 million, up from $11 million in 1993.
Basically, because of Bain, Ampad could no longer support the debt that Bain had created. And while Ampad had to file for bankruptcy, Bain made money - and lots of it.
But who gives a f*ck about the employees who lost their jobs, right?
Oh Bayllie -
You are going to make Bob's head explode citing facts like that....
Truth has nothing to do with these RWNJ's talking points and excuses and explanations don't you know...
Not as stupid as yo uthink
sorry, it's Obama's fault then - don't want to be responsible for Bob's head exploding!
it takes 30 seconds to look up...I guess lies are better for some people - at least now I know why Bob likes Romney so much: if it wasn't for lies Bob/Romney would have nothing to say!
Hey, Ampad did produce some decent legal pads at one time .... grossly overpriced but decent quality !
A small paper company? in 1994? really? I was wondering what the next silly, irrelevant, cynical, and phony ,"issue",this incompetent,socialist regime and their lapdog propagandist in the media would try to throw up, desperately attempting to change the subject to anything but the MILLIONS of people who are out of work, NOW , the TRILLIONS of dollars in additional debt,NOW, and the disatrous health care,energy, environmental, immigration,and social policies that have left us with no hope, and no change in sight,NOW, (until November anyway).
J.D. Still - you show your total ignorance the minute you throw out the "socialist" word. It shows you have no mind of your own and are a dolt who will follow the Tea Party to ruin. What a total ignorant blowhard you show yourself to be!
Obama/Biden 2012
Seeking Sanity,(Gee I sure hope You find it someday).
Attaboy!What a good little Alynskyite You are! leap to the defense of the indefensible,deny, insult, attempt to deflect through criticism and ridicule,(straight from Your, "Bible", Rules For Radicals),while staying away from any factual discussions at all costs!,(I bet You learned that in Chicago! maybe even from the master himself!)As far as throwing out the term Socialist, I was trying to be kind, I could have used terms such as Communist,Maoist, radical, or extremists, all of which have self identified within this Administration,but Socialists was a suitable and more polite catch all,go ahead, don't be scared, check it out Yourself, use that independent thinking, and oh sooooo educated mind, You seem so proud of.
SeekingSanity claims to be "female", but has shown a rather consistent history of PERSONAL ATTACKS on everyone she disagees with J.D. Still.
Obama wants to "redistribute the wealth". He also wants to grow government at every opportunity.
Jim-1455434
Thanks for the info Jim, and my apologies to the, "lady".
SS:
You are correct. All the tea-gop has are their fox news talking points, and those have NOTHING to do with reality in this world; they never allow facts to get in the way of their platform planks. So even though they do not even understand what a socialist is, they recognize that it is a key word to strike fear in the minds of some voters like the bell caused Pavlov's dogs to salivate, so they continue to ignorantly use the word hoping to scare some citizens away from supporting our President/country.
IDIOTS imo.
J.D. and Jim - two peas in a pod. Neither of you has the intelligence of a rock yet you continue to troll and scream your ignorance. Again, when you throw out the marxist, socialist, communist, words you show how totally uneducated you are. If your comments are meant to be insulting - you failed. If people like you bothered me, I'd need help.
I prefer intelligent men who can talk without calling our President stupid names and making comments they know aren't true. But, you little boys cling to words you think will scare people. And, I'm sure they do scare the ignorant - like you.
As both of you show, there is absolutely no sanity to be found in the GOP!
Obama/Biden 2012
SeekingSanity
you'll find out it's really 1 pea.
bayllie - ah ha! I wondered about that!
Hope you had a great weekend!
Miss Sanity
That's it? That is Your response?,Again? I am disappointed,I was waiting breathlessly for You to educate us on exactly what such an Administration, an Administration the likes of which We have never had before, with large numbers of self admitted, radicals, extremists, Communists, Maoists, and Socialists serving as unelected, unaccountable, Czars,with immense power over the American People, and a President that has admitted in his own book, to having had a Communist mentor while growing up in Hawaii,just exactly what should they be called? Main Stream Democrats?
I challenge SeekingSanity to show where I have thrown out Communist or Marxist ! I am not even sure if I have ever referred to Obama as a socialist, although we know he wants to tax and spend and redistribute the wealth. Put up or shut up time is here ! Let's see if you can prove your statement !!
But now she seeks to "diminish our presence" by referring to us as little boys ? LOL !! Does that mean she is a "BIG GIRL" like Feasty ? Or does it simply mean she is back on attack again ??
I can't wait for her next cry of "stalker" when she is unable to prove her statements.
SeekingSanity
It's always strange how people like jim have immediate at least one vote - that's what makes me wonder.
I did thank you. I hope you had one as well.
When will Republicans take responsibility for the trillions of dollars our country has spent on two wars the Bush administration insisted would be paid for by Iraqi oil revenues?
When will Republicans take responsibity for the the deregulation of the financial industry they pushed for, which resulted in the financial crisis of 2008?
It just amazes me, how this whole country seems to have amnesia when it comes to holding Republicans responsible for the effects of their policies. Nothing Romney says is new: it's the same strategy that got us into trouble in the first place, from his more "muscular" approach to foreign policy to his exaltation of deregulation.
How can Republicans "take reponsibility" for these costs when Democrats refuse to pass any form of a realistic budget ? Even in Obama's first 2 years when the Dems controlled the House and Senate .... there was no budget passed ?
By the way, those wars were voted on by Congress .... unlike the Libyan action which cost the U.S. a billion and was solely brought about by Obama, even though our national security interests were not at risk.
Amy - the GOP never takes responsibility for their failures. They don't have the spine!
Maybe they are waiting for Bill Clinton to apologize for signing into law the bill that repealed Glass-Steagall?
Stumpjumper, at least someone knows about Clinton signing that bill that Newt help push thru. Yea, contract with america. Now that compared to the health care issue is moot. But contract with america was a roll back out of proportion. Venture fiance is about money, not about people.
Totally agree Amy, Nice Post.
Obama/Biden 2012