Gov. McDonnell: Obama deserves some credit for helping Virginia economy

 

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, a potential vice presidential pick for GOP nominee Mitt Romney, admitted Sunday morning President Barack Obama deserved slight credit for helping his state survive the economic crisis.

Appearing on CNN’s “State of the Union” as a surrogate for the presumptive GOP nominee, Gov. McDonnell said that federal assistance helped Virginia in the short term.

“Did it help us in the short run with health care and education spending to balance the budget? Sure. Does it help us in the long term to really cut the unemployment rate? I'd say no. But we have done a lot of things,” he said.


McDonnell, acknowledging his state has the lowest unemployment rate in the Southeast, said just to imagine, however, “how much better we'd do if we had President Romney.”

Two days before Wisconsin voters will decide whether to recall Gov. Scott Walker, McDonnell – who is also the chairman of the Republican Governor’s Association -- expressed his confidence that Walker would prevail. That vote, McDonnell pointed out, has similarities with the upcoming presidential election in November.

“It's going to be the same thing with Romney and Obama. As you put policies in place, were they controversial? Sure. Does it take guts and leadership to tell people we can't afford to do these things anymore and we need to change to be more competitive in Wisconsin? Sure. But (Walker has) done it. Now he's getting the results,” McDonnell said. “And that's why he's going to win -- people that might not have liked the reforms are seeing that they're working.”

In typical fashion this cycle, the Virginia governor did not give a straight answer when asked if he was being vetted by Gov. Romney as a possible No. 2.

“They have asked for my schedule to see where I can help them next, and it's going to be in Virginia,” McDonnell said. But when asked whether the Romney campaign has specifically asked for any vice president papers, he dodged: “No, I'll leave all that up to Mitt Romney. But I'm going to help him win Virginia.”

Gov. McDonnell will speak at the end of the week in Chicago at CPAC, the Conservative Political Action Conference.

 

 

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If Republican Governors like Snyder, Scott, Walker had not cut 600,000 public sector workers since 2010, our unemployment rate would now be at 7.2%.

When President Bush left office, the unemployment rate was at 7.8%.

Following the worst recession in 60 years, it is now at 8.2%.

Presidents, including GWB, before President Obama INCREASED government workers following a recession. And President Reagan knew it was important to increase teachers' jobs as part of a recovery strategy.

To say that President Obama helped "slightly" to protect teachers, police from losing their jobs via the Stimulus Bill (though watered down by Republicans) is damning with faint praise - and does not wash.

Cutting teachers, slashing Education, cutting Police .... are GOP strategies to privatize America and put corporations in charge of our Government.

  • 88 votes
#1 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 2:54 PM EDT

SCOTT RULES. gop control 2012!

  • 21 votes
#1.1 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 3:12 PM EDT

rightisright - and wrongiswrong - Democratic control in 2012. We can't afford to go backward to the GOP!

Obama/Biden 2012

  • 84 votes
#1.2 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 3:15 PM EDT

Governor Vaginal Probe has consistently talked out of both sides of his mouth and can not be taken seriously about anything other than he wants to be tapped for the V.P. slot.

  • 57 votes
#1.3 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 3:30 PM EDT
Comment author avatarbob-1805084Expand Comment Comment collapsed by the community

Backhoser -

Twist and fold all you want, but no amount of blogal origami can change the fact that the Obama administration sold the belief that if the stimulus was spent - unemployment would not exceed 8%.

Now after $5 trillion and 3 1/2 years of 8%+ unemployment, the very authors of that report state that there is no real hope of actual unemployment ever going below 8% in Obama's term.

Obama's own CBO states that real unemployment is above 10%.

After 3 1/2 years of manipulating numbers (Obama lying), dropping people from the rolls, despite constant -every month of downward revisions .... it goes up again.

The guy is simply a clueless disaster.

Your devotion to disaster is truly remarkable.

  • 20 votes
#1.4 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 3:37 PM EDT

Bob's entire post gets disregarded becuase of one phrase "Obama's own CBO" Anyone that does not understand what the CBO is should not be trusted for knowing any "facts" about the economy.

  • 69 votes
#1.5 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 3:49 PM EDT

Perhaps Bob doesn't know that CBO stands for Congressional Budget Office; it is a creature of the Congress, not the Executive.

  • 60 votes
#1.6 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 4:01 PM EDT
Comment author avatarbob-1805084Expand Comment Comment collapsed by the community

sadmoron and okie job -

my bad ... just made another comment mentioning Obama's own MBO and got sloppy.

But congrats, you guys are the first to catch a mistake in a long time.

Couldn't refute the main point, huh ....

  • 8 votes
#1.7 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 4:12 PM EDT

Backhouse: When President Bush left office, the unemployment rate was at 7.8%.

Partial memory. When Dumbya Bush left office, we were also bleeding out 700,000 jobs a month. And it continued on like that for quite some time. Once you start an avalanche, like Dumbya and the GOP did, it doesn't just stop or reverse overnight. It keeps going with that momentum. And it goes for quite a while, regardless who the next guy is.

  • 52 votes
#1.8 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 4:20 PM EDT

It is hardly shocking VA has low unemployment with all the money flowing out of DC right freaking next door. Washington DC led the nation in per capita income growth from 2001-2010.

  • 12 votes
#1.9 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 4:22 PM EDT

Bob-just that statement about "Obama's 'OWN' CBO" made your entire post invalid and void. There's nothing else to refute. Nice try with an epic fail.

  • 39 votes
#1.10 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 4:29 PM EDT

When Dumbya Bush left office, we were also bleeding out 700,000 jobs a month. And it continued on like that for quite some time. Once you start an avalanche, like Dumbya and the GOP did, it doesn't just stop or reverse overnight.

The recession that started in December 2007, peaked in September 2008 was over in June 2009 through no actions by Obama.

So 3 years, about a 1,000 "overnites" of Obama recovery and $5 trillion dollars .... still frozen at over 8%, huh?

statement about "Obama's 'OWN' CBO" made your entire post invalid and void. There's nothing else to refute. Nice try with

Grow up dude ... or are you going to say I have kooties next.

John - Great point.

  • 14 votes
#1.11 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 4:46 PM EDT

The federal mandates that have been loaded on the states, makes public sector untenable at best...the tax burder on the middle class is bending the economics to the breaking point...thankfully we have some governors who are unwilling to kick the can down the road and did the adult thing by addressing the problem as best they can with a federal government who is unwilling to face the same hard decisions. The only adults in the room are facing the problems head on, making difficult decisions to insure that those in the greatest need receive subsistance.

  • 5 votes
#1.12 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 5:08 PM EDT

Yeah, yeah, yeah...wonder who paid, and how much money he made to state that?

  • 3 votes
#1.13 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 5:12 PM EDT

McDonnell is not only a Fascist scumbag trying to force women trying to have abortions through a procedure that was nothing short of RAPE! But he is also a Dumb Ass.

The Policies of the Obama Administration bailed out Virginia after the last GOP Administration buried the Country in the biggest economic hole since the great Depression, yet we would be better off going back to the policies of the GOP.

That has to be the DUMBEST statement I have heard, well, since the last time McDonnell opened his mouth.

The GOP will bury the American Working and middle classes forever if they win in 2012. The GOP is nothing but moral-less scumbags and handmaidens for the wealthy scum like the Koch Brothers that want a return to feudalism.

  • 44 votes
#1.14 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 5:15 PM EDT

Sure let's let Mittens run the show..... Let's see how long before he does for America what he has done in the private sector - Close Down Companies and Send Work Over Sea's..... Hey you can not argue with his track record.....

  • 27 votes
#1.15 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 5:16 PM EDT

Was it a slip of the mind? Was it leaning toward the center hoping to widen Romney's edge (which he doesn't really need, the polls are B.S.), since he is a possible V.P. pick for the country?

We will probably never know why this slip up really happened.

  • 5 votes
#1.16 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 5:19 PM EDT

Imagine how much better off we would be if we hadn't allowed them to cut government jobs faster than the private sector could create them. jerks. (congressional jerks that is, not you guys.)

  • 18 votes
#1.17 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 5:20 PM EDT

And who was going to fund those jobs, Dennis? What part of "broke" don't you understand?

  • 4 votes
#1.18 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 5:25 PM EDT

Tea Party governor Paul LePage cut 20,000 Mainers from Medicaid, and we are actually losing jobs in the healthcare field. Maine is the only state in New Englaand not to see improving job numbers.

  • 26 votes
#1.19 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 5:33 PM EDT

Hey VA Governor, you are a suck-up, and ONLY said this to give OBAMA Free campaign advertising.

  • 6 votes
#1.20 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 5:41 PM EDT

“Did it help us in the short run with health care and education spending to balance the budget? Sure. Does it help us in the long term to really cut the unemployment rate? I'd say no. But we have done a lot of things,” he said.

Yep, so much for the Stimulus being used for those "shovel ready" jobs.

A large chunk of the Stimulus money was given to States to pay down their debt, to help pay for those without health care insurance, and to "keep" those teachers on the job. And all of this just for a SHORT TERM SOLUTION. WOW !!! Such a "short term" vision from this Administration.

The rest of the Stimulus money went to Mr. Obama's campaign contributors and special interest groups.

I wonder why Gov. McDonnell made his statements since he is "supposedly" on a V.P. list ? Well, Governor, you just got discarded from the "list".

  • 3 votes
#1.21 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 5:41 PM EDT

It's nice to see Gov. McDonnell take some time out from vaginal probing, but aren't there a lot of government employees in Virginia, and perhaps why the unemployment rate is low? In any event, who says government can't create jobs. At least we can document it, but not so much jobs created from tax cuts for the 1%.

  • 24 votes
#1.22 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 5:48 PM EDT

Might as well have said, "I'm out!!"? Sure. Do I have a chance years down to road to flip flop like Romneycare and pretend to be something I'm not while not being the very same thing I am? Probably. The RWNJs will believe anything. ANYTHING.

  • 10 votes
#1.23 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 5:54 PM EDT

Backhouse is correct - if the Republican-controlled statehouses across the nation did not cut so many state employees, the unemployment rate would not be this bad.

...and if the GOP members of Congress didn't oppose Obama's job creation initiatives a few months ago. the employment situation would even be better.

Democrats should have such info out, to help inform voters of such vast right-wing conspiracy.

Vote Repugnant Republicans out.

  • 30 votes
#1.24 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 5:55 PM EDT

McDonnell is not only a Fascist scumbag trying to force women trying to have abortions through a procedure that was nothing short of RAPE! But he is also a Dumb Ass.

The Policies of the Obama Administration bailed out Virginia after the last GOP Administration buried the Country in the biggest economic hole since the great Depression, yet we would be better off going back to the policies of the GOP.

That has to be the DUMBEST statement I have heard, well, since the last time McDonnell opened his mouth.

The GOP will bury the American Working and middle classes forever if they win in 2012. The GOP is nothing but moral-less scumbags and handmaidens for the wealthy scum like the Koch Brothers that want a return to feudalism.

Well said, SPG. Worth repeating.

  • 19 votes
#1.25 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 6:00 PM EDT

rightisright-5861504

SCOTT RULES. gop control 2012!

So as suspected, there are rightwingers who are gleeful about the destruction of our two-party constitutional democracy. Along with the bad employment news, and downgrade of our credit rating, they cheer for a one-party oligarchy. When you are working a double shift for peanuts in a hazardous factory, let us know how it's going.

Lolz, go fap somewhere else.

  • 26 votes
#1.26 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 6:15 PM EDT

No Business or corporation is run as if it were a government just as no government can be run as if it were a business or a corporation unless you are talking about The Vatican or Saudi Arabia.

The bottom line of Business/Corporate Interests is always: Profit.

The bottom line of the US Government is: We the People unless we keep giving it away by not voting!

  • 22 votes
#1.27 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 6:20 PM EDT

If those states controlled by GOP have not launched their 'war on the middle class' and didn't shed all those public employee jobs, the employment picture would be better.

If those GOP members of Congress had not blocked Obama's job creation initiatives a few months ago, the nation's economid health would be much better.

Vote Republican bums out in November.

  • 21 votes
#1.28 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 6:22 PM EDT

rightisright-5861504

SCOTT RULES. gop control 2012

.........Yeah, yeah, yeah, and Koch rules, and the corporate wealthy elite rules.....oh, and stupidisstupid. get the relevance?

  • 9 votes
#1.29 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 6:37 PM EDT

Do you people listen to yourselves? A government job directly sucks money out of your wallet by way of taxes. If you think the economy is bad because government laid people off, you had NO economy to begin with. WHO is supporting the government workers? the Taxpayers. Where do the taxpayers work? THERE is your problem. We can't all have government jobs. It's like being a salesman and you are your best customer, it don't work.

  • 3 votes
#1.30 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 6:39 PM EDT

Mitt the MisFit ..........is .. what McDonnell works for? Shame on you!

  • 8 votes
#1.31 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 6:42 PM EDT

Bob: "The recession that started in December 2007, peaked in September 2008 was over in June 2009 through no actions by Obama.

So 3 years, about a 1,000 "overnites" of Obama recovery and $5 trillion dollars .... still frozen at over 8%, huh?"

.......well Bob, right up front in January 2009 your Koch Bros and corporate wealthty elite GOP/TP stated their goal to make Obama a one term president, so why is anyone surprised at where we are today? Hey Bob, tell us about all the GOP/TP proposals specifically aimed at helping the Middle Class, scaling back Medicare and SS, dropping the top tax rate from 35% to 25% (yes, a lot of Middle Class are in the 35% bracket right now, right Boboh?). Perhaps a lot of people in WI realized they were getting something other than they were promised by Walker, hence the recall. And maybe people there didn't like the outside influence of big money. Of course, we all know that the Koch bros. and their ilk know what is better for WI than the people who live there know, correct?

  • 13 votes
#1.32 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 7:03 PM EDT

Backhouse

If Republican Governors like Snyder, Scott, Walker had not cut 600,000 public sector workers since 2010, our unemployment rate would now be at 7.2%.

Republicans don't consider government jobs to be REAL jobs except when their loss boosts the unemployment rate under Obama. When teabag governors fire public workers and then cry crocodile tears about the human cost in joblessness, it reminds me of the old joke about the guy who murdered his parents and asks the court for mercy because he's an orphan.

  • 19 votes
#1.33 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 7:06 PM EDT

onermailliw

Do you people listen to yourselves? A government job directly sucks money out of your wallet by way of taxes.

Would you rather have fewer cops sucking money out of your wallet, or have criminals do it in a more direct and brutal fashion after the cops are fired to cut the budget?

  • 24 votes
#1.34 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 7:09 PM EDT

bob-1805084

Twist and fold all you want, but no amount of blogal origami can change the fact that the Obama administration sold the belief that if the stimulus was spent - unemployment would not exceed 8%.

Do you REALLY think that repeating that lie over and over will make it true? Obama never made any such promise, and the report stating a PROJECTION based on what turned out to be incomplete data was not issued by the "Obama administration." It was written by the Obama campaign's economic advisers before he even took office.

  • 16 votes
#1.35 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 7:11 PM EDT

Roadhouse, you sure give the Koch brothers an alot of power...imagine two brothers able to achieve the destruction of a presidency in less time then it took Obama to do it to himself...Obama's policies were flawed. He moved left to satisify some rather radical members of the progressive movement and away from middle class America. He alone is responsible for his demise, but like a good liberal you want to assign blame to someone else.

By the way, less people know who the Koch brothers are then know who the vice president is today!

  • 2 votes
#1.36 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 7:22 PM EDT

Actually, the Obama Administration made NO such prediction about unemployment (the 8% your FAUX Entertainment is selling you.)

Christine Romer and economists made a best guess --- before it was discovered that the GDP had actually fallen to Minus 8.9% (-8.9%) instead of the Minus 3.9%(-3.9%) predicted.

No announcement was made, no formality was involved. The media may have played it up, but there was no prediction by President Obama or the Administration of 8%.

.............................................

(Say-Anything-Romney was giving the 4% a go. Romney now is claiming 6%, so take your pick and ask yourself:

How Likely?

  • 20 votes
#1.37 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 7:29 PM EDT

TJM07

Roadhouse, you sure give the Koch brothers an alot of power.

The Koch brothers have a combined net worth of fifty billion dollars, and you don't think that gives them enormous power? And that radical rightwing Supreme Court made it possible for them to make unlimited contributions to support any candidate that promises to do their bidding and destroy any candidate that displeases them, they can practically buy the government they want. Of course, they do have competition from other crazy rightwing billionaires for who gets to own the government. I guess it will go to the highest bidder.

  • 19 votes
#1.38 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 7:32 PM EDT

LIBERAL DEMOCRATS only want more : taxes, welfare and debt !!! Vote Republican to get the country back on the right track !!!2012 vote Romney !

  • 4 votes
#1.39 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 7:32 PM EDT

TJM07

Roadhouse, you sure give the Koch brothers an alot of power

......Oh c'mon, quit being so juvenile, no one said the Kochs did it all by themselves, and I did say they had help from the wealthy corporate elite, but most importantly, they had help from their powerful friends in the US Congress: Boehner, McConnell, Ryan, Cantor, et. al. No, I am not a liberal (I voted for Reagan twice, G.H.W. Bush,. Bob Dole, and G.W Bush the first time, the next time I went for Kerry), but some dolts and twits call me liberal because I don't kiss their butts, and they don't really have any intelligent rebuttal to what I say, so they resort to the predictable moronic "liberal" insult. NOW, is that difficult to understand, or are you still in the schoolyard waiting for the recess bell to ring? Oh, please give me specifics on how Obama moved away from the Middle Class, as opposed to Ryan's plans for Medicare and SS.

TMJ: "By the way, less people know who the Koch brothers are then [it's "than"] know who the vice president is today!"

..Hey, guess what, I'm not sure that is true anymore, but that's the way it should be. Let's keep those slimy corporate asswipes out of politics, okay!

  • 14 votes
#1.40 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 7:37 PM EDT

Roadhouse Blues:

but some dolts and twits call me liberal because I don't kiss their butts, and they don't really have any intelligent rebuttal to what I say,

If you get these people REALLY mad, they'll call you a moderate. That seems to be as bad or worse an insult as being called a liberal.

  • 10 votes
#1.41 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 7:43 PM EDT

Houston: "If you get these people REALLY mad, they'll call you a moderate. That seems to be as bad or worse an insult as being called a liberal."

....Good God, you nailed me right on the head! Yes I am a moderate, and I make no apologies for it. Of course, to today's new, improved GOP/TP, "moderate" is a very dirty word. Just like Jon Huntsman. Guess what, I like Huntsman, too bad about him, but maybe a 3rd party could come along....no....that would be just too good to be true. Have a very good day.

  • 10 votes
#1.42 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 7:49 PM EDT

OK.

WHO IS IT that wants MORE tax cuts for the wealthy. More, more, more, never enough.

Is it Norquist and all who signed up with him at ALL levels of government never to pay equal taxes?

Is it RyanRomney who want to give an additional tax break of $250,000 for every millionaire, while adding $3.9Trillion and $10.6Trillion (respectively) to the deficit?

Is it all Congressional Gopies who keep holding the country hostage, with threats of government shutdown - unless they get their tax break - even until S & P downgrades us because of the continual uncertainty created by the Right?

Is it all of the above, or do you never look into what Faux Entertainment tells you. You know better.

  • 17 votes
#1.43 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 7:59 PM EDT

Backhouse, you need to understand, tax cuts for the wealthy are good for the entire country, oh, and of course, THERE IS AN EASTER BUNNY!

  • 10 votes
#1.44 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 8:03 PM EDT

Easter bunny is paying 35% federal tax rate, while Mitt Romney is paying 13.9%.

And bunny is just scraping by with a family of six.

  • 13 votes
#1.45 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 8:05 PM EDT

" WHO is supporting the government workers? the Taxpayers. Where do the taxpayers work?"

What you keep forgetting is that 'government workers' are taxpayers as well. They are fellow citizens who pay taxes, pay for housing, goods, and services that make the rest of the economy work as well.

  • 15 votes
#1.46 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 8:09 PM EDT

I always like the Republican talking points about stimulus failure. Didn't you receive your income tax rebate in 2008 Bob? I think all tax payers in America did. Didn't you receive a much lower tax liability in 2010? Again, I think all other tax payers in America did. A lot of ALL stimulus package funds are given to the tax payers. They are given to the tax payers so the money gets spent creating demand and jobs.

  • 6 votes
#1.47 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 8:12 PM EDT

UNEMPLOYMENT was at 7.8% went President Obama came in.

By the next month it was at 8.3%.

It peaked in October 2009 at 10%.

Now at 8.2%.

(Somebody wrote that it 'peaked in September 2008'....gosh, he/she Bain fooled or is hanging onto crazy data in support of the Filibusterers, one more time.)

Chart - http://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS14000000 (Bureau of Labor Statistics)

  • 8 votes
#1.48 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 8:14 PM EDT

“I think we ought to just face reality here. If…you just let this be a referendum, I don’t think the president could win because the truth of the matter is, he may have created over 4.3 million jobs, he may have saved General Motors, but the country is still not back to where it needs to be,”

- Bob Shrum, Face the Nation 6-3-12

  • 3 votes
#1.49 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 10:19 PM EDT

Left... Right... Politicians make me sick! They create most of the problems they "solve" then pat each other on the back like they did something. One day the people will wake up and there will be a lot of tar and feathers for these politrickers.

  • 3 votes
#1.50 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 11:26 PM EDT

First, nice job Gov McDonnell telling the truth. It is absolutely ok to compliment the opposition when they do good work.

Second - governors cannot deficit spend like Obama and Congress, so all of you fools who think there is some state by state conspiracy only show your utter ignorance. These states cutting jobs are not doing so for fun or politics, they are doing so because they must, just like the DEMOCRAT MAYOR Booker, as he talked about this a week ago on TV. This DEMOCRAT Mayor cut 25% of his workforce because it was NECESSARY.

What is truly astonishing is that some people apparently think we should keep borrowing money year after year, and that there will be no consequences for doing so. When Bush took office the federal debt was around 60% of GDP. It is now around what, 90%?

What do you think is going on in Greece and other parts of Europe? The governments have spent and borrowed too much money for their operations, and their economies have not grown because of this outrageous spending.

Now look at US states that have cut taxes and cut spending - their economies are now turning around, their unemployment is lower, and they are growing. Why would this not work at the federal level? Clearly trillion dollar+ annual deficits don't work, and Obama said as much before he was elected. He told us all that he had to cut the annual deficit by 50%, and instead has grown it by 150%. This is not a winning formula.

  • 1 vote
#1.51 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 11:52 PM EDT

Folks were not paying taxes in Greece. No revenues for the Treasury. Sound familiar?

The austerity program was too much, too punishing for the non-wealthy. Sound familiar?

That is why folks are out marching across Europe.

Austerity has really hurt them and they see that now. Greece is at 20% unemployment.

They would gladly take our GDP and 8.2% unemployment in a heartbeat.

As would the other Euro countries.

  • 8 votes
#1.52 - Mon Jun 4, 2012 12:59 AM EDT

MisterWonderful,

Everyone agrees there needs to be cuts, the argument is where to cut.

The GOP cuts teachers and cops which hurts the communities and the economy. They aim there cuts at the safety nets that help keep people from living on the streets, keep people healthy (so they can continue to work and contribute to the economy).

The Dems would rather raise taxes on the people that can afford it most. They want to cut the bloated defense budget (instead of paying to build planes that the military doesn't want), they want to cut medicare advantage (why should an insurance company get paid more than the plan they facilitating?), they want to cut subsidies to companies that are earning the highest profits in their existence.

Like Backhouse stated, Greece and other Euro countries did what the GOP wants to do. They cut cut cut without raising revenues. Austerity measures never work. It effects too much of the general populace only leaving the very wealthy unaffected. These actions doom the rest of the population to abject poverty.

You can't blame this on President Obama since his agenda has not been enacted. The GOP filibustered everything and the bills that they didn't were so watered down that they don't even resemble what they started as. President Obama started in the middle in hopes that he would get bipartisan support but the GOPs only objective was to make him fail and thereby make America fail. And these are the poeple you want to put back in power.

  • 6 votes
#1.53 - Mon Jun 4, 2012 9:22 AM EDT

And who was going to fund those jobs, Dennis? What part of "broke" don't you understand?

With an unlimited line of credit at nearly 0% intrest? Do the math. Borrow enough to keep government running, spend less overall (yes, cuts) and raise taxes on those who have seen their incomes increase by over 400%! Invest in infrastructure projects that will help keep America strong in the future. Look at what Ike did after WWII. We were broke then, too. Yet we now have an awsome highway system, and we worked our way out of debt back then. Those same highways are overcrowded and falling apart these days. Cutting government jobs created more unemployed and killed the recovery. It was just plain stupid, unless you are a Republican who's only goal is to make Obama a one term president, regardless of the cost. Then it was a pretty solid plan.

  • 3 votes
#1.54 - Mon Jun 4, 2012 11:03 AM EDT

MisterWonderful: "governors cannot deficit spend like Obama and Congress, so all of you fools who think there is some state by state conspiracy only show your utter ignorance. These states cutting jobs are not doing so for fun or politics, they are doing so because they must."

Not true at all, Mr. Wonderful, but I'll admit you are full of something even if it's not wonder.

Here in Wisconsin our butthead governor first lowered taxes on corporations, then laid-off state employees to balance the newly reduced budget. How is that "doing so because they must?"

  • 2 votes
#1.55 - Mon Jun 4, 2012 12:51 PM EDT

In all of these comments I keep hearing how Obama is a left wing radical. He seems to me to be just left of center.

  • 2 votes
#1.56 - Mon Jun 4, 2012 4:41 PM EDT

Don't let that bother you. I used to be just right of center, until the center jumped a mile to the right. Now, apparently, I am a leftie socialist commie dirtbag... of the "Gee I Miss Reagan" variety!

  • 1 vote
#1.57 - Tue Jun 5, 2012 11:37 AM EDT
Reply

McDonnell, acknowledging his state has the lowest unemployment rate in the Southeast, said just to imagine, however, “how much better we'd do if we had President Romney.”

Yes, just imagine because this hypothesis exists only in his imagination.

  • 37 votes
Reply#2 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 2:54 PM EDT

Agree Loyal....

A President Romney -HAHAHAHAHA! (sorry) - would have bankrupted the auto industry, Virginia, AND the United States.

We certainly are fortunate and should be very thankful we had Obama for President.

Does everyone realize the pressure President Obama is under? He is the only thing standing between Willard and the White House!

  • 15 votes
#2.1 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 4:50 PM EDT

I think you've spent a little too much time in the sun. Romney was not going to bankrupt the auto industry...Ford, Toyota, Honda, and about six other auto builders and their suppliers did not need any assistance and could easily have absorded the "auto" industry. GM is a high cost provider of an inferior product...they have made no changes to their cost structure, and the opportunity to attrack bond buyers was destroyed by Obama. The only conclusion one can come to is that it is only a matter of time before GM is back in the same boat looking for the government to bail out their bad decisions. They need to cut costs to the bone, like any other company that should have gone through Chapter 11 as recommended by Romney and dozens of other top executives.

  • 6 votes
#2.2 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 5:13 PM EDT

I hear a lot of babbling from Romney about creating jobs, but I have yet to hear him propose anything that would actually create them. In case no one has noticed, tax cuts for millionaires do not create jobs. How long do we have to keep doing the same thing before we get that it's not working and try something else?

  • 18 votes
#2.3 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 5:18 PM EDT

President Romney would have saddled Virginia with tons of debt, then sold it off to Cuba and declared a profit.

Mitt and his Magic Underwear 2012!

  • 15 votes
#2.4 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 5:22 PM EDT

"I like to fire people!"

"Corporations are people..."

"...let them file bankruptcy"

If the jobs numbers are good:

"Not so fast, Mr. President ... We welcome any good news on the jobs front, but it is thanks to the innovation of the American people in the private sector, not to you.”

but if the numbers are not so good:

Romney: Jobs report a 'harsh indictment' of Obama's policies

Any more RNC/tea "explainations" and excuses tjm07?

Everyone on this vine loves to read the RNC talking points and spin......

  • 15 votes
#2.5 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 5:26 PM EDT

TJM

There you go, imagining again. How long did it take you to "imagine" that Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Hyundai, Volvo, Volkswagen and BMW were ready to jump in with piles of cash (borrowing by anyone but the government was not an option) to cover the losses GM and Chrysler had accumulated. Remember, they were in crisis mode also since their sales had collapsed.

Your fantasy would have led to total foreign domination of the US auto industry with the result of having the engineering and management jobs shipped overseas. What a great jobs czar you would make.

By the way, take a test drive in a new GM product. You can judge if the product is inferior in its price range. Even if you don't like it, plenty of people are buying.

  • 18 votes
#2.6 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 5:32 PM EDT

Frankly, it is amazing what some people accept at face value: What Romney promises to do. Create jobs.

At least 25% of the companies Bain Capital have touched have been sucked dry.

Massachusetts was 47th out of 50 states in employment gains under his 'leadership'. The rest of the time he has either been saying he would be a better President, or he was living off his Mexican born dad.

If these are not the facts, please, nutjobs, correct me. LOL

  • 12 votes
#2.7 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 5:58 PM EDT

Mitt and his Magic Underwear 2012!

Love it!

  • 6 votes
#2.8 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 6:02 PM EDT

When President Bush left office, the unemployment rate was at 7.8%.

Let's be a little more honest here. Obama took office on Janurary 20. So in 11 days from his taking office the rate being 8.3% is closer to the real figure. And honestly, no one expected Obama to bring the rate down anytime soon. But it has decreased.

Now with any luck the EU will get it's **** together and stop screwing up the rest of the world.

YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecAnnual

2002
5.7
5.7
5.7
5.9
5.8
5.8
5.8
5.7
5.7
5.7
5.9
6.0

2003
5.8
5.9
5.9
6.0
6.1
6.3
6.2
6.1
6.1
6.0
5.8
5.7

2004
5.7
5.6
5.8
5.6
5.6
5.6
5.5
5.4
5.4
5.5
5.4
5.4

2005
5.3
5.4
5.2
5.2
5.1
5.0
5.0
4.9
5.0
5.0
5.0
4.9

2006
4.7
4.8
4.7
4.7
4.6
4.6
4.7
4.7
4.5
4.4
4.5
4.4

2007
4.6
4.5
4.4
4.5
4.4
4.6
4.7
4.6
4.7
4.7
4.7
5.0

2008
5.0
4.9
5.1
5.0
5.4
5.6
5.8
6.1
6.1
6.5
6.8
7.3

2009
7.8
8.3
8.7
8.9
9.4
9.5
9.5
9.6
9.8
10.0
9.9
9.9

2010
9.7
9.8
9.8
9.9
9.6
9.4
9.5
9.6
9.5
9.5
9.8
9.4

2011
9.1
9.0
8.9
9.0
9.0
9.1
9.1
9.1
9.0
8.9
8.7
8.5

2012
8.3
8.3
8.2
8.1
8.2


  • 8 votes
#2.9 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 6:27 PM EDT

"ObamaCare" began at the Heritage Foundation and was picked up by the Repubs, used by Romney in Mass., and introduced to Congress by President Obama to a bunch of people who hate President Obama more than they love their country - the Repubs put Party over our Country because they are owned lock, stock, and barrel by Corporate Intrerests! At least there is some hope with the Democratic Party which is more We the People oriented. Not perfect - but so much better than what is now the RepubliCONS!

The RepubliCONS were against the idea of building infrastructure and providing jobs - even as this is proven to be the base of the success of China! Party over Country again.

I am sick of the RepubliCONjobs! I am voting a straight Democratic Ballot in November!

  • 16 votes
#2.10 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 6:28 PM EDT

When the RepubliCons talk about Jobs!Jobs!Jobs! they are pulling their bait and switch game again like they have done in each state where they gained power! Every single state sees social reforms For the Religious Business, lessing of business rules and environmental protections - not jobs for We the People! WAKE UP!!!!!

  • 16 votes
#2.11 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 6:34 PM EDT

LOYALTEXAN

McDonnell, acknowledging his state has the lowest unemployment rate in the Southeast, said just to imagine, however, “how much better we'd do if we had President Romney.”

And just imagine how great things would be if there had been a President Romney around in 2009 to let the auto industry go under while he sat in the Oval Office signing more tax cuts for the wealthy into law.

  • 12 votes
#2.12 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 7:48 PM EDT
Reply

I agree with our governor. Obama did help us survive. On the other hand being president is a "no win" job. One can't possible achieve things and be in total control. If a republican was in the WH and the crisis hit I would gather the same actions might have been taken. Anyone who holds that office is often at the mercy of world events. I think a lot of the election will hinge also on what's going on in the world in November and if such events will help or hinder the president. I don't think it's a matter of GOP or Dem. It's a matter of who benefits or suffers and who's in office at the time. If the actions taken had no impact on the economy and the system crashed we'd be having a very different conversation on this post.

  • 11 votes
Reply#3 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 2:59 PM EDT

"Wait a minute...if I'm the Vice President will I get my own probing room to ensure America is coming to full term? 'Cause....whooo wheee...Mittzy's gonna' knock this country up Joe Smith style and I want my greasy, probe-a-licious mitts all over that."

  • 24 votes
Reply#4 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 3:00 PM EDT
Comment author avatarKanninExpand Comment Comment collapsed by the community

Gosh Plinger - disgusting, obscene, illogical, bigoted, incoherent, hysterical, delusional … I gotta tell you, you talk just like a liberal.

  • 6 votes
#4.1 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 3:58 PM EDT

and he gets votes for that filth to boot

  • 3 votes
#4.2 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 4:16 PM EDT

filthy is as filthy does

  • 1 vote
#4.3 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 4:24 PM EDT

ok Fore - that was funny. I forget .. is this the governor that forces a woman watch her 'state' probe, or does he allow them to look away? It is hard to keep up with these freaky fantasies of the vagina probing governors.

Isn't this also that state that promotes tying up gays to bumpers and taking them for a drag down the boulevard?

  • 12 votes
#4.4 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 4:35 PM EDT

Sorry -- but, Plinger is accurately describing a republican. Unfortunately, it ain't pretty, but it's not his fault, either...

  • 9 votes
#4.5 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 6:05 PM EDT

i find myself wondering what the hell Mitt and the Repubs in store. It's not good thats for sure. The Repubs will not get back into the WH until 2020 at least. The Repub congress is next to go, and with their "boys club" dying off in the next 20 years. I'm not sure the party won't crumble all together. Especially if Hillary runs in '16 since people will remember the economy in the Clinton years. Even most of the south will turn Democrat when their party burns all their welfare. Obama will win in a landslide because in the debates Obama will expose Romney lying through his porcelain teeth. If these polls were halfway correct or even close to that Hillary would have been the nominee in 08, and McCain would have won the election. They projected Obama to have a 7 point lead in the election, and the race was over by dinner time. Call me a liberal call me whatever you want... But in November and the next decade you'll call me right!

  • 9 votes
#4.6 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 7:10 PM EDT

I agree that Obama will pull away once the debates begin. Willard, and the GOP as a whole, simply do not have policies to improve conditions. They are pushing the same same failed policies of the past 30 years. I think Romney has already peaked, but then again, this country did elect G.W. Bush, twice.

  • 2 votes
#4.7 - Mon Jun 4, 2012 9:55 AM EDT

But then again, this country elected Obama once! Let's not make the same mistake!!!!!

    #4.8 - Mon Jun 4, 2012 11:34 AM EDT

    It's not like we elected W twice... oh wait...

    • 1 vote
    #4.9 - Mon Jun 4, 2012 11:41 AM EDT

    Kannin:

    Good job, you got almost every word from the Luntz list. You wind up, just to the point of overwound...nice.

    German Gem:

    He's your Teapublican doing his thing. I would never make that up.

    Later taters.

    • 1 vote
    #4.10 - Mon Jun 4, 2012 3:55 PM EDT
    Reply

    How about killing Bin Laden? How about GM? He saved the car industry in this country.

    • 28 votes
    #5 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 3:21 PM EDT

    How did Obama kill bin laden?

    • 4 votes
    #5.1 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 3:24 PM EDT

    Joe66 - Obama gave the order. Bush/Cheney admitted it was no longer important for them to get bin Laden. Obama said it was a top priority and he had the job done. It's what a LEADER does!

    Obama/Biden 2012

    • 33 votes
    #5.2 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 3:27 PM EDT
    Comment author avatarJoe66Expand Comment Comment collapsed by the community

    Really..... I thought he kill him his self ..LMAO and with his bare hands. What else has Obama done to help the economy?

    • 5 votes
    #5.3 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 3:28 PM EDT

    Joe66 - actually, that probably IS what you thought!

    • 18 votes
    #5.4 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 3:29 PM EDT
    Comment author avatarJoe66Expand Comment Comment collapsed by the community

    Thats what Obama thinks.

    • 5 votes
    #5.5 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 3:33 PM EDT

    Joe that is what you want him to think so that you can attack him for it. He never said that he personally killed Bin Laden. That was an non-existing subtext that some Republicans created to justify attacking the President on getting that job done.

    • 23 votes
    #5.6 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 3:40 PM EDT

    Joe, you must have attended one of those schools where the GOP governor cut English teachers. "I thought he kill him his self." I think you meant "I thought he killed him himself."

    • 14 votes
    #5.7 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 4:04 PM EDT

    How did Obama kill bin laden?

    He gave the order Dumbya didn't (and got the job done.)

    Thats what Obama thinks.

    Oh = Joe66 the mind reader!

    I thought he kill him his self

    Me thoughts RWNJ's watch Fox News and ain't 2 smarts.....

    DUH!!!

    Teapublicans... you have to love 'em; well... maybe not!

    • 10 votes
    #5.8 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 4:59 PM EDT

    Joe66 - it was in all the papers, and on the internets. Reading . . it is not dangerous, or even painful.

    • 5 votes
    #5.9 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 6:02 PM EDT

    Hey Joe66. Why do you find it necessary to lie so much?

    • 9 votes
    #5.10 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 6:06 PM EDT

    Wow! After reading some of the remarks by Joe66 and others like him I'm even more inclined to trust my theory that people like them are actually working for us good guys! They do such a good job of portraying the right as totally uninformed, ignorant and uneducated that nobody in their right mind would want to be associated with the OP ( I intentionally left off the G because there's certainly nothing Grand about the Old Party anymore!).

    • 15 votes
    #5.11 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 6:56 PM EDT

    Well Joe if that is the case then Reagan didn't bring down communism.

    • 8 votes
    #5.12 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 7:04 PM EDT

    Helen, you are buying into a proposition that on its face is false. Obama saved the auto union at GM, not the Auto industry...at least 9 auto manufacturers did not receive bailout money, nor did they screw the bond holders in keeping their companies solvent. That leads to one conclusion, GM is a high cost company producing a product that is inferior in the market place. It has made no changes to its cost structure. It is only a matter of time before they are back looking for more bailout money. If they had gone through Chapter 11, they would have been able to restructure their costs and be on firm ground moving forward.

    • 3 votes
    #5.13 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 7:29 PM EDT

    The only jobs that Republicans will create are in Upper Management, Military Industry, and Troops sent to die in Illegal Wars based on Lies.

    At least that is all I have seen them do in the last 35 years. Nixon getting us out of Vietnam was about the last positive action I can recall regarding Americans. The Wall falling under Reagan's Presidency did not make up for the beginning of the Antiunionism Movement and the beginning of the shipping out of American Jobs to China for the sake of increasing many multimillionaires into billionaires, all at the cost of a stable Middle Class.

    Don't even start me on the Republicans part in the destruction of the US Educational System.

    And the Dems are nearly just as guilty for not putting an end to it over all of these years, despite having had many opportunities to do something.

    In the End, 545 People are, and continue to be, responsible for the Decline Of America. And we continue to allow them to play us like fools as we fight to keep them in power...

    • 8 votes
    #5.14 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 7:57 PM EDT

    Well Joe if that is the case then Reagan didn't bring down communism.

    He did not. The Communists brought it down by their own heavy hand and inability to allow consumer based progress while spending themselves out on Military Industry(much of it second rate), much unlike China's Communist Slave Masters. Gorby liking Reagan did not hurt at all, I admit, as well as the Star Wars Propaganda.

    In fact, much like we could become subject to if senibility and reality do not merge soon here in The United (I use the term loosely) States of America.

    • 3 votes
    #5.15 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 8:05 PM EDT

    All of you that don't, or can't, remember that W started TARP are as bad as the rwnjs.

    As well as continuing multiple W Policies, wars, and practices/inactions, and Big Oil/Corporate cronyism.

    I still like O better than W as Prez, though. And Romney makes W look good better

    well, not as fake/out of touch, yet still dangerous.

    And of course by W, I mean Cheney.

    • 6 votes
    #5.16 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 8:16 PM EDT

    @notsojingo, that was nav's point. But in the Reich wing's world, Reagan killed off the commie empire all by his lonesome. No Democrat served in the military in the 80's, no democrat in Congress ever did anything to support Reagan's one man effort to kill the commies, etc., etc.

    If they would but look at Obama's announcement last year, he said our armed forces killed Osama bin Laden, not he himself. Oh, and BTW, the General commanding SOCOM, you know the guy commanding the SEaLs, said after the fact that Obama showed the leadership of a 30 year officer. Finally, the decision to kill bin Laden could ONLY be made by the President--not the Veep, not SecDef, not SecState, not even the Chairman of the JCS.

    • 6 votes
    #5.17 - Mon Jun 4, 2012 2:50 AM EDT

    Thanks FC, and sorry if I came across wrong, Nav.

    I stopped coming onto these threads a while back because it would just frustrate the hell out of me how duplicitous the comments were, and I just get so upset seeing the ignorance pouring out from such an ununnited America that I get a bit out of sorts. And the most ignorance and distortion comes from the Righties on here, though, as in all of life, it also comes from the Lefties at times, but oh well.

    I do hope you see I truly care, and am not just on here to cause @!$%#e.

    Peace, and again, thanks!

    • 2 votes
    #5.18 - Mon Jun 4, 2012 2:57 AM EDT

    TJM07 - Your account of the whole auto industry recovery is laughable. I can tell you watch Sean Hannity - no reality required. Mitt Romney will lose his home state because of his position (his previous position that is). Today, he is twisting everything and pretending he got it right; but the American people know - at least most of them - those who watch any news station other than Fox.

      #5.19 - Mon Jun 4, 2012 10:02 AM EDT

      TJM07 - Uh, GM filed for bankruptcy on Jun 1, 2009. Chrysler filed earlier on April 30th (it might help to read and understand the history before commenting). Nobody in the financial industry was willing to lend the automakers the money needed to restructure so the government was the lender of last resort.

      • 3 votes
      #5.20 - Mon Jun 4, 2012 1:59 PM EDT
      Reply

      ofcourse he does

      • 1 vote
      Reply#6 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 3:33 PM EDT

      Republicans will never admit to anything. I remember clearly when GW was voted in the second time my daughter walking in my bedroom and stating ' well, the American people will deserve what they get" and our household still feels the same way. If you want more of the same of those 8 years that led to the crash of 2008 be sure to vote for Romney. There are some people that can be fooled all the time.

      • 28 votes
      Reply#7 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 3:38 PM EDT

      The Troglodytes have literally nothing to offer in the way of solutions, so they'll be lying like rugs, trying to make voters forget what a mess they left last time they were in charge.

      • 20 votes
      #7.1 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 4:13 PM EDT
      Reply

      I'm still baffled as to why any republican is even over here on MSNBC. Isn't MSNBC biased towards the Democratic party? Don't they have their hate-filled drivel sites like, GOPTV (FOX news), to whine about the Democrats and President Obama? You gop kids can go home anytime you like, with your lil ball... I assure you that you won't be missed.

      • 17 votes
      Reply#8 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 3:48 PM EDT

      So you can all have a circle jerk with each other?

      • 2 votes
      #8.1 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 5:03 PM EDT

      Better that, than listening to republicans screech, lie and distort...

      And, by the way -- be careful when you talk about cirlce jerks. Republicans like Larry Craig and Tom Foley will jump up in your lap -- especially if you're a teenager!!

      • 10 votes
      #8.2 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 6:10 PM EDT

      Very mature "thetrust". Typical right wing creativity on display. Great work. You must be proud.

      • 1 vote
      #8.3 - Mon Jun 4, 2012 10:04 AM EDT
      Reply

      There was an Islamic fundamentalist theocracy called the Taliban with an iron grip on the country of Afghanistan. President Bush toppled that regime and kicked them out of the country. There was a group of terrorists in that country called al-Qaeda who had launched a vicious attack against the United States that took many innocent lives. President Bush killed many of their leaders and scared them into hiding.

      Obama killed one aging straggler from the organization that President Bush defeated, and crowed that it was the "high point in my presidency!"

      In fairness, I agree with him – it was the high point in his otherwise-failed presidency.

      • 7 votes
      #9 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 3:53 PM EDT

      Kannin, if what you say about GWB kicking out the Taliban, who the heck have we been fighting over there for eleven years? The Girl Scouts?

      • 22 votes
      #9.1 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 4:08 PM EDT

      it was you republicans who gave support to the taliban in the 80's- good job!!!

      • 11 votes
      #9.2 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 4:28 PM EDT

      GWB abandoned the job he started in Afganistan to go running after Iraqi oil, using tyrants and smoke & mirrors to justify the action. Why the hello did he not allow the job to be finished in Afganistan instead of scooting out and permitting the radical Taliban to regain their foothold?

      Like father, like son...

      • 13 votes
      #9.3 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 4:34 PM EDT

      Nice try at historical re-write Kannin. How about telling what truly transpired:

      There was a group of terrorists in that country called al-Qaeda who had launched a vicious attack against the United States that took many innocent lives. BUT

      Pesident Dumbya ignored them and their leader to go after his personal enemy in another country, costing some 5000 American lives and trillions of dollars, and sent the U.S. into the worst economic depression since 1928. But four years after leaving office, his party wishes to distance themselves from him and his actions and try to blame it on the new President instead....

      • 11 votes
      #9.4 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 5:07 PM EDT
      Comment author avatarTJM07Expand Comment Comment collapsed by the community

      You really are stupid as I think...

      • 3 votes
      #9.5 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 5:16 PM EDT

      Scares you doesn't tjm, to realize that there are voters out here who don't just roll over and accept your RNC/TEA plaver and garbage as fact, but who actually think for themselves and realize that, regardless of your continual drumming to the contrary, black IS black, white IS white, our President IS making progress in cleaning up the mess we were led to between 2001 &2009, and we truly DID experience what Dubya/Cheney did.

      Get used to it!

      • 10 votes
      #9.6 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 5:34 PM EDT

      For those of you, like okie, who think that the Taliban are still running Afghanistan:

      The Taliban, an Islamic extremist group, took control of Afghanistan's government in 1996 and ruled until the 2001 U.S.-led invasion drove it from power. The group is known for having provided safe haven to al-Qaeda and its erstwhile leader Osama bin Laden, as well as for its rigid interpretation of Islamic law, under which it publicly executed criminals and outlawed the education of women. http://www.cfr.org/afghanistan/taliban-afghanistan/p10551

      • 4 votes
      #9.7 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 5:35 PM EDT

      Stopped a little short in citing this source didn't you Kannin...

      After its toppling, the Taliban has proved resilient. In June 2011, the International Crisis Group reported that the Taliban had expanded (PDF) far beyond its stronghold in the south and southeast to central-eastern provinces.

      • 6 votes
      #9.8 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 5:46 PM EDT

      President Bush toppled that regime and kicked them out of the country.

      Wow, did he really? Gee, then who have we been still fighting all this time?

      Criminy. Why do republicans like so much...

      Kannin. Why the lies?

      • 6 votes
      #9.9 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 6:11 PM EDT

      So you believe that Bush never toppled their regime and the Taliban are still running the country. If your fantasy is true, why don't you also fantasize that Obama is winning against them? Instead of failing there too.

      • 3 votes
      #9.10 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 6:23 PM EDT

      Failing against who? Didn't you say the Taliban are history thanks to GWB? You are making absolutely no sense whatsoever. Give it up.

      • 8 votes
      #9.11 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 7:23 PM EDT

      What are your facts, you don't seem to present them in any of your posts...

      • 2 votes
      #9.12 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 7:32 PM EDT

      Blearyeyed - By arguing with something I never said, you make it blindingly obvious that you have no logical response to what I actually posted.

      • 1 vote
      #9.13 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 11:37 PM EDT

      Kannin said:

      There was an Islamic fundamentalist theocracy called the Taliban with an iron grip on the country of Afghanistan. President Bush toppled that regime and kicked them out of the country.

      Obama killed one aging straggler from the organization that President Bush defeated, and crowed that it was the "high point in my presidency!"

      And blearyeyed called him out on it with:

      Failing against who? Didn't you say the Taliban are history thanks to GWB?

      And then Kannin's weak come-back:

      Blearyeyed - By arguing with something I never said, you make it blindingly obvious that you have no logical response to what I actually posted.

      You lose this argument, Kannin...you said it, not in the same words perhaps, but that's definitely what you implied. And technically, the "organization" that you like to give Bush credit for "defeating", which he didn't, is al-Queda, not the Taliban. He didn't "defeat" them, either. And if you really are of the opinion that the Taliban doesn't still exist in Afghanistan, then who do you think is the opposing force there? It's obviously escaped your rapier-sharp wit, but history shows that GWB basically abandoned the fight in Afghanistan to go play in the Iraq sandbox, where al-Queda didn't even exist at the time.

      Just a suggestion: before you refute your own argument, you probably should re-read it first to make sure you haven't put your foot in your mouth...again.

      Score one for blearyeyed...

      • 3 votes
      #9.14 - Mon Jun 4, 2012 12:43 AM EDT

      The comment from Kannin that got me was

      "President Bush killed many of their leaders and scared them into hiding.

      Obama killed one aging straggler from the organization that President Bush defeated"

      Actually, Obama has ordered the death of more than 20 senior AQ leaders including #1 and #3--Al Zawahiri (sp) must be sweating bullets for his day--and outside of KSM, in W's words, "i'm not all that concerned about him (UBL)".

      • 1 vote
      #9.15 - Mon Jun 4, 2012 2:59 AM EDT
      Reply

      Yup, increasing the number US Government employees in Virginia and screwing the other 49 states was a smart thing for Obama to do! Actually, it was an obamination! you know, something 1000 times worse than an abomination!

      • 2 votes
      Reply#10 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 3:57 PM EDT

      Unfortunately noone here will convince a republican of anything other than what their party tells them to think. Until we reach a point, and it isn't too far away (esp. if romney wins and the gop regain the majority in the Senate and hold onto the House) where 85-90% of anyone making less than $300,000 is unemployed (and yes republicans this includes you) then it doesn't mean anything to the followers of the gop party.

      • 12 votes
      Reply#11 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 3:58 PM EDT

      Republicans are actually fairly easy to convince - at least all of them that I know - all you really have to do is make economic sense.

      Of course I leave out the percentage of the republican party that is truly extremist...they are as difficult to convince of anything as a hard core member of the extreme left.

      Other than that, nice post of hyperpartisan hate and unwillingness to see that the other side might just have something of value to add to the debate. Unless you are actually trying to say that 80%unemployment will be the result of a republican presidency/control of house and senate.

      Or is it that you think that 300,000 a year should be a base salary for everybody?

      • 3 votes
      #11.1 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 4:17 PM EDT

      Exactly how does more tax cuts for millionaires make economic sense for anyone other than the millionaires? You guys have been trying to prove that tax cuts for the wealthy helps everyone for many years now, and the only people that have been helped are the millionaires.

      • 8 votes
      #11.2 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 5:28 PM EDT

      Heartlight - I never said that continuing tax cuts for millionaires makes sense. Try again.

      Perhaps you might want to think about this - continuing to spend money that all parties can agree we dont have is not a great idea. That makes sense.

      Although republican, I agree that taxes MUST increase - I only ask that it must be truly fair, not the current democratic definition of fair, which is only one group pays more.

      Additionally, you continue to omit the reality that broadening the base, as well as cutting at least some of the deductions, only makes sense.

      However, in the interest of actual fairness, then by definition everyone must contribute - and I mean in income taxes, not the standard democratic evasion that everybody does contribute via various other forms of taxes.

      To continue with fairness, if the goal is to fix the economic problems, then obviously spending cuts must also occur, and logically enough, from the largest drivers of the debt.

      See - that was not an unreasonable response, was it?

      • 3 votes
      #11.3 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 5:50 PM EDT
      Reply

      Virginia's economy is still strong mainly because of tobacco.

      • 1 vote
      Reply#12 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 4:07 PM EDT

      Not even close, it is due primary to government spending. Virginia is dead last in terms of number of acres farmed compared to every state that grows tobacco.

      Where do think many of the evil government workers live? Between them, lobbyists and government contractors, Virginia would dry up and blow away.

      • 9 votes
      #12.1 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 4:17 PM EDT
      Reply

      Now you know how dumb the Republicans really are, to keep voting in these village idiots-they must be very will off these blue collar Republicans, to give up there SS and Medicare, there retirements, the women rights, yes really dumb.

      Obama/Biden in Nov.-Vote:

      • 13 votes
      Reply#13 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 4:09 PM EDT

      The Troglodytes have literally nothing to offer in the way of solutions, so they'll be lying like rugs, trying to make voters forget what a mess they left last time they were in charge.

      • 9 votes
      #13.1 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 4:12 PM EDT
      Reply

      If there ever was a state that benefited from federal spending it is Virginia. They get $1.66 for every dollar they send to Washington. Not only that, they get millions more from government contractors (outsourcing). Of the top 20 counties in the USA with the highest median income, numbers 1, 3, 8, 9, 11, and 18 are in Virginia right outside Washington, DC. Take a wild guess where all that money is coming from since there is virtually no manufacturing in the area. If the GOP actually cut spending like they say without raising taxes, Virginia is in deep you know what.

      Maryland counties next to DC are 4, 13, 14 and 19 on the same list.

      • 15 votes
      Reply#14 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 4:10 PM EDT

      A vote for Bob McDonnell is a vote for toll roads. I hope he doesn't get to be vice-president.

      • 6 votes
      Reply#15 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 4:11 PM EDT

      The Troglodytes have literally nothing to offer in the way of solutions, so they'll be lying like rugs, trying to make voters forget what a mess they left last time they were in charge.

      • 3 votes
      Reply#16 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 4:12 PM EDT

      I think he probably forfeited his spot on the short list when he made these comments.

      • 6 votes
      Reply#17 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 4:13 PM EDT

      Rethuglican Playbook 101

      "If you repeat a lie often enough, it becomes the truth."

      "The bigger the lie, the more people will believe it."

      "The most brilliant propagandist technique will yield no success unless one fundamental principle is borne in mind constantly - it must confine itself to a few points and repeat them over and over"

      --Joseph Goebbels

      Or did you think that it all began with Luntz?

      • 14 votes
      Reply#18 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 4:15 PM EDT

      Nice comparison to Goebbels. Wrong, illogical, and devoid of reason, or even sanity, but nice.

      Are you really sure you want to open the can of worms of who is lying to who? And more to the point, who is telling them more often?

      Or even, who is telling bigger lies?

      Pretty certain you dont want that.

      But, if you actually compare republicans to Nazis, then you might actually believe your own distortions.

      • 3 votes
      #18.1 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 4:29 PM EDT

      Are you really sure you want to open the can of worms of who is lying to who?

      "Saddam has weapons of mass destruction, and he has them pointed right at us!"

      Most of us know who is lying to whom Notalking, regardless of your spin and explainations; re-read my user name.

      • 6 votes
      #18.2 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 5:16 PM EDT

      I have read your username...

      Lets try unemployment wont go above 8% with the stimulus

      Or perhaps the "Affordable Health Care Act" will actually save people money.

      Your username aside, you are making a mistake thinking that I am only engaging in spin.

      • 1 vote
      #18.3 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 5:53 PM EDT

      Not -

      Actually, it was Clinton who first said that Saddam had weapons of mass destruction - based on the same intel that was provided to Bush by the surveillance community.

      So, who is trying to re-write history?

      • 1 vote
      #18.4 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 6:32 PM EDT

      Clintons intel also investigated the Nigerian Yellow Cake story and deemed it 'not credible'. Then Darth Cheney resurrected it and used it to convince congress that war with Iraq was necessary. Remember Valerie Plame? How about Scooter Libby?

      Is any of this ringing a bell with you?

      • 5 votes
      #18.5 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 7:34 PM EDT

      Duh, Tammy =

      Saddam DID indeed have wmd's at one time - Bush Sr. & Reagan sold them to him, so you are mistaken in your statement; Bush 41 was the first to say he had them. (And he was speaking from good authority.)

      However, Saddam used them up before Bush II came on the scene. But knowing what his daddy told him and the trouble the family was having with Saddam, Dubya actually ignored the intel, lied to the nation and the world, and pressured others to help him sell the lie in order to invade Iraq.

      Didn't you live through this Tammy, or are you too young to remember it all?

      • 6 votes
      #18.6 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 7:38 PM EDT

      I was just going to reply to Tammy, but I see someone else, immediately above, has put her in her place.

      Comments, Tammy? or are you cleaning something off your face? I've heard that it sucks being part of the Dumbya Bush butt-licker squad, but some of you need to learn to stop licking his behind and realize what a lowlife, lying POS he was, and still is. The only WMD he had when Dumbya was president were the three old Winchester shotguns he had stashed in his closet.

      • 6 votes
      #18.7 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 8:39 PM EDT

      actually Jon Cocc, it was Hermann Goehring (sp). Joseph Goebbels and his wife also committed suicide in Hitler's bunker.

        #18.9 - Mon Jun 4, 2012 3:06 AM EDT
        Reply

        Wow, Bob is a Marxist too.

        • 1 vote
        Reply#19 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 4:17 PM EDT

        How can any president (GOP or Dem) get anything done if congress won't stand behind them. This congress has done everything to make it impossible for President Obama get the country on the road to recovery, which shows me they care only about the power they desire and not the welfare of the people of United States.

        • 20 votes
        Reply#20 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 4:18 PM EDT

        Hear! Hear!

        • 6 votes
        #20.1 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 5:13 PM EDT

        difg -- that is probably the biggest truth about the last 3.5 years than anything.

        • 6 votes
        #20.2 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 8:41 PM EDT
        Reply

        The thing about Virginia having the lowest unemployment rate most of the job's here are service industry, or mining in Southwest Va. There is very little manufacturing, so yeah you can find work, but you have to have 2 job's to support a family here. Mcdonnell hasn't done anything to help out here in Va. cutting education every yr since he took office last yr he gave the money he cut from education to Wealthy folk's. this yr he plans to cut education again to cover a pension program for government worker's. so he is full of crap about the education side too. Mcdonnell is a embarrassment the kind of spotlight we have gotten from this man a lot of us don't want, and we definitely don't need. I hope this fall people here in the commonwealth wake up, and vote for their better interest's instead of against them. At least get rid of Cantor!!!!

        • 7 votes
        Reply#21 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 4:20 PM EDT

        Hillbilly you are full of it.

        Bob McDonnell has done a great job as Virginia Governor. He has balanced the budget and not cut services, or education.

        The economy is on good shape here.

        As McDonnell pointed out, is it coincidence that 7 of the 10 states with the lowest unemployment are run by Republican Governors? And states run by reckless spending Democrats are going bankrupt?

          #21.1 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 8:01 PM EDT

          jesus h nipple. You're starting to sound like Gov. Rick Perry. And, of course, Texas was the state that depended the most on those very stimulus funds to plug nearly 97% of its shortfall in 2010. It plugged nearly all of its $6.6 billion deficit with $6.4 billion in Recovery Act money, allowing it to leave its $9.1 billion rainy day fund untouched. Isn't THAT special. In FY 2012, Texas' deficit is projected to come in at $12 billion, more than 30 percent of its budget -- the third highest rate in the country. But the states, which are collectively facing a $120 billion shortfall next year, are unlikely to see any more stimulus, in large part due to the efforts of conservatives like Gov. Perry, who have slammed the Recovery Act as a wasteful and ineffective government bailout. You POS's make your own bed, Ricky-cakes!!

          For all the controversy over the national debt ceiling, here's a surprise: Since 2001, the debt load in conservative Texas has grown faster than the federal debt. Texas has been borrowing more than most other states, too. And local entities, from cities to school districts to transit authorities, have been piling up even more debt. From 2001 to 2010, state debt alone grew from $13.4 billion to $37.8 billion, according to the Texas Bond Review Board. That's an increase of 281 percent. Over the same time, the national debt rose almost 234 percent, with two wars, two tax cuts and stimulus spending.

          The trend is undeniable. While Texas lawmakers have refused to raise taxes -- and often criticize Washington for borrowing and spending -- the state has been paying for much of its expansion with borrowed money.

          • 6 votes
          #21.2 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 8:54 PM EDT
          Reply

          It must have hurt him deeply to have to tell a truth. A real fact for once. But then he sprinkles it with a few republican lies. They just can't go very long on truths I guess. So, back up plan. Coat it with a lot of lies and wham! Republican reality.

          It didn't work VA Gov. Truth hurts your party's chances.

          • 7 votes
          Reply#22 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 4:22 PM EDT
          Comment author avatarJamie AlvarezExpand Comment Comment collapsed by the community

          Rumor has it that Obama will blame his daughters on Bush. Obama isn't an amateur. Obama is an incompetent. Who vetted the weakest, most incompetent world leader since Cane killed Able? Maybe Obama is just the smartest monkey the news media could find.

          • 2 votes
          Reply#23 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 4:23 PM EDT

          Wow, Jamie, slash a couple of little girls and follow it up with the stupidest racist remark you can think of. Did it take very long for your Klan meeting to think it up?

          • 7 votes
          #23.1 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 4:35 PM EDT

          " isn't an amateur" and "is an incompetent" are contradictory: incompetents ARE amateurs!

          • 1 vote
          #23.2 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 4:37 PM EDT

          elke -

          Not so!

          An amateur is not necessarily incompetent, nor is one who is incompetent necessarily an amateur. An individual who plays sports as a hobby is classed as an amateur, but if they play often enough they may actually be pbetter than a 'pro'.

          Perhaps you should look up the definitions of the words. You merely make yourself look like a fool when you spout such nonsense.

            #23.3 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 6:38 PM EDT

            Pros are people who get paid for what they do, amateurs do not. It has nothing to do with their abilities. Maybe YOU should be using a dictionary.

            So who's the fool now, you moron.

            • 1 vote
            #23.4 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 7:40 PM EDT
            Reply

            The economy is, in many ways, similar to an ocean liner running at full speed; hard to stop, harder to turn around. After being driven down for eight years, it takes many more years to turn around and start it up again, especially when part of the crew is still trying to sink the ship. After the administrations of Harding, Coolidge and Hoover had driven the country, even the world, into the Great Depression, it required twelve years and a World War to dig us out again. Indeed, in 1940, after eleven years the unemployment rate in the US was still 17%. Arming half the world for war and building a military force of almost ten million finally got a full blown expansion going again. It isn't well known but FDR had a lot more trouble getting the leaders of industry to cooperate than he had with the unions. Industry insisted on making as much profit as possible on military contracts while the workers had wages frozen and were not permitted to go on strike. It wasn't until 1942 that industry finally started to cooperate and convert auto plants to make tanks and bombers and such.

            • 8 votes
            Reply#24 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 4:25 PM EDT

            It is pretty well know that FDR supported the Unions, until the war started and the unions wanted to go on strike. Industry wanted assurances that if they hired workers, with the slim chance of selling their goods to a population with little money that the Government would support them in the way of helping finance wages until the products began to sell. Companies go out on a limb, hireing when they do no have the cash to support those new employees. All the Spending FDR did, did not improve the economy. It was the War that turned things around. Unemployed men and employed men were taking out of the job market and went into the military (earning money). Businesses had a market for the war goods they produced. Women stated working taking the place of men on the assembly lines. (earning money). The US was not attached so there was no disruption of industry. It was a perfect storm. Fewer workers, more company production, and demand for the products. The Problem is now with all uncertiantly of regulations and taxes Companies are afraid to gamble on what will happen next. So until the government quits changing the tax code every month and adding new regulations that companies have to hire hords of lawyers to decipher. Things are not going to change. They will sit on the money they now have and will wait for a change in government. It is like a home owner that pays an adjustible rate morgage (that can change every week, and a property tax that can change every week also. You want to do a room addition, but never know what it is going to cost you, because you don't know what your taxes will be, and if you will have enough money to pay for all of it.

            • 2 votes
            #24.1 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 4:56 PM EDT

            Micheal you need to get the facts right. WWII did help turn around our economy not because there were fewer workers but because women replaced the men called to defend our country after it was attacked. The auto industry stopped the production of autos and converted to war production and were paid by the government. The government sold war bonds to finance the war unlike the republicans president/congress that decided to fight two wars and not pay for them. By the way the economics of supply and demand say that a company will not add one job unless the capacity to meet demand is exceeded. Without a strong middle class (the majority of consumers) the demand will never exceed capacity to meet the demand. This is why corporations are sitting on $2 trillion in cash.

            The republican led congress has done nothing to help the economy and refuses to work in a non partisan way to improve the economy and help the middle class get ahead. Instead, they prefer to try to act in a way to defeat a sitting president through obstruction.

            I will never vote for a republican again in my life.

            • 8 votes
            #24.2 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 7:31 PM EDT

            Michael. You'd do well to read Tom's post, and think...

            • 3 votes
            #24.4 - Mon Jun 4, 2012 12:27 AM EDT

            Michael--interesting, if fallacious twist on history, but good god son. learn some f'ing grammar and vocabulary.

            "Businesses had a market for the war goods they produced. " seriously laugh out loud inanity!

            "The US was not attached so there was no disruption of industry." Attached to what? Your delusions of education?

            honestly, after that sentence the rest of you comment became a stream-of-thought (well, no thought) ramble that made no sense what-so-ever!

            • 1 vote
            #24.5 - Mon Jun 4, 2012 3:15 AM EDT
            Reply

            So let me see if I got this right - a republican, and potential VP candidate, comes out and says that Obama has in some ways been good for his state, and gets lambasted on this vine because he did not do enough.

            A few days ago, Obama called Romney to congratulate him on his apparent nomination, and this vine was glowing with how great a man this makes Obama, and was slamming all republicans who did not immediately admit that this made Obama great.

            A total double standard, if ever I saw one.

            Congratulations on your dedication to the liberal theories of fairness, inclusion, and equity for all.

            • 6 votes
            Reply#25 - Sun Jun 3, 2012 4:25 PM EDT
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