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NORTH ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MO -- Mitt Romney on Thursday recast perhaps his favorite stump speech topic -- the central role of free enterprise in America's success -- as a moral issue, while also taking on President Obama's arguments about economic fairness.
"It is called the free enterprise system because we are both free to engage in enterprise and through those enterprises we ensure our freedom. But sadly, it has become clear that this president simply doesn’t understand or appreciate these fundamental truths of our economic system," Romney told an audience of several hundred supporters on a factory floor outside St. Louis.
"Over the last three and a half years, record numbers of Americans have lost their jobs or just disappeared from the work force, or can only find part time jobs. Record numbers of Americans are now living in poverty –- 46 million people. In this country. Living below the poverty line," Romney said. "This is not just a failure of policy; it is a moral failure of tragic proportion. Our government has a moral commitment to help every American help himself... And that commitment has been broken."
The former Massachusetts governor also used his morality argument to reframe President Obama's campaign for greater economic fairness.
"President Obama's vision is very different –- and deeply flawed. There is nothing fair about a government that favors political connections over honest competition and takes away your right to earn your own success," Romney said. "And there is nothing morally right about trying to turn government dependence into a substitute for the dignity of hard work."
Romney regularly casts himself as a defender of the free enterprise system and a champion of small business, and while he regularly speaks of the national debt as a moral issue, today's casting of free enterprise as morally good and the president's policies as morally bad was a rhetorical shift, performed before two of the campaign's own cameras, likely for a future television ad.
After the speech, Romney did not gloat about his Victory Fund's May fundraising totals, which surpassed those of the president's re-election campaign, telling reporters along the rope line that the campaign has "got a long way to go."
The presumptive GOP nominee also told reporters that he called Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker on Tuesday night to congratulate him on his victory in the recall effort there. He did not respond to a follow up question about whether he could win Wisconsin outright. His campaign advisers say they view the Badger state with cautious optimism, as a place to go on offense, but that they don't have to carry to reach the White House in 2012.
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What did he toast with?
Holy Water?
Interesting clip of him crying in his Cheerio's while commiserating with a Viet Nam vet about how BADLY he wanted to serve by his side!
Of course, if this had an ounce of truth to it - Willard wouldn't have gotten himself 4 deferments so he could peddle around France!
Instead, he would of just GONE!
It would of been a perfect place for him & his penchant for bullying & intimidation!
Obama and Romney are not so far off on this. Romney toasts free markets. Free markets are toast with Obama.
Just don't be talking about one man and one woman in Missouri. They like sheep there.
Feisty -- It's amazing with modern technology and all, and everything documented that shows what a pathological liar Romney is. Yet FOX Noise manages to drown it all out and people neglect to do their own homework.
Talk about Swift-boating, you'd think McCain couldn't tolerate Romney just based on his record of four deferments, yet Romney supported the Vietnam War and the draft -- gladly sending others to their death. And then to throw salt on the wounds of those who served, to lie about wanting to serve when it is on record that he said he had no interest in serving.
Romney is bad enough as the poster child for the 1%, palling around with the Birther King Donald Trump, but this outright anti-patriotism that would tank him in the Republican Party of the past -- It is truly insane what the GOP has become.
TruePatriot - GOP - goofy old perverts!
Oooops - I was wrong. GOP - Gross Old Perverts!
free market? yeah, I know the robber barons love to use the MARKET to FREELY rob people of their life savings and bank accounts. Vultures are everywhere, not just in the market place, also campaigning to to take over the governemnt and corrupt the body politic.
Why recession in the first place? Market is left free!
In the Oscar winning documentary 'Inside Job,' some vulture capitalists said ironically - why didn't government regularate us (compulsive gamblers) more to prevent us from recklessly gambling other people's money away?
Hey, True
We're not ALL Sheep lovers!
There are a couple of BLUE counties left in 'hickville'. Just sayin'!
True Patriot, well said. Makes you wonder how one man can have told so many versions of his past and so many outright lies yet too much of the media lets it pass.
Last night Lawrence O'Donnell reminded viewers that John Kerry was hammered by the GOP for his voting for the war before voting against it, flip flopper yet Mitt Romney has had every position on everything and somehow gets away with it. I wouldn't trust Romney to hold 25 cents for me.
Jody/Patriot -
Since you brought it up (smiles fiendishly)...
A brief (and incomplete) summary of Romney’s Flip/Flops:
Minimum wage
Campaigning for Governor, 2002: Romney stated "I do not believe that indexing the minimum wage will cost us jobs. I believe it will help us retain jobs."
As Governor, July 2006: Romney stated "…there's no question raising the minimum wage excessively causes a loss of jobs, and the loss of jobs is at the entry level."
Stem Cell Research
Campaigning for Governor, 2002: Romney expressed broad support for embryonic stem cell research, and said he would lobby President Bush to support it.
As Governor, 2005: Romney vetoed a Massachusetts bill to fund stem-cell research.
Abortion
Campaign, 2002: Romney's platform - "As Governor, Mitt Romney would protect the current pro-choice status quo in Massachusetts. No law would change. The choice to have an abortion is a deeply personal one. Women should be free to choose based on their own beliefs, not the government's."
Governor, July 2005: Romney criticized Roe v. Wade in a veto message in rejecting a bill mandating access to access to emergency contraception. In February 2006, Romney stated that his views on abortion had "evolved" and "changed" since 2002 such that he then considered himself a "pro-life governor" who wishes "the laws of our nation could reflect that view".
Gun Control
Campaign, 2002: Romney supported the federal assault weapons ban. July 1, 2004: Romney signed a permanent state ban on assault weapons, saying "Deadly assault weapons have no place in Massachusetts. These guns are not made for recreation or self-defense. They are instruments of destruction with the sole purpose of hunting down and killing people." The law covered weapons such as the AK-47, Uzi, and MAC-10.
January, 2008: "I believe we need to focus on enforcing our current laws rather than creating new laws that burden lawful gun owners.”
Gay Rights
Senate campaign, 1994: Romney stated “..I respect the work and the efforts he's (Ted Kennedy) made on behalf of the gay community and for civil rights more generally, and I would continue that fight. There's something to be said for having a Republican who supports civil rights in this broader context, including sexual orientation. When Ted Kennedy speaks on gay rights, he's seen as an extremist. When Mitt Romney speaks on gay rights, he's seen as a centrist and a moderate. …When Ted says it, it's extreme; when I say it, it's mainstream. I think the gay community needs more support from the Republican party and I would be a voice in the Republican party to foster anti-discrimination efforts.”
Campaign 2002: Romney's stated position was "All citizens deserve equal rights, regardless of their sexual orientation. While he does not support gay marriage, Mitt Romney believes domestic partnership status should be recognized in a way that includes the potential for health benefits and rights of survivorship."
Governor, 2004: Romney stated "If the question is, 'Do you support gay marriage or civil unions?' I'd say neither. If they said you have to have one or the other, that Massachusetts is going to have one or the other, then I'd rather have civil unions than gay marriage. But I'd rather have neither."
Healthcare
Governor, 2006: …Romney successfully pushed for incorporating an individual mandate at the state level. April 2006: Romney signed legislation that mandates that nearly all Massachusetts residents buy or obtain health insurance coverage or face a penalty in the form of an additional income tax assessment. The bill established a regulatory authority called the Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority to implement the law and establish insurance standards.
2010: In a speech, Romney said of Obamacare "I hope we're ultimately able to eliminate some of the differences, and repeal the bad and keep the good." He applauded the individual mandate, which he says "works."
Campaign 2012: Romney promises to repeal “Obamacare” on Day One.
Taxes
Campaign 2002: Romney refused to sign an anti-tax pledge put forth by Grover Norquist's Americans for Tax Reform. Romney presented a plan to balance the budget without raising taxes. Romney also favored gambling as a way to help balance the Massachusetts deficit.
2003: A windfall in capital gains tax revenue caused by a previously enacted capital gains tax increase reduced the deficit by $1.3 billion.
2006: The combined state and local tax burden in Massachusetts increased during Romney's governorship. Romney cut spending by $1.6 billion, including $700 million in reductions in state aid to cities and towns. In response, cities and towns raised property taxes by five percent to their highest level in 25 years. In 2005, Romney signed legislation allowing local commercial property taxes to be raised, which resulted in $100 million more in property taxes from local business owners.
Romney created new fees and increased fees for many state licenses and services. In all 33 new fees were created and 57 fees were increased, raising $501 million in new income in the first year of the fee increase program - more than any other state in the nation. Romney increased a state gasoline “special fee” by two cents per gallon, generating about $60 million per year in additional revenue. This made for a total effective state gasoline tax of 23.5 cents per gallon.
Sorry, Clara KCMO! My parents moved to a rural area there for awhile, and my little brother got a quick education on the school bus listening to open discussion about such matters. But your point is well taken. Hang in there!
Jody, TNSEVOL -- Excellent contributions as always too. TNSEVOL, there isn't enough space to post all the flip-flop lies Romney has told in his lifetime -- many we don't even know about. Suffice it to say, he lies so much we can guess it goes back to his early life.
Romney's idea of Free Market is one in which government money props up business. Nothing FREE about that.
Bain is a good example. Under Romney Bain profited greatly from government's help, our tax dollars went in their pockets.
Dont_carry_it_all -- Look at the GOP/TP candidates this time around, with Michele Bachmann on the government dole, Rick Perry who has enriched himself via political office, and on and on. Even the Olympics that Romney tries to take credit for was thanks to a government handout.
These Teapublicans are all posers (and that's a kind word). Romney -- privatize profits and socialize debt -- He's the worst of all.
True Patriot -- Spot on. It never ceases to amaze me what hypocrites these guys really are.
Okay, it's not all Romney's fault... Look at what he wrote in the National Review before the 2008 election about how the president and congress needed to pass a stimulus, and how we needed an "Apollo-type mission" for renewable energy.
Many of use know about the meeting held on the day of President Obama's inauguration. We know the GOP/TP leaders like Boehner and McConnell don't really believe "cap and trade," a mandate for health care, or spending on infrastructure are bad. We know they plotted to have a united front against everything the president has tried to accomplish.
The rightwing supporters out there, who listen exclusively to FOX Noise talking points (or worse, Hate Radio), now they are another matter. I have a hypothesis I wish I could test. If all the rightwing pundits, for example if Glenn Beck got out his chalkboard to illustrate how the president's Job Act would help the economy, the rightwingers would support the Jobs Act.
You know how Teapublicans ran fake Democrats in the Wisconsin recall? Stephen Colbert is in the right track -- We need fake rightwing pundits out there spreading the truth. Ha!
It's simple math. When you throw honor out the window obviously the first day your opponent wins the white house, how is it you can even speak of morality? Millions of so called americans buy this republican garbage? Doesn't add up.
"Free Market" really transulates: "Give me fat contributions and I will get you tax breaks and subsidies for bringing jobs abroad. As long as I have millions in bribes, the country can be flushed down the toilet, the fools who were dumb enough to vote for me can starve to death, but I will have plenty of security so that I can relocate anywhere in the world and be fine."
I will take "Balanced Trade" over the sucker deal "Free Market" any day. We should not be borrowing money from China to buy their crap. We need to use our heads and reduce the use of oil to stop imports. Poor management is destroying this country.
And, sadly enough Mittens, you and Koch Brothers have forgotten the contract that free enterprise demands. That you pay your workers a living wage, that health care be a part of that package.
When it comes right down to it, Mittens, you and the rest of the robber barons do not want to admit that jobs are created when the middle class and working class can BUY products. THAT is what spurs the economy on, and that is the missing piece of the robber baron puzzle.
If there is no one to buy widgets, they will sit in the warehouse. And you and the rest of the crooks will lose money. Since money is the ONLY thing that melts that plastic heart of yours, maybe that is what has to happen for you to get this.
But, as long as Annie has her Warmbloods, and you have your car elevator, and you can try to buy the White House as a bright shiny new toy, because doggone it, Annie wants it, life is good!
E.J. Dionne said it best in his column on Monday...
"Forgive me for noting that conservatives seem to believe that the rich will work harder if we give them more, and the poor will work harder if we give them less."
NDD-
I agree. American corporations took the short-sighted and easy way to improve their bottom-lines by outsourcing jobs to foreign countries instead of investing in the infrastructure to improve long-term productivity. I can cite several examples where if given the opportunity American workers can succeed via productivity gains over lower-waged foreign competition. The result was short-term profits but a long-term loss of consumers for their products.
Have faith in America and American workers - invest in US jobs and factories (and banks). Build American - Buy American.
Thanks TNSEVOL: It is true. This is why Theodore Roosevelt went after the Robber Barons in his day! I keep wondering what ol' TR would have to say about the current state of the Republican Party. I daresay that old Bull Moose would ROAR!
Newday and TNSEVOL- what you said about people BUYING things USED to be true. With emerging markets overseas, this is not necessarily true. Hell, the companies can manufacture their goods over there, and not even have to ship them back here for purchase.
Our 'corporate citizens' don't have to care what you, I, or all those union folks have to say about it. They simply do not NEED us like they used to.
Thats' why nothing that's going down in places like Wisconsin makes sense to most of us, but is happening more and more. And for reasons I'll never understand, the people on the right seem to be genuinely overjoyed this enormous change to our country and economic security and survival is taking place.
If folks are concerned about China (Romney, listen up), the Chinese do not operate on a quarterly basis. Their long-term planning is how they are kicking our butts. Putting a "businessman" with Romney's "vulture capitalist" and richest 1% plutocrat background in the White House would be a huge mistake.
Hi, drive by! How the heck are you?
I still think the Robber Barons are going to find out that it is the Middle Class and Working Class that keep them in business when they feel secure enough to BUY.
You do have to wonder how people keep voting against their own self interests.
NDD-
I think even Reagan would be disappoined in their inability to compromise, their overwhelming greed, and their bleak outlook on America. Sure is a long way from "Morning in America".
Drive By -
They will need us when the foreign markets slow down, like is happening now.
TNSEVOL: Most of the right wing are in denial that Reagan compromised all the time! And raised taxes, what 11 times? They have no clue who Reagan was
drive-by-observer -- My sister is a teacher who works for the government, but she distrusts the government and thinks everything should be privatized. People who live in the rightwing Echo Chamber easily succumb to peer group pressure and "group think."
Aside from getting money out politics, and reinstating senate rules that prevented abuse of the filibuster, we need some form of the Fair Doctrine Act. Things started to polarize when FOX Noise went on the air in the mid 1990s. If Germans could fall victim to propaganda during Hitler, what makes anyone think differently now, especially since people were better educated then?
newdayDAWNING...RETURNED -- Agreed, but why do they now believe the rightwing rewritten history? It gets back to the propaganda problem. And to some extent the lack of "citizen duty" folks once felt, which included investing time to be informed. Jill Biden said many of her students don't know who she is because they are so busy working, going to school, raising their families, etc.
My grandparents were in the same position, yet they were more informed--of course news was only 1 hour and reported facts back then. But it was a higher priority, education, knowing what's going on, etc. Some of the apathy comes from the polarization and dirty politics that is the rightwing playbook.
The moronic TruePatriot has figured out the solution to the problem that progressives always lose the argument:
Repeal the First Amendment and muzzle opponents !
NDD, TNSEVOL, True, Cheers for the truth
DaNoid, DJ Dionne is absolutely right.
Bob who will never be VP, who said anything about the First Amendment and muzzling opponents?
I've been doing the tax returns for wealthy people for many years (don't make me say how many!) and I can tell you that they don't take the extra money and go out and create jobs. They invest some in the market (which doesn't create many jobs) and they put the rest in banks. Good for them for doing that but giving them more money by lowering their taxes doesn't translate into jobs for the rest of us.
Drive-by, it is a puzzle how conservatives can be cheering the demise of what made the middle class. Apparently, the middle class and poor conservatives don't realize that their wages, their benefits are next for the ash heap.
Wow Romney, you are a fast one. That commitment was broken by St. Reagan, and we have been in a steady decline every since, with the exception of a pause during the Clinton years. Voodoo economics started the destruction of the middle class and we have been crumbling ever since. Thank you Reagan, thank you Bush Sr., and thank you Bush Jr. for ensuring our pension systems were destroyed, for depressing our wages, and killing off our employee provided medical care benefits. Stellar job!!
I still don't understand what Romney proposes to to accomplish this feat...he's made it pretty clear that you're on your own to (1) find a cheaper college, (2) take a loan from your parents, (3) hit rock bottom and let private investors come in and assume your mortgage after foreclosure.
He's all heart!
Well, (1) who else's responsibility is it to find a college you can afford? You next door neighbor's? (2) if, as you imply, nobody has parents who can afford to loan them money to start a business, how do you explain people who DO get loans from their parents? And (3). Yeah, sometimes you really do have to hit bottom before you turn around.
Take a look at how well Obama's interference in the mortgage crisis has worked. Here 's a hint: it hasn't.
"I’m not concerned about the very poor — we have a safety net there." - Mitt Romney, 2/1/12
A safety net that he's about to pull from under their feet!
So, no joe, what is it that he's going to do to help Americans help themselves - give them advice? a pat on the back?
no joe - you are in no position to talk about the mortgage industry. As someone who works in the industry and actually knows what is going on - you're wrong. His assistance in the industry has homeowners from going completely over the cliff. More homeowners can re-finance which gives them more disposable income - thus a plus to the economy. And, more families have been able to keep their homes because of the proposals he's made. So keep your mouth shut when you don't know anything - which is basically all the time!
Obama/Biden 2012
You know, no jo: even for you, that made no sense. So if you get into an Elite University, you are looking at a bill of about $50,000 per year. You really think most parents have that, or is it your argument that only the wealthy should be entitled to the best in the nation, and smart, top scholars, who do not have socialites for parents should be barred from entry?
I don't expect much from you in the way of profound thought...but you have sunk to a new low.
newday - I don't think no joe has any lower to go. She's hit rock bottom. She could sit on a sheet of toilet paper and dangle her legs!
Well, seeking- I think you're lost
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/c/credit_crisis/housing_plan/index.html
Lot of money to accomplish very little. Yup. That's the Obama way.
Hard to argue with that Seeking Sanity.
How do you know? "no joe" is SOOOOOOOOOOO super-awesome that she probably has experience as a mortgage broker in addition to all the other neato-cool things she's done in her lifetime.
...but, no, she's right on this one...the President interfered in the mortgage crisis. I mean, he should have just stayed out of it and the market would have fixed everything. After all, that's what big business does...look out for the little guy...not make profits.
Just leave business alone so that they may bestow their great and many blessings upon the rest of us courtesy of the "trickle-down" miracle.
Ursula, what Mitt really means is "you're on your own"--that's his idea of helping Americans help themselves.
DaNoid, odd how your sarcasm sounds just like Mitt Romney's idea of solving the mortgage crisis; let it bottom out, let foreclosures happen, let investors buy the homes, fix them up and rent them out--wonder if he had Bain Capital in mind?
newday and DaNoid - I know since I work with these homeowners day after day. Although some don't consider it a success I guarantee that hundreds of thousands who participated in the programs did. Again, no joe hasn't a clue - as usual.
[Lot of money to accomplish very little. Yup. That's the Obama way.]
Sn00kie, did you actually READ the story to the link you posted?
No, you didn't...because if you had, you would have found the answer to your "statement". Maybe it's a reading comprehension issue? And to think you were a teacher...what did you teach? Typing? Just don't say English...
Unless, of course, you DID read the story, but still insist on lying about the contents, knowing full well most people here think you're a liar anyway and simply don't read your posts, much less open misleading links included in them.
...so, Sn00kie...which is it?
Oh, by the way...just how much are you sucking from the taxpayers of New Joisey with your teachers' pension?
Enlighten us...
..."fat stacks", I bet...
Robert Reich has an interesting take on the economy, he calls it "Casino Capitalism". I encourage everyone to read his blogs, opinion pieces or books.
Investors who used to supply capital to companies who actually built things or provided services (thus creating jobs) now invest in risky financial instruments or stock options that only benefit the wealthy and their broker. Yes, they pay income taxes but at increasingly lower rates
Thanks for posting this TNSEVOL.
TNSEVOL, thanks for sharing. It seems we have once again reached the point where wealth is concentrated in the hands of a few. The last time was just prior to the Great Depression. One would think the lessons would have been learned but the GOP keeps singing the same tune.
TNSEVOL, you've had some great posts recently...thanks!
"there is nothing morally right about trying to turn government dependence into a substitute for the dignity of hard work"
The God of Government has failed , as it always does...
BIV, put the probe back in your not done.
Bob -
There is also nothing morally right about turning other's hard work into your personal wealth, making millions and complaining about paying your fair share of taxes. The God of Capitalism is no better than the God of Government.
"The dignity of hard work" - what does Romney know about hard work? As they said about George Bush, Romney was born on third base and thought he hit a triple.
Typical Republican response - thinking a "hand up" is a handout. I pray you never find yourself in a situation where you need government assistance.
Bob in VA - along with the rest of the Republicans want it both ways. If you are getting government assistance because you can't find work - you're living off the government. But, every chance they get they harp on the facts that there are no jobs. The lacking intelligence and integrity Republicans have no common sense at all. And, they'll block every attempt Obama has made for increasing jobs because his failure is more important than our country.
Obama/Biden 2012
The most important sentence in Romney's speech: Our government has a moral commitment to help every American help himself... And that commitment has been broken.
And yet, Romney and every other Republican wants to eliminate all the programs that do exactly that and more cuts to the size of federal and state governments - in other words - jobs!
Keep seekingsanity, since your post proves you havent found it yet.
Bob in VA - I keep seeking sanity in the GOP but as you continue to prove - none exists!
Obama/Biden 2012
No, Bob in VA, what has failed is the GOP's 30-years of trickle down that never trickled down. It is not Government's fault that the poor are poor, that the middle class is shrinking--it is Republican Policy that has failed and it began with Ronald Reagan. What has failed is 30 years of republican demonization of government, taxes, unions and pitting one segment of Americans against another whether it is rich vs poor or union vs nonunion. Obviously, Bob VP McDonnell bought everything he was sold. It is easy to check what I've posted here, Bob, just try using Google.
TN - Assuming Bob attended public school (I know, sometimes I wonder if he has a high school diploma) he has received government assistance. If he ever had a mortgage, he received government assistance. If he ever claimed an exemption on his tax return, he received government assistance. He is simply to ignorant to acknowledge all the government assistance he received.
RedDev - he truly doesn't get it. Bob thinks no one assisted him in becoming the moron he is.
Obama/Biden 2012
Aaahhh, SpeekingInsanity has yet another personal attack on a poster calling him a "MORON".
Please tell us all how you get by with all the Code of Honor violations !
jim - the same way you do with your "libtard" comment almost daily. Now do you understand or is that above your level of comprehension?
Jody,
No, Bob in VA, what has failed is the GOP's 30-years of trickle down that never trickled down. It is not Government's
-it is Republican Policy
So democrat's had nothing to do with it, and they are free of all blame?
If I didn't know better, Seeking Sanity, I would say little Jimmy has got a serious crush on you! lmao
Jaysus!
Talk about a leg humper!
Feisty - OOOOOOOH NO!
bOb, how are those revent numbers out of Virginia...you know, the ones that show President Obama over Mittens?
O-U-C-H ouch...that's gotta hurt, right? I mean, with all that probing you seem to support...
In case you missed it:
Oh, and in case you missed it:
So there's that...O-U-C-H ouch!
Aaaahhhh, BIG FEASTY has raised up off her knees and reared her 5'5' frame for all the world to behold ! Are you up to 275 ........ yet ! Remember, all the extra butter, butter, butter popcorn is not good for the "old gal's" hips.
The term "libtard" is a general term that I borrowed from "The Colonel" who used to post here, but it does fit the bill. You libtards and leftards seem to think more government is the answer to everything, but you don't have a damn clue as to how to pay for it !
SpeekingInsanity makes consistent, direct verbal attacks DIRECTLY aimed at individual posters ..... as you frequently do also. I'll leave the leg-humping to you two who seem to bow down directly in front of Obama. Does Michelle know you have "dirty knees" ?
Fairness, Mr. Romney, means paying workers a living wage instead of paying CEOs multi-millions and asking workers to take pay cuts, benefit cuts and too often no raise because, you know, the economy is slow so employers can't give raises but they can sit on a few trillion cash; they can spend a few million lobbying Congress for breaks they don't need; they can spend a few million donating to campaigns to buy more favors--but they can't afford to give workers a raise. Fairness, Mr. Romney, is not asking teachers, fire fighters and private sector workers to take benefit and pay cuts while not asking the same of the CEOs, the governors, the lawmakers. Fairness, Mr. Romney, is not raiding a company's pension funds to make profits for Bain investors while bankrupting the businesses, leaving the Government to pick up the tab and leaving employees with nothing.
Can't believe this but Speaker John Boehner has given the House more vacation. Now, they just returned from the Memorial Day recess. Here's a thought, Boehner and GOP budget slashers, if legislators were paid by the days they were actually in session, they'd spend more time doing the people's work. It's about time the American people started docking Congress, especially the House, for the days they don't work. Afterall, ordinary workers only get so many sick days (if they get any), so many vacation days (if they're lucky) so why not put Congress on the same type of private sector rules. The GOP loves the private sector so much, let's give private sector employee rules a try for Congress.
What we should have learned over the last half century is that growth doesn’t trickle down from the top. It percolates upward from working people who are adequately educated, healthy, sufficiently rewarded, and who feel they have a fair chance to make it in America.
Fairness isn’t incompatible with growth. It’s necessary for it.
- Robert Reich
Jody,
I think the less congress is in session is a good thing until we can elect a better leader in November. While liberals decry the current gridlock many Americans prefer it. Compared to the policies and laws Obama has signed since 2008 gridlock has saved this country billions.
I'm looking "FORWARD" to your "The week that was" tommorrow.... :)~
VOTE FOR CHANGE IN 2012!
UAW-
If Romney is "change", I will pass. That would be like changing a dirty diaper (Bush) then putting it back on (Romney). That is not the kind of change we need!
Jody, I always look forward to your "week that was".
Obama 2012!!
TN,
I "HOPE" Obama keeps "reminding" us about the economy he "inherited". That mesage may continue to get applause from liberals but it ran out of steam for the rest of the country shortly after they heard it from him for the 500th time....
We need Romney in charge. He knows how to cut the fat out of the government, rein in the debt, boost growth, and negotiate with antagonistic nations.
I'm also certain that his entire re-election campaign strategy will not consist of putting this nation at risk to boost his ratings
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0612/77158.html
Surprise- the Senate committee investigating these leaks wants a special prosecutor- but Obama the Transparent says, categorically, "no".
It's not like national security is at risk, or anything. . .
UAW--- It's not a campaign slogan, it's what happened to all of us except the rich. Are you really that full of it? I say yes.
Key misleading fact in Romney's speech is talking about job loss over the past 3 and half years. For the numbers to work, Romney needs to hold Obama accountable for the job losses between November 2008 (while his good pal GW was still in charge) and February 2009 (when the President was able to pass part one of his economic program).
Presumably Romney knows from his studies in economics, most economists would start counting Obama's responsibility for the shape of the economy no sooner than the April 2009 or May 2009 numbers to give some chance for the Obama tax cuts to reach consumers and be spent. However, if you start with the May 2009 numbers -- employment is up by 2 million and unemployment is down by 1.8 million. Even if you go back to January 2009 (the numbers generated just as GW was leaving office), employment is up by 100,000.
[Key misleading fact in Romney's speech is talking about job loss over the past 3 and half years. For the numbers to work, Romney needs to hold Obama accountable for the job losses between November 2008 (while his good pal GW was still in charge) and February 2009 (when the President was able to pass part one of his economic program).]
Ahhh Tmess, and therein lies the kicker...Romney spins the numbers, and *POOF* they become "truth". Romney is not dumb by any stretch of the imagination...he knows EXACTLY what he is doing, and by conveniently leaving out key bits and pieces of the puzzle, he magically "achieves" his goal.
Romney = weasel.
The wisconsin re-call turned out to be a disaster for the left. The Dems should have never opened up this proverbial can of worms.
That sounds like class envy to me - I thought you Republicans were against that sort of thing?
I'm not sure how you derived class envy out of my statement tnsevol. And I'm not a republican.
GermanGem, then we can safely say that Ohio Gov Kasich opened a big can of worms when he passed union busting legislation only to have the People of Ohio overturn it by labor obtaining petition signatures for a Referendum for the people to vote and guess what on election day 2011, Kasich lost and Labor won or does your logic only apply when it suits your narrative?
the tide is turning Jody, the democrat initiated wisconsin re-call started the turn, if you want to say Kasich was the 1st to open the can of worms thats fine
GermanGem - WI is one state and, come November, Obama will carry WI. This is not a cyclone taking over the country - one state. If you're pinning your hopes on what happened in WI - you're going to be sorely disappointed. Actually, you're going to be sorely disappointed anyway.
Obama/Biden 2012
What is a real shocker is two of the biggest Cities in California, San Jose and San Diego, have backed sweeping pension reform plans, passing both measures by two-to-one margins on Tuesday.
I don't know if I would call it sweeping, but I would say its something to ponder.
No SS, it doesn't matter to me who wins, I will have the same life of leisure either way.
If you guys disagree with me about the impact that the re-call election had thats fine. If we all thought the same thing these discussions would be boring.
I think it is interesting that they ran the same guy against walker that lost in 2010 and he looses again by the same margin....go figure. Why would they do the same thing twice and expect a different outcome?
BTW G.G., du bist hübsch!
The so-called "free market" sounds good in theory, especially when classic "supply and demand curves" are trotted out in the proverbial "Economics 101".
BUT, the classic supply and demand curves work ONLY when there are (1) a large number of individuals acting as small producers (sellers), (2) a large number of individuals acting as consumers (buyers), (3) a "product" (or "service") that is well-understood by both the producers and consumers, (5) open and honest dealing, and (6) a legal system that not only enforces "contracts" but also enforces open and honest dealing.
These conditions characterized simple agrarian societies 300 years ago with populations in the 6 or 7 digits. But they no longer characterize modern industrial and technological societies with populations in the 8 and 9 digits.
In the modern world, in all too many situations, the conditions for the classic supply and demand of the classic free market simply do not hold up.
In many cases, the "market" is either distorted or rigged. In many cases, fraud or "bait and switch" are the norm in sales pitches. The classic "common law" legal system, in the absence of regulations, all too often permits fraud and bait and switch.
Furthermore, the size and scope of the modern economy and technology makes it nearly impossible for individuals acting alone to function in the modern economy. This is especially the case with sellers (producers). In order to facilitate the modern economy and technology, individuals need to act together, collectively, in some kind of organization. Corporations can function as a kind of collective action. HOWEVER, the legal system has allowed the individuals within a corporation -- and in particular, the top management of the corporation -- to operate in a way that diffuses responsibility so that they no longer bear any serious personal responsibility, and nor longer suffer serious personal liability, for the consequences of their mistakes and wrongful actions.
Your posts should be sold as a cure for insomnia. What a pantload of useless babbling. Almost as fact-free as a Feisty post.
TomPaine76,
You forgot to put the word Socialist in Economics 101. Too much writing to come to the conclusion that you don't like Capitalism.
TomPaine - "what a pantload of useless babbling." Translated - you made a good post and Bob can't refute a word of it so he'll resort to his babbling!
Absolutely no sanity in the GOP - as Bob and Concern Citizen prove daily!
Obama/Biden 2012
Hi Insanity: Do you read the posts, I just said the same thing as you about TomPaine76. I mentioned to Jody about keeping it civil. So as they say in Spanish, "Interpreta mi silencio" girlfriend.
Concern - mea culpa - I just saw the word "socialism" and mis-read!
Earlier this week, Mitt Romney went off script and said he thinks President Obama should restructure the entire US economic system. Now, I'm assuming that Romney plans to do so if Obama doesn't. Who knew Romney was a secret communist--communism was a complete restructure of an economic system. Now, to my knowledge, no press person or audience member asked Romney exactly what he had in mind but they should have.
We don't need a complete restructure of our capitalist system, we just need to tweak it so that Wall Street and big and powerful businesses don't get all the breaks; we need to level the playing field for everyone. We need to send lobbyists packing, we need to restructure campaign financing so that mega-rich folks and businesses are not buying elections and aren't buying favors from lawmakers. We just need to fix what isn't working. We need to toss out the thousands of pages of tax codes and start from scratch. We need to make it illegal for citizens and businesses to stash their cash in Switzerland and the Cayman Islands. Now there are probably plenty of other ideas out there beyond mine but despite the right-wing claims that liberals are communists, I object to Romney's idea. It seems to me that most of us, both right and left, have more and better solutions than some folks in Congress also both right and left.
This is the United States. It cannot ever be illegal to put cash in any country of your choice- but it IS illegal to do so and avoid paying taxes on that money.
The only reason you know Romney had money in both Switzerland and the Caymans was because he declared it on his tax returns, and paid the appropriate taxes- so your argument falls flat.
Like the rest of your argument. Nobody believes that Romney is a Socialist, Communist, or any other "ist"- other than capitalist. Good luck, though, with that particular line. You might be able to convince a few of the tree house kids to vote Romney- albeit under false pretenses.
I notice you are silent on the subject of the security leaks. I also notice AM is completely absent following Walker's re-election. What is it with liberals and facts that belie their belief systems? Do you think if you just ignore things, they go away?
Jody, Your concept of merely tossing away decades of tax code and related changes merely shows how truly naive you are ! Part of the reason tax law is confusing now is because tax codes have been "political footballs" way to long and every (dumbass) politician thinks he can waive a magic wand for all problens to ... POOF !.... go away.
Congress needs to make minor adjustments to existing tax codes, but that does not mean throwing out the baby with the bathwater ! That is irresponsible and short-sighted.
Certified Public Accountants and true tax lawyers could provide some positive changes, but as long as Obama changes tax rules through Obamacare (oh yes, he did whether you care to admit it or not), then problems will always appear.
Getting control of government expenditures and entitlement programs is far more beneficial than kicking the political football once again !
Its so funny to see SpeekingInsanity try to attack another poster ... only to realize he is on her side. Venomous attacks become habits don't they girl ?
There you go again with your bull@!$%# Snookie-Joe!
Anna Molly has been absent for a couple of weeks & it has nothing to do with Walkers win.
Then again, you already know this, but it doesn't stop your innuendo now does it?
In your case - that would be a BIG hell yeah!
jim - no it was the tossing out of the "socialist" word which the far right does with such regularity that it is automatic to assume it is being used stupidly - as usual.
And as you continue to prove - no sanity at all in the GOP!
damn gremlins.....
I go with Free Market any time.
It has been proven to work all over the World. Did you know that in Cuba the Government after 50 years is allowing citizens to open there on Businesses right from their homes steps. It is giving people a means to survive and of course they have to give a percentage to the government.
Do you guys know the story of the Pilgrims? Did you know that coming from England with a Socialist mindset and shortly after they landed in the US they started a commune where every one had the same amount of land. This might sound stupid to you but after a few years of this type of commune some of the people did not grow enough to eat, not because they could not, but just because they knew that their neighbor would take care of them in the winter.
The communes where dissolved and this was the start of Capitalism. They would still help their neighbors that really and truly needed the help.
Any type of Government that tries to control it's citizen, business, religions, etc, always fails.
Look at the History of the Pilgrims and you will find all the details, I only summarized it.
You are SO full of it "concern": Quit posting the Rush Limbaugh, David Barton, Glenn Beck nonsense about the history of this country. I realize that you are NOT the most erudite person in the world, but Jaysus, an eight year old could do better.
Plimouth was a Contracted Company. It was not socialism, and trust me, you don't even know what the word means. They agreed to hold property in common for that first year to expedite profits. Keep in mind that a lot of the people had died, both on the voyage and during that first winter.
Quoting Richard Pickering; deputy director of Plimouth Plantation, historical farm: "It was directed ultimately to private profit."
And from Karen Ordahl Kuperman, historian, NYU: "To call it socialism is wildly inaccurate. It was a Contracted Company, and everyone worked for that company. I mean, is Halliburton a socialist scheme?"
For heaven's sake, quit embarrassing yourself, turn off the radio and TV and read a BOOK!
NDD, well done!
One of the big grocery store chains is employee owned, guess that means that Hy-Vee is socialist. My water and electric company is publically owned--we the citizens own it--guess that must be socialism, too. Fire and police departments are socialism as is garbage collection, snow removal, road repairs and public education. Churches are a form of socialism--everybody pitching in money to pay the preacher, build the church, etc. We're all socialists, Concern Citizen, in one way or another. There is a big difference between good socialism and bad socialism.
Now if we could just educate the right that the "Free Market System" does not mean an unfettered market.
It's true, Jody. This is the Rush Limbaugh revisionist history speaking. At least we now know who "concern" listens too, and why she is so far off the mark.
Exlax ETCH-A-SKETCH'S idea of "FREE ENTERPRISE" = 99% of all money to the corrupt Republican corporate MONARCHY & 1% of all money to THEIR SLAVES, the 99% American People! And, this jerk wants to be our leader! What a joke!
99% American People, vote 100% STRAIGHT DEMOCRATIC and let's rid ourselves of these corrupt Republican "HAND-PICKED" political puppets that are only concerned about their CAPITALISTIC GREED of which THERE IS ZERO GOVERNMENTAL CONTROL over their CORRUPTION! Because the 99% American People don't get to SELECT WHO THEY WANT TO RUN FOR OFFICE! And look at the garbage they gave us to vote on!! Etch-A-SKETCH IS SO OUT OF TOUCH WITH REALITY, he hasn't a clue of what the 99% American People want & NEED!!!
Nothing is free. There will always be some price to pay. It could be a lousy environment, it could be poverty for a majority of citizens, many things could result in free for one and not for all. Robber barons and vulture capitalists can be free to run amok at the lack of freedom of others.
How things have changed in Missouri! From 1938 - 1976, it was legal to kill Mormons. Guess some of you liberals are really missing the old days.
Bill - we don't want Mitt dead, we just want him gone! Surely the Mormons can send him on another mission somewhere. Oh that's right - nowhere else wants him either!
I'm guessing Romney was too busy cutting hair the day they covered the Gilded Age in history class. Free enterprise is a myth. He who has power wields it. He who has the information hides it. Romney remembers too little of his missionary days. The vast majority of people do not choose poverty or unemployment (or disability for that matter). They aren't choosing government dependence, and they haven't been made lazy and stupid by government. But it does become disabling when you have to work part time retail jobs for stints of 6 months because the economy goes up and down. It does become disabling when your factory job pays $10/hr and never more, and when they close you don't get so much as a "we're sorry." The GOP's view of the world is that if people are cut off from UE and other benefits, they will take whatever job is available for whatever pay is offered. Get a clue, people are doing that already. We don't have high unemployment because we have too many poor, lazy (immoral) people. We have unemployment because we have too few jobs. And we have no consumer demand because we have too few good paying jobs because the CEOs compensate themselves and not their workers.
Romney's speech is really bothering me. Claims of morality coming from a Republican have always bothered me. Goes back to Nixon. But isn't this brand of the GOP simply warmed over Mr. Potter from Its' A Wonderful Life? We're being told we don't work hard enough to merit the nicer things, and it's the government's fault, because they've made us soft. How dare he!
Nothing but lies come out of Romney mouth
First he for the War, then hes against it, first he wants to serve then noway
Has his kids served a day in the military Hell no
Yet he would send others kids to war in Iran
What a liar and hypocrite and Republican want this guy, oh that's right Romney is their puppet he will do anything and saying anything to get in the White House
Once their he wil doing the bidding of the Koch Brothers, Carl Rove, Dick Army No longer will we be free to vote,
the only good thing all those middle Class Republicans will be right their with the Middle Class Democrats working to pay for all those tax cuts for the 1%, Big Oil, Defence Contractors, Bankers, Wall Street
Only Romney and the Very Rich will be paying no Taxes
Mitt Romney, “being such a patriot and all”, banks a very large
portion of his investment funds in foreign bank accounts (Cayman Islands). Ever wonder why? Here are some of our biggest problems with
tax evasion by those who do this:
-Tax evaders may attempt to hide income by selling
assets to a foreign business the tax evader owns, depositing their investments
in an offshore bank, for example, to avoid paying income taxes. According to the Internal Revenue Service,
the main method of tax evasion involves a person fraudulently claiming that a
foreign entity owns the account in question when it is actually owned by a U.S.
citizen.
-Paying rent or fees to an offshore business is
another technique used by U.S. tax evaders.
-Some offshore banks have signed withholding
agreements with the United States where the foreign bank has agreed to either
provide United States officials with the names of American depositors, or
withhold 28 percent of deposits controlled by American depositors, which is
lower than the maximum U.S. income tax rate of 35%, for
those making over $388.350.00 dollars.
Source: (http://www.ehow.com/list_6884173_off-shore-banking-laws.html)
Source: (http://www.moneychimp.com/features/tax_brackets.htm)
Deception is engrained in Mitt Romney's character............READ ON..............
In 1998, Value Partners, a management consulting firm
based in Milan, filed a lawsuit in U.S. federal court against Bain & Co.
for unlawfully causing members of Value Partners Sao Paolo office to enter into
a conspiracy with Bain to take over Value Partners. They were accused of
intentionally causing partners of Value Partners to breach their duties;
misappropriated Value Partners' confidential and proprietary information,
including concerning Value Partners' methods of analysis, clients and
prospective clients; engaged in unfair methods of competition and unfair or
deceptive acts or practices. Following a
four-week trial, the jury found Bain & Company liable for unfair
competition and tortious interference under Brazilian law. During the same time period, Mitt Romney was
a partner in Bain & Co., with Romney leaving them in February 1999 after
nine years with Bain & Company. Anyone wonder if Mitt Romney had something to
do with it? Why did he leave Bain &
Co. so soon after the lawsuit? Someone
needs to dig deeper into this to determine if Mitt Romney had a hand in it. Deception is not something the American people
value.
Source:
(http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Value+Partners+Files+Suit+Against+Bain+%26+Company+for+Theft+of...-a021047017)
Source: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bain_%26_Company)
Source: (http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Bain_Capital)
Excellent speech! Romney succinctly characterizes the primary flaw in Obama's social philosophy: When you steal money from the many in a futile attempt to help the few, ... everyone loses!
The middle class and poor are many, the 1% are few. The Ryan budget steals money and gives it to the rich. That is republican anti-social policy. Besides, don't the taxes of the rich mostly go to blowing up people in other countries, not to helping Americans survive?
Here's to Romney and enterprise free to rape the entire economy again.
Wonder why he didn't visit any schools while he was here?