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Subscribe to RSSWhen world affairs (in Greece, Egypt, and in Mexico) meet American politics… Obama’s immigration announcement and the power of the bully pulpit… The GOP’s big immigration mistake: Why did it wait so long?... Romney still not filling in the blanks on what he would do as president… Romney’s bus tour, on its fourth day, goes through Wisconsin and Iowa… Sheldon Adelson shelling out millions more… And the Romney horse goes for the gold.
*** When world affairs meet American politics: The past weekend was a rare couple of days when world events influenced domestic American politics. For starters, the Obama White House breathed a sigh of relief when the Greek political party that supports a bailout for the country and remaining in the euro zone narrowly won in elections yesterday, giving observers some optimism about the situation in Europe. But for every step forward there, there are often two steps back. And as if on cue, world stock markets -- which had welcomed the outcome at the start of the day -- have since turned south.) In addition, the events in Egypt are something that could turn into a bigger political story here, especially given the role President Obama played in the transfer of power there in early 2011. The Washington Post: “Egypt’s military leaders issued a constitutional decree Sunday that gave the armed forces sweeping powers and degraded the presidency to a subservient role, as the Muslim Brotherhood declared that its candidate had won the country’s presidential runoff election.” And today at the G20 summit in Mexico, Obama meets with Russia’s Putin, and the situation in Syria will obviously be an issue. Quick reminder: This is the president’s final SCHEDULED international trip before November.
The Daily Rundown's Chuck Todd explains which issues will dominate the summit during the next two days.
*** Obama’s immigration announcement and the bully pulpit: After his worst three political weeks of the year, Friday was a reminder why the bully pulpit matters -- and why an incumbent president has so many powers at his disposal: Obama changed the subject immediately. His announcement that the administration would no longer deport young illegal immigrants who have graduated from high school, served in the military, and have a clean criminal record clearly put Mitt Romney on the defensive over the weekend. In fact, after previously saying he’d veto the DREAM Act and using immigration as a political weapon in the GOP primaries (remember him blasting Rick Perry for supporting the so-called Texas DREAM Act?), Romney declined to say if he would overturn the policy if elected president in his interview on CBS. And he charged Obama for playing politics on the issue. Don’t forget: If one side is accusing the other of playing politics, they’ve typically lost the argument. Three good days -- the immigration announcement and the Greek vote -- don’t make up for three bad weeks. But Plouffe and company would call it a start.
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is harshly criticizing President Obama's decision to stop deporting young illegal immigrants, while Obama is in Los Cabos, Mexico, to attend the G20 summit. NBC's Chuck Todd reports.
*** The GOP’s big immigration mistake: Regarding this immigration story, Romney and Republicans have to be asking themselves this question: Why did they wait so long in trying to craft an alternative that could woo Latino voters? Make no mistake, Marco Rubio’s DREAM Act alternative could have been a get-out-of-jail card with this voting bloc. But Republicans, including Romney, never grabbed on to it, and Rubio never even drafted actual legislation. It was a trial balloon, it seems, that crashed and burned with the GOP base. Romney said this in his interview on CBS: “If [Obama] felt seriously about this [issue] he should have taken action when he had a Democrat House and Senate, but he didn’t. He saves these sort of things until four and a half months before the general election.” But the same thing applies to Romney and the GOP: They should have taken action on a DREAM Act alternative that could have Etch A Sketch-ed away the Republican Party’s rhetoric on immigration, including Romney’s. But they didn’t. (Had the GOP rallied around Rubio’s alternative and had Senate Dems killed it, well, then their charge over the weekend of “politics” would be taken more seriously.) By the way, the Romney camp is up with a new Spanish-language TV ad, but it’s simply another ad that’s just translated into Spanish (the one hitting Obama on the “the private sector is doing fine”).
*** Still not filling in the blanks: Here’s a final observation we had after watching Romney on CBS yesterday: If he’s not attacking Obama on the economy, the former Massachusetts governor doesn’t perform as well. Indeed, not only did he struggle in answering the questions on immigration -- Will he overturn Obama’s action? Does he support Rubio’s proposal? He never really said -- Romney was unable to identify a single loophole he’d close to pay for his additional tax cuts. CBS’s BOB SCHIEFFER: “Which of the deductions are you going to be willing to eliminate?... When are you going to be able to tell us that?” ROMNEY: “We’ll go through that process with Congress.” Bottom line: We’re nearly four months away from Election Day, and the GOP’s presumptive presidential nominee can’t say how he’d act on a new immigration policy, or which tax loopholes he’d close to pay for his tax cuts. Romney’s camp has decide how to go forward on this issue of allowing his stances remain vague. On one hand, when he’s only attacking Obama’s record, he does well; it’s the “referendum” argument. But when he’s talking about his plans (or avoiding it), he provides the Obama folks with “choice” fodder. It explains why Romney has been careful about his media interviews but doesn’t it argue for Romney to spend more time filling in the blanks so that he can get over the “choice” hump?
*** On the trail: Romney is on the fourth day of his bus tour, which today takes him through Wisconsin and Iowa. At 10:00 am ET, he hits Janesville, WI (along with Gov. Scott Walker and Rep. Paul Ryan). Then he holds events in Dubuque, IA (at 2:30 pm ET) and Davenport, IA (6:10 pm ET).
*** More millions for Adelson: We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: The biggest story this election season could very well be the outside groups and money influencing the major races. And after learning the casino mogul Sheldon Adelson and his wife will give $10 million to the pro-Romney Super PAC, the New York Times writes that the Adelsons also plan to give millions more to GOP-leaning groups like Crossroads GPS and the Koch Brothers’ Americans for Prosperity. “Mr. Adelson, whose net worth approaches $25 billion, has suggested that he is willing to spend up to $100 million to defeat Mr. Obama and elect Republicans this year. ‘He’s fully committed to beating Barack Obama,’ said Fred S. Zeidman, a Texas energy executive and a friend of Mr. Adelson’s. ‘We think ‘$100 million, wow!’ But it’s a meaningless amount of money to him.’” Wow indeed…
*** Going for the gold: Lastly, we learned over the weekend that the horse that the Romneys own will compete in the Olympics. “Jan Ebeling, Mrs. Romney’s longtime riding tutor, and his horse Rafalca, co-owned by Mrs. Romney, earned a berth on the United States Olympic dressage team on Saturday,” the Times says. When CBS’s Schieffer asked Romney about the horse and its competition in the Olympics, Romney said: “Yes, it's the sport of dressage, not many people are familiar with it. But something for which [Ann Romney] has a passion and frankly, her getting back on a horse after she was diagnosed with MS, was able-- she is convinced to help her regenerate her strength and renew that-- that vigor. And so she cares very deeply about-- about this sport and about-- and about horses. She's-- she's a real-- I-- I joke that I'm going to have to send her to Betty Ford for addiction to horses.”
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There were plenty of apathetic headlines over the week-end on Willard’s lack of a substance for his long term immigration solution.
I kept wondering why one of these so called professional journalists just didn’t ask him WHY he doesn’t tell the GNOP to support the Dream Act?
Talk about getting a free press pass!
Running out the clock indeed…
Any bets how long it will be before Rubio yanks his version now that President Obama supports it?
Today's GNOP - NO new ideas, NO new thoughts & NO chance of winning in November!
PS: When is NBC going to change the Name of Meet the Press to Meet the Republicans?
Between A Rock and A Hard Place:
On "Face the Nation" CBS journalist Bob Schieffer interviewed Willard Romney and asked if Romney would repeal President Obama's directive to end deportation for some young undocumented immigrants.
Schieffer was persistent and asked the question three times. The first time Willard simply ignored the question by responding with gibberish. The second time Schieffer asked, Romney indicated it would be a non-issue because he would get a long-term solution by passing legislation. Evidently Romney failed to remember that Bush 43 was unable to pass such legislation because Tea Party Republicans would not support the bill.
Scheiffer again asked the question, "Would you repeal the President's directive to end deportation for some young undocumented immigrants?" This time Willard indicated he would consider repealing the directive.
So why can't Willard take a position and be for or against an issue? Is it a lack of moral conviction? Or could it be that when it comes to deciding to earn the Hispanic vote or keep the conservative vote, the decision is simply too hard to make, so he waffles and makes no decision at all. This is not the sign of a leader with convictions who knows the difference between right and wrong.
But the country needs to realize that Romney will always come down on the side of big business and big money. That's just who Willard Romney is.
Why was it OK when Bush and Reagan did it? I mean they opened the floodgates to immigrants in the U.S. to provide cheap labor for their campaign financiers.
Get a president with a "D" next to his name, and suddenly, immigrants are "illegals".
Why the change, GOP?
I just don't care about the lame excuses that people offer to justify why the money I earned working should subsidize their deadbeat lifestyles. -Kurt Schlichter
Kudos to the Greeks for voting to continue auterity measures proving that at least half of their population gets it; you cannot put an end to a DEBT crisis with continued spending.
While this crisis has only been temporariliy averted since the New Democracy party will need to put together a coalition government to implement it's policies, it will be a victory for conservatism here in the U.S. regardless of the ultimate outcome. If the austerity measures are upheld, that would be a clear repudiation of the same policies that Obama and the liberals here are advocating. If they should fail, people will see first-hand the future that awaits them should we continue down this path.
So after weekend to reflect, how does the President's executive order really change things? It struck me that it's very similar to his evolution on Gay Marriage. I support you but in practical terms I'm doing nothing for you.
Consider, if a DREAMer lives with their parents will the parents be deported when the child applies for a work permit? Will they take that chance? Will an employer hire an potential employee with a two-year visa at a time there is 8.2% unemployment. If a DREAMer applies to college do they use their "new" status or use the false documents they have been relying on? Is it a crime to use false documents?
So, once the euphoria is over like the Gay Marriage pronouncement, what really has changed?
From a political point of view I see little upside. The President already has much of the Latino vote and there is little upside in that demographic. However, for the parents of legal citizens who already see their kids struggling to get a job after high school or college, the blue collar Democrats, there is only downside for the President. I also don't see how this helps with independents. I think this will become an enormous political blunder in the Rust Belt states.
I was glad to see Willard finally do an interview. However, it didn't go well for him. Willard just loves to play Dodge Ball.
Reagan signed an amnesty that was supposed to stop illegal immigration once and for all. It didn't and now it is considered a mistake which is why so many are against a second amnesty.
As to Bush I'm not sure what you are referring to.
Going for the GOLD alright!
Check this out;
For those on the right who maybe mathematically challenged - Willard & his wife WROTE OFF almost TWICE the amount of the average American families yearly income!
Uh Huh... Willard sure can relate to the little guy... lol
Wrong again carrot top! The top stories were about obama's penchant for circumventing the Constittution for his own purposes! Congress is only to be used as a whipping board to transfer the blame for HIS failed policies. I thing your boy likes using Executive orders more than picking his nose!It's only a few trolls like you that eat what barry servers! The rest of the country and world know better now... it just took most of them over 3 years to figure it out!
Two comments I saw over at HP:
For the Record....Republican Bills introduced into Congress since 2010
44 Bills..........on Abortion
99 Bills..........on Religion
71 Bills .........on Family Relationships
36 Bills..........on Marriage
67 Bills..........on Firearms/Gun Control
522 Bills........on Lowering Corporate Tax
445 Bills........on Government Investigations
*********
Romney doesn't want to tell me what he'll do about immigration?
Fine. I'll just review what I ALREADY KNOW about him ...
-- is against a woman's right to choose
-- is for the death penalty
-- avoided the draft while "supporting" the Vietnam war
-- has five sons who also never served but says he "supports" the Iraq & Afghanistan wars
-- bullied (to the point of assault) one of his schoolmates
-- dressed up in police uniforms to harass motorists
-- treated his own dog inhumanely
-- is against regulations to keep natural resources safe
-- will cut public assistance for the old and very poor
-- will cut public education
-- will cut police services
-- will cut fire services
-- will cut (Ben Franklin's) public libraries
-- will put profit in formerly public services
-- will bust unions
-- will cut taxes for the wealthiest 1%
-- hoards his money in offshore bank accounts
-- refuses to reveal his tax returns
-- is against regulations to keep Wall Street honest
-- made thousands of Americans jobless and homeless with Bain Capital
-- can't stop talking about his friends who own things
-- can't relate to ordinary people
-- has corporations for friends!
-- owns five homes (the 6th in Canada is co-owned with brothers)
-- won't tell us what he really stands for
___________
And this quote I saw over at DailyKos:
John Kenneth Galbraith wrote in 1977
"People of privilege will always risk their complete destruction rather than surrender any material part of their advantage. Intellectual myopia, often called stupidity, is no doubt a reason. But the privileged also feel that their privileges, however egregious they may seem to others, are a solemn, basic, God-given right. The sensitivity of the poor to injustice is a trivial thing compared with that of the rich." from The Age of Uncertainty.
**************
And you know what Republican kiss ups say - we're just jealous of their money. So simple, so wrong. And these GOP supporters help no one, especially themselves, by voting in these bastards.
************
Feisty, you have to give up on MTP. They are enthralled with the republicans, who are destroying our democracy. David Gregory actually believes what he is being told. Yet all the evidence is there that they can't govern, nor do they want to govern.
Just curious, did David bring up voter suppression?
Nope!
He was to enthralled with John McCain!
You should of seen the two of them yucking it up.... BLECH!
Feisty, Ron, GOPisExtinct--well said. Romney isn't just a flip flopper extraordinaire, he is a perpetual liar as well as fence sitter, just sit and decide which side to step off only when forced and if not forced, he sits there. Hardly the kind of "decision" maker needed to be President if he cannot decide what he believes and is unwilling to tell voters what he believes because taking a position might offend his base or offend voters he needs outside his base. No wonder Jon Huntsman called him a "well-oiled weather vane." It is still beyond me how republicans could even accept him as their nominee, they know nothing about what he believes.
Pat, Boston, well said and terrific information. Thanks for posting those GOP "jobs" bills, now turning off the sarcasm button again.
Poor Rodney King. When I heard that he had drowned, my first thought was that maybe he had gone for a car ride with a drunken Kennedy and had been callously left to die in a pond. But, it turns out he was in his pool. Drunk and high as a kite. Just as He was the night he, a carrer criminal and paroled armed robber, led police on a long, high-speed chase through residential areas, refused to pull over, and when finally doing so, refused to obey police commands.
Of course, to the liberal media he was an innocent "black motorist" who was "pulled over". Just as Trayvon Martin was a "doe eyed little boy with a pack of Skittles". The liberal media was twisting things to fit their own narrative even way back then, folks.
Screw Rodney King. He was a dirtbag. If some criminal, drunk and high, led police on a chase through MY neighborhood the wway he did, endangering my family and countless others, I'd be pissed if the cops DIDN'T beat his ass. Good riddance to one less Obama voter.
Barry Kardashian
Just more deflection by the Redhead. When you have nothing going for you, cloud the playing field.
I agree with Alan - if the kids can stay because their parents broke the law, can we get rid of the parents instead?? This whole thing looks like something it isn't and is just more pandering and BS on behalf of the BSer in Chief. As the libs love to say - all hat and no cattle.
Feisty:
I agree with Pat, give up on David Gregory. He is such a loser. Now Bob Scheiffer on "Face the Nation", IMHO, he is the closest thing we have to Walter Cronkite.
The reason Romney cannot answer any questions or give specifics on his economic plans/policies is because the whole thing is cockamamie. His math doesn't add up. That's a fact.
no one voted for austerity, they voted to remain in the euro. their unemployment is 20%+, austerity doesnt work, it just makes matters worse.
secondly, just because they won the vote doesnt mean a government will be formed. there is great civil unrest in greece from this austerity guise and it is ready to explode.
canada is steaming along due to its tough regulations not austerity. the us is growing slowly but growing and the only austerity programs holding the growth down are those in place by state and local govs, which is a historic first for recession times. yes, it is the lack of public employees which are slowing this economy down.
kurt schlichter is a fool and a typical 1%er. he and everyone must pay their fair share, it's not only patriotic, but it must take place FOR ANY GOVERNMENT TO SURVIVE.
Oh dear, another bad week in the makings for President Obama.
People are beginning to understand that the Executive Order from the President is for only two years. My first question is WHY only two years? I would assume that is why Romney is talking about a permanent fix to this problem. No matter how you spin it Romney is getting up front, however he needs to put his taxes out there. I guess he is playing the Birther game that the President played.
How would you be able to tell for how long a teenager has been residing in the US.
@Pat Boston MA
So how well do you relate to John Kerry? Did you understand his need to avoid MA tax on his multi-million dollar boat? Do you understand that he, and the other 1%'s, don't want those windmill eye-sores spoiling their view? I'm sure you can relate to his multiple houses dotted around the country. But of course you have no problem voting this 1% in along with his old friend Ted, who was so egotistical that he would not give up his Senate seat although he could not vote to break the filibuster. How did you phrase it again?
"People of privilege will always risk their complete destruction rather than surrender any material part of their advantage."
http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl_kerry_homes.htm
BTW seem Kerry's boat wasn't even built here.
http://bostonherald.com/track/inside_track/view/20100723senator_skipper_skips_town_on_sails_tax
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-04-15/obama-wind-farm-goals-threatened-by-indian-rites-kennedy-s-parting-wish.html
...he and everyone must pay their fair share, it's not only patriotic, but it must take place FOR ANY GOVERNMENT TO SURVIVE.
This must be one of the "lame excuses" Schlichter was referring to.
Another post from the weekend:
The choice is this simple
Republicans thought of the day " What can I do today to better myself and provide more for me regardless what I do , who I hurt or what the outcomes to any one else or the planet will be. What counts is that I did it for myself by myself and I GOT"
DEMOCRATS thought of the day " What can I do today to better mankind as a whole while I better myself, being conscious of the outcomes of my actions on those around me and the planet. What counts in the end is that I got what I want, while enabling others to have the opportunity to do the same"
"If I had a brother, he'd look just like Rodney King"- Barack HUSSEIN Obama
Concerned Citizen, you want something more permanent?
Tell the freakin' GOP to pass The DREAM Act.
Or just whine and do nothing, like all of you do.
For your information, Romney said he would kill the The DREAM Act if it passed during the Obama Administration.
He's a liar to say he wants something more permanent.
Alan, NJ
So after weekend to reflect, how does the President's executive order really change things? It struck me that it's very similar to his evolution on Gay Marriage. I support you but in practical terms I'm doing nothing for you.
UMmmmm, Alan,
You little T-bagger it's not an executive order. Stop listening to right wing hate radio and Fux News. You'll get a new lie every time. This list is current to June 14, 2012
President Obama has signed 128 Executive Orders to date during his Administration. Includes a Free Download of the Official Executive Orders as they become available. This list was originally started here on the 1461 on January 25 2009.
http://1461days.blogspot.com/2009/01/current-list-of-president-obamas.html
Damage123
"If I had a brother, he'd look just like Rodney King"- Barack HUSSEIN Obama
Brain Damage123, enough with the racism.
Respect!!!
FYI: Rodney King suffered from police abuse of being assaulted to his head. What's your excuse?
I hate to point something like this at this time. But, you need to be corrected.
Where did the black man touch you Damage? Because you have a very unhealthy obsession with skin color.
Karl Rove is not a Christian. He just exploits them. The same can be said for every single GOP pundit/preacher/pastor/Bishop/Christian candidate we see on tv. Beware of those who go on tv preaching. They're full of ****.
Like the communists, they don't even believe in religion. They just use it to exploit those who do believe and they have been quite successful at exploiting YOU. Right here in the United States of America.
If they truly truly cared about people, they would not use such divisive language against others. They would not flame the wars of hate. Real Christians are full of love and caring. Fake Christians are full of hate. The likes of Karl Rove and Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity and Bill O'Reilly and Ralph Reed are using Christians so as to line their own pockets and the pockets of the 1% and to grasp at the power rings that they so dearly love to covet.
How Christian Fundamentalism Helped Empower the Top 1% to Exploit the 99%, written by Frank Schaeffer
As the Occupy Wall Street movement spreads across the country and the world, we must bring attention to the enablers of the top 1 percent exploiting the 99. Fundamentalist religion made this exploitation possible. Evangelical fundamentalism helped empower the top 1 percent. Note I didn't say religion per se, but religious fundamentalism.
Why? Because without the fundamentalists and their "values" issues, many in the lower 99 percent could not have been convinced to vote against their (our) economic self-interest; in other words, vote for Republicans who only serve billionaires.
Wall Street is a great target for long-overdue protest, but so are the centers of religious power that are the gatekeepers of Republican Party "values" voters that make the continuing economic exploitation possible.
Fundamentalist religion -- evangelical and Roman Catholic alike -- has delegitimized the US government and thus undercut its ability to tax, spend and regulate.
The fundamentalists have replaced economic and political justice with a bogus (and hate-driven) "morality" litmus tests of spurious red herring "issues" from abortion to school prayer and gay rights. The result has been that the masses of lower middle-class and poor Americans who should be voting for Democrats and thus their own economic interests, have been persuaded to vote against their own class and self interest.
This trick of political sleight of hand has been achieved by this process:
Like most evangelical/Roman Catholic fundamentalist movements in history, from the Bay State colonies to the Spanish Inquisition, the American Religious Right of today advocates the fusion of state power and religion through the reestablishment of the "Christian America" idea of "American Exceptionalism" (i.e., a nation "chosen" by God), the form of government adopted by the Puritans' successors during the age of early American colonialism.
Thus the division between "real Americans" and the rest of us is the "saved" and "lost" paradigm of theological correctness applied to politics. Thus President Obama isn't a real American, or even a born American, he's "Other," a Muslim, an outsider, and above all not "one of us."
In other words you're not just wrong, but evil if you disagree with the Elect over abortion, or for that matter peace in the Middle East because you're "not supporting Israel."
"Bring America back to the Bible" is really no more subtle than the claim of the Iranian Mullahs to rule in "God's name" so that Iran too can come back to God. And if you can get Americans to worry about the Bible and not fairness and justice, then you have handed a perpetual victory to Goldman Sachs and company.
How Did We Get Here?
The unstated agreement went like this: Republicans will pander to the Religious Right on the social issues -- abortion, gay rights, prayer in schools, creationism in textbooks, and not so subtly the endorsement of religious schools to help white evangelicals and Roman Catholics avoid integration -- as long as the Religious Right turned a blind eye to the fact that the Republican Party would sell the soul of the country to corporate America, a country-within-a-country where 1 percent of the population have more wealth than the 99 percent.
Deference to religion masquerading as politics must end, now.
*********
Giving money to these mega churches is like giving money to Donald Trump. Don't do it. They don't care about you or America. They only care about themselves and the rich.
I stand corrected if you can point me to the correct definition. However, I do not listen/watch Fux News and there are other outlets that are referring to the decision as an EO.
If this is your best response, the definition of this decision, then you really are grasping at straws.
Good Morning Pat Boston MA. it's nice to see you back. Unfortunately, Republicans are so clueless and greedy they can't think in terms of humanity and spiritual value. Speaking of spirituality, the republican wing nuts think a woman's vagina is it for them.
Somehow, a woman's vagina is the crux of their humanity.
Have a nice day.
Similar to the article yesterday in FR, the people with the deepest pockets are now able to shape , or at least give it a very good try of who will win certain elections. In the article above it states:
“Mr. Adelson, whose net worth approaches $25 billion, has suggested that he is willing to spend up to $100 million to defeat Mr. Obama and elect Republicans this year. ‘He’s fully committed to beating Barack Obama,’ said Fred S. Zeidman, a Texas energy executive and a friend of Mr. Adelson’s. ‘We think ‘$100 million, wow!’ But it’s a meaningless amount of money to him.’”
The Adelsons, Kochs and all other big money donors need to be stopped. This country was not founded on the principal of the wealthiest having control of who is elected. We need to get back to this country being about everybody. The average person is fast becoming a lost voice.
How about you explain how you avoid austerity when the money runs out. How about you explain how you employ more public employees when we can't afford the current ones, and the previous ones?
I also read how the President hoped to pay for the Jobs plan he keeps promoting. In particular I was interested in how he would pay long-term for all those teachers, firefighters and cops he wants to employ. Imagine my surprise when I found out that he wants to tax the rich, those couples earning over $250,000.
How many times can you go to this well to pay for stuff, when we're still running a 1T+ deficit?
@Ruken- Don't be silly. I despise White liberals as much as I do Black liberals.
Pat Boston MA. who writes:
How are you doing Pat. You misspelled the one word only. If Romney is a lier then so is Obama, since he as they say Evolved this issue also.
Get a life my friend, go check how you have spent your weekend.
Romney can't articulate a clear position because he doesn't want to be attacked for it. His campaign is keeping him away from the press, and purposefully vague without details. Romney says he "will craft a long term solution" but doesn't say how.
Romney = the rubber stamp for the Koch/Rove agenda.
Hi Fools Gold aka Mike in Delray aka Crystal aka Mike1969 aka Barry Kardashian aka Damage123 !!!
Just how many logins are you going to create to continue to pump up your post counts or to collapse Democratic posts? It seems there are more each and everyday.
Romney: ‘I’m Running For Office for Pete’s Sake, I Can’t Have Illegals’
By Eric Scheiner
October 19, 2011
Subscribe to Eric Scheiner's posts
(CNSNews.com)- During last night’s Republican presidential debate in Las Vegas, Nev., former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney admitted that a lawn company he had used hired illegal immigrants and that when he found out he told the company it could not have illegal aliens working on his property because he was running for office.
ROMNEY KNOWS ILLEGALS
HEY! You know what Republicans and Democrats have in common?
THEY ARE FAT!
http://vitals.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/06/18/12278587-report-worlds-population-is-17-million-tons-overweight?lite
Hi Beverly, thanks for the shout out. Good to see you as well.
Have you seen all the damage the republicans have done exploiting hard working Americans by using religion?
Imagine, they did all that, while our media slept. And continues to sleep.
Inside the beltway elite don't like President Obama. You want to know why?
He doesn't attend their parties. LoL.
That, out of the lips - or laptop rather - of Sally Quinn, wife of esteemed Washington Post Editor Ben Bradlee.
Alan NJ:
The parents are unlikely to be deported, since the Obama administration is concentrating on deportation of illegal immigrants with serious criminal backgrounds.
Now, why would they use false documents?
A majority of African Americans were opposed to gay marriage before Obama voiced his support for it. Now a majority support it, and some gay-baiting ballot initiatives of the sort that Bush exploited to win in 2004 are likely going to be defeated, which won't be of much help to Romney. That's what's changed.
The Republicans are already trying to stir up resentment against Hispanics "stealing" white people's jobs to divert attention from their own culpability in keeping the jobless rate high with their obstructionist antics in Congress. Maybe it will work. Who knows? Race-baiting can work as well as gay-baiting.
Concerned Citizen, so long as Mitt Romney travels around this country lying, I will be here pointing out his lies.
Enough with these no good Republicans who are exploiting us all, particularly the working class.
Enough.
Feisty -- What was priceless yesterday on Meet the Press was when McCain had to watch the ads he ran against Romney in 2008! In 08, McCain slammed Romney on Bain and on his poor record as Governor of MA. Perhaps the Obama campaign should just rerun those ads and remind people what Republicans thought of Romney in 2008.
LOL, Derek #'s.
Alan,
Was Obama's immigration announcement a executive order or a change in administrative policy ?
Here is a source:
http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2012/images/06/15/s1-exercising-prosecutorial-discretion
I read the acutal letter sent by director of Homeland Security.
You decide for yourself.
I think it is just a change in the prosecutors discretion.
So what you're saying is that Romney did the right thing. And you want to pretend that's somehow wrong. Ok. It's better than Frisco and some of the liberal cities and areas in the nation that declare themselves "Sanctuary Cities" and KNOWINGLY tolerate illegals and even encourage them to come there. Gang members and all apparently. Since you and your lib friends are such supporters of illegal immigration, can't you just ask them to come live with you?
Maybe we can work out a nationwide plan where each state will vote whether or not they WANT illegal aliens there? The states that vote YES can open themselves up to ALL illegals and break off from the USA (afterall, the majority of the people there would be non-US citizens). The states that vote NO can be "illegal alien-free". How bout' it? Ehhhhh, that would get into areas of "states rights" and we all know you libs are against that. You'd rather the whole country suffer for your crap than just a couple states.
Alan NJ:
When public employees are fired, they add to the unemployment lines. They also stop buying things in the private sector like cars, which causes employers to fire more private sector workers as well. Then the tax base shrinks some more, causing the deficit to grow and giving the Republicans more excuses to demand more public sector firings as they cry "where are the jobs?" that they are responsible for destroying. When public sector workers are hired, things have a tendency to go in the opposite direction: private sector workers are rehired, the tax base increases, and the deficit goes down.
And if the spending is done on the right sort of public sector employees, you have more bridges that don't collapse and water mains that don't break and crumbling roads that don't swallow cars whole in gigantic pot holes. I'd think even Republicans would be in favor of that. They can't all get around on private jets.
Romney Lies Again and again and again...
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/06/17/1100802/-Mitt-Romney-Lies-Again-FACT-GOP-Filibustered-Dream-Act-Twice-in-2010
Not only is that false comment: "Two years he had a Democrat House and Senate, did nothing of a permanent or long-term basis." It is the New-GOP False Talking Point.
FACT:
The fact is Republicans in the Senate Filibustered the DREAM Act twice in 2010. So, Mitt is lying when he falsely claims President Obama "did nothing of a permanent or long-term basis."
September 21, 2010: Senate Republicans Filibuster DREAM Act
December 18 2010: Senate Republicans Filibuster DREAM Act
May 2011: Harry Reid re-introduces DREAM Act in the Senate but Republican's vowed to withhold their votes.
Factually speaking, Democrats have introduced the DREAM Act three times since President Obama took office and the GOP have obstructed and filibustered the DREAM Act three times since President Obama took office.
Factually speaking, it is Republicans who have done nothing except Filibuster immigration since President Obama took office.
Feisty,
Do you actually have a job, or are you so pro Obama because of all the handouts you're getting? Seems like all you do is fight for top position on MSNBC posts...
Secondly I see yet another comment about how Romney is "so out of touch" because of his business success. This coming from a guy supporting a candidate hosting 40,000 dollar dinners at the Devil, from "The devil wears prada" movie. The man is rubbing elbows with hollywood elites every night living in movie land, and Romney is out of touch.... Your obsession has let you to lunacy if you can't see the hypocrisy in that. Get a life.
NorthstarDFL
It was not an executive order. The far right is claiming it is only because they want to accuse Obama of flip-flopping on the use of executive orders. which Obama said in 2010 that he couldn't use for the purpose of implementing some DREAM act provisions. Sadly, CNN fell for the conservatives' con job, running the video clip of Obama saying he couldn't use executive orders and then calling it a flip-flop. But they're supposed to be the "unbiased" cable news channel, so they have to post some of the crap they get from the far right on a regular basis, because that proves they're not biased liberally.
No Limit Soldier: Are you not paying attention to what is going on in DC?
Here, let me help you:
If President Obama were to lose in November, the Congressional obstruction, the purposeful destruction of the economy, the voter purging, the war on women, the papers please legislation, the union-busting, the attacks on teachers and firefighters and police, birtherism, the opposition to marriage equality and economic equality and all the rest will have been rewarded, and the pathological lies from Mitt Romney will have been condoned.
**************
This is today's Republican Party. See the bills above I posted?
No where do you see a Jobs Bill. No where.
Nice list of DNC talking points Pat.
I see you can cut and paste, congrats.
Obama has done so well at creating jobs. What is the unemployment at the moment? Yeah, lets let him try for 4 more years. Maybe 1,460 days wasn't enough for him to devise a solution.
I can see the hypocrisy in your post, however.
redheaded slut.. ask you local bartender. Its an excellent cocktail..
Anyhow As a Republican i would be THRILLED if President Rommey continued the deportation policy and frequency of President OBAMA.
That's all i am looking for - just maintain what has been policy for the last 3 years, at least he will be honest about his ideals and his policy. Unlike the single brain celled democrats - you understand Obama who talks about the dream act, is suing a state for making its own laws on illegals, has DEPORTED more ILLEGAL's than any other president - that is who your voting for.. just keep that in mind.
Protip: People who don't fall into this category can conjure up a better insult than 'slut'.
Nice list of DNC talking points Pat.
It's the truth, for once, on just what the Republican Party has done to this country. And if there is one thing the Republicans can't stand, it's the truth.
Oil prices have fallen to $83 a barrel today. According to conservatives, the president is directly responsible for oil prices, thus it stands to reason that Obama is now their BFF ever. Come on conservatives, let 'er rip - let's see all that praise directed at Obama for falling oil prices, because lord knows, when oil prices rose, thousands of comments were posted slamming/blaming Obama for the rise in oil prices.
Now back in reality, we know conservatives will suddenly be silent on the issue. Why heck, I'll bet we even have a couple conservative posters that will model themselves after their messiah Romney, and flip-flop their position to the president has no control over oil prices.
Pat,
What about the truth are you so excited about right now? Please share what Obama has done that has made this country better, aside from being the President sitting at the time the military killed Osama.
RedDev,
Please enlighten us on what Obama has done recently to directly cause that drop in oil prices? Thanks!
Houston,
I totally agree. Even what I call main stream media are very sloppy in their reporting.
Or maybe they are just lazy.
My list of reliable reporting is getting smaller and smaller. I do enjoy trying to find the actual primary source that is the basis for all their news articles.
Pat Boston MA.
Hi Beverly, thanks for the shout out. Good to see you as well.
Have you seen all the damage the republicans have done exploiting hard working Americans by using religion?
I'm good. I had a fantastic day yesterday celebrating with my family "Father's Day" with my 92 yr old dad and my 9 yr old great grandson. It makes me even more thankful, I still have my dad to share the wisdom he has gained from being here nearly a century. Okay, I'm rushing it. I'd love to see my day make 100.
On the other hand, I had a chance to reflect on the families of the undocumented immigrants who can't be with their family because of Republican obstruction, scare tactics, and xenophobia.
Yes, Pat, I have noticed how the RepubliCons have destroyed this nation with their FAKE religious ideology; particularly in regards to entitlements for the poor, veterans, SS, Medicare, and their racist tone.
The bible says treat others as you want to be treated. Yet, these so-called Christians go out of their way to demean our President like that Munro of the Daily Caller interupiting the President, the pastor who hung an effigy of our President, and this talk show host calling our President a monkey:
GOP Arizona Radio Host: ‘Obama Is The First Monkey President’
http://newsone.com/2021269/barbara-espinosa-obama-monkey/
John Boehner, Speaker of the House, Is Deliberately Killing 3 Million Jobs
Politicusa:
In a rare bipartisan move, the Senate passed a highway and transportation bill that saves 1 million construction jobs and creates 2 million more, but led by Speaker John Boehner, the teabagger extremists in the House are failing to hold a vote on the transportation bill to keep unemployment numbers high and damage President Obama’s re-election chances. What Republicans in the House did propose was an economically shortsighted bill that kills a half-a-million jobs next year alone. AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said, “It defies imagination that the Republican leadership and chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee would turn their backs on the needs of our country and pretend it is good government.” Even the ultra-conservative U.S. Chamber of Commerce blasted the Republican version of the transportation bill as being “devastating to construction and related industries—materials, equipment, design, engineering. As important, in the long run, disinvestment results in a less competitive economy and a drag on GDP due to underperforming infrastructure.” In an even rarer letter to Rep. John Mica (R-FL), author of the Republican measure, two Democratic and two Republican representatives wrote, “Reducing investment in America’s transportation system at this time will have a negative impact on the construction, engineering, manufacturing and materials companies which are already struggling with high unemployment. Transportation infrastructure is one of the most cost efficient and effective ways to reduce unemployment and stimulate the economy.
************
So sad how evil our country has become because of Republicans. And their supporters say nothing. Not one word in defense of their fellow Americans who need work.
Romney has nothing. Where are his specifics. Can't answer questions from Bob S. Where are the real journalists?
Pat Boston MA.
Holly Sh!t! You should post this everywhere, anywhere, and everytime. "Jobs! Jobs! Jobs!" my a$$!
Republicans are bunch of lying hypocrites.
Why does it seem that First Read gets their 'talking points' straight from the Obama White House?
Oh, I'm sorry - silly question.
The Repubs need to introduce a bill that would prevent the possibility of having any future presidents who used to EAT DOGS!
Has anyone seen Bo lately?
Notice how Romney always gets himself into trouble when he does interviews with people other than Fox or the like? I have never heard of that horse competition before the news about his family horse came out. This sport is so elite is not even funny how out of touch he is. With all his money, i wonder how many little league baseball teams or any other youth American sports Romney sponsors? my bet is none! And this article hit the nail right on the head when talking about what is taking the Rubio plan so long? could it be that both Romney and the house speaker dissed the plan before the pen ever got to the paper, so why would Rubio waste his time? One of the talking heads at fox over the weekend even went as far as claiming that the only reason Obama made this announcement was to upstage the plan Rubio was working on as if that was ever a possibility for them. You can't count on a vote from a segment of the US population if all you do is push away the very things they want to see their elected officials accomplish.
Damage123
What does this have to do with the situation our country is currently in? Do you always have to resort to some sort of childish sarcasm instead of sticking with the facts? Grow up.
Pat Boston MA.
GREAT COMMENTS. I wish I could add more to it, but you really have covered all the bases very well on good ole ROMNEY and the Republicants. I have only one addition:
http://leftaction.com/action/tell-boehner-stop-blocking-womens-health-care-raped-soldiers
Another fine 'example' of how the GOP supports our troops? Yeah... Boehner is a cry baby who is completely out of touch with America.
Romney is doing a great job not getting caught up in the liberal media expedition. Since President Obama has no real accomplishments to run on less a hyped up war monger wanna be...most people, including the moderate 2008 Obama supporters do not want 4 more years of the same do-less administration. Can't blame your way out of this one!
Romney 2012- because he is the RIGHT choice!
If you want to know what the GOP thinks just look at Arizona they made a stink over a law that doesn't do anything to curb illegal immigration, while already having one on the books to eliminate the majority of it. They already had a law that allows for the state to penalize a company for knowingly hiring an illegal immigrantbut choice not to enforce it. The GOP does nothing but give lip service. To be fair not much different then most politicians.
from a single individual- it is absolutely disgusting that one person can twist American politics so much.
Romeny is doing a great job at flip flopping at every opportunity. Gingrich, Santorum, and McCain (all GOPers') pointed it more than once. I refuse to support a candidate who cannot take a stand on anything and can't make the tough choices that are going to face this country.
Romney the right choice? FOR WHO, the rich, those who want the ability to tell women what they can and cannot do with their bodies? Against civil rights? going against the 1st amendment and 14th amendments? Romney isn't qualified for a potato sack race. Although, if there was a $$$$ at the end of the road, that man would not only come in first place, but he would bankrupt the other competitors.
It's clear to this democrat that Obama has not done everything right, but we are not a CORPORATION, and that's exactly what Romney want's to turn this country into.
Defend America - Vote out the TeaParty Republicants.
damage, do you actually have anything intelligent to say?
This is the first Presidential election to be run under the rigged rules provided by the SCOTUS five man corporate majority. Adelson and several others are allowing us to really see the power of thuggery that pack of five sons-a-bitches gave the moneyed few. Fact, this moneyed few will likely be the dominant force in this campaign. These Justices knew exactly what they were doing when Justice Kennedy wrote; "We now conclude that independent expenditures, including those made by corporations,do not give rise to corruption or the appearance of corruption". What a goddamn stupid dictum! Course they did offer balance. Allowed the poor and penniless to pour unlimited amounts of their money also into PAC's of their choice. We have a "Supreme court" dedicated to the logical interpretations of the Constitution? Not hardly.
It is laughable that only now this is being reported. From day one of the economic crisis was an international economics and it is the international crisis that has kept influencing US domestic economy ever since.
People some how expect domestic fixes to magically fix the US economy regardless of how the world economy is going. The fixes may only shield us but if Europe goes down the US economy will suffer. No to the fault of any party or politician but simply because the US economy and job creation relies on overseas economies to buy our goods.
Now perhaps we can quit pointing at each party accusing them of not fixing the economy. Its only theirs to patch, the world needs to work together to fix the economy.
Isee, do you feel the same way about George Soros spending millions on leftist politicians?
Why is it that Fisty (and all of the libs here at FR) HATE successful people SO MUCH?
Why does the success of others stir in them such anger, such spite for their fellow man?
It seem to me that the main difference between the two parties is that one (the conservatives) believe in rewarding success - while the other (liberals) seek to punish it.
While conservatives strive to provide every hardworking, risk taking, citizen the opportunity to succeed - liberals only seek to limit those opportunities by regulating and penalizing success out of existence.
While conservative policies are aimed at lifting people up into the ranks of the successful, liberal policies aim to drag everyone (including those that have succeeded) down into the ranks of failures.
Romney and his Olympic dressage horse will get a lot of free press when he shows up at the Olympics. He also gets a free ride because he will deduct the extravaganza trip off as a business expense. Just another example how the rich write off their pleasure vacations while the middle class and poor pay for the taxes of the rich 1%.
Mittsters "Corporations are people" Citizens United allows people from foreign countries to buy the republican candidate of their choice. So Patriotic of the repubs to get the law and judgemnent passed through the un supreme court.
Funny how First Read attacks Romney when he says "We'll have to wait and see" -- to something that is really beyond his control -- while previously patting Nancy Pelosi on the back when she famously said "We'll have to wait and see" -- about something that she almost entirely controlled.
Well said, Mac Forrester.
Thanks to Cyn at #1.45.
Republicans said NO to the DREAM Act 3 times since President Obama's term began:
"FACT:
The fact is Republicans in the Senate Filibustered the DREAM Act twice in 2010. So, Mitt is lying when he falsely claims President Obama "did nothing of a permanent or long-term basis."
September 21, 2010: Senate Republicans Filibuster DREAM Act
December 18 2010: Senate Republicans Filibuster DREAM Act
May 2011: Harry Reid re-introduces DREAM Act in the Senate but Republican's vowed to withhold their votes.
Factually speaking, Democrats have introduced the DREAM Act three times since President Obama took office and the GOP have obstructed and filibustered the DREAM Act three times since President Obama took office.
Factually speaking, it is Republicans who have done nothing except Filibuster immigration since President Obama took office."
NON Socialist/Marxist
you should change your nick because you apparently do not know how the free market works. Unless you are for nationalizing the oil industry, STFU because you make no sense.
Eric-913730
"Hi Fools Gold aka Mike in Delray aka Crystal aka Mike1969 aka Barry Kardashian aka Damage123 !!!"
There's just one me....You know Newsvine doesn't allow for multiple registrations....been here since 2008, same IP....
Obama oppose three times to Bush immigration reform because unions where against.
Dream Act wasnothing more than reward the parents of illegal immigrates giving path to citizenship to the kids and as a consequence legal status to their parents. Many Democrats also where against the Dream Act. The actual vote was 55 Nays to 44 Yea. Get your facts dude!!!!!
actually, yes. but the amount being spent by billionaire right-wing political supporters is dwarfing the amount spent by rich left-wing supporters.
spending by any individual, should be limited to no more than $1000,corporations and unions should likewise be limited, this includes "fund-raising dinners" and whatever means all parties use to get around the limations that were imposed by congress over decades and foolishly stripped by a misguided court
Republicans stance on Immigration is simple, come here legally. Before we talk about a plan on what to do with those here illegally we first need to protect the border so we are not dealing with a problem that will continue to be a problem. Shut down the border, and the dream act would pass the next day. Problem is everybody knows without any protection of the border we will continue to get illegals streaming into our country costing us billions. Don't argue about what to do with the water in your boat until you have stopped the leak.
Romney says," Obama is playing politics." I've gotta ask this, Romney, old boy, do you know what the game you're playing is called?........... (insert air horn sound) Politics!
That was a nice move that you did so you could claim that horse for $33,000 off on your taxes. I bet you wouldn't let me do it.
It must be nice having a beach house Mansion and building it to be bigger, badder, better Mansion. You want to decrease the amount that the 1%ers are charged for proporty taxes. Than let them keep the Bush tax cuts. The property tax deal you want is 1 trillion dollars that is the governments to receive. I guess you think I'm gonna roll up my shirt sleeves and pay more. I'm afraid I will not stand by and let you have a double Whammy on my A double S.
You keep picking about the verbal error Obama made. the entire Democratic and Republican parties, not to mention the world knows you are beating a dead horse.
Now it's widley known the Mrs. Obama is of white heritage, That must have all the dead Republicans spinning in their graves. I'm really LOL on that one.
As for Obamas religion, what about your idol Muhammad Ali (Casuas Clay heavy weight Chanpion) Kareem Abdul Jabar famous basket ball player?
So in your view it is more Democratic to have businesses who employees workers, pay taxes, and produce products or services Americans use have no say when it comes to contributions of a candidate.
Let me guess you raised a big stink over Obama getting millions from BP last election. I'm also sure you are against rich people like Bill Mahr, John Stewart, George Soros, Sarah Jessica Parker, George Clooney, Matt Damon, and every other rich Hollywood star giving money to Obama. And please remind me how trial lawyers who dump cash into the Democrats pocket are never rewarded with the blocking of say Tort Reform, which even the Europeans have?
WOW....more Bull@!$%# just to keep people fighting each other, while Obama and Romney both sit in a back room watching this while planning out the next bs piece!
NorthstarDFL
Houston,
A couple hours ago, I heard the host of on "liberal" NPR talk show take a call from someone complaining about Rodney King getting all the attention and not the people killed or injured in the riots that followed a year later when a jury acquitted his attackers. The host chimed in about "like Reginald Denny, the truck driver that was killed." Despite the NPR guy's eagerness to placate bitter white people, Reginald Denny is still very much alive.
BTW: Unlike the officers who beat King nearly to death, the ringleader of Denny's attackers got a felony conviction that he totally deserved for his vicious crime.
ROY WILSON-336103
It must SEEM that way to you because you're suffering from paranoid delusions. One of the symptoms of late-stage Obama Derangement Syndrome.
ssdd
Actually, as of right now, there is no immediate need to "protect the border," as the net migration rate to America from Mexico is roughly zero. Essentially, for every one person (legal or illegal) who leaves Mexico for America, one person (legal or illegal) leaves America for Mexico. That will hold up for a couple of years.
Not really. I don't see any reason why Republicans would support "amnesty" even after locking up the border; ask Romney, whose entire immigration policy is based on "self-deportation."
Actually, illegals don't really cost the US much money in taxpayer dollars. For example, illegals tend to pay taxes, especially sales taxes but also the payroll tax. In effect, illegals subsidize Social Security, as they pay the taxes but are ineligible for any benefits. In addition, in terms of crime rates, illegal immigrants tend to be peaceful, excluding the drug cartels, due to the fact that they're scared of being caught and summarily deported. In addition, many illegals don't utilize public education, as they often keep their kids in Mexico. I agree that the border has to be protected, but not to the degree that the GOP is advising. Maybe drones and an increased number of personnel would work, but an electric fence sounds a bit too draconian; it would allow our border with Mexico to be compared with the DMZ in Korea. I also agree that we need to change our immigration policy, and that would have to include allowing illegal immigrants to become citizens. It is completely irrational to remove 11 million people from a particular place. The vast majority of immigrants have been here for years, so we might as well allow some to become citizens. We ought to focus our immigration system to a more economically-based system, with higher caps on HB-1 visas and other education-related policies, a system that gives college graduates with at least a Master's Degree (especially in science, math, and engineering) a green card, and focusing on modernizing our immigration system to make it more efficient and effective.
OBAMA BIDEN 2012
Jody -- Mitt says he doesn't want to say what he really believes, because if he does the voters won't vote for him. In the meantime, if he slips and says something, he does a 180 turnabout (flip-flop, etch-a-sketch, the old switch-a-roo).
In regard to immigration, the president tried to do all the things the Republicans cried about, trying to crack down on the border, employers hiring illegals, deporting those who were committing ID fraud, etc. thinking once this was under control the GOP would cooperate on a longer-term solution. Of course not, the Party of No, the united obstructionists, the paralyze Washington for victory Party -- The Republicans never intended to work with him.
Ironically, the president's executive order not only was smart politics, it was the right thing to do -- not amnesty, but rather a path to citizenship with tough hoops to jump through.
Romney has no such compass. He is only as clever as his last silly prank. He'd have to hire "smart guys" to be in the room.
Pat from Boston Coming from what is arguably one of the top two or three most corrupt states in the country! I am surprised to hear you call Mr Romney a liar! Is that not buisiness as usual where you come from?
I thought that you conservatives didn't want "business as usual?????"
OBAMA BIDEN 2012
Post-Watergate campaign finance limits undercut by changes
By Dan Eggen, Published: June 16
The money poured into Richard M. Nixon’s reelection campaign from all corners: Six-figure checks flown by corporate jet from Texas; bundles of payments handed over at an Illinois game preserve; a battered brown attaché case stuffed with $200,000 in cash from a New Jersey investor hoping to fend off a fraud investigation.
During four pivotal weeks in spring 1972, the president brought in as much as $20 million — about $110 million in today’s dollars — much of it in the form of illegal corporate donations and all of it raised to avoid disclosure rules that went into effect that April.
“The decision was made that it was time to put the hay in,” John Dean, Nixon’s counsel at the time, recalled in an interview last week. “A lot of us believe Watergate might never have happened without all that money sloshing around.”
Four decades later, there’s little need for furtive fundraising or secret handoffs of cash. Many of the corporate executives convicted of campaign-finance crimes during Watergate could now simply write a check to their favorite super PAC or, if they want to keep it secret, to a compliant nonprofit group. Corporations can spend as much as they want to help their favored candidates, no longer prohibited by law from spending company cash on elections.
The political world has, in many respects, come full circle since a botched burglary funded by illicit campaign cash brought down an administration. The excesses of the Nixon era ushered in a series of wide-ranging restrictions on the use of money in campaigns, including limits on individual campaign contributions that remain in force today.
But the intervening decades have also brought changes that have undercut many of the political financing rules put in place in response to the Watergate scandal, including a Supreme Court case that freed corporations and unions to spend unlimited money on elections and a public-financing regime that has collapsed into irrelevance.
‘Money corrupts’
The result is a frenzied rush to raise money, with echoes of that spring 40 years ago: President Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney spend much of their time crisscrossing the country to collect as much cash as possible, while political groups run by their former aides solicit donations of seven — and eight — figures from sympathetic billionaires.
“I think we’re in the middle of a scandal that hasn’t quite gelled yet,” said Roger M. Witten, who worked in the Watergate special prosecutor’s office and now handles campaign-finance cases at WilmerHale in New York. “A tremendous amount of ground has been lost. We’ll have to relearn the lessons of Watergate — that money corrupts the system.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/post-watergate-campaign-finance-limits-undercut-by-changes/2012/06/16/gJQAinRrhV_story.html?hpid=z1
___________________________________________________________
Yes there is a scandal brewing. As a matter of fact given the current climate I don’t see how we can avoid it.
However I don’t agree with these Authors and others that the Money and unlimited amounts of it leads to that inevitable outcome.
Unlimited Power doesn’t necessarily corrupt absolutely.
We have had too many candidates for Political Office from both Parties since then that could by hook or by crook get all the Money that they required. They may not of agreed on much but they did agree that there were places to for the good of the American People that nobody needed to go.
Ultimately you cannot Legislate Morality. You either have a modicum of it or not.
It is the Willingness to defraud and deceive that we need to be on guard from. In other words if you don’t have the will you won’t find a way.
Nixon and his Henchman had been denied the very thing that they felt was their due to many times. They reached a point where they were able to overlook even a Modicum of Morality and do everything in their power to make sure that they achieved Power. Even if they had to resort to measures that would be Deplored by the vast Majority of the People they tried to rule. The end came to justify the means.
For the first time in forty years we have a Candidate for Higher office that feels that He and His Neo-cons have been denied the office and Policies that they want for too long. They feel like that is their due to finish what was started with Reagan and continued thru the Administration of Bush II. They are a best Amoral and at worst Immoral. His name is Mitt Romney. It is his “turn” don’t you know. And there are about a dozen or so folks that are going to do their best to make sure that he has the wherewithal to achieve his Ends by any means He Deems Necessary.
So yes there is a Scandal Brewing. We just need to make sure that we are on the right side of it this time instead of reliving the Nixon Debacle.
Independent Redneck Va.
Old news, let's move on to 2012.
IR, cheers for that. As Deep Throat said, "follow the money."
About the only thing I agree with John McCain on these days is the need for campaign finance reform--except it must be total reform that exposes or eliminates the secret money being funneled into local city elections as well as state and federal congressional elections.
The massive amounts of secret money made legal by SCOTUS Citizens United decision makes Watergate today's news. 176 mega-wealthy donors are donating millions to buy candidates; to buy legislation which favors them and not the rest of us. There is little difference between Nixon's secret cash and the secret cash legalized by Citizens United--both corrupt the system. Anyone who sees Watergate as irrelevant today is uninformed and easily fooled.
Concerned......Those that don't learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat it. It was a hard lesson lets don't repeat it out of ignorance or willingness to over look it just because you don't like a candidate or a platform.
IR -- Great post. What frightens me today is that in some cases we do not know who is donating to the SuperPacs and that flagrantly denies us our rights under the First Amendment. Today, WaPo has an opinion piece, written by Fred Hiatt, that speaks to this and to the hypocrisy of the GOP's on full disclosure.
The full article can be found here:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/fred-hiatt-a-gop-bait-and-switch-on-disclosure/2012/06/17/gJQATPS2jV_story.html?hpid=z2
Did you see that McConnell was out over the weekend stating that their needed to be even less transparency for donations to campaigns?
Republicans are really out to make sure elections can be bought.
Independent Redneck Va.
Your post about Nixon proves our President was right when he said Citizens United would open up the flood gates.
I agree with Dont_carry_it_all.
We don't where the flood of money is coming from. It could be our enemies. One thing I do know is that Citizens United has purchased the politicians who grave absolute power.
Eric-913730
Did you see that McConnell was out over the weekend stating that their needed to be even less transparency for donations to campaigns?
Republicans are really out to make sure elections can be bought
No but I saw the Grimm Weeper, John Boehner, on the trail with Mittens defending the wealth of multimillionaire. But, a noisy group of protestors shouted throughout his speech, which lasted about six minutes "Romney go home!"
This Presidential election is going to prove whether the government is for sale not only to the highest American bidders , but the world in general.
I seriously believe that President Obama does not like his job. And I think that pulling stunts like suddenly seeing the light on gay marriage, or his dirty joke about his wife and Ellen Degeneres shows that he is consciously or unconsciously trying to sabotage his reelection
yes, the evil republicans are using superpacs while the angelic dems are getting by on what they get from their lemonaid stand. give us this day our daily bias...
Another liberal idiotic post. The "evil" you allude to is already in the White House. You are either too stupid to acknowledge that fact or just plainly igoring it.
You idiots refuse to acknowledge that Democrats are as wealthy or even more so than Repubicans. Your hypocrisy is the real problem. You want to cram things down others throats and deny you are just being dictators, while at the same time accusing others of being evil because they resist your moronic and hypoctical attempts to make yourselves "gods" and "kings" and "dicators" over others..
Its just amazing how much money is being spent to buy the election.Both partys. I think Romney should stick with the Illegal aliens go home message.MSNBC might cry for illegal aliens,the american people are tired of them.
Independent Redneck Va..... It's a comment forum....If I want to read some fiction, I'll turn on my Kindle, OK ??
Just copy/paste a link.....not the whole article.
Obama is selling our country to illegal immigrants in echange for Latino votes .
Chuck Todd make sure to get to a restaurant called Mi Casa while your down in Cabo.
Lot of people work from home nowadays, No Limit.
The Progressive folks on here are great people.
They DO work hard.
So how do you get a gig getting paid to post?
GOP- They "work hard" at what, exactly? Are you another one of those liberals that take this site way too seriously? What, you think the silly crap you and the other lefties has some affect on something? LOL!! What the hell do the 20 or 25 liberals who post here constantly work hard at besides confirming to the 5 or 6 consrvatives who post here, our belief that you're all a bunch of silly, hypocritical Obama groupies?
What do you "work hard" at, exactly? I expect the list to be short.
If you lean to the right or hate Obama, contact Fox News. You will get talking points to study and become a special correspondent (as long as your hair looks good.) No stress because any "Great American Panel" you serve on will have a token liberal that you will outnumber at least 2-1.
If you lean the other way, MSNBC will find you something.
Really, if you are serious about finding out about what is going on, try the BBC. Sadly for you, they tend not to pay bloggers!
PutAmericaFirst, breaking news, you get paid to post here, too. Go to your account and check out your Newsvine earnings. You're paid as much as we liberals are paid and that's the truth!
Well to be honest, if your a network engineer (ahem) for a global corp. with over 300 internet POP's You pick a few sites to use as a test sites....... this is one of them for me. Which is why if I wanted to.....I could have many ID' s since the IP address I would present to MSLSD would be different everytime. But I dont....I have one username which I post from.
I wonder how to get a job trolling for the dnc, or the rnc, I can do both. dnc: all conservatives are racist teabaggers and stupid (insert some form of fox news here) readers, they should all die for daring to disagree with me!
rnc: same thing in reverse, throw in koolaid drinker
feisty isn't paid, she's just nuts, like many on here. the paid ones tend to make more sense.
GOP Iowa State Convention. Despite Grassley and Branstad's efforts to unite and fire-up the party at the State level, the raucous Ron Paul supporters filled top party posts and loaded Iowa's GOP Platform with items which reflect Paul's libertarian positions. There were plenty of grumbling during the event stemming from the success of "backers of Ron Paul in taking control of much of the party apparatus" despite Paul's state chairman, Drew Ivers, statement that Paul's supporters reject the idea of an insurrection. Tensions ran high between the regular republicans and the Paul republicans. "In the end, the slate was accepted as proposed despite complaints that some of the delegates have voted in Democratic primaries--if they've voted at all--or were unknown to longtime party activists." Well, that should teach future GOP presidential candidates, that the caucus vote is just the first step in the caucus process but then, Romney should have known that having been part of it in 2008.
Those who have never been to an Iowa caucus or other county, district, state convention do not realize that those delegates are, to put it simply, volunteers. At the State level, they are volunteers who must then convince others to select them for the National Convention. In January, while most of the "other" republican caucus attendees headed home after the vote, the Ron Paul supporters stayed behind to attend the local meeting and select delegates. The local GOP uses slips of paper for attendees to cast their vote; no one knows who they voted for meaning if they stay to attend the business meeting and delegate selection process, no one has a clue which candidate they supported. In Iowa's case, this was poor campaign strategy by Romney and Santorum supporters; they voted and left leaving a good share of Ron Paul supporters to "volunteer".
Well, isn't that just ducky for Iowa's GOP? In addition to be taken over by the God, guns, anti-abortion and anti-gay crowd, the party has now become a hostage of the Libertarians.
Meanwhile, over at the Democratic State Convention, there was no hostile take over, it was all business without tension and without drama. The party passed their platform, selected their national delegates and decided how to use the GOP's weird platform, which for some reason had been made public (they never do that) to the advantage of democrats.
All that for 6 delegates?
Jody,
Romney for all his millions he spent in the primaries could not figure out the caucus system. It is not rocket science.
It is a pretty simple process that votes for delegates to the next political delegation level and ending up sending delegates to the national convention.
Obama understood the process in 2008. Paul supporters learn the mechanics this time for the GOP.
I am sure Romney does understand the mechanics of how Olympic points are awarded for his horse in the dressage competition later this summer.
Northstar, Romney spent millions here in 2008 and again in 2012 and ended up with fewer 2012 votes than he got in 2008. It is hard to imagine that Romney and his staff, having participated in the 2008 Iowa Caucus, still didn't understand how it worked. Romney and Santorum voters pretty much left after the caucus vote but Paul supporters knew the vote was just step one, that having a voice at the convention was as important as winning the caucus. Even odder is the fact that those "regular" republicans complaining at the district and state conventions failed to stick around after the caucus vote to ensure they had a voice. This probably explains why and how the GOP in Iowa and nationwide has been taken over by the far right; they are the ones attending the caucuses and voting in the primaries as well as the ones who are "volunteering" to be delegates.
Jody,
" This probably explains why and how the GOP in Iowa and nationwide has been taken over by the far right; they are the ones attending the caucuses and voting in the primaries as well as the ones who are "volunteering" to be delegates."
Same thing is going on here in MN. GOP is basically the tea party and libertarians.
Their guy Romney is anything but a tea party guy.
So will the new base work for him, get out the vote, and pull the lever for him?
Or are they going to concentrate on the local, state elections?
Here in MN Obama leads by double digits, and the tea party/GOP state officials have money problems , extreme candidates and no coherent message about state issues.
But down here in NC, a state that matters, Oblunder is a laughingstock.... we can't wait for the DNC to bring their convention here.... we'll give him a warm Tea Party welcome.... the DNC is already working with Charlotte to see how far away they can keep protesters from the Convention Center... they don't want the Blamer-in-Chief to have to face reality....
*giggles*
Northstar, agree. I also question whether this so-called GOP party unity which actually be there for Romney. Despite the claims of conservatives, cannot help thinking that the Ron Paul libertarians will not vote for Romney but will write in Ron Paul. From the bits I've been reading locally, there really is a civil war going on in the GOP.
Fe Up,
Been there done that.
Remember we hosted the GOP convention in 2008 here in MN.
Talk about the convention center. ..The GOP tried to move the Dorothy Day Center from across the street from the convention center. They did not want their delegates to see the poor who line up everyday for a hot meal. Catholic Charities said no.
As to protesters, they had all the streets blocked off and a empty parking lot for them to rally a mile away.
BTW the FBI had uncover agents throughout the protesters groups..
Stay safe in NC and Tampa too.
Ruken, ditto the giggles.
Guess Fed Up thinks that the GOP isn't doing the same thing to keep protesters away from their candidate's convention and even funnier is that Ron Paul supporters will be outside the GOP's convention, too.
What group will the President pander to next? I am not a member of any of the groups that the President has pandered to but if I were I'd be asking myself, "why now, does he really think I'm that stupid?"
yes
Yes Atticus. He does. Remember, this is the president that characterized anyone who doesn't vote for him as some sort of uneducated rube who "clings to their guns and their Christianity." That's what Hussein and all these other lefties think of MILLIONS of their fellow Americans. You ever read any posts on here by that simpering, whimpering, sad sack of s**t, David Walker? Apparently HE'S the only smart person in his state (I forget where but it's a RED state), and he regularly bemoans the fact that not everyone else is as "enlightened" as he is. It's typical.
When that tends to happen when the you're representative of the majority of the people in his state, brain damaged.
Pandering like Romney having illegals working in his yard then talking about immigration reform?
kr: Thanks for helping me make my point. People are stupid if they fall for such blatant pandering.
On the Obama pander list, i just hope my dog is ahead of cats.
The personal attacks by a minority of commentators are becoming merely repetitive. How about constructive criticism , or even better, amusing?
Isn't this great?
The Romneys have a horse who will be representing the United States at the Olympics in London this year!
Too bad...
1) It's the "sport" of DRESSAGE...that is "horse ballet". Seriously, what in the hell kind of "sport" is that???
2) It's the Olympics...and, unlike 2002 when Mr. Romney helped organize the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, the GOP HATES the Olympics! Seriously, why else would they cheer so loudly when Chicago wasn't awarded the Olympics?
When we see a Democratic billionaire spend tens of millions to elect Democrats that is when we will see Republicans start to re-think the asinine Citizens United decision.
Don't you know? The GOP's "Boogeyman" is George Soros and they think they're merely evening the playing field.
Damn good point Tom. It is a double-edged sword.
Gopisextinct---It can cut both ways and they would scream like a stuck pig if it happened.
True Dat Tom. Ya' KNOW they would!!
Shoe would be on the other foot then.
Worse than the horse, to me, is the fact that when called on it, Romney played the card of his wife's illness--how horses helped her cope with her illness, gave her a reason to live, etc.
Steeler Fan, I couldn't agree more. Also while MS is a devastating disease, the severity differs for each individual many family members suffer from it (it's mainly a Northern Hemisphere illness - how weird is that?). The "ill" wife and her pricey little ponies coming to her rescue ... nice try on the sympathy card there .....
So true, Steeler Fan.....
The dressage thing is so 'out of touch', and Willard thinks his wifes MS is of importance on the campaign trail, but of course it can't be mentioned,....only by him!
Doesn't everyone have a dancing horse to use as rehabilitation if they suffer with MS.
I would posit they already scream like stuck pigs - the next irritating decibel level they would ascend to is 'screaming like a banshee'. Man, can those ghoulish demons break an eardrum to two.
A Warmblood Dressage horse would be very difficult to ride without the proper leg aids, body position and balance. This horse is most likely only ridden by professionals, hired by the trainers. It is not a backyard horse like mine.
Not a nice life for a horse, but typical of someone who would put a dog on the roof of a car in a kennel.
Am I the only one that found this part of the statement extremely disturbing? So many suffer from serious addiction issues in this country and he makes light of her addiction to horses???? Wonder how many "horses" she has hidden around the house . . .
You shouldn't knock Rom. He is only showing that he too is of the 99% !
In other news, while people are being gunned down left and right in Chicago over the weekend, the president found time to golf while he was there. I'm glad he enjoyed his father's day on the golf course.
I think "Ger(wo)man" wants us to know the President went golfing.
Stop the friggin' presses!!
Did he eat dinner too German?
Like Bush golfing during a hurricane that killed thousands...hey it was hard to see coming
GOPis, touche'!
"I call upon all nations to do everything they can to stop these terrorist killers. Thank you. Now watch this drive." - President George W. Bush, 8/4/2002
"I don’t want some mom whose son may have recently died to see the commander in chief playing golf. I feel I owe it to the families to be in solidarity as best as I can with them. And I think playing golf during a war just sends the wrong signal."
President George W. Bush 2003.
And yet, Bush continued to play golf. So what is the point of discussing presidents and their golf games? That is the problem with the Tweeter generation - they aren't happy until they know how many bowel movements happened per day.
German, what were you expecting him to do on a Sunday afternoon? And Father's Day at that? Whatever you might have against our President, he is human and actually gets a little R&R now and then ... sheesh!!!!!
I hope German (shephard) is careful, he could be the fathers day main course. Bo , the dog is missing, was he the Memorial Day meal?
Lets see here, Obama polished off his 100th round of golf in less than four years of Presidency this weekend. Big Bad Bush, played 24 times in 8 years. So, Obama has played four times as much golf in half the time.
Apparently, folks are fixated on the idea that physical activity is somehow bad. These the same folks that sit on their asses all day counting the number of rounds of golf played by presidents in the past several years.
Let's discuss some interesting Bush records. 487 days at Camp David, 490 days spent at the Ranch. Was that dude ever on the job?
Personally, I don't care where Bush was during those 900 days - as long as he was running the country. Same applies to Obama .. as long as Obama is available to run the country as he takes time out for physical activity, who cares how many times he plays golf, tennis, or tiddlywinks.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-4728085-503544.html
I just wish Obama had some mental exercises for a change.
Morning Feisty, Ron, Job1, I.R., Jody and all my Progressive Freedom Fighter friends. Heading to Black Lake, Mi shortly to participate in a power-building strategy with Union leadership.
The UAW is putting our heads together as to how we can share best practices to turn this state Blue in November.
I will check in periodically if I am able.
Happy (troll) Hunting today guys. Careful. You guys usually reach your troll bag limit pretty early.
LOL!!
:o) Peace out.
why your at it in michigan, how about discussing how to get rid of the govenor, how to get a new leader for the democratic party there, and how to support the recalls with money!
Hiya GOP!
The fun part is tossing the reject back into the cess-pool!
Hope you had a good Daddy's Day!
Give them lefty-liberal hell my friend! ;o)
Good luck with that. Would you please bring up a question for me, during your strategy sessions, when you get a chance?
"Did the UAW go too far in the past and contribute to the downfall of the American auto industry by making them less competitive and forcing our manufacturing jobs overseas?"'
Thanks!
GOPisextinct,
Good Luck and Take Care!
Will do Job1. Thanks. Should be a beautiful ride up there.
No. Last time I bothered to check the people on the line did not make the decisions as to what ended up in showrooms.
Besides. Dodge trucks made in Saltillo / Toluca, Mexico are assembled by people who make $4.50 / hour. So with adjustment for the U.S. wage differential that means your Dodge truck from Mexico should cost $3,000, in the showroom in Sterling Heights, Michigan......right?
So why don't a Doge truck from Mexico cost $3,000 Atticus?
Yeah,...I'll wait.
I will bring it up KR. Seriously.
Preliminary word is that the GOP is in for a MAJOR scorching here in November!!
GOPisExtinct, here's to a good, productive meeting with some fun, too. We'll look forward to your reports.
QUOTE GOPissextinct : No. Last time I bothered to check the people on the line did not make the decisions as to what ended up in showrooms.
no they just demanded $75 an hour when Mexicans will do it for $4.50 an hour - the Unions supported a president named Clinton who passed / started the WTO and joined NAFTA making those $4.50 an hour jobs accessible to dodge..
So no it was not the Workers that caused the demise of the auto industry it was the Union Political arm - since EVEN president BUSH SR. a REPUBLICAN was unable to enter into free trade and NAFTA that gutted the unions - why deal with unions when i can deal with PEDRO and 4.50 an hour
.. and like Ross Perot said. That Giant sucking sound you hear is those auto worker jobs headed to Mexico. HAHAHA you democrats just keep lining up to get slaughtered by your leaders..
here little sheep.. Laugh Out LOUD @ GOPisextinct
Probably because labor costs are only a small fraction of the cost of a vehicle. Most vehicles are made through robotics.....which cost about the same in any country.
This article will answer your question. Question to you... what would they cost us if they weren't hace en Mexico?
GOP if you think that Snyder and the rest are in trouble, you aren't paying attention. I suppose you would have liked 4 more years of Granholm.
Fact is that Snyder and the Republican Legislature has been a huge success. Keep beating your heasds against each other, though.
You guys have your head in the sand. Have fun drinking beer and fishing on Black Lake, while you try to figure out how to save your Unions.
"and all my Progressive Freedom Fighter friends"
Ah yes, the party of tolerance, unity, and bemoaning of lack of bipartisanship, speaks again!
OoOoOoO thats why all the cars at the UAW hall in the past few days! They cleared out after the Wisconsin buses got back. Now its Black lake for some golf and cocktails. GOP, come one down to Lakepoint for a few beers someday. lmao...... Detroit maybe democratic...... Michigan maybe not!
At Fl./ You shouldn't just flinch, you should shudder! I worked for G.M. many years ago. Yes the U.A.W. do have a very good union,getting a good,but fair contract. The profit on each car produced was extremely high. The union contracts were good because they protected the members from being laid off often and regularly . The Executives and board continue to be grossly overpayed they, like the members of the exec.and Board. of most,if not all, large ,successful Co.s are taking the majority of the profits and yet,supplying among the least of all into the welfare of those companies. The rewards for success has risen everywhere,so why shouldn't the people who are the producers enjoy their fair share also.
listorie,
Read #3 in that article above. What kind a group, given this profit structure, would try to get more out of a company when it is losing money on its product?
No-one attempts to get payed more than the employer's costs.One would have no room to negotiate. The auto manufacturers ,since the mid 1960's have been lowering the amount of production workers by automation and Robotics. I don't know what the ratio of workers per car is now,but I do know that it has been steadily declining since that time. As far as pensions are concerned,virtually all companies ,private and government run,have consistently under funded ,and or borrowed from the pension funds and now are complaining that they can't afford to pay what they agreed to. There is an old joke which goes ,I am paying you more than I make, but fortunately I sell in volume.
Ahead of Obama’s G-20 trip in Mexico, the Secret Service issued this alert to all agents: “Los Cabos is gonna be off da HOOK! (But please don’t forget to tip your hostesses.)” For more Obama/Secret Service humor, enjoy this funny YouTube video:
Don't quit your day job.
Don't worry, he doesn't have one.
The writers of this article make Domenico look unbiased.
Damn liberal media! Always reporting some BS about Romney like how his small state lost 40,000 manufacturing jobs and was the third worst in unemployment in the country. Meddling bastards chasing the illegals out of his yard. How are those guys going to get their dollar an hour! Liberal media sucks!!!! Always bitching about Bain. Who got hurt? Romney made money and those fired employees got their government bailout and food stamps. Liberal media needs to shut their pieholes.
First Read:
People do need to be reminded that if Obama loses, the Oval Office will not be an empty chair, although that would be better than having Mitt occupying it. His presidency would be Bush's third term: more war, more deregulation of the sort that caused the economic disaster of 2007, and more tax cuts for wealthy "job creators" that explode the deficit without many jobs actually being created.
After almost 4 years, "yes we can" is now "Why we can't", but we can with 4 more years. What a sorry excuse for a President. That is all he has is excuses.
Tony Sorry is not the word I would use, incompetent is more appropriate. All I have been hearing is how Romney flip flops yet the President does the same, and it is evolving. On this site it wouldn't matter if Romney's economic plan was backed by the CBO as being deficit reducing, revenue raising, job creating and plain great for the USA, Feisty and her crew of (pick your own name) would still be against it. President Obama has not had an original idea on the economy since the unions gave him one. Perhaps he'll get a new idea on the economy from Putin, his good buddy.
The plain and simple truth is that Obama is considered intelligent simply because he identifies as not being white. If he did well in school, we'd see his school records. He refuses to release them, most likely so we have to just guess he received his affirmative action degrees with grades worse than Kerry and Bush, two noted dopes, who would be intelligent to Progressives if they too were not white.
Actually, I think that he probably did well in school, but he doesn't want his records released because he applied for aid somewhere along the line as a foreigner.
The only solution Obama has offered to deal with this country's problems is tax the rich and increase the size and scope of the federal government. We are just a few years away from facing the same issues that Greece is facing. The Democrats have their head in the sand and will tell people who are hurting what they want to hear. In the long run, the Democrtas are hurting these folks way more than if the problems were being delt with today.
Richard, please go to mittromney.com and find his economic "plan" and let us all know exactly what it is. The problem is there isn't one there. The entire GOP on any news program always pivots the question to an attack on President Obama and never, ever answers a direct question. Mitt did what all of his advisers and reps have been doing for months yesterday morning, he played dodge the question. I cannot WAIT for the debates!
The debates will be informative,only if the Moderator is fair and insistent in getting-true information,without gobbledygook from the participants ,which in the case of one ,at least,isn't gonna happen. Still,if they do debate, it will be informative. Looking forward to that!
Tony C-2383666
Wrong. Obama's "Yes we can" was answered by Boehner's "Like hell you can" in order to obstruct the economic recovery so Romney can win and repeat what G. W. Bush "accomplished." I'd be willing to bet that Romney could make a bigger mess in 4 years than Bush did in 8.
Houston, and that thought
gives me nightmares .....
Daddy's Day was awesome, Thanks Feisty! I miss you guys. Wish I could get on more often. (*blows smooch*)
The UAW is going to get a whole new perspective on thwarting RWNJ's. I hope you guys don't mind if I can bring up some of your writings to show them what a grass-roots counter offensive looks like.
I hold you troops out as an example of what We the People can do when we stop tolerating abuse and start fighting back. People often have no idea how they can get involved, but you good Progressives light the way. This is ONE way in which Progressive ideals get a fair airing over the Right Wing noise machine.
Bless you all,....and tear em' up for me today.
Union leadership.. how'd that recall go?
hey any regrets on Clinton and that NAFTA thing..
please sir may i have another round of legislation that lets me outsource every job to $4.50 and hour mexico. Lets hear it for the disconnected and the irrelevant - even your to stupid to realize that the reason your unions are dead is because your democrats opened the doors to china, mexico, and every other $1 an hour labor force. It wasn't Regan, Bush, or Bush II it was a DEMOCRAT..
your sheep .. its pathetic really.
No but I'm sure feeling those regrets on No Child Left Behind.
I rest my case.
On another note: Is it just me or have you Posters seen a change in MSN FR and even cable? I believe that they are beginning to see the light (for now). I have some software that counts the votes that are giving to each Poster. Of course you have to weed what is Liberal and what is not. I have already Identified by Avatars many of the Liberals and Obamanites worshipers.
I'm sure that MSN is doing the same since they are noticing that a CHANGE is occurring. The off the wall Lefties are loosing many of the battles. Don't believe me then do the counting yourself.
I think people are waking up and it is difficult to win battle when you don't support your argument with facts and logic. That is why the conservatives on here tend to win a majority of the debates.
LOL!
LOL. This coming from the conservative poster who said liberal posters need to get a life. This is hysterical, software to count liberal votes versus conservative votes--both of which are irrelevant because on any given day some 50,000 to 75,000 people visit First Read, most of whom merely read the comments and never vote not to mention the swoop and dump folks who scurry from political site to political site in swarms and vote up those comments they think remotely sound supportive of their side. Anyone who thinks a software system can determine that MSN or FR is "seeing the light" or changing its mind also probably thinks they can game the system at the casinos.
that is true. After his stand on not deporting young illegals, he turned away even more supporters. That was a huge mistake on his part.
President Obama has already cut down on deportation, he just decided to announce it on Friday. If that's not disingenuous, I don't know what is.
Under growing pressure from open borders groups that accuse the Obama Administration of removing too many illegal aliens, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in early 2011 began to implement formal measures to relax the enforcement of U.S. immigration laws. DHS has set forth its new policies regarding removal in a series of memos issued by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director John Morton. Together, these memos constitute nothing less than the granting of administrative amnesty to hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens currently in the United States.
On March 2, 2011, ICE Director John Morton issued a policy memo to ensure that his agency would only enforce the law against a specific subset of illegal aliens by setting forth new priorities for the apprehension, detention, and removal of illegal aliens. This subset, according to Director Morton, includes:
Under this memo, ICE's priorities do not include the vast majority of illegal aliens currently in the United States — i.e. those who have neither been convicted of a crime or have been caught and absconded. Although the memo states that nothing in it shall be construed "to prohibit or discourage" enforcement of U.S. immigration laws in general, it concludes that "resources should be committed primarily to advancing the priorities set above."
On June 17, 2011, ICE Director John Morton issued two policy memos. The first was intended to discourage ICE agents from enforcing U.S. immigration laws against illegal aliens who would qualify for the DREAM Act — amnesty legislation that Congress voted down in both October 2007 and December 2010. In the memo, Morton writes that due to a lack of resources, the agency "must regularly exercise 'prosecutorial discretion' if it is to prioritize its efforts." Morton states that appropriate moments to exercise prosecutorial discretion include:
According to Morton, appropriate factors to consider when exercising prosecutorial discretion include:
These are all eligibility criteria for amnesty under the DREAM Act, legislation which Congress specifically rejected in both October 2007 and December 2010. Moreover, the June 17th memo encourages ICE agents to take steps to exercise favorable discretion early on — without waiting for an alien or his lawyer to request it. As Morton states, "[T]he universe of prosecutorial discretion is large."
Liberals,like me, are used to loosing more arguments than we win, but we still hope that we can increase the number of people who think carefully before they use their votes/money. For instance ,Why do ordinary people, of the 99% still consider that taxing the super-rich less than fair ,is helping the economy,just on the say-so of the super-rich? No where can I find that it has been prov en to be good for a nation,unless it comes from the Conservatives. I do find many views from other sources of the opposite being true,but many of the 99% appear to reject our view and do with anger and indignation.
Common, and you think we all don't have a life???
Ay yi yi!!!!! What else do you do for personal entertainment? LOLOL!!!
One thing I find that annoys me more and more, is the way the so called interviewers on TV let politicians of all stripes get away without answering the questions they are asked. Also not asking questions that should be asked.
Please no more letting them get away with stupid say nothing answers and then not following up with something that will make them say something that matters.
Romney knows illegal immigration
Romney: ‘I’m Running For Office for Pete’s Sake, I Can’t Have Illegals’
By Eric Scheiner
October 19, 2011
Subscribe to Eric Scheiner's posts
(CNSNews.com)- During last night’s Republican presidential debate in Las Vegas, Nev., former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney admitted that a lawn company he had used hired illegal immigrants and that when he found out he told the company it could not have illegal aliens working on his property because he was running for office.
That's great. Makes me want to vote for romnet more. I didn't know that thanks.
Your welcome..oh here is another reason to vote for Romney....he will get rid of that boring bible...save you some time to read comic books
The Mormon Church has bragged the Book of Mormon is “the most correct book on the face of the earth”. Those words were uttered for the first time by none other than Joseph Smith himself on Sunday, October 28, 1841.
“I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.”
I'm still waiting for those "Golden Shields" to turn up.
Golden Plates Ruken .... and I think they've been looking for them for quite some time now in Illinois . . . ;-)
dal,
Sounds like drivel to me since the President obviously has no authority to do anything of the kind. If you are simply trying to express your religious bigotry, perhaps you should warn everyone that President Obama will make everyone read the Bible, since he's a Christian. (Can you imagine what the pagan left would think of that?)
But union money is just money from the common man. Of course the common man wouldn't give on his own, so he has to be forced to join and give. Just imagine the outcry if employers said they were going to take a small fraction of an employees paycheck to give to political campaigns, whether the employee supported the candidate or not.
Of course the common man as you put it ,would and does pay his union dues without qualms ,and I speak from experience,not guesswork. I have worked with a reasonable amount of former right to work state workers and almost without exception they are happy to belong to unions in closed shops, they have better wages and conditions and have workers rights that those so called right to work states don't. Don't make up false stories . There are of course a few workers that are like in any other part of society looking for a free ride. Parasites are in all members of living beings,not just Humanity.
Liberals are starting to get boring, it's the same old class warfare, "tea bagger", GNOP rhetoric we hear day in and day out. I guess when you don't have any ideas or are unable to debate based on facts then name calling is all you have left.
Even "Feisty" is starting to sound like a broken record.
Feisty just speaks the truth. Hard for you to hear right?
dal - Why don't you get a freaking job?
If Progressives actually went out, got jobs and worked as hard at their jobs as they do at avoiding work and posting here, everyone would be a Republican. Hint: whenever someone uses the word "fair" in an argument, its simply not and they're looking for your money.
Fair is having the game start at 0-0 with referees applying the rules of the game fairly to both teams (conservative idea). Fair is ending the game in a tie so the officials need to purposely apply the rules of the game differently to differnt teams to penalize one team and subsidize another (progressive idea).
The far-left fringe is really getting desperate. Apparently they do not realize that obama's announcement did not go over well in the Hispanic Community. I see Feisty is still trying to come up with something but she is always just a blogger of insults without substance.
The negative impact of obama's announcement just shows how out of touch he is with the issues and the people. So you guys hang in there. Keep goiing with your OWS (fail), Unions (fail) and half-hearted measures. It is the best thing going for the GOP and America.
I guess anything to keep the topic from the economy is obama's plan.
Dishonorable discharge alert!
@Ruken
Your childish, immature post just proved my point. Thank you!
Aren't you supposed to be off rejoicing the death of Wal-Mart shoplifters, but then getting mad over women having legal abortions of fetuses? I guess "death" is only "barbaric" when it happens inside a woman's body, isn't it?
Actually I think it is barbaric the most when they use partial birth abortions. I think it is tragic that we are so irresponsible as a society that we use abortion on demand as birth control. However I find it ironic that people like you think it is ok for women to abort the unborn children in such an savage manner but then find it barbaric to execute a murderer in a humane manner. That she has the "right to chose" but then demands the taxpayers to support the child she only wants on the first of each month.
However you should keep posting. The more I read your insanity the more I begin to think that abortion isn't wrong in all cases. Especially yours.
I wish your mother had exercised her right to an abortion.. does that offend you, me wishing your mother exercised her rights? Lets test your allegiance to ideology... dead's still dead regardless when it happens - so do you support your mothers right for you to be dead?
little mind - small thoughts ruken.
Joshua w morris
Considering I wasn't alive at that point at which she could have exercised that right, no I would not have cared.
And since I cannot be 'dead' if I were never alive, your post is flawed.
If I'm insane for giggling at the irony that you easily advocate death for petty offenses, but get your size 42 panties in a twist when a woman has a legal abortion of something that's not even alive, I wouldn't want to be labeled anywhere near the same mental category as yourself.
Apparently you have a little bit of difficulty distinguishing what irony is. No wonder why you signed up to kill people.
Obama’s immigration announcement and the bully pulpit: After his worst three political weeks of the year, Friday was a reminder why the bully pulpit matters -- and why an incumbent president has so many powers at his disposal: Obama changed the subject immediately.......
Come on libs, it is in the first sentenance above.... Obama changed the subject immeidately! DUH....The guy has nothing going for him right now! So now the regular joe libs, want to go after Romney for anything. When is the last time, Obama has had a tough interview with some substantial questions? He will answer with its above his pay grade. Yeah thats a leader alright!
In regards to the immigration mahambo-jambo....can you liberals say, "Political"? Obama promised immigration refrom when he was campaigning in 08 and didnt do anything until now. Liberals I know that even you know this is political, but whats the most disturbing is how he does things. Obama is a constiutional scholar, I thought! He sure needs a refresher on how things work in the US.
Silly LIBS!
not even worth a reply...pathetic
Hahahahaha......
You mean you can't defend what I wrote.....we understand! :)
Did Obama not promise back in 08 he was going to do immigration reform? YES
Did he? NO
Come on Dal.....It is very pathetic that Obama is doing this for political reasons. If he isnt, then why didnt he work on immigration when he had full control of congress? At least enough to avoid any fillibuster. Is that too pathetic for you? hahahahha
You are a pathetic one liner idiot dal.
Every solution put forth by Obama boils down to tax the rich and grow government in size and scope. All Obama is concerned with is telling people in need what they want to hear. We are only a few years away from having to deal with the same issues as Greece if Obama is re-elected. The pain will really be felt by the folks least able to withstand the pain if these Democrats keep the tax and spend habits that both parties have been guilty of in the past.
Today's news in Court that you will NOT see on MSNBC. Obama's OWN Attorney is arguing in Court that Obama is NOT the Democratic Nominee. If not Obama AKA Soetoro AKA Davis, then who is the Democratic Nominee for November 2012?
http://www.wnd.com/2012/06/obama-attorneys-argue-hes-not-dem-nominee/
Kurt, it's just more birther "natural born citizen" bull@!$%#! Is your real name Orley Tates??
"Conservative" is not synonymous with "ignorant."
It just looks that way, sometimes. ;-)
Obama/Biden 2012
It does not matter who the candidate is. All of them are owned by the corporatocracy. Elections are illusions to give you the feeling that you have a choice. You have no choice. You have owners. They own you.
matrixisreal.wordpress.com/
Cynthia, just pointing out what Obama's OWN Attorney stated in court TODAY. Are you in denial with the news of today?
By the way, Our Founding Fathers putting the Term "Natural Born Citizen" is not "bull@!S%#!" when ratifying the US Constitution in 1787; As anyone knowing their 18 Century History knows they took the definition (source) from Law of Nations (1758) meaning a "Natural Born Citizen" is a child born to TWO (Both) parents who are already citizens at the time of the birth of the child. Sorry you think our US Constitution and our Founding Fathers are just bull@!S%#! I have respect for both of them that you seem to lack.
To answer your question, my name is not Orley Tates nor have I ever met that person.
You really want to continue with the birther bull@!$%#?? Really?? This court case is just another in the long line of dismissed cases about President Obama's eligibility to be on the ballot by those claiming he is not a citizen of the United States-and in Florida, no less! He is a citizen of the United States. Get over it already.
See you in November. Obama/Biden 2012
An anchor baby born in the United States of two illegal alien parents is a natural-born citizen, according to its meaning in the Constitution. Get over it.
Mitt's an anchor baby too then Invisible . . .
Cynthia, just because you lack the knowledge on the difference between "Citizen" AND "Natural Born Citizen", no need to call others "bull@!$%#" Here is a little help for you:
A person can be a "citizen" under the following circumstances:
1) Person was born of one citizen parent (Obama), or
2) Person was born in the US mainland ("anchor babies"), or
3) Person was naturalized (like Arnold Schwarzenegger, who most know is not eligible for President).
In order to be a "Natural Born Citizen", notice our Founding Fathers wrote "Natural Born Citizen" NOT "Citizen" for the qualifications for VP & President into our Constitution:
To be a "natural born citizen" the person MUST be born to two US citizen parents. (plural) . Obama is at best a citizen, but NOT a 'natural born citizen' even IF he was born in the State of Hawaii because he had only ONE U.S. citizen parent. (singular)
During the Arab Spring, Mr. Obama, our president indicated that the Muslim Brotherhood had no desire to take over Egypt. Mr. Obama, our president stood behind and supports the Muslim Brotherhood. It now appears they will take over the leadership of Egypt.
If the Muslim Brotherhood continues to support and enforces Sharia Law, women of Egypt will be subjected to a literal/real “War on Women”.
It’s very strange, knowing this fact, that our president, Mr. Obama has continued his support of this organization. This is confusing and disturbing as we approach this election.
And Romney will destroy the bible
The Mormon Church has bragged the Book of Mormon is “the most correct book on the face of the earth”. Those words were uttered for the first time by none other than Joseph Smith himself on Sunday, October 28, 1841.
“I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.”
And if we elect John F. Kennedy, the Pope will be running the country. Wasn't true then, isn't true now.
dal
I guess with your maligned reasoning, Harry Reid would be also out to destroy the bible. There are roughly 10 - 15 other senators and representatives that would also be involved in your feeble minded conspiracy. Please continue to attack our religious freedoms.
A bunch of moronic posts that cannot deny the truth that you posted, All4reason.
He, Reid is not running for President and can change history...heck we may have polygomy back
also He is is nice to know your selective religious bigotry where you agree about Obama but not Romney. Truly you are a hypocrite and a God hater.
Keep posting stupidity dal, it is the best proof there is that Obama and his liberal idiot followers have no clue about how to accomplish anything. BLAMING and ACCUSING others never has accomplished anything other than prove those doing the blaming and accusing are idiots. You have done a nice job of proving you are an idiot so no need to keep posting one line moronic posts.
dal
Right, it's nice you are continuing down this feeble mind path. You have lost all creditability in any of your statements.
It appears with some of the recent moves by our president, including last Friday’s override of the law are election year panic moves, not thought out completely to try and gain support for certain segments of the country.
Our president, Mr. Obama continues to try to make issues to distract from his failed “O”-conomy. He is trying to bait his opponent into a political debate to attack and distract.
The impact of his going around the law on Friday on unemployment numbers and the deficit will be seen soon I’m sure.
uhhhmmmmmmm Romneys state has the worst unemployment in the country
Wow!
Mr. Obama IS our president now, and since Jan 2009.
Nice one :)