Ohio's Sen. Portman says Obama lacks record to run on, defends Romney

CINCINNATI, OH -- Sen. Rob Portman on Saturday defended presumptive nominee Mitt Romney against negative ads running in his home state of Ohio, saying the misleading attacks show that President Barack Obama "does not have a record to run on."

Portman, believed to be on the shortlist of candidates under consideration to be the Republican vice presidential pick, borrowed the script from a recently released Romney ad that uses the president's own words as proof of campaign hypocrisy.


Brendan Hoffman / Getty Images

Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio

"I think he's running a campaign with -- stick with me here -- no fresh ideas, and when you have a campaign with no fresh ideas, you use stale tactics to scare voters," Portman said of Obama. "If you have no record to run on, you paint your opponent as someone to run from. Guess who I just quoted?  Barack Obama from four years ago."

The lines are from Obama's 2008 Democratic convention speech, and Portman said that this time around, it is the president who is guilty of exactly what he accused Republicans during his first presidential campaign. The Ohio senator said fact checkers have proved that attacks on Romney for outsourcing jobs as the chief executive of Bain Capital are "not true" and continuing the attacks "tells me that he's running the kind of campaign that someone would run who does not have a record to run on."

Portman was on hand to help open a new Romney Victory office here near his home in southwestern Ohio. It is just the latest of a series of ways he has helped as a surrogate for the campaign during the past year.

Along with rebutting the accuracy of the outsourcing ads, Portman also defended Romney over questions about his openness as a presidential candidate. This week new reports surfaced that bring into question when exactly Romney ended his time as the head of Bain, and his opponents on the left have hammered the former Massachusetts governor over speculation about Swiss bank accounts and investments in the Cayman Islands.

The Buckeye State senator told NBC News after the ribbon cutting ceremony that he believes Romney has been "very transparent," and suggested that more transparency will give the Obama campaign more opportunities for misleading attacks.

Not only has he allowed his tax returns to be public, but he's also happy to talk about any of this stuff in terms of Bain," Portman said of Romney. "What's happening is that as more and more facts come out and as there is more transparency on Bain, it becomes clearer and clearer in terms of what the Obama campaign is doing is misleading at best ... so transparency is a good idea, but the issue right now is that the Obama campaign continues to run ads that aren't true."

Asked how many years’ worth of tax returns Portman released to the Romney campaign for his vice presidential vetting, he simply laughed.  Portman has been mum on the issue, and despite some in the small and crowded room discussing the chances that the man they heard today could soon take on a different role, Portman gave no hints of his political future.

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Comment author avatarPigotryExpand Comment Comment collapsed by the community

Porkman is full of BS -

BS - Bad Sociology, that is.

  • 52 votes
#1 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 6:24 PM EDT

Porkman: We are all waiting for Mitt the Vulture to release his tax returns; we want to see how many skeletons there are in Mitt's closet - those skeletons are of those who lost jobs because of Mitt the Vulture.

  • 59 votes
#1.1 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 6:28 PM EDT

"$Millions for me, pink slips for thee" - Willard "Mitt" Romney

  • 65 votes
#1.2 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 6:35 PM EDT

Tax papers? Tax papers? I don't need to show no stinkin' tax papers. - Williard "Fresh Ideas" Romney

  • 55 votes
#1.3 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 6:39 PM EDT

Blah, blah, blah, let's see Romney's tax records please . I suspect he doesn't want to reveal them because it will show he paid about 1-5 % in total tax liability.

  • 55 votes
#1.4 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 6:41 PM EDT

Yeah, Mr. Porkman, Mitt is very 'transparent,' as transparent as a jellyfish and as poisonous (as a jellyfish). Actually Mitt Romney is a love child of a vulture and a jellyfish, and inheritted both traits.

  • 43 votes
#1.5 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 6:43 PM EDT

The Buckeye State senator told NBC News after the ribbon cutting ceremony that he believes Romney has been "very transparent," and suggested that more transparency will give the Obama campaign more opportunities for misleading attacks.

Does the bs ever end? He is saying that he thinks that more transparency from Romney will lead to more misleading attacks? That doesn't even make sense. Obama can continue to make such attacks until Romney is more open and can actually prove that the attacks are misleading. Romney can't just hide himself away from the attacks. He has to confront them and show the American public that they are false.

  • 43 votes
#1.6 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 6:43 PM EDT

I'll re-post this:

bman80

1. First president to successfully ensure that every American will have medical care without regard to pre-existing conditions. This includes some 20 million children.
2. Raised fuel standards on American cars to nearly double by 2024, going up to 55MPG.
3. Race to the Top education reform promising higher standards.
4. Saved American auto industry.
5. Withdrew all combat troops from Iraq as promised in 2008 campaign.
6. Got a measure of justice for 9/11 killings by killing bin Laden.
7. Improved foreign relations with the rest of the world. I don't know how much you travel overseas, Chuck but the world is a little friendlier since Obama became president..
8. Severely crippled Al Queda's ability to launch attacks against the U.S.
9. Supported the end of the regime in Libya without loss of any U.S. forces.
10. Knows when to use soft power and hard power.
11. Turned around a financial crisis threatening a depression.
12. Recognized the ignorance of austerity during a severe recession; something the GOP and many European governments failed to recognize.
13.Built strongerprograms for military families.
14. Ended "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in military.
15. Supported gay marriage as a recognition of a civil right.
16. Recognition that Bush tax cuts were inappropriate when fighting two unpaid wars..
17. Realizes the enormous income gaps between rich and poor ought to be addressed as a matter of justice/fairness.
18. Opened travel to Cuba for Cuban American families.
19. Supported tighter banking regulations.
20. Countered China's push for hegemony in the Pacific by suppporting countries in the region.
21. Accomplished all of the above(most were campaign promises of 2008) despite a republican leadership stating that his defeat was their priority right from the start of his administration.

This is the record of an administration deserving another four years.

So where are the JOBS the Republicans promised before the 2010 mid-term elections?!

Here is the record for Mitt Romney:

Some time back when Romney was tagged for claiming he started a company, he stopped for a while, but now that media attention on this has died down he is back at it. Bill Bain started Bain Capital! Romney did not risk anything--no capital, nor job security, or even his reputation. And regardless of the handful of companies that survived Bain's corporate raiding versus the many more that went under, the bottom line is Romney profited 100% of the time--often with use of taxpayer funds.

Romney doesn't say much about the Olympics anymore, and for good reason. He jumped on the chance to use his connections in Utah to resurrect his political career. The Olympics weren't even over before Romney was campaigning. Everything has been a stepping stone for him and that's all.

The rightwing chain Email (is there any other kind?) even claims that Romney is completely transparent (unlike the president-ha) including his tax returns! The Bermuda story is much more relevant than folks realize -- Romney put this in Ann's name the day before he was sworn in as governor.

And then in an attempt to appear not to be a "tax hiker," he increased regressive fees and caused sales tax and city taxes to go up to compensate -- Regressive meaning on the backs of the middle class/working poor. Also, Massachusetts would have ranked even lower in jobs if so many people hadn't moved out of the state. Not very different from Sarah Palin, Romney was absent the last two years as governor campaigning for president. Then on his way out, Romney took the hard drives with him.

Mitt's father George Romney said that only one year's tax returns could be a "fluke." Like blind trusts, Romney knows full well that he is presenting a "fluke" because he, unlike any other politician in history, has money offshore including a Swiss bank account. The reason Romney did not accept pay as governor is the same reason he contributes speaking fees to charity -- Because EARNED INCOME would make him pay more than a 13% tax rate. As for 10% of the 19% he gives to charity, this is tithing the same as all Mormons pay. Unfortunately Mitt only learned the wrong things from his parents -- Who should have forced him to make his own way so that now he would be his own person.

Legal is not the same as ethical or moral. A candidate can cheat on his wife who is dying from cancer, and that is not illegal. But do we want this candidate to be POTUS, Commander in Chief, and leader of the free world? No. Character matters. Romney -- He's not in it for you.

  • 85 votes
#1.7 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 6:52 PM EDT

"Portman also defended Romney over questions about his openness as a presidential candidate. This week new reports surfaced that bring into question when exactly Romney ended his time as the head of Bain, and his opponents on the left have hammered the former Massachusetts governor over speculation about Swiss bank accounts and investments in the Cayman Islands."

Romney's finances are about as transparent has a dung pile. His political ideology smells just as bad, too.

  • 49 votes
#1.8 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 6:54 PM EDT

Portman is just another example of what is wrong with this NEW GOP. Watched him the other day give a speech. Same old tired crap. Same old talking points that do nothing but divide the citizenry. If these people were true americans, why would they show and act with such unwarranted division. I believe it is because they are desperate for more power. Simple math. What they are teaching our children is completely opposite of rightousness. They have brought so much shame to our country the last decade they will do ANYTHING to try and cover it up. They know if they lose the election and can not rewrite the shameful history they have brought, the truth will prevail. They don't want that.

  • 43 votes
#1.9 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 6:55 PM EDT

Porkman is not new, he is baptized in politics in the Bush White House, part of the team that launched war on 'WMD' grounds and caused the Great Recession.

Porkman is old wine in old bottle of GOP - Gross Odious Pigs.

  • 35 votes
#1.10 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 7:01 PM EDT
Comment author avatarTruePatriot-445959Expand Comment Comment collapsed by the community

Here is a reminder of the Lost Decade, covered so well by Rachel Maddow:

You know what was a really bad time? The George W. Bush presidency
was a really bad time. And not just if you were a liberal and you
disagreed with George W. Bush, just if you were an American.

The George W. Bush presidency, the Bush/Cheney years were bad years
for us as a country. The national unemployment rate went from a little
over 4 percent when he took office to nearly 8 percent by the time that he
left. We went from a budget surplus of more than $200 billion to a budget
deficit of more than a trillion dollars.

After decades of U.S. household income climbing during the 1980s and
1990s, household fell off a cliff during the Bush years. After poverty
declined in the 1980s and declined in the 1990s, in the Bush years, poverty
went up.

By the time George W. Bush left office, 6 million more Americans were
added to the rolls of Americans who did not have health insurance. Wall
Street in the Bush years collapsed. The country was plunged into the worst
depression since the Great Depression in the 1930s.

The Bush/Cheney years were a disaster. They were also a series of
embarrassments. Remember when they were going to put Harriet Miers on the
Supreme Court? Remember when they were going to put Bernie Kerik in charge
of Homeland Security? Remember that? Remember Bernie Kerik? Before he
went to jail?

Remember when they trolled the reject list of interns from the
Heritage Foundation to find people to put in charge of a nation named Iraq?
You, college student, the one who applied to be an intern, are you against
abortion? Good, do you want to run the Iraqi stock exchange?

Do you remember soldiers in Iraq having to salvage hillbilly armor for
their Humvees from junkyards? Do you remember when Cher -- Cher, the
celebrity, Cher -- had something called "Operation Helmet" because Bush and
Cheney never got around to getting soldiers bullet proof helmets before
they started the war? So Cher had to do it, instead. Seriously? Cher,
she had to care of that because the government didn`t.

In the Bush/Cheney years, American`s approval rating among our allies
dropped by 20 points, by 30 points, by 40 points, and those are the people
that like us.

You know, there was the start of two of the longest wars in American
history. Both of which were started by the Bush administration, one of
which was started under false pretenses and both of which were still raging
when they left. It was the drowning of a great American city during
hurricane Katrina.

Remember mission accomplished? Remember 9/11, torture? Remember
Armstrong Williams? Remember the presidential adviser caught shoplifting
repeatedly from Target? Remember that guy?

Do you remember the vice president of the United States shooting a guy
in the face?

There`s a reason George W. Bush left office in January 2009 with the
lowest approval rating for an outgoing president since Gallup started
asking that question back in the 1930s. And frankly, the vice president,
Dick Cheney, would have killed to get numbers that high. His approval
rating was 13 percent when he left office.

I mean, part of the headwind that John McCain had running in 2008,
trying to run as a Republican after George W. Bush and Dick Cheney. I
mean, the country was happy to see them go for pretty understandable
reasons.

So, now, four years after the Bush/Cheney administration, the new
Republican Party nominee, Mitt Romney, has made precisely zero public
appearances with George W. Bush or Dick Cheney. And, you know, this is at
a meta-level. This is still the most interesting thing in American
politics, right?

I mean, the reconstruction of the Republican Party post-George W. Bush
and post-Dick Cheney is as yet incomplete and it`s still the most
interesting thing to watch at a meta-level in our politics. What`s the new
Republican Party going to be after that?

Whether or not you like or dislike Maddow, I don't give a rat's arse -- Tell us what is not factual about the above if you want to have a b!tch session on this.

  • 60 votes
#1.11 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 7:01 PM EDT

Portman is Romney's new "attack dog"...

Romney: Ok, Portman...SICK 'EM!

Portman: ...meow...

Romney: ...sigh...

  • 36 votes
#1.12 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 7:04 PM EDT

Obama's record is great -

Please read a post by correctopinion (#12) toward to bottom of this page:

..........Bin Laden is dead. GM is alive. People will get health insurance.

..........How's that for a record to run on?

  • 46 votes
#1.13 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 7:12 PM EDT

Portman does a try out at a ribbon cutting ceremony in Ohio.

I give him a C-, using a script from an ad is lame.

By the way where is Romney today?

  • 20 votes
#1.14 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 7:21 PM EDT

NorthstarDFL -- Maybe Cheney shot him in the face? He's probably all sad because his interview blitz with Romneyesque Vagaries failed to convince anyone of anything, as usual.

Come on rightwingers -- Regardless of this most recent LIE, do you really trust Romney as far as you could throw him? How about his supposed pro-life position? Or Romneycare? Or any other major flip-flop that are so many you can't count?

We know you don't trust him. You know he's a liar. If you can't do better than this, then get out of the way and let the president do his job. In the meantime health care reforms are going to become very popular. The president and the Dems have an excellent record to run on!

  • 32 votes
#1.15 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 7:31 PM EDT

You are right Porkman is full of BS. By the way who the hell is Porkman. He must be bucking for VP. Talking about running on record. I sure hope Romney keeps running on his record (which is absolutely nothing). And here I thought Satan was the father of lies. All "the do nothing GOP made sure the President didn't have a record. That was their goal and that's why you traitors let America go down. Obama was the goal, not the betterment of America. So, shut up nobody cares for your opinion. Just like buttholes we all have one.

  • 22 votes
#1.16 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 7:32 PM EDT

Romney also needs to release his wage statements for his army of illegal slave servants that tend to the mansions..........

  • 27 votes
#1.17 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 7:34 PM EDT

Obama's record is terrible. You guys can stroke each other all you want, but Obama's record is Terrible.

Obama knows it, you know it, I know it.

Why else would Obama continue to air ads that are patently false?

Even after he was told they are false?

Why isn't Obama telling us about all the great things he's done?

The Presiden't only hope is to try to get people to worry more about what Romney does with his own money

Than what Obama does with MY money.

And using the president's own words to show what a hypocrite he is?

That's not lame. That's ironic.

Deliciously ironic, actually.

  • 36 votes
#1.18 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 7:34 PM EDT

You see all the jobs that the republicans created since 2010, well that is the same amount Romney will be creating.

It just so happens to be the same amount that Romney created while he was governor while he outsourced American government call center jobs to India.

That's not lame, that is ironic.

Deliciously ironic, actually.

  • 33 votes
#1.19 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 7:53 PM EDT

Alil,

[Why else would Obama continue to air ads that are patently false?]

Neither Governor Romney nor anyone at Bain (current or former employee) will say why the SEC shows that Romney was running Bain from 1999 to 2002. Or why in 6 different fillings Mitt Romney was the signature. So if Mitt Romney wasn’t running Bain, as he maintains, then who was? Why isn’t Romney saying who was? Why isn’t anyone stepping up saying “I was in charge?”

  • 49 votes
#1.20 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 7:53 PM EDT

Alil Common Sense -- Wow, how convincing a case you have made (not). That's almost as bad as Romneyesque Vagaries. No wonder why you fall for his sh!t.

Dennis, Columbus, Ohio -- Another good point! And assuming we could find out who was in charge, then we could ask that person what they were paying Romney for.

Americans First-3238795 -- Romney's job creation would be far worse than Dubya, because he proposes taking those same failed policies -- on steroids. And then the jobs that are created that don't go to China or India, would be low-paying jobs with no benefits.

  • 35 votes
#1.21 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 7:56 PM EDT
Comment author avatarsfcretExpand Comment Comment collapsed by the community

Look at all the left wing nuts on here with their so called "talking points". Not one of them can give you a reason to reelect Obama, they just complain about Romney. The way the left praises Obama you would think the country is in great shape. Why is there no mention of Obama's 5 Trillion dollar addition to the national debt so far? Senator Portman is right Obama lacks a record to run on. Obama the most NEGATIVE PRESIDENT in history and the most DIVISIVE in history.

Who cares about Bain and who was in charge from 1999 to 2002. It was a private company that was using private money. It's old history that has been beaten to death. Why are you people so caught up in Bain Capital when 75% of voters say they don't really care. It's old history. Just like Obama's abuse of drugs and alcohol is (he admitted in his book).

  • 24 votes
#1.22 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 7:59 PM EDT
Comment author avatarBrianb-999431Expand Comment Comment collapsed by the community

1. First president to successfully ensure that every American will have medical care without regard to pre-existing conditions. This includes some 20 million children.

While claiming his penalty for not having insurance is not a tax, but was argued before the SC that it is a tax. This insured the largest tax increase on the middle class in history.

2. Raised fuel standards on American cars to nearly double by 2024, going up to 55MPG.

Thereby effectively increasing the cost of every vehicle.

3. Race to the Top education reform promising higher standards.

While placing an extreme progressive as secretary of education - Arne Duncan

4. Saved American auto industry.

He did no such thing. GM is still under bankrupcy protection and millions of people lost their investment in 401K, and stocks

5. Withdrew all combat troops from Iraq as promised in 2008 campaign.

Troops were scheduled to be withdrawn on time via the plan placed forth by GWB. Obama gets zero credit for following a prescribed war plan from the previous administration.

6. Got a measure of justice for 9/11 killings by killing bin Laden.

Without any evidence. Just about every member of Seal Team 6 has been killed in action in Afghanistan. Reported that Bin Laden's body was buried at sea. Refuses to make verification photos public.

7. Improved foreign relations with the rest of the world. I don't know how much you travel overseas, Chuck but the world is a little friendlier since Obama became president..

Improved foreign relations with two bit dictators and communist/socialist regimes. Friendly countries consider the US a laughing stock due to our immense national debt.

8. Severely crippled Al Queda's ability to launch attacks against the U.S.

This has been ongoing since the last administration. Obama gets no credit for this

9. Supported the end of the regime in Libya without loss of any U.S. forces.

Effectively violated the War Powers act by never going in front of Congress for permission of this action. Another lawless act of Obama.

10. Knows when to use soft power and hard power.

Huh? While violating almost every convention and Constitutional precept put in place.

11. Turned around a financial crisis threatening a depression.

It's not turned around yet. How many foreclosures are pending? How many people are still unemployed? What is the GDP?


12. Recognized the ignorance of austerity during a severe recession; something the GOP and many European governments failed to recognize.

Ignorance

13.Built strongerprograms for military families.
14. Ended "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in military.
15. Supported gay marriage as a recognition of a civil right.
16. Recognition that Bush tax cuts were inappropriate when fighting two unpaid wars..
17. Realizes the enormous income gaps between rich and poor ought to be addressed as a matter of justice/fairness.

Regardless to the right of individual freedom. He recognizes it and disagrees that anyone should have more than he should. If anyone has less, they need to have the government give them something like an entitlement.

18. Opened travel to Cuba for Cuban American families.
19. Supported tighter banking regulations.
20. Countered China's push for hegemony in the Pacific by suppporting countries in the region.
21. Accomplished all of the above(most were campaign promises of 2008) despite a republican leadership stating that his defeat was their priority right from the start of his administration.

Everything on the above list means absolutely nothing. The items do NOT point to a man that deserves another 4 years. He would deserve another 4 years had he:

1. Dropped unemployment to below 6%

2. Increased the GDP to above 2.5%

3. Reversed the economic conditions

4. Not spent so much time blaming everyone else for his responsibilities.

5. Not borrowed an additional $6 Trillion and added it to the national debt.

6. Not presided over the downgrade of our national credit rating

7. Actually had a transparent government instead of the secretive, behind closed doors administration.

8. Not signed Obamacare into law.

These items will be remembered more than any smoke and mirrors the left will throw up to try to bolster the community organizer's miniscule role as president.

  • 35 votes
#1.23 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:03 PM EDT

Dennis

Bain Capital, ABC NEWS, The Washington Post agree (after investigating the claims made by the Boston Globe writher) and a 2004 SEC investigation all show that Romney was not running Bain.

Romney did not sign, but was listed as CEO by the 6 (or 7 might be liberal story telling drift) companies that submitted the SEC.

  • 16 votes
#1.24 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:04 PM EDT

Here's the only record that matters (contrasted with the last Republican president):

...the numbers for Bush's last three months. Between October and November, 597,000 jobs were lost; between November and December, 681,000 were lost; and between December and January, 741,000 were lost. [Note: for those mathematically challenged, that's a total of more than 2 million jobs in 3 months - and that wasn't the end of it... when Bush left office unemployment was rising faster than Halliburton's profits!]

April 2012 marks the 26th straight month of gains in private-sector employment, for a total of 4.2 million private-sector jobs.

DJIA Dec 1, 2008 = 8149

DJIA July 13, 2012 = 12777

Dec 29, 2008 U.S. corporate earnings probably fell for a sixth-straight quarter, the longest streak in at least 20 years, as consumer spending on automobiles, homes and retailers collapsed.

May 11, 2012 Fortune magazine released its ranking of the 500 biggest US corporations Monday, which showed that they received a record-breaking $824 billion in combined profits in 2011, up 16 percent from 2010.

Everything else is BS! Do we really want to return to Bush "voodoo" economics? His father labeled it that! Too bad the son was sooo much dimmer than the father!

  • 23 votes
#1.25 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:12 PM EDT

Here's another reason for you sfcret. When Obama was elected, we were hemorrhaging 500,000 to 700,000 jobs a month. Those are job LOSSES every MONTH. Every quarter after that when Obama took office showed job gains, DESPITE Republican attempts to prevent anything the president wanted from passing.

  • 33 votes
#1.26 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:13 PM EDT

Brianb-999431 -- Thanks for reminding everyone how incapable the rightwing are of any original thought.

DB Akron -- Hahahaha, really? There are other documents Romney signed after 1999...

And the corporate raiding, off-shoring, etc. was going on before 1999. But who gives a sh!t? He is not trustworthy--period, and everyone knows it. Aside from not being willing to do the most basic thing as releasing tax returns, more incriminating facts are going to keep drip, dripping.

It's too late! This is the nail in the coffin because Romney boxed himself in trying to have it both ways (as usual). Either he was in Salt Lake City "full-time" or he was a resident in Massachusetts making him eligible to run for governor. Either he didn't have anything to do with Bain, or he had something to do with Bain for which he was paid. It just goes on and on, the web we weave...

EEngineer

Do we really want to return to Bush "voodoo" economics? His father labeled it that!

Exactly! The primary premise of Reagan's supply-side economics is that tax cuts pay for themselves. President Bush Sr. was correct in calling this for the BS that it is. Now the Teapublicans claim that only tax cuts on the "job creators" AKA the richest 2% pay for themselves. But we all know these only add to the deficit, which in turn require the middle class and working poor to cover the bills.

DJ-422465 -- You and sfcret -- The blind leading the blind.

  • 30 votes
#1.27 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:15 PM EDT

"Not one of them can give you a reason to reelect Obama..."

Here is the short list. I can give a longer, more complete list of President Obama's achievements if you like:

  • Obama has overhauled the food safety system
  • Advanced women's rights in the work place
  • Ended Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT) in our military
  • Stopped defending DOMA in court.
  • Passed the Hate Crimes bill.
  • Appointed two pro-choice women to the Supreme Court.
  • Expanded access to medical care and provided subsidies for people who can't afford it.
  • Expanded the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
  • Fixed the preexisting conditions travesty [and rescissions] in health insurance.
  • Invested in clean energy.
  • Overhauled the credit card industry, making it much more consumer-friendly.
  • While Dodd-Frank bill was weak in many respects, it was still an extremely worthwhile start at re-regulating the financial sector.
  • He created a Elizabeth Warren's dream agency: The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
  • He's done a lot for veterans
  • He got help for people whose health was injured during the clean-up after the 9/11 attacks.

None of these things were priorities for Republicans. They actively opposed, directly or indirectly through obstruction, every single item on this list. In fact, they succeeded in killing a Cap & Trade bill in the Senate after it had passed through the House.

All of these things are improvements that would not have occurred under a McCain-Palin administration. Moreover, a McCain-Palin administration would have moved in the other direction on most of these issues, or come up with even worse compromises.

  • 35 votes
#1.28 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:16 PM EDT

Patriot - the only web being weaved is the one by liberals/democrats. You guys keep the story alive because you are sincerly scared that Obama is going to go down in flames. 4 months out and the incumbent president is running neck and neck with the challenger... a president that shows no record of improvement to the country... unemployment over 8%, $6 trillion in debt in his first term... there's no arguing those facts and the American people see it. I can't blame you Obama supporters for being scared... toss everything including the kitchen sink at Romney and that doesn't help Obama one bit.

  • 17 votes
#1.29 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:22 PM EDT

Sailcat - none of the items you list is important to those people that are unemployed and have been for a very long time. With a reported unemployment rate of 8.2% and an unreported rate of over 14%, Obama doesn't stand a chance. Look at all incumbents in the past that have lost because of high unemployment rates... The barrier is 7.4% reported. Did you know that 40% of all new hires last month were considered temporary in nature? Companies do not want to commit to hiring because of the uncertainty of ObamaCare.

  • 14 votes
#1.30 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:27 PM EDT

What you are seeing is sheer glee at the self-destruction of the Teapublican Party. Romney is now the Manchurian Candidate, in that no matter how bad the unemployment rate is by November, the voters will reject someone who is a fraud.

  • 29 votes
#1.31 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:28 PM EDT

"...you are sincerly scared that Obama is going to go down in flames."

You have got to be kidding! President Obama continues to lead Romney in the polls, just as he has since the beginning of the year. Romney has had his shady deals exposed repeatedly, even during the hilarious GOP primary race. He is spending far more time backpedaling from his lies than he spends campaigning. It is only going to get worse, too. Etch-A-Sketch doesn't stand a chance.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/us/general_election_romney_vs_obama-1171.html

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/jul/10/robert-gibbs/democrats-say-mitt-romney-failed-disclose-offshore/

http://www.npr.org/2012/07/13/156701493/why-would-romney-bury-treasure-in-bermuda

http://www.forbes.com/sites/petercohan/2012/07/14/did-romneys-2002-bain-capital-ceo-filing-violate-the-exchange-act/

  • 21 votes
#1.32 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:31 PM EDT

True Patriot said: The primary premise of Reagan's supply-side economics is that tax cuts pay for themselves

The only way they pay for themselves is when congress doesn't exceed spending to the additonal revenues brought in.

Do yourself a favor True Patriot. Look at the CEO's numbers of government revenue after Reagan's tax cuts were initiated. Then look at the amount of money congress spent for the additional revenue. You do realize that Reagan had to contend with a democrat house and senate for his term. Congress spends money. How many of Reagan's budgets were DOA when they were submitted? Bet you don't know these things but yet you will contend that lowering tax rates is a bad thing. Typical liberal thought process.

  • 11 votes
#1.33 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:34 PM EDT

"...none of the items you list is important..."

What is important is that President Obama represents the people, while Etch-A-Sketch represents only the entitled rich and the willfully self-deluded. Which camp do you fall in, Brian?

God Bless Bermuda! -Romney's campaign slogan

  • 27 votes
#1.34 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:34 PM EDT

Brian, you mean this 'no record of improvement' that shows a very clear record of improvement when it comes to jobs since Obama took office?

http://truth-out.org/news/item/8941-economy-has-recovered-all-private-sector-jobs-lost-since-obama-took-office-chart

There is actually a very clear trend, and it doesn't stop with Obama. The economy has done much better under a democratic president for some reason for the last 50 years.

http://currencythoughts.com/2008/08/19/how-the-us-economy-performed-under-democrat-and-republican-presidents/

  • 18 votes
#1.35 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:39 PM EDT

Sailcat - Unemployment doesn't lie. Study the history of incumbent presidents and the unemployment rate. Obama is toast. That coupled with the additional $6 trillion in debt... and you can claim anything you like.

The DNC polls do not matter in the least. Polling never does... I wouldn't rely on them too heavily. You will be deceived. Your view is jaded because you feed yourself progressive liberal information.

  • 13 votes
#1.36 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:39 PM EDT

Brian, you find a job yet?

Oh, that's right...you're holding out for a "management position"...

How's that Gubment teat taste, Brian?

  • 17 votes
#1.37 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:39 PM EDT

Too bad the son was sooo much dimmer than the father!

This not only applies to Dubya, it applies to Mitt Romney as well. If his parents had forced him to make his own way, perhaps now he would be his own person. Romney is a weak, capitulating, MISTAKE.

  • 20 votes
#1.38 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:42 PM EDT

DJ - please understand that 80,000 jobs a month is a pittance when you have a population of 350,000,000. Do the math. It requires a minimum of 200,000 to keep up with population growth. Obama has been running 120,000 in the negative for months.

Liberals keep on shouting that Obama is creating jobs... he's not... the numbers are in the negatives...

Now compare that to Bush before the democrats took over congress in 06. He was averaging 300,000 plus jobs... and the liberals were screaming then that a 5% unemployment rate was too high. Where are those same complainers today? Oh.. that's right.. a democrat is in office and you are trying to defend him.

  • 21 votes
#1.39 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:44 PM EDT

"Sailcat - Unemployment doesn't lie."

You're right. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the numbers have been dropping since October of '09. As you must know, President Obama has been responsible for fixing the shattered economy that was handed off to him by the previous failed administration. It's tough cleaning up after the last tenant. You probably know that from having to clean out the trailer you're currently renting.

  • 21 votes
#1.40 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:47 PM EDT

There is a reason this campaign will be the most negative ever. Obama has no other recourse, his policies are a failure.

I predict a Romney landslide... Obama's desperation is not appealing.

  • 19 votes
#1.41 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:53 PM EDT

TruePatriot-445959

I'll re-post this:

bman80

21.Accomplished all of the above (most were campaign promises of 2008) despite a republican leadership stating that his defeat was their priority right from the start of his administration.

And the following OBAMA 2008 campaign promises NON-ACCOMPLISHMENTS are truly amazing:

Wait a minute....the "I don't remember" comments continues:

However, the Liberals REALLY KNOW what Mr. Obama's policies are:

And some of these folks are probably in the "Obama Bucks" line in NYC:

Mr. Obama's attacks are similar to the campaign he ran for the Illinois Congressional seat.

Yep, Mr. Obama continues to walk on "Chicago Politics" WATER.

  • 15 votes
#1.42 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:55 PM EDT

Brianb-999431

I see what you are trying to piss on. Problem with that is that if Romney was running as a Democrat you would be @!$%#ting all over him based on his record. Face it, until the GOP dumps its radicals it will be in a perpetual lose-lose situation.

  • 21 votes
#1.43 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:59 PM EDT

Jim in Houston-1509351 -- Well, gees since you said so, I guess it's so. Hahaha, not. Come on! Tell us, with full details why anyone should for FOR Romney. *crickets*

  • 18 votes
#1.44 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 9:04 PM EDT

Obama has been running 120,000 in the negative for months.

Well then tell us please brianb:

how far "in the negative" did the Republicans run from the balanced budget economy THEY were handed in 2001 thru the time they passed their mess off to Obama in2009?

Forget your excuses and explanations - the FACT is that Republican created the debt and unemployment and blase economy they are complaining about and trying to blame President Obama for.

The further FACT is that President Obama has made tremendous progress in fixing the economy that was handed to him by the Republicans, even in the face of assinine obstructionism and opposition....

An additional FACT is that Romney admitedly will return to the disasterous economic policies championed by the Teapublican GOP, and America would be in much, much worse shape if he were in charge instead of President Obama during the past 3 1/2 yrs.

Again - the FACTS speak for themselves, regardless of YOUR RNC/Rove/Koch talking points and "explainations" and spin, and your constant un-truths are an excercise in futility (and, frankly, very tiresome as well as disgusting!)

  • 18 votes
#1.45 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 9:13 PM EDT

Jim - You are another delusional Texan.

Comment on the article - Portman's nose is taking a decidedly brownish tone...

  • 14 votes
#1.46 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 9:14 PM EDT

TruePatriot-445959

Jim in Houston-1509351 -- Well, gees since you said so, I guess it's so. Hahaha, not. Come on! Tell us, with full details why anyone should for FOR Romney. *crickets*

Well, a few things that come to mind...

  1. Romney believes in the Constitution and the principles of our founding fathers (Obama is trying to systematically dismantle them).
  2. Obama shows no understanding of what makes this country great, Capitalism for instance. He thinks he can create jobs. Phewy... jobs only come from a thriving business environment. Capitalism is the key (not Socialism).
  3. Obama was elected on a wave of euphoria (it's worn off now) and Americans can see that his rhetoric is nothing more than that, a bunch of broken promises.

Can't wait to talk to you after the election. ;^)

chirp, chirp...

  • 14 votes
#1.47 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 9:14 PM EDT

Mitt the Vulture should not run for Pres. of the US...

.. instead he should run for CEO of Bermuda and Cayman Islands, that is where his money is, he should move his ass where his money is.

  • 17 votes
#1.48 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 9:18 PM EDT

kimH-1330542

Jim - You are another delusional Texan.

Comment on the article - Portman's nose is taking a decidedly brownish tone...

We delusional Texans just happen to have the most thriving economy of any US state at the moment.

Just sayin'...

  • 9 votes
#1.49 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 9:18 PM EDT

Well, a few things that come to mind...

...And AGAIN, you make bold unsubstantiated statements without ANY authority nor citaton to back it up.

AGAIN - "Geez - since YOU say so...NOT"

Do you have ANY proof "Romney believe in the Constitution" because it doesn't appear to be a true statement to me.

How about some proof he "understands what makes this country great"???? Same thing.

Your posts are plain silly opinion and nothing more!

  • 15 votes
#1.50 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 9:20 PM EDT

... stupid...

...And AGAIN, you make bold unsubstantiated statements without ANY authority nor citaton to back it up.

AGAIN - "Geez - since YOU say so...NOT"

Do you have ANY proof "Romney believe in the Constitution" because it doesn't appear to be a true statement to me.

How about some proof he "understands what makes this country great"???? Same thing.

Your posts are plain silly opinion and nothing more!

Ok, not so stupid (which is debatable but anyway)...

Most conservative thinking people in this country believe self-reliance made the USA great. A desire to be free from taxation and over-bearing government control. Obama has done nothing but act otherwise. Obamacare, the stimulus, and most recently the repeal of wellfare reform all show a desire to change the way our country operates. Can you name one campaign promise he kept? Seriously...

  • 9 votes
#1.51 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 9:33 PM EDT

Here's some news for everyone:

Republican Governor from Alabama calling for Romney to release his tax returns:

http://news.yahoo.com/gop-governor-calls-mitt-romney-release-additional-tax-223443345--abc-news-politics.html

  • 16 votes
#1.52 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 9:35 PM EDT

Come one. If Obama thought he had such a great record, he would run on it. He attacks instead. That tells me even he knows he has no record worth mentioning to run on. All he feels he has left is to attack. All his "accomplishments" are dubious at best and he is well aware that any of them could backfire on him in a blink of an eye.

  • 8 votes
#1.53 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 9:38 PM EDT

I can't believe... okay I can -- Jim in Houston-1509351 took his talking points from the rightwing Email going around like a virus...

You forgot these parts Jim:

At least we know what religion he is [i.e., Romney is a Christian?], and that he won't

desecrate the flag, bow down to foreign powers, or practice fiscal

irresponsibility. We know he has the ability to turn this financial debacle

that the current regime has gotten us into. We won't like all the things

necessary to recover from this debt, but someone with Romney's background

can do it. But, on the minus side, He never was a "Community Organizer",

never took drugs or smoked pot, never got drunk, did not associate with

communists or terrorists, nor did he attend a church whose pastor called for

God to damn the US.

Hahaha, notice the propaganda term "regime?" And that was the least pathetic part about the very lengthy Email with Birther, and Transcripter conspiracy theories and the whole crock of crap. We've been seeing snippets of this throughout all the threads...

  • 18 votes
#1.54 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 9:42 PM EDT

@Jim in Houston: Romney thinks the Constitution is His morning sh^t. Romney will never present documentation that disproves the Presidents allegations. He will never present for examination, His past tax records. Romney is a "liar", and likely thief, and He damn sure does not wish to furnish proof of that Himself. Right now, He is solely dependent on the gullibility of the small minded, the ignorant, the greedy, and the racists. Enough of them to elect Him? Maybe. I seriously doubt it though. These are, and will be, His only base.

Obama/Biden 2012

  • 16 votes
#1.55 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 9:43 PM EDT

2. Raised fuel standards on American cars to nearly double by 2024, going up to 55MPG.

Thereby effectively increasing the cost of every vehicle.

And therein lies the stupidity in the reasoning ability of the GOP/TP. They want cars that get 1 MPG, which means they will be next to FREE, which in turn will increase oil consumption and create jobs. Of course they will be the first to scream when gasoline hits $500 a gallon and inflation from the massive cost of petroleum will shuts the global economy. But hey, who needs to think about those little issues. Just so long as we get our almost free cars with no mileage requirements.

  • 17 votes
#1.56 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 9:49 PM EDT

Dont_carry_it_all -- Sometimes Newt Gingrich is smarter than the rightwing talking points he has to parrot, because if he goes off message he'll have to answer to Rush Limbaugh... And Newt was right about vetting Romney in the primary and NOT during the general election.

Newt, Perry, and Santorum all questioned Romney's viability as a candidate. But they were shut down by the establishment--the "bought and paid for" establishment who falsely assumed that Mitt was their best shot. There are quite a lot of Republicans calling for Romney's tax returns. They want to know the truth before the convention...

Mac Forrester -- LMAO, daily constitution... Mitt may know a balance sheet but he doesn't know sh!t about much else. Good looks and money makes an empty suit--same goes for Scott Brown in Massachusetts now. If these guys were blond bombshell women, they'd just be someone's trophy wife.

  • 17 votes
#1.57 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 9:50 PM EDT

"We delusional Texans just happen to have the most thriving economy of any US state at the moment."

Texas has the second largest economy among US states but it ranks only 24th by GDP. What insane fantasy world are you living in?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_by_GDP

  • 15 votes
#1.58 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 9:52 PM EDT

Jimbo - You don't seem to have too much support on here tonight. This probably isn't the best time to start your Good Old Boys for Romney fan club.

  • 15 votes
#1.59 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 9:53 PM EDT

True Patriot -- When you have Republicans stepping forward asking for Romney to release those tax returns you know something ain't right.

BTW Fellow Dems, mind if I borrow your lists or facts on occasion for reposting?

Mac -- You have a great sense of humor!

  • 12 votes
#1.60 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 9:54 PM EDT

Mac Forrester

@Jim in Houston: Romney thinks the Constitution is His morning sh^t. Romney will never present documentation that disproves the Presidents allegations. He will never present for examination, His past tax records. Romney is a "liar", and likely thief, and He damn sure does not wish to furnish proof of that Himself. Right now, He is solely dependent on the gullibility of the small minded, the ignorant, the greedy, and the racists. Enough of them to elect Him? Maybe. I seriously doubt it though. These are, and will be, His only base.

Obama/Biden 2012

How ridiculous. Obama's credentials were what? Ivy League educated community organizer, right? He is a political concoction. You guys are drinking coolaid...

  • 6 votes
#1.61 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 9:55 PM EDT

kimH-1330542

Jimbo - You don't seem to have too much support on here tonight. This probably isn't the best time to start your Good Old Boys for Romney fan club.

I'm really not surprised, look at the site I'm on after all.

But for the record, I'm about as far from a 'Good ole boy' as you can get. I just happen to think this country is headed in the wrong direction.

  • 5 votes
#1.62 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 9:58 PM EDT

DJ-422465 -- I extend my apology to you. I meant to copy and past Brianb-999431. I just caught the error. Sorry dude!

  • 11 votes
#1.63 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 10:03 PM EDT

Brianb -- If you are still here-- Just so you know Reagan cut taxes in 1982 but raised them again in 83 (during a recession), 85,86 and several other times. He also lowered the Capital gains rate to 20% and a few years later raised it back up to 28%. In 1987 Mortgage rates were over 12%. Things were not as great back then as some opine on.

He raised taxes to raise revenues.

Jim in Houston -- What say you on the Republican governor calling on Romney to release his tax returns?

  • 12 votes
#1.64 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 10:07 PM EDT

Portman will do anything to be chosen VP. Get Romney to tell the truth and release his tax records for 200o-2010 and we will know he is a liar about Bain-Capital and outsourcing.

  • 14 votes
#1.65 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 10:08 PM EDT

TruePatriot-445959

I can't believe... okay I can -- Jim in Houston-1509351 took his talking points from the rightwing Email going around like a virus...

Jim inserts: OK Parrot, I don't know what you're talking about but you go on to attribute a bunch of stuff to me which I have never seen before (see below)...

You forgot these parts Jim:

At least we know what religion he is [i.e., Romney is a Christian?], and that he won't

desecrate the flag, bow down to foreign powers, or practice fiscal

irresponsibility. We know he has the ability to turn this financial debacle

that the current regime has gotten us into. We won't like all the things

necessary to recover from this debt, but someone with Romney's background

can do it. But, on the minus side, He never was a "Community Organizer",

never took drugs or smoked pot, never got drunk, did not associate with

communists or terrorists, nor did he attend a church whose pastor called for

God to damn the US.

Hahaha, notice the propaganda term "regime?" And that was the least pathetic part about the very lengthy Email with Birther, and Transcripter conspiracy theories and the whole crock of crap. We've been seeing snippets of this throughout all the threads...

Sorry Parrot, you're a jerk... You are criticizing me for things I didn't even say. Are you a regular around here. Sigh...

  • 2 votes
#1.66 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 10:09 PM EDT

RedDevPS -- Ain't that the truth -- The rightwing no longer has any Rule of Reason. Another example -- They want tax cuts, always cuts -- taxes can never be raised. By this reasoning taxes would eventually become zero, but they (and Norquist) can never explain how a government can operate on nothing.

This may also be why Republicans are against education. Like the Dark Ages, only the oligarchy (ruling elite) should learn to read. The masses need not question authority. Like Mitt "you'll just have to trust me on that" Romney.

Jim in Houston-1509351 -- I'm not trying to be a jerk--you'd know if I was (ask the trolls, which you are not). Look at your post #1.47, which is obviously a cut and past by the size of the font. And then think about how similar it is to the chain email content I posted. But most importantly how it still says NOTHING of substance about Romney, and what he will do better than the president to turn the economy around.

  • 12 votes
#1.67 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 10:11 PM EDT

Dont_carry_it_all

Jim in Houston -- What say you on the Republican governor calling on Romney to release his tax returns?

It's much ado about nothing really. I think it's a distraction. So what if he has investments in the Caymans, do you think Nancy Pelosi doesn't?

  • 6 votes
#1.68 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 10:13 PM EDT

Just so you know Reagan cut taxes in 1982 but raised them again in 83 (during a recession), 85,86 and several other times

And by golly, look what happened to the unemployment rates during those tax increases. Drop, drop, drop, drop.

http://data.bls.gov/pdq/SurveyOutputServlet

  • 10 votes
#1.69 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 10:14 PM EDT

Not a distraction Jim in Houston. My feeling is the Alabama governor may know something we don't. After all the McCain camp had those records so some in the Party know what's in those returns.

Nice research, Red! LOL These guys need to do their homework. Hey Red, the link went offline???

  • 8 votes
#1.70 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 10:16 PM EDT

TruePatriot-445959

...

Jim in Houston-1509351 -- I'm not trying to be a jerk--you'd know if I was (ask the trolls, which you are not). Look at your post #1.47, which is obviously a cut and past by the size of the font. And then think about how similar it is to the chain email content I posted. But most importantly how it still says NOTHING of substance about Romney, and what he will do better than the president to turn the economy around.

And I'm not trying to be a jerk either but wtf... that text was written by me in the UI this site provided me. I do not think you will find it anywhere else unless it was copied from this thread.

(I've got to go to bed, this place is ridiculous).

  • 2 votes
#1.71 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 10:23 PM EDT

Hey Brianb -- My dates are off. Reagan cut taxes in 1981. In 82 he raised them. In 83 he raised payroll taxes.

  • 9 votes
#1.72 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 10:25 PM EDT

The one thing you liberals seem to be carrying forth but forgetting... Obama isn't runniing against Bush. He never has and never will be. To compare Romney to Bush is simple ignorance. I guess you have nothing else to go on. Bain is going nowhere. Romney's tax records will be published as soon as he's the nominee. I'm still waiting for Obama's educational records to appear... but I won't hold my breath. I'll leave it up to liberals far and near to claim Obama's the smartest guy in the room while seeing zero proof of it.... You liberals do realize that all his speeches are written for him, don't you? Ever see him without his teleprompter? Ummmm ahhhhh... ahhhh... ummmmm.... let me make this perfectly clear. I'm ummmmmm.... some great orator. It's all fake.

Every accolade liberals give Obama is fake too. His accomplishments are slim. He has no record to run on, or he would be shouting it! Sane people are tired of him. It's the looney left that continues to support him as if he's something good for this country but fail to recognize the amount of times he's tried to go around congress through executive orders. You should do yourself a favor to see how many he's written over the past few months and what's contained in them. He is, by personal fiat writing his own set of rules that is not approved by the conventions set up in our Constitution. I realize that liberals don't want to know because if they found out, they might have their happy happy feelings chipped away at. It's just fine for me that liberals choose misinformation over the truth.

  • 7 votes
#1.73 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 10:26 PM EDT

"The one thing you liberals seem to be carrying forth but forgetting... Obama isn't runniing against Bush."

The one thing you appear to be forgetting is that Romney isn't running against President Obama; he seems to be spending his time running from his past, his shady financial entanglements, and his lies.

Romney's lies will chase him all the way to a humiliating defeat in November, too.

  • 11 votes
#1.74 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 10:39 PM EDT

Dont_carry_it_all -- Reagan cut taxes at first, then raised taxes 11 times throughout the rest of his presidency. The myths are too many to keep track of. For example: No Republican president has balanced the budget since Nixon, or has had a surplus since Eisenhower.

President Obama has NOT raised taxes, has NOT spent at historic levels, has NOT grown government, and ACA is NOT a "massive" tax hike on the middle class. The GOP/TP are worse than the tax-and-spend Party they've been in the past, now they are just the spend, spend, spend Party--except when a Dem is in the White House, then they get all holier then thou.

Getting back to how Gingrich and others were shut down, was this famous fallacious argument: "If you attack Mitt Romney, you attack free enterprise." Sound familiar? Like "if you don't support the war [Dubya], you don't support the troops." When the rightwing turns their own illogical propaganda on themselves, they deserve to suffer the consequences.

Three things; 1) Romney is a one-trick pony running on his "business experience," 2) even if the media stopped investigating Romney's finances, he still fails to provide a compelling reason why people should vote for him, and 3) the flip-flops are so "severe" that even staunch Republicans (especially Teavangelicals for reasons of their own) don't trust him.

Show us the tax returns!

  • 12 votes
#1.75 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 10:39 PM EDT

Now compare that to Bush before the democrats took over congress in 06. He was averaging 300,000 plus jobs...

Source, please? I didn't think so...

Here's a list year by year, compiled from BLS staitisics...

George W. Bush was sworn in Jan, 2000. But it wouldn't be fair to credit W with year 2000... Clinton's last budget ran to Oct, 2000, so we will give Bush credit only for 2001 and on...

End of 2000... 132,481,000 jobs

End of 2001... 130,720,000 -1,761,000

End of 2002... 130,175,000 -545,000

End of 2003... 130,259,000 +84,000

End of 2004... 132,316,000 +2,157,000

End of 2005... 134,814,000 +2,498,000

[NOTE: this is the best Bush ever did... all downhill from here, and it averages to a little over 200,000 jobs a month. Where the heck did you get 300,000???]

End of 2006... 136,882,000 +2,068,000

End of 2007... 137,982,000 +1,100,000

End of 2008... 134,379,000 -3,603,000

Just as it isn't fair to credit W for Clinton's last budget year, we must include 2009 for Bush since his last budget ran to Oct, 2009.

End of 2009... 129,319,000 -5,060,000

Now Romney wants to continue this same fine tradition with the same economic policies.


  • 12 votes
#1.76 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 10:47 PM EDT

True -- No matter how many times you put those myths to rest they just keep repeating them. Talk about indoctrination! As for Romney I think even before this mess with Bain, he was on the losing end of the argument on releasing his tax returns. Something doesn't smell right. What's the big deal? This has been standard practice for 30 years. Sheesh. Even the WSJ slammed him on how he's running his campaign.

  • 13 votes
#1.77 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 10:52 PM EDT

and the liberals were screaming then that a 5% unemployment rate was too high.

OK, let's look at unemployment. When George W. Bush was sworn in on Jan, 2000, unemployment was 4.0%. In fact, the average for all of 2000 was 4.0%. You can thank Clinton for that.

But then Bush really got going. I jest, I jest, thank the world trade center bombing. These don't tell the whole story, but here's the average for all of Bush's years:

2000 4.0%

2001 4.7%

2002 5.8%

2003 6.0%

2004 5.5%

2005 5.1%

2006 4.6%

2007 4.6%

2008 5.8%

As I said, the above averages don't tell the whole story. In Dec, 2008, unemployment was 7.3% and rising faster than Halliburton's profits. Due to W and his mismanagement of the economy, it wouldn't stop until it was over 10% in 2009!

Bush's overall record is nothing to be proud of. In fact, George W. Bush will go down in history as the worst president of all time.

  • 15 votes
#1.78 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 11:05 PM EDT

I want to know why President Obama felt it necessary to give state waivers on welfare?

President Obama now wants to strip the established work requirements from welfare. The success of bipartisan welfare reform, passed under President Clinton, has rested on the obligation of work. The President’s action is completely misdirected. Work is a dignified endeavor, and the linkage of work and welfare is essential to prevent welfare from becoming a way of life.

  • 3 votes
#1.79 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 11:08 PM EDT

Dont_carry_it_all -- "You Have To Keep Repeating Things To Catapult The Propaganda" -- G.W. Bush

But I agree with Mac -- Some turds don't blossom, and Romney needs to be flushed.

thetotas -- I want to know why you are posting off topic about something we've all answered many times before? How can you predicate assistance on working when there is no work? Lolz, go fap somewhere else.

  • 12 votes
#1.80 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 11:09 PM EDT

i earlier asked what Romney was doing today while Portman was ribbon cutting?

Well, according to the photo from ABC, Romney was at his lake home sitting in a lawn chair with his Ipad.

His last campaign appearance was Wed. He appeared on Friday night news show briefly.

Next week he will fund raise in LA and MS before his first campaign appearance on Wed.

He sounds like Congress, a three day work week.

  • 13 votes
#1.81 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 11:09 PM EDT

I always believed that welfare had to be changed. I was much more concerned ten years ago when President Clinton initially signed the bill that this could have disastrous results …

It worked better than I think a lot of people anticipated. And one of the things that I am absolutely convinced of is that we have to have work as a centerpiece of any social policy. Not only because, ultimately people who work are going to get more income. But the intrinsic dignity of work, uh, the sense of purpose.

… We were made for work … and the sense that you are part of a community, because you’re making a contribution.

  • 3 votes
#1.82 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 11:13 PM EDT

"The one thing you liberals seem to be carrying forth but forgetting... Obama isn't runniing against Bush."

You could have fooled me! Romney hired a lot of Bush's old staff, including two of his economic advisers — N. Greg Mankiw and Glenn Hubbard — who served as chief economist for Bush. The economic policies that Romney has actually said anything about (in fact, the only policies he said anything specific about) include tax cuts and less government regulation. Exactly the same things that doubled our national debt and tanked the economy when Bush was in charge.

Frankly, Obama is indeed running against Bush. I see little to no difference between Bush and Romney and, man, does that scare me!

  • 11 votes
#1.83 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 11:13 PM EDT

There's Romney.

There's Rmoney, short for republican money.

  • 10 votes
#1.84 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 11:22 PM EDT

NorthstarDFL -- LOL, well at least it's better than going on a cruise, or a book signing, maybe?

EEngineer

Frankly, Obama is indeed running against Bush. I see little to no difference between Bush and Romney and, man, does that scare me!

Agreed. It's not just scary, it outright pisses me off. There is a clear choice -- Going back to (or should i say continuing one with) the GOP/Bush-era policies -- on steroids, or going forward with the president and Dems to expand the middle class, to grow the economy from the bottom up, thereby benefiting everyone including businesses and the rich. Oh how I long for the days of peace and prosperity during Bill Clinton!

This most certainly IS an election about platforms, ideology, and Romney = Dubya but more "severely." That's why Romney doesn't provide details about what he plans to do. His 59-point plan is Romneyesque Vagaries that boils down to two points: The rich get richer, and the poor get poorer.

Throw the Teapublicans out. Romney -- He's not in it for you.

  • 15 votes
#1.85 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 11:25 PM EDT

True Patriot, too bad most of the wingers won't take the time to read it. And for BRIANB, you're brain is so tainted with bias you couldn't see the good news in TP's post if you spent the next 20 years disecting it.

  • 9 votes
#1.86 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 12:47 AM EDT

Northstar......I saw your earlier post as I went through this thread. I posted this earlier on another blog having similar thoughts as yourself:

He's taking the weekend off and won't resume campaigning until Tuesday, poor baby, he's exhausted from all that fundraising and of course those mini interviews he gave last evening.

He is playing with his IPad as he is sitting on the lawn lakeside. Who does this remind you of?

Who used to fly to his ranch almost every weekend so he could clear brush and ride his mountain bike? The thought of having another President in the WH who takes off almost every weekend is enough to make me retch. No thank you, I don't need four years of watching the privileged gallivant in their private playgrounds while the rest of us try to hold our lives together as best we can, knowing they don't give a rap about us.

I want four more years of President Obama who is working hard to get our lives better, he needs a Congress to help him do that, let's make sure he gets what he needs to make that happen.

OBAMA/BIDEN 2012

  • 15 votes
#1.87 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 1:21 AM EDT

And for BRIANB, you're brain is so tainted with bias

That poor mess is still trying to grasp the issue with higher MPG ratings and the cost of a car. Poor thing does't realize that for most makes/models, as MPG decreases, the cost of the car increases. Think Hummers at around $100k for 8 MPG, vs. 35 MPG for a Honda Civic costing $16k.

  • 10 votes
#1.88 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 1:31 AM EDT

True Patriot -Thanks for reminding everyone how incapable the rightwing are of any original thought.

From True Patriot whose post was a cut and paste of Rachel Maddow….

BTW Fellow Dems, mind if I borrow your lists or facts on occasion for reposting?

And it appears Don’t_Carry_It doesn’t want to be bothered coming up with an original thought either.

The further FACT is that President Obama has made tremendous progress in fixing the economy that was handed to him by the Republicans

The truth is the Democrats – who took control in 2007 – wrote the budgets, increased the deficits and passed the legislation that created the economy that was “handed” to President Obama. Or, doesn't that count?

Just so you know Reagan cut taxes in 1982 but raised them again

When President Reagan took office tax rates were as high as 70%. What were they, Don’t Carry, when he left office? And considering the answer to that question, why is your point a valid point?

President Obama has NOT raised taxes, has NOT spent at historic levels,

No, but he keeps threatening to raise taxes and that causes uncertainty and caution and businesses won’t hire.

Not spent at historical levels? Yes. He has. Look it up.

EEngineer – Thanks for the statistics. It’s good to have actual facts around here. Tell me, though….Under President Bush and the Republican Congress (despite their out of control spending spree) unemployment averaged 4.5%. Under President Obama unemployment has never been under 8%. Which employment scenario do you think most Americans would prefer?

"You Have To Keep Repeating Things To Catapult The Propaganda" -- G.W. Bush

True Patriot --- Interesting quote. Source please?

  • 4 votes
#1.89 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 1:31 AM EDT

Candice, I'm sorry to say that your replies to TP are about as mindless and inaccurate as any I've seen.

1. I'm glad his source is Rachel Maddow. Unlike Faux Noise her reporting is based on facts, not ignorant bluster.

2. You conveniently forget that Bush had exercised the greatest number of Presidential vetoes in decades. If he were so against Congressional spending all he had to do was get out his pen. Those tax cuts and an unfunded war were wonderful economic engines, right?

3. By the time Reagan left office he gave us the largest debt in history and based on a percentage of GDP it still remains the highest of all time.

4. Your rebuttal to the statement that Obama has not raised taxes ranks as one of the most feeble responses in the history of the internet.

5. Unemployment rates under Bush mean squat when he leaves office with monthly job losses averaging over 800,000/month.

Candice, in the future either resist the notion of replying to anyone unless you want to keep embarrassing yourself.

  • 11 votes
#1.90 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 2:01 AM EDT

TrueP,

BS

  • 1 vote
#1.91 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 2:03 AM EDT

Candice- -- When you give credit to a source, such as Rachel Maddow, and don't post that source in it's entirety, that is the appropriate way to quote. In regard to the quote by G.W. Bush, um he is the source as indicated.

And by your (lack of) logic -- that the president keeps threatening to raise taxes (source please), you are of course resorting to yet another rightwing fallacy known as the "gateway" argument. The best example of this is the claim that the president wants to get reelected to a second term so he can take away everyone's guns. HI-larious! The president has done zero about gun legislation except to increase rights such as carrying weapons in national parks, but WTF reason would he wait, on the chances of reelection, to take away everyone's guns if this was his dark hidden plan?

You say the president has spent at historic levels. No, YOU look it up. Do your own work.

Like Brianb, who claims Reagan had to raise taxes because of Dems in Congress -- No, Reagan had to raise taxes to pay for the HUGE Star Wars defense spending. Now Teapublicans just want to spend huge amounts on defense and not pay for it, or pay for it by cutting programs for the middle class and working poor.

You rightwingers can have your own opinion, but not your own facts.

  • 15 votes
#1.92 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 2:07 AM EDT

Under President Bush and the Republican Congress (despite their out of control spending spree) unemployment averaged 4.5%. Under President Obama unemployment has never been under 8%. Which employment scenario do you think most Americans would prefer?

Ahhh, another mathematically challenged person.

You can download the data from Labor Force Statistics and calculate it yourself. I did. For the years 2001-2008, Bush's unemployment average works out to 5.3%. Where do you get your numbers?

As for Obama standing at 8% for 4 years, we all know who the hell to thank for that, don't we? Much as the Republican party has tried to blame the mess our economy is in on Obama, the American people are not buying it. The worst recession this country has ever seen since the Great Depression (you know when unemployment actually hit 25% in 1933), Republican stonewallers in the HR that wouldn't pass gas if it was Obama's idea, Republican grandstanding (by the same a$$holes that upped the debt ceiling no less than 7X for Bush with nary a whimper) that got our country's credit rating downgraded and you bitch about 8%!?! He's done well to keep it that low.

But let's not get in a big shouting match about this. As I said, the American people are not buying Republican crap anymore. Let's just wait until November.

  • 13 votes
#1.93 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 3:52 AM EDT

There is a reason this campaign will be the most negative ever.

True -- the Republican primary probably was the most negative campaign ever.

  • 8 votes
#1.94 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 7:32 AM EDT

So Rob Portman – a current member of the obstructionist wing of the Senate and a former Bush insider tells us President Obama lacks a record to run on?? That’s a lot like Limbaugh criticizing overweight junkies.

  • 10 votes
#1.95 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 8:02 AM EDT

All the yammering about false statements- and the Obama cult members missed the fact that in Vieginia, he talked about his humble boyhood vacations- on a Grehound bus, no less- where the highlight was swimming in a hotel pool?

Guys, did you forget along with Obama that he was raised in Hawaii? Perhaps the bridge that bus traversed was part of the Intercontinental railroad?

  • 5 votes
#1.96 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 8:08 AM EDT

Portman, you're so funny. He has done 4 years has President already. That lack of qualifications only works on a person like Romney who hasn't actually done the job yet. Wake up you silly rabbit.

  • 7 votes
#1.97 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 10:06 AM EDT

Guys, did you forget along with Obama that he was raised in Hawaii? Perhaps the bridge that bus traversed was part of the Intercontinental railroad?

Uh... Snookie Joe,

Are you insinutating people who live in Hawaii NEVER visit the continental 49?

Switch to de-caf darling, you're more delusional then usual this morning!

*grasp meet straw*

  • 12 votes
#1.98 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 10:15 AM EDT

Feisty...Good Morning Sunshine! Snookie Jo and others display such ignorance in assuming what others do or might do based on their own limited existence.

President Obama's family, have always had a high value on education and part of a well rounded education is traveling to see how others live their lives. They made many sacrifices to ensure that happened. On his mother's side he had and has many relatives on the mainland, of course his family made sure he met and learned where parts of his roots originated...that is very important. I've done the same with my daughter as she was growing up, we went to Ireland for a number of summers to show her that she didn't just show up on a turnip truck, that she was part of a bigger picture and belonged to an extended family who welcomed her with open arms. How else do we know we are and what is expected of us if we are not aware of family history?

To someone like me I applaud his family's efforts to show him a broader world and understand the sacrifices it took to make this happen. It could not have been easy but they did it.

  • 11 votes
#1.99 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 10:35 AM EDT

TruePatriot - Don't forget about President Obama's seemingly failure at cancelling the Constellation Program and employing Russia to send cargo and U.S. Astronauts to the I.S.S.

Some would think that Obama is outsourcing jobs which he isn't. Obama has outsourced a product, sending cargo and humans to the I.S.S. until NASA is restructured.

Because of Obama sending the products to Russia and cancelling the costly Constellation Program what he has done is saved NASA money while reinvesting the money that would have been spent on the program to private industry or even better yet has he has put it into a safe box for NASA to use upon its return.

Currently, Spacex and StratoSystems are both involved with designing vehicles one similar to the Ares that will deliver both cargo and humans to the I.S.S. ALOT cheaper than NASA would have been able to. Because both companies are privately owned they have the luxury of not worry about a government budget that one year would have given billions to the program and the next year taken half of that money away for another purpose.

StratoSystems is also working on a plane based carrier system that will be able to deliver the same payload and humans to the I.S.S. and into space the same that the Dragon X is able to but once again at a cheaper price.

Once both of these systems have proven their reliability in delivering humans and cargo into space I am certain that NASA will purchase such vehicles to be manufactured by Spacex and StratoSystems that NASA would then use for the American Space Program.

Not only will such private companies save the government and the taxpayer money but they will create private sector jobs.

Once the programs are at a full go other countries such as Russia will want to purchase the delivery systems because of the cost reducing factor involved.

Which will once again create more jobs here in America as well as giving countries who want to invest in space exploration but never had the resources to build their own space complex the chance to train their flyers and send them to the I.S.S. or Moon as well as sending their cargo and ambitions into space off of the program that Obama cancelled that everyone has said will be the end the of America's Space Program.

I am certain that you will agree with me TruePatriot that most Americans live in a single moment and get flustered when they see something happening that they assume will be the end of a program.

Americans need to sit down and learn a few courses.

Economics

The Economics of Restructuring and Outsourcing a Product and not the Manufacturing of a Product

The Outsourcing of a Job, which is different than outsourcing a product such as sending our flyers and cargo into space via Russia.

Be glad America that within twenty years NASA will be blooming as twice as big as it did during the JFK era.

  • 4 votes
#1.100 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 11:40 AM EDT

Candice -- My, my you sound like JoAnnaSmith1. Anyway, when you are faced with the same old tired stale propaganda (Rove/Luntz drivel) it's easier to just post a list of FACTS and move on. Those people do not have the ability to argue or come up with original thought thus they repeat the RWNJ daily list of what to say.

http://money.cnn.com/2010/09/08/news/economy/reagan_years_taxes/index.htm Some highlights:

All told, the tax increases Reagan approved ended up canceling out much of the reduction in tax revenue that resulted from his 1981 legislation.

Annual federal tax receipts during his presidency averaged 18.2% of GDP, a smidge below the average under President Carter -- and a smidge above the 40-year average today....

FYI Just for the fun of it.

Reagan raised PAYROLL taxes to shore up Social Security. A rate hike of 25% certainly increased revenues. Reagan believed in having safety nets unlike today's Republicans.

http://www.ssa.gov/history/1983amend.html

http://www.ssa.gov/history/reaganstmts.html#letter

Public DEBT increased from 26% of GDP to 41% of GDP. WOW.

Incomes for the top quintiles went up but for the bottom quintile they declined. In other words, the rich got richer and the poor got poorer.

The share of total income going to the 5% highest-income households grew from 16.5% in 1980 to 18.3% in 1988 and the share of the highest fifth increased from 44.1% to 46.3% in same years. In contrast, the share of total income of the lowest fifth fell from 4.2% in 1980 to 3.8% in 1988 and the second poorest fifth from 10.2% to 9.6%.[33]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reaganomics

  • 5 votes
#1.101 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 11:50 AM EDT

NJNB -- You have forgotten what it's like to be a kid.

  • 5 votes
#1.102 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 11:55 AM EDT

Portman is Romney's new "attack dog"...

Yeah, so is my neighbor's chihuahua. Kick the little bugger and it runs and hides. Sharp teeth but only penetrate if one has no shoes on. Can't reach much higher. All noise no substance. Yup Portman is a chihuahua when it comes to being an attack dog, alright.

  • 5 votes
#1.103 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 12:15 PM EDT

Forgotten? Not hardly. See, I did live on an island- we took the ferry to get to the mainland- so, I'm pretty sure that Obama's "humble" vacations involved air travel.

The problem for you, and the rest of the cultists on this site, is that Obama only tells these tall tales because he thinks you're stupid enough to eat them up. That's how fabulists work, by the way.

Everyday, you prove Obama's assessment of your intellect is correct. Sad, really.

  • 3 votes
#1.104 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 1:24 PM EDT

Seems Alabammy's REPUBLICAN governor, Robert Bentley, is even calling for Mittens to release his tax returns:

"If you have things to hide, then maybe you're doing things wrong," Bentley said. "I think you ought to be willing to release EVERYTHING (bold for emphasis) to the American people."

Bentely has since been pressured to "walk back" his comment, and has now returned to the Land of Mitt-Believe...

  • 3 votes
#1.105 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 1:25 PM EDT

Pigotry # 1.10,

The "Great Recession" occurred on WJC's watch. The rush to derivatives without a thorough review and proper controls is what caused the "Great Recession" that you touted.

By all means, check for yourself.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/warning/view/

.

  • 1 vote
#1.106 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 1:25 PM EDT

[See, I did live on an island...]

Still lying I see...

...hey, how's that Teacher's pension working out for you, hypocrite?

  • 3 votes
#1.107 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 1:29 PM EDT

TruePatriot-445959 I'll re-post this:

1. First president to successfully ensure that every American will have medical
care without regard to pre-existing conditions. This includes some 20 million
children.
(Putting a huge TAX burden on the Middle Class)

2. Raised fuel standards on American cars to nearly double by 2024, going up
to 55MPG.
(Ultimately raising Fuel cost, $1.87 when he came into office, above $3.00 since Jan 2010. Prices have risen by 103.79 percent since he took office)

3. Race to the Top education reform promising higher standards. (On March 9, 2011, US Education Secretary Arne Duncan told Congress that 82% of American schools could fail to meet NCLB's goal on standardized tests by 2014.)

4. Saved American auto industry. (GM still owes more than half the $50 billion in federal funds it received and its lending arm, GMAC [now Ally Financial], still owes $14.5 billion. Ford didn't take money, Chrysler has paid back money and both have made good profits. GM still lags far behind on
significant profits.)

5. Withdrew all combat troops from Iraq as promised in 2008 campaign. (Iraq leaders made the
decision for him, they kicked the troops out and refused to sign an agreement with him)

6. Got a measure of justice for 9/11 killings by killing bin Laden. (The ONLY thing he has done)

7. Improved foreign relations with the rest of the world. I don't know how much you travel overseas, Chuck but the world is a little friendlier since Obama became president.. (Middle East is in turmoil, Israel our Ally is abandoned, Snubs England's Prime Minister, German Chancellor snubs him, French President snubs him, the world listens to nothing he has to say. Poor Hillary has to go around and clean up his mess!!!)

8. Severely crippled Al Queda's ability to launch attacks against the U.S. (Although they have been weaken in Afghanistan, The group's affiliates in Yemen, northern Africa, Iraq and Somalia have gained strength. US intelligence officials believe those affiliates will conduct "the bulk of attacks" for the next few years)

9. Supported the end of the regime in Libya without loss of any U.S. forces. (Should not have been there in the first place. France controlled the operation, not Obama. Thankfully, the rescue of the downed US Air Force pilots went off without a hitch. It could have easily gone the other way.)

10. Knows when to use soft power and hard power. (Continually invading a sovereign country like Pakistan was not a bright idea. It has ruined the support we had and more men in Afghanistan have been lost due to those incidents and non-support. In the three years Obama has been in office we have lost 937 troops in Afghanistan by hostile fire. That is more then we lost in the 8 years (678) under Bush)

11. Turned around a financial crisis threatening a depression. (Last I check there are still more than 8% unemployed, gas prices are still above $3, food cost have risen on average 20%. Wages have decrease. Milk is the only food source that declined.)

12. Recognized the ignorance of austerity during a severe recession; something the GOP and many European governments failed to recognize. (He's set out to make us the European model despite seeing what that model has brought Europe & Greece)

13.Built stronger programs for military families. (The Obama administration’s proposed defense budget calls for military families and retirees to pay sharply more for their healthcare, while leaving unionized civilian defense workers’ benefits untouched. Military personnel that make half what a union worker does. Average wage increase 1.7%.)

14. Ended "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in military. (yes he did, that may come
back to bite him in the @#$)

15. Supported gay marriage as a recognition of a civil right. (Flip flop, its an election
year and his record doesn't look good, so he has to say whatever to get the vote. Two years democratic control, how much did he get passed for the Gays? NOTHING!!)

16. Recognition that Bush tax cuts were inappropriate when fighting two unpaid
wars..
(Signed to extend Bush Tax cuts and more than likely will sign it again. Say it again, had two years democrat control, could have not signed the extension)

17. Realizes the enormous income gaps between rich and poor ought to be addressed as a matter of justice/fairness. (Defined as socialism, not Republic government)

18. Opened travel to Cuba for Cuban American families. (Cuban-Americans who have family in Cuba have been able to travel to the island for years. Just not from US Airports. Not all US airports are signing up for permission from our government to go there either).

19. Supported tighter banking regulations. (Supported Bush dumping tax payer money into banks. Those banks are still having major problems today. Regulations mean absolutely nothing if you
don't have oversight. There is clearly no oversight with this administration)

20. Countered China's push for hegemony in the Pacific by suppporting countries in the region. (Growing Chinese economic and military clout clearly poses a long-term threat to American hegemony in the Pacific)

21. Accomplished all of the above(most were campaign promises of 2008) despite a republican leadership stating that his defeat was their priority right from the start of his administration. (Obama, "give me money & unemployment won't go above 8%" been there and higher. Obama, "I won't raise taxes on the Middle Class", passed Healthcare which is nothing more than a tax on Middle class families. Obama, "I will close the Guantanamo Bay Detention Center". Still open!!! Obama, " I will allow five days of public comment before signing bills." Oops forgot this on Healthcare... Obama, "Tougher rules against revolving door for lobbyists and former officials." Oh unless I appoint them as one of my Zars... Obama, "Double funding for afterschool programs." amount the president signed into law was about 3 percent higher than the fiscal year 2009 level -- not double. And that is after Congress added to his proposal which was zero. He proposed to keep it the same as the prior year. I could go on and on about his broken promises which far out reach what he promised.)

I end on this note. For TWO YEARS Democrats controlled our Government giving Obama ample time to get all of his so called promises passed. I ask, why didn't he? Maybe you should ask the same of your leader.

  • 1 vote
#1.108 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 1:33 PM EDT

TruePatriot-445959 #1.11,

I will not refute much of what you presented from (Maddows).

Please read post #1.106, and consider what was presented by "Frontline".

    #1.109 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 1:40 PM EDT

    NJNB -- Tall tales???? Proof? As a person solidly in the middle class my family often flew to destinations and rented a car and stayed in hotels. My kids thought it was a huge deal to swim in the hotel pools even after a day at Disneyland.

    BTW -- Reminiscing on family vacations has NOTHING to do with intellect.

    Gee, and I thought dodo's were extinct. Apparently not.

    • 5 votes
    #1.110 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 1:49 PM EDT

    Sigh, it is always painfully apparent that the Obama supporters listen to words rather than face facts. Obama is now channeling Elizabeth Warren, making claims that business owners didn't start their businesses themselves, nope, it was the government that let them start businesses. The government built those roads and that's why the businesses could become a business. Now, if ever there was a collectivist mindset in operation, that mind would belong to Obama.

    Part of the facts which his loyal lapdogs ignore is the numbers and, despite the spin, they are dreadful. I now understand how a man like Hitler came to power. Lots of charisma hiding intent. Obama is a socialist, he wants to turn the US into a socialist society like Greece and France, where the government is the sole provider and controller of...everything. Note what France elected for President, a wealthy socialist (yes, there are such animals, they get there by being part of the ruling elite)

    When you have an administration running ads telling people to go on food stamps regardless of if they need them, when you have an administration that grants waivers so that welfare recipients no longer have to look for work to get their benefits, when you have the largest number of people on some form of government assistance in the history of the country, you have a serious problem. Obama is making a bad thing far, far worse and his supporters either don't understand how or else they too, want to see the country destroyed.

    • 4 votes
    #1.111 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 2:11 PM EDT

    EEngineer -

    For the years 2001-2008, Bush's unemployment average works out to 5.3%

    Be it Racheal Maddow or EE or whatever lib, funny how they willfully bigoted forget to mention important factors and circumstances ... circumstance such as Bush inheriting the dot.com recession from Clinton.

    Funny that in your post #1.78, you list the unemployment year by year - you actually document the rising unemployment from 4% to 6% without any mention of the recession and fail to mention the positive results of Bush's tax cuts (rate correspondingly dropped from 6% to 4.6%), results that led to the creation of 8 million jobs - those very tax cuts for which Bush is excoriated and blamed for Obama's woeful plight!

    So, is that a fair statement to say that Bush inherited a recession caused by the failed policies of Clinton? Of course not, at least no more fair than Obama and libs saying the same about Bush. Clinton's fiscal and monetary policies had no more to do with the dot.com recession than Bush's fiscal and monetary policies had to do with the 2008 recession - a recession caused by a CREDIT ISSUE in the housing markets.

    I mean really ... how does Bush giving a tax cut to the rich (and everyone else) make banks offer stupid loans to people they know can't afford them?

    As for Obama standing at 8% for 4 years, we all know who the hell to thank for that, don't we?

    Well a few of the rational ones understand. Business certainly understands. The community organizers, clueless and willfully ignorant don't get it.

    Much as the Republican party has tried to blame the mess our economy is in on Obama, the American people are not buying it.

    Yet Obama got everything he wanted for the first 2 years and things just got worse .... until the elections of 2010 when the American people gave Obama a red white and blue slap down, right?

    The worst recession this country has ever seen since the Great Depression (you know when unemployment actually hit 25% in 1933),

    Yet the recession began in December 2007, peaked in September 2008 and continued to moved steadily to recovery until June 2009 when it officially ended .... all before anything Obama attempted had time to take effect. Fact.

    Btw - did you not know that the calculations for unemployment were changed in 1994 .... that if Obama's unemployment were calculated the old way, without him dropping millions from the workforce rolls, counting part time jobs, etc .... Obama's rate would be around 23% .... almost the same as the Great Depression - the last time we had a true progressive trying to fix the economy!

    Would it really be the worst recovery if not for a president who has a community organizer's understanding of the economy?

    Republican stonewallers in the HR that wouldn't pass gas if it was Obama's idea, Republican grandstanding (by the same a$$holes that upped the debt ceiling no less than 7X for Bush with nary a whimper) that got our country's credit rating downgraded and you bitch about 8%!?! He's done well to keep it that low.

    Yet Bush's deficit spending in 2007 as a percentage of GDP was: -1.2% (-3.2 for the actual recession in 2008).

    Obama's deficit spending as a percentage of GDP has been: -10.1%; -9%; -8.7% ... roughly 7 times Obama's non recession deficit spending!

    Credit rating downgrade? Sheesh .... how can an agency NOT downgrade you when you have a party spending almost 25% of GDP with revenue of 15% of GDP year after year .... and YOU HAVE A PRESIDENT THAT CANNOT EVEN COME UP WITH A STUPID BUDGET THAT ONE MEMBER OF HIS OWN PARTY WILL VOTE FOR!

    Btw - Obama, the first president in history to be downgraded ... is now forcing US banks to buy his worthless debt .... causing (among other harmful actions by this administration) our BANKS TO BE DOWNGRADED.

      #1.112 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 6:49 PM EDT

      Funny that in your post #1.78, you list the unemployment year by year - you actually document the rising unemployment from 4% to 6% without any mention of the recession and fail to mention the positive results of Bush's tax cuts (rate correspondingly dropped from 6% to 4.6%), results that led to the creation of 8 million jobs - those very tax cuts for which Bush is excoriated and blamed for Obama's woeful plight!

      The dot com bubble was a minor blip. The real economy killer was the World Trade Center bombing. And that, my friend, was George W. Bush asleep at his post. As for his tax cuts stimulating the economy? Well, let's let the experts weigh in...

      Subsequent analysis showed that the rebate had virtually no stimulative effect, exactly as economic theory predicted. By and large, people saved the rebate rather than spend it. And the saving didn’t even do any good because the deficit, which is negative saving, increased by the same amount. In any case, the economy continued to deteriorate and unemployment rose sharply despite the tax cut. It’s hard even to find Republican economists who will defend Bush’s policies.

      And at what cost? Well, let's just look at the public debt during that time - 6% was the year of 2003, it fell to 4.6% in 2006 and continued at 4.6% in 2007. Here's the national debt increase during that time:

      FY2002 - $7.4T

      FY2007 - $10.1T

      Let us recall that the national debt was $5.7T when Bush took office.

      Yet the recession began in December 2007, peaked in September 2008 and continued to moved steadily to recovery until June 2009 when it officially ended .... all before anything Obama attempted had time to take effect. Fact.

      Fact? Here's a few facts for you:

      ...the numbers for Bush's last three months. Between October and November, 597,000 jobs were lost; between November and December, 681,000 were lost; and between December and January, 741,000 were lost.

      Yet you say that the recession peaked in Sept, 2008. After that peak, job losses continued to increase for another 3 months to the tune of 2 million jobs lost? Get real. And it wasn't done yet! Another 4.2 million jobs would be lost from Jan, 2009 to Oct, 2009.

      Btw - did you not know that the calculations for unemployment were changed in 1994 .... that if Obama's unemployment were calculated the old way, without him dropping millions from the workforce rolls, counting part time jobs, etc .... Obama's rate would be around 23% .... almost the same as the Great Depression - the last time we had a true progressive trying to fix the economy!

      1994, huh? Well, then if that is true then we can't take George W. Bush's numbers as real either, can we? In fact, when George W. Bush left office in Jan, 2009, unemployment was at 7.8%. If we adjust to the old way of calculating joblessness, then that must translate to an unemployment rate of 22% when Bush left office. Thanks for making my case: Bush sucked even worse than I thought!

      Yet Bush's deficit spending in 2007 as a percentage of GDP was: -1.2% (-3.2 for the actual recession in 2008).

      You are confusing deficits with what he actually spent. For the real number compare the increase in national debt for FY 2007. Budget deficit was only $163M... but the national debt grew by $1.8T that year. Why? Mostly because Bush kept sooo much spending off of the budget. Iraq and Afghanistan wars, Homeland Security funding and a lot of Republican pork were all funded entirely by "emergency spending measures". Let's see, $163M to $1.8T - the actual number is about 10X higher than you report or about 12%. Obama's first act was to move all spending to the budget - you know, part of that "transparency" thing that all Republicans deride!

      Credit rating downgrade? Sheesh .... how can an agency NOT downgrade you when you have a party spending almost 25% of GDP with revenue of 15% of GDP year after year ....

      You didn't read the S&P report on the downgrade decision, did you? That is NOT the reason S&P gave for downgrading the US. Her's what they said:

      The political brinksmanship of recent months highlights what we see as America's governance and policymaking becoming less stable, less effective, and less predictable than what we previously believed. The statutory debt ceiling and the threat of default have become political bargaining chips in the debate over fiscal policy

      This had everything to do with the grandstanding of Republicans in the HR. You know, the same a$$holes that increased the debt limit for Bush 7X in 8 years with nary a whimper!

      I'm done! There are many more things in your post that cry stupid, but "Agaianst stupidity, the gods themsleves struggle in vain." Good night!


      • 3 votes
      #1.113 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 8:19 PM EDT
      Reply

      Romney outsourced jobs when he was governor to India. Now, he wants to pretend he had nothing to do with outsourcing.

      Just because Romney signed SEC paperwork stating he was 100% owner and 100% responsible, he now wants you to believe that they paid him $100,000 a year for doing nothing and he did not have any ideal what was going on in his own company.

      You think he is going to pay more attention to America than he did his own company?

      • 42 votes
      #2 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 6:25 PM EDT

      We want to know more about Mitt's tenure at Bain as CEO (Chief Executive of Outsourcing, that is).

      • 26 votes
      #2.1 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 6:30 PM EDT

      We want to know more about Mitt's tenure at Bain as CEO

      Pigotry - You get your wish! He founded Bain Capital which manages approximately $65 billion in assets, and has founded, acquired, or invested in hundreds of companies including AMC Entertainment, Aspen Education Group, Brookstone, Burger King, Burlington Coat Factory, Domino's Pizza, DoubleClick, D&M Holdings, Guitar Center, Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), Sealy, The Sports Authority, Toys R Us, Unisource, Warner Music Group and The Weather Channel.

      He was behind the start up of Staples. Starting with one store in 1986, Staples now is the world's largest office products company with $24 billion in sales in 2009.

      There were a handful of companies in which jobs were lost, but the jobs created by all the others number in the hundreds of thousands ... hundreds of thousands of US workers.

      What is even more noteworthy is the fact that he never blamed the previous management for his own difficulties – he just fixed what was wrong.

      • 22 votes
      #2.2 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 6:51 PM EDT

      Romney was not the founder of Bain Capital -- Bill Bain started Bain capital. This is just another of Romney's too many lies to count. Romney was hired by Bill Bain without having to risk a damn thing, not capital, not job security, not even his reputation. Romney took over the Private Inequity Vulture Capitalism aspect of Bain and become sole stock holder, CEO and president -- later, after things were going good.

      • 30 votes
      #2.3 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 6:58 PM EDT

      Here is what the Teapublicans have accomplished (re-post of bman80):

      HOUSE 24 bills, 415 pages

      Cell Phone Contraband Act: Senate passed S. 1749, to amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit the possession or use of cell phones and similar wireless devices by Federal prisoners, after agreeing to the committee amendments, 4 pages

      Haiti Debt Relief and Earthquake Recovery Act of 2010: Agreed to the Senate amendments to H.R. 4573, to urge the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the United States Executive Directors at the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, and other multilateral development institutions to use the voice, vote, and influence of the United States to cancel immediately and completely Haiti's debts to such institutions; 6 pages

      Eliminate Privacy Notice Confusion Act: H.R. 3506, amended, to amend the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act to provide an exception from the continuing requirement for annual privacy notices for financial institutions which do not share personal information with affiliates;4 pages

      John C. Godbold United States Judicial Administration Building Designation Act: H.R. 4275, amended, to designate the annex building under construction for the Elbert P. Tuttle United States Court of Appeals Building in Atlanta, Georgia, as the ``John C. Godbold United States Judicial Administration Building''; 4 pages

      Truth in Caller ID Act: H.R. 1258, amended, to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit manipulation of caller identification information; 6 pages

      Radio Spectrum Inventory Act: H.R. 3125, amended, to require an inventory of radio spectrum bands managed by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and the Federal Communications Commission, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 394 yeas to 18 nays, Roll No. 201; 12 pages

      Taxpayer Assistance Act of 2010: H.R. 4994, amended, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to reduce taxpayer burdens and enhance taxpayer protections, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 399 yeas to 9 nays, Roll No. 200; 15 pages

      Clean Estuaries Act of 2010: The House passed H.R. 4715, to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize the National Estuary Program, by a yea-and-nay vote of 278 yeas to 128 nays, Roll No. 209. 20 pages

      Continuing Extension Act of 2010: The House concurred in the Senate amendment to H.R. 4851, to provide a temporary extension of certain programs, by a recorded vote of 289 ayes to 112 noes, Roll No. 211. 12 pages

      Deposit Restricted Qualified Tuition Programs Act: H.R. 4178, amended, to amend the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to provide for deposit restricted qualified tuition programs; 12 pages

      Indian Veterans Housing Opportunity Act: H.R. 3553, to exclude from consideration as income under the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 amounts received by a family from the Department of Veterans Affairs for service-related disabilities of a member of the family; 4 pages

      Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act: S. 1963, amended, to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide assistance to caregivers of veterans and to improve the provision of health care to veterans, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 419 yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 214; 138 pages

      Fitness Integrated with Teaching Kids Act: H.R. 1585, amended, to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to improve standards for physical education; 14 pages

      Anthony J. Cortese Post Office Building Designation Act: H.R. 4543, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 4285 Payne Avenue in San Jose, California, as the ``Anthony J. Cortese Post Office Building'', by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 370 yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 221; 2 pages

      Steve Goodman Post Office Building Designation Act: H.R. 4861, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1343 West Irving Park Road in Chicago, Illinois, as the ``Steve Goodman Post Office Building'', by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 371 yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 223. 2 pages

      Providing for an additional temporary extension of programs under the Small Business Act and the Small Business Investment Act of 1958: S. 3253, to provide for an additional temporary extension of programs under the Small Business Act and the Small Business Investment Act of 1958; 2 pages

      Rural Housing Preservation and Stabilization Act of 2010: H.R. 5017, amended, to ensure the availability of loan guarantees for rural homeowners, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 352 yeas to 62 nays, Roll No. 225; 4 pages

      Providing that Members of Congress shall not receive a cost of living adjustment in pay during fiscal year 2011: H.R. 5146, to provide that Members of Congress shall not receive a cost of living adjustment in pay during fiscal year 2011, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 402 yeas to 15 nays, Roll No. 226; 4 pages

      Interstate Recognition of Notarizations Act: H.R. 3808, to require any Federal or State court to recognize any notarization made by a notary public licensed by a State other than the State where the court is located when such notarization occurs in or affects interstate commerce; 4 pages

      Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act: H.R. 3393, amended, to amend the Improper Payments Information Act of 2002 (31 U.S.C. 3321 note) in order to prevent the loss of billions in taxpayer dollars; 32 pages

      Amending title 39, United States Code, to clarify the instances in which the term ``census'' may appear on mailable matter: H.R. 5148, to amend title 39, United States Code, to clarify the instances in which the term ``census'' may appear on mailable matter; 4 pages

      Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2010: H.R. 5147, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the funding and expenditure authority of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund and to amend title 49, United States Code, to extend authorizations for the airport improvement program. 8 pages

      Implementing Management for Performance and Related Reforms to Obtain Value in Every Acquisition Act of 2010: The House passed H.R. 5013, to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for performance management of the defense acquisition system, by a recorded vote of 417 ayes to 3 noes, Roll No. 230. 94 pages

      Puerto Rico Democracy Act: The House passed H.R. 2499, to provide for a federally sanctioned self-determination process for the people of Puerto Rico, by a yea-and-nay vote of 223 yeas to 169 nays with 1 voting ``present'', Roll No. 242. 8 pages

      Pathetic! That's like a measly 30 bills compared to over 300 bills passed under Pelosi in her first term, and most were significant, heavy-lift legislation. Hey, the GOP/TP just filibustered a bill to cut taxes for small business... Throw the Do Nothing obstructionist Teapublicans out!

      • 38 votes
      #2.4 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 7:05 PM EDT

      Romney outsourced his money to Switzerland, Bermuda, and the Cayman Islands.

      Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

      • 29 votes
      #2.5 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 7:06 PM EDT

      True - Per Wikipedia, "Bain Capital was founded in 1984 by Bain & Company partners Mitt Romney, T. Coleman Andrews III, and Eric Kriss." So Romney was a founder and your post, like so many others, is nonsense.

      • 22 votes
      #2.6 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:07 PM EDT

      Sounds to be like you left wingers are JEALOUS that Romney made money and invested wisely. That's all you got. I understand he was a good governor considering he had to work with a democratic controlled state legislative branch. He did a terrific job with the Olympics.

      • 20 votes
      #2.7 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:11 PM EDT

      Kannin

      What is even more noteworthy is the fact that he (Romney) never blamed the previous management for his own difficulties – he just fixed what was wrong.

      There was only two condition required of Romney when he took over the Salt Lake Olympics. First get it out of bankruptcy - DONE. Keep the guy who had run the Olympics into bankruptcy visible and staff. DONE.

      Salt Lake is the Blueprint eveyone consults to run an Olympics now.

      • 14 votes
      #2.8 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:16 PM EDT

      The total budget for the Olympics was 1.93 billion

      Gov. Romney brought the 2002 Winter Olympics out of bankruptcy using 1.3 billion dollars of federal funding. (source: http: //usgovinfo.about.com/library/weekly/aa092400b.htm )

      TV rights provided 545 million.

      Federal, state, and local taxes, and a few private sponsors paid the rest.

      • 18 votes
      #2.9 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:39 PM EDT

      Hey.....if any president of the US had an issue during their administration.....they'd be on the hook. Seems to me that Romney is not up to that standard.

      He's so weak.......but has his billionaires trying to buy their way in to run the country more. So it doesn't really matter, does it? They've already bought Romney.

      I do hope the American voters are smart enough to see through this sham.

      • 18 votes
      #2.10 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:49 PM EDT

      Does the Govt. own Bain? Whatever Romney, did at Bain, was his business, it was his company. LMAO, but, your President gave tax dollars to foreign companies, in the form of a tax stimulus that you, the American taxpayer, will pay back. So tell me which one is worse? The President the outsourcer, that used taxpayer funds, or the businessman, that owns his own damn company that outsources. I think I would have to say the President using taxpayer funds. The President, has done a sh*tty job running the country. I don't see the President, giving Ge, Apple, Microsoft or any other outsourcing business this much sh*t. He's a hypocrite.

      Romney 2012

      • 13 votes
      #2.11 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 10:20 PM EDT

      Come on Willard, pick your poison. Either you were lying to the American people about your role with Bain after February 1999 or you fraudulently signed papers to the SEC stating that you were an officer with Bain Capital. Which one is it Willard?

      • 15 votes
      #2.12 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 10:54 PM EDT

      I ignore Brianb-999431, so only just caught his contention that Reagan had to raise taxes because of the Dems in Congress. The only thing the Dems had to do with it is Reagan stole their idea to increase the tax base by ending loopholes.

      But Reagan had to pay for his HUGE Star Wars defense spending program! Now does this ring any bells with folks, looking at Paul Ryan's disastrous plan, or Romney's POS plan with large increases in defense spending? Why should that be surprising since Romney thinks we are still in the Cold War and the Soviets are our main enemy...

      Enough! Read my lips -- No more failed Republican policies!

      • 14 votes
      #2.13 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 12:41 AM EDT

      "We want to know more about Mitt's tenure at Bain as CEO"

      Hey -- how about his birth certificate, his college transcripts, his high school transcripts, his friends, his neighbors --- I mean how much do we actually KNOW about Mitt Romney. We know who he says his father was but how about a DNA test to PROVE it??? Inquiring minds what to know!!

      • 11 votes
      #2.14 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 7:36 AM EDT

      Portman doesn't have the looks to be elected VP. If he is chosen he will another liability like Pathetic Palin was to McCain. Portman! Get Romney to release all his tax records like the republican't governor wants.

      • 7 votes
      #2.15 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 7:51 AM EDT

      Portman whose lies as ranked by politifact include:

      Says a "Pro-Stimulus economist admits it is not working … "

      Says that under President Obama, there’s been a substantial increase in federal government jobs.

      Drilling for oil on the Outer Continental Shelf and in parts of Alaska will "immediately reduce our dangerous dependence on foreign oil."

      A year since the "Recovery Summer," there has been been "a fall, winter and spring of no recovery."

      "The (health reform) legislation which Washington passed last year has made it more difficult to hire" because it’s increased costs for employers.

      A bill to cap carbon emissions "could cost Ohio 100,000 jobs."

      Sounds like a big oil guy, criticizing Obama for no new ideas when clearly he has none himself.

      • 8 votes
      #2.16 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 11:15 AM EDT

      If Obamacare is accepted in my state, I will lay off all of my employees and close my business. That will leave me enough to live on and pay my insurance. If I need assistance, I am sure I can find a few illegal immigrants that can help in a part time basis where I would not have to pay penalties or insurance thanks to Mr. President Obama's program for letting illegals into the United States. I will keep my private insurance for as long as possible because I do not believe in the payments that Obama cares to pay to the doctors. I willl pay cash if I have to do so. So many of the doctors are planning on quitting when Obamacare goes into full swing that I will find one that starts his own HMO and pay him or her the $1,500 or $2000 or more per year just to have the doctor of my choice. It will be worth it for my familiy and myself. I will also make sure I am makiing below minimum wage to take advantage of the Obama programs and not have to pay taxes. Thank you for making my life so much easier, Mr. President Obama.

      • 6 votes
      #2.17 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 12:45 PM EDT

      Your statement that "doctors are planning on quitting" is a lie, and posted as such at politifact.com

      It's your life, do what you want to with it.

      If it were me, I'd move back to England where the universal health care would take very good care of me without waiting in lines or paying increases to insurance companies.

      • 6 votes
      #2.18 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 1:00 PM EDT

      Actually, there is quite a lot of doctors planing on quitting their practice as they currently run it due to the low payments proposed by the Obamacare plan. Whether they join a pool or just go independent running their own HMO's or moving back to their orginal countries is still in debate. My current GP and Gyno are returning to India for a month to check things out there for possiblities. One doctor nearby has started charging a flat $1,500.00 fee per patient and will see that patient whenever needed. He does not accept medicare or other insurance. It is just a home grown HMO and he is doing very well.

      If you are from England, then it might be a good idea to move back if the doctors revolt as some are talking about. Everything is and will be up in the air until the electioins in November. Either way, whatever the government decides, I am a winner. I feel for those that are not.

      • 5 votes
      #2.19 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 2:08 PM EDT

      Kannin

      We want to know more about Mitt's tenure at Bain as CEO

      Pigotry - You get your wish! He founded Bain Capital which manages approximately $65 billion in assets, and has founded, acquired, or invested in hundreds of companies including AMC Entertainment, Aspen Education Group, Brookstone, Burger King, Burlington Coat Factory, Domino's Pizza, DoubleClick, D&M Holdings, Guitar Center, Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), Sealy, The Sports Authority, Toys R Us, Unisource, Warner Music Group and The Weather Channel.

      Great, we're going to entrust our economy with a guy who excels at creating minimum wage jobs without any benefits.

      Where are the manufacturing jobs? Where are the good-paying, middle-class jobs?

      • 6 votes
      #2.20 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 2:36 PM EDT

      Funny the article was on Obama not having a record to stand on and libs here are doing just what Obama is doing - they just sling mud and not share how the observation is wrong...

      Belittle others to raise your self esteem is a game played in junior high school... If you disagree then I guess the observation that America can't think for itself and is too dumb to deserve a republic is dead on.

      • 10 votes
      #2.21 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 4:10 PM EDT

      Kannin -- That's always the way with rightwingers. You have to lie to win. Here is the full quote from Wiki (which no doubt has been edited by Team Romney on a non-stop basis):

      Bain Capital was founded in 1984 by Bain & Company partners Mitt Romney, T. Coleman Andrews III, and Eric Kriss. In 1983, Bill Bain offered Romney the chance to head a new venture that would invest in companies and apply Bain's consulting techniques to improve operations.[5]

      The year before, in 1983 Bill Bain offered Romney a chance to come on board, and Romney negotiated one sweet deal for himself, like he always does.

      Charlie-1915998 -- Here is the record for Mitt Romney:

      Some time back when Romney was tagged for claiming he started a company, he stopped for a while, but now that media attention on this has died down he is back at it. Bill Bain started Bain Capital! Romney did not risk anything--no capital, nor job security, or even his reputation. And regardless of the handful of companies that survived Bain's corporate raiding versus the many more that went under, the bottom line is Romney profited 100% of the time--often with use of taxpayer funds.

      Romney doesn't say much about the Olympics anymore, and for good reason. He jumped on the chance to use his connections in Utah to resurrect his political career. The Olympics weren't even over before Romney was campaigning. Everything has been a stepping stone for him and that's all.

      The rightwing chain Email (is there any other kind?) even claims that Romney is completely transparent (unlike the president-ha) including his tax returns! The Bermuda story is much more relevant than folks realize -- Romney put this in Ann's name the day before he was sworn in as governor.

      And then in an attempt to appear not to be a "tax hiker," he increased regressive fees and caused sales tax and city taxes to go up to compensate -- Regressive meaning on the backs of the middle class/working poor. Also, Massachusetts would have ranked even lower in jobs if so many people hadn't moved out of the state. Not very different from Sarah Palin, Romney was absent the last two years as governor campaigning for president. Then on his way out, Romney took the hard drives with him.

      Mitt's father George Romney said that only one year's tax returns could be a "fluke." Like blind trusts, Romney knows full well that he is presenting a "fluke" because he, unlike any other politician in history, has money offshore including a Swiss bank account. The reason Romney did not accept pay as governor is the same reason he contributes speaking fees to charity -- Because EARNED INCOME would make him pay more than a 13% tax rate. As for 10% of the 19% he gives to charity, this is tithing the same as all Mormons pay. Unfortunately Mitt only learned the wrong things from his parents -- Who should have forced him to make his own way so that now he would be his own person.

      Legal is not the same as ethical or moral. A candidate can cheat on his wife who is dying from cancer, and that is not illegal. But do we want this candidate to be POTUS, Commander in Chief, and leader of the free world? No. Character matters. Romney -- He's not in it for you.

      • 9 votes
      #2.22 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 5:59 PM EDT

      True - Per Wikipedia, "Bain Capital was founded in 1984 by Bain & Company partners Mitt Romney, T. Coleman Andrews III, and Eric Kriss." So Romney was a founder and your post, like so many others, is nonsense.

      Because wikipedia is the preeminent source for all "realness" or "realitude" or "realagogo".

      Anyone can edit wikipedia including you. I wouldn't take anything you read there as the truth. In fact you may have updated it before you excerpted.

      So are you a shill for the Koch's or are you uh, intellectually challenged?

      • 3 votes
      #2.23 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 5:59 PM EDT

      mj-1451595 -- my point is that Kannin not only cherry-picked his quote with selective editing, but that editing of Wiki in general has gone wild in this election season, so for now I'm steering away from it as a source.

      The bottom line is this: The spin from Bain/Romney is that Romney handed over control of Bain Capital in 1999 to "other managing partners," I believe Romney mentioned 18 partners. No company can operate for almost three years without clear chain of command! Everyone knows nothing can be accomplished with 18 Chiefs and no Indians.

      So Bain/Romney would have to lie again to clear this matter up and provide the name of who was in charge. And then that person would have to lie yet again as to what Romney was paid for. Tick tock, drip, drip...

      There's a saying that Republicans go for the jugular and Democrats go for the capillaries. Enough of that crap. Romney is drowning? Throw him an anvil!

      • 9 votes
      #2.24 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 6:05 PM EDT

      I work at a state of the art Surgery Center, so I am getting information from the horses mouth. Doctor's are not happy, they fear that the level of technology will take a terrible hit.

      Forward is the last thing that Obamacare promotes.

      • 11 votes
      #2.25 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 6:06 PM EDT

      Numb3rTech -- I don't know how you've managed to stay in business, but you could really use a good tax consultant. Small businesses are being given tax credits to help pay for health care coverage if you choose. If it is still too expensive for you, then your employees can go to the Exchange to buy insurance. There are already small business owners talking about how much ACA is helping their bottom line. Don't just have the usual rightwing knee-jerk freak out. Do some homework!

      • 6 votes
      #2.26 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 6:12 PM EDT

      Hah! I have yet to here ANY ideas Romney has for anything!

      • 5 votes
      #2.27 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 7:03 PM EDT

      This isn't news, the only reason I clicked on it is because the headline made it look like Natalie Portman talking was S*it.

      • 1 vote
      #2.28 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 7:27 PM EDT

      TrueP,.

      If it is still too expensive for you, then your employees can go to the Exchange to buy insurance

      Different exchanges, different doctors.

      If you like your doctor, you can keep you doctor. That's a lie,

      • 6 votes
      #2.29 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 8:03 PM EDT

      The Richest 1% Have Captured America's Wealth -- What's It Going to Take to Get It Back?

      The U.S. already had the highest inequality of wealth in the industrialized world prior to the financial crisis -- and it's gotten even worse.

      February 17, 2010

      "The war against working people should be understood to be a real war.... Specifically in the U.S., which happens to have a highly class-conscious business class.... And they have long seen themselves as fighting a bitter class war, except they don't want anybody else to know about it." -- Noam Chomsky

      As a record amount of U.S. citizens are struggling to get by, many of the largest corporations are experiencing record-breaking profits, and CEOs are receiving record-breaking bonuses. How could this be happening, how did we get to this point?

      The Economic Elite have escalated their attack on U.S. workers over the past few years; however, this attack began to build intensity in the 1970s. In 1970, CEOs made $25 for every $1 the average worker made. Due to technological advancements, production and profit levels exploded from 1970 - 2000. With the lion's share of increased profits going to the CEO's, this pay ratio dramatically rose to $90 for CEOs to $1 for the average worker.

      As ridiculous as that seems, an in-depth study in 2004 on the explosion of CEO pay revealed that, including stock options and other benefits, CEO pay is more accurately $500 to $1.

      Paul Buchheit, from DePaul University, revealed, "From 1980 to 2006 the richest 1% of America tripled their after-tax percentage of our nation's total income, while the bottom 90% have seen their share drop over 20%." Robert Freeman added, "Between 2002 and 2006, it was even worse: an astounding three-quarters of all the economy's growth was captured by the top 1%."

      Due to this, the United States already had the highest inequality of wealth in the industrialized world prior to the financial crisis. Since the crisis, which has hit the average worker much harder than CEOs, the gap between the top one percent and the remaining 99% of the US population has grown to a record high. The economic top one percent of the population now owns over 70% of all financial assets, an all time record.

      As mentioned before, just look at the first full year of the crisis when workers lost an average of 25 percent off their 401k. During the same time period, the wealth of the 400 richest Americans increased by $30 billion, bringing their total combined wealth to $1.57 trillion, which is more than the combined net worth of 50% of the US population. Just to make this point clear, 400 people have more wealth than 155 million people combined.

      Meanwhile, 2009 was a record-breaking year for Wall Street bonuses, as firms issued $150 billion to their executives. 100% of these bonuses are a direct result of our tax dollars, so if we used this money to create jobs, instead of giving them to a handful of top executives, we could have paid an annual salary of $30,000 to 5 million people.

      So while US workers are now working more hours and have become dramatically more productive and profitable, our pay is actually declining and all the dramatic increases in wealth are going straight into the pockets of the Economic Elite.Had we kept pace with compensation distribution rates established in the early 1970s, we would all be making at least three times as much as we are currently making. How different would your life be if you were making $120,000 a year, instead of $40,000?

      So it should come as no surprise to see that we now have the highest inequality of wealth in the industrialized world and the highest inequality of wealth in our nation's history. The backbone of America, a hard working middle class that has made our country a world leader, has been devastated.

      • 4 votes
      #2.30 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 8:56 PM EDT

      the totas, I truly wonder if the docs are more concerned with losing all of their perks from the insurance companies.

      • 3 votes
      #2.31 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 8:59 PM EDT

      Funny the article was on Obama not having a record to stand on and libs here are doing just what Obama is doing - they just sling mud and not share how the observation is wrong...

      So it is the liberals' fault that Romney's career is mud?

      He's the one who is running away from it...

      • 2 votes
      #2.32 - Mon Jul 16, 2012 9:10 AM EDT

      Three important groups that supported Obama in 2008 have been let down. Blacks now have 14.4% unemployment and black youth 50% unemployment. Unemployed legal immigrants now sits at 12.4%, and Obama has handed oportunity for 800,000 illegal immigrants to compete for the scant 80,000 jobs created in June. Lastly, 50% of the new 1.6 million college graduates this month are unemployed and will stay that way. 70% of new college graduates will move back in with their parents.

      The unemployed amoung the 1.6 million new college graduates also competed for the 80,000 new jobs created in June. In total there were 318 unemployed people competing for each job created in June. Why isn't the president doing something constructive about jobs? This president has a Mickey Mouse jobs policy.

      • 4 votes
      #2.33 - Mon Jul 16, 2012 2:09 PM EDT

      Hello, this is really not the best area for this post to be in, nor is it really in reply to you tunanut, but it is info., that evidently many have forgotten about, or did not even know so I am posting it here.

      This is the story about how Obama inherited the mess we are in, and I sincerely hope people can read through what I am posting. This tells the story of why Bush was so bad at the end of his term in office. Please do not skim over this, but read it in its entirety, and let it sink in. If in doubt, then check it out.

      When the democrats took office was not January 22nd 2009, but it was actually January 3rd 2007 when they took over the House of Representatives, and the Senate at the very start of the 110th Congress.

      The democratic party controlled a majority in both chambers for the first time since the end of the 103rd Congress in 1995.

      For those listening to the liberals propagating the fallacy that everything is "Bushes Fault", need to think about this: January 3rd 2007 was the day the Democrats took over the Senate and Congress. At this time:

      The Dow Jones closed at 12,621.77. The GDP for the previous quarter was 3.5%. The employment rate was 4.6%.

      George Bushes Economic policies SET A RECORD of 52 STRAIGHT MONTHS OF JOB GROWTH. Remember that day folks................are you going to face reality or if a liberal ignore the truth because it hurts?

      January 3rd 2007 was the day that Barney Frank took over the House Financial Services Committee & Chris Dodd took over the Senate Banking Committee.

      The Economic meltdown that occurred 15 months later was in what part of the economy? Surprise.....Banking & Financial Services!

      Unemployment.....to this CRISIS by(among MANY other things) dumping 5-6 Trillion of Dollars of Toxic loans on the economy from Your Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac Fiascoes! I won't even mention Sallie Mae!

      Bush(do not ignore the truth folks) asked Congress 17 TIMES to stop Fannie and Freddie.........starting in 2001 because he said it was financially risky for the USA economy.

      Oh, & guess who took the THIRD highest payoff from Fannie & Freddie. Really.........Osama Obama.

      And who fought against the reform of these two degenerate companies? Oh, could it have been OSAMA OBAMA, & the Democratic Congress...............I would have never guessed. So when someone tries to blame bush, please do your history lesson.

      REMEMBER JANUARY 2007..... THE DAY THE DEMOCRATS TOOK OVER! If you understand politics, then you know that the Budgets do not come from the White House, but from Congress, & the party that controlled Congress since January 2007 is the Democratic Party.

      Furthermore, the Democrats controlled the budget process for 2008 and 2009 as well as 2010 and 2011. In that first year they had to contend with George Bush, which caused them to compromise on spending, when Bush somewhat belatedly got tough on spending increases.

      For 2009 though, Good old Nancy Pelosi & Harry Reid bypassed George Bush entirely, passing continuing resolutions to keep government running until Osama Obama could take office. At that time, they passed a massive omnibus spending bill to complete the 2009 budgets.

      Oh, and where was good old Osama Obama during this time? Well, what a surprise..........he was a member of that very Congress that passed all of these massive spending bills, & he signed the omnibus bill as President to complete 2009.

      If the Democrats inherited any deficit, it was the 2007 deficit, the last of the Republican budgets. That deficit was the lowest in five years, & the fourth straight decline in deficit spending. After this, the Democrats in Congress took control of spending, & that includes Osama Obama who voted for the budgets.

      If Osama Obama inherited anything, he inherited it from himself. In a nutshell, what Osama Obama is saying is I inherited a deficit that I voted for & then I voted to expand that deficit four-fold since January 20th.

      This all needs to be widely publicized, so that people will know the truth, and what they are voting for in this next election.

      I would also like to say for what it is worth(which is probably not much to many of you), but if you make the wrong choice(no matter what your political affiliation), then do not be surprised(since our government is collaborating with China at this time), when our great Country becomes the United States of China, & the dollar is no longer our currency, but the YAUN................think about it folks, because it is not too far away. Thanks for reading this post, & I know there is a tremendous amount of material here, but I do hope you research it all.........BECAUSE IT IS TRUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Please for all of you that do understand what I am trying to relate here, please pass this on by e-mail, cut and paste or whatever means you might have. I fought in Vietnam for this Great Country, and was wounded in battle along with many other friends, we had many friends killed, and I would hate to think that our fighting to protect your freedom goes without recognizing that it is the time to join each other, by trying to salvage what is left. Thanks and God Bless America.

      • 1 vote
      #2.35 - Thu Jul 19, 2012 12:18 PM EDT
      Reply

      "If you have no record to run on, you paint your opponent as someone to run from. Guess who I just quoted? Barack Obama from four years ago."

      Priceless!

      • 19 votes
      #3 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 6:39 PM EDT

      ^^^^^Love this!!!!!

      • 6 votes
      #3.1 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 6:43 PM EDT

      Exactly, which is all Romney has done, attack attack attack, and we are just now seeing he NEVER had anything to run on.

      • 23 votes
      #3.2 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 6:44 PM EDT

      I agree Kannin!! Love it!

      • 6 votes
      #3.3 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 6:45 PM EDT

      Mitt's transparency, $0.00;

      Portman's BS, $0.01;

      Obama's record, Priceless.

      • 26 votes
      #3.4 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 6:48 PM EDT

      Oh, his record is not priceless. It has cost We The People Plenty. Let's just call it Too Dang Expensive and move on.

      • 10 votes
      #3.5 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 6:52 PM EDT

      Pigotry - Obama's record priceless? Hardly!
      Unemployment, under-employment, misery index, housing starts, foreclosures, inflation, GDP, debt, deficit, gas prices, oil prices, food stamp usage, food prices, labor participation rates, real unemployment, youth unemployment, have ALL gotten worse under Obama.

      • 9 votes
      #3.6 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 6:53 PM EDT

      Kannin-

      Please read a post by correctopinion below:

      Bin Laden is dead. GM is alive. People will get health insurance.

      How's that for a record to run on?

      • 21 votes
      #3.7 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 7:07 PM EDT

      And so true. LOL

      • 3 votes
      #3.8 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 7:34 PM EDT

      SNORE

      "When you’re explaining, you’re losing." -- Willard Mitt Romney

      We are well aware that rightwingers can't think beyond a bumper sticker. Thanks for proving it once again.

      • 21 votes
      #3.9 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:04 PM EDT

      Kannin

      The only thing important to some people is they get the goodies they think they are getting from Obama.

      • 6 votes
      #3.10 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:19 PM EDT

      DB Akron -- Yes, please, let's talk about who gets the goodies, or as Romney calls it "free stuff." Perhaps TARP for Wall Street and the Banksters was "free stuff?" That would explain why Romney wants banks to provide student loans again, adding back in a worthless middleman and deficits to boot. How about "free stuff" like those special breaks on dividends, capital gains, and estate taxes that Romney wants to sweeten for the richest 1%?

      What is NOT "free stuff" are trust fund entitlements that people pay into like Social Security and Medicare. Not only does Romney want to increase defense spending, AND give more "free stuff" to Wall Street and the richest 2%, he and Teapublicans want to do it by asking for a hand out from the middle class and working poor.

      Fellow Americans -- FIGHT for your right to programs YOU pay for. Don't even for a second believe that YOU must sacrifice these things to pay for unnecessary wars, voodoo economic meltdowns, or more breaks for the rich. It is nothing but a Teapublican scam by plutocrat dipsticks like Romney.

      Obama/Biden - 2012!

      • 21 votes
      #3.11 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:58 PM EDT

      @DB Akron: Ah, goddamn DB! You and the other righties just keep pointing at all those blooms on Romneys pile. Those blooms are artificial. Stolen from various cemeteries, sprayed with imitation vanilla flavoring, purposefully to distract those, like yourself, who just naturally have faulty whiffers.

      • 12 votes
      #3.12 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 10:13 PM EDT

      Willard does not talk about his time as Governor of MA, and is backpedaling so fast on his Bain experience that he could win gold in London. So what experience does Willard have to be President?

      • 14 votes
      #3.13 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 10:56 PM EDT

      "Willard does not talk about his time as Governor of MA..."

      Massachusetts is solidly behind President Obama. The state's residents don't have pleasant memories of Romney and his tenure as governor. If Mittens can't carry his own home state, how can he think he has a chance of taking the rest of the country?

      http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/2012_elections_electoral_college_map.html

      • 15 votes
      #3.14 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 11:18 PM EDT

      It's a beautiful Saturday night. I'm sitting here sipping 65 year old "scotch whiskey". I'm at home! Just me and my wife. No!, I'm not drunk! Feelin charitable though. Um, ah, my pretty little wife is wearing this tiny little female thing!, ummm, uh! She needs my attention, and she's about to get it. Before I leave though I feel I would be remiss if I didn't leave all of you with this contemplation. Lil Georgie bush really crushed many of you. I can tell by your posts, a lot of you have lost everything. Don't have a pot to piss in, nor a window to throw it out. Now you think you can bring another republican back, since you have nothing more to lose? You're wrong. Remember that thing you piss with. Never underestimate republican designs. Regards

      • 12 votes
      #3.15 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 11:19 PM EDT

      Bin Laden is dead. GM is alive. People will get health insurance, Pigotry

      We are well aware that rightwingers can't think beyond a bumper sticker, True Patriot

      Too funny.

      • 3 votes
      #3.16 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 1:39 AM EDT

      Facts Republicans Hate:

      Job losses per month in January 2008: 800,000

      Job gains last month: 80,000

      29 straight months of private sector job growth

      GDP growth in 2008: negative 6%

      GDP growth last year 2.9%

      Dow Jones Average in January 2008: Under 8000

      Dow Jones Average today: 12,700+

      Record domestic oil production

      GM – all time record profits

      Near record corporate profits across the board

      Osama Bin Laden --- dead

      Iraq war --- over

      • 10 votes
      #3.17 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 7:38 AM EDT

      @ pig -

      Mitt's transparency, $0.00;

      Portman's BS, $0.01;

      Obama's record, Priceless.

      If Obama's record is so 'priceless' then why doesn't he run on it? Because even he knows it's piss poor. All he has left is the attack. He has 4 years of nothing to run on. LOL it really is priceless - or a better term is worthless. Oh and Obama hasn't been very transparent either. He sure has called for a lot of behind closed doors deals. Especially when his own Democrats start to balk at his wishes.

      • 3 votes
      #3.18 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 4:28 PM EDT

      Here is a reminder of the Lost Decade, covered so well by Rachel Maddow:

      You know what was a really bad time? The George W. Bush presidency
      was a really bad time. And not just if you were a liberal and you
      disagreed with George W. Bush, just if you were an American.

      The George W. Bush presidency, the Bush/Cheney years were bad years
      for us as a country. The national unemployment rate went from a little
      over 4 percent when he took office to nearly 8 percent by the time that he
      left. We went from a budget surplus of more than $200 billion to a budget
      deficit of more than a trillion dollars.

      After decades of U.S. household income climbing during the 1980s and
      1990s, household fell off a cliff during the Bush years. After poverty
      declined in the 1980s and declined in the 1990s, in the Bush years, poverty
      went up.

      By the time George W. Bush left office, 6 million more Americans were
      added to the rolls of Americans who did not have health insurance. Wall
      Street in the Bush years collapsed. The country was plunged into the worst
      depression since the Great Depression in the 1930s.

      The Bush/Cheney years were a disaster. They were also a series of
      embarrassments. Remember when they were going to put Harriet Miers on the
      Supreme Court? Remember when they were going to put Bernie Kerik in charge
      of Homeland Security? Remember that? Remember Bernie Kerik? Before he
      went to jail?

      Remember when they trolled the reject list of interns from the
      Heritage Foundation to find people to put in charge of a nation named Iraq?
      You, college student, the one who applied to be an intern, are you against
      abortion? Good, do you want to run the Iraqi stock exchange?

      Do you remember soldiers in Iraq having to salvage hillbilly armor for
      their Humvees from junkyards? Do you remember when Cher -- Cher, the
      celebrity, Cher -- had something called "Operation Helmet" because Bush and
      Cheney never got around to getting soldiers bullet proof helmets before
      they started the war? So Cher had to do it, instead. Seriously? Cher,
      she had to care of that because the government didn`t.

      In the Bush/Cheney years, American`s approval rating among our allies
      dropped by 20 points, by 30 points, by 40 points, and those are the people
      that like us.

      You know, there was the start of two of the longest wars in American
      history. Both of which were started by the Bush administration, one of
      which was started under false pretenses and both of which were still raging
      when they left. It was the drowning of a great American city during
      hurricane Katrina.

      Remember mission accomplished? Remember 9/11, torture? Remember
      Armstrong Williams? Remember the presidential adviser caught shoplifting
      repeatedly from Target? Remember that guy?

      Do you remember the vice president of the United States shooting a guy
      in the face?

      There`s a reason George W. Bush left office in January 2009 with the
      lowest approval rating for an outgoing president since Gallup started
      asking that question back in the 1930s. And frankly, the vice president,
      Dick Cheney, would have killed to get numbers that high. His approval
      rating was 13 percent when he left office.

      I mean, part of the headwind that John McCain had running in 2008,
      trying to run as a Republican after George W. Bush and Dick Cheney. I
      mean, the country was happy to see them go for pretty understandable
      reasons.

      So, now, four years after the Bush/Cheney administration, the new
      Republican Party nominee, Mitt Romney, has made precisely zero public
      appearances with George W. Bush or Dick Cheney. And, you know, this is at
      a meta-level. This is still the most interesting thing in American
      politics, right?

      I mean, the reconstruction of the Republican Party post-George W. Bush
      and post-Dick Cheney is as yet incomplete and it`s still the most
      interesting thing to watch at a meta-level in our politics. What`s the new
      Republican Party going to be after that?

      Whether or not you like or dislike Maddow, I don't give a rat's arse -- Tell us what is not factual about the above if you want to have a b!tch session on this.

      • 6 votes
      #3.19 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 6:14 PM EDT

      Barry doubled down on everything wars, spending, tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans, patriot act, club gitmo, wall street bailouts, huge thefts to help pass his horrible healthcare non reform.

      From my point of view he has done everything he attacked George Bush about and added to the class warfare list we are not better off in fact we are over 5 trillion ore in debt.

      Epic fail all abord the Barry express.

      A prediction nothing will change if Barry or the other puppet wins the election business as usual just different talking points and a fresh new face to do the bidding of the globalist cabal behind Bilderberg conventions.

      • 1 vote
      #3.20 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 8:27 PM EDT
      Reply

      <3 you Senator Portman!!!! Stand up!!!

      • 4 votes
      Reply#4 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 6:40 PM EDT

      Who Cares what Portman has to say about anything?

      He is a Governor of a state that has an economy that was SAVED by Obama, sounds like a record to me Portman.

      • 21 votes
      Reply#5 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 6:42 PM EDT

      I know, I know....senator

      • 3 votes
      #5.1 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 6:53 PM EDT

      He is a Senator read the article

      • 2 votes
      #5.2 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 6:55 PM EDT

      How embarrassing We the corp. You are a prime example why we need literacy tests.

      • 7 votes
      #5.3 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 7:07 PM EDT

      Seriously, embarrassing?

      I made a mistake and corrected it before any of you geniuses...

      Anyway, embarrassing would be being gullible enough to vote for Bush TWICE, then dumb enough to blame his failures on Obama and then being gullible enough AGAIN to support Mitt Romney... THATS embarrassing.

      • 20 votes
      #5.4 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:06 PM EDT
      Reply

      Honest go God, there is simply no reason to believe anything the ReePubs and their stooges have to say. They are chronic and serial liars when it comes to political campaigns. Admittedly, they are good at it for the 'unaware' or those only casually involved in the dialogue.

      The ReePubs followers will believe any and all of the political sewage they are fed and they suck it down gleefully and pitifully.......anything they are fed by their pathetic and unpatriotic leadership.

      They aren't about America.

      They are about Republicans!

      • 23 votes
      Reply#6 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 6:43 PM EDT

      "They aren't about America. They are about Republicans!"

      Rush, the real leader of the Republican Party, laid out the Republican marching orders in early 2009 --- "we want Obama to fail". That's been the Republican objective ever since --- to hell with the nation, let's get Obama. There's a difference between being in the opposition and being an enemy. Republicans have always viewed President Obama as their enemy and in their fanatical desire to destroy President Obama at any cost, they have lost all focus on what’s best for America. The 21st century Republican Party doesn't care if the US crashes and burns as long as they can destroy the President. Bottom line, you cannot be a 21st century Republican and be a good American at the same time. The two positions are polar opposite.

      • 8 votes
      #6.1 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 7:42 AM EDT
      Reply

      And so it goes, not a word from anyone on this thread regarding Barry's record ... hilarious!

      • 8 votes
      Reply#7 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 6:44 PM EDT

      Oh sorry, got so caught up in the silliness of Portman saying anything about anyone in a bail out state,

      Ended Iraq war

      Passed Stimulus to bouy economy after 12 years of republican policies FAILED (don't say it failed 40% was tax cuts)

      Killed bin Laden

      Saved GM

      Equalized rights for ALL Americans

      Created jobs for 28 straight months

      Creating more jobs than Bush in 8 years

      Lowered EVERYONES taxes to an all time historic LOW (at least for now)

      Stopped discrimination based on previous health conditions

      Finished NCLB, the worst education law ever

      etc...

      Anyway, whats Mitt's record is the question?

      • 24 votes
      #7.1 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 6:48 PM EDT

      You must have missed this, so I'll repost it yet again...

      bman80

      1. First president to successfully ensure that every American will have medical care without regard to pre-existing conditions. This includes some 20 million children.
      2. Raised fuel standards on American cars to nearly double by 2024, going up to 55MPG.
      3. Race to the Top education reform promising higher standards.
      4. Saved American auto industry.
      5. Withdrew all combat troops from Iraq as promised in 2008 campaign.
      6. Got a measure of justice for 9/11 killings by killing bin Laden.
      7. Improved foreign relations with the rest of the world. I don't know how much you travel overseas, Chuck but the world is a little friendlier since Obama became president..
      8. Severely crippled Al Queda's ability to launch attacks against the U.S.
      9. Supported the end of the regime in Libya without loss of any U.S. forces.
      10. Knows when to use soft power and hard power.
      11. Turned around a financial crisis threatening a depression.
      12. Recognized the ignorance of austerity during a severe recession; something the GOP and many European governments failed to recognize.
      13.Built strongerprograms for military families.
      14. Ended "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in military.
      15. Supported gay marriage as a recognition of a civil right.
      16. Recognition that Bush tax cuts were inappropriate when fighting two unpaid wars..
      17. Realizes the enormous income gaps between rich and poor ought to be addressed as a matter of justice/fairness.
      18. Opened travel to Cuba for Cuban American families.
      19. Supported tighter banking regulations.
      20. Countered China's push for hegemony in the Pacific by suppporting countries in the region.
      21. Accomplished all of the above(most were campaign promises of 2008) despite a republican leadership stating that his defeat was their priority right from the start of his administration.

      • 22 votes
      #7.2 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 7:12 PM EDT

      He claims Obama's made accusations proven untrue but there's a difference in proven untrue and unable to prove. If Romney would do what every candidate since his father who ran in 1994 did and release his tax returns those questions could be answered once and for all. What you hiding Willard? Willards father George said releasing only 1 or 2 returns didn't prove anything as they could be manipulated to make the candidate look good so he released 12 years worth. Guess what, he didn't win but nothing in his tax records caused him any harm he apparently was an honorable man. Can his son say the same?

      • 2 votes
      #7.3 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 7:11 PM EDT

      Exactly Larry! Romney opened the door to Bain and now wants to slam it shut. Whatever was in those returns that he gave to McCain's campaign (23 years worth!) made John so skittish he chose Sarah Palin!

      • 3 votes
      #7.4 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 9:01 PM EDT
      Reply

      portman,quit sucking up you boring clown-what record does mitty boy have to run on except out sourcing jobs,banning planned parenthood-giving more tax cuts to his rich buddies-privitizing social security and medicare-and on and on and on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      • 22 votes
      Reply#8 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 6:45 PM EDT

      Who is this Portman "dude" anyway?

      • 10 votes
      Reply#9 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 6:47 PM EDT

      Who is this Portman "dude" anyway?

      No one is really sure. He has yet to show any personality at all.

      • 15 votes
      #9.1 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 6:52 PM EDT

      Porkman was baptized in politics in Bush White House, part of the team that launched war with WMD pretext and caused the Great Recession.

      • 14 votes
      #9.2 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 6:56 PM EDT

      He's the attack puppet for Mr. Mittens.

      • 8 votes
      #9.3 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 7:12 PM EDT
      Reply

      No offense meant to anyone but Portman, but he must be deaf, dumb and blind.

      • 11 votes
      Reply#10 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 6:49 PM EDT

      He's not deaf, dumb or blind he's just someone willing to say anything hoping he'll be chosen as Romneys VP pick.

      • 2 votes
      #10.1 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 8:39 PM EDT
      Reply

      Nice Quote Senator Portman!!! Obama one and done

      • 6 votes
      Reply#11 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 6:52 PM EDT

      Bin Laden is dead. GM is alive. People will get health insurance.

      How's that for a record to run on?

      • 17 votes
      Reply#12 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 7:00 PM EDT
      Comment author avatarjoe thomas-6340212Expand Comment Comment collapsed by the community

      bin laden is dead. So is Brian Terry. Gm and Obamacare will totally ruin this country. Obama the foreign Muslim must be dealt with, by any means necessary.

      • 7 votes
      #12.1 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 7:09 PM EDT

      Obama the foreign Muslim must be dealt with, by any means necessary.

      What a moron. Even FOX gave up on that line of BS.

      • 14 votes
      #12.2 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 7:15 PM EDT

      There’s General Electric, whose CEO Jeffrey Immelt has served as chair of the advisory board since January 2011. Since Immelt took over GE in 2001, the company has lost 37,000 American jobs, and added 25,000 jobs overseas, according to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission

      • 9 votes
      #12.3 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 7:16 PM EDT

      correctopinion:

      A great post -

      in addition to Pres. Obama's achievement you listed, Pres. Obama has achieved many other great things - for example, the Dow Jones Industrial Average had improved from 7,000 during Bush to today's almost 13,000 points.

      ....and more people outside the US have admired the US more because Obama is now president.

      • 12 votes
      #12.4 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 7:20 PM EDT

      [Obama the foreign Muslim must be dealt with, by any means necessary.]

      I'm sure the Secret Service would love to talk to you.

      • 3 votes
      #12.5 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 4:27 PM EDT
      Reply

      And just what is your claim to fame Portman ?? Being another Romney flunky bootlicker?!?!
      lolol Good luck with that and by the way if he picks you as VP watch out he doesn't outsource your job after a while to make 50 cents to add to his hidden offshore bank accounts!! Right wing Losers! lololol

      Well said correctopinion!!

      • 7 votes
      Reply#13 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 7:07 PM EDT

      What does Portman know? He's part of the obstructionists in Congress. That's a record to be proud of, eh?

      • 9 votes
      Reply#14 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 7:08 PM EDT

      Yup Lou that makes him Romneys kinda guy! Knows nothing, Does nothing but talks a lot crap!!! lololololol

      • 9 votes
      Reply#15 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 7:10 PM EDT

      Obama should be all right if he sticks to attacks and fabrication.

      his record is the worst in history

      • 6 votes
      Reply#16 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 7:15 PM EDT

      Chris Townsend, political director of the United Electrical Workers labor union that represents roughly 5,500 GE employees in the U.S., said the company has closed more than 30 U.S. plants since Obama took office.

      • 8 votes
      Reply#17 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 7:17 PM EDT

      At the close of business on Jan. 20, 2009, according to the U.S. Treasury, the total debt of the federal government was $10,626,877,048,913.08. By the close of business on July 10, 2012, that debt had climbed to $15,885,854,755,351.47-an increase of $5,258,977,706,438.39

      • 4 votes
      Reply#18 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 7:18 PM EDT

      obama-azz

      At the close of business on Jan. 20, 2009, according to the U.S. Treasury, the total debt of the federal government was $10,626,877,048,913.08. By the close of business on July 10, 2012, that debt had climbed to $15,885,854,755,351.47-an increase of $5,258,977,706,438.39

      Yes and who is blocking every bill that would create income into the country, not President Obama or the Democrats

      Do you think this might help with the debt you listed? $4,517,288,000,000, this is just what we as a nation is handing over to just 10 corporations for one (1) year, for rebates, loopholes, subsides and refunds and Nearly two-thirds of U.S. companies and 68% of foreign corporations do not pay federal income taxes, according to a congressional report released by The Government Accountability Office (GAO) examined samples of corporate tax returns filed between 1998 and 2005. In that time period, an annual average of 1.3 million U.S. companies and 39,000 foreign companies doing business in the United States paid no income taxes – despite having a combined $2.5 trillion in revenue.

      And this has been going on for every year since

      http://www.forbes.com/2010/04/01/ge-exxon-walmart-business-washington-corporate-taxes.html

      http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2011/03/ten_giant_us_companies_avoidin.html

      http://money.cnn.com/2008/08/12/news/economy/corporate_taxes/

      http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2008/08/13/study-tallies-corporations-not-paying-income-tax/

      • 9 votes
      #18.1 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 9:48 PM EDT
      Reply

      Another company represented on the jobs board is Boeing, whose CEO, James McNerney, also chairs the President’s Export Council, the principal advisory committee on international trade. The aerospace giant has shed over 14,000 American jobs since 2008, according to a report by Public Campaign, a campaign reform advocacy group.

      • 4 votes
      Reply#19 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 7:21 PM EDT

      We all know the republicans created a recession. What is your point?

      • 8 votes
      #19.1 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 11:35 AM EDT

      And you don't think Democrats had a hand in it, after all they were in control of the Senate and House starting in Jan 2008 until 2010, then retained control of the Senate (the do nothing Senate under Harry Reid) and lost the house. You are aware that it is Congress that writes the bills and controls government spending. I agree that the Republicans spent like drunken sailors and that was one reason they lost control of Congress. But the Democrats didn't do any better in their first two years.

      Obama has been a very divisive President, has allowed his ego to get in the way of common sense and feels, since he won, he should be able to do as he pleases.

      • 2 votes
      #19.2 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 1:38 PM EDT

      [...after all they were in control of the Senate and House starting in Jan 2008 until 2010...]

      Your statement is not entirely accurate. In repeating what you've failed to confirm, you are esentially contributing to the lie regarding a Democratic "super majority", which they only had for about 6 to 9 months, and never in one continual block of time.

      Unless you already know the facts, and CHOOSE to repeat this misinformation...

      • 5 votes
      #19.3 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 4:35 PM EDT

      Mickey, NY - Again with the left wing talking points. I never mentioned a "super majority" but it appears that you and the left wing nuts think the only way Obama can govern is with a "super majority", which shows a complete lack of leadership on Obama's part. You are telling me he was/is so incompetent that he couldn't sway a few Republicans to cross over, in fact Senators Snowe and Collins both sided with the democrats on several votes.

      Now I am glad that you acknowledged the fact that Obama is unable to govern without a "super majority" in Congress. Since 1980, Presidents Reagan, Bush 1, Clinton and Bush 2 all had to work with a Congress that included a Senate without a "super majority".

      • 2 votes
      #19.4 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 7:38 PM EDT

      Mickey NY - Don't you liberals and left wing nuts ever get tired of trying to defend Obama, when he can't defend himself without blaming everyone and everything except himself. A President has to take responsibility and quit whining. Let's see Obama has blamed Bush a lot of times, a Republican controlled House the past 1.5 yrs and a Republican minority in the Senate. Then there was the Japanese Tsunami, Arab Spring, European economic crisis, to name a few. Even when handed a victory by the Supreme Court on the ACA, he still don't want to talk about it and still claims it was not a TAX but a PENALTY when the Supreme Court ruled it was a TAX.

      Lets talk about his taking credit and patting himself on the back while taking a victory lap on the killing of OBL, which I always see the left proclaiming a major foreign policy victory. I will admit he gave the order to the military to proceed which any President would have done. What he failed to do was to protect those that helped find OBL. There is a Pakistani Doctor that was left to fend for himself after his identity was released by the Obama Administration. There should have been plans to make sure the doctor and his family was removed from Pakistan for their own protection after his name was released. Just one of several mistakes he made with the killing of OBL. The other was publicizing a covert military and intelligence operation, just so he could take a victory lap.

        #19.5 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 8:16 PM EDT

        [Again with the left wing talking points.]

        "sarge", you idiot...it's not a left wing talking point. It is a fact. But you hate the fact that Obama is president...I get it. Another fact you'll have to get used to is that he will be around for FOUR MORE YEARS. So stop whining like a little bitch already and grow up, you ignorant bigot.

        70+ years old and you have no idea how government works?

        It's not a lack of leadership when the tools in the GOP make it their priority to obstruct, and without a clear super majority, it worked, as the cowards in the GOP used the filibuster a record number of times.

        January 3, 2009 - 111th Congress sworn in. 55 Democrats, 41
        Republicans, 2 Independents, 2 vacant.

        January 15, 2009 - Roland Burris sworn in to Barack Obama's seat.
        56 Democrats, 41 Republicans, 2 Independents, 2 vacant.

        April 30, 2009 – Arlen Specter changes parties. 57 Democrats, 40
        Republicans, 2 Independents, 1 vacant.

        July 7, 2009 – Al Franken seated. 58 Democrats, 40 Republicans, 2
        Independents. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE DEMOCRATS HAD A SHOT AT A
        60-VOTE MAJORITY
        .

        August 25, 2009 – Teddy Kennedy dies. Kennedy had missed 97% of
        the votes in 2009 and over 90% in the last half of 2008. 57 Democrats, 40
        Republicans, 2 Independents, 1 vacant.

        September 25, 2009 – Paul Kirk appointed to Teddy Kennedy's seat.
        58 Democrats, 40 Republicans, 2 Independents.THIS IS THE SECOND TIME
        THE DEMOCRATS HAD A SHOT AT A 60-VOTE MAJORITY.

        February 4, 2010 – Scott Brown sworn in to replace Paul Kirk. 57
        Democrats, 41 Republicans, 2 Independents.

        June 28, 2010 – Robert Byrd dies. Byrd had missed over 90% of the
        votes in 2010 and almost 50% in 2009 due to illness. 56 Democrats, 41
        Republicans, 2 Independents, 1 vacant.

        November 29, 2010 - Mark Kirk sworn in to replace Roland Burris.
        56 Democrats, 42 Republicans, 2 Independents.

        FACT: The "Democrat supermajority" was a myth, or
        rather, a GOP political spin to hide their actions.

        FACT: The GOP used every roadblock, filibuster, and secret hold
        they could think of so that EVERY bill had to have a 60-vote margin to pass.

        So that "Huge, overwhelming super-majority," It existed only for a total of 6 months AND only during two periods when Teddy Kennedy and/or Robert Byrd were unable to vote AND required them to get the votes of every Democrat plus BOTH independents.

        So, like I said, suck it up and quit whining like a little bitch. It's not going to change anything. And ACA is here to stay, and President Obama will be YOUR president for another four more years.

        You know, having been in the military, you really should have more respect for your CIC.

        • 4 votes
        #19.6 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 9:22 PM EDT

        Mickey NY - The only little bitch on here is you if you can't give a decent reply except for deflections. You lefties always whining that they are picking on poor Obama. The Republicans won't let Obama bankrupt the country so they are bad. Whine all you want and spin all you want, you are the one crying about "super majority" and you act like every other President had one. You are really stupid and need to grow up if you can't discuss a topic without snarly remarks. BTW, I am sure I know how government works better than you do. You ever heard of compromise and working together and not demanding everything to be your way. Have you ever heard of LEADERSHIP, I doubt it and Obama has never showed or even knows what it is.

        Yes, I was in the military and I have respect for the position of CIC but I don't have to respect the person filling the position. You have an obligation to respect the ranks and follow their orders, but you don't have to respect the individual filling that position or rank. I am assuming you never served in the military or you would know that.

        You never commented on the points I made except to cite a bunch of left wing talking points about the big bad Republican Congress. You can't even debate the points I made about Obama playing the BLAME game every time he didn't get his way.

        I

        • 1 vote
        #19.7 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 9:58 PM EDT

        The republicans won't let President Obama bankrupt the country, what a load of BS.

        I know amnesia runs rampant but you do know the republicans left out country hanging off a cliff losing millions of jobs, people losing their homes, their life savings.

        There was plenty of money to bail out the rich but now we need to cut the food stamps off for children so we can give more tax cuts to Romney. Isn't that how all presidents show how much they care for the people by taking the food out of the mouths of children first?

        All the countries that actually followed the republicans policy of austerity are now in a double-dipped recessions. Maybe another recession is your ideal of success but not mine.

        You don't even need any brains you just need to look at the evidence of what austerity is doing to England and Ireland and every other country that tried to cut its way out of recession. They would be happy with our success of growing even through slowly in the right direction.

        • 2 votes
        #19.8 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 10:18 PM EDT

        "You ever heard of compromise and working together and not demanding everything to be your way."

        yes, but i've never seen it from a republican. oh, and i love you complaining about liberal talking points while spewing republican ones. hypocrite much?

        • 1 vote
        #19.9 - Tue Jul 17, 2012 10:33 AM EDT
        Reply

        Poorman, oops sorry Portman, sorry to tell you this but your friend Mitt is the one with no record to run on. Wait, I am wrong, he does have one- A RECORD OF LIES MORE LIES & MORE LIES!!! Romney destroyed the economy when he was governor, his stae was 47th in the nation in job creation, he outsourced jobs, cut teachers, cops, firefighter jobs, raised taxes(called them fines) etc etc .....................

        President Obama passes Equal pay for women Law(ll act), ACA - healthcare for all Americans(already helping small business people, 1% of Americans will be affected by fine under the IRS tax code. read SCOTUS ruing- They did not say its a tax- but a fine under the tax code), gave us the lowest taxes in years; took the USA from 500000 monthly job loss to 4000000 over last 24 months(would have been more but the Republican controlled congress refuse to pass Obama`s jobs bills/Republican Governors have cut public sector workers thus adding to unemployment); Obama implemented polices to stop what was going to be a worldwide recession( wall street regulations etc) ; saved US auto industry, violence against women act to protect women etc etc. Just see what this amazing & super brilliant man has done before you open your mouth to criticize him because you dont like him!!!!

        The choice in November is very simple, Remember 2008 & what was happening. If you want to go back there vote for Romney. If you dont vote for Obama & keep moving forward. Do not vote against Obama because he is black & do not vote Romney just because he is white.

        White Floridian- Obama.Biden 2012

        • 13 votes
        Reply#20 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 7:22 PM EDT

        none of this changes his record on jobs or the economy.

        it alone will decide the election.

        he's half white.

        MF - "Obama is not the first black president"

        • 3 votes
        #20.1 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 7:30 PM EDT

        You want to pretend like the republicans have not done everything they could to stop the recovery and then want to blame President Obama for their obstruction.

        Romney was promising jobs when he was running for governor and couldn't produce with his business background. Unemployment was around 4.9% and Romney whined he could create jobs because the economy was bad.

        But now, he can create jobs again? And we are to believe him because he lied on his SEC filings or he is lying to us now? Your choice.

        Are republicans really that gullible?

        • 15 votes
        #20.2 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:15 PM EDT

        The total irrelevance of this website is becoming apparent. Lefties are allowed to spew a constant outpouring of lies and innuendo. Little substance, and little if anything newsworthy other than liberal distortions come from here.

        • 1 vote
        #20.3 - Mon Jul 16, 2012 9:22 AM EDT
        Reply

        “Boeing followed the textbook of outsourcing and dismantling the integrated design and manufacturing community" that had been a staple of the company,” Sorscher said

        • 5 votes
        Reply#21 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 7:25 PM EDT

        once you start looking at the data... instead of the talking points... Obama's job council has OUTSOURCED more jobs than any other group of companies in history.

        another one of Obama 'achievements'

        In its most recent annual report, Xerox said it is the “largest worldwide diversified business process outsourcing company in the large and growing BPO market.”

        • 3 votes
        Reply#22 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 7:28 PM EDT

        But soooo much of mr grover, the gop, & the rushbo's criticism of obama's economic record would disappear if they only prefaced whatever their complaints with - during the last three years, obama has more than doubled the dow and today, the dow jones industrials are at all time highs.

        And i tell you that statement is true. The bushman before him had the dow jones flat. In 8 years, the dow went exactly nowhere. It ended where it started. But due to inflation, the dow was actually only 1/2 of where it was when the bushman started. And worse yet, the dow was crashing downward fast in jan 2009. It went all the way down to 6,000. It was in the 6,000 in the early 1900's too.

        And the dow jones industrials is actually at all time highs. It's because foxnews.com owns the dow jones industrials. They bought it a few years ago. And you know how foxnews.com hates obama and blacks. So they did not include tech giants google and apple in the dow. But apple is today the world's largest company, surpassing exxon. Apple should be in the dow and would be 1/4 of the dow's market capitalization. I tell you to email foxnews and tell them to add apple and google to the dow. It would immediately raise the dow by 1,500 pts.

        And obama's right. The wealthy upper 1% have prospered during the last 10 years. But because of the bushman's tax cuts, their increases in wealth hasn't trickled down. Instead, their wealth have been creating jobs in china, india, & indonesia. And as those countries become wealthier, they become even stronger competitors for more of this countries jobs.

        But due to this country's massive energy cost reductions of obama, jobs are finally coming back from china, india, & indonesia. Natural gas only costs 1/3 of what it used to 3 years ago. But the upper 1% continue to invest in china, india, & indonesia. Support obama it raising taxes on those who make more that $250,000/year so that jobs can be created in this country instead.

        • 11 votes
        Reply#23 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 7:30 PM EDT

        Instead, their wealth have been creating jobs in china, india, & indonesia

        ignore the talking points and find out the facts for yourself

        read my posts about Obama's 'no jobs council'

        • 3 votes
        Reply#24 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 7:32 PM EDT

        ignore the talking points and find out the facts for yourself

        How about this FACT -- the 80,000 jobs created last month, while not a great number, is 880,000 better than what we had when Bush left office.

        Romney's answer to more jobs is going back to more of the Bush policies of tax cuts and deregulation. That makes about as much sense as smoking to cure lung cancer.

        • 8 votes
        #24.1 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 7:47 AM EDT

        Actually Romney say's if elected he'll allow 1,250,000 high tech immigrants to immigrate to this country because they'll work cheaper than unemployed american workers with those abilities. He does state that many people will create a lot of american "support" jobs. I guess like selling our new citizens Big Macs. Do republicans support this?

          #24.2 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 7:15 PM EDT

          Romney's plan also calls for "stapling" green cards to the diplomas of technical degree graduates of U.S. universities, a plan that has been proposed by lawmakers on both sides in Congress without success.

          "Even in this tough unemployment climate, as of this past spring nearly 1.25 million high-skill jobs remained unfilled," said Romney, in the economic plan released Tuesday. "A skills gap of that magnitude suppresses the productivity of our businesses and slows the overall economy. Highly educated immigrants would help fill that gap and get our economy rolling again."

          Ron Hira, a public policy professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York, characterized as "dubious" Romney's claim that there is 1.25 million unfilled high-skilled positions.

          "None of the official statistics support a claim that there's a shortage of these occupations," said Hira. "Unemployment rates for these occupations continue to be twice what they should be at full employment."

          • 1 vote
          #24.3 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 7:18 PM EDT
          Reply

          What part about truth does Portman not get !!! Oh I see - he wants to be like his lyin hero Mittster the Flipster Romney. Obama has done a lot more with a lot more positive results than W, Cheney, and the gang ever dreamed of. He could do a lot more, but the do nothing republicans somehow think that strategy is going to work come election time. Obamazz - guess what, HP is going to be laying of at least 30,000 workers , and probably 3 times that many when it is all said and done. Why - NOT because of Mr. Obama, but because they became focused on company politics and new CEOs instead of customers and products. Now all they have to sell are PCs and printers in a new market where customers are buying smart phones, tablets, etc. It is called bad managment - same as Republicans who have no, zero, not even uno - new constructive ideas to improve things. You want to see the complete bottom fall out of America - with no hope for its children, then go right on down that republican trail you seem so set on.

          • 11 votes
          Reply#25 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 7:32 PM EDT

          celeyonn

          Seems to me that the Republicans have done a good job. Obama's SPEND SPEND SPEND has been slowed down if not stopped. There are some 30 JOBS BILLS sitting on Harry Reids Desk. They have passed 2 Budgets. They almost had a Debit deal with Obama until the Senate Democrats and Pelosi stopped that deal leading to our Credit Downgrade.

          What has the Democrats and Obama accomplished? A Healthcare Law that the people didn't/don't want that was passed a 2 AM on Christmas Eve. A 800+ Billion Stimulus Bill that didn't stimulate anything. If fact Unemployment went UP for 6 months after it was passed.

          We paid 54 Billion to bailout GM. GM at that time was valued at 7 Billion or so. SUCH A DEAL!! We and the UAW now OWN GM!! We,The Taxpayer,have a 26% share and the UAW has a 17% share. We paid $33 per share for our 500-600 MILLION shares of GM. What is the price at close yesterday? CAN YOU SAY $19.60? Man we are LOSING MONEY HAND OVER FIST. And that is a good thing? And don't give me this "He save 1 million jobs" crap. If GM went through a normal or close to normal Bankruptcy the UAW would have had to take a bigger cut,the Taxpayer wouldn't have spent 54 Billion and the Bond holders would have gotten their money back. GM would have been broken up into smaller car companies or have been reorganized into one company with 1 or 2 brands. The other brands either sold off or gone. Just look what happened to Hummer,Saturn and Olds. They were sold or eliminated anyway.

          So to say that Obama and the Democrats SAVED us from a depression is a little on the optimistic side at best. Looks like we have had a 3 years of little to nothing recovery instead of an 18 month recovery like in 1982-84.

          • 5 votes
          #25.1 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 9:42 PM EDT

          slodon daid:

          They almost had a Debit deal with Obama until the Senate Democrats and Pelosi stopped that deal leading to our Credit Downgrade.

          Actually, It is clear from Standard & Poor's statement downgrading the federal government's credit rating that it places the blame squarely on Republican actions and policies. Two of S&P's biggest concerns about whether the United States will pay off its debt were whether Republicans would be so insane as to refuse to lift the debt ceiling, a possibility Republicans intentionally stoked fears of, and whether the United States will raise much-needed tax revenue. Specifically, S&P changed its baseline assumption that the Bush tax cuts would expire on schedule in 2012 because Republicans are so insistent that they must be renewed. "We have changed our assumption on this because the majority of Republicans in Congress continue to resist any measure that would raise revenues," wrote S&P. That adds $4 trillion over ten years to the projected deficits.

          • 7 votes
          #25.2 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 9:55 PM EDT

          If memory serves, Democrats were offering a deal that would have cut spending by twice as much as what Republicans wanted to, but also included tax increases for the very wealthy. Boehner initially indicated that he'd take the deal, but had to walk it back when Cantor and other Tea Party members in Congress objected. So who really cares about the deficit now?

          • 11 votes
          #25.3 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 10:20 PM EDT

          One and Michael

          Here is a rather long article from the TY Times about the Debit Limit fiasco. I think you may find it interesting.

          http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/01/magazine/obama-vs-boehner-who-killed-the-debt-deal.html?pagewanted=all#7

          One

          S&P didn't name the Republicans they NAMED the GOVERNMENT.

          Here is what they said.

          We lowered our long-term rating on the U.S. because we believe that the
          prolonged controversy over raising the statutory debt ceiling and the related
          fiscal policy debate indicate that further near-term progress containing the
          growth in public spending, especially on entitlements, or on reaching an
          agreement on raising revenues is less likely than we previously assumed and
          will remain a contentious and fitful process. We also believe that the fiscal
          consolidation plan that Congress and the Administration agreed to this week
          falls short of the amount that we believe is necessary to stabilize the
          general government debt burden by the middle of the decade.
               Our lowering of the rating was prompted by our view on the rising public
          debt burden and our perception of greater policymaking uncertainty, consistent
          with our criteria (see "Sovereign Government Rating Methodology and Assumptions
          ," June 30, 2011, especially Paragraphs 36-41). Nevertheless, we view the U.S.
          federal government's other economic, external, and monetary credit attributes,
          which form the basis for the sovereign rating, as broadly unchanged.
          
          http://www.standardandpoors.com/ratings/articles/en/us/?assetID=1245316529563

          Now no where in that statement do they say or mention Republican or Democrat.

          So how is it you can say that S&P "places the blame squarely on Republican actions and policies."?

          • 3 votes
          #25.4 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 10:45 PM EDT

          slodon,

          I have read in full the article you linked to. The very last 5 paragraphs of which, I think sum up the situation nicely.... we are all @!$%#ed if compromise can not be achieved at some point. I have said this before and I will say it again now... Obama is not a perfect man. There never has been a perfect man. But I do believe Obama has risked his Presidency as one man to pursue what he truly believes in as opposed to hundreds copping out to appease much smaller voter bases.

          However, the bottom line of S&P's decision comes straight from their mouth, not you or me or the NY Times.

          • 9 votes
          #25.5 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 11:16 PM EDT

          Michael L-2295838 -- Eric Cantor could well get his weasely arse kicked in the next election. Yahooo!

          OneOfTheSane -- I've burned way too many BTUs having to fisk the crap these rightwingers post. Thank you for tagging the biotch on that.

          • 9 votes
          #25.6 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 11:50 PM EDT

          You don't burn BTU's you stupid liberal, you burn calories.....your mistake speaks volumes about the scope and depth of your lack of intelligence!

            #25.7 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 3:06 PM EDT

            BTU's are british thermal units. A way to measure the energy output of natural gas or propane.

            • 2 votes
            #25.8 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 7:22 PM EDT

            1 btu = 252.164401 calories

            Dumass

            • 2 votes
            #25.9 - Sun Jul 15, 2012 9:42 PM EDT
            Reply
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