You can't select your family but you sure as heck can select communist mentors like Frank Marshall Davis. You sure can select to hang out with radicals like Ayers and Wright. Yeah. Let's go there.

and Romney was a Bullie..

Ben

Rmoney is mormon, and you're going to call Obama the radical?

Rmoney is a corporation first fascist... look we have baseless claims too.

Ben,

your tin-foil hat is a little tight, you should let some air in

It is a shame when you have nothing to counter facts, one resorts to personal insults. And yes Obama is being revealed -- one layer at a time -- to be an extremely dangerous radical of the worst kind to the foundation of America.

Did Willard pass the "be an American" test by hiding in France during the Viet Nam war?

Detroit and We the - little Ben is stuck on stupid today -as always. Tries to dredge up conspiracies where none exist. That's all the Romney supporters have. They sure as hell can't defend Romney - the empty suit!

Obama/Biden 2012

Sanity - does it ever occur to you to actually refute an argument as opposed to just calling someone stupid?

Ben,

I didn't insult anyone. You want to talk about radicalism in the candidates, Rmoney is a MORMON, they are considered a cult by many. That is radical, I expect you would see that too and be just as afraid of Rmoney for being a religious radical that isn't even a christian.

Al - NICE!!!!

3.6

Spanky-

Sanity - does it ever occur to you to actually refute an argument as opposed to just calling someone stupid?

Spanky. Why is it that you always come here trying to refute every-ones comments that don't reflect your ideas? Or do you actually have any? Why is it that you always 'reply' to others comments but never post a comment of your own?

I may be wrong, but I don't recall any time you have actually posted a comment that reflects your own thoughts. Are you afraid? Is your mind void of initial thought and can only operate off the thoughts of others?

It has been confirmed that David Axelrod is using the screen name Feisty Redhead on NBCNEWS.COM

Boston believes that the Obama campaign opened the door to a new level of negativity...Maureen Dowd thinks the Republicans opened that door decades ago:

Usually, at this stage of a presidential campaign, Republicans are doing a much better job of sullying the Democratic candidate as un-American.

Michael Dukakis was accused of having a funny last name and failing to say the Pledge of Allegiance 10 times a day. John Kerry was faulted for acting French and eating Philly cheese steaks with Swiss cheese. Al Gore was into the earth and earth tones — need we say more?

And the G.O.P. has had so much practice over the last four years at skewering Barack Obama as an existentialist socialist apologist for America with a secret foreign birth certificate that it should be like shooting mahi-mahi in a barrel. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/18/opinion/dowd-whos-on-americas-side.html?_r=1&hp

The foundations for this bare-knuckles brawl were laid during the GOP primary race: scandals, accusations, innuendo, insults, and anonymous leaks spewing from a pathetic gaggle of incompetent Republican wannabe candidates. The Obama camp could easily see the sort of campaign strategies the GOP was going to use because they had been televised for months. Now, because Obama has outed ol' Etch-A-Sketch on failing to list his Bermuda assets on federal and state financial disclosure forms, his active involvement in Bain until 2002 despite Mitts feeble claim he stepped down in 1999, and Willard's suspicious refusal to reveal his tax reports, the Republican Party is weeping salt tears publicly because the Democrats have been mean to them! How hypocritical yet strangely hilarious!

This is going to be the best election year on record...for everyone except Mitt Romney and the right wing lunatic fringe, that is!

President Obama in November! He is clearly our only rational choice!

Hey Detroit-Storm

Nothing is off-limits? Not a good idea, Mittens. Let's talk about YOUR family history, polygamist grandfather

Romney's grandfather moved to Mexico and lived in a polygamist community, but was not a polygamist. However, Obama's father, uncle and grandfather are all polygamist. Do you think that the liberal medial will ever run that little fact in any story or just mindlessly repeat the story of Romney's grandfather????

To We the corporations?

I didn't insult anyone. You want to talk about radicalism in the candidates, Rmoney is a MORMON, they are considered a cult by many. That is radical, I expect you would see that too and be just as afraid of Rmoney for being a religious radical that isn't even a christian

Mormons are no more a cult than Catholics or Protestants. As far as not being Christians, if they are not followers/believers of Christ why:

• They named their church after him, "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints"?
• Their first fundamental belief is "We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost."

Dude,

they believe jesus resurrected himself in america to the indians...

they are polytheists and think the more kids they have the bigger the planet they get to become a god of when they die...

they believe we are from a planet called Kolob

They can name themselves whatever they want, it doesn't make it so, I mean republicans call themselves patriots but won't accept freedom for ALL americans.

NOTE TO ROMNEY-

Resist using old and debunked tactics like: Obama is a Kenyan, Death Panels, He will create a gang of thugs, Obama is Socialist, He's a Muslim, He pals around with terrorists, He'll take away your guns, he hates religion, A radical christian minister controls him, he's unAmerican, etc, etc.

ALL OF THESE HAVE BEEN USED BEFORE AND ARE LAUGHABLE.

You need to come up with something else.

The Sununu rant was embarrassing.

“I am ashamed to say that we’re seeing our President hand out money to the businesses of campaign contributors, when he gave money, $500 million in loans to a company called Fisker that makes high end electric cars, and they make the cars now in Finland," Romney said. "That is wrong and it’s got to stop. That kind of crony capitalism does not create jobs and it does not create jobs here.”

This statement coming from a person holding much of his own wealth offshore....and also one who has helped companies to go offshore..its amazing..it is ok for him but not others. Many companies have taken jobs elsewhere..and as far as I can tell. not one politican has made complaints about it..but all accept funds from each and every company that has done so.

We the corporations?

Ben,

I didn't insult anyone. You want to talk about radicalism in the candidates, Rmoney is a MORMON, they are considered a cult by many. That is radical, I expect you would see that too and be just as afraid of Rmoney for being a religious radical that isn't even a christian.

I love seeing the liberal non-Christians playing the Mormon card to try to persuade Christians to be afraid of Romney. Just an example of how frightened they are that their Messiah will lose.

By the way, WTC, many more people consider Obama to be a Muslim than are concerned about Mormonism being a cult.

Did everyone see the fact check in the Washington Post on "Obama Cronyism" today.........Romney got 4 Pinnochio's.

If you're going to hit back, try hitting back with something that isn't a lie.

wow look at the tolerant libs criticizing the mormon church......what about reverend wright's church that obama belonged to?......obama is a liar, a distorter, and a divider...ROMNEY IN NOVEMBER!!!.....i choose the mormon over the moron...

By the way, WTC, many more people consider Obama to be a Muslim than are concerned about Mormonism being a cult.

I know, and that is something you should totally NOT be proud of, as a matter of fact you should feel very VERY sorry for those people.

tolerant libs

Oh you mistake my acceptance of freedom with tolerance of stupidity. I have no problem with believing whatever fairy tale you want, but I will happily make fun of you for it.

Romney quotes

"I'm not worried about the poor"

"I like to fire people"

"One of the ways my sons are showing support for our nation is helping me get elected because they think I'd be a great president."

"I've always been a rodent and rabbit hunter. Small varmints, if you will."

"“I don’t speak for the scientific community, of course, but I believe the world’s getting warmer." followed by "I believe that humans contribute to that." followed by "”My view is that we don’t know what’s causing climate change on this planet.

"“Don’t try to stop the foreclosure process. Let it run its course and hit the bottom.”"

"“Corporations are people, my friends.”"

"Let Detroit Go Bankrupt." followed by

"So I'll take a lot of credit for the fact that this industry's come back."

"I love this state. The trees are the right height."

"I believe in an America where millions of Americans believe in an America that's the America millions of Americans believe in. That's the America I love."

When Bush asked the question "Miss me yet" the easy answer is "Not really, we've got Mitt for entertainment now."

WTC? - How is it that you are afraid of Mormons being radical, but not Muslims, in which Obama has much training and experience? I think the record speaks for itself, and you appear to be oblivious to the evidence.

I don't know you are talking about Colorado-Man, O'bama is a Christian.

foghorn123

If you're going to hit back, try hitting back with something that isn't a lie.

Really, foghorn? And 99% of the words out of Oblameo's mouth aren't lies? I'm just glad that Romney has decided to strike back against the Liar-in-Chief with some truth.

Oblameo hasn't got a clue that this country of ours is headed for the second part of the recession. All he can see is his job flying away on the wings of his personal insanity. The major problem I see with Oblameo is that he doesn't understand the simple sentence: "It's the economy, stupid!"

Wade, Tampa Florida.

I don't know you are talking about Colorado-Man, O'bama is a Christian.

What is your evidence for that? Jeremiah Wright? Or are are you being facetious?

How is it that you are afraid of Mormons being radical, but not Muslims,

A muslim isn't running for president genius. And Obama is a christian which is bad enough, they are all cults

I am not going to discuss a point that has already been debunked, O'bama is a Christian who spent time in muslim countries as a child, he was born in Hawaii. I spent 9 years of my childhood in Germany, I was born in Kentucky. As to posting links I will not, any I links I post you will discredit. if I choose to respond to you, I will, if not I won't be goaded into saying a single word.

By the Holy Name of Joe Smith and Joe The Plumber, I AM CEO and I have 200 MILLION!

MAKE ME PRESIDENT!

(besides, i ran before and it's my turn. it is! it's my turn! and Jesus was born in Pennsylvania, so there!)
-------------------------

Mittens is declaring he's gonna remove the gloves huh? Hmmm. That's like chunking up a fire by throwing sticks of dynamite on it. He'll be lucky if He comes through the fight with any of His various lips intact.

I hope you guys realize that one of the top democrats, Harry Reid, is also a Mormon.

So you don't want a Mormon in high levels of government? Get rid of Harry Reid too. It's not like he does much anyways.

So you don't want a Mormon in high levels of government? Get rid of Harry Reid too. It's not like he does much anyways.

Ok

Versys, I object to Mitt Romney as President because he has multiple positions on every topic, his religion is irrelevant to me. It always has been.

I say drop the gloves and lets find out the real man behind his community organizing past. Every story about Obama contradicts the last, he is an enigma that has been a total failure as president. But then again Obama was less qualified then Carter to be president, and look how the country has suffered.

Wade,

I can respect that statement. I don't agree with you, but I can respect your view on that. It's the previous posters making comments about his religion being a reason not to have Romney in a leadership position that I was addressing.

You libbies are so fake. You call people out for making post that has been heard all over, and then they recite word for word what they here on PMSNBC. Obama is worthless. Unemployment steady over 8% since he has become President, wasted more taxpayer money in 3 1/2 then what Bush did in 8 yrs. Laughed at his failures and placed blame on everyone or everything else. He acts like a spoiled little kid who never does no wrong and blames everyone else. When is he going to act like an adult and except responsibility for his mistakes and accept the job that he was given like a TRUE American President would and is expected to do.

For years I have wondered how any nation of people could let someone like Hitler get so much control over the people. I think we have learned in the last 10 to 12 years how it was done. People let a drug head who couldn't even pass in a small college sling hate and lies and have a large following even though they know what he is.

Others listen to repeated lies by a fat head who admits that he found out in college that if you sling enough lies and repeat them often about your opponent you can get enough people to believe them you can win.

Others are groups that just hate blacks. Some of them go by good christian names others by KKK, Arian Nation, Patroits or militia but they are all the same.

These and other groups spit out enough hatred to get a fairly large following that threatens the America as we knew it in the past and will take us down that path if we don't come together and defeat them.

Obama/Biden 2012

FrankBlank has been bugging me, so I'm letting him have a say:

FrankBlank here with the Truth:

Ann Romney says (to a network news personality who LOOKS LIKE she could be either a radical Kenyan revolutionary or an agent for the radical revolutionary Muslim Sisterhood):

"We have given you people all you need to know about our financial situation and the way we live our lives."

Memorize that, you spastic, drooling rabble.
The Romneys know what "you people" need to know and what you do NOT need to know.

Willard Romney, who lies about his first name, says that because of his business experience, he knows how to fix the economy. However, when he wants to escape responsibility for something, he also says he has not run his business since 1999. Therefore, he hasn't done any business for 13 years and simply hasn't got a clue about what's going on.

To prove that he has got a clue, he should release at least 30 years worth of tax returns. But, says Mittsy, one year plus a draft are enough. If you buy that, you are either a dull-normal or below, or a fascist.

And that's the Truth folks. Wrap your lips around it and swallow. Unless you prefer Kochs.

FrankBlank

Hey Mittens, just show us your taxes and then if anybody still wants to listen to you, go ahead and rant all you want.

Anybody but a hardcore Fox News watcher knows full well that Romney has over the last week spewed more BS than all the cattle in Texas. Anyone who ever loosely watches real news, knows about the made up talking points created from selectively edited Obama comments. What conclusion can you draw but that the guy is a liar and manipulator. He may be firing up his base who doesn't know any better because they live on indoctrinated BS from the likes of Fox News, Limbaugh and Beck, but "normal" non-committed voters have to be seeing these latest tirades in a different light.

Does Romney think he can really win with only his far right wing base? Maybe he needs to feed them red meat to get them motivated to get out and vote for the worm they didn't want, but that isn't anywhere near enough to win. If he had a chance at disappointed Democrats, he lost them long ago and now he is working on assuring that the middle of the road folks reject him too.

He is behaving like a desperate man who feels it all closing in on him. If he refuses to show us his taxes, he's done. If he shows us his taxes, he's also done. His only hope is that everyone will forget. Not too likely.

I believe the real question now is who the Republicans will choose at the convention. At this point it's almost even money that Romney's name won't be on the ballot in November. He will either be forced to withdraw or will face rejection by the old school Republicans who can't continue to stay behind him. He won't be on the ballot in November. Mark my words. Read my lips, no new tax returns, no Mitt Romney. Put them out, same result. The end is near.

Chameleons have thinner skin to allow more efficient molting...

It has been confirmed that David Axelrod is using the screen name Feisty Redhead on NBCNEWS.COM

You do know that the skin and the brain form in the fetus at the same time don't you? :-)

Thin brain as well.

Could it be Mitt is angry about the President allowing the whole country to listen to his singing? I've heard worse Mitt. Twice as a matter of fact. Once, when an uncle was getting a tooth pulled by a drunken Dentist, and another, when a certain popular lady was shouting at the area Baptist church during revival. It was quite a piercing howl when she "cum through" to be reborn and saved. Other than these, I can't think of a anyone that's beat you Mitt.

AFL-CIO while that is a lie Feisty would take that as a compliment.

No one in politics has thinner skin then Obama. But then again Obama was use to getting his way as a street thug community organizer or going to the head of the line because of affirmative action. Obama even wrote in his book that he would grab the joint out of turn. Obama always has to get his way, which is why he has been unable to lead in Washington.

Romney, you are seeking a very important job working for the American people. And as your potential future employer, we are doing our due diligence and conducting a background check, which includes obtaining and examining your past income tax statements. So if you want the job, be forthcoming and release those statements.

And if Mitt wants to take credit for jobs he created while at Bain then he needs to take credit for jobs that was sent over sea's,

And when Mitt puts out new ads saying President Obama gave millions to company's who miss handled it that may be true. But let us remember the whole country not to mention the world was on the way down the toilet. He stepped into the biggest mess anyone could have and did what he could have to put the brakes on before everyone loses everything. If the worthless Republicans in the house would stop saying NO to everything he needs to do to bring down the debt, put people to work and fix social security things would be alot better. Give President Obama a full 8 years like you did Bush and dump the Republicans from the House this fall and we will move forward.

Obama 2012

Whoever is elected as our next president, and probably the next 2 or 3 presidents, whether they be Democrat or Republican will still be cleaning up Bush's mess.

Classic!

Hopefully, President Obama won't have a Republican House to battle in his second term. Also, Maine is sending Independent Angus King to the Senate. Help is on the way!

Excellent!! I have to use that.......please????????

BTW, you owe me a new monitor LOL.

Obama in a (perish the thought) second term will still point fingers for his continuing failures on someone else ...like he did with his book , he will make up a fictitious character , President "Baracky Dontblameme"

Uh, Amy dear - perhaps you can remember all the way back to 1/09?

Many, many months of a full dem congress, and yet...

So Amy - he couldn't do squat then, why would now be any different?

See Amy that's why you have such a credibility issue here. You flat out ignore the obvious.

But I know, you are in love.

It won't matter one way or the other Amy. The only thing it would do is give him one less excuse to lie about while continuing an agenda that has nothing to do with the USA.

Spanky - that idiotic "point" has bee debunked SOOOOO many times. Can you try to keep up? The President had a filibuster proof majority for a scant 7 months - during which time Ted Kennedy was ill so he wasn't there for votes - and there were numerous recesses. Actual months of a filibuster proof congress - just about 4. The President made the mistake of trying to work with the Republicans, not knowing they had vowed - from day one - to make him a one-term President. Factual enough for you stupid? And, by the way, you have no credibility issue - everyone KNOWS you're not credible!

Obama/Biden 2012

Uh, Amy dear - perhaps you can remember all the way back to 1/09?

Many, many months of a full dem congress, and yet...

Yeah, I remember it Spank -

Filibuster after filibuster. Their motto: Make Obama a one term president even if it means @!$%#ing over the rest of the country. And, lets make the rich richer. I mean that's what they're paying us for, right?

Obama/Biden 2012

I thought the tea baggers had taken over the party and all the OLD ugly republicans were no longer relevant. Guess not, will just have to live longer and hope to outlive some of these low lifes that have taken the country to war and large deficits.

SeekingSanity - Spanky - that idiotic "point" has bee debunked SOOOOO many times. Can you try to keep up? The President had a filibuster proof majority for a scant 7 months

GT-2021701 - Filibuster after filibuster. Their motto: Make Obama a one term president even if it means @!$%#ing over the rest of the country. And, lets make the rich richer. I mean that's what they're paying us for, right?

The only reason that the Senate Democrats/Independent Democrats did not have 60 member is because of the Minnesota recount, but you keep forgetting about the RINOs from Maine that voted with the Dems as much as Republicans. There were NO filibusters in 2009 and the first in 2010 was in late April. The only reason that the number of D/ID dropped to 59 was because Sen Scott Brown won Sen Kerry's seat in Massachusetts. BTW, have you forgotten the way the Dems used the fillibuster against Pres Bush, including the blocking of Federal Judges?

Bill, your claims are absolutely absurd. Olympia Snowe voted with Republicans 70% of the time, and that's one of the lowest percentages of any republican in the senate. Democrats have gotten "almost" no help from republicans, even the moderates, since 2006. The reason democrats did not have a super majority has very little to do with Scott Brown, but has more to do with illnesses and vacancies.

And no filibusters in 2009? Where do you come up with this stuff? There were around 80 votes on cloture during the 111th run. Do some freaking homework and don't just spew ridiculous fairly tails.

Oh, and btw, Republicans have blocked or stalled appointments more than 60 times so far, which is astronomically higher than democrats blocked Bush appointments. You are WAY off base on almost everything you said.

No matter how much of the problem they own, liberals will always try and find someone else to blame. No big boy pants worn by any liberals, maybe that is because they can't find any made in this country since their boy Bill Clinton signed NAFTA into law. Even Obama's job czar outsources more then half of his 300K employees and pays ZERO federal taxes. But Obama blames Bain for outsourcing, even though it was Bill Clinton that not only made it legal, he made it the right thing to do.

One issue - 8.2% unemployment!! JOBS, JOBS, JOBS!!

I am a democrat, conservitive, "Mormon" and the best choice for our future is President Obama. But the Republicans in the House must go or nothing will get done except 4 more years of the party of No saying No to President Obama. Now everyone can expect like always, the (NRA) National Rifle Association to come out and support the Republican candidate. They will be saying garbage that Obama will take away your guns etc. Garbag, garbage, garbage! And before you people say I am anti gun, you would be wrong. I have several guns and hunt each year and am currently waiting for my last head mount to come back from my guy who does my head mounting.

Obama/Biden 2012 but dump the House Repub-for a better tomorrow.

I'm thinking he lied to himself:

"I retroactively retired, yeah, thats the ticket.."

I wonder if the SEC recognizes retroactive retirement....

Ursula,

Obama didnt release the Fast and Furious documents requested by Congress...so is it OK to call him a felon? If Obama gets offended at that, he should release the documents, right?

I wonder if you have ever read an SEC disclosure Ursula.

Wait, no I don't.

SO tell us Ursula - who at the SEC is working on the investigation of Mitt?

And if not, why not?

I will be voting to "retroactively retire" Romney.

Obama 2012

SO tell us Ursula - who at the SEC is working on the investigation of Mitt?

And if not, why not?

the SEC is not investigating because they have lots of evidence to show that Mitt Romney WAS NOT retired from Bain prior to 2002 (and that's why he signed documents listing him as the CEO, and why he got paid for those years, etc.).

Basically, the answer to Ursula's question is "Romney mislead the American public," which is not a crime. Politically damaging, but not a crime.

Obama didnt release the Fast and Furious documents requested by Congress...so is it OK to call him a felon? If Obama gets offended at that, he should release the documents, right?

fast and furious, /yawn for the most part. Gun walking is not new, it was going on during the Bush administration too (and throughout many other admin's as well, does Iran-Contra ring a bell?). If you're looking to place blame for Brian Terry's death, you should direct your ire at the state of Arizona and their ridiculously lax gun laws.

If Romney is such a dishonest person and is hiding things from the American people. If he flip flops all over the place like the dums on here say I think they would love him and embrace him as their own. That's what Dem's do. So it must just be he is on the other side and that makes them bat crap crazy. If he were inept he would be a liberal and all would be well with them.

Sandy,

I will be voting to "retroactively retire" Romney

I love it, I would like your permission to use it in the future

To Ursula and others:

Yes, actually, you CAN have it both ways. Have you ever been involved in the sale of a multi-billion dollar company? Let's put it this way. Do you know how, when you buy or sell a house, there's a 'closing date' set at some time in the future, when the deal will be finalized? Now imagine something 1000X more complex, where people can had over effective control before or after they hand over actual ownership.

THAT is why EVERYONE who has actually investigated the claims says that Romney left Bain when he took over the Olympic Committee.

ah, smitty, guru of home sales, let's think about your argument.

R. Money, famous believer in Jesus's manifestation in Pennsylvania, is shareholder, sole director, CEO, owner, etc., of Bain. And BTW, he didn't sell Bain in '99. So do you mean that, if I am the sole owner of my house, and I go visit the stronghold of my favorite cult, and leave someone else in charge of watering the lawn, they can do with my house whatever they want?

And do you mean that, although Mittsy owned the place, whoever was running it never bothered to check with him on policy and practice and routinely did things Mittsy didn't want him to do?

Is that it? Am I getting the right read on your and Mittsy's arguments? Is this, oh wise guru of home sales, how business really works? The manager does what the owner does not want them to do?

So do you mean all that or are you merely repeating someone else's lies without bothering to think about them?

In battle the army that loses Discipline first usually loses, if both are the same size. Mitt Romney lost discipline and focus. O'bama is focused like a laser beam on Romney's soft political under side. SunTzu said to get the enemy to attack, attack something the enemy must defend. I really think O'bama has read SunTzu, his attack on Romney's record has had a textbook reaction from the Art Of War. SunTzu also said there are times and places not to attack the enemy. SunTzu explains O'bama's successes, O'bama picks his battles and does not allow himself to be drawn too thin.

By the Way All of You Right Wing Believers - Willard is still losing jobs

Freeport, Illinois - (which by the way I have been there on business) will be losing 170 jobs being shipped to China - and Willard according to his buyout is still collecting $5 Million a year

Freeport, Illinois, population 25,000 people and a speck in this country - and not really a vibrant town but have been hanging on by their fingertips - this will decimate them!

Jolly good show Willard - while you talk about the middle class - this is the middle class and you did it - these people have asked Willard to stop the pillage

What does Willard say - I left Bain - yet he collects his "blood money"

Obama is soooo much better, isn't he? How many cities now in bankruptcy now? How many on welfare, disability, and food stamps? He encourages people to go on government assistance, how quaint. Rather than helping business, he tells them that they couldn't exist without the government and the government made their business, not them. Talk about priorities. Apparently Obama WANTS to bankrupt the country, all his actions point in that direction.

Can't talk about his accomplishments so he runs an attack campaign. Typical deflection. Only fools and Obama supporters ignore what he does and hasn't done, don't focus on what he's accomplished in four years, nope, that would not help the case for re-election because his 'accomplishments' are rather marginal unless you call increasing the welfare roles to massive numbers accomplishment.

Negative?

So it is negative to point out inconsistencies in Rmoneys timeline?

Is it negative to point out tha Mittens happily outsourced job to make money he later off shored to avoid repaying the country that allowed him to make money?

I assume then that since you dislike negative campaigning, you won't be supporting Rmoney who has done nothing but be negative from primaries to now? Unless of course you're a hypocrite?

Bill, Fairfax: "The president has been running a thoroughly negative campaign straight from the gutter. And as much as folks say they don't like negative campaigns, the reality seems to be they can be effective in damaging one's opponent. So Romney is forced to respond."

Bill, if I actually wanted to argue this point with you, I could point out that the attacks on the President by the entire Republican Party - Mitt Romney included - started before Justice Roberts was even finished bungling the swearing-in at the inauguration, and therefore it's the President who's finally being "forced to respond" and not Romney.

But you know what? When my brothers and I fought over something as kids, the last thing my mother wanted to hear from either of us was "But he/she started it first!". It was whiny and childish then and it's whiny and childish now. As much as I personally would like to believe otherwise, politics - especially presidential politics - has never been and probably never will be a gentlemanly sport. It's always been ugly and nasty, because there's just too much at stake. To argue who started it first at this point in time is as fruitless as it is inaccurate.

Kind of like arguing about who threw the first insult here on First Read. Or who throws the most or the worst. No one here is blameless. And that includes you and me.

Bill - it's not like Karl Rove didn't have his usual despicable ads in the planning already. Please, Romney was stuck in the gutter the minute he aligned himself with the filthiest person to ever have a hand in politics. And, we should trust this "man" - are you kidding me??? Look in the mirror if you want to see a prime example of a hypocrite!

Obama/Biden 2012

'Rmoney' I see what you did there!

It amazes me the Republicans think nominating a venture capitalist for President, on the heels of the biggest collapse in the financial sector since the Crash of 1929, when 1%ers are not held in high regard, was a really good idea.

So let me see if I understand....

Mitt Romney was behind in the Republican primaries until he carpet-bombed his opponents with negative ads.

Romney's VERY FIRST ad against Obama took the President's words out of context - making it appear that they were Obama's words intstead of McCain's.

Independent analysis of the first few month's of advertising showed Obama's ads to be mainly positive (70%) while Romney's ads were 70% negative.

So Obama goes "negative" with mostly undisputed facts about Bain and Romney, and Romney gets all bent out of shape?

Hypocrite. What did he expect, Obama was going to roll over like his Republican primary candidates?

Romney can take off the gloves!!

He is still not ready for prime time and the Obama campaign has a treasure trove of goodies just waiting for him and Rove. They will need every penny of the billion dollars they will get from Adelson the casino billionaire to defeat the President. They will know they have been in a fight and the American people will be the losers. All because these fools think it is not normal that a bi-racial man from Hawaii is in the WH.

Get over it!

Pathetic!!!

So Romney letting that pu$$y Cuban Sununu speak for him and call the president Un American isn't negative? I'd call that Gutless. If you're going to call the POTUS Un American at least have the balls to say it yourself, I guess Romney left his manhood in his magic underwear.

@eric in oregon.#8.7: Gwaddamn! Is that the "John Sununu" one time Governor of New Hampshire? Gwad ah mighty!, I thought He was dead! Saw Him on tv several years ago. Sure looked dead. Sounded dead too. You sure you ain't pulling my leg? Surely the republicans ain't propping up the dead to speak for 'em! If the sum-bitches are, we can all look to see "Bay Buchanan" and Her brother "Pat" any day now. Them 2 been dead a while now. If the republicans are digging up the dead, then propping 'em up, that's an awfully sorry way to treat the dead, taking advantage of 'em like that.

You have to love the hypocrisy of Obama. Obama claims Bain led in outsourcing, even though Bill Clinton made it possible with NAFTA. Obama spews against outsourcing, but his jobs czar GE CEO Jeffery Immelt outsources more then half of his 300K employees. In fact GE paid zero in federal taxes by keep billion in profits offshore. But that is all okay with liberals, because Immelt is a Democrat. Liberals are all a bunch of dishonest hypocrites.

Amy from Portland Maine says help is on its way to Washington with Angus King. What a joke. King is a closet very liberal Democrat that doesn't like to face off in primaries. King used more smoke and mirrors to hide his pathetic tenure as governor of the state of Maine which he left in shambles. Maine is a welfare heavy state, and as Maine goes so goes the nation. Take a good look at Maine, it has been under Democratic Party control for decades, and is the crystal ball into the countries future.

Amy should just wrap herself up in that China made comforter they sell at LL Bean and dream of the socialist nation she longs to see.

One issue - 8.2% unemployment - JOBS, JOBS, JOBS - this President has failed to turn the situation around - time for the old 'heave-ho' . To quote a famous American - 'If the employment situation has not improved by Fall of 2012 - then this will be a one term proposition' - Barack Hussein Obama.

You're right. They could be worse, the GOP puppet show could be in charge...

Romney 2012 - WORSE

I think if Romney would maybe grow a mustache. Yeah. Start wearing a muscle shirt with them jeans. Get em arms tattooed. Maybe one o them thar "don't tread on me sum-bitch", on one arm, and ah good looking nekkid woman on t'other. Ummm, uh, one o them what wiggles Her ass when He flexs his arm. Yeah. Needs ta drop that there name "Mitt" too. At right air jest kills the hell out ove 'em. Needs to change hit to, maybe Mike, err, Matt. Not Mac though. Gwad no! Iffen Heed do these here thangs, the people would be more acceptable of 'em.

I, for one, can't wait...

After the debate, cut if off and not let their spin doctors tell us how to interpret what we just saw.

Wouldn't that be loverly? I'm so sick of the political BS.

People are easily duped. I was working with a family member of a person who just got their medicade. I have a terrible sense of humor and started going on that they might be able to get ahead now. Maybe buy a new car. These people were getting exited at the prospect of getting free money. Do we really think they will A) watch a debate, or B) remotely understand what they just saw.

Romney should hold a TOWN HALL meeting

and answer voters questions.

sandy-1851937#12.4: I don't think anyone much would come. Romney too, is afraid of small bands of folks. They can get too close to him. He doesn't like that.

Thank you Illinois! The perfect example of what you libs want the rest of the country to be like. HAHAHA!!

How long are we going to use the excuse of "inheriting the original mess"? He's been in office four years. Is it time to make a difference yet? "Yes we can"? Yes we can complain about why we failed to cut the deficit in half as promised? Or yes we can bow to Saudi kings really, really well? Yes we can shut down Guantanamo but no, there will be no new tax with this health care law?

How about yes he can at least attempt to hide the charade of being a loyal American because this is the most anti-American president I have yet to witness. The day he was elected, I was rather proud of America for voting in our first black president and hoped he would do well. But his actions in office has me doing an about face for any support I had for him. It all adds up to a one term presidency for Obama if only Romney will keep his composure.

"How long are we going to use the excuse of "inheriting the original mess"? He's been in office four years."

Hey Jason --- you and your Republican buddies have a very short memory. From 1976 to 1992 you whined and cried, moan and groaned and complained and complained more and bitched, carried on and on and blamed President Carter of everything wrong in the entire universe. Then from 1992 to 2008 you whined and cried, moan and groaned and complained and complained more and bitched, carried on and on and blamed President Clinton for everything that was wrong in the entire universe. So – using the standard you set – the left has another 29 years to blame Bush for everything just to pull even with you.

Thomas - Answer to that get rid of all of the free loading tea baggers - did you notice what they are spending on renting cars

$1,000 a month? You can rent a car for under $300

These ingrates so far have cost us $106,000

Hey Charlie - so what you're saying is that when politicians, including the current president, try to lay blame on their ineffectiveness in office on previous administrations, it is quite a lame tactic that demonstrates their lack of ability and emphasizes the lies they told us about what they were going to do - like cut a multi-trillion dollar deficit in half instead of adding trillions to it - which is unprecedented.

Ok, now I see. Thanks for emphasizing my point for me. And thanks for the apparent personal attack as well.

Except that every independent source outside of Obama's campaign has proven Obama and his surrogates are lying and distorting the truth.

You can believe Obama that Romney was in charge of Bain after 1999. However, you'll be no better than those who believe Obama was born in Kenya.

There is S.E.C. data that proves Mitt was the sole owner of Bain as late as 2002, milidad. O'bama's long form CLB has been posted online. There is no comparison the between the birther claims which have been debunked and, and Romney's time at Bain.

Except that every independent source outside of Obama's campaign has proven Obama and his surrogates are lying and distorting the truth.

If you really believe that, I have a deal on land in the everglades I want to offer. Rachel Maddow is independent of the O'bama reelection campaign. She is not paid by the O'bama administration for any thing she says.

Hear, hear jgun123! Very well said!

jgun123

Thank you for one of the most intelligent posts I have ever read on here. I read the comments almost every day and have never in my life seen a more uninformed biased group of people who have something in their head and won't listen to facts. It is frightening that there are so many closed minded people out there who make up their mind and won't change it even when they are shown they are wrong.

When you ask one of the liberal posters if Romney did something illegal on the SEC filing (when Democratic fundraisers for Obama who currently run Bain have said he had nothing to do with the day to day running of the company after 2/99) why he isn't being investigated they have no answer.

When you ask one of the Obama supporters on here why if Romney did anything illegal on his taxes he hasn't been arrested they have no answer. They also have no answer for why Obama did nothing to push all the recommendations from the Simpson-Bowles commission. He asked them to lead a group to come up with tax reform, entitlement reform, etc. and ignored all of their suggestions. If he had any you know whats he would have done something ANYTHING with their recommendations to make this mess better.

When you ask one of these left wing people why if the bank accounts in the Caymans, Switzerland, etc. which are legal are so secret how do they know about them they have no answer. Notice how we haven't heard the Dems bringing this up again now that we have found out that Debbie Wasserman Shultz and Nancy Pelosi have investments outside the US and Valerie Jarrett, Obama's adviser has an off-shore account. I know they aren't running for president the issue is if it legal there is no issue. And don't come back and say he didn't pay the necessary taxes on these accounts or they wouldn't have been ON HIS TAX RETURN and in his financial disclosure agreements. Obama had the chance to change the tax code with recommendations from Simpson Bowles commission that he put together and didn't. Why aren't you angry with Obama for not fixing the problem??????

When you ask an Obama supporter to tell you why they voted for him in 2008 - with no business background (in the worst economy since the great depression), no military, no leadership experience (such as mayor, governor, etc.), no legislative accomplishments (voted present over 175 times in Illinois legislature because he didn't have the guts to take a stand on something) and no accomplishments in the US Senate they have no answer. His speeches leading up to 2008 were all fluff and no accomplishments. You may note have liked McCain and Palin but they had military experience, legislative successes, budget experience as mayor and governor, foreign policy, etc. Obama had none of that. Now when you ask them why they are voting for him they call Romney a thief, lier, criminal, crook, etc. with absolutely no proof.

When you ask a liberal what a company is supposed to do if they are losing money because they can't make a product profitably in the US they have no answer. I have been laid off 3 times. Sometimes companies have to lay people off to save everyone elses jobs. Better to lose a few jobs and save many and return a company to profitability but the Dems and the liberals on this board have no answer for that. Should I have wanted the companies that laid me off to go out of business and everyone lose their job? What a bunch of phonies most people on this board are. Unless you buy 100% of everything from a company that says made in the USA you are supporting a global economy. The meat at that fast food place you went to for lunch might be one of the ones that advertises North American beef because they get it from Canada. Nobody on this board or elsewhere seems to complain that their ipod, itouch, and ipad are made at factories in China with horrible records for how they treat their customers. You could never afford an apple product made in the US. But of course they have no answer for that because they have their talking points and their closed minded attitudes.

Notice how Biden isn't touting that he is from Scranton, PA anymore now that the Democrat mayor had to cut salaries for teachers, firemen, etc because they are broke. The libs/dems on this board think the money is going to last forever. Wake up. We are going broke. When almost 50% of the country doesn't pay federal income tax your country is going to go broke. And don't email back that they pay other taxes I know that. I specifically said federal income taxes.

The only thing that I can figure that keeps people supporting Obama is because he makes them feel like he is one of them. Not qualified to be president (neither am I) and they are threatened by someone like Romney who has led a successful business (that created many jobs - I know because I have friends that work there), led a state (lots of misinformation on the boards today about where job creation was when he began and ended his term - another thing distorted by the Obama folks that when they were called on it by many groups stopped that talking point - when he arrived MA was 50th in job creation - when he left MA was 30th. Obama folks averaged together his time in office to make it look worse. And the reason I am so knowledgable about his record is I lived in MA when he was in office. And managed the Olympics. What are your accomplishments (not you jgun123 but everyone on this board)? And why are you so angry and down on a man that has been a success all his life. Does he make you feel bad about yourself??? And you have to ask yourself why would you want a man who had no accomplishments before becoming president (other than convincing people to vote for him) and is in way over his head on the economy to have another 4 years in office. And before you say Romney's father helped him it is well documented that he gave his inheritance to the church. And before you criticize his religion which I too think is an odd one at least he has one. Obama attended that racists pastors church for 20 years and claimed the one day he wasn't there Rev Wright said racist things (what a strange coincidence) and now almost never goes to church. He says it would disrupt the other parishioners. This has never been a problem for any other president but him.

Be an informed voter - if you consider jgun 123's post to be even slightly informative, you've set the bar VERY low -but nothing we haven't come to expect from Republicans.

Your rant is baseless and total lies. The bank accounts came out after extensive research was done - Romney tried as long as possible to keep them secret as they are an embarrassment for anyone running for President.

We'll just go to the end of your ignorant rant to close. Whether the President goes to church or not (he does, regularly) is none of your damned business. In case you missed the bulletin - we have a separation of church and state you buffoon!

Obama/Biden 2012 because we can't afford to have the idiots of the right run the country!

Seeking Sanity- can you explain what is baseless and lies. Where are the facts to show anything I said was baseless or a lie. Again, when you support a president that has no accomplishments you have to resort to name calling.

Actually if we were to compare education and intelligence I have no doubt that I would come out ahead of you. Again nothing to defend this president on so you suggest that I am not educated when I am well educated. Just because I don't support someone who has no accomplishments to run on you criticize me. How is my rant ignorant. What have I said that was rude, racist, etc??? I am asking you to answer the questions but you don't. You only insult me.

The bank accounts were clearly listed on his financial disclosure forms and not after extensive research was done. You might want to try looking at other sources of information besides this website and NBC news. Both very unethical - Mike Barnicle - plagerism, Reverend Al Sharpton - too many issues to detail here, Having to fire producers who doctored/edited tapes from George Zimmerman/Trayvon Martin murder. No wonder Microsoft is ending the partnership and going to create their own news service.

Thanks, Be Informed Voter, I appreciate your thoughts. Baseless and lies seems to just fly off the finger tips of those who looking at only one side of the coin. Again thanks enjoyed your comments.

jgun - I've got a deal for you - shut Mitch McConnel's mouth (Viet Nam Draft Dodger Supreme) love the doctors their families paid off poor little Mitch was supposed to be totally blind by the age of 26 - must have killed the seeing eye dog - ate too much food

But I digress - 100 plus fillibusters - why - they where on a mission - loved their goodies too much to let someone spoil it

30 Budget Bills - everyone with "A POISON PILL" which they know could not pass the Senate - like do away with abortion, do away with Medicare - or at least reduce it -do away with Planned Parenthood - lest I forget cut off spending for "BIG BIRD" in the Muppets - must be a subversive figure - PBS - which I love

So cut your uninformed posting - read - think - before you post and learn the facts

Congress makes the laws - the Senate approves or disapproves - the President

suggests and has the veto power

Dam I wish we elected a benevolent Dictator - instead we have a disfunctional bunch of free loading idiots - namely Tea Retards - who have yet to evolve - if ever

What kind of arrogant twit runs for President without a willingness to be financially transparent with the American people by releasing your tax returns? This really calls into question Romney's judgement or lack thereof. Obama released 12 years. Romney's father release 12 years when he ran for Prez. We saw only one year from Mittens and just from that we learned Romney paid a measly 13% tax rate on a $42M income, has extensive off shore tax dodge accounts and also enables foreign investors to avoid American taxes. What other shennanagans has this clown been up to? Of course, according to Romney, "you people" have no right to know, need to shut up and eat your cake and if you have a problem with it you are just jealous socialists.

Its not like Mittens is going to do the dirty work himself, thats what he has underlings for...

Bill Kamps - Having been raised in Chicago - and lived in New Jersey and Virginia - I don't get "the Chicago politics"

Corruption is everywhere - and if you are referring to "meaner than a junk yard dog" I resemble that remark - we fight for what's ours - what is wrong with that?

And you don't think the Republicans fight dirty - remember the "little girl" with the mushroom cloud ? "Willie Horton" - Swift Boating of John Kerry against "Little George" who got preferential treatment to fake off to a fictitious Boston College - only to appear at his Daddy's fund raisers"

jeez - John Bolton - at The Heritage Foundation where his daughter wrote two papers and got her college paid for - and he pulled a salary - amongst Cheney's wife

The Republican Machine has been alive and well for forty years of my life - with the aim of supporting their own

You could never compare the Daley Machine with them - I wish we could

Debates?

Romney can not even hold a TOWN HALL meeting

to answer voters questions.

All Team Obama has to do is show clips of Romney, in his own words, debating both sides of every major issue.

They could run a whole series of ads with a split-screen where Romney debates himself!

A brief summary of Romney’s Flip/Flops:

Minimum wage

Campaigning for Governor, 2002: Romney stated "I do not believe that indexing the minimum wage will cost us jobs. I believe it will help us retain jobs."

As Governor, July 2006: Romney stated "…there's no question raising the minimum wage excessively causes a loss of jobs, and the loss of jobs is at the entry level."

Stem Cell Research

Campaigning for Governor, 2002: Romney expressed broad support for embryonic stem cell research, and said he would lobby President Bush to support it.

As Governor, 2005: Romney vetoed a Massachusetts bill to fund stem-cell research.

Abortion

1999: In partnership with Bain, a Romney-owned group of companies purchased Stericycle, a medical waste disposal company that had a lucrative contract for the disposal of aborted fetuses.

Campaign, 2002: Romney's platform - "As Governor, Mitt Romney would protect the current pro-choice status quo in Massachusetts. No law would change. The choice to have an abortion is a deeply personal one. Women should be free to choose based on their own beliefs, not the government's."

Governor, July 2005: Romney criticized Roe v. Wade in a veto message in rejecting a bill mandating access to access to emergency contraception. In February 2006, Romney stated that his views on abortion had "evolved" and "changed" since 2002 such that he then considered himself a "pro-life governor" who wishes "the laws of our nation could reflect that view".

Gun Control

Campaign, 2002: Romney supported the federal assault weapons ban. July 1, 2004: Romney signed a permanent state ban on assault weapons, saying "Deadly assault weapons have no place in Massachusetts. These guns are not made for recreation or self-defense. They are instruments of destruction with the sole purpose of hunting down and killing people." The law covered weapons such as the AK-47, Uzi, and MAC-10.

January, 2008: "I believe we need to focus on enforcing our current laws rather than creating new laws that burden lawful gun owners.”

Gay Rights

Senate campaign, 1994: Romney stated “..I respect the work and the efforts he's (Ted Kennedy) made on behalf of the gay community and for civil rights more generally, and I would continue that fight. There's something to be said for having a Republican who supports civil rights in this broader context, including sexual orientation. When Ted Kennedy speaks on gay rights, he's seen as an extremist. When Mitt Romney speaks on gay rights, he's seen as a centrist and a moderate. …When Ted says it, it's extreme; when I say it, it's mainstream. I think the gay community needs more support from the Republican party and I would be a voice in the Republican party to foster anti-discrimination efforts.”

Campaign 2002: Romney's stated position was "All citizens deserve equal rights, regardless of their sexual orientation. While he does not support gay marriage, Mitt Romney believes domestic partnership status should be recognized in a way that includes the potential for health benefits and rights of survivorship."

Governor, 2004: Romney stated "If the question is, 'Do you support gay marriage or civil unions?' I'd say neither. If they said you have to have one or the other, that Massachusetts is going to have one or the other, then I'd rather have civil unions than gay marriage. But I'd rather have neither."

Healthcare

Governor, 2006: …Romney successfully pushed for incorporating an individual mandate at the state level. April 2006: Romney signed legislation that mandates that nearly all Massachusetts residents buy or obtain health insurance coverage or face a penalty in the form of an additional income tax assessment. The bill established a regulatory authority called the Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority to implement the law and establish insurance standards.

2010: In a speech, Romney said of Obamacare "I hope we're ultimately able to eliminate some of the differences, and repeal the bad and keep the good." He applauded the individual mandate, which he says "works."

Campaign 2012: Romney promises to repeal “Obamacare” on Day One.

Taxes

Campaign 2002: Romney refused to sign an anti-tax pledge put forth by Grover Norquist's Americans for Tax Reform. Romney presented a plan to balance the budget without raising taxes. Romney also favored gambling as a way to help balance the Massachusetts deficit.

2003: A windfall in capital gains tax revenue caused by a previously enacted capital gains tax increase reduced the deficit by $1.3 billion.

2006: The combined state and local tax burden in Massachusetts increased during Romney's governorship. Romney cut spending by $1.6 billion, including $700 million in reductions in state aid to cities and towns. In response, cities and towns raised property taxes by five percent to their highest level in 25 years. In 2005, Romney signed legislation allowing local commercial property taxes to be raised, which resulted in $100 million more in property taxes from local business owners.

Romney created new fees and increased fees for many state licenses and services. In all 33 new fees were created and 57 fees were increased, raising $501 million in new income in the first year of the fee increase program - more than any other state in the nation. Romney increased a state gasoline “special fee” by two cents per gallon, generating about $60 million per year in additional revenue. This made for a total effective state gasoline tax of 23.5 cents per gallon.

Blind Trusts

Senate campaign, 1994: Mitt Romney questioned Ted Kennedy over the then-senator's blind trust in a debate. He called Kennedy's blind trust "a ruse," arguing that it is easy to determine where one's money is going.

2012: "With regard to any foreign investments, I understand, and you understand of course, that my investments have been held by a blind trust, have been managed by a trustee," Romney said. "I don't manage them. I don't even know where they are. That trustee follows all U.S. laws. All the taxes are paid, as appropriate. All of them have been reported to the government. There's nothing hidden there." Romney’s “blind trust” also invested millions in his son Tag’s start-up business.

mike - one more time — try and get this through your thick head solyndra was started by george jr. comprende?

obama inherited this along will all the other crap

it"s like i sold you a clunker - and told you to make it run

how thick skulled can you be - you post the same crap day in and day out

it"s like trying to tell a challenged child to read shakespeare and write a paper on it

education is really tough if the child is unable or unwilling to learn

and is boring listening to you!

Interesting DOn

But who exactly was it who initially brought up the tax return issue?

Oh that's right - those running for the GOP nomination!

And who is advising Romey to release these returns?

Oh that's right - mainstream Republicans, Conservative Republicans and Tea Partiers!

What he evades by offshore voodoo you and I have to make it back up.

You are assuming that I pay taxes.

His tax rates are low on that money because unlike the original money which paid normal rates

this is mostly not true. People like Romney rarely make money in the form of "income," it's mostly in stock options and grants, which only pay 15% in taxes even though it's "new" money. A CEO can make a $0 salary, pay no income taxes (at the 35% rate), and get $10 million in stock (and only pay 15%).

Oh, and capital gains taxes are not double taxation.

With that said, Obama is relying on our envy of the super rich guy to bring us back to the just rich guy.

I don't envy him, I just wish he paid the same effective tax rate that my wife and I do...

Maybe if the right wing knew what was in Romney's tax returns, they would back off.

I would like to know how much Romney took for Bain Capital business expenses in 2000 to 2002.

The FBI sent an agent to our workplace, inquiring about a former employee who was applying for a government job. They asked tons of personal questions. If a job applicant to the Justice Department gets that much scrutiny, shouldn't a candidate for the Presidency be required to reveal past tax returns?

Amy,

There is a requirement for Romney to release his tax returns. He did that.

You want more. That's fine, you can want more. But don't act like the fact that you want more than he has released means he's hiding something.

The IRS requires 7 years.

How is it not double taxation? You make money say 100 dollars and you pay 36 dollars (democrats want 39+ dollars). You take that 64 dollars and invest it in a company. that pays you 10 dollars. You already paid taxes on the money invested, by taking a risk, now the govenment wants $3.90 from you. Then go to spend it at the local store, you pay sales taxes, then you have to pay the death tax too when you die. Not to mention all the property taxes, fees, surcharges, and many others you pay. Now we have to add additional Obamacare taxes.

The Rich can afford tax attornies, and the Poor get the Income tax credit, so they get back more then they were taxed. it is the middle class that get the short rift. But considering the 1% pay 39% of all the taxes, I don't think it is "fair" to raise their taxes. unless we have a flat tax rate for everyone. something like 10% If you make 100 dollars a year you pay 10. If you make 1 million you pay 100 thousand. The same rate for everyone. No deductions of any kind.

Romney doesn't have to prove anything. I certanly don't have to vote for him either.

My dad wasn't a Governor...

Vote for the man that has a better understanding of where you come from

It's funny, when the President was talking about traveling around the country with his family, and staying at the Howard Johnson's, my mind's eye flashed on that orange-roofed establishment, and what a prominent role it played in my childhood. What was it that was so fascinating about Howard Johnson's? I can't remember why it was such a big deal to us, but I remember being so excited to stop there. (Maybe because most of time, we ate sandwiches in the car and stayed at campgrounds, on our travels.) Anyway, it made me feel closer to him, to hear President Obama share those memories. That was neat.

Amy - It was absolutely the peppermint stick ice cream cones.

Fried clams and orange soda.

Amy....great stroll down memory lane...WTF does that have to do with his ability to lead this country? I don't need a POTUS to have shared the same experiences I had as a child to feel like he "knows where I am coming from". I need a POTUS who has experience in running something. Who has known the ins and outs of negotiations, business, knows finance and legalities to make things happen.

And that would O'bama Colorado Man, as to who was more like me growing up.

I prefer to vote for the person with the best economic policy. I honestly don't know whether or not Romney's policy will work. I do know that Obama's didn't.

mili - have you been asleep for the last thirty years? google "income inequality" find a chart, and look at it.

Jim, look at what Obama took over from Bush, He had a veto proof Democratic Congress to work with, (someting Bush didn't have) he could have passed any bill the democrats choose to. In the end the ecomoney is worse then when he took over, (higher Debt, higher unemployment. More people dependant on the government for handouts.) to name a few. One need to simply go to the workplace or market to see how things are. Even Obama said he shouldn't run if things didn't improve after 3 years. (something I bet he regrets saying).

are you serious?

Re-electing Bush WAS already the Titanis hitting the iceberg...then you guys got mad that Obama wasn't saving people fast enough while trying to dodge snowballs being thrown by the guys who hit the iceberg. And you are trying to re-hire the same people who hit the iceberg in the first place....silly teabaggers will just never get it.

Swingin' Dick Cheney got his start in the Nixon administration. Talk about repeating mistakes...

amerigal - the definition of insane is voting for a Republican again. They got us into this mess then did their best to keep us mired in this mess. They showed and actually told the US they didn't give a damn about the country - their one goal is and was to make President Obama a one-term President. The definition of insane is anything you post amerigal.

You and the rest of the Republican posters prove that seeking sanity in the GOP is useless because there is NONE. Look at the totally empty suit you're running for President!

Obama/Biden

INSANE....the definition of a liberal-progressive.

INSANE....the definition of a liberal-progressive.

haha, you just called jesus insane, all that healing the sick and taking care of the poor.

lol! Awesome analogy amerigal!

Nahhh bfitz, I even looked it up for you ... it doesn't define a liberal progressive, it does however define everyone who seems to think Mitt and his attitude are good for this country!

In a state of mind that prevents normal perception, behavior, or social interaction; seriously mentally ill.

GermanGem - you just made sure everyone knows what a nutcase amerigal is. When you agree with anyone we all KNOW that person has mush for brains!

I wonder if there was a lot of FDR bashing in 1936 because he had not cleaned up that republican economic disaster.

WETHECORPSE -

"INSANE....the definition of a liberal-progressive."

"haha, you just called jesus insane, all that healing the sick and taking care of the poor."

what? please explain that one.

what? please explain that one.

Sure, he changed a religion (progressive), talked about free will (liberal), healed the sick (liberal), fed the poor (liberal), protected women from slanderous attacks (liberal), and discussed living a meager life within your means and not hoarding wealth and power (liberal). Plus he was a brown skinned arab...get it yet?

We the corp ... BRILLIANT!

Anyone who votes for him (again), is INSANE

Amerigal -

Do you mean voting for a candidate that has nothing to offer except the same old bull@!$%# that we got during the W years? If so, you must be referring to NitMitt...

Obama/Biden 2012

Corpse - "Sure, he changed a religion (progressive), talked about free will (liberal), healed the sick (liberal), fed the poor (liberal), protected women from slanderous attacks (liberal), and discussed living a meager life within your means and not hoarding wealth and power (liberal). Plus he was a brown skinned arab...get it yet?"

No, I still don't get it. Are you a liberal? healed anyone lately? Feeding the poor are you? Protecting women too? Brown skinned arabs are liberal are they? I think your nonsense runs along the lines of what the scribes and pharisees would spout in all of their superiority. You pull junk out of your a$$ that you don't even believe in and post it as your own intellectual invention. Useless. Get it yet?

No, I still don't get it.

Figured...but I tried.

Are you a liberal? healed anyone lately? Feeding the poor are you? Protecting women too? Brown skinned arabs are liberal are they?

Very liberal. And yes I donate more time and money to local charities than any christian I know, and I routinely set up camp outside of Planned Parenthood to intimidate the sh!t out of the fundies with signs and allow women to receive the care they need. At 6'3" 220 and about 6% body fat it works pretty well.

Imagine an atheist living a more christian life than most christians...I love the irony. BTW, jesus was still a liberal and you didn't offer any rebuttal to that...

Brown skinned arabs are liberal are they?

You think Obama is...eventhough he is really very moderate

As rule GermanGem, I don't think blonde women are stupid. I have to wonder about a blonde who swallows GOP lies hook, line, and sinker.

We the corp... I think you've made an error in your comparison between liberals and Jesus.

Healing the sick:

Jesus healed the sick himself, he didn't go to a governmental body to get them to make everyone else do it for him.

Liberals want government to do it.

Conservatives volunteer themselves, and give of their own money.

Taking care of the poor:

Again... Jesus did this himself, there was no petitioning government to do this instead.

Liberals: Petitioning government.

Conservatives: Doing it themselves.

Don't get me wrong, I'm no fan of the conservative pushing their religion on others. However, don't claim that Jesus would be a liberal today.

He would just look at them and ask why they aren't out doing what the conservatives are.

I not only that Jesus is a Liberal, I think his father is too, milidad, I think you are everything you say you aren't. It's okay to say I disagree, it's not okay to tell anyone else what they can or can't say just because you disagree.

germangem - it wasn't an analogy. It was a direct statement; brainless, without correspondence to reality, but a direct statement nevertheless.

I was going to make a joke about the inability of neo-fascists to understand things, but given your handle, I won't. Besides, the current GOP ideology corresponds more to Mussolini's definition of corporate nirvana than that other one does. However, when the morons start going on about muslims infiltrating the government, you sometimes wonder.

Jesus believed in Charity, (Republican), he forgave the sinner, and told them to sin no more, Again (Republican, Take responsibility). He did not promote taxing the people, but to donate your time/money to help the poor, (Republican). True he promoted free will, but also the responsibility that come with it. (Republican) He talked about morals, Something liberals don't believe in. He was against the false teachings of the Chirch holing the people in bondage. Change Chirch to Government and you have the same Republican teachings.

At least the Bush government gave us Unemployment under 5% for most of his terms. (something that Obama has nearly doubled). If it weren't for the Democrats in congress giving us the housing bubble we would be better off today.

Romney holds a vigil every year on the death of Leona Helmsley his heroine who said only little people pay taxes. A belief he strongly agrees with.

300Micheal, Jesus also said that wealth and a belief in him and his father were incompatible. False teachings of the church,

Deuteronomy Chapter 26 verse 12

¹² When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled;

Exodus Chapter 21 verses 2 to 11 talks about slavery among the ancient hebrews

² If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.

³ If he came in by himself, he shall go out by himself: if he were married, then his wife shall go out with him.

⁴ If his master have given him a wife, and she have born him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out by himself.

⁵ And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free:

⁶ Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever.

⁷ And if a man sell his daughter to be a maidservant, she shall not go out as the menservants do.

⁸ If she please not her master, who hath betrothed her to himself, then shall he let her be redeemed: to sell her unto a strange nation he shall have no power, seeing he hath dealt deceitfully with her.

⁹ And if he have betrothed her unto his son, he shall deal with her after the manner of daughters.

¹⁰ If he take him another wife; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish.

¹¹ And if he do not these three unto her, then shall she go out free without money.

God requires his followers to treat the poor with compassion. Doesn't sound like the modern GOP to me.

JJ - now don't go talking sense. The little right wingers on this site won't understand a word of what you're saying!

bfitz -

Why has every other candidate for President in modern history released more years of returns thn Romney?

Why doesn't Mitt Romney agree with his father (who released 12 years of tax returns) that a year or two of returns doesn't prove anything?

Why do the Republicans in Congress insist that Obama's appointees release over two years' of tax returns?

Why did McCain want to see over 10 years of Romney's tax returns?

Why do Republicans insist on seeing not only Obama's tax returns but his birth certificate and college transcripts?

bfitz, WTF??!! "HNIC", really??!! Still going with the racist bull@!$%#? I can't believe you're still here. Your comments are uninformed and disgusting.

Obama/Biden 2012

"...Obama was referencing the infrastructure businesses use every day, NOT the business itself. That will be enough for the pathetically malinformed...but.."

Total BS. He said what he said and you're telling me what he was referencing. Obama spouts some BS and you back it up with a made up lie to compound it. You guys got nothing but noise.

Skonsin -

So you agree then that Romney "likes to fire people" and is "not concerned about the very poor"?

I didn't read where I wrote that. So, you agree that nothing is foolproof to the sufficiently foolish? Doesn't fit does it?

Tnsevol - Good point. It is about context. Even Jeb Bush who I thought would be one of Romney's rational advisors is propogating the lie. I understood what the President was saying, even those on the right knew what he meant, but they are lying.

Sound bites the bane of politics. Too bad the general public when they can be pulled away from Housewives of Orange County, Jersey Shore and American Idol will believe their lies.

Thanks for putting that here Dr. Logic! Faux news and their ilk should be penalized for distorting the truth!! And speaking of Wicked Willard. Everyone should check this out.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/16/mitt-romney-freeport-illinois-outsourcing_n_1676991.html

WASHINGTON -- The city council of Freeport, Ill., approved a resolution Monday evening that will call on presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney to step in and save roughly 170 local jobs being outsourced by a company owned by Bain Capital.

Last year, Massachusetts-based Sensata Technologies announced that it was closing its Freeport plant by the end of 2012 and shipping the jobs to China. The U.S. positions, the company claimed, would be phased out gradually. Sensata Technologies makes sensors and controls that are used in aircraft and automobiles.

The resolution organized by Sensata employees calls on Romney -- who co-founded Bain -- to "come to Freeport to meet the people directly affected by Bain Capital's outsourcing and to step in and stop the outsourcing of these jobs from Freeport to China."

The city council voted unanimously, 8-0, on Monday to approve the Sensata resolution.

Romney maintains that he left Bain in 1999, even though multiple documents list him as having leadership roles with the company beyond that date.

Regardless of the date that he left, Tom Gaulrapp -- a lifelong resident of Freeport and 33-year employee of Sensata -- said that Romney still bears some responsibility.

"They used his business model," Gaulrapp said. "And the board of directors and most of the officers at Bain Capital were put in place by him. There's an ongoing debate over whether he actually left in 1999 or whether he filed wrong documents to the SEC. In either case, they're still using his business model. He's the one who taught them how to do this. These guys were put there by him. So you can say he doesn't run the day-to-day operations, but he's still at blame for the way they do business."

Democratic Freeport Mayor George Gaulrapp (who is distantly related to Tom Gaulrapp) backs the Sensata resolution and predicts that it will pass unanimously before the city council on Monday evening.

"He [Romney] is running for president," said the mayor. "These people felt it was a little hypocritical that he was with Bain Capital, he organized some of the processes, and now he's touring the country ... saying we need to keep jobs here in the United States. And yet for a long time, he made a lot of profits by tearing companies apart and sending them overseas."

A Romney spokesperson reiterated that the governor left Bain in 1999, and said he has no knowledge of the Freeport controversy. ** PURE B.S.!! Wicked Willard will not do squat - he may have left but am sure he still own stocks of that co.

Rep. Bobby Schilling (R-Ill.) currently represents Freeport, and after redistricting goes into effect, the new congressman will be Rep. Don Manzullo (R-Ill.). Both lawmakers wrote to Sensata CEO Tom Wroe on July 6, urging him to keep the jobs in the U.S.

"I appreciate your comments regarding understanding the competitive pressure facing companies in today's global marketplace and I assure you that we strive to balance our duty to our shareholders with our duty as corporate citizens, just as you strive to balance the interests of your local constituents with that which is best for our country," responded Wroe. "Closing the Freeport facility is the right strategy for our business in order to deliver value to our shareholders and to support our global customers."

Neither Schilling nor Manzullo responded to comment on the Freeport resolution involving Romney.

Tom Gaulrapp wouldn't say who he was planning to vote for in the presidential election, although he said he'd certainly give Romney a close look if he steps in and saves Freeport's jobs. As for what he will do when the Sensata plant closes, Gaulrapp, 54, said he may look at going back to school.

"The Trade Adjustment Act allows us to go back to college, but if there aren't jobs available to use any kind of college education that you might be able to add to your resume, is there really a point to that?" asked Gaulrapp. "Like most of the people in my age group and in this situation, our future is just completely bleak."

UPDATE: 8:49 p.m. -- This story was updated to reflect the city council's vote.

WASHINGTON -- Mitt Romney's repeated claim that he played no part in executive decision-making related to Bain Capital after 1999 is false, according to Romney's own testimony in June 2002, in which he admitted to sitting on the board of the LifeLike Co., a dollmaker that was a Bain investment during the period.

Romney has consistently insisted that he was too busy organizing the 2002 Winter Olympics to take part in Bain business between 1999 and that event. But in the testimony, which was provided to The Huffington Post, Romney noted that he regularly traveled back to Massachusetts. "[T]here were a number of social trips and business trips that brought me back to Massachusetts, board meetings, Thanksgiving and so forth," he said.

Romney's sworn testimony was given as part of a hearing to determine whether he had sufficient residency status in Massachusetts to run for governor.

Romney testified that he "remained on the board of the Staples Corporation and Marriott International, the LifeLike Corporation" at the time.

Yet in the Aug. 12, 2011, federal disclosure form filed as part of his presidential bid, he said, "Mr. Romney retired from Bain Capital on February 11, 1999 to head the Salt Lake Organizing Committee. Since February 11, 1999, Mr. Romney has not had any active role with any Bain Capital entity and has not been involved in the operations of any Bain Capital entity in any way."

Bain, a private equity firm, held a stake in the LifeLike Co. until the end of 2001, including during the period in which Romney claimed to have no business involvement with Bain entities. Bain had heavily invested in LifeLike, a company that Romney identified personally as an opportunity, in 1996 and sold its shares in late 2001. His involvement with LifeLike contradicts his assertion that he had no involvement with Bain business. His testimony is supported by his 2001 Massachusetts State Ethics Commission filing, in which he lists himself as a member of LifeLike's board.

Romney has long said that he took a leave of absence from Bain because the work of organizing the 2002 Winter Olympics was so grueling, which has allowed him to deny responsibility for Bain activities during 1999 and 2002.

His activities during that period also included Staples board meetings: "I returned for most of those meetings. Others I attended by telephone if I could not return."

Bain was involved with Staples early in its life, taking the company public in 1989. Romney used his Bain position to obtain a seat on the board, which he held into 2002. He regularly cites the jobs that Staples created as reflecting positively on Bain's record.

The Boston Globe on Thursday blew a giant hole in Romney's claim that he left the private equity firm in 1999. The Globe reported that Bain's own filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission suggest that Romney remained deeply tied to the company until sometime in 2002.