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A series of polls released late Wednesday made clear that the economy remains the most constant and influential variable in the 2012 presidential campaign, helping to explain the strategies and posture of both Mitt Romney and President Obama.
Though Romney has been besieged by millions in negative ads questioning his tenure at Bain Capital and whether he should release more tax returns, the presumptive Republican nominee remains basically even versus the president in polls. The reason? Three new polls suggest that voters' optimism about the state of the economy has slid, making Obama more vulnerable to efforts that seek to turn the campaign into a referendum on his economic management.
Barack Obama and Mitt Romney
Thirty-nine percent of registered voters said in the New York Times/CBS poll released yesterday that they approve of Obama's handling of the economy, versus 55 percent who disapprove. As a matter of comparison, voters disapproved of Obama's economic management by a tighter margin — 44 percent approving, 48 percent disapproving — in the April version of the same poll.
First Thoughts: Obama-Romney race remains deadlocked
A separate poll conducted for NPR also found that voters disapprove of Obama's handling of the economy, a margin that widens among voters surveyed in 12 battleground states. In those states, 52 percent said they disapproved of Obama's handling of the economy, versus 45 percent who approve.
"The economy is the albatross around the president’s neck. The Romney people are smart in focusing on the economy, because that is the softest point in the president’s campaign," said Democratic strategist Jamal Simmons. "They’re running a campaign based on the issue of the economy, not based on who you should trust with the economy. Those are two different questions – closely related – but different questions."
The past three months has seen a series of lackluster monthly jobs reports, and no real dent has been made in the unemployment rate. Though these figures don't entirely explain the souring public mood toward the economy, they suggest that the economy remains an albatross for Obama — one that has weighed more heavily on the Democratic president as the think of the campaign has onset.
Obama had opened up a lead over Romney earlier this year in the aftermath of a bruising Republican primary and four straight jobs reports showing that the economy had added jobs to the tune of six figures each month. What changed? In April, May and June, the economy added 68,000, 77,000 and 80,000 jobs respectively.
Presented with those figures in the June NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll, 52 percent of Americans said those numbers weren't a reason for optimism.
And as if to underscore the point, the CBS/NYT poll found that a full 93 percent of voters said they thought the economy and unemployment were either an extremely or very important issue in this election.
The jobs report and its impact on the unemployment rate aren't the sole factor in evolving political opinion. Romney has spent much of his time on the campaign trail assailing the president's management of the economy, and beyond that, Obama has introduced few initiatives to improve the jobs situation aside from the defunct American Jobs Act he first proposed last summer. Moreover, Republicans gleefully pointed on Wednesday to the fact that the jobs council Obama himself empaneled hasn't met in 6 months.
But a Fox News poll contained one of the starkest reversals in Obama's numbers, adding to the evidence that voters have soured in recent months.
Thirty-seven percent of registered voters in that poll said that Obama has made the economy better as a product of his policies, and 49 percent says he's made it worse. In March, voters slightly favored Obama in the same poll, 44-42 percent. A 2-point margin for the president turned into a 12-point margin just four months.
Nonetheless, the race remains largely deadlocked.
Romney leads Obama 47 to 46 percent among registered voters in the NYT/CBS. Obama leads 45-41 percent in a Fox News poll, and he leads 47-45 percent in the NPR poll. (NPR's battleground state sample found Romney and Obama tied, at 46 percent apiece.)
It's tough to imagine, though, a scenario in which Obama could do much to dramatically redirect the trajectory of the economy. And voters' perception about the economy is likely to harden by the end of the summer, if history is any guide.
It explains the Romney campaign's zen-like handling of the questioning -- even from conservatives -- of its strategy. The Republican's campaign has long regarded discussing anything but the economy as mostly a distraction, keeping its focus squarely on Obama's economic record in hopes of transforming the campaign into a referendum on just that.
It also helps to distill the Obama campaign's need to go on offense versus Romney, looking to poison swing state voters on Romney's chief qualification as a turnaround expert and experienced businessman.
But the NYT/CBS poll contained one of the bleakest numbers for Obama. Fully 45 percent of registered voters said his policies are not improving the economy, and probably never will.
And in an election in which the economy is the top issues, that sort of bleakness could prove to be Romney's greatest advantage.
The NYT/CBS poll was conducted July 11-16 and has a three percent margin of error.
The NPR poll was conducted July 9-12 by Democratic pollster Democracy Corps and Republican pollster Resurgent Republic. It has a 3.1 percent margin of error for all voters, and a 4.56 percent margin of error for the sample of voters in battleground states.
The Fox News poll was conducted July 15-17 by Democratic pollster Anderson Robbins Research and Republican pollster Shaw & Company research; it has a three percent margin of error.
Leave a Comment:
Barry having to run with an actual record is really gonna suck for him and his Obamabots. Maybe his promise that if he can't turn the economy around, he will be a one term President will be a promise he will keep. Of course the "relly good" part of the quote is a joke.
We're at the stage of President Obama's tenure when his past comments are dredged up and put in a new context.
Such as his comments about the prospect of being a one-term president.
Back on Jan. 25, 2010 -- during the health care debate -- Obama told ABC News, "I'd rather be a really good one-term president than a mediocre two-term president."
Joe
Obama's policies are probably helping Romney's profits.
Would those tax returns let the voters know that.
All part of the plan: let the Cheney/Rove administration spend like a sailor on leave, run up the deficit, ruin the economy and then blame it on the cleanup crew, crying all the way that we can't afford social services. The only problem is the gullible nitwits with three minute attention spans who buy into this crap. Yep, it's running like clockwork...
How about a compromise. Romney hands over 3 years of tax returns and President Obama hands over 3 years of college transcripts. Then watch to see which one blinks first.
That's fair, right?
Polls suggest the economy is becoming heavier burden for Obama
Get rid of the Tea-Bag Congress and you get rid of the problem. O has made alot of progress even with that anchor, we call Congress, hanging around his neck....
Obama/Biden 2012
How about they both just turn over their tax returns? That sounds fair to almost any logical person.
Why do you want to see Obama's college transcripts? We never saw GW Bush's college transcripts, his military records, or proof of how he got into Harvard.
Will you give control of your taxes to someone,
who is not "transparent" in how he does his.
That's fair, right?
Yet he has performed as a "really horrible one-term president."
Still with the tax returns and blaming somebody else? My goodness give it a break and start thinking about what those polls are saying!! People care first and foremost about the economy! Your guy can't run on his record so he throws up all the deflections and you gobble it up.
IT'S THE ECONOMY STUPID!!!!!
Sandy -don't you think the Feds would have been all over Romney if they even smelled something wrong about the tax returns?? Use your head!!
Romney hands over 3 years of tax returns and President Obama hands over 3 years of college transcripts
Totas - I'll take that deal ,anyday
It's funny that the libs here and running First Read need a poll to find out the economy sucks.
Joe and Bob: Barry's only positive accomplishment will be a "one and done".
Yes and many of Barry's supporters in 2008 have also finally figured out that Barry can't pay their mortgage or power bills either!
And most of us are in agreement that the TV/Radio ads coming from Obama's handlers are complete fabrications as well!
I think more Americans are learning every day that Obama has no substance, just political rhetoric..!
Tax returns?
Yea ... really great idea. Throw in college records.
Heck lets see Pelosi and Reid's tax returns and college records .... John Kerry and ... all of the Congress and Senate .... their spouses too.
How about all of Obama's apppointees and aides ... (btw - did they ever pay their taxes?)
And what does all this accomplish ... how does this help create one job or help determine who has the history of accomplishment - resume - to fix the economy?
Gosh comparing resumes instead of tax returns ... what a novel idea. Maybe businesses should do that when they hire people ....(if they ever get the chance again.)
Just a big distraction, a non issue .... just like Obama wants and needs.
TNSEVOL - you are joking, yes?
We saw Bush's transcripts and military records. Gosh it's almost like you forgot about the Dan Rather debacle re: military records.
Obama's is supposed to be super smart. I'd love to see his grades, papers and everything else.
I make all my attorney proved law school transcripts.
So, where are Obama's? What's the big secret?
Reb
I never said Romney did anything wrong............
Re-read my post.
Romney has made profits,
how much has Obama's policies helped Romney?
You do know the stock market has gone up alot since Obama took office.
USE YOUR HEAD!!
Contrary to Republican talking points, President Obama is proudly running on his record. To date most of his campaign ads have been positive and point out his many accomplishments.
Romney's only justification for being President is that he is a proven businessman who knows how to create jobs in a real world economy. In that situation, why is it not fair to reveal the truth about Romney's business background and whether or not he truly created jobs?
Romney's ONLY strategy is to blame President Obama for EVERYTHING and state without any details that he can make things better. Why is it not fair to reveal the details of his business operations, so the American people can see what Romney is trying to hide?
ROMNEY is the one who is afraid to run on his record. He nevers mentions his tenure as governor of Massachusetts, is afraid to reveal his tax returns, and is afraid to tell the truth about his dealings at Bain.
He must be ashamed of his questionable business practices, un-American investments, innumerable flip/flops, dismal approval ratings, and multiple election losses.
FR - The past three months has seen a series of lackluster monthly jobs reports, and no real dent has been made in the unemployment rate
I guess not Michael O'Brien since it has gone up in the past 3 months, 8.1 to 8.2.
Geeez, at least try to hide your bias, would you?
TNSEVOL - Romney's ONLY strategy is to blame President Obama for EVERYTHING
You are kidding right? From an administration that spent 4 years blaming President Bush for EVERYTHING?
Name me one other presidential candidate that had to release college transcripts. You're comparing apples to oranges here, so i'd say it isn't fair at all. Tax returns are a standard thing that every presidential candidate has submitted for review by those going to hire them (i.e., the voters). Transcripts are an issue because of right wing talking points and distortions. apples to oranges. i bet it makes sense from your neck of the woods, but in mine i'd prefer to avoid the petty ( i could care less about the governors tax returns at this point, the fact he doesn't want to release them tells me everything i needed to know) and move into substantive issues on how to fix the growing number of problems the country faces. Bumper sticker slogans don't provide solutions, they can only enflame emotions.
Well, if the media would do it's job, the polls would NOT appear so burdensome which, by the way, they are not for the Chicago team.
President Obama is doing a brilliant job on R-money's obscurity about his taxes, and SEC.
The most
burdensomeannoying thing about this whole campaign is the Wooden, Pinocchio, Willard "Myth"Romney and Anne's wanting to maintain a slow, fairy- tale, lifestyle of lies in a real world.Hey, they can try and run out the clock with their refusals, gazillion dollar ads, and lies; but sooner or later they will have to show Americans those tax returns and minutes from the retroactive Bain meetings.
Tick Tock, Tick Tock...
4more for 44
Obama/Biden 2012
Tax returns?
Yea ... really great idea. Throw in college records.
Bob - Like I said before. That's a great deal.
Heck lets see Pelosi and Reid's tax returns and college records .... John Kerry and ... all of the Congress and Senate .... their spouses too.
They're not running for President.
TheyAnd what does all this accomplish ... how does this help create one job or help determine who has the history of accomplishment - resume - to fix the economy?
You're deflecting the issue, Bob......
Obama/Biden 2012
WCA - yep, you totally busted o'Brien.
No 'dent', eh?
Mr. O'Brien, you have been called out. Care to comment?
You could always start with your definition of the word 'dent.'
Spanky -
Dan Rather got in trouble because those were NOT GW Bush's military records, they were forgeries. It's almost like you forgot that the real records never surfaced!
I do not recall any president ever releasing their college transcripts, I fail to see how they are relevant to being qualified as POTUS.
Sure, you make "all your attorneys" provide college transcripts - you must be a very thorough "boss". Do you ask for law school transcripts only, or do you go back to undergrad, high school, maybe junior high? You just have to see how they did in Wood Shop I, right?
Transcripts are usually only required when you are applying for your first job, not after you have a proven employment record or additional degrees.
Hehehehe!!!!!
This article is about how the polls are showing the economy to be a big issue for Obummer and all the left-wing-lunatics on this site can do is scream for Romney's tax returns.
Heaven forbid we actually talk about the subject matter in the article.
Looney's is soooooo funny!
(show me the clown nose, fisty!)
I would trust Romney with my portfolio and taxes anyday! I would not,however, let Obama touch my daughter's lemonade stand, let alone have control of my taxes again!
America's future depends on Barry's defeat! Wake up folks!
TNSEVOL,
Why do you want to see Obama's college transcripts? We never saw GW Bush's college transcripts, his military records, or proof of how he got into Harvard.
Same reason you want to see Romney's. Because he doesn't want to give them up. Whats is he hiding.
thetotas
How about a compromise. Romney hands over 3 years of tax returns and President Obama hands over 3 years of college transcripts. Then watch to see which one blinks first.
do you want the transcripts of when he was the first black to head the Harvard law review.
you don't get there with smoke and mirrors.
hows this, why not have Romney give the tax returns for the years he SAID he was not in charge of bain. the reason why he CAN't give those years is because if he was still in charge he would be in danger of going to jail.
also i want to see records from his time as governor and see the real input he had in ronmeny care.
also how he almost bankrupt mass when he was governor.
This week's economic data are actually pretty good.
Obama the Superman has performed some magic ... although Bush's damages are hard to reserve than people thought - well, no need to beat around the bushes - harms done by Republicans have always been harder to fix.
thetotas -
Your circular logic makes no sense. In return for Romney doing something EVERY other candidate in modern history has done, you want Obama to do something NO other candidate has done.
Hard to argue with that kind of twisted logic......
What a crock of crap.
Even FR has Obama's ads at 89% negative!
Spoken like a true Obama Marxist.
The goal is that evil word "profit" ... being successfull, creating profit leads to job creation.
Yea .... when analysts are trying to evaluate a business .... they don't care about sales, growth, market growth, dividends,ROI and all the other business stuff - they want to judge the company by the tax return of a manager.
Good one.
Gawd you guys are detached.
Correction: although Bush's damages are hard to REVERSE than people thought - (earlier post says 'reserve')
Don't beat around the Bushes, Bush has done too much damages to the country - that is still true - history has proven
TNSEVOL - it's called a resume. You are familiar, yes?
You know you list your educational and work history, complete with college major, honors and the like.
But then again, it seems from your comments that you are not in a hiring position.
But riddle me this - how come we heard all about Bush's grades [C's] and even Perry's?
Transparency is a two way street. It is that simple.
Not particularly relevant, however given the abysmal economic indicators.
sandy-1851937
I have used my head and it is easy to see that the stock market went up because of Obama's policies which discourage job growth in the US and encourage companies to invest offshore.
This allows them to make more money with less US employees and pay less US taxes. I am sure that even you must realize that it is the bottom line that effects the companies stock price and the more money you can make net the better your stock price.
What can I say, I am a twisted human begin.
OK, all that is required is two years of tax returns, how about two years? Its a compromise, will it kill him to do it.
I'm frankly astonished that 4-in-10 of those polled approve of Obama's economic handling. Really? Ok, I get the whole "we got handed a bag of wet band-aids" thing, but the reality is that four years later the economy's just not getting better. If you read into Ben B's latest congressional testimony, if anything, it's getting worse! If the 3rd quarter jobs/growth numbers are as bad as the 2nd quater's were, there's no chance the President gets reelected.
Bob -
Show me again where creating profit leads to job creation. Corporate profits are at record highs, so where are the jobs? Tax rates on the wealthy are at histric lows, where are the jobs?
Basic economy shows that jobs are created in order to meet demand or potential demand. How are lower corporate/personal taxes going to stimulate demand?
If a company makes more profit they don't hire more people just to spread the profit around! If a wealthy person pays lower taxes he is very likely to invest his extra money in the financial markets which again do not create jobs.
Spanky-
I would think a brilliant lawyer like you would know the difference between a resume and a transcript.
Think what you like about me, I would match my RESUME against yours any time.
Unlike Romney I have actually had to develop strategies to keep a business in operation, growing and running, for several years. I have never hired one employee because my profits went up or my taxes went down. I hire employees in order to meet demand or take advantage of a market opportunity.
I just read in the newspaper this morning that in past six months, the President has had the time to attend over 100 fundraisers...yet hasn't met one single time with the "Jobs Council" he created and made such a big fuss about when he did so.
Am I now supposed to feel sorry for him because the lousy 'jobs' reports that are coming out are creating a 'burden' for him ???
It wouldn't matter if the President put out his transcripts the crazies would say they were doctored.
BTW thotas, that's a false equivalency you are peddling. Transcripts and taxes are two entirely different things.
He must be ashamed of his questionable business practices, un-American investments, innumerable flip/flops, dismal approval ratings, and multiple election losses.
Tnsevol - Good post.
I remember Romney saying he is not ashamed of his success in business, he won't apologize for it.
Theotas - How about if Obama shows his college transcripts and if they are better than Romeny's, they repeal the Bush tax cuts and do a balanced approach spending cuts and increased taxation?
Really how is it that the big problems keep getting kicked down the road?
Give him hell Mitt. You own the economy issue. Everything else is just smoke. Keep this Jokers feet to the fire!
Fils -- I'm astonished that people would trust Republicans again. The same people that voted for BUSH TWICE are voting for Romney. That says it all.
Fils...
I'm not surprised at all that 40% of Americans polled think the President is doing a good job handling the economy. How many folks spend even a half hour per day paying attention to what's going on in this nation ???
The President will get re-elected if he can gey enough people to the polls who either do not pay federal income taxes or are unable to correctly spell the man's name. It's as simple as that !
Our President has done a good job with the mess he was handed. Had the Republicans in congress not obstructed everything he wanted to do, our economy would be better.
But, the right wing idiots on this site want to turn the country over to the Republicans who said "to hell with the country as long as we make Obama a one-term President" and they think we're idiots? Look in the mirror all you little right wing buffoons - the joke is on you and you're being taken to the cleaners by Romney and his boys!
Obama/Biden 2012 because the country can't afford another Republican selling us out!
REB-1013231
sandy-1851937
I have used my head and it is easy to see that the stock market went up because of Obama's policies which discourage job growth in the US and encourage companies to invest offshore.
girl i need some of what your smoking. put the blunt down for a minute and turn off Fox news
The reason why job go over seas is because of the labor cost, you idiot, in china it cost about 4buck a hour for labor 4 years ago.
in the last year the labor cost in china is going up and companies are moving back here.
I'm wondering what policies you are talking about please be specific.
is it the tax credit for new hires he had in the stimulus plan, or was it the money the government loan the banks so our whole economy would not fail or was it the jobs he SAVED when he bailed out GM. or what.
you made a dumb statement and i need you to do what Romney can't do and give me specific policy decisions he has made? of you don't then your a helpless stupid idiot that just hate the president.
I voted for this guy in 2008 but it comes down to that age old question. Are we better off than we were four years ago?
No way Jose.
Why do Liberals care more about what Romney does his money than how Obama is wasting ours?
When it comes to financial matters, Obama hasn't a clue.
Yellowdog,
Its not a big problem, its a distraction and both sides are guilty of playing these games.
How about if Obama shows his college transcripts and if they are better than Romeny's, they repeal the Bush tax cuts and do a balanced approach spending cuts and increased taxation?
That works for me. Anything is better than doing nothing at all.
later ...
Do you run a snow cone stand? Do you have a roofing company?
Yea ... some businesses are completely dependent on demand, but is your understanding of taxes and profit that simplistic?
Do you not understand that profit (taxes) allow a company to hire employees? How do hire new employees without profit or saved profits. Take out a loan .... a bank will loan money to a company that can't produce profits .... how would they be paid back?
To put taxes / hiring in a simplistic perspective .... taxes are like a good quarter back.
Teams rarely win championships or have winning records without a good quarter back.
Does having a good quarterback insure championships .... of course not, not if you have no offensive line, no running game, no recievers, no special teams, no defense and a coach without a clue.
Obama has had a good quarterback component in taxes, yet he destroyed the offensive line with Obamacare regulations and taxes, wrecked the running game with the EPA regulations, crippled the receivers with Dodd-Frank regulations, decimated the defense with debt .....
Obama is the coach without a clue that has destroyed the team... the environment the quarterback (low taxes) needs to thrive.
Hope that isn't over your head .... (certainly over the head of most libs.)
Btw - Why do you defend a coach that hasn't moved the ball in 3 1/2 years?
Even rabid, devoted sports fans recognize abject failure when they see it.
Yellowdog -Mark,
Compare Obama's college transcripts to Romney's?
Romney has a JD cum laude from Harvard along with an MBA (top 5% - Harvard Baker Schcolar Award) that he earned simultaneously.
Only 14 have ever even done that much less to that acclaim.
Obama ain't one of them.
Heck ... all I want to know is if Obama has ever even had Economics 101 or Management 101.
DUANE...
That's a classic line !!!
ROY WILSON-336103
For those who want to REALLY understand the polls, consider this;
Why do pollsters disagree so much?
There is certainly some disagreement – even in final polls just before an election, but when you average all of the polls, you tend to get a better overall picture – probably because you are then greatly enlarging the size of the 'sample', thus minimizing the 'margin of error'.
One of the best sources in this regard is Realclearpolitics.com, which is an 'average of the polls'. Their accuracy over the last two Presidential Elections (2004 and 2008) has been quite good – beating all of the major pollsters, although they do have a slight Democratic bias (1.4% in 2004 and .35% in 2008).
One caveat that needs to be made with regard to Realclearpolitics.com, however, is that in the process of averaging polls, they 'mix apples and oranges' to some extent, which distorts reality – For example, they may combine some polls of 'All Adults' with polls of 'Registered Voters', and other polls of 'Likely Voters'. This can result in significant errors when estimating an upcoming election because Pollsters recognize that polls of 'All Adults' are typically biased towards Democrats by about 7% (when compared with actual election results), and polls of 'Registered Voters' are also biased in favor of Democrats, but with a smaller margin of about 4% (see link below for an explanation). All major pollsters recognize that polls of 'Likely Voters' are the best indicator of election results, but most of them don't switch to 'Likely Voters' until about a month before the elections – to avoid an embarrassing result when their final poll is compared to actual results..
If you look at the poll average issued daily by Realclearpolitics and make the adjustments for 'Adults' and 'Registered Voters', you actually will find an amazing consistency among pollsters. For example, on July 17, 2012, the Realclearpolitics' average of 'Likely Voters' polls shows Romney with a 2% lead, and if you 'adjust' the polls of 'Adults' and 'Registered Voters' for the average bias in those polls, they would also show Romney with about a 2% lead over Obama, even though their overall average favors Obama by about 2% because of the 'Adult' and 'Registered Voters' mix.
Of course, these polls change constantly, and we'll get a much clearer picture as the election approaches.
http://www.polimerican.com/adults-vs-registered-vs-likely-voters/
One last point for those who want to make a 'guess' as to the favorite at any point in time is the 'adjustment' for 'Undecided Voters', which most pollsters say are about 7% of the electorate at this point in time. Studies have shown that when there is an Incumbent running for election, most of them 'break for the challenger' by anywhere from 65% to 85% (see link below)- typically they are 'Undecided' because of dissatisfaction with the Incumbent, but just haven't made that final commitment to vote against them. If this holds true in 2012, then that could add anywhere from 2% to 5% to Romney's total . At this point in time, it appears that Obama could be in serious trouble. By using the above calculations, which were accurate in both 2004 and 2008, if the election was held today, Romney would win with about a 4% to 7% margin in the popular vote, but more importantly, by an Electoral College victory of 297 to 241.
http://www.mysterypollster.com/main/2004/10/the_incumbent_r.html
Jeff-1541632
I read your posts and it is obvious you are so one sided for Obama that nothing I post will change your mind.
Suffice it to say and I am not going to waste my time enumerating and drilling down to all of the points but his personal and corporate taxation polices (personal taxes for "millionaires" - $200,000 is not a million - highest corporate tax rates in the free world), his health care policy (no telling what it will cost the average large and small employer) and his NLRB policy (a total disgrace), his debt and lack of budget policys (highest debt increase rate/trillion dollar+ deficits every years and only one budget - which was actually Bush's - since he has been in office) just to name a few are ones that I don't care for.
That enough for you? If not then you are a helpless stupid idiot that just loves this failed president and you are obviously somebody who wants to continue the free handouts we just can't afford to people like yourself.
Mark Taft
I voted for this guy in 2008 but it comes down to that age old question. Are we better off than we were four years ago?
HEY SPEAK FOR YOUR SELF.
I got laid off in January of 10. I'm a construction estimator and the economy down turn his my business real hard. 7 out of 10 guys we out of work. i should have been laid off a year before but we were above to land some stimulus work.(thank god for president Obama)
i found work 3 months after i was laid off, and a year later i found another job making more money then before i was first laid off.
so after some bad times due to the mortgage melt down i have to say because of president Obama I'm going real good, better than when bush was president.
As i look foward believe me time are getting better in the construction industry,
if the republican congress had not watered down the transportantion bill that could have created 1 million jobs that the president laid out for them times would be getting better quicker.
all we have gotten from the congress that promised us jobs, jobs, jobs has only sent HLS funding to the president. 33 billion
more government spending.
more wasted spending is voting the repeal HCR 33 times knowing the president will not sign it.
republican, more wasted spending and more wasting time.
Jug-head created it, he can live with it. I just hope he doesn't do anything further to destroy America before patriots can give him the boot in November.
I think the 2d paragraph of the article says it all. The Obama campaign has spend millions in negative ads about Romney's time at Bain and his tax returns and yet they are still tied. Just keep wasting millions on Bain Capital and tax records in trying to deflect about the failure of the Obama economic agenda.
BTW, I haven't seen many ads about Obama's accomplishments, could it be he really has nothing to brag about.
2 years of tax returns are enough! Another phony issue. Who really cares? Whaddya gonna say - wow, Romney made a boatload of money, contributed 10-15% to charity, made both domestic and foreign investments. The tax returns were prepared by an accounting firm under penalties of perjury, filed, accepted, and reviewed by Holder's people so what's the beef? Just a fishing expedition by leftylibdem losers. If they don't understand SEC forms, legal vs. operating management, and are willing to hurl reckless accusations, they aren't grown-up enough to process tax returns. When Pelosi and Reed and BO disclose their off-shore investments, when the Labor reports on the US Gov's outsourcing (Defense, NASA, FDA) and educates BO on the economic benefits of outsourcing, then maybe the American people can begin to trust BO and his Chicago mob. Besides, Romney has a privacy argument he could make.
Secondly, Romney has slowly been gaining ground on the Loser in Chief as predicted despite the manufacture of Bain accusations & faux concerns, war on women, throwing a bone to Hispanics by circumventing immigration law, tax returns, saving the auto industry (still laughing about that one over at Ford, Honda, HD, Toyota, etc.), and spending 10's of millions. And Romney will continue to gain ground because he's genuine, has financial experience, has leadership experience, has bipartisan experience, and is trustworthy. He's not a perfumey BS'er extraordinaire ala the current POTUS who has more hot air than a coal fired utility. Women are coming around, middle class will realize the leftylibdem fear stories are nothing but bogeyman, and the independents have already departed the leftylibdem shores.
You can paint it, massage it, shape it, reframe it any way you like and the bottom line still comes out the BO is and always has been a phoney, a loser, and a small, two bit player on a big stage.
Jeff-1541632
That enough for you? If not then you are a helpless stupid idiot that just loves this failed president and you are obviously somebody who wants to continue the free handouts we just can't afford to people like yourself.
Ok i was reading your post, you had good information that on many points your right except for the taxation part. Obama has not raised anybodys taxes, he axcually lowered tax rates for businesses. right now business and indivuals are paying a lower tax than in 20 years. so that is the only point i must disgaree with.
your last statement sir really pissed me off.
I'm a man who has raised 4 kids sent them all to college. went with out the finer things in life to give me kids what i did not get.
to mention free hand out to me, really pissed me off. if you were in my presence i would put my foot up your A$s and watch it come out of your big fat mouth!!!
stop listion to fox, President Obama has not raised anybodys tax.
also the debt from medicare part D is currently adding 6 trillion to our debt over in the first 10 year since Bush passed that unfunded mandate.
the wars are nother 3 trillion
the tax cuts are 1.2 trillion
who is give free hand out sir!!!!
The President's solution to our unemployment problem was the stimulus and the increasing of federal budgets in general. According to a report issued by the President's administration, unemployment has been greater than if no stimulus bill were ever passed. So the Presidents solution to unemployment has not worked even though the President said that the stimulus, "did its job". I want the President to level with the American people and tell the truth. The administration is so desperate for ideas they have even emailed me, asking for new ideas.
Without conditions to include any action of congress,the President promised the nation that the 2012 federal deficit would not exceed 229.27 billion dollars yet his own White House has predicted that the deficit will exceed 1.3 trillion dollars. 2012 is now and the fiscal year will be over soon. I want the President to explain how he is going to keep his promise regarding the deficit. The President said that deficit spending, like he himself has been doing, showed a lack of leadership. I want the President to present a plan for paying back all of this money that the federal government has been borrowing. The tax payers have a right to know how much this borrowing is going to end up costing them.
More like the economy is becoming a heavier burden for the 98%.
Steve D-514317 -- Two years couldn't even get Romney nominated for a cabinet position. Even the one year he's released so far isn't complete -- where is ALL of it? Sorry, but there's no way I would just "trust him on that" and elect him to be POTUS, Commander in Chief, and leader of the free world.
Golly gang, I wonder if Spanky heard about this super interesting topic for deflection:
BREAKING NEWS: The real infiltration of the Muslim Brotherhood has just been discovered. Mohammed Morsi the winner of the election in Egypt is Grover Norquist's twin brother! Separated at birth, Norquist was adopted by American parents, but learned of his twin in 1985. If Republicans hold a black light over their Tax Protection Pledge, they will see invisible ink with an oath to the Muslim Brotherhood.
Just look at photos of the two men side-by-side and judge for yourself!
Jeff-1541632, there are 21 new taxes built into obamacare/tax.
First off, blaming the President for the state of the economy is naive and wrong. The teabaggers that snuck into DC in '10 have stated loud and clear many, many times that their main objective was to block EVERYTHING the president tries to do. Instead of trying to help America and improve the economy, they waste their time with 34 votes to repeal ACA. And the 'tards in the Senate filibuster every bill so nothing can get done on that side either.
Second, I'm sick and tired of hearing about how romney is a businessman and we need a businessman to turn the economy around. I don't want a plumber fixing the wiring in my house, I don't want a heart surgeon defending me in court, and I don't want some mealy-mouthed, shark-suited, country-club elitist Wall Street type playing politics in the big leagues. I want a politician.
Third, even if you buy into the nonsense that we need a businessman to fix the economy (see last paragraph), romney has no clue what the middle class in this country is going through. He has no experience in manufacturing (other than with shutting plants down), which is the area in which we need massive growth if we ever expect to regain our former greatness.
Here's what we need: 1) Re-elect President Obama. 2) Vote out all the tea-baggers that came in in 2010. 3) Shut down Faux News for 6 months so all the ignorant hicks around the country can really learn what is happening in the world. Yep, that should do it.
Mike
you are wrong on everything=better do your research before posting.
Harry(do nothibg) Reid has been sitting on many bills unaminously passed by the house including all the jobs bills for political reason's.
He is not representing the people of Nevada or the US, only his personal and political interest
Michael Gibson-758864 "Jeff-1541632, there are 21 new taxes built into obamacare/tax."
And most of them will affect the Middle Class. So much for Obama's promise of "No new taxes on the Middle Class - not one dime".
There is a total disconnect between Obama's 'Rhetoric' and his 'Reality'.
At least he told the truth at least once, when he said "If I haven't turned things around within 3 years. I'll be a one-term President". Well guess what - there are 1.3 million fewer people working today than when Obama took office - not even counting the estimated 5 million net new workers entering the workforce through population increase - only to find no jobs available.
No matter how he tries to 'spin' things, OBAMA HAS BEEN A FAILURE.
Mike...
You wouldn't have to worry about shutting down any news program whatsoever to deter the "ignorant" section of your team of voters, since many of them don't pay any attention to the news of what is going on in their country anyway.
Yeah...there are some on the Republican side who rely too much on what a talk show host tells them. But you have a barrel full of voters who vote the way you do who would have a rough time trying to spell the words 'Democrat' and 'Republican'...that's why they only use the (D) and (R) after the candidates' names on the ballot.
Let's keep it real. Romney doesn't want to release his returns, because it would just further illustrate how NOT middle class and out of touch he is.
It's fine, Mitt, you don't have to release them, seeing as we all already know that.
Now, comparing that to Obama releasing transcripts doesn't work. Why??? Because they're transcripts. You can compare this to the amount of returns Obama released, but apples to oranges doesn't work.
The question is,"What makes Mitt Romney qualified to be President"? If you say Bain, do you take him on his word? Show me the proof. Show me your Birth Certificate. You can't, or you won't?
Notice that "The Donald" is keeping real quiet.
President Obama's real nemesis is not Mitt Romney, it's the economy. His best chance for a second term lies in a real, not manufactured, late summer / fall recovery, an event that's appearing less and less likely as the day of reckoning approaches.
Then again, it appears less and less likely that Mitt is going to take advantage of the economy or President Obama's obvious pandering to various fringe groups, so he may still have a shot, unless someone in the Romney campaign WAKES UP and decides to take advantage of the President's numerous mistakes, including pissing off most small business owners (a group who, as near as I can tell, includes quite a few Democrats and Independents) a week ago !!
Cue the *scary music*
What a bunch of drama queens! lmao
One freakin poll & all of a sudden the race is over!
These reporters may be able to manipulate the sheeple with all of this political theater...
But this little lamb sees quite clearly what is going on!
PSSST - have you all forgotten about the electoral college thingy?
Correction: A couple of freakin polls & all of a sudden the race is over!
Only in the feeble mind of a republican.
The new actual projected election out come totals are:
Projected Winner Obama 293
Projected Loser Romney 245
Job1,
I appreciate the work you put into this & look for them daily!
Thanks again! ;o)
AH, look at the old gal whistling past the graveyard.
Not one bad poll dear- and bunch of consistently worsening economic indicators.
Job 1 - do you happen to have the actual jobs numbers for August and September?
Projections are neat, but then again you all thought Walker was a lock.
Weren't you screaming yesterday that Republicans should take heed of the poll that wanted taxes raised on those earning 250K?
If you live by the polls you die by the polls
What a phony b.... carrot top is! As the cut and paste queen of FR she shoves polls favorable to Barry O down our throats! Yet she 'freaks' at a negative Barry poll insinuating they're meaningless! Get a life and a wig that ain't so tight carrot top, and find something relevant to post! lmao!
right....This is America, where We the People rule, not elites or polls fabricated by some biased elite pollsters.
This should be worrisome for Obama, and will hopefully kick his campaign team into overdrive to start pointing out Romney's 59-point plan is, well, completely pointless. Romney has absolutely no new ideas on fixing the economy except for tried-and-true 'points' that will guarantee a 2nd major recession or possibly even a massive depression; guarantee catastrophic unemployment increases (think Bush); and guarantee that through it all, the wealthy will get wealthier as the rest of us get poorer.
What a bunch of drama queens! lmao
One freakin poll & all of a sudden the race is over!
Feisty - Evening out the playing field is how the networks lift their ratings. If it gets to one sided, the
suckersviewers will lose interest, and that would piss off the advertisers..Obama/Biden 2012
AH, but there is the rub REDDEV - Romney's plans v. Obama's actual policies and results.
So REDDev - remember just a few months ago when all the libbies here keep saying the Stimulus was a great success?
Not so much, eh?
Spanky - do try to keep up. Liberals, progressives, and a few closeted GOP all admit the stimulus worked and that what we need is a second stimulus to give the economy a final shot in the arm to get moving along faster. The only reason we didn't get a 2nd stimulus is because the GOP wants a failed economy.
look like feisty is going to keep fiddling while the election burns around her!
You think!
We can thank the W. Bush's and Willard Romney's of the world for the greed and crashing of the economy.
So you admit that the Stimulus had absolutely no effect, eh Job 1?
So tell me how did Bush and Mitt crash all the cities going BK?
Spanky,
Did you read that Compton might be the next to file for Bankruptcy?
Stand back totas - there is an impending wave of municipalities that are about to file for BK.
Funny thing is the entire court staff in SF walked out Monday in protest.
Great, but there is no money.
Economic reality always wins.
I have to admit, the economy isn't what the President wanted. I think he needs to spend some more time handling this crisis, the polls are not looking good.
This is a time for action, a time for leadership. Obama, we need your leadership, these are tough times.
We can also thank the Franklin Raines, Robert Rubins, Chris Dodds, James A. Johnsons, and Barney Franks of the world for the mess we are in now.
Dem - Obama is to busy running around the country raising money for his billion dollar campaign war chest. More fund raisers than the past 5 presidents put together. As for leadership, Obama doesn't have the faintest idea of what leadership is.
sfc....
I agree...if a planeload of passengers survived a plane crash in the middle of nowhere...would they look for a whiner like Mr. Obama to lead them to safety ? Would soldiers follow a guy like that on a battlefield while he's bemoaning his crappy luck, blaming the battle on the previous commander, and spending his time trying to determine which soldier has the wealthiest family ?
Poor Obama, seems like his deflections are getting old and now people are starting to focus on his abysmal record. Unemployment claims are up (386,000), employment figures are down. Whats Obamas plan to fix things? he has no plan so his only option is to Obfuscate, deflect - Bain this Bain that, demand Romney release tax records back to... (puberty?), tax the business (created by government?) owners so he can give it to his crony buddies in guaranteed government loans like Solyndra so when they inevitable fail, their failure is paid for by taxpayers like you, me and the business owners who really didn't create their own business.
That's the Obama plan. Its a rerun of the plan he has used for 20 years. Its how he was able to purchase a mansion in Chicago for $300,000 less than market value. Of course if you are not a slimy politician willing to support convicted felons like Tony Rezko in getting 14 million dollars in taxpayer funds and $850,000 in developers fees you can't play the game. When Obama says "you didn't create your business, someone else did", we now know who he is talking about.
thetotas
Spanky,
Did you read that Compton might be the next to file for Bankruptcy?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The state is run by liberals, this is what liberal policies do. This is what liberals want, not only for California, for America.
@job1
| "We can thank the W. Bush's and Willard Romney's of the world for the greed and crashing of the economy."
OK, so how is it that they crashed the economy? Obama is a millionaire, Pelosi is a millionaire and many Democrats in Congress and the Senate are millionaires.
From 2006 to 2010 the Democrats controlled the Congress and Senate. They appropriated the money. They drove us into debt. The Democrats approved 'TARP", the "economic stimulus bill" and Obamacare. They approved raising the debt ceiling, the Bush tax cuts so called.
Blame the messengers...but don't look at the facts.
With almost 6 trillion added to the national debt, a trillion in the stimulus alone, and the nation has NOTHING to show for it. Obama has played golf, held concerts at the White House, jet set around the globe, partied with celebrities, and vacationed with the family on Martha's Vineyard. All while the American people have been bombarded with an endless parade of excuses and blame for his failings. The American people are finally realizing who is out of touch.
Rick...
I only wonder if enough potential voters are even paying attention to what the President actually "does" as opposed to only listening to what he says...which are two separate items.
Right now Obama is running scared. The Obama campaign tactics and negative ads wreak of desperation. The Obama poll numbers are plunging and the stage is set for a repeat of the Reagan/Carter finish. Obama is burning through dollars trying to reverse the tide, while Romney gains spending nothing. When the fall campaign season begins, every American in the country will be reminded repeatedly about Obama's actions as president. Lets just hope that Obama continues his failing campaign strategy.
Obama's policies are probably helping Romney's profits.
Would those tax returns let the voters know that?
Good golly Sandy can you even name two or three of the various schedules that would be part of Mitt's return?
Let me guess - you file a simple 1040 and claim standard deductions and exemptions, right?
You are funny.
Spanky -
So I suppose in addition to being a succesful lawyer you are now a tax expert?
Do you make ALL of your CPAs show you their transcripts?
Not an expert TNSVOL, but I do know a little something about taxes.
I have an excellent tax attorney I use. I highly recommend using a tax attorney for all compliance issues.
Oh and he is also a CPA.
So how about you TNSEVOL - have you ever even read the IRC?
Do you utilize a schedule C? Depreciate any assets on your returns?
Straight 1040, no schedules, right?
Spanky -
My personal tax returns are fairly mundane, a few itemized deductions but nothing major.
I am a CPA, and although I do a few personal returns for others on the side my area of expertise is not taxes - the tax codes are written by politicians and therefore are not logical.
My particular area of expertise is more management accounting - mainly focused on using lean manufacturing principles to improve operations, and using financial analysis to develop long-term business strategies.
I do know what leads to job creation and it is not lower taxes, less regulation, or higher profits. Businesses add jobs when they can no longer meet demand or business requirements with the resources they have.
In truth, regulations lead to job creation - we have several people who do nothing but SEC and SOX compliance.
Be truthful, without regulations most lawyer would not have a job!
The complexity of one's tax return has nothing to do with their intelligence or ability to understand complicated issues. You know better than that Spanky but can't resist your snobbery. You are a good fit with the Republican party.
I agree with Tnsevol----lower taxes does not lead to job creation. Entrepreneurial spirit does and that has nothing to do with tax rates.
Still wondering what Mitt Romney is hiding in those returns.
Who cares what's on Romeny's tax returns...he's an exreeeeeemely wealthy man and became so because he has been an extreeeeeeemely successful businessman with foresight, intelligence, and guts.
Only in American can political hacks try to turn that into a negative. I'd bet that more American voters would not vote for Mr. Romney because is so wealthy than would not vote for Mr. Obama because he is half black.
It is stupid not to vote for somebody due to skin color...it is far more stupid not to vote for someone because he or she had been extremely successful.
I am still wondering what Barack Hussein Obama is hiding in his college transcripts. Did he get financial aid by claiming to be a foreign exchange student ? Did he use different names ? Did he take a buch of courses in radical political ideology ? What is he hiding and WHY ??????
Did Obama ever have a course in basic accounting ? Lord knows, we have had NO BUDGETS PASSED during his time in office. What about economics of finance ?
The only people being helped by Obama policies are campaign bundlers, big donors, and his cronies. Obama has created more jobs overseas with our stimulus money then have been created here at home. The Obama administration had to concoct the created or "saved" to try and make it sound like the stimulus was working. But Obama is completely out of touch, and his poll numbers are finally catching up with that reality.
Remember it was Obama that joked shovel ready didn't exactly mean shovel ready. Obama laughed about that one. Obama said just last week that Washington is still broken, even though he campaigned on changing the way Washington works. The Obama jobs czar outsources more then half of his 300K employees, who is he trying to kid with his finger only ever pointing in one direction just like it does in Washington? Never an Obama complaint about the Senate only the House.
The American people now only see division from Obama, whether in Washington politics, race, gender, or class. Obama simply cannot lead, and his bully tactics have failed. The endless parade of blame and excuses has gotten this country nowhere. Obama is simply incapable of being a true leader, rising above the obstacles, and because of that fact he can offer no hope for change.
Why not make people feel better and release them. His father did. It makes you think that he is hiding something bad.
Obama 12 years
Biden 14 years
Gingrich 1 year
Romney 1 year
Santorum 4 years
McCain 2 years
Palin 2 years
W Bush 8 years
Cheney 8 years
Clinton 8 years
G. Bush 3 years
Nixon 4 years
George Romney 12 years
Very interesting stats. It seems that the modern day republican candidates want to release less and less info on how well they've been doing in recent years.
Food for thought
Wow Fuzzy!
And what would you say if you found out someone was successful? that they were doing better than "WE" thought they were?
This new world order we have, where class warfare is the status quo just might make them feel a little threatened - don't you think?
This new world order makes successful people VILLAINS!
Thank you Mr. President! Way to bring us all together!
Sick of the Bickering-
Class warfare actually began under Reagan when he began the attack on unions and the middle-class.
Check out any statistic you like since then - top marginal tax rates, capital gains tax rates, percentage of wealth, CEO salaries compared to avg worker's salaries, worker's productivity versus pay, etc.
The war seems to have been a "success", the middle class lost.
The Republicans are the divisive party - they pit union versus non-union, public workers vs private sector, evangelicals vs gays, middle-class vs the poor, the less-educated against the "elite".
Looks like in the end people are going to vote on how they feel about the economy.
Why not talk about the economy?
Because Mr. Obama doesn't want to talk about the economy...why should he when Bain Capital is the most important item in this election, just like the President said it would be.
Barack is a dork.
It's kinda hard being a cheerleader to a +1.3% GDP, likely revised downward soon. Meanwhile government spending is 40% of GDP. Do any of you geniuses know what these simple numbers mean?
I'll Greece you one guess?
The economy - THIS YEAR!
People.... all the fuss about tax returns is ridiculous. Romney will release his 2011 return when it is completed. He filed for an extension like millions of others did. Like I did. We own a family farm and just sent in out return weeks ago. I'm sure the Romney's return is far more complex.
Romney has been under public scrutiny since he ran 4 years ago. He would have been an idiot to have anything questionable in his returns knowing he would be under a microscope for this election! All the democrats want is more material to distract the public with.
Romney, I'm sure, has done the same kinds of things with his money that all people with his kind of wealth do. Some domestic investment, some foreign, some speculation, some protected investments and considerable charitible giving. They all do it. You could AND would do it too if you had the funds. Even your precious democrat leaders have similar holdings. Get over it and move on.
Interesting that people want to focus on tax returns when they already know Romney is wealthy and how he got there as a successful businessman. We know very little about Obama's past especially his college years. Perhaps we know 2 things. He was raised in Indonesia until he was 13. He graduated from Harvard and he was a community organizer.
So what does a community organizer do..."Community organizers work with and develop new local leaders, facilitating coalitions and assisting in the development of campaigns."
Obama's only experience is dividing groups into coalitions and campaigning.
You wonder why he can't fix the economy, because he is incompetent when it comes to fixing the economy. Romney IS an executive with requisite managerial skills. You wonder why these federal agencies are blowing so much money simply because Obama has not reigned them in and he is supposed to be the chief executive over these agencies.
What another liberal leaves out of his cut and paste are the years of the released tax returns compared to the terms in office. Most of the presidents listed released the majority of their tax returns only for the years they were in office. In most cases only one year prior to their term beginning. So add in the years and this liberal storyline doesn't make it off the shelf.
Here are the release of tax returns without the spin.
Nixon released 1969-72 and he was president from 1969-74.
Ford 0.
Carter released 1977-79 and he was president from 1977-81.
Reagan released 1981-87 and was president from 1981-89.
Bush Sr released 1989-91 and was president from 1989-93.
Clinton released 1992-99 and was president from 1993-2001.
Bush Jr released 2000-2007 and was president from 2001-2009.
Obama released 2000-2011 and has been president in name only.
In 2008 McCain released 2 as a candidate for president.
This years Republican candidates, Gingrich 1, Santorum 4, and Romney 2.
So the economy will decide our chief executive, and Europe will decide our economy, and Spain and Italy will decide Europe, and Germany's ability to manage southern European debt will decide Spain and Italy... So it all comes down to Germany.
Who won that big war about which all those movies were made?
Paul,
" So it all comes down to Germany.'
Who lost the war but was rebuilt due to the Marshall Plan complements of the USA.
You would think they would be more grateful . :)
The marshall plan helped West Germany. Not East Germany. Germany never really rebounded from the war until the 1980s. What does help Germany now is our strong military presence. That is a real boost to their economy.
America does not rise or fall with Europe. There is plenty of commerce which can be conducted elsewhere. The problem comes down to America shedding trading partners and allies. We used to conduct a great deal of trading with South America, we ignored them and now the Chinese are actively involved. Our corporations have left our shores because of government over regulation. It is time to gut these federal agencies and get the private sector economy going again.Without a tax base this country will never survive. Growing government takes tax money and the larger it gets the larger the problem. We need small government and good paying private sector jobs, and more trading partners that we do not run a trade deficit with.
Polls suggest? Do you so called reporters ever get out from behind your desks and actually talk to real people and report what they think, or do you just sit around looking at polls all day. Do you call looking at polls journalism? I call it lazy.
HAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!
Sour Grapes, Mo?
HHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
(show me the clown nose, fisty!)
I would agree that the economy is a fair measure to judge each candidate, if both candidates were evaluated on the relative worth of their economic plans.
Unfortunately but understandably people are looking at the current "plateau" in the recovery and are not pleased with President Obama's handling of the economy.
I think that when both candidate's plans are evaluated more fully as we get closer to the election people will come to understand that Romney's prescription is just a return to the failed policies that created this mess.
The return to "tax-cut and spend, deregulate everything" would only result in increased deficits and offers no real answers or new solutions to job creation.
Let's see if I have this right---the Republicans use the 8 years of the Bush administration to drive the economy near to a Depression, President Obama's every effort to address it is met with obstructionism (starting with the secret meeting on the night of his inauguration) and now he is to blame for the poor performance of the economy? And Romney wants to do it all again. Really?
So Steeler, how about Obama's prediction that unemployment would be 5.6% with the stimulus?
Does he get any 'credit' for that?
Oh and Steeler, why does he hate his own jobs council?
Let me see if I have this right...
Obama has had a full term to turn around the economy, had control of Congress to pass whatever he wanted for 2 years, and is not to blame for the poor economy (glad you admit the economy is poor)?
Wow...Planet Moonbat is a strange alien land...
One more time! If you think "trickle down" works, go sit under the urinal at your local bar!
Spanky -
Please show me the link to where President Obama promised 5.6% unemployment with the stimulus. Funny, you all you used to say he promised it wouldn't go over 8% and now it was 5.6%. Maybe it was "retroactive restatement".
Bob in VA -
That completely false "two years of complete control of congress" myth has been debunked several times. Due to Kennedy's illness and special election in addition to recesses there was a filibuster-proof majority for only around four months.
I agree Obama wasted those four months, though. He was trying to compromise with Republicans who weren't interested in doing anything that might actually improve the economy.
What was their number-one priority again? Jobs, maybe, or economic growth? No, it was making Obama a one-term president.
Planet RWNJ is a bleak and desolate land......
TNSVOL - what's the matter, can't do your oen research, even with google?
There is a nice big chart his team created. Take a look.
He said it would not go above 8% with the stimulus, and would be 5.6% in the third quarter of '012.
This stuff is all out there for your review.
Knowledge is power. Get some.
Here's a link: http://townhall.com/columnists/terryjeffrey/2012/05/09/obamas_stimulus_a_documented_failure/page/full/
Romer & Bernstein were Obama's economists and here is their chart: http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/10/romer-and-bernstein-on-stimulus/
Spanky -
The chart was part of a larger presentation, and Obama neither referenced the chart nor spoke about it.
It is a fairly tenuous stretch of logic to say that one chart, which clearly states it is an estimate and subject to major changes, prepared by Obama's economic team as part of a larger presentation is the same as Obama promising 5.6% unemployment.
Those who cannot make their arguments based on facts are forced to use gross misrepresentations and exaggerations. It is obvious which one you chose.
http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/10/romer-and-bernstein-on-stimulus/
Note the graph for 3Q 2012. 5.6%.
Also note in the story the quote of the Nobel Prize winner in Economics Mr. Paul Krugman: "But here's the thing: the estimates appear to be very close to what I've been getting."
Don't worry Nobel Prize winner in Economics Mr. Paul Krugman, many liberals like yourself were, and still are, wrong. Maybe they'll give you another Nobel, just to make you feel better.
So now the president isn't responsible for anything his hand picked team comes up with? Obama and his team used this chart as leverage to get his record breaking stimulus passed. It failed, and now he needs to be held accountable for that failure.
Obama's economic team, in advance of the inauguration, includes in a larger presentation a chart estimating the impact of the proposed stimulus on unemployment.
This chart is clearly labeled as an estimate, and is never verbally or visually referenced by President Obama.
Should president Obama be held accountable - sure, for an estimate that turned out to be too optimistic. Does that equate to a "broken promise of 5.6% unemployment" - I don't think so!
If by some stroke of tragedy Romney is actually elected, I sure hope you are just as diligent in holding him to his 'promise' of unemployment lower than 4%.
We will be... you see... we are not hypocrites.
:-)
(show me the clown nose, fisty!)
Romney knows how to "turnaround a business". Suggesting that he would return to the failed policies is your wish. When a business is turned around the very first thing to do is cut the spending, evaluate the assets and manage those assets wisely, even if it means laying off government workers and cutting waste fraud and abuse which is rampant under Obama, because he has failed to mange federal agencies as chief executive. The next is to invest in and facilitate investment in the private sector. Force the banks that received TARP money to lend to small businesses and start-ups. Millions of jobs will be created with private sector capital if banks open up their cash reserves. I see this as "Tit for Tat" ...taxpayers bailed the banks out...time for banks to bail America out. After all it's only fair....the issue is the Congress and Senate want to stay stuck in stupid.
Obama is anti-capitalist, anti-competition, pro-socialist, and has abandoned America's stance against blatant abuse of human rights. He's gotta go.
which policy, specifically, leads you to this 'independent' assessment?
His distinct lack of progress, vast incompetencies, and blatant lies. Other than that, he is just an idiot who seems to hate America.
Clara
Its not policies but Obamas ideology.
It is SOCIALISM and MARXISM which is totally against the American way of life.
Why is that you posters don't take the responsibility to study the background of the candidates.
Furthermore,Obamas super pac PRIORITIES USA is an Ayers organization.
The Bill Ayers and George Sorros agenda is to dismantle our constitution,our capital Free market system, and dismantle our American way of life and replace it with-
SOCIALISM,COMMUNISM,and MARXISM.
Do I need to connect the dots for you Clara
Since when is Fascism far better? It gets rid of all opposing views, so they can march, lockstep, like the jackboot thugs they are. They talk of being Christian, but vehemently oppose anyone not like them. They talk of helping others, but cut all programs that do just that. They talk of jobs and prosperity, but lay off thousands of government workers and cut wages and benefits to all who deserve them.They redistrict their own voting areas and offices to their advantage while pushing for voter ID and suppression. They support unregulated drilling over water quality and other forms of energy that might make someone else rich besides them,while removing all regulations to suit their needs. They try to privatize prisons, post offices,and city services which can lead to fraud and lawsuits.They now call them frivolous lawsuits. They are in power. They can do no wrong.
Yes, goose stepping our way to prosperity is the way to go. Just look what it did for Germany's reputation.
Rep Nancy Pelosi was emphatic:” Mitt’s refusal to release
more than two years of his pers0onal tax returns, she said, make him unfit to
win confirmation as a member of the president’s cabinet, let alone to hold the
high office himself.”
Sen Harry Reid went farther: “Romney’s refusal to make
public more of his tax records make him unfit to be a dogcatcher.”
Yet when asked by the McClatchy newspaper chain for copies
of their tax returns, they and all but 17 members of congress refused to
release their personal records.
Does the issue of transparency not apply to our elected
leaders of congress? This widespread secrecy suggests a self-imposed double-standard.
lol @ your picture
I second that Chesty. Great work retiredceo!!
Nancy Pelosi's one of the most stupid human beings to walk this earth. She probably doesn't even know what a tax return is.
BTW, CEO, Nancy Pelosi has overseas bank accounts too, like half or more of rich people do. Wouldn't want to put it all in one country, especially with the US becoming less and less of a free market economy.
Liberals are hypocritical frauds.
It is all about making the other guy look bad. I quite frankly don't care as long as everything they did was legal. I might not like the tax laws but I certainly don't demonize anyone for taking advantage of it.
The liberals can't decide if the economy is going great and Obama gets all the credit, or the economy stinks and it is Bush's fault...
Make up your moonbat minds!
No accountability whatsoever!!! Hopefully Nov. 6 comes along soon and we don't have to worry about his pathetic excuses anymore.
That's right Bob.
The libs are confused. If they are working, they feel they're being cheated because the government should be giving them money to not work. If they're not working they feel they are being cheated because the goverment's not giving them enough money, to buy their votes.... So it's all Bush's fault!!
Almost every word that comes out of the GOP machine is a lie or distortion. I think many independents are beginning to understand that. If you dislike Obama and don't want to vote for him-that's fine, but to believe the lies that are told about him is just plain stupid. Do you really like it that they think you're that stupid? I find it very offensive. Romney and the rest of the establishment have truly lost their credibility. They have been so blatant and shameless in their misrepresentations that it is frightening. Why lie? There must be plenty of true stuff. It inevitably brings to mind Orwells vision of1984 and the big lies of Big Brother. If they'll lie like this about Obama do you think they'll worry about lies in other areas? Think about that real hard before you vote.
LOL!!! Let me ask you, are you Obama's TV ad writer?
B White
Are you really that stupid? Want to know the difference between our first President and the one we've been saddled with now?
George Washington .....could not tell a lie.
Barack Hussine Obama.....will not tell the truth!
Look it up lib....if you can in fact read!
B White is projecting everything the Obama campaign has been doing the last month, all their disproved outsourcing lies and all that...on to Mitt Romney as if Mitt was the one doing it.
But it is all Bush's fault.
B White -
So it is wrong when republicans lie. There we can agree.
On the other hand, it is apparently fine in your eyes that the democrats can make up any old distortion of the truth, or outright lies....like outsourcing, claiming that Romney might be a felon based on his tax returns.
Typical Liberal - total double standard, and no interest in reality.
Go back to blaming Bush for everything - its no more effective than your posthere, but at least it is minimally entertaining.
B White -- I agree with you. Remember in Orwell's 1984 when Winston wanted to keep a diary of his thoughts because government and peer pressure was making him question his own memories? It's kind of like what we have today.
I, for one, remember that it WAS Bush that screwed things up, and it WAS/IS the republican (teas) preventing things from getting better.
Republicans, let me tell you this: 2 + 2 does NOT equal 5.
Coinfl, and which party wants bigger government? I too remember the agreements that the Democrats didn't adhear to (tax cuts,with spending cuts) and Pelosi/Reid passing laws that forced banks to give home loans to people making less hen $10 an hour, creating the housing bubble. The problem is Democrats don't know their math. Spending more money then you take in is not a cut. It is a increase in debt.
B white
I have thoroughly researched both candidates and what misrepresentation are you talking about.
Give him hell Mitt. You own the economy issue. Everything else is just smoke. Keep this Jokers feet to the fire!
Weiner Shows Off His Little One!
New York Post headline today, picture of former Democrat congressman Anthony Weiner with his baby.
Geez ! From the first line, I thought he was sexting pictures of himself again !! As Burt Reynolds joked one time "I never knew a man could get so much attention for exposing his SHORT comings". LOL !!
Sing along now to the "new" Oscar Mayer jingle:
"Oh the congressman truly has a weiner,
that is what he wants the girls to see,
showing pictures of himself to them on twitter,
his job will pretty soon be history".
And yes ..... his job DID become history. We can only hope the same for Obama !
Two of the best from back then jim, after his party finally turned on him,
"Democrats Let Weiner Shrivel"
"He Can't Keep It Up", Wiener resigns
"...When you can't run on your record and I can't, run on the lies that you can tell about your opponent and the stupidity of your supporters...." Barack Obama
Wow, CBS News/NY Times actually has Mitt Romney leading Obama by 1% in their poll today, 47% to 46%....this poll almost always gives the Demo an extra couple points.
Couple other national polls have BHO ahead, Gallup has them tied, Rasmussen has Romney ahead again.
Polls suggest the economy is becoming the most pressing issue.
About time. After all, how critical is it that Romney, a very wealthy individual, releases older tax returns? Should Obama release college transcripts and applications?
Both would reveal a lot about each of them. However, in the long run, it does not solve the economic malaise. That will take leadership. Whether that leaderships comes from a wealthy individual or a community activist makes little difference (except in the approach they will take). Both individuals are clearly competent and qualified candidates. Both have performed public service. Obama has a record as the President of the United State. Romney has a record as the governor of Massachusetts. Personal wealth is not the issue. Philosophy is central. Obama vs. Romeny. Clear distinctions are obvious. And the economy IS the issue.
Perhaps Obama would like to focus in on what Americans are most concerned. Or perhaps he will continue to try to smear Romney's character and reputation. Perhaps he can come up with something new at the next pig roast at this wealthy friend's vacation home in Hawaii. Or at the next $10,000 per plate celebrity-sponsored fund raiser.
One thing for sure, the economy will not take second seat in the eyes of the voters. That is what we must deal with daily. And it is not pretty.
I disagree. Democrats would still vote for him even if unemployment was 90%. They figure that the Democrats would just put everyone on welfare, food stamps, and Obamacare. For those that are rich enought will leave, and the rest will work for the government store.
Problem is that Romney is so squeaky clean that all the dems can do it make insinuations. After all it is the "seriousness of the charge that matters". We heard this over and over from the Clinton gang.
And for all of you voting for Obama for the "handouts", when you add them all up those handouts only just barely get you by. If you like living your life on the financial edge all the time AND having to expose all your financial records to lowly public workers at DHS and Social Security EVERY month...be my guest. IMO that is no way to live!
Another Senate seat the Democrats have a great shot at losing...
former Senator George Allen beats former Governor Tim Kaine in the VA Senate race 46% to 44%, according to Quinnipiac.
Rasmussen has Kaine ahead by 1 today, 46-45.
great.... time to take the keys to the Zoo back from the monkeys
You won't be laughing when you collect your medicare voucher.
hahahha bob
Rosso3, or when he has to have his parents move in with him.
Time I leave this board. This is what happens when foxnews.com closes down it's comments. Bigotry, hatred and downright ignorance runs rampant in the great USA. Good luck folks, I wish all US jobs are outsourced to China under Romney.
Me too...take them over to China Mitt. Or to Mexicao...there are plenty of Mexicans looking for work at $1.50 per hour in Mexico. Should be a nice profit for your business, huh Mitt.
Thank goodness I'm retired with a nice lifetime pension...
Rosso, more likely under Obama...see Stimulus outsourcing, including 8 out of 10 new wind energy jobs from the bill, going overseas, says ABC News.
I love the recent article on how the Mexican government and the US FDA are quietly working to ensure that all criminal aliens are aware of their rights to SNAP - the food stamp program.
Yes, work with the country that produces more illegal aliens than any other country. Educate them on how to achieve the most from the US in programs that assist you when you cross the border.
And you wonder about waste in government today and why government cannot administer effective programs?
A penny saved is government oversight.
Obama has outsourced more jobs then Bain ever did. GE (Obama's job czar) outsourced jobs to China. Obama outsourced NASA to Russia, when killing the Shuttle program. Now we pay Russia to put our people in the International space Station.
I think Obama's been the best thing for the Democratic Party since the American Civil War! LOL
Now lets see. The Civil War was won by the North under Abraham Lincoln, a Republican. Then the issue of slavery was addressed by Lincoln. What a revelation.
Of course the Republican party has changed over the years and it is not fair to say Lincoln was a Republican in the mold of say, Bush II. Perhaps, however, a careful study of history might show that in fact more liberty has been promoted and more folks allowed to prosper during Republican presidency than during Democratic presidency. Could it be that Republicans are not necessarily inherently evil? What a novel thought.
Neather party is the same. Look at JFK, he promoted tax cuts and would have been kicked out of the current Democratic party. Joe Leibrman got kicked out of the Democratic party because he was promilitary. The Republican party has changed less then the Democrats over time. The only miistake both Bush's made were making deals with the Democrats, thinking that they would keep their end of the bargain.
Obama should NEVER shy away from his record. He's got a lot to run on despite the obstructionist GOP. Only a severely partisan clown would blame Obama for the economy, congress is more than 85% to blame here.
Tell you what Rosso 3 I'll blame the economy's current weak postion on.... the Party that gave mortgage money to people who could never afford the loans in the first place..... to the Party that paid zero attention to the "rule of law" when it came time to bailing out the auto industry.... to the party that elected a moron as speaker of the house that insured that the trillions that were printed in the bailouts, would have had better use in wiping asses....to the party that was responsible for lowering the credit rating of the United States for the first time in history......THE DUMBOCRAPS
Sorry, Rosso, the way economic turnarounds are supposed to work, at least since we adopted the myth that the govt "fixes" down economies, is that the Pres and Congress pass some stimulus that is meant to kickstart it, and then the economy takes over from there.
BHO had all this during his first 2 years, complete and total control and the Dems just adopted crooked tricks like reconciliation when they couldn't get the 60th vote (health care bill). Complaining about not being able to drive up our debt more now, in the 4th year with even more "stimulus" is pathetic.
Yes, and just think what he could have done if he had made two job committee meetings and 6 cabinet meetings this year...things would be a lot better but too much constraint on his time to govern...ha ha
No management skills and no leadership....the scariest and most dangerous person is the one that thinks they know and do not but do their own thing anyway without meetings, addressing others concerns, and is all about creating imperialism.
bob-
How about the party that deregulated the banking industry....cut taxes then increased spending....led us into two wars, one of them totally unjustified....raised the debt ceiling numerous times when their president was in office, but refused to do it for a DEM, causing the credit rating downgrade....who despite record corporate profits, historically low tax rates on the wealthy, and still high unemployment insist we should cut taxes for the "job creators"....THE REPUBLICANS!
(I couldn't get myself to stoop to calling them some stupid name)
Good point Rosso...
Rosso -
Funny you would call anybody a severely partisan clown - really.
Its also funny you call the republicans obstructionist, since good ole Harry Reid wont even allow anything that has even a sniff of republican support to even come up for debate on the floor.
But you are right in one respect - Obama has a lot to run on, such as....
Wait....I'm sure I can come up with one thing....one second....
Fast and Furious? No, not that one....Solyndra? No, not that one either....Cutting the defecit in half as promised? No......Closing Gitmo? Not so much....
Oh wait - I have one!
The Health Care Act!!! Thats it!
Right - there it is - a great reason to be proud of his record.
OOPS - Sorry - turns out I was wrong there
So, remind me again why he should be proud of his record?
Rosso3/TNSEVOL , And with all the Regulations in place the Government watch dogs did noting. Instead they passed Dodd/Frank that will pretty much kill small and med. sized bands (written with the help of Large banks). Yet we have more banks getting into trouble. Like the police, We have more then enough laws, they are not being inforced, just like the immagration laws. If the Govenment would just inforce the laws already on the books instead of just addding more. We would be fine. The past tax cuts were to be teamed up with spending cuts, but of course Democrats didn't go with the agreement and spent more. Just like now Spend more cut nothing and hope taxing the rich will pay for it. Sorry the rich are not rich enought to pay the Governments bills. That is why the US got down graded, I was surprised they didn't down grade us even more (we deserved it). Our corporate tax rates are the highest in the world!! Not to mention it is the consumers who pay this tax. Business pass on the taxes in the higher prices of their products. I suggest that Democrats take some basic courses in economics, and the Constitution. Since they don't have a clue on either one. It is sad when a president spends more time playing golf then haveing meetings on the economy.
I guess so when he's carrying the heavy load of crap Bush left behind, without any republican help.
Time to "cliff dive".
He didn't need it when he had 60 Democrats in the Senate and super majorty in the house and only passed Obamacare in 2 years. At least the Republican house has help slowed the growing Debt.
Less and less libs posting. They're running out of excuses for the panderer-in-thief! Further, they don't seem to like the latest polls...only if they show Obungler SLIGHTLY ahead.
Poor libs...at this stage of the game, if the best your hero can do is neck and neck, he's up to his lying butt in problems!!!
The truest statement he's made to date is his latest blunder: "If you made that, you didn't do it by yourself". What a dick-head. He was referring to himself and his fellow marxists!
He didn't get where he got (by a lot of bs and luck) on his own either. This ahole's been plugged into the system to the nth degree...not to mention his classy dresser wife.
What an embarrassment those two are. Onward and upward to November!
Enjoy the next 8 years libtards!
Obama is doing the best that he can do under the circumstances. As for Ritchie Rich Romney, people with that much money can never relate to the average American people. The sad thing is that they both have too much now . I will vote for Obama because I believe he is the better choice .
and murielle that's what ignorant people like you do.
Wow Murielle. You can not see how the man lies? He is deceitful and has totally failed on almost ALL of his objectives and policies. REGARDLESS of who had the presidency before him, that makes him a miserable failure!
Right 600 hours of golf (at 101 rounds of golf). 101 campain fundraising meetings say 200 hours. Yet he has averaged only 117 hours having meetings about the economy. You can see Jobs are not a high priorty with him.
Mureille
Romney relates to the average American very well because that's what He did at Bain.
Bain takes struggling or bankrupt companies and turns them around keeping several thousands Americans working.
Don,t listen to the Rhetoric of the ignorant on Bain.
I have challenged many of the MARXIST OBAMA posters to research Bain and not one has responded.
Yetmany of them post garbage from the Bill Ayers and George Sorros sites and organizations.
You should study these two men and what they have done and are trying to do to this country.
Yes OBAMA is a close buddy to both men and Sorros has personally visited Obama to date 16 times.
I will give you a clue They are attempting to turn this country under the Karl Marx ideology
VERY SCARY