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Subscribe to RSSCandidate Mitt Romney, who was slammed by the British media for comments he made about London's preparedness for the Olympics, now says that "after being here a couple days … I'm absolutely convinced that the people here are ready for the Games."
LONDON — Mitt Rommey sought Friday to tamp down the controversy stemming from the concerns he'd raised about London's readiness to host the Olympic games, saying he was "absolutely convinced" the city was ready for the games, which open tonight.
"I'm absolutely convinced the people here are ready for the games," Romney told NBC's Matt Lauer in an exclusive interview.
Romney has been lambasted in the British press for two days after telling NBC's Brian Williams on Wednesday that there were"disconcerting" factors in the lead up to the games, which prompted a minor uproar that culminated last night at a rally in Hyde Park, where Romney was called out by London's mayor Boris Johnson.
“I hear there’s a guy called Mitt Romney who wants to know whether we’re ready," Johnson shouted to the crowd. "He wants to know whether we’re ready. Are we ready? Are we ready? Yes we are!”
Romney looked to turn the page on the controversy this morning in his interview with Lauer, where he said his campaign would continue next week to be on its economic focus.
"I'm very proud of the fact that my campaign is focused on the economy," Romney said, telling Lauer he could not say whether his campaign was more or less negatively focused than President Obama's, but that his was "not focused on personal attacks," a reference to the Obama campaign's recent ads highlighting Romney's business record and his refusal to release more than two years of tax returns.
On the matter of his taxes, Romney reiterated his staunch position on only releasing two years of tax returns so as not to give Democrats more to "distort and twist and be dishonest" about.
"We just laid out exactly what is required by law, which is all of our financial statements," Romney said, adding that he based his tax return releases on what 2008 GOP nominee John McCain had done, and "did the same thing."
Finally, Romney was asked to weigh in to the Decision 2012 of the Olympic games: who would win the first duel between American swimmers Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte?
"I think its more likely to be Phelps, but I don't know," said Romney, who yesterday told Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg he planned to attend some swimming events on Saturday because "Americans typically do well in swimming.”
For her part, Ann Romney said it would be "nervewracking," to watch her horse Rafalca compete in the equestrian sport of dressage later in the week -- an event her husband would not be attending.
"When I'm watching my horse it's like watching my children play sports," Mrs. Romney said, adding of her husband's plan not to attend the dressage competition, "I give him a pass when it comes to my horses because he's so so supportive of me."
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Romney has more flip flops than a Jimmy Buffett concert.
HA HA This is R-money's Apology tour. ☺
Diplomacy is not so easy after all. When you go to a foreign country, you do not insult them. Out of courtesy you follow some of their general customs and keep your opinions to yourself. Leave the bashing and criticisms up to the State Department and the real Diplomats.
Is "absolutely convinced" kind of like being "severely conservative"?
If flip-flopping were an Olympic sport, Romoney would be solid gold. Flip the Lip is an epic failure in diplomacy. Time to shake the Etch-A-Sketch again.
Flip-flopping is not the words for it. This guy has a problem of opening his big mouth without putting his little brain in gear. He definitely reminds me of the old time medicine man riding around in a coverd wagon trying to con thepeole to buy is bull. With hismind changing comments the world woulddn't know wher America stands on anything. It's time for the people to see him and the GOP for what they truly believe and that the American people are so dumb we can tell them anything and they will believe it. Let's assure them we will not be buying anymore of their snake-oil. Let's send them all packing. Please!!!
He said this right after he pulled both feet out of his mouth. He thought the press was tough and bias in the USA, now he is where they play real hardball.
Can't wait till Mr. Romney gets back to the USA and tells Fox how great his trip was abroad.
I am absolutely convinced Mitt Romney could start WW III just by opening his mouth.........
Apology Tour ... LOL What is he doing over there anyway? Trying to ride on the coattails of the media's Olympic coverage? That seems sleazy and disingenuous for some reason... Well, today, I'm flip-flopping myself... back to Obama - lol
Perhaps if some of you would put his remarks into context you would not sound so jaded. Romney was reacting to real concerns from a knowledgeable point of view...He has actually presided over such events.
Obama released the info that we are sending scores of airport security because England did not provide for themselves with adequate security. Of course Romney would comment. "Disconcerting" is a reasonable statement based on the whole information that was released running up to the games. England showed images of folks with automatic weapons perched on rooftops but again they didn't succeed in Airport support which given their track record of attacks and attempted attacks is absolutely
" disconcerting" especially when you consider the same priority as Romney: the athletes, volunteers and public that should have an expectation of safety when attending events at the games.
I'm not the least surprised about Boris Johnston..he is the face of London and yet Londoners have had to choke down his rhetoric for years. I am a bit surprised with David Cameron though, after all he is the follow-up to to Blair, who was referred to as Bushes lapdog. So what do we make of Cameron when he can swallow Obama shouting that Britain is incompetent and we must save them by sending US airport security. Perhaps Cameron would better serve the UK by asking the President of the United States not to release sensitive Airport Security info that makes his country look unprepared in the face of a massive global event. Perhaps the UK Olympic committee should have considered hosting the games in a part of the country that could have been more easily protected and placed fewer residents at risk of attack. Perhaps they should have learned from Romney's experience.
Brockton - print all the nonsensical lists you want - Mitt Romney is not FIT to lead anything! Period! And, he showed this beautifully with his first comments in London. The London papers had it right - Mitt the Nitwit!
If you were honest, which of course you're not - you would admit that 99% of your list is as much the fault of the Congressional Republicans as it is Obama. But then, you'd actually have to be honest. And, knowing the GOP is putting up no candidate in November, you can't be honest, can you?
Obama/Biden 2012
This is R-money's Apology tour
Oh, you said it, Bev!
txmom32: When you say the London Olympic organizers could have learned from Romney's experience, are you suggesting that they request $1.4 billion from the U.S. taxpayer to help pay for the games, as Romney did?
Brockton.... The list you print shows the FALLOUT from the repugnican policies since Reagan. Repugnican game plan for the US: Reverse robin hood (take from middle class and give to wealthiest Americans) and de-regulate everything so that we can allow the banks, wall street, corporations to destroy the US economy, environment, worker safety laws, fair pay initiatives, etc.
You need to check your facts as well... case in point:
"--Increase the debt in less than 4 years more than all 41 prior Presidents combined." Total and complete BS and i think you know it. Obama had to put the debt for Iraq and Afghanistan on the books because your effing hero GWB didn't want it on his administrations books. GWB ran the debt up more than any other president AND managed to create the fewest jobs for the last 50 years.
Mitt Romney is nothing but GWB 2.0... If you look at his foreign policy advisors and his economic plans they are EXACTLY the same as what GWB touted. So if you liked GWB vote Romney.
Just shows money does NOT buy you class. So Romney, how does it feel to act on your false words about the President -- and apologize around the world?
Pretty obvious that Romney is not presidential material !!!!!!!!!!
Vegas2005 - I've said that before - all the money in the world can't buy class. Romney proves that daily.
What a pathetic excuse for a "man." His father would be humiliated that this is what his son became - nothing!
Obama/Biden 2012
Romney is such an idiot. He just destroyed any chance he had to win in Nov. (seriously)
It's Friday so it's time for another version of Romster's mindless blathering. I am convinced this man is an idiot. Somebody please lock him in the tower!
Maybe Mr. Romney has learned the word "oops" from his buddy the governor of Texas
Spartan117...
Perhaps Spartan you should do a simple search before you try to dis Romney.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2092077/London-2012-Olympics-cost-spiral-24bn--10-TIMES-higher-2005-estimate.html
UK taxpayers are up to 12 Billion with more bills yet to pay. Gosh sounds lik the UK Olympic math is more like Obama math than Romney math.
Seeking Sanity -- I suspect his father has been rolling in his grave for years. Now it's unfortunately at full speed.
How many times do we need to see GOP sons prove they can't hold a candle to their fathers, but continue a destructive path to try and show they're really better? Very sad and humiliating.
London: 1; Romney: 0
txmom32: Perhaps you should calm down a little. The reason I mentioned $1.4 billion in US taxpayer money is that's the amount that Mitt Romney had to acquire from the federal government and the government of Utah to help pay for the Olympics that he saved with the "power of free enterprise".
I can tell you aren't a real Conservative, just a (R) team cheerleader waving the red pom-poms. Have fun electing another RINO fraud.
Gary Johnson 2012
I see the President of CNN resigned. In the private sector results do matter.
What a shame Obama can't man up and resign as well. He's the biggest FAILURE of modern times!
Brockton.... How is Obama "the biggest FAILURE of modern times"? Please cite credible sources to back up your nonsensical comment.
PS: In your previous comment you said "--Increase the debt in less than 4 years more than all 41 prior Presidents combined." Either you willfully left GWB out or you simply do not know that Obama is POTUS 43.
Sitting in the NBC studios today flip flop my campaign away. Oooh, just watching the presidency slipping away.
Drowning in the morning news waitin' for my handlers to tell me what to say, hey.
Mitt Romney's "Goodwill" Tour now requires a Salvation Army!
(he probably has NO idea what I am talking about! Out of touch, much?)
BWWWWWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Okay now that that's been cleared up, we can all wait for the Mittssaih to save us from that nasty liberal, Muslim socialist...
Mitt take me away!!!!
Spartan...I am plenty calm, just relaxing before I dust. I just think you didn't do your homework when attempting to dis Romney...but then that is typical of the far left follow the leader mentality.
Seriously, that is your rebuttal to my providing documented information to show that your figure is certainly pittance to the contribution of the UK Taxpayers for supporting the Olympic games. I guess I am really not surprised because when those of your from the left can't make a reasonable argument or are shown to be behind the curve in a conversation you resort to insults.
I guess I can tell that you are a true left leaning liberal because you just can't stay on topic or in context.
Perhaps we should include in the discussion Chicago's failed bid for the 2016 Olympics and the stooges who couldn't put together a winning platform. Ssh, It seems that the Obama lackeys that were on the Olympic committee and well, Obama, himself, couldn't put together a reasonable presentation to sway the intelligent community of individuals on the Olympic committee. Perhaps it is just the Obama dung beetles principle....you know.....Obama and his proxy's drop a load of poop and the dutiful dung beetles crawl in and cut out little balls and roll them off to spread it around, because well they know nothing else.
And an increasing number of people, on a global scale, are becoming "absolutely convinced" that Mitt The Twit is not ready for the office of President of the United States. At first I was glad he was out of country, but now I'm thinking we should get his donors involved (you didn't really think he was traveling on his own dime, now did you?) to somehow cut short his trip and get him back here before he starts WW III.
Brockton?
President Obama did all that? Singlehandedly? In just over three years? Seriously? Well then, the answer is clear, isn't it??? Run the bum out of town on a rail!!!
Or not. 4 more years
txmom32 - I guess when the best your party can do is run a moron like Mitt you have to deflect your hatred onto a good man. Your ignorance is only overshadowed by your eagerness to yell that ignorance from the rafters!
Obama/Biden 2012
"When I'm watching my horse it's like watching my children play sports," Mrs. Romney said..."
Horses = Children.
Except children are cheaper. Wow, I had no idea that Rmoney was screwing up that much. I expected him to put his foot in his mouth a few times, but, pace yourself, Willard.
It is like you are training for an Olympic Awkwardness medal.
The left's point is taken. They hate any other candidate but Obama. Wow! What a point to be made. Since Romney is the obvious gop candidate, the left is ramping up its bashing. Here's the differrence... The left swings at flies but the right can hammer Obama on his lack of leadership, inability to govern, wasteful spending, wracking up the national debt, not improving the economy, high unemployment and a multitude of other items the left chooses to ignore.
There isn't any competition between the two. Obama is a total failure and Romney has been a success in his life.
Let's look at the choices:
Failure Success... Hmmmmm the left goes for the failure... Makes perfect and total sense to me, knowing who the left are and what they stand for.
Brianb- no we just laugh when the Republicans run an empty suit. We know things are less than great but we also know a lot of the responsibility for that goes to the Republicans in congress who have obstructed every effort to move things ahead. The fact that people like you aren't outraged by that shows that you care nothing for the country as long as your party wins.
The dishonesty of the GOP is despicable!
Romney is a failure as a human being and will not be President of this country. Decent people will vote to keep him out.
The fact that your party couldn't find a decent candidate says how far the party has fallen. Pathetic!
Obama/Biden 2012
yep. these are the same people who knew for sure walker was going to be recalled,he was not.so you can think obama will win but we now know he could lose
Brianb... Romney IS, I repeat, IS GWB 2.0. His economic advisers and policies are EXACTLY the same as GWB. In addition, Romney's foreign policy advisers are the same chicken-hawks that produced and suborned the LIES that got us into Iraq.
Romney = GWB 2.0... prove me wrong if you don't see it that way. Otherwise, it seems to me that you thought GWB was a GREAT POTUS that lead the US into it greatest financial crisis and accumulation of debt EVER. In addition, GWB's job creation record is the WORST in the last 50 years.
No, I do not agree with Obama on quite a few things but Romney would be DEVASTATING to the US economy and foreign relations.
notliborcon - You are telling me Obama has been great on our economy? Jack, you aren't paying attention... our economy is in a shambles!!! Obama has practically killed it dead! He won't do anything that involves increasing energy - look at his past... the gulf, the Keystone pipeline... What's his problem? What's YOUR problem? Are you completely brain dead, or hanging on to just a few cells?
OlymPigs will be fine...OK...but Mitt's opinion is un-solicited and unwelcome.
Mitt is a piece of !!!!!!. Flip-flop and back again. Just the kind of leader we don't need who puts his foot in his mouth all the time. Gaffe, Gaffe, Gaffe!
Pigotry - you don't go into the host country and insult them on their handling of the games, insinuating you could do better. Intelligent people know this.
Obama/Biden 2012
Brianb,
Yes, compared to when bush was losing 750,000 jobs a month when he left office.
And it seems Mrs. ("it's Mitt's turn", "you people") Romney takes her cues from George Bush's crusty ol' mom. I don't remember her quote verbatim, but she said during the Katrina disaster, that "those people" who had no place to go but the coliseum when their homes were destroyed, were "better off" than they had been since so many of them were on "welfare" anyway. Snobbery isn't lost of women of the GOP.
Diane - and if you look at them, they clearly have NOTHING to be snobbish about!
Seeking Sanity... I have a joke for you. What do you call a man who can't speak intelligently without a teleprompter.....POTUS Barack Obama.
Here is another one....What do you call a man who is arrogant enough to only attend the Olympic Games if his Nations teem makes the Basketball cut....POTUS Barack Obama
Got one more.... So other than arrogant and self absorbed What do you call a man who offers a dignified and well read world leader an ipod containing the audio of his book... POTUS Barack Obama.
So enough of the fun stuff. I get that you have been told not to like Romney and that by your estimation even with the resume of successful businessman, successful Governor, successful Olympic director and well many other accolades you qualify this man as a moron...So if you are not conviced that a successful resume makes one qualified to run the country then why would you follow a man who before scuttling this countries economy had only held one steady job in his life as a community organizer in a rather corrupt political culture? I suppose complete failure sums him up.
Clwyd...perhaps if you would go back and look at the charts you will see that once Obama accepted the DNC Nomination business began to tighten belts because they knew if Obama was elected we would all have to hold on and just endure his term. He was already poised to attack employers along with any and all US economic drivers.
Diane...and yet no other first lady has said so much than Michelle Obama....something to the effect that she has never been proud to be America even though her daddy had enough power in Chicago politics to elevate her to a fine standard through her early education and upwardly mobile through the Dailey Political machine.
Txmom,
Joke #2
What do you call a rich stubborn man who should use a teleprompter, but refuses? Mitt ( The Gaffe King)
Brianb: you are trying to get people to think that the Repubs didn't CAUSE this bad economy? You just want everyone to be jaded and look at 'Right here, Right now'? That's the problem with the Right: they don't want anyone thinking for themselves. Don't look at how (or WHEN) it happened, don't look at how badly things went under the Republican leadership - and certainly DON'T BLAME THEM for the BIGGEST mess/worse economic collapse in US history- just spout talking points about 'conventional wisdom' taking place Right here, Right now. Only dumb arses vote along those lines: to find a cure, you have to identify what CAUSED the problems or you will only be treating symptoms.
Look at your points: "you aren't paying attention... our economy is in a shambles!!! Obama has practically killed it dead". Aren't YOU paying attention Brian: Obama didn't inherit a surplus he inherited millions of lost jobs and an economy in the worst free-fall in this young nation's history. AND there HAS BEEN job growth every quarter, even IF it has been a pitance during some quarters, which is quite the opposite of your ignorant comment.
"He won't do anything that involves increasing energy - look at his past... the gulf, the Keystone pipeline... What's his problem?" Tell me WHY the USA is putting out more oil and petrol than at anytime in its recent past right now. Also, many of the states the Keystone would pass through voiced a lot of concern: you would just tell them to shut up but expect them to foot the bill for any clean-up (and then get shafted by the oil companies who don't pay 100% for spills)? REALLY? What is YOUR problem? Answer: YOUR problem is that YOUR arguments do not hold up under scrutiny when you look at FACTS.
NONE of the things you have accused the president of are real: the FACTS are the opposite of what you state (if you listen and read more than just Rwing propaganda that is). So, the REAL question is: Are YOU completely brain dead, or hanging on to just a few cells?
I would leave you with one thought: but its rather obvious that you haven't got a place to put it.
txmom - before you start talking about "scuttling" I suggest you take a long hard look at the Bush family. You may want to read up on the Savings and Loan scandal and the over trillion dollars it cost us tax payers.
Michelle Obama's father being involved in "Dailey Political Machine" is something I'll have to Google. Never heard that until now.
Romney does more flip flops than a fish at the bottom of the boat. He has more flip flops than the dollar store in their summer shoe section.
Mitt -- the smartest thing you could do is shut your yap. When you're not on script you look like a fool. I mean --- you were being interviewed with sift-ball questions, talking about the nation most like the US and yet you managed to FUBAR that. If you can't keep from messing up relations with the Brits, how on earth are you going to handle Iran or North Korea???
tmom: I can tell that you're a (R) team cheerleader, who RAH-RAHs for "your side", because you've split everything into a red-blue, left-right, liberal-conservative dichotomy.
Unflexible ideologue homers like you are half the reason the country's in such a mess these days.
Think different. End the tyranny of The Evil of Two Lessers.
Gary Johnson 2012.
They are well prepared, yeah that's the ticket, well prepared, and you know I am married to Morgan Fairchild. Romney is better as "the pathological liar" than Jon Lovitz's Saturday Night Live character.
I created a liberal health care plan when I was Governor, but you know I am a severe conservative, yeah that's the ticket, a severe conservative. I am a self made businessman that started with several million dollars of my fathers money, yeah that's the ticket, a self made businessman.The state I was Governor of lost jobs at an alarming rate during my tenure but I know how to create jobs, yeah that's the ticket, I am a job creator - Mitt Romney
New word for people with who obviously and consistently have two opposing minds in one body- Mittzophrenic, yeah Mittzophrenic, thats the ticket, I'll tell them I'm Mittzophrenic, yeah.
txmom32 - what do you call a woman who posts but knows nothing about what she is posting? txmom32. See, Romney also uses a teleprompter for every speech. Every President in modern times - including Reagan - has used a teleprompter.
Had Obama been attending the games this year the far right would have a fit. He chose to send his best wishes and will be calling the athletes during the game.'
What do you call a woman who is ignorant of all things political - txmom32.
Obama gave the Queen an ipod of favorite music - you truly are a simpleton.
If you had a clue you would know our WORST Presidents were businessmen - can you say BUSH? Again, what do you call a clueless woman who chooses to show her utter ignorance with every post - txmom32.
The Keystone Pipeline was opposed by every GOP governor whose state it was to run through. Can we say ignorant and txmom32 in the same sentence - oh yes! And, of course you know the work was temporary; the oil was to go on the open market, not to the US; and profits were to go to Canadian oil companies? Can we name the dolt - txmom32.
You don't have a clue then try to call people out? Clearly you're a Republican - just like Mitt!
Again, as I say so often, seeking sanity in the GOP but as txmom32 proves over and over again, there is none to be found!
Obama/Biden 2012
BrianB.... The economy is in shambles because the middle class (which is 70% of US GDP) has been CRUSHED by the economic policies instituted since the 1980's. Add to that the push for DE-regulation that led to the Great Recessions and financial debacle of 2008 and you have an economy that is not able to quickly rebound. Job losses that STARTED under GWB have been reversed by Obama but not to the extent that would please anyone. Romney's economic policy standpoints are the EXACT same as GWB's and therefore will only further the degradation of the US economy.
Your insults do not distract any intelligent human being from the fact that you are the one who is misinformed or simply ignorant of FACTS. Under Obama the annual amount of domestic oil production is the HIGHEST since 2003 (http://www.politifact.com/virginia/statements/2012/apr/09/barack-obama/barack-obama-ad-says-us-oil-production-eight-year-/)
What about the gulf of mexico... do you mean the moratorium on drilling since the oil companies have ABSOLUTELY no ide4a how to deal with MASSIVE disasters? Keystone pipeline was NOT stopped but was actaully required to have a FULL (not half ass like you morons want) environmental study to ensure that the aquifers that the BREAD BASKET of America depends on for farming and potable water are protected. See ENBRIDGE in Kalamazoo for FULL AND TOTAL justification of this.
I am not a partisan hack who thinks that the economy failed under Obama nor am I such a fool as to believe that the condition of the economy was any single parrty's (much less president's) fault.
You need to do the following:
A) Learn how to read and THINK critically so that you can create COGENT arguments based on FACTS
B) Get your partisan head out of your partisan arse so that you can discern fact from opinion
C) Provide CREDIBLE links that support your arguments.
D) If you are going to insult someone please be a bit more creative so, at the very least, they are mildly entertaining.
E) Do you have anything to dispute the fact that Romney is GWB 2.0? Anything? anything at all?
Seeking Sanity... I have a joke for you. What do you call a man who can't speak intelligently without a teleprompter.....POTUS Barack Obama.
LOL - good thing your day job consists of dusting and not comedy, eh TX Mom? ;) My favorite teleprompter joke ever was told by Marco Rubio at CPAC a couple of years ago. He read it REAL GOOD right off the teleprompter.
Here's a little goodie for you to ponder while you dust: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57413198-503544/mitt-romney-it-makes-sense-to-use-a-teleprompter/
Gersh gurndy morn-dee burn-dee, burn-dee, flip-flip-flip-flip-flip-flip-flip-flip-flip
Seeking - you're a pretty miserable human. Why is that? Simple question so you should be able to answer it.
Romney 'absolutely convinced' of London's Olympic readiness?
Mitt, it's none of your business. Stick your boner somewhere else? In your wife? Queen Anne?
Wow, looks like Mittens is starting to get to his minions. The Teabuggerers are going crazy here today. I can smaell their panic and embarrassment all the way here in Seattle.
Mitt the Twit aint Fit for sh%#
Where are your tax returns? Where are your economic proposals? WHat about te debt? Taxes? Mitt Romney just doesnt have any SOLUTIONS
No ideas, no vote. Romney is toast!
Obama/Biden 2012
Welcome to Romney's Waffle House. Home of the Flopper! Smeared with Bain butter
Yum!
toxmom,
You poor misguided fool! Fox has really worked a number on you. Perhaps if you would face the facts you would realize the mess we are in was created by none other than the evil ones. gw and Prick Cheney! I used to be a YR until I got a brain and used it! After voting for people like Nixon, Goldwater and Reagan I feel I can no longer be brainwashed by the God Owful Party!
Mitt claims his campaign is not focused on personal attacks. Yeah, right, and I suppose he has a bridge in Brooklyn to sell me, too. Not being focused on personal attacks certainly explains why his aides were telling The Daily Telegraph that "We are part of an Anglo-Saxon heritage, and he (Romney) feels that the special relationship is special," but "The White House didn't fully appreciate the shared history we have." And this comment: "He (Obama) doesn't value the NATO alliance as much, he's very comfortable with American decline and the traditional alliances don't mean as much to him." Oh, and Romney is "naturally more Atlanticist."
No, those comments aren't personal attacks from the Romney campaign. Do ya think his aides made those border-line racist comments inthe UK because they knew they'd get slammed for making them at home? Or were they dumb enough to think that making them in the UK meant they wouldn't get reported here?
So Mitt insults our "anglo-saxon" allies, then flip flops, and Ms. Romney compares her prize expensive show horse as one of her children...
Who is out of touch?
I saw Mitt at the Olympics last night. No, not with Mittens, but the the stagnant "Brick Wall".
I disagree. I have the sinking feeling that if we are dumb enough to elect Romney, we will yearn for the good old days when we had such an insightful, intelligent, eloquent and articulate leader as Mr Bush.
Because in comparison to Mr Romney, President GW Bush is a genius.
Toxic mom,
What gaffe will Mitt commit in Israel? He does know that Jews live there alongside Palestinians that they stole the country from in the first place. There are more Muslims there than Jews. Right? what a bumbling idiot!
Oh, Willard, why don't you just stand for something? If people disagree, so what? Let us know that you still believe what you said. If you don't, why should we?
oh please MR. Romney come home and hide in one of your mansions.............you are embarrassing yourself and the country you say you represent.
Come home and stop this insanity please...............charter a personal jet, have your limo take you home and hide in your mansion with your wife and servants, enjoy a home cooked meal from your personal chef and served by your valet and take a load off in your indoor pool and sauna and have a nice rub down by your personal masseuse...........dry off and go to bed knowing your world will always be in tact and safe and all your dreams will come true..................
and ask yourself.........why are your running for President?..............it would seem you already live the perfect life and you don't even have to work.......so why are you doing this?
Oh, yeah and this question is important as you don't even seem to know what you are doing as a candidate running for office...makes we wonder what the heck you will do once you get into office............oh that's right, George W. Bush did the same thing and we all know how well that turned out.
Mr. Romney, just be content to be as rich as God and have your perfect life and leave the politics that effect the rest of us be for those who are actually in it to help the nation and her people, who take it seriously.........because people can get hurt, really hurt, and the country could collapse, really die as a nation...this is NOT a game!!!
You go Mitt!!! What is the name of the device that tells you which way the wind is blowing??
BREAKING NEWS
The Olympic Committee voted today to add Bonsai Raising as an Olympic Sport. This was done to expand to two the number of sports that rich people could win without physical exertion. Currently the only such sport is horse fancy dancing.
Hey! That's a "THERAPY" horse! Everyone knows that watching a horse prance around is good for.......................... Well almost everything! It may even cure the common cold!
I heard the horse's name is Tax Break!
Willard the Weather Vane strikes again!
I'm not convinced. Wait, yes, I'm absolutely convinced.
Flip Flop Etch-A-Sketch strikes again.
Willard can't help it. All that time he spent hiding in France during the Viet Nam war made it second nature for him to be rude to the Brits!
Mitt, the twit,
the ultimate nitwit!
He never stops,
With continuous flip-flops!
Which proves that he's just full of sh*t!
Mitt runs two ads taking the President's words out of context but says he won't release his tax returns because the Democrats will distort what is in them? What could be in them that could be distorted? Having a Swiss bank account--either you do or you don't. Paying an effective tax rate of 14% or even less? It is what it is---can't distort that math. Deducting as a business expense the costs of a dressage horse competing in the Olympics but later calling that horse a therapy horse? Been there, done that already. Come on, Mitt--what are you hiding?
His unwillingness to release them in the face of such criticism all but ensures that there is very damaging issues to be revealed. Willard Romney is a cloud of secrecy. Where are the computers from the governor's office in Massachusetts Mitt? Where are the records from the olympics in Utah?
Upset---would Mitt run the White House the same way?
If the Democrats would distort whatever is in Mitt's tax returns, wouldn't Mitt then run an ad saying how they've lied about his taxes? It just doesn't ring true to me.
His disingenuous excuse that McCain only released 2 years forgets that at the time McCain was running he was a US Senator and had already released tax returns in his campaign for that seat ... every time he ran he released more tax returns. Romney hasn't held ANY Federal office and has only held a Governor's office. He needs to understand that the rules and conventions DO apply to him and release more tax returns. But I guess what's IN those tax returns is more damaging to him than the controversy about not releasing them so he sees it as a "win".
Cat - I actually did not think about that. I was wondering why McCain released only 2 years but your post clearly explains it, and it totally makes sense. We won't see more of Mitt's taxes - he can't afford that - on so many levels!
Obama/Biden 2012
I suspect he's hiding ridiculous, "charity", tax write offs to the Mormon Church.
Members of the GOP are asking Mitt to release the tax documents. Why doesn't he listen to his own party members?
BUbblegum
I really have to wonder what Romney is trying to hide, that he is so afraid will be distorted. If he had confidence in the integrity of his returns he would release them. Since it appears that he believes bad things will happen if we find out what is in these returns, he won't follow the lead of his own father and release them.
At this point Romney is making it worse for himself by not releasing his returns. Unless they really are worse than the conjecture I am seeing nationwide, in which case he probably should just face reality and the voting public once and for all and get it over with.
Tax rates of 12-13% would probably be pretty easy to use without any distortion. Rmoney has seriously painted himself into a corner.
We know that if he released his financial records, it would be very negative. He has stated himself and through his Oh-pity-me-because-I-have-a-disease wife that they are flatly refusing to follow the precedent of every Presidental candidate for the last twenty years. So, if and when he finally does release ALL his records (and also file for the current year, which he got an extension), he will not only take a hit for his exorbitant pile of wealth, but also, once again, Flip Flop.
You got to think this stuff out in advance, Willard.
Phancy - Did you go home for the weekend yet?
Brianb, they let you out again?
The good news is that no matter how the Obama political machine (the mainstream media) try to spin it, the people are smart enough to figure out that the press is making a mountain out of a molehill here because they can't say what a great job our country is in thanks to Obama. All Romney did was voice the same concern the Brits had. They had a contract with a private security firm to provide so many security personnel and the company came up 3,500 short. Were the Brits concerned? Sure! Is falling 3,500 short a reason to be concerned? Sure! Did the Brits take up the slack with use of their military? Sure! Is everything OK now? Sure. Sounds like Mitt hit a bulls eye with his statements and intelligent people know that. Only the dimwits will make a big deal of of it. Too bad these same dimwits won't make a big deal out of the governments deficit spending, millions of people out of work, an all time record number of people on the public dole, and just a plain terrible economy we're having thanks to the policies of this administration. (I can hear it now "It's Bush's fault!).
GO MITT AND SAVE OUR COUNTRY FROM THOSE WHO WANT TO DESTROY EVERYTHING THAT HAS MADE OUR COUNTRY GREAT!
BB
I am happily sitting on my own bed with 24 hour room service from hubby and daughter. Eating food that has some flavor. I feel like a cat in the middle of 100's of bowls of cream.
I can not understand how it is possible that a man who legitimately earned two advanced degrees from a top-flight college has managed to make George W. Bush look smart. Romney is embarassing, and all of the post-gaffe pandering in the world will not change that.
Scott - okay, you made me laugh out loud. Mitt IS making Bush look smart isn't he? I didn't think that was possible. He is totally lacking in any substance at all!
Maybe we need Romney to release his college transcripts.
Amy - I believe his college was bought and paid for. Do we think he ACTUALLY attended any classes? Sure doesn't look like it!
Good luck with that!
Mitt --- I'm beginning to think you're not even as bright as George W. Bush and that's a low standard to reach. Think about it --- even Bush never managed to make the Brits angry. It takes a special kind of fool to do that and you managed to accomplish it.
Somehow GWB had an MBA from Harvard (that not a soul in his class ever saw him attend a class for, much like his vapor attendence in the Coast Guard). Would it surprise anyone that no one actually saw Romney *earn* a single grade? Certainly not me.
For a while there, Mitt Romney thought he was ambivalent. But now he's not sure.
“I know that you believe you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.”
Mitt RomneyChildren's author and Illustrator Robert McCloskeyHmmm...Anne Romney says she gives Mitt "a pass" on not paying attention to her horses, because he's so supportive of her.
And, she knows he can't get a horse on the roof of the car.
Romeny is clueless and has proven that over and over and over. The man has zero personality, zero likeability, zero sense of humor, zero compassion.
If Mitt was replaced with a cardboard cutoff no one would know the difference.....except the cutoff wouldn't embrass himself and the US.
It's difficult to imagine any President embarrassing the United States more than G.W. Buffoon, but Willard Romney may just be the guy.
I totally called this. I posted my experience seeing Romney speak at a rally in Portland, Maine during the Republican primaries on First Read.
He started off saying "what a lovely state you have here. I especailly love the lakes. [Portland is on the ocean], I have a house on a lake in New Hampshire [hey, Buddy this is Maine], it sure gets cold there, we bought it in the winter and we wanted to see how it looked from the lake, so I got a ladder out and inched across the ice, when I looked up a a truck was driving by on the ice!" Hardy, har har. I shudder to think how he'd "banter"with foreign leaders.
I saw some mocking posts saying that Romneycare was looking VERY Presidential, and wondering if the White House was paralyzed with fear. LOL. I guess the fact that Rmoney passed the superficial test because he didn't have his magic underwear on the outside of his suit.
Then he goes on to insult the Olympics, forget the Labor Party Leader's title, and then try to backstroke his way out of it. What a total buffoon.
Starderup - no but laughter could be heard all the way out to Pennsylvania avenue! Mitt the nitwit is doing it again!
Romney in a nutshell:
Not only am I convinced by what I said, I am absolutely convinced that I did not say it.
Romoney is a nut in shell clothing!
"I don't remember exactly what I said, but whatever it was I stand behind it".......Mittens.
Know argument that Romney placed his foot in his mouth; however, you libs have a short term memory when it comes to Obama. Remember the comment about guns and bibles or the redistribution of wealth, or his "evolving" opinion on gay marriage (isn't that flip flopping), or his apology tour of the middle east and europe. While this issue is nice fodder for the dems it is really a distraction from the real issues. How about some commentary on the MSNBC headline that the economy "sputters" in the second quarter. Oh, and lets not forget the rising poverty level, or record unemployment for minorities. Who gives a crap that Ann Romney has a horse in the Olympics or Romney states exactly what the British have publically admitted.....totally irrelevant to the future of this country.
geterright: This clowns smug demeanor pissed off an entire country on his first day there, totally relevant.
I don't have a problem with a guy worth upwards of 1/4 bilion dollars buying his wife a dressage horse. I have a problem with the guy hating the United States so much he lists it as therapudic on his tax returns, and them has the gall to run for president of that same United States of America. It is relevant to anyone who doesn't have their head in his magic underwear.
Obama was correct about the guns and bibles. Any time money changes hands it's "redistribution of wealth". Nothing wrong with changing your mind about such a controversial subject as gay marriage. The "apology tour" is made up nonsense and get's a pants-on-fire rating.
Even if I was fired up about that nonsense, I still wouldn't vote for Mitt Romney.
It's your guy traveling around out of the USA taking attention away from the economy, trying to build foreign policy credentials... Yet that is the liberals and Obamas fault, right.
Here's a tip, if you want to stay on an economy message, then stay on one.
Seems to be the classic republican defense now. If we mess up and draw bad attention, we just say "its the libs trying to draw attention away from the economy". Pathetic cry babies.
The GOP really needs to put thier big boy pants on...
Taishmoser - first they'd have to find a big boy to wear them.
My memory is perfect, so I'm quite aware that only a small fraction of what you said is remotely true (and no, I'm an independet that's not an Obama fan). But let's be stright up here: GWB was one of the bottom five Presidents of all time, and Romney's likely to fight him for the bottom if elected. I'd guess he'll precipitate a civil war based on his insistence on this class war on the middle class the Republicans are pushing. We've now seen proof that republican economoc policy is no more effective than communism, and we have the admission of this from the very republican architect of these policies - Alan Greenspan - saying so. While Obama is a mediocre CEO, Romney is stupidity and disaster in a bottle.
The Mittster is in fine form in London. I understand he has offered to fire the British security firm for the Olympics and OUTSOURCE the work to an Indian firm he knows!
What's he hiding?
The Romney campaign staff has already released a statement regarding a past Swiss bank account that was closed at the recommendation of a financial advisor who thought it might be "politically embarassing."
He apparently did release twelve back years of taxes to the McCain camoaign, in 2008, as part of being vetted as a potential McCain VP.
He has released 2010 and has said he will release 2011, when filed.
That leaves 2008 and 2009, which he refuses to release.
In 2008 and 2009, the IRS was running an "amnesty program," granting immunity from prosecution for United Bank of Switzerland account holders, who held accounts for what the bank admitted was a "tax evasion scheme" run for Americans. The bank paid $780 million in fines and handed over 5,000 names (of 50,000 account holders) and closed the program. Prior to receiv ing the 5,000 names, the IRS ran an "amnesty program" for those account holders who would come forward, confess their guilt, and file Amended returns, restating taxable income, paying the additional tax, and paying the penalties involved.
In return, the IRS agreed not to prosecute the crimes and to maintain the secrecy of the account holders.
"He apparently did release twelve back years of taxes to the McCain campaign, in 2008, as part of being vetted as a potential McCain V.P."
And now we know why McCain picked Sara Palin.
Mitty didn't release that portion of his return for 2010 which lists overseas accounts. Mitty is a twit.
He won't release what others have released, but if you ask him about MI6, he'll sing like a canary! What a tool. Yeah, we need someone like that in control of our nuclear weapons.
Stone6
Thanks for that post. Ive always wondered what Mittens could be hiding and could only guess that he paid almost nothing due to the "carried interest" loop hole.
What you theorize makes a lot of sense but until he releases his 1999 to 2009 returns we will only be speculating.
What are you hidding Mittens?
The IRS Offshore Amnesty Program and You | IRS Tax Problem Solver Blog - IRS Help
stone6 - when I looked it up the indication was Mitt only released 2 years to McCain but that obviously could be wrong. Your post was very enlightening!
Something must be going on when the Lefties are doing the same thing that the Republicans did back in 2009. Try too keep bringing down the Contender by attacking the Character. I smell fear.
Nobody on the left dares to raise a question on the Economy stupid.
I have seen this Idolizing of a person in four 5 different Countries and they all ended very BAD.
concern:
If you can read the writing on the wall then it's time for you to pack up and leave. Rats are the first to leave a sinking ship, right?
Obama/Biden 2012!
What election occured in 2009?
Concern Citizen-856329
Yep, you got that right! Look at what happened to the USA after idolizing Reagan all these years.
blackcatwhitecat, your comment does not make sense.
If what you are saying is true then my point is made.
Stone6, my mistake, 2008.
Anyway. if Reagan was so bad, then why does Our President mentions him in a good way so often? Either way my Point is correct.
Snk; I guess there will be an exodus in administration by all the Rats that live there.
Concern, as usual, you have no point. We are laughing at the miserable excuse for a human being the GOP is running. Too bad that's all ya got!
Obama/Biden 2012
SeekingSanity
I forgot Master of Insanity that you and the likes of you are all knowing and the rest of us do not know anything. Specially when it comes from women like me that are black and Hispanic.
Too bad that you as a Master still have to report to your top Dog ! I keep Hoping for some GOOD Change from you.
We are retuning to the days of 1812. Think the Brits will win this time?
I don't know Phine but my cousin's husband who is a Brit is an unsufferable a#$. He told everyone at a family gathering that we American's are too sensitive about the number of people killed in the 9/11 attack and we should get over it, it was nothing. LOL he barely made it out of the house.
Hope you are enjoying your weekend.....
Concern - I report to no one but clearly you are walking in lock step - as you're told. See, when you can't think logically (as you've proved to be incapable of doing) you tend to do that.
You keep whining about being black and Hispanic. Am I supposed to be impressed or what? I'm white and a woman - get over it.
Your lack of intelligence is your problem - nothing else.
Obama/Biden 2012
SS see you still have nothing but your rude insults.... You need to get a new script, your current one is like listening to a broken record.
The Brittish regard Romney as nouvelle riche. They ask him why if he is so rich he is not smart.
SeekingSanity who very honestly writes the below:
Just what I want to bring out from people like you, that are complaining and using the race card.
Many years ago when I came to this country I had to fight for equality from both sides of the spectrum until I was finally accepted for my person.
Having said that, it has been many years since I have heard the kind of racism that I hear in this site. This has become more apparent since this President took office. I thought that from the way that he talked that he would be a President for all and stamp out what ever little racism was left out there.
Having said that it is my observation that most Liberals (not true Democrats) display that behavior, whether white or black like me. So please cool off and treat me as an equal.
Concern - now you look just like Mitt - not a compliment. YOU used the race card - not me. Your lack of intelligence is not because of your race. You choose to be stupid. I know many people of all races who clearly walk circles around you. Don't even TRY to make my comments about you racist because you look less intelligent when you do.
Your attempt to make me look racist is lowlife at best. But, it's what I've come to expect from someone who can't defend their posts like you. Your stupidity is showing when you consider I support Obama. Can you say totally ignorant????
You look unintelligent because of your mindless posts. Make them intelligent and people will treat you as such.
kws - If you don't like what I post - don't read it. I see you have no problem with concern and many other on the right's rude posts. Can you say hypocrite? Of course you can't - that would take integrity - something you and concern lack.
Obama/Biden 2012
What is so different in my Post. You do the same and so do others here. I'sure that if I was for Obama, you would be saying: Great Post Concern, I could not have said it better, etc.
Concern - what you've said is absolutely nothing - as usual. No one has EVER to my knowledge been racist to you on this site. But, when you get hammered because of an unintelligent post you fall back on that assertion. It makes you look weak, stupid and like Mitt.
Obama/Biden 2012
Wow, this is a blog, we're all just words here. The only thing that matters is what is said. For all we really know, neither of you are what you say you are. The only way race can even come into it, is if you're trying to bait others with saying you're a particular race.
Concerned has proven a very valid point. Bitter hate, thoughtlessness and willful ignorance transcends race and gender. The ability to be a bad person is universal.
There, concerned...the equality you have been searching for...
AND out rolls the feel sorry for me card AGAIN!
Every single day with the same crap Concern and then you turn around and call all of us names. Please stop with your racist comments and labeling everyone else. Make a valid point without bringing in your entire family. Keep your posts on topic and you'd probably get much better responses. At least you're not calling me an idiot every day.
You want to talk about being accepted? Try being a skinny little 6' white string bean of a girl at the age of 13!!!!! That was tough!
Layton - 6' at 13????? Oh, I'm guessing you had it rough all through high school! But, I'll bet you're stately and elegant now!
Awwweee thanks Seeking! I try! My "little" brother is 6'8" and hated basketball but was a flight attendant! (They couldn't discriminate based on height so he got the big planes!) Enough on family ... off to watch the opening ceremonies! (Wonder if they will be as bizarre as France's were a few years back ....)
Seeking and Layton - these kinds of posts belong on Facebook. Not here. Jesus.
Thanks for that piece of info, Steve. I feel so .... ummmmmmm ..... nothing.
If the UK can slap Romney around this easily what will Russia and China do?
Obama/Biden 2012!
snk - Siberia? Oh please!!!!!
Obama/Biden 2012
Economic question Mitt- Whats the difference between your proposed policies and the policies of George W Bush?
I think bigger. Bigger disasters.
Creepy slimy liar!
Obama-2012
He is an embarrassment.
Don't insult embarrassments like that.
The best part? It is going to go on for a week or more! LOL. Those Willard supporters gotta be dying.
Keeping Miss Mittsy from chasing "girlish" Orthodox Jews with scissors through the streets of Jerusalem will require more security than the Olympics.
Gotta disagree with you. They arent Willard supporters they are ABOs
Obama/Starderup 2012
What a douchebag. He embarrasses th US everywhere he goes. He won't release his tax records because he doesn't want to give the democrats ammunition. What? He runs on his business record but doesn't think it's fair for anyone to talk about it. Huh? Took all the hard drives with him when he left as governor. Lost all records from his time with the Salt Lake City Olympics. Hide, lie, obfuscate, repeat.
My wife has MS, I don't see how a $70,000 horse could in any way be concidered "thearapudic".
While I voted for Richard Nixon and am still proud of his accomplishments in regard to turning the doomsday clock back with his talks with the Chinese, Romney makes him look like a saint. I stopped voting Republician when Georgie Bush Jr. ran, I'm proud I voted for his dad, a war hero, smart enough to run the CIA, the complete opposite of his kid. I will never again vote for a Republican for the rest of my life, and Mittins is the poster child for that decision.
eric in oregon.
I guess we have a draw, I will never vote for a Democrat at least in November.
Concern prefers her candidates dumb and dumber. She is intimidated by anyone who is intelligent and has class. Therefore, she'll vote for Mitt wit!
Obama/Biden 2012
Yes Dear Insanity: Let's make fun of those less fortunate. LOL at you.
And you will still vote for Your IDOL. Grow up!
In Addition to his record and Because of people like you, I will vote for a Sneaker before I vote for Obama again.
Concern - there is not doubt you have so little intelligence you would vote for a sneaker. And yet, a sneaker would actually be a step up from Romney.
You're pretty sad. I have no idols but clearly you do. Again, so sad that a woman sinks so low but that's the level you've chosen.
Obama/Biden 2012
Tapoketa tapoketa tapoketa. Mitt the twit is a Mitty.
howardusa -
Hate to disagree with you, but I think at this point, Romney's campaign is actually going "pocketa-pocketa-QUEEP-pocketa-QUEEP". Quick - somebody hand him a fountain pen!
P.S. - Puppy biscuit!
I can't help but wonder if it is a brand new sneaker or a stinky old sneaker that would better represent Concerned as an American...
Shocked - okay I DID NOT say that one!
Seeking...yeah, but someone had to...
Back in the Bush years, it was the emperor that had no clothes. Now the whining righties are reduced to voting for the sneaker that has no sole...
(sorry...couldn't resist)
I think I've figured this guy out. He comes into a place, uses this smug, superiority attitude of his to figure out how to really draw fire and then tells everybody what they want to hear!
Personally, I don't think it's too effective, but it seems to drive people nuts.
Romney is becoming a caricature of himself, and that's not good.
He looks like he is about to have to drop an uncomfortable deuce.
While on tour overseas, Romney would well take a lesson from Obama on how to treat our friends.
Mr. Romney, just think about it. Would would Obama say or do? Then you just do the exactly the opposite.
Mr. Romney seems to have that part of program down pat!!! LOL!!!
someone said earlier that romney released 12 years of back taxes to the McCain campaign during the VP vetting process. If so then why doesn't he release them to the american people in our vetting process of him for POTUS? Why? I'll tell you why.
McCain campaign found damaging information so romney doesn't dare let them out. If all was good in the returns, any normal honest person would let them out and move on. It's more important to him to put forth more effort to hide something.
He truely believes the office of president is his, that its his time. He thinks he can just back into it so he wants to just ride it out till november.
Mitty thinks he is entitled to the presidency by divine right. He also thinks that as a Mormon Bishop he will become a god on his own planet. On to Israel where he baptise all the Jews into the Mormon cult.
The best part is that he cannot release them now without looking like a Flip Flopper again. Double whammy. This guy just doesn't think ahead. Public sentiment will force him to reveal his financial records, because, as a businessman, involved in hostile takeovers, Willard should be the first one to know that you scrutinize targets extremely carefully, and since he is touting his business experience, we should tell him that for the highest office in our land, we don't issue free passes.
Gave the ol' Etch-A-Sketch a nice shake, Romney did. It's all better now....
Better Careful - Do you have any idea where the "Etch-a-Sketch" insult originated or are you just vomiting back left-wing slogans that some other idiot fed you? Here are the facts:
Romney's communications director Eric Fehrnstromon referred to the shift from a primary campaign to a presidential campaign by saying "I think you hit a reset button for the fall campaign. Everything changes. It's almost like an Etch-A-Sketch" Of course, Romney's opponents immediately pretended the remark had some significance.
Contrast this with Jeremiah Wright, Obama's pastor and mentor for 20 years saying, “The government lied about inventing the HIV virus as a means of genocide against people of color.”
Intelligent people will recognize that the "etch-sketch" comment is a cute analogy by one of Romney's campaign workers; while saying that AIDS is a means of genocide against Blacks. represents a core belief that Obama has absorbed.
BY: Matthew Continett, Washington Free Beacon
One cannot help noticing the struggle between Barack Obama’s natural instincts and the serene and benevolent persona he projects to the world. Beneath the visage of a cosmetically populist, post-racial, post-partisan reformer who wants to “perfect” America and to have “millionaires and billionaires” “pay their fair share” is just another condescending, self-important, sarcastic, academic liberal Democrat, who believes in false consciousness and in scholastic theories that success in life can be attributed to birth or luck or community but not to individual effort and grit. Obama may be talented at self-fashioning, but he cannot maintain his public face constantly. The mask sometimes slips.
The real Obama emerges. He lets loose in the self-consciously ironic and pretentiously omniscient argot of the American ruling class, lecturing audiences in what he, Elizabeth Warren, and the segment producers at MSNBC treat as the new catechism. The reaction to these gaffes is always the same. His remarks spark justified criticism. There is a frenetic effort to paper over his comments and restore the impression that he is just another dad who wants to take care of one big American family. He and his lieutenants and other members of the “truth” posse indulge in mock outrage. They say the president’s words have been distorted, that he did not really say what he said, that he meant something else entirely. The activity is convulsive and furious because David Axelrod and David Plouffe understand that an unplugged Obama will damage his brand. He is not actually likable at all. And he is liable to wreck years of hard work and mythmaking the moment he goes off script.
That is the “context” behind the president’s July 13 outburst in Roanoke, Virginia:
The focus has been on Obama’s words in the second paragraph: “If you’ve got a business—you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen.” But this misses the point. Whether or not “you didn’t build that” refers to the “roads and bridges” of the previous sentence is irrelevant.
The truly revealing and disturbing idea is in the first paragraph, in which the president of the United States of America, the richest nation in the world, says he is “always struck” by “people who think” that individual smarts and hard work are responsible for success. The fools! Don’t they know achievement is a function of lavish government contracts to education and construction unions? Can’t they comprehend that innovation results from taxpayer-financed loan guarantees to companies owned by Democratic Party donors?
If the sentiments expressed in Roanoke really were as innocent and commonplace and “pro-business” as the Obama campaign and its apologists would have us believe, there would have been no need for the president to release an advertisement saying his words had been taken “out of context”; for his deputy campaign manager to record a three-minute video gushing over small business; for some peon on Jim Messina’s 700-person staff to design a shoddy website rebutting “Mitt Romney’s Misleading Attack Ads.” The media would have continued to engage in Jesuitical reading and interpretation of Romney’s contract with Bain Capital, and in gnostic speculation about the contents of the former Massachusetts governor’s tax returns. The plan to negatively define, and thus destroy, Romney would be proceeding apace. Obama ruined the story—and not for the first time.
“Obama’s biggest blunder yet” is how the incumbent’s most devoted Internet advocate described the moment when the first gay president spoke his mind to the raucous Virginia crowd. And indeed, there have been plenty of other blunders, stretching back many years. One could write a history of the Obamian Slip, telling the story of those instances when the president inadvertently disclosed his inner self, and diverted from the Axelrod message of hope and change and unity.
A rough timeline might look something like this. On July 23, 2007, at the CNN-YouTube Democratic primary debate, then-senator Obama made his ludicrous and unrehearsed pledge to meet personally with the leaders of Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Cuba, and North Korea in the first year of his administration. There was the stunning January 5, 2008, debate before the New Hampshire Primary, when Obama insulted the former First Lady and two-term New York senator Hillary Clinton by sneering she was “likable enough.” On April 6, 2008, he told a rather cartoonish audience at a San Francisco fundraiser that “it’s not surprising” he wasn’t winning the votes of working-class whites in the Democratic Party, because years of betrayal by the political class had made them “get bitter, they cling to their guns or religion or antipathy toward people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or … uh, anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.”
The blunders do not stop. Obama’s August 22, 2009, remark at a press conference that the Cambridge police had acted “stupidly” by arresting a disorderly Harvard professor created such controversy that the president hurriedly convened a slapdash “beer summit” that seemed like a parody of racial comity. The next January, while campaigning for Massachusetts’ attorney general Martha Coakley to replace the late Edward M. Kennedy in the U.S. Senate, Obama seemed obsessed with Republican state senator (and eventual victor) Scott Brown’s pickup truck, poking fun at it repeatedly during a last-minute campaign rally. A month later, at the health-care summit, Obama could not hide his contempt as John McCain explained why his constituents and a national majority opposed the president’s proposal for a health-care overhaul. When McCain finished, Obama dismissed him by sniping that “The election’s over,” as though the four-term senator had no legitimate grounds for opposition.
Obama’s impromptu rhetoric is laced with the arch, dry, and bitter humor of the liberal bourgeois who write our newspapers and magazines and books and Comedy Central “news” shows. This is the cynical and snarky voice that informs comments such as “You’re likeable enough” and “the election’s over” and, at the June 13, 2011, meeting of the president’s jobs council, “Shovel ready was not as shovel-ready as we expected.”
The critical detachment with which the president sees himself, his office, and his country is also apparent. He thought he could confide to Dmitri Medvedev that a second term would give him “more flexibility” to negotiate away America’s missile defenses, nuclear arsenal, and interest in democracy and human rights within the Russian near-abroad. A “hot mic” spoiled it for him. Obama thought he was stating the obvious when he said “The private sector is doing fine” in his June 8 press conference. Anemic private sector job creation, minimal GDP growth, stagnant wages and incomes, weakening manufacturing, record-low yields on U.S. Treasuries, and the longest sustained period of over 8 percent unemployment since the Great Depression all suggest otherwise.
Since 2007, Obama has been able to maintain a façade of positivity, nationalism, and mainstream goodwill, even as he harbors ideas, attitudes, and reflexes peculiar to a highly educated and overly compensated legal, corporate, and cultural elite. But the foundation of his appeal is eroding. The negative campaign against Romney accelerated the process. Obama’s favorability ratings are down. Democratic enthusiasm is down. The Roanoke speech—“You didn’t get there on your own”; “There are a lot of smart people out there”; “You didn’t build that”; “Somebody else made that happen”—may come to be seen as the juncture when the president sundered the connection he forged with America in the summer of 2004.
Who will be blamed for demolishing such a dazzling countenance? Obama alone. Nobody else made that happen.
sonmanvb:
Great Post. The Actions he takes and the words that come out of his mouth are always at war.
I like the guy but he has issues. Most Presidents did, but this one is damaging to our Country.
Concern - you're ridiculous with your continued lies about our President. The only person damaging our country is Mitt and his minions like you who don't have any intelligence at all.
sonmanub - your source for your post says it all. You're totally ridiculous to post that and expect anyone to respect anything you post.
Obama/Biden 2012
SS if you libs think his post his so ridiculous why did you rush to collapse it? Freedom of speech at it's best as long as you control the content... Too funny.
LOL. It's already been proven that most of the "independent business owners" Mittens uses in his commercials attacking Obama have all had some sort of government assistance via Small Business Administration loans that allowed them to start or expand, or government contracts or tax credits/rebates.
We're all in this together, is that so hard to understand?
Mr. Mayor,
Ready would have been have the ENTIRE security contingent in place, not scrambling to fill with UK troops.
The private sector was to provide security. It failed to do so. The public sector provides the security. Does that tell you something? The SLC olympics suceeded because Mitt lobbied for government funds. He didn't do it on his own. He also lobbied for funds to save Bain. He didn't do it on his own. Do I see a trend?