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Voters and reporters looking to Mitt Romney for new jobs proposals or additional details about his existing plans shouldn't expect many, the presumptive Republican nominee's aides said Thursday.
Most of Romney's fall campaign will involve "re-introducing a lot of the policy that came out a year ago," Romney senior adviser Eric Fehrnstrom said on a conference call with reporters. The reason for that, he explained, was to remind them "of the governor's very detailed policy" now that voters are playing closer attention to the campaign.
The conference call was organized to outline the jobs policies about which Romney will speak today in Colorado. But the five priorities mentioned on the conference call -- energy, trade, education, cutting the deficit, and freeing up businesses from regulation -- have generally been staples of the former Massachusetts governor's campaign for much of the past year.
Kacper Pempel / REUTERS
Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney delivers foreign policy remarks at the University of Warsaw Library in Warsaw July 31, 2012.
The question of specifics, though, has been one that has plagued the Romney campaign -- and it's not only Democrats who have voiced this criticism.
"The Romney campaign thinks it can play it safe and coast to the White House by saying the economy stinks and it's Mr. Obama's fault," the Wall Street Journal's right-leaning editorial board wrote in early July. "Thanks, guys, but Americans already know that. What they want to hear from the challenger is some understanding of why the President's policies aren't working and how Mr. Romney's policies will do better."
But the Romney campaign has generally brushed off these complaints as imprudent politics. Boston has clearly broadcast that they are satisfied with the plans they have offered. ("He doesn’t need to lay out new policies," Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, a surrogate of Romney's and potential running mate, told National Review Online earlier this week.)
The Romney campaign has been generally opaque in its approach to several issues that could conceivably expose their candidate to scrutiny, which could distract from their central narrative about Obama and the economy. For instance, the campaign's refusal to detail which tax deductions Romney would favor eliminating – to show how he’d prefer to balance the budget – mirrors his refusal to release more than two years of tax returns, to detail his exit from Bain Capital, or to lay out how his administration would be more transparent than Obama’s.
On each question, though, the Romney campaign has left open a void of detail, and the Obama campaign and Democrats have gladly stepped in to fill it.
The president himself trumpeted a report from the nonpartisan, independent Tax Policy Center about Romney's tax plan.
The study concluded that, based on the available details about Romney's plan, that it would threaten a higher tax burden on the middle class, because it disproportionately takes advantage of exemptions that would be eliminated to finance tax reform.
But the enduring story of the Romney campaign is its conclusion early in the campaign that little else will matter on election day aside from voters' conclusion about Obama's handling of the economy. They've bet that the broad contours of Romney's policy contours will be enough to sway voters, and that they can weather criticism about the specifics without any of that becoming fatal.
"That report you referenced is a joke," Fehrnstrom said of the center’s report on the call. "There are serious problems with the authorship of that study, and the methodology."
One of the authors was an economic adviser member of Obama’s Council of Economic Advisers. But the other was the senior staff economist on President George H.W. Bush’s Council of Economic Advisers.
"The governor's plan essentially lays out the parameters that he wants to achieve," Jonathan Burks, the Romney campaign's deputy policy director, said on the call. "And within that, he would write a tax bill that achieves those goals. And so it's not a question of today, you know, we've got a 2,000-page tax plan that could be scored and demonstrated ... The details of how that would be accomplished would have to be worked out with Congress."
Republicans are quick to note that President Obama has offered few detailed proposals for his second term, and argue that the "American Jobs Act" first introduced by the White House last fall is only a re-hash of old policies.
But the Romney campaign's bet that it doesn't need to offer more detail opens the door to the Obama campaign and Democrats' efforts to turn the election into a choice between the president and Romney, even if it involves mischaracterizing elements of Romney's background – or inserting policy details that don’t exist -- that the GOP candidate won't define for himself.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) made an especially specious claim in that vein when he told the Huffington Post this week that a Bain investor -- who he did not name -- told him that Romney had paid no effective tax rate for a decade.
Fehrnstrom angrily condemned that suggestion during an appearance Thursday on Fox News, but there are no indications that the evidence Romney could offer to rebuff those charges will be publicly available anytime soon.
NBC's Jay Rankin and Garrett Haake contributed.
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Mittens, we ALREADY know your policy, rob the poor for the benefit of the rich, treat the treasury like it is your own personal piggy bank for you and your wealthy friends, and explode the deficit.
If you can work in a war or two or three, so much the better!
Mitt Romney (like any Republican) reminds me of a sleazy salesman, who has one hand on your wallet, the other is attempting to fondle the female in your life and he just smiles and says "trust me, heh, heh, heh."
newday: Well said. There is not enough sugar to coat Romney's Robin Hood policies.
How on earth does Mr. Romney "reintroduce" what he has not introduced in the first place?
"We have met the enemy and he is us!" Pogo by Walt Kelly
When did Robin Hood introduce them the first time around?
The only thing I have seen so far is, Team Willard tossing JELLO at a wall and hoping something might stick!
Feisty the Red Communists. WHY DON"T YOU HAVE A JOB? Queen of the DF's, living large off the American taxpayer. Get a job you pathetic slug!
My, Tony is certainly sour this morning. I imagine the Southward direction in which Mitt's prospects have been heading has been difficult for the right wing lunatic fringe. It's a pity they aren't rational enough to see the silver lining behind the dark cloud of their failed political ideology: Mitt won't get his greedy, grasping hands on our government. Feel better? I knew you would.
Come on Willard, we know you won't tell us what you really want to do because "opposition research" (read the American people) will cause people to vote against you. Has there ever been a more sniveling coward to run for the White House. Tell us where you stand Willard and let the people decide!
What a fricken' trainwreck Mittens is...
Take a look at big bad Tony everyone....feast you're eyes on the blind hate...it's mitts base ya'll!!
Your such a badass merican' Tony...
You're right American Socialist. I love the sound of Tony spewing hate in the morning. It sounds like ..................................victory (for Obama).
R-money will steal Pres. Obama's job creation initiatives that were filibustered by GOP busters in the last few years.
Remember Mitch McChicken's (McConnell's) vow to destroy Pres. Obama by destroying America and then blaiming it on the Pres.
When did Robin Hood introduce them the first time around?
Uh Feisty, glad to see you come around to the Romney team.
Robin Hood was of course a hero to the poor and middle class. Robin Hood wanted a better life for the poor and middle class. He did not want them stuck out on the farm for their whole lives.
Just like Mitt Romney.
Robin Hood = Romney - Feisty Redhead, Roselle IL.
Very good Feisty, very good. Where do you want me to send your "Romney 2012" Bumper sticker?
The current odds of Obama winning on Nov 6th are 70.8% to Romney's 29.2%. If the election were held today, Obama's odds would jump to 77% to Romney's 23% --- over 4 to 1.
Hey. Mitt! Why is McCain calling for you to release your tax returns? He knows what is in them and apparently the 13 years of tax returns you gave him was a key reason why he chose Palin over you. How many of those 13 years did nou not pay any taxes at all?
And it is still sinking in that the GOP is beating the anti-Muslim bandwagon for all its worth while trying to keep people from realizing that Mormons are no more Christians than Muslims.
It ain't gonna be pretty in November. The Republican brand has been trashed and its core shrunken by about 60%. The only way they can win future White House races is with a military coup.
Well Chris, I hope the Treehouse Gang put there money where there mouths are this weekend in Vegas and put down a buttload on Obama then. Easy money, right?
BTW LIBSRUS say hi to Mark and Domenico in Veags for us this weekend. Make sure they buy the first round.
Hey Chriss, since the "odds" are so good, how much are you in for?
At this point, Obama smiled and interjected, "Shovel-ready was not as ... uh .. shovel-ready as we expected." The Council, led by GE's Jeffrey Immelt, erupted in laughter.
Another NBC\WSJ stat?
lollllllllll
Romney won't give specifics because his plan is transparent. Tax cuts for the rich at the expense of the middle class.
He won't release his taxes because he didn't pay any.
A mere 4 years ago an inexperienced Obama was touting Hope and Change along with Fundamental Change. There were no details on what his platforms were. My how times have changed in the liberal world. Not once did they question Obama on any of his policies and how he planned on sustaining hope and change, nor did the liberals question what Fundamental Change meant.
Fast forward 4 years and now the liberals are so totally concerned about the microscopic policies that Mitt Romney has planned to eliminate this horrible economy... liberals all of a sudden decide to change their stance and start questioning every single detail of Romney's plans. Where were these liberals 4 years ago when Obama was running with no details?
Another Obamaism ignored by the liberals. They can't answer the question because it's not about what Romney is going to do, or what his plans are. It's about slamming anything he says because the liberals will parse everything he says and find some way to oppose it.
This is the hard truth. Liberals will do anything or say anything in opposition to Romney... no matter how good it is, or how it will benefit this country. Liberals would much rather Obama stay in office as the whole country is falling around them. Why is that? Why do liberals want to hurt this country even more? They will never admit the second term of Obama will prove his first term is only but a smidgen of what he plans in his second term aiming for our destruction. Liberals do NOT see this but yet they consider themselves intelligent.
Wow, WCA...jealous much?
If I were Mark or Domenico, I would be challenging YOU to prove that they would be in Las Vegas.
But, you do enjoy making things up as you go along to further polarize people, don't you?
Poor WCA: no friends, and no prospects for any.
Obama actually gave detailed plans and has followed them. The stimulus prevented a depression, Obama saved the auto industry, and thanks to Obama's plans the economy has grown each and every quarter (google gdp graph and see for yourself).
Romney's got nothing.....no plans......nothing new.....same old "prop up the rich" failed policies.
Eric - Prove what you said. Prove your statement that Romney paid no taxes. You make the claim, you back it up. Show us his tax returns where he paid no taxes... Stop making claims you can't back up.
Just like a typical liberal to say things that have no basis in fact... twerp!
If he paid his taxes he would release the returns....it's not very hard to figure out.....
Eric said:
Obama actually gave detailed plans and has followed them. The stimulus prevented a depression, Obama saved the auto industry, and thanks to Obama's plans the economy has grown each and every quarter (google gdp graph and see for yourself).
Romney's got nothing.....no plans......nothing new.....same old "prop up the rich" failed policies.
Obama gave NO details about his plans, or were you filling in the blanks? You seem to make things up pretty well. Claiming Romney paid no taxes without proof. Speculation doesn't mean jack, jack!
If Obama saved the auto industry, how come GM still owes us taxpayers $44 BILLION? Their sales are down 34%... SAVED the auto industry? He hasn't saved anything. Not until all debts are paid back... GM is still under bankruptcy protection... saved? What about all those stockholders that lost billions the government won't cover? Your facts are way off base!
The GDP is stagnant and we are on the crux of another recession... where are you getting your facts? Stop reading the back of your Cheerio's box and start paying attention to the real world.
Geez Newday get over your self. I'm kind of surprised you folks ar egoing to Vegas after your President told you to stay away from there.
Anyway, I don't have to prove anything, see a friend of mine called and told me that Mark and Domenico were going to be in Vegas with you guys, so it would be up to them to prove that they are not. Which they can't do because my friend says they are going.
Isn't that how things work in the Harry Reid LIBSRUS World?
Eric Said: If he paid his taxes he would release the returns....it's not very hard to figure out.....
Then you didn't pay your taxes either... I haven't seen them so my guess according to your logic is that you didn't pay them. Do you see how convoluted that sort of thinking is? Romney provided the required 2 years and it showed he paid taxes... you liberals are loony!
No, actually, WCA: it only works that way in the dark, paranoid world of people like you.
But, jealousy does not become you. As sorry as I am that you can't form the type of friendships that we have, that is for YOU to fix.
I'm sure you can do it if you try very very hard!
Keep pushing that rope NDD.
The more you have to try to convince us about your "Friendships", the less and less plausible they become.
You do understand that, right?
http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/national/gdp/gdp_glance.htm
Read the GDP graph and weep, hardly stagnant at all and very much better than the Bush years before it.
Good try WCA:
The failure is yours. But, we can't help you learn how to make a friend. Most people learn that very early on, preschool or kindergarten. I'm sure there is a remedial program out there for you somewhere.
But, love the jealousy. And the party in Las Vegas will be epic.
US sales of autos was up 9% in July.
Brianb, it is up to Romney to release his returns if he wants to prove he paid taxes. They have already said what is in them is worse than not releasing them, so we are free to fill in the blanks. I don't think he paid them either, and I'll be most of the country will agree with me. The guy is running for president, for godssake, and he needs to show us and if he doesn't he will lose.
How in God's green Earth does one "re-introduce" that which is yet to be seen?
And if this wondrous "governor's very detailed policy" has been sitting on a shelf for a year, why not dust it off and trot it out for the electorate to look at and discuss it with them, hmm?
It's a good thing nothing has changed in the world for the last year (snicker!).
No, But I see how convoluted the thinking is that you should ask someone who ISN'T RUNNING FOR President for their tax returns.
However the right has NO problem demanding Obama's BC (even after it has been released), his college transcripts (not released by W, Clinton, or other Presidents), his social service registration, his high school transcripts, and his last 5 colonoscopies.
But the left wants the STANDARD 10 years of tax returns from Romney? (A standard set by Romney's FATHER), and you assert the LEFT is thinking loony?!
Seriously? I mean, really? I mean, seriously, really?!
You mean Mr. Etch-a-Sketch "I'll have to get back with you on that, Just trust me" Romney will flop flop on his squirrely 59-point plan now that it has been scored by the Tax Policy Center, which Romney referred to as an "independent, objective third party" when attacking Perry during the primary? But now this organization is "liberal" and biased?
And the same way Willard Mitt Romney lied about his taxes to be eligible to run as governor in Massachusetts? Telling voters he filed his taxes in Massachusetts and not Utah during the 1999-2000 time he was helping with the winter Olympics? Then when he got busted for filing in Utah and not Massachusetts, he lied again to voters saying his accountants messed up without his knowledge. But he knew very well, because all that time he was busy trying to refile those taxes while he was LYING -- under oath -- about where he filed his taxes.
And what did he say to reporters during that investigation? He told them he would be happy to check into the matter, and adamantly promised he would get back with them on that. Then he refused to get back with anyone on that saying his financial affairs were private. And said people should just trust that he refiled his taxes in Massachusetts, which no one ever proved.
Sound familiar? Romney was just asked a clear and direct question whether he had ever paid less than the 13.9% tax rate indicated in the one partial year of returns for 2010 that he has released. Romney LIED and said he didn't know. The hell he doesn't know. And he said he'd be happy to check and get back with the reporter on that. And guess what? Romney is NOT answering that question from any news media outlet.
How much do voters need to know about Romney to KNOW he is a LIAR and CHEATER and therefore lacking the character (let alone qualifications) to be POTUS, Commander in Chief, and leader of the free world? What does it take rightwingers who support Romney -- What does it take for you to see as clear as day what everyone else sees?
lib50 I will agree with you that you are great at filling in the blanks. You filled in plenty of them in 08 about Obama. I didn't even try. I knew he was evasive on purpose so the sheeple would dream dreams and float on air after his captivating speeches. I finally realized just how gullible many people are.
I sit here shaking my head at how the liberals have been taken in by Obama... I never realized that people can become brainwashed so easily.
So what if Romney is running for president? He's provided what was necessary... that should be it. He's given his pint of blood but you liberals want to drain him dry... never enough for you, eh? After his tax records then what? Don't say educational records because your beloved won't even provide them... in fact he sealed them long ago. Where was this level of scrutiny with Obama? You didn't have it because Obama is one of you...
I hope Romney doesn't fold on the tax return issue. If only to shove it back in your faces... I consider this a test of his resolve... he need not compromise one bit towards the left... because no matter how much he compromises you won't stop. You'll just move on to the next thing and he'll have to give in to that... It's all BS and the more you bring it up, the more obvious it becomes.
Romney's foreign policies - same as Bush. Romney's economic policies - Bush on steroids. Make abortion and contraceptives illegal, same sex marriage illegal, get rid of Planned Parenthood etc. Romney is a republican. Individual republicans don't have policies. The go with the party or else!
BrianB - don't worry about Romney releasing more tax returns. He knows that he can not be elected if Americans get a look at the last 12 years of returns.
Brianb, the only blank I filled in in 2008 was fricken Sarah Palin. There once was a time I would have voted for McCain (back in 2000), but once he got on the crazy train, the blanks were filled in, and not by me.
If Romney is arrogant enough to think he can dictate what Americans need to see before November, he WILL pay the price. Just because some diehard republicans don't care doesn't mean the rest of us don't. I think you know that and are just scared.
I guess "re-introducing" policies is kind of like "retro-active retirement", huh? I've yet to have any of the RWNJ's explain "retro-active retirement".
But let me take a stab at it.
As I understand it, Romney took a "leave of absence from Bain Capitol to run the Olympics and then, many years later, (oh, let's say 2012) he decides it would be better to say he RETIRED from Bain and therefore he retired "retroactively", right?
So, now he's saying that sometime this fall he'll "re-introduce" something he's yet to introduce. It will be his retroactive economic policies. Brilliant!
And, he'll be doing that the day after he releases all his tax returns. Or maybe he'll retroactively release those tax returns after he re-introduces his economic policies, retroactively.
Double-Speak, they name is Romney.
Obama/Biden 2012
Really?! Have you conveniently forgotten the whole birth certificate madness?
Wrong. Government is about compromise. Unwillingness to compromise is what has us in this mess.
Obama is a war criminal and he should be impeached.
Obama has:
Signed the NDAA bill into law allowing the assassination of any us citizen without trial (yes, I know it's been around for a long time but Obama signed it into law even though it's unconstitutional)
Obama has killed hundreds of innocent people (including 3 Americans) with drone strikes he has ordered in Pakistan And Yemen.
Obama has raised the National debt Nearly $5 TRILLION.
Obama has allowed almost 1 Million ILLEGAL aliens to become legal citizens (thanks to those he allowed to become citizens, they have committed 19 murders and 142 sex crimes)
Google Search "Dreams from my REAL father" and you'll see, Obama's father was a failed communist who's dream was to DESTROY America, at age 18, Obama went to a MARXIST school.
lib50 - Romney is NOT out to win the liberal votes. Those are all die-hard Obama supporters and Romney isn't after them because it would be impossible. It seems to me that it's the die-hard Obama supporters that are pushing for his tax returns... so why would he provide them? It's a no brainer. I'm not concerned about his returns... I already know he's rich and the rich pay plenty of taxes. You liberals are being disingenuous about your motivation to have him produce them. He NEEDS to stand his ground against your whims and cat calls. I will lose respect for him if he folds. It's about time someone stood their ground against the liberals... and that's why he has my respect.
Right. And a liberal's definition of compromise is "do it our way, because we're more intelligent than you are, and are thus always right"!
"Google Search 'Dreams from my REAL father...'" -Great Job America!
Priceless! Much better than the birth certificate imbroglio in terms of its ability to amuse. I nearly shot coffee out my nose laughing.
felden - There was so little scrutiny of Obama's statements by the left he breezed through the elections. Where was the media? They were wetting their pants over him... As much as you don't like hearing this, the birth certificate issue has been conveniently laid to rest... not because it's been proven, but more or less because there's a shift in just trying to get this guy out of office by the right. The way he's going as of late, it should be pretty simple.
To a liberal, it's all about compromise... not to the right. The only way to stop the steady drumbeat from the left is to eliminate compromise from the discussion. If the right gives you an inch, you will want a mile.
Bb - he only has your respect because you have no other choice. I peg you as a former Hermanator groupie!
'Never underestimate the power of large groups of really stupid, hateful people who claim to be RIGHT, yet are nothing but WRONG for America.'
Mitt is running on the "ABO" ticket.
It's a calculated strategy and he seems to be sticking with it come hell-or-highwater.
I think Obama more/less had a similar strategy, as GW's approval was miserable. In Mitt's case, the rating on Obama is not as horrible, and therefore I doubt the strategy will work.... time will tell.
Here comes the FLIPPIN and a FLOPPIN... ready for the ETCH-A-SKETCH!!! - he should stay pretty firm on his past "ideas" -
if he backs off tax cuts for the rich - they'll stop backing him
If he starts to lean to far left - he'll lose the tea party and extremists - they won't vote for Obama ( he's African-American you know) - they just won't vote
If the discusses Bain - He'll lose those idiots who think he has "Actual" business experience! not vulture capitalism where you buy a viable business, over leverage it to pay yourself, raid the pensions and then BK it and leave the debt for the taxpayers! or the company he OWNED that was paid to dispose of fetuses!
if he releases his tax returns - he'll lose everybody (except Rush)
Really, the Republican Congress has done their job... making sure that nothing passed that would create jobs or stimulate the economy!!! whats funny is that there are people out there who will still vote for these clowns even after they played politics with their lives and in some cases forced them into losing everything... is that loyalty or stupidity?
Elections are not won by negative campaigning. This is exactly the platform Obama is running on. He can't boast on his accomplishments because they look like a person in full smile with one tooth in their mouth. Visualization is rather sickening if you ask me.
While Obama keeps drumming up the negative ads, they are the only ticket he can run on... historically negatives do not win elections... this is one more indication that points to an Obama defeat in November.
Oh goody!!!!! I am getting to the liberals... It's about time... Just as a point of order, I find collapses of my posts to be a badge of honor... It reinforces the fact that liberals are intolerant and hypocrites. They want to shut down free speech since my remarks do not violate the terms of service.
Liberals want to shut down everyone they disagree with... so typical.
ROFLOL! Robin Hood robbed the rich to benefit the poor - "middle class" wasn't involved, as there wasn't much of a middle class when Robin did his thing.
Romney, on the other hand, is planning to "balance the tax burden" by reducing tax rates for the rich, increasing tax rates on the working class, eliminating deductions used mainly or exclusively by the lower classes, and eliminating the "earned income credit" that benefits the working poor. Romney also wants to eliminate taxes on inheritance and investment income, again benefiting the rich in general and Mitt in particular - if he gets his way, he will not have to pay ANY income taxes at all!
So, you see, Romney is the exact opposite of Robin Hood, as he wants to rob from the poor (and middle class) and give to the rich. "Reverse Robin Hood" fits Mitt so much better.
lib50, I knew what I was saying would fly over your head. It's not Americans that want to see his returns... it's liberals... and as far as I'm concerned most of them are only interested in finding ways to make trash out of anyone they disagree with. It's that simple.
Is this MittRom Version 9999.9? Can't wait! Worse than Microsoft Windows releases.
A recent report from the non-partisan Tax Policy Institute says that Romney’s tax proposals will result in a net tax increase of $2,000 for middle-class wage earners.
headline: Romney will 're-introduce' policy plans to voters this fall
clarification: Right after he 'RE-DEFINES' himself to said voters and before he and 'RETRACTS' and clarifies more gaffes and misstatements!
Nothing like a self-retreading candidate!!
Retread-Romney!!
Brainb: I wouldn't brag too much about elections not won by negative campaigning. If I remember right, Rommney carpet bombed his opponents in the primaries with lots of negative campaigns and essentially has won the spot on the republican ticket. Most of the Rommney ads in Michigan have been negative, while Obama's have been positive running on his record. Just my observations here in Michigan.
Brianb:
"I'm not concerned about his returns... I already know he's rich and the rich pay plenty of taxes."
But......what if he didn't? Just hypothetically--I know it's not proven, and may never be proven one way or another--but IF he really did pay no income taxes for 10 years? Are you OK with that too? A hundred millionaire paying nothing into the government of this country, your country that YOU pay lots of taxes to, paying nothing? If you think that's not important to a lot of people in the middle--not just the LWNJ's--you're not being honest with yourself or the rest of us. Just admit it: "yes, it would be a problem, if true." It's not hard to admit that, with the qualifier if true.
SmBusOwnerinNY - If Romney didn't pay taxes, then that would be a problem for the IRS. If he didn't pay them, don't you think within 10 years, the IRS would have discovered it? I know I submitted my mileage to the IRS as a part of my business expenses and they sent me a letter saying that I needed to prove my miles. That was within 2 years of filing...
This is what the libs don't seem to understand... it would be a matter of public record if Romney bilked on his taxes... How else would we know about Gietner... and the other democrats that have evaded taxes.
Hello, Friends!
I'm Mitt Romney, and if you vote for me, I promise to... get back to you real soon on my plans
"Unconstitutional" - NOT. If it had been, the Teapublicans would have wasted no time in impeachment, and would have gone crying to the Supreme Court, and would have even gone after the members of Congress that wrote it and voted for it.
Only someone suffering from BPDS (Black President Derangement Syndrome) would call terrorists and terrorist wannabes "innocent people". In case it happened to slip your notice, "Greatjob", we happen to still be in a war against a terrorist group that wants to destroy US and conquer the world. In a war, killings happen.
Still not as much as the Bush Jr. administration added. Oh, by the way, the Bush Jr. tax cuts are still in effect, severely reducing the tax revenues needed to pay for the wars and other essential Government services.
Evidence? (cue crickets). In fact, the Obama administration has increased the number of border patrol agents, stepped up investigations of companies hiring illegals, and deported more illegals in 3 years than the Bush Jr. administration deported in 8. Moreover, he hasn't granted citizenship to a single "illegal", you must be confusing Obama with Reagan, who actually did have an amnesty program.
Obama is allowing young people who were brought here as children, illegally and without their consent, to apply for legal residency, that is allowed under current immigration laws. "Legal residency" is NOT the same as citizenship. It does, however, allow them to apply for citizenship, and they'll have to follow the same procedures as others applying for citizenship.
Sorry, right-wing paranoid fantasies don't count for much in the real world.
How can you "re-introduce" something that's never been introduced in the first place?
Unless you were included in the Romney high dollar bundler donor meetings in FL or UT, you really haven't heard Romney expound on any of his would-be policies...foreign, energy, tax, domestic or economy except for his usual short-on-detail rhetoric.
With Mitt, it alway seems akin to the "I'll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today" (J. Wellington) "Wimpy" passage from Popeye.
And this is the best the Republicans have to offer (rhetorical question after watching the GOP primary debates)? Truly sad...
Out to dinner with the kiddies, sorry a few hours to get back.
No Brian, I'm not talking about not paying taxes illegally. There are legal ways to avoid taxes--by having tons of write offs, deductions, business expenses, capital losses, etc. What I'm asking is that IF he managed to not pay taxes for 10 years, wouldn't that be a problem? Because, right, that's practically impossible without some shifty tax dodges that while perhaps legal, would really rub the average voter the wrong way. Woudln't that be a problem for Romney?
brianB-
What you right wingers don't understand is he don't have to do anything illegal to not to pay 0 taxes but it unethical. Just like it is legal right now that rich pay less taxes in percentage then middle class but it not ethical and most people agree with that even moderate republicans agree that Romney should release 8-10 years of Tax returns, it was done since his FATHER ran for president. He only gave one incomplete year of his Tax return. Remember he is running for POTUS not, senate seat or representative seat or governor, he is running for highest public office in USA.
He running on Bain record, so he needs to prove that that record qualifies him to be expert in economics, but he not showing it. It surely didn't resonate with his one term governorship in Massachusetts of 47 out 50 lowest job creation and doubling all the fees in state. His Foreign trip was more then joke, how can you insult Britain which is the closest ally we have and then insult Labor Party leader in Israel and then insult Palestinians.
You want to replace Obama fine, find right candidate who you can say yes this man is for the job, like Huntsman, but Romney is worst candidate that republicans could have ever picked.
Well, now that Mr. Romney is the presumed Republican candidate for president, now we have a Second Sign of the Apocalypse:
Arnold Schwarzenegger will co-found a think tank, the USC Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy.
Arnold Schwarzenegger? Think tank??
Isn't that kind of like Stevie Wonder running a school for snipers?
Re-introduce???? He has not even introduced the details the first time.
Brianb - I'm only going to ask this one question. Is President Obama the ONLY one running a negative campaign?
Rmoney thinks everyone else is stupid, and can't figure this out. Surprise, Mormon Boy. We weren't born yesterday.
You mean you are going to shake the etch-a-sketch candidate and reintroduce a policy you think might get you elected? Anything that MittWit introduces is subject to change with the wind. We should not be fooled by this looter of our economy and his republican cronies.
FUD-romney IS L.D.S. - Lie, Distort & Sidestep.
I suggest readers go back to BrianB's collapsed comment at 1.17.
The press ABC, CBS, NBC etc. are all liberal and will not report anything negative as to Obama unless they are absolutely forced to. For instance they never mentioned Holder's letter replying to the 5th circuit that, if published would be embarrassing to Obama. If you Google "holder letter 5th circuit" you can find links to it, and read it, but you will not find one liberal publication mentioning it.
All the liberal media wants to do is pressure Romney. It is so obvious that it is a deplorable editorial and unethical practice. It is of course protected by the 1st Amendment. So is deliberate deceit. But that is not what the news media is for. Why hasn't the media been demanding Obama to release his college transcripts and LSAT scores? What is the big deal unless there is something really damning in them? Is it possible that he was not qualified for Harvard but got in for some other reason? About being "president" of Law Review did the liberal media ever tell you that being elected president" is a simple popularity contest and has nothing to do with academics? Did the liberal media ever tell you that when on Law Review you are expected to write a legal article worthy of publication by the University but Obama was unable to submit anything worthy of publication. The liberal media always toted Obama as a "community organizer" but they never told us what he did or what he accomplished. Wonder why? We all know the presumptive democratic nominee's record as President so I'll avoid using up 6 pages to go into that fiasco.
bman: I did not read your comment @1.64 replying to BrianB. I stopped at the first sentence when you said "...he don't have to do anything illegal..." Sorry, there is a lot here to read so I limit myself to intelligent comments.
What policies? He has nothing concrete, nebulous platitudes only. He likes the Rand Paul budget. "Rand Paul's plan is a nasty piece of work" Washington Post.
Romney's only recurring platform is that he's not the black guy.
Fox is so desprirate to pay off their investors by getting Romney elected that it distorts or just makes up the "news" to suit their clients. Fox are masters at focusing hatred for political gain, they learned it from Goebbels.
As someone else already helpfully pointed it out, it's entirely possible that Romney LEGALLY incurred a minimal (if any) tax burden by EXPLOITING perfectly legal LOOPHOLES in the existing tax codes via use of offshore accounts, tax "havens," etc... For everyone who fires back with some version of the argument quoted above, are you really that ignorant, or are you being deliberately obtuse?
The bottom line is Romney isn't releasing his filings because the numbers, whatever they are, don't support his own arguments and only give ammo to the other side, plain and simple. No conspiracy, nothing illegal, it is what it is.
Those of you defending Romney hiding this stuff need to think about why you're doing that. You don't want Obama hiding that stuff, do you? Neither do I. I want uniform transparency, and the "good for the goose, good for the gander" argument doesn't fly either, because that's an irresponsible cop-out and the left is as much to blame as the right. Romney is absolutely correct on one thing -- "Put up or shut up" -- but he also needs to apply that statement equally to himself. Don't want your life pried into? Then don't run for office.
Whoosh, brian. It is not just liberals who want to see his returns, it is also independents. The ONLY ones who pretend not to care are the frightened republicans who know he will lose on this. Oh, and we are Americans.
Part of his Gov. Romney's policy is detailed here:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/a-tough-new-obama-ad-that----surprise----is-accurate/2012/08/02/gJQAuigQSX_blog.html?hpid=z4
Alright, BrianB, makes sense. Both candidates strive to keep their base, but want the independent voters to acheive that majority vote.
And that's where you're wrong. I'm independent, beleive that what's good for the goose is good for the gander, and if ten years of tax returns for candidates is the current standard, then Mitt Romney should release those ten years. To not do so strikes as suspicious.
Sorry, I have to suspect your picture is of a chimney because you always seem to be... blowing smoke?
Mitt romney's father release 12 years of his tax returns, saying One year come be a fluke. What is wrong with Mitt? If all of those negative things were said about my tax returns. I would prove them wrong by release my tax returns. A witness in court takes the 5th .One wants to know what has he or she have to hide. I would shut these people up. Release the tax returns!!!
What is truly amazing to me, is the claim that he doesn't know how much taxes he paid. I can tell you within 100 dollars, how much in taxes I paid each of the last 5 years without going to my actual tax returns to check. What kind of drugs is he doing that kill so many brain cells he can't remember what he paid in taxes. He was the CEO of a highly profitable venture capital firm - and he can't remember his own tax numbers???? Sorry, but that's just too incredible to believe.
Complicated?? Complicated my @$$! He just doesn't want to tell anybody.
Willard's old man released a dozen years of tax returns; Willard himself coughed up how many years to get the VP spot with McCain? It's simple that he won't dust off the files he gave McCain four years ago (and why Johnny went with Sarah), is because it will make him look bad, out of touch. What was that word they tried to stick to Obama last go around, ELITE?
J E Burton: How about a deal? Romney releases his tax returns and Obama releases his college transcripts and LSAT scores, which Obama. for no known reason, has sealed.
EVERYONE! Go to NBCnews.com Entertainment Section:
"Jenna Jameson, Porn Queen, supports Romney"! I think he's found a RUNNING MATE ! ! ! !
Jameson was quoted, "If you're rich, you want a Republican in office." (NBCnews neatly tucked that one away so we couldn't comment).
I can care less what this Clown says, he's all about freebies for the 1% mega rich !!!!!!!
Romney brought disgrace upon himself !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Romney will let you know what his policy is after he wins the election. That's the Republican strategy now. If he really told you what he was going to do; nobody would vote for him.
@workingforamerica: Romney's policies and his tax returns are like the tablets revealed to Joe Smith by the Angel Moron-i. They are Truth, but no one has ever seen them.
@ brianb - you support romney. romney is a proven compulsive liar. Is it realistic to say that liars and people who benefit from liars support liars?
Obama didn't seal his college records everyones are private. Anyone seen Romneys?
freeing up businesses from regulation
so they can go back to selling split derivatives? Maybe they can spring Bernie Madoff from jail while they're at it.
Amy-
Another area where they offer no specifics, except for the ACA.
What regulations would they propose eliminating? Environmental regulations? Safety?
Why are Republicans in Congress not passing legislation to eliminate useless regulations now?
Smoke and mirrors, empty words with no substance.
We tried trickle down economics and deregulation, guess what, it got us where we are today.
On a state level, "freeing up businesses from regulations" has meant attempting to establish a lower minimum wage for workers under 21, repealing restrictions on BPA in children's sippy cups, allowing buildings to be constructed on sand dunes, and legalizing the sale of fireworks (at least, that's what the Tea Party has focused on in Maine.)
PS, none of this has created jobs. Maine is the only New England state that has seen a rise in unemployment in the last two years.
We are on the verge of the next dark age. The GOP has become America's Taliban in belief and practice.
They speak of freedom and then legislate against it. They flat out lie (see Mitt) use scare tactics, endless repetition wrapped up in so called patriotism.
They pray to the alter of a unelected shill, who promotes a no tax ever agenda at his corporate masters behest. Have a war.......cut social programs. Tax cuts for the rich.........end WIC, let baby's starve. (but you must have them)
They release no plan, no guide on how they will be better, only how bad the other guy is "oh and by the way he's not one of us you know".......Just trust me, I know whats good for you. I paid all my tax's. <14% or perhaps none I'll have to check...........
Judging by what these tea terrorists have done in the house we can look forward to tax cuts for the rich, and corporation (foreign and domestic) plenty more restrictions on women's health (BTW; if your a woman and vote GOP you can't mark Female you must mark breeding stock) No health care unless your rich, NO clean air, NO clean water, NO unemployment, NO minimum wage, NO, NO, NO, to the people, YES, YES, YES, to the 1%. Oh and if your raped they will force you to bear you rapists baby. Attention all rapists the GOP is mandating that your victims produce your offspring. Keep in mind that these are religious, turn lemons into lemonade, believers.
Take a look at China/India is that what you want? Live in a hut and cr*p in a ditch? Enjoy filth much?
Of course then there's the religious aspect to GOP governance. Be prepared for religious indoctrination in schools, in the workplace if so desired by the owner. They already require a religious means test to run for office. Read up on the Inquisition.
Folks you better pay attention to what's coming down as this may be the last true election due to the supremes traitorous 'citizen united' ruling and the wholesale hijacking of the voting process by the GOP.
Well I suppose you could always open a Burka store.
Republicans are much nicer to women than the Taliban. Women are not executed for adultery in this country. Not yet anyway.
'Yet' is the key word. Some of those nutbags think women getting full medical coverage is like terrorism.
Women could always get full medical coverage here. Only now EVERYBODY pays for it- the costs are being absorbed by everybody's premiums. GYNs aren't providing services for free.
Wow...I can't believe we have to pick between these two candidates. Reminds me of 2008. Surely America can come up with two viable candidates for POTUS. This is crazy!
Of course not. They need their mistresses...
Boredwith
Dark ages have already arrived in some areas, look at Detroit.
@ED-2874315,
Perhaps but Mississippi, Kansas and even Oklahoma are a closer representation of the dark ages in Europe,
socially and economically.
"Obama 2012" >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> "GUARANTEED" !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Republicans refused to eliminate the special tax rate of 15% on carried interest that only benefits hedge fund and venture capital managers calling changing that loophole a tax increase. They refused to eliminate Oil company tax breaks and those for rich gentlemen farmers who have never farmed but are paid millions not to plant as they would call them tax increases.
Yet they intend to lower top tax rates from 35% to 25% costing the treasury 5 trillion over 10 years and make it revenue neutral by eliminating loopholes. If all loopholes by the rich and corporations can't be closed because they'd be considered raising taxes what would they eliminate to balance 5 trillion in lost revenue? The answer is eliminating the tax exemption for employer health plans and the home mortgage deduction. The only 2 deductions left for the poor and middle class. If you receive an employer sponsored health plan from your employer costing 15,000 a year figure on paying 2500 to 3000 a year more in taxes.
And here it is early August and we still have NOTHING from the Romney Camp other than we'll re-introduce all of the GWB policies to you again in the Fall. Seriously GOP - not even one tiny little new idea? One???? Anything?????
You know its bad when Rupert Murdoch's business rag starts to hit on you.
Google "Romney sucks".......read the Daily Kos article......
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/06/02/1096727/-It-Boils-Down-to-This-Mitt-Romney-Sucks
Give them time. They have to find ways to manipulate the language so it sounds like they're offering something other than the same supply-side slop that's been on the menu since 1980.
They have to shake the etch-a-sketch on the policy plans that he originally introduced to us. Trust me!
Eric...Miss Mitsy himself doesn't suck...
...he pays illegal aliens 50 cents an hour to suck for him...
If you don't like Mr Romney's position on something, just wait a bit.
See it is all about the details - remember McCains' slogan "Country First" if Romeny has such great economic policies that will fix the country why isn't he been pushing his party in Congress to pass them 12 months ago? Why does he have to wait until he gets elected to get them passed. If he and the Republicans really cared about the country wouldn't they push through his policies if they truly made since?
My take on this is that his policies don't make since and will end up costing trillions of dollars more - all he is able to do is point the finger and blame the President and try to make people believe he can do better.
I am not buying it - I hope other don't as well. Why go back to failed policies - while employment numbers are not great, at least they still continue to show positive growth each month.
Romney = No beer, No foam, and No glass.
Just ask anyone from England.
The Republicans are willing to sacrifice each and every one of you to regain POWER. They have sabotaged everywhere they could to derail the recovery. Republican businesses hold off on hireing to try to make Obama look bad. If Republicans control congeress and the presedency, America is finished as a world economic power. The next collapse will be worse than the last. The rich will do just fine while minimum wage will fall to the $3 /hour they need to stay profitable.
Romney= Just the p*ss after the beer, without the relief.
Willard's plans are lie, duck, run, hide and cover. What an empty suit he is.
Decided to watch the Daily Show yesterday, saw his bit on Romney's evasions. Mitt's been so used to not wanting to respond that he even avoided the Fox News slow pitch down the middle question about a "fun book" he read lately.
Mitt Romney really does think that because he's rich, he deserves to be President.
He should entitle his post-campaign failure tell-all: "The Arrogance and the Idiocy"
dirp, Yyou got it! I had a black helicopter scan the waves emanating from the slicky-boy hair-do, and here's what it picked up:
By the Holy Name of Joe Smith and Joe The Plumber, I AM THE CEO AND I HAVE 200 MILLION DOLLARS!
MAKE ME PRESIDENT! (besides, i ran before and it's my turn. it is! it's my turn! and Jesus has or will manifest in Pennsylvania, so there!)
They didn't pick up anything about his $77K write off for his wife's hobby horse, though.
Anybody seen Obama's "plan" going "Forward"?
Yes, it's a Great Plan. However, the Republicans are against it because it's a Great Plan for the Nation!!!
They can't have that.
Yea, 49 million people on food stamps and growing. That hussein fellow sure has a great plan. Hey Jobbie, why don't you have a job?
Obama – Biden 2012 - Still Cleaning Up Bush’s Mess!!!
Didn't think so. Thanks for the confirmation.
There have been 85 Republican filibusters of that plan so far.
Double the previous record.. by Republicans.
Could you please give me a reference or link? I would like to look at it. And if it is that outline put out SEVERAL months ago, don't waste your time. I've seen it. Thanks.
meanwhile, the GOTea squabble about birth control, taxes for Olympic athletes' winnings, and how best to keep this country from moving forward under a Democrat President.
Talk to the hand?
you live under the rock or something, nobody is going to do search for you.
Obama proposed a plan to slightly raise taxes on the rich which would raise 2 trillion and match it with 2 trillion in tax cuts on social programs. Republicans refused. Show us anything that Romneys proposed that would lower the deficit 4 trillion. All Romneys proposals that decrease spending are more than offset by spending increases. It's all about where the money goes. Romney cuts the top rate costing 5 trillion and pays for it by eliminating middle class deductions. He increases military spending 260 billion and cutting 120 billion in social spending. Still down 140 billion by my count.
Excuse me while I yawn.
....whatever you need to do to keep the hateful, ignorant drivel from falling from your mouth is fine by me....
Hey, Mitt, Show the tax returns!!!! Or perhaps, you'd rather go back overseas and show us how adept you are at foreign policy...no, huh.....how about you show your Bain records, say from 1999 to2002? No, again--problems with the SEC and possible felonies....well there is your record as governor of Massachusetts....ah, you don't want to go into that and the reason you didn't run for re-election (otherwise known as 'you didn't have a chance in you know where to get re-elected')....well, I guess there is that Olympics you saved....the one that took place in the middle of nowhere, the one you saved by getting the money from the government.....you sure you don't want to talk specifics of your policy...no......Hey, Mitt, Show the tax returns!!!!
youraloser....
If you are too lazy and incompetent to vet your own candidate, then we will do it for you. You are obviously accustomed to having others do your thinking for you.
Of course, you'd support a head of the mafia as long as he isn't of African descent.
For 3 days now Sen. Reid has been in Romney's face about not paying taxes, and still nothing from gov. Romney!!! Unbelievable! Reid wins. Romney loses.....again.
Give them Harry! Willard went 10 years without paying any taxes.
And today Limbaugh said that Obama was nothing but a B and C student at Harvard according to a call he got from someone who was supposedly close to Obama in school. And nothing from Obama. Rush wins Obama loses.
Pretty much the same scenario. He said/he said.
Sure we believe everything coming out of Rush world. Actually, that call was from Rush's drug dealer.
I'll take a B and C student at Harvard over a tax cheat any day.
Prove the tax cheat comment.
Interesting. I have yet to see one single request from the teabaggers for Miss Mittsy to release his college transcripts and his college papers...Let's not forget that Romney comes from people that hated America so much that they moved to Mexico to avoid following the law...Are we sure that Miss Mittsy was actually born in the US and not Mexico, teabaggers?
The fact that they are not holding their candidate to the same exact standards is proof that teabaggers are simply the most racist organization to come along since the Aryan Nation.
Shock: great one. I have been saying that also. Interesting that with John McCain born outside the US on "US soil", and Mitt Rommney's family moving to Mexico, why not have a calling out for them to produce their "actual, factual, not forged" birth certificate. A lot of republicans still not sure and believe that Hawaii is actually a legal state in the good ole U.S.A. I find it strange that if Mitt Rommney is suppose to be this brilliant businessman that went to Harvard, why don't they just gush and demand to prove how smart and great he is, compared to the "foreign student who got D's" at Harvard. Our guy is so much better than your guy. You never hear a peep out of the republicans for any support for their guy.
Rush was college drop out!!!!!!!! lol. You believe him?
They really going to give a position of President of Haward Law Review to average student? if you believe that, I GOT BRIDGE I CAN SELL YOU.
You don't get to be editor of the Harvard Law Review with Cs
Or graduate Magna Cum Laude.
You think Obama would receive 1 less vote if he was a b and c student? You think Romney would lose votes if he paid no taxes, cheated on his taxes or accepted amnesty on his oversea's accounts?
Do we really need another Republican president who will end up resigning in disgrace like Richard Nixon?
No, Bruce, we don't NEED one....but, it would be fun to watch Fox news implode!!!
But, let's not forget that Romney will be doing it AFTER a few thousand or more Americans die while fighting in the Iran war.
Make no mistake, if Romney is elected, we are going to war with Iran.
True that Pubby Sheeple, every GOP president seeems to like to have one of their own. It's such a great deflection from them actually having to do anything.
I heard Mitt Romney wants to tear down the National Cathedral in Wash. DC and replace it with a Morman Temple that will only be open to mormons and no one else will be allowed in, all at tax payers expense. So, I guess its true.
I guess you haven't seen the Washington DC Temple on the beltway that has been there for how many years? How do tax payers expense come into the conversation? LDS Temples are built with sacred tithing funds of Church members and non-Church members alike.
C'mon, Pat. There is SO much from Miss Mittsy's past that we can hold against him, we do not need to start making things up like a bunch of teabaggers.
Interesting turn of events, however. Evangelicals HATE Mormons as much as they hate homosexuals! How do they justify throwing their support behind one? They would rather vote for their version of the anti-christ rather than even look at the truth about the man they are now referring to as "President Blacula" (see the comments below). Do we ever again need to inquire as to the extreme hatred and bigotry of the evangelical political movement pretending to call themselves the "tea" party???
What did he say the first time? I must have missed it cuz all I've heard is he is going to fix everything by helping the rich not pay extra taxes. You know only the poor lower and middle class should be burdened with taxes, not the rich - God forbid.
I will re-introduce it right now. More tax cuts for the wealthy and let Wall Street write it's own rules.
Romney's policies in a nutshell -
Undo everything President Obama has done, redo and magnify everything GW Bush did.
He plans to cut taxes on the rich by 5 trillion over 10 years and pay for it by eliminating deductions to be determined after the election. How convenient.
I wonder what the Republicans would be saying, if Romney had a (D) after his name?
"How can anyone consider voting for that empty headed Socialist, who signed Obamacare into law in his own state, signed a gun ban into law, supported gay marriage, supported abortion rights, has changed positions on every major issue according to the group he's standing in front of at the time, and is so out of touch he thinks windsurfing...excuse me horse dressage (got him mixed up with John Kerry for a moment) is something enjoyed by the masses?"
Trust me I'm Mormon.
I don't trust Mormons. I've gotten to know a few of them in my life. Once, I had a job where my immediate supervisor was a Mormon. There was a strip club about a block away from the job site. It fascinated him. He asked me if I had ever gone inside a strip club. I had to admit the truth (yes, when I was much younger and stupid). He wanted to go but was afraid to go alone. He asked me if you had to drink alcohol inside. I said no, if you drop enough money on tips they would probably let you drink water. He wouldn't let up on trying to get me to go inside the club with him some day after work (once tried to bribe me by saying he'd give me $20 plus buy my drinks). I pointed out that many of the girls were abused in more than just the obvious way of being exploited. Plus, I was married. He didn't care. Real moral guy (sarc). \
Plus, this supervisor of mine was lazy. He'd spend half of every day just hiding in the electric room doing nothing. I could never understand that. The day goes by much faster when you just stay busy and work. Eventually, when HIS supervisor came by and commented on the lack of progress on the job, he threw me under the bus.
Years later, on different job, I met the guy who was hired as my replacement. I asked him if he had ever been pressured to go to the strip club. He laughed. Yes, they had gone nearly every day for months. The idiot Mormon had probably spent thousands. But he never drank a drop of alcohol.
Robmey will make an AWESOME Companderer-In-Chief. A chicken-in-every pot ... we'll all become 1%ers and no one will pay more than 13.9% income tax! America will be a great & honorable nation once again.
I don't think anybody believes that Romney has any real ideology, good, bad or otherwise. That is not necessarily a bad thing if he can handle stuff as it comes up, applying smarts, common sense, and principles rooted in decency.
But it is clear that this guy cannot think on his feet - and he has yet to surround himself w/ really talented people. His management of the campaign is really uninspired. Folks will vote against Obama, but hardly anybody is voting FOR Romney. What a zip!
This is why I can't even bring myself to consider Romney.
As a football fan, the one thing I hate to see is my team playing "not to lose" the game. When you play "not to lose" you often tend to lose, because the game, when it is played right, is about making plays and winning, not running three times, punting, and hoping the other team's offense fails.
What really gets me is, Romney is running this "run out the clock" and "play not to lose" strategy while he's behind in the polls. This is the height of stupidity. If the current polls were reversed, it would be more understandable, but it's still a terrible way to try and win anything.
I think the current (R) team is too insulated. They really think that the average citizen is possessed by the rabid hatred of Obama that they see and hear on Fox, talk radio, comment sections like this one, and their own blogosphere. Instead of "Country First" or some other catchy slogan, they seem to have settled on "He's Not Obama" and assume that this is enough to win.
The thing is, if that's really Mitt's strategy at this point, he's already failed. Winning football is about imposing your will on the other team, it's not about sitting around and hoping the other team fails. Similarly, winning politics is about imposing your will on the campaign, and controlling the narrative. You saw it when Kerry got "swiftboated" and that issue dominated for a full month. You saw it when Palin became the driving force behind people fleeing from McCain.
Mitt has been far removed from anything resembling imposing his will. He isn't acting right now, he's reacting. Even worse, he seems to have deliberately chosen to allow the other side to control the narrative in many ways, especially when it comes to the tax records.
If the guy is running his own campaign this ineptly and passively, how the hell does anyone expect him to lead the country?
Gary Johnson, 2012.
Spartan: Well said and with logic, common sense, and civility.
Stop complaining about the 1% and their tax cuts. What is stopping you from becoming wealthy?
The vulture capitalists?
A lot is stopping most folks from getting wealthy. But don't take my word for it - the average American has not progressed economically, adjusted for inflation, since the 70's. Also, few are conversant w/ hidden Swiss accounts, like Mr. Romney.
Did he take Swiss account amnesty in 2009? Who knows - and Mr. Romney isn't telling.
Wait a minute, I was just getting warmed up. Vulture Capitalists? Crony Capitalism? Robber Barons? Wall Street Investment Bankers? Job Outsourcers? Bot & Paid For Politicians? Take your pick. The system is rigged to privatize profits and socialize costs, to the great detriment of this country's middle class.
Exactly...the vulture capitalists that are making gazillions buying and tearing down manufacturing in America and shipping the work overseas to China
The only thing stopping me from following the Mitt Romney path to wealth and success is not being born rich.
Actually, not much "stops" you from being rich and successful, but it sure is easier if you started out that way.
Recent data shows it is becoming increasingly more difficult to "climb the ladder", you are much more likely to remain in the same bracket you were born in (rich or poor).
Nice ideas, but obviously, wealth does exist and is growing. Thanks for the replies.
and going to the top 1%. Not so much for the rest of us.
The job creators have parked their money offshore, how do you convince them to invest in America?
Republican answer gut all regulations, clean water, safe work places, minimum wage and breathable air, all cost money and eat into profit margins.
Wealth for the wealthy...as Marie Antoinette once said "Let them eat cake"
If you are a job creator prove it, but if your are hoarding wealth and removing it from productivity, then it should be taxed so it can be put back to work.
Mitt had a multi million dollar head start on getting wealthy - thanks to daddy. He's has a lot in comon with Bush.
Top
A conscience and strong moral center.
Upward mobility in America is lower than all other developed countries. The difference is that the US lacks a strong social safety net.
I'm sure if my father left me 20 million dollars I'd be doing fine. Not as well as Romney because I have morals.
Willard and the treasonous, thieving Confederate BLACKMAILERS...
A team you can trust to urinate on your heads and tell you it's prosperity!
The choice of racist, right wing, confederate invertebrates of dubious breeding and birth...
I don't recall exactly what my policies are, but i stand by them.
...until I don't.
And then I do again.
But I don't really mean it...
Or do I?
Who am I talking to again?
Whatever, as long as my friends and I are getting richer.
Romney's campaign has got to be the stupidest and most incompetent presidential campaign in US history. Does team Romney believe that Americans are stupid? yes they do. Romney hasn't laid out any policy or plans and if he has...his campaign has done a very poor job communicating them. With Romney it has been one disaster after another. This dishonest, spineless man does not have the character or the intelligence to be POTUS.
"Romney's campaign has got to be the stupidest and most incompetent presidential campaign in US history"
Romney's handlers are right. A lot of Americans ARE stupid, and they'll willingly vote for a guy that only demands blind trust. At the same time, they blame the current administration for everything, as if it was all fun and games in January 2009. If they had a clue and looked at the situation at that time, we were on the brink of going down. Since then, we have had slow but steady progress, but it isn't good enough for the dummies. They want the Emerald City to spring up out of nowhere, with no effort or consequences. This is why we are in trouble - not because of Obama, but because there is a large population between the coasts that are dumb as a stump. I know. I live here in the deep South, and the ignorance is astounding.
Here's Mitt's real 5 policy plans:
1. Screw the American Middle Class by making it a legislative priority for shipping American jobs overseas.
2. Enhance the bottom line of the wealthy by reducing their tax 'burdens'.
3. Deregulate everything and set up the next Bush TARP 2 program for the middle class to pay for.
4. Pass legislation to obscure any off shore corporate or personal financial information from American voters.
5. Help make insurance companies get to the top of the Fortune 500 companies list, and Americans the worst in the world for health coverage.
This is more like what you get with any Mitt Romney policies!
I too wish Romney and Obama would divulge more. Apparently Romney feels he can run on Obama's record. And Obama just doesn't want the "truth" to come out. Even if they disclosed everything, no one commenting on this site would change their vote.
Well Obama certainly cant run on his record...someone might as well since he cant!
Obama is the economic vampire in chief. He's sucking the life out of the US with his extremist agenda.
It's time to send President Blackula back to Chicago
Well Romney can't run on his record either, since Obama used the same ideas that Romney had instituted in his own home State.
So Romney said that Obamacare doesn't work, even though Obamacare was taken from the Romneycare Model from Romney's home state.
Sounds like bull@!$%# to me
"The governor's plan essentially lays out the parameters that he wants to achieve," Jonathan Burks, the Romney campaign's deputy policy director, said on the call. "And within that, he would write a tax bill that achieves those goals. And so it's not a question of today, you know, we've got a 2,000-page tax plan that could be scored and demonstrated ... The details of how that would be accomplished would have to be worked out with Congress."
Look at it right there...would have to be worked out WITH Congress.
Says right there, any plans made would have to be forged with Congress. And the Senate. So that means if Romney does get elected he would have to work with the Congress and the Senate in order to pass laws.
Of course, I still don't see any concrete plans of how Romney intends to make america better. He just stands at a podium and states that he'll make america better if elected. He never said how he's going to do it. He hasn't stated whose going to foot the bill. He didn't tell you that taxes for big corporations would be lowered. He didn't say that he would NOT raise taxes, or earmarks specifically, against the american people.
In fact, he has already stated to the largest corporations that he would lower taxes on the rich, and business, and that he might have to raise taxes against the american people, to foot the bill for his "special projects".
We already have "Special Projects" enacted by congress and the senate, both past and present, which are doing nothing.
Romney also voted to raid the bank account of the United States Post Office to fund special projects and earmarks during his tenure in government office.
had enuf,
President Blackula? Really? Did you really say that? And the Right claims not to play the race card..
Brad Cantor,
From day one Obama has been playing the race card...
1. Black Panthers intimidate voters in PA and are not prosecuted because they are black (that's what Holder gave as the reason)
2. Treyvon Martin comment by Obama
3. Fighting voter ID because it's "discriminatory" (you need a photo id to get a prescription or buy alcohol, why isn't the Justice Department filing lawsuits against these EQUALLY "discriminatory" policies???)
4. The recently announced special education initiative for AFRICAN AMERICANS (not ALL Americans).
Sorry to say that I am just moving the discussion to the level of where Obama has set the bar. If he wants to call a spade a spade, then so be it.
haven't had enuf brains to elect intelligent ones
Thanks for confirming all of my posts...
...you racist, confederate, America-hating, right wing, traitors/terrorists just can't help yourselves can you?
...and when they are called on their blatant racism, they scream that we are playing the "race card"...an "argument" invented by the KKK to combat charges of racism and used extensively by Rush.
Is there any question that the teabaggers are racist?
Nope, that's not what he said. There was no prosecution because there was no voter intimidation. There were no complaints from any voters, and no complaints from the poll officials - ergo, no "voter intimidation". Standing in front of a polling place while black is not a crime.
A young man with a good record and a bright future in front of him - until his unfortunate encounter with a gun toting racist.
It's "discriminatory" due to the fact that people who can't drive or can't afford a car are unlikely to have the required type of ID, and these happen to be the type of people that tend to vote Democrat. That may not be technically "racist" even if it affects minorities disproportionately, but it definitely is discriminatory. It's really telling that those "voter ID" laws accept gun licenses as an acceptable voting ID (even though they don't have photos), but student IDs with photos are considered "not acceptable".
What makes it worse is the roadblocks those Republican legislators have put up to make it more difficult for "those people" to get the required type of ID. A case in point - a nephew was unable to get an ID from the Utah DMV, as he only had his birth certificate, his US passport, and the one piece of mail with his current address on it was deemed "not recent enough".
Sounds like yet another right-wing hysterical make-believe "twist it wildly out of context" announcement. Let me guess - you got that tidbit from some far-right Obama hating pundit site, right?
Let me guess...your another poor unfortunate who was bitten by Blackula!
Had enuf
Spoken like a narrow minded redneck racist.
I find it very, VERY revealing that the regular teabaggers that post on here are not condemning "had enuf". He barfs out the teabag/foxy-notsy "news" propaganda - the lies that have become the teabagger manifesto, and then makes some of the most blatantly racist comments I've seen here in a long time. Given that the "tea" party has had such an image problem when it comes to being racially inclusive, I would think they would make it a point to publicly distance themselves from people like "had enuf."
So...Where are they? Where is the outrage?
There is no outrage because "had enuf" is an honest representation of what the "tea" party really stands for. They are nothing more than the combined force of the KKK and the former "moral majority" hinding under a lie of "fiscal responsibility".
Let's no longer be distracted by the "race card" argument - a tactic invented by the KKK in the late '60's when they thought they were "losing the battle". It's time to start calling these people out for what they are and making a concerted effort to keep they're representatives out of our free government...lest we should lose, one by one, every freedom that is not sanctioned by radical, racist, bigoted evangelicals...whose only agenda is to bring about the extermination of all humans that are not exactly like them when they bring about their evil "rapture".
Mitt Romney is a shining example of the empty, dishonest, racist, bigoted evil that is the "tea" party...the new Republican party. If he wins in November it is our own damn fault for not exposing him, his puppeteers and their minions.
@Brian B-Your Protectionism is Amazing, you talk about Obama running Negative Campaigns when it is Flip Robme who has been vomitting his factless rhetoric for over a year now. His efforts to distract his Low Iq, Low information Tea Bagging Base to hide the Fact that Robme and the GOP/TEA Parties are being exposed as nothing more than Shills and Puppets of ALEC, the Industrial Military Complex ,
Big Oil, Pharma, Insurance and the Koch Brothers. They protect the wealth of
the 1% and propose lower taxes on Billionaires and Corporations, No
Environmental or Wall Street Regulations, Destruction of the Middle Class
through Union Busting, Voter Suppression and Abolishing Social Security, Medicare and
Medicaid. They want to repeal the Affordable Care Act which is good for
everyone but Insurance industry (Don't believe the Lies of Fox News and Karl
Rove) THEY MUST ALL BE VOTED OUT IN NOVEMBER! We need a more Progressive not
Regressive Government. A Government for and by the 99% Not by the
Corporations!! Tea Party constituents who are Duped and Brainwashed by the lies
and propaganda of Fox News, ALEC and Americans for Prosperity actually vote
against their own economic, social, environmental and health care reform
interests and for their own impoverishment.
Hey Willard!
We appreciate your willingness to re-familiarize us with your plans in the fall...
...but til then...
Show ME The Tax Returns!!!!
Are you really that dense? It's only a matter of sour grapes?
Sourgrapes? He didn't pay any taxes. He's a freeloader!
The left is desperate?!?!? You can not hold Miss Mittsy to the same standard as you hold President Obama (birth certificate, college transcripts, college papers, former associations with people you don't like, blah, blah, blah...) and when called on it you call the LEFT desperate???
We've already seen the evangelical, bigoted, racist, ugly side of the teabaggers and have had to endure the stupidity and lies since January of 2009. Any decent human would be desperate to keep these free America-hating fascists out of our government.