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Subscribe to RSSWith all signs pointing to Mitt Romney selecting Paul Ryan as his VP running mate tomorrow in Norfolk, VA, Romney went bold. And here is First Read's looks at the strengths and weaknesses Ryan would bring the GOP presidential ticket.
Strengths:
- As chairman of the House Budget Committee, the 42-year-old Ryan is a young rising star in the GOP, and has become their chief spokesman when it comes to reducing the deficit and debt.
- Romney picking Ryan as his running mate would signal that he’s doubling down on an austerity/deficit-reduction message. Indeed, while the Obama campaign and Democrats could point to visible improvements with the economy over the past three years (a lower unemployment rate, stronger GDP growth), there hasn’t been much progress in reducing the deficit. The deficit was $1.4 trillion in FY ’09; $1.3 trillion in ’10; $1.5 trillion in ’11 (projected); and $1.1 trillion in ’12 (projected).
- Ryan hails from a battleground state -- Wisconsin -- where polls show Romney currently trailing Obama. Obama actually won Ryan’s district in 2008, 51%-47%.
- Comfort level: When Romney campaigned with Ryan in the lead-up to the April 3 Wisconsin primary, the two men demonstrated a rapport that we haven’t seen with other Romney surrogates.
- He would be a person who could please both the conservative intelligentsia and the Tea Party base.
Weaknesses:
- Ryan’s budget plan has become a lightning rod, and it will be a focus of Democratic attacks in the fall. The most controversial component of the plan is that it significantly transforms Medicare, which is regarded as the government’s most popular program.
- In addition to Medicare, Ryan was one of the driving forces to partially privatize Social Security after George W. Bush’s victory in the 2004 presidential election.
- There are also holes in Ryan’s budget-hawk armor: He voted for some of the biggest drivers of the deficit/debt -- the Bush tax cuts, the Iraq war, and the Medicare prescription-drug benefit, all of which weren’t paid for. Moreover, Ryan voted against the bipartisan Simpson-Bowles recommendations.
- Has never held statewide office and has no foreign-policy experience. Both could be liabilities.
- As a member of Congress, Ryan currently works in -- and is a relatively high-profile member of -- one of America’s least popular institutions.
- And while Romney has criticized Obama for not having private-sector experience, the same is largely true of Ryan: As the New Yorker has written, Ryan briefly worked for his family’s business as a “marketing consultant,” but most of his adult life has been spent as a congressman, congressional aide, or speechwriter/analyst at Jack Kemp’s Empower America think tank.
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Folks, I am sure it won’t be long before Boehner pulls Paul “Middle Class Warfare” Ryan to the side and give him the Ole Speech? I am sure the Conversation will go like this:
Before we let ya join our Good Ole Boys CLub we needs to make sure ya got ya mind right. Don't make us put ya in da box to get ya mind right boy.
Now listen to me son, we like to use the " Guns, Gay Marriage, Babies and Gawd" issues as a front. Oh yea, it's a real vote getter, but we both no nothin gonna happen with it, now don't we.
Now after ya got ya mind right we want to introduce ya to some people. They are called Lobbyist, Special Interest, and the Self Righteous. They will explain their Evil agenda against the Middle Class and you just tell them how much $$$$$ ya want in the Ole Briefcase.
Other than that Boy, have lots of fun, make all kinds of false promises, smile a lot, pretend ya are really listening to the Fine Folks out there, and use the back door with the Ole Brief Case at night ya hear!
Just like in 2008, the Republicans really don't want to win the 2012 Presidential election. They know that the country's unemployment and economic problem cannot be fixed with tax cuts, stimulus spending and quantitative easing. They don't want to be blamed for the economic fiasco they created. They will definitely find a way to loose, maybe by selecting a Palin clone.
The only way for the economy to improve is by;
- Revoking China's Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status that lowered import tariffs on Chinese goods from 46% t0 6%. This will bring consumer goods and for export high-tech/high-value manufacturing and supply chain jobs back to the U.S.
- Repeal NAFTA and all other free trade agreements.
- Cancel the U.S. membership in the WTO.
If American consumers factor in the negative effects of PNTR Chinese made consumer goods are not cheap. Ask your unemployed relatives, for them cheap are a luxury.
If Ryan isn't busy killing little defenseless animals with a gun, he's busy trying to STEAL ALL HE CAN from the MIDDLE CLASS & SENIORS! His FORM OF ECONOMICS only helps the ONE-PERCENTERS and the HELL with the 99% American People, the very SAME PEOPLE, that made this political puppet's corrupt Republican corporate MONARCHY successful IN THE FIRST PLACE!
It's time for BIG CHANGE, and that time is NOW! Not later, but RIGHT NOW!! Let's rid our selves of their BLATANT corruption ONCE & FOREVER!
99% American People, VOTE & vote 100% STRAIGHT DEMOCRATIC, the lives you save WILL be YOURS & your CHILDREN!!!! BELIEVE IT, IT'S TRUE!!
I'm still waiting for Obama, to cut the deficit in half by the end of his first term. Increase transparency haven't seen that yet either. The lobbyist are meeting in coffee shops, in order to keep them off visitors logs.
Our Seniors are our most educated and informed electorate. They are not concerned about the short-run; they are deeply concerned about the Country they are leaving their children and grandchildren. The ones I have spoken to in the last 24 hours are relieved that Romney has chosen such a competent VP. They cannot believe that Obama has been allowed to govern without a budget for 4 years. No household nor state could or would attempt such a thing. We Seniors are ready to put adults back in the White House. Let the Barrack and Bill Act go on the late nite circuit with their act.
Hot Daddy... Saying that the federal government should be run like a household got my attention. Let me ask you a few questions. Did you ever take out a mortgage on a house? Did you ever have a car loan? Did you ever use a credit card?
If you answered yes to any of these questions then you weren't living within your means. I'm sure you haven't been on a "cash only" basis all your life.
This 42 yr. old squirt is still wet behind the ears! Bobby Jindal has MORE EXPERIENCE than him and he doesn't have ANY AT ALL!
He messed with our Social Security, Medicare and he has NEVER HELD STATEWIDE OFFICE and WORST OF ALL, he is ONE OF THE REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN (which is his TOTAL EXPERIENCE) that did NOTHING for the 99% American People except COLLECT A PAYCHECK from them and who knows what else as a political puppet for his corrupt Republican corporates!
He just gives us ONE MORE VERY GOOD REASON to vote 100% STRAIGHT DEMOCRATIC to rid our selves of this trash ONCE & FOREVER! They have STOLEN our American way of life because of their UNCONTROLLED CAPITALISTIC GREED of which there is NO END IN SIGHT!!!
This commentary is brought to you by a LIFELONG DEVOUT REPUBLICAN, yes, you read it right, REPUBLICAN who is totally disgusted with the corrupt Republican corporate MONARCHY that has brought on our ECONOMIC COLLAPSE & the GLOBAL ECONOMIC COLLAPSE and their corrupt Republican OIL & FINANCIAL corporates are STILL STEALING FROM US with no end in sight!! I have NOTHING PERSONALLY to gain from my commentary except to help the 99% American People to help themselves out of this BLATANT CORRUPTION!!
First of all, do you want to take away your grandparents dignity? If R-R are elected and Medicare is reduced and SS is privatized, someone is going to have to take care of the seniors. I'm not a senior yet (54 years old), but I know the one thing that terrifies seniors most: being a burden to their families. Every senior I have ever known has said this at one time or another.
Secondly, do you want America to return to it's preeminate place in the world? The truth of the matter is that the manufacturing jobs, which were the backbone of the American economy for the last 100 years, aren't coming back to our shores,that's reality. Manual labor can be done cheaper in other parts of the world where the host countries ( India, China,etc.) don't care about polluting their environment to extinction.
The only way were going to get back to where we were is by education, full stop. But look at what the conservatives are doing to our educational system. Romney believes in education-for-profit ( charter schools). For profit is good in the private sector, but will only rob future Americans of the high quality education which will make us great. High-Quality-Education cannot be run for profit, it costs what it costs and it's our responsibility to make sure any American can afford an outstanding education. The conservatives want to do away with Federal Grants and Loans because they're "too expensive". I say it is too expensive to NOT fund college grants and loans, we'll pay the price of not funding education over the long haul.Our education system is the best in the world as evidenced by all the foreign students that come here for college, but they're the only ones that can afford to be educated here.
Thirdly, the conservatives want to do away with all social programs which the least of us need to survive. Doing away with social program which help the needy, or the cognitively challenged are not in this country's best interests and will have to be paid for, one way or another in the long run.
"The measure of any society is how that society treats the least of it's members"
Mahatma Gandhi
First of all, what is dignified about keepiing a Medicare plan in place that everyone knows is doomed in its current form? Obamacare already has taken 750 Billion Dollars out of Medicare. When Romney/Ryan are elected, Medicare will be revamped so it has a chance to survive beyond current estimates of its demise in 2024.
Did you know that under Ryan's plan, the eligibility age for Medicare doesn't change until 2022? And then by only 2 months a year until 2033 when the eligibility age will be 67.
Did you know that under Ryan's plan those enrolled in Medicare prior to 2022 will continue in the current program?
Most seniors I know realized they needed to provide for their own future care, so they lived below their means, saved money and largely take care of themselves. There's no reason why those of us that have 10 or more years to retirement can't do the same thing.
Good points Tadpole. The way things are going only the rich will be able to afford college, the brightest will be left out.
OK Tadpole, I'll bite; what about turning Medicare into a voucher system? it doesn't really matter what age an individual is eligible for Medicare if the cost bankrupts them. What about the OMB's report that the voucher system will raise the price for medicare by $6400 ( at todays prices, not to mention in the future)to the individual.
What about the other parts of my post. Do you care to defend the conservatives stand on education? social programs?.I look forward to your response
I noticed you did not respond to any of my points or questions, however I will do you the courtesy of responding to yours...
So many people say 'voucher system' like it's a horrible thing. The voucher system was used in DC schools and demonstrated improved results. The parents in DC loved it (until Obama killed it). What a voucher system does is pay for all, or most of, the insurance premium for the policy that YOU choose - I thought you guys were all Pro-Choice.
Voucher systems in and of themselves will not be effective if not combined with some type of tort reform - not to let doctors off the hook, but to moderate the punitive damages so their malpractice rates will be reduced and they won't so compelled to order unnecessary tests. This is also part of Ryan's plan - the ACA does nothing in this regard.
Ryan's plan actually sets up a Medicare exchange so people can shop for the best health care coverage for them and their families. The supporters of the ACA think exchanges for national health care is a good thing, why not for Medicare?
Yep, the OMB said the price will go up by about $6k a year and nobody likes prices going up, but health care costs money and if people know going in that they're going to have to pay for a small portion of their health care, don't you think 10+ years is enough notice to save for that?
As for your other comments...
I reject the notion that America is not the pre-eminate country in the world. What other country has more people coming to it that the USA? None.
I reject that manufacturing jobs are never coming back - I acknowledge that India and China have a significant advantage in terms of environmental protection costs and wages, but not insurmountable if our leaders would be statesman and do what's right instead of what the environmental extremists want them to do. Does that mean there should be no regulations? Of course not, but does it really make sense to make conditions so untenable for business that we have no choice but to give the jobs to China and India? I say it does not - there is a place in between where we can be competitive with other countries. Outsourcing is largely a business response to the high cost of meeting the requirements of tons of regulations - many that are unnecessary or too restrictive. We can absolutely do that without polluting our 'environment to extinction'.
Education is only a part of how we maintain our dominance in the world. And education is not just a function of dollars and cents - it's also about accountability, expectations, and flexibility. Your demonizing of education for profit is laughable on its face - colleges make millions and still get more money from the government. Why is there no outrage at BIG EDUCATION? But I digress... Education does not 'cost what it costs' - The 2010 numbers from the US Census Bureau show DC spent the most per student and they are very well known for having the worst schools.
Effective education requires standards, yes, but local control is essential as there is no way a federally centralized education system has a hope of being successful. Two more things will improve education tremendously - discipline and celebration of achievement. Most superintendents are too afraid of lawyers, parents, and teachers unions to do their job properly. The lack of will to enforce discipline in elementary and secondary education is what is killing the quality of education in this country. The other extreme is when administrators are unwilling to use discretion - accidently bring a knife to school, immediately bring it to the attention of the staff, get suspended. Bring your Cub Scout knife-fork-spoon tool to school - get suspended. Not every situation requires the same punishment.
Now, take that lack of discipline and couple that with the idea that if a school holds up the achievement of one student it somehow diminishes all other students. The number of schools with no valedictorians or several valedictorians is ridiculous. Instead of using the accomplishments of some to motivate others we have decided as a country that we ought not hurt the feelings of the underachieving or slackers by celebrating greatness of one or a few students. The unintended consequence of this policy is that fewer students are motivated to improve because we tell them how great getting a 'C' is (and yes, for some that is true, but as a general rule it's not).
The concept of charter schools is not about profit - it's about freedom to do what works. That may be in the form of alternate curriculum, teaching methods, and letting ineffective teachers seek other professional opportunities. Does that mean all charter schools are good? No, just as not all public schools are bad. You should check out some of the investigation that John Stossel has done on this - he's a Libertarian, so it' not some kind of right-wing reporting.
Okay, what else? "High-Quality-Education cannot be run for profit". Hmmm... there are only two ways this will work (and they won't work) - 1) Govt controlled pricing of education and 2) School administrators, trustees, and boards of education will all have to be simultaneously infected with a case of pure altuism.
Profit drives quality, profit drives innovation, profit drives excellence - and it can in education too. What can be done is cut off federal funding for schools that reach a certain threshold - Harvard has billions (with a B) in endowment funds, yet still receive federal funds.
And finally - would you please please please tell me what conservative wants "to do away with all social programs..."? - that's simply a flat out lie. However, asking that taxpayer funds be spent more wisely is hardly doing away with them all together. Asking to combine programs with the same or similar mandates to be consolidated seems pretty reasonable.
Anything else?...
The people of Florida are real happy to see Romey put the screws to RUBIO.He used the Cuban liar like a paper towel that just got through cleaning a babies bottom and then threw him away.He deseved that kind of treatment after the way he and his family lied and took advantage of this Country about being refugees and the benefits they illegally used. We floridians were hoping to get rid of Rubio sooner than the 6 yr term he can serve . Hopefully Romney will use him again and we will get another chance to get rid of him before his next election.
Mitt can now truly define himself as a "Job Creator." He just made the field of cartoonists happy with the selection of Paul Ryan. Watch for a plethora of cartoons depicting Ryan as Eddie Munster similar to all the cartoons depicting Mitch Mcconnell as Walt Kelly's Churchy la Femme of Pogo fame.
Excessivelyperky - it appears you have been smoking the same stuff your liar-in-chief was blowing on streets of Honolulu. By the way where did Obama find his crew of morons who are supposed to be leading this country? Axlehead, Wasserman Schultz, Plouffe, Biden, PeeLowSee, Harry Reid, Van Hollen, and other idiots? Did he get them out of pelican Bay? Talk about a bunch of nutcakes who don't have enough sense to know where they even live!
It is liberal nuts who just don't get it and never will. This country is going down the tubes under Obama and it is not Bush's fault, it is the fault of out-of-touch losers like those on the left who are selfish ego maniacs and need to go hide in Yemen or Somali where maybe someone will listen to their BS.
Ryan and Romney understand what we need in this country to get jobs and stop the wasteful spending. You can blame Bush, the easter bunny, your grandma, the postman, of whoever, the fact is Obama can't lead and never will. How is that hope and change going for you for the past 3plus years?
We need a new president who can lead and not a teleprompter used car salesman! We also need the majority in the senate and house to really get the real hope and change. Wise up!!
Yeah Louie Bee and your idol Alfred E. Newman with the big ears is the answer? Stop eating the buckeyes they are not walnuts! Fruit cake!
I always find it interesting that the majority of name calling comes from the conservative responders.Kind of reminds me of having a battle of wits against one who is unarmed. Do you think that may be from a lack of education or the lack of critcal thinking. Conservatives, when they don't have a leg to stand on either attack or change the subject.
Ed -
You are SO RIGHT!
PS - I still want to see Willard's tax returns (now that he thinks he's diverted our attention to Ryan.) BTW - throw in Ryan's too!
Hey Suzq - can you tell me what possible difference seeing Romney's tax return will make? If the IRS hasn't put him in jail, why condemn him for following the rules established by Congress and the Obama administration?
Aren't you curious about President Obama's college records?
If Romney ignores calls from the public including conservatives, to show his tax forms like every other Presidential candidate has....will he also ignore the pubics demand NOT to do something stupid as President? Or, as with the tax issue....he just doesn't care about what people want?
@Tad -
Romoney's tax returns would only be looked at by the IRS if there was something there to set off a red flag. Having said that, hiding his millions in off-shore accounts shows he isn't quite the "true American" he wants us to think he is. If he was he'd have no problem paying US taxes as we all do. His morals are showing when we see his tax returns.
As for Pres. Obama college records - a person doesn't get to be "Head of the Harvard Law Review" by being a D+ student. He earned that honor by working hard and having a lot on the ball.
The Romneys paid $3 million in Federal taxes in 2010 and gave $3 million to charity. The reason Romney and other wealthy people (like Warren Buffet and Bill Gates) invest their money outside the US due to the regulations imposed by the US.
Clearly he pays taxes - how much more would he have to pay to be a 'true American'?
Oh, and Suzq - If you don't believe that Obama has directed the IRS to dissect every piece of every Romney return for the last 20 years you are living in a dream world.
Re: Obama and the Harvard Law Review - Actually you can be a D+ student and be an editor of the Harvard Law Review.... from the Harvard Law Review website;
Fourteen editors (two from each 1L section) are selected based on a combination of their first-year grades and their competition scores. Twenty editors are selected based solely on their competition scores. The remaining editors are selected on a discretionary basis. Some of these discretionary slots may be used to implement the Review's affirmative action policy.
Uh oh - now what?
Romoney's 'charity' donation was The Church of Latter Day Saints. That's not a charity in my book, that's tithing. It would be nice if he actually had a charity he'd donate to.
Way to skip over the response to requirements to be an editor of the Harvard Law Review.
And the Romneys charitable donations were only about 50% to the church.
Another swing and a miss!
Not exactly - his school records are not nearly as important as Willard's tax returns. Even Mittens wanted more than 1yr from Ryan! Smart man since you can tell a man's moral character by how much he cheats.
Hit!
RR=RomneyHood and Lyin Ryan aka Richie Rich is taking my Medicare and benefits because I am just under 55 years old. I do not want a voucher. What about your brothers and sister or kids who are in thier 50s like like but do not qualify for our benefits that we paid into all these years. Say no to Richie Rich.
Ryans strength is he's a Washington Tea Party insider if you want to call that a plus but he will not be able to fix Romneyhood.
Ryan's strength is he's a white male - matches his running mate with good hair and teeth. The GOP is all about looks, money and no brains. Too bad he's more like a little GWBush than a true leader.
Attack and Blame is the motto replacing hope and change. The left keeps screaming we want his tax returns and most of America is screaming we want jobs and prosperity!
Which do you want. Would you like to see our energy resources developed or keep getting it from the Saudis? Would you like to see our miners be able to work so they can feed their family and maybe own a home someday? Or would you like to see more on welfare, more corruption and cheating, more classwarfare, more stimulus for jobs exported to foregin countries, more taxpayer money wasted on Solyndra, Fisker and other Obama contributor BS projects that go under?
For Nevada citizens how is the job situation with the moron Harry Reid still in the Senate. Don't you think it is time to toss this idiot out of his job??
First Rick, developing resources within the US does not reduce our dependence on foreign energy because oil products are sold on the intenational market, not on our domestic market.
Second, seeing Mr. Romney's tax return has nothing to do with jobs and the economy, but with Mr. Romney's integrity . This is relevent because Mr. Romney is asking us to hire him to the highest office in the land and honesty and integritiy plays a huge part in our decision.
Thirdly, you made my case about conservatives being uneducated and lacking in critical thinking by resorting to name calling, again.
Firstly - An increase in supply does two things - American jobs and increases the world supply bringing down the cost
Second - You're kidding, right? 1) If Romney did something illegal the IRS would have nailed him - I'm positive Obama would have seen to that. 2) There are many other things to judge a man's honesty and integrity beyond his tax returns, and 3) if President Obama had real integrity, wouldn't he condemn that lie laden Super Pac ad about the man's wife who died with cancer?
Thirdly - Conservatives, like liberals, women, left handed people, and people born in March cannot be accurately generalized as uneducated or lacking in critical thinking skills. Plus - I agree, name calling is the first indication that you are losing the debate.
Its nice to know there will not be a Republican in the White House in 2013-17. It also looks very favorable for the Democrats to take back the House in 2012, after the miserable performance of the Teapublicans the last two years. If only the Senate can become a filibuster proof Democratic majority then this country can start to progress, instead of trying to return to a failed, outdated time of the robber barons and the gilded age preferred by the Republicans.
I continue to be astounded at the blind ignorance of those who insist on tracking poll numbers as if they mean anything. Let me give you a little heads up. Any poll is designed to turn out numbers according to who is sponsoring the poll. They are meant to grab the attention of those too lazy or complacent to do their own research to educate themselves on the issues we face today. Don't believe that? Well here's a little example: Every time a get a phone call for a poll, or complete one on the internet I give the exact opposite answer of what I really think. This goes for any party. I also know for a fact many more who have decided to do this. Then when it comes time to vote I vote the person, not the party. So how accurate does that make all those polling numbers?
Actually they KNOW that not just anyone "can do the job of president". The last 3+ years are more than enough evidence of that.
Romney's taxes 13 percent mine 30 percent. Pays to be a millionaire. That welfare for the rich working for you guys?
The Romneys paid $3 million in Federal taxes and gave $3 million to charity. So, what's the problem?
The problem is that we don't believe a liar. Romney is not trustworthy, because he is a chronic deceiver. If his tax returns are without anything embarassing, why can't we see them? To refuse such a simply request is disqualifying him.
Some people simply don't trust Romney. He's a shifty guy, and he's doing nothing to dispell any such doubts.
Most peoiple don't trust Obama. He's an Out & Out LIAR and his nose just keeps growing. Here are just a very few for starters:
Lie No. 1: Obama has repeatedly claimed his white grandfather, Stanley Dunham, "fought in Patton's army," when he was a clerk with no combat in WWII.
Lie No. 2: Obama claimed Dunham, a communist sympathizer, signed up for duty "the day after Pearl Harbor," when in fact he waited six months.
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Lie No. 3: Obama claimed his father "fought when he got back to Kenya against tribalism and nepotism, but ultimately was blackballed from the government," when in fact he fought against capitalism and lost his job when he advocated communism.
Lie No. 4: Obama has claimed his late mother's health insurer refused "to pay for her treatment" for cancer while citing a "pre-existing condition," when Cigna paid all her hospital bills and never denied payment.
Lie No. 5: Obama claimed he and a black high school friend named "Ray" were ostracized in Honolulu, when in fact the friend, Keith Kakugawa, was half-Japanese, and neither of them experienced discrimination.
Lie No. 6: Obama claimed the father of his Indonesian stepfather was killed by Dutch soldiers while fighting for Indonesian independence, when in fact the story turns out to be "a concocted myth in almost all respects," Maraniss found.
Lie No. 7: Obama claimed his parents decided to marry in the excitement of the Selma civil-rights march of 1965 — and that he personally has "a claim on Selma" — when in fact they were married several years earlier.
Then it appears you will have to disqualify President Obama as he has also refused a similar request. Your hypocrisy is showing...
TAX THE RICH!
Someone earning 20 million after taxes will be just as happy with 18 million.
TAX THE RICH and stop demanding sacrifices only of the 99%! We HAVE sacrificed a lot lately, while the rich got richer.
We should VOTE OUT anyone (Democrat or Republican) who refuses to TAX THE RICH.
TAX THE RICH NOW! It won't solve all of our problems, but it will be a great start. Without it, all else is bull @!$%#!
It always sounds good to scream "TAX THE RICH" by Freeloaders like vinyl who have very little or no skin in the game and who most likely are living off the generosity of others. Here are some FACTS about those "evil rich".........
Let me repeat this: in 2009 the top one percent paid about 1,500 times as much in taxes as the average in the bottom twenty percent. So now the question arises: what is the fair share the wealthy should pay? Is 40% of their income going to the federal government enough? How about half? Does it matter that the 50% or so of Americans who pay little or no non-retirement income taxes basically get a free ride when it comes to federal roads, immigration control, etc. – on the backs of the wealthy?
vinyl, next time you see a "rich" person, thank them for supporting you!
I'm a Democrat and proud to call myself Liberal. I support the right of any adult to marry any other adult, legalizing non-addictive drugs for recreational usage, the unrestricted right of any law abiding citizen to own whatever firearms they please - U.S. citizens ONLY! The 2nd amendment is NOT a God given right to all. I want a progressive tax system applied not just to wages and salaries but to large stock portfolios as well. I want an end to the rule of the rich. A strict limit of 100 dollars for campaign contributions from registered voters residing in the Cogressional district. No outside funds whatsoever. No "issues advertising." No PACs super or otherwise. I want the Fairness Doctrine restored. The public owns the airwaves and an informed electorate is essential to a Republic. I want an end to the electoral college and this stupid 18th century idea of "States Rights." We have cogressional districts where a Representative is charged with representing more people than Senators from many states. This is especially true of the Western states that tend to be extremely conservative. That is not equal representation.
And, because I want all these things and more, I want Romney/Ryan to win in November.
Why?
Because the only way the people of this country can EVER learn ANYTHING is to have things get so bad they have to change. The racists of the south ( a bit redudant, I know ) had to cause a Civil War (yes, numbskulls YOU caused it) just to be taught you can't hold another human being in slavery. We are the only nation to have to fight a war over that! We had to have the Great Depression just to teach people that when there's that much money on the table you really can't trust anybody. I don't care what some two-bit science fiction writer says (yes, read Atlas Shrugged it's a bad sci-fi novel and an even worse economics textbook). Unfettered greed leads to total economic collapse. And, lest we forget, we need to learn that tracking our very real enemies is more important than whether the President got a hummer from a fat chick. Remember the tail wagging the dog? Repugs trying to say Clinton's going after Bin Laden was just trying to divert attention from Monica Lewinsky? No surprise if the Repugs don't remember that one.
In fact, I would prefer that no Democrat sought any office this election. State or national. All Repugs everywhere.
Then, when the country is complete economic chaos who will Fox News blame? Who will the Dittoheads say caused it?
This country has to learn things the hardest way possible, so I'm voting for Romney/Ryan and Ruination!
Mr. Potter (Romney) will NOT sway the people away from George Bailey (Obama). We've seen this film before, and thankfully we know the outcome. The town will never be renamed Pottersville!
Time to take the vulture out of vulture capitalism and go back to what WORKS. Millionaires used to pay a fairer share in taxes, and the middle class prospered. With the Romney Reverse-Robin-Hood vision we will go back to the days of the Robber Barons. Time to end corporate welfare and return to a more reasonable free market economy WITH proper regulations and a healthy social safety net.
Yes, Mr. Romney, you got very, very rich, but you did NOT do it alone! You demanded painfull sacrifices of OTHERS, even dipped into tax payer's coffers by avoiding payment of a fair share in taxes. You deliberately ruined businesses for profit. How do you sleep at night with a filthy conscience like that? No wonder you're hiding your tax returns. They must be devestating proof of what a sad, dishonest Scrooge you are.
Wow! Paul Ryan must be an excellent choice.
Democrats are sound like they are in a big PANIC!!!
Paul Ryan has strengths?
Yep...he wasn't befuddled when asked a tough 'gotcha' question like "which books do you read?".
Ryan is a PIG...so is Romney, but Ryan voted against women having the right of choice, the right to use birth control, the right to equal pay against her male counterparts and he voted against bringing the troops home from Afghanistan.
Air Force Vet
Ryan is against even hormonal contraception (that's birth control pills for you hillbilly cons out there just learning how to read) because he's pushing the "fertilized egg is a person" nonsense.
Ryan is for the the forced vaginal ultrasound for women seeking abortions. Nice huh?
He's a dangerous ideologue from the far out extreme lunatic fringe, the worst of the worst and an Aynn Rand lover to boot.
The real reason behind the Ryan pick that Mitt Romney is too stupid to see. The far right knows that a person as extreme as they would like to have as President ... Ryan ... could never, never be elected except in an extreme congressional pocket district. So, they con stupid Mitt to pick him as VP. They are praying (no pun intended) that Mitt can somehow bring in the middle and win the election. Then they will kill him off ... you know, a heart attack or some unknown infection or a stroke. Then, wait for it ... THEY GET THE PRESIDENCY. THEY WILL HAVE A COUP! This is not far-fetched folks. These far right zealots are more than capable of such a plan. Welcome BIG BROTHER ... Good Bye UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Be very afraid, folks. Yes, you could find yourself in chains!
As grotesque as your comment seems...unfortunately, it makes perfect sense! If not your complete methodology; they might make Splitt Romney vanish to one or the other of his private islands in the south Pacific, never again to be heard from, lol! He will have Jack Kennedy as a bunk mate!
Grover Norqiust, the new GOD of the ReSuckican Party, has made it crystal clear that all the GOP is hoping for is a person "with enough working digits" to be able to sign whatever documents might be shoved before them to be signed. What an extremely low prerequisite, ROFLMBAO!?!
Right on? Right on...