The Trickle Down "debate" is a big scam.

GOP KNOWS their pet theory hasn't worked for the last 30 years. And the 'job creator' lie is thoroughly worn out. For starters, despite $Trillions in tax cuts for the super-wealthy, President George Bush has possibly the weakest job creation record in our history.

Democrats go on letting GOP control the debate about economic growth and jobs, even after 'trickle down' has been thoroughly debunked. For many a moon, the topic has been wasting everyone's time.

The trickle down concept is just an excuse - for GOP, Norquist & benefactors like Adelson - to obtain more big cash for their friends.

Consumers: Small businesses will tell you that we, the consumers, are the important ingredients in this cake. Businesses and communities need us to to have living wages, and real spending money in our pockets. So we can buy and enjoy their products. And that is how we will rebuild the middle class in America.

Trickle-down is dead. Defunct. Expired. An EX-parrot.
Trickle-down is too ridiculous for Democrats to debate any more.

Clint Eastwood

I enjoyed the bit Clint Eastwood did at the convention last week, it was a real hoot. Then I started reading some of the reviews that trashed him up and down the street. Eastwood hemmed, he hawed, he rambled they said. It was bizarre and embarrassing to watch they said. Roger Ebert even tweeted that his hero was coming across as sad and pathetic. Good grief, thought I, did these people watch the same show I did? So just to make sure my mind wasn't playing tricks on me, I went back and watched the piece again – and it was even BETTER the second time around.

Eastwood's spiel is just loaded with spot-on zingers that skewer the president and the left. He talked about the 23 million folks in the country who are unemployed as being a national disgrace that was something worth crying about, then said maybe it was time for somebody else to come along and solve that problem. He alluded to all the unfulfilled promises the president has made, and questioned how such a supposedly nice guy could air such vicious attack ads. He mentioned that trying terrorists in downtown New York City was a stupid idea, and was also on solid ground when he questioned why the president announced a target date for withdrawing from Afghanistan. He mocked Biden as being the intellect of the Democratic party. He said straight out maybe it's time for a "stellar" businessman to lead the country. He brought cheers from the crowd when he said we own the country and politicians are just our employees. And he brought the house down when he said: "When somebody does not do the job, we got to let them go."

All of that is very pointed political commentary, and is only awkward and embarrassing to the targets of Eastwood's barbs. So here's the real deal folks: there was nothing wrong with what Eastwood said or how he said it. The problem is the professional left just can't stand it when someone from their turf (i.e. Hollywood) applies his tradecraft with such devastating effect against their savior president. Hence all the garbage these people are spewing to smear the traitor who dared to use his Left Coast celebrity to advance a conservative message. That's a standard tactic used by the army of slime on the left that we all should be accustomed to by now, but by provoking Clint these people just might be getting more than they bargained for.

Something about making his day.

Hiding the Extreme:

A small bit of trivia surfaced last week as top level Republicans put out the word that they are not to call President Obama a socialist. The thinking seems to be that he is not a socialist and those who call him one appears to be an extremist.

Being controlled by the conservatives, the Republican Party has taken a number of extreme positions that now, at election time, they do not want to talk about. Conservatives do not want to talk about rape victims carrying a child full-term. They do not want to talk about Todd Akin.

They want to mask their intentions to destroy Medicare as we now know it and replace it with a coupon system.

They say they like women, but take away their economic rights and reproductive rights.

Romney wants to hide his tax returns, his wealth in the Cayman Islands, his activities as CEO at Bain. It is no wonder that he tries to reintroduce himself when all the while he keeps himself cloaked in secrecy.

But the most extreme position held by the right is their disdain of President Obama. Because Obama is so well liked by a majority of Americans, the conservatives tend to keep their hatred under wraps. Now let me be clear: this is not entirely about race. The conservatives despised John F. Kennedy and Bill Clinton as well. There is something about articulate, handsome, intelligent, compassionate men that drive the right wing absolutely crazy. I suspect it is called envy.

So the Republicans have nominated Willard Romney to be their standard bearer. And nobody seems to mind that the Republicans will not be voting in support of their candidate, but voting against President Obama. The reality is Mitt is a wooden, disingenuous, unlikable guy who could not win a seat on the local school board.

Well, I really lucked out this year by booking an extended Management Day weekend vacation a year ago, before I knew the dates of the DNC Jacka$$-clown convention.

I am spending (er, um….. I mean "investing") a long weekend in the Adirondack's outside of Lake Placid in a cabin that has no TV or internet, but has a stream running by it, a Jacuzzi and a really nice Weber grill on its deck, and a great view of the mountains. By arriving early on Friday I missed all the FR lefty liberal, whining, pissing, and moaning about Mitt Romney's acceptance speech. Today, I'm in town to do some shopping, check my email and catch up on some of my hometown paper's websites. One of the local papers' Sunday edition carried a George Will column on "Progressives" that starts out:

WASHINGTON -- With Americans, on average, worth less and earning less than when he was inaugurated, Barack Obama is requesting a second term by promising, or perhaps threatening, that prosperity is just around the corner if he can practice four more years of trickle-down government.

That phrase "trickle-down government" caught my eye because it defines Barry's, and most lefty liberals, fundamental economic beliefs of what America needs to do to get the economy going again: GROW THE GOVT!!

And it defines WHY Barry's policies to revive the economy have been such a dismal FAILURE. Barry's statement "The private sector is doing fine. Where we're seeing weaknesses in our economy have to do with state and local government." says it all. Notice that he DIDN'T include the federal govt in his statement, because he has been GROWING the federal govt like a Kremlin Communist: Executive branch non-defense employees are up by 239,000 through 2010 compared to 2008 (Source: US Census Bureau).

So, I plan to enjoy the next few days totally DNC-free and, although I realize I will be missing out on quite a few Hillaryous laughs, it's good for my free-market capitalism soul.

I will be back in time to see King Barry accept his re-coronation at the Wall Street mega-evil BANK OF AMERICA stadium (even if the Dems pretend it's not the "mega-evil BANK OF AMERICA stadium" by pointedly not calling it by its real name LOL!!!), and to see the August jobs report on Friday.

Today the lies are formalized and codified. The Democrats have been doing nothing but telling lies leading up to the convention, today those lies are made official. Certainly some nuggets of truth seep out of their sewage, like when Governor O'Malley from Maryland says "Of course we're not better off than 4 years ago". And certainly after Obama's Chicago Way people (they are quick to 'convince' their detractors) smashed a few fingers of the good governor until he did comply a day later with the "correct" message "Of course we're much better off than we were 4 years ago". To be a Democrat you see, you must lie.

The other lies will have to do with Obama and the Democrats having any kind of a plan to fix the problems they have caused. Blaming Bush is not a plan. Spitting out inflammatory rhetoric is not a plan. Class warfare is not a plan. But these are things we will hear during the next 3 days, these are things that the Democrats will try to pass off as a plan, these are things Obama will flat out lie about in his speech.

The truth remains: The Democrats have no plan!!

What they do have is carnival barking, blaming others, pointing fingers, all rolled up in a heaping pile of deception and lies, all on display for America to see. After four years of this nonsense we now see that Hope and Change is in fact Lies and Deceptions. Lets hope the American people won't fall for the same lies this time around.

Feisty, Ron, good morning to you,

The RomneyRyan plan:

By cutting taxes for the very rich, you reduce revenues for the federal government. Then - only by cutting social programs - is it possible to balance the budget.

RomneyRyan plan ends Medicare-Medicaid-Social Security as we know it, while slashing Education by 20%.

Then, once they've cut our social safety nets, we become low-wage peons, and democracy is out the window.

GOP has been lying to the American people about this game plan - ever since Reagan dreamed up the 'trickle down' theory that wipes out the middle class.

In a side note, Reince Priebus lies as much as Lying Ryan and Willard. If the election were held today, President Obama would win in a big way. Period, end of story.

I enjoyed the bit Clint Eastwood did at the convention last week, it was a real hoot.

WOW!

Can't believe I agree with you yet again!

Shame people haven't figured out he "punked" you!

Clint stole 13 minutes of prime time real estate from Willard with his melodrama... lol

Oh, and, then there was three days of talking about nothing other than Clint!

Romney/Eastwood 2012

The schedule for the DNC Convention has been released:

4:00 PM - Opening Flag Burning Ceremony
4:05 PM - Singing of "God **** America" led by Rev. Jeremiah Wright
4:10 PM - Pledge of Allegiance (since canceled due to lack of interest - Biden tap dances to fill the time)
4:15 PM - "I really would be proud, oh so proud, to have my designer wardrobe and Air Force 1 for another four years" - Michelle Obama
4:30 PM - Tips on Dodging Sniper Fire - Hillary Clinton
5:00 PM - UFO Abduction Survival Seminar - Joe Biden
5:15 PM - PowerPoint presentation - Theme: "Who Built What" - by Lizzy Warren
5:30 PM - Ceremonial Abortion Performed by Planned Parenthood

5:45 PM - Anthony Weiner speaks about the importance of science with his speech on "Cell Phone Picture Technology"
6:00 PM - John Edwards speaks on "Democrats Respect of Women" while Code Pink wears their vagina outfits left over from the GOP convention
6:15 PM - Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich explains the process for filling Senate vacancies - (via Satellite)
6:30 PM - Former President Bill Clinton speaks on his "Respect of Family and Women" with the Code Pink Vagina Squad assisting
6:31 PM - Tribute to All 57 States
6:45 PM - Obama accepts his 2nd Nobel Peace Prize
7:00 PM - Joe Biden Delivers 200,000-Word Speech Featuring a 23-Minute Question followed by a 2-Hour Answer
9:30 PM - Airing of Grievances by the Clintons
10:00 PM - Bill Clinton Delivers Rousing Endorsement of Obama Girl
10:15 PM - Tribute Film to Freedom Fighters at Gitmo - by Michael Moore

10:30 PM - Official Pledge of Allegiance to Obama by the "We're All On The Same Page" media team with Brian Williams, Wolf Blitzer, George Stephanopoulos, Erin Burnett, Diane Sawyer, Anderson Cooper, Candy Crowley, Scott Pelley, Perky Katie Couric, Christiane Amanpour, Al Roker, Piers Morgan, Oprah Winfrey, The Hosts of The View (except for that sl*t Elisabeth Hasselbeck), David Gregory, Soledad O'Brein, Don Lemon, Bob Schieffer, the plagiarist Fareed Zakaria, with a very special consideration from all the MSNBC show hosts

11:00 PM - Obama accepts his 3rd Nobel Peace Prize
11:15 PM - Democrats Reaffirmation of Affirmative Action Laws and Policies - by Liz "Cherokee" Warren
12:00 AM - Obama Energy Plan Symposium/Tire Gauge Demonstration
12:15 AM - Obama Accepts Tony and Grammy Awards

12:40 AM - Special and very emotional introduction of Obama by Chris "Tingles" Matthews
1:00 AM - Official Nomination of Obama by Bill "G&d D*#m Those F*&%ing GOPers" Maher
1:01 AM - Obama Accepts Democratic Nomination and the Oscar
1:03 AM - Obama's speech - Theme: He blames Bush
1:30 AM - Angels (real ones) Sing
5:00 AM - Biden finishes cleaning up the convention center
5:05 AM - Biden's chains are removed

Source: From many places on the internet

Good Morning Backhouse and Feisty:

Sure is hard to keep up up with all their lies. There was no reason for Ryan to lie about his Marathon run, but he did it anyway. Sounds pathological.

Great posts, Feisty and Ron!

Reagan's 'trickle down' idea was that if the wealthy suddenly gained a lot MORE wealth, they'd use that money to hire & build more factories, and the wealth would... trickle down to ordinary workers.

1. Thus in 1981, Reagan slashed top marginal income tax rates on top income earners = from 70% to 50%.

2. And by 1988, Reagan had slashed that 50% tax rate = down to 28%.

In reality, the Reagan trickle down tax cuts contributed to the biggest debt in the entire history of the world.

How about the heartfelt thanks Willard gave to our military members Thursday night?

*crickets*

*waves to Backhouse & Ron*

Sure is hard to keep up up with all their lies.

I still would like to know why lyin Ryan lied about his marathon time?

Nice example he set for his "precious" children!

So looking forword to tonight's opening of the Democrats Convention. Great speakers lined up for us to enjoy. Let's hope their not filled with hate and lies like the Repugs Convention. Though I'll miss Big Clint. LOL. We should see a nice bounce up after the Convention. Unlike the disastrous "no bounce" for the Repugs. Also enjoyed Chris Mathews fine documentary last night. It was right on.

OBAMA IN 2012.

Good morning, everyone. This will probably be my only visit here this week, so I wanted to make it about something that I hold pretty near and dear to me. And that's Paul Ryan's lies about the GM plant in Janesville, which is only about 40 miles as the crow flies from where I'm sitting now.

As far as I'm concerned, this is all you need to see --

http://video.msnbc.msn.com/the-ed-show/48867244#48867244

This is a video of Ed Schultz interviewing former employees and union members of the Janesville auto plant that Paul Ryan referred to in his RNC speech. Behind them are other workers who lost their jobs in this plant closing.

These workers recount several important things. The first was that Ryan knew from the first that the plant would be closed -- way back in mid 2008, when he signed a letter acknowledging GM's decision. There is no evidence of which I am aware that Ryan ever lifted a finger during this period -- or at any time thereafter -- to prevent that plant from closing. I dare anyone out here to present such evidence.

The second is that none of these workers, who were there for President Obama's visit, thinks that President Obama made any promises when he visited that plant. It is evident from his words that he was speaking generically. Apparently auto workers are smarter than Paul Ryan.

Or is he just lying?

What am I saying? His lips were moving, weren't they?

The third is that Paul Ryan completely failed to step forward and help the autoworkers AFTER the plant closed down in December, 2008, by requesting training money or other assistance.

Where was his supposed concern for the welfare of those workers THEN?

And finally -- contrary to Paul Ryan's insinuations -- the auto bailout DID do something positive for these workers in that it allowed them to keep their pensions. Ironically, this is, of course, exactly what all the Republican naysayers -- including many out here -- have been complaining about since that time. THEY would have preferred that the shareholders keep THEIR money, while the workers would have lost their pensions.

THEY would have preferred the "managed" bankruptcy proposed by Mitt Romney. But of course there was no private capital available at that time, and so the bankruptcy would merely have resulted in liquidation -- and those workers would have lost their pensions. And Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan both know this.

How sadly ironic it is that Paul Ryan has chosen this particular way to turn history on its head to try to blame the President for what he, Mitt Romney, and so many others out here were advocating for -- and then tries to say that it was the President who hurt the workers.

He has chosen to lie about his friends and neighbors.

What kind of man is he, anyway?

But really, folks, that's just the way many Republicans think, no matter what they pretend. They don't care about workers. They don't even care about deficits, as Ryan's years in Congress during the Bush administration have proven.

Don't be fooled by the empty chair that is Paul Ryan.

Kenva=Just another l@w life racist tea bagger, stuck on stup!d. FACT.

It had been about three years since I last saw him at a meeting at Our Lady of Objectivists and Sociopaths. So I was surprised when Paul Ryan called the other day and asked if I wanted to go jogging. "Sure," I said, "I see your career has really taken off since I last saw you. We have a lot of catching up to do."

Well, he pulls up with his entourage - he has Secret Service protection now - and he's looking pretty fit and trim. "We'll have to skip the run this morning," he says, "I just ran a couple of sub-three minute miles, and I'd like a cup of coffee while we chat. (He can't drink coffee in front of his running mate, Mitt Romney.)

He catches the surprised look on my face and asks why. Don't I know he likes coffee. "Well, no it's not that," I say. "It's the sub-three minute miles. That's world-record time."

"Maybe I misstated that," he says. "Maybe it's a rounding error, but hey, what's the diff, right? Besides, there's so much more we have to talk about. Did you know my opposition has so much respect for me they call me The Lion?"

Wow, what do I say? I mean you don't want to hurt his feelings. "Gosh Paul," I say, "I think you misunderstand that. They're calling you Lyin' Ryan. They don't believe much of what you say, and since we're buddies and all, maybe I can help you a bit. Maybe it's just a bit of confusion?"

So I tell him I'm a bit confused myself, and I give him an example. This isn't some hypothetical, it's my neighbor. He's 50, he's been out of work for almost a year. He can't find work because people just aren't buying stuff these days, and though there was a bump in sales, management was hiring younger folks who work cheaper, or they're sending jobs overseas.

"Good news for him," says Paul. "He won't be paying any more Medicare taxes except for people who are 55 or over, which leaves him more money to put in his 401k." I remind him that my neighbor isn't paying any federal taxes right now because he doesn't have a job. "Hey, is capitalism great or what," he says. "That's why we're gonna cut taxes on job creators. They make jobs, so your neighbor will have a job. We just have to stop brutalizing the rich.

"Maybe he can get a job in defense. Heaven knows we have to grow that budget. Mitt is quite interested in sending more troops to the Middle East. He's still a bit upset about not being able to go to Viet Nam, you know.

"That's why your friend has to get a job," he says. "Someone has to pay taxes and the rich can't because they're creating jobs. Good grief, we've given him all the incentive we can. That's why we won't be giving him Medicare. He'll soon see the wisdom of going to work until the day he dies.

"Who knows better than I do," he says. "I voted for tax cuts, for going to war, for prescription benefits and all that other stuff that we couldn't pay for. I know how government works. Hell, I voted against the stimulus. Don't think it didn't pain me to take those funds. Maybe now you can see why government is the problem. That's why I want to continue to be a part of it. You'll be voting for me, right?"

Well, I'm every bit as honest as he is, so I say, "Sure Paul, sure!"

A 37 year old Mexican rookie whos mom was a La Raza gang activist, is the best the dems could do?

This should be a real snooze fest...They better be spiking the kool-aid with No-Doze ....Zzzzzzzzz

BTW: I'm better off than I was 4 years ago. The stock market has been improving and investments have significantly improved since the Bush days when the stock market dropped like a rock.

Wary to post on a thread that is sure to be collapsed soon. However, just out of curiosity I did watch the Eastwood spiel on Youtube.

Sad and disgraceful for an aging star to be cheered on by a raving crowd as he mocked and degraded an empty chair. Funny fact, many youtube videos are starting to Eastwood. Instead of being "Rickrolled" the new trick is "Eastwooding".

With that said, are you guys ready to leave amateur night behind? Don't know what "special guest" the democrats have planned but will be watching for all of the advertised talent.

From someone who didn't watch the RNC, I can deduce that its message was.

"You're a worker drone, Don't care you're on your own."

On the other hand the DNC theme will be...

"Wherever this flag is flown, WE TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN."

(Part of the debt was hidden by borrowing from the Social Security Trust Fund.)

Like Clinton did.

In the Aug. 2012 NBC/WSJ poll, just 52% of voters under 35 and only 49% of Latinos expressed high interest in the upcoming election, which was down about 20 points for both groups at this same point in ’08. That said, almost all voting segments in the poll -- Democrats and Republicans alike -- aren’t as interested as they were in 2008.

This is one of the reasons that polls of registered voters favor Democrats this election cycle. As for FR pointing out that enthusiasm is down for both parties, to be fair, they should have pointed out that it was down by a far greater degree with Democrats than Republicans.

In an interview with KKTV, CBS's affiliate in Colorado Spring, President Obama gives himself an "incomplete" grade on fixing the economy:

Your party says you inherited a bad situation," says the KKTV reporter. "You’ve had three and a half years to fix it. What grade would you give yourself so far for doing that?"

"You know I would say incomplete," Obama replies.

Source: http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/obama-gives-himself-incomplete-grade-fixing-economy_651597.html

Obama 2008 - "In four years, after the seas have receded, I will be known as the 'Incomplete' President"

That's probably the kindest grade Obama could achieve, and for that it's: Mission Accomplished

Obama campaign officials say their voters are getting more excited (example: the 13,000 who turned out in Colorado over the weekend) and believe that 65,000 supporters filling the Bank of America Stadium on Thursday will reflect plenty of energy heading into November

This must explain why they felt it necessary to bus in college students from across North Carolina and church members from South Carolina. They were so confident in their "energy heading into November" that they thought they should give it a boost.

"You know I would say incomplete," Obama replies.

Here is the entire quote by the President, not Snuffy's sanitized version;

Replied Obama: "You know I would say incomplete ... but what I would say is the steps that we have taken in saving the auto industry, in making sure that college is more affordable and investing in clean energy and science and technology and research, those are all the things that we are going to need to grow over the long term."

Former President Bill Clinton tried to get former senator Ted Kennedy to endorse Hillary Clinton for president in the 2008 election by describing Barack Obama this way:

“A few years ago, this guy would have been carrying our bags.”

Come January Obama will be carrying his own bags....back to Chicago.

Clinton kept tax rates where they needed to be.

Interesting that the Libs want to talk about Bill "I so love women" Clinton's tax rates, but rarely do they talk about his spending rates. The rates of spending during the Clinton years were in-line with revenues taken in by the government, you see, Congress appropriates the funds and there was a GOP Congress for many of those years. You see, even with a return to the Clinton era tax rates, they would nowhere near cover the amount of deficit spending we've ween for the past 4 years, or God forbid, another 4 years of Obama.

The Obama campaign says that the first lady will serve as a character witness for President Obama...

And who will serve as her character witness? People do realize that despite her claims to the contrary, Michelle Obama is involved heavily in many of Obama's policy and campaign decisions along with her close friend Valerie Jarrett.

Thanks for setting the facts straight from the land of compulsive liar Paul Ryan

Couldn't agree more...

Where is Braveheart this morning, he's been stroking out over the Janesville plant for week?

Interesting that the Libs want to talk about Bill "I so love women" Clinton's tax rates

With a 70% approval rating, why wouldn't we want to talk about Bill?

What living member of the GNOP has an approval rating above 30%?

@AM

These workers recount several important things. The first was that Ryan knew from the first that the plant would be closed -- way back in mid 2008, when he signed a letter acknowledging GM's decision. There is no evidence of which I am aware that Ryan ever lifted a finger during this period -- or at any time thereafter -- to prevent that plant from closing. I dare anyone out here to present such evidence.

If you assume mid-2008 to be June/July, then there is this report in the Washington Post

September 2008 – Paul Ryan flies to Detroit to urge GM to reconsider its decision to close the plant. According to the Los Angeles Times, he pitched “a $224-million proposal that included roughly $50 million in state enterprise zone tax credits, local government grants worth $22 million and major contract concessions from the United Auto Workers union local.” Throughout, Ryan frequently speaks with GM chief Rick Wagoner.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/wp/2012/08/30/obama-could-not-have-saved-janesville-gm-plant-it-closed-before-he-took-office/

Do you accept this evidence?

Trickle-down is too ridiculous for Democrats to debate any more.

Backhouse:

And yet you spend three consecutive posts debating it?

G-9: :Accuse the democrats of the republican's sins.

Like entitlement reform? The GOP has a plan (see 2012, 2013 Ryan budget). What's the Democrats plan? Like tax reform? The GOP is addressing the issue (Romney wants to simplify the tax code, reduce taxes and eliminate many deductions). What's the Democrats plan? Like the deficit? The GOP has a plan, not much of one, but a plan none the less - entitlement reform would be a great start. What's the Democrats plan? Like unemployment? The GOP has a plan (lower taxes, smaller government, less regulations). What's the Democrats plan?

See G-9, we have a immediate problems (unemployment), 2-year problems (the deficit) and 5 year problems (entitlement reform) and 10 year problems (the debt). What exactly are Obama and the Democrats doing about any of them? You certainly won't hear any answers from the Dems in the next three days.

AM: Make it 12 years. But over time, they would make a pretty big dent.

Obama is asking to raise taxes only on the "rich", which would bring in an optimal, more than likely less than $70 billion dollars of tax revenue. With $1.5 trillion dollar deficits that's roughly a 4% closing of the deficit gap. Hardly any impact at all.

Like previously stated: Lies and Deception - It's the Democratic Way

Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL

Again with the lack of enthusiasm false equivalency... eh FR?

Did Chuck Todd not notice the massive crowd standing in the pouring rain last night when he was on "Hardball"?

Sure, the novelty of having a new president has worn off over the past four years, so it's inevitable that the excitement is not the same this year as last. But there's another kind of enthusiasm gap other than the oneChuck Todd is referring to: the gap in enthusiasm between Obama supporters and Romney supporters. Obama supporters love the guy, but few of Romney's supporters even LIKE him. I find it hard to believe that even ultra-right conservatives could like someone as wooden, phony, and devious as Romney is.

Wow.... the first WTF moment of the DNC will be having Mooshell open it! I guess 'classy' won't be a keyword for this event!

It is ironic that the nations debt reached $16 Trillion as the DNC attempts to come up with a plausible reason Obummer should be given another 4 years.... yikes! Doesn't it remind you of a disaster movie....?

Personally, I'd rather be watching a rerun of 2016 - The Obama Story, or reread Ed Klein's 'The Amateur', lmao. Atlas Shrugged 2 is coming out as well.... a sequel to the first movie that symbolically reminded us of Barry's great idea to turn America into a communist (wealth redistribution) state! What a depressing time for America!

Bill, Fairfax VA

I enjoyed the bit Clint Eastwood did at the convention last week, it was a real hoot.

Jon Stewart on the Daily Show got a kick out of it, too. The same thought occurred to him as occurred to me when I heard about Eastwood's debate with an empty chair. It explains why Republican attacks on Barack Obama seem unrelated to the actual person. As Stewart put it, Republicans aren't running against the Barack Obama that exists in consensus reality; the Republicans are running against another Barack Obama that only Republicans can see.

Steven Colbert also had a great time with Eastwood's performance. Colbert had his own debate with a chair. And the chair won! Eastwood pretended that his chair was saying rude things to him. Colbert pretended that the chair he debated was reciting the accomplishments of Barack Obama like the Lily Ledbetter law protecting equal pay for workers, saving the auto industry, etc. The crowd was cheering by the time the skit ended.

AM: Don't forget, JoAnna, because I haven't -- you're one of those people who advocated for shareholders to be treated with preference over the GM workers. Maybe you and Paul Ryan should have a little chat about that.

Really? Not the stock holders. They took the risk, they take the loss. That's their problem. The bondholders are another matter. They invested in the company with an agreement they would be paid a certain amount for the use of their money. To have the government eliminate them from receiving compensation as is done in a normal bankruptcy is to say to investors "The rules are this way unless we (the government) say otherwise".

The Left is always complaining that "We need to invest in America!" Sure, people will do that, as long as the government doesn't change the rules mid-stream and for political purposes. But in this environment, with the hatred of business by the Obama administration, who would take the risk of making that investment? We see the results, lack of investment, lack of jobs.

So what will change, Alan, if Romney and Ryan are elected. Tell me that, why don't you?

We might get some dialogue between the Administration and Congress. We might get reform of the tax code. We might actually get a true discussion on entitlement reform. We might get a serious discussion on deficit reduction.

I am not saying that this would not happen in an Obama second term but I see no evidence based on the first term.

They should just let Biden speak. 'We gots Bin Laden'.

Having Michelle (rated the worst FL in Presidential history) open the Democratic National Conspiracy is appropriate I think. It's a subliminal reminder to the nation that their platform for open abortions can have its advantages. Having sleepy Joe Biden close the damn thing would be a nice bookend, eh?

Two questions:

What's the over/under line in Las Vegas of what the National Debt will be at the end of this 'Burning Nation' event?

How many unemployed North Carolina citizens will be paid to fill seats and listen to the lies?

We might get some dialogue between the Administration and Congress.

Yes, by having the same radical ideologies in both places.

We might get reform of the tax code.

Yes, like the Ryan Plan's tax cuts for the rich paid for by the lower and middle classes, that's real reform.

We might actually get a true discussion on entitlement reform.

Reform? Must be codeword for 'elimination'.

We might get a serious discussion on deficit reduction.

Yeah, it will be along the lines of "deficits don't matter", that's why Romney's proposals are currently computing to increase the deficit by about $300B.

First, CONGRESS is responsible (as you commented earlier in this entire thread) for the debt.

No it's not. The President is too. He can veto bills you know. How many spending bills has Obama vetoed? What policies has he put forward to reform entitlements? What policies has he put forward to modernize the tax code? What is his "All of the above" energy policy, all of the above except for what the Greens say not to do is more like it?

Is the GOP responsible for the debt? In part. So are the Democrats. So why is it you on the Left want to send even more money to them to spend? How about we send them less money, demand reform of the tax code, demand reform of entitlements, and demand that they spend within their means. That's all we've seen with 4 years of Obama is Bush spending policies that have been super-sized. You can be critical of the GOP for their spending, but you also need to understand and admit that the Democrats have taken it to another level.

The extremest liberals, who call themselves Democrats, on this board really crack me up. They're totally into the "bricka'-bracka', brika'-bracka', sis-boom-bah; Barry O', Barry O,' RAH-RAH-RAH, that is the Obama campaign.

I'm talking about the same people who threw the 2000, and 2004 elections to George Bush by supporting Ralph Nader and other third-party-pukes who had no chance of winning, and then coming back after eight (8) years of Bush's benightedness, and screaming about wanting change, and hope and all the crap that Obama-shama-lama-ding-dong sold us in 2008.

They refuse to see past the big, fancy, tele-prompter-induced words, and all the phony glitz-and glitter associated with his appearances .

They refuse to look for, or demand substance.

They refuse to acknowledge that unemployment went up AFTER Obama was elected.

The refuse to acknowledge that he hasn't fixed the economy in four years, as he promised he would.

The refuse to acknowledge that he gave federally guaranteed loans to his biggest campaign contributors, after saying he wouldn't do things like that.

They refuse to admit that the economy we're in, is destroying people's lives, and ruining families.

They refuse to demand that he DO SOMETHING about the price of gasoline, a commodity that is VITAL to the day to day operations of people all across this country.

They refuse to acknowledge that Americans are working longer, harder hours for less pay and benefits.

These people are worse than alcoholics in denial! They want the rich to pay their way for them and they demonize people who worked hard for what they have, and who want to keep as much of it as possible.

This country cannot afford four (4) more years of Oba-nomics; four (4) more years of high unemployment, obscene gas prices, stagnant "growth," and a "don't bother working for it, just demonize the wealthy until they give it to you for free" attitude.

We need real leadership. We need someone who'll work for the people, and leave his ego on the doorstep.

We need Mitt Romney, now.

So, as you watching the Democrat convention tonight, ask yourself this question; are you really better off than you were four years again, or are you worse off than before? If you're better off, then by all mens support and vote for Obama, and watch him destroy our country.

But, if you're not better off, if you're struggling to make ends meet as so many people are, and if you think this country deserves, and can do better than what Obama has given us; then, come along with me, and give your support to the Romney-Ryan ticket this November.

DEMOCRATS FOR ROMNEY, 2012!

I am the wrong color for Democrats. Take your pick White Hispanic, White Latino, White ... and, that is only so far.

Discrimination is so ... yesterday.

After being a lifelong Democrat, this year I've changed to Unaffiliated leaning Republican. Republicans had an awesome convention with women from all types of high ranking positions ... governors, senators, business owners, etc.

Yeah, it will be along the lines of "deficits don't matter", that's why Romney's proposals are currently computing to increase the deficit by about $300B

But Obama's plans are stellar and save the country trillions right? Jean Luc you disappoint

Reform? Must be codeword for 'elimination'.

reform is code for elimination? only in libland. Why is it that you hard lefties can't discuss issues without polarizing it? I get it Jean Luc, you think Nancy Peloski and the 'Unemployment is the best form of stimulus, is a great plan.

There is no enthusiasm among independents, no Republicans will vote for Obama this time, and many of the people that where into the HOPE and CHANGE mantra, know that there is NO HOPE NO CHANGE with Obama. Most young people do not believe they will be better off than their parents, most people don't even think about the a American dream to have their own roof, more than 60% of the people believe we are in the wrong direction. This election is about a referendum for Obama. According with Biden we a better off because Osama is dead, how much Osama will contribute to a better economy, how much the death of Osama contribute to reduce the unemployment , he is a real joke. Nothing new from Obama this time around .

Even a great convention can't mask obama's failures as president. Trying to get the dems hyped up to go vota for obama will only work maginally as so many are unemployed. obama will lose to an x gov. this Nov.. Based on the way obama has been dividing our nation I doubt he was any good as a community org..

Obama has thrown Israel under the bus. One of our closest allies. Under the bus! Obama says he does not trust Israel. I do not trust Obama. Israel has been one of our strongest allies and he abandons them at their time of need. Just like Obama will abandon YOU at your time of need, IMO.

And to tell workers who invested THEIR sweat equity into that company with the "promise" that they would receive pension benefits as part of their compensation ISN'T breaking the rules?

The workers work at the pleasure of the investors/owners. That's the agreement. From working the counter at McDonald's to the managers at Apple. Or do you expect where you work your "sweat equity" is worth something other than a paycheck if they decide to lay you off? Just what do you think it's worth? Is it worth the government coming and bailing you out even though your business model has failed? And where would that money to bail you out come from?

You see AM, just like with the government union employees pensions are bleeding both federal and state government budgets dry, badly run businesses that make unrealistic pension agreements with their union workers won't contribute enough to support their pension funds. You better make note of your companies pension contributions and make sure they are funded well. If not, maybe you should look for another job.

If there are pension funds available, as there should be, and the company goes bankrupt, there is an government agency called the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. (PBGC) that manages those funds.

So what exactly are you complaining about?

And to tell workers who invested THEIR sweat equity into that company with the "promise" that they would receive pension benefits as part of their compensation ISN'T breaking the rules?

I guess the Delphi workers didn't sweat enough.

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - A group of Delphi salaried retirees are coming forward and claiming the Obama administration "unfairly picked winners and losers" in the government's auto recovery plan.

An online petition is being launched to support the 22,000 Delphi salaried retirees, who following the bankruptcies of General Motors and Delphi, lost up to 70% of their pensions, all of their health care and all of their life insurance.

The group claims the cuts are a result of President Obama's re-organization of the American auto industry, who although cut their benefits, used government financing to meet the pre-bankruptcy pensions of more than 500,000 union retirees.

http://www.wfmj.com/story/19431137/delphi-salaried-retirees-launch-petition-asking-obama-to-resolve

obama needs to get used to the fact that it's him that will have to go sit in the back of the bus now while a REAL leader brings the dems and repubs togeather to bring about REAL CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN!!!.

AM: Ah, but you see, that's the whole beauty of it from the bondholders' perspective. Having preference in bankruptcy, they really take no risk, pay hardly any taxes on their earnings

What exactly is your problem AM? The deal is the deal, if you don't like it, don't invest. Bonds have nothing to do with pensions, they have to do with capital investments. Many municipal bonds, that's government bonds, are tax free. That's to give incentive for people to invest.

What exactly do you suggest we raise the taxes to on muni's? Think that will help or hurt investments in government bonds? If you have a 401K, you more than likely can select these types of bonds to invest in. They are safe and secure investments relative to the stock market. Do you invest this way or do you make sure you don't because you are so philosophically against it?

AM: We are then forced to suck it up for the lousy decisions made by management, while they walk away with golden parachutes.

That certainly happened with GM. We taxpayers are anywhere from $30-$45 billion in the hole for that deal. You were against that right, not wanting to have to"suck it up" and foot the bill? And yet that is a big rally cry for the Liberals, "bin Laden is dead and GM is alive" it goes I believe. I would imagine you cringe when you hear those words, the government having to take over for the lousy decisions made by that company.

@DCIA

Romney claims he will add 12 million after 4 years. Guess what? The CBO and several financial analysts say NO MATTER who is President 12 million jobs will be added in the next 4 years.

Romney claims he will bring down unemployment to 6% by the end of 4 years. Really? That's the exact number the experts and the CBO say unemployment will fall to by 2016 regardless.

TAX CODE reform? Forget about it. Romney has no intention of eliminating deductions now. To avoid doing the hard work he is now suggesting a cap and choose.

What of the carried interest loophole he enjoys? Well, the devil is in the details according to his campaign. The devil is in the details it seems, those that enjoy that break are stealing from our treasury.

What leads you to believe you might get a discussion on deficits Alan? Ryan and Romney's plans add to the deficits.

And on and on it goes.

So, as the status-quo is painful, and according to you Romney will be as ineffectual, why don't we just eliminate the position of President? It seems it has outlived it usefulness. Or, we could simply elect a figurehead "head of state' like Austria.

How about we elect someone who has managerial experience. Can run a large bureaucracy. Is able to deal with a legislative that disagrees with him. Even now the guy we have is still doing on the job training.

Mr. Obama’s fixation on prowess can get him into trouble. Not everyone wants to be graded by him, certainly not Republicans. Mr. Dowd, the former Bush adviser, said he admired Mr. Obama, but added, “Nobody likes to be in the room with someone who thinks they’re the smartest person in the room.”

Even some Democrats in Washington say they have been irritated by his tips on topics ranging from the best way to shake hands on the trail (really look voters in the eye, he has instructed) to writing well (“You have to think three or four sentences ahead,” he told one reluctant pupil).

For another, he may not always be as good at everything as he thinks, including politics. While Mr. Obama has given himself high grades for his tenure in the White House — including a “solid B-plus” for his first year — many voters don’t agree, citing everything from his handling of the economy to his unfulfilled pledge that he would be able to unite Washington to his claim that he would achieve Israeli-Palestinian peace.

Those were not the only times Mr. Obama may have overestimated himself: he has also had a habit of warning new hires that he would be able to do their jobs better than they could.

“I think that I’m a better speechwriter than my speechwriters,” Mr. Obama told Patrick Gaspard, his political director, at the start of the 2008 campaign, according to The New Yorker. “I know more about policies on any particular issue than my policy directors. And I’ll tell you right now that I’m going to think I’m a better political director than my political director.”

Though he never ran a large organization before becoming president, he initially dismissed internal concerns about management and ended up with a factionalized White House and a fuzzier decision-making process than many top aides wanted.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/03/us/politics/obama-plays-to-win-in-politics-and-everything-else.html?pagewanted=all

Romney has experience in harnessing talent, not competing with it.

A first lady with an approval rate of 54% , say it ain't so! That has to be the lowest ever recorded. I wonder if she will be proud tonight?

Shouldn't you be just as excited about Obama now as you were in 2008 when you voted him into office?

- the youth vote is back living with their parents looking for work

- the African American voter block does NOT support gay marriage - you sure you have 95% of them coming out to vote?

- the uber left thinks Obama has been too conservative!!!

Unquestionably an enthusiasm gap for Obama's base. There wouldn't be an article on MSNBC if it weren't so ridiculously obvious.

skip Nicholson, Oklahoma City

Green Rube,

Hey skip, you are the one that is all for martial law under the Obama Admin. You are the type that would love to see the FBI fill the role of the KGB or Gestapo right? Stop with the faux racism. You sound like backhouse that pathetic puke. You couldnt smell your own jockstrap let alone racism. You lefties are hardly color blind.

Hey seeking you think the GOP is racists? why is it that you liberal posters have a Klan house to hide in and discuss 'stratagem'? keep drumming up false racism, the only ones listening are you KKK libsrus tools.

it's a nod to all the important voting and demographic blocs of the Obama coalition. Women?

HAHAHAHA!!!!! So many women are so disgusted by the Dems/Obama's attack on women they wouldn't cross the street for him, let alone vote for him!

I don't understand why the DNC is having a convention. Everything they say will be lies and spin, well, other than taking out Bin Laden. There is no one else to blame but themselves. I wish we could go back to a time when Libel was pursued on a regular basis. Just for example, I heard on CNN last night some Dem talking about how the Republicans want to take us back to the Bush policies. Funny thing is, the Republicans haven't said that. Only the Democrats. Yet there are the uninformed who will repeat this crap because it is on TV. Let alone those who thing the Liberal comediennes are telling the truth as well. It is pathetic when a party supporters think comedy acts are reality. Has our country become that stupid? I know I won't be watching the convention, I can't take that much self-serving crap.

Romney/Ryan - the only hope for America in 2012!

P.S. Filling sheeple's heads with BS will not close the enthusiasm gap, only fire up the drones, and further incite all others to vote for Romney.

All I can say is that I've not lost my enthusiasm for such marvelous Obama accomplishments as 8.3% unemployment, $4.00 gasoline, and a $16 trillion debt (one third of which belongs directly to Barry)!

JoAnnaSmith1,

Please stop! This is becoming painful to watch.

See, the problem is you are trying to talk "Big People Talk" to the special folks on the FR board. It is an utter waste of your keyboard wear-n-tear factor.

They do not know any more about bondholders & shareholders than they do at-will employment or ambition. This is a train wreck.

Remember watching that "special" kid eat his color crayons?.......yep, they're unwrapping more sticks of color as we type!

It's all going in one eye and out the other.

Maryland DEMOCRAT governor O-Malley says we are not better of then 4 years ago!

Obama has thrown Israel under the bus. One of our closest allies. Under the bus

Obama throw US under the bus in his apologetic tour in Berlin.

Obama throw under the bus his beloved Pastor under the bus to immaculate himself

Obama throw under the bus his " racist gramma" who scare of blacks.

Obama throw under the bus Rezco who made land deals in Chicago.

Obama throw under the bus his friend Bill Ayers. Obama throw under the bus Van Jones , kicking him out the White Hose because he was too radical .

Obama will throw Michelle under the bus if it is necessary in order to get elected

the Democratic convention represents for the Obama camp and Democrats: maybe a final chance to rekindle some of the 2008 magic.

So is Michelle going to kill a chicken and read the entrails on stage? It's going to take more than "Magic" to pull Obama's butt out of the fire. Obama's been relying on the power of illusion but his magic act isn't even good entertainment any more. Even for those that want to believe.

We can't change the past. Look at what's happening today.

Bloomberg just reported that over 46 million people are on food stamps. The highest number ever.

Everything stops at the Presidency. America needs a new leader come November.

Michael: Please stop! This is becoming painful to watch.

See, the problem is you are trying to talk "Big People Talk" to the special folks on the FR board. It is an utter waste of your keyboard wear-n-tear factor.

They do not know any more about bondholders & shareholders than they do at-will employment or ambition. This is a train wreck.

So true.

I like Alan NJs idea, to make the office of the President be a figure-head position. It seems 4 years ago Obama had all the answers to the all the issues of the day, and the Liberals rallied around and supported Obama. Today? It's Congresses fault, Congress only has the power. It's those business owners that are to blame, not paying their fair-share in taxes. It's what was inherited that was at fault, problems too immense for anyone to comprehend and deal with in any way. But Obama? He's powerless. So why have him?

Obamney 2012 !

The Military Industrial Complex must prevail !

Wars, Federal Reserve secrecy, bank bailouts, protectionism, financing foreign governments/armies/warlords, war on drugs continuation, subsidies to corporate giants, world policing, censorship, and much more... Because Liberty is a scary thing.

And whoever tells you otherwise is a terrorist

Sheesh. The nonsense they put out. He is on "ignore" now and I won't be bothered by him anymore.

thats because you are a coward. But you have the right to be ignorant. Rest assured skip you have the support of the FR left of Castro libbies

oskar-1391552

This election is about a referendum for Obama. According with Biden we a better off because Osama is dead, how much Osama will contribute to a better economy, how much the death of Osama contribute to reduce the unemployment , he is a real joke. Nothing new from Obama this time around .

You forgot the second sentence in Joe Biden's "bumper sticker" slogan: General Motors is alive. Biden tried to come up with something that will fit on a bumper sticker, but even two sentences is more than can be comprehended by some people on the lunatic fringe of the ultra-conservative way-out far right.

JS1, that is because Obama is the Wizard of Oz. More like a montebanc. No substance, no solutions.

Dogs and ponies, smoke and mirrors. Biggest sleight of hand comes from the Obama admin

Once I lived in a strange land, one where I witnessed many odd things and many of my beliefs about the world were brought into sharp focus. It didn't last long, because these strange creatures with whom I lived don't have much tolerance for outsiders and actively practice exclusion as a matter of their normal day to day existence. These creatures are the Vultures, and this is my story.

I was invited to join a tribe of longstanding and powerful tradition in the land between two rivers. A wise Chief had spent decades building his legacy, producing great wealth in the process. He had thousands of loyal followers, who in many cases had been with the Chief for decades and seen their fortunes grow with his. People who labored for him spoke proudly of how the Chief always took an interest in them, in their lives, and in the stability and growth of the tribe. He knew that his wealth, his legacy was not his alone but was instead a group effort under his guidance and leadership.

Now it was time for the Chief to move on, to take on the title of "Chairman Emeritas" which allowed him to participate in philanthropical pursuits and watch a great deal of college athletics here in the land between two rivers. He sold his organization to a new band of chiefs, people who lived in the air above a strange island on the Eastern shore. Wall Streeters, they wished to be called, but before long we all recognized them as Vultures.

The Vultures had many strange ways that seemed to have little to do with what the old Chief and his assistants referred to as "building value." We understood that the Vultures had saddled the tribe with a sizable debt to complete the purchase but their actions went further. For those of us responsible for a P&L our new yardstick was always to increase the measure known as EBITDA, yet instructions from the Wall Streeters conflicted with that. Owning property is advantageous to EBITDA, but the Vultures quickly sold all assets. Strange creatures these.

As it turned out there was a method to their plan. The profits from selling company property was sent as tribute to the skyscraper people. My P&L was immediately charged 5% of revenue as "overhead", money that went for no other purpose than to pay off the loan required of us by the Vultures and as "management fees."

Ah, the "management fees." Every 2-3 months chieftans from the Vulture clan would visit our village. They would "consult" for a few days, poring over the holy P&L. They worshipped direction, with upward to the right being the only acceptable outcome, ignoring seasonality, economic cycles, and industry comparisons. Always, always the graph must go upward to the right.

They were also numerologists, with 35% YOY increase being the sacred number. Consistently we delivered 28%, but it wasn't enough. What terrible times those were when the chieftans came to town. Orders came from the East to cut head count, sell what little assets we still owned, and take other drastic action in a futile attempt to reach the sacred number. I say futile because my tribute to the vultures would double, sometimes triple in months the chieftans came to town.

Eventually, consuming the seed one needs for the following year's planting takes a toll. The group known as my "division" found the "overhead" to be prohibitive as orders from Wall Street cut our capacity by almost 1/3. We were doomed.

My time came to leave the tribe. Those who continued sending word to me related a terrible famine, one that cut the population there by an additional 1/2. Other divisions also suffered, though the pain is masked by folding new acquisitions into the starving beast.

And of the Vultures? They're fine, thank you very much. They eat better than ever because they consume the bread of others. What a strange land they inhabit, though, one where wealth for themselves is created at the expense of prosperity for many. As it turns out there are many tribes of vultures. If it interests you the story of another is written here;

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/greed-and-debt-the-true-story-of-mitt-romney-and-bain-capital-20120829

With any luck the day won't come where we are all led by such. That chapter is yet to be written. The future is ours, we need only decide wisely.

Boy oh boy! MSNBC First Read seems to be drooling all over my computer this morning. The much anticipated Democratic National Convention is now front and center. For the first couple of nights I will be glancing at it from time to time since I know the democrats will be lying their teeth out. I'm sure an occasional truth will come forth, but those will be seminal moments. For as much as the liberals continually beat the drum on the republican lies, there will be no drum beat for the next couple of nights. All we will hear is the soft refrains from some obscure violin off in the distance...

The big question is... will the democrats admit any lies given by their illustrious leaders speaking on the podium? How about half truths? How about obfuscation? How about deception? How about any word on this robust economy and the low unemployment rate? How about democrats just being democrats?

Will there be an empty chair moment by some crazy loon such as Whoopi Goldberg, or a secret appearance by George Clooney? They can always call Mr. Global Warming himself, Al Gore.

I actually believe they are going to try to whup it up on republicans... Maybe Obama will play on this:

“As long as I’m president, I will work with anyone in this chamber to build on this momentum,” Obama said. “But I intend to fight obstruction with action, and I will oppose any effort to return to the very same policies that brought on this economic crisis in the first place. No, we will not go back to an economy weakened by outsourcing, bad debt, and phony financial profits.”

It's about time he proved these words since he said them over a year ago. We are still waiting Mr. President.

Right, John. Losing your job had nothing whatsoever to do with poor performance reviews, did it?

Nah. After all, the owners of the company had an obligation to meet the needs of poorly performing employees, because, well- because! It's not like the poorly performing employee has any obligation to improve, or anything- after all, firms exist to give out jobs!

I have a feeling a bunch of so -called journalists are going to be joining you in the unemployment line- and it will be all the fault of the mean old media outlets who let them go, rather than the fact that they simply refuse to do their jobs.

Pity the poor political reporters- they aren't having any FUN

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0912/80604.html?hp=r1

Now, pardon me for speculating that it is because their team is losing- but I have a suggestion:  go cover the real news.

Chuck Todd laments that they are not focusing on the economy- who the heck is stopping them?  The steep decline in median income is easy enough to report- go find some folks who are suffering as a result.  The fact that 58% of the jobs created by this administration are entry level, low wage jobs, rather than the middle income jobs necessary is also relatively easy to report- go find some of the folks working those, rather than higher wage jobs.  The monkey business with the unemployment rate?  Couple of stories there:  where and what were those mystical 163,000 jobs created last month- particularly in light of the LAUS report, which showed unemployment up in 44 states.  What about the 195,000 fewer employees last month- and, oh, yeah- what about the millions who hit the lottery and quit the labor force?  Think you could find some of them to interview?

On the other hand, none of that would help Obama- so lets just wait for the next gaffe.  Don't worry- it probably won't be Biden's.  They don't allow you to report those anymore.

Maybe if some of you focused more on the inadequacies of your job performances, and addressed them, you'd have better luck.

Whining and complaining about not having any "fun" is not going to help. Neither is blaming the firm for judging your performance as inadequate.

Of course, the number one person who should be doing this is Obama- but, like most liberals, he will just blame the electorate for his own unemployment situation.

I'm not in the unemployment line, I'm working in a management position as I have for the last 20+ years.

HUNDREDS of others lost their jobs. Were they all victims you can blame for their own misfortune?

My point is simple. Previous generations of American capitalists took it as an article of faith that they needed to build something of value in Hershey, PA or Dearborn, MI or Wichita, KS to build their own fortunes.

Today's Vulture Capitalists, and Mitt Romney was a pioneer in the field have perfected a method of building their personal wealth by destroying the livelihoods of others...AND WE SUBSIDIZE IT WITH TAX BREAKS!

But the way Romney most directly owes his success to the government is through the structure of the tax code. The entire business of leveraged buyouts wouldn't be possible without a provision in the federal code that allows companies like Bain to deduct the interest on the debt they use to acquire and loot their targets. This is the same universally beloved tax deduction you can use to write off your mortgage interest payments, so tampering with it is considered political suicide – it's been called the "third rail of tax reform." So the Romney who routinely rails against the national debt as some kind of child-killing "mortgage" is the same man who spent decades exploiting a tax deduction specifically designed for mortgage holders in order to bilk every dollar he could out of U.S. businesses before burning them to the ground.

Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/greed-and-debt-the-true-story-of-mitt-romney-and-bain-capital-20120829#ixzz25Ve8bb2p

Because minus that tax break, Romney's debt-based takeovers would have been unsustainably expensive. Before Lynn Turner became chief accountant of the SEC, where he reviewed filings on takeover deals, he crunched the numbers on leveraged buyouts as an accountant at a Big Four auditing firm. "In the majority of these deals," Turner says, "the tax deduction has a big enough impact on the bottom line that the takeover wouldn't work without it."

Thanks to the tax deduction, in other words, the government actually incentivizes the kind of leverage-based takeovers that Romney built his fortune on. Romney the businessman built his career on two things that Romney the candidate decries: massive debt and dumb federal giveaways. "I don't know what Romney would be doing but for debt and its tax-advantaged position in the tax code," says a prominent Wall Street lawyer, "but he wouldn't be fabulously wealthy."

Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/greed-and-debt-the-true-story-of-mitt-romney-and-bain-capital-20120829#ixzz25VeHnQMP

Mike, Eastwood was hilarious. He was impromptu, unscripted, no teleprompter and spoke off the cuff. In otherwords, he was himself. No pretense, no script, just Clint being Clint. Liberals don't know how to take humor... especially when it's directed at their favorite icons.

What repub are you talking about Mike? You don't know me.

I take it you don't know what Al Gore was doing when it comes to global warming do you? You gotta get all scientific about it when I never question the science. I do question Al Gore's motives... Cap and Trade... money... that's all he was interested in... nothing more, but you liberals seem to think he was trying to alert the world... He was... alerting them to the amount of money he was going to make from it.

Roll out the VW bug and let the clowns come pouring out. Well, maybe Odumbo will want to change it to a Volt instead of a VW.

John,

Capitalists gave us what we wanted. ATM's, Self Check outs, cheaper goods made in foreign countries (like your Cell phone), and most importantly conformance to government regulations here in the states. The first three brought down prices and the majority of consumers liked it, otherwise after the first company did it and couldn't sell their stuff, no other company would have followed suit. The Fourth makes it harder for US companies to compete with China. The people spoke and we lost jobs.

Brianb-999431

Actually, we have read enough of your posts and know its best to ignore them. There isn't much factual information there and what is there, is fabricated through the GOP book of lies.

Today's Vulture Capitalists, and Mitt Romney was a pioneer in the field have perfected a method of building their personal wealth by destroying the livelihoods of others...AND WE SUBSIDIZE IT WITH TAX BREAKS!

Too funny. Do you know who Bain investors are?

Government-worker pension funds are the chief beneficiaries of Bain’s economic stewardship. New York-based Preqin uses public documents, news accounts and Freedom of Information requests to track private-equity holdings. Since 2000, Preqin reports, the following funds have entrusted some $1.56 billion to Bain:

* Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund ($2.2 million)

* Indiana Public Retirement System ($39.3 million)

* Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System ($177.1 million)

* The Los Angeles Fire and Police Pension System ($19.5 million)

* Maryland State Retirement and Pension System ($117.5 million)

* Public Employees’ Retirement System of Nevada ($20.3 million)

* State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio ($767.3 million)

* Pennsylvania State Employees’ Retirement System ($231.5 million)

* Employees’ Retirement System of Rhode Island ($25 million)

* San Diego County Employees Retirement Association ($23.5 million)

* Teacher Retirement System of Texas ($122.5 million)

* Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System ($15 million)

These funds aggregate the savings of millions of unionized teachers, social workers, public-health personnel and first responders. Many would be startled to learn that their nest eggs are incubated by the company that Romney launched and the financiers he hired.

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolumnists/look_who_parks_their_cash_at_bain_88KSQrw8BXciEidja2ZQXN#ixzz25ViXPCXF

Even the California State Pension fund is heavily invested in Bain

Romney’s stake in the Bain Capital Asia fund—about $250,000—is very modest, however, compared to the California teachers pension system. According to the California State Teachers’ Retirement System’s most recent reports, the pension has committed $25 million to Bain Capital Asia, and has earned approximately $2.5 million on the investment since 2007. That makes CalSTRS one of Bain Capital Asia’s largest funders.

CalSTRS investments in Bain don’t end there. Since 2006, it has committed $1.28 billion to eight other Bain funds focusing on tech, real estate, consumer goods and credit. California’s teachers are therefore one of Bain’s largest sources of cash. CalSTRS stands to reap a much bigger profit than Romney from China’s thirst for spy cameras, among other questionable investments that pepper the firm’s investment portfolio.

“Public pensions can play a key role in leveraged buyouts,” explains Ed Mendel. “A private-equity firm puts up a token amount, gets a larger down payment from a pension fund or other limited partner, and borrows most of the money, using the takeover target’s assets as collateral.” The results of these leveraged buyout deals are mixed, but oftentimes the conquered company is forced to cut costs by laying off workers and selling assets, reinforcing private equity’s predatory reputation. Romney’s career (and fortune) at Bain Capital included more than a few of these kinds of deals, and recent press reports about the presidential contender’s role in various deals has brought the practice back to the foreground of political debate. “More than half of the CalPERS and CalSTRS private-equity holdings are in buyouts,” Mendel observes.

Criticisms of private equity as a job destroyer (and agent of other questionable pursuits) then are at the same time very much a criticism of the big California pensions as enablers, driven by their fiduciary obligations to public-sector employees. It all makes for a complicated problem that has yet to be acknowledged in the national debate about Bain Capital, and private equity in general, that has been engendered by Romney’s campaign.

http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/bains-benefactors/content?oid=5702619

Brian B

They ignore because they can't answer your posts.

Keep them coming.

Eric - you are telling lies yet again. Do me a huge favor... spell out Obama's plan for economic recovery... please be specific. While you are at it... step back 4 years and tell me what Obama meant by hope and change.

You know no such thing as to what the republicans will do with medicare. That has been blown so far out of proportion there's not a shred of truth to it. Obama is the only person to have stripped medicare of hundreds of billions of dollars.

And I'm convinced that's all it ever was, then and now.

Xabie lets talk about how you'd fix the economy again. Talk about excuses. Please tell me how ARRA worked so well.

Itsabouttime - You know where you can go... be mindful... it's hot!

Did you bedwetting liberals even know about the enthusiasm gap since your sole news source has buried all info that would make you worry?

This is the biggest collection uninformed politicos in the country. Whenever you libs get a glimpse of what's actually going on in the political arena you all circle your wagons to comfort each other and try to reinforce your delusional obsession with your messiah.

Get with the program, 0bama's 15 minutes of fame are up and he will soon be nothing but a skid mark in our countrie's history remembered as that time the great and powerful US was almost brought down from within by socialism.

ANYBODY BUT 0BAMA-2012

Actually, Steeler, I know quite a bit about how-and why- companies not constrained by union rules cut staff. When there is a RIF, it is the lowest performers who go first. In union shops, unfortunately, all RIFs are done by seniority- so, often, better performing employees are cut, while poorer ones remain.

Public school systems are glaring examples of that method.

As to the media- well, if they have forgotten how to cover a campaign by focusing on what is important to the electorate, they have no one but themselves to blame.

As to Obama, who is completely clueless on how to do his job effectively- he, and you, will blame anyone but himself- but the result will be the same- he's going to be out of a job shortly.

Thank heaven.

Brianb and no joe,no bo...........your posts are scaring the hell out of the liberals because they know you are right on and they have no way to respond so they simply call names and dispute your information. Keep holding their feet to the fire!!!

GOP KNOWS their pet theory hasn't worked for the last 30 years. And the 'job creator' lie is thoroughly worn out. For starters, despite $Trillions in tax cuts for the super-wealthy, President George Bush has possibly the weakest job creation record in our history.

Democrats go on letting GOP control the debate about economic growth and jobs, even after 'trickle down' has been thoroughly debunked. For many a moon, the topic has been wasting everyone's time.

And the Democrats plan is different how? By increasing the tax on those earning 250K or more an additional 4%. So tell me how that will create jobs? There will still be a deficit driven by $3T over 10 years in tax cuts for the middle class. There is still a major war occurring, escalated by president Obama. There is still Medicare D that is now funded by fund diverted from Medicare Advantage.

So if the Republican plan has already been debunked, how does taxing an additional 70B a year make such a big difference? The Democratic plan is what you have now, but they're going to collect 70B more a year and spend it on something else.

I see Jody is pontificating again... about none other than capitalism.

Hey Jody, how many products do you have in your house from China? Take a look around and calculate the amount of money you spent on those products... Now that you have done that, I trust you did... figure out how many salaries of those chinese workers you paid. Consider that they work for approximately 1 dollar a day... the materials are inferior, the labor is cheap... and here you go spouting about how venture capitalists are bad. You purchase products from a country that beat their citizens and kill them when they don't produce... but you still buy their products... Does that make you feel all righteous? You have the power of your dollar to buy products from tortured citizens?

And here you go complaining about companies that step in to help other failing companies. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. You only focus in on when it doesn't... I have an idea.. run down to your local Wal-Mart and buy some more products from China... it will make you feel better.

Obama will cause the U.S. to default on its payments, with a national debt reaching 20 Trillion OR MORE by 2016.

Obama will cause unemployment to reach unheard of levels by 2016. (Just look what a great job he's done so far keeping unempoyment at or above 8%!)

And when the government runs out of money then there will be no more healthcare for seniors, and no more well-fare for the unemployed! (Or they'll desperately try to print more and more money and cause hyper inflation!)

They will be the ones who suffer the most!

Have you looked at Greece lately?

And by the way, why isn't MSNBC reporting about a top Democrat in California who compared Paul Ryan to a Nazi?

IS OBAMA GOING TO DISTANCE HIMSELF FROM THESE OUTRAGEOUS REMARKS?

You know the Democrats have lost the argument when they're starting to make Nazi comparisons...

Of the three morning shows, only ABC's Good Morning America on Monday highlighted two drunken delegates at the Democratic National Convention, one of whom was forced to leave North Carolina. Fill-in host Lara Spencer touted the story, asserting that "things are already off to a shaky start."

Reporter Cecilia Vega explained, "Two California Democratic delegates partied into the wee hours of Sunday morning. In the lobby of their Charlotte hotel, one was so drunk he apparently passed out and was taken to the hospital." She added that the unidentified delegate was "belligerent" and threatened with arrest for impersonating a congressman. ABC reported the story in the 7am and 8am hour. CBS This Morning and NBC's Today, however, skipped it.

LMAO! A buncha drunken dems!

xabie its called Mittromney dot com. I already know Obama's plan. it sucks and has for 4 years. the guy didnt care about the economy when he campaigned on it 4 years ago. Remember Laser like focus. Nope you guys deflect like you just did. Joking about shovel ready not being so shovel ready. If he didnt turn the economy around in 3 years, he'd be a first term president. Well he might just live up to that promise, in fact I hope he does.

Xabre said: Do me a favor, and spell out Romney's.

I asked first. I will after you spell out Obama's.

It's about time said: I'm already there.. it's called "TEXAS".

Then you misunderstood my directions... you have to leave where you are to travel as I directed... which I assure you, is much hotter...

Why do you care if I found a job?

We know 0bama's plan, we are living that nightmare right now.

That assclown has the gall to tell america that capitalism didn't work in the past?

How the hell did we become the most powerful nation in the world in record time if it didn't work.

I think what that traitor to our country means is that capitalism didn't work to create a nation of mediocracy and dependency.

Why do you care if I found a job?

It's MY tax dollars supporting your kids, thanks to your lazy, useless ass!

If you HATE gubment so much, quit cashing your unemployment checks!

You might spend a little more time on CareerBuilder and a little less time spreading your garbage on FR!

"OBAMA Rules and the GOP are FOOLS" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The dems have decided to ratchet up the enthusiasm factor by presenting a filled to capacity arena with lots of noisy cheering people. They're accomplishing this by handing out tickets to anyone that will take them and by busing people in. They need to do these things to avoid having all those empty seats on national display.

Most of the products we buy from China are made by U.S. corporations that have moved their factories to China because that is the nature of capitalism.

because we as Americans demand cheap products. but tell me how has communism worked in the past? you know wealth redistribution, each according to his need, according to his ability?

DEMOCRAT Governor of Maryland, Martin O-Malley. When asked are we better of today then 4 years ago he responded truthfully, NO! Hmmm, an honest Democrat just in time for the convention! beardog - You want to talk about stupidity, how about a President how has not had a budget period. IDIOT!

The financial institution executive who was in charge of the "independent probe" that ended up absolving the Obama Administration for wasting billions of taxpayers' dollars spent on green energy schemes was neither bi-partisan or non-partisan, but a big contributor to the Obama reelection campaign, according to a report by a Washington, D.C., public-interest group that investigates corruption.

According to a report on Friday, Herbert Allison's role as a special investigator of the Department of Energy's stimulus-funded loan program that is sparking curiosity. Not long after Allison determined that billions in taxpayer dollars invested in Obama-favored "green" technology companies were at nominal risk, "he made campaign donations -- big ones -- to the Democratic National Committee and the president's re-election efforts," officials at the

In addition, according to officials at Judicial Watch, this situation raises doubts about the integrity of Wall Street maven Allison's investigation, "which centered on nearly $3 billion in loans that the Obama Department of Energy (DOE) doled out for experimental alternative energy projects."

Among the loans was an alleged fly-by-night California company named Solyndra, that was bankrolled by another Obama donor and fundraiser (bundler) George Kaiser, wasted more than half a billion dollars before finally going bankrupt.

In early 2012, a federal audit confirmed that "serious concerns" expressed by U.S. Treasury officials involving the risky $535 million Solyndra infusion were ignored as the deal was fast-tracked by top White House officials.

As a result, Judicial Watch filed a lawsuit against the Department of Energy to obtain records regarding the Solyndra loan because "the administration has blown off a public records request that dates back to early September 2011."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Remember who really donated to the DNC convention..........

You could read the rest of this article at:

http://www.examiner.com/article/investigator-who-cleared-obama-scandal-is-his-campaign-donor

When I see a picture of michelle, it reminds me of a quote from 'The Color Purple' film. 'Yo' sure is ugly'.

no that is not the basic function of any gov. Nice try Xabie. Levying taxes is to keep gov running. Its to PROMOTE the General Welfare, not Provide it. That is why our country was founded upon rewarding success, not demonizing it.

Think Sears Roebuck would be so successful with wealth redistrubtion. We know even GM isnt doing that well, at least the tax payers arent. Hows that Volt again?

OK, I followed Eric's link to see what Obama's agenda is to improve our economy... This is laughable!!

http://change.gov/agenda/economy_agenda/

Eric, this was Obama's plan in 2009. I'll bet you thought I'd fall for your lead. We already know this is laughable. It didn't work.

Let me be even more specific... What is Obama's 2012 plan since the 2009 plan did NOT achieve one objective.

Wet Willy, they aren't empty seats, they're Eastwooding.

This "news" network is getting crazy.

Dose anyone think that Chuck Todd will be calling the San Antonio Mayor a token like he called all the minorities in the republican party?

Last week was a 24/7 race cardathon. We found out so much about what republicans cant say.

Golf

Chicago

Welfare

Angry

Foodstamp

Debt

Foreign policy

Europe

Constitution

America

These are just some of the things that had MSNBC playing the race card last week.

....are you better off than you were 4 years ago......Hell yes we are...

Uh, chuck, I believe that this is your white cane I found here!

Romney's Grandfather was a Mexican from the Drug Cartel...

That's weak "Patriotic"! Is that all you have?

Loser...

And by the way, why isn't MSNBC reporting about a top Democrat in California who compared Paul Ryan to a Nazi?

IS OBAMA GOING TO DISTANCE HIMSELF FROM THESE OUTRAGEOUS REMARKS?

Hmmm...?

You know the Democrats have lost the argument when they're starting to make Nazi comparisons...

;)

Xabre - Obama's biggest problem is that he is NOT a leader. Reagan delt with a democratic house and senate as did Clinton with the Republicans. It was brutal and hard fought. But they did it. What does Obama do, cry like a little bitch. And it will cost him his Presidency!

Jody said: Brian b, how many do you have? Jody, I do my best to not buy foreign products. I will not buy a foreign vehicle. All my furniture was made in the US.

Yes, I prefer pontificating about capitalism; Why, don't you benefit from it?

I also prefer that jobs be created here rather than looking for cheap labor so that something can be sold for a huge profit on the backs of slave-labor wages. Well, you pontificate about it, but you don't ever come up with solutions to the high labor/cheap labor situation. It's much easier to complain about it than it is to offer solutions, eh?

The right vilifies communists and China is a communist nation yet conservatives cheer USA businesses building plants and growing China's economy--doesn't seem too smart to me, seems more like aiding and abetting the enemy. This is very narrow sighted. You act like republicans alone benefit from the cost of cheap labor. It smacks of double standard hypocracy to me.

Apple makes a great product but Steve Job's legacy would be greater if he built those plants in the USA; there are many regions in this country where he could have done this and still made a big profit. Really? Where? You say this without a shred of backup on your assertions.

That said, when I find something not made overseas, then that is my preference and what I will buy. FYI, I bought new living-room furniture a year ago; and guess what, every piece was Made in the USA. In fact, all the furniture in my home is Made in the USA because I searched for it. Well, good. But that doesn't stop you from claiming capitalism is bad, when it was capitalism that built your furniture. How do you know it wasn't made overseas, or components of it weren't made overseas? Lots of components go into furniture... such as springs, cloth, padding, etc... are you 100% certain?

Xabre said: Now tell me, how much of it wasn't obstructed by the House?

Xabre - are you ADD? The year I am talking about is 2012. You are all over the place. I will try this one more time with you... and if you can't answer it... just admit that you can't. It is very simple.

What is Obama's 2012 plan to improve the economy?

Xabre

Let me be even more specific... What is Obama's 2012 plan since the 2009 plan did NOT achieve one objective.

Now tell me, how much of it wasn't obstructed by the House?

All of it. How is that this President, you know super smart, can't play with both sides? Why has every president (D, R and W) in the past except Johnson able to work with both sides of congress? Short answer is that he sucks. your answer its all bush and the repubs fault.

Xabre - I'm so glad you're a Democrat! You by far are the dumbest person i have responded to. Obama compromised to get his stimulus through? Umm, you mean with Democrats, wow what a compromiser.

jimsepia said: Too funny. Rightwingnuts sure have their panties in a bunch.

Not half as funny as the liberals that have their brains in a bunch!

Ronald Reagan once said that to a Republican, everyday is July 4^th and to the democrat, it’s April 15^th. That is so disgustingly true and very sad. My grandfather and father both had their own businesses prior to retiring and now my brother runs his own. As a sole proprietor, the income from his business is filed through his personal income and yes, he exceeds the $200K mark most years, although not by much. Does that make him rich? Not hardly. Do you deserve a cut – not even close. He pays his taxes and gives to the community in which he does business. He hires employees and pays them a fair wage. He takes the risks so he gets to enjoy the benefits. If my brother’s business fails, he alone takes the hit. Obama is unlikely to be standing there with a bail out to keep him going and neither are you.

Here’s a tip for you – don’t like the wages you’re being paid? Don’t work there. If enough people refuse to work for them – they will change their way of doing business or who knows, maybe they will hire illegal immigrants. Don’t like how an employer treats their employees? Don’t shop there – it will change. But thinking these people are going to give away their money through Obama’s “share the wealth” plan to people who don’t deserve it is a poorly thought out pipe dream. They have several options. Put up with it, close their doors, down size to get out of the line of fire, or move their business outside the country on every level possible. Most will do one of the latter options, not the first.

Romney/Ryan 2012

Short answer: Tea Party.

small and irrelevant yet out maneuvered Obama the Oz? You lose with that statement. reason enough not to vote for Obama.

I always thought Patriotic American was a little off base, but this really proves it... Comments from a nutcase: Romney's Grandfather was a Mexican from the Drug Cartel and his Wealth was Passed down to the Father, then the Son - Mitt Romney, now running for the President of the United States of America. Blood & Drug Money buying a American Election, what has this Country come to, this is beyond Insane !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The democrats/liberals are really getting desperate... this proves it. We all knew Romney's roots were in Mexico... now some left wing loony liberal comes up with this... No proof, no backup, nothing but a statement of imagination. The only correct statement starts after the last comma... this is beyond insane... desperation is starting to creep up their spinal chords.

agenda 21 google it

DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS WE ARE ALL AMERICANS- RESEARCH / GOOGLE JUST DO IT http://www.theblaze.com/stories/is-the-soros-sponsored-agenda-21-a-hidden-plan-for-world-government-yes-only-it-is-not-hidden/ THE HIDDEN AGENDA - THIS IS WHAT THEY WANT -UNITED WE STAND DIVIDED WE FALL

Backhouse, #2- EXCELLENT!!!!

and many votes given in between..........

News98, #2.13- I'd rather be "back of the pack" than "UNDER THE BUS"!.........[then UNDER THE WATER FROM THERE]!

jimsepa said:

geo, get your history correct before you bash someone. Yes, President Obama compromised with the Republicans. The stimulus was split three ways - one for true stimulus spending, one for tax breaks demanded by Republicans and one for unemployment benefits demanded by Democrats.

Ummm that is not correct either. When Obamacare was being debated, the republicans weren't even allowed in the room. The republicans didn't even have enough members to create a filibuster. It was all democrats. The republicans were not regarded one bit in forming the act. When it went for a vote, all republicans voted against it in unison. Obama was quoted as saying "The republicans can sit in the back of the bus, they had their time." How does that remotely resemble compromise?

I have to say this. THERE ARE SOME REALLY INCONSIDERATE PEOPLE ON THESE BOARDS Don't ever collapse the first post in a thread! Do you realize how inconsiderate it is for people to do that? The 5 idiots that collapsed Backhouse's first post... grow the F up or stop coming here!

Backhouse- When discussing the middle class you also have to discuss the economic implications of policy on the working classes. I'll give you two recent news items that I find particularly disconcerting that will have direct impacts on the middle class. These are:

1. President Obama released an executive order forcing cogeneration in our energy system. Cogen is a useful means to harvest more power from the energy production system- like using heat recovery to create more energy or use that heat for other uses, etc. The point is that the President is demanding that within 8 years energy suppliers must implement these measures to their power plants as part of his "green energy" plans. The President touted that it would save Americans $10 billion per year. Sounds good, eh? It's not that simple. Firstly, the President doesn't have the constitutional power to decree what power companies must do (using federal agencies to enforce his wishes), but he just did. Secondly, he didn't tout that this equates to over an $80 billion makeover to the power plants- many of whom are currently agonizing over the recent upgrade demands placed upon them by the federal government (scrubbers, etc.) and having to install them on an extremely tight schedule. So you see realistically these companies are going to have to race through the planning, design, bidding, contracting, and permitting processes- many of which (especially the permitting one) are overseen by the federal government and are notorious for being very slow and laden with reviews. This will cost them massive money to start up and are backed up with fines if they don't get them done on time. Considering the complexity of cogen and it's design it's a daunting task of design alone on that schedule. Then you've got fabrication and installation, permits, etc. etc. which also disrupt your ability to produce power.

Remember that many of these power plants are struggling with today's new requirements, let alone new ones. Many have buckled under the earlier regulation's costs so you have to believe that many more will financially collapse with the second wave of regulations. Let's just go with they can figure out a way to pay for the upgrades- whom do you think will bear the burdon of the costs....... the consumers (the middle class). If they are expending billions in required upgrades (the latest pegged at over $80 billion), then they are going to pass on those costs to consumers in higher energy costs. So the middle class is going to take it on the chin for energy policy.

Do I want dirty air, water, and pollution- no but you have to understand that there have to be priorities and schedules to do so. The federal government just forced them to implement an air pollution program, so let that one complete before you stack other regulations on top or extend the others into a schedule that is realistic to implement. I tend to think that this is political regulation at it's worst- taking a good upgrade and creating unrealistic, punitive regulations to get what you want to show others (for votes). If the President and his administration discussed the realities of such measures they would have at least thought about what it takes to get things done and made them possible.

2. Ben Bernake late last week noted that there can/will be a QE4 someday. That will directly impact the middle class as your dollar's value will become futher diluted and will create huge inflation when you go to the store. They are considering doing so because it will make the US payback of loans cost "less" as the dollar is worth less in the global market. Problem is that our crediters will eventually (and many are starting to do so now) cut their losses and stop buying our debt, some are already trying to get rid of the dollar as the currency of international trade altogether. When that happens we are pinched with little leverage regarding our money's value. So the middle class will get further crushed by getting less for your take home paychecks. Oh, don't forget that your taxes will have to go up too- how else are the politicians going to pay for their spending when the money's not worth as much...... increase the rate of return for investing in us. Dig the hole deeper!

So I get your anti-top down perspective, but I'd challenge you and our leaders to think carefully about the middle class, it's demise, and how to make changes that encourage growth without pinching us further.

That's funny coming from you. Threaten bodily harm to anyone else lately

acting tough over the internet is just retarded but xabie even if brianB did that, he is wrong . However you care to address your own pig pen and the lefty posters that threaten physically as well? where is that clwyd guy? I am pretty sure that pvss cake threated me physically but well im not worried. its weak. anyone that does it over the internet is weak.

Eric;

Politifact.com, seriously?

FACT; Politicians, party notwithstanding, are by nature liars, scoundrel, thieves and con men.

FACT; IN the view of politicians, the TRUTH is what they say it is.

FACT; Too many Americans, like you, see only what they're political GODS tell them, having long ago lost the ability to think.

FACT; A politicians loyalties lie with their portfolio, again party notwithstanding.

FACT; Politicians are ALL dirty, ALL the time.

FACT; These are the same people who put Bernie Madoff in prison for running a PONZI scheme. And the sheep applauded their good work. Seriously,,,,, These are the same people running the most monumental PONZI scheme the world has ever known and they are doing a good thing? What? Eliminating their competition?

FACT; If a politician's mouth is moving, They ARE lying to you. Anyone who believes a word out of a politicians mouth is an Idiot.

Think about it all you died in the wool, brainwashed whatever's out there. You are being sold a bill og good by professional con men. Wake up and smell what they are burying you in.

Hey liberal children... you forgot a few of my posts... I mean you haven't collapsed them all yet. I'll give you a few minutes... since it takes 5 of you to do it.

You have no idea how proud it makes me to have you collapse them. Really! Every collapse is a badge of honor because it proves how incredibly thin skinned you are.... and how much you want to shut down the voice of opposition... It also shows that you can't take it... and are afraid to argue points... bunch of liberal wusses!

seeking sanity....Jealous of what? ugliness? keep on seeking for sanity, you're far from it.

Xabre said: That's funny coming from you. Threaten bodily harm to anyone else lately?

I never threatened anyone. I used irony... but since we know you have no idea what that is... it takes a liberal with ADD to confuse the two...

Hey Xabre - I am still waiting the answer to my question... what is Obama's 2012 plan to fix the economy. You must be hard researching his non-existent plan.

If you want to know whose lying, go to politifact.com or factcheck.org and find out!!

The math is all but done. You'll find Republicans saying this week that Obama lied, yet according to politifact.com Romney only tells the truth 29% of the time.

You'll find that the only campaign with a plan to fix the economy is Obama. Romney/Ryan won't give you their plan. They just say "trust us".

We already know that the Republicans will turn Medicare into a voucher program and make seniors pay more for their health care later on.

Obama wants to take care of the middle class, not the 1%

News98

Obama is a socialist - look at his plans. Take from everyone and keep it for himself.

That is not how socialism works. That is however what the 1% have been up to for a long time. Remarkable, they take it from you and you bend over and say it's theirs.

I love to see all the Dem's get all over Mitt for his Bain Capital connection when in fact George Soros and Warren Buffet were running the out of country scam back in the seventies and eighties, remember Made in Japan, guess who was collecting those billions?? Good ol' George and Warren, oh yes! The original outsource guys' And we don't hear about them other then there advising Nobama, i wonder why???

R/R Motors 2012 Moving us down the road to prosperity!!

Romney/Ryan 2012 taking us back to the 50's one voucher at a time.

Ryan Vouchercare to Cleanse our Seniors, GOP Death Camp !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey comrade, keep the fear mongering up. You sound like Bush, but so does Obama. No diff there really.

That is how socialism works BCWC, socialism is merely a stepping stone towards Communism but you knew that right?

Romney/Ryan taking us back to the 50s one voucher at a time.

I wish to God that could happen, Eric. The 50s were an absolutely great time to be alive in this country. But the decade was ushered in by a Democrat who was a true leader, not a clueless community organizer.

sweaver,

When did George Soros and Warren Buffett enter the race for president? You all disallow the name Bush to be used in any conversation regarding, well anything, but repeatedly bring up names of people who are not involved in the campaign. Weird.

Back in the 1950's . . . I invite you to look at the redlining practices in those days.

It wasn't only if you were "black, brown, or yellow" that caused you to be discriminated against (although in fairness any color other than legally defined "white" was the major issue - remember we had racial purity acts in place in many states then). If you were Jewish or Italian you were also "legally" subjected to increased bank fees and reduced access to credit also because you were classified as "undesireable."

Eric,

The same Obama "plan" we have now? No thanks. Romney - or anyone - in 2012!!!!!!!!!!

so libbies can only focus on black people being 'put back in chains'. Sure the 50's and early 60's weren't good for blacks, but not a time in American history prior to the civil rights movement was. But America was prosperous in 50's but lets not divert the attention to prosperity for americans, lets talk about faux racism. You know the all important non existent issue.

When you're losing you throw in the race card --- thankfully it's been over used, worn out, and not effective. But.....that's all they got.

Time to "dial up" the enthusiasm, cause it just ain't gonna be there any other way. The far left is jazzed because they have a president who is into all their causes and they see this as their one chance to get everything they ever dreamed of for Christmas. "Normal Americans" just want jobs and a better economy, and Obama just isn't interested in such mundane things when there are all these social issue fish to fry. So count on the feminists, gays, and unions to be fired up completely, but that's about it. For the rest of the country, this became an empty suit a couple of years ago.

Let's go back to the 1950's when the top tax rate was 91%. Wouldn't that be great?

Let me sum up what this convention's message will be...George Bush did it, and the do nothing congress!

P.S. Rich people are evil ...Oh ya, and, they gonna keep y'all in chains! Now gimme my @!$%# pills for free damnit! The end

By: Patriotic American

Ryan Vouchercare to Cleanse our Seniors, GOP Death Camp !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's weak! Nazi comparisons, is that really all you have left?

Actually, a top Democrat in California also made a Nazi comparison just yesterday, when he compared Paul Ryan to Goebbels, so I guess you're not the only desperate Democrat.

So is Obama going to distance himself from those outrageous remarks by the California Democrat leader?

Or will he just let his people continue their campaign of hate?

You know the Democrats have lost the argument when they start making Nazi comparisons...

Eric/Matthew - The plight of the black community became much worse following 1965 to the present. Poverty, incarceration, teen pregnancy, out of wedlock births, single parent households, low academic achievement, school dropouts and crime have all skyrocketed. All with a broadening of a welfare-for-life role that reflects a self-defeatism that keeps many in the black community down. Hispanics are making great strides however. What do you consider may have brought about that reality?

Michelle Obama is so incredibly ugly, it hurts to look at her. They want to rekindle voter's enthusiasm but the only ones watching are the onces who are already democrats. Republicans won't be watching. Whose enthusiasm will be rekindled?

Wow, it looks as if some people still think that what people think controls the elections. Very funny. I read someone said BarrySoetoro threw Israel under the bus. Very funny. I hope people learn that Barry is clueless. He was chosen because he is the real son of Frank Marshall Davis, Communist/Marxist. They control him because his life is a LIE. Davis was married w 5 kids didn't want his wife to know another girl was pregnant by him. convinced Mr. Dunham to find another black man to marry Ann to make the child legitimate & save Mr. Dunham's job. Obama, Sr. was already married w 2 children in Kenya. Obama refused, but Dunham (CIA) sweetened the pot by extending Obama's visa so that he could go to Harvard.

Obama, Sr. only agreed to marry Ann if he had no responsibility for the child. Ann & Obama were married in Maui, away from his college friends in Honolulu. Ann was sent back to Washington State from where she never wanted to leave. A midwife delivered Barry. Mr. Dunham filed the birth certificate & listed "UNKNOWN" for father.

Barry Soetoro is such a fraud he doesn't give a flying fig about Americans. If he cared and was not such a manipulator & no doubt, a practitioner of black magic (Witchcraft is very big in Indonesia, as it is in the U.S.) he laughs his way through trying times. Bin Laden died in 12/ 01. Everyone news agency reported it, yet the Democratic Luciferians felt Americans are too stupid to know the difference. They fake Bin Laden's death & the U.S. Luciferian media is so evil, they pushed the lie & continue to push all the lies from 911 until today.

Grow up people. Doesn't the truth mean anything anymore? Obama screwed all of us in 2009. I am not voting for him & I am not voting for WACKO Romney, but I will write-in a candidate. I hope people will open your eyes & not vote for either of these two Luciferian puppets. They are both liars.

Search your souls and ask yourselves, what does being an American mean. How many of you will say, "Being an American means nothing."

There are three numbers democrats can't spin their way out of regardless of who speaks or how much media bias is on your side. 1) Unemployment over 8.2% for 42 consecutive months (it will be 43 months come Friday morning). 2) $16 trillion dollar national debt (with no plan to ever achieve a balanced budget). 3) $4,300.00 per household decline in family income during Obama's term.

Shaak

Hoover's balanced budget approach of reduced government spending in the face of falling tax revenues is what made the Great Depression so severe with unemployment peaking at 25% before FDR began using stimulus spending to drive unemployment down to 10%.

Federal Revenues, Outlays, and Deficits

1928 Rev $3.900 Bln, Outl $2.961 Bln, Surplus $939 Million

1929 Rev $3.862 Bln, Outl $3.126 Bln, Surplus $747 Million

1930 Rev $4.058 Bln, Outl $3.320 Bln, Surplus $737 Million

1931 Rev $3.116 Bln, Outl $3.577 Bln, Deficit $462 Million

1932 Rev $1.924 Bln, Outl $4.659 Bln, Deficit $2.735 Bln. Hoover proposed and received public works projects to get the unemployed jobs. To pay for those Programs, he increased Taxes on the Rich. FDR runs on the "excessive spending" and tax increases. He would give people a "New Deal".

1933 Rev $1.997 Bln, Outl $4.598 Bln, Deficit $2.602 Bln

1934 Rev $2.955 Bln, Out $6.541 Bln, Deficit $3.586 Bln. Roosevelt and the Democrats first Budget. According to Roosevelt's own Treasury Secretary, they took the very programs Herbert Hoover had, changed the names, and threw even more money at those projects.

Now Explain to me where Herbert Hoover was matching Revenue to spending and in particular cutting spending. I must need new glasses, because I certainly cannot see that!

Also, despite adding 1 Billion to the budget in government make work programs, the unemployment rate continued to rise by at the same pace as the previous year. Just like the Obama stimulus package, there is a negligible impact on unemployment with make work programs. It just makes people think you care.

Seeking Sanity, I have been reading your posts for a while and I don't think you have any idea what moderates think.

Ha Ha.....I'm sure there will be republicans watching. They are hoping we have a "Clint Eastwood" surprise.....LOL

Michelle please go back to your Planet of the Apes movies that you escaped from and take the joke of a husband with you. You two have ripped up the White House lawn and our country. Good Riddence.

ROMNEY/RYAN 2012

When all else fails, collapse the posts of those you disagree with. Those who preach tolerance tend to be the least tolerant among us. Go ahead and prove me right.. (collapse me)

The DNC is running on Clinton's record. Why can't Pres. Obama simply run on his record? Why can't he tell people that $4.00 per gallon gas is the norm? Why can't he simply say 8% unemployment is the new normal? Why can't he say that 50 million on food stamps is the new normal?

I like the picture waist-high showing lack of support for the Dems.

Baracken Obamamises

Just type in Obamas Broken Promises in your search engine
and decide for yourself and get all of his excuses

Cool a blackcatwhitecat Now tell US isn't that a telling Nickname? Almost as telling as this Headline The enthusiasm gap?

Are these "Cool Cats" all "Color Blind" and just can't see RED like the rest of US?

Some big-name Democrats will be skipping Charlotte.....Hahaha and yesterday it was DemoRATS Abandoning The Stinking Obama-Ship........

Well here is a few of "My Issues" with Barry Bush-Wacker.........

The Bailout of Wall Street, Exonerating Goldman Sachs, Secret Support of Al-Qaeda in Egypt Syria & Libya, Indefinite Detention & Assassination of American Citizens, New Not Wars in Egypt Syria, Libya, Pakistan, Yemen, Sudan, Columbia, Mexico and now Guatemala and soon to be in Iran & America. Military Drones Spying on Americans, bin NOBODY, TSA roaming Our Highways, Bus Stations, Malls and Convention Centers, DHS buying Billions of Rounds of Jacketed Hollow Point Bullets, Foriegn Paramilitary Special Forces Training with American Military in America Against American Protesters etc etc etc......The list goes on & on!

I can not and will not make ANY exceptions to these Same Party Different Wing Politicians for they have proven over and over they all work for WALL STREET and NOT FOR OUR CHILDREN'S FUTURE!

America..... Make a REAL Choice For Once....Refuse To Re-Elect ANYONE....One Term & Out They Go Until Once Again ALL Incumbents Have PROVEN They Work For We The People!

NO EXCEPTIONS........And No Amount of Wall Street Generated False Enthusiasm is going to make up for Obama's Hope & Change Lies and His Broken Promises To America!

Bye Bye Barry!

Did anybody look closely at the photo of the Obama supporters in the article? Those people look like they're all drugged or hypnotized! You libs better hope they don't forget to vote.

OldDog: A vision check might be appropriate! They lo9ked lovely to me!