Friday Bytes from the Heartland

Except for a couple of notes, I will let the rest of you pick over the bones of the Democratic National Convention this morning, although I cannot resist saying that I am rather cheerful about it.

Eat that Romney.

Well, anyway. Here is an interesting article describing how former Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm "airbrushed" the auto bailout story during her speech to the DNC last night.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/06/jennifer-granholm-speech-_n_1863124.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003

The reference to the "airbrush" refers to the fact that Granholm failed to mention in her speech that the first round of the auto bailout actually occurred in 2008, when President Bush worked with President-elect Obama to make sure the automakers were able to make it until Obama took office. Because, otherwise, they wouldn't have.

But that's old news.

What is REALLY interesting in this article is this comment from Bush –

"There's too great a risk that bankruptcy now would lead to a disorderly liquidation of American auto companies," Bush said at the time, justifying the bailout."

What this shows is that even George Bush knew in 2008 that a private bankruptcy would not have worked, and a messy liquidation would have resulted.

This leaves us with only two choices –

Either Mitt Romney, who was advocating for private bankruptcy, was totally clueless about the true state of the economy,

OR

Romney's real motivation in calling for private bankruptcy was -- as I have speculated here several times -- to encourage liquidation. Why? Very possibly because that might benefit his vulture capitalist friends – and maybe even Bain -- who would then have swooped in to cherry-pick the assets at fire sale prices, leaving the workers out of luck, out of jobs, and on their own, and very possibly with the federal government being required to come in and bail out the pension funds.

Oh, but Mitt Romney doesn't believe in that sort of government intervention into private business, does he?

Well, just ask the folks at GS Steel, where Bain looted about $50 million in "profits" – a 100 percent gain on its investment – while it stuck the federal Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation – i.e., the taxpayers – with a $44 million bill. In addition, 750 employees lost their jobs.

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/may/16/barack-obama/obama-ad-claims-romney-bain-left-misery-wake-gst-s/

But … but … it was "legal," wasn't it?

Sure. And prostitution is legal in Nevada. And Congressional insider trading was legal until just recently.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/23/us/politics/insider-trading-ban-for-lawmakers-clears-congress.html

But that doesn't make it right.

And either way, this story tells us what kind of leader Mitt Romney is.

……….

This article about today's jobs report is amusing, if only because of the photo of Newt Gingrich –

http://freakoutnation.blogspot.com/

……….

And here's a little tidbit about Paul Ryan's logic --

A federal health care program initiated by President Bush = good; Obamacare = bad.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/06/paul-ryan-obamacare_n_1862147.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular

"Don't dumb things down," Buck suggested to HuffPost. "You think he's opposed to all federal spending on health care? Health care spending makes up a significant portion of his budget."

On the specific program in question, related to community health centers, Buck said Ryan was merely supporting a constituent. "It's casework," he said. "As a general principle he's not going to turn away his constituents who come to him for help based on his own views of a program."

Everything is relative, as Scott Walker proves to us every time he comments on Wisconsin's dismal job numbers.

In 3 ... 2 ... 1 ...

Have a great weekend, everyone.

When you are a citizen of the United States of America, and you have a president who says to you – this is your country, this is your future – invest in it – then we know we’re on track.

It’s what you want in our president; a leader who talks not about him, but about us – and all WE have accomplished in three short years. And we did this because we voted for him and asked him for policies that are good for every single citizen in this country, not just the wealthy. The system for too long has been set up for the wealthy. We all know it.

What a wonderful week it has been to be a democrat. What a wonderful week to feel proud of all we have tried to accomplish. All democrats on the stage this week have given their life to public service and they have inspired all of us to keep going; to make the changes ourselves in our and each other’s lives.

Gov. Patrick was right. We don’t need pundits to tell us what to think or how to feel. We’re Americans. We’re better than that. Let the Republicans stew in their misery and negativity. It's why they do best.

It's not what the Democrats do.

President Obama’s speech was pitch perfect and made us all proud to have voted for him. And proud to vote for him again. He is the one who has had to make the tough decisions with obstruction all around him. He deserved better. And we deserved better.

Despite that, President Obama has made us a better country; and most importantly, he has made us feel better about ourselves.

Let's keep him around. We need him. But right now, he needs us.

GOTV.

FACT CHECKS – DEMS CAN’T FIND THE TRUTH - OFFER NOTHING BUT LIES!

It seems that the Dems have a little problem in telling the truth these days. (Go Figure!) Pres. Obama and his hapless sidekick Gaffy Joe are spinners and twisters for sure.

...but...but...but...I thought the GOP doesn't care about fact-checkers?

"We're not going to let our campaign be dictated by fact-checkers." - Neil Newhouse, 8/28/2012

As for the naybobs, just read their sour grapes, their pessimism, their anger and move on.

Jody,

I'm skimming right over them!

No one is going to ruin me walking on sunshine this morning! ☺

They know they're screwed and will only get nastier as the election moves forward! lol

Bill in Fairfax -- Romney and Ryan tell lies day after day after day. Where's your outrage?

That was not simply the Democratic National Convention. It was a three-day revival. One enthusiastic speaker after another reminded us of the American Dream. They reminded us of the ongoing battle to secure our freedom and to safeguard our rights. Then, last night, it remained for the President of the United States to remind us the dream is only a dream unless we work to make it reality.

It remained for President Obama to tell us the dream doesn't just happen. We don't just wake up and the dream is a reality. He had to tell us that to make the dream come true, we must work to make it reality.

Voting rights are not guaranteed. At this moment, there are enemies of freedom who are working night and day to take away our right to vote. How important is that right? We can demonize the Koch brothers, the Adelson's, and the Rove's all day and all night, but in the end, if we protect our right to vote, they have not one whit more power than the poorest American. My vote is equal in power to Karl Rove's.

When many of our fellow Americans complain about national health care because it's some sort of plot, we have to ask ourselves some questions. Is it un-American to tell someone who is ill that he or she cannot have medical care? Is there something un-American about having health care for all of us? Shouldn't we look at someone who says he is pro-life what the hell he's thinking when he says he will deny a poor mother medical assistance for her baby, now that it's outside the womb? You not only must ask that question, you must answer it. That person is out of his mind.

Is the road to a bright future so simple that all we have to do is throw our money at the rich, because the rich got their money by throwing it back at you? Will the air suddenly be clean, will our water run clear, will our soil be free of pollution if we simply throw tax dollars at the rich? Will our national debt decline when throwing tax dollars at the rich means a guaranteed increase in the debt of five-trillion-dollars? Stop that BS right this instant.

Former President Clinton made it blindingly clear that the top dogs in the Republican Party are feeding us a steady diet of outright lies. Their agenda is to destroy government and hand this nation to the rich. The empirical evidence that proves that cannot be refuted. Instead, from the lackeys we will be treated to diversions - weather reports and god planks in the platform. Yes, they're that desperate, and yes, they hate the President that much. They will do anything to insure his defeat, and they will cheer the every misstep he makes. Yes, the President makes mistakes, but not very damned many.

What kind of people rail against the notion that we should work together? What kind of people plan to destroy Medicare? What kind of people embrace a plan that will destroy Social Security? They are people who are fueled by blind hatred, sheer stupidity, and unreasoning fear? Not one single plank in the Republican platform promises to help ALL Americans. Not one.

On the other hand, President Obama has held his hand out to ALL Americans, every one of us. He has made it clear there are no free rides. We are going to have to work and work hard. It starts with your vote. He sure as hell has mine.

FR - you wasted no time touting the market bump yesterday in lieu of the President's speech. So what is happening today? Oh yeah, the jobs report is out.

BTW - don't misread this as cheering for a bad report as is often done out here. I am extremely disheartened at the treading water status. But I translate that as needing a change in policy and focus on actually making this the true priority over all other.

Lost in yesterday's convention business was the ADP Employment Report...

Employment in the U.S. nonfarm private business sector increased by 201,000 from July to August, on a seasonally adjusted basis. The estimated gain from June to July was revised up from the initial estimate of 163,000 to 173,000.

www.adpemploymentreport.com/pdf/FINAL_Report_August_12.pdf

@ Sick of the Bickering --

Oh, YEAH?!

Well, MY fact checkers don't necessarily agree with YOUR fact checkers.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/wp/2012/09/07/fact-checking-obamas-speech/

For example --

TRUE – After a decade of decline, this country created over half a million manufacturing jobs in the last two and a half years.

True when Bill Clinton said it last night, true now.

So, why can't Scott Walker create any private sector jobs in Wisconsin?

Republicans are liars.

Republicans wouldn't dream of lifting a finger for anyone but themselves.

Republicans are monsters. And incompetent to boot.

Losers. Thanks for the mess. Something you have no problem creating. Time after time after time.

no joe, stick with with GOP. You aren't a fan of democracy. Go out and suppress some votes and try to steal the election okay?

Good luck.

Romney and Ryan. haha

THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION!

As Joe E. Brown said in the movie "Some Like It Hot".

"ZOWIE"

Do the Democrats know how to put on a Convention? Unbelievable. Great speakers (best speeches I've ever heard at any Convention), fantastic enthusiasm, huge turnout. A really profession production.

Made the Republican Convention look like a PUPPET SHOW

4 more years coming up.

OBAMA IN 2012.

Let's put this simply:

The Republican convention's motto was, "It was broken, it's still broken, he didn't fix it and he made it worse with more government and more government deficit spending. Vote for Romney and he'll set us on the road to a better future."

The Democratic convention's motto was, "It was broken, it's still broken, he couldn't fix it but he needs more time to try to fix it. Vote for Obama because you don't want Romney to try to fix it."

My greatest issue with these is the premise of the arguments- That the incumbant already has the job and the opponant wants the job. It's the job of the opposing candidate to show what's not working with the incumbant and their vision for a better nation. It's the incumant's job to show their results and promote the continuation of their vision. I think on both counts they definately could have done a better job. Romney's camp could have literally listed the government statistics and prove their position. Obama's camp could have noted the obvious problems and called for national unification to get ahea.

368,000 people dropped out of the work force compared to only 96,000 jobs created. That's a ratio of 4:1. How can you possibly spin that into "good news"?

How many of those were baby boomers retiring?

Looks like the teeth gnashing has already begun with unemployment dropping to 8.1% instead up up-ticking like the RWNJ's were praying for.

Looks like someone reads only headlines and not the root of the story.

The President has proved he can accomplish a lot in the face of obstructionist opposition. The country's best option by far will be to give him a supportive House and Senate for the next four years.

The two conventions clearly defined those who love our country and those who love their wealth more than their country.

As a proud independent my mind is made up: Obama/Biden 2012

Holy cow, my Old POS governor has lost her mind! Old Jen Jen, was a piece of work yesterday, eh?

Jennifer Granholm was certainly more coherent than Clint Eastwood was last week.

One Million for Computer thump drives or Romney goes to jail for tax fraud, this is not a hoax !!!!!!!!!!!

While I'm thinking about it, I wanted to share a story about Paul Ryan that I heard yesterday on local talk radio. As many of you know, I live about 40 miles from Janesville, Wisconsin, which is Paul Ryan's home town.

If you've ever heard of or had a Parker pen, then you have that connection to Janesville. Parker was located here for many years. Ultimately Parker went bankrupt and the plant closed.

The story goes that Paul Ryan, who was the district's Congressman during that time, stood by and did nothing while the bankruptcy took place.

His only action in connection with the bankruptcy was that he bought the mansion formerly owned by Parker's owner at a firesale price.

That part, at least, is true.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2196674/Paul-Ryans-421-000-mansion-built-Parker-pen-tycoon.html

The rest is wholly consistent with the story that former Janesville autoworkers tell about Ryan's inaction during the closing of that plant.

Here's another interesting article about Ryan, based on an interview with Rob Zerban, who is Ryan's opponent in this year's Congressional race. Don't forget that Ryan is still on the ballot for Congress in Wisconsin.

http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/rob-zerban-vs-paul-ryan-8061341

Those of you who believe that Paul Ryan knows beans about budgets or about business would find this article illuminating. Here's a little taste --

"He has a lot to answer for," Zerban tells me. "He has to defend the indefensible. I don't know where he gets his credibility on budget matters. I mean, he had a minor in economics. What experience does he have to say that he's the great budget oracle? None that I can see. As nearly as I can tell, he graduated and he went right to work in Washington, for a couple of senators and then to a think-tank and then he ran for Congress. He's the kind of 'budget guy' who doesn't have any real world experience. I had to write responsible budgets when I was running a small business.

And lest any of us continue to labor under the delusion that Paul Ryan is some kind of self-sufficient, self-made man, the first article tells you quite clearly where his wealth comes from.

And he didn't earn it through intrepid entrepreneurship.

I wonder why our wealthy, self-styled -- but hypocritical -- budget "hawk" and self-proclaimed champion of lower taxes takes his Congressional salary. He doesn't need it, any more than Mitt Romney needed his salary as governor of Massachusetts.

@ Albany Joe --

Seriously.

Just read my post on Bush's comment about the auto bailout and you will see why we don't want Romney to try to "fix" it.

Romney either doesn't understand the problem -- or he consistently proposes the right solution for venture capitalists but the wrong solution for the economy as a whole -- or -- like Staples or the Olympics or GS Steel -- he cannot solve anything himself without government intervention, in which case, why do we need him?

Seriously. The man is clueless, Joe. Like you, apparently.

And he's got NO business at all messing around with foreign policy.

Or are you advocating for Dick Cheney and Condi Rice again?

Because that's what we'll get.

Time for a lesson in arithmetic. We've had three separate posts that tell us about people dropping out of the work force. Oh there's just so many. President Obama doesn't want to talk about.

Not only are these mental dwarves arithmetically-challenged, they don't know diddly about history. Baby-boomers are now retiring in record numbers. Many have opted into Social Security because of the contracting economy. It may be growing again, but the growth is slow. Virtually every senior knows that you don't just walk out and find a job these days. If employers hire, they want youngsters who work cheap.

That's a pretty darned sound business decision. Hire those who work for less. However, it is also true that productivity is still increasing even as hiring is barely nudging upward. This is where these alleged "conservatives" and "capitalists" want it both ways. Free enterprise is wonderful - it's what God created on the seventh day. On the other hand unemployment is up. Hey yo-yo's, that's what efficiency does. It eliminates jobs.

So about those people dropping out of the work force - many of them made a rational decision. They'll take their Social Security now, and if it's not enough they can work part-time. That's the wonder of capitalism for ya.

Work on that arithmetic, right wingers.

This One's for You, Dr. Ron

Brendon Ayanbadejo is a football player for my favorite team, the Baltimore Ravens. He's also an American with a mind of his own and an inclination to speak his mind on issues he feels strongly about. One issue he feels strongly about is gay marriage, he supports it and has spoken out about it. But the other day a delegate in the Maryland General Assembly (and a Democrat, I might add) condemned Ayanbadejo for his stance and called on the Ravens to silence their employee on this issue. The Ravens have acknowledged the delegate's request, but refused further comment

I don't agree with Ayanbadejo's position on this issue, I happen to think gay marriage is an abomination. But that doesn't mean he doesn't have the right to speak his mind on this or any other issue that strikes his fancy. In fact, the politician who wants to silence this guy reminds me of the low lifes around here who collapse and delete posts, a problem that seems to be increasing as the election heats up. And while I wouldn't doubt that the collapse vigilantes don't particularly appreciate being called out on this point, my message to them is that's too f*cking bad. As Ayanbadejo said: "Football is just my job it's not who I am. I am an American before anything. And just like every American I have the right to speak!"

Yes Brendon, you do. And so does everyone on this board.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/rosenwald-md/post/del-emmett-burns-blasts-ravens-for-linebackers-support-of-gay-marriage/2012/09/06/edf6f52a-f829-11e1-8398-0327ab83ab91_blog.html

From AP

THE FACTS: Obama has claimed an increase of some 500,000 manufacturing jobs over the past 29 months. But this is cherry picking by the president.

THE FACTS: The AP is doing its own cherry picking. Mitt Romney himself said that a president should be given 6 months to a year for his policies to take effect. The Bush Recession ended six months into Obama's first term and the unemployment rate started dropping from a horrendous 10% only eight months into his term.

And curiously, the AP points out that this is a slow recovery even though Obama never said it wasn't and even though the Obama Recovery from the Bush Recession is happening in the context of a world-wide economic slowdown and a European debt crisis that have been severe drags on the U.S. economy.

Four Pinocchios to Associated Press for misleading its readers.

Ryan Vouchercare to Cleanse all American Seniors !!!!!!!!!

How good was the Democratic Convention?

"Romney, GOP Groups Pull Ads From Michigan and Pennsylvania"

(http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/09/romney-gop-michigan-pennsylvania-pull-out.php)

Poor, Poor Mitt. How much has his path to the WH narrowed?

Worse speech he's EVER given...flat and without substance.

Yeah, similar to every post you've ever made on this board.

At least Mitt has a 5 point plan..

Yeah, that's why Mitt goes into details about his plans. Oh wait...

Maybe that's because by 2015, his plans will cut $900B in tax revenue and will increase the deficit by about $600B. Great plan.

Medicaid is still intact. My wife's mother is in
a nursing home and she needs Medicaid. The Ryan budget plans to cut Medicaid by
one-third.

You need ears to listen. They are cutting the federal participation and returning it to the individual states where it belongs.

increase the deficit by about $600B. Great plan.

And the deficit has grown how much in three and a half years? Let's see, $5Trillion divided by 3.5 = $1.43Trillion. Okay. Now, 6

$600Billion divided by 3 years = $200Billion

$1.43T or $200B what is a country to do?

I hate deficits at all but if I HAD to make a choice I believe I would take a little R & R and I don't mean a vacation.

Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL

Looks like the teeth gnashing has already begun with unemployment dropping to 8.1% instead up up-ticking like the RWNJ's were praying for...

OH NO!!!! More terrible news for Mitt Romney! Whatever can he do to reverse this terrible trend? Perhaps he can get Mitch McConnell to filibuster something.

Of course the president and democrats made their case, how hard is it to make a case against more failed trickle down policies that have failed for 30 years. How hard is it to make the case against a republican controlled house that has done nothing to promote job growth or repair the economy. The Republican House has the lowest approval numbers ever recorded, and it is not a blip on a graph they have been that way for two years and that will be a contributing factor to Romney's failure to get the 270 electoral votes he needs and losing this election, he thank his own party for not provide anything constructive to talk about. The blame Obama for everything strategy is failing him and republicans, it has been so badly overplayed and overworked that it reaches nothing but the base, and it is all they have, and it is not enough. Obama will be reelected and republicans can blame themselves for not producing a decent candidate and a viable plan. They could have swept the elections if they acted on their promise of jobs, jobs, jobs, which gave them great success in 2010, but they were so worried about preventing this president fro having any success that they deprived themselves on any success in the process, people know that, they see that, they understand that, they hate this republican Congress and you know who they are going to take it out on, Romney that's who. The republican Congress is why Romney can't get a lead in the polls no matter how much they denigrate the POTUS, because people realize republicans are unable and unwilling to help this country. The debates will be like watching Romney getting water-boarded, he will feel and look like he is drowning in buckets of his own contradictions of himself. I will be voting for Obama and he will win this election, because he is a much better candidate, backed by much better people in Congress, with a better vision and plan for this nation than Romney.

What are you republicans doing here wasting time?

Don't you have votes to suppress somewhere? Don't you have an election to buy off?

That's all you got.

Horrible horrible people.

The blather continues, making less and less sense as you go on.

Yeah...a poster who thinks rape cannot result in pregnancy thinking others are making no sense?

From those notorious RWNJ's at the Associated Press:

The unemployment rate fell to 8.1 percent from 8.3 percent in July. But that was only because more people gave up looking for jobs. People who are out of work are counted as unemployed only if they're looking for a job.

What a rousing speech last night by our President, where he clearly outlined the issues facing our country and how we could work together to solve them.

President Obama offered specific policy proposals (all of which passed the "arithmetic" test) and clearly outlined the differences between the two parties, their candidates, and their core beliefs.

Did anyone notice the songs played as the speech ended? "We Take Care of Our Own" by Bruce Springsteen and "Only in America" by Brooks & Dunn. How fitting.

The dissenting "opinons" on the page today are exactly what I expected to see today. The comments mirror the tone of the Republican convention. Accentuate the negative, ignore the positive, spin-spin-spin, lie-lie-lie.

Moan, bitch, complain, criticize - but offer no solutions or better options.

-Why is it so easy for Republicans to criticize our President, but so hard forthem to find something positive to say about Mitt Romney?

-Why is it they can quote the current levels of debt or unemployment, but seem to forget how bad things were or what policies led us there?

-How can they complain so loudly about the state of our economy yet offer no solutions to making things better?

The Fear and Desperation from the Republicans are palpable today - they know that the last two weeks went along way towards ensuring President Obama's reelection.

I am proud today of the Democratic party, our President, and our Country.

Obama/Biden 2012 - "Made in America"

"Romney, GOP Groups Pull Ads From Michigan and Pennsylvania"

(http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/09/romney-gop-michigan-pennsylvania-pull-out.php)

I guess those trees really weren't the "right height"!

Hey, wait a minute.... Both the Romney campaign AND GOP SuperPac's pull out on the same day in two different states? No, there isn't any collusion happening.....

Stock market over 13,000. All those people who delayed retirement waiting for their pension funds to recover their value are breathing easier than in March 2009 when the Dow was slightly above 6500. Now they can retire, maybe even sell their home in the recovering housing market and move to warmer climes to enjoy their retirement year round without all that snow and ice to deal with up north.

Business is still sitting on their wallets. Retail sales up at annual rate of 9% last month. Productivity up at annual rate of 2% so far this year. another good sales month and hiring will have to improve. You can only over work your employees for a limited time before you need to hire.

The richest 1% of our nation gobble up 24% of the nation's total income. They are sitting on this money waiting for the middle and lower classes to increase their spending. They have increased their spending, so what are you rich guys waiting for?

jinsd

From those notorious RWNJ's at the Associated Press:

The unemployment rate fell to 8.1 percent from 8.3 percent in July.

Yeah. Funny how when the unemployment rate goes down, the AP attributes it entirely to people giving up work, but when it ticks up, they never mention the fact that it's because more people have decided to start looking for a job again.

Greg Sargent noted yesterday that the AP "fact" checkers couldn't find anything much to hit Bill Clinton's convention speech with, so they brought up the ancient sex scandal.

So, there definitely DO seem to be some RWNJs at the AP.

Can someone explain what is going on in Chicago? It appears that the Teacher Union is attacking Democratic Mayors for foisting anti-union feelings.

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/politics&id=8799261

Got to love the idea of 400,00 school kids out on the street in Chicago. What could possibly go wrong?

But how about those nasty union-busting Democratic Mayors who actually have to pay the bills?

Pat (Post 1.16)

It’s what you want in our president; a leader who talks not about him, but about us – and all WE have accomplished in three short years.

You can't be serious! Obama is the most narcissistic, self centered and thin skinned person ever elected to office. But lets review your premise to see if it holds water.

Why don't you watch this video and see if you can count how many times Obama says "I"? Even Ariana Huffington says Obama's self aggrandizing conduct was "despicable"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsrSAqRrCc0

NOBAMA 2012!

.

Good Morning kiddies,

I see the same names, the same talking points and the same old arguments.

Don't you guys ever get tired of repeating yourselves day after day? You're only preaching to the choir and some of them are dozing off.

I didn't watch the speech. My wife did and she said it was a good speech, not a great speech, but a good solid speech. After all, Bill Clinton is a tough act to follow.

And the First Lady knocked it out of the park Tuesday night. So, a 'good' speech following those two is probably good enough.

But none of that means anything until we see the polls this weekend. Until then all this back and forth is nothing but hot air and red faces. It's like two five year old yelling back and forth at one another...."Oh, yeah?" "Yeah!".....etc, etc. It doesn't mean a thing.

I'll leave you to it. It's the weekend, it's payday (for me) and there are beers to drink, college football to watch, dogs to play with and my wife's company to enjoy for two all too brief days.

So have at it kiddies, I'll get back to you when we see some poll numbers and analysis. I"ll just leave you with these words of wisdom.

Obama/Biden 2012

H.Clinton/Castro 2016...or...Castro/Castro 2016

Al in Visalia CA

I promise to have patience with the Republican posters here. Deep down they know the election is lost and will start the grieving process. This process has 5 steps:

1) Denial- seen in those posts of those who still predict a Romney victory.
2) Anger- many have never moved past this stage since 2008. Just remember their_hate is a testament to our strength!
3) Bargaining- that will show up in a little while. Show them compassion for they do not realize how pathetic they are.
4) Depression- that is when it will get very quiet in here.
5) Acceptance- few will come this far. Charlie Crist has shown them the way!

Thanks for a wise post, Al!

Republicans are upset because they sense that Romney is going to lose. The GOP is out of ideas. Their stale 'trickle-down' has been proven to be nothing but a dirty trick on the middle class. Their emperor has no clothes.

But have no fear, conservatives! We 'liberals' will save our country and move it into the new millennium. Help us by educating yourselves and coming up with some worthwhile, pragmatic ideas! We need your ideas! We need your participation! We need a RATIONAL conservative faction that is willing to COMPROMISE for the benefit of our country.

If all you want is power, you will fail. We will not allow you to bring down the greatest nation on the face of the earth.

When Obama wins, WE ALL WIN!!

OBAMA/ BIDEN 2012

Why is it so easy for Republicans to criticize our President, but so hard forthem to find something positive to say about Mitt Romney?

How can they complain so loudly about the state of our economy yet offer no solutions to making things better?

I support the Romney/Ryan plan for tax reform. Satisfied?

I do not believe the President's policies are working, nor do I believe that Obamacare will be a net positive when it is fully implemented in 2014.

Houston -- Wrong. It comes from the BLS:

. . .there were 844,000 discouraged workers in August . .
Discouraged workers are persons not currently looking for work because they believe
no jobs are available for them. The remaining 1.7 million persons marginally attached
to the labor force in August had not searched for work in the 4 weeks preceding the
survey for reasons such as school attendance or family responsibilities.

The three strike rule is now in effect. Strike one was Romney's choice of Ryan. Strike two was Tampa. Next pitch coming is the debates.

Go ahead: (Republicans) Make My Day:

Ask me if I'm better off now than I was four years ago. Let me count the ways.

I don't care if you're better off. The country isn't .

1.My investments are returning. Under Bush 43 the stock market was dropping like a rock and under President Obama the stock market is making steady progress.

The stock market drop was a result of the housing bubble bursting, which was created thanks to Frank and Dodd by forcing banks to lend to unqualified applicants. I know this is one of those please don't ask me about that subjects, but lets face it, buying the votes of poor people by promising them a house did damage that the Dems want to blame on, as usual, anyone else. The student financial aid system will go through this next, as the feds have taken total control of the program and is once again forcing banks to lend to those they shouldn't.

2.Under Obamacare the donut hole is shrinking, allowing me (a senior) to pay less for my meds. Yes, Obama does care!

I'm sure gald you're enjoying that cheap medicine that my generation will pay for later. (If it doesn't completely collapse the system before we get a chance to fix it). so much for thinking of the welfare of future Americans. The current and previous generations ran out of money 16 trillion dollars ago, you're welcome.

3.Medicaid is still intact. My wife's mother is in a nursing home and she needs Medicaid. The Ryan budget plans to cut Medicaid by one-third.

Considering that the country is broke, everything needs to be cut. Sorry repubs, but that includes defense and dems, that means entitlements. You can't tax your way out of this, cuts in spending have to made.

4.Medicare covers people with pre-existing conditions and a person in my family has a pre-existing condition. Thank you President Obama and Chief Justice John Roberts.

Who is going to cover my generations pre-existing condition of a 16 trillion dollar debt? But as long as you and yours are taken care of, screw the future right?

5.Thanks to President Obama the interest on student loans did not double. My niece thanks you for that.

Did she also thank him for the rising costs in college education, thanks to the increase in demand created by a program that like the housing fiasco forces banks to lend to unqualified applicants. This federal takeover has also given birth to the "career student". Who manipulates the system to live off the financial aid as long as they can. in some cases, students are taking 5 years to complete a 2 year program, and collecting loans that they will never pay back. But that's the futures problem right?

6.My nephew bought a Chevy Volt. President Obama saved the auto industry…and killed bin Laden.

Despite the claims that GM is rebounding, it's largest buyer is the U.S. Government, thanks to the sweet deals GM promised Obama in exchange for the bailout. Using money that isn't yours to prop up the business of your union thug friends is not progress. I don't think the workers at the dealerships that were shut down as a result of the bailout think anything was saved.

7.Speaking of bin Laden, Americans are safer today than we were 4 years ago. 9/11 was on Bush 43's watch.

How many times were Americans targeted by the terrorists under Clinton's Presidency? I can think of at least 3, (First WTC attack, Khobar Towers and the USS Cole) all of which presented the need to eliminate bin Laden and the rest of the Taliban, but instead he was chasing the interns.

8.I could go on, but I have made my point.

Oh please do, I love being lectured by the so called greatest generations. The generations that have no problem selling out the future to insure thay have it better now. the generations that have created a debt crisis, an energy crisis, a gas price problem, a drug problem and a useless war to fight it, nuclear issues, healthcare issues, big business cronyism, immigration problems, MORE DEBT!!, failing entiltlement programs, and yes more debt. And when we are handed this polished turd that used to be the greatness of America and asked to fix these problems, we will be trying to do so after being shoved through a failing education system. So thank you for being the first generation in our history to hand over a nation that is worse then when you got it and once again you're welcome.

Millions of Americans can recognize how President Obama has personally made their life better these past 4 years.

If anyone thinks that there life is a result of who is in the White House, or could somehow be better if a change was made, is putting way to much of thier life in the hands of someone they have never met, probably never will meet, and who is enjoying the sweet life in a publicly funded palace. The President does not have the power to make anyones life better, only we can do that.

Feisty and my libbie friends - I'm doing the same as yesterday - not reading the likes of JAS, no joe (no mind) Concern, WCA, Bill, etc. We know the lies they will tell and the hatred they'll spew- still.

Our President did a great job last night - not his best but he totally got the point across. I think we're so used to his outstanding speeches we forget they really ARE outstanding.

He has a definite plan for our country and we can only benefit by re-electing him.

Romney's plan - the wait til I'm elected and I'll tell ya - not buying. He has noting because he is nothing. Never will be!

Enjoy your day - I'll be in and out - lots of meetings!

Obama/Biden 2012 The ONLY choice for 2012

From Reuters another RWNJ organization I'm sure:

While the unemployment rate dropped to 8.1 percent from 8.3 percent in July, that was because so many Americans gave up the hunt for work. The survey of households from which the jobless rate is derived actually showed a drop in employment.

The hypocrisy, double standards, and lack of intellectual honesty on this blog is astounding!

John-2006106

Why don't you watch this video and see if you can count how many times Obama says "I"? Even Ariana Huffington says Obama's self aggrandizing conduct was "despicable"

John, you're another person living in a parallel universe where fiction is truth. The statement above is 100% fiction. Are you one of those self-proclaimed "good" Christians like Romney and Ryan who have no problem lying through their teeth while waiving the Bible?

Jennifer Granholm was certainly more coherent than Clint Eastwood was last week.

I suppose that is a matter of opinion Noid.

Jenny on the Block looked pretty whacked out to me.

But then again, I'm used to it after 8 years of lines like " In 5 years you're gonna be Blown away!"

I'm still waiting to be blown.

The richest 1% earn 24% of our nation's income, same as 1929. Isn't that enough? They only earned 10% of nation's income in 1980, then trickle down economics gave them more. Romney's economic plan is that of the rich. "Give us more and maybe we'll give you a job, if we can't find some Asian to do it more profitably for us".

The rich and their allies in Congress are bankrupting the middle class. This has to stop. The American middle class used to be the best consumer market in the world. How long can this remain true when the rich deprive us of income that they are hoarding in such low earning investments as 0% 10 year US Treasury bonds.

You can tell when the rich have too much money. Their investments get riskier like loaning money to people who do not have the incomes to justify making the loan. Building 2 million homes a year when we only could afford 1.5 million. Now, we're making up for that surplus fueled by excessive wealth among the few who loan it to the many by only building 500,000 homes per year now.

Romney's economic plan is BAD for America. More for the rich has not worked.

Wow, that was a lot of lies coming from Biden!! It was hard to watch. Saying that Romney is going to raise taxes is laughably false.

And what's with the UAW's prominent role in the convention? I felt like I was watching the Auto Worker's convention instead of the DNC!!!

The democrats' position, according to last night: we're not going to cut spending to our special interest groups, so we'll just make the top earners in America appear less human so that we don't feel bad about taking their money. Because the REAL people, the middle class, can't make money on their own. Oh, and we love GM.

Ben-636050

Houston -- Wrong. It comes from the BLS:

. . .there were 844,000 discouraged workers in August . 

So, you're using the dishonest Republicon-artist trick of cropping out parts of sentences that don't support your claims. What Bob numbers doesn't want you to know is that the COMPLETE sentence is:

Among the marginally attached, there were 844,000 discouraged workers in August, adecline of 133,000 from a year earlier.

Note that the number of discouraged workers is DOWN by 133,000 from last year, according to the clause that Boblotsanumbers doesn't want you to know about.

It sadden me to see how the dems used Gabby Gifford for a political pawn at their disposal...Gabby is so brave, but she was USED, that i don't like!

Thank you, David Walker! This, in a nutshell, is what this election is all about! THIS is what AMERICA is all about!

Voting rights are not guaranteed. At this moment, there are enemies of freedom who are working night and day to take away our right to vote. How important is that right? We can demonize the Koch brothers, the Adelson's, and the Rove's all day and all night, but in the end, if we protect our right to vote, they have not one whit more power than the poorest American. My vote is equal in power to Karl Rove's.

White Collar Auto

Jenny on the Block looked pretty whacked out to me.

That's what happens to Canadians when they spend too much time down there.

Anna Molly, you really ought to stick to Lawerin' cuz you don't seem to understand squat about the Auto Industry.

Speculating, indeed.

NorCalModerate

Wow, that was a lot of lies coming from Biden!! It was hard to watch. Saying that Romney is going to raise taxes is laughably false.

What's laughably false is Romney's claim that he'll balance the budget while giving millionaires more tax cuts and forcing the Pentagon to spend trillions on junk they don't need and don't want in order to keep the money flowing into the military industrial complex. The independent analysts have already determined that Mitt will have to increase taxes on the middle class if he's going to make good on his wonderful promises to help the wealthy.

The three strike rule is now in effect. Strike one was Romney's choice of Ryan. Strike two was Tampa. Next pitch coming is the debates.

I would have thought strike three would have been Clinton's numerical analysis of Republican policies and proposals.

fhbj2000

I don't care if you're better off. The country isn't .

simple, show me how it isn't by comparing:

1. job losses in 2008 vs 2012

2. the stock market in 2008 vs 2012

3. status of Bin Laden's "health" in 2008 vs 2008

4. Middle Class income/payroll tax obligations in 2008 vs 2012

5. Interest rates on student loans in 2007-2008 vs 2012-2013

5. status of war in Iraq in 2008 vs 2012

6. Increase in spending in 2008 vs 2012

7. Increase in Health insurance premiums in 2008 vs 2012

8. Capabilities of kids with pre-existing conditions to obtain health insurance in 2008 vs 2012

9. dependence on oil in 2008 vs 2012

10. status of GM as a company in 2008 vs 2012

I can keep going but we'll start with these that affect most of the 95% population

so please show me, how is the country worse off today compared to 4 years ago.

Sick Of The Bickering

Put it like this: AP= Absolutely Putrid; Associated Propaganda

The AP is in the tank for "MYTH" Romney. It's truly a shame journalist can't be journalist anymore because they are so beholding to sensationalism and conflicts of interests with their sponsors.

Turns out that the Buffet Rule would only raise enough revenue to cover 11 hours of government spending and it would take 250 years for the revenues generated by this rule to cover the budget deficits you run in a single year.

Bill:

First of all, thanks for the post. I just wanted to tell you what always makes me smile when I think about the liberal idiots who embrace the Buffet Rule.

Both Warren Buffet and President Obama have claimed that Buffet's secretary pays a higher effective tax rate than Buffet pays himself. Buffet claims he pays an effective rate of 17% and his secretary pays 39%.

As near as I can tell, paying an effective rate of 39% is impossible no matter how I crunch the numbers unless the secretary is :

1. Making a salary that at least approaches $400K.

2. Ignores all exemptions and tax breaks available to her.

3. Donates money to the IRS in excess of what is required for tax purposes.

Because meeting the above requirements makes paying a 39% effective rate highly unlikely, let's assume that Buffet "mistakenly" gave out incorrect information on his secretary's tax rate, but take both his and the President's claim that the secretary does indeed pay a higer rate than Buffet's 17%, at face value. To even pay an effective rate even just slightly higher the 17%--while taking advantage of all of the exemptions and tax breaks available to you--would require an income of between $200K and $500K a year. To pay an even higher rate worthy of justifying using the difference to argue for an increase in Buffet's tax rate would require an even higher income.

Anyway, in both of the above scenerios, Buffet's secretary would likely be paying taxes at the top marginal rate. What this means is that the Buffet rule would actually increase the secretary's tax rate and that there would still be a disparity between her rate and Buffet's.

Hmmm!, Hmm!, Hmm!, Barack Hussein Obama,making his case eh?This month only 90, 000 new jobs, two thirds of them flipping burgers, while over three hundred thousand more people give up even looking, to go along with the fact that already every single person has lost over four thousand dollars of income per year during the Obama Regime, the price of gas has also doubled because as Chairman Obama promised, under his plan, "The price of energy would necessarily skyrocket", and not to be forgotten , next year every Man, Woman and Child will now be required, REQUIRED!, to purchase health insurance,with no guarantee as to what actual "health care" you will get for Your money, You are just forced to have"it",because,"it" is a TAX,(So much for the mealy mouthed promise of no new taxes for anyone making under 250,000 dollars, You are the exact people who will be paying for this, and remember Boys and Girls, "IT" IS A TAX, and taxes ALWAYS go up!), but , not to worry,just because these are the same people that handled your Social Security sooooooo well, and now......, They are in charge of Your "Health Care",..........so, as far as another helping of their brand of, "Hope" , .......no thanks, and You can keep the, "Change".

The party that constantly touts the value of hard work, did not produce any work from Congress, this is a big problem for Romney. The funny thing is that only when republicans look back on their publicly stated Waterloo strategy will it then be recognized as the very thing that saved Obama's ass. Well but then how can you do something that you know is wrong on every level and expect good results, hard work does pay off, republicans in Congress should have done a little work, their lack of effort will cost Romney the election, and they deserve that. Maybe another 500 million or so in adds blaming Obama for everything will do the trick, but it hasn't worked yet. Welcome to Waterloo Mr. Romney, your party has not left you a leg to stand on.

SeekingSanitation, who writes:

Feisty and my libbie friends - I'm doing the same as yesterday - not reading the likes of JAS, no joe (no mind) Concern, WCA, Bill, etc. We know the lies they will tell and the hatred they'll spew- still.

SeekingSanity - Is that a promise to be broken again as our President does? I have no hatred for his person or his family, I simply do not like his policies or thinking...........

I do not post on FR for you and your friends, I post on FR to let people know what is going on and hear the other side of ideas. Please dont give yourself so much credit.

I thought it was interesting that the Obama video last night, they ran a clip of a hateful teabagger mob waving racist signs around. The increase in right wing extremism is one of the problems Obama has had to deal with over the past four years -- as if he didn't have enough other problems.

The video also showed Clinton's comment on the raid that got Osama Bin Laden -- the quote that Karl Rove, in a WSJ hit piece, edited down to "I would have done the same thing" to make Obama's decision sound routine when what Clinton really said was: "I HOPE I would have done the same thing."

And the Republican lies and hate just keep on spewing.

Joe in Albany

Another sh!tty jobs report in a long line of sh!tty jobs reports from the Barry economy.

Joe, i know your smart enough to understand that if you don't like the jobs report, them tell your guy Ryan to get off his ass, introduce a Got Dam jobs bill that the preisdent can sign.

they GOP watered down the last one to almost notings, saying it cost too much.

so instead of call the president on a shi&&y jobs repost. tell ryan to introduce one.

also Joe, its funny that all ryan does is BITCH about the debt but his was in congress voting for everything that has us Fu&cked up right now,

medicade part D

iraq war

1.2 trillion in bush tax cuts

just to name a few.

but don't warry, biden will grill his ass, make his look like the rookie his is and make him regret he ever voted for all that SPENDING 8.5 trillion on the debt.

take that and shove it where the sun don't shine!!!!

From reading most of these posts, I am so glad I purposely missed Obama's speech last night. I am convinced he procured more of his hypnosis speaking technique because the liberals seem to be in a trance this morning.

I don't know why liberals are so enamored by Obama. Obviously they are oblivious to the nature of the economy, the jobs situation, the national debt increases, the drop in credit rating, the broken promises, the deficit, the lack of an approved budget and so many more things I can list reflecting all negatives on the president. Each one of these negatives show a lack of leadership.

Liberals would rather build up on Obama's charm, his personality and ability to publicly speak. None of which is a sign of leadership. The lack of reality built into the Obama worship is clearly a psychosis.

From my take of the above comments, the liberals were totally enamored over the speech but the conservatives were cognitive of all the holes in it. I'd be willing to bet not a single liberal found one hole. This is par for the course.

All that aside, what did the general population feel about the speech? I would be willing to say they will totally forget about it by 4 PM this afternoon after all the office buzz and work place analysis draws to a conclusion. All the build up to it equals approximately 8 hours of various discussions and then a dismissal. Another SNAFU.

From NBC News that notorious RWNJ website:

The Labor Department reported Friday that the economy created a tepid 96,000 jobs in August, well below the 125,000 expected by economists and a far stretch from the plus-250,0000 needed to show robust growth. The unemployment rate slid to 8.1 percent from 8.3 percent as more Americans gave up looking for work.

The report's weak tenor was also underscored by revisions to June and July data to show 41,000 fewer jobs created than previously reported. The labor force participation rate, or the percentage of Americans who either have a job or are looking for one, fell to 63.5 percent -- the lowest since September 1981.

Look, I'm a classical liberal not a "Faux News" big government conservative so you can scratch that reply and screed from your ubiquitous arsenal.

It's truly a shame journalist can't be journalist anymore because they are so beholding to sensationalism and conflicts of interests with their sponsors.

ROFLMA...Journolist anyone?

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0710/40308.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/22/AR2010072206024.html

The jobs report is horrible, that is a fact. R&R just do not impress me with their rhetoric so I will vote to reelect the President, just as I did in 2004. You must have substance to win the average voter and R&R have none.

Those of you who do not see the obstruction by the Repubs in the House and Senate do not deserve a voice. They have sat on their hands and done nothing just to try and win the whitehouse. It is pathetic.

SeekingSanity - Is that a promise to be broken again as our President does?

I do not post on FR for you and your friends, I post on FR to let people know what is going on and hear the other side of ideas. Please dont give yourself so much credit.

'Comemierda' is one word. Please try to remember that my little "pendeja gorda".

Xabre

The three strike rule is now in effect. Strike one was Romney's choice of Ryan. Strike two was Tampa. Next pitch coming is the debates.

I would have thought strike three would have been Clinton's numerical analysis of Republican policies and proposals.

If the DNC can afford to run it as ads. Rahm Emanuel has been set loose to arm twist some hefty donations. That would help.

It sadden me to see how the dems used Gabby Gifford for a political pawn at their disposal...Gabby is so brave, but she was USED, that i don't like!

no more sad than using a dead guy to attack romney. im surprised they didnt dig him up and put him on stage. stay classy democrats.

Joe in Albany - from way up at the top

It's not funny to those who don't have adequate employment.

Blackcat - fantastic.

Strike one - $16 Trillion debt;

Strike two - Unemployment 8.1% [would be 11.2% if same participation rate as 2/09];

Strike Three - You pick: GDP, Manufacturing job loss, deficit, no budget...

NorCalModerate

Wow, that was a lot of lies coming from Biden!! It was hard to watch. Saying that Romney is going to raise taxes is laughably false.

it's been proven in the analysis by the Tax Policy Center> Romney promises to cut income tax rates across but he will pay for it by eliminating and reducing tax deductions and credits. TPC found that such a plan would “increase the tax burdens on middle- and/or lower-income taxpayers.” Under one scenario, it said that “taxpayers with children who make less than $200,000 would pay, on average, $2,000 more in taxes.”

So say bah bye to your deductions - Romney needs to pay for permanent tax cuts (which is required) somehow!

http://taxpolicycenter.org/taxtopics/romney-plan.cfm

By the way, do you remember Bush1 famous words: read my lips"? Yeah, he also PROMISED not to increase taxes on the Middle Class.

If the DNC can afford to run it as ads. Rahm Emanuel has been set loose to arm twist some hefty donations. That would help.

Obama really needs to call out Mitt Romney's / Paul Ryan's numbers on spending, revenue and the subsequent debt. They really don't add up and would explain why the Republicans don't throw any of their own numbers around when it comes to proposals.

It sadden me to see how the dems used Gabby Gifford for a political pawn at their disposal...Gabby is so brave, but she was USED, that i don't like!

please prove to me that she didn't want ot be there. She's not brain dead for, you know. Are you implying that this intelligent, proud woman has no mind of her own????? I know you people want to keep women barefoot and pregnant but it's 2012 for crying out loud!

Harley Chic --

Was the debt ticker on a jumbo screen in back of those clowns while they were spewing out their typical garbage ?? ..

Nope. The Republicans packed up their debt and slunk out of Tampa like thieves in the night.

Because they're really the ones who have been stealing from the American people, while blaming Democrats for it. Two unfunded wars, the Bush tax cuts (which are, of course, still with us), the unfunded prescription drug mandate, TARP, the auto bailout that began while Bush was still president ...... on and on.

Forgive me, but I really must say that, after observing you for a couple of days, you are about as ignorant as it comes.

You have no place on a board with intelligent adults.

It sadden me to see how the dems used Gabby Gifford for a political pawn at their disposal...Gabby is so brave, but she was USED, that i don't like.

A charge of exploitation from someone as foolish as you are who spouts obvious talking points that have been fed to her calls herself "Harley Chic"?

Seriously.

@ sick of the bickering

thanks for putting it all together....

facts are the facts...

what is funny, those like the

fiesty red head

sit and surf ALL DAY AND NITE, searching for a news article written by any one who agrees with her and label it the truth and the other is a lier....

keep up the good work

Houston said: The increase in right wing extremism is one of the problems Obama has had to deal with over the past four years -- as if he didn't have enough other problems.

Hearts and flowers Houston. How short your memory is. Do you do this on purpose, or don't you possess many memory cells?

Shall I list out the amount and nature of the extremism from the left during Bush's term? Or would you rather me not?

Stop acting all righteous about those who feel Obama is doing a terrible job when the liberals did the exact same thing for the republican president. At least we conservatives don't boast of groups like Code Pink, or the Black Panthers who are willing to take the fight with guns to the street.

Oh come on AM, let's not set too high a standard.

Where else would we go? :)

Jeff

The house passed 41 bills that would add jobs by cutting taxes or regulations that make business products uncompetitive that clearly would lead to jobs.

They were ordered tabled by Senate Majority Harry Reid. He called it "corporate welfare".

The bills that Senator Reid sent to the house included tax increases on people and businesses or no offer of how to pay for the cuts. The Rebpublicans at least had the decency to bring to the floor for a vote!

One of those House bills was to approve the keystone Pipeline which Obama has fought!

We would have a hundreds of high paying jobs filled right now and be on the way to having a peak of 11,000 direct jobs (thousands of additional resulting jobs) if it had been approved.

Uncle Henry

no more sad than using a dead guy to attack romney. im surprised they didnt dig him up and put him on stage. stay classy democrats.

just because your guy failed to go after America's #1 terrorist does not mean that the rest of us should not be proud of the fact that the guy responsible for the deaths of 3000 Americans is dead.

If Romney had any class, at some point - any point, he would have made a comment that Bin Laden got what he deserved for what he did to us. But no, Romney would rather keep his mouth shot and pretend to be the victim. And if you think that the Republicans would not use the death of Bin Laden had Bush been able to do it, you are very naive.

It amazes me that any American would not celebrate the fact that Bin Laden WILL NEVER hurt another person again!

You have no place on a board with intelligent adults.

Damn AM that leaves out about 99% of the posters here!

Where will you go?

Spanky --

Oh come on AM, let's not set too high a standard.

Where else would we go? :)

Hiya, Spanky. Thanks for the giggle.

Wishbone --

Damn AM that leaves out about 99% of the posters here!

Where will you go?

First, tell me where YOU will go.

And then I'll go somewhere else.

jinsd said: Look, I'm a classical liberal not a "Faux News" big government conservative so you can scratch that reply and screed from your ubiquitous arsenal.

So you are telling us that you aren't prepared for a rebuttal to your comments? Or do you mean you are willing to bury your head in the sand to escape any possible backlash for your opinions? The first one I have is that you are in a delusion about MSN being a right wing news source. Ooops... that went right over your head... you have to pull it out of the ground first in order to hear it.

Chris, Dorr, MI

Vote for President Obama because your middle class life depends on it!

4 more for 44!

NO to robmehood and lyin

Id be more like Richard Pryor in the move Brestwers Millions, Vote for None of the Above.

None of these guys now a days is even worthy to be voted for.

I would like to see a new History made for america, the election that had the least votes ever. Say 25 % or less of the Population voting. Maybe that would get word out that all these people, demos and repubs suck at running office and surely are not representing the american people.

As I have posted elsewhere:

Created 4.5 million jobs, eh?

NOT!

Fact check: 4.5 million new jobs created under Obama?
By Eric Pfeiffer,

With the Democratic National Convention in full swing, a number of party leaders are attempting to boost President Barack Obama's re-election effort by asserting that 4.5 million new jobs have been created during his term.

Obama himself has recently claimed more job growth in the past 27 months than President George W. Bush created "during the entire seven years before this crisis."

"Despite incredible odds and united Republican opposition, our president took action, and now we've seen 4.5 million new jobs," San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro said in his keynote address at the DNC on Tuesday night.

That statistic was echoed by virtually all of Tuesday night's speakers, including first lady Michelle Obama, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who previously served as Obama's chief of staff.

However, CNN fact-checked that claim and found it to be "not the whole picture." Instead, CNN found that there has been a net increase of just 300,000 nonfarm payroll jobs since Obama took office. And if you count government jobs, there are actually 400,000 fewer people working today than in January 2009.

When Democrats use the 4.5 million jobs number, they're referring to jobs created after the economy bottomed out in January 2010, one year after Obama took office. That time frame excludes the worst job losses, which took place in 2009, and which many Democrats argue were the result of Bush policies.

CNN concludes: "The figure of 4.5 million jobs is accurate if you look at the most favorable period and category for the administration. But overall, there are still fewer people working now than when Obama took office at the height of the recession."

Still, a historical analysis of job growth percentages shows that Obama still fares better than some recent presidents. As of July, Obama is averaging +0.84 percent annual job growth in his term. That places him ahead of Bush, who saw +0.51 percent growth in his first term and -0.84 percent in his second term. Obama is also tracking better than George H.W. Bush, who presided over +0.69 percent growth during his one term in the White House.

However, Obama's job growth percentages trail far behind those of some other recent presidents, including Bill Clinton (+2.60 percent and +1.60 percent), Ronald Reagan (+1.75 percent and +2.53 percent) and even Jimmy Carter (+2.30 percent).

Ross Perot was correct in his predictions about jobs leaving the country, and we ended up with Clinton.

Now we're going to do the same with Ron Paul.

The American People are stupid....

Dreams from My Real Father: Director Joel Gilbert at National Press Club, Washington DC

AM, I believe I will stay right here, as you will, I am sure.

It's way to entertaining here to go any place else.

I am curious, though. How did you find a stable for that VERY high horse of yours?

Should we not be doing better by Now? Whew I am changing horses!

Vote Romney / Ryan for POTUS / VPOTUS on November 6, 2012!

Spanky-

Strike one - $16 Trillion debt;

now subtract Obama's spending on the two wars, Bush's mortgage, Bush's mortgage interest, SS IOU's that were finally put on the books, Bush's Medicare prescription drug benefit, the 2001&2003 tax cuts that are still not paid for, part of the stimulus which was started under Bush but not included in his budget, and the Great Recession which Bush never had to deal with, what do you have left???

Unlike Bush1's, Bush2's, and Reagan's, Obama's federal spending is rising at the slowest pace since Dwight Eisenhower brought the Korean War to an end in the 1950s.

Vote for President Obama because your middle class life depends on it!

My middle class, or any other life I build for myself is not dependent upon a millionaire living in a publicly funded palace. That goes for either one of them.

Gov Snyder has done more in his short term then she did in 8 years

What's up with another new account JollyOldSoul?

Do you think the 4th time will be the "charm"? lol

What I wonder is why the worst Governor in the History of the State of Michigan would get a speaking spot at the DNC?

WCA -

I guess for the same reason the worst candidate in history got a speaking spot at the RNC convention.

-

O&Joe 2012

Brianb-999431

No...not afraid of any rebuttal but just sick and tired of the standard response from the regulars on this blog when you present a news story from a reputable source that counters their opinion. Way up in this thread someone posted about the RWNJ spinning the 8.1% unemployment rate. So I posted excerpts from the AP wire story and according to some on this blog AP is conservatively biased or a RWNJ organization.

So then I posted an excerpt from the NBC News website to point out the lunacy of the supposed "RWNJ" spinning of the 8.1% rate. Now, if you didn't pick up on my sarcasm regarding NBC News being a RWNJ site then...well I thought the sarcasm was obvious.

This site works like this: Point out a negative story about the President, you must be a RWNJ.

Obama 2012 - the only sane choice!

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Xabre - I'm surprised you're still reading concern's trash - I stopped a long time ago - she's merely another demented radical rightie.

On a totally different note, the Obama girls are growing up to be beautiful young ladies. Malia is really beautiful and looks like she will be another Michelle - classy, elegant and smart!

They've done a great job of keeping the girls grounded even though they're in the spotlight!

Obama/Biden 20212

Brianb-999431

Hearts and flowers Houston. How short your memory is. Do you do this on purpose, or don't you possess many memory cells?

What I remember is that Bush lied us into a disastrous war that cost 4,000 American lives, killed AT LEAST 100,000 Iraqis, and cost trillions of dollars that Bush simply added to the deficit because the war did not "pay for itself" as the neocons promised.

Some of the protesters' placards were in bad taste, but the anger over the debacle Bush created was clearly justifiable. The anger of the teabaggers is motivated by the fact that we have a black president whom they fear will benefit undeserving black people at their expense. Nothing of the sort has happened, but the hate came first and the rationales for it came later.

"I don't know why liberals are so enamored by Obama."

Well for me Brianb, it has a lot to do with the half million dollars plus I now have back, that vaporized under 8 years of a republican. Not bad for a guy who is supposedly so destructive to business, the fact is business feels real good, very very healthy numbers, better than they have been in years. I also feel good about the easiest, and most lucrative job I have ever had, I know the same republicans that thought it was disgraceful how well I was paid as a union worker well be very happy now that I get paid much more to do much less by swapping my blue collar for a white one. Bottom-line is that I am better off than four years ago, way better, for me it is a fact, not a feeling, why should I deny the facts, I hear how bad Obama is making everything, but I certainly don't see it, like Spanky says (kind of says) my wallet never lies.

DB Akron

The house passed 41 bills that would add jobs by cutting taxes or regulations that make business products uncompetitive that clearly would lead to jobs.

simple to prove - show me the list of 41 bills that house passed that would add jobs

BTW, what Romney will not tell you is that although businesses would like deregulation and tax cuts (who wouldn't), they won't generally lead to job creation until sales improve. And guess who buys their products mostly - the 98% of us.

So keep taking away from the 98% and you will find out how quickly you have shelves full of product and no one to buy that product.

Houston

Great comments. I just love it when the Republican distortions are exposed. Keep up the good work.

Spiddas --

When Democrats use the 4.5 million jobs number, they're referring to jobs created after the economy bottomed out in January 2010, one year after Obama took office. That time frame excludes the worst job losses, which took place in 2009, and which many Democrats argue were the result of Bush policies.

And are you actually that stupid? Exactly was it that President Obama supposedly did during 2009 that supposedly increased that already skyrocketing job losses that began in December 2007?

Of course, he leaves out those months. And rightfully so because those are the exact same months that occurred BEFORE the stimulus kicked in.

In other words, it's NOT a distortion of his actual record.

http://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS14000000

Try reading this chart -- it makes the situation pretty plain.

When President Obama took office, the rate of job loss was 750,000 per month. The additional losses during 2009 are not his fault by ANY measure.

The only argument you've proven is that the stimulus WORKED.

Next time, it might be helpful to actually UNDERSTAND the statistics that you are citing.

You and Harley Chic ... among the great minds of our time.

Gosh Bayllie - if only we could 'erase' the debt.

But see we cannot. Rates and percentages are meaningless. THe hard number is $16TRILLION.

And hey, won't them having to raised the debt ceiling, again, be entertaining?

Well, at least Bin Laden is also not doing as well as 4 years ago.

SO there is that.

Good to see you again AM. :)

GT-2021701

I guess for the same reason the worst candidate in history got a speaking spot at the RNC convention.

According to Ricky Santorum, Romney is the worst REPUBLICAN candidate. Poor Romney is the Republicans 2nd, 3rd choice? Must be embarrassing for him!

A few responses to the dems favorite lies, sorry, lines.

10. "When you take off the uniform, we will serve you as well as you've served us – because no one who fights for this country should have to fight for a job, or a roof over their head, or the care that they need when they come home." (14 seconds)

Lets ask veterans what they think they have done for him. And you realize that republicans push for veteran benefits more than any other party right?

9. "After two wars that have cost us thousands of lives and over a trillion dollars, it's time to do some nation-building right here at home." (14 seconds)

You forgot the one you started in Lybia. And with the crumbling economy, I dont think you are doing any nation building.

8. "I've signed trade agreements that are helping our companies sell more goods to millions of new customers — goods that are stamped with three proud words: Made in America." (14.7 seconds)

Duh, when you open up trade with countries we sell them our goods. The problem comes with them selling us all their goods instead of us buying American. We just increased the trade deficit, great.

7. "We don't think that government is the source of all our problems, any more than are welfare recipients, or corporations, or unions, or immigrants, or gays, or any other group we're told to blame for our troubles." (15 seconds)

Except for the group you tell us is responsible for all the problems. Like the 1% and Wallstreet. The very people you bailed out and take millions of dollars from in campaign contributions. And no one group is responsible for all our problems, no one claims that. Oh, and you forgot the word illegal before immigrants, you know, the only immigrants we have a problem with.

6. "You can do something about [climate change]." (17.2 seconds)

Hubris, plain and simple. Even if we are just talking man made, we are a drop in the bucket compared to China, but you never bring that up do you?

5. "I'm no longer just a candidate. I'm the President." (20 seconds)

Thank you for the obvious.

4. "A new tower rises above the New York skyline, al-Qaida is on the path to defeat, and Osama bin Laden is dead." (21.5 seconds)

And a new Mosque proudly overlooks the fallen towers. Oh and who started the mission to take out Obama? That guy that you are always blaming for everything else.

3. [Quoting the Republicans' "prescription" for the economy.] "'Feel a cold coming on? Take two tax cuts, roll back some regulations, and call us in the morning!'" (22.7 seconds)

Yes, tax cuts have always had a stimulus on the economy. Can say the same about spending. And do you really want to talk about deregulation after Clinton?

2. "That's what we can do in the next four years, and that's why I'm running for a second term as President of the United States." (22.8 seconds)

Even though you promised you would be a one term president if you didnt follow through with your promises. Few of which you followed through with.

1. "I accept your nomination for President of the United States." (27.5 seconds)

Shocker of the decade.

@ David Walker: If Boomers are leaving the workforce in drives to collect their SS, then why aren't those jobs being replaced? That question being glossed over is exactly why the jobs report is still bad news for Obama's administration. If his jobs plan is to create roughly 1.9 million jobs at a cost of $235000 per job, is that truly a good thing? Why not just spread that out for all taxpaying workers?

Maybe out- I mean backhouse should only get one shot at the same lengthly novelette. Obama's kids look nice. So? Most kids look nice.

Clinton summarized this campaign succinctly.

Is this nation going to remain one where the individual dominates, or instead, are we to become a kind of economic commune where the government decides who gets what? It is really that simple. Ignore the names, the ugly faces, the pretty ones, the lies and the name-calling.

Fisty,

You may want to seek some help....I might offer AA. Drinking this early in the morning is not normal. Barrys speeches are the same garbage over and over again and like a good little sheep you follow along drooling. Just be honest with all of us, you are really Nasty Piglosi.

Bayllie - Excuses, excuses. What about the housing rules that were set in place by Clinton? You know the rules that encouraged lenders to provide mortgages to unqualified recipients because the democrats wanted everyone to have homes... even if they weren't qualified. This was bolstered by democrats, lied over by democrats and run by democrats... You know, the program set up by democrats that led to the worst housing bubble in this countries history. A housing bubble that was so bad that it brought down the banking industry...

See, two can play the blame game... The housing bubble burst 17 months after the democrats took control over congress in 2007 and liberals want to blame republicans. Well, facts are facts and you can't escape the fact that the worst economic conditions this country has had since the great depression was started, executed and delivered by democrats.

Wishbone --

I am curious, though. How did you find a stable for that VERY high horse of yours?

Still working on it.

Why, do you know any?

Spanky-

Gosh Bayllie - if only we could 'erase' the debt.

But see we cannot. Rates and percentages are meaningless. THe hard number is $16TRILLION.

Are you admitting that the big chunk of the debt is due to prior obligations like unpaid Bush tax cuts, the wars and the medicare prescription, interest on debt, etc?It would be nice to see Republicans take ownership of their choices.

yes we can, Clinton did it after Bush1. Unfortunately we have Republicans who vowed to do everything to make President Obama a 1-term president even if it means sacrificing the rest of us.

I can't even imagine what we could do as a country if the Republians' #1 goal was the economy instead of making Obama 1-termer.

Your choice: YANKEE, GO HOME!

In today's partisan political environment Obama could crap on the stage and the Democratic faithful would Be absolutely beside them selves with glowing positive enthusiasm over what a great job he did!

White Collar

I suspect with your personality - you may go a whole lifetime,...

just sayin'!

One of the biggest problems I see in our economy is an attitude among business owners that they just have to cut costs in order to increase profits which are then multiplied by the wrong-headed tax cuts for the rich the Republicans have fought so hard for these many years.

What they fail to realize is that they make most of their money selling to American consumers who have had to endure years and years of lost jobs and lower wages as their jobs are exported and their wages stagnate. This imperative of business to cut costs ignores the reality that if their consumers do not have more money, they cannot spend it. For years, the rich got around this by simply loaning us more money. This is how the richest 1% have increased their share of our national income from 10% in 1980 to 24% today.

In 2008, this strategy blew up in their face. People were loaned money who could not afford to pay it back especially in a recession where almost 800,000 were losing their jobs each month (4th quarter 2008). Our economy shrunk at an annual rate of 8.5% in this quarter (although initial estimates were 3.5%). Now, the rich business owners are faced with a consumer market that is essentially broke after nearly 30 years of trickle down economics. The solution is clear. They should realize that their accumulation of wealth and income deprived their market of the needed revenue it needed to grow and prosper. Now their sales are stagnant, but they just demand more tax cuts.

Wake up, you (richest 1%) play a major role in the economic health of your marketplace. You need to share your excess income with the people that work for you (0% return on 10 year US treasury bonds illustrates the extent of their excess income and wealth).

The middle class is broke. Your sales will not increase until you share that excess income (24% of total) with your workers who are also your consumers. You think, well, I can maximize my profits without hurting the market.. But, most of you are doing the same thing. This individual decision when multiplied by all that are doing the same thing becomes a huge macroeconomic factor that drives down the ability to purchase the goods and services you are trying to sell more profitably.

Share the wealth and you will prosper and grow. You (top 1%) do not need 24% of our nation's income. Give everybody an immediate 10% raise and you will only earn 14% of our nation's income, but it will be income that will increase as your market prospers and grows. You will need to hire many more workers then and our nations economic woes will be over. How patriotic are you? Just how greedy are you?

I realize that this outcome is not likely. Individuals tend to pursue their own self-interest. So, the government needs to play a role here. Raise taxes on the rich NOW and redistribute the income to where we all will benefit from a healthier economy. In 1929, the richest 1% also took 24% of our national income. Remember what happened next, THE GREAT DEPRESSION.

Brianb-999431

Bayllie - Excuses, excuses. What about the housing rules that were set in place by Clinton? You know the rules that encouraged lenders to provide mortgages to unqualified recipients because the democrats wanted everyone to have homes...

show me anything that states that banks WERE FORCED to give out mortgages to unqualified applicants, and I'll bet 10,000 Romney bucks that you cannot.

I actually agree with the Lefties that Clint Eastwood talking to an empty chair was wrong. There should have been an empty suit in the chair to represent Obama.

Obama is all flash with, absolutely, no substance. The Lefties were whining all week that Romney offered no "substantive" proposalS (even though he DID) like Obama was going to.

Then Obama shows up, strutting like a peacock, and drops the same old huge, steaming, stinking, pile of caca that he's been shoveling for almost five years.

One thing is clear. Any undecided/independent that watched both conventions will be struck by the huge difference in comportment between the two parties.

The Republicans were shown to be levelheaded, honest, DECENT people while the Dems came off as raging, abusive, lunatics.

The contrast is telling. It's not, at all, surprising though. Anyone that does a modicum of research knows that every campaign Obama has EVER run has been based on nothing but LIES AND SLANDER.

The Republicans have been biding their time, building up their war chests, and just waiting for the Conventions to finish. They KNEW that the undisciplined Dems would, inevitably, overreach.

Now, the REAL war begins. The Republicans will, undoubtedly, use their HUGE funding advantage launch a massive media blitz highlighting the Dems' dishonesty and hypocrisy.

They've surely taken note of the Obama campaign's false attacks using far-left, Soros-funded "sources" and even using quotes from SOMEONE ELSE as a "source" (CNN debate) for something that they attribute to Romney. The Obama people have even stooped to using OBAMA'S OWN WEBSITE as a "source" for some attacks.

All of the Republicans' hundreds of millions of $$ will be used, over the next couple of months, to expose the duplicity of Barack Obama and his minions. He said, last night, that he was tired of hearing "I'm Barack Obama and I approved this message". By November, he's going to dread hearing "He's Barack Obama and HE approved THIS message".

For example, I forsee ads questioning whether Bill Clinton REALLY believed what he said or if he just wanted to help his wife. These ads would include the video of Clinton praising Romney's business experience and encouraging and even offering to aid Ryan in his budget initiatives. Those videos would, of course, be followed by the one in which Clinton slams Obama for calling him a RACIST and complaining that Obama "planned all along" to do so.

It should be an interesting eight weeks. Obama will need all the help he can get from his Liberal media lapdogs.

This is a brief list of some of the major lies by Obama.

He broke his promise to put
all bills on the White House web site for five days before signing them. 37
major pieces of legislation signed, not one a web site, that’s 37 Major Lies.

He broke his promise to freeze spending for three years. Largest increases in
history

He broke his promise to “change the tone of politics” (calling the GOP liars,
Fox news destructive). The most vile administration in history.

He broke his promise that illegal aliens would not be covered in the new Health
Care legislation.

He broke his promise to have the congressional health care negotiations
broadcast live on C-SPAN. None yet, all lies.

He broke his promise to end earmarks (9,000 in his first budget). 29,00
additional lies.

He broke his promise to keep unemployment from rising above 8 percent (failed
stimulus) . In 42 months, 42 more lies

He broke his promise to close the detention center at Guantanamo in the first
year. Still open.

He broke his promise to make peace with direct, no pre-condition talks with
America ’s most hate-filled enemies during his first year in office, ushering
in a new era of global cooperation. None yet, more lies.

He broke his promise to end the hiring of former lobbyists into high White
House jobs (At last count, there were 22 working at the WH). 22 lies and
counting.

He broke his promise to end no-compete contracts with the government (tons of
contacts given to cronies). 79% of GM sales going to Federal government fleets,
all funded by your tax dollars.

He broke his promise to disclose the names of all attendees at closed White
House meetings.

He broke his promise for a new era of bipartisan cooperation in all matters.
The worst and most non existent ever seen.

He broke his promise about accepting public financing (pay as you go) when was
running for office. 140 million lies.

He broke his promise to Congress (made on May 18, 2011) that the U.S. would
taking military action in Libya for “days” rather than “weeks and the U.S.
would be take a “supporting” role.” None taken.

He broke his promise that his health care legislation would cut health
insurance premiums by $2,500 per year. (As of 2011, HHS has approved 1,372
Obamacare waivers from anxious employers and other organizations, covering 3.1
million Americans).

He said he spent less than any
president, but he’s spent enough to increase the Federal deficit by 70% in just
3 years (6 Trillion Lies).

He said that government has
lost more jobs than private sector. His record is 150,00 more Federal workers
in only 3 years, a Massive record of 150,000 Lies. All paid for by tax payers.

His only ability is to Lie,
Lie, Lie. It’s hard to believe how many idiots there are that believe them.

"No one left behind" vs. every man for himself. You choose.

Veterans for Obama 2012!

Albany Joe --

AM: you seem a bit angry today, unlike Dumbfux who claims to be "walking on sunshine". That's about right for a lefty liberal Obamabot since his hot-air rhetoric is as solid and durable as a ray of sunshine.

I hope you day improves AM.

Ah. Reduced to accusing me of anger, are we? I see you've taken on the daily deflection duty that JoAnna usually performs. You and she must be pretty thick.

I'm really not sure my day could improve, Joe. My back feels better, the weather is cool, work is good, the convention was great, the weekend is here, I plan to make fresh pecan pesto today, we may see some rain, I plan to take pictures this weekend, and all's right with the world.

In fact, I even feel like I could dance, if I got the chance.

If you're looking for anger, try a mirror.

Spanky --

Good to see you again AM. :)

You, too, old buddy.

What's also laughable is the claim that the TCP is non-partisan!! The tax increase isn't a Romney proposal; it's a TCP proposal based on some questionable assumptions!!

Keep demonizing an entire segment of the population, my liberal friends. At some point you'll realize the hypocracy of that, coming from a party that I usually admire for its inclusiveness. I'm amazed that Obama -flat out- says he's the president to represent only a portion of the population (the middle class). At least the other guy pretends to be everyone's president!!

Romney/Ryan 2012

jinsd said: So then I posted an excerpt from the NBC News website to point out the lunacy of the supposed "RWNJ" spinning of the 8.1% rate. Now, if you didn't pick up on my sarcasm regarding NBC News being a RWNJ site then...well I thought the sarcasm was obvious.

This site works like this: Point out a negative story about the President, you must be a RWNJ.

Many humble apologies jinsd. Since I am not familiar with your writing... I missed the sarcasm. I have problems with both sides when they repeat talking points without thinking. I ignore the right and challenge the left. Not because I believe the right has all the answers but because the left seems to carry the same beliefs that can be challenged. The right is not always right, but just as passionate. I do recognize the differences. We can't all be the same.

@ Anna Molly

Too busy bashing Bain to discuss Obama allowing GM to bankrupt cheating thousands of retires out of their pensions??

Or did you forget Obama bought GM shares at $100 to bail them out then in a stroke of financial genius sold them to China for $40 a share?

You'll be happy to know the Obamacare taxes don't start until after the elections. 95% of it will fall on the middle class that is doing so well under Obama or should I say bent over by Obama.

While your giving him a big hug because unemployment dropped mostly because people lost their benefits or just gave up, consider this.

It takes 150,000 NEW jobs created every month just to cover the kids entering the job market. That is 6.6 million jobs just to break even. That puts your messiah in the hole by a couple million jobs from his own inflated claim.

Here's what the Washington Post has to say

According to government figures 43 whipped the pants off 44.

Also lets not forget the 100 months of growth 43 had at least until the democrats took over congress in 2006 and set about crashing the economy.

We could stay with Obama maybe he will come up with a plan to sell America to China say just take over the payments on the debt he's creating??

foolishness abounds said: I actually agree with the Lefties that Clint Eastwood talking to an empty chair was wrong. There should have been an empty suit in the chair to represent Obama.

I have to tell you that I got a great laugh out of this line! But at least they got it right by placing a teleprompter next to the chair.

You can't blame bad housing loans on anybody but the crooked bankers that wrote them. It is not Clinton's fault, or Obama's or Barney Frank's, or Fannie, or Freddie, crooked bankers signed off on those loans period. I had a 23 year old kid who got his first job making 50 grand a year and they were going to lend him over $375,000 on a "interest only loan". You got that interest only you pay and pay and never have equity, hell the Mafia would give you a better loan. These bankers took no responsibility, young naive people trusted them and the story was always the same we can get you in that house. All kinds of crazy loans they developed to "get you in" not because of Fannie or Freddie, but because homes were increasing 12% or more a year. They knew many of these people would go belly up in a year when the balloon note kicked in, but hey let them make payments for a year and when we take the house back it will be worth more. They even sold those bad loans they signed off on as high yield investment securities, you get that bad loans were now securities! It was working for them until home prices slipped and then the wheels flew off, nobody is responsible for the actions of those crooked bastards but themselves, they never told anybody you can't afford this, the story was always the same we can find a way to get you in, hell half the time the appraiser, real estate agent, and mortgage lender was a one stop shop basically under the same roof, how freaking phony was that. Who is at fault because people were told they could borrow 125% of the inflated appraisal of their existing home to get into a bigger one, or to back a home equity loan so they could buy big screen TV's, crooked bankers took advantage of a lot of stupid or just young and naive kids who wanted a home, "we can get you in" was music to their ears. Then when prices started to drop it all unraveled in a hurry, then it was like a falling knife nobody wanted to grab, then they would not lend a dime to people who could afford it because they were afraid the house would not be worth as much next year. The US government never told or forced bankers to write bad loans and then to compound the losses by selling those bad loans as investments. Greedy bankers are solely responsible for their dishonesty, they signed those loans, they even charged more for bad loans, they had a nice racket for awhile, and they knew exactly what they were doing, it was working for them as long as housing prices were going up the minute the prices leveled out and started to decline the wheels came off. The loan officer who signs a bad loan is the person responsible for giving out bad loans, it is that simple, they knew many of these people would wind up being losers, but they felt they could not lose because home values were going up so much each year, they were never forced to write bad loans, and to prove that, why have they now stopped. They stopped because it is not a profitable racket when home prices are level or declining, if the government was forcing them then, they would still be forcing them now, but the truth is they were never forced to give bad loans, not then, and not now, never.

Wishbone --

Anna Molly, you really ought to stick to Lawerin' cuz you don't seem to understand squat about the Auto Industry.

Speculating, indeed.

LoLoL Apparently, neither did you OR your old bosses until President Obama came along and explained it to them.

But I don't need to understand the auto industry to understand how Mitt Romney thinks. Neither does he apparently, and THAT was the subject.

But nice try, Wishbone. The view up here is still mighty fine.

Look what they are selling you. Since when have politicians become honorable principled people? Known for telling the truth?

We get what we deserve.

Since when are broken "promises" considered comparable to bald faced lies?

Anna Molly: Not that bright, are ya?

You might want to go back and do a bit more than a quick skim of the post before calling people names..... I am not the one making the report. The report is coming straight from the liberal department at CNN.

So your not-too-brilliant argument has been nullified.

BTW - I'm not for Obama's "Mini-Me" Mitt either...

Dreams from My Real Father: Director Joel Gilbert at National Press Club, Washington DC

Spiddas --

You might want to go back and do a bit more than a quick skim of the post before calling people names..... I am not the one making the report. The report is coming straight from the liberal department at CNN.

So your not-too-brilliant argument has been nullified.

I knew that. But you're the one citing it as if it was somehow gospel.

It isn't even as informative as the telephone book on this subject. But don't feel bad. A lot of pundits don't understand it, either. They're no brighter than you are. And CNN can hardly be labeled liberal.

I'd say nice try, but it really wasn't.

Frank --

Too busy bashing Bain to discuss Obama allowing GM to bankrupt cheating thousands of retires out of their pensions??

Or did you forget Obama bought GM shares at $100 to bail them out then in a stroke of financial genius sold them to China for $40 a share?

Funny thing, the autoworkers themselves thank President Obama for SAVING their pensions.

http://leanforward.msnbc.com/_news/2012/08/31/13597416-ex-janesville-gm-plant-employee-paul-ryan-ought-to-be-ashamed-of-himself?lite

I'd much rather hear about it from them than from you.

You're just shareholder/bondholder sour grapes.

Sometimes you take a risk and it doesn't work out.

At least that's what JoAnna always tells me.

Houston said: What I remember is that Bush lied us into a disastrous war that cost 4,000 American lives, killed AT LEAST 100,000 Iraqis, and cost trillions of dollars that Bush simply added to the deficit because the war did not "pay for itself" as the neocons promised.

Well your memory of a lie that Bush told is very questionable. It has been shown that Hussein did have WMD's and they were shipped to Syria. But who cares about that now, correct? The lie theory is embedded into liberals memory and they are unwilling to amend it. If you have to abandon the lie theory, your entire premise falls apart so you are stuck with lying to yourself.

I guess your memory also alludes itself to the fact that 25 million other Iraqi's were given freedom... I guess you don't care anything about that, right? Meaningless.

Guess you don't know much about economics but you are stuck on believing that government provides jobs... guess all the munitions, armament, aircraft, and other hardware that was produced during that time had no intrinsic value to our economy.... tell me again how you support Obama and his belief that government provides work for the private sector.

Oil production in the US has
only increased because the drillers had to spend the extra money to go to
private land to drill, since Obama didn’t allow drilling on public sites.

It doesn’t matter how many
jobs have been created, if you loose more than that, which has happened every
month he’s been in office. That’s why there are millions more people out of
work.

The electricity from wind ,
solar, and bio fuels is so tiny it’s almost nonexistent. The cost is so high,
it’s totally stupid.

Obama has stood in the way
of fractioning natural gas, the biggest increase to the industry in a century.

White Collar Auto wrote:

"I'm still waiting to be blown."

Talk to Brianb lotsanumbers. He's made it pretty clear he hates women.

I knew that. But you're the one citing it as if it was somehow gospel.

It isn't even as informative as the telephone book on this subject. But don't feel bad. A lot of pundits don't understand it, either. They're no brighter than you are. And CNN can hardly be labeled liberal.

ROTFLMAO!!! I don't even know what to say!

"It is impossible to make people understand their ignorance; for it requires knowledge to perceive it, and therefore he that can perceive it, hath it not." -- Jeremy Taylor, English prelate (1613 - 1667)

"What luck for rulers that men do not logically think." -- Adolf Hitler

"Judge a man by his questions, rather than his answers." -- Voltaire

While the right wing lunatic fringe is reflecting fondly on the spectacle of an ancient has-been actor arguing with unoccupied furniture, let's look at some quotes by the GOP's #1 loser, Mitt Romney:

"I'm not sure about these cookies. They don't look like you made them. No, no. They came from the local 7/11 bakery, or whatever."

—Mitt Romney, visiting a local bakery while campaigning in Pittsburgh, PA, April 17, 2012 (The owner of the baker later told MSNBC he was offended by Romney's remarks.)

"I have some great friends who are NASCAR team owners!"

—Mitt Romney, after being asked whether he follows NASCAR racing (February 2012)

"I'm running for office, for Pete's sake! I can't have illegals!"

—Mitt Romney, recalling his reaction when he learned that there were illegal aliens working the ground on his property, employed by a firm that he subsequently fired (October 2011)

"I have pushed the idea of managed bankruptcy. And finally, when that was done and help was given, the companies got back on their feet. So I'll take a lot of credit for the fact this industry's come back."

-Mitt Romney speaking in May, 2012 about the auto industry's comeback.

"If General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler get the bailout that their chief executives asked for yesterday, you can kiss the American automotive industry goodbye!"

-Mitt Romney writing in a 2008 New York Times op-ed entitled, "Let Detroit Go Bankrupt"

"I'm Mitt Romney, and yes, Wolf, that is also my first name."

—Mitt Romney, addressing Wolf Blitzer at the November, 2011 GOP debate, getting his own name wrong (his first name is ''Willard,'' and his middle name is ''Mitt'')

"The blind trust is an age-old ruse, if you will, which is to say you can always tell the blind trust what it can and cannot do. You give a blind trust rules."

-Mitt Romney in 1994. It is important to note Romney's blind trust is managed by none other than his colleagues at Bain Capital.

"I purchased a gun when I was a young man. I've been a hunter pretty much all my life."

—Mitt Romney (April 2007)

"I'm not a big-game hunter. I've made that very clear. I've always been a rodent and rabbit hunter. Smanll varmints, if you will."

—Small game hunter Mitt Romney, clarifying things a few days later after his hunting credentials were questioned (April 2007)

"I respect and will protect a woman's right to choose."

-Mitt Romney in 2002

"Look, I am pro-life. You can go back to YouTube and look at what I said in 1994. I never said I was pro-choice, but my position was effectively pro-choice. I changed my position. And I get tired of people who are holier-than-thou because they'e been pro-life longer than I have."

-Flip Flopping MItt Romney in 2007

"(Obama) says we need more firemen, more policemen, more teachers. Did he not get the message of Wisconsin? It's time for us to cut back on government and help the American people!"

—Mitt Romney at a campaign event in Council Bluffs, Iowa, June 8, 2012

President Obama in November! He is clearly our only rational choice!

I voted for him in '08 but after what he said about small business owners I just can't get past that. Don't tell me I took it out of context - I read and re-read the entire speech and the little backpeddling he did afterwards, and he cannot disguise the fact that he flat-out said that small business owners like myself didn't work harder or put anything more into our businesses than people who aren't small business owners. Well if it were so effing easy, why doesn't everyone do it? Because it takes guts, determination and sacrifice. I agree that yes, having a teacher, having a road and having the internet helped, but I had to study, I had to get a job to buy the car to drive on the road, I had to buy the computer and pay for the internet usage. My money, MY sweat, MY blood, and MY literal tears. Obama never had to start anything from scratch. He's never run a business. He's never built anything from the ground up. And the fact that he can't even empathize with those who have makes it clear that he is not fit to be President when we need one who understands business and economics.

Bayllie said: show me anything that states that banks WERE FORCED to give out mortgages to unqualified applicants, and I'll bet 10,000 Romney bucks that you cannot.

You know that's not possible because it was all done by political pressure, especially through Fannie Mae and Freddie Mack. That's exactly why it took so long to build up. I can show you where my mortgage has been transferred at least 4 times to various lenders because it was bundled in with toxic mortgages... Why would they transfer my mortgage along with millions of other mortgages if they weren't hiding something in those packages?

It's well known that toxic mortgages were produced due to the government rules... and now you are trying to deny it existed. Are you that blind, or are you that stuck on your political ideology to make up new lies about it?

It's the epic battle of the 1%ers:

The Incumbant: 1%er Barack Obama

vs.

The Challenger: 1%er Mitt Romney

Both men employing different tax strategies in the tax code to lower their own tax bills.

Let the games begin!

People in Charlotte still asking each to other , what kind of speech was that. He didn't speak about his excellent record, he didn't speak about Obamacare, he didn't speak about porkimulus, his speech was flat and empty. However he ask something like this.

I need your support to lower the the" increment of the College tuition fee in half for 2020" and people went wild !!!!...... I say what? Lower the " increment ", why not lower the tuition in half. ....Obama can't promise anymore , because his record are haunting him.

After his speech I fell better.

David Walker said:

White Collar Auto wrote:

"I'm still waiting to be blown."

Talk to Brianb lotsanumbers. He's made it pretty clear he hates women.

WTF is up with you Walker? Why are you bringing me into this conversation? Have nothing better to do this morning after your evening of pure bliss last night drooling over Obama on the TV?

WTF is up with you Walker? Why are you bringing me into this conversation? Have nothing better to do this morning after your evening of pure bliss last night drooling over Obama on the TV?

Have you talked to your therapist yet on why you're such an incompetent parent?

Its obvious Obama can't run on his record which is the reason he's elected to employ this strategy. He actually knew this many months ago when he adopted a near endless series of personal attacks against his opponents rather than touting his accomplishments, of which there are none. Put simply, he has no record to run on, hence the personal attacks.

So what's his message about choice rather than a referendum on his failed policies? It is that he's failed in his first four years but given another four years, he'll fix things. The only problem is that if given another four years he'll just repeat what he's done the first four years hoping for a different outcome. What's that definition of insanity again?

If Obama is re-elected there will be a descent into darkness and four years later we will still have high unemployment, lower family medium income, skyrocketing medical costs, a majority of the country receiving entitlements, and a national debt of around 21 trillion dollars, and much more. We will look back on today and consider it as "The Good Old Days".

FrankLee02

The electricity from wind ,
solar, and bio fuels is so tiny it’s almost nonexistent. The cost is so high,
it’s totally stupid.

Really?! Then tell it to the Navy.

http://www.capradio.org/articles/2012/07/19/green-navy-boasts-less-dependence-on-foreign-oil

The Navy hopes to cut its power use and foreign oil consumption in half by 2020. At Sacramento Navy Week, it showcased alternative energy products made by California companies.

What do you think you know that the Navy doesn't know?

And if that's true, then how come our dependence on foreign oil has dropped to less than 50 percent now for the first time in more than 40 years?

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/03/01/our-dependence-foreign-oil-declining

Obama has stood in the way
of fractioning natural gas, the biggest increase to the industry in a century.

Hmmph. Wonder why. Grinch.

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-07-09/pennsylvania-fracking-can-put-water-sources-at-risk-study-finds

The report by researchers at Duke University, published yesterday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, said a chemical analysis of 426 shallow groundwater samples found matches with brine found in rock more than one mile (1.2 kilometers) deep, suggesting paths that would let gas or water flow up after drilling. While the flows weren’t linked to hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, the study found natural routes for seepage into wells or streams.

“The industry has always claimed that this is a separation zone, and there is no way fluids could flow” from the shale to the aquifers, Avner Vengosh, a professor at the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University and one of the study’s eight authors, said in an interview. “We see evidence of hydrologic connectivity.”

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=ohio-earthquake-likely-caused-by-fracking

Residents of Youngstown, Ohio, received an extra surprise on Christmas Eve and again on New Year's Eve—earthquakes, measuring 2.7 and 4.0 on the Richter scale, respectively. No one was injured and only a few cases of minor damage were reported after the Dec. 31 event.

Scientists have quickly determined that the likely cause was fracking—although not from drilling into deep shale or cracking it with pressured water and chemicals to retrieve natural gas. Rather, they suspect the disposal of wastewater from those operations, done by pumping it back down into equally deep sandstone.

http://grist.org/news/cincinnati-bans-fracking-injection-wells/

A unanimous vote by its city council last night made Cincinnati the first city in the state of Ohio to ban injection wells associated with hydraulic fracturing. From CityBeat:

“I’m proud to be on the first City Council to ban injection wells,” said Councilwoman Laure Quinlivan, who submitted the ordinance to council.

“I want to give props to the solicitors … who have come up with a very unusual thing in City Council — a one page ordinance.”

The ordinance, which passed unanimously after being voted out of committee on Tuesday, is aimed at preventing the injection of wastewater from hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, under Cincinnati. Its injection has been linked to a dozen earthquakes in northern Ohio.

Opponents also worry that the chemicals in the water, which is used to drill underground to free up gas and oil, can seep into drinking water.

http://www.wkbn.com/content/news/local/story/Governor-Halts-Brine-Injection-Near-Youngstown/wIA1kgXxsEeponKu5BgvJg.cspx

Under the direction of Governor John Kasich, a ban has been issued to cease all injection well operations happening within a five-mile radius of the Youngstown D&L well.

In response to the 4.0 magnitude earthquake felt throughout the region Saturday night, officials with the governor's office said the order will remain in effect until the Ohio Department of Natural Resources can further assess the situation.

Yesterday, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources halted operations at D&L Energy. Officials still have no conclusive evidence linking the recent seismic activity to the well, however ODNR said their top priority is the health and safety of the public and the protection of Ohio's natural resources.

Beats the heck out of me.

Yep, voters have a choice. There are only 2 choices (here are a few
examples):

Choice 1 (Progressive):

1. Re-creation of FDR's Works Progress with MORE spending for "shovel ready" Union jobs with funding obtain through a Government run bank.

2. Government run "green" manufacturing stimulus bank.

3. Government funded jobs program.

4. An expansive de-facto amnesty program along with a Government run
neighborhood-based program, reducing Border Patrol agents, and terminating some border control areas.

5. Restructuring our military by giving control to a Government "independent panel", reducing our military forces, and using remaining military members as U.N. blue helmets', to combat global warming, and to fight global poverty.

6. Combining Medicare and Medicaid and all other health care programs into a single-payer health care program run by the Government with DSHS determining individual medical procedures.

7. Use Chicago's "Man on Five" (TOP DOWN) governance (no Congressional procedures, execute agenda via Executive Order or Progressive Cabinet member regulation changes).

Choice 2 (Republican):

1. Reduce government agencies.

2. Review and modify existing government regulations on businesses.

3. Modify current Federal Immigration laws.

4. Strengthen our military forces.

5. Eliminate ObamaCare and restructure the health care program.

6. Govern by using Congressional procedures and uphold the Constitution of the United States of America.

The CHOICE is CLEAR........# 2. Voting for Mr. Obama's "I need another term to complete my previous promises" is a vote against America.

Romney-Ryan 2012 to take back America from the Progressives and the Radicals.

This blogging is fun, and a bit addictive, but I have to do some work. I am being paid far more per day than I ever was as a union member, or when I was employed in service to the membership. I feel a little guilty, I am not used to this, this white collar almost feels like a license to steal, so I got to earn my pay today, I have to go make two phone calls, catch you all later.

PS Don't ever begrudge a union man, or any worker for what he makes, he supports the guys like me, who make the bigger money, without his labor there is not a dimes worth of prifit for anybody

Spiddas --

ROTFLMAO!!! I don't even know what to say!

Indeed, and you've devoted 3 whole posts to proving it.

OBAMA's ILLINOIS now is the state with the most gang member per capita out of any other state in the US.

The amount of gang members in the US constitute the 15th largest army in the world.

Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL: "President Obama's speech last night was the "cherry" on top of the hot fudge sundae!

SCRUMPTOUS!"

You certainly enjoy your BS sundae.

ROMNEY/RYAN 2012!!

Brianb-999431

Well your memory of a lie that Bush told is very questionable. It has been shown that Hussein did have WMD's and they were shipped to Syria.

the Senate Intelligence Committee disagrees with you:

"It is my belief that the Bush Administration was fixated on Iraq, and used the 9/11 attacks by al Qa'ida as justification for overthrowing Saddam Hussein. To accomplish this, top Administration officials made repeated statements that falsely linked Iraq and al Qa'ida as a single threat and insinuated that Iraq played a role in 9/11. Sadly, the Bush Administration led the nation into war under false pretenses."

http://intelligence.senate.gov/press/record.cfm?id=298775

P.S.

I'm still waiting for you to prove to me how Clinton's deregulation forced banks to do anything that they were not willing to do themselves.

What Clinton did was give free will to banks - took away regulations that reduced systematic risk by discouraging the development of a subprime mortgage market for borrowers with bad credit.

Banks chose to jump in to the subprime mortgage market and predatory lending cesspool.

Here is the bigone Brianb, guess who had majority in both Senate and House at that time.

So while you give Clinton crredit for it (well deserved since he signed it and could have vetoed it), ALSO GIVE CREDIT TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY - ESPECIALLY PHIL GRAMM FOR THE DEREGULATION.

All that proves is that we need to REGULATE banks. Yet, Romney and the Republicans want to roll back. Explain that one to me.

simple, show me how it isn't by comparing:

1. job losses in 2008 vs 2012

2. the stock market in 2008 vs 2012

3. status of Bin Laden's "health" in 2008 vs 2008

4. Middle Class income/payroll tax obligations in 2008 vs 2012

5. Interest rates on student loans in 2007-2008 vs 2012-2013

5. status of war in Iraq in 2008 vs 2012

6. Increase in spending in 2008 vs 2012

7. Increase in Health insurance premiums in 2008 vs 2012

8. Capabilities of kids with pre-existing conditions to obtain health insurance in 2008 vs 2012

9. dependence on oil in 2008 vs 2012

10. status of GM as a company in 2008 vs 2012

I can keep going but we'll start with these that affect most of the 95% population

so please show me, how is the country worse off today compared to 4 years ago

Based on everything you have written, the country was fine in 2007. Apparently all the trouble started in 2008. Why is it then that the entire Bush Presidency is trashed if it was just the final year? What changed around that time? Is it the fact that the Dems took over Congress in 2007? T

he country is worse of because of the debt. We cannot sustain this level of spending and expect the country to keep handing the bill to future generations. This goes for both sides of the aisle. It has gotten so bad, that taxing our way out of it won't work. Cuts have to made, that includes defense (sorry repubs, but it's true) and entitlements (yes dems, your going to have to accept it.) No bill that asks for additional spending should even be debated unless the sponsors can prove it is revenue neutral, or identify the specific cuts in other areas that will pay for it. I know that may be asking a lot, maybe we should just start out by insisting that they read a bill before they pass it.

STOP SPENDING MONEY WE DON"T HAVE!!!!

Four years ago it was Barak, Fiesty, Bev, and the rest of the mindles Obama koolaide drinking zombies were running around chanting "YES WE CAN!". Now it's 2012, and their Afirmative Action Hire, Obama, has changed that to "NO we couldn't. I was unqualified and we were too inept!!"

And they want us to give him another four years? NOW THAT"S COMEDY!!

ROTFLMAO!!!!

Brianb-999431

Well your memory of a lie that Bush told is very questionable. It has been shown that Hussein did have WMD's and they were shipped to Syria.

Yeah, and it's been shown that the moon landings were faked, even though they were not. It's also been shown that right wingnuts make stuff up when reality doesn't match what they want to believe.

Guess you don't know much about economics but you are stuck on believing that government provides jobs...

Guess you're making more stuff up.

guess all the munitions, armament, aircraft, and other hardware that was produced during that time had no intrinsic value to our economy....

Guess you're right about that -- finally. Unlike spending on infrastructure and education, defense spending is a sugar high for the economy. And the sugar high from Bush's needless war has been over for a long time, but the crash that inevitably followed is still lingering.

Many humble apologies jinsd.

No worries Brianb

I have problems with both sides when they repeat talking points without thinking.

So do I. In the three way debate between the R and the two D candidates for CA CD 52, the R and one of the D candidates regurgitated talking points throughout the whole debate. The other D candidate expressed his views and policies without relying on talking points. The R and the non talking points spewing D won the opportunity to face off in November. Now I'm seriously leaning towards voting for the common sense, plain spoken, non talking points regurgitating D candidate.

oskar-1391552

he didn't speak about porkimulus,

don't forget that Paul Ryan was more than happy to vote for and take the "porkimulus"

don't forget that Romney was more than happy to take taxpayers' money for his Olympics.

Don't forget that Romney was more than happy to make millions by taking healthy companies, take on more debt in their name, and then leave them to file for bankruptcy and stick the taxpayer with the bills.

so don't give me this holier-than-thou attitude

Zathrose

Now it's 2012, and their Afirmative Action Hire, Obama, has changed that to "NO we couldn't.

And yet another member of the Kooks and Klucks Klan is heard from.

And yet another member of the Kooks and Klucks Klan is heard from.

Houston!

You're on a roll today! lmao

Thanks & Have a great weekend!

Obama... SSDD!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LFW0kma5ek

They say he's a great speaker... problem is he only as one speech!

HAHAHAH!

:o)

Seriously, IDK how anyone sat thru that bullsh!t !! Biden ( dumb ) and Obama (dumber).. did they discuss how this economy has gotten " better " ...how Obamas " stimulus " has produced millions of jobs...and put the unemployment rate down to atleast 6 % as PROMISED??? ...

I cannot help but wonder how old you are - because your words are in the context of a spoiled 6-year old, "you PROMISED."

As has often been pointed out in the past, the 6% was 'promised' in the context of a then-current contraction rate of 3%. This was later revised to a rate of about 8%. Given that 6% was 'promised' and 8% is the actual, we are about 5% above what could reasonably be expected without the stimulus.

Or is this logic way too complicated for your kind of person to understand? I guess arithmetic is anathema to you. "6%. whine. whine. whine."

Was the debt ticker on a jumbo screen in back of those clowns while they were spewing out their typical garbage ?

And your point would be? That it's not big enough? Because that's what Romney would do - increase the debt so that he can give bigger tax cuts to the top.

Banks chose to jump in to the subprime mortgage market and predatory lending cesspool.

True...but Fannie Mae under James Johnson primed the pump by buying up those subprime mortgages so the banks could go out and write even more bad loans. So when those mortgages starting defaulting at an alarming rate, what did the banks do? Issued even more bad mortgages.

Fannie Mae had wholesale lines of credit from the US Treasury to purchase loans from banks at a discount rate. That discount was supposed to be passed on to the taxpayers. Instead, James Johnson used a large portion to 1) lobby Congress to ease oversight of Fannie 2) lobby Congress against privatizing Fannie and 3) to line his and other executives pockets.

When all this came crashing down, who got the bill? I think we know the answer.

Read "Wreckless Endangerment" by Gretchen Morgenson. If you do, make sure you have a bottle of the pink liquid close by.

Meanwhile comments on the Clinton and Obama speeches continue to come in.

On Clinton, people are picking up that Clinton's finger wagging during the speech was exactly the same way he waged his finger when he denied having sexual relations with Monica Lewinsky

On Obama's side, from the left, several news outlet called his speech the weakest in 4 years.

fhbj2000

Based on everything you have written, the country was fine in 2007. Apparently all the trouble started in 2008

so since you cannot prove your own talking point (which by the was: I don't care if you're better off. The country isn't .) now you're gooing to tell me that we were fine in 2007????????????

First, the Republican offical talking point is: "are better off today than 4 years ago" and 4 years ago was 2008.

Second, we were not FINE in 2007 because we had two unpaid wars, growing unemplyment, growing spending, growing deficit, growing debt, growing health insurance premiums, growing number of uninsured, growing number of Social Security IOUs.

We were better off in 2000 - before Bush got his hands on this country.

I will ask you again since YOU don't care examples of why were are better off today than 4 years ago -PLEASE!PLEASE! COME UP WITH ANSWERS WHY WE ARE NOT!

Because that's what Romney would do - increase the debt so that he can give bigger tax cuts to the top.

Well said, Byron.

Houston!

And yet another member of the Kooks and Klucks Klan is heard from.

They don't even hide it, do they?

I especially like the post about how the DNC used Gabby Giffords. Apparently the righties don't think that women - espiecially this woman - have minds of their own to make their own decisions of when and where to be.

All the GOP TeaReTarded Looney Tunes are on happy hour so they are at their best !!!!!!!!!!!

Amazing...... if the Dems win an election, it's a MANDATE from the people.......

When Barry's on his way out...... it's a choice......

And he's right.... my vote is NO to the elitist Barack Obama

Sick, every one of your "facts" is merely an opinion of a journalist. For the facts go to the source.

Romney has endorsed Ryan's budget proposals, and Ryan's budget bills can be read on the web site of the Library of Congress/Thomas.

FACT: Per his budget bills, Ryan DEFINITELY would raise the age of Medicare eligibility to age 67.

FACT: Per his budget bills, Ryan definitely would end a reliable access to healthcare or any access to healthcare for most future seniors by turning Medicare into a voucher-assisted program of private health insurance.

Per Ryan's web site, Path to Prosperity in 2011, the average voucher amount would be $600 in 2022. The average private insurance premium cost per month in 2011 was around $700 for a 64-year-old, and in calculating 10% per year average healthcare cost inflation that monthly premium could easily be over $1500 in 2022 for a 65-year-old. Obviously, senior healthcare coverage is a massive liability to health insurance companies with all the many age-related diseases and conditions of seniors (seniors are the biggest healthcare consumers of any age group, of course), and the way for the health insurance industry is to make up for this liability or to avoid it is by raising the premiums for seniors to exorbitantly high costs, thus pricing most seniors out of the market, and Ryan's plans do nothing to prevent this. The private health insurance industry had already priced most seniors out of the market by the early 1960s when healthcare costs were much less inflated than today, and this necessitated something being done--resulting in Medicare.

FACT: Obama inherited a tanking economy entering a deep recession in 2009. THINGS ARE DEFINITELY SLOWLY BUT STEADILY IMPROVING.

FACT: Obama inherited 2 very costly wars in 2009, one (Iraq) of which had proven not to be necessary but yet has cost around a trillion dollars.

FACT: Millions and millions of jobs had already went overseas before Obama had taken office in 2009, and the Bush economy was driven by an artificial housing bubble that inevitably burst in 2006-2007 leaving a very inadequate job market.

FACT: In the face of increased terror threats in the summer of 2001 Bush did NOT increase national security like Clinton did in light of the Y2K terror threats. (An ounce of prevention is definitely worth a pound of cure--in this case, trillions of dollars of cure).

FACT: The #1 motivator and source of profits for US companies to relocate millions and millions of jobs overseas and to foreign countries is NOT tax incentives but wages. Jobs have been sent from the US to foreign countries for this reason for decades but especially in the last 15 years and especially before 2009. The costs of living and wages in third-world countries and underdeveloped countries and even in communist China are much, much lower than in the US (especially due to healthcare costs!!). Extremely low wages are the biggest motivator to send jobs overseas.

FACT: Per his budget bills, Ryan would drastically cut Medicaid and food stamps, thus hurting America's most vulnerable citizens--poor infants, children, handicapped people, and seniors (especially the very old and and sick and in nursing homes). Or, this would increase the already broke state deficits.

FACT: Per his budget bills, Ryan would greatly increase military spending. The federal deficit cannot be reduced or balanced by doing this.

FACT: Per his own sources, Ryan strongly opposes any tax increases, especially for the most wealthy (those job providers to foreign countries!!). A federal deficit the size of the US deficit and 2 recent unpaid wars cannot be paid off without a tax increase. It has never been done in the US and is impossible.

jinsd

True...but Fannie Mae under James Johnson primed the pump by buying up those subprime mortgages so the banks could go out and write even more bad loans.

again free market remember? "Corporations will regulate themselves" remember?

You have not proven to me that any bank was forced to do anything they did not want. All the choices they made were based on profit profit profit.

no one forced AIG to sell Credit Default Swaps (CDS) without disclosing its positions or setting aside capital to cover potential losses. NO ONE.

Yet, Bush wrote nice blank, no strings-attached checks to these banks to bail the thieves out. They said 'thank you', and gave themselves bonuses.

Obama 2012 - the only president to ever be hated by the entire country.

Any time a member of the right wing lunatic fringe prefaces his insane ravings with an outright lie, it's time to push the ***ignore*** button and put the deluded creature into limbo.

Republican party is in mutation. What it is likely to become shortly, is the mouth and ways of " Simon Legree". That is, and was, It's intent from the beginning anyway. Meantime, if we wish to continue as a free people, with equal opportunity, and common access to institutions that enhance the betterment of our collective welfare, we must consider, construct, and execute elections expressly for the removal of the warped dregs who have, and will continue to view and use us as, at best, commodities unfit of notice, and worthless of the space our persons occupy. Additionally, a nation founded upon the principals of governance granted power derived from the power and say so of It's people cannot long endure, when that nations highest Court bypasses that basic principal, and grants that power of principal to entities that are "Totalitarian" in structure, and whose sole motive of being is the gaining of wealth and profit. Although ancillary to the comfort and security of mankind, the pursuit of wealth, inherently, cannot ever dislodge the first and greatest primordial, and yet, ongoing and flourishing, urge and drive of Mankind. These being; long life, personal security and dignity, manifest in worth never below, nor diminished, by the station of wealth of others.

Obama/Biden 2012!!!!!!

Ballie

This is for the people, not you, I understand your intentions.

There are currently 36 Bills now pending, 5 have finally been acted on.

•"The Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act" (H.R.872)
•"The Energy Tax Prevention Act" (H.S.910)
•"The Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act" (H.R.2018 )
•"Consumer Financial Protection & Soundness Improvement Act" (H.R.1315)
•"Protecting Jobs from Government Interference Act" (H.R.2587)
•"Transparency in Regulatory Analysis of Impacts on the Nation" (H.R.2401)
•"Cement Sector Regulatory Relief Act" (H.R.2681)
•"EPA Regulatory Relief Act" (H.S.2250)
•"Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act" (H.R.2273)
•"Restarting American Offshore Leasing Now Act" (H.S.1230)
•"Putting the Gulf of Mexico Back to Work Act" (H.R.1229)
•"Reversing President Obama's Offshore Moratorium Act (H.R.1231)
•"The Jobs and Energy Permitting Act of 2011" (H.R.2021)
•"North American-Made Energy Security Act" (H.R.1938 )
•"Disapproval of FCC's Net Neutrality Regulations" (H.J.Res.37)
•"3% Withholding Tax Repeal" (H.R.674)

DBAKRON

It's sad to see you ignore all the facts Clinton gave in his speech while saying somebody analyzed his body language. Now that is an art, but it is also apparently the only way you have of trying to absorb the TRUTH after taking in so many Republican lies.

Clinton balanced the budget 4 times when Republicans said in 1993 that his tax increases on the rich and his tax cuts for the lower working class would ruin our economy. 18 million new jobs and 4 balanced budgets. How's that for being wrong?

Wake up. Republicans were wrong then and they are certainly wrong now.

Clinton speaks the truth. It is simply a matter of arithmetic. Put that VOODOO trickle down economic theory in the trash heap where it belongs.

No, banks weren't forced to write those bad loans. But do you think they would've if Fannie hadn't been there to buy those toxic mortgages?

You need to look at BOTH sides of the equation. The whole housing meltdown was a collaborative effort of both Republicans and Democrats.

No party holds a monopoly on virtue.

Bubblegum!

@jinsd#1.214: Mouthful of truth there. I finance certain things for certain entities. I would never finance any that I had even the slightest evidence that It could not, or would not repay me on the terms agreed to between us. Those who say different are simply blowing bullsh^t. If another, even more able to repay, legally guaranteed the abolition of my risk then I would. If, as in the case of these mortage banks, I could not only negate my risk, but also realize a profit, I really would, with much enthusiasm. Regards

The two conventions were rather succinctly summarized by my teenager:

"Vote for my guy because he sucks less than the other guy."

When I asked what that means, the response was that each side says that the other guy sucks, so we should vote for them. Neither side is really good or really bad, if they were it would be easy. So, it all boils down to voting for the guy who sucks least. Both sides are going to have to do something about balancing the budget. Obama's side looks like it will take a better approach to that, even though they will have to cut spending too.

So, Obama wins because he sucks least.

Albany Joe --

And speaking of arithmetic, you like to trash Republicans for wanting to "end Medicare as we know it" (which isn't true, BTW) but you never quite get around to telling us how we're going to fund this program going forward. In particular, I've not heard you point out that GAO has calculated that the net present value of Medicare's unfunded liabilities is about $25 trillion. So even if we taxed "rich" folks at 100% of their incomes from now until the cows come home that wouldn't be nearly enough to pay this bill. Indeed, the only way revenues can increase sufficiently to meet this obligation would be to raise taxes on the middle and lower classes to decidedly onerous levels. But of course, you've promised us you would never do such a thing.

I don't claim to know all the in's and out's of this. But I do know this. President Obama's $716 billion in Medicare cuts -- cuts NOT to service, but to insurance companies who weren't playing by the rules -- have made Medicare solvent until 2023. Under Ryan's plan, which repeals Obamacare and gives that money back to the insurance companies to whom it rightfully -- and yes, I'm being facetious -- belongs, the program goes bankrupt in 2016, vouchers or no vouchers.

In addition, the Ryan plan makes existing seniors pay more, even without the vouchers and it eliminates the provision of the ACA that closed the donut hole.

I learned all of that from listening to President Clinton and President Obama.

Funny thing is, I haven't heard anyone on your side deny it.

So, they must not be very good at arithmetic, either.

Frankly, I'm rather surprised you would throw your lot in with those folks.

Unless health care for seniors is not really what you're worried about.

In which case, shame on you. Where's the American Exceptionalism in that?

Addendum to#1.216: Must point out here, "Fannie and Freddie" did not initiate this fraud. It was the crooked scheme of Wall street Entities, peddling worthless derivatives that were deemed worthy and sound by crooked ratings firms. Only the most obviously unsound and poor contracts were shuffled to Fannie and Freddie.

Feisty has once again very conveniently ignored other news in her comment on the market bump yesterday. They market bump that happened during the day on Thursday was caused by a speech that Mario Draghe gave on European time saying that the European Central Bank would do whatever it took to keep Europe and the PIIGS from sliding any further. Since the Oblameo speech was given Thursday night, this obviates any Oblameo responsibility for the market bump.

Today, the morning after the Oblameo speech, the market has a hangover with the Dow and NASDAQ down a hair and the Russell and S&P down a hair, in other words: a dance sideways in the market. Again, this totally obviates allowing Oblameo any responsibility for a market bump. It actually indicates that investors think he speech stunk, just not badly enough to destroy the market by having all 4 major indices dropping like stones.

If Oblameo's speech had had anything of substance that indicated real hope for the economy, jobs creation, internal investment, etc., that business people could have actually interpreted as positive, the market would have been up bigtime today.

TO: Backhouse who wrote:

"...The rich are rich enough already!..."

Well I dunno, some billionaires are having a hard time living on $20 billion dollars alone and have made complaints to Mitt Robme about the possiblity of having to start paying taxes.

Oh wait, that was Paul Ryan who complained.

(Rolls eyes)

Obama/Biden 2012

It appears that both candidates are campaigning on raising taxes during this recession. The big difference is that Obama wants to return to the Clinton rates for yearly gains of over $250,000, while Romney wants to raise taxes on the middle class by ending our tax breaks, no matter how much we make a year.

Case in point, Romney is insistent about ending the home mortgage tax deduction. That will raise taxes on my household by about $10,000 per year. How much will it raise yours?

jinsd --

You need to look at BOTH sides of the equation. The whole housing meltdown was a collaborative effort of both Republicans and Democrats.

No party holds a monopoly on virtue.

You say that as if you don't mean it. Too frequently I find this sort of thing to be a cop-out, by which people on both sides of the aisle attempt to deflect criticism away from them -- in essence, it's a form of denial and certainly a refusal to take responsibility.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYvtvcBKgIQ

Watch the whole thing, will you?

And then remember that it was Newt Gingrich and other CONSERVATIVE lobbyists who convinced REPUBLICANS in Congress not to vote for Chuck Hagel's bill that would have possibly prevented the meltdown.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-15/gingrich-said-to-be-paid-by-freddie-mac-to-win-republican-allies.html

In 2006, before subprime mortgage losses pushed the two firms toward insolvency, the companies were facing calls for stricter regulation and smaller portfolios as the Treasury Department warned about potential financial market instability if they failed to hedge their assets against interest rate shifts and other risks. The companies, which were private but had implicit government backing, also were reeling from a series of accounting scandals.

Although Freddie Mac had developed strong supporters in the Democratic caucus, the firm started a new campaign to win over allies in Republican circles. Hollis McLoughlin, a former Treasury Department chief of staff in President George H.W. Bush’s administration, was brought in to head the effort.

Republican New Hires

McLoughlin hired Gingrich and several other Republicans, including former Representative Vin Weber and political message expert Frank Luntz, to assist the cause.

So, yes, Democrats were complicit. But Republicans, who controlled both houses of Congress at the time, could have STOPPED it, and didn't.

So who gets the largest share of the blame?

The same side that is now calling for return to the days of de-regulation.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice .....

You do the arithmetic.

the Republican offical talking point is: "are better off today than 4 years ago" and 4 years ago was 2008.

I don't care about talking points. Unlike most of the sheep here, I don't need a millionaire, celebrity or a publicly elected official telling me what I should be talking about. My issue is the debt. It is unsustainable, and the current administration has done more to add to it then any. This is money that future generations, my generation, is going to have to come up with a way to cover, short of selling California to the Chinese. So since my talking point is debt, then no, we are not better off.

Second, we were not FINE in 2007 because we had two unpaid wars, growing unemplyment, growing spending, growing deficit, growing debt, growing health insurance premiums, growing number of uninsured, growing number of Social Security IOUs.

Again with the wars? Vice President Joe Biden voted for both wars!!! Send some of that talking point memo you regurgitate towards him as well.

Albany Joe --

And speaking of arithmetic

________________________________

AM: In addition to being a bit angry today, you seem to be a bit confused. I'm not sure where you got that quote from in #1.218, but, it wasn't from me.

Maybe you're suffering the effects from an overdose of total bullsh!t from watchiing too much of the DNC??

Unless health care for seniors is not really what you're worried about.

Stopped caring about it as soon as the seniors started demanding money be spent on them now, that thier children will have to pay back later, just to make sure they have it easier. Meanwhile, the ones that will have to cover that bill is wondering if social security, medicare and every other entitlement program will be around when we have a chance to use it. Thanks for using it all up and footing us with the bill. I guess sacrifice for the children skips a few generations. Greatest generations my a$$.

dirp 1.217

That may very be what this election comes down to. I didn't vote for the President in 2008, I don't dislike him or believe he's a Marxist/Socialist but I'm not enamored by him either. Nor do I dislike Gov Romney but do we want to "experiment" with Romney/Ryan at this point in the recovery? If you crunch the numbers from Oct 2009 (officially the Presidents economy) to present I'm sure you'll find substantial net job growth.

The cynic in me says either way, we have four more years of mediocrity ahead of us.

So I say all that to say that I haven't ruled out voting for the President in November.

AM - I'm honestly flattered that you responded to me. A brief history of..well...Me: I was one of those Fox News conservatives rah rah Bush rules Dems suck bomb Iraq, Iran, Syria you get my drift. Last summer during the Republican debates I started to peel back the onion and realized the GOP no longer walks the walk that they talk.

So yes, I take full responsibility for that. My point is there was "intrigue" on both sides of the aisle leading up to the meltdown and neither party gets a pass. Like dirp said earlier sometimes we get into "your guy sucks worse than our guy" which to me is akin to arguing over who is the worst serial killer.

I will certainly view the video.

Fool me once, shame on you fool me twice um um I won't be fooled again...is that how it went?

fhbj2000

I don't care about talking points.

but you do or you would not have written this:

It is unsustainable, and the current administration has done more to add to it then any.

First, majority debt is on prior administration's obligations that HAVE NOT gone away on Januray 20, 2009. They are called obligations for a reason: 2 wars, interest on debt, Bush tax cuts, Medicare Prescription, etc. have to be paid regardless who the president is.

Second, if you truly don't care about talking points, show me how much of the debt is Obama's supported by facts and let's compare it to the Republican spending.

"The truth is, it will take more than a few years for us to solve challenges that have built up over decades."

What? Wait a minute.... I thought it was all Bush's fault?

Sorry to point it out to you B.O. but "decades" ago includes your buddy Bill Clinton's time in office.

fhbj2000

Again with the wars? Vice President Joe Biden voted for both wars!!! Send some of that talking point memo you regurgitate towards him as well.

Both Dems and Repubs voted for the war in Iraq because the President of United States of America told them he had proof of WMD and involvement in 9/11.

I hope you know that the Senate Intelligence Committee found that the Bush administration made repeated statements that falsely linked Iraq and al Qa'ida as a single threat and insinuated that Iraq played a role in 9/11. Sadly, the Bush Administration led the nation into war under false pretenses.

so I will blame Biden and the rest of them for believing George W. Bush and voting 'YEA" for a war that was based on misinformation, manipulation, and greed.

I wonder how many Congressmen would have voted YEA had they known that Bush was either really stupid or a liar.

you can read more about it:

http://intelligence.senate.gov/press/record.cfm?id=298775

and for someone who claims he doesn't care about talking points, I find it interesting that with all the evidence that shows Bush lied, you still take his side and dismiss the lies even though those lies cost THOUSANDS of American lives and well being of tens of thousands of Americans.

BTW, I, too, believed that Bush was telling the truth and I, too, wanted to go after the al Qa'ida bastards for what they did to us so sorry if today I feel extra angry that it was a total lie and innocent people had to die because of it!

Albany Joe:

AM: In addition to being a bit angry today, you seem to be a bit confused. I'm not sure where you got that quote from in #1.218, but, it wasn't from me.

Maybe you're suffering the effects from an overdose of total bullsh!t from watchiing too much of the DNC??

Poor Joe. Haven't I stroked your ego enough today? Offer me a Sam Adams and some salmon and I'll see what I can do.

But sorry for the mistake. It was actually Fairfax. I was scrolling, his post was so long that by the time I got the end of it, I forgot who wrote it, and it sounded like something you would say.

I don't suppose you'd care to answer my questions?

Well, probably not. So, I don't know what more I can do, Joe. Would it help to know that when the 99 percent of us who aren't smart enough to be here are forced to leave the board, you'll be coming with us?

I hope that thought helps you because it isn't doing so much for me.

fhbj2000 --

Stopped caring about it as soon as the seniors started demanding money be spent on them now, that thier children will have to pay back later, just to make sure they have it easier.

Um. I think that was the promise that was made to them when they paid their own money in. I guess promises aren't worth much in your world, are they?

Did you know, by the way, that Paul Ryan's mother accepts Medicare even though she is personally wealthy? Why don't you just run down to Florida and tell her she's a leech.

Thanks for using it all up and footing us with the bill. I guess sacrifice for the children skips a few generations.

Don't look at me. I'm still paying.

Meanwhile, the ones that will have to cover that bill is wondering if social security, medicare and every other entitlement program will be around when we have a chance to use it.

That's easy enough. If we adopt the Ryan budget, we know exactly what will happen. Seniors will pay more immediately, the donut hole will re-open, and Medicare will go bankrupt in 2016, even before the vouchers are supposed to go into effect. This will leave a LOT of baby boomers in the lurch, wondering why Paul Ryan promised that nothing was going to happen to them. Maybe you can be the one to break it to all of those leeches.

Because you sound so compassionate.

As for Social Security, you do realize, do you not, that Social Security only appears to be insolvent because Congress stole the money and replaced it with worthless IOUs?

Do you blame seniors for that, as well?

You're a real peach.

Romney and Ryan - LEADERS??????NO

Obama 2012 - the only president to ever be hated by the entire country.

Uh, yeah. Except for the 52% that approve of his job in the current Gallup poll. That's "reelect" territory, by the way. These polls go up and down, but a majority of people have consistently given President Obama high marks personally, even if they don't approve of his job performance. Nobody likes Romney except members of his immediate family.

Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL

Houston!

You're on a roll today! lmao

Thanks & Have a great weekend!

Thanks. The way the Democratic convention turned out has had a positive effect on my mood. The most recent Gallup poll suggests that it may have improved President Obama's reelection chances, too, although it's too soon to say for sure.

"Nobody likes Romney except members of his immediate family".

My guess, even some of those are suspect.

Translation: They retain friendly ties so when he finally kicks off they will inherit his millions.

LMAO!!! The Mormon Tabernacle Liar does it again. Yesterday he WASN'T going to listen to President Obama's speech. Now he says it was disappointing! Is there anything this poor excuse for a man doesn't lie about????

Yet the radical right morons will follow him as he leads them further off the cliff! He has no integrity; no honor; no nothing!

Obama/Biden 2012 for the sake of the country!

jinsd --

Like dirp said earlier sometimes we get into "your guy sucks worse than our guy" which to me is akin to arguing over who is the worst serial killer.

Perhaps, but if we use the fact that both sides have flaws as an excuse to escape our responsibility to make the best informed choice, then we have to be prepared to get the worst serial killer. I hear that argument way too much in lieu of any real analysis of where the candidates actually stand or what the facts actually show.

Both sides may be culpable, but the choice we have to make is which side we trust more to fix it, or at least to make the most forward progress, as we each define that.

I'm honestly flattered that you responded to me.

Seriously. I'm humbled. Thanks for being such a good sport. I can get a little too, shall we say, exuberant. I appreciate your patient, measured response.

Fool me once, shame on you fool me twice um um I won't be fooled again...is that how it went?

Something like that. ;-)

For anyone who looks in, the history of Scott Walker's administration in terms of unemployment. As you can see, unemployment has risen steadily since the recall election.

http://ycharts.com/indicators/wisconsin_unemployment_rate

That's not what he told us would happen.

And yet, conservatives tell me that, despite all this, Walker has us on the right track.

Does this argument sound familiar to you?

Tell you what. You vote for Obama this time, and I'll vote for Walker next time.

If he's not in jail.

Anna Molly

Perhaps, but if we use the fact that both sides have flaws as an excuse to escape our responsibility to make the best informed choice, then we have to be prepared to get the worst serial killer

Yes...I agree

Both sides may be culpable, but the choice we have to make is which side we trust more to fix it, or at least to make the most forward progress, as we each define that.

And my epiphany of late has caused me to do exactly that. That's one of the reasons I'm supporting the Democratic House candidate in my district.

Have a nice weekend!

Last nights speech by President Obama is exactly why I won't be voting for him again. He may as well have announced the old FDR "4 freedoms" and tell everyone we shall be "free from want". I love liberals and their wonderful hearts I really do, but they suck out loud at leadership.

If you are going to accept responsibility for running an entire country you need to accept the reality that not everything comes for free and you can't just tell people that they get health care, and food, and jobs, and anything else they want for free. And you can't lie to them and say well these rich people over here are going to pay for it all, because that's complete BS. Even if you taxed the rich at 50% it couldn't pay for all the free stuff the Democrats are promising you.

I'm not a huge fan of republican war mongering and all that crap either but I can't deal with this free from want crap anymore.

BTW, what happened to all those severe thunderstorms "forecast" on Monday, when the DNC knew they the stadium would be half empty.

Funny how the media just goes along with the Administration's narrative. The DNC couldn't even get 60,000 to waste their time listening to Obama in a football stadium. The gig is up. The people know the "emperor has no clothes".

NOBAMA 2012!

.

The President said that he would present his new economic plan for America. Apparently he hopes that we will start running a surplus by 2015 but he did not say how. His own White House has projected huge deficits for 2015 and beyond. 4 years ago the President promised that the 2012 deficit would not exceed 229.27 billion dollars but his own White House is saying that is not even close to happening. The President has mentioned change but change to what? The President has never said. From the speech it seems that his only plan is that he hopes things will change. So no wonder the President has given himself a failing grade. So we have run up more than 5 trillion dollars of new debt for an incomplete.

If Speeches could fix the economy, Obama would have fixed it 3 years ago, but the fact is at some point you actually have to do something more than give a speech and Obama fogot about that. I am tired of great speeches with empty promises, Obama had his chance and blew it, noe I will vote for a man with proven success in just about everything he has done and he actually does things successfully and doen't give speeches about them, Mitt Romney has my vote.

For all you idiot Obama Supporters, Google Search "Dreams from my real father", it was a Book Written in 1995 by Barack Obama, he Admits he's a Marxist (Communist) and him and his Father's dream was to Destroy America.

He's doing a good job Destroying America.

Let's see what Obama has done:

Attacked Libya without Congressional Approval.

Signed the NDAA Bill into law allowing the Detention and Assassination of Any US Citizen without trial, a Federal Court blocked it in May but Obama is trying to Get that Unblocked.

Raised the National debt over $6 Trillion in His First 3 Years.

Killed HUNDREDS of Innocent people (Excluding the FEW Terrorists) including three American Citizens in Yemen and Pakistan using Drone strikes (Even more Drone strikes than Bush).

Tried to Ban guns with The UN Even though it's unconstitutional and Obama SWORE to Protect the Constitution.

Obama Claims he Supports Freedom of Speech even though he Hired Staff to Censor his YouTube channel.

He claims he Campaigned in 57 States.

And Mitt Romney is just another idiot who will sell Jobs over seas.

Vote for Gary Johnson.