The state of the race after Tampa and Charlotte: Obama is still ahead… Romney, once again, is unable to list a specific loophole he’d close to pay for tax plan… Romney on his “Afghanistan” omission and health care… Team Obama tops Team Romney in August fundraising -- barely… Over the weekend, Romney endorsed Steve King and hung out with Pat Robertson… Romney camp goes up on the air in Wisconsin… Woodward’s argument: Obama didn’t lead during debt-ceiling debate… And Romney stumps in Ohio at 3:00 pm ET, while Obama is down.
*** The state of the race after Tampa and Charlotte: President Obama went into the two conventions with the lead over Mitt Romney, and he comes out of them with the lead. (And he may very well have expanded his lead if you believe the Gallup tracking poll and other robo-surveys, about which we ALWAYS preach caution). You can tell from the quotes who's ahead in the race. “The Romney campaign … said the post-convention bounce they hoped for fell well short of expectations and privately lament that state-by-state polling numbers — most glaringly in Ohio — are working in the president’s favor,” Politico reported over the weekend. You can also tell from the body language, as the Romney camp jumped all over Friday's jobs report to try to change the narrative from the two weeks of conventions. And you can tell from the map, too, with the Romney camp now advertising in Wisconsin but not in Michigan or Pennsylvania. Romney’s next chance (and maybe final one) to change the contours of this race will be that first presidential debate on Oct. 3 in Colorado.
The Daily Rundown's Chuck Todd takes a look at the recent poll numbers and campaign stumps made by both candidates.
*** Where are the specifics? Given that upcoming debate, doesn’t Romney have to come up with some more specifics on his tax plan between now and then? If he doesn’t, the Obama campaign will continue to fill in the blanks and argue that Romney’s plan will raise taxes on the middle class. In his “Meet the Press” interview, Romney was unable -- again -- to give an example of a loophole he’d close to made his tax-cut plan revenue neutral. DAVID GREGORY: “Give me an example of a loophole that you will close.” ROMNEY: “Well, I can tell you that people at the high end, high income taxpayers, are going to have fewer deductions and exemptions.” And on ABC, running mate Paul Ryan said a Romney White House would consult with Congress on which loopholes to close. Campaigning in Florida, per NBC’s Ali Weinberg, Obama pounced. “Gov. Romney and his allies tell us that we can somehow lower our deficit by spending trillions on new tax breaks for the wealthy. Listen, you’ve got to do the math because when my opponents were asked about it today, they couldn’t. It was like two plus one equals five.”

Terry Renna / AP
President Barack Obama greets supporters at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Fla., during a campaign stop Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012.
*** And where is the distance from Bush? And it’s just not the specifics. Romney has yet to fully make the case how his policies are any different than George W. Bush’s (outside balancing the budget). Compare this to Bill Clinton’s 1992 campaign, which was ALL ABOUT differentiating himself from Jimmy Carter and the Democratic Party. If Romney doesn’t fill in the blanks, and try to distance his policies from Bush’s, you can easily see how Obama can fight Romney to a draw in that first debate.
*** Romney on his “Afghanistan” omission: Also on “Meet,” NBC’s Gregory asked Romney why he never said the word “Afghanistan” in his acceptance speech, despite all the U.S. troops who are serving and dying there. Romney responded by downplaying the significance of words in a speech. “I find it interesting that people are curious about mentioning words in a speech as opposed to policy. And so I went to the American Legion the day before I gave that speech … and spoke with our veterans there and described my policy as it relates to Afghanistan and other foreign policy and our military.” When Gregory told him that American Legion speech wasn’t seen by tens of millions of people like the acceptance speech was, Romney replied, “You know, what I've found is that wherever I go I am speaking to tens of millions of people.” Romney’s answer on his failure to mention Afghanistan came after he was asked an identical question on FOX. “When you give a speech you don't go through a laundry list, you talk about the things that you think are important and I described in my speech, my commitment to a strong military unlike the president's decision to cut our military." Romney had two shots at cleaning this up, and he really didn’t take the opportunity.
*** Romney on health care: And Romney continued to have problems talking about health care. After stating that he was going to replace Obamacare, the GOP presidential nominee told Gregory, “I'm not getting rid of all of health-care reform. Of course there are a number of things that I like in health-care reform that I'm going to put in place. One is to make sure that those with pre-existing conditions can get coverage. Two is to assure that the marketplace allows for individuals to have policies that cover their family up to whatever age they might like.” But as we’ve explained before, it’s very hard to see how health insurance companies would provide those benefits – like mandating coverage for those with pre-existing conditions and allowing young adults to stay on their parents’ health plans – if the health-care law is repealed and you have a smaller pool of insured Americans.
*** Team Obama tops Team Romney -- barely -- in August fundraising: For the first time since April, Team Obama (the campaign, DNC, victory fund) outraised Team Romney (campaign, RNC, victory fund) in August, $114 million to $111.6 million. These numbers are both monthly highs for each side. The Obama campaign says its August haul came from 1.1 million donors -- representing a third of its 3.1 million donors to date -- which suggests that its grassroots support is beginning to kick into a higher gear. We won't see an actual apples-to-apples breakdown of the August fundraising until the FEC deadline of Sept. 20.
*** Endorsing King and hanging out with Robertson: With less than 60 days before Election Day, why was Romney endorsing conservative Rep. Steve King (R-IA) and hanging out with Pat Robertson? “I’m looking here at Steve King because this man needs to be your congressman again,” Romney said on Friday. “I want him as my partner in Washington, D.C.” Don’t think that Steve King endorsement didn’t show up on Univision or Telemundo… This just seemed like odd primary-style politicking at a time when Romney needs to be wooing more mainstream suburban swing voters.
*** Advertising in Wisconsin: As we mentioned above, the Romney campaign announced this weekend that it’s airing a new TV ad in Wisconsin – its first there in the general election. (We’ve yet to see confirmation how big the actual buy is, however.) What is surprising isn’t that the Romney camp is advertising in Wisconsin. What’s surprising is how long it took them. We all know Wisconsin is a swing state, and we know that the Romney camp has plenty of money. So what took so long?
*** Woodward’s argument: What’s particularly striking about the new Bob Woodward book is that, unlike his past works, he’s making an argument rather than trying to recreate and report on a past event and letting others draw the conclusions. Woodward’s argument here: Obama didn’t lead in the debt-ceiling debate. Woodward told ABC, per Political Wire: "President Clinton, President Reagan. And if you look at them, you can criticize them for lots of things. They by and large worked their will," Woodward said." On this, President Obama did not." He added, "Now, some people are going to say he was fighting a brick wall, the Republicans in the House and the Republicans in Congress. Others will say it's the president's job to figure out how to tear down that brick wall. In this case, he did not." Does the Woodward book on such an ugly inside the Beltway fight have legs in the swing states in these final days? We’ll see.
*** On the trail: Romney has a rally in Mansfield, OH at 3:00 pm ET… Ryan raises money in Portland, OR… And Obama is down today.
*** What to watch the rest of this week: Tuesday is the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and Obama, Biden, and Romney all have events tied to this anniversary… Bill Clinton campaigns for Obama in Miami (on Tuesday) and Orlando (on Wednesday)… And Obama stumps in Las Vegas (on Wednesday) and Denver (on Thursday).
Countdown to 1st presidential debate: 23 days
Countdown to VP debate: 31 days
Countdown to 2nd presidential debate: 36 days
Countdown to 3rd presidential debate: 42 days
Countdown to Election Day: 57 days
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So Mitt Romney would repeal Obamacare and at some later date he would replace it with Obamacare Lite.
"Well, I'm not getting rid of all of health care reform. Of course there are a number of things that I like in health care reform that I'm going to put in place. One is to make sure that those with pre-existing conditions can get coverage {see update below}. Two is to assure that the marketplace allows for individuals to have policies that cover their family up to whatever age they might like. I also want individuals to be able to buy insurance, health insurance, on their own as opposed to only being able to get it on a tax advantage basis through their company."
-- Doesn't that last sentence imply that Mr. Romney is planning to TAX health insurance? Is he planning to take away the tax credits for companies that provide health insurance for their employees or will he tax health insurance holders or both?
UDATE: A Romney aide told the National Review that he [Romney] does not support the Affordable Care Act's ban on discriminating against people with pre-existing conditions, despite suggesting on "Meet the Press" that he supported that part of the law.
http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/316367/re-romney-and-obamacare-katrina-trinko
Ryan: I Didn’t Vote For The Defense Cuts I Voted For
By Zack Beauchamp/Think progress on Sep 9, 2012 at 12:13 pm
Vice Presidential candidate Paul Ryan has gotten in hot water before for criticizing President Obama for the very same defense cuts that he voted for in 2011. When confronted with this incongruity today on Face The Nation, Ryan simply denied that he ever voted for the cuts, telling an incredulous Norah O’Donnell that he didn’t actually vote for the cuts he’s on record as voting for:
O’DONNELL: Now you’re criticizing the President for those same defense cuts you’re voting for and called a victory.
RYAN: No, no — I have to correct on you this, Norah. I voted for a mechanism that says the sequester will occur if we don’t cut $1.2 trillion in government. … We can get into this nomenclature; I voted for the Budget Control Act. But the Obama Administration proposed $478 billion in defense cuts. We don’t agree with that, our budget rejected that, and then on top of that is another $500 billion in defense cuts in the sequester.
O’DONNELL: Right. A trillion dollars in defense spending, and you voted for it!
RYAN: No, Norah. I voted for the Budget Control Act.
O’DONNELL: That included defense spending!
RYAN: Norah, you’re mistaken.
O’Donnell is, in fact, not mistaken. The Budget Control Act, as passed, included both the roughly $600 billion in “sequestration” cuts that will happen if there’s no compromise on the budget by December as well as the $487 billion of military-supported cuts that will take place regardless. The fact that Ryan may have wished that the bill didn’t contain said defense cuts does not absolve him of the fact that he and 201 other Republicans voted for the bill as-passed.
Moreover, Ryan’s statement after voting for the bill contained not a single word of criticism about the defense cuts. As O’Donnell correctly noted, Ryan said the bill “represents a victory for those committed to controlling government spending and growing our economy” and that “The agreement – while far from perfect – underscores the extent to which the new House majority has successfully changed Washington’s culture of spending.” It’s at best misleading, and at worst an outright lie, for Ryan to assert that voting for the Budget Control Act did not mean voting for defense cuts.
Mitt Romney, campaigning in Virginia today, hammered President Obama for supporting cuts in defense spending.
NBC’s David Gregory, in an interview with Romney scheduled to be aired in full tomorrow, noted that the cuts were part of the compromise to end the debt ceilling crisis and were supported by the entire GOP leadership. An excerpt:
MITT ROMNEY: Well, I want to maintain defense spending at the current level of the GDP. I don’t want to keep bringing it down as the president’s doing. This sequestration idea of the White House, which is cutting our defense, I think is an extraordinary miscalculation in the wrong direction.
DAVID GREGORY: Republican leaders agreed to that deal to the extend the debt ceiling.
MITT ROMNEY: And that’s a big mistake. I thought it was a mistake on the part of the White House to propose it. I think it was a mistake for Republicans to go along with it.
Among the GOP leaders who made “a big mistake” and voted for the cuts was his running mate, Paul Ryan. That hasn’t stopped Paul Ryan, however, from also crticizing the sequestor on the campaign trail.
These two liars can't even tell the same lies, they cant even remember when they lied. Your flawed characters are showing front and center.
OBAMA/BIDEN 2012
Don't bother Mr. Romney. The heavy lifting's already been done!
Hi Gingerbread,
I saw that interview with Lyin Ryan, and that little fellow got caught again telling the big lie.
Dennis, GBM great points. I don't think Mitt Romney or Paul Ryan met a position and a view they didn't support at one time or another which further proves neither one has the credibility or ability to be President and Vice President.
Romney's 59-point plan removes tax loopholes and deductions all right but the loopholes and deductions removed are those that help the middle and lower income wage earners as well as "real" small businesses. Koch Industries, Bechtel are a small businesses by definition but hardly what we think of as "Mom & Pop".
Dennis, GBM great points. I don't think Mitt Romney or Paul Ryan met a position and a view they didn't support at one time or another which further proves neither one has the credibility or ability to be President and Vice President.
Romney's 59-point plan removes tax loopholes and deductions all right but the loopholes and deductions removed are those that help the middle and lower income wage earners as well as "real" small businesses. Koch Industries, Bechtel are a small businesses by definition but hardly what we think of as "Mom & Pop".
Remarkable!
These two clowns can't even coordinate their bull@!$%# & people are still willing to buy it out of pure hatred for the President!
Could the tea baggers have picked more flawed candidates? lol
Good Morning Job1, I watched it too and my jaw kept dropping. Norah O'Donnell did a fantastic job, yet you could tell she was incredulous at the brass of this clown. Love Norah she is terrific.
Dennis,
Romney says one thing about the Heathcare law and his compaign says another. He want to repeal the law and replace it with his own, but he cannot even get the details straight.
His interview on MTP , sitting on a roof of a building , was not a breath of fresh air but the same old stale platitudes that the GOP has been peddling for years.
So, the would be pretenders to the throne (Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum) also known as Romney/Ryan, have slunk off to the Land of Oz to hone their debate skills. Lots of luck. Neither of you have any debating skills and will be eaten alive by our President and Vice-President. Loving it, can't wait.
After President Obama wins his 2nd term, along will come Mrs. Hilary Clinton who will be a slam dunk to win the Presidency for the next 8 years. Does it get any better? I don't think so.
Republicans out of the Presidency for 16 straight years. They'll go crazy. Couldn't happen to a nicer group losers.
OBAMA IN 2012, HILARY IN 2016.
Goodness. He's flip flops so quickly it makes my head spin.
He CLEARLY said in that interview he was for the non-discrimination for pre-condition portion of the Affordable healthcare Act and WOULD KEEP parts of it in place.
He thinks other Republicans are really stupid, apparently.
So there you have it. Lying didn't work. Now Romney is just parroting Obama's stance on health care and taxes.
As each day changes, so does Romney's position on what's being talked about.
Amy---I always wonder about people who only have empathy after they have gone through the same situation. I notice it happens a lot with Republicans. They were against gay marriage (e.g. Dick Cheney) until one of their children turns out to be gay and wants to get married. They were against stem cell research until they are sick and want to help medical research. I feel bad that Ann Romney has MS but I've never heard her once say anything that recognizes that at least she has the benefit of access to healthcare and no worries about losing her job due to her illness. Somehow I don't see Ann taking an hour to get dressed and out of the house to get to her job, as did Michelle Obama's father.
"Face the Nation" and "This Week" has far more credibility thatn "Meet the Press". The softballs and Gregory's refusal to followup Romney's statements was maddening.
I watched "Face the Nation" since Obama was speaking and saw the O'Donnell interview with Ryan. Was glad to see she held his (Ryan's) feet to the fire. It is hypocritical to argue against sequestration after you voted for it. Mitt and Ryan are pandering for votes from communities tied to defense jobs.
It is also disingenous for these people to continue to spread half truths or to criticize Obama for not fixing the economy. They rail against his policies however as Paul Krugman noted on "This Week", the policies in place now that are generating the weak job growth are not Obama's. Obama's policies Am Jobs Act were not even voted on by the House. Policies in place now are the watered down, weak, tax cut centric GOP related measures that Obama has been able to get through the unrelenting filibusters and obstruction.
If you don't the economic policies are working fast enough blame the GOP.
VP Biden was right when he said it's not that Mitt has no position on everything - he has every position on everything....unfortunately for Mythe he can never remember what that position is.....
GNOP - can't stand facts...THEY CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!
C;mon Mythe - show us the 1040's! What ARE YOU hiding@??
Paul S, NY NY
C;mon Mythe- show us the1040's! What ARE YOU hiding@??
"MYTH" claims his tax records were stolen.
Group claiming to have Romney tax records threatens to leak them
http://articles.cnn.com/2012-09-06/politics/politics_romney-tax-threat_1_party-offices-tax-records-tax-documents
===================================
I say leak them. We need to know that "MYTH" isn't a felon.
Feisty:
These two clowns can't even coordinate their bull@!$%# & people are still willing to buy it out of pure hatred for the President!
Never forget those words. The vote will come out for Obama.
The GOP will always have the Viagra and redneck evangelical warrior vote, as well as the misogynist and racist and homophobe vote. What a nasty zoo is now under the Big Tent that was once the party of purely fiscal conservatism. They'll never admit to it, but the marriage of the anti-government right wing Reagan Revolution to the theocratic old testament Moral Majority will be its undoing.
So, as anyone who has been following these boards knows, I have been asking this question for weeks and I never get a response from any republican and I am sure I will not get one this time. Romney's signs all say "Repeal and replace"the ACA. First of all replace with what exactly and I was under the impression that any health care reform was considered socialism to all of the righties. So do you support "repeal and replace". And why are you not going BSC over that? Anyone?
TO: jim-1455434 who wrote:
WRONG! You haven't been listening at all!
President Obama's Plan is already slated to add 12,000,000 jobs, and even though Republicans fought President Obama's Plan every step of the way, Republicans have already started to try to steal credit for President Obama's work.
Start listening. I'm sure before November the interviewers will be repeating this same point over and over again because people see it as a cheap trick by Republicans who have done absolutely NOTHING to promote Jobs or move the economy forward in the past 3-1/2 years, NOTHING!
Obama/Biden 2012
The Dems have a party and the NATIONAL DEBT hits $$$16 TRILLION..they can not even count all the zeros in that crazy number!!...talk about a National DISASTER!!! Have Jimmy Fallon explain how many somollians, claims, bucks, dough, bread, etc that is to our baby -minded obama!! THE BABY Obama DOES NOT WANT MORE JOBS, MORE ECONOMY GROWTH!!!
obama says he would grade himself 'incomplete'...in my school that was an ..F !! You did not try, you Failed !! Again, twist the truth. Chicago MOBpolitics!!
How many" black chidder-rhen "were murdered while Rahm spoke??!! Another great leader..NOT!!
Like Eastwood said, We the people hired you, you have not done the job, now it is time to Fire you!!
Mouchweelll talked about a rusty beat -up car that Barry Soetoro drove while they were dating, and tried to make it sound OK that with high gas prices and no jobs , Americans can not drive at all!!..Her dad made the equivalent of $$300K in the 70’s and they let their daughter get in such a rust heap??.DOES NOT EQUATE!!!..Danger, /Danger Will Robinson!!!
obama had shoes too small??? He was working for a law firm in Chicago..SaY WHAT?!!! Why are both obamas disbarred?!! Lavish vacations at tax payer expense and $$500 tennis shoes!!!??talk about her big beer arms and nothing about her LARGE french-fry rear!!
She did not say what conversations she 'valued' from Barry's father, Frank M. Davis, the Marxist pornographer in Hawaii. Dreams of my father....or of Barry's brother George still living in a hut in Kenya!!
Dems take GOD out of their platform, of course, obama is the messiah, why look to a faith-filled God??
they read letters from the peasants while they feast at the tax funded, Chief prepared expensive meals..regular Americans could not afford one of those meals a year, much less nightly!! talk about how bad We the PEOPLE have it, REALLY!!.. Let them EAT cake, right?!! where does Mr. Prez get his news?? On the golf course while drinking with Biden?!! If they were to tell the truth, it should have been, people are writing to the Prez. about how he has dismantled the Middle-Class, ruined the economy, people a losing homes and jobs, HE needs to STOP what he is doing!!
Like Eastwood said, We the people hired you, you have not done the job, now it is time to Fire you!!
With that being said the Teaparty was supposed to be laser focused on jobs jobs jobs, yet all they do is talk about Vaginal Probes, Abortion, taking away from the middle class. Well come November we are going to do a Eastwood on all of you Obstructionist in Congress, as Trump would say ' YOUR FIRED
Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan would make great pig farmers since they sure can shovel it. And they apparently don't mind the stench of it either.
ROMNEY/RYAN = pig farmers 2012
God help us if Obama gets reelected!
The GOP reminds me of the bunch of little boys who found some fireworks, lit them and stuffed them into the local gas station's storage tank.
Then they ran away and watched it blow up from a hill.
As the cleanup crew picked up the pieces, they ran back down the hill and said, "Wow, you sure made a mess!"
"Can we have some of the leftover fireworks?"
If tax cuts worked to create jobs, we should have been SWIMMING in jobs by the time Bush left office.
Instead, this was the CNN Money headline in Bush's last month of office:
Job loss: Worst in 34 years
Employers slashed 598,000 more jobs in January as unemployment rate climbed to 7.6%.
The only way the GOP can win is LIE!
Romneyismynightmare
Mr Romney's plan is to change the name to RomneyCare (only the name)
and squeeze in any breaks he can for his republican friends
You lib's just don't get it. If you knew how to analyze FACTS you would know exactly where this country is going if Obama gets re-elected. The weasel is a Socialist, look at his radical background already would you?! Take the blinders off! In communist/socialist countries there is only the poor because all the wealth has been redistributed (his goal remember?), and then there are the wealthy elites who run the government. There will be NO middle class if that radical gets re-elected. Romney's life is an open book and Obama's is a big mystery. Doesn't his past throw up any red flags with you dopes?
Romney/Ryan 2012
Thanks for the data "RealAmericansFirst" You just proved the inefficiency of BO
Bush's last month in office 7.6% unemployment
Today, of course things are worse under BO at 8.3% unemployment
From the article: "Obama is still ahead… Romney, once again, is unable to list a specific loophole he’d close to pay for tax plan…"
Romney knows the "specifics" of his tax plan:
Mitt does not plan to close significant tax loops for the wealthy. This is why he is "mum" on his stealth tax cut plan. Mitt would make the middle class and the poor bear the financial burden of his tax gifts to the rich.
If Romney speaks the truth about his plans, many middle class and poor citizens will not vote for him.
Obama should be ahead in the polls.
Obama wants to take America Forward, not backwards.
A Great DNC convention!
Obama/Biden 2012!
It really does not matter what the polls say ( I would not tell any pollster who I was actually voting for) things will go back and forth depending on what lie is being told. Fact is it does not matter who we get in as liar in chief the American people are screwed!!!!!!!!!!!!
The $3 Billion Obama "outsourced to a Finland car company" would come in handy
right now to help some black male youths in Ohio get a job. Why does Obama
continue to pander to wealth, even foreign wealth, when American working men and women are suffering so?
Listen, I don't care if you are a democrat or republican, but can you honestly say "Obama wants to take America Forward" when we're sinking under his so called leadership?!
It sure would be great if the Republicons' on this thread could stay on subject of the article, instead of spinning their web of mis-trust in all Government,,,,,,,, Our National debt has been expanding for 50 some years, with growth in the economy, yet to the Repuglican's it is a new issue that must be addresssed now that we have a Democrat in as POTUS,,,,,, good grief, Nitt and Ruin can't keep their story straight, and are pandering to specific groups and ideology with NO concrete Plan or Party agenda. Look at their Party platform and ask yourself, "Have they have accomplished any of it"? No, accept the perpetual "war on terrorism" since 2001, and the "war on drugs" from the 70's...... No fiscal restraint, no return to the values of yesteryear, no constraint on the E.P.A., no "pro-life" repeal of Federal law, the list of their non-accomplishments is nearly endless, much like the libertarians who propose personal freedom as the objective of the Constitution.
Notice that they cut off the #1.0 all the way to #2.0 comments on the first page at the top of this thread. Censorship works on all levels. Wow.
"...Romney replied, 'You know, what I've found is that wherever I go I am speaking to tens of millions of people.'”
Cue the theme music to "The Twilight Zone."
Georgie: "Romney's life is an open book and Obama's is a big mystery."
That's about the funniest thing I've read all day. Romney, the one who won't release even a single full year's tax return, the one who doesn't want us to discuss his governorship in Mass., the one who doesn't want us to discuss his time at Bain, is an open book to you? He won't even answer questions about his proposed policies because he knows how many votes he'd lose if we knew what he was going to do. With all the hateful, racist, bigoted lies told about Obama, have you ever heard him say that his past was off limits? You then rant about how he's a "communist/socialist," which is absolute garbage. Your dire vision of Obama's future is much more in line with what would happen if Romney/Ryan are elected. THEY are the ones who want to give all the breaks to the rich at the expense of the middle class. Here's a hint:trying to project your party's platform onto the democrats won't fool anyone, we can see right through your lies.
DAVID GREGORY: "Give me an example of a loophole that you will close." ROMNEY: "Well, I can tell you that people at the high end, high income taxpayers, are going to have fewer deductions and exemptions." And on ABC, running mate Paul Ryan said a Romney White House would consult with Congress on which loopholes to close.
This QA between Mitt and Gregory reminds me of when Katie Curic asked Sarah Palin what publications she reads, and she can NOT name one single one!!
As for lyin' Ryan – everyone should be rolling their eyes out of its socket! Rely on the USELESS Congress who's only work is to plot against Obama? The teabag Congress who campaigned for jobs slogan and actually block/filibustered the Jobs Bill? Seriously? Does this guy think he can fool beyond his lemming base? Seriously?
One thing we Dems/Libs/Progressives need to be mindful is the voter suppression against the young/students, the old and minorities. The RNC under Carl Rove and teabags cannot be trusted. WE ALL KNOW PLASTIC MITT IS NOT CONVINCING, so no doubt their PLAN B is to steal the election for moneybags.
MITT, WHERE ARE YOUR TAX RETURNS?? HAVE YOU PAID TAXES THIS YEAR?! THIS YEAR IS ALMOST OVER AND WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANYTHING YET! WHATCHA HIDING CHUMP?!
TO: border joe who wrote:
You don't think Mitt Robme would lower that number, do you, because he wouldn't.
You cannot pay down the debt with Tax Cuts and Tax Cuts for top 1% wealthiest Americans is all that Mitt Robme has planned for his 1st 4 years (if anyone is dumb enough to vote for that clown), or can't you hear too well?
Republicans are so busy ragging on the POTUS who has the BEST plans going, that Republicans can't hear what their own guys are says, which is NOT good for the American People.
Wise up Republicans!
Obama/Biden 2012
Georgie: Yeah, the past has flung up some red flags.....that's why so many of us are voting to re-elect President Obama. We don't want another 8 years of Bush tax plans, tax cuts for the rich, cuts in education, etc.
Obama/Biden - 2012
With Romney, the middle class and the poor will fall like the "flies" that Mitt thinks we are.
If Romney gave people the details of his plan, he would have really sunk in polls and he knows it. There is nothing there that would benefit the common man.
To all people on this site, please take the time to watch the following 5 minute nonpartisan YouTube video that shows what dire straights our country is in. Our country cannot afford to pay for its current Entitlement Programs and debt interest payments. I did not even mention paying a single government employee in that figure. Now, Obama has added another huge Entitlement program to our country. That will just hasten the demise of this once great nation by increasing the debt at an exponentially faster rate. Please watch the video. It certainly shall scare the living hell out of you.
Jesus Christ, another right-wing idiot. First of all, Obama is not a socialist; if he was, we'd have a government-run healthcare system and state-run oil and car companies to boot. Secondly, I am in full favor of redistributing wealth. That is what we do already, with our progressive tax code and social programs. But for the past 30 years, we've been redistributing wealth upward, giving the rich more and more money via deregulation and lower taxes while having the rest of the nation barely squeeze by. And that CRASHED our economy and sent our debt spiraling. It's about damn time the 1% pay up for the 30 years of free lunches that they've gotten courtesy of the 99%. And finally, I am sick of you righties always bitching about the evils of socialism while failing to admit the flaws in capitalism. Both systems are radical in nature; modern-day capitalism leaves decisions in the hands of financial elites, while socialism leaves decisions in the hands of the government. Why don't we just have a mixed economy??? Mostly capitalist for the benefit of private citizens with some socialism to round out the rough edges of capitalism??? Even Adam Smith admitted that government had a role in the economy; if the father of capitalism can do that, why can't you???
First of all, Obamacare is not an entitlement program. Hell, it isn't even a program by definition; it's a package of rules and regulations that reform the health insurance market. Secondly, according to the nonpartisan CBO, Obamacare lowers the deficit by around $200 billion. Thirdly, federal employee payrolls are not as large as you think; they are only a fraction of total expenditures. And enough with the bull@!$%# that public-sector workers make a lot of money; the only reason why they do compared to private-sector employees is because the private sector has gutted wages and benefits, making government employees seem wealthier by comparison. And finally, each of the problems that entitlement programs pose can be solved. For Social Security, simply eliminate the payroll cap and increase the tax to 15.1%. As for Medicare, increase the payroll tax to 3.5%, increase premiums, and replace the fee-for-service payment mechanism for a fee-for-health system, essentially reimbursing doctors and hospitals based on the quality of the care that they provide, not the quantity. Add eliminating the Bush tax cuts for everyone and defense cuts of roughly $800 billion over 10 years, and you have a roughly balanced budget.
OBAMA BIDEN 2012
TO: Dennis, Columbus, Ohio who wrote:
Mitt Robme doesn't have the votes to "replace" Obamacare because all of the Republicans are in the pockets of the Insurance Companies, so much so that I wouldn't doubt for one minute that the GOP would even trick Robme into repealing ALL of Obamacare, and then claim they could reach any agreement on its replacement.
Republicans make me wanna puke!
Obama/Biden 2012
WHERE ARE YOUR TAX RETURNS MITT? TIME TO PUT UP OR SHUT UP!!!
OBAMA/BIDEN 2012
The so-called Republican offerings for the two top jobs have an extremely difficult problem in trying to win their hopeful attempt.They won their nomination from the T.P. and right wing of the Republican party by claiming to be far to the right,but now they have to attempt to appeal to the center and yet still keep their ridiculous base. They are plainly unsuited for the jobs but have been hoist on their own petards. They have no programs and will agree with any and everyone to receive the power that they so desperately desire.If we were to be cursed with the two of them it would be one of the biggest disasters that we ever experienced. Even those who voted for them would regret their vote.
What place of an event can hold "tens of millions of people?"
...a "slight" stretch...
The next 6 weeks will be full of BS polls.
This is a early look at since the convention and too soon to make a accurate prediction, but this is what seems to be occuring.
From looking at the polls, where the were taken, how they were taken, and an unpublished source, The good news for the Obama is he got the better bump. However, the bump is the result of motivating the base in the most uncompetitive states that are democrat base.
In the key states of dispute, thing are a bit mixed, but more swing states continue toward Romney than for Obama.
in 2008, Election Projection was the closest to the results. However the creator changed his formula to take ANY poll instead of eliminating historically poor polls. Though he added a safeguard to minimize the effects of outlier polls, he regrets the change, because he is seeing polls that are skewed further from reasonable historical trends in a number of states.
Translation, this is far from over and may be a good bit uncomfortable to all in the next 8 weeks.
BTW: Polls are pretty inaccurate until about 2 weeks out. Seems pollsters like to skew results to discourage the opposite side. Even Gallup is under the gun since the Justice Department has put them under scrutiny.
Great post, Dennis!
Romney's health care plan goes back to the GOP audience's response of:
"Let 'em die!."
Jesus, you don't even try to hide your racism, do you?
Placing you on the Ignore list. Your opinion is not worth reading. Moon pie sucking hillbilly.
Yesterday was an incredibly sad day here in Palm Beach County. A 20 year veteran of the Jupiter Police Department, Bruce St. Laurent, was killed when his motorcycle was struck by a truck during President Obama’s motorcade.
He was married for over 30 years and was a father of 4. He would often play the part of Santa Claus for the local Head Start program. Please keep his family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/jupiter-police-post-web-tribute-to-officer-killed-/nR6xN/
Actually Frank, Officer St. Laurent was not in the motorcade, he was preparing to close a ramp to I-95 prior to the President's visit, when struck by a truck.
He was a very popular public servant and a much loved member of the community. Last night, a beautiful spontaneous memorial sprung up in front of the town Police Dept. He will be much missed.
Deepest sympathy to his family, his friends and his co-workers.
Hi GBM...
Yeah, I just heard the same thing. Originally it was reported that he was part of the motorcade, but you are right...he was preparing to close the ramp at 45th street.
As the son of a police officer, these things always make me very sad.
My sympathies to your town up there GBM. I didn't know him, but it sounds like you guys lost a great person. :-(
Yes we did Frank, it is hard to believe he is gone.
Prayers to his family. it is always sad when a police officer dies, especially on the job.
Thoughts and prayers to his family.
Terrible tragedy! My thoughts and prayers are with the officer and his family.
So, between NBC's Meet The Press and ABC's This Week, both Mr. Romney and Congressman Ryan were given the opportunity to specifically name a tax loophole that they would close if elected.
Neither did.
Why is that? Is it because you CAN'T or you just simply WON'T?
Da Noid
They have yet to learn how to use the etchasketch.
It's because they want their electorate ignorant. Because as soon as the electorate are informed, their platform looks awful.
So after what - three years? of dodging even David Gregory's easy softballs by just not playing a game on "Meet the Press", Mitt Romney finally came up to bat yesterday.
Soft easy pitch # 1: "You feel like you’re winning? Do you feel like you’re losing? Where do you think things are?"
Romney: "I think we’re making real progress. I-- I don’t think I was as well known, of course, as the president and-- and so we had a convention and I got better known, people got to see Ann and hear our story and-- and the result of that is I’m better known, for better or for worse."
Swing and a miss. Strike one.
Let's try an easier one. Gregory: "As a candidate now when was the last time you really got to spend some-- some quality time with somebody who is out of work and what did you get from them?
Romney: "Well, actually, just last night it was I was with a person who is facing some challenge. We spent some time together and shared our personal experiences in an effort on my part to point out that we can make it through tough times." Okay, so the transcript generously leaves out the hemming and hawing as Romney tried to come up with an example. But was this really an example? As usual, no details - not "well, I talked to this 35-year-old single mother who's working two jobs and just found out she has cancer and doesn't know who's going to take care of her kids", or "well, I was talking to this baby boomer who hasn't had a vacation in ten years because he's spent all of his time and most of his own retirement savings taking care of his elderly parents because Medicare doesn't even begin to cover so many of our expenses as we age" - nope, just "a person" with "some challenge.
Huge swing and a miss. Strike two.
Finally, here's a total gimme pitch from Gregory: "But you haven't specified where you'd cut loopholes in particular to make up the savings, because, in addition, you actually want to increase defense spending in addition to all of that."
Romney: "Well, I want to maintain defense spending at the current level of the GDP." Soooo...defense spending is a tax loophole????
GREGORY: "But, Governor, where are the specifics of how you get to this math?
MR. ROMNEY: Well, the-- the specifics are these which is those principles I described are the heart of my policy. And I've indicated as well that-- that contrary to what the Democrats are saying, I'm not going to increase the tax burden on middle income families. It would absolutely be wrong to do that. But you know I've had the experience of being a governor. I've demonstrated that I have the capacity to balance budgets. I balanced them four years in a row in Massachusetts and we cut the taxes 19 times in Massachusetts." Typical Romney word salad - hold the loopholes, please. But Gregory gave it one more try:
GREGORY: Can you give me an example of a loophole that you will close.
MR. ROMNEY: Well, I can tell you that people at the high end, high income taxpayers, are going to have fewer deductions and exemptions. Those-- those numbers are going to come down. Otherwise, they'd get a tax break. And I want to make sure people understand, despite what the Democrats said at their convention. I am not reducing taxes on high income taxpayers. I'm bringing down the rate of taxation, but also bringing down deductions and exemptions at the high end so the revenues stay the same, the taxes people pay stay the same. Middle income people are going to get a break. But at the high end, the tax coming in stays the same. But we encourage small business, because small business is able to keep more of what it makes and therefore hire more people, which is my priority."
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48959273/ns/meet_the_press-transcripts/t/september-mitt-romney-ann-romney-julian-castro-peggy-noonan-ej-dionne-bill-bennett-chuck-todd/
Yep, all he needed was one slice of cucumber or a lousy crouton, and instead he served up yet another super-sized deluxe helping of Romney word salad. Wild swing and a total miss - strike three.
I found it interesting that on the panel discussion afterwards, even conservative Peggy Noonan was STILL saying that Romney needs to "introduce" and "define" himself to the American people. Uhh, hello? This isn't spring training anymore. Romney's been running for president for the better part of six years, and there are just over six WEEKS left in the season. The time for introductions and definitions is long past.
Somebody should have told Romney a long time ago that just standing in the on deck circle for six years doesn't automatically get you into the Hall of Fame.
I know I shouldn't pick on Ann Romney, but her part in the interview I saw on MTP was so jarring. She insists, nay, demands that voters see Mitt as empathetic. I found that odd. One doesn't generally demand to be thought empathetic, it's something that arises out of you showing empathy for others.
When Gregory asked her how she and Mitt can relate to lower income folks, she focused on her struggles with MS, "a cruel tacher." It was almost like she was demanding people pity her, for her struggles with the disease, instead of focusing on how her struggles help her understand others'. I don't think she gets that candidates and their spouses are supposed to show empathy for others, not demand it for themselves.
JoAnne.....YOU hit it out of the park..............grand slam! Best analysis I've read on this phony staged interview.
Dear Lord......I miss Tim Russert so, so much.
While no one can fill Tim's shoes, why oh why can't NBC find a better replacement than David Gregory......anyone want to start a petition to get him out before this previously valuable program disappears before our eyes?....They should have given it to Norah O'Donnell before she left for CBS.
Thanks all for the recap from Meet the Press. I just can't bring myself to watch it any more. And with less than 2 months until the election---where was Mitt last week? I get the impression that he wants the job but doesn't want to do the work it takes to get the job and once he has the job wouldn't know what to do with it.
@Gingerbread Mama
I miss him too. Tim Russert would have a had field day with Romney and Ryan. I think all of there short comings as candidates would have been exposed in the media a LONG TIME AGO.
No wonder they only wanted to be interview by FAUX NEWS. They both seemed like nit wits Sunday.
Amy, the real difference is that Ann Romney has the access and money to the best medicine in the world for her MS. It makes a big difference in the treatment of any disease. Most who are diagnosed with MS end up on disability, medicare and/or medicaid because they are often too sick to go to work. Or like a young person I know who would not even file her insurance for a year because she was afraid of losing her job - yep, once she filed her insurance that showed her diagnosis she was "let go", lost her health insurance, and replaced with a healthier individual, not a more qualified individua, just one who did not have MS. I am so sorry Ms. Romney has this terrible disease but a person in her position should do like Michael J Fox has with his PD foundation and should have a lot more empathy for others who have MS.
Mitt Romney is a CEO. This is typical CEO double talk, lead the rank and file with vagaries you never intend to implement, glad hand the leaders of other companies but never ever be too specific.
If you are specific then people can say, "Why didn't I get a raise? You said there would be raises this year? My performance was high." The code here is, we gave raises to management, you know because they might have to go somewhere else to play golf if we didn't.
If you are specific then people can say, "Last year you said you would compensate people who scored highly on your new bonus performance plan and we never saw the final plan after the suggestion box phase. Who was compensated? How were they compensated?" They say, oh, um yeah we began by rolling that out to management. We expect to roll that out across the organization in FY2014. Code for, oh, you remember that lie we told you last year? Let's see if another year and half makes you forget it.
He's a CEO folks. He's rich. He's entitled. He has no idea how to do or fix anything because he has never done so. When something breaks in his life he pays someone else to fix it. And most of all he has no empathy for anyone that has no healthcare, lost their job or lost their house. Because, guess what! He doesn't know anyone with those problems.'
He doesn't have the problems ordinary people have and he never has had them. He can't connect with the ordinary guy because he's never been one.
JoAnne and Amy
Both excellent insight!
This is exactly how I see them and I feel quite certain many others feel the same way.
One of my good friends watched both conventions. She is a Kansas Republican, her dad served in the Kansas Legislature for over 20 years and she said to me Friday night, "I just can't ever see the words President Romney ever working out. Can you IMAGINE it? I sure can't and I've tried, I've really tried. I am voting for Obama because there is no way I'd want Romney representing our country."
I could have wet sloppy kissed her! This is the vote that Romney could have easily had if he were even a little bit authentic. But his complete weathervane approach to this campaign cost him this one, simple vote. It's my opinion that she is certainly NOT the only Republican/Moderate who feels this way. (although, admittedly, in Kansas - she may be,...)
Obama/Biden 2012
R$mney 1040
The Dems have a party and the NATIONAL DEBT hits $$$16 TRILLION..they can not even count all the zeros in that crazy number!!...talk about a National DISASTER!!! Have Jimmy Fallon explain how many somollians, claims, bucks, dough, bread, etc that is to our baby -minded obama!! THE BABY Obama DOES NOT WANT MORE JOBS, MORE ECONOMY GROWTH!!!
obama says he would grade himself 'incomplete'...in my school that was an ..F !! You did not try, you Failed !! Again, twist the truth. Chicago MOBpolitics!!
How many" black chidder-rhen "were murdered while Rahm spoke??!! Another great leader..NOT!!
Like Eastwood said, We the people hired you, you have not done the job, now it is time to Fire you!!
Mouchweelll talked about a rusty beat -up car that Barry Soetoro drove while they were dating, and tried to make it sound OK that with high gas prices and no jobs , Americans can not drive at all!!..Her dad made the equivalent of $$300K in the 70’s and they let their daughter get in such a rust heap??.DOES NOT EQUATE!!!..Danger, /Danger Will Robinson!!!
obama had shoes too small??? He was working for a law firm in Chicago..SaY WHAT?!!! Why are both obamas disbarred?!! Lavish vacations at tax payer expense and $$500 tennis shoes!!!??talk about her big beer arms and nothing about her LARGE french-fry rear!!
She did not say what conversations she 'valued' from Barry's father, Frank M. Davis, the Marxist pornographer in Hawaii. Dreams of my father....or of Barry's brother George still living in a hut in Kenya!!
Dems take GOD out of their platform, of course, obama is the messiah, why look to a faith-filled God??
they read letters from the peasants while they feast at the tax funded, Chief prepared expensive meals..regular Americans could not afford one of those meals a year, much less nightly!! talk about how bad We the PEOPLE have it, REALLY!!.. Let them EAT cake, right?!! where does Mr. Prez get his news?? On the golf course while drinking with Biden?!! If they were to tell the truth, it should have been, people are writing to the Prez. about how he has dismantled the Middle-Class, ruined the economy, people a losing homes and jobs, HE needs to STOP what he is doing!!
"Different" does not always mean "better".
Obama is doing a fine job of cleaning up Bush's mess, despite having the MOST DO-NOTHING Congress in over 60 years to deal with.
Get off your A$$e$, GNoP!
From USA Today:
border joe
Actually at the request of Obama they put God in the platform I saw it. On live TV. And its really not God they want out its Organized Religion. Madison and Jefferson both wanted the same thing and got it. The separation between church and State.
And if you don't want a separation between them which would you choose the Mormon church because that's the Candidate's choice for the Republican party. Plus if you look closely at the Mormon faith an elder like Romney would be a Modern day Prophet.
Sorry but keep you religion out of my Government. I'll take a personal relationship with GOD over state sponsored churches any day. Truth be told Romney and his clan wants the USA in wars for GOD's name. I think God is powerful enough big enough for us all to Coexist
To anyone who's boo-hooing about the God aspect, if you want to live in a theocracy, move to Iran.
Border Joe...
"Freedom of Religion" should be pretty self explanatory for you, but you seem to have an issue understanding that it takes into account all other religions, as well as those that prefer no religion, besides Christianity. Personally speaking, bringing God into politics is like bringing your 8 year old daughter to a strip club. It's unbecoming to mix anyone's version of God with something as lowly as politics, especially when you think about the caliber of people wielding religion to get elected. Joey is right....Keep your religion out of my government!
Obama/Biden 2012
Border joe/I don't know from which border you are from,but I do know it is far from reality.In the 1950's it was possible to claim that Progressives were a bunch of commies and you wouldn't be asked to clean up your rhetoric and explain your hate claims. That time has long passed and now we expect a better and logical reason for a person's hatred. You have not given one,so fare thee well,or not,as the case may be!
They offer none, because every deduction is potentially a job killer if it is eliminated. If you asked the Democrats, they might come up with say Oil Depletion allowance. The trouble is that Oil Depletion Allowance was eliminated from Big Corps and large producers 30 years ago.
If the current polls hold this party is basically over. Romney desperately needs Ohio and that prospect is fading fast as internal GOP tracking polls are showing worse numbers than the external polls are reporting.
As an ‘alien’ (as I have been called of late), I see little hope for the Republican Party in its present incarnation until 2020. The economy will undoubtedly improve in the next few years and if Hillary decides to run in 2016 with what should be by then an economy purring like a cat; it will be a cakewalk for her and the DNC. I say 2020 as I see Hillary as a one term President by choice.
The Republican Party needs to reinvent itself. It has become a shrill loudspeaker of the more radical Right and addresses only issues that attract white male voters and its policies force minorities and women to turn their backs to the brand.
Hillary being Hillary, I don't see her presidential campaign as a cakewalk. Thje Clinton name seems to bring out as much visceral hatred on the part of conservatives as Obama does. Plus, I think she'll need to live down the "under fire" line she uttered in 2008 that turned out not to be true.
Auntie Fascist
Visceral hatred will never win an election.
I see Hillary Clinton winning in 2016 as well. I didn't support her 2007, because I felt she was wrong for those times. Obama was the perfect "transformational" candidate to be President. I think Hillary will be an "Ike" kind of President, administering during a time of stability. Her experience with foreign affairs will be incredibly valuable to the US.
Auntie Fascist, while I agree with much of your comment, based on the Clinton years and now President Obama's first term, I have concluded that the continual shift to the right and now to the far right by the GOP means that whoever the democrat is will be the recipient of visceral hatred. Until the GOP either implodes, fractures into two parties or finds it way back to middle and back to compromise, back to governing for the country and not for political gain, any democrat will be subjected to hatred.
This life-long Democrat would have a really hard time voting for Hillary. We would get Joe Lieberman-style Israel over the US politics, triangulation, and a shift to the right for the entire party. Don't forget, it was Bill Clinton that set the stage for the collapse of the US insurance and mortgage industry. Never forget that. This is a woman that thinks ALEC is a good idea. ALEC is nothing short of sedition. Hillary is a bad idea who time, thankfully, is past. I won't vote before I would vote for Ms. Clinton for President.
I supported Hillary in 2007. I thought she was the best candidate and I still do. I like Obama quite a lot but just by virtue of his existence he's tearing this country apart.
It has not a single thing to do with anything but racism and the colour of his skin. He has done as well if not better than could have been expected and the divisiveness from the right has had nothing to do with his policies and everything to do with how he looks. I would vote for him just to combat this type of idiotic bigotry even if his policies are not exactly in alignment with my own.
I would have happily voted for him in another 10 years but I think we needed someone who could reach across the aisle and bring the Republicans into the fold. Republicans like Hillary. I have many Conservative friends who were tee'd up to vote her but did not vote for Obama.
I watched the media elect Obama. Not because he was the best choice but he was the choice that could keep the country in chaos so Big Business could do as it chose.
And that is exactly where we find ourselves today.
I will vote for Obama in 2012. The Republican choices scare me to death, as they should any thinking human being.
blackcat, visceral hatred is about all the GOP has presented since Reagan introduced America to the degrading and never ending culture wars. The last good GOP prez was Eisenhower and the last good prez candidate was Goldwater. All the rest have been crooks, a Hollywood laundry soap pitchman, a CIA tool and the megaidiot son of a CIA tool.
I would have NEVER voted for Hilary in 2008 and I would happily vote for her, campaign for her and be a stalwart supporter in whatever she chooses to do.
I do believe she'd be unbeatable in 2016. At this point, Chris Christie is the only 'newbie' and he doesn't stand a snow ball's chance in hell. That's just reality.
So, Obama/Biden 2012
Hilary/Castro 2016
R$mney/Ryand 1040
Romney/Ryan 2012
Americans don't need to be punished for another 4 years.
TO: Auntie Fascist who wrote:
I disagree, and so far as Republicans' "visceral hatred" is concerned, we are all just about ammune to it because that is all we've seen coming from Republicans for years and years now, pure hatred.
Hillary in 2016 will absolutely be a "cakewalk" ESPECIALLY if President Bill Clinton has a significant role.
That is what I saw as Hillary's weakness back in 08, was that she pushed Bill too far into the background.
Obama/Biden 2012
American Girl;
Were I Hillary Clinton, and I'm not, I would not run. After the way the party faithful turned on her and she was by far the more qualified of the two, like a pack of rabid Hyena's for the flavor of the month, empty suit. Being the cynic I am, I would likely change parties and be a thorn is the back side of the antagonistic, elitist azzholes.
OBAMA THUGOCRACY THREATENS GALLUP. GALLUP CHANGES POLLS RESULTS.
So now all of a sudden Gallup shows a terrific bounce for Obama coming out of Charlotte!
Seems to me, if you're a pollster you'd better bring nothing but good news for Obama from here on out or expect a knock on the door in the middle of the night after the election when Axelrod comes to collect.
Blackcat
You have no skin in the game...you are not a registered voter in the United States of America...hence I could care less what you have to say.
Brian, Dick Morris is a political hack ala Beck, Limp, and FauxNews,,,,,,,,, and to conclude your comment with "Seems to me" shows your in the same bag of nuts. It isn't you who is talking, it is your arrogance, and self-pity. These "chain letters" and comments only undermine reputable, established organizations and business. That is what your ideology is all about,, "Starve the Beast" or "When Atlas Shrugged" comments about personal freedom with no substance or history behind it,,pure conspiracy. They laugh all the way to the bank, while you and many others follow their camp story's.
Fox also shows a near universal bump for obama after charlotte, sorry, correlation is not causation.
Sharrianne,
Why do you dismiss Blackcatwhitecat's observations on this election? Do you feel that just because a person isn't a US citizen that their opinion has no merit? I'd much rather get a fresh perspective from someone living abroad than to read posts with idiotic "Obummer" statements throughout. Maybe your problem with Obama is that you bought the lie that he's not American.
sharriannie-
Once again darling, America is the most powerful nation in the world and with a foot in every corner. Everyone has skin in this game.
You can choose to ignore my posts, but then I seem to frighten you.
Blackcat....
We're glad to have you here and really don't mind that you share your opinions on this thread about our nation's politics. In fact, we progressives/liberals (a.k.a. people that think for ourselves) actually appreciate the added perspective you bring. Thanks for commenting!
Amy...
I have to agree with you 100%. Obama was the logical choice in the last election because the nation wanted a chance to reduce the growing bi-partisan divide that we experienced during the Bush years. Unfortunately, the divide only got worse as the party of NO made it their primary goal to make Obama a one-term president. I think the GOP saw the writing on the wall very clearly: If Obama gets credit for an economic turn-around, the republicans will absorb all of the blame for the economic disaster that preceded the Obama administration, and democrats will get all of the credit for economic prosperity. I don't believe they thought Americans would see their sabotage of the economy as clearly as we do now, nor did they predict that they would be nominating such a lame duck for the Republican ticket in 2012.
Fortunately, in 2008 Americans elected a strong, personable, and intelligent leader. We needed a chance to prove that compromise was still an option, but now we know Republicans have no desire whatsoever to compromise. It will also soon be clear that we should continue to elect Democratic presidents to protect our economy and our middle class. Thus, Clinton will be an excellent choice in 2016, not only because she will be the first female president, but because she has a dearth of experience in local and foreign policy, and she has the wherewithal to stand up to the Republican bullies that will do everything possible to get back into power. Now we just need to get some moderate republicans back into office or a filibuster-proof democratic majority back in the house and senate to top it off.
Obama/Biden 2012 Hillary Clinton 2016
Just like they did to Joe Lieberman. The Democrat party of 20 years ago never did things like this, they were always forgiving of the wayward ones.
Dick Morris projected a 60 - 80 seat turnover in the House, when everyone else was saying the turnover would be only 25-35 Seats. The turnover turned out to be 56 as I recall.
Bill Clinton made his recovery from 94 - 96 by changing his tactics to what Dick Morris told him to.
another conspiracy started by the conservative right,,,,,"Bill Clinton made his recovery from 94 - 96 by changing his tactics to what Dick Morris told him to.", and the citation for this political hacking,,,,,,,,,,none.
“Big Business is Doing Fine”: Romney’s Tellingly Accurate Gaffe
by Alex Klein Aug 24, 2012 5:14 PM EDT
Romney Thursday night declared—to a group of rich donors, no less—that “big business is doing fine in many places,” partly because these larger corporations “know how to find ways [to] save money by putting various things in the places where there are low tax havens around the world.”
Forget about Thursday’s botched“birth certificate” joke. Romney’s words on taxes play to practically all of his core, and major, political weaknesses. Highlighting “big business”success resonates with the corporate fat-cat caricature. Attributing that success to “low tax havens” is even worse: a reminder of Romney’s own vast global holdings – from Bermuda, to Switzerland, to the Cayman’s – which have allowed him to defer his tax burden and multiply investor wealth far from American shores. The statement echoes Obama’s own June “gaffe” – “the private sector is doing fine” – which Republicans like Romney used to hammer Obama on the economy.
But for all the bad optics, Romney’s right–on both counts. “Big businesses” are doing disproportionately well in the slowly recovering economy. And those large corporations do take disproportionate advantage of complicated, compliance-intensive global tax deferral strategies and holding companies. The truth of Romney’s words–combined with their applicability to his own professional fortunes–only makes them more politically toxic.
First, let’s consider how “fine” big business is doing. The private sector is, in fact, recovering much faster than the public sector. Moreover, an ongoing corporate rally– with businesses sitting on mountains of cash–has sent the markets to five-year highs in recent weeks.
And within the private sector, big businesses are doing better than smaller ones.
As Romney said, it’s also far easier for “big business” to take advantage of favorable tax shelters offshore. Navigating the IRS’s complicated anti-deferral regimes is a lot easier with a large compliance department, filled with high-paid experts in tax law. Many large businesses have gone through the complicated process of moving their headquarters entirely offshore. Accenture, Foster Wheeler, Tyco, and Cooper Industries all call Bermuda home. The complexity of the U.S. tax code incentivizes multinationals to shift as many facilities abroad as possible in order to avoid an extra round of corporate income tax. And for international investment firms – like Bain Capital – creating holding companies or Alternative Investment Vehicles abroad attracts foreign capital, and allows domestic investors – like Mitt Romney – to defer tax payments on their dividends. One Bain Capital fund kept over $1.5 billion in as many as eighteen of these holding companies, according to documents leaked yesterday.
That’s why sectors filled with corporate giants pay the lowest effective tax rates abroad. Electronics manufacturers pay 8.7 percent, banks, 11.3 percent, and chemical manufacturers, 13.1 percent. All told, the effective US corporate tax rate is at its lowest since 1972: 12.1 percent.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/08/24/big-business-is-doing-fine-romney-s-tellingly-accurate-gaffe.html
___________________________________________________________
Ol’ Willard lies, dodges and obstifucates on so many issues that it’s hard to tell when he isn’t but on this one thing he has been clear and consistent.
Thing that confuses me is why you’ll Yahoo’s are so willing to believe anything he says and don’t believe this. You’re like an Old Mule with Blinder’s on to keep him on the straight and narrow. And just like that Old Mule you’re subject to walking over a cliff without ever having looked up.
Regular Folks and 98% of Small American Business don’t have a chance to conduct their business like this. And will never grow to the point that they will even if they wanted to. See most of us while we don’t want to pay a penny more in taxes than we have to also feel the need to put SOMETHING back.
Ol’ Willard and his Cronies feel none of this compunction. And as long as you let them you and me and everybody else that works for a living is going to continue to subsidize them in this behavior. I’ve got nothing against rich folks. As long as they are living within THEIR means and aren’t expecting a SUBSIDY from me to keep them in the style to which they have become accustomed
The Romney & Ryan Lyin' Team. On Meet the Press Romney said he would not try to overturn Roe v Wade along with other unchallenged statements to David Gregory. Well, duh, of course Mitt won't because he doesn't sit on the Supreme Court and personally cannot overturn it. But Romney would appoint more conservatives justices, he has told us who he admires. Mitt supports GOP Person-hood legislation which not only makes abortion illegal, it also makes contraception illegal; this is in the GOP Platform. He said he wouldn't overturn Roe v Wade when debating Ted Kennedy and again when he ran for Governor of Massachusetts. But what he has said the last 1 1/2 years is the exact opposite and proves he is the "multiple choice" presidential candidate; the one who will say whatever he needs to say depending on the audience listening. Too bad David Gregory seemed more excited to meet Mitt than to do the job Tim Russert did so masterfully.
On Face the Nation, Paul Ryan, another forked-tongue devil, said he did not vote to cut defense spending despite having voted YES on the agreement in 2011. "I voted for the mechanism that says the sequester will occur if we don't cut $1.2 trillion in government"....."I voted for the Budget Control Act." Norah O'Donnell added, "Right. That included defense spending." To which Ryan said "you're mistaken." Just like Ryan has yelled for nearly 4 years about the deficit and the debt, he voted YES on every single unfunded piece of GOP legislation eliminating the budget surplus and exploding the debt.
Romney/Ryan proved the GOPers are masters at being for it before they were against it before they were for it....
The question for David Gregory and NBC is: When will Gregory become a tough and balanced moderator like Norah O'Donnell is for both sides of the aisle?
Jody, Iowa
Morning Jody, both Romney and Ryan make Kerry look like a bulwark of stand your ground.
So true Jody. Meet the Press let Willard have his little controlled interview in which the questions are scripted and Queen
BitchAnn is near by to jump in.Oh I can't wait for the debates.
Little did I realize when Eastwood performed his talking to an empty chair act at the RNC, that it would also become the theme of the Romney/Ryan campaign. After watching the dynamic duo this weekend on the talk show circuits, I was left with the impression that they are the epitome of empty chairs.
Neither of them could name a loophole they would eliminate in a tax restructure. Romney in one minute claimed he was cutting taxes for the wealthy by reducing the top scale, then turned around and said he was not cutting taxes for the wealthy because he was ending loopholes. One minute Romney said he would immediately repeal Obamacare, then turned around and said he would implement Romneycare. Isn't Obamacare, Romneycare?
Ryan dazzled us by outdoing Kerry's famous "I was before it before I was against it' move by basically saying I didn't vote for that after I voted for that. Apparently Romney has convinced Ryan you can not only retroactively retire, you can now retroactively recast your ballot.
One thing is for sure - if you were to ask me what these two stand for, my only response would be to suggest you get an etch-a-sketch and take the empty seat, because it's going to be a long session of flip-flop explanations, writing-erasing the board (yo Romney, is that whiteboard available), to try and answer the question.
I wonder if Ann will be on stage with her hand up Puppet Mitt's ass for the debates, too?
Apparently she can 'control' a gaffe with an icy stare or a wag of her finger?
Good Luck with THAT!
After all this Change that was promised almost 4 years ago and with Americans being worse off than they were 4 years ago. Unemployment over 8% 43 months in a row the choice in November is to fire all those in office now and start over.
The Deomocrat on these threads continue to attack, attack, & attack again without reason or rhymn as do their "heroes" (Obama/Clinton/Biden). They are so busy condemning Romney for not detailing his agenda should he become president. Romney continues to smile and go about his campaign and Republicans don't have a clue why he should be smiling rather than putting his plans on the table!
If Obama had a clue, he would be preparing for the debates coming up or he just may be caught with "mud pie" on his face. Romney is a very shrewd & successful businessman and; knows full well that allowing the "competition" in on something that will turn a large profit will then give that "competition" a heads up to go after it themselves!
A good businessman doesn't worry about the jokes and bad mouthing of those who believe him to be a fool; he waits until the the biggest audience will be watching & listening, and springs the "product" (details) for the world to see...leaving the "competition" (opponents) left with no answers & little time to coounter with!!
I'm guessing that Obama won't have the right responses to counter on his teleprompter during the debates and will show his true inability to lead his own party, much less this country!
Umm, Linda, did you just wake up in 1954?
Have you not been paying attention until today?
PS. It's always a GOOD Offensive strategy to pummel your opponent while he is the weakest.
Personally, I think the Democrats are being FAR kinder than R$mney deserves; but I'm kinda' assertive thataway!
Linda from MT - "A good businessman doesn't worry about the jokes and bad mouthing of those who believe him to be a fool; he waits until the the biggest audience will be watching & listening, and springs the "product" (details) for the world to see...leaving the "competition" (opponents) left with no answers & little time to coounter with!!"
Wasn't that what he had the opportunity to do at the RNC?
Man of Steel: Who's worse off? Please don't speak for me or for any other person because you don't know what we think or how we're doing. I know quite a few people who are doing much better. Granted, we're not where we were before Bush II screwed everything up, but things are looking up. So, please speak only for yourself, and if you aren't doing better....don't blame it on President Obama because he had nothing to do with your misfortunes. Blame it on the real problem....Bush II
OregonPat....
I do think Linda has a point, and I don't think the RNC was the most advantageous time to use a major counter-offensive move bc it leaves too much time before debates for the President to prepare. However, that said, I have been waiting for the Republicans to pull out a big surprise for the last 3 months and haven't seen one yet. Something like a clean record of tax returns to counter all of the rumors, or a big policy shift that fundamentally improves the GOP pitch so that it will sell to the right and moderates alike. I just haven't seen anything convincing out of these 2 clowns yet, and if Romney doesn't pull out a miracle debate on Oct. 3rd, the GOP is done, hopefully even congressional and senatorial nominees as well. I hope Romney sinks the whole GOP ship with his opaque, limited in detail, and out of touch policies/personality. I do think he is a perfect representation of the modern day GOP: they would throw their own mother under the bus to get elected and stuff their own pockets, with absolutely no conviction or morals to stand on. I guess I'm just a little flabbergasted that they're really this BAD at running an election. With all that money, you would think they could at least buy some brains, but then again they would have to listen to them, and that is not exactly one of their strong suits.
Biden/Obama 2012!!!
Sleuth
You are overthinking the situation way too much.
It looks like President Obama has received a pretty Big Bouce after the DNC Convention.
The newest research from Nate has it as the NOV 6 factors:
"Obama chance of winning 80.7% Romney 19.3%"
"Projected Winner Obama 318.8"
"Projected Loser Romney 219.2"
However, if the election was being voted in "Now Cast" Today:
Totals
"Obama chance of winning 83.0% Romney 17.0%"
"Projected Winner Obama 308.5"
"Projected Loser Romney 229.5"
Jobs1
Indeed it is a good bounce !!!
Now people are paying attention and the debates will be very important.
I am looking forward to the town hall one, where the candidates have to think on their feet and the questions are not that predictable.
Good morning Northstar......Agree people are paying attention.
While the debate will give the candidates opportunities to give details and to show the voters an understanding of the problems as it relates to the voters, the town hall style will be the make or break, there they don't know the questions.
Romney has shown he is a good debater but having many opponents is a lot different than going one on one....so we'll see.
I just don't believe how much these campaign ads for the Democrats look so much like new articles.
I want to hear Obama explain how "it is not a tax" and "if you have a business, You did not do that, Someone else made that happen".
Polls were wrong before and they are wrong now.
Obama* is no leader.
Have any of you ever wondered why the Democrats refuse to enforce voter fraud laws? that is their only chance to be re-elected.
And you're also not a witch, right?????:))
But, seriously,
Implying that Dems wish to win through voter fraud is rather like the pot calling the kettle....well, whatever color...because Ohio 2004 and Florida 2000 were the REAL examples of voter fraud.
There in lies the problem Iam, you need someon to explain everything to you. Anyone with an ounce of intelligence doesn't need someone to explain everything to them.
Why are you suddenly mentioning Obama's lead? With the Justice Department and David Axelrod leaining on Gallup, we can't trust their polls any longer. Going into the conventions, Rasmussen had Romney by 1%-4% for nearly all of the past month. Did you mentiion that? I doubt it. In any event, Obama's lead will be short lived when more disappointing economic reports are released. This is the worst economic recovery since the Depression and Obama is a failure. Obama will lose; no one has ever been reelected with an economy this bad.
In 4th Quarter 2008, the US economy shrunk at annual rate of 8.5%, the worst quarterly performance since the great Depression. Bush left Obama with a budget deficit of over $1.3 trillion. The Fed discount rate was .5% which effectively took the stimulus effect of interest rate cuts off the table. Republican leaders pledged to block Obama's efforts at reviving the economy on his inauguration day. How unpatriotic these republicans were.
It is no wonder that our economy hasn't recovered faster. Bush left a huge mess and the republicans refused to help clean it up.
OBAMA 2012 for America's future.
Have you ever thought that maybe this is the worst economic recovery since the Great Depression BECAUSE this was the worst recession since the Great Depression? Romney himself has said it would take him at least 8 years to fix the economy, so why is everyone so upset that it's not fixed after 4 years? Previous recessions also haven't had the same type of obstruction and divisiveness as we've seen (hint:the democrats aren't the ones being divisive).
Sara,
I watch Ohio. There was no voter fraud in 2004. Dennis Kucinich, just loves attention. The alleged location is so heavily democrat it is pointless for the republicans try anything. There were a lot of allegations that turned out to be much to do about nothing.
In 2008, however, there were two precincts south of me as I recall where there were more votes recorded than signed in. That IS an indication of possible fraud, but it was a heavily democrat area, of course.
In 2004, Al Gore was trying to legally commit fraud when he requested only 3 major democratic counties to be recounted under 3 different standards when the law requires all counted by the same standards.
The US Supreme court should have stepped in.
Schaak & Oregon Pat.
Thre was one crash and recovery from 1920 - 1923.
The rise in unemployment took place in 12 months, ours took 9 months to fall the same. Their recovery started in 1921 and ended in 1923 - 3 years. Unemployment started at 4.9% at the beginning of 1920 and was 9.7% by December 1921. By the end of 1923 unemployment was back down to 4.9%.
I can tell you that the Harding's polices are polar opposite of Obama's.
DB, the "depression" we are talking about happened in 1929 and the recovery took 12 years..............
Funny, I haven't seen FR mention the book on the killing of Bin Laden. I watched the interview with the Navy Seal on another network last night. The Seal says he doesn't want it used for political purposes, and I respect that. It was certainly an enthralling interview.
What struck me about the raid was all the things that could have gone wrong, and didn't. The guy in charge of detonation misheard instructions to wire his explosions, thinking they meant blow up the house - not the disabled helicopter, which he didn't know was even there, as he'd arrived on a different chopper. His fellow Seal had to tell him to stop wiring the house to blow, and go wire the helicopter. Also, it was smart the Seals guarding the gate told curious neighbors it was a police action and they should go home - imagine if the Seals had only spoken English, and the neighbors would have known to alert Pakistani police. It was amazing the Seals got in and out in something like 30 minutes. AND got out of Pakistan without being shot down.
If this SEAL (assuming he was, in fact, part of the raid...I have my doubts) didn't want his book used for political purposes then he should never have written it in the first place.
Nor had it published just before the election. I find his comment rather odd , concidering.
controversy usually means better sales - capitalist sell to make a profit, politicians sell themselves for cash and votes....
Its called executing your mission. Hope to have new leadership in Washington because the President has stated that come January 2013 he will start cutting military health benefits and also wants to change the military retirement.
Veterans know who they are voting for in November. We don't like our fellow citizens living in such poverty.
Romney/Ryan 2012
Part of Romney's budget is cutting billions in VA benefits. Just thought you'd like to know.
Man of Steel: Once again you're talking for others and you have NO idea what they are thinking. As a veteran myself (26 years, US Army retired), I will be voting for President Obama as will many of my retired military friends. I truly hate it when people think they know what others are thinking....speak for yourself and quit thinking you know what many others are thinking because you don't know! You only know what YOU are thinking, so, again, speak for yourself!!!
As for benefits being changed.....my pension is not being touched, my Tricare is not being changed, nothing that myself and my veteran friends enjoy will be changed. Once again, you are misreading and misunderstanding what is being said.
Didi, i'm with you. I'm USN, 11 years. Man of Steel can't speak for all of us, just himself. Also, i'm from Michigan. But that doesn't mean I'll voting for the home-town boy, although I'm sure there are some who will.
The two major political parties have explained their vision of the role of government.
One party's vision is that society and the government is intertwined and should complement each other. This vision believes in the "one for all, and all for one" approach.
One political vision is a federalist vision, where states rights trump the federal government bodies of the presidential, legislative and judicial branches. This vision sees society and government as separate from one another. This vision takes an "everyman on his own" approach. This vision of the government's role was asked and answered during the 1860s.
One vision is the correct vision. We must look at our nation as a whole, not as fifty separate entities. Take for an example this planet Earth. Every aspect of it is fully integrated. Take the human body for another example. Each of these examples have evolved with time as a whole, not as parts.
The approach to society and government that was started by our Founding Fathers must evolve if it is to survive and continue. We must become "whole" rather than "parts". Society as we know it is much different than that known by the Founding Fathers and in so much, it must evolve, not devolve.
We must move forward, away from the "me first" creed and the culture of selfishness and greed expressed today by one vision, towards the culture of the "we are all in this together" vision, and must look to becoming whole and complete.
Steven, Delaware, well said. It is the "me first" creed, the anti-government creed that collapsed the economy; a selfishness that didn't exist 30 years ago.
Martin Bashir has a nice MSNBC ad in which he talks about Americans coming together to help in times of man-made and natural disasters--not just in the US but where ever disaster strikes--and how remarkable this is. I think that is American exceptionalism. Sadly, when it comes to economic growth, infrastructure, public education, we seem to reverse course and revert to the "me first" attitude; then we wonder why a bridge collapses or a school is crumbling or graduation rates fall or our educational aptitude dips far below other nations.
Jody -- The Republican creed is GREED.
Steve King and Pat Robertson, huh? Can't get much more mainstream than THAT! Combined IQ, 120.
Steve King and Pat Robertson, huh? Can't get much more mainstream than THAT! Combined IQ, 120.
Steve King and Pat Robertson, huh? Can't get much more mainstream than THAT! Combined IQ, 120.
Sorry for the triple post. Laptop's having a brain fart today.
Auntie Fascist
Been there, done that, got the t-shirt.
I really believe the GOP is dieing, as well it should. When I listen to Mr. Romney speak, and Mr. Ryan, I cant help but see that lieing and re-lieing is all they know how to do. When I watched the RNC, I noticed how 1950's the whole convention looked. I havent seen that many blonde and gray-gone-blonde people in one room in ..... well, 4 years. Then the repubs talked like they wanted to go back to the 50's. Their tent has shrunk way too small, and the lack of representation of the diversity in our country was apparent. If they could only stop including their views on religion, God, sex, and women, that THEIR way is the only right way, and trying to legislate those views, they might stand a chance. Romney's flip-flopping has evolved into serial lieing, and he is an embarrassment to both his party and his country. Is R&R really the very best the repubs could come up with???? Mr. Reagan must be flip-flopping in his grave. I used to respect the GOP, even if I didnt agree with all their policies, but my respect has evolved into shock and embarrassment. The GOP is taking its last breaths and it is hard to watch.
Yeah, but Democratic failure to vote in mid-term elections is keeping the Republicans on life support.
Julia-960715
Excellent post Julia, I wholeheartedly concur.
Thank u.
Well said Julia, your observations are spot on and I totally agree.
Nice to see you .....keep up the good work.
Hopefully Obama's final push is as good as your spelling.
Julia, great post. The GOP convention really did look and sound as if we'd stepped into a time warp, or the black hole.
...That would be President Reagan, give him the respect he's due.
Now then, spell check 101. See that ABC next to a CHECK mark? use it.
no wrong julia your blind,it is the dems and liberals that lie,it is the dems and liberals that do fraud as well,it is the dems and liberals that tried to steel the election in 2000 as well.are you people that brain dead,do you understand the constitution,the state rules in a election,well lket me educate you.in 2000 the election was close in certain states so because it was close in florida the state constitution stated that in a close election you must recount 2 more times and when they did george bush was getting even farther so the dems and crybaby liberals kept on saying swinging chads and everyother thing but the rules were you recount 2 times not 10 times ,not 20 times only 2 times,but the dems and liberals did not want to listen to the constitution just as they dont want to listen to the constitution ever and want to do away with the constitution.no it is and always will be the lierals and dems that will try to steel the election,how many dead people will be voting for obame and his cronies,a vote for obame is a vote to destroy this country as we know it
You are wrong about Florida, in fact like a typical libtard Dumbocrat you lied about it. Look at the wikipedia article for the statistics and the facts. Bush was never behind in Florida except when Gore tried to steal votes and suppress the military vote as well. It was Gore who went to court and had his ass handed to him.
Too bad you guys aren't as good with facts as you are at hurling insults. Anyone with any memory or common sense knows that Bush stole the 2000 election. Look up Katherine Harris, Jeb Bush, and a conservative Supreme Court.
OregonPat: They don't want to do that....factchecking is not in the Republican's blood. They will only believe what they're told. Even Romney and Ryan said they didn't care about factchecking.....wonder why? I was appalled when I heard that comment from them!!! Simple arrogance!
"Also on “Meet,” NBC’s Gregory asked Romney why he never said the word “Afghanistan” in his acceptance speech, despite all the U.S. troops who are serving and dying there. Romney responded by downplaying the significance of words in a speech. “I find it interesting that people are curious about mentioning words in a speech as opposed to policy."
This from a ticket that spent three days moaning about the word "God" in a Democratic platform with dozens of supportive references to faith and religion.
The GOP double-standard at work again!
Not to mention "you didn't build that", the words they pulled out of Obama's speech and used out of context.
At one point Mr Romney must do some "splainin stuff" on its own. You can not be the challenger and keep playing the rope-a-dote strategy too long. Sooner or later something will have to give. The first rule of job interview is to always present your best, emphasizing your strengths while trying to mask your weaknesses. The conventions have shown President Obama and/or the democrats to perform quite well in that regard. I am not quite sure that Mr Romney and/or the republicans so far have lived up to the expectations.
The President is going to mop the floor with Romney at the debates. Even though things aren't going great, facts and reason will overcome hate, fearmongering and falsehoods.
Romney doesn't need Portman to practice for the debates. He gets more than enough practice just debating himself!
I am wonder, Mr. Woodward, just what threat from the President would have made to force a GOP hellbent on his destruction to compromise. If you have the answer, please reveal it. As any infant knows, NO is the most powerful word ever uttered.
No
Why doesen t Obarma live up to his staement he made three years ago, he he cannot lower unemployment and fix the econemy he would be a one term president, he has NO clue what to do i think he should SCREW he is a fony and just uses the office of the president. You can t even see his school information, because he applied as a forien exchange student bye bye Obarma
.
Actually, President Obama is going to win re-election and there is nothing the radical right can do about that.
Obama – Biden 2012 - Still Cleaning up Bush’s Mess!!!
No worries...the radical left will help Mitt get back on track!
Polarizing discussion. Has it occurred to anyone following this that there could be a lot of Americans who are not "radical" anything? We just want our country to continue and understand what has worked in the past. That is not threatening the left position Americans. We only want our country to get back to the world leader it has been for decades. Our country is in desperate trouble now, people. Idealistic? A bit. Loyal to the United States? You bet. Bailing on our allies and consorting with our enemies, not so much. Read both sides of the issues and perhaps we can avoid all of this name-calling.
Is the vine having problems with Google Chrome? i couldn't view comments all weekend (home comp uses chrome, work IE) but now that i'm at work it appears to be working normally... anyone else having problems or is it just me?
It messes up the JavaScript on Firefox from time to time and I need to switch to IE as well. Try clearing all cache, cookies, etc. and see if that helps.
Hi Tzalaran,
I have been having the Google Chrome problem since Friday. It a little better today and hit or miss on working 100%
Tzalaran,
Yes, this whole First Read has been acting weird even last week.
Hey guys, fix it, the ignore button and the scrolling seems to be not working too.
Tzalaran
Chrome was giving me all kinds of scrolling problems especially on the vine. I switched over to Firefox and all seems to be well. I wonder if the problem is more with this site as the vine is running both this and the beta-vine software concurrently. Beta testers have been complaining loudly about this problem with various search engines.
BTW update firefox to the very latest release.
Same problem here
Thanks for the replies, relieved that it isn't just my computer at home (i have enough other problems with it...)
Same here
I've noticed that the "ignore" hasn't been working for the past week, and most of the comments are not deleted, especially the really vile ones that I'm SURE should be deleted due to inflammatory language, etc. I think the Newsvine people have gone off on vacation or something or they just aren't paying any attention. I got knocked off for a couple of days awhile ago for calling someone an "idiot," but there have been even worse things said lately, and they haven't stepped in and given them a "time out." Hopefully, they'll get it together soon.
The momentum is shifting, but hasn't shifted. Democrats break open those wallets give $3 or whatever you can. We need this to shift permanently (not that Romney isn't helping us).
Now Romney tracks to the center, trolling for votes. Is he believable? NO!
I donated 5 minutes after Michelle Obama walked off the stage :p
In all fairness though, I don't see why the complaints against Romney for not mentioning Afghanistan. It was his speech and he was free to say what he wanted.
it was his speech and he talked about....himself, and what he is going to do when he is elected. Sounds the same as many many many speeches before him...still, nobody is telling me how HE can do this, and nobody else can?...I'm not being convinced here Mitt
After all the lies the President has told, he is not believable. I thank God we will have new leadership in November. Vote for CHANGE in November because if we go Forward............it will be off a cliff.
Americans have had enough misery and unemployment Vote all these clowns out.
I agree to vote for change in November! Vote out all teabaggers, Dem majority in House and Senate!
Obama/Biden/Sanity 2012
How do you spell A-F-G-A-N-I-S-T-A-N?
How do you spell G-E-O-R-G-E W. B-U-S-H?
How do you spell D-I-C-K C-H-E-N-E-Y?
How do you spell W-E-A-P-O-N-S O-F M-A-S-S D-E-S-T-R-U-C-T-I-O-N?
How do you spell I-N-C-O-M-E T-A-X R-E-T-U-R-N-S?
How do you spell B-U-L-L-S-H-I-T?
How do you spell L-O-S-E-R
How do you spell O-B-A-M-A-W-O-R-S-H-I-P-P-E-R
How do you spell O-V-E-R-T-H-E-C-L-I-F-F-L-I-B-E-R-A-L
Personally, imnotlost, I'd spell L-O-S-E-R i-m-n-o-t-l-o-s-t and after the election you can add R-O-M-N-E-Y to that L-O-S-E-R list.
How do you spell R-O-M-N-E-Y -I-S L-O-S-I-N-G-S-O-I-W-I-L-L-I-N-S-U-L-T-Y-O-U
imnotlost:
Oscar Mayer can help you. . .
B-O-L-O-G-N-A !
AHHHH YOU BUT YOU MOST CERTAINLY ARE LOST!!! we don't need to spell that out. it doesn't matter if willard states all the specifics - he doesn't even have - he will flip flop like the puppet he is and now more and more people are getting wise to the lies, lies, the dishonesty with his taxes, the stashing money overseas, the bigotry, the hatred, the fear mongerering, sending jobs overseas, killing jobs, killing womens rights. YEPPERRR - it's all coming around full circle mr LOST - everyone isn't stupid or a bigot or a millionaire. the average american citizen WILL WIN THIS ELECTION - not you and yours. OH AND LEST US NOT FORGET what you andyours are trying to do keep citizens from voting!!! THINK WE ALL DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON???!!! Think again!!!! WE HAVE YOUR NUMBER. OBAMA/BIDEN 2012
Democrat Quotes on Iraq Weapons of Mass Destruction
"One way or the other, we are determined to deny Iraq the capacity to develop weapons of mass destruction and the missiles to deliver them. That is our bottom line."
--President Bill Clinton, Feb. 4, 1998
"If Saddam rejects peace and we have to use force, our purpose is clear. We want to seriously diminish the threat posed by Iraq's weapons of mass destruction program."
--President Bill Clinton, Feb. 17, 1998
"Iraq is a long way from [here], but what happens there matters a great deal here. For the risks that the leaders of a rogue state will use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons against us or our allies is the greatest security threat we face."
--Madeline Albright, Feb 18, 1998
"He will use those weapons of mass destruction again, as he has ten times since 1983."
--Sandy Berger, Clinton National Security Adviser, Feb, 18, 1998
"[W]e urge you, after consulting with Congress, and consistent with the U.S. Constitution and laws, to take necessary actions (including, if appropriate, air and missile strikes on suspect Iraqi sites) to respond effectively to the threat posed by Iraq's refusal to end its weapons of mass destruction programs."
Letter to President Clinton, signed by:
-- Democratic Senators Carl Levin, Tom Daschle, John Kerry, and others, Oct. 9, 1998
"Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction technology which is a threat to countries in the region and he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process."
-Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D, CA), Dec. 16, 1998
"Hussein has ... chosen to spend his money on building weapons of mass destruction and palaces for his cronies."
-- Madeline Albright, Clinton Secretary of State, Nov. 10, 1999
"There is no doubt that ... Saddam Hussein has reinvigorated his weapons programs. Reports indicate that biological, chemical and nuclear programs continue apace and may be back to pre-Gulf War status. In addition, Saddam continues to redefine delivery systems and is doubtless using the cover of a licit missile program to develop longer-range missiles that will threaten the United States and our allies."
Letter to President Bush, Signed by:
-- Sen. Bob Graham (D, FL), and others, Dec 5, 2001
"We begin with the common belief that Saddam Hussein is a tyrant and a threat to the peace and stability of the region. He has ignored the mandate of the United Nations and is building weapons of mass destruction and th! e means of delivering them."
-- Sen. Carl Levin (D, MI), Sept. 19, 2002
"We know that he has stored secret supplies of biological and chemical weapons throughout his country."
-- Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002
"Iraq's search for weapons of mass destruction has proven impossible to deter and we should assume that it will continue for as long as Saddam is in power."
-- Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002
"We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeking and developing weapons of mass destruction."
-- Sen. Ted Kennedy (D, MA), Sept. 27, 2002
"The last UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in October of 1998. We are confident that Saddam Hussein retains some stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons, and that he has since embarked on a crash course to build up his chemical and biological warfare capabilities. Intelligence reports indicate that he is seeking nuclear weapons..."
-- Sen. Robert Byrd (D, WV), Oct. 3, 2002
"I will be voting to give the President of the United States the authority to use force -- if necessary -- to disarm Saddam Hussein because I believe that a deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his hands is a real and grave threat to our security."
-- Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Oct. 9, 2002
"There is unmistakable evidence that Saddam Hussein is working aggressively to develop nuclear weapons and will likely have nuclear weapons within the next five years ... We also should remember we have always underestimated the progress Saddam has made in development of weapons of mass destruction."
-- Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D, WV), Oct 10, 2002
"He has systematically violated, over the course of the past 11 years, every significant UN resolution that has demanded that he disarm and destroy his chemical and biological weapons, and any nuclear capacity. This he has refused to do"
-- Rep. Henry Waxman (D, CA), Oct. 10, 2002
"In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including al Qaeda members ... It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons."
-- Sen. Hillary Clinton (D, NY), Oct 10, 2002
"We are in possession of what I think to be compelling evidence that Saddam Hussein has, and has had for a number of years, a developing capacity for the production and storage of weapons of mass destruction."
-- Sen. Bob Graham (D, FL), Dec. 8, 2002
"Without question, we need to disarm Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal, murderous dictator, leading an oppressive regime ... He presents a particularly grievous threat because he is so consistently prone to miscalculation ... And now he is miscalculating America's response to his continued deceit and his consistent grasp for weapons of mass destruction ... So the threat of Saddam Hussein with weapons of mass destruction is real..."
-- Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Jan. 23. 2003
I'm surprised with your selective memory loss you manage to remember your own name.
@disatisfied-3754360
You do know your 2001 quotes through 2003 bush was President.
Who had the option of not going to war no matter what any congressman or woman said to the press. You act as if those congressmen and women were in charge. NO bush was in charge and went to war based on what he put out which was a lie.
And either you don't know how the government works or you SO HATEFUL you just don't give a SH!T. My guess is the latter.
Yep dissatisfied, you have to take these quotes in historical context,,,,,http://www.snopes.com/politics/war/wmdquotes.asp,,,,,,,,, the info these accurate quotes are based on was supplied by intelligence agency's and lack of information at the time. The big "But" is that we went to war without popular support from other friendly country's, and U.N. backing because the info supplied by Pres. Bush's administration in 2001-2004 was inaccurate and wrong, according to U.N. inspections. Bush used innuendo to further his claims, and not truth........ Just like you, a political hack out for your own gain.
Romney has been telling his followers that he would repeal the health care plan on day 1 (not that he really can),
Now he would retain some aspects of it.
Geez, can you take a position and stick with it longer than the next news cycle?
What Willard fails to understand is when he tells people what they want to hear, the people he talked to yesterday are also listening.
I've even seen him change his views during one interview. What is wrong with that man?
What's wrong with Mitt is, as David Plouffe put it, he has no core.
Nothing wrong with Mitt, Obama has no leadership it is a ship without a rudder, I mean what has he done in 4 years, besides put us in debt and call it progress. Now what jobs did Odumbo hold before he became president, I mean what bills or what did he do? Not much of a resume, not much of a leader!
@CrazyHorse-3895595
Your user name speaks for it self. Enough Said
The President said he wouldn't create any new taxes. What do you call Obamacare? Answer: The Supreme Court declared Obamacare is a Tax. Me thinks President speaks with forked tongue.
Its the economy. The President has proven he has no clue how to create jobs and it is time to let him go. America deserves better and a Change is coming in November.
Yes, tax those who wish not or cannot to buy insurance.
Just more biased reporting .
You do not throw away the basic entitlements of a universal coverage by saying you disagree with Obamacare. Keep those points but make it better.
Idiot liberal are forgetting that Obamacare differs very little from Romneycare. Of course Romney will keep the good stuff and dump the bad from the AHA because it's essentially his plan! The problem with liberal progressives is they think they are responsible for inventing healthcare when the only the only thing they are responsible for is self-delusion and bull@!$%#.
The POTUS does not create jobs (federal, state, or private sector). The Congress of the United States is responsible for Ways and Means (Ways to spend and the control of the Means to raise money for the Means). Taxes fall under means. If the most wealthy people in America pay little or no taxes, and Wall Street is so healthy, where are all of those dollars? Ask Mitt Romney! Romney and all of his wealthy friends on Wall Street and Main Street keep their money in offshore bank accounts in the Cayman Islands, Bermuda, and Switzerland. Those banks are classified as "Offshore Tax Havens" or places that tax cheats dump their personal funds to prevent the IRS from taxing the profits from offshore investments. Don't get me wrong, I love it! But the IRS is sort of caught on this one. If the IRS releases Mitt Romney's Tax Returns, then the tax returns for millions of Americans who cheat on their taxes by dumping money into these Offshore Tax Havens will also come into question when Romney claims "Why punish me when all of those other people are doing the same thing that I am doing?". Guess What? Mitt Romney plans to create a new "Mormon Like America" with everyone giving 10% tithes to the religion of their choice, and your religious group will be responsible for your long term care. If you want really good care, become a Mormon. WOW, Christians and Catholics will have to accept the fact that Mary was not really a Virgin, because Mormons are taught this fact at a very early age. I leave you with one true fact: Mitt Romney did not create jobs for Massachusetts, which is the job of State Governors. When Mitt left office, or ducked-out prior to running on his record, Massachusetts ranked 47th for job creation. Maybe Mitt is the man for the job, but I still believe that the Virgin Mary is the Mother of Jesus, while the Mormon's teach that she was sleeping with Joseph, out of wedlock. WOW!
That is false by the way. You should probably do some research before you post.
In fact, a lot of your post is false. You just post your opinion on what is really going on and call it fact.
what biased reporting, how is the left comfortable with this? we virtually live in a communist state, where the media supports one party and disgraces all opposition. I do not understand how the left can be happy with that considering all the values they supposedly represent. it's just plain unpatriotic, anti-democratic, and might as well say un-American. would someone on the left honestly disagree? a fair fight is fine, may the best man win, but no one likes to see one party given preferential treatment or see the brainwashing of the masses by a media with an agenda.
@Terry51025: "If the most wealthy people in America pay little or no taxes". You are a leftist idiot and not well informed, either (which is one of the reasons you are an idiot). Fyi, 49% of the the lower incomes pay NO taxes and 80% of the taxes are paid by the TOP 10% of income earners.
Robme and Ruin are playing political football in hopes that they will not have to admit to anything, and satisfy what is popular with the voters today.
Anthony
Why do you think it's fair for those making the most money to pay a substantially lower percentage of taxes than what the middle class pays?
Man of Steel: Let me enlighten you.....President Obama was NOT the one that made it a tax. The Supreme Court decided to make it a tax. At NO time did President Obama call Obamacare a tax so quit blaming him for something that he had nothing to do with!! Find something else to harp about, okay?
Additionally, it is NOT the president's responsibility to create jobs....that job belongs to Congress.....why don't you complain about that since it is overrun with the "Party of No" Republican congressmen and women who have blocked EVERY bill that our president has put forth that WOULD creat jobs.
Didi, let me enlighten you... a tax by any other name is a tax. Apparently the highest court in the land thinks it is a tax. What are you afraid of - it's a tax; so what. The president sets policy to either provide the environment to creat jobs or to not create jobs. He controlled congress for two years and all he could do is give us Obamacare.
My God... His lack of any plan, his "My principals ARE my plan" approach, his dirty campaign tactics, and his decision that NOT providing his tax returns is a better approach than actually showing transparency to the American Public is absolutely amazing!!!
Why would ANYONE vote for this guy?
And Obuma's refusal to supply his college transcripts and medical records and passports? The ones that show he's a foreign national and so registered as an Indonesian foreign exchange student at Columbia?
Meanwhile it appears Dumbocrat thugs stole Romney's tax returns which Obama and Axelrod will publish in late October.
Obozo is a complete joke... The man with no plan, no budget, no college transcripts, no medical records, no real birth certificate. The man's life is a sham!!!! His whole life!!!
Anjisan1963
You are correct, what kind of idiot would vote for B H Obama? 23 million Americans unemployed (14.7%) and millions more under employed, over $6 Trillion in new national debt in three (3) years, more deployment of USA troops, a weak foreign policy, and his only plan for the future f the USA - more divide and conquer. B H Obama has promise more of the same.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and Robme stands on "principle",,,,LOL. Where has he shown that in policy?
Funny how Romney dodged showing us his taxes...
I still want to see his taxes and I bet you there is something crooked happening there...
As you well know there is no requirement to show your tax returns. It is all a political ploy by the libs and you bit into it. All that is required is born in the usa, 35 yrs of age. The only thing crooked is the perception by OdumbO, dingy harry and botox pelosi.
SRagan: There's nothing in the law that says that a presidential candidate has to show his birth certificate, his college transcripts, his passport, etc. Why would you not expect Romney and Ryan to show these things, but you expect President Obama to show them? What a bunch of hypocrites!!! As for his birth certificate, he DID show his real birth certificate. It's the same form that ALL of us get if we ask our County Office to send us a copy of our birth certificate.
My God... I was a good Reagan/Bush Sr. Republican back in the day, but now??? There's just no way I can get behind this cart of horse manure they're dragging around. It's embarrassing. It's like huge swaths of this country has been taken over by toothless relatives of Honey Boo Boo who get all their information from either Republican Political Attack ads or Jerry Springer (or Rush Limbaugh - same thing).
There's no independent thought. No logic. No reason. No wonder Romney thinks he can come in and just buy this election without providing any credible information on his background or his future plans for this country. Hey... I'm always willing to listen to a man who has a plan. It seems like Willard's only plan is to con the rednecks into putting him into office.
and what is OB's plan? He has been prez for almost 4 years and he still doesn't have a plan
by law he only has to show the two most recent tax returns which he has done. He is not going to show his plan until the debates. That is the same reason OB didn't share any of his plans last Thursday either
Romney = Jello is your name.