POLITICO:
50% of those nonpayers earn too little to pay any taxes, and 50% of them get there through tax deductions and exemptions, according to the Tax Policy Center. Of the latter half, 44% use tax deductions designed to help the elderly, and 30% use tax deductions that aid the working poor or children.

Also driving an increase: tax policies pushed by Republicans. The Earned Income Tax Credit, greatly expanded by Ronald Reagan in the mid-1980s, is designed to give money back to low-income workers to increase their incentive to work. And a 2004 Tax Foundation study found the Bush-era tax cuts erased the income tax for 7.8 million families by lowering rates and doubling the child tax credit.

Even 4,000 people earning more than $1 million managed to not pay income taxes in 2011 because of deductions, according to the Tax Policy Center.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0912/81326.html?hp=t3_3

Ryan, amid video uproar, stresses 'self-sufficiency' just like Welfare Ayn Rand did when she died accepting government programs.

Ryan stressing self sufficiency? When HE took help during his growing up years? And was on the government dole? Really?

Irony overload.

It misses the larger point anyway. Thank you SO much for insulting my husband and I by telling us that since we support our President, we can't possibly understand self sufficiency.

Mittens, I want a personal invitation to one of your events so you can say that to my face. Let's debate that, shall we?

Beverly, excellent point!

“You see, by going after the root causes of poverty and trying to break the cycle of poverty, you need economic growth, you need job creation, you need higher take-home pay.”

And apparently you also need higher taxes on the middle class...

Paul Ryan has been receiving a government paycheck for about 20 years. How many days has Ryan actually worked since the GOP took control of the House in Jan 2011? Three days a week for two weeks, then a week off; roughly nine days per month. Then there's all the long holiday recesses, the summer recess and now they're breaking again until after the election. How dare Paul Ryan speak of "self-sufficiency".

Ryan said, “You see, by going after the root causes of poverty and trying to break the cycle of poverty, you need economic growth, you need job creation, you need higher take-home pay.”

Someone needs to get that message through to Romney. If Willard's business model is based upon off-shoring jobs, where will Americans work and what will we be paid?

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

If the TPGOP SERIOUSLY wants to address the "root causes of poverty," they need to increase taxes on the wealthy, get rid of corporate welfare, provide tax incentives for businesses that hire American workers here in the USA and bring business back here, penalize those who suck money out of the economy and do not reinvest here. As to "higher take home pay" stop trying to remove minimum wage laws and stop forcing the "right to work" nonsense. As we see, the words spoken do NOT match up with the actions of the last 25 years!

"WE have met the enemy and he is us!" Pogo by Walt Kelly

Paul Ryan depended on his father's social security death benefits to pay for his college tuition. Maybe it would have been better for his character to have gone into the military after high school, in order to pay for college when he got out. What a hypocrite.

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

Really, so what will change with this term as opposed to last term exactly? You think that the House will go back to the Dems, that they will keep the Senate? I just see more of the same if Obama wins again, which he just may do.... a very sad day for our country!

nurse-1006475 -- And is Obama doing those things you speak about, cuz I sure don't see it. If he is unable to get anything of value to this country done, is that a failure.

I keep hearing how he is against all those things that Mitt is for, however we EXPECT a president to actually get stuff done, and I'm not talking about improving his golf game.

So Mitt's family was on welfare and Ryan accepted social security.

This is the same hypocrisy the Republican governors displayed. No stimulus. In front of the cameras.

Off camera? President Obama, my state needs stimulus money.

You seriously cannot make this stuff up.

sirie, get it straight. The GOP can't get the job done.

I just see more of the same if Obama wins again

You mean more job growth, a stronger stock market, and more consumer optimism than in 2008? And you think that is a bad thing? I bet you wonder why the GOP is spiraling the drain right now, too, right?

President Obama! He is obviously the choice of rational people!

"Paul Ryan spoke of the need to encourage "self-sufficiency" amid an uproar over Mitt Romney's recently-surfaced comments about voter's dependency on government."

He should give that speech in the 9 red states that are in the top 10 welfare states, give those lazy loafers on the goverment dole, your little pep talk, they need it.

Sirie,

Without re-election to worry about, Obama will be able to stand stronger against the do-nothings in the House if they hold that chamber.

Further, his policies right now have managed to bring about growth for 30 months. The economy will begin faster growth as soon as the housing market finishes dispersing the excess inventory, which will begin to happen in February 2013 no matter who gets elected. Housing prices will increase dramatically at that point and the increase in value will lead to an increase in commerce and construction jobs.

This would have probably happened sooner had the GOP in the house not hindered it with all their might. You can only hold back economic changes for so long. Things will change soon.

Mitt Romney represents a tiny fraction of the population and he he is contemptuous of the rest of us, regardless of political persuasion.

George Stephanopoulos: "Is $100,000.00 middle income?"

Mitt Romney: "No, middle income is $200,000.00 to $250,000.00 and less."

-ABC's Good Morning America, September 14, 2012

"I like those fancy raincoats you bought. Really sprung for the big bucks" —Mitt Romney, making fun of fans wearing plastic ponchos during a visit to the site of the Daytona 500 Nascar race in Florida, Feb. 26, 2012

Sailcat, even I can get unemployment under 8%. In fact, I could get unemployment below 1 %.

It is all about how many $$'s to spend on what I could get done.

So if you think that our job growth is positive, good for you. However, it was less than 100,000 new jobs last month, and with 100,000 new people entering the job market, that makes for job losses...

If you believe that this economy and country are heading in the right direction, let me know what meds your doctor has you on, cuz he needs to spread the love!

Why do I have visions of Mitt and Paul doing a little dance and singing "if I only had a brain?"

Has ANY party ever put up two such imbeciles before?

Obama/Biden 2012

C McCoy -- give me a break, you really think that if the Republicans hold the house it will get any better? I for one do not, they will only make things more difficult.

Ryan stressing self sufficiency?

Ok.......Does this include big oil companies, WS, wealthy americans depending/hanging/hoping on govt tax loopholes/breaks/cuts whereby some don't even pay income taxes? OH lest I forget, they're job garnishers creators.

It becomes a "crime" when the elderly, the poor or those who lost their jobs because of the financial crimes/greed committed on WS and companies engaging in "Vulture Capitalism" like Bain Capital shipping jobs overseas do the same. Govt. should do for the people only what they can't do by themselves...... I concur.

Seeking @ 1.19

you answered your own question, just don't think that you know that you did... lol!!

Has ANY party ever put up two such imbeciles before?

Obama/Biden 2012

sirie - I know exactly what I did and so does anyone else who read the comment I posted - which was clearly about Romney/Ryan. The fact that your reading comprehension is sub-par is not a surprise. I've read your posts and you don't seem to truly comprehend much!

Obama/Biden 2012

Job creation? We need EDUCATION and TRAINING!

Mitt Romney's solution is to fill 1.25 million high skilled jobs with immigrant labor.

This is straight from the Mitt Romney website full pdf. 'Nuf said

From Mitt Romney's plan "Believe in America"

Raise Visa Caps for Highly Skilled Workers

A skills gap of that magnitude suppresses the productivity of our businesses and slows the overall economy. Highly educated immigrants would help fill that gap and get our economy rolling again. Welcoming a wider pool of highly educated immigrants would lead to more start-ups, more innovation, and more jobs. Each of these workers would in turn be consumers in local economies, creating new demand for other American products and services. Thus, for every foreign worker employed in this way, new job opportunities also arise for those who are currently unemployed.

As president, a first step that Mitt Romney will take along these lines is to raise the ceiling on the number of visas issued to holders of advanced degrees in math, science, and engineering who have job offers in those fields from U.S. companies. These workers would not displace unemployed Americans. Rather, they would fill high-skill job openings for which there is currently an acute shortage of labor. Even in this tough unemployment climate, as of this past spring nearly 1.25 million high-skill jobs remained unfilled.

As president, Mitt Romney will also work to establish a policy that staples a green card to the diploma of every eligible student visa holder who graduates from one of our universities with an advanced degree in math, science, or engineering. These graduates are highly skilled, motivated, English-speaking, and integrated into their American communities. Permanent residency would offer them the certainty required to start businesses and drive American innovation. As with the highly skilled visa holders, these new Americans would generate economic ripples that redounded to the benefit of all.

Seeking - yeah, I know what you wrote, just about placement of words that caught my funny bone...

And, if you are honest and read my posts, I totally think that neither party has a great candidate, let alone a "good" candidate, they both suck! At least if Mitt wins, things will get done, unlike what is going on now.

I think self-sufficiency is a very good message, and it's one I'd like to see both parties embrace. There is nothing wrong with trying to get people off the government dole - which is the root of what they are saying.

Amen Ron, someone in here that actually uses their brain for something other than keeping their ears from colliding

So, Ryan's response is to pull out Ayn Rand?

Where have I heard this before?

Paging the Conference of Bishops and the Nuns on the Bus.

Or have we already forgotten how they said that Ryan's Randian "self-sufficiency" budget

"fails a basic moral test"

http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=14247

But hey, doesn't everyone know the conservative theme song --

What's morality got to do, got to do with it?

What's morality but a liberal's delusion?

Sing it, boys. And remember, God is always listening.

Can any of the Dem's in this forum admit that they are disappointed in Obama?

...

...

...

anyone?

sirie - so you're going to award the Republicans for blocking everything the President has tried to do to improve the economy? That hardly seems like a smart thing to do. It actually seems to encourage the opposing party to obstruct the President in every way possible.

No, actually things will get done with President Obama during a 2nd term because he will not be too concerned with what the obstructionists are doing. That's the nice thing about a 2nd term.

Romney on the other hand - really doens't give a damn about anything or anyone - just wants to win to say he did.

Am I disappointed in our President? No. I'm disappointed that Republicans put their party above our country and kept us from recovering as quickly as we should. And, I don't plan to award politicians I consider treasonous.

Obama/Biden 2012

Ron-1861300 - how about the giant oil companies, WS, wealthy americans who crave and live on tax cuts/breaks/loopholes. What do we call that kind of dependence? I sure know those "stuff" ain't free.

At least if Mitt wins, things will get done,

Oh things will get done. Things that have a long history of recorded failure; unless of course you call the elimination of the middle class and soaring national debt a success. Of course, it's "all about the economy" until GOP trickle-down policies get called out for the bull@!$%# that they are.

In fact, I could get unemployment below 1 %.

Really? Since that is something no president has ever done, Republican or Democrat, I have to call bull@!$%# on that remark, Sirie. Your comments generally fall under that general category, but I have rarely seen such a ridiculous and childish claim, even from you. I suppose in your imagination you are smart and handsome, too, right?

Xabre, site your sources... what things that have a history, he hasn't been elected....

Seeking - I don't agree with the fillabusters going on, by all means. I'm just stating a fact.

Sailcat - I didn't even call Sirie on the ridiculousness of that statement. As we all know, no one has had our unemployment under 1%. What an absurd comment. And, clearly Romney wouldn't know how to get it lower than it is today - unless he starts one of the two wars he's talking about. That's the Republican way - send everyone ELSE's children and loved ones off to die - just as long as none of your own have to serve and as long as you keep Haliburton happy!

Sirie - yet you're willing to reward those politicians who have obstructed the progress of our country.

Obama/Biden 2012

Sailcat - If the president hired every single person on unemployment (a super stimulus if you will) , that would get rid of the unemployment problem... like I said, it is all about the $$'s used to do so. Having everyone that is unemployed working for the US of A doesn't make any sense, but neither does a lot of what government does.

just24

Ron-1861300 - how about the giant oil companies, WS, wealthy americans who crave and live on tax cuts/breaks/loopholes. What do we call that kind of dependence? I sure know those "stuff" ain't free.

Personally, I like the recommendations from the presidents committee - which is to basically do away with almost all deductions and go with a simplified tax code.

Republicans don't believe in a safety net, they keep trying to dismantle it.

Seeking --

Am I disappointed in our President? No. I'm disappointed that Republicans put their party above our country blah blah blah

You just proved that no matter what the president does, you will keep drinking the koolaid. what a lemming...

Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL

'self-sufficiency'

Code word for too bad you're not a 1 per-center!

Right. Because the 99% are doing SO great under Obama!

There's 23 million people who'd just like to be a part of the 99%!

Self sufficiency is more proof that Ryan and the House Republicans believe everyone receiving Social Security and Medicare is the problem.

Notice that Romney says he does not care about the millions of Americans who barely get by on the Social Security and Medicare that they paid for during their careers.

Notice that Romney says he does not care about the millions of students who receive government loans to pay to become Doctors and business leaders of tomorrow.

Notice that Romney says he does not care about millions of veterans and other government workers because people should be self sufficient and not rely on the government to protect them.

Ron-1861300- I like it too. But GOP will not vote for the recommendations from the presidents committee because it raises taxes. Ryan voted against it. I've never seen where when you keep cutting taxes grow an economy......never. or where the privileged do well and some how the crumbs from tables grow an economy.

And yet he will still get 85% of the elderly vote, I doubt even calling them lazy moochers will offend them enough to vote for reason and common sense instead.

@newdayDAWNING...RETURNED it would be a lot easier to agree with you if you used proper English. It is NOT "Thank you SO much for insulting my husband and I", it is "my husband and me"! Think about it, would you ever say "Thank you so much for insulting I"?

Sailcat - If the president hired every single person...

Oh, good lord. Give it up, Sirie. You have just embarrassed yourself once again. Nothing you say is going to make it better...in fact, you'll just say something even stupider and make it worse. Face it: you lack the intellectual horsepower to have a coherent conversation.

Ryan, amid video uproar, stresses 'self-sufficiency'

didn't Ryan milk the system? didn't he suck the gov boob?

Class Warfare.

Ok folks, here's the deal and let's not suger-coat it ok?

When Romney and Ryan talk about those folks on entitlement programs they aren't talking about Grandma and Grandpa and the Medicare (well, they are, but that's another subject) and they aren't talking about millionaires and their tax breaks. And when they talk about 47% of Americans not paying paying taxes they aren't talking about the 1%.

That is a coded message. The audience knew what Romney was saying and he said it pretty clearly.

The no-sugar added version of what he said is, "47% of the voters are going to support the President no matter what because they are lazy, black, welfare recipients who think they are victims and are entitled to have the government take care of them. They are going to vote for their welfare President in order to insure they will continue to get their government handouts. They don't want to take personal responsibility for their own poor decisions and laziness."

Well, I'm firmly among that 47% of Americans who proudly supports the President and Mr. Romney's coded message certainly doesn't describe me. I'm firmly in the middle-class. I'm white. I've been working for 50 years and have paid into Social Security all my working life. It's not an entitlement, I've earned it. I've never been on welfare and no one in my family has ever received any form of public assistance. I pay my taxes, 34% thank you, not 15%.

Class Warfare? I'd say Romney just declared war on you and me.

Obama/Biden 2012

Bebop Bob

@newdayDAWNING...RETURNED it would be a lot easier to agree with you if you used proper English. It is NOT "Thank you SO much for insulting my husband and I", it is "my husband and me"! Think about it, would you ever say "Thank you so much for insulting I"?

says the person who does not know when to use a comma, and when to use a period

This stinking Lyin Ryan, if you wanted the American People to be self sufficient, they why the hell did you vote AGAINST every freaking jobs bill for the past 3-1/2 years!

Republicans did everything in their power to stall the United States Recovery because they thought it would be politically beneficial FOR THEM.

That didn't work, so now somehow it's OUR fault.

Obama/Biden 2012

It just sucks that Republicans are the troublemakers who cause all kinds of bad things to happen to good people, then Republicans are ALWAYS trying to find someone else to blame for the rotten things Republican Politicians and their supporters do to everybody else.

I'm am sick and tired of wrongheaded Republicans who are incapable of making any good decisions so they're always looking for someone else to blame, and incapable of accepting responsibility for their mistakes, and then they're just making one big blunder after another and another!!!

Republicans DO NOT deserve the White House, they DO NOT deserve to even work on behalf of the American People because for the past 3-1/2 years and 8 years before that, all Republicans have done is betrayed our TRUST!

Republicans have been working against the American People for 3-1/2 solid years, they created the 2nd Great Depression in the first place and then refused to lift even their baby finger to get us out of it, so now it's all "our fault".

Republicans sicken me!

Obama/Biden 2012

Paul Ryan is NOT sticking that close with Mitt Romney. He is trying to be Senator for Wisconsin.

He is just putting a FRONT

http://www.ryanforcongress.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=31027&mname=Article

TO: nurse-1006475 who wrote:

"If the TPGOP SERIOUSLY wants to address the "root causes of poverty," they need to increase taxes on the wealthy, get rid of corporate welfare, provide tax incentives for businesses that hire American workers here in the USA and bring business back here, penalize those who suck money out of the economy and do not reinvest here. As to "higher take home pay" stop trying to remove minimum wage laws and stop forcing the "right to work" nonsense. As we see, the words spoken do NOT match up with the actions of the last 25 years!..."

VERY well said!

Right on!!!

Obama/Biden 2012

• Yeah, good old Lyan Ryan : let's hear the latest batch of lies and twisting of the facts, shall we?
• Mitt Robmey isn't going to be able to weasel his way out of this one!!!

@sirie

Can any of the Dem's in this forum admit that they are disappointed in Obama?

Why would we admit to something that is not true? In the face of blistering opposition from an entrenched elite, Obama has gotten more done than most two-term Presidents ever dream of, in ONE TERM.

Can you admit that you are just trying to create a phony narrative, and that your candidate has nothing to offer except more of the same bull@!$%# that doesn't work??????

The US isn't supposed to be a Nanny State. Self sufficiency is a noble thing that politicians just dilute with promises of "we'll get that for you". Yes, a safety net is a good thing but as I believe President Clinton noted once, that welfare is not supposed to be a lifestyle, nor a generational lifestyle. As Paul Ryan noted, we need to treat the problem not the symptoms. If we don't give the people the basic skills to go out and get a job, they won't. If the government doesn't demand people try to work (and reform the monitoring process to prove they are trying to get work) then some people won't. It's really that simple.

Face the facts, that top 1% really will be fine regardless of what the rest of us face. The middle class is ripe for distruction by the hands of both parties. No national budget, no fiscal control or resposibility to the people, massive deficits, government determining who gets aid (deciding winners), etc. is killing the middle class. You don't need to be a party hack to realize that. Both parties screwed up banking laws- which allowed for banking fraud, subprime mortgages, and the mortgage bubble. Both parties are influenced by lobbiests and both pay them off with favorable regulations, loopholes, cabinet positions, sweet deals, access to the oval office, etc. Neither party is innocent.

Most of what's left of the middle class is just trying to live- independently of all of the government regulation that keeps smashing into us. Higher taxes- yay. Higher commodity costs- yay. Higher fuel costs- yay. Higher healthcare costs- yay. Higher education costs- yay. You can say it's so-and-so's fault, but you'd be a fool to do so- they both played big roles. Yep, Bush added big debt and wars. Yep, Obama doubled down on debt and we've still got little to show for it but a destabolized dollar. No magic bullet here folks- it's all going to fall on our shoulders for their foolishness.

I guess everyone thinks that Mitt will go back to Bush's policies, huh?

fact of the matter is.... Obama is the one using Bush policies.

JoeNY,

Excellent post! (even if it's a bit depressing)

Until we admit what the problems are, and start honestly evaluating ideas (as opposed to blindly repeating "our parties" mantras), things are not likely to improve. In fact, they will likely continue to get worse until we're the next Greece.

"You must range free". "Quit looking for a fence to protect you". "Get out among us and show us what you've got". "Cost of tunneling under that fence is killing us"; said the Badger to the Chickens.

TO: sirie who wrote:

"I guess everyone thinks that Mitt will go back to Bush's policies, huh?..."

Well, Romney has chosen all of Bush's old Cabinet Members and all of Bush's support staff to work with Romney, so yes, I guess everyone DOES already know that Mitt is running back to Bush's policies.

Obama/Biden 2012

I didn't know Romney chose his cabinet members already, go figure!

What I see as the main problem with this country is that even with the greatest of ambition to change the way things are in Washington, once a candidate gets the position, he finds out that he will not get any support unless he maintains the status quo, you rub my back, i'll rub yours.

The fix for that is the fix for our country....

sirie - calling me a lemming because I'm not stupid and won't support a man who cares nothing for our country - only about winning - says everything about you. You don't put the Republicans down for their hand in this mess and you call me a lemming? Can you possibly spell HYPOCRITE?

Obama/Biden 2012

Why do I keep hearing the old Monty Python song about "Dennis Moore" running through my head?

"Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore,

With his band of men.

Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore,

Riding through the glen.

Takes from the poor and gives to the rich

Stupid B*tch!"

Something like that....you could just substitute "Romneyhood" for Dennis Moore and it works just fine.

Obama/Biden 2012

Jody, Iowa: "Paul Ryan has been receiving a government paycheck for about 20 years. How many days has Ryan actually worked since the GOP took control of the House in Jan 2011? Three days a week for two weeks, then a week off; roughly nine days per month. Then there's all the long holiday recesses, the summer recess and now they're breaking again until after the election. How dare Paul Ryan speak of "self-sufficiency"."

Pray tell exactly job (other than GOVERNMENT) has the "king" had since he left college, that was paid for as a foreigner by us taxpayers. Careful what you say, it has a tendency to come back and haunt you. Your hatred is palpable.

TO: sirie who wrote:

"I didn't know Romney chose his cabinet members already, go figure!"

Did you know he's running for president?

Scheesch!

Obama/Biden 2012

TO: sirie who wrote:

"... once a candidate gets the position, he finds out that he will not get any support unless he maintains the status quo, you rub my back, i'll rub yours. The fix for that is the fix for our country..."

Correct! So what we've decided to do is to vote a straight Democrat ticket this November so that President Obama will have everyone he needs to get the job done.

Obama/Biden 2012

The rich should not be dependent on our government for any more tax cuts. In fact, they should not be dependent on former Pres. Bush's tax cuts, so let them expire. Right, Mitt?

For 30 years, the rich have depended on Republican Presidents to give them more tax cuts. Every recession was accompanied by cries from Republicans of "we can fix this economy by giving the rich more tax cuts". It is way past time to end the rich's dependence on our government for more tax cuts.

The top 1% have increased their share of our nation's annual income from 10% in 1980 to 24% today. And the other 99%'s share has decreased by 14%.

The rich don't need any more help Mitt.

Wow. Dottie'sgirl what possible "king" could you be talking about?

sirie - Even I can get unemployment under 8%. In fact, I could get unemployment below 1 %.

It is all about how many $$'s to spend on what I could get done.

YES! Sirie finally gets it!

And since the GOP has refused to spend the money necessary to get the unemployment rate down, it's still high.

Basic arithmetic. GOOD FOR YOU!

From MSNBC today:

Not everyone who pays no federal income tax is in the lower income brackets. A separate report released last spring by the Internal Revenue Service found more than 35,000 people who made more than $200,000 in 2009 also managed to zero out their tax bills.

As well as 60% of American corporations.

Ryan says he wants more self sufficency. Here is a simple thing that would provide jobs for millions:

Force our public owned corporations to pay our minimum wages. That would show a little regard for workers and bring back opportunities fast.

When the CEO of disney made 600 million in salary and God knows what in bonuses he had children working in Haiti for 12 cents and hour. This is the cold blooded evil that is destroying America. I will believe you seek opportunity for our vpeople when you push for somthing like the above.

You and Romney both would try to bomb Russia before you would do anything for the average man. The capital gains tax where most giant money is made is only 15%. It should be doubled, but both of the rayn and want to eliminate that tax. Insane, unless you are a wall street billionaire.

I could list ten or more obvious things that would hellp our people greatley; But I will give just one more big one. All government guaranteed loans should be made directly for a small interest. This would cut house notes in half or more, reduce rentals and leave trillions in the hands of our people instead of thieving banks. Why should anyone pay a bank 600k for a 200k house when the tax payers nack the loan.

These piteful two that claim they want to serve the people are nothing but self servers. The few things I mention are the things that men of vision woul be planning. But, these money worshipers would see us in cahos before they would support significant change.

Shaack

The rich should not be dependent on our government for any more tax cuts.

You would say that even though the CBO says, take away the tax cuts, and lose over 700,000 jobs?

That's 700,000 people needing unemployment for two years. That is 700,000 people not paying into the Federal treasury for on budget revenue, Plus social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

Sound like you thought things through to your wallet and no further.

Newday, exactly! Ryan used Social Security benefits to help pay his way through college!!!! He, a very able-bodied young man, and when many that age serve in the military, yet he begrudges those who work their way through college and get college tuition exemptions on federal taxes. Hypocrite overload!!!

Dotties girl

Jody, Iowa: "Paul Ryan has been receiving a government paycheck for about 20 years. How many days has Ryan actually worked since the GOP took control of the House in Jan 2011? Three days a week for two weeks, then a week off; roughly nine days per month. Then there's all the long holiday recesses, the summer recess and now they're breaking again until after the election. How dare Paul Ryan speak of "self-sufficiency"."

Paul Ryan went straight from college to working as a Congressional intern. he never, ever had a real job in the real world. and that was after receiving a college education paid for by his late father's Social Security benefit

Pray tell exactly job (other than GOVERNMENT) has the "king" had since he left college, that was paid for as a foreigner by us taxpayers.

are you truly incapable of using the search engine on your computer? the President worked as a researcher for a global business consulting firm, as director of a church-owned community development group, worked as a lawyer and taught law school. and he paid for it with student loans- money that he as a US citizen was entitled to borrow and which he has paid back in full. of course, the things you are so clumsily trying to imply have been thoroughly debunked by every fact-check organization around. but we know how TeaPublicans are so proud to be uninterested in the facts, so it's no surprise you are relying on lies. but if you are depending for your 'news' on an info-tainment channel like Fox, actual facts are guaranteed to make up less than 20% of your knowledge

Careful what you say, it has a tendency to come back and haunt you. Your hatred is palpable.

uh- pot, meet kettle

your ignorance of the real world outside of the false-shelter of the right wing pundits is glaringly obvious

Self sufficiency... great concept!

But a Romney and Ryan plan for self sufficiency pulls the rug out from under the unfortunate while they yell at them to "get up!"

All the while, the ones they tout as most capable and already proficient at "self-sufficiency" get more tax payer help we cannot afford.

Whether you or they admit it or not... although Romney pretty much did... the GOP tax scheme is less about providing help and more about creating a reward/penalty system. The message is clear... if you are poor, we will penalize you for your laziness with less help... if you are rich and successful, we'll reward your hard work with more riches.

And many will not understand what's wrong with this.

DB Akron

Shaack

"The rich should not be dependent on our government for any more tax cuts."

You would say that even though the CBO says, take away the tax cuts, and lose over 700,000 jobs?

The CBO analysis you cite is for the complete Bush tax cut set. The CBO also said:

"Tax Cuts Were Least Effective Stimulus in Recovery Act"

So there's a real question about "worth what paid for" and whether the tax cut "distribution" was anywhere near optimal.

The CBO basically said that we should have spent the money on projects or infrastructure, which provide a bigger bang for the buck.

And besides, tax cuts at the top do nothing but encourage corporate officers to make big paydays for their upper crust instead of reinvesting that money into new equipment or JOBS.

During this recession, the Fortune 500 companies made record profits.

They also spent record lows on expansion or jobs.

They also paid their executives record salaries and bonuses in this same time-frame (if you were wondering where the record profits went)... all taxed at the lowest tax rates in recent history.

During this recession, off-shore accounts have seen record increases and now are estimated by some to be at $100 Trillion... a one hundred fold increase.

All while the rich got richer and the middle class lost 40% of their net worth.

So you tell me... more tax cuts at the top? Or a return to Clinton tax levels?

More tax cuts at the top would kill even more jobs and cause even more money to be removed from our economy... but that's the real point anyway, right?

You would say that even though the CBO says, take away the tax cuts, and lose over 700,000 jobs?

Historically, the American economy has done better under high federal income tax rates for the wealthy. While it is possible that some jobs might be lost, they would be replaced by other, better jobs.

Face it, DB...'trickle down' is nothing but a trick on the middle class. Look at the big picture: corporate America has sent our jobs overseas to take advantage of lower payroll costs and huge tax breaks. In the end, that will spell the ruination of our economy. We have to be a country that produces something; we have to have jobs for our citizens. Otherwise, we WILL all end up on welfare.

But make no mistake about who the welfare-creators are. Make no mistake about who the food-stamp proponents are. They are American businesses (like WalMart) that move into a community and drive other companies out. After they have eliminated the competition, they can charge whatever they like. When they are the only employer left in town, they can pay whatever wages they like. WalMart has created a family of billionaires and a vast network of underpaid serfs who need government assistance to eat.

Why does the average CEO need to earn 250 times what his average employee makes? Why does he need to starve the employees so he can take home a cool $10 million a year?

Easy: it's greed. Pure and simple, greed. The 'Let Them Eat Cake' set might want to remember how it all ended for the French aristocracy in 1789.

Romney is going down.

Pray tell exactly job (other than GOVERNMENT) has the "king" had since he left college, that was paid for as a foreigner by us taxpayers.

OK, now I'm angry. Barack Obama is not a foreigner. He was born in Hawaii, a U.S. state, and he is and has always been an American citizen.

I could not be more proud that of all the nations on earth, it was our country that produced so fine a man.

Taxpayers don't pay for poor students to attend private American universities. Maybe you would know that if you had earned a higher education. Ivy League schools provide tuition assistance for 60% of their students, on average. That money comes from donations to the schools and endowments, not from taxpayers.

Careful what you say, it has a tendency to come back and haunt you. Your hatred is palpable.

Right back atcha. Get past the pigmentation, Dotties girl. We are all the same.

This Nation needs big time healing after President Obama vacates the White House.

Well that leaves Mitt out being he wrote off ALL who vote for the other guy. I guess when Mitt's elected all of us who did vote for Obama will be bussed to Mexico.

Mitt Romney will lose and all that cash spent on trying to elect him will be wasted. I am sure glad those who are willing to donate stupid amounts of money will lose it soon enough. :)

I just have to interject:

Two expressions used only by the people they were intended to descibe:

"Sheeple"

"Drinking the koolaid"

That is all... Continue...

Gary Johnson. You all are part of the problem instead of the solution. Thanks for your partison bickering and for being solely responsible for the demise of the country. I'm voting for Gary Johnson and I feel good knowing my vote was for the change we need, not more of the same crap. Gary Johnson 2012!

Mitt Romney will lose and all that cash spent on trying to elect him will be wasted. I am sure glad those who are willing to donate stupid amounts of money will lose it soon enough. :)

Make no mistake, we are in a dangerous situation here. Those Republican fatcats want a return on their investment. The GOP fights dirty and they will not go down like gentlemen. It could get very ugly, very soon.

So strap on, Americans, and prepare to fight it out to save our democracy.

VOTE OBAMA/BIDEN

I am wonderong just what happens then if we are to be taking care of our selves then.,.,then when does the members of congress start doing the same thing ? Will the SS money continue to be taken from our checks ? If so..are we to rely on wall street for benefits from that money / We should all be asking the question then of how that money will be protected ? I do not trust our government and wall streeet even less to be good with our money...so far no one in congress has done well with it...and they are all over paid for doing nothing.

If you want to increase upward mobility, you need a stronger social safety net. The US has the lowest upward mobility in the G8 and is the only one without universal heathcare.

In Canada, there is a robust social safety net. Family net worth is higher even though taxes are higher. Health care outcomes are better on average. Much less malpractice. $100 a month per child from the feds. The federally operated Business development bank helps new and established busuness grow and compete in the world market. Abuse of the welfare system is only 3%. This is a small price to pay given the benefits across the spectrum.

In 2010 Bloomberg reported the number of Canadian millonaires at 162,143 controling 20% of the wealth of the country. This rates Canada 11th in the world for number of millionaires with a population of only 33.7 million. US millionaires control 56% of the country's wealth.

Try to unbias yourselves and tell me which system is better for non millionaires.

What so many of seem to be assuming is that all of these people stay on welfare or foodstamps indefinitely and aren't using the programs as safety nets as intended. Well, data disagrees with you. Most people on foodstamps use them for less than a year. And, remember the welfare reform act? Well that sets federal time limits on receipt of federal cash benefits to 60 months. The vast majority of cases that leave TANF before their time limits expire. They didn't stay on it until they were forced out by time limits. These statistics seem to be largely ignored in this debate. It is easy for so many to fall into their "welfare queen" mentality that everyone is lazy and lives off the government, but that is not supported by actual facts. These programs are being used as the safety nets for which they were intended. It also blows my mind that so many of you with these attitudes yell about the jobless rate, but then also scream about those same unemployed people seeking out assistance. and hopefully you realize, as has been demonstrated continously the last couple of days, the majority of folks who are not paying federal income tax are not lazy, non-working people. Nearly two-thirds are working and making between $30,000 and millions of dollars a year! Another third are retired folks and the rest are working folks making under $30,000.

http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/data-reports/annualreport8/chapter01/chap01.htm

http://feedingamerica.org/how-we-fight-hunger/programs-and-services/public-assistance-programs/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program/snap-myths-realities.aspx

So, the man who has depended on government for every paycheck he's ever received is now lecturing us on self-sufficiency? That's rich....

DB Akron The 700,000 job loss you cite applies to the future economy if ALL Bush era tax cuts are rescinded.

I am clearly speaking about rescinding all the Bush tax cuts for the rich. Presently, the rich are sitting on a vast sum of wealth (top 1% own 42% of all wealth in America). They are waiting for the economy to improve before they increase their investing. They are essentially a drag on our economic growth. Raising taxes on them will have little effect on our economic growth since they are not presently circulating this money in the economy (investment in 0% 10 year T-bills is great example of how little return they are willing to accept for use of their excess wealth).

Meanwhile, the middle class remains buried in debt and their pay raises barely keep up with the inflation rate, thus they have to reduce their spending to pay down debt.

So. rescinding all Bush era tax cuts for the rich will increase government revenues. These increased revenues would reduce the budget deficit and we would therefore have to borrow less from the rich due to the increased tax revenue we would collect from them.

We could even help the economy grow faster by instead using this increased tax revenue to fund needed infrastructure. The resulting growth will move the economy into higher employment, higher investment situation. The sooner we get out of our economic doldrums, the sooner interest rates can be raised thus helping retirees, savers, and of course all those rich people that have little to profitably invest their money in right now.

LMarcT

Thanks for correcting DBAkron's erroneous information. I also enjoyed the FACTUAL information you posted. It's amazing how Romney/Republican apologists try to twist every new report for their own purposes.

In my opinion, in a democracy, the greatest enemy we face is a misinformed electorate.

FIRE THE JOB CREATORS! THEY ARE NOT DOING THEIR JOBS!

Take BACK the TRILLIONS we gave them and give it to the REAL job creators - the MIDDLE CLASS!

And NO! I have NEVER, EVER, EVER gotten a job from a RICH GUY! They have ALL been driven by MIDDLE CLASS PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF.

I have created MORE JOBS THAN MITT ROMNEY!

Well played, Layton!

Layton, good point! Seems Romney and Ryan keep stepping in it. What a pair.

The Wisconsin congressman, instead, launched into a more detailed defense of the social safety net and how he and Romney think it is important to move voters off of those programs, and guard against dependence on the government.

What he could not say is, he and Romney WILL move you off those programs, and you will no longer have the safety net.

Yeah, they believe in a safety net, that's why they are always trying to turn these programs into vouchers, right?

Liberals: My Goodness!! How dare a politician not tell us that all we have to do is trade our votes for meager handouts? We aren't victims... just more "entitled" than everyone who works.... "entitled" to their earnings.

I actually agree with the vast majority of what Paul Ryan said there. We do need a safety net to provide a minimum level of dignity for the most vulnerable among us. We do need a welfare system that helps people return to work and to fulfill their aspirations and whose success is measured in rebounds rather than in the number of people who remain trapped in it. We do need to address the root causes of poverty. I think there's common ground here for Republicans, Democrats, and Independents.

The problem is that I see no connection between these goals and Ryan's, Romney's, or the Republican party's policies. I don't see how cutting taxes to make the rich even richer addresses the root cause of poverty or helps anybody other than those who are already well enough off to take care of themselves. I don't see how their proposals are going to help people who have been harmed by the job market get back on their feet.

pjam, do you read?????? why don't you wander on down to Florida and tell all of those seniors living on their Social Security that their "handout" needs to end because Ryan thinks they should be self-sufficient now.

Romney and Ryan,

Blaming the poor for our problems. They are certainly the ones who drove this economy into recession.

Rich folks, if you really want to know what put our economy into recession, just look in the mirror. Too much wealth looking for investments where there weren't any, creating the housing bubble. The Republicans can certainly say "we built that" when talking about the recession.

The big reason for outrageous unemployment is outsourcing and everyone knows it. If we forced our public owned corporations to pay our minimum wages we would see many jobs return fast.

Our big banks with trillions in assets have been getting billions in 0% loans. They are using our own money to drive up the price of gas and other essentials. This is ungodly and if we had real statesmen and servers of the nation , this would be illegal now. Our real welfare is for the big rich.

In the one year I know about the Saudi royal family made 250 billion on our rigged markets while 401ks were tanking. The Emir of Kuwait has several hundred billion in that same market. We have spent precious lives and billions defending these two absolute monarchies that run their countries like company stores. Both these countries have close ties with our big oil companies the bush family and Halaburton. Saddam was our man until he crossed the wrong bridge. My point is a simple one; We are the cash cow for big money, corporate power and banking. We defend their interest all over the world.

Any politician with vision would fight to make all guaranteed loans directly for a small interest. This would cut house not by half or more and leave trillions in the hands of our people. I repeat why should anyone pay a bank 600k for a 200k house when the tax payer backs the loan. Imagine how doing this one simple and fair thing would stimulate the economy and give people hope. Where are our statesmen that really care about the long range health of our nation? We don't need someone to tells that we need more jobs. WE need someone who would fight for the simple and fair things that would transform our economy and lift up our people.

Almost all our major problems have fairly obvious solutions. What we don't have is leadership with the will to make real and necessary changes. If we allow America to be destroyed by idoloytrus greed and evil, by having more interest in their money pie than our future, that will go down as one of the stupidest and most unnecessary falls in history.. Too many at the top have lost the value of life and progress over a vault full of money.Greed is a giant green monster that is never satisfied. It will devour every thing in front of it and defaecate on all behind. We have a limited time to change or we will destroy everything worth talking about.

Frank

The outsourcing is the result of taxing, regulating, benefits, and wages being severely out of balance as compared to the rest of the world.

Because we pay premium amounts for the big 4 costs, and struggle to compete against the imports, and and think that we can compete on their turf, when we also have to pay the same freight to ship to their countries and then pay exorbitant tariffs to get the products into the countries.

This forces US manufacturers to build production facilities in those countries. Then after they get the facilities going over there some new costly regulation is passed, or tax deduction eliminated, or wages and benefits are increases again, so they say, let's stop being stupid and close the US production and stop losing so much money.

Case in Point. GM rarely makes a profit in North America. Most of the profit is made in other countries.

BTW job loses from outsourcing is only 2 - 2.5% of all jobs. Even with the outsourcing being stopped we still would be about 6%+ in unemployment. The real problem is government policies.

DB, actually, the biggest cause of the outsourcing to foreign countries is simply greed--greed big enough to take advantage of the pitiful situations in those third-world and even communist countries in EXTREMELY low wages to workers there, greed big enough to deny their own countrymen and women in the US wages that will cover the very high cost of living in America. Housing (shelter), food, transportation to get to work and our world-record-cost healthcare are many, many times more costly in the USA than in those foreign countries (if they even have them) and are essential to life. There are few companies/industries left that are unionized and demand way more in wages and benefits than the cost of living requires in the USA. Unions are MOSTLY only in government now.

If only once, small business got together and held a moratorium on filing their 941s and thereby not remitting to the Feds the income tax withheld from their tax paying employees. There would be no money to feed the 47% , a significant portion of whom are leeches.

Many of the 47%ers would have to get off their fat a**s and find work (or riot and loot because we stopped paying them of - see Greece) Their is an abundance of minimum wage jobs out there, but many high school drop outs w/o training feel that they are worthy of something better and don't take them.

Americans !! Think about what would happen if small businesses held back on paying income tax withheld to the government for one month. It would change the election. It would suddenly sink into peoples heads that 53% cannot support 47% and once that line has crossed the 50% marker YOU ARE STUCK.

Oh, the 47% would scream but this is our country, the USA. Not the USA of leeches. Greece went down that road and allowed it to happen. We are only 3 points away. Get out the Raid and kill the roaches.

Self Sufficient?? SELF SUFFICIENT!!?? Mitt finds self sufficiency in a $$70,000.00$$ Horse deduction ie:not paying tax. More money deducting tax for his Horse then a majority of American Workers make in gross income in a year! Damn those 47% for not "Ponying Up" and taking deductions on their meager wages.

kimb: You are a typical Lib, exaggerating and lying to try to prove a point. The topic is not relevant to your comment -- the ethics of your it is.

Ethics, Gil? Really? How ethical was it of Romney to declare his wife's Olympic dressage horse a medical tax deduction worth $70,000.00? You need to look up the word ethics because you don't seem to have a grasp of its meaning.

Romney has a rapidly growing number of supporters that are poor and down and out whether or not he knows it. He should try to learn this however, and the sooner the better. He is basing his bid for the Presidency on creating jobs for the jobless. Those jobless people are listening and many have given up hoping for change from the Obama administration and are becoming squarely aligned in the Romney camp.

The homeless are survivors. Do not assume they all are free-loading on the Obama safety net sustem. Many are not even safety net-able. Maybe "survivor" means the same thing that Paul Ryan calls "self-sufficient". It will be a great day when millions of homeless dumpster divers stop diving for food and get up enough energy to go and vote for Mitt Romney for President.

Dumpster divers everywhere hope Romney knows they love him and will be assured they are behind him. They very much want Romney to succeed and create jobs that they can do. They want to participate in America the same as all the people that are employed.

President Obama has let down all those that are new non-participants. Romney can reach all of these people and should because after he creates all those new jobs it is the unemployed that will be filling the jobs.

Romney has a rapidly growing number of supporters that are poor and down and out whether or not he knows it.

That little factoid exists only in your fevered imagination. There is plenty of evidence to show Romney is losing support from the middle class and the poor. If you're going to write fiction, include UFOs and dinosaurs: it will be much more believable than the nonsense you're sharing with us now.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/us/general_election_romney_vs_obama-1171.html

Gil-2872519

Not a Lie... Not a exaggeration...

???the ethics of your it is??? WTF You got a Yoda sack stuck between your teabag lips?

So why is it that red states arent going bankrupt. You have traffic problems bc your infastructure is horrible. How come biggest growing states are red ones? Dont tell me blue states are self sufficient. there is one state in this country that can be self sufficient and thats TX. If by progressive you mean broke..you are correct

Oilshark is dead wrong.

Of the 10 states that have the lowest Federal income tax burden, 8 of them are firmly in Romney's column, Florida is a toss-up, and New Mexico is blue.

So why is it that red states arent going bankrupt.

Federal money keeps their boats afloat.

Star, what am I dead wrong about?, TX is the only state that can provide EVERYTHING needed to sustain an economy and would actually thrive much better w/out the fed govt. We have turned down fed money on many many things and have a balanced budget on 100% conservative principals. seeing as tx is also the 13th largest economy in the world i would say the conservative method DOES work. Sailcat..is that why ca is going bankrupt and asking for more fed money

Maybe Romney should hire a disabled person to run his campaign. They would probably do better.

Oil Shark is right. A ton of blue states are in trouble. (CA....IL....NV)

Funny how every state that switched from blue to red in the 2010 election has seen their unemployment decrease too....ie Wisconsin.....every one that went from red to blue has seen unemployment skyrocket.

Facts are facts.

@OilShark1, if it weren't for transfers of federal taxes from blue states to red ones, most of the red states would be going bankrupt, too. In fact, CA, IL, and NY all would be well in the black if it they simply received back what they paid into the Feds. Most of the deep south, middle south east, Great Plains, mountain west, and desert southwest would all be seriously in the red if it weren't for transfers from the northeast, Great Lakes, and CA. Look it up. It is all here at http://www.economist.com/blogs/dailychart/2011/08/americas-fiscal-union.

TO: OilShark1 who wrote:

"So why is it that red states arent going bankrupt..."

Red States when bankrupt more than 50 years ago.

We Blue States help pay to support Red States because Red States don't have enough capital of their own.

That's why some Red States are also called "Welfare States" because they are not able to pull their own weight, and they receive more money in government handouts than they pay in taxes.

Obama/Biden 2012

Obama/Biden 2012

Oilshark is a liar of convenience. . . as are most conservatives.

Texas, as well as Alaska, and now North Dakota are awash in gas. Texas has the remarkable ability to collect taxes and fees on every oil and gas well, and can take over ownership of wells as owners and their heirs die off. Significant state operating costs are fully paid for by these resources, making these states equivalent to minimal Saudi Arabia.

Also, have you seen how many military bases are scattered around Texas, bringing in significant federal funds?

The idea that conservative policies are responsible for Texas' economic situation is a MAJOR LIE. Take away Texas' military subsidies and gas taxes and fees and what do you have? New England without the harsh winters.

...and Romney's DAD took WELFARE when he came back from Mexico. Mitt's mom said how much it helped them get back on their feet.

The GOP is a bunch of hypocritical liars.

Sad but true. That's exactly how the GOP sounds these days yet they claim to be Christians.

Regarding Christians, it give new meaning to wide is the path and narrow is the gate and all those who say Lord, Lord will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. I know a lot of Christians who have no clue or so it seems what the Bible is even about. It is not lambast other people as much and you can and bear false witness at every whim.

SteveR-2067355

In other words, Ryan says, if you're sick, tough. If you're disabled, too bad for you. If you're poor, we despise you. Can't find a job? It's obviously your own fault. Got hungry kids? Let them graze on our lawns. Nowhere to live? Don't come around here. Too old to work? Die, and decrease the surplus population.

Do you really believe that's what they stand for? Really? Stop listening to the party slogans and start actually listening to what the candidates say. No politician (either party) advocates these types of things.

I think there is plenty in the Republican plans to disagree with, but it's better for the country if we stick to actual issues and not just be a bunch of party lemmings.

Ron, If the generalizations that all blacks will vote for Obama, that Obama is a Muslim, that we are turning socialist, etc etc. are to be accepted, that this one should be as well.

People stereotype themselves by reoccurring actions. If the Suit Fits.

FreeThinker,

I could partially agree with you if I thought the actions or words of the Reps matched SteveR's comments - but they don't match.

One thing I think many on these boards forget (on the left and right) is, just because someone has a different approach to a problem, doesn't mean they don't want to solve the problem. Democrats don't want to enslave the population to the government, and Republicans don't want to throw granny under the bus - those are just partisan talking points. The parties do have significantly different approaches to solving our nations problems - but they are both trying to help.

Ron; What you say sounds good; But, in my opinion many in both parties enjoy the benefits of the way things are and that money means far to much. For, example almost no one wanted to make it illegal to stop hurting seniors from buying drugs out of Canada for big discounts. But our government made it illegal.

Right now our big banks with trillions in assets are driving uo the price of gas and other essentials by manipulating the commodities market. Everyone in Washington knows this and they know it is hurting many, But the do nothing to stop it.

The elite in our government, industry and finance or not short of brains. It values that the lack. They know exactly what they are doing and they don't care about most people. I can't credit most of our leaders with good intentions because many of them have sold the farm. Wall street and big banks are raping America and they know exactly what they are doing. The same goes for much of the government that is in the same pig pen.

The people in high places love it when they rob people and the victims say those dummies don't know what they are doing. They are not into ignorance, but cold blooded evil!

Sometimes when someone dumb is born on third base he thinks he hit a triple. But, dumb as he is Romney knows he has destroyed much and hurt many. The problem is he dose not care. Working a kid for 12 cents while you make millions proves you are smart. Why should such men be concerned with those they consider useless cannon fodder?

And die before you get old, or you will starve after you have paid your life savings into the world-record-inflated healthcare system and on privatized health insurance with Ryan vouchercare with his severely cut Social Security program.

Dragon, terrific post. Republicans whine and complain about others being dependent on government yet they have their hands out to make sure they get a share.

Wasn't it funny that most of the 47% were in the red states. And Illinois wasn't one of them at all.

Oh where oh where are you getting your facts? msnbc

Oh where oh where are you getting your facts? msnbc

No, The Economist:

http://www.economist.com/blogs/dailychart/2011/08/americas-fiscal-union

So to make a point you use an outdated article that if you look at the states that are"red" and take more in, they are poorly populated states that dont offer a whole lot to the country as far as production..pleease. On top of the fact the study was until 09. How does the picture look today. CA is taking in more fed money than its giving on top of the fact businesses are leaving that state quicker than slimy @!$%#. Are you better off than you were 4 yrs ago?

you guys cant argue with REAL facts

The article isn't out of date, Oilshark. It simply conflicts with your insane fantasies.

Sailcat, don't bother,
Republicans aren't interested in details or facts or integrity. Facts might damage their blind faith.
Mitts 2012 tax return could show that he received $200 million in bailout money that he promptly spent on hookers, and abortions for his hookers.
All while outsourcing their mothers jobs to China.

They will still vote for him.

My neighbor was livid. She has never mentioned Obama to me. But this morning she erupted and was ready to get a sign that says I like Obama and I pay taxes. It is very insulting when you work to support yourself for 34 years and find that some scumbag politician who was born with a silver spoon up his rear thinks since you support a decent honorable man you are dependent, lazy and ignorant. I think that describes them. Imagine if Mitt the Twitt had to spend one week without his money that was given to him by his dad. He would be a total failure based on his performance during this election. Vote no to anything Romney or Ryan. And don't let them try to twist and lie their way out of this. They are sure trying today. Before you listen to their lies listen to the tape! What is with these two men = Romney and Ryan and their constant lies?

ktlin-I thought the same thing last night when I heard this. I looked at my husband and said, oh my god he is talking about us and we pay a higher percentage rate in taxes than he does!!!

His mother is wealthy. If she lives on soc sec and medicare she is just one of the parasites he hates. I am sure these wealthy people think well if everyone else gets it so will I. They don't need it but they won't give it up either. She probably can get it legally. It is just the principle and his attitude that makes it bad.

everyone is entiteled to recieve what they put into soc sec no matter how much money they are worth. Funny you try to blame the rich for feeling entitled but your comments depict you as feeling entitled for them to give you something

everyone is entiteled to recieve what they put into soc sec no matter how much money they are worth. Funny you try to blame the rich for feeling entitled but your comments depict you as feeling entitled for them to give you something

Of course they are but democrats don't consider them parasites when they get old and get these benefits. Kind of hypocritical of republicans to insult those on medicare and social security when they themselves will partake of these benefits when they reach old age. Or the military the second largest group of non income tax payers. You think as they cash their social security checks they'll consider themselves parasites? Eight of ten of the states with the highest percentage of those paying no income taxes are republican states. Romney's base is the very people he's writing off.

Sounds like pure jealousy on your part. So according to you no one is allowed to leave their kids anything substantial, should we just give it away to people who dont want to work?

Lyin' Ryan has never had a job in the private sector. Ever.

Oh really, so Oscar meyer is a public job? or being a fitness instructor? You show how ignorant you are and how you blatently distort facts. What job did obama ever have that was not a govt job? And being an asst. prof at a public univ is a publicly held job so is community org. He has never been in the workforce

OilShark - Being a professor at a private univeristy - which University of Chicago is - is NOT a publicy held job. You should probably do your homework or at least have a clue before you post. Also, he was an attorney - which put him squarely in the workforce. Clearly you should do a little homework - might not look so utterly stupid if you did.

Obama/Biden 2012

Rush is touting this as an opportunity to double down on his comments. Apparently Rush thinks that Romney rolling a turd in powdered sugar can be sold as a powdered doughnut. Good luck with that.

Romney claims he's self made donating his inheritance to charity. He forgets to mention he waited 3 years after receiving it to donate it. How many could be self made if they had 20 million or so for 3 years to grow wealth?

Agreed - and it's hard for me to buy the "Believe in America" from the guy who says: Let Detroit Go Bankrupt, let's forget about 47% of America.

Not to mention that whenever a poor job report or US embassy worker gets murdered, they can't get to the podium fast enough to celebrate and do a touchdown dance!!

Talk about cheering at our losses. Talk about divisive politics. Talk about NOT believing in America, and Americans.

Romney and Ryan - you bet on the wrong horse. As Clinton says, it's never a good bet to bet AGAINST America.

You are dead wrong. Look at Silicon Valley. Many of those companies were started by immigrants who created thousands and thousands of jobs for Americans. Bringing the best and brightest to work and live in the USA is one of the BEST growth policies we could ever have and now we have uninformed bigots in the guise of patriotism who think that they are a drain on society trying to stop this. You couldn't be more incorrect. At least Mitt seems to understand this part, even though he is clueless about just about everything else.

Romney proposes allowing 1.25 million high tech workers legal status claiming a shortage even though unemployment in those sectors is double what it was prior to the 2008 crash. Romney's a businessman, his concern isn't a shortage of workers which doesn't exist it's about cheaper labor. You can't run on a platform criticizing the growth of good paying jobs and then saturate the job market with cheap foreign labor.

• A typical postdoctoral research or teaching position in a STEM field (requiring 12 years of education after high school) offers pay and benefits comparable to what a high school graduate earns managing a fast-food restaurant. (Gene Nelson)
• Wages of new H-1B computer workers dropped 16 percent between 2002 and 2005. (Ron Hira, Rochester Institute of Technology, Economic Policy Institute)

Oilshark1: Clearly you hear only what you want to. Only 17% of Americans receive any welfare, disability, medicaid or food stamp aid. Romney's 47% includes most seniors and military. Clearlty Romney considers seniors getting social security and medicare as parasites even though it's unlikely he'll refuse his check when he gets old enough.

Food stamps temp are fine but more people abuse the system than those who truly need it.

You sure base your comments on a lot of self-serving fantasy and outright mendacity. Can you back up that statement of yours above, or is it just something you heard somewhere?

Ryan is a career politician. Mitt is a career campaigner. Both are parasites. Not 47%. 100%.

Did you see the audience at the RNC? There were 46 black folks there out of more than 2,000. It was like Where's Waldo? except this was not a game. They still claim they are inclusive and representative of America, but we know better.

http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2012/08/politics/rnc.gigapan/index.html

Zoom in about five times and then go down to see Wrongme's teleprompter. Then look around and see if you can find a person of color. It is pretty hard. I found about 4, but officially, there were more. I am not sure if they counted Condi and Mia.

couldnt find any sane looking whiteys at the dem convention, bunch of radical god hating jew hating crazies

OilShark1

couldnt find any sane looking whiteys at the dem convention, bunch of radical god hating jew hating crazies

I think you just outted yourself as a right wing whack job.

Click.

and aparantly the 47% have no respect for the 53% who pay their way, quit biting the hand that feeds you

oil

"The Wisconsin congressman, instead, launched into a more detailed defense of the social safety net and how he and Romney think it is important to move voters off of those programs"

So you think the same way they do? You are against retired people of all types? Retired workers, police, military, teachers, fireman, ect? Work them until they get old. And then trough them out with the trash?

I've paid several hundred thousand in SS taxes and will be unlikely to get back anywhere near what I've paid in. You aren't feeding me. I've paid taxes when they were 70% and probably paid more than you ever will.

Romney needs to be weened off of having the American military protect his money in foreign countries.

Wow, class envy, how sad your little life must be to constantly comment on someone else's success and wealth. As if somehow their success diminished yours. Jealousy and class envy are not likable attibutes. If you are not successful then look in the mirror, the answer is staring at you.

You guys are really funny.

I don't see any comments on anyones wealth maybe you're reading another article. This is about Ryan trying to explain why seniors who've paid into this contract with the government aren't receiving a handout for benefits they've paid into a lifetime nor military members not paying taxes aren't leeches it's a benefit for the risks they take. Funny how people try to claim it's the left playing the class warfare game when clearly it's the right. Romney plans to cut the top rate from 35% and 25% and eliminate capital gains. As most of his income is currently capital gains he'll pay nothing or nearly nothing and make the middle class pay for it. We aren't trying to take his money he's trying to join the 47% who pay nothing even though he makes 10's of millions.