.

Looks like the betting line on the VP debate is that moron, Joe “Gaffe” Biden, will have to do the heavy lifting this week to make up for Barry’s Hillaryously poor debate performance last week. I know the lefty liberals LOVE ole “Gaffe”, but he is unpredictable and, well, gaffe-prone. If Barry is smart and wants to hedge his “Gaffe” Biden bet, he’d better be saying many, many, extra prayers to St. Jude, the patron saint of fools and lost causes.

BTW, that reference reminded me: Dr. Ron, do you have any predictions for the winner of the VP debate this week?? After how well your numerous predictions that Romney would lose the first debate turned out, I am extremely curious about your thoughts on the loser of VP debate so I can bet the opposite way. LMAO!!!!

Nobama 2012 Really, Things Could Be Worse-

Give Me Four More Years and I’ll Prove It

From Politico:

A veep debate that could really matter
By: Jonathan Martin
October 8, 2012 04:30 AM EDT

Vice presidential debates typically matter as much as vice presidential picks — which is to say not a lot — but a convergence of factors is raising the stakes on this week’s faceoff between Paul Ryan and Vice President Joe Biden.

Looming most heavy over the clash in Kentucky is President Barack Obama’s remarkably weak debate performance last week, a showing that has given Republicans their first sense of hope in weeks and increased the pressure on Biden to get Democrats back on course.

Obama’s Denver dud, and specifically his refusal to go after Mitt Romney on some of the GOP nominee’s most glaring vulnerabilities, has officials in both parties anticipating an aggressive, hard-hitting Biden showing up to try to put Democrats back on the offensive.

If “Gentleman Joe” took the stage four years ago, determined not to come off as patronizing or bullying Sarah Palin, it seems almost certain that Thursday will bring the appearance of “Scranton Joe,” the scrappy pol who’s never been afraid to throw a punch.

“There’s no sympathetic character up there with him this time,” said Steve Schmidt, who helped prep Palin four years ago for her Biden debate. “So he’ll be bringing his proverbial nunchucks and brass knuckles.”

A Weak Argument For Mitt Romney on Foreign Affairs; Really

On Aug. 31, 1983, a South Korean airliner flying from New York to Seoul drifted off course and entered Soviet airspace. After tracking the civilian plane for more than two hours, Soviet fighter pilots were told to shoot it down. They did, killing 269 people, including 60 Americans. It was one of the most shocking atrocities of the Cold War.

It occurred during the first term of perhaps the most staunchly anti-communist president America has ever had, Ronald Reagan, an advocate of robust military power. And how did Reagan respond? He called it a "crime against humanity," and then, um, postponed some cultural exchanges with the Soviets.

Some of his admirers were aghast at this display, as Steven Hayward notes in his 2009 book, "The Age of Reagan." New York Times columnist William Safire said Reagan "has acted more pusillanimously than Jimmy Carter." Polls showed most Americans thought he had done too little, prompting the president to ask, "Short of going to war, what would they have us do?"

Conservatives invariably claim that any show of weakness emboldens aggressors and endangers peace. But just six years later, the Soviet empire collapsed. By 1991, the Soviet Union was gone. Maybe in his restraint, which looked disgraceful at the time, Reagan was acting wisely.

Barack Obama has never done anything that could compare to Reagan's limp response to this wanton slaughter of innocents. But conservatives with short memories regard Obama as the most feeble, weak-kneed president since ... well, since Jimmy Carter.

They are employing a narrative that has worked for them at least since the Carter era: Weakness breeds aggression, and strength deters it. Democrats are weak, and Republicans are strong. When anything goes wrong overseas under a Democratic president, it's because no one respects or fears him. Otherwise it wouldn't happen.

Of course, Democrats used to have great success depicting Republicans as the party of Herbert Hoover, whom they blamed for the Great Depression. But they had to give that up after Reagan presided over an economic boom. Reality no longer supported the narrative. Voters knew better.

That's the GOP's problem with Obama. He expanded the war in Afghanistan, used U.S. air power to topple Moammar Gadhafi, and rained drone missiles on terrorists in Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia. Hmm. Was there something else? Oh, right! He killed Osama bin Laden.

Americans seem to have noticed. In the latest CNN/ORC International poll, Americans trust Obama more than Mitt Romney on foreign policy by 54 percent to 42 percent.

But in the aftermath of the violent protests this past week, Romney's campaign reverted to type. "It's a terrible course for America to stand in apology for our values," he said. His foreign policy adviser, Richard Williamson, insisted the demonstrations erupted because "the respect for America has gone down, there's not a sense of American resolve."

Really? So why was there a wave of fierce anti-American protests across the Middle East in 2003, as President George W. Bush was preparing to invade Iraq? The State Department was so alarmed it advised Americans to avoid 17 countries across the region and beyond.

Our diplomats have nothing to fear when we're strong? Under Bush, there were violent attacks on American embassies in Yemen, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, India and Turkey. A U.S. diplomat was assassinated in Sudan. Another was murdered in Pakistan.

Those are not proof that Bush was weak or even wrong in his foreign policy. They are proof that the president of the United States is not the Lord of the Universe. Even if he does everything right, nasty developments will ensue.

Certainly they did under Reagan. A U.S. Army major carrying out routine monitoring in East Germany, as allowed under a U.S.-Soviet agreement, was shot to death by a Soviet sentry. An American reporter was arrested on phony espionage charges in Moscow, forcing Reagan to negotiate to get him released.A barracks in Beirut was blown up, killing 241 American military personnel.

But somehow, these episodes did not discredit Reagan among conservatives or the broader public. The embassy attacks likewise won't trump all the other things Obama has done.

The claim that the GOP represents strength against a president who is fatally weak and uncertain has worked for Republicans before. If the Democrats ever nominate Jimmy Carter, it might work again.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/ct-oped-0916-chapman-20120916,0,1262358.column

============================================================

FYI: that band of extremism the GOP/TEA NAGGERS exalt about President Carter being weak fails to mention Reagan paid the Iranians to keep our hostages so he could win the presidency over Carter.

Ditto FOX NOISE about K.T. McFarland: Iran "Immediately Let Those Hostages Go" Because Of Reagan. During the September 13 edition of Fox & Friends First.

http://mediamatters.org/research/2012/09/13/fox-distorts-reagans-record-on-iranian-hostage/189871

And Experts Say Reagan Has Little To Do With The Release Of The Hostages

PolitiFact: Seven Scholars Said "Reagan's Foreign Policy Approach Was Either A Minor Factor" Or No Factor In Hostages' Release. Pulitzer Prize-winning PolitiFact found the claim that the fear of Reagan's foreign policy led to the hostages' release as soon as Reagan was sworn in to be false. From PolitiFact: MYTH gets a Pants On Fire lit on his Magic Under wear !!!

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/mar/07/mitt-romney/mitt-romney-says-iran-released-hostages-1981-becau/

4 more 4 44

Obama/Biden

At the debate, Mitt Romney said "I would stop the funding to PBS".
Why would Romney pull the funding on an acclaimed national resource for news, arts, science, history & civil discourse?

Does it significantly impact the federal budget? The federal investment is $1.35 per American, per year = about one-hundredth of 1% of the federal budget.

Are Americans against spending on PBS? No. Two-thirds of American voters are against cutting federal funding to public broadcasting. Nine out ten households tune in across the span of a year, including eight out of ten children between 2 and 8 years old. Locally owned and run, Public TV and Radio are focused on big results with small resources. Clearly the public/private partnership is effective - with a 1 to 6 ratio between federal dollars and private dollars raised to get the job done. Federal seed money is critical to providing this quality news & programming to all.

Does Romney think the American public is not interested in PBS? A recent poll shows that PBS is the most trusted public institution, and second only to National Defense in 'most valuable public spending' - for the 9th year in a row.

Is the far right against Education? The Romney/Ryan budget would cut Education by 20%, and Romney doesn't want more teachers. He proposes vouchers for low-income parents - and as with Romney's plan for Medicare - vouchers do not cover actual cost.

GOP seeking to control our news, suppress the facts, subvert our understanding of the world, and re-write history is not news: A great example is Rep Broun (R-GA), who sits on the House Science (!!) Committee.

Broun dismissed evolution as "lies straight from the pit of hell".
An educated populous would easily challenge such 15th century beliefs.

I don't know about the rest of you, but, I am already sick & tired of Willard whoring himself with his "new and improved" softer side!

When "normal" people lend a helping hand, they don't run around bragging about it, unlike the narcissistic sociopath who can't seem to keep his BIG mouth shut!

Bonus points for the harp music playing in the background!

This clown couldn't find his moral compass with a flashlight and GPS system!

PS: How about da Bears? Can YOU say D-E-F-E-N-S-E??? LOL

Couple of general comments. Early voting though good in general has started too early. If you want more citizens involved in the election then get rid of the electoral college, or make the allocation of electors proportional to the number of votes a candidate receives. The two campaigns have spent over $1B (?) and here in Jersey we have seen almost none. It is a waste of time voting for President in this state.

I drove to work the other and passed through two or three towns. I did not see one political poster on a lawn or in a window for either party. Enthusiasm is way down for this election.

Finally Senator Menendez has funniest (dumbest) comments in his ad. He brags about bringing 53m in tax credits to NJ to create jobs. He then attacks tax breaks and loopholes that can send jobs overseas. He finishes with the comment "A Senator should fight for real jobs not for loopholes". I guess he doesn't really understand what a tax credit is.

Bill Maher may be onto something here accusing Barry of “spending his $1 million on weed” after his Hillaryously poor debate performance.

And if Barry shared a major portion of that $1 million in weed with the USDOL BLS staffers, it might explain the ridiculous, unexplainable, waaaaay-too-convenient, change in the unemployment rate they announced on Friday.

From Poltico:

Bill Maher: Was Obama high at debate?
By: Kevin Cirilli
October 6, 2012 12:20 PM EDT

Al Gore thinks it was the altitude. Bill Maher raised another possibility for President Barack Obama’s lousy debate performance — maybe the president was stoned.

On his “HBO Real Time” show Friday night, Maher joked that Obama must have used Maher’s $1 million donation to an Obama super PAC and “spent it all on weed.”

“He looked tired. He had trouble getting his answers out. It looked like he took my million and spent it all on weed,” Maher said.

Public Broadcasting Service represents 0.00016% of our budget.

Educators know that PBS programming has been responsible for significant improvements in education, literacy, math, life skills and science for our children.

Defunding this national treasure would punish us all.

Looking forward to the VP debates Thursday!

0.00014%?????

Mitt Romney vows to fire Big Bird to save 0.00014% of the budget.

I imagine there are those who think (or hope) the giant avian "trend" is last week's news, that the Republican's fatwa on felt has blown over.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/10/08/1141310/-New-Ad-Big-Bird

===========================================

No so. I and millions of Americans stand with Big Bird. This comment could be brought to you by sesame Street's letter's "F & U"

Big Bird does a lot for the economy. Check out the stores!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/05/mitt-romneys-big-bird-moms_n_1943398.html

Over the weekend, Politico reported that the Romney camp is running a radio ad in Ohio pitching Romney as a bipartisan fixer who will work across the aisle

You mean like Willard's 800+ vetos during his 4 years as Governor of MA? lol

The ONLY legislative accomplishment he had during his tenure was universal healthcare for the state! lol

http://www.npr.org/

Alan,

Finally I agree with you on something.

The Electoral College creates too many "fly over" states.

In strict mathematical terms with the EC a president can be elected with just 26% of the popular vote. If/when Texas moves to Battle Ground status it will be much easier to elect a President with as few as 11 states that vote form him/her.

Bev, thanks for the Daily Kos link,

Romney may have multiplied his phony personas, but has Willard Romney really changed?

Pattern behavior: CEO Romney cut the Moderator down right off the bat, at the debate last week. He sure told Mr. Lehrer, a retired gentleman veteran PBS anchor and to his FACE - that he is going to "stop" the public funding of Public Broadcasting.

And who can forget Romney's dooky European trip, and the numerous individuals he insulted along the way?

CEO Romney so likes to fire people, AND HOW. This is what he said, "I like being able to fire people who provide services to me. You know, if someone doesn't give me the good service I need, I want to say, ‘You know, I'm going to get someone else to provide this service to me.'

Soooo..... PBS will collapse without federal support? What kind of business DEPENDS on big government to stay alive?

What Mitt said was that he would not BORROW money to keep supporting things that add to the deficit. If we had a balanced budget we wouldn't have to worry...

Did everyone get the memo?

When Romney is trending ahead, the polls are correct; when unemployment is high, the numbers are correct. In all other circumstances favorable to Obama, the numbers have been tampered with.

Bev, thanks for the Daily Kos link.

Romney has multiple phony personas - yuk.

Pattern behavior: CEO Romney cut the Moderator down right off the bat, at the debate last week. He sure told Mr. Lehrer, a retired gentleman veteran PBS anchor and to his FACE - that he is going to "stop" the public funding of Public Broadcasting.

And who can forget Romney's dooky European trip, and the numerous individuals he insulted along the way?

CEO Romney so likes to fire people, AND HOW. This is what he said, "I like being able to fire people who provide services to me. You know, if someone doesn't give me the good service I need, I want to say, 'You know, I'm going to get someone else to provide this service to me.'

@Dennis

You see, it's the Romney effect. We can work together.

LOL!

Romney caught the ear of TRULY independent voters. They are at least listening now.

Best case (for Obama) is the true centrists in this country will split their vote. Best case (for Romney) is now that he has their ear, will he lead in the direction the middle-of-the-road voters want to go.

This is getting good...

.

I am surprised that Mitt is not hiding Ryan like he does his taxes and tax cut plans. What is Ryan going to say when Biden answers a question about accomplishments with this.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/25/robert-draper-anti-obama-campaign_n_1452899.html

It will be a good time to let the American public know what they did. Will Ryan really want to talk about the 716 billion he is stealing from Medicare? But others are correct, Ryan has a record to talk about and his boss seems to like his record on certain days, not so much on others just like most of the positions he takes.

"Daddy, Daddy, the bad man on television says he's going to kill BIG BIRD." How do you explain to your child that some idiot name Romney isn't really going to kill him. Or is he? This man Willard is so out of touch with the common people that it's hard to believe. Yet he wants those same people to vote for him. He insults everyone, women, men, the average family, the poor, those who seek work and are down on their luck. Unbelievable. Only the rich and Corporations are worthy of his attention.

Think when you vote. Is this the kind of narsistic person you want running our Country? I think not. Oh, and how do you like those new unemplyment figures? Drives you nuts huh? GOOD.

OBAMA IN 2012.

What do the most people remember from Romney's GOP Convention? Clint Eastwood talking to an empty chair. What do most people remember from the Romney/Obama debate? Romney plans to fire Big Bird.

Mitt Romney is an empty suit; an expensive suit, but an empty one no less. The man has no core beliefs, has flip flopped on every position, his foreign policy is tough talk but in actuality, President Obama has already done the very things Mitt whines about and President Obama has NEVER insulted Great Britain or any other foreign country. How many more millions, billions and trillions do we need to spend on our Military while starving all other critical, important programs for this country? If GOPers continue their spend more and borrow more to build an even bigger, stronger military, we will look more like North Korea or the old Soviet Union.

Alan, NJ, it is not often we agree but the Electoral College has long since passed its prime or relevance. We need to get rid of this outdated system. I am, however, a fan of early voting.

"Daddy, Daddy, the bad man on television says he's going to kill BIG BIRD." How do you explain to your child that some idiot name Romney isn't really going to kill him. Or is he? This man Willard is so out of touch with the common people that it's hard to believe. Yet he wants those same people to vote for him. He insults everyone, women, men, the average family, the poor, those who seek work and are down on their luck. Unbelievable. Only the rich and Corporations are worthy of his attention.

With income of over $29m and over $200m in assets I would say Big Bird qualifies as a 1%er. Also, he is a 501(c) 3 which means he pays no Federal Tax so he's also a member of the 47% but either way he's rich and a corporation so by your criteria very worthy of Romney's attention.

http://www.sesameworkshop.org/assets/896/src/FY%202011%20Financial%20Statements.pdf

Backhouse

Public Broadcasting Service represents 0.00016% of our budget.

Educators know that PBS programming has been responsible for significant improvements in education, literacy, math, life skills and science for our children.

Defunding this national treasure would punish us all.

Backhouse,

To the GOP/NAGGERS conjecture BIG BIRD is not going away.

4 more 4 44

Obama/Biden

they don't want to hear that Alan! That is their key talking point!

The Albanian idiot wrote:

"If Barry is smart and wants to hedge his “Gaffe” Biden bet, he’d better be saying many, many, extra prayers to St. Jude, the patron saint of fools and lost causes."

The fact is, St. Jude is well aware that President Obama is a great deal more intelligent than lightweight liars Romney and Ryan. The President can handle himself. Besides, St. Jude has a full-time job - with all the overtime he can handle - taking care of the idiot from Albany.

Hey Walker as an avowed Atheist(agnostic - whatever) what the hell would you know about what St. Jude is up to?

If Romney is elected and gets his tax plan through, he will be a member of the 47%.

Romney's foreign policy: War with Iran, War with Syria(+Russia)

Insult allies and tell a different story to everone.

Uhh, Alan, it has nothing to do with the "Romney effect". In order for parties to work together, both must show up to the table. The GOP didn't even bother to enter the room for the last 4 years let alone sit at the table. President Obama reached out to them time after time and their answer: compromise is our way or the highway. That GOPer dog of Romney compromising with the other side just doesn't hunt; in fact, it's sitting home by the hearth.

WCA,

Atheist/Agnostic generally know more about religious beliefs and doctrine that the so called believers.

What do the most people remember from Romney's GOP Convention? Clint Eastwood talking to an empty chair.

______________________________

Jody, apparently the New Yorker thinks it applies to Barry's Hillaryously poor debate performance because they put it on their cover this week: It shows Romney debating an empty chair behind a lectern.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Albany Joe (quoting) --

"There's no sympathetic character up there with him this time," said Steve Schmidt, who helped prep Palin four years ago for her Biden debate. "So he'll be bringing his proverbial nunchucks and brass knuckles."

I find myself amused by anyone quoting debate analysis from Steve Schmidt, who is a perfect example of res ipsa loquitur. The McCain campaign demonstrates that what Schmidt knows about debate rhetoric would neatly fill the head of a pin and leave plenty of room left over for the point.

MSNBC made a big mistake by giving this partisan hack the first kick at giving an opinion about the debate, and in so doing, damaged its own credibility.

As a former debate coach myself, for proper analysis, I prefer Paul Krugman --

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/paul-krugman-blasts-media-for-debate-reaction-press-just-doesnt-know-how-to-handle-flat-out-untruths/

Unlike the rest of his co-panelists, Krugman was reluctant to blame President Obama's lackluster performance on any specific person, instead focusing on the factual inaccuracies in Romney's performance:

"I don't know whether to blame [moderator Jim] Lehrer or the president but it was kind of amazing because Romney was not only saying things that are not true, he was saying things that his own campaign had previously said weren't true," he said. "The one that got me was not about taxes but the thing about covering people with pre-existing conditions which his plan does not which he has said that before and his campaign has walked it back in the past and there he was right again saying, well, my plan covers pre-existing conditions which is to show contempt."

"You think it's the moderator's job," host George Stephanopoulos interrupted.

"No, contempt for the whole process. Contempt for us by thinking the news media will not cover on me as long as they say forcefully I won," Krugman explained.

I hope Rachel Maddow, Ed Schultz, and Chris Mathews saw this. Somewhat incredibly, Al Sharpton was the only person on the MSNBC panel who called it right from the start.

The rest of you are welcome to buy this false bravado if you want, but where I come from, lies and flip-flopping do NOT win debates, no matter how they're packaged.

Why would Romney pull the funding on an acclaimed national resource for news, arts, science, history & civil discourse?

@Backhouse - the answer to you question lies within the question. The GOPTP detest news, arts, science, history and civil discourse. If it doesn't involve war, making money, and making making babies, the national resource simply has no use.

Sure they do Dennis. I bet you even can dig up a poll to prove it.

Backhouse

Bev, thanks for the Daily Kos link.

Romney has multiple phony personas - yuk.

Backhouse , and multiple puppet makkers who take him to the woodshed to re-do his strings and nose; yuk yuk

4more 4 44

Obama/Biden 2012

WCA:

In the interest of accuracy - look up the word accuracy - I am a non-believer who engages in poking fun at the Albanian idiot and his flyweight buddies, like you.

The economy is NOT in the tank. When you flyweights were whining about the 8% promise that was not a promise, everything was hunky dory. Now the rate is at 7.8% and obviously phony. The rate has been manipulated. Of course, you have no proof, but since when has that stopped right-wing crazies from making totally unfounded charges? You guys even disgrace stupidity. That the economy is in a massive transition is lost on people like you. I know, I know, that's way goo much for you to grasp.

Now, as you are a white collar ace, I'm still waiting for your answer as to how the nasty, evil, knuckle-dragging union thugs were able to so easily outwit you white collar guys at the negotiating table. Come on. Tell us what happened. I've been waiting more than a month for your answer, flyweight.

I would hope during Mitt's foreign policy speech he explains why he believes foreign leaders would believe anything he says. Yesterday we backed you, but today, sorry I change my mind. Does he believe world leaders are the same as his base and do not read the news.

@Jody

Uhh, Alan, it has nothing to do with the "Romney effect". In order for parties to work together, both must show up to the table. The GOP didn't even bother to enter the room for the last 4 years let alone sit at the table. President Obama reached out to them time after time and their answer: compromise is our way or the highway. That GOPer dog of Romney compromising with the other side just doesn't hunt; in fact, it's sitting home by the hearth.

According to Woodward even democrats have problems getting in the room. As to the GOP dog not hunting, I thought that was because it was on the roof of the car!

WCA --

The fact that so many of you Libbies are clinging to the "Big Bird" meme really just shows how desperate you have become.

So, what's different about that comment than Obama saying that conservatives "cling" to guns and religion?

Oh, yeah. I know. Conservatives really DO cling to guns and religion.

The economy is in the tank, the Middle East is on fire (again - still?) and you folks are worried about Big Bird.

You Libs really have one hell of a set of priorities.

All this proves is that, if anyone's priorities are out of whack, it's Mitt Romney's. The proposed cuts to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting don't even begin to solve our problems, and yet Romney never mentioned the Middle East in his own convention speech and chose to focus on Big Bird at the debate. Why?

You know as well as I do that it's all symbolic. Romney used Big Bird to symbolize the KINDS of cuts that he finds attractive, and liberals are merely calling him out on it.

As for me, I'll proudly cling to Big Bird every day of the week over guns and religion.

If PBS promoted "God" more, perhaps this would be a non-issue...???

Yeah, because 50,000 churches just can't seem to get the job done, what we need is more government funded religion. Oops, government funded religion, isn't that anti-American?

MSNBC made a big mistake by giving this partisan hack the first kick at giving an opinion about the debate, and in so doing, damaged its own credibility.

_________________________________________

"MSDNC credibility"?!?!?!?!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As a former debate coach myself, for proper analysis, I prefer Paul Krugman --

AM: I really think the only one whose analysis is right on the mark is Bill Maher. Barry was known to be into weed in his HI days.

Joe in Albany-1902257

Jody, apparently the New Yorker thinks it applies to Barry's Hillaryously poor debate performance because they put it on their cover this week: It shows Romney debating an empty chair behind a lectern.

I guess president Obama has something in common with President Reagan who also put on a very poor performance during his 1st debate as an incumbent.

Joe, when you look 1st debates of the incumbent presidents of our modern history, Obama's performance is not an outlier, is it?

Last week we got the "moderate Romney" taking every position that Obama holds. This week we get the "war monger" Romney. Probably to please his base that is pissed off about the "moderate Romney".

Which Romney will we get tomorrow? Place your bets, spin the wheel....round and round he goes where it'll stop nobody knows...........

You can't trust someone that doesn't stand for something.

Albany Joe --

AM: I really think the only one whose analysis is right on the mark is Bill Maher. Barry was known to be into weed in his HI days.

That's YOUR mistake, Joe. You ought to know by now that you can't get to me by citing Bill Maher.

F.R.1.1

another brilliant post keep that up

Bev

Join her

ir12

If Romney is elected and gets his tax plan through, he will be a member of the 47%.

are we sure that he hasn't been up to 2009?

Hey Walker you'll have a hard time finding a comment from me that the UE number was manipulated.

I did, however, state that it is a sorry state of affairs that the Left is doing backflips over 7.8% UE.

I, for one, am not happy with the new "Obama Normal".

Obama's getting nervous. All he has is Big Bird speech's? How much money does PBS make of selling Elmo and Big Bird? They really need tax payer help? Seen SNL 's parody of the Obama debate debacle, Hillarious! Congratulation Bev - Front page of the Chicago Tribune Sunday, African-Americans under Obama's lack of leadership have lost ALL OF THIER GAINS in the past 30 years. Just think what another 4 would due! Notice he NEVER talks about helping African-Americans, WHY?

Now, as you are a white collar ace, I'm still waiting for your answer as to how the nasty, evil, knuckle-dragging union thugs were able to so easily outwit you white collar guys at the negotiating table. Come on. Tell us what happened. I've been waiting more than a month for your answer, flyweight.

Give it up D. Walker. He is still working on the PowerPoint presentation complete with graphs that show down is up and up is down. Tweaking those cute little background symbols and color schemes takes a lot of time, forethought, and mental acuity. Admitting defeat via PowerPoint is indeed, tricky.

David: I see you read my posts. I can't say I do the same with your posts. The most they ever get is a quick scan to see if it's anything other than your usual lefty liberal self-absorbed BS. I couldn't tell you the last time there was anything more than that in your posts, but, I can tell you it's been a loooooong time.

Looks like it's a nice fall day for some fillet/AK salmon/Sams.

Life is good. Enjoy.

Why cut funding to PBS? Because, the first thing to go when the budget is out of whack is the movie money, that's why. No, it's not the biggest expense- but it is a necessary cut. Next up- the $200 billion in redundant programs the GAO reported over a year ago that still get full funding.

And, for those who simply cannot comprehend why people are questioning the amazing, dropping unemployment rate-

There are those who, not comprehending how unemployment data is collected and calculated before being reported, wonder how anyone could possibly distrust a government report.  Would any administration actually cook the books to enhance election prospects?

The answer is, yes, they can- and yes, they did.

114,000 jobs, reported by BLS as a result of the payroll survey, did not lead to the employment of 873,000 more people, as reported by the household survey in the same release.  Nor were those jobs a result of new small businesses, as the birth/death model showed that start ups were responsible for a LOSS of 9000 jobs last month.

Still, one must wonder at the brazen stupidity of anyone who could attempt such a snow job.  Then, one reads this

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/10/08/exclusive-libya-cable-detailed-threats.html

Remember, please, that the administration had notice that the Embassy in Cairo was going to be the target of protests on September 11 of this year-the point of which was the demand that the Blind Sheikh be released to Egypt.  That memo apologizing for an amateur, 17 minute movie was released as a diversion- then disavowed by the administration.

That same administration solemnly told us that an American ambassador, and three others, were  slaughtered as a part of a protest about the same movie- and that there was no warning about such an attack.

This was a bald faced lie.

So, Obama knew, or should have known, about the attacks on both embassies- and his lies and attempts to divert attention from his own failings led to further protests and violence- because nobody would have ever heard about that movie, but for his prevarications and excuse making.
Obama never should have been elected in the first place, given his complete lack of experience.  He will not be re elected, because of his obstinate refusal to admit that he has failed, continually, in every aspect of his presidency except fundraising for his own purposes.

Goodbye and good luck, Obama.  Contact the movers now- it's difficult to get your stuff over water to where it's going.

ballie

are we sure that he hasn't been up to 2009?

I cannot be sure. I can only take the man at his word. (I know that is a stretch). However, both he and his wife (she is a bit more believable) have said that there are items in their tax returns for which the US public would attack them. That I do believe.

Alan, NJ

@Dennis

You see, it's the Romney effect. We can work together.

you should have listened to Romney's "just because my 5 sons repeat something over and over, doesn't make it true" little story.

Romney claims he worked with Mass legislature which is mostly Dem. Just because he repeats it over and over and over, doesn't make it true. A governor who issues 800+ vetoes does not qualify as"working together."

Even though Romney spent last year as governor on travelling and making connections for his 2008 presidential campaign, let's pretend he was a governor for 4 years. That's 200 vetoes per year. Take weekends, vacations & holidays out, and you have what, about 1 veto per business day?

not exactly working together, is it?

geo --

How much money does PBS make of selling Elmo and Big Bird? They really need tax payer help?

And how uninformed are you? As uninformed as Romney, apparently.

Big Bird and Elmo are very well funded, and cuts to CPB will not affect them much, if at all. It's the small local stations that carry local political debates and local public programming that will feel the cuts.

And that, of course, is the goal. To get control over ALL the media.

Ignorant idiots like you, who can't see past the beak on their face will help him do it. And the morning after, you'll be wondering how it happened.

African-Americans under Obama's lack of leadership have lost ALL OF THIER GAINS in the past 30 years. Just think what another 4 would due! Notice he NEVER talks about helping African-Americans, WHY?

Sigh. Is there no END to your ignorance? Setting aside how we got into this mess in the first place, cite one bill passed by Congress in the past 2 years -- just one -- while they had plenty of time to obsess over women's reproductive rights -- that would have helped African Americans. And then find me one place -- just one -- where Mitt Romney ever spoke about helping African Americans. No doubt Romney considers them part of the 47 percent, whose vote he'll never get, and for whom, therefore, he feels no responsibility.

WCA --

I did, however, state that it is a sorry state of affairs that the Left is doing backflips over 7.8% UE.

Personally, I'd say that's pretty good, considering that there has been a net loss of 700,000 jobs in the public sector since 2009 -- mostly at the state and local levels -- that have to be factored into those numbers.

Reagan, on the other hand, knew the virtues of public sector hiring during a recession. If public sector hiring under Obama had kept pace with Reagan, the unemployment rate would be somewhere well south of 7 percent.

http://mediamatters.org/blog/2012/08/03/foxs-stupid-comparison-of-obama-recovery-to-rea/189115

And what's worse, you already know this and yet you keep on repeating the same tired old garbage.

Making YOU a big part of the problem.

What really happened on Wednesday, The American people got to see the real Romney, not the MSNBC or mainstream press Romney. The American people got to see the real Obama, not a pretty sight, any time he was in trouble he went to parts of his stump speechs and sounded incoherant. What 67 million people saw was a lot different on what they were told to think. The Propaganda Machine is falling to the wayside, as the American people saw what Clint Eastwood was talking about! All hail, Clint!!!!!!!!!!

Romney can run, but he can't hide from his record as Governor of Massachusetts.

According to nonpartisan Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center's Sept 3, 2006 report, in the first 2 1/2 years as Governor of Massachusetts, Romney's state was 43 rd in job growth and last in median wage growth. Furthermore, it was the slowest jobs recovery from a recession (200,000 jobs lost in 2001) in Massachusetts state history.

His policies of increased fees on lower and middle class to avoid tax increases on rich are classic trickle down economics. It didn't work in Massachusetts. It hasn't worked for America.

Romney, mediocre job creator in Massachusetts.

Romney, no plan for America's job growth except drill, baby, drill.

Romney, eliminating his tax cut for growth policy to blunt an Obama challenge in debate.

Romney, flip-flopping away, flip-flopping away, America's future with Romney just flip-flopping away.

OBAMA 2012.....For America's future.

ir12

I cannot be sure. I can only take the man at his word. (I know that is a stretch).

take any Romney sentence,take out 70%+ out of it, and they rest might be believable

However, both he and his wife (she is a bit more believable) have said that there are items in their tax returns for which the US public would attack them. That I do believe.

Kerry and his wife are rich, and they both released their taxes. Did people treat them like they were out-of touch rich, yes. Did it become an issue? No.

I disagree with your statement because if there is nothing in their tax returns to become an issue, the whole subject would die quickly and people would move on to something that might be an issue.

I do think, however, that there is a reason why for the past 20 years, both Mitt and Ann, who are well educated people, refuse to say "we've paid FEDERAL INCOME taxes every year." It is deliberate.

The middle-East is exploding, ambassadors sending cables to be brought home, then murdered,!!! , No time to talk to the leader of Israel, the only country in the region to not murder Americans, they like the the USA!! BOOOOing when God & Israel are restored to the DNC!! Greece and Turkey are about to sink the UE and all obama can do is send more $$$$ Millions of tax money to Hamas!! . More Us Agents are killed on our border with Mexico! Drugs flow across the border killing our children and neighborhoods, nothing is done from the empty chair Prez!! He sues the Governors of states that try to protect their citizens!! . Us troops are shot in the back while training the Islamic-terrorists they are sent to protect....Nothing from the chosen one!! obama really has a great record to run on!!! .NO wonder that the Pravda Press has nothing to say about it!!!

First Thoughts: Has the race changed?

The race fundamentally change (s)d depending on how it's perceived. If you're a FOX bot they'll deceive and FOX'S drones will believe.

"The president said he’d cut the deficit in half. Unfortunately, he doubled it.”
– Mitt Romney, Oct. 3 Presidential Debate
When Obama took office in 2009, the deficit was projected to be $1.2 trillion during that year, and it ultimately turned out to be $1.4 trillion, according to Congressional Budget Office data cited by The New York Times. The deficit is expected to be $1.1 trillion for fiscal year 2012.

"The idea of cutting $716 billion from Medicare to be able to balance the additional cost of Obamacare is, in my opinion, a mistake."
– Mitt Romney, Oct. 3 Presidential Debate

The indirect effects of Obamacare have yet to be determined, since the law has yet to be implemented. But as the law is written now, Obamacare doesn't cut seniors' benefits as part of its plan to curb health care costs, according to USA Today.
Obama's healthcare law would curb benefits to health care providers and insurers, but doesn't directly cut seniors' benefits. Critics allege however, that the cuts in payments would have the unintended consequence of hurting seniors because doctors would stop accepting Medicare patients, according to USA Today.

"It's hurt the housing market because Dodd-Frank didn't anticipate putting in place the kinds of regulations you have to have. It's not that Dodd-Frank always was wrong with too much regulation. Sometimes they didn't come out with a clear regulation."
– Mitt Romney, Oct. 3 Presidential Debate
The Dodd-Frank regulations aim to prevent another housing crash like the one that helped to cause the 2008 financial meltdown by banning high-risk lending practices, according to CBS News. In addition, the housing market has been on a slow rebound since Obama took office.

If anything, it may be banks that are holding back the housing recovery. Many are slow to lend because they're concerned Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will make them take back any bad loans, the Wall Street Journal reports.

"I just don't know how the president could have come into office, facing 23 million people out of work, rising unemployment, an economic crisis at the -- at the kitchen table, and spend his energy and passion for two years fighting for Obamacare instead of fighting for jobs for the American people. It has killed jobs."
– Mitt Romney, Oct. 3 Presidential Debate
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that healthcare reform will reduce the health care industry's workforce by only about 0.5 percent, largely because workers will decide to retire early or work fewer hours. And if Romney's Massachusetts health care reform law is any indication, job loss won't be a big problem; employment trends in the state have mirrored
healthcare reform will reduce the health care industry's workforce by only about 0.5 percent, largely because workers will decide to retire early or work fewer hours. And if Romney's Massachusetts health care reform law is any indication, job loss won't be a big problem; employment trends in the state have mirrored national trends since Romneycare took effect.

"You never balance the budget by raising taxes."
– Mitt Romney, Oct. 3 Presidential Debate
President Bill Clinton managed to balance the budget during his time in office with a tax boost for those in the top 2 percent of earners, according to Duke professor William Chafe.

My plan is not to put in place any tax cut that will add to the deficit."
– Mitt Romney, Oct. 3 Presidential Debate

Romney's tax plan would cost the country $4.8 trillion over the next 10 years, according to Tax Policy Center data, cited by NBC News.

And these businesses -- many of them have gone out of business. I think about half of them, of the ones have been invested in, they’ve gone out of business."
– Mitt Romney, Oct. 3 Presidential Debate

Businesses that got government clean energy loans failed at a rate of about 1.4 percent at the end of 2011, according to The Washington Post.
"The president has a view very similar to the view he had when he ran four years ago, that a bigger government, spending more, taxing more, regulating more -- if you will, trickle-down government would work."
– Mitt Romney, Oct. 3 Presidential Debate
President Obama's proposed budget is estimated to cut about $1.1 trillion over the next 10 years and, so far, Obama has signed $2 trilion worth of spending cuts into law, according to Democratic Party Pollster Bernard Whitman.

"Up to 20 million people will lose their insurance as Obamacare goes into effect next year."

– Mitt Romney, Oct. 3 Presidential Debate
Some workers may switch from their employer-provided health plans, according to the Congressional Budget Office, but that number is more likely to be closer to between 3 and 5 million per year between 2019 and 2022.

Obamacare "puts in place an unelected board that’s going to tell people, ultimately, what kind of treatments they can have."
– Mitt Romney, Oct 3 Presidential Debate

Though Obamacare does create an independent board, the law prohibits the board from making recommendations to "ration health care," or "otherwise restrict benefits or modify eligibility,” according to Bloomberg.

goe - I agree. What knowledgeable individuals saw was a pathological liar. The rest just believe the tried and true Republican line that they are going to get a tax cut. Won't that just increase the 47%. It will if he gets rid of the Capital Gains tax.

Hey Anna Molly, nice to see you back on that high horse right out of the gate on a Monday. Where do you stable that thing?

You need to expand your Latin though, "The thing speaks for itself" has become a bit cliche even for you.

Oh, and you were a Debate Coach, eh? Care to share the rest of your resume with us?

We are all so very impressed.

No nothing has changed except the fact checkers have had to put in overtime to debunk all of the lies willard had/has spewed during the debate. What I find interesting is that mittens claimed that the POTUS would defund Medicare by 716 million dollars over 10 times. While the POTUS is just shifting those funds to the ACA which would supplement Medicare the vulture/vouchers plan which rmoney endorses would cut the same amount out of medicare and pass it on as more corporate wealthy welfare tax break loop hole donations. I think it took the fact checkers all of 20 minutes to lose count on the numbers of lies rmoney parroted in the debate.

Isn't is just so very ironice that republicans have no problem at all giving away over 4 billion dollars as corporate welfare subsidies to big oil while those same greedy oil corporations make record profits while screwing America???? And PBS is asking for less than 10% of that for the funding of some great childrens programing?? What's wrong with this picture??. Oh I forgot another thing, PBS has lots of great programming dedicated to science. We all know how the gop hates science. Like that loopy Georgia republican congressman who said and I quote "The theory of evolution was created in the pits of HELL"? Who the heck are his constituants that would put a looney tune like that in office?? This is just another reason why people are referring to the modern republican/teabag party as "The American Taliban".

Obama has gotten desperate- the unions bought his first election, and then he threw them under the bus, so now it's coming from foreign countries, out of the $181 million, only about $40 million is accounted for. Gibbs looked like an idiot when he accused Romney of saying whatever it took to get elected, when that is EXACTLY what Obama did. Morons

balyee - My point is not that Mitt's taxes will be OK (we know he is rich, who cares), there is something to hid, they said so.

Regardless who wins the presidency, congress is still this country's main problem. Congress needs reformed and it will not happen. We will continue to witness complete dysfunction from our political leaders.

Truly, our only hope, is leadership at the congressional level and it simply will not come. Obviously.

Alan, do you believe everything Bob Woodward writes? I don't. His job these days is to sell books, adding a bit of controversy helps. If a writer tries hard enough, he/she can always find someone to provide the negative tidbit to feed a little controversy--that goes for right or left.

geo - there are 8000 babyboomers a day retiring. That is 2.9 million in the last year alone. I would think some of them are women.

Backhouse said:

At the debate, Mitt Romney said "I would stop the funding to PBS".
Why would Romney pull the funding on an acclaimed national resource for news, arts, science, history & civil discourse?

Romney said that he would stop FEDERAL funding for PBS. He didn't say that PBS should stop airing. They can do what other networks do... advertise. Why should I be paying for something that I don't watch? Why should PBS be funded by the federal government? All this hooplah over what Romney said... maybe it's about time the federal government stop funding these programs and start drawing in the deficit... Of course this inflames the liberals because it gives them something to yak about.

David, why do you need to constantly bring intelligence into your debate as if you have any ability to convince someone on here of anything. First, I thought you progressives want to ignore the role of cognitive ability in personal outcomes. Second, do you have any tangible proof that Obama has a high IQ or intelligence? Having great public speaking skills, eg Al Sharpton, Jimmy Swaggert etc dont translate into high IQ or cognitive ability. Obama refuses to provide his college or law school transcripts and we dont even know if he was an affirmative action acceptance at these schools or not. Making law review at Harvard is based on professor choices unless you have the one of the 6 highest grades to ensure diversity. In terms of comparison to Romney, I would be willing to bet a ton of money that Romney's IQ and cognitive ability are much higher but that shouldnt be the standard for president so I am not sure why you bring it up. It seems to be strange since if you want to use cognitive ability as some sort of measure, do you apply it to economic upward mobility? You should do some research David, you might discover that things like poverty, single motherhood, being in the 1 percent, what college you go to etc can be explained by cognitive ability. Its not a topic you progressives generally want to discuss in your quest to create government mandated equality of outcomes. I surprised it is coming from you

Feisty - I'm with you on tiring of Mitt's "softer side." Every time I heard about him being at the bedside of someone who was dying I had to step back and remember. This is the man who did nothing but lie during the debates. Why should anyone believe these new stories?

Sorry - if he truy sat at anyone's bedside and gave them comfort, good for him. But, my father would visit and sit with people who were dying. He never bragged about it. Giving them comfort was very personal and private to him. The fact that Mitt is flaunting his "good deeds" has a bad smell to it.

Very busy day today so I won't be on much. You guys have fun!

Obama/Biden 2012

"But where are the real foreign-policy differences between Romney and Obama?."

That's an easy one! Obama has been struggling to get us out of the two wars that Bush started, and Romney will be struggling to get us into more wars.

Kirk -

cognitive ability

Really? If a person had cognitive ability, wouldn't you think they could comprehend simple ideas and know when they change?

Beverly copied and pasted this to the boards:

Obamacare "puts in place an unelected board that’s going to tell people, ultimately, what kind of treatments they can have."
– Mitt Romney, Oct 3 Presidential Debate

Though Obamacare does create an independent board, the law prohibits the board from making recommendations to "ration health care," or "otherwise restrict benefits or modify eligibility,” according to Bloomberg.

What do you think the purpose of this independent board is for Beverly? To sit around and drink coffee and eat bagels? Their purpose will be to decide whether or not someone is to receive treatment. Let's say Joe Mcdumbass has a need for a hip replacement, but poor Joe is 78, in pain and suffers daily... the board could very well decide Joe is too old and he should be given a pain pill instead... Who's to stop this board from making such a decision? Let's say Mary Smith has been diagnosed to have a heart transplant to save her life... Mary is 50. The heart transplant costs $250,000... The board may very well decide to not provide the transplant because poor Mary lives on the other side of the tracks, and her life expectancy is only another 24 years anyway... they could decide to give Mary a pass into eternity instead.

That's the danger of the board... but I know you liberals don't see it that way.

In that infamous 47% tape, Romney in his own words said he was going to exploit whatever foreign policy situation developed. That's right - exploit.

Why would anyone consider this guy credible? He's an embarrassment on a national stage, he's an embarrassment on a world stage. The only reason he is the nominee is because his opponents are crazier than he is.

There is something wrong with this man, seriously wrong. Now I see why President Obama looked uncomfortable at times. He was staring into the face of a man who assaulted a kid because of the length of his hair. He was staring into the face of a man who protested for the draft in a war he did not serve. He was staring into the face of a man who fought for a mormon church in his city, yet has a son who fought against a hospice in his city.

So today we exploit a tragedy.

Something is not right with this man. He's creepy and a serial liar. He's going to give a speech about foreign policy when his policies here in MA did not support veterans.

He's a cold calculating man. The worst I have ever seen.

And because of this, he is a dangerous man.

IR12--not sure what you are getting at? You mean Obama's inability to understand how the global economy works and his proposal to eliminate so called tax breaks for companies who profit from jobs offshore? The one that would absolutely crush companies like GM, Apple etc and make it difficult and probably impossible to compete for foreign sales aainst foreign competition? I agree simple economic concepts and a totally inability for him to grasp them.

Anne Molly points out that on the ABC Sunday Morning show with slanted George Stephanopolis. Krugman points out Romney inaccuracies, when Krugman was asked about Obama's inaccuracies; like the 4 trillion dollar deficit joke he has produced, and the jobs he claimed to create. Krugman says those are small compared to Romney's lies. Krugman, if you watched, was the most shifty eyed weasel I have seen on TV this year to date. Watch for yourself!

BrainB - The board was added to the law to keep you awake at night.

WCA --

Oh, and you were a Debate Coach, eh? Care to share the rest of your resume with us?

Why even bother to have a resume, and why bother to study and train and take responsibility for training others, since according to you and a few other conservatives out here, everyone is equal when it comes to judging debates and only style points matter.

We are all so very impressed.

Like I care.

... nice to see you back on that high horse right out of the gate on a Monday. Where do you stable that thing?

Right under me, where he belongs.

geo --

Krugman, if you watched, was the most shifty eyed weasel I have seen on TV this year to date. Watch for yourself!

The last defense of the ignorant. Attack the messenger, rather than the message.

And as if Paul Krugman could beat out Paul Ryan for shifty-eyed weaseling. Please.

geo-1957883

What really happened on Wednesday, The American people got to see the real Romney

you wouldn't know who real Romney is if he came up to you and slapped you in the face.

which Romney are you for?:

"I'm a strong believer in stating your position and not wavering." or "I changed my position."

"I think the minimum wage ought to keep pace with inflation." or "There's no question raising the minimum wage excessively causes a loss of jobs."

"I supported the assault weapon ban." or "I don't support any gun control legislation."

"Roe v. Wade has gone too far." or "I believe that since Roe v. Wade has been the law for 20 years we should sustain and support it."

"I respect and will protect a woman's right to choose." or "I never really called myself pro-choice."

"It was not my desire to go off and serve in Vietnam."or "I longed in many respects to actually be in Vietnam and be representing our country there."

"When I first heard of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy, I thought it sounded awfully silly." or "'Don't Ask, Don't Tell has worked well."

"I'm not trying to return to Reagan-Bush." or "Ronald Reagan is... my hero."

"The all-Democrat stimulus that was passed in early 2009 will accelerate the timing of the start of the recovery..." or "The all-Democrat stimulus passed in early 2009 has been a failure."

shall I continue? It might take me weeks to list all Romney flip-flops...

Kirk - Actually I was referring to your inability to keep track of the number of times Romney has changed his position in the last year. Romney could not keep his position constant between his 60 minute interview and the debate. I can understand your not understanding, but it is Romney's own policy that he seems to forget. Wouldn't you think it would be more productive for his campaign staff to do campaign stuff rather then correct his flubs. Wait, he was talking to 60 million people, maybe his statements were intentional.

sirie.......you asked:

Quote........What kind of business DEPENDS on big government to stay alive?........EndQuote

That's easy: the ---entire--- DEFENSE industry.

Then, there's tourism businesses around national parks, many research labs, ....etc., etc......

White Collar Auto

I did, however, state that it is a sorry state of affairs that the Left is doing backflips over 7.8% UE.

You forget that unemployment rate caused by Bush's economic tsunami crested at 10% only 8 months into Obama's presidency. A rate of 7.8% is roughly halfway to a normal unemployment rate. Backflips may not be in order, but things are obviously moving in the right direction. There aren't many people on the left doing backflips, but 7.8% good enough to have the far right going into spasms over it and concocting nut job conspiracy theories to explain it away.

So today we exploit a tragedy.

Something is not right with this man. He's creepy and a serial liar. He's going to give a speech about foreign policy when his policies here in MA did not support veterans.

He's a cold calculating man. The worst I have ever seen.

And because of this, he is a dangerous man.

You guys are funny. Your heads would be spinning if a US Ambassador was killed after filing multiple requests for more security under the Bush administration.

Now it's exploiting a tragedy.

The only tragedy is that the Obama administration didn't care about the safety of his diplomats serving in dangerous countries. That makes Obama far more dangerous than Romney.

Bayllie said: "I'm a strong believer in stating your position and not wavering." or "I changed my position."

Is that why you voted for Obama in 08? He didn't say those exact words, but he did say that his position was evolving. Since he didn't state he was changing his position... that must have made all the difference in the world.

"Bipartisan Fixer" - OMG I almost spilled coffee all over the place from laughing so LOUD!

This is all such a joke. Folks Romney is the biggest policital figure besides Lyin Ryan that LIES! Is this the kind of President that we want to deal with foreign policy? A LIAR?

OBAMA/BIDEN 2012

Not sure how deflecting the post from David's comments regarding intelligence has to do with anything. This constant democratic talking point about Romney is beyond silly. I realize that its the current campaign theme to talk about Romney's lies etc but that has nothing to do with anything and its the desperation of a weak mind. Hillary used the same tactic unsuccessfully against Obama in the 08 campaign and it has been used forever. If people like Anna Molly and the rest of the Obama campaign team on here actually stopped campaigning and objectively tried to discuss policy issues or defend their candidate's record, it would be more useful. Both candidates embellish the truth, tell white lies and constantly get it wrong as they pander for votes. This idea that Romney does it more than Obama just means either you cant defend your candidates record or you have no critical thinking skills to objectively look at things decide for yourself.

Anna Molly, what happened to having any ounce of obectivity left? You used to try and argue your positions and defend your candidates with some aspect of your distorted and embellished use of facts. But now, its just purely personal hatred and attacks. I am just happy that I am moving to Wisconsin where my vote will finally matter.

Backhouse said,

"Defunding this national treasure would punish us all."

PBS...a national treasure...Oh Brother!!

Mount Rushmore is a national treasure, The Washington Monument is a national treasure...

Big Bird is not a national treasure... GROW UP!!

The country has more serious issues than funding for PBS!!

It's time to turn the page on this failed presidency...

The middle class and your children/grandchildren can't afford 4 more...

16 TRILLION overall, 5 TRILLION in three years... tick tick tick

Romney clearly got a boost from his debate performance, but there's a bit of evidence that it may already be fading, and from Rasmussen no less:

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/daily_presidential_tracking_poll

Raz had Romney ahead by 2 points yesterday, but Obama and Romney are even steven today. Even more interesting is that Rasmussen now has Obama's job approval at 51%, which is 3 points higher than Gallup's job rating yesterday. Given that Rasmussen is known for its Republican bias, that should be somewhat encouraging to people upset by Obama's debate performance.

BTW: Much of the criticism of Obama was directed at style, not substance. The fact that he looked down at his notes and not at the camera, etc. As far as the substance, people were most angry that Obama did a poor job of promoting a good Obama record of accomplishment, failing to even mention his politically risky but successful rescue of the auto industry, or his various middle class tax cuts, etc. I never thought that Obama was such a stellar debater (remember his comment that Hillary was "likable enough" in that one primary debate). Too bad Obama couldn't have had Bill Clinton pinch hit for him. He would have destroyed Romney.

Alan, do you believe everything Bob Woodward writes? I don't. His job these days is to sell books, adding a bit of controversy helps. If a writer tries hard enough, he/she can always find someone to provide the negative tidbit to feed a little controversy--that goes for right or left.

Not just Woodward

"Since Rahm left, the only way many of us hear anything is leadership goes down to the White House and they come back to Caucus and tell us what was said," Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.)

Sen. Sherrod Brown, also up for re-election in 2012, said he knew the administration had been considering the location for quite some time but did not learn of the final decision until it was reported. In a brief interview, the Ohio Democrat expressed some frustration that he couldn't help Obama in his own backyard.

Brown's situation is not unique. When asked whether such an occurrence was commonplace, a former Senate Democratic leadership aide lamented that calls to the White House about events were often met with opaque answers, if at any all.

In July, the president basically worked around Hill Democrats to strike a deal with Boehner and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to avert a default on the nation's debt.

http://www.rollcall.com/issues/57_34/Democrats-Feel-Left-in-Dark-208989-1.html

Belfast Lad ... great post at 1.15!

I am sick and tired of Mitt promoting his "softer" side regarding how he dealt with those in his ward/stake. I would prefer he open his trap about something he is running on, let's hear about Bain, Mitt! Let's hear about how you used federal funds when working with SLOC! Let's hear some specifics on YOUR plan and how it differs from Ryans!

Obama/Biden 2012

Houston said: Backflips may not be in order, but things are obviously moving in the right direction.

So great sage, what exactly has Obama done to turn it around? What momentous change has occurred to establish this wonderful and glorious transformation? Name one specific thing Obama has done to change the course.

Obviously he didn't do anything. Has anyone on the left ever thought of the possibility that it's the normal course of action? You want to attribute any good that comes along as something Obama has done... well let me correct you... He hasn't DONE anything. Besides we aren't even sure of the validity of the numbers... According to many other sources, the current unemployment rate hovers near 11%.

Q22

You guys are funny. Your heads would be spinning if a US Ambassador was killed after filing multiple requests for more security under the Bush administration.

What requests are you talking about? There were definitely security concerns, but not enough to keep the ambassador from visiting the consulate that was attacked. John Kerry noted that one of the problems with beefing up security at diplomatic missions is that the State Department's budget has been cut due to deficit hysteria. Sometimes budget cuts kill.

Now it's exploiting a tragedy.

I'd say it was exploiting a tragedy for Mitt Romney to come out on September 11, a day he had promised not to engage in politics, to criticize a statement released by the US embassy in Egypt for appeasing the attackers when the statement was released BEFORE any attacks had occurred. I'd say that makes Romney a disgrace. As for his foreign policy, if he gets elected, American tourists abroad are going to start telling people their from Canada, like during the Bush regime, the last time we had a bumbling fool for a president who had a bad habit of shooting first and aiming later.

Brianb1956

Houston said: Backflips may not be in order, but things are obviously moving in the right direction.

So great sage, what exactly has Obama done to turn it around? What momentous change has occurred to establish this wonderful and glorious transformation? Name one specific thing Obama has done to change the course.

Well, great fathead, here's what he did: The "failed" stimulus that most nonpartisan economists believe saved the US from sliding into a second Great Depression. Middle class tax cuts. Rescuing the auto industry that Romney would have let go bankrupt. And, of course, by NOT imposing the stifling regulations on business that Romney pretends Obama did.

Brianb1956

Bayllie said: "I'm a strong believer in stating your position and not wavering." or "I changed my position."

Is that why you voted for Obama in 08? He didn't say those exact words,

if you are referring to Obama's evolving on same-sex marriage, then yes. Too bad you don't know the difference between evolving on issues over years and flip-flopping on issues from breakfast time to lunch time.

Let me give you an example. In the 60s, over 90% of US population was against mixed-race marriages. We all know that today, most (even those who were against that in the 60s) don't have an issue with 2 races marrying. That is considered EVOLVING.

Let me give you another example, Romney saying that he will keep the pre-existing condition part in ObamaCare, while his own plan doesn't include it, AND while Romney's camp claimed shortly after that Romney MISSPOKE. That would not be considered evolving - that is flip-flopping in the purest form.

Same-sex marriage is something most Americans struggle with - some more, some less. But the good thing is that Americans, including the president, are moving in the right direction. In 2004, only 32% supported it. In 2012, 53% do. That's evolving but you cannot possibly understand that because if you did, you would not be comparing Romney's everyday flip-flops to this issue.

Q22

We shall see about requests for additional security in Benghazi. From what I've read, the only confirmed e-mail deals with consulate's access to a DC-3 for evacuation purposes. The request for continued Benghazi consulate's access to DC-3 was denied when commercial flight access was obtainable in April 2012.

One can argue about access to commercial flights, but the tragedy at consulate would not have been altered one iota by an evacuation contingency, since they were unable to evacuate while under attack.

From what I have seen, the DC-3 issue is the security issue that right wing news sources refer to in as vague a manner as possible. They seek to exploit the DC-3 evacuation contingency discussions by insinuating there were requests for additional security while not having anything other than this DC-3 situation.

I bet if PBS taught creationism Romney would be all over sending them more money they dont need. Even doubling PBS' budget. But since it is a trusted news source that bases its programs on facts and science and provides great educational programming to the masses... especially the poor... it is something he is willing get rid off. Did anyone notice that the only programs or cuts that Romney gets specific about are those how affect the poor? Does Romney even know that PBS does not pause for commercial breaks during its shows and that is one of the biggest reasons why it receives govt funding? Dont mess with Big Bird or their new show Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood! My son loves that show! lol... and yes i donate to PBS...

Chickenhawk romney = war monger.

Kirk - You talk about deflection. I believe you are wrong. Mitt has many qualities that I admire. Integrity is not one of them. After his 47% remark where he obviously did not even know who comprised the 47% he was talking about, he came out and defended his position. I actually admired him for that. He said something he believed and said that he stated it poorly. Half of the people he was talking about are in his base. At that point we could have a discussion about those people and the US public could make up their mind if he was correct or not. Three weeks later, with his poll numbers tanking, he comes out and says he was 100% wrong. The majority of Americans believe he was 100% wrong, but it took him three weeks to realize it, and then only because the polls were telling him it was wrong. How can you have a discussion with someone who changes his position daily? What about the individuals that believe what he said about the 47%. I have not heard him come out and denounce these people and tell them they are wrong. No, his hopes are they will still believe he feels what he said is true so they will vote for him. If he had held his current positions during the primary, he would never have been nominated. That is not integrity and does not instill trust. I am not sure how any Republican can be sure if he will sign any law they pass that is in the Republican Platform. He has been against so many of them in the past. Should independents just believe he will veto those bills. He did have quite a record of vetoing Democrat bills when he was a "moderate Republican".

Houston said: Well, great fathead,

Resorting to inflammatory name calling I see. Well, since you can't have a civil discourse, I can tell that you believe that your opinion is the only opinion that is valid. Why don't you grow up Houston. If what I say causes you to be such an immature poster, it might be time for you to regroup and try some maturity on for size.

Some conservatives are trying to downplay the drop in the unemployment rate to 7.8% as just a little itsy bitsy insignificant drop while other conservatives say only a vast Obama conspiracy could explain why the rate dropped by such an enormous gigantic amount. Mitt Romney has come up with a third approach: make stuff up. Now, he's claiming that the rate dropped only because people have given up looking for work and are no longer being counted, despite the fact that the BLS has stated quite clearly that the drop was NOT due to people giving up looking for work but because of job growth and upward adjustments in employment in the two previous months. Just as he proved in the debate, when things look bad for Romney, his tactic is to LIE LIE LIE his way out of his problems. Unfortunately, that tactic works too often.

Houston--I got news for you--GM did go bankrupt. It will again because its business model wasnt fixed with a typical bankruptcy plan like American Airlines is going through. Not sure if anyone really defends the stimulus one way or another but I dont give him grief for trying--it just wasnt spent wisely. But besides that, Obama's economic policies have only been detrimental and specifically to the groups he claims he is an advocate for. How have the poor, middle class and minorities fared over the last 4 years in comparison to others? If Obama is their champion why have his policies failed for them so miserably?

Bayllie--Really? Stop falling for the failed and never works campaign ploy to say the other guy is liar but I "evolve" Wow that historically has always worked ha. I know Obama evolved when he said that he would post legislative bills before signing them and how he was going to create transparency in the process so everyone could see. The fact that he didnt even attempt to deliver this lie--was than evolution too? How about his views on religion and relationships with Tony Rezco and defending slum lords while being a "community organizer". Was that evolving? Lets face it, all political candidates say things to pander for votes. Why not tell us how his proposal to eliminate tax breaks for global companies to inshore jobs will actually create jobs? Give us some meat.

Houston said: here's what he did: The "failed" stimulus that most nonpartisan economists believe saved the US from sliding into a second Great Depression. Middle class tax cuts. Rescuing the auto industry that Romney would have let go bankrupt. And, of course, by NOT imposing the stifling regulations on business that Romney pretends Obama did.

All of these things are nothing but opinion. What about betting on green companies. He picked all losers costing the American taxpayer billions of dollars in unpaid loans. I notice you didn't mention any of these in your insulting diatribe. How about all the additional regulations... some 2000 of them last year imposed on small businesses? Mention any of these in your latest spasm of wisdom? You see Houston, for every presumed good thing you mention, there's an equal and countering negative Obama has done. I realize you have blinders on, and you are quite immature, so just keep on singing his praises... as this country is going down the tubes because of inept leadership.

Brianb1956

Houston said: Well, great fathead,

Resorting to inflammatory name calling I see.

You can dish out the snark by calling me a "great sage," but you can't take it.

Well, since you can't have a civil discourse, I can tell that you believe that your opinion is the only opinion that is valid.

Since when have you ever exhibited any affinity for civil discourse? You demanded to know what Obama had done to achieve the drop in the unemployment rate. I gave you the facts, which just prompted another of your fact-free rants. Before you are able to engage in rational discourse, you'll need to get your Obama Derangement Syndrome cured.

Really? If a person had cognitive ability, wouldn't you think they could comprehend simple ideas and know when they change?

You mean like this?

“Let’s be clear, if you’re willing to say anything to get elected president, if you are willing to make up your positions and walk away from them, I think the American people have to understand, how can they trust you if you are elected president?” Gibbs asked.

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/10/robert-gibbs-mitt-romney-has-taken-the-battle-straight-to-sesame-street/

So should we take Gibbs at his word and not elect a candidate that says anything to get elected?

In the Jan. 21, 2008, presidential primary debate in South Carolina, Edwards criticized Obama's plan for its lack of a mandate. Obama responded, "A mandate means that in some fashion, everybody will be forced to buy health insurance." Instead of going that route, his plan, he said, "emphasizes lowering costs."

Obama held that position throughout the campaign. Elect Hillary, he said, and the government will compel you to buy health insurance. Elect me, and I'll give you lower costs and let you keep your freedom.

One Obama TV ad drove the point home: "Hillary Clinton's attacking, but what's she not telling you about her health care plan? It forces everyone to buy insurance, even if you can't afford it, and you pay a penalty if you don't."

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/06/how-obama-broke-his-promise-on-individual-mandates/259183/#

Baylie - Which Obama are you for? The one that supports a traditional marriage or the one one that supports a fuzzy bumper or pole smoker marriage? Which Obama are you for? The one that promised to cut the deficit in half, or the one who exploded the debt? Which Obama are you for, the one that promissed to close guantanamo bay, or the one that hasn't? Boy, your guy sure holds his words sacred! I really like the one were he said if he does not turn the country around in his first term he will be a one term President, I agree! Anne Molly - Krugman is an easy attack. Did you see the way Carville was looking at him? That said it all!

bayllie said:

Brianb1956

Bayllie said: "I'm a strong believer in stating your position and not wavering." or "I changed my position."

Is that why you voted for Obama in 08? He didn't say those exact words,

if you are referring to Obama's evolving on same-sex marriage, then yes. Too bad you don't know the difference between evolving on issues over years and flip-flopping on issues from breakfast time to lunch time.

So let me get this straight. Obama has placed careful thought into one issue... same sex marriage... he changed his opinion on it... creating a huge upset in the Black Religious community... It took much thoughtful debate in his mind to create a new position even if it meant his political peril... This makes Obama some sort of a considerate, thoughtful and good self-debater... I see. It had nothing to do with political pressure from the ultra liberals and the gay community.

Let me ask you this Bayllie... what was the Obama meaning of hope and change? What exactly did he state about his position on that slogan? Would you equate no meaning to something a little more innocuous than having more than one opinion on a topic? This is in reference to your so called flip-flops of Romney, which I disagree with you about. I've known his positions of things and they haven't wavered from the time of his nomination. Where you get all these flip-flops from is only in retribution to the flip flopping John Kerry... One might call it pay back with no back up. Liberals have yet to exhibit an original thought.

It's the same thing with the liberal version of all of the Romney lies you claim to be so prevalent. This is nothing more that the left trying to establish a negative about Romney because the left wants Obama to win and they are doing their utmost in trying to discredit Romney. If you think for a moment that most people are buying into your negatives, all we will have to do is wait until Nov 6 to find out. I can imagine the great uproar in liberal land when all your efforts to discredit Romney come to an end.

Kirk-2957282

Houston--I got news for you--GM did go bankrupt.

I got news for you. The auto industry went into the equivalent of a "Chapter 11" bankruptcy, which is not irreversible if a company reorganizes successfully. And GM and Chrysler did succesfully reorganize under Obama's leadership (remember the right wing snark about "Government Motors"?)

If Romney prescription had been followed, the auto industry would have gone into Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which means the industry would have been liquidated and the capital equipment and technology being sold off to China. As you probably know but would prefer to forget, even Romney's Bain Capital outfit chickened out of giving the auto industry a loan because it was too risky. Obama stepped in and saved it. And yes, G. W. Bush deserves credit for starting the process of saving the industry. In the end, the economic disaster his laissez faire philosophy enabled brought him to his sense.

Alan NJ: Everyone should know that Obama was not in favor of the individual mandate during the 2008 primary campaign. He agreed to the individual mandate as a compromise. He couldn't get all he wanted, but unlike rigid ideologues, he didn't end up getting nothing, And that's exactly what the extremists tea bag contingent in the current House have gotten for their two years in office: NOTHING -- except for the government paychecks they've been collecting.

Kirk-2957282

Bayllie--Really? Stop falling for the failed and never works campaign ploy to say the other guy is liar but I "evolve"

you gonna nitpick 1 issue that Obama admittedly has been struggling with while giving a pass on Romney's everyday flip-floppes? REALLY?

Tell me, what has Romney been consistent on? - because that will be much easier to list. Do you have any examples?

As Obama's lead diminishes, the Libby's and left media are desperately trying to find some form of twisted logic that "proves" Obama will definitely win thisn still. Sorry guys. The truth is, Obama does great when talking to adoring fans. But when his lies are put up against an actual challenger, he falls to pieces.

geo-1957883

Baylie - Which Obama are you for?

answering a question with a question, huh? But I don't blame you, no one knows who Romney is so I'm not surprised.

The one that supports a traditional marriage

what's a traditional marriage? A Gingrich marriage? A Donuld Trump marriage? Larry Craig marriage? Bob Allen marriage?

or the one one that supports a fuzzy bumper or pole smoker marriage?

that just shows how big of a bigot you really are. I'll bet you go to church ever Sunday and call yourself a good Christian, too.

BrianB - not that I believe you can believe the truth, but other may have the same quetion.

Feb 2008, we entered negative job creation territory.

By election time and the inauguration, we were losing approx 750,000 jobs a month.

Congress (Ryan's traitorous group of Republicans) voted against a stimulus.

After being told about the consequence, they finally pass a stimulus, TARP ect

President Obama saves GM and Chrysler

The loss of jobs turns around and we begin to recover.

Mitch McConnell states his number one job is to make sure President Obama is a one term President. McConnell is aided by Ryan's traitorous group of Republicans.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/25/robert-draper-anti-obama-campaign_n_1452899.html

During the 2010 election the Koch brothers begin buying politicians like Allen West, Paul Ryan, Gov Walker, Gov Rick Scott, Michelle Bachman, Sharon Angle, Christine O'Donnell and many others.

The recovery has started and the last thing Republican do in 2010 is extend the Bush tax cuts, refusing to increase any revenue.

Koch brothers (and others) are successful and now own the Republican Congress.

Further stimulus is need, but Republican Congress refuses (see Ryan's traitorous group of Republicans)

These people do not even realize that the US has the obligation to pay bills created in the past. They think the US Government can just live on revenues collected paid month to month. At this point not even Boehner can control them.

We have been limping along ever since.

President Obama's policies were working, but from Jan 2011 on, Congress has not passed any of his policies. Republicans ran on the promise of have a "laser focus on jobs". They have done nothing, but still want to blame President Obama for failed policies.

We have had positive job growth for the last 31 months from the policies President put in place in early 2009. Just think what it could have been it we had a responsibly congress.

Sorry, the facts simply do not support your theory.

Houston!

Brianb1956

Houston said: Well, great fathead,

Resorting to inflammatory name calling I see.

You can dish out the snark by calling me a "great sage," but you can't take it. Great Sage is such an inflammatory insult, isn't it? Since I disagree with your position, the only way to term it is with the use of Sage. While you send out such a bouquet like "fathead."

Well, since you can't have a civil discourse, I can tell that you believe that your opinion is the only opinion that is valid.

Since when have you ever exhibited any affinity for civil discourse? You demanded to know what Obama had done to achieve the drop in the unemployment rate. I gave you the facts, which just prompted another of your fact-free rants. Before you are able to engage in rational discourse, you'll need to get your Obama Derangement Syndrome cured.

Discourse includes answering the question asked. I guess asking my question is a demand now. Since you gave the standard liberal answer, it was all I could expect from you... nothing more... even if you failed to mention that GM is still in bankruptcy and their profits still can't pay back the money owed to the government... in your eyes that's successful... I don't think their position passes any mustard test of being in the black... Yet, you claim that it's a great American success story promulgated by Obama the wonderful. Something's wrong with your perspective to say the least.

My view of Obama is correct. He's coddled by the left while proving to be nothing more than an empty chair leader. He is supported by the main stream media that WILL NOT report any negatives on him. They are being dishonest about his performance. You buy into that dishonesty. This is the crux of the problem... you go along your merry way, thinking that Obama can do no wrong, while all around us things are poised for more very serious problems with the economy, our debt and the way we live our lives.

Is this not having a civil discourse Houston? Where have I resorted to calling you names? Where have I stated a falsehood about my position? Just because you don't like what I have to say doesn't give you the right to say I am being uncivil in my statements. Like I said earlier, you need to mature.

Houston,

You are absolutely right. Under Romney bankruptcy plan for GM and Chrysler, they would have suffered same fate as Circuit City. Without a government "bridge" loan, both would have had to suspend production at their manufacturing facilities and parts orders would have stopped for their parts suppliers, thus threatening their survival as well.

Circuit City could not get financing from the financial services part (specializing in this type of loan) of GE which was in big financial trouble in late 2008, early 2009. All the big banks were also in financial trouble and I didn't see Bain come to the rescue either.

GM and Chrysler would have suffered same fate as Circuit City. Government "bridge loan" came over loud objections from all those Southern state Senators who had Japanese and German car plants in their states. Talk about economic patriotism. It seemed more like the Civil War revisited.

Brianb1956

Houston said: here's what he did: The "failed" stimulus that most nonpartisan economists believe saved the US from sliding into a second Great Depression. Middle class tax cuts. Rescuing the auto industry that Romney would have let go bankrupt. And, of course, by NOT imposing the stifling regulations on business that Romney pretends Obama did.

All of these things are nothing but opinion.

You have difficulty telling the difference between opinion and fact. I

What about betting on green companies. He picked all losers costing the American taxpayer billions of dollars in unpaid loans.

I'm sure you're talking about the loan to Solyndra, which the outgoing Bush administration officials said "has merit."

I notice you didn't mention any of these in your insulting diatribe. How about all the additional regulations... some 2000 of them last year imposed on small businesses? Mention any of these in your latest spasm of wisdom?

Another fact is that Obama approved fewer new regulations in his first two years in office than W. Bush did. Note that's not an opinion. It's been argued that Obama approved more regs with significant economic impact than Bush, but you'll have to provide evidence that the impact is negative, and not positive.

The race has changed. It is closer. But, I think Obama will rise to the occasion. He let Romney get away with murder on Wednesday night. The beauty part is that Romney's DNA is all over the corpse. It should be easy to confront Romney on the idiocy of a 20% tax cut - that isn't really a tax cut - because he's going to close deductions - which deductions - he can't say now - that's a secret - that's part of the "magic." An eight-year-old should be able to tear that up. As for the medicare, Romney had the gaul to keep mentioning that 700 billion "cut" that his plan also embraces. Romney has a lot of gaul. He criticizes things that he says he wants to do to. Also, his criticism of Obamacare was a complete LIE. The fifteen member board is just an advisory board. Whoop de do. If Obama's handlers will just quit giving him inane advice about how we're Democrats and we have to play nice in the sandbox even when the other guy throws cat poo in our face, Obama should clean up in the last two debates. He has a nice sense of humor - so he can deliver the kicks to Romney's teeth with a few pleasantries, but HE MUST BE PERSISTENT - and not let the fish get off the hook.

Alan NJ: Everyone should know that Obama was not in favor of the individual mandate during the 2008 primary campaign. He agreed to the individual mandate as a compromise.

You really will defend the indefensible. He attacks his political opponents on this very point and then he compromises once he's in power. So from this example what exactly is an Obama principle? On what promise can we trust him not to compromise? Exactly what does he stand for?

shaak322

You are absolutely right. Under Romney bankruptcy plan for GM and Chrysler, they would have suffered same fate as Circuit City

which would have resulted in a nice, cheap picking for companies like Bain. GM would have been sold to the LOWEST bidder!

Brianb1956

My view of Obama is correct. He's coddled by the left while proving to be nothing more than an empty chair leader. He is supported by the main stream media that WILL NOT report any negatives on him. They are being dishonest about his performance. You buy into that dishonesty. This is the crux of the problem... you go along your merry way, thinking that Obama can do no wrong, while all around us things are poised for more very serious problems with the economy, our debt and the way we live our lives.

Is this not having a civil discourse Houston?

No, it is not. It's just another sad fact-free anti-Obama rant. And I never said Obama could do no wrong, so you're just making stuff up again. In my opinion, Obama's main domestic policy mistake was probably not doing more for the home loan crisis.

I want to cite something specific about Obama's bank regulation bill.

How helpful were those credit card reforms? Now, people can see how much those interest charges will add to their total payments.

In addition, higher interest rate charges are paid off first now. Previously, the credit card companies applied your payments to the lowest interest charges first, thus trapping many people in higher interest debt.

I believe banking reform laws help the American consumer greatly. Mitt Romney seeks to repeal these reforms because his banking buddies tell him so.

OBAMA 2012......for the American consumer.

ir12, post 1.116 - Do you think this is the first time I've heard all this slanted BS? You spent a lot of time trying to bolster Obama, discredit Romney and the only thing I come up with on your post is blah, blah blah, blah....

Your facts are skewed. Especially about GM. Maybe you should do some historical research on what really happened... word of advice... stay away from thinkprogress, Huffpo, and other left leaning rags. Find out the history in the Wall Street Journal, and even the NY Times has a couple of good historical accuracies about the actualities.

While Mitch did say that about Obama, you or other liberals NEVER ask why he said it... I'll leave you in suspense about the why because I simply feel like it. There was a reason... but liberals will never remember it because they refuse to believe Obama could be so insulting to republicans. Just like liberals are never insulting to conservatives...

How helpful were those credit card reforms? Now, people can see how much those interest charges will add to their total payments.

Pity we can't do that to the deficit and debt.

Alan, NJ

You really will defend the indefensible. He attacks his political opponents on this very point and then he compromises once he's in power. So from this example what exactly is an Obama principle? On what promise can we trust him not to compromise? Exactly what does he stand for?

Are you one of those tea bag extremists who think "compromise" is a dirty word? Even Ronald Reagan, before being elevated to far right sainthood, raised taxes and spending when president after campaigning against "big government." Obama is interested in what works best for the country, even if it's not exactly what he wanted. A public option would probably have been better, but not politically possible. He promised to reform the U.S. health system, and he did, even though it didn't go as far as he wanted.

Who knows where Romney stands on the issue? Romney was FOR Romneycare before he was against it before he was for it again -- publicly at least. His campaign admitted his policy does not cover preexisting conditions after he lied during the debate when he claimed it would. And that's the man of "principle"? Talk about defending the indefensible.

Alan, NJ

How helpful were those credit card reforms? Now, people can see how much those interest charges will add to their total payments.

Pity we can't do that to the deficit and debt.

Doesn't Romney cart around a big digital clock with him to his rallies that shows how much the debt increases every second? Pity the clock doesn't show how much of that debt is due to the Bush wars, the Bush tax cuts, and the revenue shortfalls caused by Bush recession.

Houston - anything said by a conservative about Obama to you is fact-free. That's an obvious claim you make. I really don't give two craps about your claims. Your eyes are shut and that's simply the truth. The list is long and distinguished about the Obama failures, none of which the liberals want to even view, so your opinion makes him the greatest person since Abe Lincoln. Keep your opinion... dwell on it. I don't care what you think about him because you refuse to see him for what he really is. Isn't freedom of choice grand? Enjoy it while you can if he gets re-elected. I'm done beating a dead horse. Comment if you like... I won't respond.

Kirk lotsanumbers wrote:

"This constant democratic talking point about Romney is beyond silly. I realize that its the current campaign theme to talk about Romney's lies etc but that has nothing to do with anything and its the desperation of a weak mind."

Let's start with this. First, my post was specifically designed to poke fun at the idiot right-wingers. Yes, that includes you, although I didn't mention you specifically. You're in the generic flyweight group. Your quote above, as usual, shows the incredibly muddled state of your convoluted reasoning.

You have told us you have children. Let's extend your defense of Romney to how you have taught your children. Romney's lies have nothing to do with anything? Are you freaking nuts? Is that what you taught your children? Lying has nothing to do with anything?

About President Obama's views on religion! What the hell business is that of yours? Religion is a personal matter. Given your views on lying though, it would be interesting to see what YOUR god has to say about the 8th commandment.

You can't understand the importance of cognitive ability as a quality for a President? Jesus H. Christ bucko, simply because you see all things through a haze doesn't mean that's something desirable.

Now, here's the deal. Until they get the bugs out of the new system at the Vine, your posts along with the likes of the Albanian idiot, JAS1, crop up, even though you are on ignore. I swear, I will never again respond to another of your posts. I've never read such consistent drivel in my life.

Lying is just fine. Intelligence simply isn't that important. You live in a very weird place.

Bay lie - I was thinking more of a JFK, Bill Clinton, John Edwards, Jesse Jackson, Jesse jackson Jr, type of marriage. I consider myself a christian, not up me to decide if I'm a good christian or not. I know being a conservative I am not entitled to my opinion on gays. What kind of person are you?

When the subject was raising taxes on the 2%, the cry from conservatives was that was a mere drop in the bucket and wouldn't impact the deficit at all.

When the subject is de-funding PBS, which IS a very small drop in a very large bucket, the conservative cry is that we can't afford PBS and we need to cut that and more because the expense is crushing the middle class.

Curious...

Brianb:

The list is long and distinguished about the Obama failures, none of which the liberals want to even view, so your opinion makes him the greatest person since Abe Lincoln.

Too bad you have so much trouble coming up with anything specific, while I already acknowledged that his policies on the home loan crisis was lacking, at least in the opinion of nonpartisan and even liberal economists. And I never said he was the greatest person since Abe Lincoln. That's just more stuff you're making up. I think he's been a good president, but I doubt he or any recent president matches up to Lincoln with the possible exception of FDR.

Has this race "changed?" You bet your sweet bippy it's changed!

People actually saw what an incompetent nin-com-poop Obama is last Tuesday. They heard and saw what a LIAR he is too.

The Obama camp has been saying things for the last six months about Mitt Romney that are completely untrue. Some of Obama's minions have been parroting those LIES right here on this message board as well.

Romney put the smackdown on all of that by setting the record straight. Unfortunately for them, Obama (and his sheeple) can't handle the truth!!!!!!!!!

Oh and by the way, you know all that non-sense about incumbant Presidents always losing first debates? Well, just since 1976 two of them have not only lost the first debate; but, lost the Presidency in the subsequent election as well.

...and you know what they say; "third time's a charm!"

:-)

DEMOCRATS FOR ROMNEY!!!!!!!!!!

TO: Maxx Power who wrote:

"... The middle class and your children/grandchildren can't afford 4 more... 16 TRILLION overall, 5 TRILLION in three years... tick tick tick..."

But Republicans aren't hesitating one bit to move immediately towards war (if Mitt Robme were to get in office) without considering the cost in blood and treasure.

If we have so many trillions of dollars in our defense budget, then why isn't any of that money going to pay for the 2 unfunded wars, Iraq and Afghanistan, instead of the NEW wars in Syria and Iran that Republicans are contemplating?

Obama/Biden 2012

Alan NJ

"Pity we can't do that for the national debt". We can, but you first need the economic growth necessary to increase people's earnings, reduce unemployment, and raise tax revenues.

We lost $400 billion per year in tax revenues from 2007 federal tax revenues in 2009. Tax revenues increased $58 billion in 2010 over 2009.

After Clinton's tax reform bill in 1993, which raised taxes on rich and expanded the earned income tax credit, federal tax revenues went up between $100 and $120 billion per year through 2000 resulting in 4 consecutive balanced budgets despite increases of about $50 billion per year in spending.

Savings in unemployment and food stamp programs in high growth, low unemployment economy could approach $200 billion per year.

Increasing growth of our economy can yield $500 to $600 billion in deficit reduction. That is about half of our budget deficit. Cuts in defense spending to 2005 levels (another $200 billion) can be made effectively when we are no longer fighting a war and laid off soldiers and defense workers can readily find other jobs.

Raising taxes on the rich to Clinton era levels can add another $60-$100 billion per year in added tax revenues. Now, we're at a budget deficit 25% of current one. The unfunded prescription drug plan ($400 billion per year) would need to be 75% funded or made up with other spending cuts and voila, you have a balanced budget.

But first, we need a faster growing economy of 3-4%. Growth is JOB 1 even for budget deficit reduction advocates such as yourself.

geo-1957883

Bay lie - I was thinking more of a JFK, Bill Clinton, John Edwards, Jesse Jackson, Jesse jackson Jr, type of marriage

well, I didn't realize that all the people you mention are forcing - what YOU called TRADITIONAL marriage down everyone throat like Gingrich does, like Larry Craig and Bob Allen did before their little skeletons came out.

Let's see Lary Craig's vote record:

see the pattern?
The point is that the Republicans try to tell everyone what and who they can love, restrict them on who they can marry, and force them to be 2nd class citizens. All this while they don't give a flying' f*ck about their own family values.

So no, you list doesn't prove anything. Even though John Edwards is a douchbag as a husband and a father, he is not considered anti-gay politician who claims to be superior.
Republican motto: "do as I say not as I do!"

Typical David, couldnt answer the question so attack the messenger. I never said intelligence wasnt important you just cant prove that Obama is more intelligent and I asked you to provide some tangible evidence of his cognitive ability. You cant so you deflect and attack me. If anything Romney proved he had a better command and IQ than Obama. Come on big boy come down off your condescension and I am more than happy to go toe to toe with you anyday of the week. Its such a sad way to debate when you cant reply with your own critical thinking. I am not condoning Romney's embellishments or pandering for votes as unlike you I realize that both candidates do it to the extreme. The fact that you are unwilling to even admit that is what Obama does to the same extreme just validates your lack of ability to see past your campaigning. I dont criticize Obama for pandering for votes and "evolving", I criticize him for his actual record of 4 years and economic policies that I disagree with. You prefer to just personally attack eliminating any credibility you have as a poster. Do you think Barack is teaching his daughters the meaning of his lies? Give me a break and go back to your attempts at being intellectual as its more fun to prove you wrong.

Shaak and Houston--GM did file bankruptcy protection under Chapter 11 that is bankruptcy and they would have survived as evidenced by their current profitable state when eliminating their debt. I had no problem with the government providing interim financing but they should have let the chpater 11 process play out like it should have and a better GM would have emerged. Didnt need the payoff to the unions in the meantime that just delays the next GM bankruptcy.

Shaak--dont forget that pesky tax cut to capital gains by Clinton providing the incentives to invest in our internet boom which really created all of that extra revenue. Pesky facts are tough. Same thing with the changes to consumer credit. You forgot to mention the impact on the poor from eliminating overdraft fees and some of the other so called consumer protections which just meant the cost of having a normal bank account went up. The unintended or failed to understand economic behavior by the democrats in the name of helping the poor and middle class generally backfires. Its why the poor, middle class and minorities have fared so poorly under the Obama economic policies of the last 4 years.

Do you realize the responsibility Obama carries? He is the only person standing between Romney and the White House. It is sinful that Romney could ever become president. Most of the time he is an actor reading his own lines, who doesn't understand his own programs... But let me give him his due: Romney could make a hell of a king.

The war-mongering republican ones who love to say let's "NUKE EM," to everyone, are going to fall right in line behind Romney, sending their SONS/DAUGHTERS off to yet another war while Romney's 5 sons stay back home AGAIN, yelling "SIC 'EM!" BOYS!!

OBAMA/BIDEN....2012!!!!

Kirk:

Shaak and Houston--GM did file bankruptcy protection under Chapter 11 that is bankruptcy and they would have survived as evidenced by their current profitable state when eliminating their debt. I had no problem with the government providing interim financing but they should have let the chpater 11 process play out like it should have and a better GM would have emerged. Didnt need the payoff to the unions in the meantime that just delays the next GM bankruptcy.

Ah, yes. The big bad unions. It wasn't the unions who were responsible for the economic disaster with which Obama was confronted when he became president. There were NO OTHER sources of money to save the auto industry except the Obama administration. Obama didn't campaign on saving the auto industry, but when he saw that it was about to collapse and taking the rest of the US economy with it, he stepped in and saved it. The fact that he didn't have to destroy the unions to do it may upset you. Too bad. The fact remains that had Obama followed Romney's advice, the U.S. would have been in the same boat as Great Britain, now in a double-dip recession thanks to its conservative economic policies.

BTW: I happen to LIKE the Brit prime minister David Cameron. He's too conservative for me, but I'd vote for him in a heartbeat over the lying unprincipled excuse for a candidate the Republicans have offered up as a candidate for the presidency of the United States. Cameron, at least, has principles.

Oops. Looks like Romney's advantage from his outstanding acting performance during the debate has already faded. As I pointed out earlier, the Republican-leaning Rasmussen showed Obama and Romney neck-and-neck with Obama' job approval at 51%. Now, Gallup shows Obama once again with a 5% lead over Romney. And Gallup now has Obama with a 51% job approval, just like Raz.

The correct question is: Has the media gone for higher ratings?

I'm fine with the spin that enthusiasm for President Obama is low, or that Romney won the debate, and by all means, let's not talk about the results of early voting in Ohio -- If it helps get folks to the polls to reelect the president, that's a good thing. If for no other reason than appointments to the Supreme Court, remember the 2000 election, Citizens' United, and Roe v Wade are the kinds of decisions at stake.

Obama/Biden - 2012!

Houston--I really dont have anything against private unions and never said so. I also fully supported Obama's debtor in lieu financing as you are correct it is unlikely that any was available at that moment but it was a brief moment. Obama did the right thing to step up and provide it. I am critical of the typical crony capitalism that then took place when he provided a political payoff to the unions. They have a ton of leverage and can negotiate for themselves against the lenders who would have been the shareholders. Its not a matter of destroying the unions as neither would have happened. You see I am not an ideologue and give Obama credit for his good things. I am critical of both parties and dont see Romney as a GOP panacea for the world. I would vote for Hillary against most GOP candidates. You on the other hand would find an excuse to not vote for any GOP candidate against Obama because you really dont want to be objective. I am not surprised by austerity creating a double dip as basically they are contracting the economy like Volcker did from the Carter disaster. But the Great Britain conservative principles will allow them to come out of the recession in far better economic shape than the US will adopting the Obama economic model. Trying to inflate another economic bubble in order to push the can or our economic problems down the road will be economic disaster.

Are you one of those tea bag extremists who think "compromise" is a dirty word? Even Ronald Reagan, before being elevated to far right sainthood, raised taxes and spending when president after campaigning against "big government." Obama is interested in what works best for the country, even if it's not exactly what he wanted. A public option would probably have been better, but not politically possible. He promised to reform the U.S. health system, and he did, even though it didn't go as far as he wanted.

No I am not. But Gibbs claimed that Romney will say anything to get elected. I don't see how, using the example of healthcare insurance, Obama is different.

Alan NJ:

... But Gibbs claimed that Romney will say anything to get elected. I don't see how, using the example of healthcare insurance, Obama is different.

Obama agreed to the individual mandate because that was the only viable option to get any health care reform passed at all. Romney LIED when he claimed his proposed policy would cover preexisting conditions in order to get people to vote for him who wouldn't do it if they knew what his real policy is, and also to set Obama back on his heels with his sudden (and bogus) change of heart. That's the difference.

Kirk-2957282

Houston--I really dont have anything against private unions and never said so. I also fully supported Obama's debtor in lieu financing as you are correct it is unlikely that any was available at that moment but it was a brief moment. Obama did the right thing to step up and provide it.

I am critical of the typical crony capitalism that then took place when he provided a political payoff to the unions. They have a ton of leverage and can negotiate for themselves against the lenders who would have been the shareholders.

Huh? Crony capitalism is the charge you're supposed to make when falsely attacking Obama for the Solyndra loan that was recommended by the Bush administration. The term "crony capitalism" does not compute when talking about saving union jobs and pensions as well as the auto industry.

Its not a matter of destroying the unions as neither would have happened. You see I am not an ideologue and give Obama credit for his good things. I am critical of both parties and dont see Romney as a GOP panacea for the world. I would vote for Hillary against most GOP candidates. You on the other hand would find an excuse to not vote for any GOP candidate against Obama because you really dont want to be objective.

Nobody is perfectly objective. But I'm far from an ideologue. I believe that we need a mixed economy with government and business acting both in partnership and also as adversaries with neither acquiescing completely to the demands of the other.

BTW: I'm disappointed that Hugo Chavez won in Venezuela. I thought it would have been better for that country if the moderate center-left opponent had won. Back when he first took power, I'll admit that I thought Chavez would be good for Venezuela, but it turns out he was, like Republicans in this country, a hardcore ideologue (of the opposite extreme) who has used his political power to perpetuate his own rule rather than for the benefit of his people.

fielden

When the subject was raising taxes on the 2%, the cry from conservatives was that was a mere drop in the bucket and wouldn't impact the deficit at all.

When the subject is de-funding PBS, which IS a very small drop in a very large bucket, the conservative cry is that we can't afford PBS and we need to cut that and more because the expense is crushing the middle class.

Curious...

Excellent post. And to take that further, compare the results of requiring the rich and corporations to pay their fair share in taxes versus ending education for small children. Those who missed Chris Hayes program this last weekend, I encourage you to go to the website and stream it, as well a Melissa's show. Studies show how important the pre-school to 3rd grade years are in determining success for the rest of a child's life. At a time when working poor single mothers have no time to read to their children, how stupid can folks be to cut Sesame Street instead of asking more of Wall Street, who owes us!

The program also covered economic issues in depth, though I wish there was more emphasis on wages. When Romney/Ryan talk about "revenue neutral" tax cuts that favor the rich, they are talking about tax cuts pay for themselves voodoo economics, which has been debunked. Just look at statistics over history and one can see that in fact things are better when taxes are higher, especially on the rich. Getting back to Wall Street versus Sesame Street, the stock market has been gangbusters yet has done nothing to improve jobs, wages, or demand.

But getting back to wages, it is not enough to talk about jobs. The reason for all economic woes, whether the housing industry or revenue or demand, it boils down to stagnant/decreasing wages and the skyrocketing gap between rich and poor in this country. Romney/Ryan have NO plan to create jobs, especially good paying jobs. How can prices of homes go up when wages do not? It's basic math!

Just listen to the real "unfiltered Romney" on video such as the one at that fundraiser. Listen to him salivate about the factory in China and the conditions and wages for the workers. This is the true vision he and the oligarchy have for YOU. A return to the company-owned towns during the days of the Robber Barons.

It's not just unfair, it's destructive, and most of all unpatriotic that folks like Romney/Ryan can even entertain such thoughts. In addition to Chris Hayes and Melissa, I encourage folks to listen to the Romney fundraiser video all the way through. The hypocritical 47% remark from tax evader Romney is only one of many alarming comments.

Save yourself and this great nation -- Vote a straight Democrat ticket.

geo-1957883 -- Hahaha, what Americans saw was theatrics from Romney. He's not a real presidential candidate, he just plays one on TV. The president, on the other hand, has a day job that at the moment includes problems between Syria and Turkey, and on top of it has to spend the evening trying to nail Jello to the wall.

Belfast Lad

Did everyone get the memo?

When Romney is trending ahead, the polls are correct; when unemployment is high, the numbers are correct. In all other circumstances favorable to Obama, the numbers have been tampered with.

Yes, and I also heard that Romney rigged gas prices to be higher in an attempt to win the election.

Our President has been doing much better with foreign affairs than he as with the economy. Obama beat Hillery because he promised to get out of the middle east conflicts quicker than what she promised. Once in office reality set in. The Presidents apology tour netted zero positive results. The best move that the President made was to follow the Bush time table in Iraq and to let the Navy Seals do their job. Because of Obama, peace has finally come to all of the middle east and all hold us in such high regard. Congratulations on your well deserved Nobel Peace Prize. All hail the Chief!

No, the race hasn't changed, only Mitt's positions (again).

Romney is creeping me out. His creepy smile, his baby step walk. He has the looks of a mature guy with erectile dysfunction - like he should be featured in a Viagra commercial.

We goofed up, I goofed up, but the American people carried us forward.”

Thus the reason for Romney saying that Obummer is leading from behind - the country shows him the way. Maybe if he got his head out of his behind Obummer would have some clarity of vision and his presidency wouldn't look so $h!tty.

I personally believe Obama is a wolf in sheep's clothing. An unbiased analysis suggests Obama is a closet Marxist whose dangerous anti-American and anti-colonialism agenda has metastasized into a pathological cancer on our society!

No American who loves this country should ever consider voting for a man who steadfastly refuses to place his hand over his heart during the playing of America's National Anthem!!! Any man who views this country with such disdain is NOT qualified to serve in the hallowed role of President!!!

The more myopic minded single issue constituency's that blindly support Obama without carefully examining his background and true agenda are in fact FOOLS OF THE GREATEST MAGNITUDE!

Romney/Ryan 2012

Can't hide....you got that right!!....If BOZOhussen had spent half the effort and time on this country instead of pushing Muslim objectives, he may have even got my vote again!! Maybe...fool me once, your fault, fool me twice, my fault!!!