E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS“Just about everybody agrees Washington is a gridlocked mess. But who’s the man to fix it? After two years of brawling and brinkmanship between President Barack Obama and congressional Republicans, more voters trust Mitt Romney to break the stalemate, an Associated Press-GfK poll shows,” the AP writes. “Romney’s message — a vote for Obama is a vote for more gridlock — seems to be getting through. Almost half of likely voters, 47 percent, think the Republican challenger would be better at ending the logjam, compared with 37 percent for Obama.”
“Mitt Romney on Wednesday stepped up his support of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, further rebuffing accusations that he would end funding for disaster relief if elected president,” the Boston Globe says. Romney said in a statement: “I believe that FEMA plays a key role in working with states and localities to prepare for and respond to natural disasters. As president, I will ensure FEMA has the funding it needs to fulfill its mission, while directing maximum resources to the first responders who work tirelessly to help those in need, because states and localities are in the best position to get aid to the individuals and communities affected by natural disasters.”
His campaign though walked a fine line: “Governor Romney believes that states should be in charge of emergency management in responding to storms and other natural disasters in their jurisdictions,” said Amanda Henneberg, a Romney campaign spokeswoman. “As the first responders, states are in the best position to aid affected individuals and communities and to direct resources and assistance to where they are needed most. This includes help from the federal government and FEMA.”
During the GOP primary when he said this about federal funding for disasters in a debate: “Every time you have an occasion to take something from the federal government and send it back to the states, that’s the right direction. And if you can go even further, and send it back to the private sector, that’s even better.”
But: “George Haddow, a private disaster relief consultant and former deputy chief of staff at FEMA during the 1990s, said Romney’s vision for FEMA sounds like that of former President George W. Bush, who was criticized for the government’s slow response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005. ‘The problem is it doesn’t reflect the reality of major disasters,’ Haddow said.”
Haley Barbour on FOX: “The biggest change in the race is to Obama’s favor — and that's been this storm.” He added that he’d be “surprised if he doesn’t make a little bit of a comeback here.” He even said the storm was “like manna from heaven” for Obama.
“By the second rally at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, [Romney’s] surrogates appeared ready for something more combative,” USA Today’s Kucinich writes. “As the Red Cross donation number beamed near him, Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., slammed the president's foreign policy. ‘Remember, and he went to Egypt to apologize, to tell the world that the United States was going to be humbler and mellower and that, frankly, we are so sorry for the sacrifices of the Americans for generations,’ he said. ‘Well, now — now Egypt is controlled by the Muslim Brotherhood. Now, in Libya, they murder our ambassador, kill three other brave Americans, and the president is nowhere to be found to answer what happened.’
“Later, [Jeb] Bush, who at the first rally had focused on the changes Romney would make to the country for the better, said the president was more focused on shifting the blame than bringing people together. ‘His entire strategy is to blame others — starting with my brother, of course,’ he said, referring to former president George W. Bush. ‘Basically, he blames every possible thing rather than having the humility to be able to reach out and to find common ground.’”
Despite GM criticizing the Jeep ad, Romney’s campaign defended it. Adviser Kevin Madden said the ad "makes the case for why Gov. Romney would be stronger for the auto industry and why the auto industry's an important part of a strong economy."
Leave a Comment:
.
New Jersery Governor Chris Christie did what was RIGHT FOR AMERICA.
Christie is Romney's number one surrogate, because Romney is what is RIGHT FOR AMERICA.
Given President Obama, the highest job in the free world, wasn't able to break gridlock and be a REAL leader, because that is what REAL leaders do. Real leaders never leave the bargaining table until compromise is met all the citizens are represented.
It is time to go.
Romney/Ryan for a bipartisan USofA
15 GOP leaders met on Inauguration Day, January 20th, 2009. They met in a WA restaurant and pledged to block all attempts made by the President to recover our economy. And they did it at a time when their help was most needed, when we were in economic freefall, going into a second Great Depression.
Their goal was to blame the fallout on the President, when the 2012 election came around.
McConnell made sure that plan was followed, by filibustering at 3 time the pace ever seen in American History. He openly bragged of his vow to block the President. They blocked ALL Jobs Bills, including the Veterans Jobs Bill a few weeks ago. The President's AJA was slated to make 2 million jobs, but GOP has voted NO three times, and refused to bring it up for debate.
Despite that 5.2 million jobs have been created over 31 months. Manaufacturing is back. Auto is back on top. Housing is up. Economists are predicting a robust comeback now. Meanwhile, Europe is floundering with unemployment at 25%.
The President has done an AMAZING job, with ZERO help from GOP.
"GRIDLOCK" DOESN'T COME CLOSE TO DESCRIBING GOP CONGRESSIONAL BEHAVIOR, OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS.
Amen Backhouse ! I could not have said it better. Thank you !
Obama/Biden 2012 for the average American People, not corporations and the richest.
Romney has experience to work with both sides of the political spectrum. Romney will do the job. Obama has no record of bipartisan work , never did when he was Senator and nor now that he is president. For Obama with his own words , Republicans are the "enemy" Republicans will go to the " back of the Bus" , with this kind of mentality no hope of change for bipartisan job. 4 more years of do nothing congress with Obama.
Romney 2012 a real leader
You are wrong redvirginia and you know it. The Tea Party/Republicans have been saying NO to anything positive that Obama provides. It is the Tea Party/Republicans who will not meet halfway for the simple reason to prevent Obama from being re-elected. Romney is NOT a real leader, ask the many Americans he helped lose their jobs while at Bain and various companies he owned/participated in. You are forgetting something, you obviously left out that the Democrat legislators worked with Romney in Massachusetts. The Democrat legislators could have easily sabotage Romney in Massachusetts like the Tea Party/Republicans have been doing since Obama became President. Romney taking full credit of Democrat legislators working with him on compromise is a joke. The credit should be shared on all political participants in Massachusetts, but no, Romney wants his cake and eat it, a lying, selfish and greedy man. You want the richest/corporation to keep screwing us over ? You want more wars, especially with Iran and saber rattling with Russia ? Then vote Romney and we will be in even worse shape than Bush. Want to continue progress and keep our country at peace ? Vote Obama.
Obama/Biden 2012
The main problem with Gridlock is the naughty, spoiled Children that NOW make up the GOP/Teas.
The funny thing is IF (& that is highly Unlikely) Mitt got in, the nasty, hateful teabaggers would scream
bloody murder when Mitt flips Back to the guy (who ever that maybe) that won't NEED them anymore.
I also see Annie redecorating the white house to better show the "Mormon" way.
I for one am not willing to accept "we'll fix the gridlock" argument.
That's really saying "if you don't elect us, we're going to keep our marbles for another 4 years"
That's extortion.
redvirginia - Romney NEVER worked across the aisle as Governor. He was overrulled on over 800 issues. He was ineffective and a joke. Didn't even bother to run a 2nd time because he was the most hated Governor EVER in Mass!
Obama/Biden 2012
How about we re-elect Barack Obama and get rid of the obstructionist GOP members in congress, who vowed to make Obama a one term President. They were the problem.
If you have not voted yet, be sure to vote: FOR A DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS AND PRESIDENT OBAMA!!!!
Two paradoxes in the gridlock question.
First, to the extent that Romney can break the gridlock (and his history in Massachusetts would indicate that he can't), it would only be because Democrats are willing to work with a Republican President and Republicans are not willing to work with a Democratic president. If Democrats take a page from their Republican colleagues and unanimously vote against anything that Romney proposes (even if it was a Democratic idea in the first place), Romney would not be able to break the deadlock.
Second, a substantial part of the gridlock is attributable to Republican efforts to avoid giving Obama any victories that he could run on in 2012. Since Obama can't run in 2016, those Republican may now be wanting some victories that they can run on in 2014 and 2016, and would be more willing to compromise. On the other hand, Democrats would want to avoid giving Romney victories to run on in 2016, and might be less willing to compromise. In other words, if this pattern continues into the future, we may only be able to avoid gridlock in the second term of a president.
The GOP should not have done it in the first place. They are supposed to represent the people, not their party. And if the Democrats do so, shame on them too!
Republicans know no shame this election no matter what they do it is O.K. and since it doesn't matter to their supporters they just keep going further afield.
Yes if Romney can surround himself with rich buddies from his past.
Another nice back-pedal from the Romney camp. Mr. Romney, please explain how fifty state-run emergency management agencies would be more effective or efficient? If you cannot do that, please explain how disaster victims should pay to be saved on the private market.
The state of New Jersey could save itself as it was being washed out to sea. Mr Romney should ask Gov Christie if he agrees.
If (God forbid) Mitt was to win the election the Democrats should do just exactly what the Republicans did. At least the legislation that the Democrats would be obstructing would be things like union busting laws and laws restricting Women's rights etc...
Where is the coverage of Ben Ghazi NBC? You miserable, liberal hacks.
ROTFLMAO.
Is he really Obie Wan Ghazi?
You miserable faux american.
Congrats American 3081800 - you get the prize for the first name calling. I think Faux News has claim on the Benghazi story.
america you cannot force legitimate news agencies to report on a Benghazi cover up when that cover up only exists in the minds of certain hard core conservatives who want to use the tradegy for political gain. At least your leader Romney had enough sense to drop after he saw it was working aganist him. Just try to imagine one news story about an issue that exists only in your mind. What reporter would touch it? Not any reporter who does not want to become a laughing stock.
Well, there are always FAUXNews and Ann Coulter to jump on such "storys"...
Just DVR Hannity and play that back all day. In case you didn't notice there was a real news story this week that happened on the East Coast.
I agree. You can't find it anywhere in the msm. The press is dead. Who wants a press that only tells some news stories and is the campaign for one candidate. I don't want to hear how wonderful one candidate is, and only hear nasty things about the other candidate.
Just like msnbc - nothing but an Obama with its propaganda all of the time. Anhyone who watches them or even believes anything they say has to be an odd ball.
We are FINALLY showing progress and positive movements, thanks to Obama and NO thanks to the party of no/obstructionist Tea Party and Republicans. You would have to be nuts to vote out Obama after recent reports showed Obama is moving the country along. Vote for Romney and let him wreck our recent positive progress ? Hell NO !!! Only those who are blinded, greedy and anarchist will vote for Romney. Many voted for Bush twice and wondered what the hell happen and still will vote for Romney ? That is CRAZY !!!! The average Americans voting for Romney is like a glutton for more punishment. Stop being narrowed minded and look at the whole picture.
Vote Obama/Biden 2012 to keep the positive progress going.
So now Mitt is an expert on the auto industry and he knows more about the way things work than the CEOs of GM and Chrysler. If this is true, if Mitt is the business expert why doesn't he already know that GM has been manufacturing autos in China for years? Why doesn't he already know that the cars made for Chinese markets are not always the same as those made for American markets? Why doesn't he already know that the profit earned on the sales of these cars built in foreign plants comes back to the stock holders in the USA?
Mitt break gridlock? This sort of pretense has formed the foundation for the gridlock! Republicans like to use the word "blame" when it would be more accurate to use the word "cause". One might argue the issue of "blame" as it applies to Bush but how can any reasonable person not trace the cause of the deficit to two unfunded wars, one unfunded drug program, a huge unfunded tax reduction, and a monumental collapse of a banking industry? How can anyone not recognise that the greed driven creation of a false and credit based economy results in an increase in production of items that would be sold to people that did not have the cash or equity to substantiate the purchase.
Gridlock will only go away when House and Senate members stop signing pledges to other entities and start honoring their sacred pledge to serve the needs of the American people. This has nothing to do with the President....unless you think of that office holder as Grover Norquist does: A rubber stamp for the unelected powers that be.
THIS IS SPARTA !!!!
Vote Obama/Biden 2012
If Romney is elected he will get more cooperation from Democrats than Obama received from Republicans simply because the Democrats usually put what is good for the country ahead of the party politics.Even in his last months in office and even though he was a total disaster Democrats still would vote in support of some of Bush's policies.
The Office of President is suppose to represent Leadership with integrity, honor and with moral excellence. Leadership with experience and proven past performance. We have not seen that these last 4 years and Romney will bring that to our Whitehouse!
Obama missed the 3AM call as did Hillary Clinton. Leadership was AWOL...other words he and she both missed the moment when terrorist came knocking at our door and the result was 4 Americans killed and all we get is a cover-up by him and his administration with the help of NBC by not reporting on another 9/11 terrorist attack 9/11/12 during Obama watch and he refused to take leadership and send in military help to prevent the killing of 4 Americans including an Ambassador of Libya. This is why the spin is on the hurricane Sandy disaster for Political Reasons and for non other. What other disasters in the past f years did he give any attention to, only to cover-up Again Libya's deadly terrorist attack and his refusal and/or denial of security protection prior and during the attack! Some real Leadership, just don't expect him to watch your back, he is too busy campaigning the last 4 years and does not know how to lead, only leading from behind again!
Wake up America! Take off those worn-out liberal blinders and regain your sight before it is too late! We cannot afford another 4 years of failures and including national security......Read the story of the terrorist attack of 9/11/12 in Libya for your self, because NBC will not let you see it and has joined in the cover-up for their left wing agenda.....
Where is NBC report on Obama's lack of leadership in Benghazi, Libya when he refused support of 4 Dead Americans? See what NBC refuses to inform you!
WHY? NBC does not care about American lives being killed by terrorist on 9/11/12 by terrorist and the fact that Obama left them to die by their own refusing to report the news for left wing political agendas. Obama would not and did not give the security that the Ambassador and his staff requested weeks prior to the attack and then told the CIA to stand down and not go in and rescue them during the 6 hour battle which left the Ambassador and 3 other Americans dead.
This is Real News and a Cover-up which NBC has decided to not report and held with the Obama Administration cover-up with no regards for the Murdered Americans nor their grieving families. This is Criminal and absurd that others, including the media would Aid & Abet this crime.
NBC is Not a professional journalism reporting news media, only feeding the masses what they make up as news, rejecting their duties as journalist in favor of left wing political agendas, favoring Obama in this case!
Very sad day for America, reprehensible and an absolute disgrace to our Nation. May you all seek the Truth and Demand NBC to Report the Truth!
Tell it like it is. Good job The libs are going to bring down this country for sure.
Patriot -1551348, Iraq versus Benghazi!!!!
I would agree that as long as the House is controlled by Republican'ts, and the Senate continues to allow it's stupid 60 vote rule, and we have a Democratic president, there will be gridlock. However, to save America, our insidious liberal plan is to elect a Democratically-controlled Congress and a Democratic president; if not now, then later. Should the Republican'ts continue to enforce political gridlock over the next four years, they will grow even weaker, and if we do not move FORWARD, at least we will not slide further into fascism or plutocracy. Be afraid teabaggers, be very afraid. We have seen your ignorance, your racism, your fanaticism, your inability to compromise, and we are no longer nice people. We will never allow you to prevail.
Romney/Ryan 2012
R/R 2012....in the history books they will be listed right next to McCain/Pailin 2008!
I think Romney has shown he knows how to "break the gridlock".....he has with China - look how many new jobs he provided them with!
.... AND YET MORE LIES FROM FOX NEWS .... REPUBLICAN PARTY USING LIES LIES LIES LIES LIES LIES LIES LIES ..... JUST PATHETIC !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! .... and voters don't see it ... or refuse to see it???
U.S. says CIA responded within 25 minutes to Benghazi attack
Intelligence officials dispute a report by Fox News that officers in Libya were ordered to 'stand down' after the diplomatic compound came under attack.
By Ken Dilanian, Los Angeles Times November 2, 2012
WASHINGTON — CIA security officers in a Benghazi post responded within 25 minutes to a call for help from a nearby State Department compound after it came under attack Sept. 11, officials said Thursday, seeking to refute a Fox News report asserting that CIA managers ordered them to stay put.
In releasing a detailed timeline of CIA actions that night, senior intelligence officials have put aside long-standing concerns about revealing the extent of the agency's presence in Benghazi in order to push back against what officials say are baseless allegations that aid was withheld.
"At every level in the chain of command, from the senior officers in Libya to the most senior officials in Washington, everyone was fully engaged in trying to provide whatever help they could," a senior intelligence official said in a statement. "There were no orders to anybody to stand down in providing support."
Fox News asserted in a story last week that CIA managers had ordered agency security officers to "stand down" and remain in their own facility, known as the Annex, when the attack on the diplomatic compound began about 9:40 p.m. and that there was an hour delay before officers disobeyed orders and went to help repel the attack that killed Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and State Department officer Sean Smith.
Among those who rushed to help was Tyrone Woods, a former Navy SEAL who was part of the CIA security team and who later died in the attacks.
The Fox story also asserted that the CIA "chain of command" refused to pass along requests from its officers for military aid and that special operations forces in nearby Sicily could have been sent to help but were not. Intelligence and Pentagon officials strenuously denied that Thursday.
They insisted there was no viable military option to disrupt what amounted to a series of sporadic attacks in a crowded city full of people sympathetic to the U.S. There were no armed drones in the region and airstrikes were not called for, officials said.
"Let's say we were able to get an aircraft there. Do you go in and start strafing a populated area without knowing where friend or foe is?" a senior Defense official asked. "If you did that, you could kill the very people you are trying to help."
A special operations team was sent to Naval Air Station Sigonella in Sicily, but the team arrived after the attack ended, said the senior Defense official, who would not be quoted by name discussing potentially classified
information.
Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta learned of the attack shortly after it began, about 4:30 p.m Eastern
time, Defense officials said, and discussed it in a previously scheduled meeting with the president. Obama ordered him to pursue whatever options were feasible, a Defense official said.
Panetta "ordered all appropriate forces to respond to the unfolding events in Benghazi, but the attack was over before those forces could be employed,"Pentagon spokesman George Little said.
Shortly after 11 p.m. a surveillance drone had arrived from elsewhere in Libya — about an hour after it was requested, officials said. But the video feed was not seen by the president, contrary to some news reports. And the feed did not offer analysts a clear understanding of what was happening on the ground, officials said.
After the CIA team arrived at the compound, "over the next 25 minutes, team members approach the compound, attempt to secure heavy weapons [from Libyans], and make their way onto the compound itself in the face of enemy fire," the senior U.S. intelligence official said.
The senior intelligence official disclosed that the CIA also sent a second six-member team from Tripoli on a chartered plane to help repel the attack. The team included Glen Doherty, another former SEAL, who was later killed when attackers fired mortar rounds at the CIA Annex.
The team arrived around midnight but got bogged down at the airport. Ultimately, it learned that "the ambassador was almost certainly dead" and headed to the agency facility "to assist with the evacuation," the official said.
It arrived with Libyan support at the Annex at 5:15 a.m., just before mortar rounds began to strike. Woods and Doherty were killed as they fired on militants from the roof. The mortar attack lasted 11 minutes, the official said.
The drone overhead was not armed. Even if it had been, there were no viable targets, officials said.
"The officers on the ground in Benghazi responded to the situation on the night of 11 and 12 September as quickly and as effectively as possible," the intelligence official said. "The security officers in particular were genuine heroes. They quickly tried to rally additional local support and heavier weapons, and when that could not be accomplished within minutes, they still moved in and put their own lives on the line to save their comrades."
I`am amazed that people havent been watching what MITT THE TWIT has been saying behind your broke a$$ backs all this time hes lied pandered told you only what you need or want to hear and the sheeple will follow him right off the cliff ,, the only difference is he going to land on a cushion of money and youre going to hit rocks LOL.Yes things been tuff on everyone two wars ,,congress back stabbing the president every step of the way and every one actng like they cant see it.In life even on your own job if you had people like that around you everyday you`d pull your hair out.So everyone chill out look at the truth and open your eyes,ears and use something we were all given your Fugging memory Jesus wake up you sheeple
On Janruary 20, 2009 the GOP/Tea Beggers met at the Caucus Restaurant in Washington D.C. At their "Mid-Night Meeting Of Mental Madness." The GOP/RNC "Fourteen Felon's" made a blood oath to destroy the US Economy at all costs. One of these Tea Begger Felon's is little "Richie Rich" Ryan. Another one was "Nutty Newt." Who stated that the seeds of 2012 were planted tonight. Another Tea Begger who attended this "Drunk Fest" at the Caucus Restaurant was Senator "Da" Mint. Witnesses claim that all of the GOP/RNC Tea Beggers left hanging on 'ladies of the night,' and drunk as all heck. Tea Begger "Crazy Cantor" was very vocal in the GOP/RNC plan to bring the US Economy to it's knees, and then blame the President. Ask about this little Tea Begger Meeting by the GOP/RNC America!