First Thoughts: Why Romney might not be following Hillary's footsteps

Three differences between Romney’s and Hillary’s campaigns … Newt vs. Mitt turns negative, but Gingrich pens letter to staff, surrogates urging them to stay positive, but he reserves the right to respond to fire with fire (like hitting Romney over Bain) … Obama trails in swing states … a new NBC-WSJ poll out tonight.

*** Why Romney might not be following in Hillary’s footsteps: Yesterday, we wrote about the some of the parallels -- right now -- between Mitt Romney’s campaign and Hillary Clinton’s, circa mid- to late-December 2007. (Politico follows up today with some interesting interviews with ex-Clinton staffers.) But it’s also important to point out three key differences: (1) Romney doesn’t appear to be spending the amount of money that Clinton did. Remember, after Super Tuesday, the Clinton campaign essentially ran out of money (in large part, because it didn’t anticipate a contest past then). But Romney’s team has hoarded much of its cash. In fact, the main entity bombarding Iowa airwaves is the pro-Romney Super PAC, not the campaign. Team Romney has LONG planned for the LONG nomination fight; (2) Romney’s camp isn’t “all in” in Iowa, the same way Clinton’s was four years ago. That’s why Clinton’s loss in the Hawkeye State was so devastating and why her victory in New Hampshire a week later was so surprising; And (3) As we mentioned yesterday, Newt Gingrich’s operation isn’t Obama’s from 2007-2008, whether it’s in fundraising or organizing. 

*** The GOP race turns negative: But one comparison is certainly true: Romney and Gingrich are engaging each other like Clinton and Obama did in the winter and spring of 2008. Romney started it; He hit Gingrich on a number of fronts. But the first response from Gingrich elevated the spat and created this narrative. As Politico writes, “Presaging a brutal final stretch before voting begins, Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich traded mocking insults Monday that veered into the personal and made clear that any restraint between the two was all but gone. In the sharpest and most personal negative turn yet of the Republican presidential campaign, the two leading contenders jabbed one another over how each got rich. Romney portrayed Gingrich as a Beltway fixer who cashed in on his access. The former House speaker returned fire by painting the one-time Bain executive as a reckless corporate titan who lined his pockets by killing jobs -- the first time a Republican opponent of Romney has [hit] him that hard for his private-sector work.” And it continues today from Team Romney. In the first attack of the day, the campaign released an email once again hitting Gingrich over Freddie Mac (something it did yesterday also). This close to actual votes taking place, the Romney camp knows it has to blunt any momentum Gingrich might gain from the early states. And Romney yesterday acknowledged that Gingrich “right now” is the front runner.

The Iowa caucuses are less than a month away, and the Republican presidential frontrunners are stepping up their attacks on one another. NBC's Chuck Todd reports.

*** Newt pledges to stay positive, but…: But Gingrich, who everyone knows has a thick and dusty oppo file on him, is trying to guilt Romney into not attacking him. Gingrich late last night issued a letter to staffers and surrogates, urging them to remain positive and notes that both sides should run a “positive solutions-based campaign,” because, “It is critical the Republican nominee emerge from this primary campaign un-bloodied, so that he or she can make the case against President Obama from a position of strength.” And Gingrich used a quote from Romney that seemed more like a throw-away line to us: “I’m not going to say outrageous things that can be used to hang [a GOP opponent] down the road.” But that doesn’t mean we’re suddenly going to enter a kumbaya mode of this primary. Gingrich did, after all, write in a self-defense clause: “I have reserved the right to respond when my record has been distorted.” This little move by Gingrich has all but guaranteed Romney will have to own the idea that “he went negative first” something Gingrich is counting on backfiring with primary voters.

*** It don't mean a thing if you ain't got that swing-state strength: Turning the general election, a new USA Today/Gallup poll of swing states “finds the number of voters who identify themselves as Democratic or Democratic-leaning in these key states has eroded, down by 4 percentage points, while the ranks of Republicans have climbed by 5 points. Republican voters also are more attentive to the campaign, more enthusiastic about the election and more convinced that the outcome matters.” More from the poll: “In the swing states, Obama now trails former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney among registered voters by 5 points, 43% vs. 48%, and former House speaker Newt Gingrich by 3, 45% vs. 48%. That's a bit worse than the president fares nationwide, where he leads Gingrich 50%-44% and edges Romney 47%-46%.” Caveat: It’s striking to see this kind of discrepancy between the swing-state and nationwide numbers. So a bit of caution… By the way, today President Obama does a round of local news interviews -- three of four in swing states -- in Norfolk, VA, Pensacola, FL, Colorado Springs, CO, and Seattle.

*** NBC/WSJ poll day! Meanwhile, our national NBC/WSJ poll is released beginning at 6:30 pm ET. Who is leading the GOP horserace? What are the general election head-to-head numbers? How do Americans view Congress? Be sure to tune into NBC’s “Nightly News,” or click on to msnbc.com, starting at 6:30 pm.

*** On the 2012 trail: Romney raises money in Massachusetts… Paul holds a town hall in New Hampshire… Santorum makes multiple stops in Iowa… Huntsman appears on “The View”… And while Gingrich is down today, Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal holds a press conference to unveil Gingrich supporters.

Countdown to Iowa caucuses: 21 days
Countdown to New Hampshire primary: 28 days
Countdown to South Carolina primary: 39 days
Countdown to Florida primary: 49 days
Countdown to Nevada caucuses: 53 days
Countdown to Super Tuesday: 84 days
Countdown to Election Day: 331 days

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Why Is Eric Cantor Blocking the Congressional Insider Trading Act?

By: John Carney Published: Friday, 9 Dec 2011

The Republican sponsor of the bill in the House, Financial Services Chairman Spencer Bachus of Alabama, had scheduled a markup of the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act for next week. But on Wednesday, Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Virginia cancelled the markup session.

Cantor reportedly said he blocked the bill to give Congress more time to examine the issue. Critics of the move, however, fear that any delay could kill the bill entirely.

Studies have shown the investment portfolios of House members and Senators consistently outperform the market by significant degrees, suggesting they are either miraculously bright and lucky investors or using their access to non-public information when trading. Financial experts regard the idea that it is just luck or investing smarts as laughable.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/45612773

___________________________________________________________

Young Eric apparently didn’t make enough money shorting Treasury’s when he artificially created that crisis. I reckon that serving as a Member of Congress without the additional sweetener of Insider Trading just don’t quite make it. I mean who expects truth and honor in their Politicians? Unless you can make hay with it by using it against the opposition.

You know something? A Crook is A Crook no matter whether he has a D, an R, or a T.P. after his name. And Mr. Cantor is a crook. He just hopes you don’t notice.

  • 40 votes
#1 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:17 AM EST

Newt/Mitt:

I can understand that a person whose political leanings are right of center would vote for a Republican. Mike Huckabee was a preacher and governor and would be acceptable to the evangelical right. Jeb Bush would now and then say something reasonable and if he would just change his name to…Reagan, he could get the GOP nomination. And there is Mitch Daniels, who recently uncovered 320 million dollars that could have been used to educate Hoosier children and treat the mentally Ill, would have been a reasonable choice for some fiscal conservatives.

But alas, the Republicans are stuck with Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney, and second tier candidates like Michele Bachmann, Rick Perry, and Rick Santorum. I notice that Newt has pledged not to commit infidelity a third time. Guess it was all right to ignore those wedding vows the first two times. Evangelical conservatives may not feel too comfortable with that pledge. I also bet they are curious to know what secrets are embedded within the Mormon faith and wonder why such information is not revealed for all to know.

Then we have the money issues. Gingrich received millions as a consultant from Freddy and Fanny. Additionally, under the Gingrich tax plan, millionaires would receive a $600,000 tax cut and would pay no more taxes than a family of four. No doubt he is looking after number 1 as well as the Wall Street 1%. Romney has made much of his money buying up companies and laying off their employees. Much of Romney's campaign chest is lined with banking and corporate donations. In short, both are very wealthy men and neither is interested in giving the middle class a tax break.

Since Newt/Mitt have little to no interest in helping the middle class, why should 99 % of Americans support either of them for President? Both men are putting personal ambition ahead of doing what's best for America. For that matter, why would anyone but the 1 % vote Republican in the 2012 election?

And as for integrity, combined they don't have enough to fill a thimble.

  • 38 votes
#1.1 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:18 AM EST

The 2011-12 SC term should be one of the most interesting and entertaining in recent memory. There are a lot of decisions that will be of major importance and they will be coming out during the fireworks of a heated Presidential campaign. I look forward to the SC making the right decisions on each issue.

BTW, what are FR lefty liberals planning to do to mourn today’s 11th anniversary of Al Bore’s conceding the 2000 election? I’m planning to celebrate by grill up some filet mignon and garlic-butter drenched AK sockeye salmon, and toasting democracy with a few Sam Adams Winter Lagers.

From Politico:

SCOTUS an 'enormous issue' for '12
By: Josh Gerstein
December 12, 2011 11:27 PM EST

The Supreme Court, which has faded as a major campaign issue in recent years, could make a resurgence in 2012: The justices just keep adding to the hot-button political issues they plan to tackle before the election.

The court agreed Monday to decide how much authority states have to crack down on illegal immigration. The justices’ decision to review the constitutionality of Arizona’s S.B. 1070 comes days after they agreed to consider redistricting plans for the state of Texas that could change the balance of power in Congress.

The court is also preparing to hear arguments in March on an issue of huge importance to President Barack Obama: a series of challenges to his signature health care law.

Together, the cases will help shape the national political debate as well as the direction of policy on one of the most contentious issues of the election: the power of the federal government. On immigration, the justices will decide whether the federal government has the right to block state efforts to enforce immigration laws. On health care, the high court will wrestle with the question of whether the national government can require individuals to purchase health insurance.

“It’s certainly the most politically explosive term I can ever remember, and what’s most interesting is it comes right on the eve of the election,” said Curt Levey of the conservative Committee for Justice.

  • 10 votes
#1.2 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:20 AM EST

So yesterday FR runs a story on why Romney is like Clinton, today it runs a story contradicting that one.

Hey First Read, sounds like you're getting desperate. Plenty of other stories out there to cover rather than making them up.

Minute by minute revelations of what the GOP candidates have to say just ain't cutting it.

Except of course for your faithful LIbs, who are really starting to go around the bend.

Hell, yesterday Feisty was discussing Mitt Romney's Genitals.

  • 17 votes
#1.3 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:25 AM EST

Keystone and Extending the Payroll Tax Cut

So, what country does the U.S. depend on the most for the oil we import? Would that be Saudia Arabia? Nope, countries in the Persian Gulf provide 16% of our oil for domestic consumption. How about Venezuala? Nope again, we get 9% from there and even Mexico is higher than them at 11%. The country we rely on the most is Canada – yup, Canada – which accounts for 25% of our imported oil. And the main reason for that is the expansion in their output from oil sands, a supply side revolution in the oil biz that's playing out here in the U.S. as well. In fact, U.S. crude production has increased by 18% since 2005, largely because of the fracking technique that extracts previously unextractable black gold.

But while U.S. dependence on oil imports has been declining since 2005, we still import a lot of oil. And if we have to import oil, then importing it from friendlies like Canada is a heck of a lot better than relying on less friendly regimes in the Middle East or elsewhere. But how much more oil we could import from Canada depends on whether sufficient transportation capacity exists. Which brings us to the Keystone XL pipeline issue.

Despite years of study that concluded there were no significant environmental problems associated with the pipeline, Obama pushed the Keystone decision back beyond the 2012 election as a sop to his environmentalist buds. So the president is on record as a) rejecting a jobs project that really is shovel ready, as opposed to the fantasies in his stimulus package; and b) rejecting the desirability of increasing our oil imports from a friendly neighbor, and instead continue to rely on less friendly regimes who are not above using oil supply as a weapon. Which brings us to the Republican proposal to link approval of Keystone to extension of the payroll tax cut.

Approving the Keystone pipeline – NOW – is a no-brainer. But in an administration that is a bit challenged in the common sense department, Republicans are offering a helping hand by agreeing to support one of the president's key priorities in extending the payroll tax cut, in return for the president's support on Keystone (can anyone say compromise?). Now the prez and his partner Harry have been on their soapboxes saying this is a non-starter and has no chance of passing in the Senate. Fine, let the idiot Dems continue to be on record against creating shovel ready jobs and against importing more of our oil from a friendly neighbor. That will surely play really well in Peoria.

The Republicans have the Dems in a box and are in position to force them cave on this one. Which would be a good thing for all of us.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204449804577068932026951376.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEADTop

  • 19 votes
#1.4 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:27 AM EST

Desperation is such a pitiful thing. It's on display on these pages every day, as the cult of Obama desperately tries to counter his failures with inane arguments about the personal lives or looks of republican candidates. It is not working.

Why? Obama's failures are almost too numerous to list.

Today, we have a report that child homelessness has increased by 33%- thirty three percent!- during his term of office. This despite five trillion in additional spending.

Yesterday, Gallup reported that 64%- sixty four percent- of Americans see big government as the greatest threat to the nation. By comparison, only 26% named big business.

Kind of explains this, today-

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1211/70344.html

Notice that neither Nevada nor New Hampshire are on that list- there is no hope, whatsoever, for Obama in those states.

We're going to get change, folks, no matter how unfair Obama thinks it might be. He's an unmitigated disaster.

  • 13 votes
#1.5 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:29 AM EST

Explain to me why it's OK and legal for a Congressman ( or woman ) to be able to use inside trading information for their personal benefit. If you or I do the same thing we go to jail. Where's the fairness in this rule.

Change the rule and put Eric Cantor in jail.

Obama in 2012.

  • 22 votes
#1.6 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:31 AM EST

Speaking of Eric Cantor, his priorities a clearly skewed when it comes to THIS country;

Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) voted for over $120 billion to rebuild Iraq and Afghanistan, funds that were used to construct and repair schools, roads, bridges, and other critical infrastructure.

Now, Cantor is opposing President Obama’s proposal to spend $30 billion to modernize 35,000 American schools. Reuters has the story:

U.S. House Republican Leader Eric Cantor said on Monday he will not support President Barack Obama’s proposal to renovate U.S. schools as part of the administration’s bill to spur job growth.

He added that Obama should focus instead on cutting federal regulations that he says kill U.S. jobs

The president’s proposal is a modest effort. The total maintenance and repair backlog at U.S. schools is estimated at $270 billion to $500 billion. While the funding Obama is proposing is fully offset, Cantor voted to build schools in Iraq and Afghanistan with deficit spending.

Construction and building projects generally create about 10,000 jobs per billion spent. At a time of high unemployment, the funding that Cantor opposes would create about 300,000 jobs. Economist Jared Berstein explains that funding to modernize schools is “a smart way to get a lot of people who really need jobs back to work, fix a critical part of our institutional infrastructure, save energy costs, provide kids with a better, healthier learning environment, and do so in way that everyone can see and feel good about each morning when they drop their kids at school.”

http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2011/09/12/317046/cantor-billions-iraq-schools/

How anyone can vote for these treasonous crooks is beyond imagination...

  • 32 votes
#1.7 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:32 AM EST

Speaking of entertainment coming out of SC decisions, lefty kook extraordinaire, Bernie Sanders, is providing more laughs. He was on Da Rev. Al’s Comedy Hour last night. Bernie reminds me of those two grouchy, old, Muppet kooks, Statler and Waldorf, who sit up in the balcony seats and constantly complain and heckle the other Muppets. His latest laugh-fest is his Constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United by declaring that corporations are not “persons” in the eyes of the law, as decided by the SC in 1876 in the case of Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Railroad Company.

I am especially entertained by the fact that my own city is part of the drive for this effort. All Bernie has to do is get a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress, and the approval of three-quarters of the state legislatures for it to become part of the Constitution. Good luck with that Bernie.

LMAO!!!!

Care2 recently brought you the news of two city councils that passed symbolic resolutions to support constitutional amendments that would undo the Supreme Court’s disastrous Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission ruling.

The votes, which took place in Los Angeles, California, and Albany, New York, were both unanimous, and met with widespread approval among Occupy Wall Street participants. Overturning Citizens United has been a major rallying cry of the OWS movement since its beginning over 2 months ago.

On Thursday, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) decided to take the next step toward realizing this goal by introducing a constitutional amendment to the U.S. Senate that would overturn the ruling which classified multi-national corporations as people and therefore entitled to the same rights as living, breathing, human individuals.

  • 9 votes
#1.8 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:32 AM EST

The Implosion of the Radical Right Republican Party will continue into 2012.

  • 24 votes
#1.9 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:34 AM EST

IR, well said. Eric Cantor and his pals make me tired. Clearly, Cantor blocking bills to prevent legislators from profiting because of insider trading knowledge proves once again what corruption and money has done to our democracy. What should be an easy law to pass with bi-partisan support gets put on the shelf in the hopes no one notices. Time for voters from both sides of the aisle to send Eric Cantor an email.

Feisty, your post provides more proof that the GOPers in Congress have only one goal in mind--defeat President Obama. They can spend unfunded billions in Iraq and Afghanistan with no strings attached but not one penny to help Americans. Shallow, petty, ignorant fools--my view of today's GOP.

  • 24 votes
#1.10 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:36 AM EST

Why Is Eric Cantor Blocking the Congressional Insider Trading Act?

Every congressional member who is interviewed by the media should be asked their position on this issue first. It is a disgrace that the current state of the law allows them to profit from insider information .

Watched Joe Manchin's interview yesterday.

"I know you'd like to spend 3.7T but we're only bringing in 2.2T".

"Simpson-Bowles is the only plan on the table right now".

"No I haven't had a call from the President regarding any deficit legislation".

"No excuse for Democrats not producing a budget".

"You have to be strong fiscally to be able to help people".

Now that's a Democratic I can support.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2011/12/12/dem_sen_joe_manchin_no_excuse_for_democrats_not_producing_a_budget.html

  • 7 votes
#1.11 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:39 AM EST

Jody,

A little off thread here, but what's up with you folks in Iowa? This morning I heard a woman on NPR say that while she wished she could support Bachmann, she couldn't because she wasn't comfortable with the idea of a woman as president. She said, "I don't think we're cut out for it." You folks on the plains haven't heard of Margaret Thatcher, Benazir Bhutto, Cleopatra. . . ? ;-)

  • 16 votes
#1.12 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:42 AM EST

Joe in Albany, excellent menu and beverage choices. Perhaps you'll stop and think a minute about the thousands of troops that we lost in Iraq for - what was that for again?

No Joe, yesterday's Marist poll had the President ahead of Gingrich and Romney in South Carolina. That would be the South Carolina where seemingly any Republican with a pulse can get elected.

  • 24 votes
#1.13 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:42 AM EST

“I’m not going to say outrageous things that can be used to hang [a GOP opponent] down the road.”

I'm not a betting man, but if I were I'd put $10,000 down on that statement not being true. Newt can't help himself.

This little move by Gingrich has all but guaranteed Romney will have to own the idea that “he went negative first” something Gingrich is counting on backfiring with primary voters.

It won't matter. It doesn't fit into the pre-existing narrative surrounding Mitt and Newt's pre-existing narrative is that of a nasty man that is willing to say anything to tear down his opponents.

Look, I don't care what the polls say. There is no way Newt Gingrich is winning the Republican nomination. I may make fun of our wingnut trolls and their blathering idiocy, but they don't represent the Republican establishment, they represent the Republican Base/Tea Party. The Republican establishment, in contrast with the Republican base, is made up of people with fully functioning brains. They will never allow Newt the nomination.

Then again, I'd of said the same thing about Sharon Angle or Christine O'Donnell...

  • 19 votes
#1.14 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:45 AM EST

@Alan -- You are so right!!!!! I know Senator Manchin and he truly is a Democrat that is right for this country.

  • 6 votes
#1.15 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:45 AM EST

Republicans saying NO to extending middle class payroll tax cut in Congress, while pushing for permanent massive tax cut for the wealthy on the campaign trail:

WAKE UP FOLKS!

"There are two very different tax-policy conversations playing out in the Republican Party right now. In Washington, House Republicans are arguing with each other over how small of a temporary tax cut to give the middle class. Out on the primary trail, the Republican presidential candidates are arguing over how huge of a permanent tax cut to give the wealthy.

.....the center of gravity in the party is between a plain extension of the current rates and no tax cut at all, and Speaker John Boehner is trying to win Republican support for the extension by turning it into leverage for a wholly unrelated priority: the Keystone XL oil sands pipeline". (Klein today)

  • 23 votes
#1.16 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:45 AM EST

Republicans in the House have attached an amendment to the Payroll Tax cut extension that makes it illegal for Casinos and Strip Clubs to accept Welfare debit cards.

While I believe that this should be illegal … this is another example of Republicans overriding States rights?

  • 15 votes
#1.17 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:51 AM EST

You are so right!!!!! I know Senator Manchin and he truly is a Democrat that is right for this country.

I watched yesterday and all I heard was common sense. He is too out of touch with the whacko's on both sides. He understands that that you need a private sector to fund programs that are needed by the poor. he understands that if you try and help everyone you create dependencies and that the people in real need get hurt. The story about his grandmother offering meals to the needy, in RETURN for cleaning up the parking lot made far too much sense.

Any chance he would run for President in 2016?

  • 4 votes
#1.18 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:54 AM EST

Reading the posts this morning, I'm reminded of the terrific PBS series, "The Fabric of the Cosmos" as it seems that Team Red and Team Blue occupy separate, parallel universes...

  • 10 votes
#1.19 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:04 AM EST

How many sham 501c3, sham marriages and sham commitments will it take before people wake TFU on Grinch? This is like watching WWE but worse. The Winner could actually be a crooked, lobbyist. How did this happen? The Right is convinced "we" are destroying America. Look at your candidates? You will "consider" a FOX news pundit, K-Street, Wife Swapping, Indoctrinating, Arrogant Scum Bag to occupy the highest office in the land. Who is REALLY destroying America? I never thought I'd say this: Ron Paul was Right!

I rest my case that the smoke is coming from their house.

Obama 2012!

  • 18 votes
#1.20 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:06 AM EST

There is another big difference between Mrs. Clinton's campaign and Mitty's. Mrs. Clinton had (and still has) a devoted group of followers that would walk through fire to cast a vote for her. Romney's support is lukewarm at best, and if one were to be totally truthful about it, lacks the excitement from the right wing that we have seen prior. It seems that they are still looking for anyone else, which is the only way you can explain any interest whatsoever in the world's most ethically compromised candidate....Gingrinch.

  • 16 votes
#1.21 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:06 AM EST

Anyone think Manchin has any problems with Keystone? How about Mccaskill, Tester, or several other dem senators?

Nope. And let's face it one of the biggest problems we have in the short term is the cost of gas.

Jobs are great, but we need the oil that will flow through the pipeline.

No way Obama will veto the bill. High gas effects the poor and middle class and continues to weigh down spending.

  • 11 votes
#1.22 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:07 AM EST

Jack, LOL, I missed that one! Let's just say that she represents a small segment of those right-wing evangelicals but obviously she took to heart Bachmann's words about "obeying" Marcus and doing whatever he said. When I lived in San Diego and Iowa made the national news, I used to swear the media purposely found the Iowan with missing teeth to interview.

  • 14 votes
#1.23 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:08 AM EST

Is it just me, or is Joe Scarborough Mitt Romney's BEST cheerleader? I mean I had MJ on during my commute in this morning and the strong commitment to endorsement for Romney just couldn't be missed. Joe, go ahead and put your pom poms away - the crazy wing of your party just simply WILL NOT 'stand' for Mittens to be the nominee.

And who was it that said Bloomberg is 'likely' to swoop in as an Independent because he is waiting for an actual SHOT at the win.

Man punditry has gotten a LOT sexier since Joe picked up the gauntlet for Mittens. heh heh

  • 14 votes
#1.24 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:12 AM EST

You folks on the plains haven't heard of Margaret Thatcher, Benazir Bhutto, Cleopatra. . . ? ;-)

_______________________________________________

It's entertaining that the first woman leader you name is a conservative, Margaret Thacher, who famously said:

"The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money to spend."

Sounds like that's exactly where Europe is right now, and where America is heading full speed under the steering of Capt. Barry.

  • 13 votes
#1.25 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:18 AM EST

Jody,

I used to swear the media purposely found the Iowan with missing teeth to interview.

I know exactly what you mean. One of my best friends lives near Hardwick, VT, not exactly a stellar community. The joke goes:

Q. How can you know that the toothbrush was invented in Hardwick?

A. Because if it had been invented anywhere else it would have been called a teethbrush.

Joe,

It's entertaining that the first woman leader you name is a conservative

Only you would have mentioned that. Say, you're not from Hardwick, are you?

  • 11 votes
#1.26 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:19 AM EST

Backhouse, well said. It's beyond me how the GOP thinks pushing for permanent tax cuts for the 1% of millionaires and billionaires while being against a temporary payroll tax break for 99% of Americans will play well in 2012. People are on to them. Sadly, the GOP legislators are truely ideologically impaired--they've Pledged their souls to Grover Norquist, their Master and King.

Dennis, I agree it should be illegal and to my knowledge, it already is. Those welfare debit cards already have restricted use; they're only valid for certain purchases and nothing else; they can't buy liquor or cigarettes and mostly definitely Casinos are off limits. This is just one more Welfare Queen stereotype being pushed by republicans.

  • 19 votes
#1.27 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:20 AM EST

Say, you're not from Hardwick, are you?

_________________________________

No, but, I'm pretty sure your friend Bernie Sanders is from Hardwick. That's probably one of the things that makes him so grouchy.

  • 4 votes
#1.28 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:27 AM EST

soundbite monopoly, good points!

  • 8 votes
#1.29 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:27 AM EST

Joe,

No, but, I'm pretty sure your friend Bernie Sanders is from Hardwick.

Actually, he's from Brooklyn, numb nuts--you must be tone deaf. And he rightfully gets grouchy about corporations and the wealthy destroying the middle class in this country.

  • 15 votes
#1.30 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:34 AM EST

Albany Joe, it doesn't matter whether the women named were conservatives or liberals because it isn't about politics, it's about WOMEN LEADERS. You either choose to ignore the point because you need to make noise or missed it completely--the early 20th century thinking of that Iowa lady. I wonder if she thinks women should be allowed to vote, drive or work outside the home.

  • 18 votes
#1.31 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:34 AM EST

Albany Joe, it doesn't matter whether the women named were conservatives or liberals because it isn't about politics, it's about WOMEN LEADERS. You either choose to ignore the point because you need to make noise or missed it completely--the early 20th century thinking of that Iowa lady. I wonder if she thinks women should be allowed to vote, drive or work outside the home.

After the misogyny displayed during the Democratic primary of 2008? LOL Pot meet kettle.

  • 4 votes
#1.32 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:48 AM EST

Actually, he's from Brooklyn,

_____________________________________

So that means he moved to Hardwick by choice?!?!?!

Jody, given she's from Iowa, she probably thinks she can drive a John Deere or IH tractor.

  • 3 votes
#1.33 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:49 AM EST

Still trying to find a reference to Cantor in the article that you lefties and your diversionary tactics started out with on this thread.

Must be what you saw instead of Obama falling in the swing states.

  • 4 votes
#1.34 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:51 AM EST

Just a thought.

After 3 years to clean up the financial system and strengthen/replace regulators from the Bush years, how exactly can a scandal like MF Global occur?

...and to those who think Eric Cantor is corrupt (and I have no problem with that if he's holding up STOCK), I hope you share the same opinion of Nancy Pelosi, because she's knee deep in this as well.

  • 4 votes
#1.35 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:52 AM EST

I see the tea people GOP republicans on here don't want to talk about their little crook Cantor. All they can do is show their hate for the President. I'd put them on ignore but it's so much fun to see them twist themselves into a pretzel. Everybody notices you tea people GOP republicans never discuss the article. I suppose that's because you're not educated enough. Watching Fox (aka tea people GOP republican propaganda machine) will do that to you.

  • 14 votes
#1.36 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:53 AM EST

I agree Obama won't veto the bill, Spanky- but I will also point out that this is another inference issue.

Obama never said he would veto the bill- what he said was that he would "reject" it if tied to the Keystone pipeline. What folks were to infer from that statement was a veto threat- but Jay Carney has been kept pretty busy trying to tamp down that speculation.

It's a handy little verbal trick Obama uses to avoid taking responsibility to decisions he does not want to make.

It is amazing to me that the media can read a "no" from a republican, (think Paul and Hunstman), as "leaving the door open to a third party run"- but has yet to catch on to the wiggle room Obama leaves himself.

It helps to remember that last year he insisted that he would "reject" tax cut extensions that included "tax cuts for the rich".

Remind me again what happened?

  • 6 votes
#1.37 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:55 AM EST

Actually Alan they are all knee deep in this. That's the point because Eric Cantor is the only one Holding it up not Pelosi. Why?

  • 13 votes
#1.38 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:03 AM EST

Talk to Hand, it's First Thoughts which our First Read hosts have graciously over the years allowed both right and left the opportunity on this particular thread to add our First Thoughts for the day to theirs.

  • 11 votes
#1.39 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:04 AM EST

You're catching on to the genius of President Obama no joe. Don't you just love the way he ties the tea people GOP republicans and the media in knots. Even though you catch on once in a while, you'll still fall for his genius the next time. "And that's the genius of it" a pun intended.

  • 7 votes
#1.40 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:06 AM EST

Feisty wrote:

"Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) voted for over $120 billion to rebuild Iraq and Afghanistan, funds that were used to construct and repair schools, roads, bridges, and other critical infrastructure. Now, Cantor is opposing President Obama's proposal to spend $30 billion to modernize 35,000 American schools."

Feisty, if it all goes well in their playbook:

The GOP/Koch/Norquist party affiliates will be able to drive on their own little privately funded roads, privately funded bridges and go to their privately funded schools.

GOP/Koch will be able to teach their children their own private science. And do whatever else is expedient, so they can exert total control over our lives.

  • 16 votes
#1.41 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:06 AM EST

Alan,

After the misogyny displayed during the Democratic primary of 2008?

I see you put a question mark at the end of your sentence. As well you should have. And since you asked, the answer is No, there was no misogyny displayed during the Democratic primary of 2008. Thank you for asking. Have a nice day.

  • 15 votes
#1.42 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:07 AM EST

GOP/Koch will be able to teach their children their own private science. And do whatever else is expedient, so they can exert total control over our lives.

Backhouse - Remember, it was Cantor & the rest of his ilk who signed a blank check to blow @!$%# up over there based on LIES!

Then they have ZERO problem spending another 120 billion to rebuild what we destroyed...

I wonder why, in their small minds, it's perfectly acceptable to ignore our OWN countries needs

So much for country first!

  • 16 votes
#1.43 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:14 AM EST

IR, Va: Actually Alan they are all knee deep in this. That's the point because Eric Cantor is the only one Holding it up not Pelosi. Why?

That's a good question, and there needs to be an answer. It would be nice to see the bill. As has been seen, rushing bills though Congress leaves a lot of gaps and openings for people to avoid the letter of the law. See Dodd/Frank and MF Global for details. There will have to be independent oversight of Congress and their transactions, someone monitoring each Congress persons transactions and if they were influenced by pending legislation. That certainly needs to be included in the bill, and the rules to determine if a violation occurred will be quite complicated.

If these are the kind of details that need to be worked out, then yes, Cantor is doing the right thing.

  • 7 votes
#1.44 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:18 AM EST

Im guessing there is a similar playbook on the left, the only difference is who pays for it! Damn its getting warm here today is southern Florida.

  • 2 votes
#1.45 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:21 AM EST

Good morning FR fans. I see all my lovely children are out to play this morning. Hooray for all of you!

Some thoughts, I saw, last week the news conference Cantor had when tabling the bill regarding insider trading. I do believe this may have something to do with his wife - and some money he made. Someone out there might want to look into this.

Last night, while changing the channel, I caught CM making his final thoughts. Now, Chris has not been a favorite of mine, but last night he nailed it. On the selling of the soul of the GOP. They are not worried about the direction of the country - but consumed with hate. That hate is not just just the defeat, but the distruction of Barack Obama. They would nominate Newt the Kook for the chance to do this.

Later today, or tomorrow morning I will have a holiday porposal for all on FR, on both sides of the political aisle, to spend one morning having to say something nice to each other. I will go into more detail at that time.

Hugs to all.

  • 14 votes
#1.46 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:22 AM EST

Alan, that question's answer should be obvious. Three years after the economic collapse, MF Global can happen because there's 30 years of deregulation to clean up; MF Global is residual fallout from imbedded "no rules needed, do whatever might make a buck, never mind if it's legal or questionable" mentality. It'll take more than 3 years to clean up the mess.

Nope, Joe, don't own any farm equipment, but I do know how to drive a stick shift vehicle.

  • 13 votes
#1.47 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:25 AM EST

Feisty,

Because it is not country first! It is Norquist/GOP & affiliates first.

They want the Keystone pipeline because it helps Big Oil and lines their pockets. But they don't want government to do any good for us little guys.

They need us to fund their schemes, pay their salaries and fund their livelihoods.

Beyond that, GOP/Koch doesn't have any use for us.

  • 17 votes
#1.48 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:25 AM EST

JoAnna.Those are details to be worked out in hearings. As you can see from the article Cantor is blocking the Hearings requested by Republicans BTW. So there is No Way little Eric is doing right here.

  • 13 votes
#1.49 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:26 AM EST

They want the pipeline because it helps Big Oil.

BINGO Backhouse!

Consequences be damned!

Anyone else remember what happened in the Gulf two years ago, thanks to sloppy regulations & GREED?

Here's a hint - 13 Americans lost their lives in the largest man made catastophe in American history thanks to BP & Halliburton!

  • 16 votes
#1.50 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:30 AM EST

I see the tea people GOP republicans on here don't want to talk about their little crook Cantor.

_________________________________________________

So, Mo-ron, do YOU and the FR lefty liberals want to talk about your BIG crook, former Dem governor, Senator, and Obama bundler and advisor, Jon Corzine and the mysterious "missing" $1.2 billion that he is testifying in Congess that he "doesn't know where the MF Global customer's money is"?? He's back up on Capitol Hill again today.

We can discuss Cantor right after you and the FR lefty liberals finish your conversation on Corzine.

  • 4 votes
#1.51 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:35 AM EST

Anyone notice it was the Republican governor of Nebraska who wanted to put a halt to the pipeline? He is worried about the aquafer that supplies the water for his state.

  • 13 votes
#1.52 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:38 AM EST

phinephancy, I saw CM's final comment last night and agree, it was terrific. His final comments are usually good except when he's pushing his JFK book at which point they tend to be less objective and more about painting an ideological dream of what if.....

  • 12 votes
#1.53 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:39 AM EST

IR, Va: JoAnna.Those are details to be worked out in hearings. As you can see from the article Cantor is blocking the Hearings requested by Republicans BTW. So there is No Way little Eric is doing right here.

I think you're jumping to conclusions IR. Cantor is looking for more information and making certain party leaders have input into the resulting first draft of the bill. That's not out the ordinary for any party, Democrat, or Republican, to do prior to it going to markup and debate. It's looks like your trying to make a slam against Cantor out of whole cloth.

This legislation is much more complicated than people think it is. Unless you have every Congress person put their investments into blind trusts, this legislation will be difficult to write, interpret and enforce. Again, I bring you back to MF Global and the rushed through Dodd/Frank legislation where the regulators appeared to have allowed MF Global to lose $1.2 billion of investors money.

Both Democrats and Republicans need to get this one right.

  • 5 votes
#1.54 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:43 AM EST

Nope, Joe, don't own any farm equipment, but I do know how to drive a stick shift vehicle.

_________________________________________

Don't tell me, let me guess: A vintage 1967 VW Beetle complete with flower power stickers. ;~)

http://www.cellinifinegifts.com/fm_304741.htm

  • 4 votes
#1.55 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:43 AM EST

Feisty,

This tiny top percentage of Americans are the most affluent in US history.

And the most affluent group in the history of the world.

We 99% must not continue to defend a tax system, that works in the name of Greed for the most affluent.

  • 12 votes
#1.56 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:46 AM EST

phinephancy,

Anyone notice it was the Republican governor of Nebraska who wanted to put a halt to the pipeline? He is worried about the aquafer that supplies the water for his state.

That's an excellent point. And it's worth repeating over and over because the right wingers on this site aren't acknowledging it. In fact, you've got Bill of Fairfax say, "Approving the Keystone pipeline – NOW – is a no-brainer. But in an administration that is a bit challenged in the common sense department". Sounds to me like he's the one who is a "no-brainer" and "challenged in the common sense department."

Anything for a buck, right, Bill?

  • 9 votes
#1.57 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:46 AM EST

I see you put a question mark at the end of your sentence. As well you should have. And since you asked, the answer is No, there was no misogyny displayed during the Democratic primary of 2008. Thank you for asking. Have a nice day.

Nice smart-ass answer. I didn't ask because I saw it with my own eyes.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/13/us/politics/13women.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/erbe/2008/06/09/obama-and-the-democrats-owe-hillary-clinton-and-her-supporters-a-formal-apology-for-the-campaigns-sexism

http://www.newstatesman.com/north-america/2008/05/obama-clinton-vote-usa-media

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/14/AR2008051403090.html

http://www.dissentmagazine.org/article/?article=1297

  • 3 votes
#1.58 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:48 AM EST

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - A new report by an advocacy group says Alabama is worst in the nation for child homelessness.

It's good to know that here in the heart of the bible belt the good extremist conservatives, who believe that their should be no taxes but rather homeless and poor should be helped via donations, are making those donations and thus are taking care of these children. Aw hell! Wait a minute! Those children deserve to be homeless and hopefully will die so as not to bother the good bible thumper extremists here in the deep south...Um...where Jesus is lord.

Just one of the many ironies I find with conservatives is that they get all jesus crispy'd on sunday morning and then go out and act like selfish and self serving azzholes for the other 6.5 days of the week. I think Jesus would be punching these people in the mouth. Where self proclaimed christians involved in the great real-estate, wall st swindle? Are they denying help to home owners who are hurting do to no fault of their own?

Every republican claims christianity but they are all lieing. Dem's too but not as bad. Particularly since they tend not to run on "I'm a big christian, family person" platforms as the repub's do. Boner, leader of the house, said recently in an interview that he and his fellow pub's were going to get jobs going with some of the additions they are slipping into the payroll tax bill.

What a fat lie and this isn't the first time the repub's have lied! Way to go "christian" and that's another lie. When have you and your lying, pig brothers given a damn about jobs for the last two years? You haven't.

Want to make a case that the president lied about jobs? Go ahead. It wont matter and not just because it's not true although he surely could have waited on the HC bill until he had the economy rolling. It wont matter because the supporters of the repub's claim that the pub's are BETTER than the president and the rest of the dem's.

Your republican hero's are WORSE because they blamed the dem's and since winning a majority in the house have blocked every jobs bill the president put forward. If someone wants to blame the president then go ahead but be man or woman enough to admit that the pub's are being far more nefarious by blocking all progress thereby starving the country of jobs with the single purpose of defeating a sitting president.

  • 11 votes
#1.59 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:51 AM EST

@Jody

I agree that CM almost has, not almost - DOES have, a Norman Rockwell view of JFK, the same way the GOP has a view of the Robber Baron years

@Joe in Albany

So, when did Corzine become a voting member of the House of Representatives? And the majority leader? See, there are the issues that Corzine will be investigated on. He will be subject to the laws. Eric Cantor is an elected representative making the laws that effect his bottom line. Seems a conflict of interest there. Also, Mr. Cantor, I am sure, would be screaming off the highest mountain top if it had been, say Nancy Pelosi blocking the vote. Hypocrisy in play I think.

  • 11 votes
#1.60 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:54 AM EST

One of the biggest reasons the Liberals do not want Keystone to happen is that it will moderately lower the price of oil and gas for the country. Lower oil/gas prices do not fit the Greens agenda because they want Big Oil replaced by Big Windmill and Big Solar Panel. Trouble is, those Green technologies cannot even come close to powering the countries energy needs. Not one city, not one neighborhood, not one commercial/industrial district, not one fleet of electric cars can be powered by windmills and solar panels. Many electric cars in fact are powered by coal burning electric power plants - Yeah, go figure.

The Greens in the Democratic party were thrown a bone when Obama side-tracked the Keystone plans. Keystone is needed.

  • 6 votes
#1.61 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:55 AM EST

About 50 permanent US jobs:

Despite Transcanada making much of 'lots of union jobs', the Independent Cornell Global Labor Institute says the pipeline will produce about FIFTY PERMANENT US JOBS.

"between 50 and 1400 temporary construction jobs....The operating costs for KXL are very minimal and based on the figures provided by TransCanada for the Canadian section of the pipeline,
the new permanent US pipeline jobs in the US as few as 50".

http://thinkprogress.org/green/2011/11/04/362056/fact-check-keystone-xl-tar-sands-pipeline-isnt-a-job-creator

  • 10 votes
#1.62 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:00 PM EST

Alan, NJ ... you truly think the mess that Bush left could be cleaned up in 3 years ... and at the same time fight the Republicans who put party over citizens and money over humanity ... you are typical these days!!!!!

  • 14 votes
#1.63 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:02 PM EST

Backhouse, ditto what Feisty said--Bingo!

Joe, perhaps you'd care to explain where the missing $30 billion in Iraq went and then tell us why Darryl Issa and friends never called for an investigation to find out about that--especially considering that was "tax payer" money that went missing. I see Issa and his pals picking and choosing their "scandals" with a political bias against any and all remotely associated with democrats and President Obama. Now, some might say that's because I'm a "liberal leftie" when it is simply a view of reality. I support investigations into whatever but I support the idea only if includes investigating both sides of the aisle and anything questionable. Where's the investigation into why we invaded Iraq, Cheney's secret "energy policy" meetings, etc etc etc.

  • 11 votes
#1.64 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:04 PM EST

Funny part about all that 'de-regulation' Jody - Corzine co-authored Sarbanes-Oxley.

Bottom line is the big wigs get the perks. Pelosi got offered the Visa IPO. Individuals like us never, ever get such opportunities.

Regulate away, they will find away around it.

  • 5 votes
#1.65 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:12 PM EST

Bh: That means 50 permanent US jobs.

It's interesting the media (or propaganda in the case of thinkprogress) is so interested in how many jobs will be produced by Keystone. But when a $787 billion dollar 'Stimulus bill" was produced in 2009, the MSMS took it on blind faith that millions of jobs would be produced.

  • 4 votes
#1.66 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:13 PM EST

Alan,

Nice smart-ass answer. I didn't ask because I saw it with my own eyes.

I don't doubt there were sexist comments--where there are people, there will be nasty statements. Nature of the beast.

But the 2008 Democratic primary season pitted two very popular, charismatic candidates against each other (I'm sure you can say the same about today's Republican candidates--two very popular, charismatic individuals, right?), who also represented Firsts in U.S. history: either a black man or a white woman was going to be the next president.

It was a very emotional contest, and I found myself going back and forth between Clinton and Obama. Ultimately, I selected Obama because (1) he hadn't wavered in his opposition to the Iraq war, whereas I felt that Hillary had; and, (2) Hillary had a lot of baggage in the form of Clinton-haters from the days when she headed up a task force to reform health care. (Digression: In my wildest imagination I didn't think Obama would generate the amount of hatred that has befallen him. Obviously, I greatly underestimated the hate with which the Right is capable of. They will believe any lie, any negative statement at all about the President.)

Inevitably, there were bound to be charges of sexism from the women in this country who--rightfully--wanted to see a woman elected president. I don't believe it was as rampant as you're making it out to be. Despite some similarities, the Democrat Party is not, after all, the Republican Party.

  • 9 votes
#1.67 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:14 PM EST

Dogma bites, great post. We are the greatest country in the world yet we have starving children, millions living at or below the poverty line, and millions more barely surviving. What a sad commentary. Compassionate conservative apparently is just another talking point because the GOP state, and federal legislators certainly have no compassion.

phinephancy, can't remember the names but there are also a number of republican legislators from the states where the pipeline is proposed who object for the same reason as the Nebraska governor. I applaud President Obama and his team for postponing Keystone, and for requiring an option for another route which is away from valuable water resources.

  • 10 votes
#1.68 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:14 PM EST

Alan, NJ ... you truly think the mess that Bush left could be cleaned up in 3 years ... and at the same time fight the Republicans who put party over citizens and money over humanity ... you are typical these days!!!!!

So give me a timeline, a plan, how about a budget. Exactly how long does it take to employ regulators that can do the job? Has Salizer cleaned out the leftovers from the Mining and Minerals Bureau? If not why not? How long does it take to fire the corrupt and incompetent and hire new people?

  • 1 vote
#1.69 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:14 PM EST

ah, the Party of Hypocrites will nominate Blingrich because of his fierce debatin skills. The big question is if they would have elected a certain dictator from germany and overlooked his baggage as well for the same reasons.....

  • 8 votes
#1.70 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:15 PM EST

MILLIONS OF JOBS WERE PRODUCED BY THE PRESIDENT'S STIMULUS BILL, AND CONTINUE TO BE PRODUCED BY THE STIMULUS BILL:

"By CBO's numbers, the $800 billion stimulus added up to 0.9 million jobs in 2009, 3.3 million jobs in 2010 and 2.6 million jobs in 2011. As the effects of the stimulus wind down, Obama has been pushing Congress to enact a $447 billion jobs bill that includes infrastructure spending and tax cuts."

http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/budget/195181-cbo-says-obama-stimulus-still-helps-economy

And it saved ALL OF OUR ARSES, yours included, from falling down into GREAT DEPRESSION:

  • 10 votes
#1.71 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:17 PM EST

☑ Ron Paul 2012

  • 2 votes
#1.72 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:22 PM EST

Joe, perhaps you'd care to explain where the missing $30 billion in Iraq went and then tell us why Darryl Issa and friends never called for an investigation to find out about that

Wouldn't that have been Henry Waxman's prerogative as he was the committee chairman in 2007?

  • 4 votes
#1.73 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:22 PM EST

@Jody

Yes, everyone will scream and cry and say "What about the jobs?" Unless, it is going through their own backyard and endangering their water source! Those folks are the ones that say slow down and think this through.

As for all this brouhaha regarding Corzine and Cantor, the bottom line is this - Eric Cantor is effecting laws and is an elected representative - that is something I can control with my vote (I am not in his district, but I can effect his party position with my vote for representative). I am not going to put the two issues together. As the Hermanator would say "apples and oranges, apples and oranges"

  • 10 votes
#1.74 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:22 PM EST

Jody, Iowa: Where's the investigation into why we invaded Iraq, Cheney's secret "energy policy" meetings, etc etc etc.

Go ask John Dingell (D-MI) - http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2630017

Go ask the GAO - http://articles.cnn.com/2002-01-25/politics/cheney.energy_1_names-of-energy-executives-task-force-meetings?_s=PM:ALLPOLITICS

Go talk to Harry Reid (D-NV) - http://democrats.senate.gov/2005/11/30/reid-calls-for-an-investigation-into-energy-ceos-false-statements/

All of them went nowhere. Just more fodder for the mindless leftwing lunatics.

But keep carrying the torch Jody. Your side needs every propaganda scheme it can come up with in 2012.

  • 6 votes
#1.75 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:24 PM EST

"By CBO's numbers, the $800 billion stimulus added up to 0.9 million jobs in 2009, 3.3 million jobs in 2010 and 2.6 million jobs in 2011. As the effects of the stimulus wind down, Obama has been pushing Congress to enact a $447 billion jobs bill that includes infrastructure spending and tax cuts."

Of course you understand that all the CBO's figures are estimates and forecasts? They do not use empirical evidence to produce the figures you quote.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) based its estimates of the economic effects of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) on information from a variety of sources: macroeconometric forecasting models, general-equilibrium models, and direct extrapolations of past data. Macroeconometric forecasting models incorporate relationships between aggregate economic variables that are based largely on historical evidence. General-equilibrium models, by contrast, are built on explicit assumptions about the decisionmaking of individuals and businesses. Another source of informationon the economic effects of fiscal stimulus is research that makes projections for the future by directly examining the correlations between economic variables in the past or by evaluating the effects of specific types of policy events in the past.

http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/106xx/doc10682/Appendix.5.1.shtml

Can quote any direct evidence of the jobs created by the stimulus?

  • 2 votes
#1.76 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:31 PM EST

If Jesus had a (D) next to his name, the GOP would crucify him again.

  • 17 votes
#1.77 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:34 PM EST

Jack, excellent rebuttal to Alan!

  • 7 votes
#1.78 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:35 PM EST

Jack, excellent rebuttal to Alan!

I agree. A much more nuanced and honest assessment than his first answer.

  • 2 votes
#1.79 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:37 PM EST

"If Jesus had a (D) next to his name, the GOP would crucify him again."

...and the GOP would blame jesus because the nails were made in China, too.

  • 9 votes
#1.80 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:38 PM EST

Alan, NJ "So give me a timeline" I'm not here to give you a time line ... I would just like to see people make relevant statements rather than the same old talking points that make no sense ... it's for you to clarify your dumb one sided statements!

  • 6 votes
#1.81 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:38 PM EST

At briefing for reporters, [Obama political operative David Axelrod] says of [Newt Gingrich]: "The higher a monkey climbs on the pole the more you can see his butt."

Does anyone wonder what would have happened if a Republican had said that about Obama?

Source: http://thepage.time.com/2011/12/13/axelrod-sets-sights-on-gingrich/

Or just for Feisty:

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=axelrod%20on%20newt&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCgQqQIwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.huffingtonpost.com%2F2011%2F12%2F13%2Fdavid-axelrod-newt-gingrich_n_1145846.html&ei=a43nTsiYE4Pi2QW58-DfCA&usg=AFQjCNEd40NRF7mvV0UVgiKRvGKR5IwxgQ&cad=rja

  • 4 votes
#1.82 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:40 PM EST

. it's for you to clarify your dumb one sided statements!

You first!

  • 1 vote
#1.83 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:43 PM EST

Anything for a buck, right, Bill

More like anything to reduce our dependence on unfriendly oil producers, and even create domestic jobs at the same time. But I guess those worthy goals don't fit fit your twisted leftists narrative. Thanks for playing.

  • 3 votes
#1.84 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:47 PM EST

Jack in Portsmouth: But the 2008 Democratic primary season pitted two very popular, charismatic candidates against each other (I'm sure you can say the same about today's Republican candidates--two very popular, charismatic individuals, right?),

And that "charisma" has gotten us a President that takes no responsibility for his actions, blames others for all of his problems, and a man in permanent campaign mode.

"Charisma" is way overrated Jack.

  • 5 votes
#1.85 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:47 PM EST

Jack in Portsmouth: Ultimately, I selected Obama because (1) he hadn't wavered in his opposition to the Iraq war,

Jack, I am curious as to how you felt when yesterday Obama seemed to take credit for the pull out of Iraq. Stating that a Democratic Iraq is a good thing for the region.

No mention that the withdrawl follows the timeline that was set forth by Bush and no mention of his 2002 speech at an anti-war rally of Iraq being a dumb war.

Is it still a dumb war if he takes credit for a Democratic Iraq, which going in, was one of the stated reasons for invading Iraq?

Finally as a side note, wasn't it interesting to see Maliki standing next to the President? If you remember Maliki had to get out of Iraq because Saddam Hussein was going to have him killed. He only returned after Hussein had been overthrown.

  • 7 votes
#1.86 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:51 PM EST

They want the pipeline because it helps Big Oil.

OK, help me out on this. In one scenario Exxon-Mobil imports 10 million barrels of oil from Saudia Arabia and sends it to their refineries to produce gasoline. In an alternative scenario, Exxon-Mobil imports 10 miilion barrels of oil from Canada and sends it to their refineries to produce gasoline. The same amount of oil (just from different sources) is being used to produce the same amount of gasoline. So explain to me again why the Keystone pipeline is somehow a bonanza that will goose the profits of evil oil companies?

  • 4 votes
#1.87 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:58 PM EST

Wow! I really miss Tim Russert, and his way he dissected both sides equally. These people doing it today are one sided, lead the people astray hacks.

  • 5 votes
#1.88 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:59 PM EST

Is it time to see how well JAS1/Mr Pleasantry proves the negative.

(As in, when did you last rob a Bank?)

Making statements about the President that have no foundation in reality

merely demonstrates the GOP/Koch tenets that lying, cheating and using everyone to the maximum degree that gets in their way,

is their only legacy.

  • 9 votes
#1.89 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 1:03 PM EST

10 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HILLARY AND ROMNEY:

1. She uses Preference blonde highlights "because she's worth it"; he is not worth it.

2. She wanted Iowa, but could not have it; he could have had it, but didn't want it.

3. She was "in it to win it"; he is just "in it"

4. NH is his back yard; Arkansas was hers.

5. She was a Republican who became a Democrat; he is a Republican who does not know what to become.

6. She "stood by her man"; he stands by Wall Street

7. She actually liked Newt, strangely enough; he like Newt before he hated Newt

8. Her friends were also FOB's; I don't have to get out the crayons do I?

9. He is a "gambling Mormon"; she took the chance that the Monica deal was just a cigar, and that Bill practiced safe tobacco usage (if there is such a thing).

10. She moved to the NE to get away from the hicks; he needs the hicks to vote for him, but finds life more comfortable in the NE, and with people of money.

  • 3 votes
#1.90 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 1:13 PM EST

Thank you, Jody. Enjoying your posts today.

Jack, excellent rebuttal to Alan!

And, Alan, my gosh, thank YOU!

I agree. A much more nuanced and honest assessment than his first answer.

You are correct that my answer the second time was more honest and more nuanced. My apologies for the hasty response the first time.

wca,

Jack, I am curious as to how you felt when yesterday Obama seemed to take credit for the pull out of Iraq. Stating that a Democratic Iraq is a good thing for the region.No mention that the withdrawl follows the timeline that was set forth by Bush and no mention of his 2002 speech at an anti-war rally of Iraq being a dumb war.Is it still a dumb war if he takes credit for a Democratic Iraq, which going in, was one of the stated reasons for invading Iraq?

Are you being disingenuous? Unlike my admission to Alan, I am not going to apologize for my response to you because it is not "hasty". Think about what you just wrote. Just for once. Think. The answers are really very simple and are contained in your questions.

  • 4 votes
#1.91 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 1:16 PM EST

"Turning the general election, a new USA Today/Gallup poll of swing states “finds the number of voters who identify themselves as Democratic or Democratic-leaning in these key states has eroded, down by 4 percentage points, while the ranks of Republicans have climbed by 5 points."

Therein lies the big problem for Obama. Since 90% of self identified Democrats and Republicans have voted their party lines in the last 2 presidential elections, that 9% swing will result in a 6+% drop in support for Obama, which was the total margin of victory in his popular vote in 2008.

When we add in the dramatic shift in the Independent voters away from Obama (a 20% shift), as well as the disaffection of young and Hispanic voters, you get a picture where, if the election were held today, Obama would likely get only about 41% of the vote. Unfortunately for him, his planned negative campaign (he has nothing else to run upon) will likely turn off more Independents and discourage overall turnout, which plays in favor of Republicans.

The best chance for the Democrats would be for Obama to bow out (ala Johnson in 1968) and let Hillary run - she would likely win because of her perceived experience and competence - and remember, she won more Democratic Primary popular votes than Obama did in 2008. Unfortunately, Obama will not admit to his failures, so that's wishful thinking.

One last thought - If Obama loses in 2012, then Hillary will get one more shot at becoming President in 2016 - We can only hope.

  • 2 votes
#1.92 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 1:20 PM EST

When the back-up Ops turn up spouting their fantastical,

too-crazy-for-anyone 'truths',

you know they are desperate.

  • 6 votes
#1.93 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 1:27 PM EST

What fun. Thank you all for the high-spirited, not mean-spirited discussion this morning. Sorry I couldn't join in the fun.

@ Jody -- if the media is looking for the toothless person to interview in my state, it's a wonder they haven't found me yet.

@ Alan -- having been there, done that, I know for a fact that even a woman could have preferred President Obama to Hillary Clinton, without it having anything to do with misogyny. But I was accused of it several times, which I found particularly ironic.

It's easy to say, as some do, that she might have done a better job. But I think the same malicious forces that have ganged up on President Obama would have ganged up on President Hillary Clinton, as well. Having President Bill Clinton at her side might have made a difference, and it might just have made it that much worse.

What was attempted with regard to President Clinton, and is now being attempted in regard to President Obama -- purely out of spite, and at the expense of governance -- is certainly nothing for conservatives to be proud of.

  • 4 votes
#1.94 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 1:34 PM EST

@JoAnnaSmith1

"The higher a monkey climbs on the pole"

Ya know there are plenty of good reasons for not referring to black people this way. Maybe you've just rationalized the further demeaning of people that were enslaved for 400 years and they should just get over it.....Sheesh..

  • 6 votes
#1.95 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 1:46 PM EST

Anna Molly,

if the media is looking for the toothless person to interview in my state, it's a wonder they haven't found me yet.

O, my god! I wish you hadn't said that. Now I will forever picture you that way when I read your posts! ;-)

BTW - As a follow-up to yesterday, one of the things I find hard to forgive with the Obama administration is (was) their refusal to go after Rove, et. al. and prosecute them (if possible) for the firing of all those attorney generals without due cause. To my way of thinking, that too amounted to treason because it undermined the entire judicial system.

  • 5 votes
#1.96 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 1:50 PM EST

if the media is looking for the toothless person to interview in my state, it's a wonder they haven't found me yet.

__________________________________________

Counselor, everyone knows that sharks have rows of teeth that are constantly replacing those that fall out.

BTW, as if anyone needed more proof that the FR website is a clunky, junky, POS, programmed by idiots and morons, they need look no further than the post numbering on this first thread:

From IR's first post this morning

You know something? A Crook is A Crook no matter whether he has a D, an R, or a T.P. after his name. And Mr. Cantor is a crook. He just hopes you don’t notice.

#63 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:17 AM EST

Of course, just as I posted, the site clunked and junked and the post numbers went back to normal.

  • 3 votes
#1.97 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 2:09 PM EST

PigGuy: Ya know there are plenty of good reasons for not referring to black people this way. Maybe you've just rationalized the further demeaning of people that were enslaved for 400 years and they should just get over it.....Sheesh..

Interesting you didn't comment on Axelrod's referral of Newt being a "monkey" and his "butt". Do you think such language is appropriate and helps the relationship between those in politics, or if it poisons the well even more?

  • 3 votes
#1.98 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 3:29 PM EST

@ Jack -- put that image out of your mind. My other head has plenty of teeth. ;-)

  • 2 votes
#1.101 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 8:17 PM EST

alwaysanother,

Is especially delusional today.

He/she only used to see double. Nowadays, the SKY's the limit!

  • 3 votes
#1.102 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 8:27 PM EST
Reply

Newt/Mitt:

I can understand that a person whose political leanings are right of center would vote for a Republican. Mike Huckabee was a preacher and governor and would be acceptable to the evangelical right. Jeb Bush would now and then say something reasonable and if he would just change his name to…Reagan, he could get the GOP nomination. And there is Mitch Daniels, who recently uncovered 320 million dollars that could have been used to educate Hoosier children and treat the mentally Ill, would have been a reasonable choice for some fiscal conservatives.

But alas, the Republicans are stuck with Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney, and second tier candidates like Michele Bachmann, Rick Perry, and Rick Santorum. I notice that Newt has pledged not to commit infidelity a third time. Guess it was all right to ignore those wedding vows the first two times. Evangelical conservatives may not feel too comfortable with that pledge. I also bet they are curious to know what secrets are embedded within the Mormon faith and wonder why such information is not revealed for all to know.

Then we have the money issues. Gingrich received millions as a consultant from Freddy and Fanny. Additionally, under the Gingrich tax plan, millionaires would receive a $600,000 tax cut and would pay no more taxes than a family of four. No doubt he is looking after number 1 as well as the Wall Street 1%. Romney has made much of his money buying up companies and laying off their employees. Much of Romney's campaign chest is lined with banking and corporate donations. In short, both are very wealthy men and neither is interested in giving the middle class a tax break.

Since Newt/Mitt have little to no interest in helping the middle class, why should 99 % of Americans support either of them for President? Both men are putting personal ambition ahead of doing what's best for America. For that matter, why would anyone but the 1 % vote Republican in the 2012 election?

And as for integrity, combined they don't have enough to fill a thimble.

  • 9 votes
Reply#2 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:17 AM EST

An apology for the second post.

  • 7 votes
#2.1 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:19 AM EST

Ron, well said! I have concluded that the GOP is lost in some bizarre, alternative wilderness. Everything Newt Gingrich has done, his adultery twice, his $60K speaking fees, his scams for cash by selling worthless Newt Award Plaques, his ties to special interests, his $1.6 million from Fannie & Freddie to lobby Congress to do the very things he said Frank and Dodd should be jailed for is beyond me. Newt represents everything these republicans dislike but now he's their front runner. Not to mention that Newt Gingrich is a loose cannon on the deck of a ship.

  • 14 votes
#2.2 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:49 AM EST

I hope many Independents watched the Republican debates on Saturday and then the 60 Minutes interview with President Obama Sunday. Because, if they did, they could see for themselves how out of touch the Republicans are, and how seriously in touch President Obama is. The Republicans seem wrapped up in ideological constructs, while the President has been making decisions in the real world. Of course, Obama has lost approval points - reality suxs. But. listening to the Republicans, all I could think was how impractical they sound.

  • 11 votes
#2.3 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:08 AM EST

I get it. He is president during a downturn. He's going to pay the price. That's just plain bad luck and comes with the territory but by GOD people, the Right has done some major over reach and scared the beejezuz out of the Huntsmans of this country. Obama has to win at this point...weezles, cracks and crooks are standing at the gates! Is this real or some weird Twilight zone episode. I hope I don't step on my glasses...

  • 13 votes
#2.4 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:16 AM EST

soundbite, that was one of my favorite episodes of the Twilight Zone. I do sometimes think we're in some Twilight Zone because the reality of the current crop of GOP candidates, their thinking is downright scarey.

  • 13 votes
#2.5 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:39 AM EST

This bunch of tea people GOP republican candidates would scare the crap out of Rod Serling (the creator of the twilight zone).

  • 13 votes
#2.6 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:00 AM EST

The radical right sure scare me. They are just plain crazy or stupid or both.

  • 11 votes
#2.7 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:08 AM EST

Oh WOW Oh WOW Oh WOW!

  • 2 votes
#2.8 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:23 AM EST

Both Job1, we are just crazy and stupid.

Yeah, stay with that.

75% of the country thinks it is on the wrong track.

Crazy?

Stupid?

Both?

  • 4 votes
#2.9 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:55 PM EST

Hey Job1,

How bout them numbers? Do you remember our conversation a while back about the Pres and his numbers in the swing states? Especially Florida?

Not looking too good.... And it is getting worse for him. Have any thoughts on the subject matter?

I have said over and over and over, the overall numbers mean nothing. It is the swing states that carry the election, and I do not see any path for victory for BHO. And every day the numbers get worse for him.

It is amusing to watch as states get written off as lost and the options become less and less.

ABO 2012

    #2.10 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 1:11 PM EST

    Hi dsdsherm,

    I sure do remember. I also remember our bet. If the President doesn't win Florida, I will stop posting here on this site for 6 months and if he wins you will do the same.

    Of course we still have a lot of time until the election and I think the President will win Florida. Time will tell.

    • 1 vote
    #2.11 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 2:00 PM EST
    Reply

    Mitt Romney is definitely not following in Hillary Clinton's footsteps as FR notes. Clinton had nearly half the support of democratic voters while Obama had the rest. Throughout the summer and fall, there has been one GOP candidate after another rising to the top and sinking back down while Romney's support has been sitting between 23-25% for nearly 5 years.

    GOP Spinner Causes Dizziness for Viewers. Listening last night to one of Newt Gingrich's former campaign staffers, who quit the campaign earlier this year state, made me wonder if any of these folks have their heads on straight. He indicated that obviously Gingrich was way ahead of his staff in strategic campaign planning about how to win the nomination; that Newt knew exactly what he was doing in heading to the Greek Isles and calling Ryan's kill medicare bill "right-wing social engineering", that everything Newt did was on purpose and wise. His proof is that Gingrich is now ahead in the polls. Yeah, right--I'm thinking the former staffer had his fingers crossed behind his back because that was one whopper of GOP rationale.

    Do these GOPers think people believe are actually dumb enough to buy that twisted logic? Gingrich is simply the last right-wing Teapublican candidate standing as an alternative to Mitt Romney. No matter how any current or former staffer spins it--it was shear, dumb luck that Newt Gingrich finds himself on top of the heap. One can only hope that GOP voters take a long, hard look at Newt and all his bountiful baggage instead of simply viewing him as anyone but Mitt because a President Gingrich would be a disaster for human kind. (I'd say that if the man was a democrat, too.)

    • 18 votes
    #3 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:26 AM EST

    As opposed to Obama, Jody? Let's see, a thirty three percent increase in child homelessness in three years, (who's been president during that time?), a five trillion dollar increase in federal debt, (who's been president for that time?), a decrease in the civilian labor force participation rate to 1983 levels, (whose been president?), the Middle East in chaos, and, in one of my all time favorite bits of idiocy,

    Obama asked, nicely, pretty please, that the Iranians return the drone that crashed. I can't see how anything could possibly go wrong with that strategy. After all, it worked so well when he asked them pretty please, to stop working on a nuclear weapon.

    Whether Gingrich or Romney gets the nomination, you can rest assured, we will have a new president in 2013. Bank on it.

    • 11 votes
    #3.1 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:38 AM EST

    I don't know Jody - I am starting to think the nut job from NJ has a crush on you...

    She follows you everywhere like a little lost puppy...

    Time for you to roll up the newspaper! ;o)

    Whether Gingrich or Romney gets the nomination, you can rest assured, we will have a new president in 2013. Bank on it

    LMAO!

    Like anyone would believe a word that comes out of your lying mouth if your tongue was notarized!

    • 18 votes
    #3.2 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:44 AM EST

    Feisty, I've noticed that puppy following along, too. Ahh, but that's what happens when I mistakenly fed her yesterday--today, I'm taking her to the animal shelter where there's probably a nice, republican family waiting to adopt her and they won't mind that she doesn't comprehend facts, they'll just pat her head and give her the attention she craves.

    No Joe, as I've said before, you choose to be ignorant by ignoring the FACTS. Those numbers are a direct result of the Great Recession and high unemployment all CAUSED BY GOP trickle-down policies and Wall Street corruption which collapsed this nation. Now, I'm done with you for December and likely January, there is no point in responding to your idiotic, anti-Obama rants which are factless and outright lies.

    • 18 votes
    #3.3 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:55 AM EST

    @no jo

    Are all the republican/T-party supporters BLIND? Can't you guys see that your party is throwing the election by offering up all these KOOKS. The republican party doesn't want to inherit it's own mess, created during the Bush/Cheney years. Give it another 4 years and then come back and do it again.

    • 12 votes
    #3.4 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:00 AM EST

    Actually, the more MSNBC promotes Romney and poo poos Gingrich, the more I like Gingrich. You know, the enemy of your enemy is your friend. If Gingrich scares them that much, I don't care if he has been married 29 times. Do these clowns, especially the wife swapping, mate stealing hollywood megarich liberals have anything to say about multiple marriages. They don't even usually bother to get married. If this is all they can pin on Newt who cares? Guess the liberals haven't kept up with the divorce rate and multiple marriage rate in the US. Phonies that they are. They fight for gay rights and denigrate a guy who simply has been married three times. Can anyone say hypocrits.

    • 4 votes
    #3.5 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:02 AM EST

    So in a post following NOJO, Fiesty asserts that NOJO has a crush on Jody.

    That is too funny.

    Nojo has a Feisty whistle to which Feisty always faithfully responds.

    Keep up the great insights Feisty.

    • 9 votes
    #3.6 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:03 AM EST

    Jody, they may have a problem with the fact that she's simply not house broken. And from the looks of things, never will be,...

    _________________________

    Shakes Head,...

    May as well be Face Palm if that's how you feel about the character of someone who would 'earn' your vote,...perhaps you should sit the political process out? I mean until you mature a little and take it a little more seriously,...

    nah,...as you were foot soldier for Rush (who has also been married MULTIPLE times) - long term committment is NOT a strong suit of the current crop of Me Firsters, eh?

    • 14 votes
    #3.7 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:05 AM EST

    Jody, they may have a problem with the fact that she's simply not house broken.

    Then there's that pesky little issue of never having been de-wormed... ;o)

    *waves to Clara*

    • 14 votes
    #3.8 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:08 AM EST

    Gee Feisty and Jody, I, too, have noticed that same stray wandering around after Jody. That seems to be a conservative thing, as we have a few here who also do the same thing. Spanky with Amy, WCA with Feisty, and of course Booby who wants to be everyone's pet rock. Poor dears, they have such unhappy existences.

    • 15 votes
    #3.9 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:09 AM EST

    waves back to Feisty,...caramels are pending wrapping; but I am throwing in a few chocolate dipped, candied orange peels, too. Never made them before; but they were AWESOME, if I do say so myself. Hoping my stuff hits the mail by Saturday. too many parties, too little time!

    • 9 votes
    #3.10 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:18 AM EST

    Has anyone else noticed how edgy Mitt Romney gets when he is interviewed? Last week, his interview on Fox was downright uncomfortable to watch, and yesterday in the Politico.com interview, he was very agitated when questioned on his policies and past statements, his body language tells me he is not comfortable in what he is saying and is being less than truthful.

    Methinks ol' Mitt is under a great deal of pressure to be the nominee, by himself, the Mrs., who has already measured the drapes and all the faithful who are bankrolling him, thinking he was an automatic nominee.

    There is an old axiom in politics and in life in general, never let them see you sweat, when Mitt masters that, then he may be a good candidate. He is not comfortable being challenged or questioned, shades of Richard Nixon come to mind and the nightmare of his WH residency.

    • 10 votes
    #3.11 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:18 AM EST

    caramels are pending wrapping; but I am throwing in a few chocolate dipped, candied orange peels, too.

    *swoon*

    Sorry, I just couldn't resist! ;o)

    Thanks GF!

    • 9 votes
    #3.12 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:30 AM EST

    Gingerbread Mamma,

    He is not comfortable being challenged or questioned

    That's a good point. Did you see the clip of him speaking with the gay soldier in NH? He couldn't wait to get away from the guy! If he wins the GOP nomination it will be interesting to see the contrast between him and Obama.

    • 9 votes
    #3.13 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:31 AM EST

    "Nojo has a Feisty whistle to which Feisty always faithfully responds." And he is talking about insight...thanks for spending a minute with us Spanker. Tell me, should I too "bank" on a new president in 2013. Are you really that confident about the Republican prospects? You like questions...care to make a bet?

    • 9 votes
    #3.14 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:31 AM EST

    Maybe she's following you all because you smell like the feces of other dogs.

    • 4 votes
    #3.15 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:35 AM EST

    Here's the deal with Jody. She presents her positions logically and cogently. Yes, she seems to lean to the left, but that's only because the right wing is so extreme. Her positions are actually quite moderate. She has gained quite a following. (Her Friday recap is a must-read.) She also reflects the views many of us hold. In short, she represents the direction in which moderate lefties would like to see our country move.

    That makes her a target. I'd say she does a very fine job of representing and defending her positions. I happen to share those views and I am extremely pleased to know that I fight on this battleground of ideas with such a worthy ally.

    • 14 votes
    #3.16 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:36 AM EST

    Yo Steve- Yes you should bank on a new Pres in 2013.

    It has very little to do with the republicans. This is about Obama and his, ummm, accomplishments.

    Which to date are 8.6% unemployment, 2 million less jobs than when he started, millions fewer even trying to get jobs, and of course $5 Trillion in debt.

    In other words SteveYo - it comes down to one very simple question - are you better off now than you were before?

    It's not all his fault, but he is in charge, he assured us he could fix it, and more importantly just about everything he said would happen has not.

    Plus Europe has wrecked any argument he can make about big government and the government's ability to take care of you.

    Oh and GingerBread - I'd walk over hot coals for AMY. But I do so love ow you gals have gotten right back to some quality junior high, mean girls tricks.

    Oh no, the Blue clique doesn't like NOJO and is calling her a dog.

    Too bad JR. high is so far behind you all, eh?

    • 6 votes
    #3.17 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:43 AM EST

    David Walker, thank you! Coming from someone like you who writes wonderful posts, that's high praise and greatly appreciated.

    Gingerbread Mamma, good observation about Mitt. He definitely gets testy whether on the debate stage or interviews or in his chat with the gay military guy FR put up. That's what happens when someone thinks only "he deserves the nomination" and doesn't grasp the idea that he's the only one who thinks that's true".

    Spankster talks about a No Joe whistle yet he's one of the right-wing posters drawn to liberal whistle because he can never resist the opportunity to say nothing!

    Then there's Damage....IR, we need that backhoe over here.

    • 13 votes
    #3.18 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:52 AM EST

    Ah, Spanky-

    Occasionally, when I shake my head in wonderment at the number of people exempt from the CoH on this board, I remember the most important thing. . .

    These are the best Obama's got.

    The LibsRUs crew are going to have to repair to an actual bar next November. Virtual drinks in an imaginary clubhouse are not going to cut it when, thank heavens, Obama gets defeated.

    • 3 votes
    #3.19 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:02 AM EST

    President Clinton's Stewardship over 8 years resulted in Peace and Prosperity for all...

    When President George W Bush took the oath of office;

    The debt was $0

    We were at war with...NOBODY

    The unemployment rate was 4.2%

    The avg number of jobs created per month was appox. 250, 000

    Under the Clinton administration the budget was balanced and the deficit ERASED

    http://www.factcheck.org/2008/02/the-budget-and-deficit-under-clinton/

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    When Barack Obama took the oath of office

    The debt was; Over $10 TRILLION DOLLARS

    http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2008-10-07-deficit_N.htm?csp=34

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/scott-bittle-and-jean-johnson/national-debt-passes-10-t_b_132732.html

    http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-500803_162-4486228-500803.html

    http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/new-money/2008/10/09/maxing-out-the-national-debt-clock

    We were at war with Iraq and Afghanistan

    The unemployment rate was 7.3%

    The avg # of jobs created per month for his tenure was approx. 30,000

    http://www.bls.gov/

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    President Clinton gifted President Bush with a sound and strong economy that his administration did not maintain.

    President Bush gifted President Obama with an economy that was debt-laden and teetering on collapse.

    Has Obama done a great job in reversing the Bush mismanagement? In my opinion no, but he was gifted with dire circumstances. Those who point to his ineptitude as a fiscal manager without acknowledging the gross negligence, ineptitude and RESPONSIBILITY of the previous administration, have little credibility.

    I am no President Obama "fan", but it took President Bush almost 8 years to create the economy he bequeathed to President Obama. President Obama has been in office for less than 3 years.

    • 11 votes
    #3.20 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:16 AM EST

    No joe aren't you the one that kept saying the last 2 years that President Obama would have resigned by now. You just go a head and keep hoping girl, if he keeps you sane. Can't wait to hear what you've got to say after President Obama is reelected.

    • 12 votes
    #3.21 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:20 AM EST

    I agree these radical right wing posters are something else. I sometimes think that not one of them has ever heard of fact checks, because they follow the views of others who do not understand the world around them.

    • 10 votes
    #3.22 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:25 AM EST

    Um, dangerfield? The debt was not zero. The projected budget deficit was zero.

    Projected.

    As to a sound economy- well, that's also not quite true- we were in a shallow recession following the bursting of the dot com bubble- exacerbated by the fact that during times of non-inflation, the last thing a government should be running is a projected surplus of tax revenue. See, for every dollar the government takes in taxes, two are removed from the economy. Therefore, there was a twofold reason for the Bush tax cuts.

    As to war- I don't think Osama bin Laden woke up one day shortly after the Bush inauguration and decided to attack this country- he had, in fact, engaged in numerous attacks prior to the Bush presidency. Clinton categorized them as "crimes", rather than acts of war, but that bit of semantics is meaningless for this discussion.

    Whether or not it was recognized, we were, in fact, at war when Bush took office.

    So much for peace.

    While I admit that Clinton was a good president, (I voted to re elect him), I do not believe he walked on water, had supernatural powers, or had a perfect presidency.

    That said, Hillary would have been a far superior president to Obama- and I doubt it will soon be forgotten just what the democrats "gifted" us with by nominating a person so unqualified, so ill equipped, and so hopelessly inept in 2008.

    That mistake will be corrected next year.

    • 4 votes
    #3.23 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:25 AM EST

    With all the popcorn and chocolate going around, the Christmas presents will need expandable waist lines this year!

    • 2 votes
    #3.24 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:25 AM EST

    NoJoe

    There is opinion and then there is fact...

    Facts are often accompanied by citations like FACTCHECK.ORG, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, or other, unbiased, non-partisan sources.

    Q: During the Clinton administration was the federal budget balanced? Was the federal deficit erased?

    A: Yes to both questions, whether you count Social Security or not.

    http://www.factcheck.org/2008/02/the-budget-and-deficit-under-clinton/

    -----------------------------------------------------------------

    Like that. I can only assume that you failed to read the accompanying verifying, unimpeachable sources.

    Opinions, equivocations, and partisan spin are like religion (or the "73 Mets, "Ya Gotta Believe!") and are articles of faith based on preconceived notions and foregone conclusions.

    Clinton handed President Bush as strong an economy as America had seen in 50 years, and President Bush handed President Obama an economy in free-fall to a depression, with zero margin for error. This isn't an opinion, it's the economic record.

    President Bush had a Grand Canyon sized margin of error. President Obama none.

    This is also a fact. These aren't Liberal facts, or Conservative facts, they're facts. The desperate measures of TARP etc were born at the close of the Bush administration, because the economic disaster was born DURING the Bush administration. The debt clock reached 10 TRILLION in OCTOBER 2008.

    If unemployment stays at 8.5% until the end of Obama's term, whenever that is, the increase over the previous administration would be SIGNIFICANTLY LESS than the increase between Clinton and Bush (Bush +3.1% Obama +1.2%)

    These are the facts. They don't change the current situation and they don't excuse the current administration for their own ineptitudes and mistakes, what they do is acknowledge that history didn't begin in January of 2009, and that one President inherited a relatively sound economy while the next President inherited a mess.

    If you can't admit that as the obvious truth, any criticism leveled solely at the current administration smacks of wild-eyed partisanship and is utterly devoid of credibility.

    • 7 votes
    #3.25 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:59 AM EST

    Deficit, dangerfield, not DEBT.

    Go back and read your initial post- you said the DEBT was zero- and, if YOU had read your own link, you'd have caught your error.

    I take it you're back on the team. Sad.

    • 2 votes
    #3.26 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:08 PM EST

    Yeah there danger - looks like NoJO beat me to the debt v. deficit problem.

    But I will say this, the worse Obama does, the better Clinton looks.

    And then by extension - Newt.

    The real question will be - would there have been a Clinton without a Newt.

    How very interesting.

    Like Jody - who references my posts, yet pretends she has me on ignore.

    • 2 votes
    #3.27 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:18 PM EST

    You are a partisan, no better, no different than the liberal who decided that I made sense because she AGREED with something I said. When the best you can do is resort to ad hominems like 'BACK on the team"???

    Which team would that be NoJoe? the libs r us team? How sad indeed that you would say something you KNOW makes no sense, as I have NEVER, DEMONSTRABLY been on anyone's team here. period.

    I have repeatedly and demonstrably by my writings here evidenced no more respect or allegiance to Team Red than I do Team Blue, so your limp attempt to discredit the historically accurate and completely sourced piece by accusing ME (of all people here lol) of being "back on the team" reinforces my contention above;

    "If you can't admit that as the obvious truth, any criticism leveled solely at the current administration smacks of wild-eyed partisanship and is utterly devoid of credibility."

    Your reply says that you resemble that remark to a "T". as in "TEAM RED"...

    • 8 votes
    #3.28 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:27 PM EST

    Hey Spanky..

    Nice leapfrog over the Bush administration there buddy...You're liable to give The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" a "run" for its money...:)

    How did George W do in your opinion?

    The 3 worst presidents of my lifetime

    #1-"W"

    #2-The current POTUS

    #3-Jimmy Carter

    What's your top three?

    • 3 votes
    #3.29 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:32 PM EST

    Spanky, according to a very tired thread yesterday, the Libs here at First Read don't have anyone on Ignore.

    Except for the people that they do have on ignore.

    And except for the people that they do have on ignore and still manage to comment on their posts.

    • 2 votes
    #3.30 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 1:13 PM EST

    dangerfield:

    Maybe I'm missing something here, but I think no jo is right. President Clinton did leave behind a balanced budget, but there was still an outstanding national debt. Indeed, in his book, The Age of Turbulence, Alan Greenspan says he advised against paying off the debt completely.

    Gotta give you the three worst Presidents in my lifetime.

    #1. Ronald Reagan - Even as he gave us a smiling, grandfatherly countenance, he tried to kill government and set us on the road to bankruptcy.

    #2. George W. Bush - Truly an ignorant man, who accelerated the rush to bankruptcy, and a man of incredibly ignorance.

    #3. Jimmy Carter - One of the smarter Presidents, but too indecisive.

    • 1 vote
    #3.31 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 1:23 PM EST

    WCA (Team Red)-

    I would seek Spanky (Team Red) out somewhere else, as he usually responds post-haste but has abandoned this thread as he is apparently currently having trouble counting to 3...

    Who are your "worst 3"?

      #3.32 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 1:24 PM EST

      The idea for the clock came from New York real estate developer Seymour Durst, who wanted to highlight the rising national debt. In 1989, he sponsored the installation of the first clock, which was erected on 42nd Street close to Times Square. At the time, the national debt remained under $3 trillion but was rising. The clock was temporarily switched off from 2000 to 2002 due to the debt actually falling during that period.

      In 2004, the original clock was dismantled and replaced by the current clock at the new location one block away. In 2008, the U.S. national debt exceeded $10 trillion for the first time, leading to press reports that the clock had run out of digits.

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Debt_Clock

      --------------------------------------------------------------------

      Yes, I mistakenly conflated the debt and the deficit, my apologies. The debt CLOCK was retired in 2000, re started in 2004 and reached 10 TRILLION in 2008...

        #3.33 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 1:31 PM EST

        DF:

        1. Obama

        2. Carter

        3. Ford / Nixon(That hurts. Ford was a was a Michigan Man like me.)

        Now you said in my lifetime. Not my voting lifetime. Reagan was the first POTUS i voted for.

        • 2 votes
        #3.34 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 1:42 PM EST

        '80 or '84?..1976 was my first vote for Prez...

        So, you're almost as ancient as me? lol

        Jerry Ford was a client of an express pkg company (TNT) I worked for and I had his home phone #.

        Only President's phone I have ever had, but I have had the NUMBER of more than a few...

          #3.35 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 2:26 PM EST

          1980 DF. I remember how proud and adult I felt then. Thought now the world was going to go the direction I thought it should go because I had a vote.

          Man, was I ever wrong.

            #3.36 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 4:28 PM EST

            Same here WCA, we were all so young and optimistic...

            Hey Spanky...it's 1...2....3, like that, just in case you weren't sure.

              #3.37 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 4:52 PM EST
              Reply

              Newt Gingrich is the GOP's worst nightmare. Republican establishm­ent types have every reason to be concerned about the late rise of Newt Gingrich. Here is a man that they thought had been disposed of, shuffling out of the national spotlight in disgrace and pimping for every major special interests, including those that opposed the GOP agenda, that came his way and paid him big bucks. Newt has been for a health insurance individual mandate, aggressive emission controls to combat climate change, and has stood against "right-win­g social engineerin­g" from the Tea Party in Congress. He is willing to embrace anything that advances his own personal fortunes. http://www.sunstateactivist.org

              • 12 votes
              Reply#4 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:27 AM EST

              Like I said, if the good ol boys and the liberals don't like Newt, he may just be our guy.

              • 3 votes
              #4.1 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:03 AM EST

              And you would deserve, him, Shaking.

              Newt said, "I have reserved the right to respond when my record has been distorted."

              Gingrich's record is so foul and ugly that there is no possible reason to distort it. He is a loser and the GOP will fail miserably in its bid for the presidency if he gets the nomination.

              Obama vs. Gingrich:

              http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/us/general_election_gingrich_vs_obama-1453.html

              He's all yours, Shaking!

              • 8 votes
              #4.2 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:10 AM EST

              What Newt was really saying is, I have reserved the right to lie about my record when facts show how distorted it is. I agree Shaking he's all yours.

              • 6 votes
              #4.3 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:55 AM EST
              Reply

              Romney 2012 !! The real deal for Washington. The best man in the GOP race. No buts about it.

              • 1 vote
              Reply#5 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:28 AM EST

              Flipomney = What the hell will he do once in office? Eliminate capital gains tax, eliminate social security, eliminate any social program that helps the poor.

              What the puck do you think 47 Million poor people will do with no food or chance of a job?

              It's like you lock to rats up and one is fat as hell and the other is starving. Fat chance the overweight one eats the quick and starving rat.

              • 8 votes
              #5.1 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:46 AM EST

              You are so wrong. I would elaborate more, which I did and accidentally hit the back button and it erased everything I had. I do not feel like typing it all again.

                #5.2 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 2:12 PM EST
                Reply

                Newt pledges to stay positive, but...

                Yeah, and a smiling wolf said he wasn't going to eat the lambs.

                • 12 votes
                Reply#6 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:30 AM EST

                Can you tell me Paul what damage to the average working American Newt did when he was in office? His problem was trying to fix too many things too fast and the good ol boy network turned against him. He didn't try to make ours a Socialist country. He didn't wimp out of every confrontation, quite the contrary. Anyone would be better than the loser we have now, and I'm starting to think Newt just be really good for the changes we need. He has no longer obligatory attachment to his party and has the intelligence to know what the American people want and need. He could bring us some real change, not the change to Socialism the present losesr is trying to give us.

                • 3 votes
                #6.1 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:07 AM EST

                Every time you shake your head I can hear something rattling in there, maybe you better fill it up with some facts :)

                Osama bin Laden is dead, and President Obama risked a confrontation with Pakistan to kill him. Al-awlaki is dead, Qaddafy is dead, Mubarak is gone and Vladmir Putin is accusing Secretary of State Clinton of inspiring Russians to question their elections.

                Either you don't know the meaning of "wimp" or you are bound and determined to vote for any Republican over one of the most effective Presidents in foreign policy we have had since WWII.

                • 11 votes
                #6.2 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:20 AM EST

                Shaking - why are you asking me that?

                All I said was Gingrich pledging to stay positive is a false pledge. He's a scrapper, he loves scrapping, and even took a couple oblique shots at Romney while pledging not to scrap. I think its funny.

                It's akin to Biden pledging not to talk too much, which he did last cycle. It was a bogus pledge; he knew it, he knew everyone knew it, and that made it funny.

                • 7 votes
                #6.3 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:35 AM EST
                Reply

                "“In the swing states, Obama now trails former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney among registered voters by 5 points, 43% vs. 48%, and former House speaker Newt Gingrich by 3, 45% vs. 48%. That's a bit worse than the president fares nationwide, where he leads Gingrich 50%-44% and edges Romney 47%-46%Caveat: It’s striking to see this kind of discrepancy between the swing-state and nationwide numbers. So a bit of caution"

                Obama may win California, Massachusetts and New York by huge margins with his divisive class warfare campaign, but it doesnt sell well in swing states. Even with a "bit of caution" cant spin these numbers as anything but daunting for the Obama Team.

                • 9 votes
                Reply#7 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:36 AM EST

                Maybe you can explain the Marist poll that has Obama ahead in South Carolina!

                • 9 votes
                #7.1 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:44 AM EST

                Wait until President Obama really starts to campaign against the clown show.

                That's what they will be looking like clowns.

                • 8 votes
                #7.2 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:48 AM EST

                Auntie, I will take a line from Mitt Romney, and bet you $10,000 that Obama will not win South Carolina in the general election.

                • 10 votes
                #7.3 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:52 AM EST

                Thank you Bob, for bringing up the little blurb in the article that mentions Obama losing ground in the swing states. I noticed that NONE of these saps and Obama groupies here mentioned it. I guess they figured if they ignored it, it would just go away. Or maybe they're so busy slamming Newt over his marriages that they missed it. lol. BOTH Gingrich and Romney leading in swing states? Great news.

                Tell us FR libs, why do you think Obama is starting to slip in the swing states to both Newt and Mitt? Is it because Americans are tired of Hussein's un-American class warfare BS? Is it because Americans want jobs and Obama's admin has not done ONE DAMN THING to create a healthy hiring climate?....Indeed, they've done the opposite?

                Please, FR libs. Take some time out from your bashing of Newt and Mitt and explain to us whey Hussein is losing the swing voters. Are they stupid FOX NEWS watchers? Is that it?

                • 9 votes
                #7.4 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:54 AM EST

                Auntie,

                I could go to any state or city and run a poll in the right neighborhoods and get really good numbers for Obama, but it would be as phoney as he is.

                • 2 votes
                #7.5 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:08 AM EST

                @Bob-1887910

                I'll take that bet.

                The demographics has changed dramatically in South Carolina since President Obama's election of 2008.

                The Republican is trying to suppress the vote with there voting laws but it wont work. The increase in minority voters has doubled. So even if they cut that in half it would still be the same number of people who voted for President Obama in 2008. Game point - match over President Obama Wins Again. Egg on the GOP face.

                • 7 votes
                #7.6 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:24 AM EST

                Bob,

                After one year, our new Teapublican governor's approval rating stands at 43%, with 50% disapproving, and this is before the latest news came out, he is slashing 65,000 Mainers from the Medicaid roles to save $122 million a year and help pay for the $400 million he gave the wealthiest in tax cuts. This is the right wing ideology at work, in the states, and it's not going to be any more popular nationally than it is in Maine, Florida and Wisconsin.

                • 6 votes
                #7.7 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:29 AM EST

                Bob did you happen to see the Governors approval rating in South Carolina before you made that bet?

                And yes Damage you answered your own question, they are "stupid Fox (aka tea people GOP republicans propaganda machine) watchers.

                You tea people GOP republicans are saying it all wrong it's not "class warfare" it's upper-class welfare. You know all that tax money given to the top 1%.

                • 3 votes
                #7.8 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:08 PM EST

                The bagger policies in those "swing states' will be their undoing all across the country. This country is a Democratic Republic and the baggers are all out to take away as many rights as they can. Not every American voter is dumb enough to get their "information" from fake news. The overreach by the baggers has sealed their doom.

                • 3 votes
                #7.9 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:28 PM EST
                Reply

                The Republican Vote: Serial Hippocratic & A Mormon awesome choice. I'll take option C: The Black Guy.

                • 7 votes
                Reply#8 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:42 AM EST

                Solution 539 you can take him and both of you can go wherever you want after the election, but it won't be back to the Whitehouse.

                • 5 votes
                #8.1 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:09 AM EST

                Solutions539-- And what is Obama going to campaign on? Obamacare? The majority of Americans don't like it. Jobs? """Buzzer""" Wrong!

                I'm pretty sure Obama's campaign will look like this: "Rich people suck." "If you're unemployed, it's because of other people being employed and/or successful." "(Noun) (verb) bin Laden." "You can't educate your kids because (insert CEO here) has a corporate jet." "Did I mention I killed bin Laden."

                By the way, what the hell is a "serial hippocratic"? Also, it's interesting that Obama, to you is nothing more than the "Black guy." Is that why you voted for him the first time? Are you one of those people who thinks he's a , to quote a liberal columnist, "magic negro?"

                • 8 votes
                #8.2 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:18 AM EST

                With the clowns he has to run against Damage he's going to have a fairly easy time campaigning. The question is what is you're clowns going to campaign on? Hypocrisy, lies, anger, hate that seems to be all they have.

                • 5 votes
                #8.3 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:15 PM EST

                Solutions - be careful, your bigotry is showing......

                  #8.4 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:50 PM EST
                  Reply

                  Go Mitt...Still feel that if Newt gets the nomimation....I cannot vote for him....Mitt has morals...ethics and will not embarass us with choices from his past. I will vote for Barak before I will vote for Newt

                  • 4 votes
                  Reply#9 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:51 AM EST

                  Who you kidding ANderson, you will vote for Obama anyway, stop trying to influence the choices of the other side.

                  • 2 votes
                  #9.1 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:10 AM EST

                  ^ Many people feel that way.

                  The contest is great for the Democrats though, because how lame is the GOP if Newt is all they can come up with?

                  What's next - Cheney?

                  • 5 votes
                  #9.2 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:11 AM EST

                  You will vote for Obama anyway.

                  I will, yes. The GOP is really vile, borderline treasonous, and I feel nothing but contempt for them.

                  • 10 votes
                  #9.3 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:12 AM EST
                  Reply

                  Why is it they always stress how much money politicians are spending on presidential campaigns? Is it because most of the time we get the best president "money can buy". Make campaign money spent accountable for each candidate and then equal the playing field. Kinda like Obama wants to even the PAY field.

                    Reply#10 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:05 AM EST

                    Americans!!! be wise-up in voting this time you have to vote for someone who has a clean record that doesn't take money to Americans !!!! us the taxpayers, one that links to FREDDIE MAC, AND CANNOT BE TRUSTED.

                    OBAMA FAILED ALREADY LOOK WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW NO JOBS, EVERYTHING IS FALLING APART.

                    CHARACTER COUNTS, MORAL VALUES, TRUST, BE HONEST TO THE THE PEOPLE.

                    For me and the rest of our relatives we will vote for ROMNEY!!!! AND WE BELIEVE THIS MAN CAN BE TRUSTED, CAN CREATE JOBS HAS PROVEN RECORD AND HAS A WORKING RECORD AND EXPERIENCES AS WELL AS ECONOMICS. HE CAN TURNS THINGS AROUND!!!!

                    • 1 vote
                    Reply#11 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:20 AM EST

                    Why does MSNBC so desperately want Romney?

                      Reply#12 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:20 AM EST

                      If MSNBC reports the truth, how does that automatically benefit Romney? Unless the truth is anti-Gingrich, of course, in which case you should be asking Newt the hard questions, not MSNBC.

                      • 3 votes
                      #12.1 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:30 PM EST
                      Reply

                      I find it interesting that between the Almighty Mighty Mitt and the Lesser Newt have us warring, as does Huntsman, with Iran. Before these men are even in office, this is an actual discussion after GWB, Iraq, WMDs, and Afghanistan. One would think that maybe a little attention at home is needed, like the economy, jobs, and health care. If we focus all of our attention elsewhere, we fail to see the forest for the trees (and if you don't get this analogy, don't bother responding, please). Yes, Iran is a threat, but so is job loss, hunger, financial burden, and illness (again, if you're not old enough to understand this, please don't respond). The only way to solve ANY of these problems is nonpartisan unilateralism.........until then, folks, we are doomed.

                      • 4 votes
                      Reply#13 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:25 AM EST

                      fritz, NH, well said, agree with every word. It's odd that the media seems to pay so little attention to the War chatter coming from the GOP candidates. Not once during these debates or campaign stops has the moderator, reporter or any attendee asked how they plan to pay for another war and/or what needed programs in this country will they cut nor have they asked when they plan to invest in the USA.

                        #13.1 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:54 PM EST
                        Reply

                        The swing state numbers are a concern. I'm hoping/guessing that these result from 24/7 FOX exposure and the demographics which while not out and out racism, reflect a certain white middle class mentality toward minorities, the poor and government (by the way Hillary wins these voters). They will come to their senses or just not vote. Romney appeals to them only in abstract, not once they see him in person.

                        • 2 votes
                        Reply#14 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:30 AM EST

                        Romney - compromised integrity due to flip-flopping. Gingrich - morally tarnished in his personal and political life. Perry - unprepared, lacks knowledge, known for rewarding campaign contributors. Ron Paul - honest, many viable positions but some totally idealistic.

                        • 1 vote
                        Reply#15 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:37 AM EST

                        The thing IS none of this matters! The media for the seek of conversations and ratings write about political issues - as they attempt to sway their readers to a comparison of the past!

                        BS - these days are nothing like the past. At least back in the day politicans gave a damn about governing.

                        So if they had disagreement, they would still figure away to work things out to benefit America.

                        Theres politicans today are ALL about the money and power! Whoever can provide that gets their say in this gigantic world of Trillions.

                        You see; there is no Democracy at least not the way it used to be. NOW it's capitilism and so called FREE MARKET...

                        People running against our Democracy - to become not the President of the United States...but the CEO of the United States.

                        We have heard some GOP/TP wannabes even blatantly say so...so that's why no one is talking about high energy prices... the culprit of more provety - this country has taking it's form of government from the Brits.

                        They expect enery provety and they don't care who it hurts or kill. That's why nothings been done and gas cost has generated over 400 Billion dollars in profit for the oil companies - while our government and the media have us to believe we should be focusing on JOBS!!!

                        When the best way in bringing back the middle class, improving the ecomony and helping the poors are energy regulations and restrictions.

                        We are all bambozzed by elements of our Government that are hell bent on profit!!! Nothing or no one esle matters.

                        It's all show...every single bit. We will not be saved..every man for himself - ladies and gentlemen - that's were our country has come too ...!

                        TRUTH - not CRAP

                        Thank you and GOD BLESS AMERICA

                        • 3 votes
                        Reply#16 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:40 AM EST

                        The Democrat Soldier, well said. Nice to see you here today.

                        • 1 vote
                        #16.1 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:47 PM EST
                        Reply

                        Ask yourself this question......How well are you going to sleep at night with 4 more years of this bumbling do nothing Obama as opposed to the action men like Romney of Gingrich, who not only know the cure for our problems but know get it fixed. They both love America and that is a great starting point knowing you will will not be lied to on a daily basis. Have you not had enough of Obama's lying, sceaming and blame game. Think of it, the only one he hasn't blamed for the US problems is Mother Teresa, I guess that comes next month

                        • 3 votes
                        Reply#17 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:42 AM EST

                        Right now, I sleep just fine at night, and that would continue the next 4 years with Obama elected into office. What would cause me to toss fitfully at night would be a Newt at the helm with his finger poised over the nuke button.

                          #17.1 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 2:41 PM EST
                          Reply

                          From the False Equivalency Department:

                          Yesterday on CNN (aka "Fox Lite"), Anderson Cooper went over some of the amusing falsehoods told by Republican candidates during their latest clown show last Saturday. But having been forced to discuss factual errors made by Republicans, they of course had to follow up with something negative about Democrats. So Cooper pointed out that during a Sixty Minutes interview last Sunday, Obama had said that the GOP made a decision to stand on sidelines during his term in office in order to regain power.

                          According to Cooper, Obama expressing that opinion on Republican motives was somehow equivalent to the factual errors made by Republicans, like Romney claiming that Obama was the only president to cut Medicare spending. It's true that Obama didn't say anything to back his opinion, but if Cooper had some skills at reporting, he might have uncovered some facts supporting Obama's opinion such as Mitch McConnell saying his Number One priority was to defeat Obama. McConnell has also crowed about how successful he's been at blocking Democratic legislation in order to delegitimize Obama. But I guess that kind of investigative journalism, which requires doing hard stuff like googling, is above Cooper's pay grade.

                          • 6 votes
                          Reply#18 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:44 AM EST

                          You should have been listening to what comes out of Obama's mouth in the last three years and not Anderson Coopers mouth. Obama has given us lie after lie, contradiction after contradiction and in three year has not taken blame for a single problem in this country. He is the con man of blame and bull@!$%#. Just when do you think you will wake up from the spell the Messiah has placed on you.

                          • 2 votes
                          #18.1 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:59 AM EST

                          Okay elmer: source?

                          • 5 votes
                          #18.2 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:06 PM EST

                          newdayDAWNING...RETURNED

                          Okay elmer: source?

                          Wingnuts aren't too good at citing specifics when they attack the president. That includes Romney and the other clowns in the GOP circus and the so-called Republican "leadership" in Congress.

                          • 2 votes
                          #18.3 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:27 PM EST

                          What you say is true, Houston, but I do like to ask them. It is all about hate with elmer, no facts.

                          • 1 vote
                          #18.4 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:53 PM EST
                          Reply

                          It's becoming more obvious each day that the teabagger crazies want a hate ticket for 2012. Newt Gingrich/ Jerry Sandusky would work for them.

                          • 4 votes
                          Reply#19 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:46 AM EST

                          Romney cannot win. He has been campaigning for four years and he cannot get more than 25% of the primary votes. I bet you $100,000 that he will lose.

                          • 4 votes
                          Reply#20 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:49 AM EST

                          I just do not understand why any one would be paying attention to what any republician says or wants. this intire waste of money being spent on this election is foolish . we all know that in the end it will be Obama in 2012 there is no one else that can compete with Obama. he is the best the U.S. has to be president and he will be reelected. I would bet the banks on that as well as the soon to be war in Africa, so don't waste money and time just vote Obama and we will be better off in the next four years . I can hear the chant already ,four more years Obama sing it loud and sing it proud

                          • 7 votes
                          Reply#21 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:49 AM EST

                          Obama the best? Better check the job approval ratings, especially among the crucial independents. The only way Obama can look good is if he is standing next to Jimmy Carter.

                          • 3 votes
                          #21.1 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:52 AM EST

                          no road warrior we don't want the anti-Christ people in office any longer..there Godly devil ways are no good.for the world ...look at the world

                          • 2 votes
                          #21.2 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:03 AM EST
                          Reply

                          a vote for any of these republicans ..is a vote to the anti-Christ

                            Reply#22 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:52 AM EST

                            If the anti-Christ can turn the economy around, I'll take him.

                            • 1 vote
                            #22.1 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:55 AM EST

                            oh yeah that's right..let the market fix itself ..that will work Bush said and never even tried and stop remember

                            • 2 votes
                            #22.2 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:58 AM EST
                            Reply

                            do you want no regulations again with the market..oh go ahead and vote republican.they will do it again .and see your utilities go sky high agian oh thats ok huh tea trash

                              Reply#23 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:56 AM EST

                              Regulations from Obama ? Open your eyes his regulations put not one crook in jail, but they did give the Major banksthe power to put smaller banks out of business and create a monopoly in the banking business that will hurt us all. That's the way Obama wants it because the majors will butter his campaign funds for all the profits he's sending their way....Have you not noticed this maneuverings by him and the Feds. to sell out Americas community banks...Wake up

                              • 1 vote
                              #23.1 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:16 AM EST

                              You wake up Elmer,,,, It's Congress who has to write the laws that put them in jail... The Dodd Frank Act is the closest legislation we have for that

                              And who opposes Dodd Frank & all regulation? ---- Conservative law makers

                              • 6 votes
                              #23.2 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:28 AM EST

                              @elmer: The reason that there are no jail sentences for most, is that they were not breaking any laws. The laws and regulations had all been stripped by Clinton and GWB and Company, so there were no laws to break, they had free reign to do whatever they wanted to do. And now you want to make sure they have free reign again? Use your mind, Elmer, not just your stupid talking points that bear no resemblance to reality.

                              • 2 votes
                              #23.3 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 1:15 PM EST

                              Has anyone figured out the real reason Mr Obama does not want to move forward on the Canadian pipeline? Its not because of environmental reasons. Its because if he makes a decision either way he loses campaign contributions from one of the sides. Right now, he is getting money from both sides. Why make a decision now when you can get them both for a while longer. As soon as he has too he will pick one side and run with it.....until them take from both sides.

                                #23.4 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 3:07 PM EST
                                Reply

                                Steven B, MSNBC really wants to see a credible nominee coming out of the GOP not someone that will embarass the country for years to come. They really want Huntsman but realise that he would never be accepted by the TPers. Romney is the next best BET, I couldn't resist :-)

                                  Reply#24 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:57 AM EST

                                  how is any republican going to save us from there own mess they help create

                                  • 1 vote
                                  #24.1 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:00 AM EST
                                  Reply
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