Romney has many plans; you get to hear none of them
A tight-lipped Mitt Romney won't tell America his intentions as president. You see, it's on a need-to-know basis ... and you don't need to know
———————-
Mitt Romney’s inability to close the gap with Barack Obama can be explained in many ways, from his stiff persona to his general disdain for working Americans to doubts about the Republican Party’s mad dash to the right. But at root, I think, it comes down to a lack of trust. Voters have no sense of who this guy is and how he intends to govern, and his continued flip flops and refusal to provide details only feeds those suspicions.
Of course, every politician tries to avoid getting nailed down on the campaign trail. But even with that as a given, Romney’s aversion to specifics has gained legendary status. For example, just yesterday Romney finally announced that if elected, he would not attempt to revoke special two-year visas granted to young immigrants brought here illegally as children.
“The people who have received the special visa that the president has put in place, which is a two-year visa, should expect that the visa would continue to be valid. I’m not going to take something that they’ve purchased,” Romney told the Denver Post. “Before those visas have expired we will have the full immigration reform plan that I’ve proposed.”
The problem, of course, is that Romney hasn’t proposed a “full immigration reform plan.” He hasn’t even proposed small pieces of such a plan. He has merely promised to produce such a plan at some later date after the election, as if “that’s all you people need to know.”
Even conservatives find his refusal to engage frustrating. As the Wall Street Journal editorial board put it, “Mr. Romney’s pre-existing political calculation seems to be that he can win the election without having to explain the economic moment or even his own policies.” It drily notes that “such vagueness carries its own political risks.”
And as conservative writer Matt Lewis notes at The Daily Caller:
“Romney is keeping his tax plan a secret for many of the same calculating reasons he is keeping his personal taxes a secret. The problem is that his tax reform plan is of much greater interest to the public than his personal taxes. What is more, it’s not just the dreaded media he should be afraid of. It feels like Romney is hiding his real plans from even his base.”
The problem is epitomized by an op-ed published under Romney’s byline in the Wall Street Journal Monday. The Romney campaign has decided to make foreign policy a major focus, and this 760-word critique of the Obama record is intended to launch that effort.
I urge you to go read it. Like the rest of the Romney campaign, it is all noise and absolutely no content. It does not criticize a single Obama decision on foreign policy, other than his decision not to meet personally with Bibi Netanyahu. It also does not suggest a single new policy that a President Romney would undertake. When you have finished reading the piece, you will have learned absolutely nothing about how Romney would handle foreign policy.
And again, that’s by design, not by accident.
Romney’s problem is obvious. Policy specifics that would pass muster with his party’s right-wing base would alarm the general-election voter, while policies that would please the general electorate would outrage his base. So Romney and his staff have decided to sidestep the problem by avoiding any discussion of specifics whatsoever.
However, it will be interesting to see how Romney handles that problem in the debate tomorrow night in Denver (we’ll be live-blogging it here, by the way.) Obama has a four-year record as president to be analyzed and attacked, and Romney will no doubt attempt to make the most of that opportunity. But in a debate format, his refusal to deal in any way with specifics or details can’t be brushed aside easily, and it’s not a problem that extensive debate preparations is likely to fix.
– Jay Bookman
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434 comments Add your comment
stands for decibels
October 2nd, 2012
10:50 am
ok, ok, I went back and read the “Mitt Romney” (it reads more like it was written by a C-average 11th grade social studies pupil) WSJ piece.
This graf in particular moved me:
The 20th century became an American Century because we were steadfast in defense of freedom. We made the painful sacrifices necessary to defeat totalitarianism in all of its guises. To defend ourselves and our allies, we paid the price in treasure and in soldiers who never came home.
Oy. Is even one word of that made-up history even remotely true?
Oh well, putting some naif in the White House who has no clue of what even SOUNDS stupid with regard to foreign policy (see also “jawboning OPEC”) and handing him the keys–what could go wrong? Probably shouldn’t fret so much.
Morality?
October 2nd, 2012
10:50 am
Jimmy Carter – the 1st Obama.
JKL2
October 2nd, 2012
10:50 am
- But in a debate format, his refusal to deal in any way with specifics or details can’t be brushed aside easily, and it’s not a problem that extensive debate preparations is likely to fix.
The only specific plans obama has made in his four years are tee times. If he was any good as president, we wouldn’t have to try and figure out his what his plans for the future are. Funny how so many on here consider hope & change a plan. Who can argue with specifics like that…
Vote obama: You were dumb enough to fall for it last time!
Ben Shockley
October 2nd, 2012
10:50 am
“No, it is going up because of your beloved free markets.”
We don’t have a free market when Barry vetoes new pipelines and defies federal court orders to open the gulf back up for drilling.
But as always, thanks for playing.
Tom(Independent Viet Vet-USAF)
October 2nd, 2012
10:51 am
Perhaps he is taking his cue from Nancy Pelosi. Remember when she said ” we have to pass it, before we can find out what is in it”! Only San Francisco voters would elected someone like her!
Joe Hussein Mama
October 2nd, 2012
10:51 am
I think Mitt’s looking at the campaign as if it were a business negotiation. Here’s why I think that.
When negotiating for something, be it raw materials, equipment, professional services, a job — particularly where the cost is not fixed and can be haggled over — the first person to show his hand usually loses because they set the benchmark to be wrestled over. If a job applicant says — for example — that they’re expecting $75K in pay, then the company can try to work him down from that figure. It doesn’t matter that the company *budgeted* $85K for that position — because the candidate just revealed that he’d take the job for less than the company was anticipating having to pay. So if the company can negotiate the applicant down to $70K, then they’ve just saved $15K per year — and the candidate is happy because he got the job. It’s a win-win, from the company’s perspective.
In this example, the company doesn’t *want* to tell the job applicant that they’ve budgeted $85K for the position — because then the candidate will WANT the $85K whether he’s worth it or not and whether he’d actually do the job for less or not. The company wants the candidate on the job for the LEAST amount they can pay, and so they won’t show their cards if they can possibly avoid it.
This is what I think Romney’s doing. I think he’s trying to win the election by applying that employer-jobseeker dynamic. However, what he doesn’t seem to get is that HE is the jobseeker — and so he’s expected to put his cards on the table. It’s not what he’s used to and it’s not a position I think he’s accustomed to being in, and so I get the distinct impression that he’s trying to get us to agree to ‘hire’ him without having to give us any specifics.
I don’t think that would work for any jobseeker, least of all someone trying to become President.
joe
October 2nd, 2012
10:52 am
Another liberal attempt to bash Mitt without giving Obozo his due. You want to know what Obama is going to do, God forbid he wins a second term?
Raise taxes on everyone…kill small businesses, due to obozocare, spend spend spend, crash the dollar, turn us into Greece, etc.
If you think you are having trouble finding a job now, just wait…unless Mitt wins. That is the only way out of this mess.
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
October 2nd, 2012
10:52 am
What does it mean that “MY COMMENT IS AWAITING MODERATION”?
Well, young feller, I’m no Norman Einsteen but I run into this a couple times. The way to fix it is take out every four-letter word in your post. Don’t worry if the post don’t make no sense no more. It’ll go thru. There’s lots of posts on here that don’t make no sense.
Then go wash your mouth and your hands with soap—I recommend Lifebuoy. It has a flavor that can’t be beat. I would invite you to go with me to the Church of Holiness but they don’t put up with potty-mouth.
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
October 2nd, 2012
10:52 am
BEN
Bingo…the hand-jive that “we are better off” versus “you are better off” is ridiculous…the very people who are most screwed by this failed presidency are definitely not remotely better off..
When I post this, I get several posts from LIBS suggesting that they are better off and now own 3 rental properties, have increased their pay or bought a new house at a foreclosure price….shows the intellect of what we are dealing with here..
Most of BO’s voting base who buy this are suckers…
Rafe Hollister
October 2nd, 2012
10:53 am
At least he is not lying about what he plans to do. No specifics is better than deceptive intentions. Obama had all these specifics and obviously never intended to honor any of them, like I will tackle comprehensive immigration in my first term. I will cut the deficit in half by the end of my first term. I will close Gitmo. I will have the most transparent administration ever. I will have no lobbyist in my WH. blah, blah, blah, to anything Obama promises.
Mystery or out right lies? I think America knows how President Romney is going to govern, i.e., effective, competent, fiscally sound, and strong on defense. Since Obama has demonstrated little of those characteristics, there is your choice, a lousy campaigner or a lousy President, Freedom or Free Stuff.
Morality?
October 2nd, 2012
10:53 am
Jimmy Carter – the 1st Obama – “I’m going to save the world with YOUR money”. Can you spell S O C I A L I S T ? Also know as “The redistribution of wealth”. …. AKA stealing from those that earned it and giving it to those that vote Obama.
getalife
October 2nd, 2012
10:53 am
bush policies is his plan.
He will say it in the debate.
Ben Shockley
October 2nd, 2012
10:53 am
Bookman, has Debbie Wasserman Shultz texted you the blog topic for this afternoon yet? I’d like to get a head start.
stands for decibels
October 2nd, 2012
10:53 am
The only specific plans obama has made in his four years are tee times.
Got that zinger at the ready, Team Romney?
Doggone/GA
October 2nd, 2012
10:54 am
“When gas was going up under Bush, it was because Bush was in cahoots with all his Texas oil buddies”
Now see…I did not know that! Thanks for showing me something that is new to me.
Citizen of the World
October 2nd, 2012
10:54 am
Romney knows the Republican base will vote for him without specifics — in fact the fewer specifics he bores them with the better since they like to keep it simple (minded). Just spoon feed them some anti-Obama soundbites and reassure them that the remedy for America’s challenges is a Republican in the White House, simple as that.
His problem is underestimating the rest of the electorate. They don’t a pep talk, they want a plan.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
October 2nd, 2012
10:54 am
Remember when she said ” we have to pass it, before we can find out what is in it”!
No one can remember a quote that was never made, sport.
An 8th grade english text book can inform you on the proper use of quotation marks.
Tom(Independent Viet Vet-USAF)
October 2nd, 2012
10:54 am
America has a choice, do they want to continue with the former Community Organizer or give a successful businessman a shot? Maybe it would be better, or not, no one really knows!
Jack
October 2nd, 2012
10:55 am
Bookman voted for Romney in the primary. It’s likely he knew some of the Obama plans.
ByteMe - Thugs vs. Ilk... in 3D!
October 2nd, 2012
10:55 am
This is gonna hurt and I expect no retraction of your post but check it out.
Doesn’t hurt. I do rectract what I wrote earlier. He made it sound worse than it was, but a couple of drive-by bombthrowers did attack the embassy… nothing at all like the coordinated attack on 9/11.
jeffrey
October 2nd, 2012
10:55 am
I read the wsj piece it was underwhelming to say the least. Anyone who read it and thought otherwise can I sell you stone mountain.
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
October 2nd, 2012
10:56 am
REDNECK,
Amen…I actually went and posted the links separately and they went just fine and dandy..it does however sadden my heart that not a single LIB here has stood up for their hero, President Trillions in the face of my postings about his BS political statments about Bush’s contribution to deficit and Romney’s alledged offshoring of jobs…
BO’s mindless blue sheep followers don’t know what to do with the truth about his lies and related innuendos…
Do they JAY?
stands for decibels
October 2nd, 2012
10:57 am
but a couple of drive-by bombthrowers did attack the embassy…
Byte, please don’t fall into the trap of conflating this ad-hoc consulate building with an “embassy.”
The real issue here is that there was a well fortified embassy where the Ambassador could’ve stayed on 9/11/12, but he chose not to. Far as I’m concerned, that’s what ought to be properly determined.
The rest is mostly right-wing bullsh-t.
JKL2
October 2nd, 2012
10:57 am
Jay- the new government of Libya — and its people — are pro-American.
Burn an embassy, get a check! What’s not to love about this obama guy?
We’ll destroy America after we destroy Israel does sound very pro-American to me…
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
October 2nd, 2012
10:58 am
BYTEME,
Sorry about my suggestion you are not stand up…I’m cutting off my caffeine intake as we speak:-)
Seems to me that two attempted bombings, which I presume are an anomoly relative to other embassies ( I may be wrong) suggest attention to security was either lacking or non-existent..
Granny Godzilla - Union Thugette
October 2nd, 2012
10:59 am
What I expect to hear from Governor Romney tomorrow night
Can one play the debate drinking game with 2% milk?
Doggone/GA
October 2nd, 2012
10:59 am
“Perhaps he is taking his cue from Nancy Pelosi. Remember when she said ” we have to pass it, before we can find out what is in it”!”
You can’t remember what didn’t happen.
Joe Hussein Mama
October 2nd, 2012
10:59 am
S. Ray — “not a single LIB here has stood up for their hero, President Trillions”
Dude, what is it with y’all constantly referring to the President as our hero/messiah/whatever?
I’ve never heard a single liberal refer to the President with language like that, but it seems to be an article of faith with conservatives that every last one of us thinks that way about him.
Kamchak - "Socialism" is just a code word for "fear," the monster under you bed ~ Kamchak
October 2nd, 2012
10:59 am
Can you spell S O C I A L I S T ? Also know[sic] as “The redistribution of wealth”
F E A R — M O N G E R I N G
Socialism — BOO!
Morality?
October 2nd, 2012
11:00 am
We need a president that is loyal to the U.S.A. Country first. Obama is loyal to the socialist left wing of the Dem Party. – Not so much to our country’s future. TERM LIMITS for Congress and a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution is the only way to limit this over reaching Fed gub’ment give away of the U.S.A. and our future.
Tom(Independent Viet Vet-USAF)
October 2nd, 2012
11:00 am
Kamchak – Are you being serious or just defensive? It was on the news, many, many times about the bill in question. I would not say anything that is not truthful, good or bad, on these blogs. If the Conservative side says something stupid, its theirs as far as I am concerned. You libs apparently chose not to acknowledge boo-boos from your side. Guess that is one of our differences in thoughts.
Welcome to the Occupation
October 2nd, 2012
11:00 am
Rafe Hollister: “Mystery or out right lies? I think America knows how President Romney is going to govern, i.e., effective, competent, fiscally sound, and strong on defense”
Ha, love it. You cite a laundry list of all the ways Obama’s ‘hope and change’ was a fraud, then turn around and assert a firm belief in — Romneyhope! Lol.
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
October 2nd, 2012
11:01 am
KAMCHAK
How’s it going sportster,
http://www.politifact.com/texas/statements/2010/mar/15/republican-party-texas/texas-gop-says-speaker-nancy-pelosi-said-people-wi/
Joe Hussein Mama
October 2nd, 2012
11:03 am
Morality — “We need a president that is loyal to the U.S.A. Country first. Obama is loyal to the socialist left wing of the Dem Party. – Not so much to our country’s future.”
There’s only one actual Socialist in Congress, and I don’t see President Obama hugging up to him. Ever.
MAC
October 2nd, 2012
11:03 am
The plan is to replace the current incompetence with someone with proven experience, proven competence and proven results. If this were an interview for the US CEO, it would be a no-brainer for choosing Romney.
Not a Neal Boortz Redneck
October 2nd, 2012
11:03 am
The two biggest socialist programs in my life were TARP and the Medicare Drug Bill – both Bush.
Obamacare makes me buy PRIVATE insurance – which is not socialism.
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
October 2nd, 2012
11:03 am
JOE,
I put more stock in actions as opposed to words..the particular shepherds flock for the most part, believes everything he says regardless of merit…kinda like say……Jesus…
Joe Hussein Mama
October 2nd, 2012
11:04 am
MAC — “proven experience, proven competence and proven results”
Releasing his tax returns would go an awful long way towards establishing that your claims are factual. Absent that, such statements are just unsupported claims.
midtownguy
October 2nd, 2012
11:05 am
Obama is loyal to the left wing of the Democratic party but Romney isn’t loyal to the right wing of the Republican party?
Mary Elizabeth
October 2nd, 2012
11:05 am
“But in a debate format, his refusal to deal in any way with specifics or details can’t be brushed aside easily, and it’s not a problem that extensive debate preparations is likely to fix.”
=========================================
Good analysis.
Kamchak - "Socialism" is just a code word for "fear," the monster under you bed ~ Kamchak
October 2nd, 2012
11:06 am
Kamchak – Are you being serious or just defensive?
Do you know the proper use of quotation marks?
In order to use quotation marks, you must quote — word for word — what another person said, and you were woefully short of that goal.
“F” for you today in English.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.politifact.com/texas/statements/2010/mar/15/republican-party-texas/texas-gop-says-speaker-nancy-pelosi-said-people-wi/
And another “F” for Stevie-poo for lack of reading comprehension.
Aquagirl
October 2nd, 2012
11:06 am
The real issue here is that there was a well fortified embassy where the Ambassador could’ve stayed on 9/11/12, but he chose not to.
Didn’t the story say the Ambassador resumed his jogging route after one of the attacks? He obviously knew the danger and chose to man up. I can respect that. It’s a foreign idea to some of our posters, who just don’t understand why he wasn’t cowering in a huge compound with hundreds of armed guards.
OBIWAN
October 2nd, 2012
11:06 am
“Actually, Shockley, Libya is a very good example of that promise being kept. The terrorist leader Moammar Gadhafi is dead and gone, and the new government of Libya — and its people — are pro-American.”
Jay I am glad you cleared that up, but can you please tell that to the ambassador, or maybe the Muslim Brotherhood?
TiredOfIt
October 2nd, 2012
11:07 am
Ben Shockley
October 2nd, 2012
10:48 am
It’s all the young people who haven’t already started a good career and/or started accumulating wealth who will never have a chance to do so under Obama’s world view.
++
Theit most important reason to support President Obama is the Supreme Court selections.
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
October 2nd, 2012
11:07 am
JOE,
Regarding socialististic leaning of BO, to suggests that a material amount of his social and tax policy platform does not lean socialist doesn’t make much sense to me…
JamVet
October 2nd, 2012
11:07 am
Immorality, you do make me laugh.
Even when trying to insult Barry, you screw it up.
If you had any intellectually honesty, you would have written – BHO, the second GWB.
(Hint, James Earl Carter was light years ahead of your bungling, deadly Crusader…)
Joe Hussein Mama
October 2nd, 2012
11:07 am
S. Ray — “I put more stock in actions as opposed to words..”
So do I, and I don’t see liberals *treating* Obama as a hero or messiah, either. So what gives? Wishful thinking on your part?
“the particular shepherds flock for the most part, believes everything he says regardless of merit…”
Really? How do you know what people *believe?* I don’t see you asking that very often, but I do see you *asserting* what people believe. Maybe you’re mistaken.
“kinda like say……Jesus…”
You know, MANY liberal posters here have criticized Obama at one time or another. I’ve criticized him for considering a release of petroleum from the SPR, among many other things. I don’t think that criticism is indicative of a messiah mindset, but YMMV.
Welcome to the Occupation
October 2nd, 2012
11:09 am
JKL2: “Burn an embassy, get a check! What’s not to love about this obama guy?”
Are you really so ignorant that you’re not aware of how the US paid off violent insurgents at different points throughout the Bush adventures in Iraq and Afghanistan?
But something tells me we won’t hear you bringing attention to those little inconvenient details when they cast your Bushie in a bad light, only when similar transactions occur under Obama.
JamVet
October 2nd, 2012
11:09 am
…a successful businessman a shot?
Like that last incompetent boob that you rubes elected? Twice.
Morality?
October 2nd, 2012
11:10 am
I agree S O C I A L I S T boooooooooooo! Send Obama back to the private sector. As President Obama makes a good cut throat class action suit trial lawyer. I can see him on T.V. now. ” Call me at 1- 800 – SUPER SIZE YO PAYMENT and get the money you “deserve” from the gub’ment. I can get you on disability today or your money back – let me supersize the payment you “deserve”. And I will do this for ONLY 50 % of what the gub’ment pays you for the next ten years.
Rafe Hollister
October 2nd, 2012
11:10 am
Welcome to the Occupation
I didn’t expect bloggers here at the Popular Front to get it.
Vote for a proven liar or take a chance on something better. Romney not making a laundry list of promises he plans to break is a refreshing change. He is saying I am for fiscal sanity, smaller government, and strong defense, give me a chance. Your answering, NAH, we will try the proven liar again.
Jose
October 2nd, 2012
11:10 am
PELOUSY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hV-05TLiiLU
Welcome to the Occupation
October 2nd, 2012
11:10 am
It’s ok, JKL2, I like you alright, but I had to call you on that one.
Joe Hussein Mama
October 2nd, 2012
11:11 am
S. Ray — “Regarding socialististic leaning of BO, to suggests that a material amount of his social and tax policy platform does not lean socialist doesn’t make much sense to me…”
Any Congressman or Senator who votes to continue funding Medicare or the VA who ALSO rails about ZOMG SOSHULIZM is, IMO, a farking hypocrite. If conservative lawmakers are going to crap so hard about socialism, then why did so many of them vote for Medicare Part D?
Frankly, I think that conservatives have a blind spot when it comes to socialism that they themselves actually supported and voted for.
Jay
October 2nd, 2012
11:11 am
“If this were an interview for the US CEO, it would be a no-brainer for choosing Romney.
Probably true. On the other hand, if this were an interview for playing third base for the Braves, it would be a no-brainer to choose Chipper Jones. But this is neither — it’s an interview to choose a president.
If you were interviewing a potential CEO, for example, it wouldn’t matter how much he cared about workers in the company. In fact, a willingness to fire workers, cut their benefits and slash their pay would be considered attributes in such an applicant.
In an applicant to be president, not so much.
southpaw
October 2nd, 2012
11:11 am
Kamchak/Doggone
OK, let’s try this instead. Instead of “we have to pass it before we can find out what’s in it,” let’s make one slight change to “we have to pass it so that YOU can find out what’s in it (emphasis mine).” In the same way, we would need to hire Romney as President so that YOU can find out what he’ll do. I realize that you’ll consider that an extremely bad idea, but it does echo the sentiments of then-Speaker Pelosi.
Listen for yourselves:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hV-05TLiiLU
Jose
October 2nd, 2012
11:13 am
PELOUSY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hV-05TLiiLU
YOU HAVE TO WATCH THE VIDEO
BEFORE YOU CAN DENY THAT SHE SAID IT
Mary Elizabeth
October 2nd, 2012
11:14 am
About the debate tomorrow evening, I will, particularly, be interested in observing Romney’s nonverbal communicatin in how he will try to mask his lack of empathy for the 47% – either through his facial expressions or through his intonation, such as the “entitled” inflection emphasis when he spoke, without a mask, regarding the 47%.
Ben Shockley
October 2nd, 2012
11:14 am
Apparently Kamchak is old enough to have known Winston Churchill. Certainly Churchill knew Kamchak…
“Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance and the gospel of envy.”
– Winston Churchill
Tom(Independent Viet Vet-USAF)
October 2nd, 2012
11:15 am
Stevie Ray – Thanks man!! Kamchak will never admit he’s incorrect, whether it be 100%, 75% or 50%.
JamVet
October 2nd, 2012
11:15 am
…and strong defense…
Man, that silly sound bite never gets old.
(And the tens of thousands of commie labor union thugs at Lockheed Martin, Boeing, General Dynamics et al thank you!)
East Cobb RINO, Inc. (LLC)
October 2nd, 2012
11:16 am
“Bookman voted for Romney in the primary”
************************
In the spirit of former AI contestant Sanjaya Malakar and the vote-for-the-worst campaign, I wanted to cast a primary vote for Bachman. But had to settle for Newt. It would have been so fun to see one of those nut jobs in a general election.
Regnad Kcin
October 2nd, 2012
11:16 am
Jeez -WHEN DOES KYLE GET BACK? All this name-calling, bomb-throwing, lying! Man, don’t you folks have somewhere to go where your Rushisms are appreciated?
Ben Shockley
October 2nd, 2012
11:16 am
Looks like the libs got gobsmacked on the Pelosi quote
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
October 2nd, 2012
11:16 am
KAMCHAK,
I apologize if I understood you to suggest Pelosi didn’t say what she was accused of saying..appears that your real suggestion that she actually said that is correct..
JOE,
I’m not sure how to respond to your response other than to point out the voting actions, particularly of those most ill-affected by this ineffective president who continue to show support…as well as those young who follow him like a celebrity superstar…buying his hope and change BS…does suggest that many if not most are guilty of practicing faith without the support of facts…
Unlike you, most of the liberal posters here, including Jay, will defend anything BO says or does regardless of credibility…
Here’s where I stand..if you haven’t already read this..I trust we can agree on this particular thought..
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/robert-samuelson-the-truth-deficit-from-obama-and-romney/2012/09/30/262c4602-09a5-11e2-a10c-fa5a255a9258_story.html?hpid=z2
Ben Shockley
October 2nd, 2012
11:17 am
“Kamchak will never admit he’s incorrect”
He’ll never admit he’s a socialist either.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
October 2nd, 2012
11:18 am
Apparently Kamchak is old enough to have known Winston Churchill. Certainly Churchill knew Kamchak…
And Hairy is young enough to date Honey boo-boo
midtownguy
October 2nd, 2012
11:18 am
The debates will change little to nothing. Those inclined to vote for Obama will claim he “won” the debate. FOX news will claim that Romney won. It won’t change enough votes to make a difference. Debates, like conventions, have become so rehearsed and polished that they are boring.
Citizen of the World
October 2nd, 2012
11:18 am
I bet one of the specifics Romney will offer tomorrow night is that under his plan Americans are going to be able to keep more of their hard-earned money. Why should the government be able to take your money and turn around and give it to someone else who didn’t work for it? You should be the one who gets to decide what to do with your money!
Oh, great! Once we all get to keep our money, we won’t have big government to worry about anymore.
But after that, I’m wondering if some of us should get together and pool our resources so we can start doing some of the things big government can’t afford to do anymore. Like maybe build some roads and bridges and stuff. Anybody want to go in on an army with me? How about we all chip in and see if we can bribe the coal plants to quit polluting the air and water so bad. And something really needs to be done about helping to feed those poor people on the other side of town who are living in a tent and starving because there aren’t any jobs or the jobs don’t pay enough money. Anyone willing to volunteer to be in charge of some of these things? Maybe we can pay you a little something.
Morality?
October 2nd, 2012
11:18 am
Just for the record one more time. I did not vote for “W” or Obama. I am a fiscal conservative which neither of them is. Spending your way out of debt as a policy never worked for me. I am for TERM LIMITS for Congress. I am for a BALANCED BUDGET amendment to the Constitution to reign in this alarming give away of the U.S.A. by Obama and other SOCIALISTS that want to, not just redistribute the wealth, but to give away our future.
Tom(Independent Viet Vet-USAF)
October 2nd, 2012
11:20 am
Kamchak – You get an “F” for being unpleasant and rude. But I guess that is the liberal way of saying things to people who do not agree with you. I would normally say bite me, but I will not say it, because that is being crude on my part.
Ken
October 2nd, 2012
11:20 am
If Obama would have told the people what he was going to do he would have never been elected.
JamVet
October 2nd, 2012
11:21 am
midtownguy,
BINGO!
It is the bottom of the ninth, two out, nobody on and Mitt & the New Age Neocons are down by four runs.
And they think Mitt “the Mendoza Line” Romney is going to hit a five run homer tomorrow night.
Hysterical…
southpaw
October 2nd, 2012
11:21 am
midtownguy@11:18
Is your air conditioner in good shape, so that it can cool off some of the hot air coming up?
I'm a liberal and believe everything I read and nothing the other side comes up with...cause we're smart and they are not
October 2nd, 2012
11:21 am
Square one then. Obama had lot’s of promises and NONE came true.
To name a few:
1. Unemployment would never go over 8%. Lie
2. close Gitmo. lie
3. Reduce the deficit. WHOPPER.
4. Improve our standing in the world. Ha. Tell us about the last month in the middle east. Bush’s fault I guess
Some things he helped with
1. credit rating reduction
2. Gas prices doubled
3. Food stamps from 32 mil to 48 mil
4. Dumb Afghanistan policy. Announced we are leaving yet leave our men and women over there to be murdered…..
All good stuff. sign me up for 4 more years.
TBone
October 2nd, 2012
11:22 am
As I remember, your messiah was not forthcoming with any specificity at this time last election cycle. Now we have seen what his great plans were. Fire the dude and get someone responsible in office. Vote for the MORMON.
East Cobb RINO, Inc. (LLC)
October 2nd, 2012
11:23 am
“The debates will change little to nothing.”
*********************
There is an old baseball cliche that say you cannot win the pennant in April but you can lose it. Same for the debates. You probably cannot win the election in the debate but you can lose it.
Joe Hussein Mama
October 2nd, 2012
11:24 am
S. Ray — “JOE, I’m not sure how to respond to your response other than to point out the voting actions, particularly of those most ill-affected by this ineffective president who continue to show support…”
You seem to presume that supporting Obama means that an individual voter *approves* of every action and decision that Obama has made. I don’t think that’s accurate or reasonable. Speaking only for myself, I’ve criticized Obama many times and would prefer a better candidate, but I think Romney is not that better candidate. In fact, I think that Romney would perform significantly *worse* as President, perhaps on a par with President Bush.
“as well as those young who follow him like a celebrity superstar…buying his hope and change BS…”
Again you’re presuming to know the mindset of people you’ve never met and never spoken to. You’re doing exactly what I was objecting to in the first place.
“does suggest that many if not most are guilty of practicing faith without the support of facts…”
Just like you are. You don’t know what they think, but you’re apparently operating on faith that your guesses about it are completely accurate.
“Unlike you, most of the liberal posters here, including Jay, will defend anything BO says or does regardless of credibility…”
I don’t think that’s at all true. In fact, I think that’s quite wrong.
“Here’s where I stand..if you haven’t already read this..I trust we can agree on this particular thought..”
I’ve already read it, but I think you should pay special attention to the title: “The truth deficit from both campaigns.”
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
October 2nd, 2012
11:25 am
JAY,
Your allegations about the musings of CEO’s and their ” willingness to fire workers, cut their benefits and slash their pay would be considered attributes in such an applicant.” suggest you misunderstand, similar to your messiah, the concept of leadership…If it takes difficult decisions to change to a more profitable (or in our country’s case, sustainable) outcome and a resulting ability to be competitive and otherwise not kick the can down the road or let the liquidators in..the ability to make those difficult decisions regardless of what liberal writers think they know about leadership and success speaks volumes…
I guess when better technology or a more competitive landscape surface, your response is “let’s stay in the stone age to protect our workers….” who cares about being competitive.. the rich can afford this..”
JamVet
October 2nd, 2012
11:25 am
I am a fiscal conservative which neither of them is.
Read, I am an economic liberal.
But that truth doesn’t sounds as good to the perpetually GOPed…
Economic liberalism is the ideological belief in organizing the economy on individualist lines, such that the greatest possible number of economic decisions are made by private individuals and not by collective institutions. It includes a spectrum of different economic policies, but it is always based on strong support for a market economy and private property in the means of production. Although economic liberalism can also be supportive of government regulation to a certain degree, it tends to oppose government intervention in the free market when it inhibits free trade and open competition.
Your made up Republican soundbites and slogans are senseless…
midtownguy
October 2nd, 2012
11:25 am
No need for air conditioning today. I have the windows open to save energy. You will probably find it shocking that I am an environmentalist.
Tom(Independent Viet Vet-USAF)
October 2nd, 2012
11:26 am
Jose – Good man. But guess what, they will say that video is doctored? They just chose to not accept their own boo-boos!
The Truth
October 2nd, 2012
11:27 am
Specific plans from Romney? Cons don’t care about specifics. They just care if the candidate is endorsed by the drug addict Rush Limbaugh and he has an ‘R’ next to his name. You know their not smart enough to vote for their own interests.
Get Real
October 2nd, 2012
11:27 am
Ahh more liberal drivel; the only true test of the supposed GAP will be 11/6…..also how hypocritical to talk about lack of substance regarding plans…wake me when Obama has one that is not crafted in fairyland …Axelrod on Sunday was hilarious with his talking points….truly sad
I'm a liberal and believe everything I read and nothing the other side comes up with...cause we're smart and they are not
October 2nd, 2012
11:27 am
Tbone, reminds me of the best bumper sticker I’ve seen……. Fire the moron…Hire the morman
Steve-USA "None of the Above"
October 2nd, 2012
11:27 am
“No need for air conditioning today. I have the windows open to save energy. You will probably find it shocking that I am an environmentalist.”
Sounds like you’re a part-time environmentalist or you wouldn’t use your AC at all.
Morality?
October 2nd, 2012
11:27 am
The “brains” behind Obama’s economic policy? Can you believe it? Nanny Pelosi and Hairy Weed .. ….. now that is true guidance from the blind. By the way Bernie Sanders (the admitted socialist in Congress) and Obama voted the same 97% of the time during the short time Obama was in Congress. The other 3% ? Obama was out playing golf.
midtownguy
October 2nd, 2012
11:27 am
I agree, East Cobb. You can hurt yourself badly if you say or do something that makes you look foolish. I am old enough to remember watching the Kennedy/Nixon debate with my father. Nixon lost the election at that debate he looked so uncomfortable and unpolished.
Rafe Hollister
October 2nd, 2012
11:28 am
Romney needs to point out that the middle class has been hurt by Obamanism. He should point out that all Barry’s talk has been comforting, while not doing squat to improve their lot in life. Their incomes have shrunk and his green energy obsession has increased energy and food prices. The chances that their children will achieve the American Dream have diminished, as economic conditions deteriorate. That Ronald Reagan had a much greater economic recession to deal with and had us in recovery in 3 years or so. That continuing for 4 years to blame GWB is not helping end this recession and is just wasted energy.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
October 2nd, 2012
11:28 am
Instead of “we have to pass it before we can find out what’s in it,” let’s make one slight change to “we have to pass it so that YOU can find out what’s in it (emphasis mine).”
Slight change?
You’re moving the goalposts.
Doggone/GA
October 2nd, 2012
11:29 am
“but it does echo the sentiments of then-Speaker Pelosi. ”
No, it doesn’t. The reality of legislative processes is that the final version of a bill might not be known until right before the final vote..due to those pesky things known as “amendments”. So yes, a bill might have to be passed before the FINAL VERSION can be released to the public. But even then, the basic bill as proposed it known before any votes are taken.
In the case of Romney we don’t even know that. He hasn’t bothered (he’s afraid to?) tell us the basics of his “proposed” policies.
southpaw
October 2nd, 2012
11:30 am
midtownguy
Open windows sound good. Just be sure you have some fans pointed toward them, to blow out the hot air.
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
October 2nd, 2012
11:30 am
JOE,
I don’t support either of these dopes nor do I support a vote for the status quo as a result…the article completely explains my position that they are all the same and it doesn’t matter…none of them have incentive to tell us the hard facts…
As for what other people think, yes I have spent lots of time with college students and the like who have no clue about the ramificantions of BO’s intentions but think he’s cool and believes everything he says…I also find the interviews with his supporters who don’t even know who is the competition or what party he represents…speak volumes.
I agree with you that a material number of folks either want BO to stay regardless of disagreement with some of his agenda as well as those who support Romney simply to get BO out of office..
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
October 2nd, 2012
11:31 am
KAMCHAK(s)
Do there exists more than one of you???
Goldie
October 2nd, 2012
11:34 am
Bush’s Fault– 4 more for 44… me gusta mucho!
And the only thing that Mitt has guaranteed that he knows how to do is ship American jobs overseas and pocket million$ from the transaction — really, is that what America needs today???
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
October 2nd, 2012
11:34 am
DOGGONE,
Seriously? How can you defend a political blunder of a statement like that? Her arrogance speaks the real truth of how our elected officials think we are idiots…that bill is and will remain the biggest burden on the taxpayers for years to come and she suggests that we must wait to see the bill before a vote?
Ridiculous
Doggone/GA
October 2nd, 2012
11:35 am
“How can you defend a political blunder of a statement like that?”
Easily, since I don’t consider it a blunder. *I* understand the legislative process a lot better than YOU apparently do.
Butch Cassidy (I)
October 2nd, 2012
11:35 am
Im a liberal – “All good stuff. sign me up for 4 more years.”
Looks like you will have plenty of company. http://www.electoral-vote.com/
I'm a liberal and believe everything I read and nothing the other side comes up with...cause we're smart and they are not
October 2nd, 2012
11:36 am
It IS a anti Obama vote. He won the primaries for one fact. He seemed less toxic enough to have a chance in the general. The others all had media rich baggage. The left press has tried with Romney. The 5 page school yard bully story was a classic case…..But yet Obama got NO scrutiny and his back ground was borderline radioactive.
Ben Shockley
October 2nd, 2012
11:36 am
“The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings. The inherent virtue of Socialism is the equal sharing of miseries.”
– Winston Churchill