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President Obama talks on the phone with NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover team aboard Air Force One during a flight to Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska, Aug. 13 (Pete Souza)
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Magnificent.
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Steve Benen: Just this morning, I noted that Mitt Romney publicly gave his word, on camera, that he would “go back and look” to let us know what tax rates he paid over the last decade. The good news is, Romney really did “go back and look,” and elaborated on the findings today.
The bad news is, his answer was horrible:
“…I did go back and look at my taxes and over the past 10 years I never paid less than 13 percent. I think the most recent year is 13.6 or something like that. So I paid taxes every single year. Harry Reid’s charge is totally false. I’m sure waiting for Harry to put up who it was that told him what he says they told him. I don’t believe it for a minute, by the way. But every year I’ve paid at least 13 percent and if you add in addition the amount that goes to charity, why the number gets well above 20 percent.”
Let’s walk through the top five reasons this answer is woefully unacceptable…..
Full post here
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David Simon: Can we stand back and pause a short minute to take in the spectacle of a man who wants to be President of The United States, who wants us to seriously regard him as a paragon of the American civic ideal, declaiming proudly and in public that he has paid his taxes at a third of the rate normally associated with gentlemen of his economic benefit.
Stunning.
Am I supposed to congratulate this man? Thank him for his good citizenship? Compliment him for being clever enough to arm himself with enough tax lawyers so that he could legally minimize his obligations?
Thirteen percent. The last time I paid taxes at that rate, I believe I might still have been in college. If not, it was my first couple years as a newspaper reporter. Since then, the paychecks have been just fine, thanks, and I don’t see any reason not to pay at the rate appropriate to my earnings, given that I’m writing the check to the same government that provided the economic environment that allowed for such incomes.
I can’t get over the absurdity of this moment, honestly: Hey, I never paid less than thirteen percent. I swear. And no, you can’t examine my tax returns in any more detail. But I promise you all, my fellow American citizens, I never once slipped to single digits. I’m just not that kind of guy.
God.
This republic is just about over, isn’t it?
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ABC: After repeated denials, Paul Ryan has admitted he requested stimulus cash even after sharply criticizing the program.
Ryan had denied doing so as recently as Wednesday, when he spoke to ABC’s Cincinnati affiliate, WCPO, in Ohio.
“I never asked for stimulus,” Mitt Romney’s new running mate said. “I don’t recall… so I really can’t comment on it. I opposed the stimulus because it doesn’t work, it didn’t work.”
Two years ago, during an interview on WBZ’s NewsRadio he was asked by a caller if he “accepted any money” into his district. Ryan said he did not.
…. But as we’ve now learned, Ryan did write letters. He did request stimulus funds.
More here
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Charles Pierce: The president is angry. The president is an angry man. The president is black. The president is an angry black man …. That is the four-point plan on “the economy” on which Willard Romney apparently intends to run for president for a while…..
“If you look at the ads that have been described and the divisiveness based on income, age, ethnicity and so-forth, it’s designed to bring a sense of enmity and jealousy and anger and this is not in my view what the American people want to see,” Romney said.
Ethnicity? And so forth…. If he blows that dog-whistle any louder, Seamus may return from that great roof-rack in the sky.
This should surprise absolutely nobody, because, if there’s one thing candidate Romney has demonstrated, it is that he really is quite a remarkable liar…. Asking a Republican presidential candidate to abandon race-baiting entirely is to ask for an awful lot of 13-second Republican stump speeches. Asking Willard Romney to do it is to assume that there is muck so foul that he will not immerse himself in it to be president….
…. There was nothing Romney wouldn’t do in business to make a buck. Why should we be surprised that he campaigns the same way? ….
…. Since you can count on Rafalca’s hooves the number of times in his life that Willard Romney has been in a fair fight, it’s no great shock to discover that, since he can’t fight hard, he’ll fight dirty, because winning is not something you earn. Winning is something you inherit…..
Full post here
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McClatchy: …. Paul Ryan will leave sizable footprints on the 2012 presidential race. His controversial plan to overhaul the federal budget has been the chief talking point of the campaign since Mitt Romney put him on the GOP ticket last weekend.
…. According to a report by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, “[Medicaid] Cutbacks might involve reduced eligibility … coverage of fewer services, lower payments to providers, or increased cost-sharing by beneficiaries – all of which would reduce access to care.”
Those cuts and the Ryan plan’s calls to repeal the Affordable Care Act would add tens of millions of low-income Americans to the ranks of the uninsured. It also would raise taxpayers’ bill for emergency room indigent care and cause an increase in private insurance rates.
…. Ryan’s plans for Medicare have caused a stir … In order to slow spending in the national health plan for seniors, Ryan would replace Medicare’s guarantee of coverage for new beneficiaries in 2023 with a flat payment to seniors known as a “voucher” or “premium support” ….
Ryan’s planned tax cuts favor the affluent. Those who earn more than $1 million annually would see an average tax cut of $265,000 and a 12.5 percent increase in after-tax income … But at the lower end of the scale, people earning between $20,000 and $30,000 would get no tax cut …
…. All told, the Tax Policy Center said, Ryan’s tax plans would increase the deficit by $4.6 trillion over the next 10 years. His call to extend the Bush-era tax cuts for high-earning Americans would boost the deficit by an additional $5.4 trillion.
Full article here
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NYT Editorial: Three days after Paul Ryan became the presumptive Republican vice presidential candidate, he made a pilgrimage on Tuesday to the Las Vegas gambling palace of Sheldon Adelson, the casino tycoon who is spending more than any other donor to try to send Mr. Ryan and Mitt Romney to the White House. No reporters were allowed, perhaps because the campaign didn’t want them asking uncomfortable questions about the multiple federal investigations into the company behind Mr. Adelson’s wealth.
Those questions, though, aren’t going away, and neither are the ones about the judgment of Mr. Romney and Mr. Ryan in drawing ever closer to a man whose business background should lead them to back away — fast. By not repudiating Mr. Adelson’s vow to spend as much as $100 million on their behalf, the two candidates seem more eager to keep the “super PAC” dollars flowing than to preserve the integrity of their campaign.
The issues swirling about Mr. Adelson’s business practices are not new and can hardly come as a surprise to the Romney campaign…. A careful presidential campaign would put distance between itself and a businessman like Mr. Adelson … By allowing Mr. Adelson to have such an outsize role in their race, the candidates themselves are placing a very risky bet.
Full editorial here
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NYT: As Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan fanned out across the country this week, glad-handing voters and donors, a smaller but no less important gathering was taking place on Capitol Hill: Mr. Romney’s transition team met on Tuesday with more than a dozen loyalists from the private and public sectors in space borrowed from a law office.
Mr. Romney’s transition team …. offers a glimpse of what might be Mr. Romney’s approach to governing, functioning much like his old private equity firm, Bain Capital. The team is assessing the government and looking for ways to make it more efficient and streamlined…..
More here
The rest of the article didn’t interest me too much – a transition team for something that will never happen 🙄 – it was just this line:
“The team also offers a glimpse of what might be Mr. Romney’s approach to governing, functioning much like his old private equity firm, Bain Capital…..”
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Davenport, Iowa, August 15 (Scout Tufankjian for OFA)
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Morning everyone 😉
The Obama Diary 
morning all
Way to go Japa! GM & congrats! 3-2-1- for a pic of FLOTUS – Happy Friday!
GM 2 U 2, Grab a Mop! 😆
Thanks VC. Been awhile. Just getting ready to head out the door, checked the comuter and wham Grab a Mop, congrats, loos like a tie.
Happy to take the Silver this am:)
Obama/Biden 2012
Morning Japa, morning everyone 😉
Darn it all. I had to take off for work before you provided this picture. I know my home computer will display it, but my work computer doesn’t. Guess I’ll have to wait until I get home. And all the way to work I was looking forward to this moment. Oh well, this will just make it even more worthwhile.
Grrr, that’s annoying! It’s from the WH Flickr site, how come your work computer won’t display it?
Don’t know. It has happened before. I’ll survive. After all, it’s not like there aren’t any FLOTUS pictures on this site.
😆 True!!
GM TOD’ers!!
Good Morning/Afternoon Chips Chica & all TODobots, near or far!
It’s Friday, and after today only 11 more Fridays to THE DAY OF DECISION!
Are you FIRED UP? READY to VOTE? #ObamaBiden2012 Let’s show the GOP how it’s done!
GM West Wing Week!
GM folks. Just awesome
A day older and wiser! Congratulations OMF – a very special ‘Happy Day-after-Birthday’ wish to you! May your year be filled with life, love and laughter…..and a new inauguration for the Os!
Amen. Thanks VC. Hope summer is going well for you too.
Yep! No complaints …..well.. Just kidding. 😆 I’ve had and am having a great summer!
GM to you. I forgot to do the BD wishing yesterday, so let me be the first to wish you a Happy Birthday for next year.
Great , a man who is forward thinking. Hey where have I had heard this slogan before??????
Happy belated Birthday, Ourmanflint!
Good morning!
Idea. Let’s push Mitt’s taxes on Twitter today.
Let’s make sure this issue doesn’t die. He needs to release more tan 1 year tax return!
Can I suggest that we transcribe the questions LOD wants us to ask the debate moderators (last night’s ‘rewrite’ segment on ‘the last word’ as they are mainly tax related) and send them to the debate moderators as part of this twitter deluge?
I actually really like the ‘reasonableness’ of Messina’s letter to Mitt, although I don’t see why we should need to negotiate with Willard for him to do what’s right.
This.
The reasonableness of Messina’s letter makes Mitt’s answer look all the more unreasonable. The President and company played this right. That offer would seem more than reasonable to the majority of people; Mitt’s swift denial reeks of coverup. This is becoming more and more a stinking coverup. Remember Watergate (I’m well old enough to) the mantra after that was “It’s not the crime, it’s the coverup.” I never believed it wasn’t the crime, but people HATE coverups, and that’s where Romney is now. The president and committee are “killing with kindness.” The more reasonable the President is, the more unreasonable Romney becomes…..that gets through to people.
Do I remember Watergate? Do I remember Watergate? You betcha (as Sarah Palin would say)! That was my personal pivotal moment for beginning to hate the GOP. Nixon was lying, I could tell he was lying, he went on national TV and lied. And he was allowed to go gently into that good night without being further questioned or arrested! The coverup! Does the Republican Party have any decency?
One thing I noticed in body language is Ryan seems to be less practiced at lying than Mitt. Ryan’s lying to the reporter was obvious when seeing his face. Mitt is hard to tell he is lying. He does have a tell tale strange ha ha ha before he answers, his smile is tight and his eyes do not express laughter. It seems Romney is either practiced and good at it or does not feel any guilt about lying so does not show the normal signs of lying in his body language. Ryan’s lies are showing on his face as of yet.
Interesting and wise observations.
The tax issue has turned into a lose/lose proposition for Mittens. Release the returns and they’ll be examined in a way that makes the IRS look like pussycats. Keep not releasing them — and there’s more of the current climate.
It’s his own damn fault but his readiness to walk into bear traps continues ro show how unsuitable he has for ANY public sector job.
Good morning TOD Family. Lots to read and share this morning.
Congrats Japa21 on being first.
I special ‘Good Morning’ to you, Sonjia, and a thank you for your willingness to share my tweets with your followers. I truly appreciate your support, and that of other TOD-ers in this area, as MY ‘fan base’ [ 😉 😉 ] is pretty basic.
You are one of my tweeter warriors, I try to support all of you.
Good morning everybody.
Some may remember the song “Crying” by Roy Orbison or Billy Gilman. Well it is begging to be parodied in honor of Lying Liar Mitt. The chorus could go something like this:
Lying to all of you, lying to all of you
Yes, now you know from the first moment on
I was lying
Lying, lying, lying,
Yeah lying, lying, lying to all of you.
oh that’s great! brutal!
RYAN SLAMMED STIMULUS THEN ASKED FOR MONEY FOR HIS DISTRICT (Surprise, he was caught lying.)
Paul Ryan Digs Romney in Deeper by Doubling Down on His Stimulus Lies
By: Sarah Jones
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The stimulus money is just one more issue Republicans campaigned on, made a HUGE stink about when it was going down. Then when the lights and cameras were off, they went skulking back to their hometowns and sat down to write obtusely cheerful letters about how their district, these companies, deserved stimulus money and could they pretty please have some stimulus, daddy?
Heck, Paul Ryan was allegedly for green building according to these letters. But Mitt Romney is on the trail making “jokes” about how wind power is silly because you can’t put a windmill on your car (actually, you can but that is hardly the point).
You don’t really know what you’re getting with this ticket, but one thing Paul Ryan is doing highlighting for a larger audience just how rabidly hypocritical the Congressional Republicans have been since Obama took office.
All of that talk about fiscal responsibility sounded like it made sense, until you looked under the hood. Under the hood, we have two pretty little liars who don’t give a hoot about fiscal responsibility.
Paul Ryan begged for stimulus money and then told voters that he did not take any of the money. Now he says he wasn’t clear that it was stimulus money, even though his staff coded the requests for stimulus funding as “constituent services” back in 2010. Ryan is just making things worse with this King of Lame excuse.
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http://www.politicususa.com/denial-river-egypt-paul-ryan-begged-stimulus-money-lied.html
Only 5 years? I’m not feeling this letter, tbh.
Maybe they know Romney won’t do it anyway. Should be interesting.
I believe there’s a reason why they specified five years. They KNOW something, and they are SURE of it. Note that Messina didn’t promise that they wouldn’t criticize what was in those returns – he only promised to not ASK for more. Clearly, the O-team already knows what’s in those returns for those five years they’re asking about, otherwise they would not specify that number.
I’ve a feeling they know something we don’t Collegekay, maybe Harry’s source was pretty accurate after all. This has the feeling of a big juicy trap to me – did he pay anything between 2007-2012?
You have a point there. People on twitter are saying the letter keeps the media talking about it, and if Mitt still doesn’t release it makes him look shady.
A bit of a masterstoke, methinks! Asking for only 5 years sounds so reasonable … but, as I said, what’s in those 5 years? Love the way this just won’t go away for Willard, and this letter keeps it rolling.
I agree Chips, and I believe (as some others have speculated) that the 2009 return is especially damning because that year was the amnesty for people who had engaged in illegal offshore accounts and such activities in previous years. If we know what’s in 2009, then we can infer what’s in those taxes from 2000-2007 when all those illegal stuff went on.
I agree too. Did you see LOD last night? He seems convinced that Romney got busted with the Swiss bank account (felony) and had to get amnesty – which Davis Cay Johnson considers completely disqualifying for a presidential candidate. I believe Lawrence – he is familiar with the tax code, policy etc and nows his way around those sorts of documents. I remember him also looking through Ryan’s financial disclosure form with glee and predicting we would be leaning all sorts of things about Ryan over the next 3 weeks.
“…. the 2009 return is especially damning because that year was the amnesty for people who had engaged in illegal offshore accounts and such activities in previous years”
Ooooooooooooh Hopefruit, I’m severely loving this!
He’s already rejected the offer.
Mitt’s hiding something.
Yes, Romney’s entire operation reeks of a huge Nixon style coverup!!!!
G’morning Chips, TOD, everyone! Congratulations Japa on #1!
What a fantastic “Rise & Shine” post today – thanks CHIPS! 🙂 🙂
Well, thank youuuuuuuuu Hopefruit! 😉
*CLAP CLAP CLAP* This was an astounding ‘Rise and Shine’ thread today Chips. This political junkie was practically whooping it up. 😀
🙂 Thank you UT …. crikey, it nearly takes up the whole page 😕
Happy Friday Morning to you too, Ms Hopefruit! I love your cheery hope-y change-y (I had a sudden memory flash of the Wasilla Barbie) attitude! 😆 😀
Good morning all. Just popped into say, “Have a great PBO Day”. On my way to turn in a few more voter registration forms then off to work. Another busy day.
Enjoy your work day, PMGZ, and have another terrific PBO Day!
Proud, you are the best.
Thanks for all you do.
President Obama is the choice for the world economy
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/17/us-usa-election-poll-idUSBRE87G07D20120817?feedType=RSS&feedName=politicsNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Reuters%2FPoliticsNews+%28Reuters+Politics+News%29
Oh dear, that’s really going to play into the “foreigner” charge. /snark/
When it really should be added into the ‘exceptionalism’ column. Media & GOP = weirdly skewered 😉
Simple: President Obama is considered a better choice for the world economy because a better american economy helps the world economy. Period.
Under Romney the USA economy goes south (deficit explodes) and it hurts the world economy.
This is how this poll will be explained. Riiiiiiiiiight?
The MSM are truly useless and idiotic!!! I couldn’t believe when I read in other TOD post that Chris Cilliza and Andrea Mitchell thought Mitt “must be telling the truth” – are they freaking morons???
Maybe andrea mitchell should watch ‘the rachel maddow show’ – she might get a crash course on all the times Romney’s lied about his taxes in the past. If she’s too busy to watch the segment she can quickly scan a Steve Benen column – it wouldn’t take much time for her to become acquainted with some facts as opposed to Romney’s word which any sensible person with half a brain can see is worthless. Thanks for tweeting her PB.
Duny, I followed your suggestion and sent narrow-minded Andrea a note. Can’t say I’m optimistic that it’ll do any good, since she periodically endorses Rachel so must choose not to actually look more closely at her segments – very hypocritical, if you ask me.
Ha! wonderful VC – public shaming/professional embarrassment is the only thing that works with these people since their egos are substantially larger than their duty to inform the public – the people they supposedly advocate for.
Thanks VC. As I like to say, Steve Benen has compiled enough information on Mitt Romney’s mendacity to get a book deal. And yet what should be the biggest story of this election season – gets a yawn from the likes of Mrs Greenspan and her ilk. The lack of journalistic integrity is astonishing. I call it malpractice.
The laziness and journalistic malpractice is just astounding! Pathetic really!! This is why Twitter has replaced the news for me!
I love the fact that you’ve finally got two Democrats in President Obama and Vice President Biden that don’t mind punching motherfuckers in the mouth; in fact, they seem to almost enjoy punching motherfuckers in the mouth.
Yes, and it’s ABOUT DAMN TIME! 🙂
I think PBO & VPJoe particularly enjoy it because all they have to do is tell the truth. They are simply breaking down the truth into small size ‘punches’ and that’s enough to put the other side on the ropes, or floundering around the ring. I have never liked boxing, but this fight I can watch without squirming. 😆 😆
Florida judge rules against Rick Scott in voting changes.
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/08/federal_court_rules_floridas_shortening_of_early_v.php?ref=fpb
Well thank God there are some decent judges in the world. We sure don’t have them in PA. I hope they have tens of thousands of volunteers on the streets of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh to bring out every single registered voter. Deadline for voter registration in PA is October 9. Deadline for absentee ballot applications is October 30. You do not need a photo ID to vote absentee and I have never heard of an absentee ballot application being rejected. Never! People will tell you it’s hard and a lot of red tape. It isn’t. And the Republicans put this big loophole in the law for themselves. Use it.
I have a question about absentee voting: When those are counted at election commissions, who oversees that? How can we KNOW FOR SURE those are counted correctly and tallied for the correct people????
Tn, absentee ballots are tallied in each precinct. If you are the last poll watcher of the day, you stay in for the count and that includes absentees. The judge of elections announces the total number (as you were watching the count) and then that number, along with the election machine totals is sent along with other precinct totals to an election committee with both party representatives who tally the county and send it on to the SOS. The tally for all precincts is then published. If the tally you wrote down on election night is different from the one that’s published, you start screaming. That’s how it works.
Forgot to mention that when you send in your completed absentee ballot it is distributed to your precinct without being opened. These are opened by the precinct judge of elections that night and in the presence of poll watchers. If a ballot has been disturbed, i.e. opened ahead of time you will know it and can protest. Please make sure you are trained and signed up for poll watching and insist on the last shift.
JAKE TAPPER MORE CONCERNED ABOUT SEAMUS JOKE THAN PBO WIND ENERGY POLICY
============================================================================
Here is a classic example of how the jackals allow the Republican Party to lead them around by the nose. Of course, the Romney campaign feigned outrage about the Seamus joke. Jay Carney said to Jake Tapper: Maybe I am naïve to think that a one-line joke about a dog would not then become the principal focus of the coverage of the President for the day. Bottom line, PBO was talking about substantive issues in his speech but a one liner joke is more important than wind energy policy because if you talk about that it makes the Republican Party look like Neanderthals.
This exchange between Jay Carney and Jake Tapper will depress you because it’s embarrassing. I have to believe that the jackals are making big six figure salaries. To see a reporter in the front row asking about the Seamus joke as if it was just a horrible thing for PBO to do is pathetic. I still say that Jay Carney has the patience of Job. I don’t know how he contains himself.
Q The President the other day made three allusions to Mitt Romney putting his dog on his roof. Is that part of this important policy debate?
MR. CARNEY: I think he made one allusion in three different speeches that was a joke — just like I think the Romney campaign and others have joked about the fact that in the President’s memoir he talked about as a boy eating dog meat in Indonesia, because that is something that’s done there. I think a little levity is a lot different from the kind of ridiculous charges that are being made here.
But that’s an interesting case in point. The President on that day spent a great deal of time talking about the importance of the wind energy tax credit, the importance to the renewable energy sector in this country, which has doubled its output, its production under this President because of the historic investments that this administration has made in that sector — and about the fact that extension of that tax credit is supported by both Democrats and Republicans — Republicans in the states that are principally affected, including governors and senators, but is opposed by Congress, Washington Republicans. That’s an issue that affects the jobs and livelihood of up to 7,000 people in Iowa. It affects the jobs and livelihood of up to 37,000 people around the country, in an industry that employs roughly 75,000 people in this country. And it’s an industry that has been growing and will continue to grow if we make the kinds of wise investments that will ensure that as we move forward in this century, we rely less and less on foreign imports of energy and more and more on American energy.
And that is a substantive policy issue. And one joke, as an aside, should not become the focus of the campaign or the coverage of the campaign. I understand that Republicans don’t want to talk about the wind energy tax credit, but —
Q I don’t think you guys are so naïve as to think that the President talking about Mitt Romney putting his dog on his roof isn’t going to elevate that and become what Chuck Todd might refer to as “cable catnip,” and that will step on the President’s own message on wind energy. I mean, especially considering it was obviously in his prepared remarks.
MR. CARNEY: Well, let me make clear that the President’s message that day was on wind energy. It was not on a joke. And maybe I am naïve to think that a one-line joke about a dog would not then become the principal focus of the coverage of the President for the day. I know it wasn’t in Iowa the principle focus of the coverage. The focus was on the importance of the wind energy tax credit. But I take your point and I’ll be less naïve in the future. (Laughter.)
Q All right, I appreciate that. Can we talk about Medicare for a second?
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/08/16/press-briefing-press-secretary-jay-carney-8162012
He needs a public twitter shaming for asking such stupid and useless questions.
I slammed that useless twit. Tapper blocked me ages ago so I direct my comments to @WHpresscorps.
Here’s my contribution. First thanks to Jay C
Then a message to Jake, which I know will register as much as Jay’s slap down did … not at all if he requests a second’s discussion on Medicare immediately afterwards. Buy, hey, we can but try.
Giving credit to Jake who actually responded to me …
Nicely done VC. You got a response from Jake “The Snarl” Tapper”. The jackals need to know we are watching them. We are not asking for special treatment. We just want the facts reported. The Romney/Ryan campaign can’t handle the truth, but we can. Too many questions from the WH press core have at their root some GOP complaint, talking point, or criticism of the administration. It’s as if the jackals can’t think of substantive questions about POLICY. They are obsessed with PROCESS. There are times when it would just be more honest to have the press secretaries for Boehne and MicConnell just ask the questions in place of the jackals.
Great tweets to Tapper VC, loved them!
Ta, CC. I was pleasantly surprised he responded.
(See you guys a little later.)
Good grief. And this was the guy who was complaining yesterday about how long it’s been since PBO took questions from the WH press corps. Is this what he’d ask the President if he got the chance, about his Seamus joke? These people are pitiful.
The double standard of the press never ceases to astonish me. A democrat is NEVER allowed to make border-line jokes. While republicans get away with much worse.
Just thankful we have PBO & Biden leading the way to protect our Republic from Vulture/Voucher!
Tax attorney: Section 6103(f) of Internal Revenue Code allows Harry Reid to see tax returns and so do other members of the Senate.
http://thepoliticalcarnival.net/2012/08/10/tax-attorney-section-6103f-of-internal-revenue-code-allows-harry-reid-to-see-tax-returns/
Thank you Linda. The O-Team already knows what’s in those returns because Harry Reid saw THEM. I suspect he might have first been tipped by the said Bain investor, and then verified for himself by looking at the actual returns, because that’s the kind of person Reid is. He’s not a careless rumor-monger or speculator. He’s a lawyer and a VERY successful politician who knows how to win elections.
It all makes so much sense now; Harry Reid knew what he was doing all along. I’m sure President Obama already knows what’s in Romney’s tax returns. These guys play a game of chess I’m not familiar with.
Precisely!
Good Morning !(still on the West Coast) IMHO, I doubt that is the source of Sen. Reid’s information. If Reid requested Romney’s tax forms from the IRS, there would be a paper trail and that would be a very big brother, big government move by the party in the White House. The equivalent of spying on your political opponents, resulting in huge negative blow-back on POTUS. One of the reasons that Romeny can refuse to release his tax returns is because he knows that Democratic officials cannot get them from the IRS without mortally wounding themselves politically.
That being said, our guys know something. Reid has another source and it is solid. Messina’s offer to accept only 3 more years (2007-2009) says they know exactly where the bodies are buried. And he’s signaling to Mitt that they know. The pressure is on!
Well done hopefruit2! In his tweet, Mark Knoller removes all doubt about who he is working for. This guy is working for Mitt Romney while pretending to be a journalist.
So Robme and Queen Ann think that they should get kudos because they have paid 20% to the Mormon church and only 13% to the US government. Inquiring minds want to know to which he is more loyal. Inquiring minds want to know what the M church does with their donations (I know there have been some reports about less than honorable investments). Are there any inquiring minds left among the MSM?
And we don’t even know what they say is true – most likely they are lying about those taxes.
Indeed…I suspect that you’re right.
They’re such bloody hypocrites. The charity they give to the Mormon Church contributed to anti-LGBT and Prop 8 funds used to deny human beings from getting married to people they love and invalidating some marriages that had already taken place. If they think that makes them charitable, they’re conscienceless animals.
What was said was they paid atleast 13% every year and when adding in charity donations it was well over 20% not that they paid 20% in charity donations. The counter was the charity donations are used to lower everyone’s tax rate so adding it on does not make sense. Lawrence O’Donnell argues that they never use the word Federal Income tax so it could be other taxes. I say they could be sheltering money overseas and not even counting it as income to pay anything on. Many think he may have participated in the amnesty program for those not paying taxes on accounts sheltered outside the country. That should show up in the 2009 taxes. Mitt’s record of not being truthful on Federal forms he signs and as to what he told MA regarding having paid taxes there to qualify to be a candidate for governor was proven to be a lie. He retroactively tried to change his taxes when he already said he had paid them according to Rachel Maddow.
(VIDEO) PINOCCHIO PAUL AND STIMULUS HYPOCRISY
Stimulus problem adds to Paul Ryan’s woes
By Steve Benen
———————————————-
Again, let’s not forget what makes this story important. It’s not just a simple matter of a congressman opposing the stimulus, but then seeking investments for his constituents once the money was on the table and was going to be spent anyway. Appearances of hypocrisy are perhaps the least important part of the story.
Rather, the controversy matters for two important reasons. First, the revelations undermine the basis for Ryan’s philosophical/ideological objections — the Republican insists government spending can’t create jobs and doesn’t boost economic growth, but in his letters to the Obama administration, Ryan said government spending in his district can create jobs and does boost economic growth.
And second, Ryan got caught lying about his efforts — twice. In 2010, Ryan specifically said he would not vote against something “then write to the government to ask them to send us money…. I did not request any stimulus money.” In reality, Ryan penned at least five letters to two federal departments seeking grants under Obama’s Recovery Act.
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http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2012/08/17/13333216-stimulus-problem-adds-to-paul-ryans-woes?lite
As we talked about above … with the coverup issue … the lying, the lying, the bold-faced lying is a big issue. The Republican Party now puts forth two candidates whose lies can be proven time after time just by reading former interviews or listening to soundtapes. They might as well add LYING to their party platform.
Love that Messina’s “kindly” offer to the Willard campaign is getting front and center attention everywhere, keeping the focus on the tax issue. And it also keeps the questions about all the offshore accounts, tax havens etc. in the news cycle. Smart, smart, smart by the Obama campaign.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/la-pn-obama-to-romney-three-more-years-of-tax-returns-20120817,0,3309936.story
TAX POLICY CENTER TO ROMNEY: FACTS ARE STUBBORN THINGS
Tax Policy Center responds to ‘garbage’ comment
By Steve Benen
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Note, the policy analysts “bent over backwards to literally give Romney every possible benefit of the doubt” and worked under the dubious assumption that more Republican tax cuts will stimulate the economy. The results were still a disaster.
Romney condemned the nonpartisan analysis this week as “garbage.” Yesterday, the Tax Policy Center published its response, explaining that the facts are stubborn, even if Romney doesn’t like them.
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And they came to an inescapable result: either Romney will grow the deficit dramatically or he’ll have to raise taxes on 95% of the population in order to give new tax breaks to the rich. Period. Full Stop.
In terms of the politics, I’m still not sure why this isn’t one of the biggest stories of the presidential race. “Republican intends to raise taxes on 95% of the country” strikes me as a big deal.
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http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2012/08/17/13333894-tax-policy-center-responds-to-garbage-comment?lite
The perfect comment on this story…and ALL THE LIES if we want to be precise!
Unfortunately it’s up to the Obama campaign to bring this up; the journalists are too busy analyzing the horse race. And for the committed wingnuts, it’s all “fuzzy math” anyway; since it conflicts with what they want to believe, it’s “liberal,” and since it’s “liberal,” they give themselves permission to ignore it.
Morning everyone:) Raining in Phoenix this morning, which is ALWAYS welcome…so Friday is good for lots of reasons! I love that letter from Messina to Rhodes…I hope that they rest of the country knows about this letter before too long and it’s not just OFA folks like us….
Chips…awesome wake up this morning!! So much good stuff to read! We can’t drop the taxes issue nor the Medicare issue. I personally hope that PBO turns right around and takes himself to the Villages and talks some truth to those seniors in FL. I want them so pissed for being lied to about Medicare and Medicaid that they blow a gasket! I think that PBO should be IN THEIR FACE about this whole thing….I’ll let you all in on a conversation I had yesterday with a co worker that is a physical therapist that I work with in my school system…I was LIVID! I had to walk away from the conversation, one, because I was at work in the middle of a hallway in school and that’s a no no…and two, because I wanted to smack the shit out of her. I adore her, but she is not the person I thought she was, and she really surprised me how selfish, self serving and short sighted she was. I’ll tell you tonight……
Morning DF. It is raining on my side of town. It is beautiful. No wind, no lightning.
Well, It’s raining here, too…just like your house:) I DO have to sit in this for 45 minutes before school to make sure they cross the street alright…not really looking forward to THAT!
Mine too! I’m in the Peoria/Glendale area
I was THRILLED to wake up to some rain. ell it was sprinkling, but I’ll take it.
Hope it continues all day (crossing fingers)
Go messina and O team. That letter was great. Put the mitt in a box and throw away the keys.
Hiya amk, how did the convocation go? Hope you all had a great time – and I hope you behaved.
It went great. Of course, I had to embarrass her by catching every moment in photo. (Hey, it’s digital age and there is no cost, right?). Her profs were singing praises of her. Off to the celebratory dinner in a few minutes. Of course, I told her that the tab will be on her. 🙂
😆 We’ll have to start a fundraiser for her! Have a blissful dinner!
:).
We are off to the dinner. See ya.
Have fun!! “Tab’s on her”….You joker!
(He’s probably serious, desertflower) 😆
Do you think Mitt Romney is worried that he might have to go to jail for income tax evasion if his returns are made public?
Please forgive the inquiry if this has already been talked about here on TOD . . . and good morning, all! GREAT to be here with you. xox
Morning Sara. Ooooh, Mitt in jail … what a lovely thought!
Up and at ’em O peeps!! It’s another great and beautiful getting up day in TODhood folks!!! Romney campaign has rejected PBO campaign’s offer for Mittiful to release only 5 years of his tax returns. Good job whiteboardy!
My political take today is as soon as PBO is done going after Ryan on Medicare, I think they turn to his more extreme views. They’re going to force Mittfit into denying his own VP stance on these issues. No way can Mitt go along with Ryan on those issues and still get the swing/undecided voter. This happens just in time for moms to have gotten the kiddies back to school and can pay more attention to what’s been going on with women issues. Ryan not only anti-choice, but even considers an IUD as against personhood.
Lol, when you watch the Medicare ad, you will see PBO appear on the top corner of the senior citizens coffee cup!
Obama better for world economy: poll
// (Reuters) – Twice as many business executives around the world say the global economy will prosper better if incumbent President Barack Obama wins the next election than if his Republican challenger Mitt Romney does, a poll showed on Friday. Democrat Obama was chosen by 42.7 percent in the 1,700 respondent poll, compared with 20.5 percent for Romney. The rest said “neither”. The result was different among respondents in the United States, where a slim majority thought Romney would be better for their businesses than Obama. //
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/17/us-usa-election-poll-idUSBRE87G07D20120817
What is interesting is that the Republicans always talk about the global economy and how they always have to put their policies in place reflectuing that fact (i.e. tax breaks for people shipping jobs overseas, free trade treaties, etc.) and yet they will probably poo-poo this poll because those business executives are foreigners.
Robney camp says no deal, it’s a distraction.
You see? They have the same answers we do! Mind games!
No they don’t have the same answers we do. They are losing this fight…
By saying “no” to messina’s letter, they’ve just given the O-team license to engage in more speculation and suspicion-raising (with good reason) about Mitt Romney’s taxes. The more this is in people’s minds, the less they are going to trust Rommey. If he can’t even release five years of taxes, and he yet claims to be such a great businessman, why should we trust him with America (and the world’s) economy?!?!?!?!?
Their is no question they are trying to confuse, by giving the same answers that we have in the past.
That is a fact!
I do think we are winning, though!
Well, they’ve always tried to confuse – that’s their best strategy. But this is not the GOP primary, nor is it the 2010 midterms. It’s the presidential election and Barack Obama is on the ballot.
I don’t think we’re winning. I KNOW we’re winning.
Yup.
Good one. 😆
The White House Silences McCain’s Dump Biden Babble With Two Words: Sarah Palin
By: Jason Easley and Sarah Jones
http://www.politicususa.com/joe-joe-mccain-turn-vp-advice.html
I love that … thanks for the link. The last line is a killer: “When America needs bad advice, whether it be on the economy, foreign policy or running mates, we can always count on John McCain (to)show us exactly what not to do.”
While President Obama goes about talking about Medicare, Social Security, Jobs and Education in his stump speeches, Team Obama goes about hitting Romney on his tax returns. This is so funny on so many levels, one being that Romney seems to be fighting with Team Obama about taxes while President Obama is hitting Romney over the head with Medicare and Social Security.
THIS engenders quite a smiley feeling in me. We are building steam, day by day, step by step, in spite of media collusion. Yep, your summary makes me smile inside.
BY ALL MEANS, LET’S CONTINUE TO DISCUSS TAX RETURNS AND “TRANSPARENCY”
Team Obama offers a tax-return deal
BY Steve Benen
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This strikes me as an overly-generous offer — since Romney has already released the 2010 documents, and swears he’ll get around to releasing 2011 one of these days, Team Obama is basically only asking for three years’ worth of returns. Romney disclosed 23 years of materials to John McCain’s campaign, but Messina is saying the questions will stop if Romney simply provides tax returns for a few more years, not 23.
One assumes Team Romney will turn down the deal — three years is more than zero — and the questions will persist. Maybe, at some point, Romney will even come up with an explanation as to why the tax returns have to remain secret.
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http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2012/08/17/13334375-team-obama-offers-a-tax-return-deal?lite
Romney camp is all incensed by Toure’s comment, but when CNN GOP Strategist Alex Castellanos tweets that PBO Should release “10 years of birth certificates” before he asks Romney to release 10 yrs of taxes, utter silence from Romney or the media. Toure is not a DEM strategist – he’s simply an NBC employee.
I remain in awe of the newly found sensitivity being expressed by teabutts for the slights experienced by AAs due to the choice of words someone uses. Let me know when there’s an outrage over voter suppression. Until then, who cares what they say, or who they say it to.
I didn’t quite hear something on the Ed Radio Show this morning but thought it had to do with PA voter ID laws and the people working to get the people their IDs were up against a new barrier as the state discontinued their online connection. Wish I knew for sure that I heard it correctly. Anyone else hear anything like this?
Okay just heard a repeat of it. It is the state of PA has taken away the ability to get the registration form for voter ID online. So now they would need to go in person to get the forms before gathering all of the needed info and they’d need to go back again. Or they’d need to send thru snail mail to get the form before they could start figuring out what they need to send to get to be able to get their government IDs. This seems so obvious. I think if they decide they need to impose this new law it should have a year before it is enacted inorder to be able to meet the requirements in a timely manner before an election. I know it is not necessary to begin with. I also think everyone that have voted for years should be grandfathered in and the law should only apply to new voters.
That wise ass Torre. I remember him on Dylan Show. A jerk!
LOL!!! Jovie you remind me of my father, he used to say to me “don’t be a wise ass.” Thank you for bringing a smile to my face, it makes me think about my father.
Did you see the show? Toure is schooled in Cultural Studies, African-American studies, literary theory, and semiotics. He used a for real word, talking about his own personal opinion when asked to comment on the charge of Mittiful using faux poutrage to demagogue VP Biden’s use of the word chains. Toure more than anyone on the panel yesterday had the nerve to call Mitt Romney on his racist dog whistle talk, and folks are hung up on a the word Toure used to describe it. Nothing like eating our own. Give me a break!
Apologies for the run on sentences. Wish the content was even stronger. Hard to do while keeping within the parameters of etiquette and decency.
Romney is “reaching out to the NBC President” – Romney is whinging and trying to get someone fired. He’s good at firing people – or getting them fired. The President has NEVER used this type of tactic – commentators attack what he says (and what he doesn’t say) night and day – He just keeps on presenting his honest message to all Americans.
The GOP sure can’t take it – nice to see someone in the media correctly interpreting what Romney is saying.
THE ROMNEY CAMPAIGN “SHINY OBJECT” PLAYBOOK
I have never seen such sniveling, whining and crying in my life. Every time you turn around Mitt Romney is demanding an apology from somebody for some manufactured insult. But when Rush Limbaugh called Sandra Fluke a slut, all Romney could say was I would not have used those words. I guess he will be demanding that President Obama apologize for what Torre said next.
This is a replay of Sarah Palin. I can’t take it; how do we shut them up? The constant demanding that someone apologize for some perceived slight .. even when it is the truth being reported.
I thought there was no whining in politics…..
Another Romney flipflop.
I have this image of Ryan giving his speech at the retirement village in Florida. As soon as he takes the stage, after a cue from his mom, the seniors rise in unison and storm the stage with walkers and canes ablazin’. False teeth and boxes of Depends are hurled as Ryan retreats. Mom is lifted in the air and passed among the throng in a mosh pit fashion victory lap.
Isn’t that the same place where all the women were hugging and kissing and grabbing PBO and hooting and hollering at him?
Sure is if memory serves. Go get ’em grannies!
I wish they would do that … but they will have to be strong, because Ryan will have them thrown to the ground then arrested! He can’t stand the truth, to borrow a line from A Few Good Men with Jack Nicholson.
yep, even his mom would be subject to the abuse.
LOLGOP @LOLGOP
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Mitt 2012. Because America needs a president who didn’t get bin Laden, didn’t want to save General Motors and hates his own health care plan
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http://www.nationaljournal.com/energy/gop-ticket-s-views-on-renewable-energy-raising-concerns-in-rural-red-states-20120815
Rural America almost always votes reliably red. But many farmers say they’re growing uneasy with the Republican presidential ticket’s opposition to renewable-energy policies that have helped them economically — and that could hurt the GOP this year in traditionally friendly farm country.
Presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney opposes a wind-energy production tax credit that has helped farmers bring in thousands of dollars in extra income by leasing their land to wind producers. And Romney’s running mate, Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., opposes a national mandate for ethanol production, a policy that’s driven up demand — and, some say, prices — for corn.
“But many farmers say they’re growing uneasy with the Republican presidential ticket’s opposition to renewable-energy policies that have helped them economically — and that could hurt the GOP this year in traditionally friendly farm country.”
Oh really, maybe they should just be lucky that they didn’t have to go through the same “SHIT” that the black farmers had to go through. You know, like losing your family farm that has been in your family for generations all because you couldn’t get a goddamn loan from banks that were set up exclusively for farmers. Give me a fucking break, if those fuckers want to keep voting Republican, well then they deserve every goddamn thing they get. I’m so sick and tired of pleading with people that continue to vote against their own best interest. You can only save those that want to be saved.
Righteous rant, Don. RIGHTEOUS!
Is it me or is Paul Ryan starting to look like a rank amateur? I mean it was just Saturday that the guy was standing on an navy ship looking all serious and shit, and now less than a week later he gets caught begging for stimulus dollars after voting against the stimulus.
He wasn’t/isn’t ready for prime time. His ego or his fear wouldn’t let him say no when Norguist and Crystal told him Mitt would be offering him the job. He hadn’t even ever won a statewide race. He was happy being the number one economic money guy of the party, He knew that not one them had a clue of what he was talking about. He had their blind trust. It would have been better for him to remain the big fish in a little pond, than a little fish in a big ocean, swimming with the sharks.
It’s the Romney flip-flop stink. Quite pungent.
Seal Team Six Admiral – Obama Is ‘Fantastic’ President (VIDEO)
By Wendy Gittleson
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The killing of Osama bin Laden is often considered one of the highlights of President Obama’s first term as President and more specifically, as Commander-in-Chief. In his first interview, Admiral William McRaven, the Admiral in charge of the invasion that successfully captured and killed the master mind behind the 9/11 attacks. He had some stellar words about the man whom he credits with making the greatest decisions on that now infamous night, President Obama. From CNN’s The Situation Room With Wolf Blitzer (emphasis added):
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It wasn’t the first time that Obama has received praise as the commander-in-chief. In light of the fact that Americans consistently rate the President highly on national security, a Republican-tied group is attempting to turn his positive into a negative, much in the same way that they did with war hero, John Kerry in 2004, with the Swift Boat campaign. The group, called, Special Operations Opsec Education Fund, Inc, is releasing a video claiming that Obama was not responsible for the mission that killed Osama bin Laden, despite the words of the people who were actually involved in the mission.
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http://www.addictinginfo.org/2012/08/16/seal-team-six-admiral-obama-is-fantastic-president-video/
http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/breakout/obama-election-odds-better-think-says-hirsch-181506895.html
With less than 12 weeks until the elections, Hirsch gave us the latest snapshot of what the market is signaling about the November outcome.
“It’s suggesting that Obama has a better chance than people think,” he states. “Incumbent victories are accompanied by much larger gains in the stock market. The Dow Jones has been up significantly higher in election years when incumbents win. And it looks like the track that we’re on here.”
The DJIA has seen nice gains this year, up nearly 8% year-to-date, while the S&P 500 has climbed an impressive 12%.
FANTASTIC.
Obama Campaign Strikes Back Against Former Navy SEALs
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On Thursday morning, campaign officials waged a full court press against the Special Operations OPSEC Education Fund, a group of former U.S. Special Forces and intelligence officials accusing President Obama of leaking vital national security secrets and taking too much credit for the killing of Osama bin Laden. When the group launched its anti-Obama media campaign Wednesday, consisting of TV ads and a 22-minute film, it wasn’t clear if Obama officials would avoid a potentially messy confrontation or refute the military veterans publicly. But now the campaign has made clear it views the attacks in the same light as the 2004 John Kerry “Swift Boat” attack ads, which, however misleading, were painfully effective.
“The Republicans are resorting to ‘Swift Boat’ tactics because when it comes to foreign policy and national security, Mitt Romney has offered nothing but reckless rhetoric,” Obama campaign spokesman Ben LaBolt told Reuters’ Mark Hosenball last night. Taking a direct shot at the leaders of OPSEC, an Obama campaign official lambasted the group’s accusations about national security leaks this morning. “No one in this group is in a position to speak with any authority on these issues and on what impact these leaks might have,” said the official, speaking on background, “and it’s clear they’ve resorted to making things up for purely political reasons.”
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http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2012/08/obama-campaign-strikes-back-against-former-navy-seals/55847/
And at the OFA office, already packed with Volunteers.
Enthusiasm gap?
A-holes.
They are desperate and unhinged!
It’s on now! PBO has always said that he will respect you and listen to you, but if you take advantage of him, he will crush you.
These vile republicans are getting on my last damn nerve.
Absolute scum. SMDH!!!
I bet the jackals will find this outrageous and go after the Romney/Ryan campaign for such a disgusting act. Oh wait, I forgot something like this is only a problem if Democrats are involved. Therefore, I won’t hold my breath waiting for the mainstream media to hold the Romney’Ryan campaign accountable. I expect nothing but crickets.
The Presidents interview, KOB-FM New Mexico-
http://www.kob.com/article/stories/s2730743.shtml
Terrific Jovie, thanks. The full interview will be here later:
http://www.kobfm.com/page/Morning_Mayhem_Talks_to_President_Obama/130
Ah, here it is – from a GOP YouTube link …. poor pets aren’t happy with the interview 😆
Lol! I knew you would get it. You notice, he is shutting out the WH press corps, they are an arm of the RNC.
And it’s driving them nuts Jovie! If only they could get to question him about the important stuff, eg jokes about Seamus 🙄
Right!
BuzzFeed has been running around on Twitter saying “Obama only answers ridiculous questions”. They are using this interview as “proof”.
Donated $25 thru the TOD donation page, not lots but feels good to contribute today, thanks Chips, keep up the amazing work!
Thanks a million Kyle!
PINOCCHIO RYAN IS JUST ANOTHER WASHINGTON INSIDER
The last sentence of this article makes Ryan sound like a child not a candidate for Vice President.
Presented With Letters, Ryan Admits Requesting Stimulus Cash
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Two years ago, during an interview on WBZ’s NewsRadio he was asked by a caller if he “accepted any money” into his district. Ryan said he did not.
“I’m not one [of those] people who votes for something then writes to the government to ask them to send us money. I did not request any stimulus money,” the congressman answered.
But as we’ve now learned, Ryan did write letters. He did request stimulus funds.
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“The Olympics may be over but Paul Ryan could have gotten a gold medal in hypocrisy,” a senior administration official told ABC’s Jake Tapper. “As someone who spends all day every day railing against government spending, but then secretly seeks millions in funds for pet projects, he is as Washington as it gets.”
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http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/08/presented-with-letters-ryan-admits-requesting-stimulus-cash/
Most voters glaze over when numbers are tossed around. The great thing about the Ryan choice for VP is this election is now a referendum on the RomeyRyan Kill Medicare Plan. PBO expands coverage, RomneyRyan cuts coverage drastically and shifts costs to retirees and disabled. That’s what voters understand. And middle aged voters are paying into the Medicare system. Do they really want to pay into something that isn’t going to be there for them?? I don’t think so.
Oh, this is so gonna blow up in their faces:
Why are Republicans so fascinated with their “guts?” George W. Bush said he went with his gut most of the time, and look how that turned out. From this moment going forward, Politicians aren’t allowed to let their guts do the thinking for them, or anything else for that matter.
That’s exactly what I love about President Obama. He weighs all the evidence – facts, long-term and short-term impact, common sense, what’s best for the country.
I watched the clips on the intro to the Ann Romney interview last night before I changed the channel but what I saw revealed someone who is very tightly wound up over this tax issue. They are hiding a lot more than meets the eye. Her “gut” is on fire.
They are ruling the advisers on many fronts. Either that, or the advisers are purposely trying to sabotage their own campaign. I can’t imagine anyone told Mittiful to use that whiteboard yesterday. He used four squares to explain the complexity of Medicare. Forget that it had no substance, how are you going to explain a Medicare or anything else that important outside, in front of a cactus, on a whiteboard similar to the easel my kids have, in four squares?
You are so right, meta, the stress on her face was too hard to miss. On a personal note that has nothing to do with how I feel about Mitt, I hope Ann Romney can find some peace and relaxation. The wives on both sides of the isle go through so much stress during these campaigns.
I can’t emphasize with Annie, she is an angry woman who feels her entitlement is being questioned by the lowly peons. She allowed the dog to ride on the roof of the car. She is more of a loose cannon than Mitt is. She insults our intelligence by claiming there is no illegality in their returns. No one questioned they did anything illegal. She said Mitt is nothing without her. She has interjected herself into the campaign in a way that borders on policy speak. She is unhinged, not because her husband may lose, but because she sees them losing ‘their turn’ in the big house. What has she been doing all this time that she knew her husband was going to be running for President? What have her humanitarian efforts been toward? I’ll bet only the tithes to the Mormon church.
I agree completely cookemom. Ann Romney has been operating not as ‘spousal surrogate’ but as attack dog. It’s sad that Ms Romney has to deal with serious illness but it’s a pity she doesn’t show some sympathy for those others who are suffering with life threatening illness and don’t have the financial resources to help deal with the crippling costs. Maybe she could direct her all mighty powers of persuasion over her mean husband when it comes to his new health care policy and the threat of repeal of Obamacare.
Again, watch Ann’s body language. As soon as the reporter asked her about the taxes Ann leaned forward in her chair (aggressiveness) and started pointing her finger at the reporter during her answer. Her mouth and lips became tight and she looked very aggitated.
Exactly. Very, very aggressive in her posture and voice and attitude the moment her money comes into play.
She’s not called “Queen Anngy” for nothin’.
So they’re willing to take the responsibility that Lyin’ Ryan adds nothing but only emphasizes what a world class asshole mitt romney is?
Ryan Grim said that Matt Rhodes had a good response, and fast.
Huh?
I don’t get why Ann and Mitt Romney have both said that if you add their charitable contributions then their tax rate is 20%. Since when does donating to your church or “tithing” as my family calls it constitute a “tax?” To my knowledge you can actually get a reduction on your income taxes by itemizing your charitable contributions which will reduce your taxes not increase your taxes. These people are pathological liars who keep wanting us to simply take their word for it.
Yup. I don’t get why Ann and Mitt Romney don’t just RELEASE those TAX RETURNS, and let the voters decide what’s acceptable and what’s not.
Guess according to Rachel Mitt Romney vowed to release his tax returns after he became MA Gov and did not. He has used this tactic before and it has worked.
GM Tori!
Because no one in our lazy, sloppy media will question them when they say this stuff so they just keep making stuff up. They know that in the world of politics if you repeat a lie often enough you can fool the public into believing it’s the truth. A sad commentary on our so-called 4th Estate.
Their tithe to the Mormon Church does not pave the road in front of my house!
If you give enough in charitable deductions, you get a further reduction in your taxes! You don’t get to count it as more percentage of taxes! What understanding do they have! LOD pretty well demolished that last night.
And, it’s suppose to be 10% to the Mormons and 13% to the USA Gov so are they cheating their church?
This cartoon on Mitt’s Olympic level flip-flopping is brilliant, I wish I knew how to display it but here’s the link:
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/topoftheticket/la-na-tt-flipflop-mode-20120816,0,7318201.story
Added the toon to your comment Edwina, LOVE it – added it to the post. Thank you!
Thanks, Chips, with the help for the technologically challenged.
Ha, you’re not Edwina! Stupidly, WordPress don’t let people post pics in their comments, only the blog-owners can do it from the admin section of the site. Crazy!
That makes me feel so much better, I recently got an IPad so I thought it was my inexperience.
Jill Biden is out with new book and donating proceeds to the USO.
I remember the USO concerts, as a Kid- Bob Hope used to give them all the time. Me thinks in Vietnam. He was funny.
Let’s see what he’s going to say….
THE RYANIZATION OF MITT ROMNEY
How Ryanization Threatens The GOP
By E. J. Dionne
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WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — There is the idea of having Paul Ryan on the Republican ticket, and then there is the reality.
If conservative ideologues are over the moon at having their favorite conviction politician as Mitt Romney’s vice presidential running mate, many Republican professionals — particularly those running this fall — are petrified. They freely express private fears that Democrats will succeed in Ryanizing the entire GOP.
What’s striking is not just that down-ballot Republican candidates are distancing themselves from Ryan’s proposals, particularly on Medicare, but that Romney won’t take ownership of them either, except in vague terms. Worse, the Romney apparatus is forcing Ryan to distance himself from his own budget. It was sad to watch Ryan dancing around these issues on Fox News Tuesday night and having to say that Romney is the boss. How long before conservatives start producing “Let Ryan Be Ryan” bumper stickers?
Oh, yes, and Ryan could not explain when his fiscal plan would balance the books (presumably because the right answer is somewhere past 2030). “I don’t know exactly when it balances,” Ryan told Brit Hume. So much for sp
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http://www.nationalmemo.com/how-ryanization-threatens-the-gop/
Ok- so, Van Jones never undermines the President? No, not at all.
I see, Tavis and Cornell have taken a break and Van Jones is picking up the slack. Sigh!
Jovie, don’t waste your breath, President Obama could give his next speech wearing a dashiki and ray-bans and these fools will still have something negative to say.
Media Malpractice.
Charitable donations are tax deductable….Do they think we are stupid ?
Tom Morello: ‘Paul Ryan Is the Embodiment of the Machine Our Music Rages Against’
Rage Against the Machine’s guitarist blasts Romney’s VP pick and unlikely Rage fan
{Snip}
Don’t mistake me, I clearly see that Ryan has a whole lotta “rage” in him: A rage against women, a rage against immigrants, a rage against workers, a rage against gays, a rage against the poor, a rage against the environment. Basically the only thing he’s not raging against is the privileged elite he’s groveling in front of for campaign contributions.
Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/tom-morello-paul-ryan-is-the-embodiment-of-the-machine-our-music-rages-against-20120816#ixzz23oV2CqBU
Can someone(Amk, Bobf,Ms Dotster, Hopefruit,UT et al because you know how and I don’t) send this to Stephanie Cutter, Liz Smith, Jim Messina ,Axe & Co. It is a most insightful piece by Steve Benen that they might like to consider.
Criquet, relax, we are talking about Team Chicago here. As we speak they are planning their next round of attacks on poor Mitt, as soon as they get through laughing at him.
I think information and idea sharing is important just as we do here and OFA and PBO’s campaign has said they welcome ideas and information . I don’t think any of us should relax when blatent lies, misinformation, propoganda and hate is being spread.
You may want to relax, I won’t.
Is it true that the President & Harry read have seen the Romney Tax returns?
We don’t know for sure……just that it is legal for Reid at least and others on the Finance Committee to gain access.
CNN Just put a graphic up, said that Robney paid 13.9% in 2010 and that the average American paid only 11%!
Bullshit!!!
That does not matter . Mitt’s top rate is 15 % . Statutory rate on regular wages is 35 %
How can they even purport this? That is so ludicrous. As my son said last night, he is going to pay much more than 13% on his $30,000 salary this year and 20-30% of 30K hurts a lot more than 13% of millions, or billions!
Wow!
Thx BOB! “One Term More” is such a Great GOTVer set to Les Miz! One has to see it to appreciate the Impact of the profound images woven into the fabric of the beautiful passionate singing For Democracy!
Thanks Chips. A majority of my tweets today are going to be about Romney’s tax returns and I’ll also focus on journalists demanding they do the same. The Obama team is setting a wonderful example. Their Bain Ads were a work of genius. There is a beautiful method to their madness. This has been going on for months and now 63% of voters want Romney to release his tax returns. Even uninformed voters know one thing about Romney: He fired people at Bain, destroyed lives of middle and working class and doesn’t want to release tax returns. They also know one crucial thing about Paul Ryan: He wants to destroy Medicare.
Bravo to Team Obama!
+1,000,000,000,000
Couldn’t have said it any better – thanks UT!!!
New post everyone, back in a while, chat away:
http://theobamadiary.com/2012/08/17/chat-away-54/
FORWARD EVERYONE>>>>>>>>
Good Morning TOD Family. Thanks Chips for another wonderful page to wake up to on a Friday morning. My heart is heavy this morning, so I will be quiet and grateful. One of my nieces awaken me with a text this morning when upsetting news, but I got up and went into my meditation room and have a little talk with my inner spirit.
I sent her a beautiful song with pictures of the lovely “You’ll Never Walk Alone” sung by Wintley Phipps. Great vocalist. As I was sending that one, I ran upon him singing at the Prayer Service with POB and VPBiden. The video and the voice gave me much peace.
Please keep me in your thoughts and meditations. I will make it through all of this, because I have peace about her and our president. I just came away with, “If the Power of God can take care of POTUS, I know he can and will take care of my dear niece. I love her dearly. Have a great day everyone. ((( I love you all so much)))HZ
I’m so sorry to hear of your niece’s trials, HZ. Please take good care and remember, everything happens on time. We love you.
Meta, thank you so much for your thoughts of kindness and caring. You are so right about “everything happens on time.” I spoke with her this morning, and she is positive and very focused on her possibilities. She is a very strong young woman, and I love her dearly, but auntie still worries at time especially being that both of my nieces and great nieces are so far away.
So thanks so much for caring about me as well. I appreciate my family here so much. I shared with my niece this morning about the love, kindness, and compassionate family that we have here. She was so grateful to hear about what we are about and what we are doing. (((((Love you much, Meta.)))))HZ
God bless you, HZ, and your niece.
Jackiegrumbacher, You are so kind. I want to thank you for your beautiful thoughts as well. I had a great conversation with my niece this am, and my great-niece is going to help her auntie work on looking into other areas of employment. ((((( I love you all for your prayers, meditations of thoughts for me and my niece at this time.(((((Thanks, JG))))))HZ
{{{{{{Love and Light and Blessing to HZ, with her family}}}}}}
Pamela, things are moving in a gentle space for her((((Thanks so much for your kind words))))HZ
Baby Crying 2
Download Sound Effects – SoundDogs – Series 6000 – Ext VI – Sound Effects – Human, Baby: Baby: Eleven Months Old: CryingPowered by mp3skull.com