Mmm, guacamole!
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12:05: President Obama participates in a roundtable discussion with teachers at Canyon Springs High School in Las Vegas, Nevada
12:40: Delivers remarks at a campaign event at Canyon Springs High School, Las Vegas, Nevada
1:15: VP Biden attends a campaign event in Detroit, Michigan
1:25: Michelle Obama visits Naval Station Mayport in Jacksonville, Fla
1:50: President Obama departs Las Vegas en route New York City
3:00: VP Biden delivers remarks at a campaign event at Renaissance High School
5:00: VP Biden attends a campaign event in Detroit
6:05: President Obama arrives New York City
7:35: Delivers remarks at a campaign event at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center
9:45: Attends a campaign event at Jazz at Lincoln Center (Closed press)
11:35: Departs New York City en route Washington, DC
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Michael Tomasky: This one is unreal. You’ll recall that when the Akin story broke, Romney conspicuously stopped short on calling on Akin to withdraw….
…. Rush Limbaugh finally called on Akin to get out of the race around 3 yesterday afternoon. And sometime after that, the Romney campaign released a statement saying the same.
The man is a joke. Who’s the leader of that party? And what kind of president of the United States will such a man be, who waits for green lights from Rush Limbaugh before taking “bold stands”? This one episode, this single example of Romney in action, should be heralded far and wide by the DNC. It, by itself, should disqualify him for high office in the minds of serious independent voters.
Full post here
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Morning everyone 😉
The Obama Diary 
GM Chips
Morning Roberta, sounds like you had a wonderful day yesterday?!
I had a great time. I didn’t get to watch the knews to see if Judy Ohly and I were on while we were on the rope line chaking hands when VP Biden came in, but there is footage out there someplace. 🙂 Thanks for the picture, he is so damned Loverly. 🙂
gm
Nail – meet Hammer:
Ah, brilliant! Morning Toon Moene!
Hello everyone, just an update on the VP Biden rally. It was a packed house standing room only. I was able to get up right in front and shook his hand as he came in. Tim Walz gave the the opening remarks along with Al Franken. They were on fire, but not like our VP. I think I could listen to him forever. So all in all, it was an awesome experience for me to participate. I took pictures but not too sure how to post them, but you can see them on my FB page roberta anderson, mpls.mn I am going to be busy today so will check back in later. 🙂 🙂
Thanks a million for the report Roberta, sounds like it was a terrific experience!
Thanks Roberta for the highly anticipated update. VP Biden is a fantastic campaigner. I saw the speech live streamed, and even from the Internet, I could tell that this was a fired up event! The GOP and MSM are afraid of VP Biden and want him gone for a reason.
I agree with you hopefruit2, that crowd was on fire. He was on time, he says it like it is. He loves President Obama and it shows how he relates and talks about him. I will send one of the bet pictures I have of him coming in to the rally and shaking hands with the voters. I can hardely wait until the Pres comes to Rochester. We just may be turning a little blue down here. 🙂 I think the media has been afraid of this team since they were elected. Can’t quite accept that this team is goal oriented, family oriented, and for all Americans. 🙂
GM everyone. Thanks Roberta for sharing your experience at the rally with us.
Welcome, I keep remebering things as I go along. I should have recorded some of it. -:) But I was so excited to be there, I forgot to have someone take a picture of Biden shaking my hand or just a hug. -:)
FOUR MORE YEARS!!!!!!!!!
Patients Would Pay More if Romney Restores Medicare Savings, Analysts Say
By JACKIE CALMES
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WASHINGTON — Mitt Romney’s promise to restore $716 billion that he says President Obama “robbed” from Medicare has some health care experts puzzled, and not just because his running mate, Representative Paul D. Ryan, included the same savings in his House budgets.
The 2010 health care law cut Medicare reimbursements to hospitals and insurers, not benefits for older Americans, by that amount over the coming decade. But repealing the savings, policy analysts say, would hasten the insolvency of Medicare by eight years — to 2016, the final year of the next presidential term, from 2024.
.
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For those reasons, Henry J. Aaron, an economist and a longtime health policy analyst at the Brookings Institution and the Institute of Medicine, called Mr. Romney’s vow to repeal the savings “both puzzling and bogus at the same time.”
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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/22/us/politics/costs-seen-in-romneys-medicare-savings-plan.html?_r=1
Hi all, just wondering if anyone has been in touch with Sue in Minnesota recently, would love to know she’s doing well. Thanks.
Hi Chips, I find I have been thinking of Sue lately as well, but have not heard from her. I hope she has been here keeping an eye, and staying close to her TOD family.
Hiya Pamela, I’d love to know how she is too. I emailed her but it might just be she doesn’t use that address regularly, I’ll let you know if I hear anything. Praying she’s okay.
Campbell Brown??? Yuck!
Oh, Hello TOD! May your Day be filled with something pleasurable!
Haven’t seen her around, I hope she didn’t have a relapse. Prayers go out to her. ((((((((Sue)))))
GM TOD,
Happy Hump day everyone! Today I am going to take my own poll with friends, co-workers and family. The three questions I am going to ask is that since we are in the Northern Virginia media market we get a lot of Romney ads. Quite frankly I must say that all of them are negative and I am not an objective judge of these ads. When they come on I just shrug or turn the channel. They have no affect on me but we are being swamped with these negative ads and I would like to get some others opinions. This should be interesting.
Next is why does almost half of the people in this country of voting age not bother to vote? This question astounds me but again I was raised in a liberal family who took their rights to heart so they passed down to us the importance of voting. No matter the inconvenience on election day we make the time to vote. Why doesn’t 80% of this country feel this way?
And third is the Todd Akin story. I’m curious to know if people are paying attention to this story. It will be interesting to see if folks can tell me the details behind the story. Sometimes the beltway media gets caught up in these story and I’d like to know if folks are “really” paying attention to this.
Stay tuned for the results tonight…
Tonight I’ll be phonebanking at the new campaign office that will have its official opening on Saturday. I’m very excited about this. We hope to get a big turnout for the opening. Last month when the campaign opened the other office in my city Valerie Jarrett was a surprised guest http://www.facebook.com/donna.skinner.75?ref=tn_tnmn#!/media/set/?set=a.449255211775207.108350.100000721971441&type=3 . It was during the day when I was at work so I missed that treat. Hopefully we will get another surprise this weekend 😉
Here is my FR Link for anyone who would like to be the ONE to keep the 100 donations in 100 days streak alive: https://donate.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/2012/donnanoshock3
Have a great Productive O’Day Everyone!
I will look forward to your canvassing. Good luck on the phone banking, somethimes it’s not easy. Wonderful day to you Donna.
Thanks Roberta and Congrats on seeing VP Joe. I was just over on Facebook looking at your Pics.
I am still downloading pictures, can’t do too many of them at a time. sigh.
GM MsChipssssss….and TOD
i have thought about using the call tool from the campaign…has anyone used the call too…if so..how did it go…
Easy peesy. Just follow the script if you’re a newbie at it and then you will get into the flow of things and just start talking to people. They have made it very convenient. One of the things I would like to do as we approach the stretch time in the campaign is to put together a TOD Call Team. We would start off easy by asking supporters to make 4 phone calls a day. Sharing the call tool link on Facebook and Twitter. “Dial 4 for 44”. Not everyone can go into a campaign office or will go into a campaign office which is why the campaign makes this stuff so easy and convenient.
Go for it prettyfoot!
hey Donna…GM…
you inspire me to do more… smilin…
altho i love going into the office…the energy is always electric…i am not able to do so as i would like to…so i will indeed give the call tool a try….and if you do set up a TOD Call Team…count me in,,,
here is my FR link…
https://donate.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/2012/Sheila59
I would like to thank all the generous TOD donors who have contributed to my page…thank you all so very much…smilin
FORWARD>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Talking about phone banking; last Sunday I phone banked with my local OFA group. We called Colorado, as I’m sure a lot of you are? Anyway, I have never heard such negative responses with all the phone banking I’ve done. A couple of men went off with horrible hostility and I quickly got off the phone with them. I tried once to counter what they were saying, but they get louder and aren’t listening at all to the facts I’m giving them. How do all of you handle this. Its very discouraging!
“they get louder and aren’t listening at all to the facts I’m giving them”
That’s their problem right there Sherry, they probably watch Fox, so they’re strangers to facts.
Don’t let them get you down, we know there are plenty of them out there, and no facts on earth will change them. Just focus on the positive calls, every vote counts, and you’re part of the wonderful effort to re-elect PBO. Forward!
Thanks Chips! On a positive note, a woman I talked to said she was leaning towards the President, as how could a rich person so out of touch with her life like Romney understand her life? It was great talking to her. She has a child who just graduated from college and I have one in college, so we talked about how our Pres has helped with student loans. When I asked if she wanted to volunteer, she said she had been thinking about it; so I was a catalyst for making it happen hopefully! The funny thing was she was very secretive during the call, didn’t want people around her to know what she was talking about.
I need to focus on these type of calls.
That’s a great story Sherry, you’re making a difference! Focus on that woman, forget the haters.
Hi Sherry!
I’m not sure how other offices handle it but they tell us not to weed to deep into these confrontational calls. If you sense that the person is reasonable then try to give them facts if not say thank you and move on. Sometimes when I call certain pockets in Virginia I get some pretty difficult people. I shake the dust off an go on to the next one.
Most of the time when you phonebank you are leaving messages. For the ones that answer, some people will not be pleasant and some don’t want to be bothered and others will talk your head off in support of the President ;). It’s all good because that one person that you get who is appreciative for you reaching out to them will make up for the nasty’s you may encounter.
Thanks for the advice Donna. I apprecaite it. I got off the phone as soon as possible when someone was angry and hostile. Most of the people I call aren’t home. I saw some people give a short message on their answering machine; something positive about the President. I’m curious, what kinds of messages do you leave? I usually write NH (not home) on the calling sheet and move on. I wondered, even with the short positive messages people left; are they people really going to listen or just ignore them? I’d love some good ideas.
Done!
Thank You 57!! The streak is alive and well.
Keep it going, you fundraising legend! I meant to do this ages ago, will change the ‘donate’ link at the top right to your page, we gotta keep this going!
Awww thanks so much Chips!
My pleasure!
IT’S ON A NEED TO KNOW BASIS AND YOU DON’T NEED TO KNOW.
What Mitt Romney Doesn’t Want You to Know
By LOLGOP
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What you don’t know about Mitt Romney could cost you your Medicare
For someone who has betrayed every political position he’s ever taken and lies about nearly everything, Mitt Romney has been incredibly consistent about one thing: Secrecy.
Mitt won’t detail his policy plans. He won’t even let Bain Capital tell you when he actually left the company. And though he often calls on his opponents to release their tax returns, he only does so himself when he absolutely has to.
There are two things Mitt’s secrecy reveals:
1. He’s proud of his career in business but he knows you wouldn’t be.
2. He knows he has no chance of winning on the actual policies he’ll have to implement.
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http://eclectablog.com/2012/08/what-mitt-romney-doesnt-want-you-to-know.html#.UDTD2d3XUfI.reddit
I look at that man and Ryan and just get a nasty gut feeling about them. I shake my head everytime I thing people will actually support these people. At our rally yesterday there were just as many Seniors and 40-60 yr olds there as youth. So I think the tide is turning in our favor. Prayers and hard work will take us to the finish line in high stride. 🙂
Did anybody else see that picture or R&R – I think It was Monday – wearing identical outfits. Talk about creepy!
Chips just sent a picture to you of VP Biden from yesterday.
Love it Roberta!
What a golden smile!
Wasn’t that an awesome picture. Ididn’t even know it turned out that good until I downloaded it. Sometimes i am half there. 🙂
Oh wow, YOU took it Roberta?! I presumed it was the work of a professional photographer – it’s GORGEOUS!!
Yes I did, it is the only one that really turned out great. Well some of the crowd did too. They aren’t as important to look at 🙂
It’s a beaut Roberta! I think we should hire you as our official photographer.
Send where ever you want 🙂
NOT TRUE! The crowd shots are the MOST important! The convey the energy, enthusiasm and diversity of our team; someone on the fence just might see their self in our crowd and that may be all they need to open their mind and heart!
Oh I love the crowd shots too. To see how fired up people are. All smiling. Great picture, Roberta.
Wow Roberta, that is a perfect professional picture of our VP AND you got to shake his hand….I bet it was wonderful and exciting.
OH MY GOSH, ROBERTA!! You’re right up there with Pete Souza and Scout Tufankjian!! Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Our Joe looks so happy and healthy and handsome. WOW.
Meta, we’ll have to call her Roberta Souza from here on in!
LOLz!! I also like the sound of Roberta Scout Souza.
Winner —–> Roberta Scout Souza. 😆
He looks just as good in real life.. He is an amazing man. I really do love hearing him speak, he canget you really fired up. The pic was taken on my iphone. I am stillnot used to using the thing that way, newbie at it. 🙂
I was just about to ask you what kind of fancy camera you use. Wow, I can’t believe it’s your phone!!
iPhone takes amazing photos, soon it will become part of your hand, and then you will need to find ways to create a pocket for it in every garment you own.. Take my word for it! 🙂 lovely photo!
Again … oh Mama! He’s beautiful!
Whoooo Lordy!
These guys lie so easily. Liberal media elites wanted Akin to quit. Wow
So, don’t tell me now Rump Limpbags is considered ‘liberal media’? Good grief…..
Good morning! We need to keep hammering home that Akin is not the exception anymore, he’s the rule in the Republican Party these days. Any notions that Mitt Romney will somehow “be moderate once he’s elected” should by now have been thoroughly trashed, but the media is slow on the uptake at times. It’s up to us to keep hammering on just what a Romney administration really means.
“We need to keep hammering home that Akin is not the exception anymore”
+ 1,000,000,000 Norbrook.
And I think the key here is to keep driving home how Ryan teamed up with him on the “forcible abortion” business, there is absolutely no difference between the pair.
Even though Harold Ford wants to separate Ryan, we will not let them!
Exactly. And it’s quite rich for Akin to say the “liberal elite” are trying to force him to quit the race. When the heck did Hannity, Limbaugh, Coulter, Ingraham, Romney, Ryan, McConnell and the rest of the GOP klan become the “liberal elite?”
On the one hand it’s good for Democrats that he stayed in the race (they still have to fight like mad and rally around McCaskill because a blue dog like her who has voted for pretty much all of Pres. Obama’s policies is better than a teabagger) and he’s getting donations, on the other hand it sickens me that there are animals couched as “men and women” who are donating to this scumbag because they share his vile beliefs.
Sometimes the stars aliegn just right and this was one of those moments.
This.
If the media isn’t going to truly tell it like it is, we have twitter and a few other places to go. I think, if anyone can stomach going to any of the RW sites and just post there own bumper stickers, maybe something will get through. But don’t hold your breath. When Regan started chaning the tax structure and dropped some funing that oges back to the States is when our educational system started it downard spiral, and it is not going to be easy to get it back up again with mager changes. Our President has been trying and has had some sucsess. Sandra Day O’connor has an on line program on Civics no less, because it’s not being taught in the schools. It boggles the mind that it no longer is important to teach our children about the branches of government and how it works. I think this is our biggest problemwith the new teabaggers, they really do not understand how the 3 branches government works.
Sadly, I’ve also seen the same problem with various people on the left.
Not just teabaggers. There are so many folk who don’t have a clue how their government works until someone comes along and says things aren’t right. That’s how fringe groups get started or people like Hank Williams actually spew BS and get believed. Lack of interest in the governing body is not confined to one group or party or even country. The other night, someone on TV reminded me about a commercial where the tag line is ‘an educated consumer is the best consumer’. While we don’t buy politics, everything that happens in the legislature affects our lives as much as the food we consume, clothes we wear etc. Knowledge allows us to make informed choices. How many people can name the most current and popular cell phone and its features but doesn’t have a clue how laws are made or who their local rep is? A greater discussion about this issue is important and I believe that when PBO is returned to office the education system will reflect a shift in curriculae everywhere. Just going to whitehouse.gov is an education for me everyday.
Stephanie Cutter went on tv and made a point to tell People about Mitt’s Secret Afghan plan.
LOL!
FLASHBACK: MIKE LOFGREN’S CHILLING WARNING ABOUT PAUL RYAN AND THE GOP CULT OF AYN RAND.
Goodbye to All That: Reflections of a GOP Operative Who Left the Cult
By Mike Lofgren, Truthout | News Analysis (SEPTEMBER 2011)
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If you think Paul Ryan and his Ayn Rand-worshipping colleagues aren’t after your Social Security and Medicare, I am here to disabuse you of your naiveté.[5] They will move heaven and earth to force through tax cuts that will so starve the government of revenue that they will be “forced” to make “hard choices” – and that doesn’t mean repealing those very same tax cuts, it means cutting the benefits for which you worked.
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[5] The GOP cult of Ayn Rand is both revealing and mystifying. On the one hand, Rand’s tough guy, every-man-for-himself posturing is a natural fit because it puts a philosophical gloss on the latent sociopathy so prevalent among the hard right. On the other, Rand exclaimed at every opportunity that she was a militant atheist who felt nothing but contempt for Christianity. Apparently, the ignorance of most fundamentalist “values voters” means that GOP candidates who enthuse over Rand at the same time they thump their Bibles never have to explain this stark contradiction. And I imagine a Democratic officeholder would have a harder time explaining why he named his offspring “Marx” than a GOP incumbent would in rationalizing naming his kid “Rand.”
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http://truth-out.org/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=3079:goodbye-to-all-that-reflections-of-a-gop-operative-who-left-the-cult
Good morning all. Last night, Lawrence O’Donnell brought up, again, just how crucial a role the debate moderators have to play this year. I guess because they has been so much lying and obfuscating by the Romney campaign – someone needs to pin them down on their views since the media is not doing its job. He seemed worried that they may not do the right thing. The difficulty for the moderators this year is that they really can’t skate on generalities – they must be very thoroughly versed in all the policy details so that they can manage the flow of information. I am going to try and get in touch with ‘The Last Word’ show to ask advice about the best way to frame and deliver questions to the various moderators. In the meantime one thing we could all do that would be a big help to PBO is to start compiling a list of good questions and requests of what we feel needs to be addressed during the debates. If you want to see ‘The Last Word’ segment it is in the section at the end where people (including Lawrence) give their final views on the topics discussed during the show.
I’m glad that LO’D is keeping the pressure on these Romney staffers calling themselves moderators. They will be under a lot of scrutiny and their shilling for Romney will not be allowed without consequence. Not.This.Time.
This seems to be his thing at the moment hopefruit. He is trying through his show to subtly encourage a mass twitter/email pressure campaign on the moderators. If I hear back from the show I will update here immediately and then maybe we can get a tough list of questions going that we can all send on to the debate moderators. I don’t think they can completely ignore a large volume of questions and calls for a serious debate – it would be too shameful for them. That’s the beauty of twitter – there is a public record at least.
Thanks for doing this cluny!
Knoller tweets, that the Weather Guy in Las Vegas says the weather will be soupy???
Hot and humid. And if you’re Knoller, that is bad news. PBO can handle it because he’s fit, slim and spry.
Knoller will be all sweaty and grumpy while the President will be cool, calm, energized, and happy,
teehee
They think that people are stupid….the DNC needs to let people know how bogus this is….
– A full day of the Republican National Convention will be dedicated to the theme “We Did Build This!” One problem: the venue hosting the RNC is funded mostly by taxpayer dollars.
I hope the DNC not only draws attention to the partly funded by taxpayers venue but to the fact that the RNC did build a convention platform on policies that are anti women, gays, unions and workers, healthcare, minorities, immigration, voter suppression. Yeah the the Republicans sure did build that.
“We Did Build This!” is this year’s “Drill, Baby, Drill.” Not only is their premise wrong; their slogan is awkward and grammar is horrible.
Morning everyone,
Ryan Adviser Calls On Congress To Authorize War With Iran
http://thinkprogress.org/security/2012/08/21/719611/ryan-adviser-abrams-iran-war/#comment_link
As Ryan said about his foreign policy experience….I sent people to war.
Crazy warmongers
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/08/surrogates-admit-romney-will-cut-medicare-benefits-for-current-seniors.php
As outlined in a memo the campaign released Saturday, Romney plans to repeal the Affordable Care Act in its entirety, and thus to spend over $700 billion more on the program in the coming decade than the government would spend if the health care law stands.
That commitment would leave Medicare poised for insolvency in 2016, years before he proposes to phase in the voucher system. Which means Romney would have two options: find new Medicare cuts or taxes to extend the life of the program, or preside over its demise.
On Fox News Sunday, Romney adviser Ed Gillespie tried to address the conundrum. “There are other reforms as well. As you know Governor Romney supports increasing over time bringing the Medicare eligibility age in line with the Social Security retirement age.”
But raising the Medicare eligibility age is a benefit cut, and implementing the increase before 2016 would violate Romney’s pledge to leave the program unchanged for people between ages 55 and 65.
Avik Roy, an outside health care adviser to the Romney campaign, admits that committing to billions of dollars in higher Medicare spending in the near-term will make it difficult for Romney to achieve its separate goal of reducing overall federal spending to modern lows. But he notes that Romney could make up the difference elsewhere in the budget or, by “mak[ing] other changes to the Medicare program, such as increased means-testing, that don’t alter the program’s basic structure.”
Further means-testing of Medicare would amount to a benefit cut to current seniors.
These admissions rest on top of the fact that by repealing the Affordable Care Act, Romney would wipe out new Medicare benefits included in the law. Repeal would result in higher payments to doctors and hospitals, and the restoration of overpayments to insurers participating in Medicare advantage. But for beneficiaries, it would re-open the Medicare prescription drug donut hole and eliminate coverage for preventive services and annual checkups that the ACA created.
VERY INTERESTING STUDY!!! http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19284017
There have been lots of questions and discussions recently about inequality and economists often argue about what is the right level of inequality to have in society.
we took the American society and we asked people to imagine it divided into five buckets, the wealthiest 20%, the next 20%, the next, the next and the poorest 20%.
First of all, we asked people: how much wealth do you think is concentrated in each of those buckets?
It turns out people get it very wrong.
The reality is that the bottom two buckets together, the bottom 40% of Americans, own 0.3% of the wealth; 0.3%, almost nothing, whereas the top 20% own about 84% of the wealth.
And people don’t understand it. They don’t understand how much wealth the top have and in particular, they don’t understand how little the bottom has.
But then we described to people Rawls’ definition, the veil of ignorance, and the idea they could end up anywhere. And we said: What society would you like to create? How much wealth? How would you like to distribute the wealth?
And it turns out people created a society that is much more equal than any society on Earth. It was much more equal than Sweden.
snip/
In fact, when we did this experiment another way and we showed people two distributions of wealth, one based on the wealth distribution in the US and the other based on the wealth distribution that is more equal than Sweden, 92% of Americans picked the improved Swedish distribution.
So this suggests to me that when people take a step away from their own position and their own current state, and when people look at society in general terms, in abstract terms, Americans want a much more equal society.
There is one more interesting thing to this: 93% of Democrats picked the improved Swedish model, compared with 90.5% of Republicans. Different, but not very different.
These people are just F—ing nuts.
Maureen Dowd on the Romney/Ryan ticket:
“Paul Ryan, who teamed up with Akin in the House to sponsor harsh anti-abortion bills, may look young and hip and new generation, with his iPod full of heavy metal jams and his cute kids. But he’s just a fresh face on a Taliban creed — the evermore antediluvian, anti-women, anti-immigrant, anti-gay conservative core. Amiable in khakis and polo shirts, Ryan is the perfect modern leader to rally medieval Republicans who believe that Adam and Eve cavorted with dinosaurs.”
And she actually says something positive about PBO:
“But, for all the Republican cant about how they want to keep government out of the lives of others, the ultraconservatives are panting to meddle in the lives of others. Contrary to President Obama’s refreshing assertion Monday that a bunch of male politicians shouldn’t be making health care decisions for women, this troglodyte tribe of men and Bachmann-esque women craves that responsibility.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/22/opinion/dowd-just-think-no.html?_r=1&hp
“Bachmannesque women”..if that doesn’t nail it! thx for this, edwina.
Does anyone know if the PBO speeches from yesterday’s events are online anywhere for viewing? Any leads would be appreciated
Yesterday’s speeches are here: http://www.c-span.org/Events/President-Campaigns-in-Ohio-and-Nevada/10737433285/
CSPAN!
You can get both the Columbus ohio and reno Nevada speeches here. Just go to the right and click on the links there 🙂
http://www.c-span.org/Events/President-Campaigns-in-Ohio-and-Nevada/10737433285/
Thank you JER and Hopefruit!
Hi cluny,
The most reliable source for all of the President’s speeches (text) is http://www.whitehouse.gov . On the top line, select Briefing Room and when Briefing Room
pops up, select Speeches and Remarks. On that site you can find press releases and lots of information that never makes the news.
Thank you hgerhard.
Good morning to TODville. I was up at 5AM. Although that is the normal time that I rise, I jumped up because I am going to see the First Lady today. YEAH!!! The event doesn’t start until late (5PM) and I could have slept in but I am super duper excited!!
I am taking my iPad and hope to make posts from there. Also, I will try to get pictures this time around. Chips, can I send to you? Can I send thru wordpress account? Thanks and hope to talk to you later!!!! Yes, WE WILL WIN!!
Enjoy and looking FORWARD to the pics 🙂
Great! We expect the “play by play”! Have fun, and give her hugs from TOD!
Send them to her via theobamadiary@gmail.com
Thanks Japa. How are you doing?
Okay. I am establishing a reputation. Each of the last 3 companies I have gone to work for have been sold within 2 years (and sometimes much quicker) of my arrival. Just found out Monday about the latest. Don’t know how this will affect me yet, and it won’t be finalized for close to a year, so maybe I can win the lottery and finally retire.
Ah Japa, that’s horrible, what a run of misfortune. Hopefully it won’t impact on you, but I can imagine how big a worry it is.
Yeah, but I think the word is out on the street that if you own a company and want somebody to buy it, hire me.
🙂 That’s a beautifully positive way of looking at it!
Ah Japa, I really feel for you. This has happened to my husband so many times!
Renegade522/AuntSis, fantastic!!!! Thrilled you’ll get to hear the First Lady, have a blissful day. You can email me at theobamadiary@gmail.com – thanks a million!
YEAH! Thanks, will do.
japa21: sorry to hear that news. It has happened to me twice and it is quite devastating. As soon as I get hire by company, I purchase stock options. If they sell the company, they will have to buy them from you. I purchase enough to get my master degree and not work for an entire year. It was truly wonderful. Going forward, try to get options with your new hire package, raise, etc. Purchase a little bit with each paycheck. It’s hard to do but every little bit helps. Also, I heard you can convert 401K retirement plan to IRA with less penalties. I haven’t tried that as of yet because I am still working. Hang in there!!!
A PHONY CAMPAIGN FROM A PATENTLY PHONY CANDIDATE
Why Believe Romney Now, After His Lies on Medicare, Bain & Taxes?
by Robert Shrum Aug 22, 2012 4:45 AM EDT
————————————————
We ought to reject any false equivalence between the Obama and the Romney campaigns. There’s nothing in modern presidential politics that quite equals the audacity and scope of Romney’s long march of lies.
His first commercial in the primaries was a giant step into the dark side. It twisted a 2008 speech from Obama in which he was quoting “John McCain’s campaign” as saying: “If we keep talking about the economy, we’re going to lose.” The Romney ad excised the reference to McCain, leaving the impression that the words were Obama’s and the time was now. The spot was a finely edited piece of Orwellian double-speak straight out of 1984.
.
.
The list could go on and on. One Republican operative, a genuine conservative who thinks Romney isn’t genuine at all, renders his verdict: “He doesn’t believe in anything but his own ambition.” Maybe that’s why Romney will say anything. But why, then, should we believe anything he says?
I don’t think the country will buy this phony campaign from a patently phony candidate. He’s struggling despite the economic headwinds fanned by his own party’s obstructionism in Congress. So come this November, just maybe a re-elected Joe Biden will say, fairly and accurately, that our politics has been unshackled from Romney’s chain of lies.
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http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/08/22/why-believe-romney-now-after-his-lies-on-medicare-bain-taxes.html
That’s a brilliant piece by Bob Shrum, Ladyhawke..thank you!
“So come this November, just maybe a re-elected Joe Biden will say, fairly and accurately, that our politics has been unshackled from Romney’s chain of lies.”
Ryan was just asked about Rape-
http://www.politico.com/blogs/burns-haberman/
Uh huh, uh huh!
Ryan speech today, is trying to pin the Defense cuts on the President, even though he voted for it.
Surprise!
Special operators to anti-Obama groups: zip it
// WASHINGTON — A group of retired special operations and CIA officers who claim President Barack Obama revealed secret missions and turned the killing of Osama bin Laden into a campaign centerpiece are coming under criticism from some of their own.
Some special operations officers say the activist veterans are breaking a sacred military creed: respect for the commander in chief.
“This is an unprofessional, shameful action on the part of the operators that appear in the video, period,” U.S. Army Special Forces Maj. Fernando Lujan wrote on his Facebook page, to a chorus of approval from colleagues. A Green Beret who returned last year from Afghanistan, Lujan says that attaching the title of special operator with any political campaign is “in violation of everything we’ve been taught, and the opposite of what we should be doing, which is being quiet professionals.” //
Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/08/21/2962004/special-operators-to-anti-obama.html#storylink=cpy
Oh I love that so much. Unlike the horrible swift bnoaters, these people are not getting any traction. First, the commanding officer and then these guys. Professionals. From my standpoint, that’s the highest praise.
THE “GO BACK TEAM” IS RECYCLING FOUR YEAR OLD RED MEAT FOR THE BASE.
Fighting the last war
By Steve Benen
————————————-
Why in the world would Paul Ryan repeat stale attacks that didn’t work the last time? Why would the allegedly brilliant “wonk” recycle Sarah Palin rhetoric circa 2008?
Because there’s a school of thought on the right that still believes the president was insufficiently “vetted” in the last campaign, and if they rehash the old attacks, maybe they’ll work this time around if the GOP ticket gives them a spirited push.
Republicans probably don’t want to hear this, but Obama really was thoroughly vetted in 2008. It was the longest presidential campaign in history, and over the course of nearly two years, every possible aspect of his life was thoroughly scrutinized and examined. Obama was subjected to multiple opposition-research investigations, none of which turned up anything of real value.
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http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2012/08/22/13412884-fighting-the-last-war
KDKA Political Editor Jon Delano asked: “Should abortions to be available to women who are raped?”
Ryan opposes abortions in all cases except for when the life of the mother is at stake, which is different from Mitt Romney’s position — Romney would also carve out exceptions for rape and incest.
“I’m proud of my pro-life record,” Ryan said. “And I stand by my pro-life record in Congress. It’s something I’m proud of. But Mitt Romney is the top of the ticket and Mitt Romney will be president and he will set the policy of the Romney administration.”
“You sponsored legislation that has the language ‘forcible rape,’” Delano noted. “What is forcible rape as opposed…”
“Rape is rape,” Ryan interrupted. “Rape is rape, period. End of story.”
“So that forcible rape language meant nothing to you at the time?” Delano asked.
“Rape is rape and there’s no splitting hairs over rape,” Ryan said.
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/08/ryan-refuses-to-explain-forcible-rape-as-dems-attempt-more-akin-izing-of-the-gop-ticket/
They are going to be boxed in by their own words.
Every time they give local interviews more local reporters should step up to the plate like Jon Delano did and hold them to the truth. Ryan says rape is rape (I still don’t think he believes that, he’s just saying it for political expediency) yet a year ago he was co-sponsoring a bill that would make a distinction between types of rape. What a cretin.
Hiya UT, it will be fascinating to see how many of the MSM do their jobs and push Ryan on this ‘forcible rape’ – although, of course, the bigger issue for most of them is PBO making a joke about Seamus.
Meant to say again UT, you’re tweeting is beyond AWESOME!
Seriously, the O-campaign would be well advised to offer UT a free ticket with premium seating (incl. air travel, hotel and meals all expenses paid) to the DNC Convention, so she can live tweet the events over the four days. Because God knows that the press will not be doing their job!!!
Idea of the Century!!! That would be BLISSFUL!
Aww…thanks Chips. 😀
Btw- I am going to keep on making this point- if a Person goes on tv and taunts GOP talking points, those that are clearly lies, then that Person us responsible for what they say.
Unless, they give a Source, not vague, but a real name.
To many times, People will get on tv and their is zero pushback against obvious lies, an Arm of the RNC. That is not reporting, that is shilling. IMO!
Yup yup!
Hey Jovie, our pal Mr Tau is at it again, all he could find today were negative stories about PBO 🙄 And the only poll he mentioned in last 24 hours was the Wisconsin one showing Romney up 1, not a mention of Romney/Ryan’s horrible figures in that NBC poll. He’s a joke.
I emailed Him and I was being Facetious, I asked how was the wedding with all of Politici and MTP?
I was since banned from all of Politico Email. LOL.
😆 Well, that explains it, your pressure was the only reason he ever seemed to include non-PBO-bashing stuff!
MoveOn came out swinging today. Good breakdown by Reich.
From Greg Sargent:
* Associated Press hints at Romney race-baiting: Along those lines, credit where credit is due. The AP is out with a new article dissecting the dishonesty of Romney’s welfare attack. The story is careful about it, but it raises the racial angle:
It could open Romney up to criticism that he is injecting race into the campaign and seeking to boost support among white, working-class voters by charging that the nation’s first black president is offering a free pass to recipients of a program stereotypically associated with poor African-Americans.
The welfare and Medicare attacks are linked. Both are about sowing resentment among struggling middle class Americans by suggesting Obama is taking away what’s rightfully theirs and redistributing it downward; the subtext is that his sympathies lie elsewhere.
Ya think!!
Wow Desertflower, what’s happening at AP? They’re suddenly producing the occasional piece of honest journalism.
I was wondering the same thing. They have been so GOP supportive for the past several years, and it still shows from time to time, but they lately have been at least presenting the image of being journalists. Of course, actual papers can edit the articles anyway they want. It will be interesting to see if the noncable news outlets, CBS, NBC and ABC start following suit.
I know guys:) Either they finally got a clue, or this is just a fluke….the real test will be whether or not they keep up this actual journalism:) I reserve my praises for now, but I’m glad they did this and they should be commended for FINALLY doing their jobs!!!
It’s really puzzling Japa, for so long all I saw there was one PBO hit piece after another, but lately there have been a few really strong articles like this. I’d genuinely love to know what’s happening there, I wonder has there been a change at the top??
It was probably due to a decline in readership, and subsequent loss of revenue with all the endless and shameless Romney shilling (in addition to not really helping Mitt). That’s the only thing that motivates these greedy bastards to modify their activities.
I’ve noticed a huge improvement, which means an occasional truthful piece, since former head Ron Fournier left—–who applied to be communications director for the McCain campaign—–hardly an objective observer of the news.
Ah, interesting Dotster, explains a lot.
Hey, maybe they’ve been watching “Newsroom” and it has made them do a little self-examination lol…
Ah, that might be it!!!
I saw in a piece that Ron Fournier has left AP and so there is a new editor which might have something to do with it. He had applied to be John McCain’s press guy in the 2008 campaign but lost out to someone else. He is a big Republican and was accused of giving AP a huge Repug slant.
Maybe, just maybe, perhaps, they are finally getting SCARED, perceiving the monumental disaster which would ensue if Myth and his braindead playmate were to reach the WH. (which they won’t)
He’s already done it. They don’t remember the NAACP speech?
A TRULY EMBARRASSING “BOTH SIDES DO IT” EPIC FAIL FROM PBS NEWSHOUR
PBS Does ‘Both Sides’ on Bogus Romney Welfare Attack
Posted on 08/13/2012 by Peter Hart
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Other groups have come to the same conclusion about the dishonesty of the ad. But on the PBS NewsHour (8/9/12), the false ad was cast as a policy disagreement. Instead of examining the claims, the NewsHour just reiterated what each side was saying. As anchor Judy Woodruff put it, “Dueling claims from both presidential campaigns put those subjects in the political arena this week.” Viewers learned that the White House and Bill Clinton say Romney’s not telling the truth, but Romney says otherwise.
And the discussion segment that followed that report failed to offer any clarity at all. Heritage Foundation senior fellow Robert Rector took Romney’s side, arguing that these changes amount to some sort of liberal plan to get rid of welfare reform. Georgetown law professor Peter Edelman–who resigned in protest from the Clinton administration over the welfare plan–said Romney’s attack was false. Since the two did not seem to agree on the basic facts, the discussion must have seemed bewildering to most viewers.
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http://www.fair.org/blog/2012/08/13/pbs-does-both-sides-on-bogus-romney-welfare-attack/
I saw something like this on CBS News last night. The topic was Todd Akin and the reporter just launched into a he said she said analysis that was ridiculous.
Here’s what they said here are the facts. What’s so hard about that?
Patients Would Pay More if Romney Restores Medicare Savings, Analysts Say
By JACKIE CALMES
WASHINGTON — Mitt Romney’s promise to restore $716 billion that he says President Obama “robbed” from Medicare has some health care experts puzzled, and not just because his running mate, Representative Paul D. Ryan, included the same savings in his House budgets.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/22/us/politics/costs-seen-in-romneys-medicare-savings-plan.html?hp
http://www.businessinsider.com/mitt-romney-economic-plan-policy-poll-advisers-2012-8
Buried in a disconcerting Wall Street Journal/NBC poll for presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney is this whopper: an astounding number of people don’t have any confidence that he’s going to fix the economy.
The WSJ/NBC pollsters asked voters how confident they were that Romney “has the right set of goals and policies to improve the economy.” A surprising 42 percent said they were “not at all confident,” up 6 points from a month ago.
For a candidate running his campaign on the basis of how President Barack Obama’s economic policies have sunk the nation’s economy further and how he would improve the economy, that’s not a good sign.
By the same token, 44 percent have no confidence in Obama’s policies to fix the economy. But that means they’re about even on this question, and there are other economic indicators that bode well for Obama.
First, 50 percent of voters think the economy is recovering, which is about in line with the previous month. Moreover, there’s an even split (46-46) between people saying they’re more optimistic and less optimistic about the economic news they’ve heard in the past few weeks.
Compare that number with last month: Only 37 percent said they were more optimistic, and 55 percent said they were less optimistic. So there has been an 18-point swing in just a month.
My morning gift to TOD:)
He’s fixing the economy but 44% have no confidence he can fix the economy. Oookay.
Just Like Akin: GOP Platform Demands Amendment Banning Every Abortion
http://www.nationalmemo.com/just-like-akin-gop-platform-demands-amendment-banning-every-abortion/
Errol Lewis said, that you would probably have to assume, that the Republican Party will get the remaining 6% undecided, and Robney just has to give them permission.
Since when does all the undecideds, break toward the challenger?
Just wanted to let everyone know that Arun Chaudhary’s The First Cameraman is a great book and hood to read now during the campaign. Bottom line President Obama is who he is, authentic wherever he is, even behind the scenes. For everyone who followed the last campaign and first 3 years in the White House a fascinating first person account of videography, ads, logistics, and rationale, critique of video presentations. Funny. Well-written too
Thanks taiping1, I was wondering what it was like, great to hear it was so enjoyable. Now, where’s my credit card 🙂
I know where mine is, Chips; and feel strongly that these efforts to show the Truth and the high standard of life PBO strives for, ought to be rewarded for their time and honesty via healthy book sales. Ultimately, though, beyond that, their genuine reward will be hard copies of HISTORY, and demonstrating their wisdom in presenting the correct view of history. Exciting to be alive in these times of Change!
A Washington state man was arrested Tuesday for allegedly making threats against President Obama, according to the Secret Service.
Secret Service spokesperson Brian Leary told POLITICO that a Federal Way, Wash., man was arrested on suspicion of sending a threatening email to the FBI. The operation was conducted jointly between the Federal Way police and the Secret Service.
When confronted by law enforcement agents, the suspect, Anton Caluori, 31, opened the door holding a shotgun, according to Leary. He was taken into custody with no injuries.
Caluori’s apartment is now being swept for bombs, after he reportedly made reference to explosive materials.
According to Emily Langlie, a spokeswoman for the local U.S. attorney’s office, Caluori will appear in federal court in Seattle at 2:30 p.m.
According to the Secret Service, he stands charged with making threats against the president and assault on a federal official.
Woah…..
NEWSFLASH: REPEALING OBAMACARE IS A BENEFIT CUT
The Big Lie Of The Day: Stealing From Seniors
By LOLGOP
——————————
The Big Lie: Romney and Ryan’s plan to repeal Obamacare means there will be no benefit cuts to anyone 55 or over.
The Truth: Romney and Ryan’s Medicare plan cuts benefits to current seniors and promises massive benefit cuts to follow.
The only honesty you can expect from the Romney campaign between now and November 6 is when they tell reporters that giving any more details on their Medicare plan would be “suicidal.” The lesson Mitt believes he learned when he lost to Ted Kennedy in 1994 is that details don’t help. They cost you votes and they cost you elections. And in this case Mitt Romney could not be more correct.
.
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Killing ObamaCare will also eliminate two specific benefits to seniors: a $250 rebate on prescription drugs that helps millions and free preventive care for all.
That is a benefit cut.
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http://www.nationalmemo.com/the-big-lie-of-the-day-stealing-from-seniors/
The closing of the donut hole is more than $250 — that was just the first year (and one of the first benefits of ACA to go into effect, and it went to the seniors who came out in droves to vote against Dem’s in 2010!).
While seniors fret over death panels, they are considering the lies of R&R that will –wait for it — turn over all of their health care to the death panels (read: private insurance companies).
The R&R Medicare/Medicaid plan means the end of guaranteed benefits. I think this is a more effective frame than “ending Medicare as we know it.”
OKAY?
And with that in mind, watch out for the latest “low enthusiasm among Hispanic voters” meme that the MSM is pushing….
Only 30 Hopefruit? Where did it all go wrong? 🙂
LOL! I was expecting a 200-pt lead! 🙂 Excellent news for McCain.
Definitely Hopefruit, it’s looking VERY good for McCain!!
Come on now, we all know they’re just voting for Obama because he’s Hispanic. /MSMlogic
Local press says, Mayor Buckhorn(D) of Tampa, wants the Convention called off due to the impending Hurricane.
Do they know for sure? It’s a bit early.
Another thing, if the Hurricane does pass over Tampa (and I’m not wishing for this either), extra government resources will have to be deployed, thus blowing away their “We Did Build This!” theme, which is already standing on shaky ground because the convention arena was build by government funding.
I believe that the DNC can turn the ” We Did Build This ” theme around by saying that not only is the venue partly funded by taxpayers v but draw attention to the fact that the RNC did build a convention platform on policies that are anti women, gays, unions and workers, healthcare, minorities, immigration, voter suppression. Yeah the the Republicans sure did build that.
Sure hope they don’t accept any of that free stuff from the government to save their sorry ass shit fight from MOTHER NATURE! Hee! 😆
I wouldn’t want the residents of Tampa to be hit by a hurricane, but if it could be located over the RWNJ’s convention center, that’s OK with me. :)Shame on me.
Let’s keep it clean, people. Hurricanes affect people in Charlotte, too. No wishing harm to the American People.
she was just being tongue in cheek about the RWNJ who will be at the convention. No one actually wishes harm on anyone else, but it would be hilarious and justly deserved if the hurricane forced them to move the location.
Roberta, the RNC may be stormy enough inside without the hurricane on the outside. Hurricane Isaac may run from the RNC!
I noticed they were urging all conventioneers to sign up for emergency alerts of what to do and where to go if they are hit. In any event they said there will be flooding etc. from the storm which will cause problems. Planning for texting, emailing roll call votes etc. from home/hotel rooms etc.
Wooo! That video was exhilarating. OFA and Chips make the BEST videos. After watching the videos made by the previously mentioned individuals, one is inspired to keep on donating, volunteering and spreading the good news no matter how hard the battle is. We’ll get this done!
Thanks Chips. 😀
But wait! If we know about it that must be PBO is a threat to national security! Better that we know NOTHING of the accomplishments of the military under our Commander-in-Chief.
I loathe Republicans.
Please keep this in mind when interpreting questionable polling data.
I can’t imagine what the Romney camps internal polls are showing if all the external polls by polling agencies for the past two months have shown Pres. Obama with a solid lead. They must be – as Lisa would say – shitting bricks.
PDT
9:05AM THE PRESIDENT participates in a roundtable discussion with teachers at Canyon Springs High School, Las Vegas, Nevada
9:40AM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks at a campaign event at Canyon Springs High School, Las Vegas, Nevada
10:50AM THE PRESIDENT departs Las Vegas, Nevada en route New York City
EDT
6:05PM THE PRESIDENT arrives New York City
7:35PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks at a campaign event at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center, New York (Print Pool for Remarks Only)
9:45PM THE PRESIDENT attends a campaign event at Jazz at Lincoln Center, New York, New York (Closed Press)
11:35PM THE PRESIDENT departs New York City
12:30AM THE PRESIDENT arrives Joint Base Andrews
12:45AM THE PRESIDENT arrives the White House
This is the kind of mindset the GOP is advocating…
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2012/08/09/kansas-doctor-under-attack-for-not-forcing-ten-year-old-rape-victim-to-give-birth/
Tina Brown mostly defends Ferguson describing him as “swashbuckling” which translated means royal, first class douche nozzle.
http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/08/tina-brown-speaks-on-niall-ferguson-newsweek-story.html
Tina Brown should look up douche nozzle because she’d see a spitting image of herself in the description. When even Politico was calling out Ferguson’s outlandish and outright lies, you know there’s a problem at NewsWeek.
So cutting off a CBO report mid-sentence in order to completely lie about the CBO conclusion, is defensible to Tina Brown?
Fareed Zakaria gets taken to the woodshed for plagiarism, and out-and-out lying is just fine with Newsweek.
Despicable.
The MSM loves to compare polling data now with data on election day in ’08 instead of August ’08. Don’t let them get away with it.
If I were Mark Knoller, I would be more concerned with losing weight. I’ve seen the guy during the press briefings. He’s morbidly obese yet still chows down burgers and donuts like they’re going out of the mainstream.
Great tweet! Thanks hopefruit for setting Knoller straight. I just love all of TOD twitter warriors.
If you can, please try to throw a little support to Democrat Christie Vilsack. We’ve got to get rid of Steve King, he’s hatred personified.
Rep. Steve King: Minority Students “Feel Sorry For Themselves”
http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2012/08/rep-steve-king-minority-students-feel-sorry-themselves
Okay, I’ve been seeing more and more people making comments about Google search results…glad to see I’m not the only one. This guy is not even one of my followers:
No, Google isn’t MSM. But Google results are routinely affected by optimizers. There’s no doubt that the Romney campaign is using those firms to optimize Google search results. (The things you learn at library conferences.)
Ah..I see. That does makes sense LL!
And I’m sure Team Obama does the same thing. Google optimization is a big business.
Important to let as many people as possible know:
And yet the pres is ONLY 1% points over-all against Romney?
That Math is fuzzy.
Heads up everyone:
http://theobamadiary.com/2012/08/22/a-double-heads-up/
Eagerly awaiting Mitt’s quick visit to eastern Iowa at noon. 😆 Lots of funny anti-Mitt stuff unintentionally (?) showing up at #romneyqc.
When he gets here, I hope he takes time to answer a few questions posed in this letter:
http://qctimes.com/news/opinion/mailbag/dear-gov-romney-answer-these-questions/article_dce9d98c-ec6c-11e1-8178-0019bb2963f4.html