Here are your choices GOP:

1.) Magic Diaper Man
2.) Mr. I'm Gettin' My Religion All Over You
3.) Mr. 300 Ethics Violations
4.) Crazy Old Loon

.

Why do the Republican's keep slashing their own wrist's?

CNN is providing a forum for this Roman Circus. What possible good will result from the Debate?

What possible good will result from the Debate?

Absolute hilarity !!

Popcorn, anyone?

.

Hilarious Aggie,,,,,,,,,,,The only problem with this post is,,,,,,The entire thing is BS rhetoric

I would go number by number (But I doubt you can count if you blelieve this crap)

Interesting narrative - someone should be asking most of those questions often.

Believe the press takes every opportunity to shine a negative light on Romney in favor of one of the other candidates they know has no chance to beat obama. Why? Because they and obama are running scared that Romney will be the republican candidate and he has the best chance to send obama packing.

Aggie,

spin, baby, spin...

OBAMA 2012

The only thing they don’t ask Republican candidates about much is economic questions and debt questions. Instead they ask horribly slanted, often irrelevant questions designed to make them look bad and help Obama. We’ve heard questions about contraceptives, religion, Newt’s angry ex-wife, Cain’s employees, Romney’s personal wealth, Gardasil, etc. Newt’s rise was because of the way he attacked the media and Obama in the debates because of the stupid and obviously planted questions.

Aggie

Yes... how dare the media ask the candidates questions about the very topics THEY have been YELLING over the last month.

No, no... instead, we should ignore everything THEY have said, and only focus on topics that do not make them look like a group of retarded monkeys. That will not be biased at all.

Also, you get extra points for posting a blatantly biased media article which complains about the bias in the media. The writer should win the hypocrite of the year award.

What possible good......etc. Well, Downton Abbey is finished for the season so we do need some new entertainment, but now that I think of it, this will be just another repeat.

These debates are intriguing. Who best can be for two sides of an issue, yet support neither side. Magicians these guys are. Who can hide his past in hat and pull out some trash on someone else? There are songs(literally, if they let Mitt do America the Beautiful) and dancing around issues. And for the reality folks, these guys are about as real as Dog, Colby,Troy,Clint or whoever else is seeking his 15 minutes of fame.

Sorry Rus, I just retired....THIS is MY new job....

OBAMA 2012

Justified, I really feel sorry for you for your lack of CRITICAL thinking, instead of nonsense talking points.

Your post is a total joke.

Lots of people assume that Ron Paul isn't a viable option. Guess what: he's way more viable than the other three put together. This is a race between the three stooges and an idealist.

The American People can NOT afford to vote for any of these Republicans because we would be voting against ourselves. Nordquist has already said that the only thing Republicans want is anybody who can sign their name to what Republicans have already written:

Tax Cuts for the Rich, and Pay Cuts for Working Americans.

Obama / Biden 2012

When will they ask Romney the real questions?

Like:

1."Mr. Romney, explain to everybody how placing your money into shelters overseas so you can get away with paying less then 14 percent in annual taxes is helping Americans?"

2."Mr. Romney, do you send the bulk of your money overseas because you value the trade of other countries over America's, or did you send your money over there so you didn't have to pay as much in taxes as everybody else does?"

3."Mr. Romney, you like to say that you pay what you owe in taxes and not a dollar more. What if the vast majority of America thinks you should pay a lot more? Do you agree with the majority of American people and pay more taxes or tell them you don't care and don't want their votes anyways?"

4. "Mr. Romney, do you think all Americans should pay less then 14 percent of their annual incomes to taxes, like you do, even though that would plunge this great nation into third-world status almost immediately by not being able to even pay our debt?

5. "Mr. Romney only the rich could take advantage of loopholes you have used to insure you pay a smaller portion or your income to taxes then many Americans earning a great deal less then you do. Should that be how America's tax code works? Should rich people, like yourself, pay smaller percent of your income to taxes when people like our military, cops, social workers, firefighters have to pay a great deal more?

Ahhhh... the GOP debates. The top rated reality show of the year. Like any good reality show, the audience is always torn between those who received roses, and who were voted off. We look fondly on the remaining contestants...

- The greedy CEO who cares more about money than people... willing to lay off thousands if it means a bigger bonus check. Sure, you may call him a jerk, but he is just so darn charming.

- The overly religious guy who can't help but preach to all the other roommates. Sure, he hates homosexuals and women, blaming them for all of our problems... and he may start a Christian Taliban revolution if given the chance... but you still have to give him credit for conviction.

- Then there is the pick-up artist who you swear is high, as he rambles on about leading a moon base. True, most of the things he says are crazy, and he has broken a lot of rules in the past... but damn if he is not successful with the ladies. Must be that bad-boy thing.

- And finally we are left with the ruling king of the gnomes. You are not really sure how you feel about this contestant, but a small part of you hopes that he will snap, call forth his massive gnome army, and proceed with the cutest little uprising you will ever see.

And as this final rose ceremony commences... all of America watching in anticipation, secretly hoping that the Bachelorette will reject all the men... the tension is lengthened with a montage of past contestants.

- The crazy-eyed baby collector who is closely followed by a dancing pixie she calls her husband.

- The pizza delivery guy, who consistently quotes the Pokemon movie and answers every question with the price $9.99... what a deal.

- The drunk who speaks with a Texan slur, carries around a gun, and was prone to babbling outbursts and memory loss.

- And... well, what would any reality show be without the Donald?

Then the montage of extras and guest appearances start...

- The angry soccer milf who can't control her own kids, but tells everyone else how to raise their own... all with a cute accent, a giant bus, a constant reminder of where Russia is.

- The psychotic TV personality who screams about the President, Nazis, socialists, fascists, vampires and zombies coming for you... all of whom will force you to have an abortion.

- The large group of white, old, religious men discussing their expertise in female health... while forbidding any female to actually talk, because what do ladies really know about it?

- And the many, MANY tin-foil hat, conspiracy theorists who all claim that the President is really an alien... complete with birth certificate evidence that proves he was born on the planet Zolash, and his brainwashing laser will turn everyone into a "socialist" (which is apparently an inter-planetary appetizer).

Oh GOP reality show... we are saddened that the final rose ceremony is upon us. Your series was much too short. How we will miss you. Please tell me that you were picked up for a second season.

Citizen 1,

RE: your post #1.6

I totally agree with your statement that Romney has a better chance to defeat President Obama in November. However your blaming the media is a bit absurd. The FACT remains, your own voters are NOT sold on Mitt Romney, and thus they have not made their final choice. Remember, they are YOUR PARTY's voters. They are generally the voters who listen to Glen Beck, Rush, Hannity, O'Rielly, and Fox News. If the voters in your party cannot, or will not, decide, based on commentary from conservatives, why would you blame the liberal media for the way they have been voting? Also, Mitt Romney, your favorite candidate, it seems, does not have a firm stance on ANY issue. If there ever was a "flip-flopper", it is Mr. Romney, and you know that is TRUE. Conservatives, it seems, do not like someone who switches positions just to please the current audience and today's sentiment. Personally I believe it has a lot to do with Mitt's being Morman. Mitt is STILL on thin ice and the battle is engaged and has been brutal for the GOP overall. It is not the media's domain; it is YOUR party's problem and their responsibility to sort out just which candidate will represent them in November. I am sure it will be settled, perhaps not to your liking though!

Sick of Liberals--Look it up- - A vast majority of RED states have a higher percentage of food stamp users than BLUE states. AND this is not a question of who's money it is, it is a question of who needs it at the time. You were not taught to share is my guess. And it is a sign of ignorance when one must resort to name calling. There are so many other more effective words than @!$%#ty.

This article pretty much says it all:

It is curious that the American Right, which waxes nostalgic for the happier days of the 1950s when the United States was supposedly more moral and more united, ignores one of the central reasons behind that middle-class era: very high taxes on the rich.

Granted, some on the Right may love the Fifties because it was a time of racial segregation and second-class status for women. But what arguably made the era work was the fact that the US tax structure "disincentivized" greed by ensuring that excess wealth was mostly recycled back into the Treasury for use building the nation and supporting research and development.

During Dwight Eisenhower's presidency the top marginal tax rate - what the richest Americans paid on their top tranche of income - was around 90 percent. In the 1960s, under John F. Kennedy, that was lowered to around 70 percent, but that rate still meant the rich had a limited incentive to be greedy since they wouldn't get to keep most of their extra money.

All that changed with Ronald Reagan's presidency and his slashing of the top marginal tax rate by more than half (before it was adjusted upward slightly late in Reagan's years and then during Bill Clinton's presidency before being reduced again to 35 percent under George W. Bush).

Various tax loopholes and lower rates for capital gains also have let many of the richest Americans enjoy tax rates about only half of even those lower marginal income tax rates. Billionaire Warren Buffett has famously described paying a lower tax rate than his secretary, meaning that he and others in his category get to keep about 80 percent of what they make In other words, the American tax structure has been roughly turned on its head. From the rich paying between 70 and 90 percent on their top income, some now pay 20 percent or less, which means there is a much bigger incentive to be greedy.

Arguably, it was that incentivized greed - more than any of the social movements like civil rights for blacks and equal rights for women - that eradicated the rhapsodized Fifties and the middle-class culture that it represented in the nostalgic view of many Americans.

So, it's ironic that the defense of lower tax rates for the rich is at the heart of the Right's current political agenda. Some leading Republicans have even suggested that "tax reform" should impose at least some income tax on the poor and working class so the tax rates on the rich can be lowered even more.

It's ironic, too, that the core of today's economic crisis is that American bankers became so excessively greedy - spurred on by the prospects of "earning" bonuses in the tens of millions of dollars and keeping nearly all that money - that they blinded themselves to the risks from exotic financial products built on an unsustainable housing bubble.

If the tax rates had been kept at Eisenhower or Kennedy levels, not only would there have been plenty of money to keep the United States modern and strong but there likely would not have been the kind of financial crisis that, since 2008, has cost millions of jobs and required massive government borrowing to bail out the greedy bankers.

Thus, in a variety of ways, the Right's orthodoxy of low taxes on the rich (or the "job creators," as Republican wordsmiths prefer) has been a major driver in creating today's massive federal debt and in savaging the middle class

I get a kick out of the picture of the podium.

Suppose we take off the pictures and install numbers and curtains. Then hire Bob Barker.

We could have one hell of a "The Price Is Right."

" Mr./Mrs. America, Come On Down."

i share just fine at my discretion. its not your money and quite frankly i'm tired of feeding fat lazy bastards. get off your lazy ass and support yourself. i also get tired of the morons trying to sell me food stamps every time i walk into a grocery store. if the dumb @!$%# needs food that bad they would use it for food & not selling it for 100% profit. after all they should share it with me since its my damn money feeding their sorry lazy asses in the 1st place.

Sick of Liberals,

Think of it this way... All of those people you just complained about are simply people who were not aborted. And as a true Republican, you want to ban abortion and increase their population... right?

Instead of the usual pre-teen garbage I give this: Give your servant therefore, a listening heart to judge your people and to distinguish between good and evil.For who is able to give judgement for this vast people of yours. 1st Kings 3:9 I pray only for this for our leaders and the people who vote for them. Indie you said it yourself "people who were not aborted" That is the point after all they are people.

Sick of Liberals,

RE: your post #1.26

Are you also SICK OF LYING? The Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), often referred to as Food Stamps, has not had 'Stamps' since 2004! Your claim of "offers to buy stamps" is complete BS, at face value! As to name calling and your statement: "if the name fits, why not use it?" Well, since you asked, it is because it confirms TOTAL IGNORANCE. So you see, FROM YOUR OWN WORDS, I can deduce that you seem not to value the TRUTH and perhaps you are less than well educated. Have a GREAT evening!

Sick of Liberals is lying, most likely a troll. You can't "buy food stamps" anymore. The SNAP program issues debit cards to needy families to purchase food. You have to have the card and a PIN, much like a debit card for your bank account. The change was initiated to eliminate the fraud and to lower the cost of the program.

Anyone who talks about "people with food stamps wanting me to buy them" is obviously lying. You may as well talk about people stealing 8-track cassettes out of your car and selling them.

Don't feed the trolls.

scrambolo: you should probably find out the facts before you spout off. I heard a coworker tell someone she bought the use of a SNAP recipient's EBT card & password for 50% off the dollar value of the benefits. SNAP recipients find ways around 'not having stamps'.

PLEASE PLEASE...someone tonite ask that religious lunatic Santorum about Satan...please!!! I want to hear him say on camera that he believes in the Devil and hear what the other 3 have to say in response. Please !

MikeO - if you had the ability to think critically you could have done so logically and effectively to dispute justified's post rather than in your nebulous manner of saying his post "was a total joke" and "nonsense talking points".

Indie Party - Thank you absolutely brilliant!

Jo-An-4354969

I'm betting they won't EVER have this many debates, within their own party again...It was so DELICIOUS....

With a little luck and national awareness perhaps this party, as it exists now, will be dissolved or become totally irrelevant.

No...I'm more stupid than you...No...I'm much more stupid...No, you can't be...I own stupid

Please elect me...I'm the most stupid

While I know democrats want Santorum but please conservatives, get some common sense and vote for Romney. Santorums off the wall satans attacking the US because we are the only ones to attack, oh my he is crazy.

The end of an era, these debates have exposed...

The Obama administration will become known in the annals of political history as the end of an error.

One Big Ass Mistake America

Jan21270: Personally, I'm not voting for any of them. But, I always find it amusing that if a Republican candidate speaks sincerely about their faith, it tends to make other Republicans nervous... as you've just demonstrated.

But, if you'll notice, when Obama talks about Jesus, and how he thinks Jesus would be in favor of his plans...you don't hear a peep out of liberals. Not one word. I hear crickets chirping in the liberal camp.

And the reason why is obvious. They know Obama has no true faith or Christian allegiance. They know it's all an act on his part, so, they just ignore it and figure, hey, if it gets him a few votes, what's the harm??

It's just another typical liberal double standard observation.

Allen-2635884: Thank you for validating so completely the point in paragraph three of post #1.42 above.

Or, is it okay to believe in Jesus, (as Obama claims. (Man, it's really hard to type phrase with a straight face), but you just can't believe in the existence of the Devil. Is that it?? Or, how do you know that Obama also doesn't believe in the Devil as well, since he claims to be a Christian??

I still think it's because I pretty much nailed it in paragraph three of the above referenced post.

And the reason why is obvious. They know Obama has no true faith or Christian allegiance. They know it's all an act on his part, so, they just ignore it and figure, hey, if it gets him a few votes, what's the harm??

And that's the absolute truth about the liberal's take on Obama's supposed faith.

...And please explain for the readers Conservative...

WHAT exactly does your rambling posts have to do with Romney and Santorum at tonight's debate???????

Please re-read the article being discussed and STOP your negative, TEA-RNC talking point spin. We truly don't want to hear any more of such endless garbage.

Thank you.

ConservativeNotRepublican

The Obama administration will become known in the annals of political history as the end of an error.

Well, there is no viable alternative that even comes close to the political center. Until there is, I believe there is no choice but to continue with the current President. So what you perceive as an "error" may very well continue. I really don't think the country is ready or willing to accept theocratic/corporate fascism that is blatantly represented by the so called republican party. Any one of the so called republicans are tied by the balls to their fascist base. There is your real "error". And it could very well destroy the so called GOP as it now exists for generations to come.

Mittens Rob-us-blind Flip Flop,is not a liberal or a conservative the 1%'er CORPERTE RAIDER and one time governor of Liberal Mass but now arch conservative is a wishy-washy, flip flopping spineless politician without any core convictions, principals or believes a man who will say or do anything to get elected telling one crowd one thing and another crowd another. You simply can’t trust this guy to tell you the truth.

Well, correction, it is the second funniest thing. The funniest thing would probably be Mittens being caught in another lie, this time about the family dog he strapped to the car roof for a 12 hour road trip to Canada. Ends up the dog didn't live a long life, it ran away the first chance it got.

It looks like the American people are having the same response to Mitt that Mitt's former dog did

Mittens Rob-us-blind Flip Flop, the 1%'er actually 0.006% CORPERTE RAIDER and one time governor of Liberal Mass but now he is an arch conservative. Has supported Abortion, Gay Rights, Gun Control, Stem Cell Research and has reverse himself on all of these issues.

He took both sides on the financial bailout, the stimulus bill, the auto loan package;

His biggest Flip-Flop of all Health Care Reform The national Law is modeled on the one that he championed as governor in Mass that requires every citizen to have health insurance. Now he has Flipped-Flopped. Mr. Flop has taken a hard slide to the right pandering and boot licking to the tea party.

Mitt Flip-Flop Rob-us-blind, a wishy-washy, flip flopping spineless politician without any core convictions, principals or believes a man who will say or do anything to get elected telling one crowd one thing and another crowd another. You simply can’t trust this guy to tell you the truth.

The only good thing that would happen if Flip-Flop were to get elected It would prove that Conservatism is dead as Flip-Flop would stab the Conservatives in the back.

Mitt Flip Flop Romney LMAO

Birth control. Obama is doing social engineering in the military. Build the fence and defend it. Iran wants to wipe Israel off the map (misrepresentation). Preventative war.

The GOP is history.

Ding, dong, the witch is dead!

RIP GOP

Tea Party bigots, your 15 minutes of fame is over (thank god).

Obama is one of the best presidents in modern history.

"Man on Dog" vs. "Dog on Car".

The Repukes should be broadcasting their debates on Animal Planet.

sad. you guys argue your party platform, not whats best for the country.

sad the rich in the nation benefit off the ignorance of the poor with proved lies.

Unless u making over 250k a year, u need to rethink voting rebuplican, otherwise ur voting urself back into slavery, a second clss citizen

Do the Republicans even have a plan for jobs?

If any Republican is elected president, I would love to hear how they are going to bring unemployment below 8%?

Social issues Vs. Economic issues- None of these candidates have any answers

If you vote Republican and are not a millionaire you are voting against your financial interests.

Indie, 1.21 - The greedy CEO who cares more about money than people... willing to lay off thousands if it means a bigger bonus check. Sure, you may call him a jerk, but he is just so darn charming.

- The overly religious guy who can't help but preach to all the other roommates. Sure, he hates homosexuals and women, blaming them for all of our problems... and he may start a Christian Taliban revolution if given the chance... but you still have to give him credit for conviction.

- Then there is the pick-up artist who you swear is high, as he rambles on about leading a moon base. True, most of the things he says are crazy, and he has broken a lot of rules in the past... but damn if he is not successful with the ladies. Must be that bad-boy thing.

- And finally we are left with the ruling king of the gnomes. You are not really sure how you feel about this contestant, but a small part of you hopes that he will snap, call forth his massive gnome army, and proceed with the cutest little uprising you will ever see.....

Is that original, or did you copy & paste? I'm thinking of putting it up on my facebook, or at least as an email - it's GREAT!!

Allen-2635884, I believe in the devil. Not the one with horns and a barbed tail that presides over a place called Hell. A place where eternal suffering, by burning in fire and brimstone forever, is promised

I do believe in Devils. They all claim to be followers of Christ(( Son of God). They "follow Christ" by urging a great nation to take from the poor, needy children and elderly to give to the rich. They "follow Christ" by scorning hard-working American people that are down on their luck by calling them lazy bums who abuse "entitlement" programs such as unemployment INSURANCE. They "follow Christ" with false claims of trying to save Social Security as they do everything possible to destroy it. They "follow Christ" by insisting that lifesaving healthcare is not a right, but a commodity to be sold to the highest bidder( they just happen to be among the highest bidders).

You don't have to be Christian, particularly religious, or even a believer in God to have some knowledge of the Holy Bible. The Good Book speaks of an Anti-Christ. That would be one that does everything against the teachings of Christ. The fact that such a person does so in the name of Christ surely makes him an Anti-Christ. A devil by any other name would still smell like sulfur. These guys stink to high heaven.

One thing you can be absolutely sure of is no matter which clown stumbles out of the car on top after super Tuesday... The rightie tightie whities will be coming out in force because the only thing they have in common it turns out is their contempt and loathing of that evil black man in the white house. VOTE VOTE VOTE!!! DO NOT be lulled into a false sense of security by the so called liberal media. Remember republicans never admit anything and never think they are wrong. That's why they accuse a conservative media of being liberal. Where have you heard the term liberal media? On the news maybe? Ever heard the term conservative media? Nope! That would be like Eli Manning screaming Giants suck over and over... Same thing with religion, they don't choose Jesus they USE JESUS!!! They are disgusting stingy people but they are FN organized because they got all the big money behind them... Only thing that cancels out money is votes so VOTE! Lazy liberals are why we have a republican congress now and if you don't get off your ass in November you can fully expect to lose your ass in January 2013.

I like Ron Paul!
Ron Paul for president? Not sure if I support that.

But I do not want him to go away!!!

I do wish the media would stop ignoring him

Ron Paul is more republican than all the three phonies combined. We need republicans not these other things, I don't know what to call them.

I guess it is the difference between a doctor for a pay check and a doctor on a mission to save lives. Ron Paul will not tell u what u want to hear but what u need to hear. Ron Paul is a Republican not an anti-Obama stooge. He's not anti-democrat he's republican.

conservativenotrepublican- You are quite wrong, I find any president or presidential candidate who spends their time on social issues and religion, to be disturbing. None of the others have made their campaign about their faith in the manner Santorum has. Yes it makes me nervous as an independent because religion does NOT belong in politics. I simply don't care what their religious stands are, it has no relevance.

Why would(any thinking person) care?

Does it really matter....If you don't vote...you have still made a decision...what a rush(great band)

Yes, love Ron Paul! He did great tonight.

Well! Now aye gwad they,ve done it! These infernal republican sons-a-bitches have completely wore both God and Satan completely out! Gods on an extended drunk, trying his "republicandamndest" to collect his sanity and not suffer a nervous breakdown. Poor Being is plumb incoherent!

Satan! Hell and war! Satan is even worse off. All He can do is weep! No cussing, just squalling his poor red eyes out! Says He's leaving this "hell hole"! Swears, ahem, that He will never be able to hold his head up again. Says He can't compete with the republicans, and will never try again. Says also He plans to approach the RNC about selling 'em all of hell at a bargin, and if He swings that He's gonna leave this place and leave no forwarding address. Congratulations Republicans! You have broken this poor thing! Even his horns are sagging!

To rid the U.S. of the "DEFICIT"; just "AX THE TAX CODE". $1.1TRILLION; plus 45% pay NOTHING??

Donbcms, the bottom 45% pays "nothing" because they have virtually nothing and they need everything they earn (http://www.lcurve.org/).

It's interesting how nobody here every says something like "Santorum 2012" or "Go Romney!". No, all the conservatives can do is attack the sitting president. Meanwhile, you see plenty of liberals enthusiastic about their candidate, while also denouncing his opponents.

The ONLY argument I've seen from conservatives is "Santorum and Romney are the lesser of two evils". This isn't based on much, and relies on dubious information (for example, Romney balanced the budget, yes, but his state's constitution required him to. Similarly, Newt Gingrich passed balanced federal budgets, but they were written by Bill Clinton and went through a process controlled by the Senate majority leader).

"I think Romney won the debate, than Newt, next old Paul and last was Santorum."

So the media is biased to the left....why?

Maybe they know something ....muhahahaha.

Nothing like a good conspiracy..

If I was stupid....I would vote for ONE of These dumb-assess

I have a choice////I vote OBAMA

sorry dumb-assess

I may not vote....stupid is as stupid does

So am I supposed to get out of this that record profits for FAILED C.E.O's of questionably acting companies good. Record profits for American companies that are hallmarks of the country bad? Hmm. Indeed.

What is more is the obviousness that the brain dead on the right choose to eat up saying it tastes great. Like the bailouts. Bailouts suck. But it worked. To the tune of saving jobs and helping to save the economy in the face of dire consequence. Yet because it worked just not how Mr. Romney or Mr. wanted it to work it by extension didn't work? It is reminiscent of the contraception is religion argument. No its not. See. Simple to solve. ; ] But in reality only those on the fringe of the right side can equate the two. They do this by saying morals are religion as well. Thereby implying only religious people are moral. Also those who read the bible no it is sacrilege to question a brother in God when his WORD and actions by the way tells God he is. The word is mighty and was spoke to creation. Yet it seems it is NOT good enough for Gram Romney Santorum and a treasure trove of others who seem to think theocracy is the way to go.

Jealousy is a sin yet they seem to be sooo jealous of sharia law. ; ] The separation of church and state exists yet they are NOW arguing religious policy. Why? ; ]Because compromise is not good enough for them. As shown by the rights congressional actions and now to over women's rights. Like sharia law they wish to have any man be able to tell YOUR wife sister or daughter mother etc what they can or cannot do. Punishable by the governments laws. ;] No wonder Oklahoma passed an anti sharia law to everyone who is sanes surprise. Because they are trying to pass similar Christian Catholic laws. They were projecting there plan onto us all.

Cheers

mike-2260639: I don't have too much of a problem with what you say. I've already made up my mind that I won't be voting for any of the Republicans, which means I'll be doing a write in for someone. (Just for the record, I haven't voted for an incumbent office holder in a state or national election in 6 years now)

If that means Obama gets another term, then I'm willing to accept that. I refuse to hold my nose any longer and vote for someone in order to vote against someone else. If I can't enthusiastically support someone, they don't get my vote. I don't have to agree with them 100% on everything, but there are certain core issues where we both have to at least be in the same book, even if we're not on the same page. The other issue is trust: And I don't trust any of the Republicans running as far as I could throw Barney Frank's lard a$$.

As far as your fascist claim: Business is supposed to be competitive. That's an American ideal. Part of that competitive drive is for business to see that competition eliminated. The role of government is to only stop that competitive elimination if it enables a monopoly, fosters a clearly unfair playing field among remaining competitors, or breeches a national security issue. Other than that, the government should stay out.

Now, I can name you literally dozens of specific instances of liberal fascism, but I'm not trying to make this a tit for tat conversation. Just suffice to say that fascism, in the concept to which you're referring to it, is actually one of the things that made this country great.

But Obama, with his fundamental transformation platform would love to do away with that. That also goes along with his "spread the wealth" mantra as well. And just as conveniently, he's got a government solution ready for every problem that doesn't exist. And when you have government as the only player, then you have the ultimate fascist model.

I guess where we differ is that Obama is no where near the center. And personally, I don't want anyone in the so-called center. The center, and compromise are both waaaay over rated. Everything that had been done to get us to the point where we are 16 trillion in debt, was based on "compromise".

I'm not interested in compromise, I'm interested in getting the right thing done. Compromise rarely leads to that, and more often than not, just turns out to be doing something not as wrong as it could have otherwise been done. And that's why we need a real leader (not a dictator who governs through executive order when he doesn't get his way), (and none of the Republicans running are it either) and Obama certainly isn't it.

All of you Right Wing, Fanatical, Wide Stance, Bible Thumping, Tea Bagging Republicans who are still talking about "Community Organizer," "Son of Islam" and "Socialist" do not fully grasp that we are going into the election for President Obama's 2nd term and Republicans have unseated a sitting Democrat exactly 2 times in the last 100 years and the latest was Ronald Reagan beating Jimmy Carter. Did you see any Ronald Reagan's out on the stage tonight? I am laughing at you so loudly that my wife is shushing me from the next room. You are going into a 12 round Championship Bout pitting a Fly Weight Republican against a Heavy Weight, KO, Reigning Champ which leaves you all the Chumps for not realizing that your party is dead. 20% more of your base will have died or become illegible to vote (dementia) by the 2014 mid-terms. We finally outlived you backwoods, rusticated, fearful fools.

Gram is a Wrath, hes not playing with a full deck ! .............Mowdy !

Four More Years Of Republican Fears n' Tears!

Conservative: you posted:

you'd better have the balls to make it a decent argument

I don't need to argue it - YOU prove it!

You take this discussion vine with the topic of Romney & Santorum "clashing" at the debate and attempt (very poorly I might add) to turn it into an anti-American President soapbox, spouting off incoherently about some illogically concieved, closed-minded, racially prejudiced failing of America's Head-Of-State.

We have heard all the comments about YOUR dislike for President Obama before, and are sick and tired of it; it makes absolutely NO sense, and sounds extremely un-patriotic and anti-American. Therefore, I simply asked to stay on task and discuss the topic at hand, but it is very obvious that you perceive your task as running down the American President. Since THAT is the way it is, I suggest you take your biggoted Bull Sh!t elsewhere and spout it - maybe Al Jezeera will be interested - but I am not.

Now I understand that most of this is probably beyond YOUR comprehension, but the discussion here is a totally different topic than what you feel compelled -for whatever shortcomings you have - to rant about. Now you want to attempt to make some arguement to the contrary? Lottsa luck with THAT! You will want to try to spin it and make your excuses to try to justify it, and try to "explain" it (just as you do with the TEA-RNC talking points you parrot) but the fact -TRUTH- remains that you ranted on for three - count 'em - THREE consecutive posts about something other than the topic this thread addresses. FACT!!

Point is, if you are mentally capable of grasping it, that we don't want nor need your biased rhetoric in the discussion; either remain on topic, or STFU!

Each time (this cycle) that we have had a Republican Presidential debate, I see here where some are somehow blaming members of the Democratic party or liberals when none of the candidates come out looking very spiffy. It seems silly to have to say it, but, this is not our deal. It isn't our turn yet. If your party can't get behind one of your choices at this time, it is your problem and up to you to figure it out. As much as many of you dislike our President, we seem to like him in equal proportion. You have to find a guy you like and back him and then let the chips fall where they may.

Wow, and I thought the Teapublicans couldn't get any stupider (after all they LOVE Palin - enough said); however, after reading the above Teapublican "rant's," I guess I was wrong. These rednecks are actually getting dumber as each post is posted. Sad, sad, sad! P.S. - Fox is not God...Fox is extremely flawed and excellent at "re-writing" news so that it leans (unjustifiably) to the right.....And, for the record, "Jr" is, was, and will forever be a dumbass. It would take ANYONE at least 4 -8 years to clean up the mess that "mentally challenged" shell of a president left us in!!! If you think there is anyone better than Obama to continue to clean up/salvage this economy and America then you just need to keep you head up your butt for the next 4.5 years until Obama's second term runs out. Again, sad, sad, sad!

Which actually makes me wonder.....why are all the Teapublican's bashing Obama but not praising the living crap out of "Jr."? Why hasn't Jr been brought up with all this political garbage going on. Isn't that what you people are supposed to do?????? Talk about Bush and his awesomeness and THEN bash Obama.....Let's turn this around and stop talking about Obama and let's all start saying POSITIVE things that BUSH did AS PRESIDENT.....I bet that will be a short or non existent conversation.....

Jan-21270: Well, as I said, I'm not voting for any of them, so it personally doesn't make any difference to me what they may or may not claim.

As far as your comment about faith though, I would only say that we have freedom of religion in this nation, and that means the freedom to speak about your faith openly if you wish. Now, this is where many people, including the Supreme Court, get it wrong: Freedom of religion (or speech) does NOT have an implied mandate that someone must be forced to actually hear what you have to say. You have freedom of speech or religion, I have the freedom to NOT listen or WANT to hear what you have to say. Seems pretty fair to me.

The other thing I would take issue with is just because it makes you uncomfortable, doesn't mean that they should not be allowed to do it if that is what they wish. If you don't like it, then exercise the right you have not to listen, and certainly don't vote for them.

But, as far as Santorum being the only one, maybe you're right, but that would only be in this election cycle. History is replete with examples of presidents expressing their faith: Washington, Lincoln, FDR to name just a few.

I don't have nearly as much problem with someone expressing their faith as I do trusting that faith to be real. Obama certainly falls into that category. And as I've said in other posts (all collapsed by those "tolerant" liberals...lmao) the reason Obama's "faith" doesn't bother liberals, is because they know it's totally fake and nothing but a political tool for Obama.

poor stupid got slammed, imagine that. LMAO!

Out of Control Republican Candidates.

"Can't we all just get along"?--quote Rodney King-

They are destroying themselves for the run.

I still want to know how Mitt Romney is going to solve all the woes of the World? In the end, he will be the front runner against Obama.

Never thought it would be a campaign against each other---Settle down boys, and refrain from backstabbing--

Not as stupid as yo uthink: Well, it's apparent that you didn't grasp anything from the lesson I gave you now did you?? I'm not surprised, but I was hopeful. My optimism was obviously misplaced.

I guess you think it's perfectly acceptable for others to make posts, if they are posts you agree with, but I must refrain from making any replies to those posts, lest the the post gestapo, chief inspector: Not az stupid, vill stomp hiz zittle feet, have hiz fascist zittle tantrum and tell you to STFU!! (gotta admit, I was just crushed. Crushed I tell ya)

You act as if the political arena must only include criticism of Republican candidates, and must not include any mention of Obama, his policies, or any criticism of him what so ever. To hell with that fascist little policy. Look, if you want to be a flaccid little Obama sycophant sheep, I don't give a crap, be that, it makes no difference to me.

You have every right to express your opinon about my posts, I have no problem with that as well, but you don't control my speech. And I'll damn well reply to any post I wish to reply to, in any way I wish to reply to it. Am I making myself clear??

In doing so, I'll also do my best to respect the Newsvine code, but I'm willing to push that just a bit in your case. So just keep throwing your little fascist tantrums and keep demonstrating how "tolerant" liberals are of other viewpoints. It's too funny, you really are a joke, and are the quintessential example of a typical liberal hypocrite.

If you can't take it when someone says Obama is a putrid pile of Marxist dog s#it, that's not my problem.

But, as far as Santorum being the only one, maybe you're right, but that would only be in this election cycle. History is replete with examples of presidents expressing their faith: Washington, Lincoln, FDR to name just a few.

Please don't propogate lies. Not all of our presidents have been Christian. Lincoln and Washington were deists. Jefferson, Adams, and Madison strongly believed in Separation of Church and state.

You claim Obama's faith to not be "Christian" enough for you. So what? It's "Christian" enough for him, and that's all that matters. A candidate's faith should not dictate their policy.

I hope this offends everyone who is pro Obama.

Anyone who is willing to vote for anyone who signed the NDAA including the President, and willingly gives up their rights and the rights of 300 million Americans for the sake of partisan politics IS NOT a Patriot.

Yes, If I was that stupid

Maybe....I would believe

What the Republicans have forgotten is that in the primaries you appeal to your base and in the general election you appeal to the middle of the road/crossover voters. The trick is not to be so offensive appealing to your base that the swing voters are turned off before the general election arrives.

@ Sick,

Something for you to think about before you start with the "I'm tired of taking care of people" statement.

Before Obama took office, America was losing jobs at a alarming rate overseas thanks to the policies and "loose" regulations at that time. As a result, millions of Americans lost their jobs that went overseas in order for the companies and corperations to make a profit by paying less in wages. These SAME people, mostly middle and lower income class, were out of a job with no real way of supporting themselves and haven't been able to for the last 2-3 years for those that are less fortunate to find a job. IT IS NOT THEIR FAULT that they got laid off and NOT THEIR FAULT that there are still not able to find work (this also help fuel the housing market collaspe but that's a different story).

So before you start bashing those who WANT to take care of themselves and their families but are UNABLE to, think about WHY they are jobless and WHAT got them there.

Dear sick, the states in the article on those with bill paying problems are not really predominantly left. They are a mixture. 4 of the states are split with the majority in the legislature and governorship from different parties (Nevada - D legislature, R gov; NJ - D leg R gov; NC - R leg, D gov; NH R leg, D gov). 4 are straight democrat (leg and gov) and 2 straight R.

The 10 states with the highest income are: 5 straight dem (7 that are blue states in pres elections) , 2 straight GOP (3 red states in pres elections) , 2 split (1 D gov and R leg; 1 R gov and D leg).

10 states with the highest poverty rates: 5 straight R, 2 straight D; 3 split ( 2 D gov, R leg; 1 D gov, split leg).

Heath care. 16 with the highest uninsured; 9 straight R, 1 R gov, r senate, spit house (Alaska), 1 straight D; 2 R gov, D leg; 2 D go, R leg, the rest split.

15 lowest uninsured; 6 straight D, 1 Independent gov, D leg; 4 straight R; the rest split.

One could go on and on with this. You will always find a mixture. But states with better social and education programs tend to be more on the democratic side while those with lowest earnings, most low paying jobs, most uninsured and lower education ratings are mostly GOP.

And as usual, the predominant cause of the shortage of tax revenue is the recession. Some handle it differently than others. Texas, for example, has been getting higher than predicted tax receipts as the effect of the recession eases. We face $2 billion education funding shortfall for the next school year. We also have a $7 billion rainy day fund, however the governor will not call back the legislation to adjust the education funding. We are 41st in education funding and rate there and below in most education performance categories. We have the highest uninsured in the nation and the most and highest percentage of minimum wage and below jobs. States don't get any redder than Texas.

Mr Anon

i hv been waiting for someone to make this pt. This country was founded by progressive liberals. The conservatives oppossed the revolution , they didn"t want to get rid of "the job creators " They also fought Jefferson/jackson and Polk on westward expansion.

Mr. Anon: Please post where I said all of our presidents have been Christian. The fact of the matter is, I made no such statement in any of my posts, or even implied that. The only thing I did was give a factual list of just a few presidents who did indeed make public statements of faith.

Therefore, your statement that somehow I am "propagating lies" is factually a lie in and of itself.

Regarding Obama's faith, I will stand by my statement that liberals have no problem at all when Obama mentions Jesus, because they know it is nothing but a facade, and not anything they have to worry about. They only have a problem when someone, who may be able to take votes away from Obama by expressing their own faith, starts doing it and it appears sincere. Something even Obama, with all of his smooth talk, can't pull off convincingly.

Why I find amusing that Republicans forget, is that they claim Obama is a Muslim. What is Biden, Jewish? So how exactly is Obama turning his back to Israel, and how exactly is he bringing Sharia Law to the US? To be perfectly honest, it was Southern Baptists that made me quit believing in God. They are just as perverse in religion as the Muslims they claim to hate and fear. If it were up to those types of Christians, women would still be wearing the "Puritan" garbs and gowns from the 1700's. And as a reminder, stoning women was still a practiced Christian punishment, kind of like burning Witches, morons!

There is a report on MSN money showing which states are in the biggest holes. Whats worse is the majority of them are/or are primarily Democrat voting states.

Sick, I find it amazing when people like you try to point out Democrat economic failures... you criticize these states for not recovering as fast from your GOP induced economic collapse? Keep talking, fool.

@donbcms,

Yes that's just what the rich want - them paying not one more dime and make the working poor and jobless pay more taxes. Then how stupid are you for saying AX the tax code. Ok who would police your street, because you do know 50% of police funding comes from the federal government or are you just that dumb to look at fox noise talking points. On top of that how would your kids get educated? I take it home educations is best. I don't know if you notice but its not 1950's before the civil rights movement. Yes I know you want to segregate whites because you think they are the super race. Last time I checked we whites were 16 in math 26 in science and below in other areas compared to other nations. OOOH i know, lets take away education from the working poor and only if you can afford it only then you would get an education. That would make us fall even further behind compared to other nations and make 65% of the population stupid just like you. Welcome sir to dumb world USA.

Regarding Obama's faith, I will stand by my statement that liberals have no problem at all when Obama mentions Jesus, because they know it is nothing but a facade, and not anything they have to worry about.

This is where your point is unfounded. Liberals do not question that Obama is Christian. We merely acknowledge that he is much more moderate on his religion and that his faith does not affect his presidency. We get mad when people attack him my claiming that he is a Muslim or an Atheist, because not only is this a personal attack on the man rather than the politician, but it also detracts from Muslims and Atheists.

My question still is; did Santorum sign the "so-called", "Norquist Pledge"?? (as did Mitt & Newt?) If so he becomes a traitor to this Country, owing allegiance to Grover Norquist, (#1 lobbyist for the Keystone Pipeline) rather than to the People of the U.S.??

Liberals do not question that Obama is Christian

Of course they don't question that he is a Christian. The reason they don't question it is because in Obama they see no threat, as long as Obama uses it as a tool to support his positions; i.e. Jesus would want higher taxes. As long as Obama doesn't actually follow the teachings of Jesus, liberals will never have a problem with another liberal claiming to be a Christian.

It's only when one uses Christianity to attack the positions of the left that the left has a problem with Jesus. As long as one doesn't use Christianity to attack the positions of the left, or twists the teachings of Jesus (as Obama does) to support the positions of the left, they will never ever care what religion one claims to follow.

The first time you use Christianity to shine light on the positions of the left as not being supported by the teachings of Christianity, it's at that point that you suddenly become an "unreasonable, extremist, Bible thumper." But, as long as you take the position that Obama does, of claiming to be something, while not actually demonstrating any evidence to support that claim, other than empty words, the left will never say anything.

that his faith does not affect his presidency

If your faith does not affect your job, your actions, or your life, then you have no faith, and it is all just a facade and a lie. Obama validates that on a daily basis.

For all you complaining Socialism is a sin, ever think to actually look how socialism would help you, your family, your friends, etc.? Unless you are amongst the very few rich people of this country, capitalism does not help you at all. Do you just assume you'll be a multi-millionaire some day and that is why you choose to vote for republican tax-cuts on the wealthy now? Tax cuts that assures the wealthy stay rich while, incredibly at the same time, insures the poor and middle-class remain that way?

Sounds like those fools that tell you how they are going to spend all the money they win from the next lottery. Except, of course, republicans "lotteries" don't even give you a chance to win. They just want your vote so previous lottery winners can remain rich.

An interesting read:

The situation prevailing in an economy based on the private ownership of capital is thus characterized by two main principles: first, means of production (capital) are privately owned and the owners dispose of them as they see fit; second, the labor contract is free. Of course, there is no such thing as a pure capitalist society in this sense. In particular, it should be noted that the workers, through long and bitter political struggles, have succeeded in securing a somewhat improved form of the "free labor contract" for certain categories of workers. But taken as a whole, the present day economy does not differ much from "pure" capitalism.

Production is carried on for profit, not for use. There is no provision that all those able and willing to work will always be in a position to find employment; an "army of unemployed" almost always exists. The worker is constantly in fear of losing his job. Since unemployed and poorly paid workers do not provide a profitable market, the production of consumers' goods is restricted, and great hardship is the consequence. Technological progress frequently results in more unemployment rather than in an easing of the burden of work for all. The profit motive, in conjunction with competition among capitalists, is responsible for an instability in the accumulation and utilization of capital which leads to increasingly severe depressions. Unlimited competition leads to a huge waste of labor, and to that crippling of the social consciousness of individuals which I mentioned before.

This crippling of individuals I consider the worst evil of capitalism. Our whole educational system suffers from this evil. An exaggerated competitive attitude is inculcated into the student, who is trained to worship acquisitive success as a preparation for his future career.

I am convinced there is only one way to eliminate these grave evils, namely through the establishment of a socialist economy, accompanied by an educational system which would be oriented toward social goals. In such an economy, the means of production are owned by society itself and are utilized in a planned fashion. A planned economy, which adjusts production to the needs of the community, would distribute the work to be done among all those able to work and would guarantee a livelihood to every man, woman, and child. The education of the individual, in addition to promoting his own innate abilities, would attempt to develop in him a sense of responsibility for his fellow men in place of the glorification of power and success in our present society.

Nevertheless, it is necessary to remember that a planned economy is not yet socialism. A planned economy as such may be accompanied by the complete enslavement of the individual. The achievement of socialism requires the solution of some extremely difficult socio-political problems: how is it possible, in view of the far-reaching centralization of political and economic power, to prevent bureaucracy from becoming all-powerful and overweening? How can the rights of the individual be protected and therewith a democratic counterweight to the power of bureaucracy be assured?

Clarity about the aims and problems of socialism is of greatest significance in our age of transition.

ConservativeNotRepublican

Liberals do not question that Obama is Christian

Of course they don't question that he is a Christian.

And Republicans do not question that Romney is Mormon....

So is there supposed to be some point to your post? Of course not; seems there never is any point, only American President bashing.

Sad.

How right you are...I have friends who live all over the globe...I don't even read their emails anymore...it's depressing.

So many problems with no answers. Yes these days are unlike a day any of us have seen before. Perhaps one is blinded to see the need of a clensing. My own favorite thought was given to me by an old uncle once he said and I quote : We love you and believe in you but you must stand up on your two legs to find yourself.

Actually, the Pine Ridge Reservation is a perfect example of what happens when the government neglects to care for its people and decides that budget cuts are more important than people.

What is the GOP plan for the budget ?

How about the idea of you working for what you get. That is my plan for the budget. You work, you get paid. You pay taxes, you deserve what you get back. You dont pay taxes, you get nothing. So long story short, if you're lazy, you're problem.

I would like to know, why do we have all these illegals in our prisons, while us tax payers are paying for themto stay in our prisons ? Why is it that we cannot put them on airplanes or buses to take them back towhere they came from so as the tax payers do not have to carry the load ? We have enough crowding and enough criminals of our own that we are carrying the load for. I'm discouraged .... it's simple and common sense. Take the load off the tax payer.

Prisoner- Do you actually believe what you write? It has no basis...

Simplicity- Why are you so afraid of Romney that you go to such great lengths to parse his words and context? Are you afraid of him debating Obama one on one? You should be...

@Lora K

I don't see how your post fits into the thread, but the answer is quite simple. Any person found guilty of committing a crime in this country should be punished accordingly. If the worse punishment for any foreigner who commits a crime is a trip back home what incentive is there for them to abide by our laws? How do we make them accountable for their actions? Do you really believe 'tax payer' money is better spent sending someone home as punishment for criminal behavior?

BTW Michelle, I know people from and all over he globe and have lived in much of it...Many from other countries admire our country (USA) and I engage in intelligent and sometimes debate with them...At times, there are embarrasing things out of the USA...but in many most respects, is far better than most places and systems...I've lived back and forth out of the country enough to form some meaningful comparisons

Rick Santorum is a "Wrath" that worships Satan as a religious ceremony, this guy is beyond Weird"

Its scary this guy is running for President of the United States of America.

are you really that stupid

This is the biggest cast of dysfunctional, disconnected, self-indulgent, right wingers on the planet. GOP, be careful what you wish for...you may not a candidate left when they're done feeding on each other. Wait, you do....Buddy Roemer! You won't let him debate though, because he's not far enough right. Jesus wouldn't be far enough right for the GOP...LOL

We have a government that is completely ill-managed, fraught with fraud, abuse and criminality, overspends, under-performs, and wastes billions every month...Anyone who doesn't understand that the root problem is SPENDING and not revenue has no idea how badly our government operates with OUR money.

This "truth team" cult needs an intervention, quickly!

jollyold, I have lived there; 24 years in Germany. I have family and friends there and visit often. And no, not countries like Greece, Spain and Italy. More like Germany, France, Switzerland, Netherlands, Scandinavia etc. During the Bush years we were the laughing stock of the western world. These comical GOP candidates are even worse, something I would have never thought possible. Gingrich, Santorum, Romney and their ludicrous 'war on religion' junk while they advocate more middle east invasions are a joke. And continue to cut taxes for the wealthy while poverty rates grow nad we have the most uninsured people in the civilized world. And Paul, well he's Paul.

If the US wants international cooperation on any military actions after what Bush and Cheney did, they will be in for a serious surprise. Ain't gonna happen. They will never trust us, especially if one of these guys gets in the White House.

If you want to read something that is truly frightening, try Virginia governor and VP wannabee Bob McDonnell's conservative Christian agenda:

What they don’t understand is that McDonnell’s work closely
follows that of Ray Sutton, a Rushdoony disciple and the author of Who Owns the Family? God or the State? Published in 1986 by Dominion Press, Sutton’s book is an influential
Reconstructionist work–outlining a “statist” attack on the family through
humanistic education, oppressive taxes, sexual perversion, women’s rights,
abortion, welfare, and national healthcare policies–and arguing that the family
needs to be reconstructed to the biblical image of the Old Testament patriarchs
in order to build a theocratic society.
Indeed, McDonnell’s analysis of the contemporary family follows Sutton
point-by-point (a dependence that is clear in both the body of the thesis and
in the footnotes). If the analysis
is the same, does McDonnell also want to reconstruct the “biblical” family in
order to create a Christian America?
He certainly said that he wanted to “restore” a “proper balance of
church, family, and state authority” to the nation (McDonnell, p. 61)–and
called the separation of church and state “conventional folklore”

Read more: http://blog.beliefnet.com/progressiverevival/2009/10/bob-mcdonnells-thesis-christia.html#ixzz1nD12oz4m

Mainstream Christians don't support this agenda. I think most people aren't even aware of it. But if you read some of the comments that are posted here, and if you look into Santorum's ideology, it's clear that there is a radical Christian fundamentalist element at work which wants to make sweeping changes to America as we know it.

jollyoldsoul1

Hold it......are you talking about the EMEA countries....like Greece, Italy....Spain! All countries on the verge of financial collapse and will more than likely default? Those countries? Have you actually LIVED outside of this country...not vacation that's all confined safety area's.

I've lived in the Middle East and Asia, jolly. You?

I love the left mob pages. Now have you forgotten what happened on 9-11?? Shame on you for making a mockery of what happened to our country and our response. If we were Spain, Germany, Iran, or even Israel do you think the response would have been less?? In most of these countries it would have been a full out war. As for the GOP slapping around how you doing with what we have now?? If you say great then you are the ones just wanting handouts.

If you are looking to improve your life and find a way to make a good living and provide for your family better then get off your duff and get us a candidate that will "Change" things the right way. I am a vet and was raised to respect our leaders and even though I do not agree with what he is doing I do not believe our president is intentionally trying to destroy our country I think he thinks it is the way we should be. That is the flaw with having a president with no experience in actually governing or knowing how things actually work. He came out of a vacuum where his decisions did not effect the whole nation.

Once again we need to get off our duffs and fire all the buns and start over with a fresh batch and if they do not produce results fire them as well. We must remember we give them the power not the other way around. Well have fun yelling at me and calling me names.

"Santorum romance with his tea retards will be his down fall"

jollyoldsoul1

Hold it......are you talking about the EMEA countries....like Greece, Italy....Spain! All countries on the verge of financial collapse and will more than likely default? Those countries? Have you actually LIVED outside of this country...not vacation that's all confined safety area's.

Yes, I have. Let me ask you this before you stick your foot in any deeper...

Who took these countries to the "verge of collapse"? Bush. WE triggered the global collapse.

Yes, these countries are poor and are having difficulty with finding their economic niche in this modern world, but I get sick and tired of people pointing to the poorer of us and asking why they can't recover from YOUR mess... (I'm assuming you're Republican, because no Democrat would make such a statement)

moonbaseGOP

Things are MUCH better than they were or would be under a GOP clown.

This is one time where I think change is NOT a good thing!

Agreed. Change is relative. Even if Obama did nothing but keep us stable, that would be considered a "positive change" compared to the GOP setting us back a few decades.

lol things are much better?? Lets see unemployment is at a true number of 17%(Includes those who have ran out of unemployment, Have given up or went to the new thing I have a mental illness.) Gas is reaching $4 per gallon and we are telling our companies to not drill more at home but will subsidize Brazil to drill and promise to import from them and we let foreign companies drill off our shores and buy from them. Does this make sense?? We have regulated in the last 3 years small businesses so heavily that it is almost impossible to get one started.

Green Tech is great to research and perfect but not by government intervention. We have 100+ years of oil we can safely garner right here. If in 100 years we cannot perfect green tech then there is something wrong with us. Maybe take away all subsidies to oil and instead offer tax deductions if they invest in green tech at a certain percent. This is just one area I can go into there are plenty of others. Ill let you have fun with this for now though.

jperry64

Okay, I'll bite.

The unemployment "true" number can ALWAYS be argued, and has been. It's down. It's going down.

Gas is gas and would be going up over Iran no matter who was in office. Whether or not we drill it or produce it here makes NO DIFFERENCE relative to price. Price is driven by the global market and the oil companies will and should continue making pricing decisions the way they do. We have increased both drilling and production over the last three years and now actually export more processed oil goods than we import.

Name ONE regulation or impediment placed against small business. I have a small business. Your statement is bunk. I have more tax breaks today to take advantage of than ever.

Green tech will go nowhere as long as big oil can make the kind of money it is making. Government incentives is the ONLY way it will get off the ground. We should be VERY careful when involving government, but occasionally, like on green energy, it is in both our economic and environmental best interest to get green "kick started".

The simple difference in thinking between the parties of late boils down to short term profits versus long term stability and viability. Guess which is which.

.

I
have been reading the stories and comments on this site for over a year. Originally
I had every intention of not EVER posting a comment on here. I am not a
Democrat or Republican. I tend to vote for the Presidential Candidate that care
about the issues that are important in my life. As opposed to so many others
that will vote for a candidate based on party affiliation. People STOP voting
for people that are not considering your concerns and needs just to keep up
with the status quo. You have naïve individuals that are being drained dry by
the same individuals that they put in office. For example, the some people are
living well below the poverty line and will have a vote Romney sign in the yard
of the shack that they share with three or four generations, but they struggle
to send their children to a private school (they can’t afford) just to say that
their child goes to school there. (Go figure) I am a supporter of President
Barack Obama and I will indeed vote for him again in 2012.

I grew up in an upper middle class family, and
I was always taught not to believe everything that someone tells me or that I
hear. This is probably the reason that I don’t believe any of the lies that the
GOP tries to shove down our throats, and to be honest I am tired of listening
to the bash President Obama about everything. The president says “up” the GOP
says no “down”. Then the Presidents says well what about the “middle” and the
GOP says no “down.” Then the president says “down” and the GOP says “up” without realizing how “stupid”
that makes them look.

I
was in my junior year of college during the 2008 Presidential elections. I can remember
some of the individuals that I had grown up with my whole life say that if
President Obama was elected they would pack up and move. I also had a close
friend that I had known for over twenty years post on Facebook… “What is America
coming too… they will let anybody become president.” I lost all respect for the
GOP when their leadership came out and say that there only goal was to make
President Obama a one term president. I
thought that all these statements were beyond crazy because he had not even
spent “one day” as President. This has never happened after any other presidential
election where a part of our leadership vows to obstruct progress on national
TV and at first I was a little confused on why it was happening now. Then I realized that all of these negative
comments about President Obama were not attacks on his ability to run the
country. The election of President Obama
brought to the light some of the feelings that some individuals feel about all
people of color. Go on and tell me that I am making it a black and white thing.
I DIDN”T MAKE IT THAT WAY I’M JUST CALLING A SPADE A SPADE!!! I am here to LET
ALL OF you know that the color of your skin or the family that you were born into
does not “Automatically” make you qualified to run our great nation…Period. It is
funny that the same people that said they would move if Obama was elected are “singing
that same song” four years later. IF YOU DIDN’T HAVE THE MONEY TO MOVE FOUR
YEARS AGO… YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN SAVING UP SO YOU WANT HAVE TO CRY THE SAME CRY
WHEN PRESIDENT OBAMA IS RE-ELECTED!!! “Our country is already facing a number
of challenges, and the negativity is starting to get on my nerves.” Remember United
we stand and divided we fall!!!

I
have been reading the stories and comments on this site for over a year. Originally
I had every intention of not EVER posting a comment on here. I am not a
Democrat or Republican. I tend to vote for the Presidential Candidate that care
about the issues that are important in my life. As opposed to so many others
that will vote for a candidate based on party affiliation. People STOP voting
for people that are not considering your concerns and needs just to keep up
with the status quo. You have naïve individuals that are being drained dry by
the same individuals that they put in office. For example, the some people are
living well below the poverty line and will have a vote Romney sign in the yard
of the shack that they share with three or four generations, but they struggle
to send their children to a private school (they can’t afford) just to say that
their child goes to school there. (Go figure) I am a supporter of President
Barack Obama and I will indeed vote for him again in 2012.

I grew up in an upper middle class family, and
I was always taught not to believe everything that someone tells me or that I
hear. This is probably the reason that I don’t believe any of the lies that the
GOP tries to shove down our throats, and to be honest I am tired of listening
to the bash President Obama about everything. The president says “up” the GOP
says no “down”. Then the Presidents says well what about the “middle” and the
GOP says no “down.” Then the president says “down” and the GOP says “up” without realizing how “stupid”
that makes them look.

I
was in my junior year of college during the 2008 Presidential elections. I can remember
some of the individuals that I had grown up with my whole life say that if
President Obama was elected they would pack up and move. I also had a close
friend that I had known for over twenty years post on Facebook… “What is America
coming too… they will let anybody become president.” I lost all respect for the
GOP when their leadership came out and say that there only goal was to make
President Obama a one term president. I
thought that all these statements were beyond crazy because he had not even
spent “one day” as President. This has never happened after any other presidential
election where a part of our leadership vows to obstruct progress on national
TV and at first I was a little confused on why it was happening now. Then I realized that all of these negative
comments about President Obama were not attacks on his ability to run the
country. The election of President Obama
brought to the light some of the feelings that some individuals feel about all
people of color. Go on and tell me that I am making it a black and white thing.
I DIDN”T MAKE IT THAT WAY I’M JUST CALLING A SPADE A SPADE!!! I am here to LET
ALL OF you know that the color of your skin or the family that you were born into
does not “Automatically” make you qualified to run our great nation…Period. It is
funny that the same people that said they would move if Obama was elected are “singing
that same song” four years later. IF YOU DIDN’T HAVE THE MONEY TO MOVE FOUR
YEARS AGO… YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN SAVING UP SO YOU WANT HAVE TO CRY THE SAME CRY
WHEN PRESIDENT OBAMA IS RE-ELECTED!!! “Our country is already facing a number
of challenges, and the negativity is starting to get on my nerves.” Remember United
we stand and divided we fall!!!

Santorum has a Aspirin for the lady's, he said that works better than contraception ? Ricko is playing on thin ice.

"TiredofthenewGOP", "WORDS OF WISDOM"

Ill give you the point on sometimes govt incentives sometimes is good and you made my point. My point was get rid of subsidies to the oil companies and make a tax deduction category for green tech investment with a percentage requirement.

Our prices are driven by global markets currently because we are not producing enough here. A prime example is when our current president was giving signals he was willing to explore expanding our drilling and production here the prices dropped dramatically. So my statement holds good on the prices if we just start increasing the exploration and start building rigs the prices will go down.

Now businesses

The standard rate of VAT increased from 17.5 per cent to 20 per cent on 4 January 2011.

For any sales of standard-rated goods or services that you make on or after 4 January 2011 you must charge VAT at the 20 per cent rate. If you have a cash business and calculate your VAT using the VAT fraction you must use the VAT fraction of 1/6 on your standard-rated VAT inclusive sales from 4 January 2011.

next: Business failures on the rise, reports Dun & Bradstreet. Although there has been a surge in economic growth, business failures are rising at their fastest rate since the early 1990s

Did you know now as a small business owner ANY purchase you make $600 and over YOU have to 1099 them. Conversely anything you sell you need to be 1099'd.

***Source: CNN***

Also

* Part-time employees are to be counted toward the 50-employee minimum on pro-rated basis based on hours worked, bringing more small businesses into the group required to provide coverage.

* The $750-per-employee penalty for not providing insurance rises to $2,000.

***Source: CNN***

These are a couple of examples so I guess CNN is a bunk reporting agency.

The thing you are ignoring maybe not on purpose is that this Admin has changed how they count unemployment. They do not report into the stats those who have ran out of unemployment or given up and just stopped reporting into their stats. I'm not saying its bad to do this to make it appear better for us and maybe helping spur hiring but we need to face facts here in this room. We are limping back but it is due mostly to the indomitable spirit of our people and the unwillingness to just give up completely. The true rate was closer to 19% about 2 years ago so it is getting better.

Isn't everyone just fed up with the silliness of these adults behaving like children in their sandbox arguing? They have nothing to do with what is important to this country and the planet. Let's just elect Ron Paul and get it over with.

Considering that in the state of Illinois, it is estimated to cost $64K per year, per inmate to imprison the lawbreakers, and considering that they are going to start early release to unclog the system and balance the budget, I guess the idea of sending them back where they came from (if a foreigner commits crime on US soil) is pretty darn attractive. And as to whether they "learn a lesson" or not, our current correctional system is not really doing a bang up job of reforming anyone, particularly those illegally here who have already flaunted all respect for our country and our laws just by being here. Illegal immigration has become a massive drain on all areas of our economy, the prison system and court system being just one example. We have drains on social services, employment, education, health care....the list goes on. In many instances, these are not unfortunates, trying to come to America for a better life for themselves and their children, as they have no intention of becoming American citizens and assimilating to the larger population that is the United States. But they have the gall to demand that we provide health care, social security, even the right to vote on our national policy. Send them back, to wherever they came from and let their own governments deal with them in whatever way is seen fit and proper for a citizen of that country. I am thoroughly tired of paying for it, and I am thoroughly tired of seeing American citizens do without, be deemed inelligible for assistance, when illegals literally can have a free ride for every aspect of their lives.

We need to eliminate the whole anchor baby scenerio...because one child can result in 3 or more people becoming dependent upon American resources.

GOP grand plan make a profit no matter who dies along the way.

Let the Corporations do what ever they want to even kill people.

Poor what F-n poor give them no money and they will die.

Kill off as many poor and elderly as possible so to make us whites only the majority.

To bad GOP you lost that chance in 2008 to get rid of those people who don't look like us.

Because in 2010 for the first time in history the minorities had more babies than whites. That means after 16 years and beyond whites will be the minority period. And of course the tide will turn. Instead of whites purging others we will be the ones being purged. See 1 in 12 marriages are interracial.

Sorry GOP you lost your chance to take over the world.

President Obama 2012

To Solutions: that is why they want to ban all abortions. 99% Spanish and most black mothers do not abort their babies. Anyway, concerning last night's debate, how many non-educated do-as-I say Americans the moneyed interests think are out there? Ron Paul has outlasted 4 of their right-wing favorites and their media acolytes ask him one question repeatedly: when are you dropping out? They seat Romney and Santorum next to each other and even though all could see that Ron Paul won the debate handsomely, they decided that Romney won. Contrary to their myth that Obama would hate to debate Obama, all Obama has to ask Romney in any debate: which position you have taken do you want me to reply to and list all his contrary answers and he will do what his dog did. They spent over 5 million to destroy their most intelligent and learned candidate--Newt. Since Mitt and the gentry will not admit that one war can cost trillions of money we do not have, they ignore the fact that not only did we have three, but we are still paying for them with old people's medical insurance. So men whose portfolios are stocked with war-machine stocks would bomb North Korea, bomb Iran, then arm the Syrian rebels who do not like us anyway and have offensive strikes against all America's perceived enemies while balancing the budget. So here is how that will work: cancel all social programs for the poor--hense the dislike for them. Next they reinstitute the draft for anyone who is not listed as a corporate executive. They would automatically eliminate unemployment. Within 3 years they would kill off most Spanish and black soldiers who they would push in the front lines. All that would be left was to deport 50% of the Spanish people and they would have acheived their objectives--an ethnically cleansed, richer and more hateful America. With a straight face they accuse Obama of doing what they either did or what they are planning to do. They created trillions of war debt (muzzle Ron Pauol so that he does not remind the people). They are dividing the country (they accuse the most inclusive president of being the most divisive). Thank heaven that some of us are capable of reading and thinking. Not all Americans can be brainwashed. Remember this: every Ron Paul voter will be so angry by the time the convention comes around (remember he is second in the caucus category) that the hardened and turned off will most likely vote for a new party affiliation. They will not vote for either Romney or Santorum. Many former Republican volunteers such as I bear witness.

It's the season finale for Trump's worst Reality Show of the year.

Justified, just like a true right winger. If you don't like what someone says, then they must be on the dole or on welfare or unemployed. Sad, sad, sad.

Hey Jo-An, Maybe he'll fire all of them?????

Why are these love-fests called debates? There is never any actual discussion of issues.

Doubter - talk to the moderators, they control the discussion.

Republicans will Rue the day they framed health care reform and called it Obama-care. I wish they would have called social security Roosevelt insurance. They will be looking like paste munching window licking fart knuckles when they try to take credit for it after it proves to be a success. Riding the short bus is one thing but getting run over by it. Wow that's a GOP tard indeed... LMAO

nobrent, Wishful thinking!

LOL

"Most Repubs l know will stay home if that nut Rick Santorum gets the Nomination."

Ron smile, looked at Santorum and called Rick a Fake, Ron hit the nail on the head.

Santorum war on Women's health continues, Rick is a loose cannon !

It is hilarious this dirtbag Ricko is running for President, what a joke !

Santantorum makes Obama look good...LOL

"Santorum is "NOT" Presidential material, the people of Pennsylvania call him a loser."

"Santorum is "NOT" Presidential material, the people of Pennsylvania call him a loser."

"Santorum is "NOT" Presidential material, the people of Pennsylvania call him a loser."

If they "saw" themselves...

They're counting on their "sheeple" to vote for them since these folks always vote along party lines, regardless of who's running. Well not all voters are brain dead and not all voters have short term memory loss.

Sick, you mean all of the over 50% of the sheeple??? Hmmm. Who would have thought. Your spin don't spin. Sorry.

So which pie in the sky dream do you think I'll buy. An independent Because neither of you will get elected without us. And I find the followers on both sides scary.

Voting for the GOP is like taking all your savings and donating it to the rich.

It is scary, very scary. Who actually sees moonman, Froth man or flip flop man as viable candidates. Sad.

Verno, Look up Putney Swope.

Democrats, Republicans, these are what a dumbed down nation votes for. More of the same, how sad.

I have no savings left, and I have no real estate value left, and my husband doesn't even have a job that pays above minimum wage-even with education and experience....the public schools my children would attend are a joke, more about crowd control and social service than anything remotely suggesting education. Illegal immigrants are living a better lifestyle than I as a naturally born American citizen-nicer homes, newer cars, big screen TV's....all things that I cannot afford to do. They can even "go home" to visit friends and family, or pay the fare for those friends and family to come here....I haven't had a vacation in over ten years, and certainly could not afford fare for one person in my family let alone multiple. Being educated and experienced has made absolutely no difference. I don't blame business at all. I blame a government who has said that the rules only apply to some and not others. I blame a political system where votes are bought by promising one group special favors or assistance over another. I blame the whole politically correct notion that there are no winners and losers, and everyone is somehow going to be treated fairly. Life isn't fair! A fact that many think can be legislated away. We are not all born the same. We do not all grow the same. We do not all have the same abilities. Those are facts and that is inherently unfair. Get over it! Life is about working with what you have instead of whining about what you have not. No, I will never live in a McMansion. I will probably never get to travel. That really isn't anybody's fault. I could spend the rest of my life being miserable and waiting for government to pat me on the head and give me a lollipop, or I can devote my energy in other directions and try to achieve a sense of satisfaction and purpose with life as it is. I had to accept that I would never be an Olympic gymnast or a high fashion model. Life is a series of compromises. Government is about government-doesn't matter which party. Politicians are pretty much all richer than any of us ever will be, and as such, are not going to do anything that jeopardizes their own wealth, privelege and power. It is OK to take down any group in America, as long as it isn't you, and that, unfortunately is the underlying thread in most of the comments here. "My life is going along great, so the government and the president are good" Just wait, it will catch up with you and you will realize that you were just thrown under the bus later than some of the rest of us.

Newt Gingrich; MOON PRESIDENT.

Pretty much anything out of Dr. Paul's mouth is a policy discussion. He's not playing the I'm more Christian than you BS like the rest. Too bad most people like all the drama.

Vox rationalis, you are beginning to grasp the difference between an office seeker and an incumbant.

The office seeker needs not expound on any specific policy but can deal more in generalities. You know like obama did in 2008 with the generalization of "hope and change". However an incumbant no longer has that option, they have to justify the specific policies they supported.

1sgfitz... is right, pauls consistancy in message is probably as close to a policy statement as anyone has given for a long time.

@vox, didn't you think the talk about Iran was interesting, and maybe relevant?

From what I have heard on the QT, Jeb Bush is a womanizer and that is why he can't run. Besides, after GW almost wrecking our economy and military, who wants yet another Bush? Not me.

Gingrich wants a colony on the moon because he has discovered a new elemental power source to get there.....newtonium, when he lands he intends to set up his own 1 man colony, Newtopia. There he will produce his recently discovered sandwich spread Newtella. Being the only one there he can run around bareassed all day in his own Newtist colony.

and georgia loves the newtster. hahahaha

lmao Pathman you owe me a new keyboard!

ow ow ow my sides hurt that was way to funny!! Good one Pathman.

Lisbon Vice

@vox, didn't you think the talk about Iran was interesting, and maybe relevant?

That has been little more than proof that neoconservatism is not dead, yet!

But it must....before this country is swept with mass sucides...

Michele that is never an option more a surrender, than a fight won or lost

@Justified Defiance,

You quote from someone who;

1. Borrowed against and single handedly wrecked the then fully funded (with a huge surplus even) SSI program?

2. Made everyone believe the slight of hand policies of "trickle down economics"? (How is that helping our country again?)

3. Gave the ability for 54% of all American Citizens to pay no taxes (earned income credit act), then has his base use it as a reason to not increase taxes on the rich (because 54% of Americans don't pay taxes!). (I still laugh at this one, because Republicans have used this for 20 years, to bash Democrats, even though they were the ones who brought it into being.)

Turn off Faux News and go smell the air outside. It might help to clear up the GOP Fumes you are high on! You would be suprised what the world looks like outside, when your nose isn't firmly planted in Karl Rove's backside! I could go on with his failed policies, but I am sure you get the picture (well, hopefully you do, that is).

Of course, Justified, Reagan would be TOO LIBERAL for this bunch!

Justified,

Nice slight of hand (typical Republican). Now come back with the 2 unfunded wars added in. We all know how the above math was done, now start telling the actual truth! Oh, and as you will notice, baby Bush started with a surplus. Thought we wouldn't notice, didn't you.

LOL ... The excuse of blaming Bush for Obama's failures is getting old, because Bush left office over three years ago when Obama began running..... I mean ruining America.
The excuse is getting so old that they may have to start blaming Nixon for Obama's failures.

Unfortunately, we now have another reason the Obama presidency is historic.
For the FIRST TIME IN HISTORY the United States' credit rating has been downgraded!

Same ol' reponse from a Republican, wanting to forget that it was Bush who created the Train Wreck in the first place. I can't wait to see all of you Repug's when the Democrats have a Majority in the Senate, Congress, and we have our beloved President Obama still sitting in the White House. Then we can finally get to the business of actually fixing the problems made by Bush Jr and our inept Republican Congress! I think President Obama has one a great job of triage in his last 3 years as president! He stopped the bleeding of the country (yes, at the expense of the budget, but come on, you can't have it all. We need to increase the taxes on EVERYONE to fix this, and that is something you Repugs can't seem to figure out, and cut spending. It can't be done without the 2 items I just mentioned), now we need to heal the country.

Justified - the downgrade was due to the rating groups disgust with the fact that they GOP controlled congress would not work with the President. They even stated this but you clearly or should I say conveniently forgot that point.

Obama is the best thing this country has seen since Clinton. He is doing a good job of cleaning up Bush's mess - and doesn't someone ALWAYS end up cleaning up Bush's mess???

Only in an uneducated and seriously demented mind is Obama the problem. It is clearly the party of NO - the GOP!

Obama 2012!

Thats ok you still have the March 3rd Tx primary now scheduled for May 29th

Damn...opened oil reserves to bring down gas prices (and help his declining popularity numbers)......didn't work...now we have 30 million bbls less in case of a REAL emergency.

Another nice spin. There are 727 Million Bbls in reserve at this moment. 30 Million Bbls didn't hurt us, nor ever put this country at peril. Seems you have forgotten that the two other times it was used to offset world events were by 2 different Republican Presidents (who surprisingly, shared the same name). 1991 President Bush Sr. opened the valve to offset fears that oil prices would skyrocket because of Operation Desert Storm. In 2005, President Bush Jr. opened the valves to ally fears that the damage presented by Hurricane Katrina would disrupt the oil refining in the US.

Dammmn... TRILLION dollars of tax payer money to keep unemployment from going above 8%,....didn't work....nothing has been "stimulated" & those "shovel ready jobs" was all propaganda.
Now he wants $750 Billion more???

Another nice spin! Had Congress actually helped with the needed employment incentives asked for by President Obama (remember that congress has refused to implement any of President Obama's policies, in fear that they might succeed, which would of course, defeat their pact with the Koch Bro's, to make him a one term President) those jobs would have come.

Dammmmn... force fed Obamacare down Americans throat to stem high medical costs.....didn't work...70% of the nation was against this.

Nice Fox Spin here! 70% of Americans are against one part or more of the National Healthcare Act, but 85% of Americans feel that it is a step in the right direction, even though it still needs to be tweaked. Even I don't agree with all of it, but it is a good base to start. What have the Republicans offered, in terms of affordable health care lately? Oh, that's right, they haven't!

Dammmmnnn....involved the USA in two MORE wars, Libya & Yemen...opps Libya is not a war, it's a "humanitarian aid" effort that's costing over $900 million....Syria and/or Iran is next.

Another one of Fox's finest spins here. Yes, we helped the Libyans help themselves to throw out a dictator, but remember when the Republicans were criticizing President Obama for not helping, then went into a feeding frenzy when he did? Also, how many troops were wounded or killed in our helping? Seems that is zero. How many have been wounded or killed in Iraq? A war that was illegal from the beginning, because Bush jr. manufactured evidence to allow him to invade due to "Weapon's of Mass Destruction"? How many Americans have died in Afghanistan (which was a just war, in my opinion fyi)? And $900 million was a small price to pay to get Wacky out of office. How much did Iraq alone cost us (just monetarily, we know the toll in US lives already). Seems like a pretty good payout to me.

It's funny what happens to Republicans, when you take their spin, and put facts to demolish them! Keep it up though, since we are educating many Americans who may actually believe the lies told to them by your party! Oh, and while we are at it, I am not a liberal. I am a centeralist. I don't believe in extreme politics, you know, to the far left or far right. I'm actually with the Majority of Americans in either party, towards the middle. I have voted Republican many times in the past, but quite frankly, I don't see a Republican that can fix the mess your party made in the first 8 years of the 21st Century!

Still using the spin factor huh...typical of a blind sheep.

Senator Barack Obama Explaining his 2006 Vote Against Raising the Debt Limit

From Sen. Obama’s Floor Speech, March 20, 2006:

"The fact that we are here today to debate raising America’s debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that the U.S. Government can’t pay its own bills. It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our Government’s reckless fiscal policies. … Increasing America’s debt weakens us domestically and internationally. Leadership means that “the buck stops here.” Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren. America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership. Americans deserve better."

Spin that ;)

First thing you have said all day, that I even remotely agree with. Had we made the right decisions in 2006, while the economy was at it's highest, that statement was valid. But you can't implement what your trying to spin right now, during a recession that is close to a depression. Doing so would weaken the US and for that matter the World and throw us into a depression many factors worse then the financial crash of 1929. I don't agree with the Repubican's "let's just get it over with and feel the pain now". Sure, the rich would make it through ok (yeah, they would have to give up one of their exotic vacations each year for the next decade), but the middle class and poor would be wiped out (remember the majority of the people in this country, who shoulder the biggest part of the burden in this country, and who have already burned through their savings trying to survive the financial meltdown, caused by a bunch of greedy bankers and Wall Street thugs, yeah those same people who the Republicans have made a pledge with). Sorry, but I don't condon starving 2/3's of the population just so Corporate America can get back to business as usual, down the road. Lets get America back on her feet and then we can tackle the bloated government and mismanagement that ALL political parties have contributed to, but was especially rampent in the first half of 2000's.

Justified...

I don't know if you honest believe any of the "facts" in these many tirades you have posted, but if you do you are doing what so many have done before you. You post "facts", but completely fail to see the horrible reasons behind the numbers and "facts".

Let's take your deficit numbers to start with. Yes, those numbers came from official government sources, but they are just numbers until you understand the factors that brought them to the be so. If you dig into the CAUSE of those deficits that had begun before President Obama was elected or sworn into office, you would understand that in every sensible analysis of the U.S. budget deficit numbers in recent history, it is the President GW Bush wars and tax cuts that are the major contributors.

You can whine all you want and say "liberals" are still hiding behind blaming President Bush, but those analysis came from independant study groups or the government itself. The truth is that the deficits under President GW Bush were hidden from the budget figures and it is an escalating problem with more and more money required to pay off the interest on these deficits and Republicans have fought every step of the way to ensure the tax part of the problem has remained in place. Despite the fact that the clear majority of people in this country, including Republicans and the rich believe the tax cuts are irresponsible and have to be eliminated to start correcting the problem.

Then you seem to find it contradictory that President Obama could state the failure to live within our budget during the Bush years was irresponsible but now he needs to ask for further raises on the limit. Again, he was dealt a hand where the budget was already severely out of balance. Congress has repeatedly blocked any attempt at eliminating tax cuts, to the point of causing our credit rating to be downgraded, and you right wingers still want to somehow lay this all at his feet and blame his out of control spending. No one can or could take an economy that was rapidly collapsing (which further reduces revenues), was already in severe imbalance due to war expenses concurrent with tax reductions and somehow wave a magic wand and make everything all wonderful overnight. Three years you say? You honestly believe this much damage could be undone in three years? All while being fought every step of the way? And don't make the silly "He had two years of complete control to make the needed changes". That is completely untrue. Because of Republican obstruction, he had maybe at best two months of absolute majority and that is hardly enough time to make sweeping tax and budget changes.

The policies under President GW Bush WERE reckless. They DID weaken our economy. They were a sign of leadership failure. Just because it existed and there has been no means to make it suddenly go away, doesn't mean that President Obama and the rest of us don't have to live with the fact of increasing deficits until we address the fundamental problems that caused this in the first place. You just want to look at the results/illness and not address the causes. We have to bring revenue and expense into balance. When the economy was in a free fall, increased spending is one of the few ways to bring about a recovery. A recovery helps with increasing revenues, but unless we establish less complex and more equal tax codes that actually also increase revenues directly, we will not end our problem. "But he promised unemployment wouldn't go over 8% and it did!" So, he's a bad estimator of how bad things really were... There seems to be pretty universal belief that the fall started slowing down almost immediately and has slowly turned into improvement for over two years now. Would we like it to be better? Of course! Do we think it would have gotten any better if McCain or any other Republican had won the election? Absolutely not!

The dollar being devalued for the "first time"...??? Really? Do you live under a rock or have you only been alive about 3 years now? The dollar has dropped ever since President Nixon let the value of the dollar vs. gold become decoupled. Many will try to blame this on FDR because he ended the "gold standard" for the U.S. dollar. Yet despite that the dollar was a constant in relationship to gold price ($35/oz. back in those days) to where it is today. You think it went from $35/oz to the current levels only in President Obama's tenure?

Looking at the content of your postings, I cannot imagine you honestly believe what you are posting and can only assume you are intentionally trying to spread rubbish and disinformation to trick or confuse others. If that is indeed the case, I wish you and others with your intent would stop selling yourselves out to misinform others and cause more stress and hatred.

If you really believe what you have posted, you need to reflect a bit and look below the surface to understand what the real problems are in this country/economy and start to vote to put people into position to address the CAUSES of these problems.

Just changing Presidents will not help at all. As long as we have people in office who are not concerned with correcting these problems, the problems will not get fixed. And right now...it looks like that is exactly what the Republican Party is all about.

Tired...i stopped reading your post at "i don't know"

The US under Prez-0:

Highest number of people getting food stamps.

Highest number of workers on unemployment since Carter.

Highest number of foreclosed homes.

Fastest debt accumulation of $2 trillion in History (less then 2.5 years).

First President to use class warfare - last time it was used: Lenin.

Old saying about liberals, "The only reason communism didn't work for the USSR is because we were not in charge."

Concerned - you make this too easy...

1. Borrowed against and single handedly wrecked the then fully funded (with a huge surplus even) SSI program?

LBJ did this when he combined the SS trust fund with the general fund in the 60's to fund either the vietnam war or his war on poverty or both. However reagan did work with speaker of the house tip o'neil (D) to resolve solvency issues with SS for a few more years. To bad for us neither side went far enough as SS became an issue under clinton and now obama. That "huge surplus" you expound upon never existed after LBJ combined the SS trust fund with the general fund. A general fund (aka public debt) that has never shown a surplus in modern times. Aren't you intriqued that at one time a SS recipient was supported by 15 or more contributors and today it doesn't break even?

2. Made everyone believe the slight of hand policies of "trickle down economics"? (How is that helping our country again?)

I find it interesting that obama is now channeling reagan by again promoting "trickle down economics" as being a viable policy. Of course obama doesn't call it as such but the policy end result between reagan and obama is the same. If you are really naive enough to discredit trickle down economics I suggest that you follow the money path the next time you buy something. You will find that it is really circular in nature.

3. Gave the ability for 54% of all American Citizens to pay no taxes (earned income credit act), then has his base use it as a reason to not increase taxes on the rich (because 54% of Americans don't pay taxes!).

Nice circular logic, how about if we just eliminate the earned income credit act? Obviously it no longer serves its purpose.

From wikipedia...

Enacted in 1975, the initially modest EIC has been expanded by tax legislation on a number of occasions, including the widely-publicized Reagan Tax Reform Act of 1986, and was further expanded in 1990, 1993, and 2001, regardless of whether the act in general raised taxes (1990, 1993), lowered taxes (2001), or eliminated other deductions and credits (1986).

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

Enjoy your laughter, sounds like it is time to revisit the EITC and change it.

Turn off Faux News and go smell the air outside. It might help to clear up the GOP Fumes you are high on! You would be suprised what the world looks like outside, when your nose isn't firmly planted in Karl Rove's backside! I could go on with his failed policies, but I am sure you get the picture (well, hopefully you do, that is).

How droll... When was the last time you pulled your own head out of your azz?

Justified,

I stopped reading as soon as you stated you stopped reading. It is clear that you are a Faux news hound and will die refusing to acknowledge that the Repugs have caused this problem. Have a GREAT day, and don't cry in November when the whole government is controlled wholly and fully by the Democrats. I am sure just the thought of it is making your skin crawl. May it crawl for a LONG time to come!

American,

It is I that is laughing at you. I am totally against the EITC, always have been, always will be. Try reading all the articles (Wiki has already been flamed as not a reliable source of reference for the Vine, you would know this if you have ever spent any time on them), it was Reagan that brought the EITC to it's final form, as a way to get the poor to vote Republican, then had his base decry every move to raise taxes against the rich because the poor don't pay their fair share. I LIVED through those days (and even made the mistake of buying into Reagan's crap by voting for him), but history has recorded the FACTS and the Repugs can't change them (although they keep trying!). Try reading the FACTS sometime.

Tired One --- I would be a tired one too if I stacked sh1t as high as you do....you must be brain dead!

ABO....

Tired one - The reality is that obama took on the challenge with his "hope and change" message and has yet to show us that he can deliver. Having him or anyone else fall back on the argument of blaming someone else for inherited conditions is not leadership. but finding a path forward is. Obama appears to like waiting until the smoke clears and others take a position before he does something. While this is a politically safe policy to make, it is hardly one that an informed populace would agree to that a POTUS should take.

If you want to look at underlying conditions, consider this... By known economic criteria the great recession ended between june and august of 2009. Hardly enough time for any obama policies to have effected its end. However obama policies would effect a recovery. If I recall history correctly FDR focused on a plan of recovery until it took effect, albeit very slowly, before moving on. To bad obama didn't.

Regarding deficits, don't you know that they don't matter? (sarcasm)

What does matter is our growing national debt, and that does require budget surpluses. Surpluses that need to be achieved by shared sacrifice budget cuts first at the discretionary level, letting the obama (bush) tax cuts expire across the board (or at least over 2-3 years) and restoring the payroll taxes. Followup with SS, medicare and medicaid reforms.

Concerned - then why didn't you just say you were against EITC?

Regarding wikipedia, you assume that because it is open to modification it can't be used as a general reference. Interesting that citations are given for many submitals as to its source, including what I block quoted. If you choose to ignore the citations, it is your personal problem. Rather than being a foolish little whatever, why not provide your own citations? After all the tax reform act of 1986 does exist as well as the congressional records of the years wikipedia cited as well.

So nice to know that your observations are only based on your personal opinion or those you choose to parrot.

BTW - Reagan was just another president who put his pants on the same as anyone else, one leg at a time. However he was an exceptional motivator across party lines. Not always right, but given the conditions of the day, he got congress and America moving forward.

That credit down grade was basically because of the democrats and republicans not agree. The GOP's no,no,no policy in action.

Justsaying, The warning was made in april, There was plenty of opportunity to avoid it but obama, the senate and the house didn't care. Obama left biden in charge to wrangle out the details while obama went off campaigning. They were all culpable.

Some good dialogue above for a change...I don't think all the comments about Libya and Yemen, so far as cost, are necc fair....and do believe reagan was much more effective than Obama in reaching across party lines....I just don't think Obama had much a handle on things and was too vulnerable to what some in his party wanted to do...so he is kinda winging it....I don't think Bush Jr had much of his own ideas on many things either...I don't even want to comment on Clinton...At least Bush Sr was decisive and somewhat effective w foreign policy and I think Reagan actually acted like a leader...Have not seen too much quality from the Pres since...I hope that changes, and think we do need to change Presidents in this election...

ok Tired one what???? Facts mean nothing?? Hidden numbers??? GW and Big O both are hiding spending but the interest is not enough to make our current budget deficit numbers be so high. And wow talking about living under a rock did you miss our credit downgrade??

The amount of money being cranked out by a so called federal bank( the Federal Reserve is independent within government in that "its monetary policy decisions do not have to be approved by the President or anyone else in the executive or legislative branches of government.") that has no actual affiliation with the government which is still baffling is continuing the devaluation of the dollar worldwide.

The more of it that is out there keeping us propped up the less our money is worth.

Ok shot at GW saying reckless actions but no items cited or facts given baseless and a cowards way out of a civil discussion when they have no supporting docs. Sorry still have a headache from your post trying to figure out what type of drink you were having.

OK Taxes: The Dems. had the house, senate and Presidency for 2 years if they wanted it gone and it is such a good idea why didn't they do it then?? Ok enough of my one brain-celled ramblings I need some Tylenol have fun with this.

There are half a million fewer citizens on food stamps now than there were under Bush, justified. Just stfu already with you BS.

*your (oops)

At least they are giving the Democrats ammunition to use against them in the elections. I am kind of hopeful they don't stop. It seems like they forgot that they still have to convince the rest of the country that one of them isn't as dumb as they all appear right now.

Once they convince their base that they are the most conservative of the candidates, they are going to go out and try to show the rest of the country that they are actually moderates. LOL! THAT will be entertaining for sure!

I actually thought the debate was alright...we need a shorter campaign season, more frequent debates, but don't draw it out so long...Do you really think Romney appears dumb? Seemed pretty in charge of his thoughts, and I hope he gets to debate Obama w nobody around to help either one..

I do agree some of this is a game...'conservative , then moderate''...and I do think that is crap...Media perpetuates it, but a lot of it is party pandering and too much labeling...which I also think is crap...I think Romney has held true pretty well, and taken some lumps for it, though I think he has to show he is not all what some label him to be (I think he is actually more conservative than most on most things)..but does not get credit for it because he will not fit the party mold as much as Sant or Ging

Ah, to watch all these conservatives salivate over Israel, one of the most liberal, progressive states in the Middle East (look at their abortion rates - it's ok to have an abortion in Israel if you are under 17; If you are over 40; If you are unmarried at any age; if the unborn child is going to have mental or physical defects; if the pregnancy will cause the mother physical or emotional harm. Abortions are only considered a crime if you are married and under 40... and these are performed by state mandated doctors). They are against abortion "in general" but they consider fetuses "potential" life based on their interpretation of Jewish law, so while an abortion isn't desirable, there are definite cases where terminating the fetus is really in the best interest of all involved.

Also, 65% of Israel supports civil unions for gays and recently has passed a law allowing lesbian couples access to sperm so that they can have children of their own.

Israel also has an integrated army with both men and women required to serve.

You know, Santorum and all you conservatives falling all over yourself to support Israel: you may be right. I could have been wrong.

GOD BLESS ISRAEL!!!!! Right? Right guys? You still support it, right?

F**##! Israel. Our other welfare state - such a relationship as they have no qualms about doing our dirty work, like offing sceientists, etc.

So......Move to Israel, become a follower of Judaism, live on a Kibbutz, and literally surround yourself with all this progressive thinking. That is your right and privelege. So many times in these threads the Israelis are portrayed as monsters contributing to all that is wrong in the Middle East and the World in general, the truest reason that America is hated (due to our support of the nation state of Israel) .....and now, you guys find the Israelis to be the shining light of political and social thought in the entire world and something the United States is supposed to emulate, book, chapter, and verse.....Nothing like wanting your cake and eating it too, with a fork in each hand.

Thank you! One of my biggest grammatical pet peeves, misspelling is one thing, but good Lord!

Do we really want anybody being pushed by the followers of either party to win? No difference I can see except who you call names.

I would say 'no, we don't'...but I don't think Romney is a puppet of the party, which is why much of the party establishment doesn't want him, and why he is having hard time getting the nomination...But the voters/people have a vote

Lisbon Vice The establishment people are the ones pushing Romney. How you get that they are not is beyond me. The people are not the establishment it is the dark roomers and news-mongers pushing him. They way to tell is his donors and what happens if someone is pulling ahead of him what happens. What happens, smears and insinuations by pacs for Romney doing the bulk of his dirty work. This does not happen if he is ahead this is a true indicator of who is the establishment candidate.

On the Moon.

Cameron - Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! And, does he have anything to prove he's even human???

Hey... don't go insulting the Stooges! They were comical/slapstick geniuses of their time!

Cameron, when you degrade my heros, you make me want to burn something. If we had Larry, Mo Curley & Shemp today, we wouldn't be in the mess that was created over the last 30 years.

They've still got gun toting, bible carrying old white men...

All it takes is the female vote, they are the republicans are screwing their chances with this focus on womens healthcare. Short of this becoming a brokered convention and the republicans pull someone completely new out, I fail to see how they are going to be able to win. Romney is the most electable and completely damaged goods now and spending far more money than he is bringing in.

There's still Ron Paul.

Bo,

The weird thing is that I know very many people in those demographics who believe the #%^ Aggie-345886 posted and will vote for anyone the GOP nominates, even though it is clearly against their and this country's best interest.

The fact they seem blind to the fleecing of this country by the wealthiest interests (and this goes to BOTH parties) is just beyond my comprehension. There is much to dislike about President Obama and many other democrats, but at least they have a variety of views and beliefs and don't make the destruction of the middle class and enslavement/elimination of the poor their official policy and focus.

How can any rational person listen to all the total bogus claims from the GOP of wanting to turn back government, and reduce the deficit, all the while pushing social agendas that clearly extend the reach of government into our personal lives and in the case of women, even into their personal bodies...

Reduce or eliminate the deficit? Not a chance... They are bound and determined to engage us in another baseless war to spur military spending and protect their big oil interests. How on earth is that going to reduce spending? As long as they can assure that they and the other very wealthy have more money/assets than they could ever possibly need or use, they could care less about the rest of us.

You could look at Ron Paul as at least someone with a sane foreign policy outlook, but there is no way any of his ideas would ever be adopted by a dysfunctional Congress only interested in self preservation and greed. Many of his other beliefs are sadly just not rational either. While I appreciate that he at least really speaks what he believes, I sincerely don't believe many of his ideas, while arguably sound on principal, could ever actually work in our society without causing a deep regression in social progress, taking us back to a country with deep racial tensions and inequality.

The bottom line is that we have to find a way to get money out of the election process and we have to find a way to get officials in office who are actually concerned with the constituents who elected them and live in their districts. For some reason they all seem to only represent the ones who they believe either got them elected, or support the positions of those who got them elected. The rest of the constituents of their districts are just SOL in their minds... Even if that is 50% or more of the actual population.

While I am a bit disappointed in some of President Obama's actions, or more often, lack of actions in many cases. He at least acts as a responsible person, conducts himself with dignity and makes me proud as a U.S citizen in how he represents this country internationally. As some others have posted...it was embarrassing to travel or communicate with others outside this country during the last administration. I will never vote for those who want to return to that sort of representation again in my lifetime.

I'm O.K. with compromise and I understand many of his actions have been to respect and include ideas from across the aisle, but honestly many times I've felt he reached too far across the aisle. While I hope it was to include their positions, sometimes it appears he shares many of their positions. But unless some miracle happens and the GOP comes up with a rational person and drops their Party line of social conservatism/extremism, I'll be voting Democratic for all levels of government to send a clear message that their Party platform is un-American, and unacceptable in this country. How odd they seem to believe they are the Party of patriotism and values... how laughable...

I wish there were more politicians like Senator Bernie Sanders from Vermont in the system... Those who believe term limits are the only thing needed to reform government would shut out some of the more desirable people like Mr. Sanders, who in my opinion does have an independant mind and actually seems to care about the real people of this country. Not just the wealthiest who want to control it and drive everyone else into poverty.

And please, those of you who consider yourself conservatives, don't give me the #%^& about class warfare or class envy. I'm an upper middle class person who has no envy of any of them. This idea of treating all people fairly in the tax codes is not anywhere close to saying I or anyone else wants to "take from you and give to someone else". It simply means being fair about taxation and taxing those who make more at a higher rate than those at the bottom of the pile. How this always gets thrown back as taking from all you "hard working people" out there and giving it away to a bunch of lazy people who only want to get hand outs is ridiculous. Even though raising tax rates on upper income individuals (regardless of where that income comes from) will likely increase my own personal taxes...I sincerely believe it is the only honest and honorable thing to do. I do want corruption and wasteful spending to end, and I think everyone agrees with that, I just don't accept that this alone will correct the deep hole we are now in.

Tired-One,

I whole-heartedly agree. Although it will never happens, term-limits are the way to go. If congressional terms were 6 years per term, with a limit of 3 terms, then somethings may get done. If senate terms, which are already 6 years per term, were also limited to 3 terms, then somethings may get done. In addition, base the pensions on performance. how do we measure this, the simplest way, would be if the person running for their second term wins a second term, they get a 50% pension; the third successful election, %100. If they don't win a second term, they get what would be equal to a maximum dollar-for-dollar 401k matching (currently that would equal a lump some for rollover of $45,0000).

In the past, some have suggested the term of the president be limited to one, 6 year term. The problem with that, is that while some things get done, during the last 2 years the president would be considered a lame-duck (if not from the get-go) by both houses (unless of the same political party) and hardly anything would get done.

I'd like to share a few excerpts from an essay written for the Daily KOS called "A Voice from the 1%"

"The [idea] that the rich are getting ever richer while everyone else suffers - was confirmed by a recent report from the Social Security Administration showing that while total employment and average wages remained stagnant, the number of people earning $1 million or more grew by 18% from 2009 to 2010. yet Republicans continue to insist, despite all evidence to the contrary, that if anything those "job creators" deserve an even greater share of our national income."

"The one group rarely heard from in this rancorous debate is the 1%, whose incomes and taxes are its focus. I am one of them, and here is my perspective, which may surprise you."

"imagine my amazement this summer when I watched the Republicans in Congress push the United States to the brink of default - and the world to the brink of ruin - over whether to repeal a portion of the Bush tax cuts and raise my taxes by 3.5%."

"Here is a secret about rich people: we wouldn't have noticed a 3.5% tax increase. That is not only because there isn't a material difference between having $1 million and $965,000, which is obvious, but also because most of us don't actually know how much money we are going to make in a given year. Most income at that level is the result of profits rather than salary, whether it comes in the form of bonuses, stock options, partnership distributions, dividends or capital gains. Profits are unpredictable and they tend to vary wildly. At my own firm, the general rule of thumb is that if we are within 5% of our budget for the year, everyone is happy and no one complains. A variation of 3.5% is merely a random blip."

"I was not amazed but disgusted when John Boehner and his crew tried to justify the extremity of their position by rebranding the wealthy as "job creators." While true in a very basic sense, it obscures the fact that jobs are a cost that is voluntarily incurred only as a result of demand. Hiring has no correlation at all to profits or to income - none. Let me keep more of my money without increasing customer demand and I will do just that - keep it. Perhaps I will spend a little more of it, though probably not, but even if I do it won't help the economy very much. Here is another secret of the well-to-do: we don't really buy much more stuff than everyone else. It may be more expensive stuff, sure, but I don't buy cars, or appliances, or furniture, or anything else more frequently than the average consumer. The things I do spend more money on are services such as travel, entertainment, restaurants and landscaping, none of which generate well-paying middle class jobs. There, in a nutshell, is the sad explanation of what has happened to the American economy over the last 25 years of "trickle down" economics."

"there is no question that the increasing income inequality in our society is a bad thing, in the short-term and the long-term, for both workers and for business. It is bad in every way and for everyone, with the sole exception of Wall Street itself."

"My family is from one of the poorest counties in the country, in rural Appalachia. My grandfather was a coal miner who left school after 5th grade to help support his impoverished family. My grandmother wasn't allowed to attend high school because according to her parents women didn't need an education. I never knew my father. My mother and I subsisted on food stamps for several years. I got my first job at 13, working as a bus boy for $2 an hour, and I have never been unemployed in the 37 years since. I worked my way through college, which I paid for myself. When I started my career I worked 60+ hour weeks every week for nearly 15 years before that effort began to pay off. I employ nearly 20 people, I have no debts, and I have no doubt that I have earned every penny I have."

"And yet, I am living proof of Elizabeth Warren's maxim that no one gets rich on their own. If not for the UMWA helping to secure a living wage for my grandfather, I would probably have had to leave school to help support my family, as he had done. If not for my grandmother's passionate belief in the value of the education she was denied I would never have aspired to go to college at all, and if not for my mother teaching me to love books, I would never have been able to succeed there. If not for my wife I would never have been inspired to work as hard as I did to see what I could become in life. How many smart, talented children don't have those positive influences? How many have exactly the opposite?"

"I understand too that but for food stamps, I would have gone hungry as a child, that but for public subsidies and federally guaranteed loans I could never have afforded college. I know that without the internet and airports, both of which were developed with federal taxes, I could not earn an income even close to what I make today. That all seems so obvious to me that I don't understand how anyone could question it, and those are just a few of the many reasons I am happy to pay my fair share of taxes, whatever that share maybe. Paying a lot of taxes just means you make a lot of money, and it is hard, frankly, to complain about that."

"Many of the [Tea Party] crowd seem quite proud of their Christian faith. I am not religious myself, but I am reasonably certain that Jesus would not respond to the poor and unemployed with shouts of "Get a job!""

Asimplicity1: I totally agree with you and your post was great.

Tired-one:

The weird thing is that I know very many people in those demographics who believe the #%^ Aggie-345886 posted and will vote for anyone the GOP nominates, even though it is clearly against their and this country's best interest.

-Exactly, I can never understand it. I bet if they really knew what the Rich Republicans think of them they would turn Democrat in about one heartbeat.
Well those being paid by the GOP and the ones who could be physically beat to the brink of death by a Rich Republican, like Romney, would still support the republican cause.
"No, he...he....was a....Democr...." Dead!

Jan news from a witness to american political circuses for 40 years women do not vote as a block. Those who aren't rabid democrats have more than one issue and everytime your side talks it alienates as many as it wins. A women independent.

Asimplicity1 - thank you for a truly great post!

I agree so much with this... Why are so many duped by the hateful rhetoric of the Right Wing extremist?

Honestly, I was a Republican for many years and I know there are many good, honest Republican people in this country, but how can anyone vote for them any more?

At some point the current policy and platforms espoused by the Republican Party will have to collapse and they will return to a moderate, sensible position and offer a viable alternative platform. But at this point in history, they have veered off into some sort of extremist and irresponsible direction.

How they have convinced Evangelicals in this country that their positions are in any way "Christian" is also beyond my comprehension. I don't know how greed and control over other's lives has become a "Christian" value in so many minds. I'm no theological expert, but I was raised a Christian and I see absolutely nothing Christian at all in current Republican policies or positions, and that includes so called pro-life agendas.

Abortion is a difficult subject and very complex. While I don't personally feel it is a good option most of the time, I have lived enough years to know what it was like when it was illegal everywhere in this country, and I don't want to go back to those days.

The "Christian" thing to do is live your life with your own dignity and values, and respect the rights of others to do the same. If you feel they made an immoral or bad choice, pray for them, try to help them, do any number of things... but don't try to force your interpretation of gospel or your personal morals on them. What makes you certain your interpretation is infallible? Didn't Christ instruct us to not judge others? This country could sure use a huge dose of that right now...

Jan think of this there is a huge and growing block of women for whom nature has already taken care of the BC problem. Who now look at the healthcare plan you are pushing so hard and find they will soon be designated units over 70 for whom medical care is restricted because they are no longer productive citizens in your utopia. Hope you can pay your grandmas surgery bill out of your pocket?

Asimplicity1 and Tired-One,

Thank you for your well read, and intellegent posts. Please continue to spread the word in each of your unique and warming ways. I have become a sincere fan of you both!

An op ed from daily kos? How droll... Let the obama tax cuts expire across the board!

I wanted to add that Terms Limits are not the answer. As long as we continue to have out of control donations running the campaigns of American politics, we the people will always be secondary. Public Financed campaigns are the only way American people will get back control of our government. The fact that each party will have to spend over $1 Billion for the presidency this year is absurd! When you have corporations that spend $200 million to each party (GE in 2008 gave $200 Million to the Democrat Party campaign for president and another $200 million to the Republican Party campaign for president), we will not will not have a say with our elected officials, but big business will call all the shots. The unfortunate part is that I doubt I will see public financed campaigns in my lifetime.

For those who do not know what Public Financed Campaigns are, each person running for a particular office would receive a set amount of money, provided from the tax revenue of this country, to spend for their campaign. Because the playing field is level, it is up to each politician to run on merit, not on how much money they can raise and use to smear the other side. It would not be "he who has the biggest wallet wins" anymore. This also takes special interests out of the running. No more favors to repay, once in office. While it isn't perfect (leave it to politicians to figure out a way around the rules), it is better then what we have now, and would give the American Taxpayer their voice back.

lonerreb .. What you are suggesting is extremely suspect. The health care act doesn't change Medicare coverage/policies, which is what covers grandma.

Concerned -

Thanks for the kind words and compliment!

Your remarks on election funding is absolutely the most critical step we can take to turn this around. Not only the funding limits as indicated, there should be a pretty restrictive time-line for the campaigning with financial disclosures up front. The hardest part I guess is deciding who can receive this public funding. There has to be a vetting process of some sort and that seems like a big hurdle to me. Maybe someone has an idea? I know we have enough bright and experienced people out there to make some suggestions.

If we could learn somehow to cooperate with one another for a common good, we could achieve so much! Think for instance if our businesses could become more partnerships with their employees so that everyone has a stake in the business and shares directly when the business succeeds. It doesn't have to be "us" and "them"... When people have a direct connection to success, they are motivated to help themselves by helping their company.

We can take this same cooperative approach to running our government and conducting our lives. The real way to raising the level to raise all ships is by helping each other and quit wasting so much time and energy trying to tear everyone else down!

When I read the anger and hostility on these forums it alarms me. I don't know that I've ever seen such tension and hostility in our society. It troubles me deeply and makes me fear we are approaching a treacherous time in our history. I hope people will pay attention, do as much independent research as you can, and then try to make decisions based on the whole picture, instead of the biased fabrications being spread by all parties.

I'm also very concerned that this coming election will have a dark shadow cast over it in history because of all these new laws restricting voting rights. As close as some recent elections have been and considering how only a handful of votes in a single state can sway an election, what happens if millions aren't allowed to vote in the next election and the results are again extremely close?

I think those pushing this agenda are playing a dangerous game and the results could be devastating to this country on so many levels. I pray this doesn't come to pass...but it does keep me awake at night...

Reddev - not entirely true as obamacare affected medicare funding. Obama and company transferred $500 billion from medicare funding to fund obamacare under the guise that medicare advantage would be eliminated and that cost savings could be found in medicare to justify the fund relocation. There were some smaller reasons cited for the transfer, but the two above were the main ones. Unfortunately for obama, many medicare recipients of the medicare advantage program forced it to be re-funded because it did have value and we all know how effective the government is at routing out waste and fraud. They rarely seem to achieve what they say they will.

This insanity will never change until the American public understands that if they want a level playing field and an honest election they are going to have to pay for it. Same amount,incumbent and challenger, and any third party candidate that reached 20% support in two different polls. No personal investment or outside source of funding.

Folk, you pay for the elections and contributions now. If not directly then through corperate (taxes) on the goods you are purchasing. You pay 5 cents more for the candy bar and the candy bar lobby buys a congressperson with it.

If this takes a constitutional amendment so be it. If you want your country back you had better be ready to fight the good fight.Term limits solve nothing. A challenger standing toe to toe with you on a balanced stage will be much more sobering to an incumbent.

sam23- Exactly!

tired one, " but how can anyone vote for them any more?""

I would ask you how anyone could vote for either party, since they both have brought ruin to our country, and obviously, dumbed down and divided it's citizens?

If anyone thinks that is the only alternative, your screwed. If you people, (both sides) turned your anger towards the government and demanded accountability, things just might get better for us all.

Three of them Cameron. Hopefully not the only one up there who actually gives a crap about us and the U.S. but I won't hold my breath.

You should revist the democrat primary debates and rhetoric of 2008. Not a whole lot of difference except 2 then vs 4 today. Perhaps by april it will be only 2 as in 2008.

It is an austere field of candidates. What a joke the GOTP has become. How low the mighty have fallen.

I disagree...Not saying these are the best 4...but not so sure the worst (1988?, 1984?, 2004?)...These candidates are not all bizarre...some of what they say actually makes sense...and I sincerely hope Romney gets a chance to debate Obama one on one...A lot of people will then really see who is who, who knows what the heck they are doing on a number of issues affecting our country...You would eat some of your words...I am not sure what the voters would do, but it won't be a cakewalk on debate nights...

american, as usual you don't know what you are talking about.

In 08 Hillary and Obama both had large support. Romney is struggling in his HOME state.

In 08 the rhetoric was about the economy and getting the wars finished. Your party cares more about women's birth control rights than the economy! Your party wants to start more wars! Your party doesn't care about the middle class. But corporations are people!

What is your source for these claims?...Show me some numbers that represents your accusations. Until you can, I'll let the facts speak for themselves as to which Party is more fiscally responsible.

Justified - and the facts will point to the Democrats as the ones most fiscally responsible and clearly the most sane!

Prove it...ohh wait...you can't...but i can.

Since it's Congress that sets the spending limits and the Deficits, let's look at it by CONGRESS;

Who's responsible for the Budget Deficits and the Debt?

While it's tempting to blame the President for Budget Deficits, it's actually the responsibility of Congress to pass a spending budget, which establishes the amount of the Deficit each year and any required borrowings on the Debt. So what does the record show based on who controlled Congress over the last 30 years;

DEFICITS

Total Deficits when Democrats controlled Congress (12 years) = $5.022 Trillion.
Total Deficits when Republicans controlled Congress (10 years) = $1.219 Trillion.
Total Deficits when Congress was split (8 years) = $1.063 Trillion.

NEW DEBT

Total New Debt when Democrats controlled Congress (12 years) = $7.859 Trillion.
Total New Debt when Republicans controlled Congress (10 years) = $3.238 Trillion.
Total New Debt when Congress was split (8 years) = $1.781 Trillion.

Spin it all you want, but these are the FACTS!

seeking sanity - bloombergTV did a fast fact summary of which party spent the most, their historical conclusion was that whatever party was in power spent wantonly. Didn't matter R or L.

The fly in the ointment today is the tea party who don't want to increase spending and by extension increase taxes.

Facts can be such tricky little imps. Where did they come from? What where the parameters at the time? Is it first hand knowledge or a perception created to futher an invalid point?

If i'm walking point and the guy behind me says tripwire should i keep walking until he proves his point or stop and think about what he has said? The FACT that he hasn't given me will be validated in a few more steps. So you can critize a very well written post at the beginning of this thread or stop and think about whether the realities of our present situation are in themselves a truism without an IED explosion to validate the warning.

Dwight- good post sir. I'm still trying to figure out how Santorum is getting anywhere, other than fetuses that can't vote, who hasn't he alienated?

I've heard them speak... not a cunning linguist in the lot.

Cameron, wish I could have liked your comment multiple times!!!

You guys are blowing me away!

Beavis & Butthead do ARIZONA ,with Laurel and Hardy ....................

Brian - can we vote to throw them off the island??? Please!!!!!!

Paul it figures you are from Texas. You guys will never take credit for the mess that your guy GW created. Since Obama has taken office it's been one big fight with the Congress and trying to put the brakes on a economy that GW left to drop in the dumper. Gas prices are not controlled by the President get a freakin' clue Obama is still a much better choice than any of the clowns running in the Repub party.

You seem to forget the recession started with GWBush. Two unfunded wars, never in the White house, if his lips moved hi was lying. The 2010 election has hindered ANY advancement because the GOP/Teabaggers put out country in disgrace with their pledge to Grover. Where and who do think keeps the price of gas up? The GOP and their buddies!! When a president starts to tell me GOD is their ambition andguide, not US citizens [United Citizens decision] are the ones we need to fear the most! Look at the debates. Not one can remember what Grover said. Any person who made a pledge to Grover over US citizens is not one who should lead our country. The GOP presidential hopefuls are a joke. Why do the super pacs need to run neg. ads if their nominations were up to par? Why do they not advertise their true agenda? Could it be they would not be elected..... Look at the Koch run gov of WI.

OBAMA 2012

Drewster. I agree with everything you said except the first sentence. Not all Texans are radical right cowboys. Approximately 40% of us are Democrats. Yeah we know what a mucking fess W made of things. Even he knows that. Why else has he laid low since leaving office?

Drewster you show your lack of intelligence by acting as if all Texans were stamped out Republican. You also do your party a disservice by insulting people your candidate will have to win in November. Lot of electoral votes controlled by those Texans you despise.

Paul Austin, Texas: How can you even open up your mouth when you have in one state Rick Perry, Bush Jr, and Ron Paul which makes the IQ level drop to a record low? Oh i forgot one he is the guy who likes to get payed under the table for 4 years and then get the school the death penality(Greg James) remember him? Why not mention Jeff Skilling of Enron or Ken Lay who was Bush Jr's best friend and is in federal prison right now for corruption. I also heard that the university of texas made some programs leave the conferance because they did not want to share the money and keep all of it for a bunch of news paper made football player's at the school. We know that some politicans in texas have intellect problems but why open up your mouth and confirm it?

So lefties, where were the democrats as this was all unfolding? Eating popcorn?

I know Paul we can get cheaper gas prices by starting a war over oil again like Iraq. Ok we are no longer in Iraq,where is all the oil. We were taken for a ride by Bush,now we are stuck with the cost of a war that only served to get our men and women killed.We as a country got stuck holding the bag.BODYBAGS.

Jeez, you people act like Texas voters are the only ones who counted when electing presidents. News flash, THE AMERICAN CITIZENS voted for Bush, TWICE!! Was not JUST TEXAS voters folks! 1 state out of 50 does not win an election.

P.S Ron Paul just so happens to be a republican AGAINST war and policing the world!

"The GOP's common enemy."

For decades the GOP told us the Communists were the enemy. For 8 years Reagan told us the Soviet Union, North Korea and Iran were evil enemies. All the time they were screaming about socialists and communists they supported governments and were hawkish on the side of governments who turned on their own people with genocide, or simply turned their collective backs to hundreds of thousands being butchered. And the the leaders of those countries turned on the US in the end. we are fighting two wars - one begun with lies - and that war was declared won by the same president but it dragged on for 8 more years, billions of dollars in debt - Republican policy is built on lies- and now Sanitorium and Romney and Gingrich want us to arm Syrian rebels? Sounds like the militatry-industrial complex is hard at work pumping millions into someone's pocket! Democrats are always sweeping up after the big ol' elephant trounces down the avenue leaving pile after pile after pile - and then they try to blame the Democrats and take away the shovel they have to use to clean up the Republican mess.

Bush's war; Bush's deficit, Republican comedians - it would be laughable if they weren't serious about what they believe and say.

How 'bout that mucking fess called LBJ and his budget busting welfare program called the "Great Society"? I thought he was from Texas?

So lefties, where were the democrats as this was all unfolding? Eating popcorn?

They were being called unpatriotic terrorist sympathizers for speaking out against Bush's policies.

.

The debates are entertaining---When they can make an old fossil like Ron Paul seem like the grown-up in the room, why would any one want them to end? Romney lying about balancing the budget for 4 years, when it is a constitutional requirement, Santorum s vaginal politics, Newt playing the elder statesman, Ron Paul wanting to go back to the Hoover era, although he is right about Iran, we have them completely surrounded with bases and would obliterate them in hours if they launched any weapons, not withstanding the fact that they haven t invaded any country in 200 years. Let the lieing buffoons continue.

Impressive choice of words (sarcasm intentional)....Is not suicide, just wait til it's one on one...and why would you think just one debate should settle it? I agree 20-21 might be too many, but one? Your obvious cynicism doesn't make you sound too smart..nor too interested in intelligent debate

Lisbon, when these four have an intelligent debate we'll alert the media, until then Drewstwer is very correct and you are a whining teabag.