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Gerald Herbert / AP
Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, talks to patrons at The Mitt Restaurant during a campaign stop in Mount Clemens, Mich., Friday, Feb. 24, 2012.
DETROIT – For Mitt Romney, the Michigan Republican primary is a matter of expectations.
It’s about waging a campaign against an incumbent president who hasn’t lived up to expectations. It’s about managing expectations for just how grand of a venue would play host to a major economic speech.
And most fundamentally, it’s about meeting and surpassing expectations about how strongly he should perform in Tuesday’s crucial primary being held in a state where Romney was born and raised.
The former Massachusetts governor’s campaign has put all of its chips on the Great Lakes State, hoping it serves Romney the same way primaries in New Hampshire and Florida had done.
He won each of those convincingly, and at a moment of peril for his candidacy. Romney’s victories tamped down dissatisfaction with his candidacy, and helped him lay claim again to being the GOP campaign’s frontrunner.
Michigan isn’t likely to give Romney such a decisive imprimatur. His campaign has deluged the state with advertising and aggressive messaging, just as it had done in New Hampshire and Florida to help dismiss Romney’s challengers at the time.
But Rick Santorum, the former Pennsylvania senator who upset Romney in a trio of nominating contests earlier this month, is hanging around with Romney in the polls. Santorum threatens to upend expectations – namely, that Romney would be able to win here comfortably, just as he had done in 2008.
Scott Olson / Getty Images
Members of the Detroit Economic club gather to hear a speech by Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney during a luncheon at Ford Field on Feb. 24, 2012 in Detroit, Michigan.
“I think he’s a strong candidate, no doubt about it. But it’s not going to be handed to him on a silver platter,” said Glory Aiken, an Oakland County Republican deciding between the two candidates.
“There’s a lot of high emotion in this election. There are a lot of people in this country who don’t think we’re heading in the right direction, and that’s powerful stuff,” she said at a Romney speech to Tea Party members Thursday night in Milford, Mich.
Romney makes frequent mention of upbringing in Michigan during his stump speech. He talks about having been born in Harper Hospital, growing up around Woodward and 7 Mile Road, and, yes, autos.
Whether that connection is enough to propel Romney to victory is a bigger question. Fifty-seven percent of likely Republican primary voters said in a Detroit Free Press/WXYZ poll released this week that they don’t view Romney as a Michigander. Those voters break for Santorum said Bernie Porn, the EPIC-MRA pollster who conducted the survey.
Romney is struggling in particular with conservatives in the state, who favor Santorum in a familiar retread of a narrative in previous primaries.
“The perception of him as a moderate is strong with me,” said Tom Petiprin of Lapeer, Mich. “When Johnny McCain endorsed him – that was almost the kiss of death for my vote. But I’m trying to be more open minded. “
NBC News Senior Political Editor Mark Murray shares his thoughts on the three toss-up states now leaning towards a specific party.
The crowd Thursday evening was composed of more of the white, middle-class voters Romney will need on Tuesday (and for which Santorum is aggressively competing.)
The audience was quite different on Friday at a cavernous Ford Field, at a speech hosted by the Detroit Economic Club, right around the 30-yard-line where the Lions play in the fall. Romney made reference to the well-heeled audience by referencing toward them during a portion of his tax speech talking about limiting deductions for high-income Americans.
The speech was moved here after a record sellout of tickets for the event, but members of the economic club were unable to find an intermediate venue. The speech was slated to be the former unveiling of Romney’s tax plan, though he outlined most of it earlier in the week. Applause for it died in the cavernous, mostly empty stadium.
He headlined the speech by noting that Obama had failed to meet expectations.
“That deep confidence in a better tomorrow is the basic promise of America. But today, that promise is being threatened by a faltering economy and, in my view, a failed president,” he said.
And later, setting expectations for himself, responding to a question about which Republican had the best chance of beating Obama: “I not only think I have the best chance, I think I have the only chance.”
To accomplish that, Romney is relying on a similar brew of voters that he had courted in New Hampshire and Florida: those who believe he is, indeed, the best candidate to unseat the Democratic president.
While speaking to supporters in Michigan on Friday, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney reveals that his wife drives 'a couple of Cadillacs.'
“I probably will give him my vote, because I think he’s the strongest to beat Obama,” said Kathy Kubik, of Brighton, Mich. “The debate last night, it might have helped.”
Michael Woods, also of Brighton, agreed: “I just feel that not only from a conservative standpoint but once he gets the nod and gets in the general election, the election is going to be won among independent voters. Of the four candidates we have left here, to me, personally, I think Mr. Romney meshes well into both the conservative side and the independent side.”
But it’s been self-inflicted wounds by Romney that have most compromised his status as the most electable Republican.
Media were quick to note that, in an aside about American cars, Romney noted that his wife, Ann, drives a Cadillac – “a couple of them, actually.”
And the tens of thousands of empty seats in the backdrop invited comparisons to instances when Obama filled stadiums with exuberant audiences in his 2008 Democratic convention speech.
But with four days until the primary, Romney still has his chance with voters like Ingrid Rowe, an undecided Republican from the suburban Detroit area. She said she had hoped to hear “something convincing – something that has not been part of the talking points so far” from Romney.
“I am aware of the political maneuvering that goes on, and I wanted to get a feel,” she said.
Leave a Comment:
And the tens of thousands of empty seats in the backdrop invited comparisons to instances when Obama filled stadiums with exuberant audiences in his 2008 Democratic convention speech.
^ A loser is a loser.
Willards money can't mask the stench of his betrayal of Michigan.
"Romney is better than that Crazy nut Santorum" I will never Vote for the GOP again because of the Teapugs in their party. I'm an Independent.
If mitten's is betting the house on Michigan, he should never go to a casino. And are you surprised at the empty seats? This is the guy that said let the automakers go bankrupt, and they're in Detroit. He would have been better to have held that in the UP. Dem yoopers would get a kick out of him. A guy who can't finish a sentence without flip-flopping, that is.
The only loser is Dumbama
"Let Detroit go Bankrupt"
Famous last words from Romney. Eat crow, Mr. vulture capitalist. The stadium was EMPTY. People REALLY like you.
He is saying taht he "loves" American cars....Sure, We believe you when you say that you drive a pick up truck!
Drill: Really? That's what you've got? A dumb spin on Obama's name?
Provide an actual argument as to how the current crop of GOP nominees have a snowball's chance of winning the election, then lets talk. Otherwise, I'm pretty sure the "only losers" are Santorum, Romney, Gingrich, and Paul.
While I don't feel sorry for the republicans, they are in a pitiful situation. The irony is, they brought it all on themselves. That whole party reminds one of a field of weeds wilting in the autumn sun.
My vote is going to Newton Gingrich on Tuesday in the Michigan primary and then to Obama in November!
But if somehow Willard wins in Michigan's primary, just as well. My question is though, did the Romney campaign pay for the stadium? And if so, can we trust him with tax payers money? Oh wait, the president doesn't spend money, only congress can. I wonder if Ricky would waste money on a stadium for such as small gathering.
If he had prevailed in letting GM go bankrupt, poor Ann would be driving a couple of Lexuses "actually".
Bought and paid for by venture capital and the fossil fuel lobby.
IRESPOND-2315268.....You don't see many chauffeur driven pickup trucks ! Mitt does not drive, his is driven !
Hello Everyone, GM did go bankrupt. So they did what Romney said to do in the first place. No one is talking about the taxpayers' funding that is still in its stock or how Obama let them sell off our stock $17 Billion worth to pay their bills. So get off Romney he at least gave them a plan the other candidates where not for the bailout either. Santorum complains that Romney backed the big banks and not GM, but we all overlook that Santorum would have let the whole country go down. You all need to read a little more and not listen so much to the media that is bias.
Kno...
Romney "actually" wrote a column in 2008 entitled "Let Detroit go bankrupt". His intentions don't get any clearer than that. If he would do that for Detroit...well you can guess what he could do for the US.
santorum is too into social issues to get a decent vote. Obama would eat him alive and women will not vote for that type of kook..... Its Romney or bust. My only hope is he is a conservative and not a trophy hunter or a place holder for the business as usual , grow the fed government control your life crowd thats been permeating washington for 20 years...... This next election we need a guy that can turn around the economy and cut the fed's power over the states.....or its over for a couple of generations. There will be a lot of homeless coming soon as peoples saving run out.... Its an important election if you want your kids to have an opportunity and turn around the us. If you want higher gas prices, high inflation, High unemployment and a shrinking middle class.Vote for obama.
GM went bankrupt, but it never went out of business thanks to Obama. It is true that taxpayers paid for the bailout. However, TARP has yielded a net profit and has actually saved millions of jobs.
ron paul is my president
Why does NOBODY question the "so-called", "Norquist Pledge"?? Those signers, (Mitt & Newt among them), are holding the Country hostage by their allegiance to Grover Norquist & ATR, the #1 lobbyist for the Keystone Pipeline. If the "Tea Party" wants "REAL Tax Reform", follow your "namesakes", grab your "axes" and "AX THE TAX CODE"?? With the Code's $1.1TRILLION in "cuts" & "breaks/loopholes". etc.; Plus it allows 45% to pay NOTHING??? THAT is where your "DEFICIT" IS??
puppet leaders
In what country is he your president? Oh I know, Crazyvania!
during these tough times it must be difficult for those struggling (and there are a vast number of you who are registered voters) to listen to a man who makes $10,000.00 bets on a whim and owns more than 5 cars and several homes and get aways and is worth more than most of us will make in 2 lifetimes....
how can this man who has known nothing but incredible wealth his entire life possibly know about out of work middle America and its needs or desires and certainly incomprehensible how he would know anything about the plight of the poor or the elderly.........that leaves only the uber 1% of the wealthiest that he could possibly connect with......
yeah, like after looking down on those below his wealth and standing from so far above for his entirel ife and laying waste to companies, jobs and lives and seeing us all like nothing more than ants toiling away at his behest Romney is suddenly going to put the middle income workers, the out of work Americans, the poor and the elderly as his priority?..........not likely, the 1% are his group, his friends, the ones he connects with and the only people he has ever really had to deal with...they are his priority.
The only thing Mr. Romney has proven to me is that he is very wealthy, he likes being wealthy, he can lie with the best of them, he has no loyalties to issues and he enjoys flaunting his wealth to those less fortunate...
if I wasn't sure this was the race for the Presidency of the United States I would swear Mr. Romney thought he was running for class president of the class of 2012.
Shame on Mr. Romney for his insensitivity for a nation crisis.
A couple of things.
Is it me or does having it in the stadium seem a lil out of touch with the real world? I mean who holds a conference in a stadium, Nearly empty at that? It could be looked at as showing off your wealth or just bad PR by his campaign people. (I know they had to move it from the original room in the stadium BUT I'm sure there was another option) Personally for me it sends a wrong message.
Second, "My wife drives a cadillac, Several actually" Again, BAD PR. most people can't afford one car less two and there you go bragging, AGAIN in my opinion as to how many cars you have.
If you want the people to view you as "severely conservative", then at LEAST act the part and stop putting your foot in your mouth. The real sad part is that people will vote for him anyway(as well as the president) simply because he has a "R" next to his party affiliation EVEN if they don't like him.
Mr Anon
GM & Chrysler would have been in Bankruptcy court on December 26, 2008 except Bush gave them a loan from TARP of 14 Billion. And the only reason he had to do that was because the Union rejected the Republican offer that the investors, unions, and creditors.
Obama came in gave the Unions the Lions share of GM, the Creditors a little more than the investors. The investors portion was 10% of what was invested, so the investors forced the deal into bankruptcy court anyhow. The court deferred to the Obama Plan.
The next question who were the investors. Obama would have you to believe it was the Rich. FACT well over half of the invested funds was people's 401K's. 401k's is my retirement as it is for well over half of all americans - who btw only 5% of americans are rich. I.E. Obama took money from MY retirement and gave it to the unions.
"Union rejected the Republican offer that the investors, unions, and creditors."
should read "Union rejected the Republican offer that the investors, unions, and creditors shared equally".
Im from Detroit and I work for the Auto's. The only difference between what Mr. Obama did and what would have been done via standard bankruptcy was who got compensated and who had part of the new company. The people you never hear about are the retirees and investors that had all their life savings wiped out, in favor of the Union. Who are now pushing the cost of the new business onto the White collar workers, the latest is their pension plan death.
DB Akron first of all....Bush did not give them a loan. Bush GAVE them money. Obama made the rest of the money a loan. The money Bush gave them will never be recovered.
Secondly, Mitt called for Bankruptsy and private investors. There were no private investors to be had. And even if there were, they would have done what good ole Mitt did with the companies he raided....there would be nothing left. You would not have any pension left.
Third, the overstep Obama is accused of ...by requesting that management be removed has brought them back out of mismanagement and now profitable again. Bush on the other hand just wanted to give them money and leave them to conduct business as usual.
I will never Vote for the GOP again...
Patriotic:
Doesn't that make you a Democrat?
SI
Life savings you never would've had if hadn't been for the UAW. That's a useless spin. Quick putting blame on those who work for a living instead of those like Romney, who gamble with people's lives for profit.
The Republican candidates talk a great deal about how much they love America. I believe them, I just don't believe that they love, or even like, the American people.
“That deep confidence in a better tomorrow is the basic promise of America. But today, that promise is being threatened by a faltering economy and, in my view, a failed president,”
That's the winning message. imply point out the facts;
1 - Obama promised to turn the economy around - He failed.
2 - Obama promised to keep unemployment low - He failed.
3 - Obama promised a bright future - He failed.
4 - Obama promised to hold down the Debt - He failed miserably.
Obama has had his chance and failed, so now it's time to step aside and let someone else try. When a team has a dismal losing record, you fire the coach.
The choice will be clear by election time, and no amount of 'rhetoric' will change the facts.
Unemployment is below where it was when Obama passed his stimulus.
When did he promise to keep unemployment "low"?
How so? US dependence on oil is down. America is expected to get the majority of its energy from clean sources by 2030, the Affordable Care Act gives virtually all Americans access to health insurance by the end of the decade.
I've refuted this "promise" before, and I'm not going to bother addressing it again.
Yeah, Roy
For the life of me I just can't figure out why the resident doesn't pull out that magic wand he has and wave it and make all our troubles go away.
/sarc
Note how Roy Wilson has never defended Santorum's extremely bigoted remarks that have suggested that non-Christians are unworthy of political office.
Roy Wilson's only posts have been attacks on our current President. He has never made statements completely in support of a Republican candidate, and has never outlined how Reaganomics, a failed economic theory for the last 30 years, is supposed to solve all our problems.
Hey Mitt? Why a football stadium? With the size of that crowd, you could have just used you garage.
"Joke", ... "Mitt said dogs are mans best friend" ?
Quiz: Does a dog ride better strapped to the roof of a caddy or a foreign made car?
He would have to park the two Caddy's in the driveway......What a tool.
I'm still trying to figure out why, in all this time, Romney hasn't learned to stop making elitist remarks in public. You don't say these kinds of things to voters. Ever. Either way, Obama has a few Cadillacs too: the Presidential fleet. :-)
Thomas, Illinois....Interesting, he chose Ford Field, after he threw all the auto companies under the bus ! ( Yes, if the other two failed they would have dragged Ford down with them, so even though Ford did not participate in the bailout, it was critical to their survival. )
And all the TeaNuts worked so hard to portray Obama as elitist. What a basket of rotten goobers...
I am not voting for Romney but the even photo above was a luncheon, it was held on the field. The stands were never intended to be used...so that they are empty is fairly silly to comment on, except as a metaphor.
I am sure I will be voting for Obama as I know Romney will pick a far righty to appease the idiots.
And Paul and InSantorum are just freaks...One is so right wing he makes me vomit (not to mention creepily taking their dead fetus home to cuddle with and show the kids), the other is a space cadet and a bigot who calls gay people "Queers".
And is Gingrich still even running? He has more baggage than Samsonite.
HILLARY 2012....Oh well...I want her on the Supreme Court...it will drive the NeoCons nuts but she is a moderate and would do well.
If he's bettin the house then it looks like we'll have another homeless person to add to the rolls.
"Most Repubs I know said if that looney Santorum gets the Nomination they vowed to jump the Ship", The GOP.
Not to worry, he'd still have at least three other houses, all big enough for his large famly plus the two Cadillacs.
Romney isn't worried about betting the 'house,' since he owns at least 4 of them. I'm sure his lawn maintenance people aren't going to be happy if he lost one of them, though.
He's got plenty of nice homes to bet...he was born rich and will remain rich for his long life and his special underdrawers. Wonder if he is populating celestial planets yet?
Funny Patriotic - most verifiable republicans I have talked to say they like santorum, but just don't know for certain that he would beat Obama.
I have 4 cars, two at my paid for home in Florida and at my paid for home in Detroit. I grew up very poor single mother and 5 siblings. My mother worked 3 and 4 jobs, 3 regular and around the holidays she made wreaths and pies to pay the bills. We all are successful, two own masonry companies the other two own a restaurant in Ct. The one thing we all remember is our mother telling us to never take money for nothing and always keep moving forward. I quit HS took the GED passed it in the 1 percentile for the country, then joined the Navy. I wnet home on leave after 6 years active duty and my mother shoved a paper in my face that had an article that At&t was interviewing in White Plains NY. She bought me a sport coat and off I went. Beginning of 33 years of keeping my nose to the grindstone and advancing in my telecommunications career. Six companies later I am comfortable and near retirement and in a position to not need SS. Was I laid off? Yep twice and both times I found a job before I needed UE. It wasnt easy..... but as with my mom I was not going to take money that was not mine.
@DB Akron, your "verifiable republicans" who would vote for Santorum are really "certifiable republicans". One would have to be certifiable to vote for that goon.
What's the big deal. If he loses, he has nine or so other houses to shelter in and probably as many cars.
After the whole $10,000 bet snafu, the title of this piece made me wonder if Mitt was foolish enough to bet someone a whole HOUSE over if he would win Michigan. I was, sadly, disappointed.
Santorum also opposed Government loans to save our auto Industry, Where was Rick's Head ?
The people of Michigan should kick Santorum out of the state like Pennsylvania did !
So, Romney opposed the auto bailout too. So they should kick him out too?
if Romney had been moderate on social and political issues from the beginning, he would be stronger today.
He was somewhat moderate now he is "severely conservative"
Uh, he WAS a moderate in the beginning, dimwit, when he was running against Kennedy for the Senate. and for Mass Governor. He's now trying to be a raging right-wing loon. The problem is that the real loons aren't buying it, and everyone else is appalled.
The many faces and flip flops of the leading (less loony) GOP contender
Mittsy meant to say severely constipated.
you all have thoughtful comments.........He will be. He will be and say whatever he thinks will get him a vote that day.
If he was more liberal on social issues, he would not be leading in the delegate count in the RNC right now.
If this keeps up, there may be no one left to run against President Obama as a Republican candidate. Romney is fading away, Santorum will placed in a straight jacket soon, and Gingrich will be in jail. It won't be long before the RNC is reduced to recruiting its candidates from bus stations and beer bars...at gunpoint!
Just a thought, All of the republicans running for president are so downright stupid it's hard to believe they were nominated to run in the first place. But what if that was the republican plan all along, since they know that president Obama will be hard to beat, pick nutty guys to run and then after all the mudslinging ends, have a brokered convention and pick somebody else to run against president Obama, somebody that has not been tarnished by this joke of a primary. The real republican presidential nominee. Republicans are lousey people, but they are not as stupid as Mitt and company is making it seem. Again, just a thought
Amazing that the media picks up on the "two Cadillacs" comment and the trees. His speech did hit the mark! Let's nominate Mitt Romney and watch a good old fashioned presidential campaign this fall between the Harvard guys, although Mitt holds TWO degrees from Harvard, a law degree and a business degree.
My guess is that you are a Mormon. Nothing wrong with that, except that in your devotion, you have lost sight with what an elite phony Mittens is. He's not a God! He's a weasel--and most Americans of all political persuasions see that.
lovetheusa1234 -
Mitt is plastic and acts odd when speaking. He may be good behind a desk with no public contact, but he's obviously uncomfortable talking to crowds - he appears stiff and tends to speak in a few words followed by a pause, then a few more words, followed by a pause, etc. He should have joined Toastmasters.
His faux fas when speaking and his lack of comfort doing so doesn't make him Presidential in my opinion. One can have all the degrees in the world but sometimes life experiences makes a person.
"a law degree and a business degree" And poor Mittens is STILL without a clue.
Obama 2012
I'd never question Romney's intelligence, but I can rightfully question his ability to govern as he hasn't presented a strong case for why he should be elected. Simply saying whatever the crowd wants to hear doesn't cut it.
Obama 2012.
yeah lovetheusa, and I see where Mitt's brain was at when his father pretty much forced him into going to Harvard and getting a law degree in Antitrust laws and a Business degree (the 2nd which is what HE wanted, while Obama's was Constitutional law and atop the prestigious The Harvard Law Review. One used their degree only for personal gain while the other used his degree to help the people. Years later, we can see the paths these two went on to. One; a wanna-be President for 8 years, the other; THE President. Nuff said.
Jack at the end of the day, there is not much difference between Romney and Obama
Both installed a HCL
Both are lawyers
Both pro-abortion (Romney has since backed out)
Both use huge amounts of money on smear commercials
Both enjoy the "high" life
Both are against gay marriage
Both speak smooth
Both look very professional
Both don't seem to have a clue about poor people's struggles
DBAkron:
Sorry but Romney does not speak smooth...half the time he doesn't know what to say and he sure doesn't look professional...have you seen the sweat on his brow lately...he does look plastic, nervous/scared and uncomfortable all the time. He's sweating bullets and I don't think he really wants to be President and he sure won't win over Barack.
Obama graduated from Columbia University. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Harvard. He was the only black man to ever be president of the Harvard Law Review. He was elected Senator three times from the state of Illinois. In between he worked as a civil rights lawyer for the poor and disadvantaged. Mitt did attend Harvard and graduated in the upper third of his class. This was helped greatly by the millions his father gave to the school. Obama had no such advantage.
It continues to amaze me that 'conservatives' are thinking about social issues and NOT economic issues.
Ask yourself, what are the MOST imposing problems we face in the US? The ECONOMY, JOBs, FINANCIAL issues of all manner and description. So, why is there so much weight behind 'conservatives' who emphsize abortion, right to life, gay marriage, etc. etc.
Folks, we need to get our asses out of some pretty serious economic issues. THAT's what our conuntry needs desparately.
Who is more likely to be able to solve these challenges? Not Santorum. He's never run a lemonade stand.
Think about it people. ROMNEY is by far the most qualified to win Vs Obama and to deal with our miserable economy.
Republicans won't talk about it because literally the only tool they have is tax cuts, which just make the problem worse. Nothing republicans have to offer is going to help the economy and most of their ideas would just increase the severity and damage, so they focus on namecalling instead. Not a single republican candidate has given a credible idea that would help with any proven data. A vote for R in 2012 is a vote for regression, a vote for recession, a vote for repression.
You need to wake up! Which Romney are you talking about?
Also, the economy is slowly but surely gathering speed. They'd be foolish to put all their eggs in the "economy" basket when it has a chance of being a non-issue in November.
Repubs are doomed with economy on the rise, if it had stayed down they would have had a chance with someone that was electible but not now.
Chuck, you need to ask yourself why the GOP are going all out after social issues instead of economic issues. Ask yourself why the GOP are so interested in keeping Equal Rights from women, from the LBGT community, from 'average' Americans. Ask yourself why the GOP are wrapping themselves in the blanket of the 'Church,' all the while crucifying President Obama for not being 'Christian, American, OR Patriotic.' Did the GOP forget so easily that Jesus was a Socialist? Did the GOP forget that America is governed by MAN'S laws, and not GOD'S laws? The GOP AND the 'Church' have forgotten Jesus' original message, and have both in turn become a BUSINESS.
Chuck Case...they have no answers. If they speak the obvious, that social security and medicaid and medicare must be cut, they guarantee that they will be defeated, so they won't come out and say that even though every intelligent American knows that it has to happen.
1. We need to tax the ultra rich more. The candidates all know that but have made a pledge to Norquest .
2. We need to take income caps off Social Security Contributions
3. We need to increase contributions to Medicare by the ultra wealthy.
4. We need to end all 20 year retirement plans for federal workers. Retiring people in their 40's is insane and we cannot afford it.
5. All future federal retirement plans need to be switched to contributory plans like the real world.
6. Social security disability pensions and program needs to be tightened up, way too many people collecting simply because they are too fat to work or wont even try to work. I don't mean to cut a penny from truly disabled, just raise the bar for what disability really is. Too many freeloaders.
7. Close loopholes, including for mtg interest deductions for 2nd,3rd and fourth vacation homes and yachts ! This can be done simply by limiting the mortgage interest deduction to the interest on a 1 million mortgage and indexing it.
8. Tax all "perks" as income. Company cars, yachts, jets, vacation retreats, company paid personal staff, etc.
Fantomdog are you saying that Jesus would not be a Tea Party member ?
Apparently Jesus hated hypocrisy and money changers. OMG, WWJD with tea baggers???
Chuck - almost every instance of social issues being talked about has been begun by a question from the left side of the news media starting with George Stephanopolis. IF they had not raised the question, you would hear almost nothing about this. Gee, I wonder why - could it be that if you look up the details of our current economy, they have had next to no successs!
Jesus did not involve himself in politics. It's wrong to think he would be on either side.
DB, it is laughable that you do not believe Jesus involved himself in politics, when in fact, declaring himself the "King of the Jews" is what got him killed.
He better call his living prophet in SLC to get new directives, because he is headed in the wrong direction.
Didn't Willard speak out about bailing the automotive industry out? This is pure hypocrisy I will do nothing to help you but I want you to kneel in front of me and lick my boots because I will be the next POTUS. What a scumbag!
"Those voters break for Santorum" says Bernie Porn. It doesn't get any better than that.
Come on Michigan: Remember that Romney would have nuked 10,000's of automotive jobs if he would have been president. Vote for crazy Rick instead. Obama wants a rest!
"Every time I see crazy Rick Santorum he has his hands in his pockets, what up with that" ?
Pocket pool
Cute insinuation, but you know better.
Hands in your pocket is a sign of someone who is comfortable with what they are saying and have nothing and feel they have nothing to hide. I'd bet he doesn't even realize he is doing that.
Sweater vests are worn by those who are trying to appear respectable but who would really like to limit your access to contraception. Keep 'em barefoot and pregnant, right DB?
He's trying to put out the fire he has down there lol.
Only one conservative in the race who knows anything about the economy, where its headed, been headed, and what to do to keep us afloat... vote Ron Paul 2012.
I like Ron Paul also but so far most americans dont have the inteligence or the motivation to find what Dr. Paul is all about. They would rather believe what the MSM tells them. Thats what is truly unbelievable that so many people don't know how think for themselves.
I liked Ron Paul too until I found out what he's really all about. He's a racist.
Ron Paul's view on foreign policy is extreme thus couldn’t unify the republican base...what's more, he wouldn’t have a snow-flake’s chance in hell of defeating Obama.
Crafty, he the house but only one of them.
His wife drives a cadillac eh?...oh a couple of em as a matter of act....I drive a 1989 Mazda with 312,000 miles on it....wonder if Bain Capital will loan me some cash....you can buy my vote Mitt.....couple mill would do it.
312k? That's pretty good.
For those of you who haven't seen this video, you might want to take a look. Doubt that Romney had ever been held up to such ridicule. Oh, and by the way, has santorum's Netherlands debacle been forgotten already?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9njHHyRI7g
Here, here! 1990 toyota pick up with 250K and not one panel that does not have a dent in it. I'll take one of those Caddies thank you.
He says Obama failed.... in my opinion, the entire GOP party is failing! I'm sure that I'm not alone.
I dunno about failed, but the GOP sure did their best to help make sure of it.
All GOP candidates tell how bad their opponents are. Their retoric convinced me they are not worth voting for under any condition. I'm a former republican that thinks GOP needs to figure out what individual freedom means as that principle has gone astray when it comes to womans choice.
I know what you mean, Freedom. It may have been happening for the past 20 elections, but from my view...this primary is less 'This is who I am' and 'This is what we need to do'. And it's mostly...'the other guy is worse than me'.
There is just no substance or leadership, no specifics or even real goals in the GOP. Maybe there's a secret plan....and something great will happen after Obama's in again, that we can't see right now lol.
Obama failed? I think the entire GOP party is failing....BADLY!
No doubt they shot themselves in the foot but Obama will drive the stake in their hearts for the rest of the year. Dirty politics will bring on a new meaning after the RNC.
None of the Republican candidates have a realistic chance of unseating Obama. The economy is improving with absolutely NO help from the right. People see it. That's why the GOP doesn't want to talk about it. And women have had it....politicians trying to take away their rights. A very slippery slope when you try to take reproductive rights away from women. They vote in large numbers. Obama has it right on international affairs....stopped Osama while Bush was reading upside down books to schoolchildren. Handled the Libyan problem w/o a lost U.S. life. GOP can't talk about any of that. 30 bills put forward by Obama....the GOP wouldn't even allow 27 up for a vote. The GOP has no ideas to help America.
I'm hoping the women's vote will sink the GOP ship - if women vote for any of these guys, their forfeiting their reproductive rights (and those of their daughters) and we will be back having 10-11 children as if they lived in the late 1800's.
"WOMEN of AMERICA UNITE and VOTE FOR YOUR RIGHTS"
OBAMA 2012 / CLINTON 2016
Anyone who thinks that making abortions illegal will stop abortions is completely ignorant of history.
What WILL happen is thousands of young women will die every year going to back-alley butchers or through self-inflicted abortions. I remember those days.
And now the "pro-lifers' also want to outlaw effective birth control AND PRENATAL TESTING???????
They want to give "PERSONHOOD" rights to a fertilized egg, but they don't give a rats ass about what happens to a women if she is raped or facing severe medical problems or death from being forced to carry a fetus to full term????
Every sane woman in America should stand up and say, "NO!" to these sexist, hypocritical jerks (and the sick women who support them).
Women, stand up for children, the elderly and workers by supporting affordable health care for all and demanding leaders who respect and trust women (like a president who appoints WOMEN to the Supreme Court).
Now there's some thoughtful thinking.
I agree Suz..and this issue will cost the GOP voters for a generation,if they don't stop themselves....which they can't seem to do. They have been attacking women's issues for three years,when they were supposedly worried about the economy. These 20-40 year old women should all be really pissed. And my experience with really pissed women tells me that they WILL win. Hell hath no fury..... !!!!
Cowboy17 -
Enjoy your postings!
I have daughters and granddaughters and my daughters feel as I do about this issue. Hopefully women will unite and give the GOP the same outcome as the Komen v. Planned Parenthood - mess with women's rights and there's trouble!
I heard for Valentines day,Santorum gave his "baby mama" a handwritten coupon for a back rub.....his back !!!!
OK...it's one or the other...either Mitt has the DUMBEST speech writers of all time,or he is the PHONIEST man of all times !! Or it's the horrible confluence of the two......THE PERFECT STORM !!!
howdy-doody romney--plastic smile, plastic hair, and tailored jeans with $1,000 shoes -- has NOT actually won anything!
It only appears like he was "won"... Why?
When a campaign is outspending their opponents 5:1, 3:1, that's not "winning, it's "BUYING" an election!!!
This is precisely why the bush-corrupted US Supreme court opened the floodgates for UNLIMITED and ANONYMOUSLY-PROVIDED domestic AND FOREIGN money to be allowed!!! It is always assumed the eltists who own and manage the GOP would then simply do as romney is trying to do now -- BUY the election!!
However, there is a statistical double-edge sword, when trying to simply buy elections..
You see, romney is deeply involved with the "elitist" establishment trying to "fix"the nomination -- romeny spends 5:1 in Iowa, and loses by a couple dozen votes (after trying to rig the caucus with a false-count). Did he win, was he even a very close 2nd?
NO!! What that means IS, if he had spent 1:1 in dollars, he would have lost MISERABLY!!!
In S.C., although he outspent the grinch -- immensely -- ROMNEY LOST MISERABLY!!! Does it mean a close 2nd? NO!!! It means romney was landslided into oblivion in S.C.~~
Michigan is another place where romney is outspending EVERYONE, BIGTIME!! Now, even if he wins -- let's say by 10 points -- he would have actually lost, BIGTIME.
Why? It's his home-turf, and his daddy's home-turf..., and adding those advantages to the mega-bucks being spent, even a modest win by romney in MI becomes all but meaningless.
If howdy doody romney narrowly wins MI, or loses narrowly, romney is toast, and so is the entire GOP ticket.
Which is precisely why we are witnessing t-GOP, establishment DESPERATION!!
kkkarl rover is losing sleep (does anyone not possessing a conscience need sleep anyway), they are manipulating every possible thing to create talking points (their big-oil buds, the koch-gas-hacks -- hiking gasoline prices), and do not be surprised that a t-GOPer-rove operative was involved in the Quran burning in Afghanistan... that's a kkkarl rover style type of political sabotage. Outting an active CIA agent, for revenge, is child's play for this creep.
And, of course - the talk of needing a "new" GOP action hero!!!!! Pssstt.... Jeb-boy-bush, anyone???
So, the GOP election "fix" in "on"... wholesale attempts to disenfranchise voters, voter fraud, manipulating district mapping, you name it.., kkkarl is the brain-tumor pressing it...
Make no mistake -- if kkkarl rover is around -- and he is the one handling the biggest, wealthiest GOP-PAC -- then, you can bet there is a bogus bush-oz hiding behind a curtain, nearby.
GOP = Gestapo On Parade: a wall-street owned and elitist managed CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE!!
Buddy...the most fabulous post I have seen yet on MSNBC! High Five!!!! LOL!
BuddyThisToo — you nailed that! So true, so true. Loved the Gestapo On Parade (GOP). Need to get the word out to EVERYONE !!!
Allow me to give a bit of perspective from here on the ground in Michigan that no one in the media seems to be picking up on: The Michigan GOP has quietly changed the rules for this primary that at best discourages the participation of independent voters in this selection process. Up until this year, Michigan had a long history of open primaries for both parties which resulted in the most competitive race in any given cycle to attract significant participation by independent and cross-over voters. This had the net effect of moderating the primary winner -- notoriously, for example, with the win of the state for John McCain in 2000 after the sitting governor had promised to deliver up the victory to GWB. With the change this year, all voters must now declare a party affiliation before receiving the ballot, with a fairly open secret that the names and addresses of all voters in this primary will be public & posted online along with their party selection shortly following the election.
Speaking as a long-time independent here in the state, my vote would normally go to Mitt, in no small part because the legacy of his father still resounds as a shining example of independent leadership in this state. However, solely because of the rule change, I'm sitting this one out this time around -- my privacy concerns vastly outweigh any perceived benefit I'll gain from this election. And my hunch is that I'm not the only independent around here drawing this conclusion.
So, what is my expected result next Tuesday? You will see a much more partisan and conservative crowd participate in this primary than ever before in Michigan, which would imply the balance tips toward Santorum. The problem with that is that these same independent voters who the GOP burns in February won't be back in November. Even should Mitt pull out the nomination in the end, the party shenanigans going on right now will be a significant negative mark against him in my mind come this fall.
The GOP has a golden chance right now to get my independent vote vested to some degree behind their candidate -- instead they are sending a message loud and clear that they don't want me voting in "their" election right now. Why would I ever return to them when the general election rolls around? A major strategic error IMHO that may as well guarantee this state gets painted blue this fall.
Romney has basically given the Michigan people the finger. Voted against the SUCCESSFUL government bail-out of the automotive industry. Mitt comments: "Let Detroit go bankrupt." Mitt comments: "I like to fire people." Mitt says I'm a self made success. What about his inheritance from daddy George Romney? Didn't that help get him started to be a "successful businessman"? And the blue jeans, what a mental maroon. Mitt, the blue jeans are an affectation; they don't make you a part of Main Street America. Michigan voters need to reject this phony and send him back to the private sector, so he can fire more people. He is truly a charlatan.
The headline states that Romney is "betting the house" on Michigan. For his sake, I hope it's a rental home.
Nope. It's in downtown Detroit, where all of the crime is.
"Let the auto companies fail."
"But I grew up in Michigan. I'm a native. Vote for me please!"
Duuuuuurrrrr!
I find it totally disingenous as a lifelong Michigander for Romney to think we owe him our vote when he literally wanted to walk away from Detroit and let the auto industry go bankrupt. As it is, the appropriate decision was made and we are coming back. It may be slow but it is constant. I would never vote Romney!
I'd be surprised if anyone in the auto industry (including management, engineers, and smaller shops) would vote for him, let alone listen to his dribble.
"If we lost our Auto Industry, this Country would be finish" ......... "Wake up America"
The refreshing thing about this feedback is that most of the writers are Dems. Thus, most of the posts are well written with few gramatical errors and few spelling errors.