Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Clause!

Thank you Willard for the final nail in your coffin! lol

Paul Ryan; "I couldn't Medicare Less"!

Herman/Eddie Munster 2012

But, but Mitt has his own plan! Just wouldn't tell We the People about it. So bottom line folks it will be the Romney-Ryan plan and this senior citizen wants no part of it.

Obama/Biden 2012

Amen MICHAEL!!!

Romney/Ryan 2012!!! LEADERSHIP FOR A CHANGE!!! Yeah Baby!!!

Thank You, Willard. The Clown Car Crew is now complete. Also, the President and the DNC Thanks You.

Also, the President and the DNC Thanks You.

We sure do!

Willard couldn't of made a better choice!

We also know, he caved into the far right of his party and it will cost him dearly!

Look no further than what happened with Palin in 2008!

PS: This is what Newt Ginrich had to say about Ryan's "marvelous" budget plan; "nothing but right wing social engineering"

Wow, Lets have a vote now. Might as well get it out of the way so we can congratulate President Obama for another 4 year term.

Obama 2012

The Romney/Ryan budget continues to add to our debt for another 28 years before the budget is balanced and that can only happen if unemployment decreases to 3% (in his revenue plan) which our country hasn't seen in over 50 years.

The Romney/Ryan budget could increase our National Debt to $30 trillion or 150%-175% of GDP by 2040.

It's not everyday that you see a darling of the Christian conservatives whose primary ideological influence was a Russian atheist.

TEll me what Obama has to run on.

A GREAT Record, for the GREATEST President!!!

This 2012 Republican Party Ticket is a National Disgrace:

Politico h/t Obama Diary: “Three people were arrested and 20 removed from Rep. Paul Ryan’s appearance at a “pay per view” town hall crowd on Tuesday, according to local police. Ryan’s appearance before the Whitnall Park Rotary Club in Greenfield, Wis., came after POLITICO revealed that he was one of at least four GOP members of Congress who appeared before only paying crowds while not holding any free town hall meetings open to the public during the August recess."

Huffington Post: In 1998, Carter and her neighbors sued Georgetown Steel, then owned by the company Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney co-founded, Bain Capital. They sought millions in cleanup costs and accused the mill's owners of leaving their historic Southern neighborhood looking like it had been hit by a "chemical bomb."
State officials determined the mill was largely to blame for the pollution. As the lawsuit dragged on for years, the steel mill filed for bankruptcy and the plant ultimately settled with the residents. In the end, Bain walked away with more than $30 million in profits. Carter got $800.

Obama Campaign Statement:
“In naming Congressman Paul Ryan, Mitt Romney has chosen a leader of the House Republicans who shares his commitment to the flawed theory that new budget-busting tax cuts for the wealthy, while placing greater burdens on the middle class and seniors, will somehow deliver a stronger economy. The architect of the radical Republican House budget, Ryan, like Romney, proposed an additional $250,000 tax cut for millionaires, and deep cuts in education from Head Start to college aid. His plan also would end Medicare as we know it by turning it into a voucher system, shifting thousands of dollars in health care costs to seniors. As a member of Congress, Ryan rubber-stamped the reckless Bush economic policies that exploded our deficit and crashed our economy. Now the Romney-Ryan ticket would take us back by repeating the same, catastrophic mistakes.”

__________________________

These are the guys the republican voters want? How callous can these voters possibly be towards hard working Americans? Why do they cater to the wealthy who are literally scamming this country? Don't they realize that Limbaugh and Hannity and Coulter and the Koch Bros. and Grover Norquist and Boehner and McConnell have no use for them? When are they going to start THINKING and doing some research BEFORE THEY VOTE? When are they going to start realizing they are being exploited?

Don't they see what Ryan and Romney stand for? Don't they see that Ryan and Romney are making the working & middle classes foot the bills while the rich get their entitlements?

This republican party is attempting to either steal or buy this election and these Americans are just going to sit back and let it happen? They are actually going to vote for these undemocratic republican party leaders?

The Republican Party is made up of people who are RICH ARISTOCRATS. And like ALL rich aristocrats since the beginning of time, they don't give a damn about you. You are being used, just like you were used to believe in the unpaid for Iraq War. A war you, with the help of most of the msm, helped sell.

And this is how they repay you for your support. Taking away all that is good about America and giving the money away, free, to the rich.

And you republican supporters will have to pay for their tax cuts.

Democracy is not the Republican Party hierarchy's thing. They don't need it and they don't want it. You and I do. But these rich Republicans don't. They couldn't care less about democracy.

And if you can't see that now, then you never freakin' will. It's as plain as the nose on your face.

I like the notion that the Democrats will pick up Ryan's seat in the House of Representatives and the Romney/Ryan ticket is toooo extreme and they will lose in the general election.

"This really energizes the ticket enormously," Bay Buchanan, an outside adviser to the Romney campaign, told NBC News."

Yeah, as I was watching Ryan speak, I could almost hear Republicans everywhere asking themselves "Hey, why didn't we pick this guy instead of that goof at the top of the ticket?"

We've been told for a long time now that Romney wouldn't pick someone who could potentially steal the spotlight or show him up for the weak candidate that he is. I may not like Paul Ryan very much, but even to me it felt like he already did that in the first five minutes he spoke this morning. Okay, the buzz words and the platitudes were all the same, but he comes across as smarter, more direct, less evasive, and better able to connect with an audience.

Still, if your ticket needs that much "enormous energy" this late in the game, I'd say you've got bigger problems with your ticket than you realize. And the problem isn't the new guy. It's the guy at the top. Hey, why DID you pick him, anyway?

"It's not an embrace, line by line, of the Ryan plan. Mitt Romney has his own plan."

Too bad it's in the same folder as his tax returns he seems have have lost.

Thinkin the same thing.......won't be long before we will hear "who is running for President? Romney or Ryan.

Wow Michael1969, you do post some jack @!$%# stupid drivel don't you. If only your personal animosity toward the President could be translated into votes. Have fun crying in your beer as you watch Mittens joke of a campaign implode.

Ask the Catholic Nuns or the Catholic Bishops what they think of the Romney/Ryan budget.

Paul Ryan takes great pride in being a Catholic. I wonder how he feels about how much he has offended his religious leaders with his budget proposal.

Kathryn,

You hit the nail on the head. If Ryan is the one with the vision, the ideas, and the plan, shouldn't his name be first on the ticket....kind of like Cheney/Bush?

Poor Michael1969, He may be smart enough to see the writing on the wall.

Now, he's upset! I wonder why?

I guess you must have found your way onto a site that doesn't like you veiws.

!'m an independent voter and I was hoping to vote Republican this year but the Repubs just don't get it. They just lost the election. It's Palin all over again. Instead of picking a populist figure that would attract independents, they appeased the far right.

Idiots.

I never thought I'd write this but Feisty is right. An early Christmas gift from the Republicans.

To all the haters. Thanks for all the love!

As the saying goes, rob Peter to pay Paul... Paul Who? Now you know.

so Mitt the Vulture is sending a message to all of us that he is going to rob Peter the Middle Class to Pay Paul Ryan the rich and conservative. There is no surprise given what the GOP has been doing.

Basically that's the same message from the Ryan Budget - that is..to rob Peter the Middle Class to pay Paul the 1%ter

Michael...I think that was pee running down your leg.

the R-R campaign slogan: if we are unable to make more money, then we will make sure you make less. off you go then lads. the budget and taxes, really, how do you push and agenda like that when romney wont "put-up" his own returns. i do hope senator mccain speaks out to americans re: twenty years of mitt's tax returns as he did with senator reid.

Someone PLEASE get Michelle Bachman on camera! I need to hear her take on this!

I'm having a great morning and I just don't want it to end! Some more comedy would be great!

I get the distinct feeling that a whole lot of the koolaid drinkers just choked on an Ice Cube...I haven't seen them this frothy since Sarah...Better than Saturday Night Live and Live at the improv combined

While Obama is all over 'social' issues like Gay Rights and free birth control, the debt clock keeps ticking. Ignore that at your peril. Taxing the crap out of the 'rich' won't make a dent, take all their wealth and it won't make a dent in the debt.

If you're not smart enough to understand those debt ramifications, if you're not smart enough to understand what is happening in Europe, then you deserve what you will get. Sadly, the consequences of ignorance, in a democracy, are across the board.

Ryan has the smell of the TeaWackos on him, this will be Romney's down fall !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Obama and Holder REFUSE to go after the criminals on Wall Street and Big Banks like Goldman Sachs. How many GS people are in Obama's administration. His supporters seem to overlook how deep he is in the pockets of the very people who financially destroyed the economy. Bailouts? Too big to fail? What has Obama done to punish malfeasance. NOTHING. In fact, he and Holder are encouraging it.

Brianb-999431

and when you 'use typical naming calling' it must be okay right? Love the hypocrisy Brian.

P.S. As you said yesterday.. he who laughs last, laughs the hardest. We'll be LAUGHING when Obama WINS In November.

Clown #1, and now we have Clown #2 !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mitt Flip & Ryan Flop = Flip Flop !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

mygirl1

Obama and Holder REFUSE to go after the criminals on Wall Street and Big Banks like Goldman Sachs.

Wow, you mean ROMNEY took money from Goldman Sachs and has DONE nothing to go after the criminals on wallstreet.

http://www.opensecrets.org/pres12/contrib.php?id=N00000286

Nice try myGirl, but we all know how the CORPORATE Crown Prince of American Subsidies will not destroy his own lifeline. He needs someone to pay for his lavish KING lifestyle.

I say to all you Rep/ tea party people in here today, who say what has President Obama done. Well I say, he has cleaned up the mess that Little Bush & Cheney left the Country in. In spite of the Rep making a pledge to make sure they did nothing to help the President. What about helping this Country, or your fellow American's. What the Rep's have done is the most Un-American thing. They say they are the patriots and they pull something like that. I guess to be fare, Us Dem's did that to Little Bush. I think this was just a union busting move, like what Walker did in WI. The Rep's want to do that to all of America. They don't want education, because they want all the really good jobs for there kids. You can not get educated people to fall for anything you tell them. You can not get educated people to do your dirty work for you, so you can keep your hand clean. That is why the vast majority of Rep's are uneducated. Man I can't get that old tea party woman that the President is a layer. I bet she couldn't spell President. She is just saying what the Koch Brother tea party told her to say. When someone asked her what the President said that wasn't true, she couldn't answer. They didn't tell her what to say about that.

Michael 1969,

What an ugly American fascist you are. Your attitude is EXACTLY why this country is in so much trouble. You, along with entire Republican/t-baggin party, demonstrate the kind of arrogance and hubris that precedes a good fall on your ass. Good luck with that.

Ryan is a gift to the Dems. Let's get this party started!! Obama/Biden 2012!!

mygirl1

While Obama is all over 'social' issues like Gay Rights and free birth control, the debt clock keeps ticking. Ignore that at your peril. Taxing the crap out of the 'rich' won't make a dent, take all their wealth and it won't make a dent in the debt.

While the GOP introduces legislation on 'limiting womens' rights, their pay, what they can and cannot do with their bodies, increasing their Leeching on the US Treasury with their corporate tax subsidies, and MYTH that lower corporate taxes will create more jobs, the country continues to GO in deeper debt.

itsAboutTime: I realize that it is difficult to imagine Obama in a leadership position, however, he is, technically, in a leadership role as president. He has had almost four years to go after Wall Street, etc. and has informed the electorate that he and Holder will not go after the criminals. It was an official statement.

Now I understand the disconnect between reality and fantasy that imbues Obama supporters, but deflection only goes so far. Don't you ever get tired of having to make excuses for Obama? He does nothing and it is ok. OWS is onto Obama, they know what a sham he is, they want things to improve, you obviously like the idea of allowing criminal bankers to run free and scam taxpayers out of billions. A vote for Obama is a vote for Wall Street and Goldman Sachs. Enjoy.

I also realize that Obama supporters aren't real big on research or fact, having sound bites provided for them negates the need for critical thinking. Go ahead and bask and wallow in your ignorance, Obama needs ignorant people to vote for him. If his supporters had intelligence on their side, they wouldn't be his supporters. Facts are annoying, better to make excuses, deflect and place blame any and everywhere except where it belongs. How much you pay for those rose colored glasses? The ones that block out reality.

Chuck said: Well I say, he has cleaned up the mess that Little Bush & Cheney left the Country in.

Hey Chuck - are you excluding the mess the democrats in Congress left the country in? Do you forget who was controlling 2/3's of the government starting in 07? Of course you conveniently forget that.

In spite of the Rep making a pledge to make sure they did nothing to help the President.

Lets get the facts straight... they vowed to make Obama a one term president.

What about helping this Country, or your fellow American's.

They did help the country by slowing down and trumping Obama's agenda.

What the Rep's have done is the most Un-American thing.

Actually what they did was the most American thing they could have done. Making the attempt to slow down and stall socialism from permeating into the country... If they hadn't objected to everything Obama was doing, the march towards socialism would be more advanced.

You speak about education, but you need to become educated in reality based education... liberals control the education of the youth in this country and they are indoctrinating them towards socialism on a daily basis. If they are doing such a good job, why is our education system so low on the scale?

The Reich-wing leadership is now complete.

Does this show Romney is being is own person, because supposedly he likes Ryan on a personal level, or does this show Romney is not his own person and is once again pandering to the far-Right? Either way, is doesn't show good judgement. That's what the VP pick indicates most of all, what kind of decisions Romney would make -- He would make bad decisions, now we know for certain.

Paul Ryan is not a Tea Party favorite because his voting record during Dubya was spend, spend, spend:

As a member of Congress, Ryan rubber-stamped the reckless Bush economic policies that exploded our deficit and crashed our economy. Now the Romney-Ryan ticket would take us back by repeating the same, catastrophic mistakes.

The main reason the Tea Party and Ron Paul supporters don't like Ryan's plan is because it DOES NOT BALANCE THE BUDGET FOR 23 YEARS. The rest of sane Americans don't like the budget because, as Jim Messina also stated:

"In naming Congressman Paul Ryan, Mitt Romney has chosen a leader of the House Republicans who shares his commitment to the flawed theory that new budget-busting tax cuts for the wealthy, while placing greater burdens on the middle class and seniors, will somehow deliver a stronger economy.

"The architect of the radical Republican House budget, Ryan, like Romney, proposed an additional $250,000 tax cut for millionaires, and deep cuts in education from Head Start to college aid. His plan also would end Medicare as we know it by turning it into a voucher system, shifting thousands of dollars in health care costs to seniors.

So seniors--at least anyone who doesn't care to take a chance vis-a-vis the slippery slope--and Catholic bishops and nuns on the bus who find the budget to be immoral, will join Independents and progressives to vote against Romney.

Romney/Ryan -- Two rich white dudes who aren't in it for you.

so when the RETHUGs propose a sweeping cut for the "defense" budget of, say, 50%, I MIGHT start considering their "position". FACT - The country doesn't run without INCOME to pay for OUTGO. FACT - the OUTGO is politically MOTIVATED (anyone who thinks that it is NEEDS related needs to seek mental health assistance immediately.)

Romney -- How many years of tax returns did Paul Ryan give you? We want to see both for at least 8 years. You can't pass GO until you come clean on this basic tradition of transparency. Two rich guys who want tax cuts for the rich by taking Medicare away from seniors. YOU don't deserve tax breaks -- Show us your TAX RETURNS!

every politician, at every level of government should be required by their voters to be completely transparent as to any laws they may / might pass / sign...and yes that includes you liberals as well

##1.28 - Michael1969 Comment collapsed by the community

What a bunch of liberal cowards!....typical yellow-bellies!

The ONLY thread collapsed on this liberal board is a conservative post!.....LMAO....yes, you flower power freaks are ALL about everyones "rights"....lol

What is it about opposing viewpoints that scare you?

Well, gee, mikey won't like like it - he hates EVERYTHING. Try not being a broken record stuck on "RMoney is good and Ryan is BETTER" and you wouldn't get almost all of your posts collapsed. It's just "YOU" Mikey... just "YOU"

Since most of the collapsed posts are those espousing conservative views it would seem that the liberal side of the aisle is the group afraid of opposing viewpoints.

You just verifed my statement by saying that, in essence, if the Michael poster didn't extoll conservative candidates, they wouldn't have their posts collapsed.

when romney had been vetting ryan it was asked about ryan's tax returns for the past 10 years. romney chuckled"so paul how much income have you profiteered from"? then further stated: "returns, returns, you dont have to show me no stinking returns, but have got a shelter for you."

We all have a choice. Aristocracy. Plutocracy. Democracy. I know what those in the gated communities, and the two percent will chose. This comes down to the direction our country will move: on your own with the freedom of choice to continue, or begin the maze of being pushed closer to the abyss. Suppress the vote, suppress women's rights, turn our back on those who need help. It is your choice.

"Buchanan added: "What the Democrats do is their business, and we'll see if they're successful. We can't control what the Democrats do. They've accused Romney of murdering a man's wife, so they'll go to any extreme they want."

This statement is almost too funny...coming from a republican party that has taken out of context every ad they have used concerning Obama. The republican controled house has done nothing to help this nation. They have had not one compromise vote in the house..it has either been their way or no way. Not one of them , republicans or democrates were elected to the nations business in this way.

MotherDuck:That is the democrat narrative, however, if you have children, it is now those children who will bear the brunt of the debt. Nice to know that your children mean so little to you, let them pay for it, however they can. I don't care, I have my free contraceptives, free healthcare, free food, free cellphones and all the other little government freebies. Those kids can pay for my current freebies.

sorry girl - I don't vote to collapse - when some (reichwing) poster has obvious mental issues, I want the world to view those same issues. SOME people are quite as "thick skinned" as I am, though...

It DOES get tedious scanning by the rants of some of the more vociferous "right" members of the 'vine'. In general, I haven't found anything either interesting or informative from them - just rants...

Ich fühle mich gut, Ich wusste, dass ich, Ich fühle mich gut.
"I feel good, I knew that I would, I feel good." Nehmen Sie die Mitt Romney. O'bama Biden2012 Take that Mitt Romney. O'bama Biden 2012

Since most of the collapsed posts are those espousing conservative views it would seem that the liberal side of the aisle is the group afraid of opposing viewpoints.

This is common knowledge, liberals will collapse posts on newsvine and delete their friends on FB. Just yesterday someone posted a photo on their wall comparing Obama and Romney, Obama in a bad light of course and my liberal friend, posted goodbye loser and deleted him..

I think it's very telling that most of the posters to this thread are hardline liberals.

Pathetic, but telling.

It shows your desperation and confirms Ryan is the perfect choice.

well, girl, yu DO have to admit that the entire SS program is one giagantic PONZI scheme. It was ALWAYS predicated on an increasing population and inflation to keep it solvent. One singular mistake was when they capped the contribution payroll tax at 106,000.

Curious, though, why your #1 item is "free contraceptives" (which would be covered by medical insurance). That's not even equivalent to a fart in a hurricane in importance - yet you chose to make it #1 on your list.

What happens when someone is incapable of employment?... just let them DIE? That seems to be the current reichwing mode of thinking.

What will the GOP do when seniors find out exactly what Ryan's "vision" is for Medicare and Social Security? The Republican Party has already offended and alienated women, Latinos, African Americans, union workers, gays and lesbians, and moderates of all political persuasions. Now they are going to nominate Ryan as their wannabe veep, thus alienating seniors, as well.

The thudding sound you hear is the Republican Party hitting bottom.

When almost one third of the country is on welfare, when welfare fraud and Social Security fraud run into the billions of dollars, do you not see a tiny problem with the system? Where does the money come from? Raising taxes on the rich? Really?

You have no clue to the amount of money that is spent by the government on those essentially underfunded programs. You are quick to denounce the defense budget (I agree there) and yet turn a blind eye to the fact that SS and Medicare/Medicaid are 60% and more, of the federal budget expenditures.

Then you ignore the IOU's in SS, ignore how they are tied to treasury notes and if those tank, bye-bye SS. So, if you are ignorant of what has happened to Greece, you will be equally ignorant of what is pending with SS and healthcare.

Nice to help people, however, when you bankrupt a nation doing so, you have helped them how? Never does a liberal address the issues of fraud, why is that?

There is nothing more fun than listening to embolisms popping...just need a little salt and butter, and a good movie...

Was listening to Mitt's and Ryan's speeches while driving this morning and had to switch the station to avoid a case of radio rage. Station I switched to was right in the middle of an old REM song -- "it's the end of the world as we know it." Lordy, hope that wasn't prophetic 'cuz I don't "feel fine" about the prospect of a Romney-Ryan administration!

BTW, @Elise, SF - it's not We the People. According to Anne Romney, it's "you people." We need to know our place. You know, that place at the bottom of the barrel.

I think the 2016 Presidential campaign just started with Ryan now running for President.

The attacks against the President have been the most numerous and bigoted in our history. Romney's record for lies and attacks against his opponents is also well known. Anyone who boohoos about folks being "mean" to Romney is a joke.

But with this announcement, it is Shark Week -- Two sharks running on the GOP ticket and the feeding frenzy of the far-Right, wow.

Stay Klassy Romney and rightwing radicals.

To: Mitt Romney

From: Democratic National Committee




The entire Democratic National Committee thanks you for choosing Representative Paul Ryan as your Vice presidential candidate. This assures a victory in Florida for President Obama resulting in more than the 270 electoral college voted needed for his reelection as President. We can now spend more of our resources in Ohio, Colorado, Virginia, North Catalonia and Nevada to insure an even larger victory.

-Sam

Since most of the collapsed posts are those espousing conservative views it would seem that the liberal side of the aisle is the group afraid of opposing viewpoints.

This is common knowledge, liberals will collapse posts on newsvine and delete their friends on FB. Just yesterday someone posted a photo on their wall comparing Obama and Romney, Obama in a bad light of course and my liberal friend, posted goodbye loser and deleted him..

Dan-2287140 Comment collapsed by the community

Awww, poor 'ol Feisty DumbFux is getting tired of her Oreo cookie team and now needs to make fun of other people's appearances.....what a tool

****************************************

Confirming Micheal1969 is a RACISTFUC

************************************

OH SAM, looks like you are FOS, the neocons sure collapsed my opinion of yet another racist neocon/teabagger

All I hear are scared Liberals.

They should be.

scared? Of WHAT ?? Biggy rat and itchy brother? ROFLMFAO!! scared... nah - just consider the source...

I think the 2016 Presidential campaign just started with Ryan now running for President.

okie joe,

I seem to recall the same sort of speculation after the 2008 election. I can't recall the name, but it was a young lady from Alaska who was going to run for President in 2012. I wonder whatever happened to her? Something must have gone terribly wrong.

I have a question for all the conservatives on here, trying bravely to put on your "Go Romney/Ryan 2012" faces....

Do you really think you'll win in November? I mean, do you really think you'll be able to fool enough 99%'ers into thinking that robbing from them to make the 1%'ers richer is the right thing to do for America? That stealing the medical safety net that seniors have contributed to for most of their adult working lives is the right thing to do for America?

If you honestly look into your heart of hearts (I'm saying you DO have hearts, which others on here feel you lack)...do you HONESTLY think we as a nation of millions of people, old and young, rich and poor, male and female, will vote for the Republican ticket as it is right now? Just think about that for just a moment....do you actually believe that a Romney/Ryan win will be what the majority of Americans want? No rude, crass responses, please.....just yes.....or no.

DA - I do believe Romney is going to win. Here's why. Historically an incumbent president has never won re-election with an unemployment rate of over 7.2%. We are sitting on 8.3% right now. It will not go down before November. The price of gasoline is going to go through the roof. It has climbed 30 cents in the past 3 weeks... and in some places even more... by November it will be over $4.00 and climbing. People usually blame the sitting president for high gasoline prices.

Our national budget is not under control... a direct reflection of the sitting president. The national debt was raised over $5 trillion in one term... with nothing to show for it. We have lost credit rating. There is a steady march towards socialism in this country and a lot of it was promoted in this term... the ACA is something 59% of Americans don't want to have enacted... Obama care is not approved by the majority of Americans and they know if Obama gets in, nothing will stop it.

All these negatives that are totally ignored by liberals, aren't ignored by non-liberals... This board is a bastion of liberals.. I'd say a minimum of 80% of the posters on here are liberal... that's why I come here... to see what they are thinking... I keep my friends close, but my enemies closer.

Brianb -

Historically an incumbent president has never won re-election with an unemployment rate of over 7.2%.

That is since FDR did that in 1936 16.6% down from 20.1% in 1935 & 1940 14.6% down from 17.2% in 1939. The diffference here is that unemployment today is not down that significantly from 2009, the projection of change is not expected to be much in the next year. Not much tops the unemployment recovery from 1921 - 1923 0f 4.5 - 7 points of drop - depending upon which source you read.

Roosevelt should not have been returned in 1940, because although unemployment was lower than in 1936, the policies he and the Democrats instituted in 1937 caused unemployment to go back up to nearly 20% in 1938.

Well, then...I'm sure you'll be surprised to know I am in favor of taking full advantage of our sovereign natural energy resources, in a manner that is congnizent of our environment. I am, by no means, a "tree hugger"!! Use whatever means is necessary to make our planet less toxic, yet our energy costs as low as possible. I am all for rounding up and deporting all illegal immigrants! Even those "anchor babys".....surprise!!!

What I am against is our meddling in other countries' affairs and interjecting our supposed "will" on them, militarily, if our own safety is not DIRECTLY threatened. Bringing our miltary presence in the world home will save hundreds of billions in spending right there. We need to allow other countries to govern how they see fit, and defend our own borders, instead of bullying the rest of the world. Cut defense spending, that will be the single biggest way to balance the budget. I am also not all that trusting that the very wealthiest of us (the 1%'ers) will do the right thing and somehow "create jobs" when their fear of over-regulation goes away under Romney-Ryan, when their corporate taxes go down. The money they will save will go right into their own pockets, right where it does NOT need to go! The sooner corporations realize that off-shoring and outsourcing is anti-America, the better!! Create jobs with all of that profit, or better yet, reward your existing American workers with pay increases that mirror your corporation's increase in profit margin....the extra money in Middle America's pockets will be the savior of our economy! That is why Obama's stimulus didn't work....it wasn't a permanent fix!

And, with Romney's choice of Paul Ryan, it is painfully clear to everyone not wearing the rose-colored glasses of the TP'ers, that the poor and soon-to-be-seniors (those of us just under the age of 55), not to mention what's left of the middle class, will be royally screwed if lightning should strike 10 times in the same place, and Romney come through with a win in November.

I am pro-America, which means I am for what will benefit the most Americans. You may feel that the wealthiest of us have America's best interest at heart. You'd be mistaken, my friend! They are in it for their own greed, and that's the bottom line! America be damned!

So they picked a guy whose going to tell a nation of aging baby boomers (myself included) that he wants to destroy Social Security.

What a bunch of f'ing idiots.

This goes to show how insane our political system and society is right now.

Before the mid 1970's If any politician had said that he was going to create jobs or make the economy better by cutting federal spending and slashing SS, Medicare and UI, the members of BOTH political parties would have said he belonged in the looney bin.

And in most places around the country any crowd of americans he spoke in front of would have laughed him off of the podium.

Back then, many people remembered the 1930's and knew we didn't get out of the Great Depression by cutting federal spending or slashing programs like SS or unemployment Insurance, the opposite, we increased federal spending and we CREATED Social Security, UI etc. DURING the Depression and they helped bring us out of it.

But even New Deal spending wasn't enough to wip the Great Depression. It was only after we entered WWII and SPENT EVEN MORE (and the government completely took over the economy) that it ended.

http://www.fasttrackteaching.com/ftap/Unemployment_300g15.gif

(And by the way, that brief jog upward in the unemployment around 1936-37 shown by the graph was when the FDR administration briefly STOPPED spending and started trying to lower the deficit. They quickly realized their mistake (politicians used to do that) and started spending again and unemployment went down again)

As a result of New Deal but much more WWII spending we had the biggest debt to GDP ratio in our history in 1946 (150%) and right after that two solid decades of economic boom also referred to by economists as the Golden Age of Capitalism.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post–World_War_II_economic_expansion

(and I might add this boom took place with high taxes on the top income bracket: 90% during the 1950's (With a Republican Administration) and 70% during the 1960's)

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oaQrkmOxApI/Th5u8DwpNPI/AAAAAAAAOLg/mAkjL_w545E/s1600/TopTaxBracket_TaxRate.jpg

After WWII ended even business people were panicky and thought we might slip back into depression again without war time spending which is one of the reasons we had the Cold War for the next 3-4 decades. It kept federal spending high.

And don't think I'm just picking on the Republicans here. Obama and the Democrats are really right up there along side the Republicans as deficit hawks, it's just that they are more devious and clever at seeming like they are not. Obama has been cutting federal jobs and he signed an agreement with the Republicans to slash trillions from Federal Spending.

That's why Main Street is still in a Recession while Wall Street, which received and continues to receive massive federal help is soaring (until they swindle themselves and us off of a cliff again, of course, because of DE regulation).

It wasn't until the Nutty Professor (Milton Friedman) came along and started babbling about the imaginary "Free-Market" that we had this descent into madness and our present sad state.

It only takes 30-45 minutes of looking on the internet if you want to find out whats really going on (and what has gone on in the past).

Stop reading about Lindsey Lohan, the newest iPad or looking at internet porn for a few minutes and wise yourself up.

Your job, standard of living and freedoms may depend on it.

Obama is now discussing a no-fly zone over Syria. Each tomahawk missile costs over one million dollars. We cannot afford our government. Romney, just by not being Obama, may turn the tide and until the economy is healing, not just little tics followed by drops, we need to focus on that. Contraceptives, gay rights, what-all and so on are social causes and do nothing to help the current recession/depression.

Obama has had four years and we all know what his agenda is, tax and spend. That will accomplish the task of digging the hole deeper. Ryan is not an idiot, he's smarter that Romney and one thing that Romney does seem to be doing is looking to improve the economic outlook. Unless and until that happens, all the social engineering in the world is a waste of time. You can have your 'special and equal rights' guaranteed by Obama and you can enjoy them while living in a tent city.

So with all the cuts to Medicare and Medicaid why the cuts in taxes to corporations and the rich to pay for them? ( 10% drops from 35% to 25% why?) Why the adding in of more money for the military when that is a glutted place that needs to be cut. Conservatives, what do you think of Paul Ryan being for gays and lesbians? I love it! I'm pleased with that part of this right wing nut case!

The bulls eye is now directly on Paul Ryan. don't cry baby tears like Bonehead boehner when there are a few direct hits!

Whoops, what's that sound I hear. Oh, just a few million seniors yelling, "Keep your damn hands off of my Social Security and Medicare."

Guess he forgot about all those election card carrying seniors out there that will now vote for Obama.

Say good bye to Florida seniors

Romney has now alienated everyone in America !!!! now his only votes will come from Obamahaters !!!!

He may have been better off choosing Palin or Bachman-- or Cain or Perry -- at least he would have chosen someone that is know to be @at$hit crazy -- instead of proving that he is too --

Ryan will end socialism as we know it -- public schools, libraries, police & fire, -- FLSA, FMLA, ADA, ADEA and those cursed environmental laws. Finally we will be free to continue our descent into a plutocracy.

Job1 - Another left wing lie. Ryan's proposed budget, notice the word proposed, states that seniors currently covered by SS and Medicare would/could stay on the CURRENT program (55+). BTW, Ryan's Budget was a PROPOSAL nothing more. It was not passed therefore is moot. Where was the Senate's Budget, Oh yea, Dingy Harry wouldn't bring one to the floor. How many votes did Obama's Budget get, Oh yea, ZERO, NANA, ZIP.

The Democrats will try and run on the Ryan Budget proposal, but yet they won't say what their plan is.

Mormon & Moron !!!!!!!!!!

Looter & Voucher !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dog & Corndog !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Mr FLIP-FLOP" and "Mr Running DOG" Such a GREAT PAIR!

phinephancy, Say good bye to Seniors !!!!!!!!

Ryan Voucher = No Vote from all our Senior Citizens !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry for you art.......there's not much time left for you to enjoy knowing who and where you are.............Alzheimers surely is a bad thing if you believe that stealing from Medicare line..........Romney will make sure you DON'T have Medicare because you will have a choice to pay some insurance company to deny your claims so they can keep up their profits

Romneycare is Socialism !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Phine - Even if the Ryan Plan was passed, which it wasn't, show me where the Seniors would be effected. The so called Ryan Plan states that people 55+ would not be effected by the changes in SS and Medicare. You do know that Medicare is in deep trouble, so what is the Democrats plan.

BTW, I hope you are feeling better.

Most seniors are grown ups, and can do math. Keep dreaming if you think they are going to vote for the clown show in the White House.

youraloser fits R.I.N.O. the party you are shilling for is going to lose big time in 2012. The irony is everyone will be a winner as a consequence, your self included. My guess is the reason people don't respond to you is because they put you on ignore. Everyone needs a hobby, if you want to rant in the news vine I can think of worse things for you to do. Just don't expect me to take your posts seriously.

They aren't worried about seniors, they will force them all of the voting rolls by November first.

sfcret....I'm 52 y/o....so under the Ryan budget "proposal", I'd be screwed. If RR 2012 should happen to come to fruition in November, America's soon-to-be seniors will only have the Senate (should it remain an "America First" majority) to put up any roadblocks to another Tea Party, anti-America budget plan.

It's a scary thought....and I'm not the only middle-aged "under 55" person who feels this way!

I'm 50, and the Ryan plan wouldn't cut the caregivers like the Obama plan does. That means I may be able to keep my doctors because more will drop when their less than the cost reimbursements get cut further under the ACA.

I'm sure the conservatives will find much to like in the fact Paul supports gay and lesbian rights? The euphoria will fade just like it did with the other nut, Sarah Pathetic Palin. Where is she now????

ab-2261494

These two are like two cheeks of the same dumb arse .

What, the refection of your face in the mirror?

A better pick for VP would have been Willard's horse, HorseMeat burgers at the Convention for the TeaReTards !!!!!!!!!!!

Where does Ryan get his money from?

Dunno. Where did Harry Reid get his from? Sure wasn't his salary.

Ryan get his money from his wife.....her dad was a personal injury lawyer in Oklahoma......

Mornin' Phine....nice to see ya'

Ryan gets his money from the taxpayers!.....He was educated by the taxpayers!

I gotta go with what Newt said......The Ryan budget is 'right-wing social engineering'!

The newest research from Nate has it as:
Today

“Obama chance of winning 73.3% Romney 26.7%”

Projected Winner Obama 303.6

Projected Loser Romney 234.4

My projected election Electoral Vote out come totals are:

Electoral Vote:

Projected Winner Obama 297

Projected Loser Romney 241

Aw,

Snow, you forgot to eat the entire apple! I am so disappointed in you.

Kathyrn,

Thanks for the info, seems most politicians come with family money now days!

Seems like every time Oklahoma comes up in the national arena it is an embarrassment..........this one sure is.

The GOP would have been better off running a Hitler/Charles Manson ticket!

Ooops,....wait a minute,....isn't that in essence what they've done?

One ultra-fascist, and one guy who wants to send old people to gas chambers.

Obama/Biden 2012, and I'm already buying the "He's Re-elected,...Get Over It" bumper stickers.

Oh boy! It seems that all our friends on the right are very upset this morning!

Let the name calling begin! Poor little Snow! sob sob!

GOPisextinct, that is disgustung and uncalled-for.

snowjackson,

Why does your moniker lead me to "bloggerbutthead" in your address line?

Soonerfan,

Your reply to my friend Phine who is battling terminal cancer is beyond the pale !!!!

North star

Thank you for telling me, Phine, I am sorry you are battling cancer, I hope you can beat it or at least have a good quality of life. I did not know.

I will keep my comments to the issues. I sincerely apologize and hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me. Not an excuse, but sometimes I think we all get carried away. I am sorry.

soonerfan,

I hope Phine does read your apology.

She has a wonderful heart and is always posting about keeping to the topic and not being extreme to both sides.

well, gee snow - you seem to forget that all it took after eating the apple was a kiss from a handsome prince to wake snowwhite. Too bad the handsome princes (Rmoney and Ryan the rotorooter) won't have the "power". Too bad, so sad...

Remember all these nasty liberals when they post their surprise, disappointment, and that they will be moving out of the country on election night when Obama / Biden gets trounced by Romney / Ryan.

when that happens, there will be frogs and pigs flying with the wings they grew...

(of course, for some it might even be "the mythical second coming")

Job 1

The services tracking this are only as good as the polls they use and that is not too good.

Most of them are using a polls like the fox news poll this week showing Obama up 9 points nationwide.

I checked up on this one. First, the poll was a Democrat Polling company that used 44% Democrats, 35% Republicans to get the results. Interesting seeing Democrat Registration peaked at 39.6% of all voters in 2008. At that time Democrats turnout was up 6 points on Republicans.

In 2010 Democrats turned out on 3 points higher than Republicans and the Republicans took over the house of Representatives and threatened taking over the Senate except for 4 major get out the vote efforts by democrats in Nevada (Reid), Delaware, Colorado, and Washinton State.

Being Democrats are really not that energized as republican as democrat, republican, and independent poll takers are constantly saying do you really think that a the democrat response is going to increase by 6 instead of dropping further?

I find that a real stretch to accept.

I know his budget calls for vouchers for Medicare......is he also going to "force" the private insurance companies to sell us comparable coverage for that amount?

Oh damn Kathryn, he is going to make welfare recipients get a job. Ooh, bad idea. not

What does throwing the seniors in America under the bus for more tax cuts for Romney and his rich friends have to do with welfare?

Being the republicans trashed our economy and refuse to do anything to create jobs, just where are these welfare people going to find jobs anyway?

The republicans had plenty of money to bail out the greedy bankers, but the people who were the actual victims of the recession and lost jobs, homes and their entire life's savings need to be punished for being poor now.

After the republicans destroy your life, they then want to blame the president and call him the first food stamp president because he won't let your children starve like the republicans want him to.

The Ryan budget is just icing on the cake, Ryan would take care away from our wounded veterans to pay for more tax cuts for himself.

Ryan the traitor to our American veterans and Romney the all American tax cheat. Romney is so honest and such a good businessman that he now refuses to show anyone just how he got so rich and what kind of businessman he actually was.

Now Mitt the twit's new plan is he wants Seniors dyan with Ryan budget.

The thing about the guys story about his wife dying of cancer is that Romney didn't care before and now Romney promises to end health care if elected for a new larger group of people to die like the last group of Americans he took health care away from.

It is not only what Romney did in his bain past, but what he plans on doing again.

VOTE FOR DEMOCRACY...VOTE FOR A DEMOCRAT 2012

Wow, now an 84 year old senior has to "Get A Job", because they're so lazy and don't deserve the medicare & SS they PAID FOR! Ooooh, what a terrible person she must be.

I wouldn't be fooled by Ryan "allowing" current seniors to keep their Medicare. That's just code for "I need your votes, but once you get me in, I'm your WORST ENEMY."

Smokeys mom,

Sooner said welfare not SSI or medicare, Keep up! Welfare.

Paladin -- Good old Newt was out there trying to pitch the "gateway" argument about giving states a waiver for folks on welfare, and here you are saying there is no slippery slope about the 1% Ryan-types who have hated trust funds like Medicare and Social Security from day one? Of course his voucher privatization of Medicare is ALL about ending Medicare for everyone as soon as possible! Get real!!!

All Right Wingers what makes you think it is free stuff? My first job was at the age of fifteen and if you look at the date of my Social Security Card it says so

And eventually - I was paying at the highest collectible payments - at a six figure job for thirty years

So where do get the idea of a ponzi scheme when I have paid into a program my entire adult life?

If you little boys and girls even deign to read FDR'S statements you would realize the Republicans from day one have tried to dismantle this program

Why? Because they don't want Americans to have a benefit - or is it because they want Americans under their heel?

You decide - I already have

True Patriot Old Newt is the only person I know who can lie with his mouth shut

What a piece of garbage

"With energy and vision, Paul Ryan has become an intellectual leader of the Republican Party," Romney said upon introducing his new No. 2.

Great fit for Mitts the barber. He really needs to infuse some intellectual content into his vision for America. Have to wonder who will be the real leader of the GOP/TP?

We're getting rid of Paul Ryan in the House because as I understand it, he is running for VP right now so he surely can't also be running to keep his seat in the House. So at least one good thing will come of this. Maybe with him gone someone else will come up with a reasonable, sensible workable plan. Ryan's plan was none of the above.

ryan doesn't seem very confident in the romney/ryan ticket...just like 99% of Americans

Obama/Biden the Thinking Persons President 2012

He

Why don't you check the CBO numbers and Heritage Foundation.

Obama has stolen 754 billion from Medicare and transferred it to Medicaid which has very little to do with seniors. So Obama has already changed medicare as we know it.

payroll deductions for medicare and the medicare trust fund is for retirement benefit's only not for states poor and thier children.

This is why I have been fighting for choice since the Reagan Era for the privatizing option so I can have control of what I put in and earning yearly double digit gains .

The tax rates under the Ryan plan are 9% for low income 15% for middle income and 26% for higher income earners which is one percent higher than the current rate of 25%

So I wouldn't call it a tax break for the rich.

I know you believe everything you hear from the big liar you support instead of looking at the numbers.

john you are a nut! lol.

your nose is growing..,

Daniel it doesn't matter what it says, all the Obama campaign has to do is tell people that's what the Ryan budget wants to do, they know it doesn't say that, but they also know that 99% of the people will not take the time to look it up. It's called propaganda and both sides do it.

The problems is the Romney campaign doesn't have anything new to tell us about Obama and they added a new big target for Obama. Trust me I live in WI. and Ryan is way too extreme for the middle(which majority of Americans are)to vote for.

Not only that 58% of Americans don't like Ryans plan.

Daniel, those of us who HATE it have read it and UNDERSTAND it. People who like it either DON'T understand it or they are RICH and know it helps the rich while screwing everyone else. So which are you?

As someone in my 50's I am not going let let some rich, spoon fed morons like Romney and Ryan screw me out of my medicare and social security just so they can have more money THEY DON'T FRICKING NEED!

Tsk tsk Sandy, looking for a handout. I like the way you mentioned white guys.

Are you a racist too?

Sooner, you are a liar and for the moderator you can verify that I am telling the truth. He said I mentioned "white guys" and if you look I never said "white guys" and he called me a racist by using a lie he fabricated.

Sooner, like everyone I have been paying into medicare and social security all of my life so it is not a handout it is what I have PAID FOR. Maybe you need to actually understand what medicare and social security are and what those deductions mean in your pay stub (unless you are too rich to even look).

So get a damned clue and stop lying to try and support your side of the argument.

Sandy,

The problem is the baby boomers all retired at the same time. Yes there are other issues, but the amount of persons all retiring at the same time has put a huge burden on the system.

sooner_fan Are you a racist too?

First off I'm selfemployed so don't give me the standard rightwing response get a job because I have one. All she said was rich white guys and you start dropping the race bomb. Quit trying to spin what she said into something else. That just makes you look like the racist one. Does your parents and/or your grandparents receive Social Security and Medicare? Do you tell them that their getting handouts? Do you also condemn them for receiving them. That would not surprise me that you would.

Sandy - So what is the Democrats plan for SS and Medicare? You say you are in your 50s, you do know that the Ryan Proposal would not effect those 55 and over. The Ryan Budget, that the left is so upset about, is nothing but a Budget Proposal, it has no effect on anything. If the Senate would pass a Budget, as required by law, then the Senate & House could reconcile their differences, but Harry Reid has failed to even write a Senate Budget.

BTW, when Ryan becomes VP he will not be in a position to write any kind of a Budget, as that is the job of Congress.

Sooner, there would NEVER have been a burden on the system if not for REPUBLICANS deciding to USE THE SURPLUSES FROM SOCIAL SECURITY TO FILL BUDGET GAPS. They have used SS as a slush fund to pay for their special projects for decades. There are now TRILLIONS in IOUs from congress when SS was being raided to cover budget shortfalls. They figured all that extra money was laying around and going to waste so why not steal it. Yes democrats have dipped into it too but republicans STARTED the raping of social security. If they paid all of the money stolen from SS back into the system there wouldn't be any shortfall in the future.

sfcret, so you are ok with the Ryan Plan screwing everyone who has paid in who is under 55? And yes I know about how he is trying to sucker the elderly into supporting it. That is all the under 55 crap is supposed to do. He is basically saying I won't screw you guys but I will screw your children and grandchildren if you support me and my plan. Trying to buy off the elderly by not touching theirs while screwing everyone else.

And if you think Ryan wouldn't be writing budgets as VP then you are naive. Cheney controlled Bush like a sock puppet. Ryan and the Tea Party would be controlling Romney the same way. Either do what we want or we won't help you get elected again (if the tragedy of Romney/Ryan getting elected were to ever happen in the first place). And you are buying into the Republican/Tea Party LIE about the budget. It is not Harry Reid causing the blockage but the Tea Party Republicans who want to gut the government so it can never work all in an effort to lower taxes. I wouldn't trust a Tea Party person to manage a childs piggy bank. They are like college students who get their first credit card. They buy all the cool things THEY want for themselves and then have no way to pay for anything. So they decide to not may payments anymore on the credit card (not raising the debt ceiling) and then wondering why their credit rating gets trashed. Tea Party Republicans are like irresponsable children and have no financial skills what so ever.

Sandy - You have been drinking to much of the left wing cool-aide. You throw around names like "tea party", who by the way, wants to cut spending. Look at the GAO Reports that show exactly how many billions are being wasted on duplication of programs, fraud and waste. The IRS has admitted that they have sent out millions,if not billions, in bogus returns. What part of the National debt don't you understand? We are broke and can not keep borrowing money for pet projects, like "green energy subsidies", farm subsidies, oil subsidies and all other subsidized programs that were mostly started to get votes from certain voting blocks. We need to get our financial house in order.

Please tell me how Senator Reid in not failing for refusing to present a Senate Budget, he has the votes since it only takes a majority to pass the Budget. Maybe you should take a civics lesson on the responsibility of Congress and the VP.

well sfc - just eliminate the upper limit on SS payroll tax and the funding issue pretty much disappears. Too simple an idea, though, ISN'T IT?

Actually the Tea Party DOESN'T want to cut spending. Well, they don't want to cut spending on anything THEY want like over funding the military and buying things even the military doesn't want. The only spending the Tea Party wants to cut are things that help the poor, disadvantaged and the middle class. They are all for spending like drunken sailors if it helps the rich. Just look at their budgets. The Tea Party sponsored budgets are rape the poor and middle class and shower the rich and companies with tax giveaways. But what can we expect as the Tea Party is almost completely funded by big business and it was started by big business. The whole grass roots thing is one of those lies they created to sucker in the gullible and those who lack CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS (remember the Republican Party Platform about that insanity).

Sooner, Social Security, and medicare, are NOT handouts, the programs are returns on tax payer investments with a high rate of return.

sorry sandy - mistaken notion of SS as a quasi "bank" - it's not. That money is still there and still has to be paid OUT. The revenue coming IN isn't enough to keep up with the outgo, though. Congress did fill the trust fund with IOUs but it's just another liability

"your" name should be "Im" - the REAL loser is RMoney (Ryan is just along for the ride)

Sandy -- I'm in agreement with you on the sacking of the Social Security funds, but, to be historically accurate, Lyndon Johnson started the diversion of SS funds to the General Fund. Everybody else just thought it was a great idea.

Sandy, Missouri -- Agreed. Or worse, to screw the American people out of entitlements to enrich themselves AND the military industrial complex. Ryan's plan doesn't balance the budget for 23 years because of additional tax cuts for the rich and defense spending. These 1% Poster Boys are not just greedy, they are insane!

Daniel Strieberg - Assumes we are all stupid - sorry Danny boy we did read Pauley Boys budget

So did "the Nuns on the Bus" so did the Bishops - so don't tell us we are stupid

Because you know what Danny Boy we know how to read

And everthing in his plan sets Grannies hair on fire

So nice lie!

Sooner Fan - A Hand out ? Meet me in Washington and I will take you for a ride in my Range Rover

So little boy you assume all liberals are on welfare - what a joke you are

Well I guess we know that Kathryn Sullivan is a true RACIST. All I read is white guys.

Thank you Kathryn! We know why you voted for Obama

No, Kathryn is NOT a racist. Statistics, you know those pesky hard-core FACTUAL numbers you can't deny, show that Kathryn is correct. The Republican/t-baggin party is WHITE. They have also shown, particularly as of late, how incredibly racist they are through their policies, their treatment of minorities, their language used when speaking about non-whites, etc.

Guess TRUTH hurts. I don't have a tear to shed for ya, but I have a vote against your boys, Romney & Ryan.

OBAMA/ BIDEN 2012

Whatever. Ignore reality and vote sound bites. You don't care if the country goes bankrupt so long as you get your free stuff. vote democrat, vote for freebies, need and want that Obama stash. Where's the money, Obama has the money, where did Obama get the money, why, his 'stash' and I want me that stash. I vote for Obama, gimme...

let's cut corporate welfare by chopping "defense" by 50% so that we only outspend the next 4 countries combined...INSTEAD OF THE REST OF THE WHOLE WORLD (better still, limit military spending to 1.5% of the the GDP...)

Kathryn, let's not overgeneralize. There were plenty of very supportive white women in attendance as well.

For those unfamiliar with the Norfolk, VA area, it's home to a high percentage of African Americans. How many did we see? Two--strategically placed at the top center of the grandstand behind the speaker's platform--and one member of the duo disappeared before Ryan took the stage. Check out shots of the crowd: plenty of flag-wavers but not a single person of color.

Ain't that a scary-looking Mutual Admiration Society!

oh, we don't need that to show that the electorate is stupid - we KNOW that now - just look at the teabagger constituency

Well, how many of them getting the 'stash' in the teaparty? How you gonna pay for the Obama stash if you don't have anyone working? Can't have everybody on the dole, which seems to be the Obama plan. He's now wooing the welfare rolls for votes.

Hate that stupid teaparty as much as you want, at least they work and care about more that the next government check.

There are no rights in nature, and God is a personal opinion.

This election is about jobs and the economy...

Yeah, OK. And what have all these newbie Republicans done since getting into office other than try to push through antiquated draconian social agendas. Social agendas, not jobs and economy. Right? Or wrong? Answer truthfully now.

Daniel, please consider this, and then ask yourself what the Ryan plan would do to ameliorate this problem:

"The mobility effect refers to a basic asymmetry of globalization: the difference between internationally mobile capital and immobile labor.

When capital becomes internationally mobile, countries begin to compete for it. They do this by offering improved profitability compared with other countries, for example, by cutting corporate tax rates, easing regulations, tolerating pollution, or ignoring labor standards.

In the ensuing competition among governments, capital benefits from a "race to the bottom," in which governments engage in a downward spiral of taxation and regulation in order to try to keep one step ahead of other countries.

All countries lose in the end, since all end up losing the tax revenues and regulations needed to manage the economy.

The biggest loser ends up being internationally immobile labor, which is likely to face higher taxation to compensate for the loss of taxation on capital."

Jeffrey Sachs, The Price of Civilization, 2011.

There does not seem to me to be a way to return to our "traditional values" when corporate hegemony and a morally and ethically blind focus on the bottom line is our only answer to a financial crisis.

It seems to me that harking back to the "good old days" is paradoxically harking back to the 50's when unionized labor was strong. Now the conservatives are hating unions and blaming them for everything.

In fact, it seems that the stagnation of working class income and re-distribution of wealth to the "investment" class is an aspect of the problem that the Ryan plan does not deal with. US GDP grows year over year, but working class wealth is stagnant or dropping, so where is all the wealth going?

Answer: to the Cayman Islands.

Obama 2012

c'mon danny boy - was there a founding principle about plutocracy and oligarchy?

That's what Willard and Ryan (biggy rat and itchy brother) are touting.

oh, and danny - HOW/ WHY did this all get started? Bank imminent collapse, maybe?` Home prices PLUNGED, unemployment started rising in late 2007 and yet you blame the current administration - and NOW think that the choice of "itchy brother" to "biggy rat" will make any DIFFERENCE when itchy was part of the reason NOTHING has been done in the last 2 years?

Community Reinvestment Act seems to have fallen off your radar. Ditto Clinton. Also off your radar is the fact that Holder and Obama announced absolutely no criminal prosecutions for Wall Street and banker fatcats. Keep drinking your kool-aid though, it will make it seem like Obama is for the middle class and will punish the oligarchs, yeah, uh huh.

Obama was a key player in the support and continuance of the CRA. He was a lawyer for ACORN and a few other little organizations that insisted that banks lend to unqualified lenders, which is ultimately what burst the bubble. So sorry but your president had his fingers deep into the housing collapse.

White guys?

God will the racism from Kathryn ever stop.

NO!

Kathryn,

Norquist doesn't care about the deficit either. However, he does basically support Rep. Ryan. All Norquist wants is someone to sign whatever he puts in front of him (which kind of lets you know where Rep. Ryan's place is).

Norquist says " the budget deficit is not the metric by which he measures the effectiveness of fiscal policy. The size of government is the only real measurement, he said. The deficit merely is the difference between how much money the government takes in and how much it spends."

“The difference between them is not particularly important,”

http :// blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2011/07/12/norquist-issues-new-marching-orders-to-gop/

Snow -- You can't deny that both Romney and Ryan are "rich, white guys." Nothing racist about that.

It's PC to be racist against white men. Every other group is off limits. Now, racism is racism and there are no 'off-limits' group unless you are a class A hypocrite.

Job1 is that after the announcement? I know as of Thursday they were saying that Obama was widening the gap(when even fox polls show you ahead it must be true), it would be great if this choice widened it even more. I am concerned about WI. now going to Romney as people here may just vote to see a WI. boy in office, but 7 points isn't easy to make up and I think most in WI. also think Ryan is too far right anymore. I've voted for him in the past but that was a mistake, never again!

I think Paul Ryan was in trouble in his home district.

No, I think Romney will definitely get a temporary bump out of this, just as MCain did with Palin. He'd better hope it lasts longer than that did.

Can't wait for the President and Willard to go toe-to-toe in three debates...

Me either, Romney will likely be dizzy from trying to come from both sides.

Kathy and Invisible handjob, Ryan and Romney are gonna kick Biden's and Obama's Azzes in the debates and in November!!!!

Romney/Ryan 2012!!! LEADERSHIP FOR A CHANGE!!! Yeah Baby!!!

Your funny, Romney could not kick any butt unless his wife was in the lead....and Ryan will meet his smug,arrogant match in Biden.

of course, the VP debates would be a turn around (as if the VP actually MATTERS)

Biden couldn't hold his own against Palin for heaven's sake. He seems like a nice guy who is a few bricks shy of a load. As to Obama and Romney? Why do I think there won't even be a debate?

Mexico 2 — Brazil 1

Good match so far.

VIVA MEXICO!

Michael--And with Romney/Ryan, you have two rich guys who got their money from their father or their grandfather. Obama and Biden have regular folk roots, unlike the Republicans spoiled rich boys.

It's no coincidence they made this announcement in Virginia. In VA, a local politician running on the "Constitution Party" ticket is currently polling at nearly ten percent, the vast majority of which are right-leaning folks who would otherwise vote for the (R) candidate. This announcement will bring some of those folks back into the (R) team fold. It also may help get Wisconsin back into the game.

However, I don't see this moving the center very much. Congress is horribly unpopular - a state governor would have been a better choice - and picking a guy who many associate with Congressional leadership is, on the surface, not the wisest choice in the world.

The base will be solidified, which is good for Mitt, because without the base energized, he'd wind up in the mid-40s in the popular vote and lose handily, as real Conservatives voted for Johnson, wrote in Paul, or just stayed home.

However, reaching into the center is a much more difficult proposition now. Mitt doesn't like being pinned down to detailed positions, and the Ryan budget is very detailed. His campaign is already trying to distance themselves from it: "It's not an embrace, line by line, of the Ryan plan. Mitt Romney has his own plan." Even when being "bold and decisive", they still manage to come across as total weenies.

We will of course want to see his tax status also.........how can Ryan release his and Romney not? This should be fun.

No it did not..........you must listen to FOX.

It implied that, but it didn't say it. It may have gone a little too far, but it was an internet ad that Obama had nothing to do with.

Can you read Jock. Obamas press secrertary did in fact admit she knew about it.

She knew then Obama knew. The head is responsible for all of the parts.

Get it?

Sooner--Here are some facts: The ad in question was sponsored by a PAC. Legally, a compaign can have nothing to do with what a PAC does. In contrast, Romney's campaign ran the "Pants on Fire" welfare ad.

And the heart of the ad's message was that Mitt doesn't care about the consequences of his actions on the middle class.

The ad implied that Romney is responsible for the woman's death. All the actual facts dispute the case.

Ryan is a good choice, he is trying to balance the budget, as with all ideas not everything in his proposal is ideal. Some tweaking wil be done. The idea of placing some of your SS dedusctions into a personal account is given as option to people, this is required. The age increases for full benefits begin after the 67 year mark is reached in 2026 and will only increase 2 months per year afterward. So the benchmark of 70 will be reached in 2044. The plan does not prevent people who wish/must do so from retiring at age 62.

The Medicare change allows the average benefit per person of approximately $11,000 to be used to buy insurance. The elderly are still covered. The plan is one of the parts that may be tweaked to make it work better for the people.

I have not seen any Democrat plan to balance the budget and address the out of control entitlements. if nthe Democrat status quo continues then Social Security will see benefits suddenly drop by 34% in about 3 decades.