Something about Barack Obama has always caused his opponents to make unforced errors. They get desperate and do stupid things to themselves. This is just another case in point. I’m LOVING IT!
They need to get that ad out in all 50 states, yesterday! An internet ad wont do it. Romney picks one of the most right wing extremists in congress, everyone needs to be informed.
Well it looks like Gilligan has fixed the boat for Thurston so they can get aboard and sail off to the sunset……..It’s time to keep a sharp eye. We can’t let this diversion keep voters away from the polls. It’s time to get real busy. ……http://www.evoter.com/
That’s all Sherwood Schwartz the creator of the show. He was an old school comedy writer. Just go for the laughs. Schwartz and his brother used to write for Bob Hope’s radio show and some of those skits could get pretty crazy.
What you need to know right now: This election is about values, and today Romney doubled down on his commitment to take our country back to the failed policies of the past.
Congressman Paul Ryan is best known as the author of a budget so radical The New York Times called it “the most extreme budget plan passed by a House of Congress in modern times.” With Mitt Romney’s support, Ryan would end Medicare as we know it and slash the investments we need to keep our economy growing — all while cutting taxes for those at the very top.
Over the next few days, Romney’s campaign and its allies will tell a very different story about Paul Ryan.
Our job is to make sure Americans know the truth about what Romney’s choice says about him as a candidate and leader, and to stand with President Obama and Vice President Biden at another major moment in this campaign.
Medicaid and Medicare are now open-ended entitlements. Anyone who meets the eligibility criteria is entitled to benefits defined in detail by federal law. Spending increases automatically with health costs, the number of beneficiaries and the amount of care they receive.
Mr. Ryan would change the nature of the entitlement under both programs. He would convert the federal share of Medicaid into a block grant. The federal government would give each state a lump sum of money to care for low-income people. States would also be given much more discretion over use of the money.
Mr. Ryan would repeal President Obama’s health care law, which calls for the expansion of Medicaid to cover many more people.
To rein in Medicare costs, Mr. Ryan proposes fundamental changes in the structure of the program: The federal government would contribute a fixed amount of money on behalf of each beneficiary, and future beneficiaries could use the money to buy private insurance or to help pay for traditional Medicare.
In addition, the growth of Medicare would be capped. In general, spending would not be allowed to increase more than the growth of the economy, plus one-half of one percentage point — a slower rate of increase than Medicare has historically experienced.
Analyzing a slightly different version of Mr. Ryan’s proposal last year, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said that “most elderly people would pay more for their health care.” The additional costs, averaging perhaps $6,400 for a typical beneficiary in 2022, would require older Americans to “reduce their use of health care services, spend less on other goods and services, or save more in advance of retirement,” the report said.
HAHAHAHA @ Willard’s misspeak. He’s just a walking mistake. These two think they’ve got it made because they got their Raygun haircuts, complete with Raygun pomade and Raygun dye job.
My local OFA office is going crazy! They ate stoked and ready, pissed off, one supporter said.
One lady said, Robney is a fucking idiot.
Go ahead, go to one of your Local offices, the Campaign has officially begun.
Five Times Mitt Romney Has Embraced The Ryan Budget
Just minutes after Mitt Romney announced Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) as his vice presidential choice, his campaign was working to distancing itself from Ryan’s signature piece of legislation.
Romney can forget that noise. Picking Ryan means there will be no pivoting to the center. He ran in the primaries as a severe conservative and by doing so had to give his base the running mate they demanded. The “moderate” ship has sailed and from now to the election day Romney has to spend his time talking to people who weren’t going to vote for a democrat anyway.
Robme is a sorry idiot to pick the architect of the “Ryan budget” then distance yourself from it….how can he NOT know that Team Obama would not hang it around both their necks? Total numbskullery.
Wow, Mittsters break land speed record trying to distance from radical Ryan budget. Problem: it looks just like Mitt's! abcn.ws/Pb7vAs— David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) August 11, 2012
Oh My! MeThinks Willard just realized he royally screwed himself. Not liking the fact that Dems are doing the booty dance. lolol Maybe he can retroactively deselect Ryan. hahahaha
After Ryan, Romney cancels TV interviews
Mitt Romney has cancelled this weekend’s scheduled television interviews, following today’s announcement that Paul Ryan had been tapped as running mate.
PBS Newshour confirms that the Romney campaign has cancelled today’s interview with Gwen Ifill, which was to air on Monday. The Romney campaign also cancelled one-on-one interviews with local networks in the Virginia area, where Romney launched his bus tour.
One would think that this is the best time for Willard to do these interviews, to talk about his VP pick. More evidence that his campaign is totally unprepared and incompetent.
I think his VP was forced on him at the last minute. He has to go back to his staff to get advice on how to respond to questions about the Ryan budget and the fact that Ryan has been a career government worker.
Poor Willard, he’s probably locked himself in the bathroom siting in the fetal position with Queen Anne and his boyzos banging on the door telling him to “let Paul Ryan do all his talking for him’” and if he loses he can blame PR and Bill Kristol for ruining his chance for the presidency.
Why do I feel that mittbot was arm-twisted into picking the vouchercare boy ? His immediate distancing himself from the ryan’s plan curse, his faux paus in introducing him and not appearing with his own pick all add fuel to that fire.
That would explain not standing there with Ryan as is tradition. Mitt thought he could embrace the Ryan plan without actually having to pick the guy. Wrong and he’s not happy.
It’s the Koch Brothers… winning friends and influencing people the only way they know how, with money. $25 million pledged to the campaign officially, but unknown millions already funding Americans for Prosperity and the like.
I went and saw “The Campaign” last night. It was pretty funny. The rich men who were buying the campaign thanks to Citizens United, were the Moch Brothers. Hmmmm
A local honor for Virginia Beach’s gold medalist. Eric Lindbergh works on an image of gymnast Gabby Douglas on the side of the A. J. Gator’s Sports Bar & Grill in Virginia Beach on Thursday.
Well – once everyone gets a good look at exactly what he stands for and who he regards as his inspiration, he can kiss any future campaign goodbye. He’s a theorist – never accomplished anything in his life, other than getting himself elected to the House. He doesn’t know what it’s like to work and suffer and fear for your kids’ futures – and how did he make $3.5 million on a Congressman’s budget, anyway?
Rehberg ad: GOP plan ‘could harm the Medicare program’
Democrats have found a new ally in their attacks on House Republicans’ Medicare plan: two House Republicans.
Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-Mont.), who is challenging Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), criticized the Medicare plan in his latest campaign ad. The ad paints Rehberg as a centrist willing to buck his party — including its controversial plan to partially privatize Medicare.
“Rehberg refused to support a Republican budget plan that could harm the Medicare program so many of Montana’s seniors rely on,” the ad says.
Rehberg was among the handful of House Republicans who voted against the GOP’s budget proposal. But by going a step further and running ads that explicitly criticize the measure, Rehberg could help bolster Democrats’ belief that the issue will resonate with voters this fall. Republican leaders refused to back away from the plan despite the controversy surrounding it.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee seized on the GOP’s Medicare proposal when it was first introduced, saying it would “end Medicare as we know it.” Attacks against the proposal have become a staple of House Democrats’ ads.
Similarly, the Los Angeles Times reported that freshman Rep. David McKinley (R-W.Va.) is criticizing the proposal in mailers to his home district. His mailings say the Medicare plan would “have a negative impact” on seniors, noting that the Congressional Budget Office said seniors’ out-of-pocket costs could nearly double under the Republican proposal.
What a gaffe. Wow. TOD I am sorry to say but I think Romney needs a complete mental check-up, similar to when someone
goes for a complete physical. His elevator is not exactly going to the top floor. Maybe his car elevator is,though
so that might compensate.
Throughout his campaign, Mitt Romney has hammered President Obama for a lack of experience in the private sector, saying “he doesn’t understand how the free economy works. He’s never had a job in the free economy; neither has Vice President Biden.”
In fact, Romney even proposed a constitutional amendment that would require any president to have worked at least three years in the private sector.
And so it’s surprising that Romney has picked Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), a man who, outside of a job at McDonald’s and a brief stint at a company owned by his family, has hardly any private sector record.
snip/
Obama actually worked for private companies for the sum total of 14 years. If he is unqualified by Romney’s standards to grasp how the economy works, it’s not clear what would make Romney think Ryan more prepared to understand job creation, or to assume the Office of the President.
The problem is that the right wing defines “our own” quite differently. If Mittster had any idea this song existed, he’d endorse it. He DOES take care of his own. That is, the people just like him. Rich, white, clueless.
A favorite of the Koch brothers, Ryan has accused scientists of engaging in conspiracy to “intentionally mislead the public on the issue of climate change.” He has implied that snow invalidates global warming.
Ryan has voted to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from limiting greenhouse pollution, to eliminate White House climate advisers, to block the U.S. Department of Agriculture from preparing for climate disasters like the drought devastating his home state, and to eliminate the Department of Energy Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA-E):
Paul Ryan Promoted Unfounded Conspiracy Theories About Climate Scientists.
Paul Ryan Argued Snow Invalidates Global Warming Policy.
Paul Ryan Voted To Eliminate EPA Limits On Greenhouse Pollution.
Paul Ryan Voted To Block The USDA From Preparing For Climate Change.
Paul Ryan Voted To Eliminate White House Climate Advisers.
Paul Ryan Voted To Eliminate ARPA-E.
Paul Ryan Voted To Eliminate Light Bulb Efficiency Standards.
Paul Ryan Voted For Keystone XL.
Paul Ryan Budget Kept Big Oil Subsidies And Slashed Clean Energy Investment.
Michael Tomasky on Romney’s Stunning, Terrible Choice of Ryan for VP
So, you’re Mitt Romney. You’re sitting there in your hotel suite alone at midnight. You’re thinking about this choice. After plowing through the angles about this state and that state and each person’s plusses and minuses, you think to yourself, “But I have to make the choice that I want to make, a choice that says something about me.” And yet, at the crucial moment, you recoil from it.
Think of it: The candidate will be running on his vice president’s ideas! It’s a staggering thought. Ryan might as well debate Obama this October, and Romney can square off against Biden.
I am with you Dudette. Romney looked overwhelmed by Ryan. I also think that at this stage, if GOP delegates were given a choice they would reverse the order and make Ryan the Presidential candidate and Romney his VP.
This is the Only Campaign, that has hit the GOP square in the Mouth. Usually, its the other side, making a mockery of our proposals. Its fun, taking down their lame policies, for the whole Country to see. And we have only just begun.
.@MittRomney cancels all scheduled interviews, reverts to his default personality disorder of duck and hide. #chickenhawk— meta (@metaquest) August 11, 2012
Seriously? Theme from “Air Force One” played on the battleship as Paul Ryan walked up to the podium. The chickenhawk #GOP macho, it reeks.— meta (@metaquest) August 11, 2012
Theme music from movie about kick-ass former fighter pilot President who overcomes terrorist kidnappers
Campaign uses same theme music on battleship for sniveling draft-dodging Presidential candidate with history of bullying the weak to introduce sniveling weenie-boy running mate, who also never served either and wants to push seniors over the cliff without a social safety net.
Dudette, we are on the same wavelength today. I was uncomfortable by these folks when they play that music to walk on these pathetic men. It was an awful feeling, but we will move on. I hate it when people are so careless with theme music in their programming. Music is such a beautiful and sacred art for me, and I just do not like it to be cast in a “I do not really care how you take this.” Especially in political events where the moods are already high for the good or for the discomforting sides.
One thing that I loved about POB’s campaign in 2008, was that the music was so appropriate. You could see the true and respectfulness in their use of the music for each event. That is why I love our president. He and his team are true to their core. No cheap shots thrown at the people even with the choice of the music that they used.HZ
Japan just won the Women’s Bronze Medal Match against South Korea and they’re celebrating like it was Gold.
Good for them! Way to go, Ladies! I LOVE THE OLYMPICS!!
I like that they’re celebrating their Bronze medal – it’s a bronze medal at the Olympics! Deserves massive celebration – just making it there to compete. Lovely!
And let’s not forget the Symphony that was playing, after that speech?
Tears streaming down my cheek. NOT!
It was bumbling, stumbling, just to wave to the Crowd. Did you see it?
Msnbc is now the Olympics channel until night time.
LOL!
They cover every single Country, past, present and Future.
Earlier, Ancient Rome Defeated Ancient Greece in the Gold medal round for Gladiators.
“Unlike the current president, who has cut Medicare funding by $700 billion, we will preserve and protect Medicare and Social Security,” Romney said Saturday while introducing Ryan.
The trouble with this argument — made frequently by Republicans, including Ryan himself — is that Ryan’s own budget sustains the Medicare cuts in “Obamacare.” Congressional Republicans have voted overwhelmingly — most recently this spring — for the blueprint containing those cuts, which don’t significantly alter the seniors’ safety net program.
Talking points circulated by the Romney campaign Saturday similarly instruct surrogates to make the “Obama cut Medicare” argument to blunt voters’ fears over Ryan’s Medicare plan.
snip/
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office found last month that the Medicare provisions in the health care law would save $700 billion over a decade and extend the life of Medicare.
The cuts don’t target beneficiaries — they come largely in the form of reduced payments to hospitals, discounts on Medicaid prescription drugs, and pay cuts to private insurers under Medicare Advantage. The hospital and drug industries endorsed the law despite the cuts.
The Ryan plan, by contrast, would transform Medicare into a structure that rolls back the coverage guarantee for the elderly. In 10 years, the program would be replaced with a subsidy that beneficiaries can use to purchase insurance from a menu of private plans and a government option. CBO projects that in some cases, the subsidy won’t be sufficient to cover seniors’ medical expenses.
Mitt Romney — the gift that keeps on giving. Not that he had a raft of choices, but Weenie Boy is a great one. Joe Biden will set him on fire and then stomp on the ashes.
It is now being reported on CNN that Rom ney and Ryan will not be endorsing the Ryan budget, and will release their new economic plan for the future after the election.
YOU CAN’T MAKE THIS STUFF UP.
—
Wow….did Ryan just throw his budget under the bus or is this just bait and switch ?
I vote for bait and switch..if people KNEW what was in that disaster, they would NEVER ALLOW THESE CLOWNS NEAR THE WH! It is up to all of us to show the public that they would be voting against their own best interests. Liars and cheats will ALWAYS lies and cheat….tie this around their necks as well. They are fooling no one that has been paying attention
HAHAHAHA! Nice try, but they are not getting away with this. So they’re going to spend the entire RNC convention talking about PBO? That is the quickest way to turn off Independents (who they badly need to win)!!
Just yesterday, Romney’s team was whining and begging the Obama team not to talk about his background – not Massachussetts, not Mormonish, not Bain, not the Olympics, not his wealth, not his upbringing, not his character. Let’s just talk about the issues they said.
24 hours later, they don’t even want to talk about what they plan do once elected! Are you KIDDING ME?!!!
WTF is wrong with these people? More importantly, WTF is wrong with people who would VOTE for them?
We will have to immerse ourselves into doing what we do best. Move FORWARD with our individual choice of helping at OFA, donating, phone calls, e mails to friends, walking and knocking on doors, etc.
Is is inappropriate for me to ask my TOD family to help me get my FR page over the top. I get nervous when I can’t complete a task that I have set in motion. Just in me. I would appreciate anything. Thanks so much for all that you all do to encourage me to do the things that I do for all of us.
This site is such a beautiful place where we encourage each other to step out of the box and make it happen. I was sharing with some people yesterday and Thursday via my phone banking, and they were so elated that a site like this exist to promote the positive and good things that President Obama is doing.
(((((((((( Love you so much, Chips. You give me so much joy to keep moving. )))))))))))))))))HZ
Paul Ryan’s is one of Wall Street’s most devoted partisans on Capitol Hill, a veritable lobbyist inside Congress for all of their interests. Teabaggers don’t like politicians who voted for the irresponsible Bush bank bailouts? Ryan didn’t only vote for it– twice– as a high ranking member of Ways and Means and Banking Committee, the he persuaded dozens of reluctant GOP colleagues to vote for it and after it failed the first time, is said to have been the key figure in passing it the second time a week later!
snip/
On Medicare:
it slashes Medicare. It slashes Medicare so deeply that the Democrats’ proposal for $500 billion in savings over ten years, which Republicans demonised, looks like child’s play. Under Mr Ryan’s proposal, starting in 2021, Medicare would be gradually eliminated. Instead, seniors would be issued vouchers to buy private health insurance.
snip/
Rich seniors will still be able to afford high-quality medical care. Poor seniors won’t. They will suffer more and die younger.
Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), the ranking member of the House Budget Committee in consultation with the other Republicans on the Committee. But Ryan has released a budget he’d like. And it’s actually fairly detailed. And if you read it, which we have, you start to wonder why Democrats aren’t making a bigger deal out of it.
What’s in it? A few interesting things.
First, it calls for big cuts in Social Security benefits for everyone currently under 55 years of age. On top of the cuts it also calls for privatizing Social Security.
Basically the exact plan President Bush tried in 2005. Next, it calls for the full privatization and phasing out of Medicare. It’ll be replaced by a system of vouchers in which instead of getting Medicare you get a voucher to buy un-reformed private insurance.
Weirdly, with all that, the draft GOP budget doesn’t get the federal budget into surplus until sometime after 2060, which seems like a pretty long time. But isn’t this sort of a big deal? House Republicans are poised to run in 2010 on slashing or abolishing the two most popular federal government programs — Social Security and Medicare.
Yes – the 55 threshold is just to get votes. Once they’re in – it would be a whole new ballgame. Who would stop them at that point, if a majority of Americans demonstrated a complete disregard for their futures by voting them into office, despite fair warning?
He’s Grover’s bitch now.
The beltway potentate made it clear last year at CPAC what he wanted:
All we have to do is replace Obama. … We are not auditioning for fearless leader. We don’t need a president to tell us in what direction to go. We know what direction to go. We want the Ryan budget. … We just need a president to sign this stuff. We don’t need someone to think it up or design it. The leadership now for the modern conservative movement for the next 20 years will be coming out of the House and the Senate.
Pick a Republican with enough working digits to handle a pen to become president of the United States. This is a change for Republicans: the House and Senate doing the work with the president signing bills. His job is to be captain of the team, to sign the legislation that has already been prepared.
That was a quote from Grover Norquist….All the little robots all in a row….
Unless you’re talking about 4 Koch-type millionaires donating $250K each which is entirely plausible, I take these “reports” of fundraising with a huge grain of salt.
But who is the “Tea Party?” It’s a well-funded machine headed primarily by Big Oil, Koch bros, wealthy evangelicals, etc..the same millionaires handing out big fat checks to Romney and his SuperPACs.
They’ve convinced themselves that Ryan somehow “debated” the President, and won (at the Baltimore Massacre). It’s why CNN has been breathlessly showing a selected clip since last night every time I’ve channel-surfed past it. They forget what actually happened – how President Obama single-handedly entered the “lion’s den” and thrashed them all soundly. And they’re conveniently forgetting the front row seat that Paul Ryan was given to hear first hand the demolition of his Ryan Budget from the President, and how he went crying to the media afterwards, whining that he didn’t see the smackdown coming and wouldn’t be the President’s friend anymore…
Vigilance is needed and many people have figured out why.
The only way Romney /Ryan will be elected is through voter suppression and election fraud, that is the plan.— buffalo soldier SJ (@yellowclaire) August 11, 2012
REP. PAUL RYAN (WI)
Believes efforts should be focused on border security and that to pursue the DREAM Act at
this time would be a “serious mistake.”
Voted in favor of the Secure Fence Act, a bill that authorized the building of a fence along
the U.S.-Mexico border. (2006)
REP. PAUL RYAN (WI)
Voted against repealing the military’s discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. (2011)
Supports the 2006 amendment to the Wisconsin constitution banning marriage equality.
Voted in favor of the federal marriage amendment. (2006)
Voted in favor of the federal marriage amendment. (2004)
REP. PAUL RYAN (WI)
Voted to reinstate the D.C. abortion ban and the global gag rule, defund Planned
Parenthood, and eliminate funding for Title X family planning programs. (February 2011)
Cosponsored a bill to exempt any employer from providing contraceptive coverage as part
of their employees’ health care and opposed the Obama administration’s compromise to
require insurance companies to cover contraception. (February 2012)
Cosponsored and voted to pass the Protect Life Act (October 2011); and cosponsored and
voted to pass the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act (May 2011).
Voted to prohibit federal funding for teaching health centers for training in abortion care.
(May 2011)
eddie-paul munster’s voting record is absolutely HORRENDOUS. That’s a campaign ad right there, with those votes scrolled and narrated over a picture of his silly, short-foreheaded, selfish, entitled mug…. “Bold”….fuck me in the heart. Sickening.
Yo .@MittRomney nice try to divert attention from your tax returns by picking Mr Medicare Thrasher. Didn't work. Release Your Returns.— Bobfr (@Our4thEstate) August 11, 2012
HAHAHAHA….Oh my God…Willard is trying to imitate our President’s love of pie!! Damn, Willard, is there an original bone in your body?
Romney wants pie. @steveholland1 reports Romney at pie shop "Do you have rhubarb pie?….Blueberry?" Settles for apple, pecan & chocolate.— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) August 11, 2012
How many times must he copy our Prez, before his base gets on board?
How many times must he flip-flop and lie, before they answer his call?
How many times must he change the subject, before they show that they care?
Paul Ryan Is Not a Vice President. Paul Ryan Is a Fake.
This all comes up again because, apparently, there’s a big push on from his extreme starboard side to get Willard Romney to sign the ZEGS on as second mate aboard the good ship Malaprop. The most vivid evidence of what’s going on came from the nervous hospital that is the Wall Street Journal’s editorial page. It begins with now customary draping of the toga across the shoulders of the Pericles from Janesville….
Too risky, goes the Beltway chorus. His selection would make Medicare and the House budget the issue, not the economy. The 42-year-old is too young, too wonky, too, you know, serious. Beneath it all you can hear the murmurs of the ultimate Washington insult-that Mr. Ryan is too dangerous because he thinks politics is about things that matter. That dude really believes in something, and we certainly can’t have that.
First of all, “dude”? When did the WSJ editorial board become such hepcats? Bob Bartley is rotating at 78 R.P.M. And Ryan isn’t dangerous because he believes in stuff. He’s dangerous because he believes in stuff that will hurt millions of people who never did anything to him
Against the advice of every Beltway bedwetter, he has put entitlement reform at the center of the public agenda-before it becomes a crisis that requires savage cuts. And he has done so as part of a larger vision that stresses tax reform for faster growth, spending restraint to prevent a Greek-like budget fate, and a Jack Kemp-like belief in opportunity for all. He represents the GOP’s new generation of reformers that includes such Governors as Louisiana’s Bobby Jindal and New Jersey’s Chris Christie.
Except, those “tax reform for growth” policies have been proved to be absolute failures. The media needs to get real. They can’t peddle George Bush’s campaign at us, and expect us to ignore what those policies did to the global economy! Fail, fail, fail.
So Paul Ryan is considered “bold” by those that don’t have to worry about trying to pay for their next meal. There is nothing bold about Paul Ryan; Ryan is your typical government supported smart-ass that wants to tell everyone else how bad government is. Where the fuck do you get the balls to tell seniors that you are about to play musical chairs with their only means of support. Sooner or later voters are going to realize that the Ryan and Romney types don’t give a fuck about them, hopefully its sooner.
Except, it’s not just the poor who have a lot to fear from the Romney-Ryan budget. It’s everyone. When you add their plan to voucherize Medicare, eliminate Medicaid (which pays for senior residence and nursing support for many seniors), end Social Security and gamble people’s futures on the stock market – that impacts everyone. Continue on to the Supreme Court, the wars and heavy funding of defense and it gets even more frightening. And that’s just what we know of their diabolical plans. Paul Ryan is anti-global warming. Romney is anti-green technologies. Both of them are anti-public education. They have no idea about foreign policy. They don’t have any respect for Democrats – i.e. 50% of the country. They both seem to think that people of color are the start and end of all the country’s problems. And neither one of them has ever built anything or worked to accomplish anything tangible – Paul Ryan’s failed at almost every measure he’s sponsored in Congress – and only passed one bill to become law (regulating bows and arrows).
They are dangerous – to the country and to the world.
I just posted this upthread, but daggone if it’s not worth repeating… LOUDLY!
—————————————————
Just yesterday, Romney’s team was whining and begging the Obama team not to talk about his background – not Massachussetts, not Mormonish, not Bain, not the Olympics, not his wealth, not his upbringing, not his character. Let’s just talk about the issues they said.
24 hours later, they don’t even want to talk about what they plan do once elected! Are you KIDDING ME?!!!
WTF is wrong with these people? More importantly, WTF is wrong with people who would VOTE for them?
Right! Don’t talk about his business, taxes, family, religion… only issues. Now he says we are not adopting the Ryan Budget but will come up with something after we are elected. Anotherwords he disavows the negatives of Ryan, but chooses him anyway since the RW demanded him. Guess that is supposed to show superior judgement! I just hope the lies they both tell about Obama’s policies when they are really their own views do not fool people. Rove tactics are powerful. WE need to counter them.
Now we know Mitt Romney knows what we knew: He’s screwed!
He can’t win on his own. Why else pick a running mate who delights right wingers but risks losing one of the GOP nominee’s strongest demographic blocs – retirees.
WI Rep. Paul Ryan’s plan to privatize Medicare is about as politically toxic as it gets. In picking this darling of conservative elites Romney is spread eagle on the third rail.
Now we know he knows it. This decision shows just how insecure he is about holding his party’s base. He got bullied into this, the most telling sign yet that he is desperate.
AND he drove the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile! He truly IS a dick on wheels!!!!
Ok, I just had to delurk for this one. I have been busy with school, work and finding a better job than the one I have now, but woah. I don’t know exactly what the hell just happened, but Barack Obama must have a guardian angel up above on this one. We all know this was a Hail Mary pick. A pick that was only chosen because the Obama camp was tying fire to that ass and needed a news day where it was about something else. It’s the only discernible reason why Mitt Romney would even pick someone damn near three weeks before the nominations happen. The Bain/Tax issues are murdering Romney in the polls and they needed to deflect a shiny object out there. Pity for them, the shiny object is sticking like glue to Romney now.
Congressman Paul “Eddie Munster” Ryan is who they picked. WOW!!! And you gotta love the media circle jerk that’s going on, saying that he’s young and sexy and brings vigor to the campaign. Uh……NO. Finding out that Paul Ryan drove a Wiener Mobile and works out to P90X is not going to galvanize the youth away from their BBall playing, Jay-Z listening, cool mutha-shut your mouth of a President. It ain’t happening. Four years ago, when Palin was picked, I got where they were going. Sure, she was a terrible pick, as we all know too well now, but then she was the first woman VP Candidate for the Republicans, had a high approval rating as Alaska’s first female Governor, first female Mayor of Wasilla, young and semi attractive, and would take some of the fervor away from Barack Obama’s “Historical Candidacy” by replicating that on the McCain campaigns side and trying to take some of the upset Hillary voters away. I don’t get this pick at ALL. Romney lambastes Barack Obama for being a career politician, says he has never worked in the private sector, an odious lie, yet picks someone to be a heartbeat away from the Presidency who has been a staple in Washington politics since the Clinton Administration. Speechwriter for Jack Kemp. Legislative Aide to then Sens. Brownback and Karsten. Elected to Congress in 1998 with NO other private sector experience except for driving a damn hotdog!!!! Ryan is the poster child for Government Employment. With all of that, Ryan not only got through life using the very same opportunities he now goes vociferously against, he is hellbent on making sure the American people don’t get that same opportunity he received. Its madness. He’s a terrible speaker, he’s only a shade better than Mitt Romney at retail politics (and that’s not saying much, Adalai Stevensen was better at it than Mitt) he has no notable legislative accomplishments, and he isn’t the least bit interesting to anyone outside the beltway punditry and or Teabagger know nothing yokels who only believe he’s great because he “sounds” smart like Barack Obama. I live in the state of Georgia, I honestly don’t see folks here excited about Romney after this pick. They may feel better voting for them like they just took a tums to heal acid reflux, but not like the collective toe curling, eye rolling orgasm they got when Moosewoman was picked.
THIS RACE IS OURS TO LOSE FOLKS!!!!! We have a Presidential and Vice Presidential nominee that EVERYONE wants to be around on our side and generally cares about the entire world over. Mitt and Paul will not give America and the world that euphoria that Barack and Joe gives them. On November 6, 2012, we MUST make sure that everyone gets out and votes for the Obama-Biden 2012 ticket. Republican legislatures and Governors are doing their part to make dead certain that Democratic and Democratic leaning voters have a harder time to cast their votes. The Republicans see the future and are terrified at their closing window on winning that big white house. The stakes are way too high for everyone to stay home and try a Bush/Gore 2000 gamble, a gamble that we are still paying off and will pay off for years to come. We don’t need to take another roll of the dice. It is also very important that we give the President a Congress who isn’t conniving on November 7th to impeach the President, but to fix our country for generations to come. It’s on people. On to November 6th. Obama/Biden 2012.
ASF, you’re exactly right. We have to work like the very devil to ensure everyone turns out on November 6. We’ll have to fight to make sure every vote is counted and no one is turned away from the polls. As for Ryan, I doubt that one in ten thousand have ever heard of him and the first impression he gives is of a weird looking nebbish. With this choice, the GOP has thrown away the women’s vote with a big sign on the door saying “women not welcome here.” Ditto all Latinos and any other person of color.
I was in a UPS store getting some Spanish language Obama rally handouts printed and the guy at the desk asked if I was for or against the president because he couldn’t read the Spanish. When I said “FOR” he said he was too and then he said I just heard they nominated some guy who’s gonna sink Romney. This was a normal, semi-informed American who never heard of Ryan and couldn’t even remember his name.
Have been without power again since this morning thanks to FP&L’s infrastructure. Just found out that Ryan is the VP nominee. I just want to warn you, we do not live in a very smart country. I took a Pew Poll this morning that showed I was one of 3% of Americans that can answer 11 very easy questions correctly. Questions like * Who is our VP, *Who is chief justice of the supreme court.* Who wants to raise taxes on those over 250,000., Who wants to over turn Roe V. Wade…more just like this. There are 97% of Americans that can’t answer these questions. I live in a state that elected a Gov. that defrauded Medicare for billions and he still got elected. This state voted for Bush not once but twice!
We have to work harder than we did in 2008. GOTV. This is a real scarey election for my family as well as millions of others. Don’t count on the media. We have to do it. I don’t know about you but, I am really scared about this election. I will continue to do my part to GOTV
Proud, scared is good, it makes us work harder. We have to get every vote to the polls and make sure they’re all counted. No rest for even the weariest until November 7.
Ryan, a Wisconsin congressman, is the architect of the Ryan budget plan that makes big changes to Medicare and Medicaid and could allow for some privatization of Social Security. And that’s widely seen by Democrats and most analysts as a politically risky stance in Florida, a must-win state for Republicans.
Ryan might have another problem in Florida: He once opposed the U.S. embargo on Cuba, a stance that’s anathema to Miami-Dade’s exile community, which is overwhelmingly Republican and had hoped that one of their own, Sen. Marco Rubio, would have been picked as Romney’s running mate. Though conservative, the county’s elderly Cuban population relies heavily on government assistance, particularly Medicare.
Polls indicate that voters over 50 years old — who comprise more than half the Florida electorate — are wary of changes to the major government-entitlement programs, which pump about $96 billion yearly into the hands of the elderly, the infirm and the hospitals, doctors and other providers who give them care.
By picking Ryan, Romney shows he’s ready to fight for conservative changes to the liberal-legacy programs.
snip/
A Florida poll last week showed Baby Boomers, worried about their future, plan to rely more on Social Security and Medicare than they had initially anticipated. So talk of cuts can spook these voters.
BTW, fellow TODers, several months ago I had some fun with friends in a local ‘veepstakes’ pick as to whom #BainMitt would choose and I was the only one who selected Ryan – for all the reasons most of you know if you’ve followed by comments and tweets. Well, you know the outcome
“Last night, President Obama hosted his fourth Iftar dinner as President in the State Dining Room of the White House. The Iftar is the meal that breaks the day of fasting during Ramadan, when Muslim families and communities eat together after sunset.
During his remarks at the dinner, the President reflected on the importance of religious freedom and the important role Muslims have played throughout our country’s history.
Of all the freedoms we cherish as Americans, of all the rights that we hold sacred, foremost among them is freedom of religion, the right to worship as we choose. It’s enshrined in the First Amendment of our Constitution — the law of the land, always and forever. It beats in our heart — in the soul of the people who know that our liberty and our equality is endowed by our Creator. And it runs through the history of this house, a place where Americans of many faiths can come together and celebrate their holiest of days — and that includes Ramadan.
As I’ve noted before, Thomas Jefferson once held a sunset dinner here with an envoy from Tunisia — perhaps the first Iftar at the White House, more than 200 years ago. And some of you, as you arrived tonight, may have seen our special display, courtesy of our friends at the Library of Congress — the Koran that belonged to Thomas Jefferson. And that’s a reminder, along with the generations of patriotic Muslims in America, that Islam — like so many faiths — is part of our national story.”
“Now, every faith is unique. And yet, during Ramadan, we see the traditions that are shared by many faiths: Believers engaged in prayer and fasting, in humble devotion to God. Families gathering together with love for each other. Neighbors reaching out in compassion and charity, to serve the less fortunate. People of different faiths coming together, mindful of our obligations to one another — to peace, justice and dignity for all people — men and women. Indeed, you know that the Koran teaches, “Be it man or woman, each of you is equal to the other.”
And by the way, we’ve seen this in recent days. In fact, the Olympics is being called “The Year of the Woman.” (Laughter.) Here in America, we’re incredibly proud of Team USA — all of them — but we should notice that a majority of the members are women. Also, for the very first time in Olympic history, every team now includes a woman athlete. And one of the reasons is that every team from a Muslim-majority country now includes women as well. And more broadly — that’s worth applauding. (Applause.) Absolutely.”
PAUL RYAN AND A FIGHT OF INDIVIDUALISM VERSUS COLLECTIVISM
Ayn Rand Joins the Ticket
Posted by Jane Mayer
———————————————–
Although she died thirty years ago, Rand’s influence appears on the rise on the right. As my colleague Ryan Lizza noted in his terrific biographical Profile of Ryan, Rand’s works were an early and important influence on him, shaping his thinking as far back as high school. Later, as a Congressman, Ryan not only tried to get all of the interns in his congressional office to read Rand’s writing, he also gave copies of her novel “Atlas Shrugged” to his staff as Christmas presents, as he told the Weekly Standard in 2003.
Two years later, in 2005, Ryan paid fealty to Rand in a speech he gave to the Atlas Society, the Washington-based think tank devoted to keeping Rand’s “objectivist” philosophy alive. He credited her with inspiring his interest in public service, saying, “[T]he reason I got involved in public service, by and large, if I had to credit one thinker, one person, it would be Ayn Rand. And the fight we are in here, make no mistake about it, is a fight of individualism versus collectivism.”
Many millions of working-age Americans would lose health insurance. Senior citizens would anguish over whether to pay their rent or their medical bills, in a way they haven’t since the 1960s. Government would be so starved of resources that, by 2050, it wouldn’t have enough money for core functions like food inspections and highway maintenance. And the richest Americans would get a huge tax cut.
This is the America that Paul Ryan envisions. And now we know that it is the America Mitt Romney envisions.
In his remarks at last nights White House Iftar Dinner, President Obama also gave a shout-out to Huma Abedin.. (love that!!)
“..They are entrepreneurs and lawyers, community leaders, members of our military, and Muslim American women serving with distinction in government. And that includes a good friend, Huma Abedin, who has worked tirelessly — (applause) — worked tirelessly in the White House, in the U.S. Senate, and most exhaustingly, at the State Department, where she has been nothing less than extraordinary in representing our country and the democratic values that we hold dear. Senator Clinton has relied on her expertise, and so have I.
The American people owe her a debt of gratitude — because Huma is an American patriot, and an example of what we need in this country — more public servants with her sense of decency, her grace and her generosity of spirit. So, on behalf of all Americans, we thank you so much. (Applause.) “
President Obama has this most compassionate and beautiful core within that gives comfort, yet with much intellectual focus on the issues that are so important for the soul of decent humanity that wants to rise up and shine with each of us as we take this journey, we call “life.”
As I watched POB speak, I could feel the love that he has for spreading “goodness” to all people of the world. His beautiful tone and eye contact to Huma, when it came to speak to Huma thanking her for her continued service to her country was so moving. This is the president that I want to be in the Oval Office representing all of us daily.
I will continue to work as best I know how to make sure that he is re-elected for his second term. America needs his intellect, his compassion, his caring and humble heart of convictions for goodness, and his love of working hard each day for his country. He is a fair and decent man, and I will keep your back, Mr. President. FORWARD All the Way, Mr. President.HZ
Before this thread ends, and right in the middle of my getting dressed and doing my hair, I have to stop and post a comment. I can’t stop thinking about Romney cancelling interviews after making this big announcement today. Especially one with Gwen Ilfill, that I read about yesterday to be aired on Monday. WHY? I have my suppositions and would like to hear others. I think the pick of Ryan was not made weeks ago; but only recently. I think Mitt has not been given his talking points on this selection of Ryan … what he brings to the table, what their shared plans for addressing the issues are, how Ryan will support the platform of the GOP in this election. Either that or he has been told what to say and he can’t get it straight. I think the gaffe this morning could represent what might happen to a greater degree if Mitt is allowed to go one-on-one with any press until they can program him (if they can). And I say they because I think he is just a pawn. So are we going to have another McCain/Palin dodging the press team, who appear mostly together because Mitt cannot bring out the people in any large numbers. Will Ryan bring out the crowds? Is this why they will rally in WI tomorrow? But then where do they go from there?
Excellent points, daisydem, and I completely agree. Imagine Robo-ney handling a crisis…with no battery. And don’t get me started on international policy because we know neither Mitt nor Eddie should be allowed out of our borders. Republicans should be a panicking!!
I agree 100 percent. I bet they didn’t even decide on Ryan until Thursday or yesterday. This thing is so obviously rushed. First off, no one announces their VP nominee with weeks to go until the convention. Secondly, like you said, he’s canceled all interviews. Aren’t you supposed to go on a huge media tour roll out during the bus ride? Isn’t Mitt supposed to be doing a huge public relations push to introduce Paul Ryan to the nation? Uh…yeah! But they’re not doing that. Because they can’t.
This was a pick done in a complete panic. Mitt has been getting pounded for weeks. Even with all the media spin and hype in his favor and against the President, he has not been able to get a good message out there to the public. He was getting beaten so badly, that yesterday, this man, a candidate for Commander-in-Chief, was down on his knees begging his opponent not to go after his record. That was abysmal. And they had to do something, anything, to give him a few days of relief from Obama kicking his ass. So they did what they had to do. And it’s going to be a complete failure. This is worse than the Palin pick. This is simply a stunt to keep Romney from getting hammered non stop. They have no idea what they’re going to do a week from now or a month from now. It’s sad, but great for us.
I honestly think they decided to do this some time in the last 48 hours.
Oh wow, just logged back on to see if I had any replies to my comment. Thanks everyone who posted; you have validated my suspicions that this was a last minute (again) VP pick and that Romney is not ready to articulate any points about his selection. nathkatun7 I had not seen your earlier comment but it sounds like we are on the same page. I find this behavior on the part of Romney and/or his campaign so weird. I guess it is because of the McCain/Palin fiasco of 08; I knew why she was selected. McCain had a reputation of being pretty moderate in the past. Then there was the Hillary factor; so many of her supporters were so angry that she lost to President Obama that they might have been up for grabs. Enter whoever was behind the Palin pick (no, I really don’t think McCain came up with this on his own) attractive, high-energy, extremely Pro-Life (supposedly): mother of a special needs baby; and extremely pro-2nd amendment:tenets the Repug Party of 2008 was clinging to and they desperately selected her and the rest is history.
And furthermore, I would think if you had just selected your VP candidate and your team was ready to go – rally, campaign, prepare for the convention, you would want to talk about him/her to all the press! And now, no press?
Members of the Presidential Delegation
————————————————–
The Honorable Susan E. Rice, United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations
The Honorable Louis B. Susman, United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Mr. Benjamin Rhodes, Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communication and Speechwriting
Ms. Michelle Kwan, Member of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition, U.S. Public Diplomacy Envoy and Olympic figure skater
Mr. Reginald Love, Former Special Assistant and Personal Aide to the President of the United States
Mr. Curtis Pride, Member of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition, former Major League Baseball player and Gallaudet University Head Baseball Coach
You just know he’s gonna be right up front in the stands at the Men’s Basketball Gold Medal Match.
Reward for a job well done over the years! Good for him!
Now I REALLY can’t wait for the VP Debates….there’s NO holding Joe Biden back. He doesn’t have to soft dance around his opponent who was operating on half a brain like last time.
Exactly! Joe Biden bent over backwards to be polite to Sarah Palin. But, as one of the strongest advocates of the middle class, I don’t think he will let Ryan off the hook about the Ryan budget which is anti poor and anti middle class. Joe Biden is so authentic and speaks with passion about protecting the middle class. Besides, I don’t think Paul Ryan could compete with VP Biden’s vast knowledge of foreign affairs.
.@truthteam2012 Did you imagine #BainMitt being so stupid as to force EVERY Republican candidate to defend Ryan's destruction of Medicare?— Bobfr (@Our4thEstate) August 11, 2012
.@dscc .@dccc Did you imagine #BainMitt being so stupid as to force EVERY Republican candidate to defend Ryan's destruction of Medicare?— Bobfr (@Our4thEstate) August 11, 2012
RT YES tinyurl.com/brv35sw was paul rayan one of the 8 that plotted w eric cantor the night the pres was sworn in 2 stop him?— Bobfr (@Our4thEstate) August 11, 2012
LOL!!! I couldn’t stop laughing when LYIN MITT announced his choice for VP. And of course I have to thank Baby Jesus too PBO is ready for these two nutjobs,
Jamaica blows out the World Record, US makes a new National Record… nobody even knows who was third (seriously, the announcer just said he does know!!!)
Canada gets disqualified — loses their Bronze to Trinidad (I’m not sure why)
Some chick jumps on Bolt, wraps her legs around him and they have to scrape her off him. He moves on down the track and she’s trying to chase him down, with an official trying to pull her back! Good Lord!
“As House Budget Committee chairman, Mr. Ryan has drawn a blueprint of a government that will be absent when people need it the most. It will not be there when the unemployed need job training, or when a struggling student needs help to get into college. It will not be there when a miner needs more than a hardhat for protection, or when a city is unable to replace a crumbling bridge.
And it will be silent when the elderly cannot keep up with the costs of M.R.I.’s or prescription medicines, or when the poor and uninsured become increasingly sick through lack of preventive care.
More than three-fifths of the cuts proposed by Mr. Ryan, and eagerly accepted by the Tea Party-driven House, come from programs for low-income Americans. That means billions of dollars lost for job training for the displaced, Pell grants for students and food stamps for the hungry. These cuts are so severe that the nation’s Catholic bishops raised their voices in protest at the shredding of the nation’s moral obligations.
Mr. Ryan’s budget “will hurt hungry children, poor families, vulnerable seniors and workers who cannot find employment,” the bishops wrote in an April letter to the House. “These cuts are unjustified and wrong.”
With Romney and Ryan, the choice for women, students, veterans and the middle class couldn’t be clearer: ofa.bo/wTFSpc#Obama2012— Eva Longoria (@EvaLongoria) August 11, 2012
A landslide victory for POTUS/VPOTUS will help to crystalize this moment and what is at stake in this election.
I believe that we have to do all we can humanly do to make sure that these ideas of privatizing social security, medicare, medcaid, public edcuation and other programs that help the middle class are permanentlly off the political cutting-room. we need to clean the gop from the presidency, senate, house, state houses and every where.
LOL…it begins. RT @rainnwilson: I'm so glad Romney found a running mate that he can just relax, hang out & be really really white with.”— (@utaustinliberal) August 11, 2012
Tweet by Rainn Wilson who plays Dwight Schrute on The Office.
Yo #Teabaggers we know you hate the Black Pres, but he's the one protecting your Medicare & Social Security from #RomneyRyan. Final warning.— Bobfr (@Our4thEstate) August 11, 2012
Tweety is going to have an MSNBC “Special” this evening (6PM ET) on Ryan. What’s this gonna be – another “tingle-up-my-leg” love fest with the likes of Fineman or other MSNBC hacks, and no substantive analysis of his dangerous policies?
@hardball_chris#RomneyRyan the 'Entitlement Twins': 1 used daddies' money to gut US companies; 1 lived on dad's SS & now wants to kill it.— Bobfr (@Our4thEstate) August 11, 2012
By Lynn Sweet on August 11, 2012 3:22 PM | No Comments
MANASSAS, VA.–President Barack Obama flew to Chicago on Saturday, helicoptered to Soldier Field and in the afternoon was meeting with his staff at the campaign headquarters in the Prudential Building.
Campaign spokesman Jen Psaki said “the president will have his regular weekly political meeting with staff at his Chicago campaign headquarters.”
Take Catholicism – throw out all concerns for the poor, and double the misogyny
Take Mormonism and double the homophobia. Add an extra helping of nuts.
Take the philosophy of Ayn Rand but throw out the atheism and double the hatred of government.
Cut programs for the poor and the sick – make your own best guess by how much
Throw out financial regulations.
Add tax cuts for the wealthy
Add two Koch brothers
Bake until the United States is a shell of its former self.
TEAGOP hoping Ryan pick will make LEFT think POTUS has election won so they won't have to vote. ☛ NO ONE STAYS HOME! ☚ #DemLandslide2012— Tally Briggs (@bardgal) August 11, 2012
Ryan is now Romney’s pick as veep? I guess that is the last nail in the coffin that contains the Republican Party’s crumbling election hopes for November.
President Obama by default in 2012! American is holding an election and the GOP is not planning on showing up!
Already, there is a curious bit of conventional wisdom taking hold that Mitt Romney’s choice of Paul Ryan is shrewd because it will draw attention from Romney’s ever-more glaring weaknesses, notably the more rapacious elements of his work at Bain Capital and his undisclosed tax returns. Sorry, but this makes no sense. It seems hard to imagine a running mate who would jibe better with the Democrats’ Bain Capital attacks than a well-born Ayn Rand acolyte. More crucially, it is hard to imagine a running mate who will draw more attention to the matter of Romney’s taxes than Paul Ryan. Why? Because under the “Ryan plan” that made the congressman famous, Mitt Romney would pay zero taxes.
Don’t believe it? Romney himself said so, just a few months ago. The Ryan plan — formally, the “Roadmap for America’s Future” — “promotes saving by eliminating taxes on interest, capital gains, and dividends; also eliminates the death tax.” Mitt Romney’s income — more than $20 million each of the past two years — comes almost entirely from capital gains on his investments, or from “carried interest,” a cut of Bain Capital profits that are taxed as capital gains (the infamous “hedge fund loophole.”) His only major ordinary income were the speaking fees he collected ($374,000, or “not much,” as he put it) This explains why his tax rate was only 13.9 percent last year — because the capital gains rate is 15 percent, well below the top rate of 35 percent for ordinary income.
But if the capital gains was eliminated altogether? Well, let’s let Romney explain the result in his own words, as he did at an NBC primary debate in January:
Read the rest. This needs to be pounded into the thick skull of every American!
Here’s just a little more of this from that primary debate….Romney/Newt portion:
Hours before he plans to release his 2010 tax returns, Mitt Romney noted at the GOP debate in Tampa that under his opponent’s tax plan, he wouldn’t have paid any taxes at all. The moment came after Newt Gingrich joked about Romney’s 15 percent tax rate, saying: “I’m prepared to describe my flat tax as the Mitt Romney flat tax.”
Romney jumped in to ask: Do you tax capital gains at 15 percent or zero percent? Gingrich’s answer: Zero.
“Under that plan, I’d have paid no taxes in the last two years,” Romney said, alluding to the fact that all his income is from investments.
So, at the very moment when we’re all tittering over Harry Reid’s wild accusation that Romney paid no taxes for the past decade, Romney picks a running mate whose plan — supported by virtually the entire GOP congressional caucus — would have him paying, well, no taxes. I’m pretty sure that the Obama and Priorities USA admakers will be able to do something with this.
democracts, independents, and sane republicans who have been lukewarm and/or attacking PBO, well, for the gop, it is all on the line. are you going to join PBO in fighting radicalism or are you going to continue whinning?
I’m back from putting together some points for #2 who was asked to do a video on why she supports PBO. Her main reasons are healthcare/women issues, and education. She asked me for a little help putting it all into quick points for her. Tally, I used the SCOTUS part of your ‘A Word from Tally’. Japa I used some of your stuff too. Chips, I used some of the great info that you and others post here as well. Thanks everyone for the input I used, hopefully you don’t mind. I gathered stuff from ‘What is Working’ as well. Fingers crossed she does well, cause they told her she could wear the t-shirt she designed for the campaign. I hope she doesn’t end up on the cutting room floor.
Hurray for our Ladies!!!!! They did a great job in the Olympics, our ladies won more medals than the men. Of course I don’t know every detail, but it seem like the British did a good job running the Olympics. Who was the person who said the British didn’t know what they were doing?
They played a great game – a little slow on the offense at first but defense was fantastic all around which helped to keep France at bay. But congratulations to France for winning a Silver medal on only their 2nd time in the Olympics!
RT @EvaLongoria: Romney’s VP pick voted against equal pay for women and repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. We can’t go backward: h …— Jen Psaki (@jrpsaki) August 11, 2012
Well, I’ve been ridiculously busy today at the library. I and my 3 Obot patrons have been having a hearty guffaw at Mittens’ choice for VP. It’s almost as if, some time in 2009, Obama operatives kidnapped Romney, rewired his brain, then sent him back out in the world to purposely throw the election. As I said in my tweet, Romney has given us a great gift. It’s time to use it. Crush the GOP in November!
I agree with you 1000% LL. But we all MUST KEEP FIGHTING LIKE HELL. Tens of millions of dollars of blatantly false negative ads already from the kochs ‘n’ refuggs and 10s of millions more before this is over.
Wish I could find a snippet of that video interview of the President from back when he was a State Senator (I think) where he said he would crush his opponents when they were dishonorable and underestimated him.
LL I am right there with you. It is not enough to get out the vote to win by a few points, we must DESTROY them with our votes. I get that voter suppression is rampant now but I am confident that PO, his administration and his team of lawyers are on it. This excrement that has infiltrated the country and is now calling itself the Republican Party must be eradicated.
Let’s see the talk will still be Mitt RomneyHood taxes, his tax plan, Bain Capitol, and Medicare and Social Security. Which one will look after the haves and step all over the have nots.
Well how about that. Mitt Romney has chosen that nice young Boy Scout from down the street who’s offered to fix our finances, Rep. Paul Ryan, to be his presidential running mate.
A few things about Paul Ryan: He wants to end Medicare and give people (those who are 55 and younger at the time of passage) coupons to buy private insurance plans on the market instead. Those coupons would be explicitly designed not to keep up with medical inflation, ensuring seniors pay higher out-of-pocket costs each year until the market collapses.
He wants to convert Medicaid and food stamps into block grants sent to the states and sharply reduced levels. He wants to bring non-defense discretionary spending down to 3% of the federal budget. He wants to slash taxes on the wealthy, giving them an average 12.5% in additional after-tax income. The only reason his budgets haven’t said a word about privatizing or dramatically cutting benefits in Social Security is because his fellow congressmen demanded he not take that on in addition to everything else, at this point. He voted for the Iraq War, Medicare Part D, and TARP.
The Ryan Budget is not just about saving money. He thinks broad social spending programs are immoral in how they foster “dependency.” There’s no other reason to cut every modest discretionary program like that.
Paul Ryan worships Ayn Rand, a sociopath who sneered at those who would give to charity.
Paul Ryan’s infamous budget — which Romney embraced — replaces “the current tax structure with two brackets — 25 percent and 10 percent — and cut the top rate from 35 percent.” Federal tax collections would fall “by about $4.5 trillion over the next decade” as a result. To avoid increasing the national debt, the budget proposes massive cuts in social programs and “special-interest loopholes and tax shelters that litter the code.”
But 62 percent of the savings would come from programs that benefit the lower- and middle-classes, who would also experience a tax increase. That’s because while Ryan “would extend the Bush tax cuts, which are due to expire at the end of this year, he would not extend President Obama’s tax cuts for those with the lowest incomes, which will expire at the same time.” Households “earning more than $1 million a year, meanwhile, could see a net tax cut of about $300,000 annually.”
In case anybody’s wondering who that black lady is who’s been handing out the gold medals to the US teams (in several sports) — that’s Anita DeFrantz, first female VP of the International Olympic Committee, 1976 Bronze Medal Rowing, and womens sports advocate extraordinaire.
Hiya Dudette, I had the pleasure of hearing her speak at a conference a few years ago, she was just outstanding – smart, insightful, funny, inspirational. An amazing woman.
Today Mitt Romney picked Paul Ryan, who wants to cut #PellGrant scholarships for nearly 10 million students. WHY?! ofa.bo/wTFSpc— ashley judd (@AshleyJudd) August 11, 2012
I will refrain from scratching. I will refrain from scratching. I will refrain from scratching.— ashley judd (@AshleyJudd) August 11, 2012
Interesting tidbit my local news just noted: This will be the first time in 80 years there will be no military experience on either side of the Presidential ballot.
All those Independents and Moderate Republicans are left out in the cold by Vulture/Voucher (along with minorities, Seniors, teachers, fire, police, nurses, the middle class, and the less fortunate). They are ALL welcome to join us in the BIG Obama/Biden tent of love!
Doof
Indeed. Buncha incompetent klowns.
Didn’t McCain once make the same or a similar mistake when introducing Sarah Palin?
So Mitt RomneyHood knows what we know, Mitt won’t be President this year, so maybe 2016 Ryan might run again.
It was McCain introducing Robme and said “President Obama will turn things around”, he was introducing Robme.
Lets trend #Vulture/Voucher 2012 on twitter.
Oh dearie me!
Sometimes the truth leaks out. Remember when McCain was introducing Willard?
Like a clock, GOP leaders can be right once/twice in a while.
LOL!! The GOP… Party of Old Coots!
I still say that was no mistake. McCain may still be angry about losing to PBO but he knows PBO is better than Romney any day of the week.
I also think he did it on purpose.
Can’t wait til Team Obama and Democrats go IN on these two smarmy, creepy clowns! This is gonna be a fun ride. The ads almost write themselves! Woot!
Most definitely. OFA already has an ad out about Paul Ryan. They are not letting this good fortune pass them by.
Something about Barack Obama has always caused his opponents to make unforced errors. They get desperate and do stupid things to themselves. This is just another case in point. I’m LOVING IT!
I’m looking forward to seeing an ad with Newt’s “right-wing social engineering” quote in it. Hahahaha!
They need to get that ad out in all 50 states, yesterday! An internet ad wont do it. Romney picks one of the most right wing extremists in congress, everyone needs to be informed.
Well it looks like Gilligan has fixed the boat for Thurston so they can get aboard and sail off to the sunset……..It’s time to keep a sharp eye. We can’t let this diversion keep voters away from the polls. It’s time to get real busy. ……http://www.evoter.com/
What was Gilligans Boat called?
The Minnow.
That was a good Show.
If you like slap-stick comedy. It was a pleasant diversion. Some of the stuff was rather far-fetched though.
That’s all Sherwood Schwartz the creator of the show. He was an old school comedy writer. Just go for the laughs. Schwartz and his brother used to write for Bob Hope’s radio show and some of those skits could get pretty crazy.
Ryan will be Mitt Romney’s running mate.
What you need to know right now: This election is about values, and today Romney doubled down on his commitment to take our country back to the failed policies of the past.
Congressman Paul Ryan is best known as the author of a budget so radical The New York Times called it “the most extreme budget plan passed by a House of Congress in modern times.” With Mitt Romney’s support, Ryan would end Medicare as we know it and slash the investments we need to keep our economy growing — all while cutting taxes for those at the very top.
Over the next few days, Romney’s campaign and its allies will tell a very different story about Paul Ryan.
Our job is to make sure Americans know the truth about what Romney’s choice says about him as a candidate and leader, and to stand with President Obama and Vice President Biden at another major moment in this campaign.
Say you’re with them:
http://my.barackobama.com/Obama-Biden
Thanks for all you’re doing. More to come.
Messina
Jim Messina
Campaign Manager
Obama for America
—–
Election Day is closer than you think — make a donation to fund this campaign in the time we have left.
Why are they not talking medicaid too ?
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/11/a-closer-look-at-the-ryan-budget/
Medicaid and Medicare are now open-ended entitlements. Anyone who meets the eligibility criteria is entitled to benefits defined in detail by federal law. Spending increases automatically with health costs, the number of beneficiaries and the amount of care they receive.
Mr. Ryan would change the nature of the entitlement under both programs. He would convert the federal share of Medicaid into a block grant. The federal government would give each state a lump sum of money to care for low-income people. States would also be given much more discretion over use of the money.
Mr. Ryan would repeal President Obama’s health care law, which calls for the expansion of Medicaid to cover many more people.
To rein in Medicare costs, Mr. Ryan proposes fundamental changes in the structure of the program: The federal government would contribute a fixed amount of money on behalf of each beneficiary, and future beneficiaries could use the money to buy private insurance or to help pay for traditional Medicare.
In addition, the growth of Medicare would be capped. In general, spending would not be allowed to increase more than the growth of the economy, plus one-half of one percentage point — a slower rate of increase than Medicare has historically experienced.
Analyzing a slightly different version of Mr. Ryan’s proposal last year, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said that “most elderly people would pay more for their health care.” The additional costs, averaging perhaps $6,400 for a typical beneficiary in 2022, would require older Americans to “reduce their use of health care services, spend less on other goods and services, or save more in advance of retirement,” the report said.
shouldn’t messina be hammering this?
OK lesssseeeee. Willard and Paulie
Doofus and Goofus
Miniscule and Tiny
Peabrain and Lame
Pathetic and more pathetic
Buzzard and Buzzard Meat.
Also: Go Back and Get on Back.
Dracual and his son.
Dracula.
Twirly and Twisty (two screws).
Willard=No
Paulie=Nevah
The Tin Man (from the Wizard of Oz) and Eddie Munster. What a pair!
“Buzzard and Buzzard Meat”
Pfffhahahahahahahahahahaha!!!
Willard=lost
Paulie=get lost
Willard=oh but no
Paulie=OH NO YOU DIDN’T
Willard and Paulie
Crash and Burn
Willard=”I thought I had this.’
Paulie=”Now for sure-you don’t”
How about Elmer Gantry and a Snake Oil Salesman either one. They’re interchangeable!
Willard=”Houston, we have a problem”
Paulie= the problem
oh yes…Houston, Florida, Michigan, Ohio…we have a problem.
I just added mine above: The Tin Man and Eddie Munster
HAHAHAHA @ Willard’s misspeak. He’s just a walking mistake. These two think they’ve got it made because they got their Raygun haircuts, complete with Raygun pomade and Raygun dye job.
ROFL….Okay…THAT made me spit my coffee out!! I can’t wait to see the Raygunmobile!!
This is the Vulture/Voucher2012 jobs act…
https://twitter.com/miketuffinDC
My local OFA office is going crazy! They ate stoked and ready, pissed off, one supporter said.
One lady said, Robney is a fucking idiot.
Go ahead, go to one of your Local offices, the Campaign has officially begun.
Help! How do I post a Tweet? My reply above was a fail.
O.M.G.
The CNN talking heads are orgasmic. At any minute I expect to see them running across the set nekkid.
They were just as orgasmic when Palin was selected. And we see where that went…
Yup,yup!
You just can’t make this shyte up people.
Five Times Mitt Romney Has Embraced The Ryan Budget
Just minutes after Mitt Romney announced Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) as his vice presidential choice, his campaign was working to distancing itself from Ryan’s signature piece of legislation.
http://thinkprogress.org/election/2012/08/11/677861/romney-ryan-buget/
Romney can forget that noise. Picking Ryan means there will be no pivoting to the center. He ran in the primaries as a severe conservative and by doing so had to give his base the running mate they demanded. The “moderate” ship has sailed and from now to the election day Romney has to spend his time talking to people who weren’t going to vote for a democrat anyway.
That is so true!!! He is now officially the extreme RW candidate. There is no going to the center.
Robme is a sorry idiot to pick the architect of the “Ryan budget” then distance yourself from it….how can he NOT know that Team Obama would not hang it around both their necks? Total numbskullery.
Ode to Team Vulture/Voucher
As I just tweeted, the two happiest people in America this morning are: Marco Rubio and Chris Christie #2016.
Those Amerikkkans that want their country back now have a clear choice to vote against their own welfare.
And now he’s supposed to be some champion deficit hawk. Yeah right.
LOL
Mittster ? Love it. Put some more elbow into it David.
Oh My! MeThinks Willard just realized he royally screwed himself. Not liking the fact that Dems are doing the booty dance. lolol Maybe he can retroactively deselect Ryan. hahahaha
After Ryan, Romney cancels TV interviews
Mitt Romney has cancelled this weekend’s scheduled television interviews, following today’s announcement that Paul Ryan had been tapped as running mate.
PBS Newshour confirms that the Romney campaign has cancelled today’s interview with Gwen Ifill, which was to air on Monday. The Romney campaign also cancelled one-on-one interviews with local networks in the Virginia area, where Romney launched his bus tour.
http://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2012/08/after-ryan-romney-cancels-tv-interviews-131785.html#.UCZ-vtXi91x.twitter
One would think that this is the best time for Willard to do these interviews, to talk about his VP pick. More evidence that his campaign is totally unprepared and incompetent.
I think his VP was forced on him at the last minute. He has to go back to his staff to get advice on how to respond to questions about the Ryan budget and the fact that Ryan has been a career government worker.
Poor Willard, he’s probably locked himself in the bathroom siting in the fetal position with Queen Anne and his boyzos banging on the door telling him to “let Paul Ryan do all his talking for him’” and if he loses he can blame PR and Bill Kristol for ruining his chance for the presidency.
Why do I feel that mittbot was arm-twisted into picking the vouchercare boy ? His immediate distancing himself from the ryan’s
plancurse, his faux paus in introducing him and not appearing with his own pick all add fuel to that fire.That would explain not standing there with Ryan as is tradition. Mitt thought he could embrace the Ryan plan without actually having to pick the guy. Wrong and he’s not happy.
I have a question. Didthe GOP force Ryan down Romney’s throat because they have come to believe they do not want him to become President?
At this point, I can’t blame the GOP for trying anything because clearly Willard is just inept.
It’s the Koch Brothers… winning friends and influencing people the only way they know how, with money. $25 million pledged to the campaign officially, but unknown millions already funding Americans for Prosperity and the like.
I went and saw “The Campaign” last night. It was pretty funny. The rich men who were buying the campaign thanks to Citizens United, were the Moch Brothers. Hmmmm
Ha! Already got a fundraising letter from Robby Mook at DCCC citing the Ryan VP pick!
A local honor for Virginia Beach’s gold medalist. Eric Lindbergh works on an image of gymnast Gabby Douglas on the side of the A. J. Gator’s Sports Bar & Grill in Virginia Beach on Thursday.
You can see more photos and video of the artist here: http://hamptonroads.com/2012/08/va-beach-mural-honors-olympian-gabby-douglas
Wow, beautiful, thanks
That was nice, it wasn’t criticizing Gabby’s hair like some, but honoring this young lady who work he butt off to accomplish her goal. That’s nice.
GORGEOUS! Thanks for sharing that.
That’s near where I live. I might pass there on the way home from work to check it out.
They probably want to position Ryan for a fabulous run at the White House in 2016.
Well – once everyone gets a good look at exactly what he stands for and who he regards as his inspiration, he can kiss any future campaign goodbye. He’s a theorist – never accomplished anything in his life, other than getting himself elected to the House. He doesn’t know what it’s like to work and suffer and fear for your kids’ futures – and how did he make $3.5 million on a Congressman’s budget, anyway?
I HAVE THE SAME THOUGHT MARY
” every now and then I make a mistake”.
http://i46.tinypic.com/20z1b9y.png
(picture of Romney with his arm around Ryan)
HAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!! THAT’S AN AD!
H/T to justmy2 at DK
A definite self prophesy ya’ think?
Priceless!!
Thanks Edwina … so cool!!!!
From the “You can’t make this shit up” files:) http://thehill.com/blogs/healthwatch/medicare/234229-rehberg-ad-gop-plan-could-harm-the-medicare-program
Rehberg ad: GOP plan ‘could harm the Medicare program’
Democrats have found a new ally in their attacks on House Republicans’ Medicare plan: two House Republicans.
Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-Mont.), who is challenging Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), criticized the Medicare plan in his latest campaign ad. The ad paints Rehberg as a centrist willing to buck his party — including its controversial plan to partially privatize Medicare.
“Rehberg refused to support a Republican budget plan that could harm the Medicare program so many of Montana’s seniors rely on,” the ad says.
Rehberg was among the handful of House Republicans who voted against the GOP’s budget proposal. But by going a step further and running ads that explicitly criticize the measure, Rehberg could help bolster Democrats’ belief that the issue will resonate with voters this fall. Republican leaders refused to back away from the plan despite the controversy surrounding it.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee seized on the GOP’s Medicare proposal when it was first introduced, saying it would “end Medicare as we know it.” Attacks against the proposal have become a staple of House Democrats’ ads.
Similarly, the Los Angeles Times reported that freshman Rep. David McKinley (R-W.Va.) is criticizing the proposal in mailers to his home district. His mailings say the Medicare plan would “have a negative impact” on seniors, noting that the Congressional Budget Office said seniors’ out-of-pocket costs could nearly double under the Republican proposal.
What a gaffe. Wow. TOD I am sorry to say but I think Romney needs a complete mental check-up, similar to when someone
goes for a complete physical. His elevator is not exactly going to the top floor. Maybe his car elevator is,though
so that might compensate.
What is the gaffe?
Headline video for this thread – watch it if you need a good laugh for today.
Introducing Ryan as the next President as shown in video at top of page.
Okay, thank you. Interesting. Lol.
Of course there is this…..http://thinkprogress.org/election/2012/08/11/677261/paul-ryan-qualified/
Throughout his campaign, Mitt Romney has hammered President Obama for a lack of experience in the private sector, saying “he doesn’t understand how the free economy works. He’s never had a job in the free economy; neither has Vice President Biden.”
In fact, Romney even proposed a constitutional amendment that would require any president to have worked at least three years in the private sector.
And so it’s surprising that Romney has picked Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), a man who, outside of a job at McDonald’s and a brief stint at a company owned by his family, has hardly any private sector record.
snip/
Obama actually worked for private companies for the sum total of 14 years. If he is unqualified by Romney’s standards to grasp how the economy works, it’s not clear what would make Romney think Ryan more prepared to understand job creation, or to assume the Office of the President.
Yeah…IOKIYAR
Our side’s rebuttal to the Romney/Ryan ‘Screw-Everybody-but-the-Rich’ philosophy of government
This is my song here by the Boss. That’s one of the songs I love to hear at POTUS campaign events.
The problem is that the right wing defines “our own” quite differently. If Mittster had any idea this song existed, he’d endorse it. He DOES take care of his own. That is, the people just like him. Rich, white, clueless.
Yeh, but the video very clearly defines who Bruce means by “our own”.
“Wherever this flag is flown…”
Ayn Rand followers applaud the Ryan pick, according to Politico.
Of course they do.
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2012/08/11/677051/meet-paul-ryan-climate-denier-conspiracy-theorist-koch-acolyte/
A favorite of the Koch brothers, Ryan has accused scientists of engaging in conspiracy to “intentionally mislead the public on the issue of climate change.” He has implied that snow invalidates global warming.
Ryan has voted to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from limiting greenhouse pollution, to eliminate White House climate advisers, to block the U.S. Department of Agriculture from preparing for climate disasters like the drought devastating his home state, and to eliminate the Department of Energy Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA-E):
Paul Ryan Promoted Unfounded Conspiracy Theories About Climate Scientists.
Paul Ryan Argued Snow Invalidates Global Warming Policy.
Paul Ryan Voted To Eliminate EPA Limits On Greenhouse Pollution.
Paul Ryan Voted To Block The USDA From Preparing For Climate Change.
Paul Ryan Voted To Eliminate White House Climate Advisers.
Paul Ryan Voted To Eliminate ARPA-E.
Paul Ryan Voted To Eliminate Light Bulb Efficiency Standards.
Paul Ryan Voted For Keystone XL.
Paul Ryan Budget Kept Big Oil Subsidies And Slashed Clean Energy Investment.
Michael Tomasky on Romney’s Stunning, Terrible Choice of Ryan for VP
So, you’re Mitt Romney. You’re sitting there in your hotel suite alone at midnight. You’re thinking about this choice. After plowing through the angles about this state and that state and each person’s plusses and minuses, you think to yourself, “But I have to make the choice that I want to make, a choice that says something about me.” And yet, at the crucial moment, you recoil from it.
Think of it: The candidate will be running on his vice president’s ideas! It’s a staggering thought. Ryan might as well debate Obama this October, and Romney can square off against Biden.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/08/11/michael-tomasky-on-romney-s-stunning-terrible-choice-of-ryan-for-vp.html
“Think of it: The candidate will be running on his vice president’s ideas! It’s a staggering thought.”
This is exactly what makes Mitt’s gaffe in introducing his pick so prophetic!!
Great point, Dudette. I have had some thoughts run through my mind on this very thought.HZ
I am with you Dudette. Romney looked overwhelmed by Ryan. I also think that at this stage, if GOP delegates were given a choice they would reverse the order and make Ryan the Presidential candidate and Romney his VP.
This is the Only Campaign, that has hit the GOP square in the Mouth. Usually, its the other side, making a mockery of our proposals. Its fun, taking down their lame policies, for the whole Country to see. And we have only just begun.
That’s because a very smart, ‘chicago style pol’ is in charge now.
I’ m just soooooooooo happy that he didn’t pick Christie!
This guy is really crazy.
witter.com/metaquest/status/234324380715479040
Woopsie:
Perhaps Mr. Ryan can fill these slots ?
Correction: That was the theme from “Air Force One” that they played on the battleship as Paul Ryan walked up to the podium.
In his dreams. The macho, it reeks.
Irony=
Theme music from movie about kick-ass former fighter pilot President who overcomes terrorist kidnappers
Campaign uses same theme music on battleship for sniveling draft-dodging Presidential candidate with history of bullying the weak to introduce sniveling weenie-boy running mate, who also never served either and wants to push seniors over the cliff without a social safety net.
You rock, Dudette.
Aww… thank you friend.
Dudette, we are on the same wavelength today. I was uncomfortable by these folks when they play that music to walk on these pathetic men. It was an awful feeling, but we will move on. I hate it when people are so careless with theme music in their programming. Music is such a beautiful and sacred art for me, and I just do not like it to be cast in a “I do not really care how you take this.” Especially in political events where the moods are already high for the good or for the discomforting sides.
One thing that I loved about POB’s campaign in 2008, was that the music was so appropriate. You could see the true and respectfulness in their use of the music for each event. That is why I love our president. He and his team are true to their core. No cheap shots thrown at the people even with the choice of the music that they used.HZ
Japan just won the Women’s Bronze Medal Match against South Korea and they’re celebrating like it was Gold.
Good for them! Way to go, Ladies! I LOVE THE OLYMPICS!!
Volleyball
Don’t forget the women’s BB USA going for the gold against France, starting at 3PM ET
CANNOT WAIT!!!!!
Dudette I’ve seen that all throughout the Olympics. I remember watching the bike race and cyclists coming in 10th were happy.
I like that they’re celebrating their Bronze medal – it’s a bronze medal at the Olympics! Deserves massive celebration – just making it there to compete. Lovely!
OK>>>This is it! Needs to go viral….This will live in infamy!!
And let’s not forget the Symphony that was playing, after that speech?
Tears streaming down my cheek. NOT!
It was bumbling, stumbling, just to wave to the Crowd. Did you see it?
Is martin bashir on holiday ? I have not seen any of his vids for the past few weeks.
Olympics…
He is covering olympics, he has gone home to watch olympics, he is participating in olympics, which is it, joivie?
Msnbc is now the Olympics channel until night time.
LOL!
They cover every single Country, past, present and Future.
Earlier, Ancient Rome Defeated Ancient Greece in the Gold medal round for Gladiators.
LOL!!!
David Frum says this pick “will draw blood”, heh, more like a hemorrhage.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021110858
Can someone please as Vulture/Voucher where are Mitt’s tax returns? Or his Olympic docs? Or Governor docs? Or a comment about Marriott? [crickets]…..
We need to understand this difference in Medicare “cuts” they R’s will say that the ACA did….and WHERE those cuts come from!
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/08/paul-ryan-obama-medicare-cuts-mitt-romney.php?ref=fpnewsfeed
“Unlike the current president, who has cut Medicare funding by $700 billion, we will preserve and protect Medicare and Social Security,” Romney said Saturday while introducing Ryan.
The trouble with this argument — made frequently by Republicans, including Ryan himself — is that Ryan’s own budget sustains the Medicare cuts in “Obamacare.” Congressional Republicans have voted overwhelmingly — most recently this spring — for the blueprint containing those cuts, which don’t significantly alter the seniors’ safety net program.
Talking points circulated by the Romney campaign Saturday similarly instruct surrogates to make the “Obama cut Medicare” argument to blunt voters’ fears over Ryan’s Medicare plan.
snip/
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office found last month that the Medicare provisions in the health care law would save $700 billion over a decade and extend the life of Medicare.
The cuts don’t target beneficiaries — they come largely in the form of reduced payments to hospitals, discounts on Medicaid prescription drugs, and pay cuts to private insurers under Medicare Advantage. The hospital and drug industries endorsed the law despite the cuts.
The Ryan plan, by contrast, would transform Medicare into a structure that rolls back the coverage guarantee for the elderly. In 10 years, the program would be replaced with a subsidy that beneficiaries can use to purchase insurance from a menu of private plans and a government option. CBO projects that in some cases, the subsidy won’t be sufficient to cover seniors’ medical expenses.
White House reaction ?
http://whitehouse.gov1.info/photos7/obama-laughing.jpg
White House, OFA HQ, DNC, DCCC, AARP, etc, etc, etc…
:- D 
Mitt Romney — the gift that keeps on giving. Not that he had a raft of choices, but Weenie Boy is a great one. Joe Biden will set him on fire and then stomp on the ashes.
It is now being reported on CNN that Rom ney and Ryan will not be endorsing the Ryan budget, and will release their new economic plan for the future after the election.
YOU CAN’T MAKE THIS STUFF UP.
—
Wow….did Ryan just throw his budget under the bus or is this just bait and switch ?
I vote for bait and switch..if people KNEW what was in that disaster, they would NEVER ALLOW THESE CLOWNS NEAR THE WH! It is up to all of us to show the public that they would be voting against their own best interests. Liars and cheats will ALWAYS lies and cheat….tie this around their necks as well. They are fooling no one that has been paying attention
After the election, we will let you know. In the mean time, let’s focus on Obama.
You see? He just doubled down, or tried to, on don’t look at me look at him strategy.
Nothing has changed. But, OFA has two big fat targets.
HAHAHAHA! Nice try, but they are not getting away with this. So they’re going to spend the entire RNC convention talking about PBO? That is the quickest way to turn off Independents (who they badly need to win)!!
Just yesterday, Romney’s team was whining and begging the Obama team not to talk about his background – not Massachussetts, not Mormonish, not Bain, not the Olympics, not his wealth, not his upbringing, not his character. Let’s just talk about the issues they said.
24 hours later, they don’t even want to talk about what they plan do once elected! Are you KIDDING ME?!!!
WTF is wrong with these people? More importantly, WTF is wrong with people who would VOTE for them?
That’s cause he thinks that this whole election process is a coronation and that he should be crowned king.
We will have to immerse ourselves into doing what we do best. Move FORWARD with our individual choice of helping at OFA, donating, phone calls, e mails to friends, walking and knocking on doors, etc.
Is is inappropriate for me to ask my TOD family to help me get my FR page over the top. I get nervous when I can’t complete a task that I have set in motion. Just in me. I would appreciate anything. Thanks so much for all that you all do to encourage me to do the things that I do for all of us.
This site is such a beautiful place where we encourage each other to step out of the box and make it happen. I was sharing with some people yesterday and Thursday via my phone banking, and they were so elated that a site like this exist to promote the positive and good things that President Obama is doing.
(((((((((( Love you so much, Chips. You give me so much joy to keep moving. )))))))))))))))))HZ
My page: https://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/2012/HZ
aahhh no. They don’t get to whitewash the past.
Too many videos showing Romney’s embrace and Ryan saying that he is confident that once elected Romney will adopt it.
http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/2010/02/paul-ryan-represents-wall-street-not.html
Paul Ryan’s is one of Wall Street’s most devoted partisans on Capitol Hill, a veritable lobbyist inside Congress for all of their interests. Teabaggers don’t like politicians who voted for the irresponsible Bush bank bailouts? Ryan didn’t only vote for it– twice– as a high ranking member of Ways and Means and Banking Committee, the he persuaded dozens of reluctant GOP colleagues to vote for it and after it failed the first time, is said to have been the key figure in passing it the second time a week later!
snip/
On Medicare:
it slashes Medicare. It slashes Medicare so deeply that the Democrats’ proposal for $500 billion in savings over ten years, which Republicans demonised, looks like child’s play. Under Mr Ryan’s proposal, starting in 2021, Medicare would be gradually eliminated. Instead, seniors would be issued vouchers to buy private health insurance.
snip/
Rich seniors will still be able to afford high-quality medical care. Poor seniors won’t. They will suffer more and die younger.
When you’re done with this…READ THIS: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/02/game_on_3.php
Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), the ranking member of the House Budget Committee in consultation with the other Republicans on the Committee. But Ryan has released a budget he’d like. And it’s actually fairly detailed. And if you read it, which we have, you start to wonder why Democrats aren’t making a bigger deal out of it.
What’s in it? A few interesting things.
First, it calls for big cuts in Social Security benefits for everyone currently under 55 years of age. On top of the cuts it also calls for privatizing Social Security.
Basically the exact plan President Bush tried in 2005. Next, it calls for the full privatization and phasing out of Medicare. It’ll be replaced by a system of vouchers in which instead of getting Medicare you get a voucher to buy un-reformed private insurance.
Weirdly, with all that, the draft GOP budget doesn’t get the federal budget into surplus until sometime after 2060, which seems like a pretty long time. But isn’t this sort of a big deal? House Republicans are poised to run in 2010 on slashing or abolishing the two most popular federal government programs — Social Security and Medicare.
Maybe we can just clean house…totally!
They say cuts to SS & Medicare for everyone under 55 now. If G-d forbid they are elected it will be cuts for all, ASAP.
Yes – the 55 threshold is just to get votes. Once they’re in – it would be a whole new ballgame. Who would stop them at that point, if a majority of Americans demonstrated a complete disregard for their futures by voting them into office, despite fair warning?
Gunnite folks. I will sleep well tonight.
And Ryan won’t bite. G’nite amk
http://www.balloon-juice.com/2012/08/11/a-man-of-reliable-rubber/
He’s Grover’s bitch now.
The beltway potentate made it clear last year at CPAC what he wanted:
All we have to do is replace Obama. … We are not auditioning for fearless leader. We don’t need a president to tell us in what direction to go. We know what direction to go. We want the Ryan budget. … We just need a president to sign this stuff. We don’t need someone to think it up or design it. The leadership now for the modern conservative movement for the next 20 years will be coming out of the House and the Senate.
Pick a Republican with enough working digits to handle a pen to become president of the United States. This is a change for Republicans: the House and Senate doing the work with the president signing bills. His job is to be captain of the team, to sign the legislation that has already been prepared.
That was a quote from Grover Norquist….All the little robots all in a row….
It’s time to donate to the Obama campaign! Romney-Ryan raised $1 million dollars during the first 4 hours of the Ryan announcement.
Done
Unless you’re talking about 4 Koch-type millionaires donating $250K each which is entirely plausible, I take these “reports” of fundraising with a huge grain of salt.
The Tea Party does love this pick and they are stupid. So, maybe they did.
But,
https://my.barackobama.com/page/m/55c145e3/6c1ef184/24037c6aa/12856c5a/3751658031/VEsH/p/eyJKU1ZGVFVGSlRDVWwiOiJzdWxsaXZhbi5taWtlNDFAeWFob28uY29tIiwiSlNWYVNWQWxKUT09IjoiMzM3NjQiLCJKU1ZEVlZOVVQwMWZSRUZVUVZORlZGdHpiSFZuUFRJd01USXdOakF4WDNkb2FYUmxiR2x6ZEN4clpYazljSEp2Y0dWeWJtRnRaVjBsSlE9PSI6Ik1pY2hhZWwiLCJKU1ZNUVZOVVRrRk5SU1VsIjoiU3VsbGl2YW4iLCJKU1ZEVlZOVVQwMWZSRUZVUVZORlZGdHpiSFZuUFdadmJHUmxjbDlrWVhSaGMyVjBMR3RsZVQxbWIyeGtaWEpmYUdGemFGMGxKUT09IjoiYzZhMTQ4YzA0YTM4NWJlMzlmZDY4Mjk4NjhjZmE3MDYiLCJKU1ZEVlZOVVQwMWZSRUZVUVZORlZGdHpiSFZuUFdacGJHVmZaR0YwWVhObGRDeHJaWGs5Wm1sc1pWOW9ZWE5vWFNVbCI6ImRiYmY4ZmMzNjNmNWM4ZmQzNmU2NTc0YWRkNmEwMjU4In0=/
But who is the “Tea Party?” It’s a well-funded machine headed primarily by Big Oil, Koch bros, wealthy evangelicals, etc..the same millionaires handing out big fat checks to Romney and his SuperPACs.
Terim, donated earlier this am, once I heard the news of Ryan. It felt good to do so. Like taking a cleansing breath.
I love how you described it. I felt the same way.
It does feel like taking a cleansing breath!
First Ad out going after Romney & Paul Ryan LOL
Hey Libra, thank you!!! Didn’t see you had posted it … #FORWARD!!
Glen Thrush- the Veep Obama did not want to Face.
Is he insane?
Must be , since PBO already faced him and made him look like a fool…
jovie141,These people have to encourage themselves. Because Paul Ryan does not concern President Obama one bit.
They’ve convinced themselves that Ryan somehow “debated” the President, and won (at the Baltimore Massacre). It’s why CNN has been breathlessly showing a selected clip since last night every time I’ve channel-surfed past it. They forget what actually happened – how President Obama single-handedly entered the “lion’s den” and thrashed them all soundly. And they’re conveniently forgetting the front row seat that Paul Ryan was given to hear first hand the demolition of his Ryan Budget from the President, and how he went crying to the media afterwards, whining that he didn’t see the smackdown coming and wouldn’t be the President’s friend anymore…
Vigilance is needed and many people have figured out why.
Robney just announced a Rally Sunday in Wisconsin. Probably accompanied By a Ghost poll saying Robney is up ten in Wisconsin. Bet?
Did he cancel the bus tour ?
He cancelled all his scheduled interviews with the press. What a stupid man.
He added this stop to Wisconsin
Good God! Doesn’t this guy know that the USA Men Basketball team is playing for the gold medal, and Tiger Woods is going for his fifteenth Major?
Out of touch.
I want to see the reported head count for this rally. lol I want numbers and pictures from all angles.
It sure would be sweet if willard’s post VP pick bump in the polls is a bump DOWNWARD!!
MSMS will make sure it’s a bump up — they’ll just skew the calls to teabaggers.
Romney-Ryan ticket is most cynical insult to Americans to see if they can be bamboozled with slick hair to vote against their interests
So true. If they were legitimate, they wouldn’t have to lie.
ACLU has White Papers on Ryan’s civil liberty positions and other policy psoitions. MUST READ AND PASS!
http://www.aclulibertywatch.org/files/vp-report-card.pdf
REP. PAUL RYAN (WI)
Believes efforts should be focused on border security and that to pursue the DREAM Act at
this time would be a “serious mistake.”
Voted in favor of the Secure Fence Act, a bill that authorized the building of a fence along
the U.S.-Mexico border. (2006)
REP. PAUL RYAN (WI)
Voted against repealing the military’s discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. (2011)
Supports the 2006 amendment to the Wisconsin constitution banning marriage equality.
Voted in favor of the federal marriage amendment. (2006)
Voted in favor of the federal marriage amendment. (2004)
REP. PAUL RYAN (WI)
Voted to reinstate the D.C. abortion ban and the global gag rule, defund Planned
Parenthood, and eliminate funding for Title X family planning programs. (February 2011)
Cosponsored a bill to exempt any employer from providing contraceptive coverage as part
of their employees’ health care and opposed the Obama administration’s compromise to
require insurance companies to cover contraception. (February 2012)
Cosponsored and voted to pass the Protect Life Act (October 2011); and cosponsored and
voted to pass the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act (May 2011).
Voted to prohibit federal funding for teaching health centers for training in abortion care.
(May 2011)
There’s more….
eddie-paul munster’s voting record is absolutely HORRENDOUS. That’s a campaign ad right there, with those votes scrolled and narrated over a picture of his silly, short-foreheaded, selfish, entitled mug…. “Bold”….fuck me in the heart. Sickening.
Look at how Politico is covering their Savior, Paul Ryan-
http://www.politico.com/2012-election/
Biased much?
HAHAHAHA….Oh my God…Willard is trying to imitate our President’s love of pie!! Damn, Willard, is there an original bone in your body?
The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind. The answer is… Hell No!
How many times must he copy our Prez, before his base gets on board?
How many times must he flip-flop and lie, before they answer his call?
How many times must he change the subject, before they show that they care?
LOLOLOLOLOL!!!
The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind.
The answer is blowing in the wind!
http://www.tnr.com/blog/plank/106035/picking-ryan-isnt-bold-its-highly-risk-averse
Paul Ryan Is Not a Vice President. Paul Ryan Is a Fake.
This all comes up again because, apparently, there’s a big push on from his extreme starboard side to get Willard Romney to sign the ZEGS on as second mate aboard the good ship Malaprop. The most vivid evidence of what’s going on came from the nervous hospital that is the Wall Street Journal’s editorial page. It begins with now customary draping of the toga across the shoulders of the Pericles from Janesville….
Too risky, goes the Beltway chorus. His selection would make Medicare and the House budget the issue, not the economy. The 42-year-old is too young, too wonky, too, you know, serious. Beneath it all you can hear the murmurs of the ultimate Washington insult-that Mr. Ryan is too dangerous because he thinks politics is about things that matter. That dude really believes in something, and we certainly can’t have that.
First of all, “dude”? When did the WSJ editorial board become such hepcats? Bob Bartley is rotating at 78 R.P.M. And Ryan isn’t dangerous because he believes in stuff. He’s dangerous because he believes in stuff that will hurt millions of people who never did anything to him
Against the advice of every Beltway bedwetter, he has put entitlement reform at the center of the public agenda-before it becomes a crisis that requires savage cuts. And he has done so as part of a larger vision that stresses tax reform for faster growth, spending restraint to prevent a Greek-like budget fate, and a Jack Kemp-like belief in opportunity for all. He represents the GOP’s new generation of reformers that includes such Governors as Louisiana’s Bobby Jindal and New Jersey’s Chris Christie.
Read more: http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/paul-ryan-vice-president-2012-11518368#ixzz23GAq87AQ
Except, those “tax reform for growth” policies have been proved to be absolute failures. The media needs to get real. They can’t peddle George Bush’s campaign at us, and expect us to ignore what those policies did to the global economy! Fail, fail, fail.
So Paul Ryan is considered “bold” by those that don’t have to worry about trying to pay for their next meal. There is nothing bold about Paul Ryan; Ryan is your typical government supported smart-ass that wants to tell everyone else how bad government is. Where the fuck do you get the balls to tell seniors that you are about to play musical chairs with their only means of support. Sooner or later voters are going to realize that the Ryan and Romney types don’t give a fuck about them, hopefully its sooner.
Except, it’s not just the poor who have a lot to fear from the Romney-Ryan budget. It’s everyone. When you add their plan to voucherize Medicare, eliminate Medicaid (which pays for senior residence and nursing support for many seniors), end Social Security and gamble people’s futures on the stock market – that impacts everyone. Continue on to the Supreme Court, the wars and heavy funding of defense and it gets even more frightening. And that’s just what we know of their diabolical plans. Paul Ryan is anti-global warming. Romney is anti-green technologies. Both of them are anti-public education. They have no idea about foreign policy. They don’t have any respect for Democrats – i.e. 50% of the country. They both seem to think that people of color are the start and end of all the country’s problems. And neither one of them has ever built anything or worked to accomplish anything tangible – Paul Ryan’s failed at almost every measure he’s sponsored in Congress – and only passed one bill to become law (regulating bows and arrows).
They are dangerous – to the country and to the world.
Gotta love it ….
POKER FACE:
Hey Mitt! I’ll see your fake-assed battleship-staged debacle from this morning, and raise you this!
Beat that, Sucka!!
http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2012/08/rep-paul-ryan-mitt-romney-running-mate-vp
And this: http://www.c-span.org/Events/President-Addresses-Differences-in-Deficit-Plans/10737420836-1/
I just posted this upthread, but daggone if it’s not worth repeating… LOUDLY!
—————————————————
Just yesterday, Romney’s team was whining and begging the Obama team not to talk about his background – not Massachussetts, not Mormonish, not Bain, not the Olympics, not his wealth, not his upbringing, not his character. Let’s just talk about the issues they said.
24 hours later, they don’t even want to talk about what they plan do once elected! Are you KIDDING ME?!!!
WTF is wrong with these people? More importantly, WTF is wrong with people who would VOTE for them?
Right! Don’t talk about his business, taxes, family, religion… only issues. Now he says we are not adopting the Ryan Budget but will come up with something after we are elected. Anotherwords he disavows the negatives of Ryan, but chooses him anyway since the RW demanded him. Guess that is supposed to show superior judgement! I just hope the lies they both tell about Obama’s policies when they are really their own views do not fool people. Rove tactics are powerful. WE need to counter them.
Good one!
Perfect
http://craigcrawford.com/2012/08/11/veepstakes-finally-over/
Now we know Mitt Romney knows what we knew: He’s screwed!
He can’t win on his own. Why else pick a running mate who delights right wingers but risks losing one of the GOP nominee’s strongest demographic blocs – retirees.
WI Rep. Paul Ryan’s plan to privatize Medicare is about as politically toxic as it gets. In picking this darling of conservative elites Romney is spread eagle on the third rail.
Now we know he knows it. This decision shows just how insecure he is about holding his party’s base. He got bullied into this, the most telling sign yet that he is desperate.
AND he drove the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile! He truly IS a dick on wheels!!!!
A great day to donate!
https://donate.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/2012/DoctorDaddy4Obama
But where are Mitt’s tax returns?
More backpedaIing as RLC of Wi pulled it’s site down this morning – wonder why …..
“Congressman Ryan: if you don’t like debt, stop voting for debt.”
The Republican Liberty Caucus of Wisconsin
Ok, I just had to delurk for this one. I have been busy with school, work and finding a better job than the one I have now, but woah. I don’t know exactly what the hell just happened, but Barack Obama must have a guardian angel up above on this one. We all know this was a Hail Mary pick. A pick that was only chosen because the Obama camp was tying fire to that ass and needed a news day where it was about something else. It’s the only discernible reason why Mitt Romney would even pick someone damn near three weeks before the nominations happen. The Bain/Tax issues are murdering Romney in the polls and they needed to deflect a shiny object out there. Pity for them, the shiny object is sticking like glue to Romney now.
Congressman Paul “Eddie Munster” Ryan is who they picked. WOW!!! And you gotta love the media circle jerk that’s going on, saying that he’s young and sexy and brings vigor to the campaign. Uh……NO. Finding out that Paul Ryan drove a Wiener Mobile and works out to P90X is not going to galvanize the youth away from their BBall playing, Jay-Z listening, cool mutha-shut your mouth of a President. It ain’t happening. Four years ago, when Palin was picked, I got where they were going. Sure, she was a terrible pick, as we all know too well now, but then she was the first woman VP Candidate for the Republicans, had a high approval rating as Alaska’s first female Governor, first female Mayor of Wasilla, young and semi attractive, and would take some of the fervor away from Barack Obama’s “Historical Candidacy” by replicating that on the McCain campaigns side and trying to take some of the upset Hillary voters away. I don’t get this pick at ALL. Romney lambastes Barack Obama for being a career politician, says he has never worked in the private sector, an odious lie, yet picks someone to be a heartbeat away from the Presidency who has been a staple in Washington politics since the Clinton Administration. Speechwriter for Jack Kemp. Legislative Aide to then Sens. Brownback and Karsten. Elected to Congress in 1998 with NO other private sector experience except for driving a damn hotdog!!!! Ryan is the poster child for Government Employment. With all of that, Ryan not only got through life using the very same opportunities he now goes vociferously against, he is hellbent on making sure the American people don’t get that same opportunity he received. Its madness. He’s a terrible speaker, he’s only a shade better than Mitt Romney at retail politics (and that’s not saying much, Adalai Stevensen was better at it than Mitt) he has no notable legislative accomplishments, and he isn’t the least bit interesting to anyone outside the beltway punditry and or Teabagger know nothing yokels who only believe he’s great because he “sounds” smart like Barack Obama. I live in the state of Georgia, I honestly don’t see folks here excited about Romney after this pick. They may feel better voting for them like they just took a tums to heal acid reflux, but not like the collective toe curling, eye rolling orgasm they got when Moosewoman was picked.
THIS RACE IS OURS TO LOSE FOLKS!!!!! We have a Presidential and Vice Presidential nominee that EVERYONE wants to be around on our side and generally cares about the entire world over. Mitt and Paul will not give America and the world that euphoria that Barack and Joe gives them. On November 6, 2012, we MUST make sure that everyone gets out and votes for the Obama-Biden 2012 ticket. Republican legislatures and Governors are doing their part to make dead certain that Democratic and Democratic leaning voters have a harder time to cast their votes. The Republicans see the future and are terrified at their closing window on winning that big white house. The stakes are way too high for everyone to stay home and try a Bush/Gore 2000 gamble, a gamble that we are still paying off and will pay off for years to come. We don’t need to take another roll of the dice. It is also very important that we give the President a Congress who isn’t conniving on November 7th to impeach the President, but to fix our country for generations to come. It’s on people. On to November 6th. Obama/Biden 2012.
Very astute analysis.
ASF, you’re exactly right. We have to work like the very devil to ensure everyone turns out on November 6. We’ll have to fight to make sure every vote is counted and no one is turned away from the polls. As for Ryan, I doubt that one in ten thousand have ever heard of him and the first impression he gives is of a weird looking nebbish. With this choice, the GOP has thrown away the women’s vote with a big sign on the door saying “women not welcome here.” Ditto all Latinos and any other person of color.
I was in a UPS store getting some Spanish language Obama rally handouts printed and the guy at the desk asked if I was for or against the president because he couldn’t read the Spanish. When I said “FOR” he said he was too and then he said I just heard they nominated some guy who’s gonna sink Romney. This was a normal, semi-informed American who never heard of Ryan and couldn’t even remember his name.
Have been without power again since this morning thanks to FP&L’s infrastructure. Just found out that Ryan is the VP nominee. I just want to warn you, we do not live in a very smart country. I took a Pew Poll this morning that showed I was one of 3% of Americans that can answer 11 very easy questions correctly. Questions like * Who is our VP, *Who is chief justice of the supreme court.* Who wants to raise taxes on those over 250,000., Who wants to over turn Roe V. Wade…more just like this. There are 97% of Americans that can’t answer these questions. I live in a state that elected a Gov. that defrauded Medicare for billions and he still got elected. This state voted for Bush not once but twice!
We have to work harder than we did in 2008. GOTV. This is a real scarey election for my family as well as millions of others. Don’t count on the media. We have to do it. I don’t know about you but, I am really scared about this election. I will continue to do my part to GOTV
Proud, scared is good, it makes us work harder. We have to get every vote to the polls and make sure they’re all counted. No rest for even the weariest until November 7.
http://www.boomantribune.com/story/2012/8/11/16171/4980 Privatize This
This might help to know…http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/08/11/2946098/how-paul-ryan-could-be-a-drag.html
Ryan, a Wisconsin congressman, is the architect of the Ryan budget plan that makes big changes to Medicare and Medicaid and could allow for some privatization of Social Security. And that’s widely seen by Democrats and most analysts as a politically risky stance in Florida, a must-win state for Republicans.
Ryan might have another problem in Florida: He once opposed the U.S. embargo on Cuba, a stance that’s anathema to Miami-Dade’s exile community, which is overwhelmingly Republican and had hoped that one of their own, Sen. Marco Rubio, would have been picked as Romney’s running mate. Though conservative, the county’s elderly Cuban population relies heavily on government assistance, particularly Medicare.
Polls indicate that voters over 50 years old — who comprise more than half the Florida electorate — are wary of changes to the major government-entitlement programs, which pump about $96 billion yearly into the hands of the elderly, the infirm and the hospitals, doctors and other providers who give them care.
By picking Ryan, Romney shows he’s ready to fight for conservative changes to the liberal-legacy programs.
snip/
A Florida poll last week showed Baby Boomers, worried about their future, plan to rely more on Social Security and Medicare than they had initially anticipated. So talk of cuts can spook these voters.
Much more here…..
BTW, fellow TODers, several months ago I had some fun with friends in a local ‘veepstakes’ pick as to whom #BainMitt would choose and I was the only one who selected Ryan – for all the reasons most of you know if you’ve followed by comments and tweets. Well, you know the outcome
From White House Blog
————————————————–
President Obama Hosts Fourth Annual Iftar Dinner at the White House
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/08/11/president-obama-hosts-fourth-annual-iftar-dinner-white-house
“Last night, President Obama hosted his fourth Iftar dinner as President in the State Dining Room of the White House. The Iftar is the meal that breaks the day of fasting during Ramadan, when Muslim families and communities eat together after sunset.
During his remarks at the dinner, the President reflected on the importance of religious freedom and the important role Muslims have played throughout our country’s history.
Of all the freedoms we cherish as Americans, of all the rights that we hold sacred, foremost among them is freedom of religion, the right to worship as we choose. It’s enshrined in the First Amendment of our Constitution — the law of the land, always and forever. It beats in our heart — in the soul of the people who know that our liberty and our equality is endowed by our Creator. And it runs through the history of this house, a place where Americans of many faiths can come together and celebrate their holiest of days — and that includes Ramadan.
As I’ve noted before, Thomas Jefferson once held a sunset dinner here with an envoy from Tunisia — perhaps the first Iftar at the White House, more than 200 years ago. And some of you, as you arrived tonight, may have seen our special display, courtesy of our friends at the Library of Congress — the Koran that belonged to Thomas Jefferson. And that’s a reminder, along with the generations of patriotic Muslims in America, that Islam — like so many faiths — is part of our national story.”
Excerpt from his remarks:
“Now, every faith is unique. And yet, during Ramadan, we see the traditions that are shared by many faiths: Believers engaged in prayer and fasting, in humble devotion to God. Families gathering together with love for each other. Neighbors reaching out in compassion and charity, to serve the less fortunate. People of different faiths coming together, mindful of our obligations to one another — to peace, justice and dignity for all people — men and women. Indeed, you know that the Koran teaches, “Be it man or woman, each of you is equal to the other.”
And by the way, we’ve seen this in recent days. In fact, the Olympics is being called “The Year of the Woman.” (Laughter.) Here in America, we’re incredibly proud of Team USA — all of them — but we should notice that a majority of the members are women. Also, for the very first time in Olympic history, every team now includes a woman athlete. And one of the reasons is that every team from a Muslim-majority country now includes women as well. And more broadly — that’s worth applauding. (Applause.) Absolutely.”
———————————-
Full remarks here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/08/10/remarks-president-iftar-dinner
PAUL RYAN AND A FIGHT OF INDIVIDUALISM VERSUS COLLECTIVISM
Ayn Rand Joins the Ticket
Posted by Jane Mayer
———————————————–
Although she died thirty years ago, Rand’s influence appears on the rise on the right. As my colleague Ryan Lizza noted in his terrific biographical Profile of Ryan, Rand’s works were an early and important influence on him, shaping his thinking as far back as high school. Later, as a Congressman, Ryan not only tried to get all of the interns in his congressional office to read Rand’s writing, he also gave copies of her novel “Atlas Shrugged” to his staff as Christmas presents, as he told the Weekly Standard in 2003.
Two years later, in 2005, Ryan paid fealty to Rand in a speech he gave to the Atlas Society, the Washington-based think tank devoted to keeping Rand’s “objectivist” philosophy alive. He credited her with inspiring his interest in public service, saying, “[T]he reason I got involved in public service, by and large, if I had to credit one thinker, one person, it would be Ayn Rand. And the fight we are in here, make no mistake about it, is a fight of individualism versus collectivism.”
———————————————————
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2012/08/paul-ryan-and-ayn-rand.html
Five Things to Know About Ryan—and Romney
By Jonathan Cohn
—————–
Many millions of working-age Americans would lose health insurance. Senior citizens would anguish over whether to pay their rent or their medical bills, in a way they haven’t since the 1960s. Government would be so starved of resources that, by 2050, it wouldn’t have enough money for core functions like food inspections and highway maintenance. And the richest Americans would get a huge tax cut.
This is the America that Paul Ryan envisions. And now we know that it is the America Mitt Romney envisions.
————————————–
http://www.tnr.com/blog/plank/106029/ryan-romney-vp-budget-cuts-medicare-medicaid-voucher-tax-cut
In his remarks at last nights White House Iftar Dinner, President Obama also gave a shout-out to Huma Abedin.. (love that!!)
“..They are entrepreneurs and lawyers, community leaders, members of our military, and Muslim American women serving with distinction in government. And that includes a good friend, Huma Abedin, who has worked tirelessly — (applause) — worked tirelessly in the White House, in the U.S. Senate, and most exhaustingly, at the State Department, where she has been nothing less than extraordinary in representing our country and the democratic values that we hold dear. Senator Clinton has relied on her expertise, and so have I.
The American people owe her a debt of gratitude — because Huma is an American patriot, and an example of what we need in this country — more public servants with her sense of decency, her grace and her generosity of spirit. So, on behalf of all Americans, we thank you so much. (Applause.) “
President Obama has this most compassionate and beautiful core within that gives comfort, yet with much intellectual focus on the issues that are so important for the soul of decent humanity that wants to rise up and shine with each of us as we take this journey, we call “life.”
As I watched POB speak, I could feel the love that he has for spreading “goodness” to all people of the world. His beautiful tone and eye contact to Huma, when it came to speak to Huma thanking her for her continued service to her country was so moving. This is the president that I want to be in the Oval Office representing all of us daily.
I will continue to work as best I know how to make sure that he is re-elected for his second term. America needs his intellect, his compassion, his caring and humble heart of convictions for goodness, and his love of working hard each day for his country. He is a fair and decent man, and I will keep your back, Mr. President. FORWARD All the Way, Mr. President.HZ
Obama Sends Romney Back Into the Fetal Position With Video on the Ryan Budget
http://www.politicususa.com/obama-send-romney-fetal-position-video-ryan-budget.html
Before this thread ends, and right in the middle of my getting dressed and doing my hair, I have to stop and post a comment. I can’t stop thinking about Romney cancelling interviews after making this big announcement today. Especially one with Gwen Ilfill, that I read about yesterday to be aired on Monday. WHY? I have my suppositions and would like to hear others. I think the pick of Ryan was not made weeks ago; but only recently. I think Mitt has not been given his talking points on this selection of Ryan … what he brings to the table, what their shared plans for addressing the issues are, how Ryan will support the platform of the GOP in this election. Either that or he has been told what to say and he can’t get it straight. I think the gaffe this morning could represent what might happen to a greater degree if Mitt is allowed to go one-on-one with any press until they can program him (if they can). And I say they because I think he is just a pawn. So are we going to have another McCain/Palin dodging the press team, who appear mostly together because Mitt cannot bring out the people in any large numbers. Will Ryan bring out the crowds? Is this why they will rally in WI tomorrow? But then where do they go from there?
THIS! I think you are 100% right…Mittbot needs to be “fine tuned” because he was told “do this or else”.
Excellent points, daisydem, and I completely agree. Imagine Robo-ney handling a crisis…with no battery. And don’t get me started on international policy because we know neither Mitt nor Eddie should be allowed out of our borders. Republicans should be a panicking!!
“I think the pick of Ryan was not made weeks ago; but only recently. I think Mitt has not been given his talking points on this selection of Ryan …
daisydem, I totally agree with you. I expressed similar sentiments in one of my prior comments.
I agree 100 percent. I bet they didn’t even decide on Ryan until Thursday or yesterday. This thing is so obviously rushed. First off, no one announces their VP nominee with weeks to go until the convention. Secondly, like you said, he’s canceled all interviews. Aren’t you supposed to go on a huge media tour roll out during the bus ride? Isn’t Mitt supposed to be doing a huge public relations push to introduce Paul Ryan to the nation? Uh…yeah! But they’re not doing that. Because they can’t.
This was a pick done in a complete panic. Mitt has been getting pounded for weeks. Even with all the media spin and hype in his favor and against the President, he has not been able to get a good message out there to the public. He was getting beaten so badly, that yesterday, this man, a candidate for Commander-in-Chief, was down on his knees begging his opponent not to go after his record. That was abysmal. And they had to do something, anything, to give him a few days of relief from Obama kicking his ass. So they did what they had to do. And it’s going to be a complete failure. This is worse than the Palin pick. This is simply a stunt to keep Romney from getting hammered non stop. They have no idea what they’re going to do a week from now or a month from now. It’s sad, but great for us.
I honestly think they decided to do this some time in the last 48 hours.
Oh wow, just logged back on to see if I had any replies to my comment. Thanks everyone who posted; you have validated my suspicions that this was a last minute (again) VP pick and that Romney is not ready to articulate any points about his selection. nathkatun7 I had not seen your earlier comment but it sounds like we are on the same page. I find this behavior on the part of Romney and/or his campaign so weird. I guess it is because of the McCain/Palin fiasco of 08; I knew why she was selected. McCain had a reputation of being pretty moderate in the past. Then there was the Hillary factor; so many of her supporters were so angry that she lost to President Obama that they might have been up for grabs. Enter whoever was behind the Palin pick (no, I really don’t think McCain came up with this on his own) attractive, high-energy, extremely Pro-Life (supposedly): mother of a special needs baby; and extremely pro-2nd amendment:tenets the Repug Party of 2008 was clinging to and they desperately selected her and the rest is history.
And furthermore, I would think if you had just selected your VP candidate and your team was ready to go – rally, campaign, prepare for the convention, you would want to talk about him/her to all the press! And now, no press?
President Obama Announces Presidential Delegation to the Closing Ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Summer Games
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/08/09/president-obama-announces-presidential-delegation-closing-ceremony-2012-
Members of the Presidential Delegation
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The Honorable Susan E. Rice, United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations
The Honorable Louis B. Susman, United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Mr. Benjamin Rhodes, Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communication and Speechwriting
Ms. Michelle Kwan, Member of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition, U.S. Public Diplomacy Envoy and Olympic figure skater
Mr. Reginald Love, Former Special Assistant and Personal Aide to the President of the United States
Mr. Curtis Pride, Member of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition, former Major League Baseball player and Gallaudet University Head Baseball Coach
Awesome list! I’m SO glad Reggie is included. PBO has a loooonnnggg memory.
You just know he’s gonna be right up front in the stands at the Men’s Basketball Gold Medal Match.
Reward for a job well done over the years! Good for him!
Awesome delegation. Thank you, Mr. President.HZ
I was wondering when that would come out.
Eurgh..*Vomit*. Can’t look at these guys without feeling sick. What a contrast from VPB and PBO
Now I REALLY can’t wait for the VP Debates….there’s NO holding Joe Biden back. He doesn’t have to soft dance around his opponent who was operating on half a brain like last time.
Exactly! Joe Biden bent over backwards to be polite to Sarah Palin. But, as one of the strongest advocates of the middle class, I don’t think he will let Ryan off the hook about the Ryan budget which is anti poor and anti middle class. Joe Biden is so authentic and speaks with passion about protecting the middle class. Besides, I don’t think Paul Ryan could compete with VP Biden’s vast knowledge of foreign affairs.
Introducing Paul Ryan & His Snazzy Ties
That is a story at HuffPuff
They want to make him a celebrity. Not about the substance at all.
Think down ticket …
Den senate candidates tying Ryan to their opponent-
http://www.politico.com//blogs/burns-haberman/2012/08/dem-senate-candidates-already-tying-opponents-to-ryan-131807.html
I assume the same can be said about the House Dems?
Yes
One of the 20.
Frank Luntz, Newt Gingrich, Tom Coburn, Jon Kyle, Eric Cantor and the Whip Guy in the House, etc
I know … didn’t want to embarrass the Tweep but just provide the link to the full list …
Woot! US Women take Gold in a 4×400 relay blowoutt anchored by Sanya Richards-Ross! USA — USA — USA!!!
Russia Silver. Jamaica Bronze.
Paul Ryan standing there with a Gomer Pyle laugh while his mouth awkwardly hangs open…he sounded inbred.
“heh…hhhhehehhaa”
Men’s 4×100 teams warming up on the track now!!! I’m all tingly!
LOL!!! I couldn’t stop laughing when LYIN MITT announced his choice for VP. And of course I have to thank Baby Jesus too
PBO is ready for these two nutjobs,
Jamaica blows out the World Record, US makes a new National Record… nobody even knows who was third (seriously, the announcer just said he does know!!!)
Doesn’t know.
Wow, serious drama!
Canada gets disqualified — loses their Bronze to Trinidad (I’m not sure why)
Some chick jumps on Bolt, wraps her legs around him and they have to scrape her off him. He moves on down the track and she’s trying to chase him down, with an official trying to pull her back! Good Lord!
Sounds like Canada didn’t get final hand-off done within the zone. Man! That’s gotta hurt!
The team captain stepped on the white line…bummer
NYT has a brutal take-down of Romney + Paul Ryan
“As House Budget Committee chairman, Mr. Ryan has drawn a blueprint of a government that will be absent when people need it the most. It will not be there when the unemployed need job training, or when a struggling student needs help to get into college. It will not be there when a miner needs more than a hardhat for protection, or when a city is unable to replace a crumbling bridge.
And it will be silent when the elderly cannot keep up with the costs of M.R.I.’s or prescription medicines, or when the poor and uninsured become increasingly sick through lack of preventive care.
More than three-fifths of the cuts proposed by Mr. Ryan, and eagerly accepted by the Tea Party-driven House, come from programs for low-income Americans. That means billions of dollars lost for job training for the displaced, Pell grants for students and food stamps for the hungry. These cuts are so severe that the nation’s Catholic bishops raised their voices in protest at the shredding of the nation’s moral obligations.
Mr. Ryan’s budget “will hurt hungry children, poor families, vulnerable seniors and workers who cannot find employment,” the bishops wrote in an April letter to the House. “These cuts are unjustified and wrong.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/11/opinion/paul-ryans-cramped-vision.html?_r=1
Women’s Gold Medal Basketball game on NBC now! NBA Commissioner Stern in the stands.
Candace Parker is putting in Work today!!
She was on FIYAH!!
Um…so how many years of tax returns did Paul Ryan submit???
According to reporters, PBO landed in Chicago and went straight to his campaign HQ’s to meet with advisers.
Translation: They’re laughing their heads off at the Paul Ryan VP pick.
A landslide victory for POTUS/VPOTUS will help to crystalize this moment and what is at stake in this election.
I believe that we have to do all we can humanly do to make sure that these ideas of privatizing social security, medicare, medcaid, public edcuation and other programs that help the middle class are permanentlly off the political cutting-room. we need to clean the gop from the presidency, senate, house, state houses and every where.
Tweet by Rainn Wilson who plays Dwight Schrute on The Office.
Such diversity. Two spoiled, entitled, selfish, dishonest private country clubbers.
Oh man, there’s some really great stuff being generated with the Ryan pick on Facebook:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021112936
Tweety is going to have an MSNBC “Special” this evening (6PM ET) on Ryan. What’s this gonna be – another “tingle-up-my-leg” love fest with the likes of Fineman or other MSNBC hacks, and no substantive analysis of his dangerous policies?
By Lynn Sweet on August 11, 2012 3:22 PM | No Comments
MANASSAS, VA.–President Barack Obama flew to Chicago on Saturday, helicoptered to Soldier Field and in the afternoon was meeting with his staff at the campaign headquarters in the Prudential Building.
Campaign spokesman Jen Psaki said “the president will have his regular weekly political meeting with staff at his Chicago campaign headquarters.”
Lynn Sweet-
Watch out Mitt and Paul, POTUS is already in motion to go.
Love this comment from Nancy in the attached post. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/11/opinion/paul-ryans-cramped-vision.html?_r=2
“Recipe for the Romney-Ryan campaign:
Take Catholicism – throw out all concerns for the poor, and double the misogyny
Take Mormonism and double the homophobia. Add an extra helping of nuts.
Take the philosophy of Ayn Rand but throw out the atheism and double the hatred of government.
Cut programs for the poor and the sick – make your own best guess by how much
Throw out financial regulations.
Add tax cuts for the wealthy
Add two Koch brothers
Bake until the United States is a shell of its former self.
Serves 1%”
Love that!
Funny thing is, it’s not even snark. It’s the total truth!
From the MSNBC blog a commentor says:
Ryan is now Romney’s pick as veep? I guess that is the last nail in the coffin that contains the Republican Party’s crumbling election hopes for November.
President Obama by default in 2012! American is holding an election and the GOP is not planning on showing up!
HERE YOU GO! http://www.tnr.com/blog/plank/106046/why-ryan-makes-romneys-tax-problem-even-worse
Already, there is a curious bit of conventional wisdom taking hold that Mitt Romney’s choice of Paul Ryan is shrewd because it will draw attention from Romney’s ever-more glaring weaknesses, notably the more rapacious elements of his work at Bain Capital and his undisclosed tax returns. Sorry, but this makes no sense. It seems hard to imagine a running mate who would jibe better with the Democrats’ Bain Capital attacks than a well-born Ayn Rand acolyte. More crucially, it is hard to imagine a running mate who will draw more attention to the matter of Romney’s taxes than Paul Ryan. Why? Because under the “Ryan plan” that made the congressman famous, Mitt Romney would pay zero taxes.
Don’t believe it? Romney himself said so, just a few months ago. The Ryan plan — formally, the “Roadmap for America’s Future” — “promotes saving by eliminating taxes on interest, capital gains, and dividends; also eliminates the death tax.” Mitt Romney’s income — more than $20 million each of the past two years — comes almost entirely from capital gains on his investments, or from “carried interest,” a cut of Bain Capital profits that are taxed as capital gains (the infamous “hedge fund loophole.”) His only major ordinary income were the speaking fees he collected ($374,000, or “not much,” as he put it) This explains why his tax rate was only 13.9 percent last year — because the capital gains rate is 15 percent, well below the top rate of 35 percent for ordinary income.
But if the capital gains was eliminated altogether? Well, let’s let Romney explain the result in his own words, as he did at an NBC primary debate in January:
Read the rest. This needs to be pounded into the thick skull of every American!
Here’s just a little more of this from that primary debate….Romney/Newt portion:
Hours before he plans to release his 2010 tax returns, Mitt Romney noted at the GOP debate in Tampa that under his opponent’s tax plan, he wouldn’t have paid any taxes at all. The moment came after Newt Gingrich joked about Romney’s 15 percent tax rate, saying: “I’m prepared to describe my flat tax as the Mitt Romney flat tax.”
Romney jumped in to ask: Do you tax capital gains at 15 percent or zero percent? Gingrich’s answer: Zero.
“Under that plan, I’d have paid no taxes in the last two years,” Romney said, alluding to the fact that all his income is from investments.
So, at the very moment when we’re all tittering over Harry Reid’s wild accusation that Romney paid no taxes for the past decade, Romney picks a running mate whose plan — supported by virtually the entire GOP congressional caucus — would have him paying, well, no taxes. I’m pretty sure that the Obama and Priorities USA admakers will be able to do something with this.
PastyWhite / LillyWhite 2012
Romney/Ryan said(not kidding here), that they are Freaking out in the WH and Chicago.
They are? Ummm, ohhhhkay. Delusional much?
democracts, independents, and sane republicans who have been lukewarm and/or attacking PBO, well, for the gop, it is all on the line. are you going to join PBO in fighting radicalism or are you going to continue whinning?
I’m back from putting together some points for #2 who was asked to do a video on why she supports PBO. Her main reasons are healthcare/women issues, and education. She asked me for a little help putting it all into quick points for her. Tally, I used the SCOTUS part of your ‘A Word from Tally’. Japa I used some of your stuff too. Chips, I used some of the great info that you and others post here as well. Thanks everyone for the input I used, hopefully you don’t mind. I gathered stuff from ‘What is Working’ as well. Fingers crossed she does well, cause they told her she could wear the t-shirt she designed for the campaign. I hope she doesn’t end up on the cutting room floor.
US women won gold medal, go USA
Woooooooooot!
Hurray for our Ladies!!!!! They did a great job in the Olympics, our ladies won more medals than the men. Of course I don’t know every detail, but it seem like the British did a good job running the Olympics. Who was the person who said the British didn’t know what they were doing?
They played a great game – a little slow on the offense at first but defense was fantastic all around which helped to keep France at bay. But congratulations to France for winning a Silver medal on only their 2nd time in the Olympics!
Yep. Nothing to hang their heads over. Congrats to the French team!
5 Consecutive Gold Medals. Never been done by ANY team in ANY sport!!!!! USA — USA — USA!!!!
Well, I’ve been ridiculously busy today at the library. I and my 3 Obot patrons have been having a hearty guffaw at Mittens’ choice for VP. It’s almost as if, some time in 2009, Obama operatives kidnapped Romney, rewired his brain, then sent him back out in the world to purposely throw the election. As I said in my tweet, Romney has given us a great gift. It’s time to use it. Crush the GOP in November!
I agree with you 1000% LL. But we all MUST KEEP FIGHTING LIKE HELL. Tens of millions of dollars of blatantly false negative ads already from the kochs ‘n’ refuggs and 10s of millions more before this is over.
Wish I could find a snippet of that video interview of the President from back when he was a State Senator (I think) where he said he would crush his opponents when they were dishonorable and underestimated him.
“Crush the GOP in November!”
LL I am right there with you. It is not enough to get out the vote to win by a few points, we must DESTROY them with our votes. I get that voter suppression is rampant now but I am confident that PO, his administration and his team of lawyers are on it. This excrement that has infiltrated the country and is now calling itself the Republican Party must be eradicated.
It is now personal.
http://bobcesca.com/blog-archives/2012/08/paul-ryan-is-very-serious-about-ballooning-the-deficit.html
Wow, these tweets are hilarious!!
Tweety has a roundtable at 6. The Coward, The Dick, And Morning Ninkimpoop.
His guest- Rinse Priebus.
WTF?
Or something like that…
NO THANKS TWEETY.
Let’s see the talk will still be Mitt RomneyHood taxes, his tax plan, Bain Capitol, and Medicare and Social Security. Which one will look after the haves and step all over the have nots.
And on foreign policy a swarm of insane bush retreaded neocons.
Omg! Yes Pokitico again-
Meet Janna Ryan-
Yeah, no Thanks. We met Miss Ann, after you shoved Her down our throats, and She was terrible.
http://wonkette.com/480764/meet-your-new-vice-presidential-candidate-the-one-and-only-historys-greatest-monster-paul-ryan
Well how about that. Mitt Romney has chosen that nice young Boy Scout from down the street who’s offered to fix our finances, Rep. Paul Ryan, to be his presidential running mate.
A few things about Paul Ryan: He wants to end Medicare and give people (those who are 55 and younger at the time of passage) coupons to buy private insurance plans on the market instead. Those coupons would be explicitly designed not to keep up with medical inflation, ensuring seniors pay higher out-of-pocket costs each year until the market collapses.
He wants to convert Medicaid and food stamps into block grants sent to the states and sharply reduced levels. He wants to bring non-defense discretionary spending down to 3% of the federal budget. He wants to slash taxes on the wealthy, giving them an average 12.5% in additional after-tax income. The only reason his budgets haven’t said a word about privatizing or dramatically cutting benefits in Social Security is because his fellow congressmen demanded he not take that on in addition to everything else, at this point. He voted for the Iraq War, Medicare Part D, and TARP.
The Ryan Budget is not just about saving money. He thinks broad social spending programs are immoral in how they foster “dependency.” There’s no other reason to cut every modest discretionary program like that.
Paul Ryan worships Ayn Rand, a sociopath who sneered at those who would give to charity.
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2012/08/11/678701/fox-news-pundits-wonder-if-republicans-can-defend-tax-cuts-for-the-wealthy-with-ryan-on-the-ticket/
Paul Ryan’s infamous budget — which Romney embraced — replaces “the current tax structure with two brackets — 25 percent and 10 percent — and cut the top rate from 35 percent.” Federal tax collections would fall “by about $4.5 trillion over the next decade” as a result. To avoid increasing the national debt, the budget proposes massive cuts in social programs and “special-interest loopholes and tax shelters that litter the code.”
But 62 percent of the savings would come from programs that benefit the lower- and middle-classes, who would also experience a tax increase. That’s because while Ryan “would extend the Bush tax cuts, which are due to expire at the end of this year, he would not extend President Obama’s tax cuts for those with the lowest incomes, which will expire at the same time.” Households “earning more than $1 million a year, meanwhile, could see a net tax cut of about $300,000 annually.”
In case anybody’s wondering who that black lady is who’s been handing out the gold medals to the US teams (in several sports) — that’s Anita DeFrantz, first female VP of the International Olympic Committee, 1976 Bronze Medal Rowing, and womens sports advocate extraordinaire.
Read about her story here: http://anitadefrantz.net/
Hiya Dudette, I had the pleasure of hearing her speak at a conference a few years ago, she was just outstanding – smart, insightful, funny, inspirational. An amazing woman.
Awesome! I’ve followed her over the years. Love her mission and how wonderfully she represents the U.S. and women athletes in general.
LOL!
Interesting tidbit my local news just noted: This will be the first time in 80 years there will be no military experience on either side of the Presidential ballot.
Ha ! Fox edited out Romney’s gaffe introducing Ryan
New post everyone:
http://theobamadiary.com/2012/08/11/mitt-romney-and-paul-ryan-back-to-the-failed-top-down-policies/
Ed Rendell= Loser!
All those Independents and Moderate Republicans are left out in the cold by Vulture/Voucher (along with minorities, Seniors, teachers, fire, police, nurses, the middle class, and the less fortunate). They are ALL welcome to join us in the BIG Obama/Biden tent of love!