Quote:
On day three of his overseas tour, Mitt Romney woke up to unfriendly headlines from the British media, who continue to trash him for telling NBC News that he found preparations for the Olympics here "disconcerting."
"Mitt the Twit," declared The Sun tabloid, condemning Romney as a "wannabe president."
The Independent headlined their take on Romney's trip, "Romneyshambles"—accusing him of not only committing a diplomatic gaffe but later "the cardinal sin of U.S. politics, flip-flopping" on his criticism.
The Daily Telegraph suggested Romney's "Olympic gaffe" had overshadowed his trip to London.
Meanwhile, the conservative Daily Mail slammed Romney as "devoid of charm, offensive and a wazzock."
comorin From United States of America, joined May 2005, 4721 posts, RR: 17 Reply 3, posted (10 months 3 weeks 4 days 14 hours ago) and read 5788 times:
Romney's wife Ann owns a ballet-dancing horse which is not helping his image with beer guzzling down home types either. But I must say he has made the election so much fun! I am hooked on what he has to say next, and am glued to the internet for his next pronouncement. Hop fully he doesn't go to Russia and say "Mr. Leader, the Wall must come down!" or something.
einsteinboricua From Puerto Rico, joined Apr 2010, 2080 posts, RR: 6 Reply 5, posted (10 months 3 weeks 4 days 14 hours ago) and read 5771 times:
This is incredible: he sets out to make the impression that he will be the next commander in chief and to set up his reputation and it has all backfired. Wonder why FOX and the entire FOX cheerleading squad here have yet to speak about this and defend their infallible candidate.
In way it won't matter because it's not the British who will elect the president. However, should a major conflict arise where the US needs UK assistance, perhaps the British will at least think about it before answering.
Quoting incitatus (Reply 1): Romney just really reminds me of Joe Biden. Silence can only help him.
Unfortunately for Romney, he must speak.
Quoting comorin (Reply 3): Hop fully he doesn't go to Russia and say "Mr. Leader, the Wall must come down!" or something.
He'll go to China and ask for the Great Wall to be torn down.
"You haven't seen a tree until you've seen its shadow from the sky."
Revelation From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 10565 posts, RR: 21 Reply 7, posted (10 months 3 weeks 4 days 14 hours ago) and read 5745 times:
Quoting einsteinboricua (Reply 5): In way it won't matter because it's not the British who will elect the president.
Much of his core base will share that opinion, but it's the swing voters who matter, and I think Mitt's twitty behavior sends a negative message if not outright cringes to the swing voters.
GDB From United Kingdom, joined May 2001, 12735 posts, RR: 79 Reply 8, posted (10 months 3 weeks 4 days 12 hours ago) and read 5669 times:
Apart from his flat footedness, what surprises is that he's 'behind the news agenda'.
G4S screwed up - big surprise.
Troops - who are trained to do effective, rapid bag searches in far more difficult conditions - take their place.
Olympics become safer.
Had he cracked a wry joke followed by 'but I'm confident that it's all OK now', there would likely have been no response.
casinterest From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 3336 posts, RR: 1 Reply 10, posted (10 months 3 weeks 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 5655 times:
windy95 From United States of America, joined Dec 2008, 2559 posts, RR: 5 Reply 12, posted (10 months 3 weeks 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 5552 times:
Quoting Aesma (Reply 11): Not to defend Romney but he didn't say anything outrageous either, storm in a cup of tea it seems to me.
Ditto. Much to do about nothing...Not even close to Obamas "you did not build it". They are still trying to make people forget about that one.
akiss20 From United States of America, joined Sep 2007, 534 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (10 months 3 weeks 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 5546 times:
Quoting windy95 (Reply 12): Ditto. Much to do about nothing...Not even close to Obamas "you did not build it". They are still trying to make people forget about that one.
Please, we all know that line the Romney campaign keeps touting was taken completely out of context. Go look up what Thomas Paine had to say about the building of property.
I would say accidentally divulging a secret meeting and royally (hah pun) offending one of the country's biggest allies, on their own turf, is a slightly bigger faux pas.
Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are
Dreadnought From United States of America, joined Feb 2008, 7879 posts, RR: 22 Reply 14, posted (10 months 3 weeks 4 days 9 hours ago) and read 5517 times:
Quoting akiss20 (Reply 13): Please, we all know that line the Romney campaign keeps touting was taken completely out of context.
Utter horsecrap. Such thinking is and always has been at the core of socialism and Obama had a brief moment of honesty.
ATTart From United States of America, joined Dec 2008, 638 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (10 months 3 weeks 4 days 9 hours ago) and read 5503 times:
Quoting Dreadnought (Reply 14): Utter horsecrap. Such thinking is and always has been at the core of socialism and Obama had a brief moment of honesty.
You so funny... Keep the lies coming, this crap you spew is what turns off the moderates and independents. So please keep these type of attacks coming, you will just help President Obama win. Sarah Palin tried this back in 2008, and see how well that worked for her and McCain.
[Edited 2012-07-27 13:52:26]
Remember: When someone talks behind your back, it only means you're two steps ahead of them!
jakeorion From United States of America, joined Oct 2005, 1247 posts, RR: 2 Reply 16, posted (10 months 3 weeks 4 days 9 hours ago) and read 5493 times:
Just once, I would like to see an A.Net member run for office on either side. If they deem themselves so perfect, run for office! I guarantee you somebody will find your skeletons in your closet.
This applies to both sides. The political smear garbage is not just pathetic, but downright sad. It's all about smearing someone.
Yes, disagree with their policies and question their actions, but leave the man/woman alone, and I'm including Obama and Michelle.
Every problem has a simple solution; finding the simple solution is the difficult problem.
einsteinboricua From Puerto Rico, joined Apr 2010, 2080 posts, RR: 6 Reply 17, posted (10 months 3 weeks 4 days 9 hours ago) and read 5468 times:
Quoting windy95 (Reply 12): Quoting Aesma (Reply 11):
Not to defend Romney but he didn't say anything outrageous either, storm in a cup of tea it seems to me.
Ditto. Much to do about nothing...Not even close to Obamas "you did not build it". They are still trying to make people forget about that one.
Revelation From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 10565 posts, RR: 21 Reply 18, posted (10 months 3 weeks 4 days 6 hours ago) and read 5416 times:
Quoting Dreadnought (Reply 14): Utter horsecrap. Such thinking is and always has been at the core of socialism and Obama had a brief moment of honesty.
Utterly off-topic. That one was hashed out already.
ltbewr From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 12365 posts, RR: 12 Reply 20, posted (10 months 3 weeks 4 days 6 hours ago) and read 5392 times:
Romney's comments in the UK and in a book a few years ago as to the UK, to me show a person who is narrow minded but also trying to boost the idea of 'American Exceptionalism', that Europe is too 'socialist' and the USA is superior to all others, and was for USA voters consumption.
His disclosure as to meeting with the head of MI 6 was intentional to show that he is to be considered the equal to the sitting President as to having privy to certain confidential and top secret information, especially as to terrorism.
His criticizing the way the Olympics in the UK was to make himself look like he was so great in his running the 2002 Winter Olympics, showing business leadership, that there were few problems. Of course only 5 months after 9/11/01, you probably had a lot of pressure on everyone to do well and you had huge Fedeal investment in security.
Of course I doubt he will be as mumbled mouth in Israel, he will just say yes and boost their right wing leaders, something he is comfortable with.
I wonder what boneheaded thing he will say in Poland...
GDB From United Kingdom, joined May 2001, 12735 posts, RR: 79 Reply 21, posted (10 months 3 weeks 4 days 6 hours ago) and read 5377 times:
Quoting ltbewr (Reply 20): trying to boost the idea of 'American Exceptionalism',
Well he can hardly help that, perhaps?
When his faith is an American Exceptionalism version of Christianity, whose founder was someone else a bit dubious around financial issues.
Dreadnought From United States of America, joined Feb 2008, 7879 posts, RR: 22 Reply 23, posted (10 months 3 weeks 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 5274 times:
Quoting gingersnap (Reply 22): Well I hope Mitt enjoys the use of the telephone & the world wide web.
Let's not even get into the list of "game changing" things we've given to the world.
The criticisms that Romney gave on the Olympics came straight from the Washington Post:
kaitak From Ireland, joined Aug 1999, 11993 posts, RR: 36 Reply 24, posted (10 months 3 weeks 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 5222 times:
Quoting jakeorion (Reply 16): This applies to both sides. The political smear garbage is not just pathetic, but downright sad. It's all about smearing someone.
There's an old saying that goes something like "better keep your mouth shut and let people think you're a fool, rather than opening it and removing all doubt!".
Unfortunately, Mitt opened his mouth and he did so in relation to something which the British establishment is very proud of and focused on making work (the Olympics); those comments won't be soon forgotten. It's often said that the Conservatives/Tories in the UK are closer to the Republicans, but I think that few in the current UK government would welcome Romney as President. So much for the special relationship, which Romney touted some weeks back.
cedarjet From United Kingdom, joined May 1999, 7724 posts, RR: 55 Reply 26, posted (10 months 3 weeks 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 5346 times:
Romney's comments are extremely offensive on a subject Brits are very proud of. I haven't even seen what the left-wing press (Independent, Guardian, Mirror) have said about him, but the right-wing press (Telegraph, Times, Mail, Sun) have all passed extremely harsh judgement.
I think it's weird that Americans are trying to paint his offensive attitude to Britain as analogous to Obama rightly pointing out that "self-made" success stories couldn't thrive without government help in the form of infrastructure (roads, police, air traffic control, food standards, legal system, schools, etc).
Obama made a valid point that all "drown government in the bathtub" conservatives should listen to, and what's more, in a democracy, we respect the political viewpoints of our opponents. That "self-made" entrepreneurs benefited from being born in a country with good infrastructure and rule of law - thanks to government - is a valid viewpoint. Making unhelpful and undiplomatic remarks that have hurt the feelings of a nation that is supposed to be an ally is just boorish and rude.
Republicans can defend Romney all they like, but take it from me, here in Britain we all hope he goes home as soon as possible and never comes back.
PS and aren't the Republican party always claiming to be the party of national security - and this guy goes and blabs about a secret meeting with MI6? What a complete joke.
[Edited 2012-07-28 04:31:22]
fly Saha Air 707s daily from Tehran's downtown Mehrabad to Mashhad, Kish Island and Ahwaz
U2380 From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2010, 303 posts, RR: 0 Reply 27, posted (10 months 3 weeks 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 5355 times:
Quoting cedarjet (Reply 26): I haven't even seen what the left-wing press (Independent, Guardian, Mirror) have said about him, but the right-wing press (Telegraph, Times, Mail, Sun) have all passed extremely harsh judgement.
I think it's been pretty much accepted across the (UK's) political spectrum that he's a bit of a prat:
Mir From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 19813 posts, RR: 56 Reply 28, posted (10 months 3 weeks 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 5353 times:
Quoting Dreadnought (Reply 23): The criticisms that Romney gave on the Olympics came straight from the Washington Post:
Which is irrelevant. Yes, there have been questions about the preparedness of London for the Olympics, even in the British press, but Rule 1 of foreign relations is that it's not a good idea to show up in a foreign country and start bashing the massive national event that the country is really proud of.
Fortunately for him, it's the UK, and that damage will be relatively easily repaired. Other countries (such as China), not so much.
-Mir
7 billion, one nation, imagination...it's a beautiful day
Revelation From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 10565 posts, RR: 21 Reply 29, posted (10 months 3 weeks 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 5329 times:
Quoting U2380 (Reply 27): I think it's been pretty much accepted across the (UK's) political spectrum that he's a bit of a prat:
Actually I think "Mitt The Twit" fits pretty well.
kaitak From Ireland, joined Aug 1999, 11993 posts, RR: 36 Reply 30, posted (10 months 3 weeks 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 5329 times:
Quoting WestJet747 (Reply 19): Am I the only one that had to look up what a "wazzock" is?
No; I had to do it as well; this is from Dictionary.com:
World English Dictionary
wazzock (ˈwæzək)
— n
dialect ( English ) a foolish or annoying person
[C20: of unknown origin]
... which fits nicely with:
Quoting Revelation (Reply 29): Actually I think "Mitt The Twit" fits pretty well.
After eight years of Bush 2, the Brits generally dislike Republicans, particularly after the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, which were highly unpopular:
Obama, on the other hand, is highly popular in Europe, and not just because he's "not Bush". Europeans are somewhat aghast at some of the things that are said in US politics; anything that remotely smacks of "helping the little guy" or helping the poor or downtrodden in any way is immediately labelled "socialist" - Obamacare being a perfect example; someone who is on record as saying he'll cancel that on his first day in office is clearly not going to be well liked, admired or respected in Europe. In Europe, the concept of helping the downtrodden, the poor and the disadvantaged has another name; we call it "society".
Rara From Germany, joined Jan 2007, 1847 posts, RR: 3 Reply 31, posted (10 months 3 weeks 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 5308 times:
Quoting incitatus (Reply 1): Romney just really reminds me of Joe Biden. Silence can only help him.
Hmm really? I don't know Mr Biden very well, but to me his gaffes seem to stem from too much honesty - he doesn't think before he sputters something out. Romney, on the other hand, appears like a badly programmed robot.
Samson was a biblical tough guy, but his dad Samsonite was even more of a hard case.
Revelation From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 10565 posts, RR: 21 Reply 33, posted (10 months 3 weeks 3 days 16 hours ago) and read 5250 times:
PanHAM From Germany, joined May 2005, 7839 posts, RR: 27 Reply 34, posted (10 months 3 weeks 3 days 15 hours ago) and read 5240 times:
...another candidate for Presidency who has no international experience, cannot spell diplomacy, has a backwoods view on things, just to mention a few.
He needs good advisors, should he become President. However, electing such a person is bad choice, whoever runs for that office nshould have the basic skills and knowledge on domestic and international affairs.
I am not an English nativ speaker, but adressing a high ranking politician "Mr. Leader" givs me the creeps, especially when I do the translation.
Revelation From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 10565 posts, RR: 21 Reply 35, posted (10 months 3 weeks 3 days 15 hours ago) and read 5230 times:
Quoting PanHAM (Reply 34): However, electing such a person is bad choice, whoever runs for that office nshould have the basic skills and knowledge on domestic and international affairs.
Personally, I think electing a President who is "devoid of charm" is also a bad choice. The man will need to be able to use personal charm, tact and charisma to get things done, and it seems he is guilty as charged of being devoid of them.
comorin From United States of America, joined May 2005, 4721 posts, RR: 17 Reply 36, posted (10 months 3 weeks 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 5175 times:
You guys are all wrong! Mitt went to Harvard Business School so he must be smart. Just like George Bush.
DeltaMD90 From United States of America, joined Apr 2008, 5375 posts, RR: 47 Reply 37, posted (10 months 3 weeks 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 5182 times:
Quoting comorin (Reply 36): You guys are all wrong! Mitt went to Harvard Business School so he must be smart. Just like George Bush.
I'm sure he is very smart. I'm sure anyone that can get into Harvard is smart. What's the point of your post??? Sure they made some bad choices, but that doesn't make them dumb... probably smarter than most of us on this board
GDB From United Kingdom, joined May 2001, 12735 posts, RR: 79 Reply 38, posted (10 months 3 weeks 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 5143 times:
Quoting DeltaMD90 (Reply 37): I'm sure anyone that can get into Harvard is smart.
Or if daddy was a GOP big cheese and governor, or the latest, most powerful yet of the Bush clan.
It's not much different over here, if at all.
Look at the current UK government for proof of that, it's almost regressive in numbers terms.
Maybe the difference is just that we are more honest about it.
Some say 'well that's the British being obsessed with class'.
Or just not in denial of it?
WestJet747 From Canada, joined Aug 2011, 1345 posts, RR: 7 Reply 39, posted (10 months 3 weeks 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 5125 times:
Quoting comorin (Reply 36): Mitt went to Harvard Business School so he must be smart.
So did Jeffrey Skilling and Rajat Gupta, what's your point?
Going to a reputable school doesn't make you smart. For every HBS grad you name, I'll name you a CEO who doesn't even have a day of post-grad education.
Revelation From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 10565 posts, RR: 21 Reply 41, posted (10 months 3 weeks 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 5076 times:
Quoting U2380 (Reply 40): Please tell me that was sarcasm?
I hope so too.
Jimmy Carter was one of the smartest men to hold the Presidency, but I doubt many from either party would want to repeat the experience.
U2380 From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2010, 303 posts, RR: 0 Reply 43, posted (10 months 3 weeks 3 days 9 hours ago) and read 5037 times:
Quoting fruitbat (Reply 42): I believe that you ARE employing sarcasm
I so do hope that you're wrong after saying that.
You can never tell, sometimes it seems as if the noble art of sarcasm has not reached various parts of the US yet. I thought I'd check, it'll put all our minds at rest.
Quoting fruitbat (Reply 42): And in response to the ongoing question: anyone who visits someone/where and then insults them is, indeed, a Wazzock.
fruitbat From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2006, 547 posts, RR: 6 Reply 44, posted (10 months 3 weeks 3 days 9 hours ago) and read 5025 times:
Quoting U2380 (Reply 43): You can never tell, sometimes it seems as if the noble art of sarcasm has not reached various parts of the US yet. I thought I'd check, it'll put all our minds at rest.
I'm willing to give lessons (for the right price )
Weaseling out of things is important to learn. It's what separates us from the animals ... except the weasel.
U2380 From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2010, 303 posts, RR: 0 Reply 45, posted (10 months 3 weeks 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 4991 times:
Quoting fruitbat (Reply 44): I'm willing to give lessons (for the right price )
Naa, I should be fine, I've got the same qualifications as you
Anyway, back on topic. I shouldn't imagine these series of gaffes will damage Romney's reputation in the US too much. Here on the other hand, it's in tatters.
voodoo From Niue, joined Mar 2001, 1963 posts, RR: 0 Reply 46, posted (10 months 3 weeks 3 days 7 hours ago) and read 4967 times:
Quoting Dreadnought (Reply 23): And also that it was not Romney that gave a bunch of NTSC DVDs to the Prime Minister as a gift, or an IPod full of his own speeches to the Queen.
Just as points of info:
Pretty much any TV and DVD player in the UK you get now can play multi-region DVDs.
And it looks like the 2 Obama speeches on the iPod were pretty much out-balanced by the other stuff: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2009/04/what-does-one-g/
TheCommodore From Australia, joined Dec 2007, 2346 posts, RR: 6 Reply 47, posted (10 months 3 weeks 3 days 1 hour ago) and read 4861 times:
Quoting Aesma (Reply 11): Not to defend Romney but he didn't say anything outrageous either, storm in a cup of tea it seems to me.
If he wants to strut around on the worlds stage, and make an ass himself, pissing people off, hardly seems like a way to win over international friends and allies now dose it ?
Quoting Dreadnought (Reply 23): The criticisms that Romney gave on the Olympics came straight from the Washington Post:
So what. It was completely tactless.
Have you ever heard of diplomacy, especially when visiting a foreign country..... whats that, sorry, what... foreign ????
Quoting Revelation (Reply 35): Personally, I think electing a President who is "devoid of charm" is also a bad choice. The man will need to be able to use personal charm, tact and charisma to get things done, and it seems he is guilty as charged of being devoid of them.
Exactly. Politics is all about deal making and if you annoy and irritate before you've even sat down at the table, then there goes any deal !
PanHAM From Germany, joined May 2005, 7839 posts, RR: 27 Reply 48, posted (10 months 3 weeks 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 4827 times:
Not everyone who attended harvard Business School and made a lot of money in business is also an educated person. he can be smart but a complete twit at the same time.
I attended regular annual meetings of my US partner company in the 80s in the Virginia suburbs of DC. On one of these dinners the CEO (self made millionaire) talked about his recent triüp to Brussels and all the old buildings he saw there. These stupid Belgians should tear the down and build some new office buildings and appartments.
There are many of these running around, not only in the US.
Aesma From France, joined Nov 2009, 4932 posts, RR: 9 Reply 50, posted (10 months 3 weeks 2 days 15 hours ago) and read 4689 times:
Quoting TheCommodore (Reply 47): If he wants to strut around on the worlds stage, and make an ass himself, pissing people off, hardly seems like a way to win over international friends and allies now dose it ?
Well, he probably wanted to lower himself to Cameron's level, who refused to receive François Hollande before he got elected, and said at the last G20 that he would welcome any French company that would relocate itself to Britain.
New Technology is the name we give to stuff that doesn't work yet. Douglas Adams
U2380 From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2010, 303 posts, RR: 0 Reply 51, posted (10 months 3 weeks 2 days 15 hours ago) and read 4677 times:
Quoting Aesma (Reply 50): Well, he probably wanted to lower himself to Cameron's level, who refused to receive François Hollande before he got elected, and said at the last G20 that he would welcome any French company that would relocate itself to Britain.
Sorry, I'm just trying to work out the point of that post? Other than flamebait of course.
comorin From United States of America, joined May 2005, 4721 posts, RR: 17 Reply 52, posted (10 months 3 weeks 2 days 14 hours ago) and read 4658 times:
LMP737 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 53, posted (10 months 3 weeks 2 days 14 hours ago) and read 4644 times:
Quoting einsteinboricua (Reply 5): Wonder why FOX and the entire FOX cheerleading squad here have yet to speak about this and defend their infallible candidate.
Because they are to busy riping the current president over something he did not really say.
seb146 From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 9910 posts, RR: 17 Reply 54, posted (10 months 3 weeks 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 4614 times:
Interesting that the foreign press is giving their opinion on our candidate (which American press does) and Romney cheer leaders are saying "it does not matter what they think." Yet, when it is pointed out what is foreign policy and experience is, we hear "it comes with the job" or "he will gain that experience after he is elected." But, if other countries think he is a twit, they will not take him seriously.
I think it is great to look at foreign press to see what they are saying about United States politics. It gets away from the one-sided ness of FOX.
He doesn't need.
He only needs to win over voters in the United States.
Obama needs to fast-track as many illegal aliens by November to get a 2nd term.
Quoting windy95 (Reply 12): Ditto. Much to do about nothing...Not even close to Obamas "you did not build it". They are still trying to make people forget about that one.
Quoting Dreadnought (Reply 14): Utter horsecrap. Such thinking is and always has been at the core of socialism and Obama had a brief moment of honesty.
Not only that, he was plagiarizing a comment by Elizabeth Warren who is pretending to be a Native American Indian.
LMP737 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 56, posted (10 months 3 weeks 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 4599 times:
Quoting windy95 (Reply 12): Ditto. Much to do about nothing...Not even close to Obamas "you did not build it". They are still trying to make people forget about that one.
And here's what he actually said "If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help. There was a great teacher somewhere in your life. Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you’ve got a business. you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen."
So in reality what he was talking about was the system and infrastructure, not the businesses themselves. Unfortunately talk radio and Fox News got their hands on it and did some selective editing.
Rara From Germany, joined Jan 2007, 1847 posts, RR: 3 Reply 58, posted (10 months 3 weeks 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 4548 times:
Haha not bad! I'm sure he had a nervous moment when the Caymans marched in. "Are they filming me? Should I wave? Should I just hold still? Are they noticing I'm sweating?"
Samson was a biblical tough guy, but his dad Samsonite was even more of a hard case.
ltbewr From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 12365 posts, RR: 12 Reply 59, posted (10 months 3 weeks 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 4548 times:
More boo-boos by Romney, who is now in Israel. A 'fundraising' dinner in Jerusalem had to be cancelled as it fell on the evening of an Orthodox Jewish day of fast. He also said he would 'respect' Israel if they chose to bomb Iranian nuke facilities. So much about not 'criticizing' the sitting President overseas.
Quoting LMP737 (Reply 56): And here's what he actually said "If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help. There was a great teacher somewhere in your life. Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you’ve got a business. you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen."
He should have used 4 critical words in that comment and it would have not got his so much criticism - ALONE at the end of the next to last sentence, and the words HELPED YOU MAKE in that last sentence for the words 'else made'. Perhaps that what he meant, but that was not what was stated in his speech at critical points. And you wonder why politicians have speechwriters and use Teleprompters.
Klaus From Germany, joined Jul 2001, 20899 posts, RR: 55 Reply 60, posted (10 months 3 weeks 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 4537 times:
Quoting ltbewr (Reply 59): He should have used 4 critical words in that comment and it would have not got his so much criticism - ALONE at the end of the next to last sentence, and the words HELPED YOU MAKE in that last sentence for the words 'else made'. Perhaps that what he meant, but that was not what was stated in his speech at critical points. And you wonder why politicians have speechwriters and use Teleprompters.
As I've read it, he was referring to who built the infrastructure, not the private business using that infrastructure; And in that, he would be exactly correct.
DeltaMD90 From United States of America, joined Apr 2008, 5375 posts, RR: 47 Reply 61, posted (10 months 3 weeks 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 4525 times:
einsteinboricua From Puerto Rico, joined Apr 2010, 2080 posts, RR: 6 Reply 62, posted (10 months 3 weeks 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 4500 times:
Before he reaches Poland, I'm willing to bet that he'll state his support for the missile defense system and won't care what Russia thinks of it (perhaps going as far as to label Russia as an enemy).
"You haven't seen a tree until you've seen its shadow from the sky."
Maverick623 From United States of America, joined Nov 2006, 4779 posts, RR: 6 Reply 63, posted (10 months 3 weeks 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 4499 times:
Quoting TheCommodore (Reply 47):
If he wants to strut around on the worlds stage, and make an ass himself, pissing people off, hardly seems like a way to win over international friends and allies now dose it ?
Part of American culture is being anti-PC. Unfortunately, not everyone gets how to do it properly
Quoting LMP737 (Reply 53):
Because they are to busy riping the current president over something he did not really say.
It's funny, because the truth is actually worse than what people are "riping" the President over.
The difference between Obama's and Romney's statements:
While both acknowledge that nobody can truly do anything by themselves, Romney publicly recognizes that we should be thankful and supportive of those who have helped us, and to make them proud. After all, that's why they helped, right?
Obama thinks that just because you were helped, you should not be entitled to any rewards, but rather the rewards should go into the state's coffers to "help" other people in whatever way the state sees fit.
The sound bite "you didn't build this" might be out of context, but the context is actually what makes the point even better.
GDB From United Kingdom, joined May 2001, 12735 posts, RR: 79 Reply 65, posted (10 months 3 weeks 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 4500 times:
Quoting Superfly (Reply 55): Much better than the butt-kissing appeaser we have at the moment.
Maybe you missed it, but a certain sworn enemy of the US (and civilized world) is 14 months gone from this Earth, as importantly, much of the leadership, structure of his disparate organisation is also gone, damaged, on the run.
More done on that matter in two years than the previous seven.
Serious people, insiders, ex insiders, have noted that getting this done was due to a step change in attitude, focus and resourcing dating from..........well you and Donald Trump might not want to hear it.
An odd 'appeaser' then?
tugger From United States of America, joined Apr 2006, 4650 posts, RR: 7 Reply 67, posted (10 months 3 weeks 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 4469 times:
Quoting MadameConcorde (Reply 64): ... and I don't like Obama but rather Obama than Mitt Romney...
And I think you may have succinctly summed up the election for this year! I think the driving thought for many will be one of two versions of what you stated: your version, or the inverse: " I don't like Mitt Romney but rather Romney than Obama".
It's rather pathetic actually.
Tugg
I don’t know that I am unafraid to be myself, but it is hard to be somebody else. -W. Shatner
seb146 From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 9910 posts, RR: 17 Reply 68, posted (10 months 3 weeks 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 4464 times:
Quoting tugger (Reply 67): I think you may have succinctly summed up the election for this year!
Try ever single election cycle for the past 30 years....
GDB From United Kingdom, joined May 2001, 12735 posts, RR: 79 Reply 69, posted (10 months 3 weeks 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 4457 times:
Quoting seb146 (Reply 68): Try ever single election cycle for the past 30 years....
I recall overhearing a group of American tourists on the London Underground Subway, must have been for the 1992 election, 'what do you think?' said one, 'vote for the lesser of two evils I guess' said another.
fruitbat From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2006, 547 posts, RR: 6 Reply 70, posted (10 months 3 weeks 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 4451 times:
Quoting comorin (Reply 52): and in NYC we call it a 'Snark'.
Typical - it goes across the pond and you rename it
Quoting Superfly (Reply 55): Quoting Dreadnought (Reply 14):
Utter horsecrap. Such thinking is and always has been at the core of socialism and Obama had a brief moment of honesty.
Given the current state of the global economy Socialism is becoming more attractive to many across the world. The extreme versions of free-market capitalism preached by Romney et al ("the market will decide, and the devil take the hindmost, the weak and the vulnerable") will result in the creation of a disenfranchised underclass. For evidence of this starting in Europe see the UK riots last summer, and the reaction of the Greeks and Spanish to their austerity measures.
It hasn't his the US yet; I hope it doesn't. But the message to Romney (and Obama for that matter) is clear - create an underclass at your peril.
Weaseling out of things is important to learn. It's what separates us from the animals ... except the weasel.
Klaus From Germany, joined Jul 2001, 20899 posts, RR: 55 Reply 71, posted (10 months 3 weeks 2 days 9 hours ago) and read 4443 times:
Quoting Maverick623 (Reply 63): Obama thinks that just because you were helped, you should not be entitled to any rewards, but rather the rewards should go into the state's coffers to "help" other people in whatever way the state sees fit.
He does? Where?
Your claim: Obama wants all profits to go to the state. That is utterly preposterous and has never been demanded by Obama.
Actual reality: Obama thinks that some of the profits should be returned to the same state which built the infrastructure which contributed to the success, so that this same infrastructure can be maintained or even improved.
By your posts you appear to steadfastly believe the former, even though the latter is not just actually true but also so obviously sensible that I see no way how anyone capable of adding 1+1 could seriously object.
Too bad that the truth just happens not to fit your partisan agenda, but it's well-known that truth has a decidedly leftist slant overall...
Quoting Maverick623 (Reply 63): The sound bite "you didn't build this" might be out of context, but the context is actually what makes the point even better.
windy95 From United States of America, joined Dec 2008, 2559 posts, RR: 5 Reply 72, posted (10 months 3 weeks 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 4350 times:
Quoting Klaus (Reply 71): state which built the infrastructure which contributed to the success
The states did not build the infrastructure. The taxpayers and private business's built them with the revenue they created. The state is just a middle man.
Quoting fruitbat (Reply 70): For evidence of this starting in Europe see the UK riots last summer, and the reaction of the Greeks and Spanish to their austerity measures.
People not wanting to give up what someone else is paying for is your proof that socialism is becoming more attractive.
TheCommodore From Australia, joined Dec 2007, 2346 posts, RR: 6 Reply 74, posted (10 months 3 weeks 2 days 2 hours ago) and read 4299 times:
Quoting Aesma (Reply 50): Well, he probably wanted to lower himself to Cameron's level, who refused to receive François Hollande before he got elected, and said at the last G20 that he would welcome any French company that would relocate itself to Britain.
Nice one.
But I seriously doubt whether Mr Romney would know about that, or even know, for that matter, who François Hollande is, unless he was told by an "adviser"
Klaus From Germany, joined Jul 2001, 20899 posts, RR: 55 Reply 75, posted (10 months 3 weeks 2 days 2 hours ago) and read 4292 times:
Quoting windy95 (Reply 72): The states did not build the infrastructure. The taxpayers and private business's built them with the revenue they created. The state is just a middle man.
Sorry, but you're simply wrong about that.
Public infrastructure is planned, paid for and maintained by the state (partially employing private businesses for the execution).
Tax revenue is used and necessary to provide these services.
I'm aware that you're ideologically incapable of admitting that the state could ever do anything right, but it's simply a fact that it does provide quite a few essential services.
einsteinboricua From Puerto Rico, joined Apr 2010, 2080 posts, RR: 6 Reply 76, posted (10 months 3 weeks 2 days 2 hours ago) and read 4281 times:
Quoting TheCommodore (Reply 74): In fact, yet another blooper. This one whilst in Israel, apparently, he believes that Jerusalem is the capitol !
Now that must be news to everyone else in the international community ???
Romney is simply appeasing to the Jewish vote. So far, few countries (if any) have recognized Israel's claim that Jerusalem is its capital. Most abide by the UN resolution that enables Israel to be born (and for Jerusalem to be the capital of the Palestinian state as well), thus many countries' embassies are in Tel Aviv (or another major Israeli city). The US has always been moot about it. IIRC, some Republicans called on the president back during the Bush years to recognize and declare Jerusalem as Israel's capital and move the embassy there.
So Romney is apparently clear on the position and will not hesitate to do so as he takes office. Seems he'll no longer treat Palestinians as equals and I think he may even call for them to disband into Jordan and Egypt should he win.
Maybe I should take a screenshot of this. You heard it here first, folks.
"You haven't seen a tree until you've seen its shadow from the sky."
Mir From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 19813 posts, RR: 56 Reply 77, posted (10 months 3 weeks 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 4280 times:
Quoting Klaus (Reply 75): Quoting windy95 (Reply 72):
The states did not build the infrastructure. The taxpayers and private business's built them with the revenue they created. The state is just a middle man.
Sorry, but you're simply wrong about that.
He's not wrong, he's just agreeing with you but using different terminology.
-Mir
7 billion, one nation, imagination...it's a beautiful day
Klaus From Germany, joined Jul 2001, 20899 posts, RR: 55 Reply 78, posted (10 months 3 weeks 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 4271 times:
Quoting Mir (Reply 77): He's not wrong, he's just agreeing with you but using different terminology.
Well, for me the actual decision-making and planning are crucial aspects, and with public infrastructure these just happen to be in public hands, not in private ones. It can require rather elaborate contortions when one is rigidly committed to an extreme point of view which just happens to be incorrect such as his...
gingersnap From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2010, 855 posts, RR: 5 Reply 80, posted (10 months 3 weeks 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 4195 times:
Quoting Superfly (Reply 79): A handful of Euros and Aussies may wish that were the case.
Romney's support comes from Americans and that is all that matters.
I would say that it does matter whether other countries support a potential president. The US clearly prides itself on being a world leader; and it would do well to ensure that any man or women they put into office isn't seen as a total fool especially by some of their closest allies.
Say what ever you want to say but the fact is that it does NOT matter what you think.
Quoting gingersnap (Reply 80): isn't seen as a total fool especially by some of their closest allies.
We've put two fools in a row in the White House. (Dubya and Obama).
To say that Romney would be problematic is a bit naive on your part. Most people outside of the US that are so concerned about internal US politics are mis-informed and rely on media that is biased in favor of Obama.
Obama made a HUGE @ss out of himself on his tour of the UK but the press made Obama's gaffes as if it was 'cute' and 'innocent' as if he is a little 10 year old boy.
Had Romney made the same error, the press would have went nuts.
Quokkas From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 82, posted (10 months 3 weeks 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 4180 times:
Quoting gingersnap (Reply 80): I would say that it does matter whether other countries support a potential president.
Other countries do not have to support a potential president and have no say in who is elected. In that sense Superfly is correct: if Romney is to be elected it matters what US voters think.
The British Government will get over it very quickly. Cameron may have used the issue to gain a photo opportunity but it is unlikely that the trans-Atlantic alliance will suffer. Both sides will pursue their own interests, coming together when it suits and separately when it doesn't. So it was and will ever be.
However, as the US will need to work with other countries, it does help if a wannabe doesn't go out of his way to insult his allies. I am not sure that he did intend to insult anyone but perhaps he has learnt already. During his visit to Israel he said exactly what his audience, both in Israel and in the US, wanted to hear. It certainly won't put him offside with the Arab States because they already know the reality of the US position - unwavering support for Israel.
Superfly From Thailand, joined May 2000, 38585 posts, RR: 80 Reply 83, posted (10 months 3 weeks 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 4179 times:
Quoting Quokkas (Reply 82): if a wannabe doesn't go out of his way to insult his allies.
You are correct and the only US President (in recent years) that has gone out of his way to piss off the international community including our allies was George W. Bush. He was a terrible leader and created the perfect storm that allowed Obama to get elected as a reaction to 8 years of Dubya's poor leadership.
We need to move beyond this nightmare of Dubya/Obama. The two go hand & hand. Notice how every Obama supporter always drag Dubya in to a discussion about weather or not Obama is doing a good job or not? I'm sick of both of them and we need to bring in some new blood.
The press isn't helping by insulting every move Romney makes.
If Romney screws up, we'll just have to vote him out in 4 years.
petertenthije From Netherlands, joined Jul 2001, 3239 posts, RR: 13 Reply 84, posted (10 months 3 weeks 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 4158 times:
Quoting Superfly (Reply 83): Notice how every Obama supporter always drag Dubya in to a discussion about weather or not Obama is doing a good job or not?
But is that not standard procedure for the last few US presidential terms? Romney supporters bash Obama. Obama supporters bash Bush. Bush supporters bash Clinton. I'm too young to remember if Clinton supporters bashed Bush Sr.
And I can already promis you, whoever wins this year's election, four years from now he will be blamed for everything. And four years after that...
From this outsiders point of view it seems the US elections are no longer about the things the opposition party want to do (in this case republicans, but same goes for democrats when Bush was in office). It's all about the bad things the incumbent did. Or worse yet, the bad things the incumbent party is PERCEIVED to have done, cause a lot of claims thrown around are bollocks or completely out of context.
Revelation From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 10565 posts, RR: 21 Reply 85, posted (10 months 3 weeks 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 4140 times:
Quoting windy95 (Reply 72): The states did not build the infrastructure. The taxpayers and private business's built them with the revenue they created. The state is just a middle man.
IMHO the implication that necessary infrastructure would just form itself without "middle men" is laughable, especially when made in the context of electing these "middle men".
Quoting Quokkas (Reply 82): Other countries do not have to support a potential president and have no say in who is elected. In that sense Superfly is correct: if Romney is to be elected it matters what US voters think.
And many US voters know and care that it's the President who is the key player in foriegn policy, and have seen the damage that having an idiot like W in charge can do.
Superfly From Thailand, joined May 2000, 38585 posts, RR: 80 Reply 86, posted (10 months 3 weeks 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 4142 times:
Quoting petertenthije (Reply 84): But is that not standard procedure for the last few US presidential terms?
No.
Things haven't been the same since December 2000 when the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Dubya over Al Gore.
Then add the way Dubya had governed and his lies to get us to support his war in Iraq, then the bad economy that followed has allowed Obama to get elected. Obama is still campaigning against Dubya and makes excuse, after excuse as to why the economy hasn't shown any signs of improvement on his watch.
Bashing the previous President is not standard procedure.
Dubya didn't bash Bill Clinton and Bill Clinton rarely said anything negative about Bush Sr. once he was sworn in as President. Bush Sr. obviously didn't bash Reagan and President Reagan didn't bash Jimmy Carter even though Reagan inherited a bigger mess than Obama.
Obama on the other hand bashes Bush on an almost daily basis.
YES, the whole world already knows that he inherited a tough economy but it's his job to help fix things. Obama had a veto-proof majority in both houses of Congress, high approval ratings and an endearing media on his side - a luxury no US President has had since Lyndon B Johnson following the assassination of Kennedy.
Obama's screw ups had nothing to do with Bush but he hides behind Bush to deflect attention from his own failures.
einsteinboricua From Puerto Rico, joined Apr 2010, 2080 posts, RR: 6 Reply 87, posted (10 months 3 weeks 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 4100 times:
Quoting Superfly (Reply 86): Obama's screw ups had nothing to do with Bush but he hides behind Bush to deflect attention from his own failures.
If I smash a dish into very tiny pieces and you're trying to put it back together as best as you can, whose fault is it:
-mine for breaking the dish?
-yours for not putting the pieces together as they should?
"You haven't seen a tree until you've seen its shadow from the sky."
Mir From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 19813 posts, RR: 56 Reply 88, posted (10 months 3 weeks 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 4068 times:
Quoting Superfly (Reply 83): Notice how every Obama supporter always drag Dubya in to a discussion about weather or not Obama is doing a good job or not?
If Romney is elected, I can guarantee you that many of his supporters will drag Obama into things if he doesn't pan out. It's what people do. Bush supporters did it with Clinton too.
-Mir
7 billion, one nation, imagination...it's a beautiful day
seb146 From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 9910 posts, RR: 17 Reply 89, posted (10 months 3 weeks 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 4020 times:
Quoting Superfly (Reply 86): Obama is still campaigning against Dubya and makes excuse, after excuse as to why the economy hasn't shown any signs of improvement on his watch.
Except unemployment went from 11% to 8%. How horrible! Banks were kept from collapsing. Awful! American auto manufacturing was saved. Evil! All of that was at it's peak under BUSH II. So, why not say "here's what we were given and how far we have come."
Quoting Superfly (Reply 86): Dubya didn't bash Bill Clinton and Bill Clinton rarely said anything negative about Bush Sr.
That's because government was allowed to work with the economy. We saw how letting the free market do what it wants with zero government intervention leads to horrible crashes.
Besides, if Congress would compromise with the President instead of simply trying to get him to be a one-term president, maybe the economy and markets would actually bounce back faster. But, oh, wait.... they don't want a Democrat or a black guy to assist with that. Only right-wingers have that power, according to the right-wing Congress....
mt99 From United States of America, joined May 1999, 6363 posts, RR: 7 Reply 90, posted (10 months 3 weeks 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 4013 times:
Quoting seb146 (Reply 89): Except unemployment went from 11% to 8%. How horrible! Banks were kept from collapsing. Awful! American auto manufacturing was saved. Evil! All of that was at it's peak under BUSH II. So, why not say "here's what we were given and how far we have come."
I think that these graphs are interesting.
They show were thing stood in Jan 2009 and where they stand today - - looking at it with a critical eye it really shows how awful things were in late 2008 and early 2009 and shows that things have gotten better, but there is still a long way to go
Superfly From Thailand, joined May 2000, 38585 posts, RR: 80 Reply 91, posted (10 months 3 weeks 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 4007 times:
Quoting einsteinboricua (Reply 87): If I smash a dish into very tiny pieces and you're trying to put it back together as best as you can, whose fault is it:
- Doesn't give you the right to smash more dishes just because the previous guy was smashing dishes.
Quoting Mir (Reply 88): Bush supporters did it with Clinton too.
I don't recall that at all and I was one of Bush's harshest critics.
Quoting seb146 (Reply 89): Except unemployment went from 11% to 8%.
Wrong. It never went to 11% nationally and the only reason it has gone down is because people ran out of their benefits.
If people were getting jobs, then how come the average income has gone down 10% on Obama's watch? How come there is a record number of able-bodied adults still out of work?
Quoting seb146 (Reply 89): American auto manufacturing was saved.
...and went through a managed bankruptcy anyway. Something Romney had advocated all along.
Quoting seb146 (Reply 89): We saw how letting the free market do what it wants with zero government intervention leads to horrible crashes.
No we didn't. We saw how government regulations and mandates can be a bad thing.
...and who's idea was it to require that banks give home loans to people who couldn't afford it?
LMP737 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 92, posted (10 months 3 weeks 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 4002 times:
Quoting windy95 (Reply 72): The states did not build the infrastructure. The taxpayers and private business's built them with the revenue they created. The state is just a middle man.
What's ironic is that Romney said something very similar to what the president said. Difference being talk radio and Fox News did not selectively edit his comments.
GDB From United Kingdom, joined May 2001, 12735 posts, RR: 79 Reply 93, posted (10 months 3 weeks 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 3990 times:
Quoting Superfly (Reply 73): Thank the Seals for that operation.
Doesn't change the fact that Obama is a screw up.
Maybe he is, but you called him a Butt Kissing Appeaser. Doubt the Pakistanis, if you are just referring to foreign governments, think that.
Carry on sounding like well known intellectual heavyweights and foreign relation experts like Mr Trump, which you do.
Maybe Obema's problem is, to quote a Romney staffer, is due him not being from, unlike Mitt, 'Anglo-Saxon Stock'.
Cute? Or just sneakily racist?
Question, when these Tea Party weirdos ('keep tha govermint off mah Medi-care'), drove to their meetings, did they maintain their ideological purity by not using the Interstate system built by that dangerous leftist administration (which they must seem to them) headed by Dwight D Eisenhower?
einsteinboricua From Puerto Rico, joined Apr 2010, 2080 posts, RR: 6 Reply 95, posted (10 months 3 weeks 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 3957 times:
Quoting Superfly (Reply 91): Quoting einsteinboricua (Reply 87):
If I smash a dish into very tiny pieces and you're trying to put it back together as best as you can, whose fault is it:
- Doesn't give you the right to smash more dishes just because the previous guy was smashing dishes.
You didn't answer my question. I think we all agree that many of Obama's mistakes are his own doing, but not all are his fault. Hence, I ask again: with the dish analogy, who is at fault?
"You haven't seen a tree until you've seen its shadow from the sky."
CaliAtenza From United States of America, joined Dec 2006, 1148 posts, RR: 0 Reply 97, posted (10 months 3 weeks 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 3936 times:
Quoting Superfly (Reply 96):
Because it was a terrible analogy.
Obama hasn't taken the right steps to help the economy. He is making the problem worse.
Superfly From Thailand, joined May 2000, 38585 posts, RR: 80 Reply 98, posted (10 months 3 weeks 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 3934 times:
Quoting CaliAtenza (Reply 97): so exactly what are the right steps then?
For starters, Obama had over 30,000+ shovel ready jobs that could have landed in his lap with the Keystone XL pipeline. The construction of the pipeline alone would have provided thousands of jobs as well as revenue generated from the pipeline. Labor unions was in favor of this as well. Most importantly, this would have helped the US reduce it's dependence on oil from nations that hate us. Obama blocked this pipeline to appease and take photos with Hollywood celebrities so he can brag about how 'green' he is. Meanwhile, thousands of people are still out of work so he can score brownie points with environmentalist extremist.
Even if this would have reduced the unemployment rate by 0.2%, it shows that he is sincere about jobs.
Superfly From Thailand, joined May 2000, 38585 posts, RR: 80 Reply 100, posted (10 months 3 weeks 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 3931 times:
Quoting GDB (Reply 99): No card. What a Romney staffer actually said. In a statement.
Well aware of the comment that the media tried to spin as Romney being a racist - but that wasn't the case.
Meanwhile, Obama takes campaign money from a man that called a Black Congressman and "Ape".
I bet you didn't hear about that story over there in the UK.
GDB From United Kingdom, joined May 2001, 12735 posts, RR: 79 Reply 101, posted (10 months 3 weeks 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 3918 times:
I don't totally disbelieve it, but don't compare us in the UK, who lack that wonderful source of impartial, not at all paranoid, shrieking cartoon network level 'news' source like FOX, which though you'll no doubt deny using or quoting from, you do, You are all the time.
Hence the lack of rationality that sadly is usually evident in your posts, the best way to attack a political opponent is with sensible, measured truth.
And the comment about the irrationality of Tea Party and infrastructure, was not aimed at you.
You may well not be a Tea Party member but you quote them, knowingly or not, all the time.
If you lie down with dogs, you get fleas.
Like it or not, your in the same boat as a bunch of people, many of whom regard, in US history, the date of July 2, 1964 as a day of infamy to rank with December 7 1941, or even September 11 2001.
What ever dude. Point fingers and assign labels all you want if you feel it adds to the discussion.
Don't worry about what news sources people read. Anyway you slice it, some of Obama's actions make no sense at all for someone that claims to care about job creation and constantly complains about the mess he "inherited".
Big frikkin' deal if someone may agree with the Tea Party on a few issues. They aren't as bad as your B.N.P.
So just give it a rest already.
mariner From New Zealand, joined Nov 2001, 22867 posts, RR: 87 Reply 103, posted (10 months 3 weeks 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 3839 times:
Quoting Quokkas (Reply 82): Other countries do not have to support a potential president and have no say in who is elected. In that sense Superfly is correct: if Romney is to be elected it matters what US voters think.
Absolutely. At the same time, the US President - whoever - will affect our lives in ways that few other leaders can, so we are likely to have opinions about the choice.
I'll give Mr. Romney all the benefit of the doubt. He may actually a brilliant bloke. Given his record, I doubt he is a fool.
And forget what happened it London, put it down to over-eagerness to please on his part. But I cannot dismiss what he said in Israel quite so easily.
It is alarming to me that a US presidential candidate can be so partisan, so pandering, so provocative - and so insensitive to the genuine wrongs done to the Palestinian people, who may not be entirely blameless but who have a considerable grievance.
GBLKD From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2011, 345 posts, RR: 0 Reply 104, posted (10 months 3 weeks 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 3823 times:
Quoting Superfly (Reply 102): Big frikkin' deal if someone may agree with the Tea Party on a few issues. They aren't as bad as your B.N.P.
So just give it a rest already.
Your analogy is flawed.
The tea party (as we "over here" understand it) was born of an ethos of fiscal conservatism. The BNP are racist thugs in suits and always have been. You can't really compare a fiscally conservative political movement with a bunch of white supremacists that 99% of my countrymen despise and find embarassing and incipid.
windy95 From United States of America, joined Dec 2008, 2559 posts, RR: 5 Reply 105, posted (10 months 3 weeks 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 3814 times:
Quoting GDB (Reply 93): Maybe Obema's problem is, to quote a Romney staffer, is due him not being from, unlike Mitt, 'Anglo-Saxon Stock'.
Cute? Or just sneakily racist?
Well he is half Anglo..right?
Quoting GDB (Reply 101): Like it or not, your in the same boat as a bunch of people, many of whom regard, in US history, the date of July 2, 1964
You really have no idea what you are talking about. The race baiting by the left is at an all time high and it really is disappointing. Just an attempt to distract people from the failure of this President. Being the first bi-racial president has nothing to with the views being taken by people who dislike his policies. But you can keep playing that card if you like.
Mir From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 19813 posts, RR: 56 Reply 106, posted (10 months 3 weeks 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 3755 times:
Quoting Superfly (Reply 98): For starters, Obama had over 30,000+ shovel ready jobs that could have landed in his lap with the Keystone XL pipeline.
More like 5,000-7,000.
Quoting Superfly (Reply 98): Obama blocked this pipeline to appease and take photos with Hollywood celebrities so he can brag about how 'green' he is.
No, he blocked it because Nebraska was throwing a fit about having the pipeline routed through their state, Keystone said they'd put together another route, and they ended up not doing it. TransCanada has put together some new proposals with the reroute, and if Nebraska signs off on it the pipeline will probably get approved.
Quoting mariner (Reply 103): And forget what happened it London, put it down to over-eagerness to please on his part.
I'm not sure how you can chalk bashing the Olympics up to being eager-to-please.
-Mir
7 billion, one nation, imagination...it's a beautiful day
Maverick623 From United States of America, joined Nov 2006, 4779 posts, RR: 6 Reply 107, posted (10 months 3 weeks 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 3731 times:
Quoting Klaus (Reply 71): Your claim: Obama wants all profits to go to the state.
Never said that, and until Obama says he wants to nationalize the various industries, I won't.
In fact, I was referring to the posts where Romney supposedly said the same thing as Obama, which he didn't.
Quoting Klaus (Reply 71):
Too bad that the truth just happens not to fit your partisan agenda
LOL. You're the one saying someone's wrong when they agreed with you just because he made it sound conservative, and I'm the partisan hack?
Quoting LMP737 (Reply 92):
What's ironic is that Romney said something very similar to what the president said.
A single sentence, stated slightly differently but with the same meaning: "You don't get anywhere by yourself".
If Romney had the same message as Obama, he would have suggested that the IOC award medals to either themselves or the workers hosting the event, because, after all, they made it happen and the athletes were merely riding on their shoulders.
Klaus From Germany, joined Jul 2001, 20899 posts, RR: 55 Reply 109, posted (10 months 3 weeks 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 3696 times:
Quoting Maverick623 (Reply 107): Quoting Klaus (Reply 71):
Your claim: Obama wants all profits to go to the state.
Never said that, and until Obama says he wants to nationalize the various industries, I won't.
Let me refresh your memory from above in this very thread:
Quoting Maverick623 (Reply 63): Obama thinks that just because you were helped, you should not be entitled to any rewards, but rather the rewards should go into the state's coffers to "help" other people in whatever way the state sees fit.
(My emphasis added for clarification.)
This claim is absolutely clear and unambiguous. And factually incorrect, as you probably know.
Quoting Maverick623 (Reply 107): LOL. You're the one saying someone's wrong when they agreed with you just because he made it sound conservative, and I'm the partisan hack?
No, I agree with some opinion if it has a verifiable connection to reality.
The above promoted claim that Obama allegedly demanded all profits for the state does not have such a connection to reality, so I disagree.
I select my political position mainly based on what the actual facts are, instead of massaging the facts until they appear to match a specific agenda.
mariner From New Zealand, joined Nov 2001, 22867 posts, RR: 87 Reply 110, posted (10 months 3 weeks 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 3674 times:
Quoting TheCommodore (Reply 108): I heard on the ABC last night, that if elected, Romney might decide to "disband" Palestine all together. Wouldn't that make the Israeli happy indeed !
It's the position Netanyahu has advocated since he was a young politician - the so-called "Jordanian Option" - move all the Palestinians out of the West Bank and into Jordan.
I think it is dreadful and I can easily imagine the effect on the Arab states.
DeltaMD90 From United States of America, joined Apr 2008, 5375 posts, RR: 47 Reply 111, posted (10 months 3 weeks 1 day 3 hours ago) and read 3633 times:
I'm not really in line with Romney regarding Israel, but don't you think it's sensationalist to say he'd disband Palestine and move all Arabs out to Jordan? I don't see any evidence to suggest this besides the usual partisan trash thrown around
einsteinboricua From Puerto Rico, joined Apr 2010, 2080 posts, RR: 6 Reply 112, posted (10 months 3 weeks 1 day 3 hours ago) and read 3619 times:
Quoting DeltaMD90 (Reply 111): I'm not really in line with Romney regarding Israel, but don't you think it's sensationalist to say he'd disband Palestine and move all Arabs out to Jordan? I don't see any evidence to suggest this besides the usual partisan trash thrown around
Considering that his visit to Israel basically said "Do anything you want, we'll support you no matter what", I certainly wouldn't be surprised if Romney did exactly what mariner said he would.
"You haven't seen a tree until you've seen its shadow from the sky."
I see a man, who wants to please Israel. If he's elected, he'll be able give them what they want.
He didn't even bother to meet Mahmoud Abbas, only a few km's down the road. Seems like a man who's already made up his mind.... what a shame, another puppet.
Quoting einsteinboricua (Reply 112): I certainly wouldn't be surprised if Romney did exactly what mariner said he would.
It is remarkable, that so much support can be garnered in Israel, through lobbying, fundraising from Israeli billionaires, namely Mr Sheldon Adelson’s millions, etc, that it can have a massive effect to outcome of a US election, and who becomes the next Mr President ?
Flown 905,468 kms or 2.356 times to the moon, 1296 hrs, Longest flight 10,524 kms
DeltaMD90 From United States of America, joined Apr 2008, 5375 posts, RR: 47 Reply 114, posted (10 months 3 weeks 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 3598 times:
I'll have to read these tomorrow, pretty braindead right now from studying...
Quoting TheCommodore (Reply 113): It is remarkable, that so much support can be garnered in Israel, through lobbying, fundraising from Israeli billionaires, namely Mr Sheldon Adelson’s millions, etc, that it can have a massive effect to outcome of a US election, and who becomes the next Mr President ?
I wouldn't jump to fast on that train either... you've got Obama spending twice as much money than Romney in June
and most American Jews supporting the President... I think the whole "Republicans get tons more money" and "the Jewish/Zionist vote" * is a stereotype thrown around a little too much, it is often not true.
*note: I know there is a difference between being Jewish and being a Zionist, I was merely portraying the "stereotype argument"
mariner From New Zealand, joined Nov 2001, 22867 posts, RR: 87 Reply 115, posted (10 months 3 weeks 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 3593 times:
Quoting DeltaMD90 (Reply 111): I'm not really in line with Romney regarding Israel, but don't you think it's sensationalist to say he'd disband Palestine and move all Arabs out to Jordan? I don't see any evidence to suggest this besides the usual partisan trash thrown around
How do you judge? Ultimately, you can only go by what the politician says. And I understand that Romney is in "say anything to win" mode and that actual power might temper that.
In any event, I don't think Romney would or could do it. But I think Netanyahu might try it if he thought he had at least tacit support from the White House, and - based on what he has said so far - Romney wouldn't bat an eyelid.
At the very least, I assume we'd see a lot more Israeli settlement on the West Bank, until, eventually, the goal is achieved by default.
Superfly From Thailand, joined May 2000, 38585 posts, RR: 80 Reply 116, posted (10 months 3 weeks 1 day ago) and read 3570 times:
Quoting GBLKD (Reply 104): The tea party (as we "over here" understand it) was born of an ethos of fiscal conservatism. The BNP are racist thugs in suits and always have been.
Yes, that is correct but most media outlets and the Democratic Party have painted the Tea Party as racist thugs.
Quoting Mir (Reply 106): No, he blocked it because Nebraska was throwing a fit about having the pipeline routed through their state,
That is not what Obama said. Obama specifically cited environmentalist as the reason for blocking it.
Quoting TheCommodore (Reply 108): Great news. So of to war we go...... again, brilliant !!
Sadly that will happen regardless who wins.
Quoting TheCommodore (Reply 108): But if you are, not so "popular" amongst the worlds leaders, it sort of makes it hard to pull everyone into line wouldn't you think ?
This is not a popularity contest.
Romney is a smart man and not a duffus like Dubya and will not piss off our long standing allies in the way Dubya did.
seb146 From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 9910 posts, RR: 17 Reply 117, posted (10 months 3 weeks 23 hours ago) and read 3563 times:
Quoting Superfly (Reply 116): most media outlets and the Democratic Party have painted the Tea Party as racist thugs.
Because they will do ANYTHING to stop the half-black man from being president for a second term. There are those out there (McCain for one) who disagree on Obama about policy but can at least compromise. Unlike McConnell or Walker or Ryan...
Quoting Superfly (Reply 116): Romney is a smart man and not a duffus like Dubya and will not piss off our long standing allies in the way Dubya did.
As long as we live in fear of the Muslims, we are an ally of Isreal? Why fear the Muslims? I fear the sects inside nations like Pakisan and Sudan who are teaching that America is evil. Turkey and Jordan are Islamic and just fine. It is when they mix religion and politics there is a problem. Like the tea people here.
Superfly From Thailand, joined May 2000, 38585 posts, RR: 80 Reply 118, posted (10 months 3 weeks 23 hours ago) and read 3557 times:
Quoting seb146 (Reply 117): Because they will do ANYTHING to stop the half-black man from being president for a second term.
Not this crap again.
Do you really think it all comes down to race?
Have you for once considered that they don't like his radically leftist policies?
Those members of Congress will be complaining even if Barry was 100% White.
Dan Burton, DickArmey and Newt Gingrich were pretty vicious to Bill Clinton.
Quoting seb146 (Reply 117): As long as we live in fear of the Muslims,
GDB From United Kingdom, joined May 2001, 12735 posts, RR: 79 Reply 119, posted (10 months 3 weeks 23 hours ago) and read 3548 times:
Quoting Superfly (Reply 102): Big frikkin' deal if someone may agree with the Tea Party on a few issues. They aren't as bad as your B.N.P.
So just give it a rest already.
As pointed out, they are not remotely the same, pleased to report too that the BNP, while only ever a fringe, is in decline.
A little bit of very, basic web searching, would have told you that. The Romney staffer said what he did, knew what he meant.
Quoting windy95 (Reply 105): You really have no idea what you are talking about.
No? What do you think lies behind all that 'Birther' 'Secret Muslim' rubbish then?
Their agenda is not very well hidden.
I agree totally that playing a race card to absolve the President of any mistakes is silly and ultimately self defeating. But that card has mostly been played, in these sneaky 'Birther' and other terms, by the other side.
Perhaps no one should be surprised, the paranoia of the fringes of the US Right is nothing new, really it's 21st Century McCarthyism. Never a good idea since McCarthy ended up a discredited drunk.
Revelation From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 10565 posts, RR: 21 Reply 121, posted (10 months 3 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 3464 times:
Quoting DeltaMD90 (Reply 111): I'm not really in line with Romney regarding Israel, but don't you think it's sensationalist to say he'd disband Palestine and move all Arabs out to Jordan?
Quoting einsteinboricua (Reply 112): Considering that his visit to Israel basically said "Do anything you want, we'll support you no matter what", I certainly wouldn't be surprised if Romney did exactly what mariner said he would.
It's interesting here how people think the US President has the power to do things like disband Palestine and move all Israeli Arabs to Jordan. In my mind, that's absurd.
LOL!
One of the most pro-Obama news outlets.
We can go on and on citing sources and get a different estimate with every article we find. Regardless, they ALL estimate jobs being created. Even if it only crates 10 jobs, it's better then no jobs and for a President that "inherited such a huge mess", he should be a cheerleader for ALL job creation.
One thing for sure is that the Keystone pipeline would have created more jobs than Solyndra which cost the US taxpayers over $535,000,000.00 that has added to the deficit.
Quoting Mir (Reply 120): Nebraska's objections were environmentally-related.
All the other states were in favor. Majority rules.
Quoting GDB (Reply 119): they are not remotely the same,
Well aware of that. As I already noted, the mainstream media would like for you to believe that the Tea Party is the equivalent of the British Nationalist Party. It’s ironic that our far-right political group is still open to minorities and even has a few Black and Latino elected office holders.
Quoting Revelation (Reply 121): It's interesting here how people think the US President has the power to do things like disband Palestine and move all Israeli Arabs to Jordan. In my mind, that's absurd.
Agreed.
Just goes to show how naive some European and Aussie/Kiwis are when it comes to US politics yet pretend to know so much about it. It’s ironic that it’s coming from the pro-Obama circles outside the US.
Quoting GDB (Reply 119): What do you think lies behind all that 'Birther' 'Secret Muslim' rubbish then?
Umm, his actions, associations, his name and comments he’s made.
If Barry was a Black American that was born & raised in the US and was a Christian, the ‘birther’ issue wouldn’t even come up.
Ｉfind it ironic that some mis-informed news rag in the UK would call Romney “Devoid Of Charm, Offensive And A Wazzock” yet Romney speaks fluent French which normally gives an American extra brownie points in intellectual circles. Therefore, many lefties in Europe should LOVE Romney for that alone. As far as we know, Obama only knows how recite the call to prayer in perfect Arabic.
Now before you fly off the handle, that is coming from a very liberal news source – The New York Times.
According to Obama; "is one of the prettiest sounds on Earth at sunset".
Not bashing Obama at all. Just citing our only knowledge of Obama speaking another language. It’s from an interview with Nicholas Kristof, a New York Times Op-ed columnist.
aloges From Germany, joined Jan 2006, 8391 posts, RR: 47 Reply 123, posted (10 months 3 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 3418 times:
Quoting Superfly (Reply 122): Romney speaks fluent French which normally gives an American extra brownie points in intellectual circles. Therefore, many lefties in Europe should LOVE Romney for that alone.
...and many righties in the US should hate him for that alone, correct?
Some statements make me wonder.
Walk together, talk together all ye peoples of the earth. Then, and only then, shall ye have peace.
einsteinboricua From Puerto Rico, joined Apr 2010, 2080 posts, RR: 6 Reply 124, posted (10 months 3 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 3415 times:
Quoting Revelation (Reply 121): It's interesting here how people think the US President has the power to do things like disband Palestine and move all Israeli Arabs to Jordan. In my mind, that's absurd.
Obviously, not directly, but if there is a president Romney I can see him giving the green light to Israel to occupy whatever lands they have yet to occupy and displace the Palestinians by force. And since the US almost always turns a blind eye to what Israel does, it's as if the US allows for this to happen.
"You haven't seen a tree until you've seen its shadow from the sky."
Superfly From Thailand, joined May 2000, 38585 posts, RR: 80 Reply 125, posted (10 months 3 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 3415 times:
Quoting aloges (Reply 123): ...and many righties in the US should hate him for that alone, correct?
They probably do but they hate the Mormon part even more.
This election cycle, many will hold their nose and vote for Romney anyway. President Obama is probably the only person that can drive the far-right to vote for a French speaking Mormon.
Oh come on now Superfly...you know darn well that it's a huge popularity contest.
Quoting Superfly (Reply 122): It’s ironic that our far-right political group is still open to minorities and even has a few Black and Latino elected office holders.
I don't find it that ironic. Crazy is colour-blind.
Quoting Superfly (Reply 122): Romney speaks fluent French which normally gives an American extra brownie points in intellectual circles.
In intellectual circles, yes, but not in the eye of the general public. The U.S. right has been known to harbour some anti-France sentiment (anybody remember Freedom Fries?).
Quoting Superfly (Reply 116): Quoting Mir (Reply 106):
More like 5,000-7,000.
Wrong.
Actually, the U.S. State Department says Mir is right:
Revelation From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 10565 posts, RR: 21 Reply 129, posted (10 months 3 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 3404 times:
Quoting einsteinboricua (Reply 124): Obviously, not directly, but if there is a president Romney I can see him giving the green light to Israel to occupy whatever lands they have yet to occupy and displace the Palestinians by force
They do that with or without any green or red lights.
Quoting einsteinboricua (Reply 124): And since the US almost always turns a blind eye to what Israel does, it's as if the US allows for this to happen.
It's true the US provides lots of financial support for Israel, but it's also true that Israel knows no US president can yank that support and keep popular support, and it's also true that a lot of different issues/interests converge in the Middle East.
Quoting Superfly (Reply 125): This election cycle, many will hold their nose and vote for Romney anyway. President Obama is probably the only person that can drive the far-right to vote for a French speaking Mormon.
The GOP certainly had their chance to come out with their best candidate, and indeed one reason we're looking at Mitt is because he was thought to be more 'electable' i.e. less objectionable than Newt et al.
Sorry, but add me to the list of folks who think you are far off-base for labeling Obama as a radical leftist. You seem to have all these tenuous ways to try to support it like analyzing who his friends are, etc, but if you look at his actions and his policies, by any historical measure of US politics they are mainstream liberal.
Superfly From Thailand, joined May 2000, 38585 posts, RR: 80 Reply 130, posted (10 months 3 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 3410 times:
Quoting WestJet747 (Reply 128): Oh come on now Superfly...you know darn well that it's a huge popularity contest.
Within the UＳVoting population, yes.
Getting acceptance from some drunks watching soccer in a pub in London or latte sippers in Paris doesn’t get you the keys to the White House. In fact, the most anti-French sentiment I’ve ever witnessed is from Canadians. You know darn well you have some choice words for the Quebecois.
Quoting WestJet747 (Reply 128): In intellectual circles, yes, but not in the eye of the general public. The U.S. right has been known to harbour some anti-France sentiment (anybody remember Freedom Fries?).
Since when did those few whack-job Congressmen represent " the general public"?
You obviously don't no jack about the B.N.P. either.
Quoting WestJet747 (Reply 128): Actually, the U.S. State Department says Mir is right:
You need to read more of what I said；
Quoting Superfly (Reply 122): We can go on and on citing sources and get a different estimate with every article we find. Regardless, they ALL estimate jobs being created. Even if it only crates 10 jobs, it's better then no jobs and for a President that "inherited such a huge mess", he should be a cheerleader for ALL job creation.
One thing for sure is that the Keystone pipeline would have created more jobs than Solyndra which cost the US taxpayers over $535,000,000.00 that has added to the deficit.
WestJet747 From Canada, joined Aug 2011, 1345 posts, RR: 7 Reply 131, posted (10 months 3 weeks 16 hours ago) and read 3392 times:
Quoting Superfly (Reply 130): Getting acceptance from some drunks watching soccer in a pub in London or latte sippers in Paris doesn’t get you the keys to the White House.
Of course not, but kissing their leaders' asses is usually going to help you out down the road once you're actually in the White House. "Scratch-my-back-andI-l'll-scratch-yours" exists at all levels of government.
Quoting Superfly (Reply 130): In fact, the most anti-French sentiment I’ve ever witnessed is from Canadians. You know darn well you have some choice words for the Quebecois.
That's totally different (I would know, I happen to be from Quebec). The France French and Quebecois French are two very different people. Just because we rag on French-speaking people in our own country, it doesn't mean we're anti-French
In fact, I find the Parisians have some very choice words for the Quebecois and vice-versa.
Quoting Superfly (Reply 130): Since when did those few whack-job Congressmen represent " the general public"?
Well Congressmen represent the people that vote them in, isn't that their job? That's besides my point though; what I'm saying is that I remember only a few years ago the politicians and media played up this bogus "France hates America" crap that a lot of people (the general public) seemed to believe. Those ill-fated boycotts weren't started by politicians, they were started by people who believed the politicians.
Quoting Superfly (Reply 130): You obviously don't no jack about the B.N.P. either.
That's fine. I'm saying that "30,000+" is a ridiculous number. I'm not arguing the merits of the project. I'm actually on your side, I want to see that pipeline get built.
Superfly From Thailand, joined May 2000, 38585 posts, RR: 80 Reply 132, posted (10 months 3 weeks 16 hours ago) and read 3383 times:
Quoting WestJet747 (Reply 131): Of course not, but kissing their leaders' asses is usually going to help you out down the road once you're actually in the White House. "Scratch-my-back-andI-l'll-scratch-yours" exists at all levels of government.
In that case, Obama & Romney need to be campaigning in China.
Quoting WestJet747 (Reply 131): Just because we rag on French-speaking people in our own country, it doesn't mean we're anti-French
That's not very nice.
Quoting WestJet747 (Reply 131): In fact, I find the Parisians have some very choice words for the Quebecois and vice-versa.
They have choice words for everyone.
The French from the countryside are very nice.
Quoting WestJet747 (Reply 131): Well Congressmen represent the people that vote them in, isn't that their job?
Not the Freedom Fries prank. That was just some crazy idea by a few nuts in Congress and wasn't a reflection of the "general public" in America.
Quoting WestJet747 (Reply 131): What? I can't make a joke in a political thread?
Sure you can. I just can’t tell when your joking and being serious.
Quoting Superfly (Reply 132): In that case, Obama & Romney need to be campaigning in China.
If Romney can manage to not say anything to piss off the Chinese like he did the Brits and Palestinians, I think taking a trip over there would do him well. As a businessman he has to know the importance of those economic ties, and he would be foolish to ignore them.
seb146 From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 9910 posts, RR: 17 Reply 135, posted (10 months 3 weeks 15 hours ago) and read 3343 times:
Quoting WestJet747 (Reply 131): Congressmen represent the people that vote them in, isn't that their job?
??? Where did you hear that? People of Congress are elected because they spent millions of dollars given to them by corporations to pass legislation to benefit corporations. It's about slinging as much mud as possible with as much money as possible.
Quoting Superfly (Reply 132): Not the Freedom Fries prank. That was just some crazy idea by a few nuts in Congress and wasn't a reflection of the "general public" in America.
To get the American public behind a multi-trillion dollar war. Which is now Obama's fault.
Quoting Superfly (Reply 118): Do you really think it all comes down to race?
Yes. For the right, yes. For many on the right, he is still a Kenyan Muslim Socialist/Marxist/Maoist/Stateist elitist who went to an Ivy league school.
Quoting Superfly (Reply 118): Have you for once considered that they don't like his radically leftist policies?
Such as.....? His policies are actually more on par with that radical lefty Ronald Reagan.
Quoting Superfly (Reply 118): Dan Burton, DickArmey and Newt Gingrich were pretty vicious to Bill Clinton.
Yet, they knew how to compromise. The only point of the right-wing Congress is to make sure Obama is a one-term president. Nothing more. They don't want to do anything to actually help the American people or the economy. They were elected on the platform of creating jobs and reducing the debt. Congress, the House specifically, has that power. Not the president. What have they done about it? Spent hundreds of billions of dollars on the war machine and not much else.
Because he dodged the draft to serve a mission in France instead of being a patriotic American and going to fight in Vietnam. The right loves patriotic Americans who fight in wars except when they come home.
LMP737 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 136, posted (10 months 3 weeks 14 hours ago) and read 3321 times:
Quoting Superfly (Reply 122): Umm, his actions, associations, his name and comments he’s made.
What actions, associations and comments are you talking about? Very interesting that a "secret Muslim" would spend so much time hunting down Muslim extremists with drones and Special Forces. Even to the point of sending ST 6 into Pakistan uninvited. As for his name, how is that relevant and who really cares? It was given to him by his father who bailed out when he was a small boy whom he saw only one other time in his life.
Quoting Superfly (Reply 122): If Barry was a Black American that was born & raised in the US and was a Christian, the ‘birther’ issue wouldn’t even come up.
You could say the same thing is his father was white, from the UK, a member of the Church of England and his last name Jones.
GDB From United Kingdom, joined May 2001, 12735 posts, RR: 79 Reply 137, posted (10 months 3 weeks 13 hours ago) and read 3296 times:
Quoting Revelation (Reply 121): It's interesting here how people think the US President has the power to do things like disband Palestine and move all Israeli Arabs to Jordan. In my mind, that's absurd.
Perhaps, but the US does have the ability to put pressure on Israel, the last US Presidents to do so were those well known leftist, anti Israel types Ronald Reagan and George HW Bush.
Quoting Superfly (Reply 122): Ｉfind it ironic that some mis-informed news rag in the UK would call Romney “Devoid Of Charm, Offensive And A Wazzock” yet Romney speaks fluent French which normally gives an American extra brownie points in intellectual circles. Therefore, many lefties in Europe should LOVE Romney for that alone. As far as we know, Obama only knows how recite the call to prayer in perfect Arabic.
Now before you fly off the handle, that is coming from a very liberal news source – The New York Times.
Yeah, speaking French really is a help with the GOP! What was one of the attack points on Kerry in 2004? 'He looks French'. Who are you trying to kid, is this all a well crafted bit of satire?
Hang on!
You were 'Hairyass' on here once, weren't you?
This has to be it, I thought at the time maintaining an on-line character like that, showed an imaginative ability and fluency with satire that could get you a job writing on SNL or for Jon Stewart.
I'd forgotten about 'Hairyass' till now.
It's all so clear now, most on here were not around on Air Net then, I've not got that excuse however.
Mir From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 19813 posts, RR: 56 Reply 138, posted (10 months 3 weeks 13 hours ago) and read 3285 times:
Quoting Superfly (Reply 122): Regardless, they ALL estimate jobs being created. Even if it only crates 10 jobs, it's better then no jobs and for a President that "inherited such a huge mess", he should be a cheerleader for ALL job creation.
There comes a point where the number of jobs created is not worth the inevitable environmental damage.
Yes, I said inevitable. At some point, this pipeline will leak, and that will cause economic damage to the surrounding community, which will cost money. It may not be a big leak, but there will be a leak. So if the cost of cleaning up even a relatively small leak will exceed the economic advantages of jobs being created, then it's probably not worth it.
So yes, the number of jobs created, and the value of those jobs, does factor into the equation.
-Mir
7 billion, one nation, imagination...it's a beautiful day
Superfly From Thailand, joined May 2000, 38585 posts, RR: 80 Reply 139, posted (10 months 3 weeks 12 hours ago) and read 3287 times:
Quoting seb146 (Reply 135): To get the American public behind a multi-trillion dollar war. Which is now Obama's fault.
Not sure who's blaming him for that. He IS being blamed for his handling of the economy.
Quoting seb146 (Reply 135): His policies are actually more on par with that radical lefty Ronald Reagan.
Haha! You're funny!
Quoting LMP737 (Reply 136): What actions, associations and comments are you talking about?
We've gone over this over and over again.
How much further do you want to drift off topic?
Quoting LMP737 (Reply 136): Very interesting that a "secret Muslim" would spend so much time hunting down Muslim extremists with drones and Special Forces. Even to the point of sending ST 6 into Pakistan uninvited.
Those policies have been in place prior to him being President.
Quoting LMP737 (Reply 136): As for his name, how is that relevant and who really cares?
I certianly didn't care. I voted for him regardless of his name.
I just simply pointed out another member why some people are suspicious about his background.
You need to read post more thoroughly
Superfly From Thailand, joined May 2000, 38585 posts, RR: 80 Reply 140, posted (10 months 3 weeks 12 hours ago) and read 3285 times:
So it comes down to environmental extremist after-all.
Think of the potential catastrophe if the oil is shipped across the ocean to China to be refined. Canada isn't stupid. They aren't just going to let the oil sit in the ground.
Obama is not serious about job creation.
casinterest From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 3336 posts, RR: 1 Reply 141, posted (10 months 3 weeks 12 hours ago) and read 3270 times:
Quoting Superfly (Reply 140): Think of the potential catastrophe if the oil is shipped across the ocean to China to be refined. Canada isn't stupid. They aren't just going to let the oil sit in the ground.
Canada would have to come up with their own money to build a pipeline. Go Figure. Then they would have to jump through their own environmental and Geographic ( See Rocky Mountains) problems. Which is why you haven't seen any jump on that side towards progressing with this super pipeline to the west.
The pipeline will get built when those folks most affected by it, are satisfied that the risks are not too high. They will not curtail to the political rhetoric of folks that don't depend on the aquifers for drinking.
Older than I just was ,and younger than I will soo be.
Klaus From Germany, joined Jul 2001, 20899 posts, RR: 55 Reply 142, posted (10 months 3 weeks 12 hours ago) and read 3270 times:
Quoting Maverick623 (Reply 107): Quoting Klaus (Reply 71):
Your claim: Obama wants all profits to go to the state.
[quote=Superfly,reply=139]Quoting LMP737 (Reply 136):
Very interesting that a "secret Muslim" would spend so much time hunting down Muslim extremists with drones and Special Forces. Even to the point of sending ST 6 into Pakistan uninvited.
Those policies have been in place prior to him being President.
No. The drone attacks on presumed terrorists in Pakistan went way up after Obama took office. The order for the OBL capture/kill mission into Pakistan also had to be given and the responsibility taken by the sitting president, also Barack Obama.
What did Bush do? Spending not just any goodwill he had but also gigantic amounts of money on attacking Iraq instead, almost completely neglecting Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Obama mostly cleaned up the Iraq mess, at least plugging that fiscal hole, got rid of Osama Bin Laden and various other actual Al Qaida leaders effectively "on the cheap" and at least attempted to get the economy going. Unfortunately the GOP has only two priorities:
• Getting Obama out of the White House.
• Preventing any potential tax hikes for the wealthy, the economy be damned.
Actually getting the economy going or solving actual, real life problems at home or abroad doesn't figure into their agenda at all, apparently. Total blockade of anything constructive as long as Obama is in office is their main priority.
Our current government is in fact highly dysfunctional and I'd happily kick most of them out of office if I could, but even compared to the silliest partisan bickering over here the rigidly ideological GOP with its Tea Party brain looks like a totally infantile caricature of a political party. And yet they are effectively in control of much of the USA as if there were no actual adults present at all.
Superfly From Thailand, joined May 2000, 38585 posts, RR: 80 Reply 143, posted (10 months 3 weeks 11 hours ago) and read 3245 times:
Quoting casinterest (Reply 141): Go Figure. Then they would have to jump through their own environmental and Geographic ( See Rocky Mountains) problems. Which is why you haven't seen any jump on that side towards progressing with this super pipeline to the west.
Of course not. It makes more sense to go across the plains down to Texas.
All Obama needed to do was authorize the crossing of the US/Canadian border which is a federal border. That is the only reason he has a say in the matter. The environmental requirements would have taken it's course anyway as these companies deal with these matters constantly and have the skill & know how to effectively construct a safe pipeline.
Instead Obama got in the way and Grandstanded on this issue to impress the likes of Robert Redford, Daryl Hannah, Margot Kidder and other celebs. Now he has something to gossip about at at the next $40,000 a plate party at Sarah Jessica Parker's house!
...and that is where you lose credibility.
Dragging Bush in to the topic as justification for Obama's action is a silly argument. Bush Jr was probably the worst US President so any comparisons to him is not convincing at all.
Quoting Klaus (Reply 142): Obama mostly cleaned up the Iraq mess,
No. He withdrew from Iraq which was a campaign promise he made.
I can't knock him for that.
Quoting Klaus (Reply 142): %u2022 Getting Obama out of the White House.
%u2022 Preventing any potential tax hikes for the wealthy, the economy be damned.
Is that all they're spoon-feeding you over there in Europe?
Quoting Klaus (Reply 142): And yet they are effectively in control of much of the USA as if there were no actual adults present at all.
You can say that again. We have a President that still likes to point the finger and blame others for his shortcomings. He goes crying to Oprah when they poke fun of his ears.
fruitbat From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2006, 547 posts, RR: 6 Reply 144, posted (10 months 3 weeks 11 hours ago) and read 3218 times:
Thinking back to what Romney said on his visit to London, did one of his advisers forget to tell him that politicians are meant to kiss babies, not point out to the doting parents how ugly the little blighter is?
Weaseling out of things is important to learn. It's what separates us from the animals ... except the weasel.
GDB From United Kingdom, joined May 2001, 12735 posts, RR: 79 Reply 145, posted (10 months 3 weeks 10 hours ago) and read 3216 times:
Quoting fruitbat (Reply 144): Thinking back to what Romney said on his visit to London, did one of his advisers forget to tell him that politicians are meant to kiss babies, not point out to the doting parents how ugly the little blighter is?
Ouch!
Interesting in Poland that while he may have wanted to meet Solidarity they were not so keen to meet him.
A union basher is a union basher, whether it be a puppet regime of the USSR or a former asset stripper.
redflyer From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 4181 posts, RR: 30 Reply 147, posted (10 months 3 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 3153 times:
Quoting kaitak (Reply 30): In Europe, the concept of helping the downtrodden, the poor and the disadvantaged has another name; we call it "society".
Interesting, but some of the most poverty stricken areas I've ever seen, worse than some of the ones in the U.S., have been in Europe (Brussels, in particular, comes to mind). So whatever you call it, it obviously has its limits.
Quoting GDB (Reply 38): Or if daddy was a GOP big cheese and governor, or the latest, most powerful yet of the Bush clan.
Well, the Dems have their Daddy-Helped-Me-Get-Places too, it's called the Kennedy clan. It's produced quite a number of powerful politicians over the past few decades, and most of their power and influence can be traced back to their patriarch, Joe Kennedy, who made his bones dealing in illicit trade and influence peddling.
Quoting TheCommodore (Reply 47): If he wants to strut around on the worlds stage, and make an ass himself, pissing people off, hardly seems like a way to win over international friends and allies now dose it ?
I can't wait until the Chinese become the next superpower. People will long for the good old days when all they had to deal with was a big puppy dog called the USA.
Quoting LMP737 (Reply 56): And here's what he actually said "If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help. There was a great teacher somewhere in your life. Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you’ve got a business. you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen."
So in reality what he was talking about was the system and infrastructure, not the businesses themselves. Unfortunately talk radio and Fox News got their hands on it and did some selective editing.
Actually, they've played the speech in its entirety, which sounds even worse when you watch it in its entirety.
Quoting Klaus (Reply 60): As I've read it, he was referring to who built the infrastructure, not the private business using that infrastructure; And in that, he would be exactly correct.
Instead of just reading it, watch it on YouTube in its entirety. And the fact is, whatever the government did, it did from the revenues it generated from the taxes it collected. No businesses = no taxes = no infrastructure. So in reality, the infrastructure we have today wasn't built by the government. "Somebody else made that happen."
Quoting MadameConcorde (Reply 64): I really hope Mitt Romney will never become a U.S. President. Not this year, not any year.
From the two I would much rather a second term of Obama... and I don't like Obama but rather Obama than Mitt Romney... by all means.
I'm sure glad U.S. citizens are the only ones that are allowed to vote in this election.
Actually Panetta and the military complex and intel created by Bush did that. Obama had the easy part. Saying go was a no brainer. But in a new book coming out it is being said that valerie Jarrett stopped O a few time in the previous month's befoer he finally had to do it.
Quoting Klaus (Reply 142): and at least attempted to get the economy going.
No everything he has done has put handcuffs and regulations on it which is why the actual unemployment rate is still around 15%
Quoting Klaus (Reply 142): Total blockade of anything constructive as long as Obama is in office is their main priority.
That would be a total blockade of any more destruction like Obanacare and Dodd/Frank.
seb146 From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 9910 posts, RR: 17 Reply 149, posted (10 months 3 weeks 7 hours ago) and read 3093 times:
Quoting windy95 (Reply 148): No everything he has done has put handcuffs and regulations on it which is why the actual unemployment rate is still around 15%
And what was it when there was zero regulation under Bush?
Quoting windy95 (Reply 148): That would be a total blockade of any more destruction like Obanacare and Dodd/Frank
Oh, the horror! Making sure people will not go into bankrupcy when they get cancer and banks not failing because of their own stupidity using OUR money. The nerve!
Same cast of charicters as always: FOX, Rush, Beck, Hannity....
Quoting Superfly (Reply 139): He IS being blamed for his handling of the economy.
Lowering the unemployment rate and getting banks back to solvency?
Quoting Superfly (Reply 139): Quoting seb146 (Reply 135):His policies are actually more on par with that radical lefty Ronald Reagan.
Haha! You're funny!
Reagan actually wanted a program similar to Romneycare. Go read up on it.
ltbewr From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 12365 posts, RR: 12 Reply 150, posted (10 months 3 weeks 4 hours ago) and read 3025 times:
Apparently Romney didn't say something stupid in Poland, at least in public. So, why did he stop in Poland?
They are actively religious, mainly in the Roman Catholic faith, which means against abortion, gay marriage and anything to take away the power of the RC Church. Those issues tie in well with the Polish descendant Americans, especially in a swing state like Ohio with a significant population of them as well as evangelical Christians who he needs the vote of there and elsewhere.
Polish are also white europeans - the base of the Republicans, so why not play up to them.
Poland also stood up for freedom against anti-capitalist Soviet/socialist economics - something also appealing to many corporate supporting Americans and in turn of the Republican party.
Then there is the backing off of President Obama as to the placing of NATO missile banks in Poland that some say was not done to appease Russia. While Romney has not called for placing missile in Poland, he shows an attitude that would be more favorable to supporting them over a powerful and dangerous Russia in the eyes in many voting Americans.
LMP737 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 151, posted (10 months 3 weeks 3 hours ago) and read 3011 times:
Quoting windy95 (Reply 148): No everything he has done has put handcuffs and regulations on it which is why the actual unemployment rate is still around 15%
The United States is not in the situation it is because there were to many regulations. The US is in the situation it is because the way money is lent in this country became a free for all.
I know this from personal experience. I watched a family member borrow almost a half a million dollars to buy a home at the height of the housing bubble. This in spite of the fact they made less money than my wife and I and we would have been hard pressed to afford a home half that price. Yet someone gave them the money. End result, foreclosure.
To find more places to export our jobs! You know, just in case this whole president thing does not work out. He can go back to Bain Capital and export American factory jobs to Poland and he can pocket the difference. Just like before.
Revelation From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 10565 posts, RR: 21 Reply 153, posted (10 months 2 weeks 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 2921 times:
Good summary, better than the ones I heard on the news yesterday.
Still not sure it was a great investment of two days of his campaign.
What are the take-aways for the swing voters, other than those of Polish heritage?
"Romney - He Likes Poland" doesn't swing any votes.
"Romney - He Thinks the US Should Be Like Poland" might even swing votes away.
The theory was the trip was to build up his foreign policy standing.
The UK should have been a slam dunk. All he had to say was "Nice Olympics, I know how hard it is to pull this off so I'm impressed with what you've done" even if he had some inner criticisms, and then chill out with some US athletes and it would have been gold for him, but he totally flubbed it.
The Israel trip was largely reported as a trip to collect checks from wealthy Jews at a hotel where Israeli terrorists blew up British citizens back in the 40s.
The Polish trip: nice, but not much significance to it.
His unwillingness to talk to the press and his staff's over-reaction thereafter gave the trip in all an ugly taint.
His choice of Poland over some of the more influential EU states like FR or DE shows a certain meekness and reluctance to be a leader in world politics.
Mir From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 19813 posts, RR: 56 Reply 155, posted (10 months 2 weeks 6 days 14 hours ago) and read 2827 times:
Quoting Revelation (Reply 153): His choice of Poland over some of the more influential EU states like FR or DE shows a certain meekness and reluctance to be a leader in world politics.
That, or it shows an attempt to move back to the Bush era "Old Europe vs. New Europe" idea, which isn't going to help anything.
-Mir
7 billion, one nation, imagination...it's a beautiful day
LMP737 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 156, posted (10 months 2 weeks 6 days 14 hours ago) and read 2825 times:
Quoting Revelation (Reply 153): The UK should have been a slam dunk. All he had to say was "Nice Olympics, I know how hard it is to pull this off so I'm impressed with what you've done" even if he had some inner criticisms, and then chill out with some US athletes and it would have been gold for him, but he totally flubbed it.
I like Cameron's response to Romney's critique. "We are holding an Olympic Games in one of the busiest, most active, bustling cities anywhere in the world. Of course it's easier if you hold an Olympic Games in the middle of nowhere."
comorin From United States of America, joined May 2005, 4721 posts, RR: 17 Reply 157, posted (10 months 2 weeks 6 days 14 hours ago) and read 2823 times:
Quoting Mir (Reply 155): That, or it shows an attempt to move back to the Bush era "Old Europe vs. New Europe" idea, which isn't going to help anything.
Next we will be throwing barrels of tea into Boston Harbor
In the end, over 40% of the US is planning to vote for Romney; so laughing at him is laughing at a significant U.S. populace. But be that as it may, the undecideds will decide the outcome, which distills into a single swing state - which will it be?
mt99 From United States of America, joined May 1999, 6363 posts, RR: 7 Reply 158, posted (10 months 2 weeks 6 days 14 hours ago) and read 2822 times:
Quoting comorin (Reply 157): In the end, over 40% of the US is planning to vote for Romney; so laughing at him is laughing at a significant U.S. populace
And over 40% over 40% of the US is planning to vote for Obama; so laughing at him is laughing at a significant U.S. populace
Quoting comorin (Reply 157): But be that as it may, the undecideds will decide the outcome, which distills into a single swing state - which will it be?
comorin From United States of America, joined May 2005, 4721 posts, RR: 17 Reply 159, posted (10 months 2 weeks 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 2804 times:
Quoting mt99 (Reply 158): And over 40% over 40% of the US is planning to vote for Obama; so laughing at him is laughing at a significant U.S. populace
Revelation From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 10565 posts, RR: 21 Reply 160, posted (10 months 2 weeks 5 days 15 hours ago) and read 2685 times:
It's no surprise that Jon Stewart is having a whole lot of fun at Romney's expense.
Some of the comments, cleaned up, with the understanding that Jon Stewart is a COMEDIAN:
He was bewildered to find that a spokesman for Romney scolded members of the press for being disrespectful at a holy site whilst simultaneously telling them to “kiss my ###.”
He observed that Romney faced “trouble in England for answering questions [and] trouble in Poland for ignoring questions,” and prayed that the third country Romney visited was not a place where people are easily “prone to complaining.” Naturally, it was Israel, and Stewart’s hopes were dashed once again.
As Stewart observed: “Romney appears to be saying that the Palestinians are purely the architects of their own poverty, or, if you prefer to look at the converse, that Jews are culturally some money-making ###s. Either way…”
seb146 From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 9910 posts, RR: 17 Reply 161, posted (10 months 2 weeks 5 days 14 hours ago) and read 2656 times:
Quoting Revelation (Reply 160): Jon Stewart is having a whole lot of fun at Romney's expense.
He has fun a politician's expense. It's funny that, when he makes fun of any Democrats, he is spot on, but when he makes fun of any right-wingers, he is a hack.
Dano1977 From British Indian Ocean Territory, joined Jun 2008, 417 posts, RR: 0 Reply 162, posted (10 months 2 weeks 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 2537 times:
Saw this joke posted on a well known social networking sight...
English people often moan about Americans taking some of our best TV shows, like Spaced, Top Gear and The Inbetweeners, and turning them into absolute garbage.
But I actually prefer Mitt Romney's version of An Idiot Abroad.
*an idiot abroad is a Ricky Gervais programme where he sends some poor schmuck around the world meeting oddball people and doing ridiculous challenges to try and get them out of there comfort zone.
Children should only be allowed on aircraft if 1. Muzzled and heavily sedated 2. Go as freight
ltbewr From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 12365 posts, RR: 12 Reply 163, posted (10 months 2 weeks 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 2495 times:
Romney is facing some serious challenges in the media and from the Obama campaign as to not disclosing his income tax returns before 2010. There may be many reasons from not doing so including: somewhat understandable desire of personal privacy; agreements with Bain Capital that he cannot disclose certain information as it could disclose private information of his business partners; where he is invested in big banks and corporations that got Government bailouts or special tax deals, controversial investments like alleged foreign bank accounts; paying a much lower net rate of taxation than most 'middle class' Americans; even show his real residency in some past years to be in New Hampshire (no State Income Tax) or Utah (lower State income tax rate); who knows what else.
Mir From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 19813 posts, RR: 56 Reply 164, posted (10 months 2 weeks 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 2468 times:
Quoting comorin (Reply 157): In the end, over 40% of the US is planning to vote for Romney; so laughing at him is laughing at a significant U.S. populace.
Only if you believe that everyone who votes for a candidate is an exact replica of that candidate. I generally support Obama, but I don't take people laughing at him personally - sometimes he doesn't deserve it, but sometimes he does.
-Mir
7 billion, one nation, imagination...it's a beautiful day
zkojq From New Zealand, joined Sep 2011, 816 posts, RR: 1 Reply 165, posted (10 months 2 weeks 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 2464 times:
I don't understand the 'worse than Palin' rhetoric. Sure, Romney screwed up his UK visit on several occasions, but have people forgotten just how bad Palin was?
Quoting Dreadnought (Reply 23): And let's remember that Romney does know something about organizing an olympic games.
The most expensive winter olympics in history. In the words of Mr Rick Santorum (who I wouldn't usually quote to prove a point): 'He heroically bailed out the Salt Lake City Olympic Games by heroically going to Congress and asking them for tens of millions of dollars to bail out the Salt Lake Games - in an earmark.'
Quoting ltbewr (Reply 59): He should have used 4 critical words in that comment and it would have not got his so much criticism - ALONE at the end of the next to last sentence, and the words HELPED YOU MAKE in that last sentence for the words 'else made'. Perhaps that what he meant, but that was not what was stated in his speech at critical points. And you wonder why politicians have speechwriters and use Teleprompters.
What he should have said was 'those', referring to the roads and bridges, instead of 'that' which could be confused with the business-owner's business. A simple grammar error that, when taken out of context, sounds terrible.
Quoting MadameConcorde (Reply 64):
I really hope Mitt Romney will never become a U.S. President. Not this year, not any year.
From the two I would much rather a second term of Obama... and I don't like Obama but rather Obama than Mitt Romney... by all means.
Agreed. In my mind Obama was certainly a mistake and I really don't like him, but Romney would be far far worse.
Quoting seb146 (Reply 89): American auto manufacturing was saved.
Ah, but Romney wants to take credit for that.
Quoting mariner (Reply 103): And forget what happened it London, put it down to over-eagerness to please on his part. But I cannot dismiss what he said in Israel quite so easily.
It is alarming to me that a US presidential candidate can be so partisan, so pandering, so provocative - and so insensitive to the genuine wrongs done to the Palestinian people, who may not be entirely blameless but who have a considerable grievance.
Am I surprised? No. Just alarmed. And very sad.
Quoting mariner (Reply 110): It's the position Netanyahu has advocated since he was a young politician - the so-called "Jordanian Option" - move all the Palestinians out of the West Bank and into Jordan.
If Romney wants some Israel money, he has to do some pandering. And even if there wasn't any money involved, I hardly think that Mr Romney would care much for the plight of the Palestinian people. Sad but likely true.
Quoting seb146 (Reply 117): There are those out there (McCain for one) who disagree on Obama about policy but can at least compromise.
I still have a huge amount of respect for Mr Mccain. John Mccain is a man of values and principles (not all of which I agree with) and isn't the kind of guy who would compromise them for the sake of a soundbite. Only last week he called out Bachmann and some other islamophobes for suggesting that Huma Abedin was somehow part of the Muslim Brotherhood. Mccain is far too mature to have made the gaffes that Romney has done on his UK trip - I feel he would be a great 'ally builder'.....then again he did choose Palin as his VP nominee.
On the other hand, Mr Romney (in my mind) is only happy to 'prostitute' his values and viewpoints if it gives him a greater chance of being president. Just look at all his liberal viewpoints from when he was governor which he has retroactively retracted. I should like this guy, he used to be a very moderate conservative like myself, but for a variety of reasons I just can't.
Quoting Superfly (Reply 122): yet Romney speaks fluent French which normally gives an American extra brownie points in intellectual circles.
Quoting WestJet747 (Reply 128): In intellectual circles, yes, but not in the eye of the general public. The U.S. right has been known to harbour some anti-France sentiment (anybody remember Freedom Fries?).
I would love to see him speak french.
Quoting ltbewr (Reply 150): Apparently Romney didn't say something stupid in Poland, at least in public. So, why did he stop in Poland?
I thought he was commemorating the Poles who got slaughtered during WWII. If you look back at various opinion pieces during the previous week there was some speculation that he might make a visit to Auschwitz. Sadly, I suspect that some of this is also chasing Israel money.
GEEZER From United States of America, joined Aug 2010, 1467 posts, RR: 2 Reply 166, posted (10 months 2 weeks 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 2459 times:
Let's see, 164 posts when I finally decided to post something.................
It's always fun, when you get into a big discussion, and everyone agrees with you; that's kinda what's happening on this thread isn't it ? A whole lot of like-minded individuals, all trying amuse one another by saying un-flattering things about "poor old" Mitt ?
I think I'll wait; (till after Mitt's in the WH) to say what I was gonna say..........
Charley
Stupidity: Doing the same thing over and over and over again and expecting a different result; Albert Einstein
Revelation From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 10565 posts, RR: 21 Reply 167, posted (10 months 2 weeks 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 2382 times:
Quoting GEEZER (Reply 166): A whole lot of like-minded individuals, all trying amuse one another by saying un-flattering things about "poor old" Mitt ?
Poor? Not Mitt!
It's not our fault that Mitt the Twit keeps delivering stuff to ridicule time after time day after day.
Quoting GEEZER (Reply 166): I think I'll wait; (till after Mitt's in the WH) to say what I was gonna say..........
It's a shame you can't find anything positive to say about Mitt's foreign policy trip.
Maybe you can head over to Fox News and let us know what the Illuminati there have to say.
However, I bet they've decided to move on as fast as they can.
They're probably busy celebrating Gore Vidal's death.
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Actually all he did was follow the plan already negotiated before he came into office.
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