Romney's New Video Features ... Obama Singing

Romney’s New Video Features … Obama Singing

Bounces off me, sticks to you

PoliticsJuly 2012 • Views: 30,328

Following the Obama campaign ad with Mitt Romney singing “America the Beautiful,” the Romney campaign releases an ad featuring guess what?

Yes, that’s right: the now-famous clip of Obama singing that Al Green song, while the advertisement slams him for “rewarding his biggest donors.”

Three points:

1) Most people who aren’t wingnuts actually found it charming when Obama sang that song.

2) It’s pretty amazing to see Romney trying to criticize Obama for his donors, when Romney himself has collected tens of millions of dollars from an assortment of far right billionaires like Sheldon Adelson and the Koch Brothers.

3) This is childish “I’m rubber, you’re glue” politics, and it may appeal to the far right wingnut base, but to everyone else it’s pretty obvious that Romney is in reactionary mode, letting Obama dictate the course of his campaign.

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142 comments

dragonath Mon, Jul 16, 2012 10:18:52am

"Obama's ad totally didn't work guys! That's why we... dang it!"

wrenchwench Mon, Jul 16, 2012 10:19:53am

Obama had the nerve to do that in front of Al Green. Romney will never understand that.

lawhawk Mon, Jul 16, 2012 10:23:32am

Mitt Romney. #winning.

Someone Please Beam Me Up! Mon, Jul 16, 2012 10:24:26am

Obama rewards his biggest donors? Well, at least he IDENTIFIES his biggest donors.

Blizard Mon, Jul 16, 2012 10:25:37am

I'm really hoping Obama keeps Mitt in the corner, so far his saving grace (Mitt's) was that all of this happened over the weekend. Some folks are just now getting back to reality.

Gus Mon, Jul 16, 2012 10:25:40am

Looks like the Romney campaign's butthurt is showing.

AK-47% Mon, Jul 16, 2012 10:26:24am

You pay your money, you get your access. Works for the GOP as well as the Dems. Why the outrage for SOP?

Romney will gain a bit of initiative when he names his running mate, but basically whoever he chooses is going to piss off someone in the GOP, so that will dampen things.

What has he got left to run on? His Olympic record? Even that is going to be known to most folks as "the thing he was doing while still earning $100K a year as 'inactive' CEO of Bain Capital".

iossarian Mon, Jul 16, 2012 10:26:51am

The Chronicles of Romney:

- Business experience turns out to consist of ripping people off and dodging responsibility
- Won't release tax returns: opponents openly stating this is because there are recent years in which he "paid no taxes"
- Potential VP picks are all either mouth-breathers or elicit shrieks of rage from mouth-breathers
- Can't sing worth a damn

It's a real page-turner.

S'latch Mon, Jul 16, 2012 10:27:39am

re: #4 Washed-Up-Clowns 'R' Us!

This is the main reason I think this campaign ad is so weak. As deplorable as politically rewarding campaign donors is, no one doubts that almost all politicians do it and that Mitt Romney certainly will.

AK-47% Mon, Jul 16, 2012 10:28:08am

re: #8 iossarian

The Chronicles of Romney:

- Won't release tax returns: opponents openly stating this is because there are recent years in which he "paid no taxes"

And even GOP people are telling him to just get it out and over with, take his knocks and move on...

iossarian Mon, Jul 16, 2012 10:29:17am

re: #10 Expand Your Ground

And even GOP people are telling him to just get it out and over with, take his knocks and move on...

I think at this point we have to assume his returns are really, really damaging.

As in "I hid millions of dollars of taxable income from the US government I now wish to lead" damaging.

Bulworth Mon, Jul 16, 2012 10:30:37am

it’s pretty obvious that Romney is in reactionary mode, letting Obama dictate the course of his campaign.

I thought that of the GOP primary, too. Despite his consistent leading in the polls, it always seemed like someone else, anyone else, Cain, Newt, Santorum, were driving the campaign, in various ways.

William of Orange Mon, Jul 16, 2012 10:30:40am

Childish. But I have to say, now that the fight is gone serious, i must admit, the race for the White House is more exciting and entertaining, especially since the GOP is now in the corner getting punched.

Round 3!

Ps.
Obama really could carry a tune.

jaunte Mon, Jul 16, 2012 10:31:39am

re: #8 iossarian

The Chronicles of Romney:

- Business experience turns out to consist of ripping people off and dodging responsibility
- Won't release tax returns: opponents openly stating this is because there are recent years in which he "paid no taxes"
- Potential VP picks are all either mouth-breathers or elicit shrieks of rage from mouth-breathers
- Can't sing worth a damn

It's a real page-turner.

"Gaming the system is legal, my friends!"

Bulworth Mon, Jul 16, 2012 10:33:23am

Yes, that’s right: the now-famous clip of Obama singing that Al Green song, while the advertisement slams him for “rewarding his biggest donors.”

Bill Ayers! Reverand Wright! ACORN! //

dragonath Mon, Jul 16, 2012 10:34:04am

I think Romney outsourced his advertisements to some orcs in Moria, with the "drums in the deep" SFX towards the end.

"A balrog is coming, aieee!! And he's BLACK!!"

AK-47% Mon, Jul 16, 2012 10:34:16am

re: #12 Bulworth

I thought that of the GOP primary, too. Despite his consistent leading in the polls, it always seemed like someone else, anyone else, Cain, Newt, Santorum, were driving the campaign, in various ways.

It was fortuate that they were each driving the campaign in a different direction. had the anti-Mitt movement united behind a single candidate, he would most likely be facing a convention floor fight.

SanFranciscoZionist Mon, Jul 16, 2012 10:34:20am

re: #7 Expand Your Ground

You pay your money, you get your access. Works for the GOP as well as the Dems. Why the outrage for SOP?

Romney will gain a bit of initiative when he names his running mate, but basically whoever he chooses is going to piss off someone in the GOP, so that will dampen things.

What has he got left to run on? His Olympic record? Even that is going to be known to most folks as "the thing he was doing while still earning $100K a year as 'inactive' CEO of Bain Capital".

It is awkward that he's been put in a position where most of what he actually accomplished as a politician can't be used in his favor.

I swear, you'd hardly know he'd ever held office, from the way his campaign talks.

Shropshire_Slasher Mon, Jul 16, 2012 10:36:36am

only three tries to log on, I'm gettting better.

Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance Mon, Jul 16, 2012 10:37:21am

I am a bit disappointed, even as a partisan, that there is really only one sane political party in this country, that being the Democratic party.

That being said BWAHAHAHAHAHA!

Bulworth Mon, Jul 16, 2012 10:40:09am

As of today, it also appears as if Half Gov Palin isn't slotted for speaking time at the Tampa convention, nor does it appear she's been invited. I suspect this will change. I can't believe there wouldn't be at least one teabagger appreciation night accompanied by the teabagger patron saint. Also Palin hasn't been all that supportive of Romney up to now.

Bulworth Mon, Jul 16, 2012 10:41:09am

Palin and the convention

[Link: news.yahoo.com...]

dragonath Mon, Jul 16, 2012 10:41:33am

I like how the most bold assertion made in that ad is courtesy of the Washington Times. All the news that's fit to...

uncah91 Mon, Jul 16, 2012 10:42:37am

re: #20 Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance

I am a bit disappointed, even as a partisan, that there is really only one sane political party in this country, that being the Democratic party.

That being said BWAHAHAHAHAHA!

Unfortunately, as 2010 shows, batshit crazy can take control of the levers of government. Too many people either don't vote at all, or only barely plug in.

Bulworth Mon, Jul 16, 2012 10:43:47am

re: #24 uncah91

Yeah, and the economy continues to falter, so whatever his flaws, Romney could still win.

William of Orange Mon, Jul 16, 2012 10:43:58am

Guess who are back from their summer holiday!

Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert!

Ohhhh googy, googy!

kirkspencer Mon, Jul 16, 2012 10:44:02am

re: #8 iossarian

The Chronicles of Romney:

- Business experience turns out to consist of ripping people off and dodging responsibility
- Won't release tax returns: opponents openly stating this is because there are recent years in which he "paid no taxes"
- Potential VP picks are all either mouth-breathers or elicit shrieks of rage from mouth-breathers
- Can't sing worth a damn

It's a real page-turner.

I've been thinking more about those tax returns and why he won't release them. I'm wondering if he's afraid of crowdsourcing.

There's this assumption I'm seeing everywhere that his returns are going to be legal. After all they were accepted and he wasn't audited, was he. Except, of course, that IRS audits have become less and less common for the wealthy. (two part punch on that. One, a requirement to audit across all brackets, and two the continuing cuts in number of experienced auditors.)

So what if some of his pre-2010 tax games were gray options, open to varying interpretations and challenges as to legality? Things like the guessed at method of getting his IRA so large: artificially pricing the stock low to purchase it for the account, then letting it revert to market. (If that's what was done, by the way, it is borderline illegal - and might be completely depending on /how/ the artificial pricing was applied.)

What happens when a few thousand skilled and willing eyes start climbing through that backload of data?

Tax avoidance is legal, tax evasion is not. And I wonder if that's part of what's behind the unwillingness to release.

Blizard Mon, Jul 16, 2012 10:44:05am

Actual post from a follower on Romney's FB page:

"...I don't care what Romney has to do to win this election. He can buy it if he needs to. Romney 2012!!"

Absolutely shameless. I get so depressed in the division of America when I read comments there. But, it's an exercise in reality.

dragonath Mon, Jul 16, 2012 10:45:01am

re: #28 Blizard

Does Romney have friends? Or did he just buy them too?

AK-47% Mon, Jul 16, 2012 10:45:19am

re: #26 William of Orange

Guess who are back from their summer holiday!

Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert!

Ohhh googy, googy!

I have heard that there are some Internet issues. I live abroad and only get them on Comedy Central. Hope somebody posts them on YouTube or something...

Blizard Mon, Jul 16, 2012 10:47:01am

re: #29 Be Zorch, Daddio

It's a public "page". You don't even have to "like" it to post or read anything. Friending not necessary.

Romantic Heretic Mon, Jul 16, 2012 10:53:10am

It looks like the Obama war room has read and comprehended Sun Tzu and the Romney war room has not.

So it is that an army avoids strength and strikes weakness.

EastSider Mon, Jul 16, 2012 10:53:58am

Romney:

If he can't come up with new and better ideas for a campaign ad, why should we expect him to come up with new and better ideas for running the country?

Bulworth Mon, Jul 16, 2012 10:54:52am

re: #32 Romantic Heretic

It looks like the Obama war room has read and comprehended Sun Tzu and the Romney war room has not.

Chicago thuggery!

AK-47% Mon, Jul 16, 2012 10:56:29am

re: #32 Romantic Heretic

It looks like the Obama war room has read and comprehended Sun Tzu and the Romney war room has not.

In bed with Chinese communists!!!

erik_t Mon, Jul 16, 2012 10:56:39am

re: #33 EastSider

Romney:

If he can't come up with new and better ideas for a campaign ad, why should we expect him to come up with new and better ideas for running the country?

Counter-point: black man! Ogga booga!

Romantic Heretic Mon, Jul 16, 2012 10:56:54am

re: #33 EastSider

That's a selling point for his base. He's made it clear he's going to get rid of 'new and better ideas for running the country.' In their (somewhat delusional) minds the country was just fine before people started coming up 'new and better ideas.'

Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance Mon, Jul 16, 2012 10:57:32am

re: #32 Romantic Heretic

I, for one, am thoroughly enjoying watching Obama's team dismantle Romney piece by piece. It's about time we had a campaign that had the balls to go full throttle and not be all mealy mouthed.

lawhawk Mon, Jul 16, 2012 10:58:38am

re: #27 kirkspencer

The percentage of those audits has actually increased in recent years.

However, for 1998-2000, the audit rate was about 1.5% and trending down for high income earners (overall average rate was declining and was below 1% by 2000).

Complicating matters with Romney's returns is that IRS data has to be reconciled with SEC data, and it's much easier to do now than it was back then. Much more electronic data to work with, process, and review. It means that it's easier for the IRS to spot red flags than it was back in 2000.

You may be right that some of the reluctance to release the returns may have to do with questionable tax decisions that skirt the line from tax avoidance (legal) to tax evasion (illegal). What we'd also need to keep in mind is the status of the relevant law at the time those decisions were made. Some changes made since may greatly affect how those outcomes play out.

Also it's worth noting that there may be all kinds of benefits stemming from the 2001 and 2003 tax changes (EGTRRA and JGTRRA) affecting depreciation, net operating losses, etc. that could have come into play during the time period - along with amended returns for the period to reflect changes made after the initial returns were submitted to take advantage of those tax law changes.

Crowd sourcing would take the place of a forensic accountant piecing together what Romney did and when.

GunstarGreen Mon, Jul 16, 2012 10:59:48am

re: #21 Bulworth

As of today, it also appears as if Half Gov Palin isn't slotted for speaking time at the Tampa convention, nor does it appear she's been invited. I suspect this will change. I can't believe there wouldn't be at least one teabagger appreciation night accompanied by the teabagger patron saint. Also Palin hasn't been all that supportive of Romney up to now.

One can only hope that the GOP has decided to stop, or at least throttle back on, giving Ex-Half-Governor Moosehead a spotlight she doesn't deserve.

It still flabbergasts me that anyone seeks her political opinion on anything, given that her political experience consists entirely of a failed VP campaign and abandoning her obligations to the people of Alaska to go after pundit money.

Bulworth Mon, Jul 16, 2012 10:59:57am

re: #39 lawhawk

Crowd sourcing would take the place of a forensic accountant piecing together what Romney did and when.

Crowd sourcing?

HappyWarrior Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:00:46am

Gotta love the desperation.

Someone Please Beam Me Up! Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:01:21am

re: #39 lawhawk

The percentage of those audits has actually increased in recent years.

However, for 1998-2000, the audit rate was about 1.5% and trending down for high income earners (overall average rate was declining and was below 1% by 2000).

Complicating matters with Romney's returns is that IRS data has to be reconciled with SEC data, and it's much easier to do now than it was back then. Much more electronic data to work with, process, and review. It means that it's easier for the IRS to spot red flags than it was back in 2000.

You may be right that some of the reluctance to release the returns may have to do with questionable tax decisions that skirt the line from tax avoidance (legal) to tax evasion (illegal). What we'd also need to keep in mind is the status of the relevant law at the time those decisions were made. Some changes made since may greatly affect how those outcomes play out.

Also it's worth noting that there may be all kinds of benefits stemming from the 2001 and 2003 tax changes (EGTRRA and JGTRRA) affecting depreciation, net operating losses, etc. that could have come into play during the time period - along with amended returns for the period to reflect changes made after the initial returns were submitted to take advantage of those tax law changes.

Crowd sourcing would take the place of a forensic accountant piecing together what Romney did and when.

On the other hand, Romney surely didn't do his own taxes. Wouldn't the blame (legally, I mean, not in "the court of public opinion") rest with his accountant(s)?

lawhawk Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:01:41am

re: #41 Bulworth

Having thousands of eyeballs piece together information - make the connections and figure out what was going on. It's a way of having numbers of people analyzing information and seeing what is going on.

kirkspencer Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:01:47am

re: #39 lawhawk

The percentage of those audits has actually increased in recent years.

However, for 1998-2000, the audit rate was about 1.5% and trending down for high income earners (overall average rate was declining and was below 1% by 2000).

[snip]

thank you for the update.

GunstarGreen Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:01:49am

re: #41 Bulworth

Crowd sourcing?

The hot new buzzword for "having a bunch of random people from the internet do it".

I'm not even joking.

AK-47% Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:02:30am

re: #43 Washed-Up-Clowns 'R' Us!

On the other hand, Romney surely didn't do his own taxes. Wouldn't the blame (legally, I mean, not in "the court of public opinion") rest with his accountant(s)?

?!? "I paid someone to shoot my wife, therefore I am not legally responsible" ?!?

Bulworth Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:02:44am

"It's not just [Romney's] arguments that are weak. For the past year, we have watched him be pushed around by the radical GOP fringe. He's been forced to abjure his most important achievement as governor, his healthcare plan. In December, he was compelled to sign onto the Ryan budget plan after months of squirming to avoid it. Last fall he released an elaborate economic plan. On the eve of the Michigan primary, he ripped it up and instead accepted a huge new tax cut - to a top rate of 28% - that has never been costed (and that he now tries to avoid mentioning whenever he can). Romney has acknowledged in interviews that he understands that big rapid cuts in government spending could push the US economy back into recession. Yet he campaigns anyway on the Tea Party's false promise that it's the deficit that causes the depression, rather than (as he well knows) the other way around," - David Frum.

h/t Sullivan

wrenchwench Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:03:57am

re: #40 GunstarGreen

One can only hope that the GOP has decided to stop, or at least throttle back on, giving Ex-Half-Governor Moosehead a spotlight she doesn't deserve.

It still flabbergasts me that anyone seeks her political opinion on anything, given that her political experience consists entirely of a failed VP campaign and abandoning her obligations to the people of Alaska to go after pundit money.

She could have at least retired retroactively to the start of her Veep campaign. Could have saved the Alaskan taxpayers a few bucks, although they may have benefited from franchise value.

lawhawk Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:04:16am

re: #43 Washed-Up-Clowns 'R' Us!

His accountants, representatives, etc., could make certain decisions, but Romney signs the returns and is ultimately responsible for those decisions. There's quite a bit of tax law detailing responsible parties and their liabilities when the taxpayer relies upon advice in making decisions. It goes to how much he knew, had reason to know, etc., and since some of this will go to his investments in companies he was sole stockholder/owner/managing director/etc., he's going to have decision making responsibilities/liabilities on that end as well.

darthstar Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:04:24am

re: #48 Bulworth

h/t Sullivan

Romney/Phelps 2012

AK-47% Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:05:12am

Romney irony deficiency at Newsmax: "Romney to Obama: Talk about your record, not mine!"

HappyWarrior Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:06:21am

You just know Mitt's feeling like a dumbass for underestimating this president. Hey, Mitt, if it took you a long time to finish off Santorum. Maybe that should tell you something about yourself that maybe you're not as awesome as you think.

dragonath Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:06:38am

I don't know if anyone's looked yet, but the top comments on this video are pretty grand:

Published on Jul 16, 2012 by mittromney 280 likes, 354 dislikes

Hahahaha that was a pretty horrible ad!!!! What a pathetic attempt to fire back!! The Romney campaign is in shambles and you can tell!! LOL

majii Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:09:56am

It's very revealing to me the type of person Romney is when he can't manage the first little crisis his campaign has encountered. Excising a wound is sometimes the best way to handle a problem. He doesn't seem to see the advantage of releasing more of his tax returns and financial statements, taking his lumps, and moving on. This would seem to be the best way to quell the growing clamor for him to reveal more about his finances, but he's dug in and decided he owes us nothing. I guess he thinks we should vote for him because of who he says he is. This is what made his little "If you know what's in my heart, you'd vote for me" comment in his NAACP speech so offensive to me. He knows deep in his heart that he doesn't care for anyone in the country except those in his own socioeconomic group. The fact that he had to say in his Fox interview that Senator Kerry's wife didn't release her tax documents when the senator ran for POTUS in 2004 made him look like an idiot. Senator Kerry's wife wasn't running for president. I love seeing people who think they're all that and 10 bags of chips on national TV looking like the tools they are.

Feline Emperor of the Conservative Waste Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:13:49am

OK, so the GOP is trying to pull off the political equivalent of "The Producers". Who is going to profit from all the donations that aren't asked about after the expected flop outcome?
/ ;)

Feline Emperor of the Conservative Waste Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:15:23am

re: #55 majii

It's very revealing to me the type of person Romney is when he can't manage the first little crisis his campaign has encountered. Excising a wound is sometimes the best way to handle a problem. He doesn't seem to see the advantage of releasing more of his tax returns and financial statements, taking his lumps, and moving on. This would seem to be the best way to quell the growing clamor for him to reveal more about his finances, but he's dug in and decided he owes us nothing. I guess he thinks we should vote for him because of who he says he is. This is what made his little "If you know what's in my heart, you'd vote for me" comment in his NAACP speech so offensive to me. He knows deep in his heart that he doesn't care for anyone in the country except those in his own socioeconomic group. The fact that he had to say in his Fox interview that Senator Kerry's wife didn't release her tax documents when the senator ran for POTUS in 2004 made him look like an idiot. Senator Kerry's wife wasn't running for president. I love seeing people who think they're all that and 10 bags of chips on national TV looking like the tools they are.

Also, is Mitt comparing himself to Kerry (in an indirect way) an association he should desire to make anyways?

Digital Display Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:18:09am

Speaking of politics..And be forewarned this post will use some vulgar words and is my opinion and may change a shade after I read the reviews by critics today in the media.
Political Animals..USA network..Sunday evenings about 8pm
A review..
Damn! I could not wait to see this show! The word was it was a fast moving political thriller with great actors..And let's face it..It's the dog days of summer for TV and sports.. So this was a exciting for me and probably all of LGF..You political junkies you! *wink*
OK..Plot line..A lawyer marries popular Dem Gov that becomes a popular President for 2 terms that Fucks around and she runs for President and loses in a bitter Primary and becomes the Secretary of State.. It is all about Bill and Hillary with just enough changed to deny it all...
Is that the best you fucking got? What are you retread writers from primary colors 2 or something? Is that the best story line you can think of? You fucking morons..So in that frame they bounce off of old Clinton scandals...Hey! Producers! If that is the best you got? Call me you dip shits..
So anyway we still got the politics and fast action to watch so I'm waiting for the politic animals shit in the script..You know K street , Policies and modern plot lines..At least something like West Wing..
Well guess what? They had a hostage crisis in Iran.Wow..And to be fair they would go back to it every 10 minutes or so..OMG we have hostage crisis in Iran..but meanwhile.. It's all about Night time Soap opera for TV like all my children shit.. Who is fucking who..who is gay..Who Bill Clinton is boinking this week on TV..It was effen embarrassing after an hour and knowing there was 24 minutes left..This is the high example of political Stereotyping for TV and lacks any imagination..I know summertime political shows never make it on TV..And I always loved political movies..The Candidate, All the Presidents men etc...And a few others like the failed Show from like 5 years ago about the American President with Gena Davis.. It was awesome..She was a Indy Women that got put on the Ticket as a VP by a GOP president in a shrew track to win again. And then once elected he dies in a Heart attack and she becomes POTUS. It was awesome..Dealing with Cabinet positions, Personalities, Policy positions..the Dem's..Remember she is a moderate Indy..Getting it from both sides and handling Int'l Crisis with aplomb and grace and woman smarts..Fuck that show rocked about politics. Political Animals? Get the fuck out. Can't wait to see the cancellation posted soon by summer's end.
Such promise..Such disappointment
and a positive note..
The reporter from the Globe..( which is really WAPO but they didn't have the Balls to say that..Like OK..I can list a 1000 movies that a reporter says I'm from the Post..Go ahead..Step out a limb here, It's a political show.)
She is hot..Really hot..So that was the positive review I can give..
Review..1 Star..And really that is very generous

HappyWarrior Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:18:43am

It's going to be interesting to see who Romney picks as VP. I think it's increasingly likely he goes with someone with more populist like rhetoric because of the Bain issue. Even he has to know that the image he has of an out of touch businessman is growing.

dragonath Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:21:14am

I think the real danger at this point for Mitt is being outshone by his vice presidential pick.

Sheila Broflovski Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:21:43am

re: #59 HappyWarrior

It's going to be interesting to see who Romney picks as VP. I think it's increasingly likely he goes with someone with more populist like rhetoric because of the Bain issue. Even he has to know that the image he has of an out of touch businessman is growing.

I have this feeling that he is going to pick Jindal, because "We need a person of color!"

lawhawk Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:22:01am

re: #60 Be Zorch, Daddio

That worked out famously for President McCain. /

SanFranciscoZionist Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:22:19am

re: #61 Learned Mother of Zion

I have this feeling that he is going to pick Jindal, because "We need a person of color!"

Jindal's not new and shiny anymore, though.

Blizard Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:22:34am

re: #61 Learned Mother of Zion

I have this feeling that he is going to pick Jindal, because "We need a person of color!"

Does that mean they won't pass voter ID laws then?

HappyWarrior Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:24:02am

re: #61 Learned Mother of Zion

I have this feeling that he is going to pick Jindal, because "We need a person of color!"

Jindal really wouldn't shock me at all at this point.

Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:25:35am

re: #65 HappyWarrior

wouldn't shock me either, it would just make me laugh harder while mentioning volcano monitoring.

Sheila Broflovski Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:28:57am

re: #63 SanFranciscoZionist

Jindal's not new and shiny anymore, though.

Well, it's either Jindal or Jan Brewer.

Here's your airline sickness bag.

darthstar Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:29:14am

re: #54 Be Zorch, Daddio

I don't know if anyone's looked yet, but the top comments on this video are pretty grand:

Published on Jul 16, 2012 by mittromney 280 likes, 354 dislikes

McCain learned the hard way to disable comments...Apparently Romney wasn't paying attention, or is incapable of learning from others' mistakes.

Bulworth Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:30:19am

re: #68 darthstar

McCain learned the hard way to disable comments...Apparently Romney wasn't paying attention, or is incapable of learning from others' mistakes.

He'll retroactively disable comments....

nines09 Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:30:50am

Mitt Romney and his people are even more clueless than previously thought. Yeah. You bet I want Mitt with the Atomic Briefcase one shaky 3AM phone call away from making a few square miles of glass somewhere.

wrenchwench Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:33:18am

Nonpartisan Agreement: Most Campaign Money Is Wasted

Good audio at the link.

Someone Please Beam Me Up! Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:33:52am

re: #47 Expand Your Ground

?!? "I paid someone to shoot my wife, therefore I am not legally responsible" ?!?

There's a difference between hiring someone to perform a legal act (if I hire someone to mow my lawn, am I legally and/or criminally responsible if that person drives the lawnmower through my neighbor's window?), and hiring someone to commit a crime. That said (IANAL), I think the person who bought the tax prep would be liable for back taxes and fees, but wouldn't be responsible for penalties.

Exactly who pays what would probably be settled by lawsuit.

leftynyc Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:34:04am

re: #27 kirkspencer

I've been thinking more about those tax returns and why he won't release them. I'm wondering if he's afraid of crowdsourcing.

There's this assumption I'm seeing everywhere that his returns are going to be legal. After all they were accepted and he wasn't audited, was he. Except, of course, that IRS audits have become less and less common for the wealthy. (two part punch on that. One, a requirement to audit across all brackets, and two the continuing cuts in number of experienced auditors.)

So what if some of his pre-2010 tax games were gray options, open to varying interpretations and challenges as to legality? Things like the guessed at method of getting his IRA so large: artificially pricing the stock low to purchase it for the account, then letting it revert to market. (If that's what was done, by the way, it is borderline illegal - and might be completely depending on /how/ the artificial pricing was applied.)

What happens when a few thousand skilled and willing eyes start climbing through that backload of data?

Tax avoidance is legal, tax evasion is not. And I wonder if that's part of what's behind the unwillingness to release.

I don't think anything illegal went on. I suspect there are some years he paid no taxes....or very little taxes using the loopholes and deductions that are available. But a very effective ad would be "why does the man who wants to be President get away with an effective tax rate of whatever ridiculously low number it is when a middle class family pays XX". It's the unfairness of the tax code he's afraid of people finding out about.

kirkspencer Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:34:27am

re: #67 Learned Mother of Zion

Well, it's either Jindal or Jan Brewer.

Here's your airline sickness bag.

I can't guess who it will be because Mitt's so anonymous. It's hard to decide who reinforces, complements, or balances him. He's imitation tofu (just as bland and able to be what the dish requires, but none of the nutrients).

Basically, this means whoever he picks will end up being the definition of the team, and I can't decide what flavor Mitt wants to be.

simoom Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:34:43am

Put up a few hours ago:
[Link: content.usatoday.com...]

Romney campaign declines to name bundlers

A top Mitt Romney adviser signaled Monday the campaign would continue to keep the names of its bundlers private, even as he accused President Obama of giving special favors to those who have raised campaign cash.

Unlike the Obama campaign, Romney has not revealed the names of his top political fundraisers, called "bundlers" because they bundle together contributions in small increments from family, friends and business associates.

...

The disclosure of these bundlers is voluntary, but good-government groups such as the Center for Responsive Politics have called on Romney to reveal the names since those individuals tend to wield influence once their candidate is elected. The groups renewed calls Monday for Romney to release the list.

...

Obama senior strategist David Axelrod shot back at the Romney campaign via Twitter, writing, "Only Mitt could cry cronyism while refusing 2 disclose his $$$ bundlers--as every candidate, R and D, has done for decades? #Mittsecrets"

kirkspencer Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:36:36am

re: #73 leftynyc

I don't think anything illegal went on. I suspect there are some years he paid no taxes...or very little taxes using the loopholes and deductions that are available. But a very effective ad would be "why does the man who wants to be President get away with an effective tax rate of whatever ridiculously low number it is when a middle class family pays XX". It's the unfairness of the tax code he's afraid of people finding out about.

My point being we don't know. When you're filing 500 page tax forms and squeezing every opportunity there's lots of opportunity, whether taken or not.

HappyWarrior Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:36:37am

re: #75 simoom

Put up a few hours ago:
[Link: content.usatoday.com...]

What a trainwreck.

CuriousLurker Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:37:46am

re: #63 SanFranciscoZionist

Jindal's not new and shiny anymore, though.

Yeah, but he's a fundie and he's dorky. I don't think Romney will pick someone who can upstage him the way Palin did McCain. Rubio & Ryan are both young and handsome and don't have that "uncanny valley" quality that turns people off. I don't think he wants the competition.

leftynyc Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:40:00am

re: #67 Learned Mother of Zion

Well, it's either Jindal or Jan Brewer.

Here's your airline sickness bag.

I think he's going to try for a swing state so my guesses are Portman or Pawlenty.

Sheila Broflovski Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:40:01am

Sarah Silverman, desperately trying to be "hip" and "edgy" is just sad and lame.

I HAVE A PROPOSITION FOR SHELDON ADELSON say.ly/AyQ3LDb
— Sarah Silverman (@SarahKSilverman) July 16, 2012

SanFranciscoZionist Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:40:03am

re: #67 Learned Mother of Zion

Well, it's either Jindal or Jan Brewer.

Here's your airline sickness bag.

Why not Nikki Haley? She's cute, not white, female, and still fairly underexposed.

AK-47% Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:40:12am

re: #72 Washed-Up-Clowns 'R' Us!

There's a difference between hiring someone to perform a legal act (if I hire someone to mow my lawn, am I legally and/or criminally responsible if that person drives the lawnmower through my neighbor's window?), and hiring someone to commit a crime. That said (IANAL), I think the person who bought the tax prep would be liable for back taxes and fees, but wouldn't be responsible for penalties.

Exactly who pays what would probably be settled by lawsuit.

Lame analogy on my part there.

And I understand that if it can be proven the tax preparer not only sought to defraud the government but also lied to his customer about how he went about filling out the forms, then the person who hired them could hardly be held legally responsible.

But this matter is not reaööy about any sort of smoking gun, about any felonious acts or felonious intent: it is about Mitt's qualities as a leader, his ability to act and react in a hostile environment in which he cannot have things his way at all costs.

SanFranciscoZionist Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:41:01am

re: #78 CuriousLurker

Yeah, but he's a fundie and he's dorky. I don't think Romney will pick someone who can upstage him the way Palin did McCain. Rubio & Ryan are both young and handsome and don't have that "uncanny valley" quality that turns people off. I don't think he wants the competition.

My father (the devout Catholic) was so freaked out by Jindal's account of his foray into exorcism in college that I don't think he's ever looked at him again without thinking of that.

HappyWarrior Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:41:16am

re: #81 SanFranciscoZionist

Why not Nikki Haley? She's cute, not white, female, and still fairly underexposed.

I think I heard that Haley is pretty unpopular even in her own state. Not sure though. He's really in a tough spot to make a choice if you ask me.

CuriousLurker Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:41:55am

re: #83 SanFranciscoZionist

My father (the devout Catholic) was so freaked out by Jindal's account of his foray into exorcism in college that I don't think he's ever looked at him again without thinking of that.

Yeah, I read it too. Pretty damned harrowing.

CuriousLurker Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:43:39am

re: #84 HappyWarrior

I think I heard that Haley is pretty unpopular even in her own state. Not sure though. He's really in a tough spot to make a choice if you ask me.

Her Christian creds have also been questioned by some of the wingnuts.

HappyWarrior Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:43:43am

Thing to me is it seems like many of the so called safe picks like Portman and Pawlenty wouldn't really thrill the base but the picks that are young and have the possibility to excite the base also could turn off Independent voters. It's a tough spot not unlike the one McCain was in.

SanFranciscoZionist Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:44:00am

re: #85 CuriousLurker

Yeah, I read it too. Pretty damned harrowing.

What my dad focused on was that they didn't call any medical professionals.

dragonath Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:45:52am

Jindal might be the dopiest Rhodes scholar ever. He's a creationist who majored in biology (!!)

kirkspencer Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:47:13am

fwiw, I like to play the VP game for a different reason. List all the possible candidates - the serious ones, not the jokes. Note in particular the ones who are 'almost ready for prime time' but lack a little experience or polish. Do this for all the parties.

You now have the "bench" for 2016 and 2020 (the latter being the particular note candidates).

It disturbs me that the Democratic bench is surprisingly sparse.

lawhawk Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:48:09am

re: #90 kirkspencer

Who do you have on the bench for the Democrats?

steve_davis Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:48:19am

re: #7 Expand Your Ground

You pay your money, you get your access. Works for the GOP as well as the Dems. Why the outrage for SOP?

Romney will gain a bit of initiative when he names his running mate, but basically whoever he chooses is going to piss off someone in the GOP, so that will dampen things.

What has he got left to run on? His Olympic record? Even that is going to be known to most folks as "the thing he was doing while still earning $100K a year as 'inactive' CEO of Bain Capital".

And as I mentioned the other day, because Romney is refusing to release tax returns, the v.p. pick is actually going to create problems, because he/she is either going to release his/her returns, putting Romney in a very strange place, or they're going to be consistent with Romney's position, meaning that the Republicans will have TWO major candidates who refuse to release any tax information. that probably won't play well in Peoria.

HappyWarrior Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:49:14am

re: #90 kirkspencer

fwiw, I like to play the VP game for a different reason. List all the possible candidates - the serious ones, not the jokes. Note in particular the ones who are 'almost ready for prime time' but lack a little experience or polish. Do this for all the parties.

You now have the "bench" for 2016 and 2020 (the latter being the particular note candidates).

It disturbs me that the Democratic bench is surprisingly sparse.

I'd look at Martin O'Malley as someone for the Dems. He's a staunch social liberal. Someone who actually not only survived the Republican-TP landslide but did even better. Plus he's got the "it" quality- he plays in a band. Andrew Cuomo is another name I hear named.

leftynyc Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:51:40am

re: #90 kirkspencer

fwiw, I like to play the VP game for a different reason. List all the possible candidates - the serious ones, not the jokes. Note in particular the ones who are 'almost ready for prime time' but lack a little experience or polish. Do this for all the parties.

You now have the "bench" for 2016 and 2020 (the latter being the particular note candidates).

It disturbs me that the Democratic bench is surprisingly sparse.

Right off the top of my head: Elizabeth Warren, Jon Tester, Andrew Cuomo.

steve_davis Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:52:24am

re: #16 Be Zorch, Daddio

I think Romney outsourced his advertisements to some orcs in Moria, with the "drums in the deep" SFX towards the end.

"A balrog is coming, aieee!! And he's BLACK!!"

"And he's singing....Al Green! And....damn! That Balrog has a sexy voice. Let's just stand here and see if we're lucky enough to get eaten by him....."

dragonath Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:52:46am

re: #90 kirkspencer

Ok, I'll play:

Republicans
----------

Ryan
Jindal
Christie
S. Martinez
Daniels

Democrats
-------

Clinton
Cuomo
D. Patrick
O'Malley
Wasserman-Schultz

HappyWarrior Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:53:53am

re: #96 Be Zorch, Daddio

Ok, I'll play:
Republicans

Ryan
Jindal
Christie
S. Martinez
Daniels

Democrats
---

Clinton
Cuomo
D. Patrick
O'Malley
Wasserman-Schultz

I think one of the Virginians- Warner and Tim Kaine especially if he gets elected to Senate will be possibilities as well.

HappyWarrior Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:56:00am

Re: Wasserman-Schultz. Is it likely she runs for governor or senator in Florida? I know she's DNC chair now but it's still a big leap from the House of Reps to president or even vice president.

Decatur Deb Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:56:13am

re: #94 leftynyc

Right off the top of my head: Elizabeth Warren, Jon Tester, Andrew Cuomo.

And Al Franken. And, despite disclaimers, Hilary Clinton.

100

HappyWarrior Mon, Jul 16, 2012 11:56:58am

Perhaps Brian Schweitzer? He gave the keynote speech at this year's Jefferson-Jackson dinner in Virginia. He could be an interesting pick.

101

lawhawk Mon, Jul 16, 2012 12:02:52pm

re: #96 Be Zorch, Daddio

I'd add Cory Booker to that mix for Democrats.

102

Decatur Deb Mon, Jul 16, 2012 12:03:39pm

re: #89 Be Zorch, Daddio

Jindal might be the dopiest Rhodes scholar ever. He's a creationist who majored in biology (!!)

Also the weirdest kind of Catholic ever. Laymen do not perform bootleg exorcisms.

103

Decatur Deb Mon, Jul 16, 2012 12:04:34pm

re: #101 lawhawk

I'd add Cory Booker to that mix for Democrats.

No, he's going to drown saving a puppy from a frozen lake in Sussex County.

104

Beauzeaux Mon, Jul 16, 2012 12:07:18pm

Point #4
If you must include your opponent singing, have the brains to remove the part where the crowd goes crazy when he croons a few words.

105

dragonath Mon, Jul 16, 2012 12:09:42pm

I think a lot of the Republicans who appear to be in the running now are not as strong as they really look, because the search for national prestige and corporate donors has damaged them. Citizens United was a double edged sword.

re: #103 Decatur Deb

>:(

106

HappyWarrior Mon, Jul 16, 2012 12:11:19pm

I think Rand Paul has to be mentioned for the Republicans. Not sure how viable he is but it wouldn't shock me if he ran.

107

jaunte Mon, Jul 16, 2012 12:14:03pm

Brand insanity is the first event at the ~~summer~~ Olympics:

Britain flooded with 'brand police' to protect sponsors

Olympic security is in disarray, but organisers are taking no chances with corporate deals...

"...Wearing purple caps and tops, the experts in trading and advertising working for the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) are heading the biggest brand protection operation staged in the UK. Under legislation specially introduced for the London Games, they have the right to enter shops and offices and bring court action with fines of up to £20,000.

Olympics organisers have warned businesses that during London 2012 their advertising should not include a list of banned words, including "gold", "silver" and "bronze", "summer", "sponsors" and "London".

108

shutdown Mon, Jul 16, 2012 12:17:06pm

Hello, everybody! Haven't been in "chat" mode for quite some time....

109

Gretchen G.Tiger Mon, Jul 16, 2012 12:18:40pm

Well, I didn't accomplish this, but I did cancel the morning.

How is it wit' you?

110

Decatur Deb Mon, Jul 16, 2012 12:19:15pm

re: #107 jaunte

Brand insanity is the first event at the ~~summer~~ Olympics:

Britain flooded with 'brand police' to protect sponsors

"Olympics organisers have warned businesses that during London 2012 their advertising should not include a list of banned words, including "gold", "silver" and "bronze", "summer", "sponsors" and "London".

I suppose "sod off" is still OK?

111

shutdown Mon, Jul 16, 2012 12:19:22pm

Great pic ggt

112

jaunte Mon, Jul 16, 2012 12:19:57pm

re: #110 Decatur Deb

I'm sure London business owners have a huge list of words they're prepared to use.

113

Interesting Times Mon, Jul 16, 2012 12:20:00pm

How come no one is mentioning Kirsten Gillibrand as a Democratic rising star?

During the lame duck session of the 111th Congress, Senator Gillibrand scored two substantial legislative victories: the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell and the passage of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act. Both were issues she had advocated for during that session. In the aftermath of these victories, many commentators opined that these victories marked her emergence on the national stage.

To top that off, she's an excellent advocate for women's rights, food programs for the poor, and looks great on TV (it's this culture we're talking about, after all...)

114

shutdown Mon, Jul 16, 2012 12:21:26pm

re: #107 jaunte

The Olympics cost GBP24 billion to put on. There is no way to pay for this without massive sponsorship contracts. The model is broken.

115

shutdown Mon, Jul 16, 2012 12:22:19pm

re: #113 Interesting Times

Agreed. Unfortunately, the one thing she does not seem to be very good at is self-promotion. Humility is not a winning political stratagem.

116

lawhawk Mon, Jul 16, 2012 12:22:20pm

LOL for the day:

I don't accept that Mitt Romney "retroactively retired". As a Christian, I believe CEOs begin at conception and should be carried to term.
— Top Conservative Cat (@TeaPartyCat) July 16, 2012

117

freetoken Mon, Jul 16, 2012 12:22:52pm

Following up on a link to WND I posted yesterday, as a demonstration of how WND has now gone full Stormfront on race, the comments keeping coming in to that article.

Here's one of the comments from today:

Cat

With an average IQ of only 85, they basically don't have any sense. I live in a town where the population is 78% black and it's constant crime. They're pretty much wimps when it comes down to it. How many times do they attact a person they know is armed...None! They would rather prey on someone old, female or basically defenseless, such as the big, brave *** that broke down the door of an 85 year old woman, beat and robbed her. Wow! What a tuff guy. I'm sick of them. I hate that I'm providing food, shelter, clothing and weapons with my tax dollars for these despicable pieces of dirt. They should be praising me instead of trying to kill me as I am the one allowing them to live off of my money.

(Edited by a moderator)

Like Reply
1 hour ago 2 Likes

If that is what remains after a moderator edited it, I wonder what it was like to begin with.

Again, the moderators at WND seem quite fine with those types of comments - which pretty much tells us exactly where WND is heading.

118

dragonath Mon, Jul 16, 2012 12:23:05pm

I'd love it if the Olympic runners went back to running on cinders. Can you imagine how fast Jesse Owens would be on modern surfaces?

Also, NBC coverage sucks.

119

AK-47% Mon, Jul 16, 2012 12:23:33pm

re: #114 Ascher

The Olympics cost GBP24 billion to put on. There is no way to pay for this without massive sponsorship contracts. The model is broken.

Which is why I have lost almost all interest in any Olympic anything. It is just another commercial venture using sports to gain people's attention to sell things.

120

HappyWarrior Mon, Jul 16, 2012 12:24:00pm

re: #113 Interesting Times

How come no one is mentioning Kirsten Gillibrand as a Democratic rising star?

To top that off, she's an excellent advocate for women's rights, food programs for the poor, and looks great on TV (it's this culture we're talking about, after all...)

She's another good pick.

121

Killgore Trout Mon, Jul 16, 2012 12:26:26pm

Serious campaigning continues...
Beyonce praises Michelle Obama in new campaign ad. Will that win votes?

122

shutdown Mon, Jul 16, 2012 12:26:30pm

re: #119 Expand Your Ground

Agreed. I used to get tremendously excited about the Olympics for two reasons. One, there is of course national pride. Second, it was a chance to see some obscure but interesting sports. Now you can barely find any coverage that is not basketball, track and field, or soccer (tape delayed on ESPN Deportes....). Boring. And the omnipresent advertising is a drag.

123

leftynyc Mon, Jul 16, 2012 12:26:47pm

re: #113 Interesting Times

How come no one is mentioning Kirsten Gillibrand as a Democratic rising star?

To top that off, she's an excellent advocate for women's rights, food programs for the poor, and looks great on TV (it's this culture we're talking about, after all...)

Hanging head in shame - and she's one of my senators!!! She'd be great.

124

jaunte Mon, Jul 16, 2012 12:26:58pm

Good news: Romney came up with a rationale to hide his tax returns. Bad news: it's kind of silly on.msnbc.com/Lm3gfp

— Steve Benen (@stevebenen) July 16, 2012

125

freetoken Mon, Jul 16, 2012 12:29:06pm

BTW, this overt racism is not lessening among the wingnuts and throwbacks in this country, and vested interests (such as WND) in making money or getting power catering to that market are not likely to back off.

126

leftynyc Mon, Jul 16, 2012 12:29:25pm

re: #124 jaunte

[Embedded content]

Is it the rationale that Teresa Heinz didn't release hers? That made me burst out laughing. He sounds more pathetic and desperate every day.

127

shutdown Mon, Jul 16, 2012 12:30:08pm

re: #124 jaunte

I think the tax return issue is a red herring. Eventually, Romney will release additional returns and the only thing we learn is that he was very rich in 1990, too. Then he will be able to make hay from there having been nothing there, just as he claimed.

128

jaunte Mon, Jul 16, 2012 12:30:16pm

re: #126 leftynyc

Rationale:
1. Opposition might find stuff...
2. Teresa Heinz!

129

Gretchen G.Tiger Mon, Jul 16, 2012 12:30:43pm

re: #113 Interesting Times

How come no one is mentioning Kirsten Gillibrand as a Democratic rising star?

To top that off, she's an excellent advocate for women's rights, food programs for the poor, and looks great on TV (it's this culture we're talking about, after all...)

THE FIRST ONE is on my facebook.

With my weekly reminder of this

130

jaunte Mon, Jul 16, 2012 12:30:48pm

re: #127 Ascher

It would surprise me if he was being that crafty.

131

erik_t Mon, Jul 16, 2012 12:31:09pm

re: #127 Ascher

I think the tax return issue is a red herring. Eventually, Romney will release additional returns and the only thing we learn is that he was very rich in 1990, too. Then he will be able to make hay from there having been nothing there, just as he claimed.

I haven't seen any indication that Romney is able to even play two-dimensional chess, let alone eleven-dimensional. This is several layers too deep.

132

Gretchen G.Tiger Mon, Jul 16, 2012 12:32:15pm

re: #122 Ascher

Agreed. I used to get tremendously excited about the Olympics for two reasons. One, there is of course national pride. Second, it was a chance to see some obscure but interesting sports. Now you can barely find any coverage that is not basketball, track and field, or soccer (tape delayed on ESPN Deportes...). Boring. And the omnipresent advertising is a drag.

I'm not terribly interested in the Olympics. I am, however, glad the young athletes have such a venue to strive for and compete. It means a lot to them.

133

erik_t Mon, Jul 16, 2012 12:32:22pm

re: #130 jaunte

It would surprise me if he was being that crafty.

Even if he were clever, he wouldn't go that route. Be it narrow or wide, Romney's path to victory is by hammering 24/7 on how the economy kinda sucks. Any time spent on any other message is lost time.

134

abolitionist Mon, Jul 16, 2012 12:33:31pm

re: #107 jaunte

Brand insanity is the first event at the ~~summer~~ Olympics:

Britain flooded with 'brand police' to protect sponsors

This is like Apple suing Microsoft over an icon, but worse. If any of the bottled water or porta-pisser businesses have gotten involved, this could get ugly fast.

135

Gretchen G.Tiger Mon, Jul 16, 2012 12:34:27pm

How cool is this?

136

Killgore Trout Mon, Jul 16, 2012 12:34:33pm

re: #127 Ascher

I think the tax return issue is a red herring. Eventually, Romney will release additional returns and the only thing we learn is that he was very rich in 1990, too. Then he will be able to make hay from there having been nothing there, just as he claimed.

Your probably right that I doubt the returns are going to show what the accusers want but i don;t think he's going to release the extra returns. Politicians usually don't cave on this stuff because it allows opponents the opportunity to fish through additional material looking for dirt. Obama's birth certificate was a rare case.

137

lawhawk Mon, Jul 16, 2012 12:38:20pm

re: #136 Killgore Trout

People want to get transparency from their candidates and Romney's doing everything imaginable to thwart that. Considering that other politicos have released years and decades worth of tax returns, his refusal to release more than the past 2 years is troubling, particularly when he claims business expertise is a reason to elect him over Obama. But if his expertise is really no more than being a good gambler and working the tax code, then it undermines his very expertise argument.

138

erik_t Mon, Jul 16, 2012 12:38:50pm

re: #136 Killgore Trout

Your probably right that I doubt the returns are going to show what the accusers want but i don;t think he's going to release the extra returns. Politicians usually don't cave on this stuff because it allows opponents the opportunity to fish through additional material looking for dirt. Obama's birth certificate was a rare case.

Any equivocation between Romney's tax returns and Obama's birth certificate is the worst sort of MBF.

139

leftynyc Mon, Jul 16, 2012 12:39:48pm

re: #127 Ascher

I think the tax return issue is a red herring. Eventually, Romney will release additional returns and the only thing we learn is that he was very rich in 1990, too. Then he will be able to make hay from there having been nothing there, just as he claimed.

I think you're wrong. At the very least they'll show he pays an effective tax rate around 1/2 (maybe even less) than your average middle class family. And I wouldn't be surprised if some of those years he paid nothing at all. Perfectly legal but horrendous optics on any chart.

140

steve_davis Mon, Jul 16, 2012 12:57:49pm

re: #122 Ascher

Agreed. I used to get tremendously excited about the Olympics for two reasons. One, there is of course national pride. Second, it was a chance to see some obscure but interesting sports. Now you can barely find any coverage that is not basketball, track and field, or soccer (tape delayed on ESPN Deportes...). Boring. And the omnipresent advertising is a drag.

And don't forget that 50% of the coverage is now "human interest" because some focus group years ago determined that women don't actually want to watch the sports--they want to hear about the sad life the Bosnian archer has led, that she/he has overcome. I'm like, "Com on, for crying out loud! You've got 50 sports competing today. Just show us the horses jumping over the posts, for heaven's sake!"

141

Marek Bage Mon, Jul 16, 2012 4:09:01pm

BMG had the video pulled because of copyright infringement.
Poor old Romney. Can't win a trick!
Cheers

142

CuriousLurker Mon, Jul 16, 2012 4:53:01pm

re: #141 Marek Bage

BMG had the video pulled because of copyright infringement.
Poor old Romney. Can't win a trick!
Cheers

LOL, cue the wingnut shrieks of outrage about free speech rights being trampled on. New conspiracy theory in 5, 4, 3...

Spy Mode Auto

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