The beating Romney is taking from all sides has been relentless and there’s no sign it’ll slow down any time soon.
I’m not sure how many people watching this spectacle even remember that it’s nominally about whether Romney is responsible for outsourcing Bain did post-February 1999 or its investment in a company that serviced abortion clinics. I barely remember it myself. What’s driving this now is that the Obama camp has backed Romney into a position in which he looks ridiculous — something much more lethal for presidential candidates than most people appreciate.
Romney had absolutely nothing to do with Bain after 1999, no responsibility for anything it did, barely even knew what it did. Only he was the owner, the Chairman of the Board and the CEO. At least according to all the official documents, many of which he signed. Only he wasn’t any of those things, says Romney.
It’s not just his 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.
A big majority of this country is rightly frightened and appalled by what the congressional Republican party has become over the past four years: a radical cadre willing to push the nation over the cliff into utterly unnecessary national default in order to score a political point.
The hope for many of us was that a Republican president could do a better job constraining them than Barack Obama has been able to do – especially if (as I personally also hoped) the very act of electing such a president would deflate the radicalism of the congressional GOP and revive a more constructive spirit.
But at every point, Romney has surrendered to the fringe of his party. Weak. And now in his first tough encounter with Barack Obama, Romney is being shoved around again. This is not what a president looks like – anyway, not a successful president.
Agreed except for the shoved around part. What the Obama camp is doing is simply stating the facts and throwing Romney’s own words out there. The rest of the story writes itself.
It’s difficult to imagine how Romney recovers from this…but then again, we’re dealing with politics where a week is an eternity and anything is possible, so who the hell knows. Remember, Obama is facing the party that gave the country Karl Rove and swiftboating so as bad as it looks for Romney right now, letting one’s guard down would be a serious error in judgment. Democrats need to keep the pressure on if they’re to stay ahead of a political party that makes a point of taking no prisoners.
Stock up on popcorn. The fight has just begun.
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(The Romney source photographs are Creative Commons licensed images from photographer Gage Skidmore.)
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Mitt is definitely looking rattled and on the defensive. In contrast, the President appears as cool, confident, and poised as ever. If Mitt can’t handle this level of confrontation, I definitely wouldn’t want him handling this country’s affairs in a major crisis.
This is totally ‘dead-on”….I have to give (The Artist) Mario a double “Bam”….”Bam,Bam”. for us older folk that is a double ‘high five”.
I had a chance to briefly look at the McCain opposition report — just the Bain section. I noted that Romney was on the board of a company that was fined $100 million for Medicare fraud. – that’s taxpayer money straight from our pockets. Of course, FL was stupid enough (sorry, Mario – I know YOU weren’t one of them) to elect Rick Scott – another crook whose salary came from crooked billings – so these nutcases won’t care about that. But that’s not the crowd we need to get to the poles. So hopefully, that will be in some of the next ads to hit the airwaves.
They can take the “keep your government hands off my Medicare” and substitute Romney’s name!
It is long past time for these people to be ridiculed publicly and frequently by the media. They should be denied air time by every station until they can come to the table as sane and responsible people. Keep them on Fox to speak to their crazies.
Bachmann is now pushing the story that Anthony’s Weiner’s wife is some secret Muslim brotherhood spy. Good god!
I’m looking forward to the Obama/Romney debates. I have a feeling that Romney’s self-destruction will continue and, while it won’t be a pleasant sight, it may well be satisfying (in the Clarence Darrow sense).
E.A.: I’m looking forward to the Obama/Romney debates. I have a feeling that Romney’s self-destruction will continue and, while it won’t be a pleasant sight, it may well be satisfying (in the Clarence Darrow sense).
Me, too, E.A. — it will separate the men from the boys, for sure! :)
“Rock On Diana” , I am reading ya…….. Thank you remarks give me cause and inertia to continue the fight (As if I was waning) LOL.
Karen, I think you are correct. His campaigns is showing incompetence very much beyond the level of even John McCain’s. The US presidential campaign has always been a proving ground. One reason for such is people who work at high levels in the campaign often end-up in the White House. Do we want such incompetence in the White House? NO! Example. Obama did same. I think he is far better off with his current White House Team (and campaign team) than ever. Axelrod = great campaign guy; Axelrod = POOR POOR Senior Adviser. Obama stopped turning the other cheek after David was dispatched to the campaign trail. Gibbs was another competent and loyal soldier who was effective and visible on the campaign trail and never should have been int he White House. And, there are others. I used Obama to make a point and to expressly avoid the Bush Years. You see where his campaign team took us (Karl Rove, Andy Card [S/P], and the like)
Mitt Romney should stand his ground and say he would be happy to release more tax returns as soon as President Obama releases:
1. White House records on Fast and Furious.
2. His college transcripts.
3. Details on his membership in the New Party.
4. A full accounting of how much stimulus money went overseas.
It’s a safe bet that Obama will never release any of those records which gives Romney safe ground to stand on. If it’s good for the gander, it’s good for the goose.
A message for liberals: Mitt Romney is a successful businessman. Get over it.
Ms Redstate girl – why wouldn’t you want to see the tax records of your Republican leader who plans on changing or reforming the tax system for ALL Americans? Besides, being a “successful businessman” doesn’t automatically qualify you to lead a country – after all wasn’t Dubya a “successful businessman”?
I find your list of reasons as to why Romney SHOULDN’T show his taxes by listing Republican talking points (some over 4 years old), just an example of the ditto head parroting of a Foxaholic. The good thing is, with the Affordable Care Act you will be able to get help for that condition.
Just FYI – 2 latest notes I found interesting…
1) Congress has been mulling over changng the laws so that internet stores must now charge sales tax.
Seems that Republicans have an interest in raising taxes afterall, except of course it will be on the middleclass.
2) Dick Cheney is schedule to meet with House Republicans on why they should fight against any lessening of defense spending. Ironic that one of the persons that profitted the most from spending on wars (a war profitteer) is attempting to convince our polticians why they should continue spending on the item that has made Cheney rich.
Oh redstate girl…you got nothing. Why don’t you demand that Obama release his REAL birth certificate. I won’t even go over the list of your “demands” because everyone could be ripped to shreds. When will you just admit that the TEAPUBLICANS are nuts, and they sucked you into their fact free bubble. You can lie to yourself about all the “crimes” committed by Obama, but don’t think that others are as ignorant as the teapots. They want you to believe in their message and Romney based on blind faith, and believe me…they want you to be blind for a reason. Oh yea….there is a black man living in the whitehouse doing a fantastic job, and he hasn’t taken your guns, or made reparations to African Americans, he haven’t unleashed his secret plan to turn America into a communist country, and……he didn’t change the name of the whitehouse.
Talking Point folks really bother me. They offer no substance beyond the very points they pick up from TV pundits, LIMBAUGH and Fox News.
President Obama is not running for office via his validated birth Certificate. It is telling that someone woulds still dare type such; I mean very revealing. College records? No running on them (LIMBAUGH of yesterday and his racist rant) ..the list goes on and on…Oh, Fast and Furious (started in 2006). Wouldn’t it be a real killer if the Presidenti refuses to allow Holder to reveal stuff that would point a telling finger back to pre-2009?
Now The serial liar (AKA Romney) tried to use his Business Exp as some sort of leverage to the oval office. There is a existential difference in the two dynamics. Obama’s (papers) vs. a realistic request for a standard practiced by all former US Prez’s.
And when is Obama going to release his grade school transcripts? I heard he got a “C” in art class in the 4th grade one semester, but they want to make sure the public doesn’t find out!
Oh, and also, there is no global warming, and the moon is made of green cheese.
Saint Stephen: S h h h h — I hope the wingnuts don’t get wind of that rock unturned — it could be the tipping point! :)
DAMN Stephan……. Rush gives them a strategy model that they followed yesterday. Arpio (S/P) is revitalizing the Birther stuff and now you have taken them to grade school records. When you get your interview with Fox News, May I have the second interview. Man, you have really nailed it for them now. This is a winner for Romney!
Karen, it’s too late – over at Mad Mike’s America, they’re reporting on the latest bombshell to hit the Obama campaign (as reported by Fux News): President Obama Had Offshore Accounts Too!
Wow E.A. ….This is almost worthy of a piece on my webpage but I refuse to do that. OFFSHORE ACCOUNTS, in Hawaii. Wow! Oh, I forgot that State has much different investment laws, and they do not have responsibility to the same IRS as do we. shame on me for being a dunce.
E.A. — Oh my — How disturbing! Here’s another revelation I read this morning about an Obama subversive plan to tamper with the voters’ subconsious:
http://www.google.com/search?q=rush%20limbaugh%20dark%20knight
THE PLOT THICKENS!!!