HELEN:
Margaret, can you believe it? A reporter called me to ask what I thought of the conventions. Why would anybody care about that? I keep telling Matthew that I can’t figure out why the hell anyone wants to read my garbage. I’m just a cranky old lady who wants her driver’s license back. It doesn’t matter what I think.
But as long as you are asking…
I think the Republicans had it hard. After four years of obstructing government, they had to do something really difficult. They had to put together a convention in Tampa while God flooded Louisianna. They had to convince a bunch of white, christians that camels are skinnier and needles have bigger eyes these days. And then they had to breathe life into a $3,000 business suit.
Listen, if you’re going to hold a convention and interrupt three days of my programs, then you better at least tell me something I didn’t already know. And you better damn well not take me for a fool. And speaking of fools, Ann Romney broke my heart. I am still horrified at the struggles she and Mitt had to go through before they got out of wealthy to become fantastically wealthy. It was just so emotional to watch her standing there in a pair of $1,300 shoes describing the horrors of their early years eating penne pasta and ahi tuna fish on an ironing board because Mitt asked his Dad for money to start a new business instead of for the new furniture she wanted. Well, my heart just broke for her. It did. And then to discover that the Romney’s had five boys who, even though they each had their own room and a pony, preferred to play war in the living room. Oh the humanity of it all. Her entire married life dealing with rich Republicans playing war. Can you imagine? We feel your pain, Ann. And those other people – The Obamas. Why they were young black folks living it up in America. We all know their kind has it so easy.
And speaking of easy, the guy who had it easiest was that Paul Ryan character. He had to give a speech in just under three hours knowing that he could say whatever the hell he wanted regardless of whether it’s true or not. Fact: Under the Ryan Budget, most elderly people would pay more for their health care than they would pay under the current Medicare system. But let’s not tell them that because they’re old and stupid and we haven’t figured out a way to supress their vote. Fact: You did request stimulus funds. I mean money is money right? What self-respecting Republican says no to money? Even when a black man is doling it out. Fact: I could whoop your ass in a marathon. Just under three hours? Were you wearing ankle weights? (OK – I got a little carried away on that last one.)
Seriously, the one who had it the hardest was, of course, Mitt. He had to look alive and almost human. He had to explain how he is Pro-Life whenever he isn’t running for an office that needs him to be Pro-Choice. He had to explain how he turned things around in Massachusetts by inventing Obamacare before Obama so that five years later he could explain how Obamacare is the root of all evil. And he had to make a case that Democrats are bad for business despite the fact that he amassed a fortune at Bain while Bill Clinton was President.
And speaking of Clinton, the Democrats had it easy. They have not one, but TWO former Presidents to call on. Imagine that, two former Democratic Presidents still living. Alive after all these years. All the Republicans have in their deck is a pair of jackasses, Dick Cheney and an empty chair.
No. The Republicans overcame horrific odds. First, they had to get all those white guys together under one roof in Tampa without an actual Nascar Race taking place. And then they had to deal with Mother Nature, I mean God, smiting people with a hurricane. It was so much easier for Democrats to get a diverse audience from all walks of life to come to Charlotte. After all the entire state of North Carolina is hermetically sealed and environmentally controlled. Even that weird little guy on Fox News said that Obama knew months ago what the weather would be like on the night he gave his speech. When I want an unbiased, fair and balanced weather forecast for the next few months, I tune into Fox News for weather on the hour, every hour or in this case on the month, every month.
By all accounts, the Democrats had it easy. After Tampa, they knew all the secrets. They knew for instance that fact checkers are going to actually check the facts. They also knew that remembering and mentioning our soldiers still fighting a war is a good way to show respect. They even knew that if the candidate’s wife was going to make the case that you understand the hardships of everyday Americans; you might want to make the case wearing shoes that cost less than most people’s mortgage payment.
Maybe it’s just me Margaret, but the Republicans have a real problem. Eventually a nun is going to show up and remind them that Jesus actually likes poor people. And I’ll be damned if the Democrats didn’t know that as well. I mean, if I was Paul Ryan, I’d be saying a few extra prayers before I tuck my calculator in at night. Because when a nun on a bus calls you out on your Pro-Life bullshit, that’s big.
The Republicans wasted three days of my life last week and they wasted the last four years trying to negate our votes in 2008 by doing everything they could to try and make Obama fail. He didn’t and I am voting for hope and change again. In 2008 more than 69 million Americans voted for Obama which means he received the most votes for a presidential candidate in American history. And some of them were old, white people like me. Maybe this time, the Republicans in Congress will know we mean it. Really.
MARGARET:
Oh dear. Did Reagan die?
CLICK HERE to support Margaret and Helen’s website.
actually its….
“because for years I thought what was good for our country was good for General Motors, and vice versa”. This statement has been misquoted endlessly, in the inverted form of “What’s good for General Motors is good for the country”
By: uawtradesman on September 14, 2012
at 6:23 AM
I think we are seeing exactly the business experience Mittens brags about so much. Business deals may be carefully researched beforehand but the implementation is often very, very quick. It doesn’t drag on and on as he is now experiencing. Furthermore, business deals are usually not the subject of such media attention as a campaign gets. He is not used to this and has just never caught on to all the differences between public and private sector. Consequently he can’t help but keep the gaffes coming. No, we do not need a business man in the White House. We’ve had them at cabinet level before. One of them many years ago even let us know that what was good for General Motors was good for the country. Huh??? Only if this entire country, every inch of it,was covered with an assembly line.
By: mageen in old virginny on September 14, 2012
at 5:44 AM
Cui bono? I prefer Gordon Duff’s perspective on this incident over at Veteran’s Today. Apparently I cannot provide a link to it, as my first comment disappeared into cyber space.
By: poolman on September 14, 2012
at 1:16 AM
PEACE ~ Δ”
*Aloha Auntie Jean
By: Whirled Peas Δ on September 14, 2012
at 12:33 AM
well waialeale….
I doubt the Muslim brotherhood wants to forgive and forget……maybe they should read up on the avenging angels and the Knights templar……
GO ROMNEY/RYAN
By: uawtradesman on September 13, 2012
at 9:57 PM
Hi Congenial Gang,
Rhetorical question. How many more millennia do we have to keep this family feud going between the half-brothers, Ishmael and Isaac, the sons of Abraham? I’m an Old Broad, but not so old that I was eye witness to any of the details of their beef. Could be it’s time to forgive and forget and get on with life in this day and age.
Aloha!
Namaste. Shalom. Saalam. Peace.
Auntie Jean
By: waialeale on September 13, 2012
at 6:31 PM
Anonymous, your comment exemplifies the stupid, petty issues everyone is tired of. Barack Obama is the leader of the Democratic Party and he wanted that word in the platform. So now it’s in. It’s called leadership. Case closed. Romney should look into the concept.
By: Terri in NY on September 13, 2012
at 4:15 PM
I wonder, at the DNC, when the Mayor of LA, decided to ignore the will of the people, to disregard the rules set by the DNC, to put God back on the platform, how you all figure we can trust them when they cannot follow their own rules? The majority clearly spoke out against God. The rules stated a 2/3 vote was required and it was not met. Yet because Obama said it was so, rules be dammed, it was so.
By: Anonymous on September 13, 2012
at 3:20 PM
Right on, Patty!
Yeah, let’s take a look at how the past few years have been going for the one percent… For one thing, the income disparity between CEOs and workers is at a staggering – and, in my opinion – shameful level, as is the gap between the very wealthy and the supposed “middle class”. And the poor. (More people are not on food stamps and government support because they just feel like it; a huge number of them are there because opportunity after opportunity has been taken from them…)
And the very wealthy want MORE…?!? At some point, isn’t “enough” obscenely more than enough…?
“How you treat the least among you is how you treat Me”, to paraphrase the Bible. Right, “Christians”?
Gato
By: gatodicima on September 13, 2012
at 3:02 PM
I wish someone would ask the Koch brothers if they are better off today than they were four years ago. Wichita’s paper has an article today saying that they had their best year ever in 2011, and expect 2012′s numbers to be even better. If that question is the criteria the Repugs are using to show how awful President Obama has run this country, maybe they’re just not asking the right people.
By: Patty on September 13, 2012
at 2:26 PM
Just read that Romney asked some of this VP candidates to provide ten years of tax returns! I think they call that hypocrisy.
By: Terri in NY on September 13, 2012
at 2:10 PM
Terri, Gato, what you posted is so true. I saw Michael Medved, supporting Mitt, and saying the post by those in the embassy, should be extrapolated to Obama, and i screamed at the TV ” THEY ARE THE ONES IN DANGER! so now it is only patriotic if you die in your country’s service, not live to fight another day? These comments by his self and his advocates, are so contemptable, if if where their sons/daughters inside, would they be singing the same tune?
By: dee on September 13, 2012
at 1:25 PM
Terri – “I don’t think he gave a thought to the people in the embassies; and how frightened they must have been.”
When I read that, I literally burst into tears. I also saw some photos of the attacks… A living hell. And good and decent Americans died trying to serve their country.
How can a professed man of faith be so utterly soulless, and void of human compassion? He probably has had some in his life, and he has apparently given that away to this “campaign”… This is becoming more and more apparent as the weeks go by.
Talk about a Portrait of Dorian Gray…
Thanks for your powerful post.
Gato
By: gatodicima on September 13, 2012
at 10:38 AM
Gato,
I agree. And at the risk of piling on, I think Mitt feels entitled to win, and he hates having to ask citizens for their votes, and he feels talking to those whom he considers to be the little people is beneath him. But yesterday I got the feeling that he is not a good man. His words and actions seemed so craven, so ruthlessly political and self-interested, that I now really doubt his character. I don’t think he gave a thought to the people in the embassies; and how frightened they must have been. Americans died yesterday yet his only concern was how he could gain political advantage. He knows nothing about foreign policy or diplomacy and I see no indication he is interested in learning. He wants only to score political points.
By: Terri in NY on September 13, 2012
at 10:22 AM
HI, Terri – Yes; Romney seems obsessed with winning, and only with winning. Maybe he’s thinking that if he wins, then he might be able to figure out how to govern. (Maybe he has a “plan”… But I doubt it. He’s given no indication, so far, that he’s very good at planning ahead in any area, other than – maybe – money management.)
Unfortunately, when you’re obsessed with something, you miss a lot of what’s really going on outside the field of your obsession. You know, like reality… Or very angry people with very different goals… And it is impossible to deal well, if at all, with anything to which you are basically oblivious.
As for the Embassy issuing a statement indicating some understanding of the mob’s concerns… It’s exactly what they should have done, at that point in time. IT’S AN EMBASSY, FER KRISSAKES! PEOPLE IN AN EMBASSY ARE THERE TO BE DIPLOMATIC. Being a diplomat is not the equivalent of being an apologist. Tragically, their effort failed in this situation… But that does not mean it was a faulty effort. It means that the opposition, like Romney, is obsessed with its own goal, and willing to do anything they can to achieve it.
To fault an Embassy staff for making an effort to defuse an escalating situation – a situation in which THEIR lives were at risk, not Romney’s – and then blame the President for not rejecting their effort, to me is indicative of someone who understands nothing – NOTHING – about either diplomacy or governing.
MITT’S UNFIT. Again. Period.
Gato
By: gatodicima on September 13, 2012
at 10:02 AM
Here is how Mitt decided to handle this crisis in the Middle East (or any crisis). First he would see how Obama handled it and then he would say Obama’s way was wrong. It doesn’t matter to him if Obama’s strategy was correct, or logical, or diplomatic: it must be wrong and he must criticize. He is simply a reactionary empty suit, a souless man who attacks his own president during a difficult time without any thought as to how it will be perceived. He only wants to win and gain an advantage, and he will do anything, not matter how harmful, to do that. I really, really, don’t like the guy.
By: Terri in NY on September 13, 2012
at 9:31 AM
gato-
Yes, contemplating the absurd is fun
And you are correct it is a limited notion of personhood.
But, now, one which creates many, many, many problems.
I don’t think most people even here in Alaska , let alone Outside, know how thoroughly bounded the lives of Alaska Natives are by ” corporateness” post ANCSA
( Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act 1971) with Regional Corps, Village Corps, CDQs, etc. Corporate culture has created unique difficulties with the human culture.
I wish Donna who visits here on and off would weigh in on the corporate- personhood dealie.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Clara_County_v._Southern_Pacific_Railroad
Is it just me or is it ironic that the 14th amendment some like to rail against for protections for immigrants, et al, is the basis for corporate person-ness?
By: alaskapi on September 13, 2012
at 9:11 AM
HI, Bo – Let’s hope you’re right, and – so far – things look promising.
The statement someone made this morning in the “news” about there being “differing opinions about the timing of the Embassy statement” is absolute crap. That’s like saying there’s a “difference of opinion” about whether morning comes before, or after, afternoon…
If I were sitting in an Embassy in a foreign country, with minimal security – or even with tons of security – surrounded by hordes of enraged religious fundamentalists, you can bet your booty the first thing I would do would be to issue what I hoped might be a calming statement – a statement indicating some understanding of their concerns.
Romney – and his handlers – are apparently incapable of understanding that expressing empathy for someone else’s concerns is not an “apology” for one’s own beliefs or values. Or, more likely, they know the difference full well – and choose, anyway, to take a knee-jerk position they hope will gain him some political points. Disgusting… And incredibly dangerous.
I agree: Not fit. Period.
Gato
By: gatodicima on September 13, 2012
at 8:41 AM
Hi, PI – BRILLIANT! Even my husband (Republican/former businessman/consultant) laughed out loud when I read it to him. And, yes, the more we think about the idea, the more absurd we see it is.
I believe the SCOTUS opinion was something along the lines of considering a corporation a “person” ONLY as far as “free speech” and contractual obligations are concerned… Which should make it equally possible for me to consider myself a “corporation” ONLY when it comes to my filling out my income tax returns or signing a contract…
What’s fair is fair, right?
Gato
By: gatodicima on September 13, 2012
at 8:21 AM
The MittWit is defending his “political suicide” today by claiming that the White House’s own actions prove that he was right in the first place! This empty suit is getting all tangled up in his magic underwear. The most pathetic thing of all is that he still doesn’t understand why everyone is either criticizing him and no one (other than the right-wing radio rant-jockeys) is coming to his defense.
This smirkingly smugtastic and smarmtacular candidate was too intent upon counting political coup rather than to first fulfill his responsibility as a U.S. citizen — that is, to express sympathy for those who lost their lives and support the country. Mr. Romney, you should have listened to President Obama’s acceptance speech . . . you see, it’s about citizenship.
I, for one, do not and will not vote for a candidate like The MittWit who is not willing or able to fulfill his citizenship obligations. He is unfit to be president. Period. Unqualified. Impetuous. Cynical.
I sincerely hope that Willard will triple down and quadruple down on his campaign-killing comments. It will drive him so deep in the weeds that his running mate will have to go rogue ala Palin in order to keep the ticket on the radar. And that will virtually assure President Obama’s re-election.
By: Bo on September 13, 2012
at 8:20 AM
UAW-
Sometimes it IS too early…
Before full information is available is too early.
Add in conflating tweets from a scared staffer in Egypt with Presidential policy and you have, at best, a rather untidy and unsatisfactory response from Mr Romney who wants to represent our values.At worst, you have a cynical play on the old, old game about Dems being too soft to manage to defend the country- going back to at least the Nixon/McGovern election
Mr Bush managed a considerably better response on 9.11
http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2012/09/three-quick-points-on-the-libya-killings/262263/
By: alaskapi on September 13, 2012
at 7:54 AM
Take the statement you so delicately carved out of the context and add back in the who, what, when, where and why.
Consider what it was in response to – a statement made to diffuse a tense situation caused by American asshats (Terry Jones, for example), BEFORE the murders.
Consider who it was criticizing – the President, for something said by an embassy to diffuse a tense situation caused by American asshats (Terry Jones, for example), BEFORE the murders.
Consider when it was said – during a time of national crisis, during a time when diplomacy is required, during a time when people were mourning.
Consider where it was said – from the cushy vantage point of a campaign trail.
Consider that the “American values” Romney was defending were the sentiments of the slimy movie producer and Terry Jones and people like him.
Consider that it’s important to keep our ambassadors and workers over there safe by not inflaming a situation.
Consider that a Presidential contender ought to know better than to attack the President while the crisis is still going on just to score cheap political points. (Huge fail!)
Yeah, all that, AND the smirk.
By: delurkergurl on September 13, 2012
at 7:26 AM
What was worse than Romney’s ill timed response to the murder of our ambassador and his staff? That damn smirk! After 8 years of smirkiness I have more than had it with that Republican hallmark! Why havn’t his over priced political staffers warned him about this? Oh, right! They’re the ones who blessed the American public with “etcha sketch”! And “retroactive retirement.” Yeeeesh!
By: mageen in old virginny on September 13, 2012
at 5:54 AM
so what’s wrong with….
“It’s never too early for the United States government to condemn attacks on Americans and to defend our values,”
By: uawtradesman on September 13, 2012
at 5:35 AM
IF G.W.Bush was the CEO president…
…then Mittens is the Citizen’s United Candidate!
PEACE ~ Δ
By: Whirled Peas Δ on September 12, 2012
at 10:12 PM
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/middleeast/la-na-libya-campaign-20120913,0,1662505.story
Mr Romney is using information out of context on purpose to supposedly make a point about values and sovereignty.
That is not small and clueless.
That is cold blooded mercenary horsepunky.
Haven’t tracked down the anti-Muslim youtube yet but am thinking Mr Romney might come to regret using it to shoot his mouth off with :”a terrible course to — for America to stand in apology for our values.”
what value(s) is he yapping about?
Religious intolerance?
Cultural intolerance?
We really want to be un-apologetic about those kinds of things? Pffft
By: alaskapi on September 12, 2012
at 10:09 PM
Thanks for the link pi. I did not believe it for a minute thatwhat Mitt was spouting was real truth. If there is anything I know, it is that Mitt is an opportunist. He should be ashamed of himself for trying to exploit this tragedy. Yes, I see the contrast between Mitt and the President. It is not to Mitt’s advantage. He sounded small and clueless.
By: Easier on September 12, 2012
at 9:51 PM
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504564_162-57511823-504564/romneys-libya-gibes-aimed-to-show-contrasts-with-obama/
read through this Easier. it is strategy not real truth.
By: alaskapi on September 12, 2012
at 9:39 PM
gato-
you forgot:
1-under law polygamy is banned so no endless mergers and such
2-articles of incorporation will be deemed a birth certificate and death certificates (dissolution of incorporation) will be issued at normal life expectancy of real breathing humans. assets will go into probate and follow all those laws. should the corporation die intestate, strict rules will be followed for disbursement of assets to closest relatives .whether such process takes years is of no consequence.
3-corporations may only deduct such items on income taxes as you and I might and mortgage deductions are limited to principal residences- none of those dang summer cottages, factories, or that kind of sneaky stuff.
4- deadbeat-parent laws may be fully enforced against corporations who do not meet their obligations to employees -esp if it is found the corp gambled away their $ that was for food on the table for the folks who rely on them .
I can think of a number more.
Corporations are a legal fiction, one which faultily has equality under law with flesh, blood, and bone humans. Fun to tease about though.
PBCliberal-
UAW-
I agree. Pretty irritated that Gramm, et al have been able to skate on the G-L-B Act .
Not so astonished at the continued yap about deregulation though. Disagree with it but not astonished. Search Paul Treanor and neoliberalism.
(Treanor is pretty testy on the subject but a pretty good read )
The utopian belief that unregulated markets will self correct is under it all. Ignoring the recent meltdown and/or blaming it on poor people seems to be the rationale for continuing the foolishness.
Congress is the messiest arm of our 3 armed government, isn’t it? Sure has been for quite awhile now anyway…
By: alaskapi on September 12, 2012
at 9:32 PM
I listened to President Obama’s remarks about the protests in Lybia with the resulting violence killing 4 people including the ambassador. I heard nothing about him supporting the mob. Where did Mitt get that President Obama is supporting the protesters? Did somebody hear the President offer such support? It would be so unlike this President. Does somebody have a link to the president’s remarks supporting Mitt’s assertion?
By: Easier on September 12, 2012
at 9:10 PM