This post is from Robert Reich's FB page and it expresses my own sentiments eloquently.
"This is going to be a squeaker of an election. Polls are showing Obama and Romney within a hair's breath of one another in the critical swing states that will determine the outcome. How can that be when Romney is an empty suit who believes nothing, hasn't articulated any program, and has (along with his running mate) called for more tax cuts for the wealthy, more spending cuts for the poor, and an evisceration of Medicare and Medicaid? When they want to deregulate Wall Street and regulate women?"
"The answer is the jobs situation. Yes, Franklin D. Roosevelt was reelected in 1936 with higher unemployment than we have now. But at least he had the wind at his back: an economy that by 1936 was growing by 14 percent. Barack Obama doesn't have an economy that's moving that swiftly in the right direction. It's growing just 2.2 percent, on an annualized basis."
"So the real contest is between someone who very few Americans know or even like -- Mitt Romney -- who doesn't stand for anything, or someone most Americans feel they know quite well and like very much -- Barack Obama -- who is presiding over a terrible economy that shows few signs of fundamental improvement."
My betting is on Obama, but, frankly, I'm worried.
Comments
Pay our way
few GOP lies.
1. Rich pay almost all ther taxes--In fed-state-local-- 1% pay 29% and middle class pay 28% of Total Income
2.Tax Rates are too high
In 2009, only Chile and Mexico took a larger percent of GDP in taxes
Corp paid 12.1% Tax rate in 2011--Second lowest in oecd
3.Tax Cuts Boost the Economy
Reagan and Bush tax cuts did not do it
4.Eliminate tax breaks for rich would not significantly reduce the deficit
1387B gained easily by few changes--cover projected 900B deficit for 2013 and pay off some debt
5.Financial Transaction tax would hurt the economy.
UK had one for decades no problem
...
Small tax on $500,000 Billion.
GOP all for RICH=100%=all the time-big liars
Middel class drop dead
See More
clarence swinney
Just a little support for your inclination to bet on Obama
I found a story on 538 about the President's post convention bounce and its implications for the election.
But then Han Solo's words from Star Wars pop into my head ... "Don't get cocky..."
I actively oppose gerrymandering. Do you?
One of the reasons I still worry about Nov. 6 election
http://www.aclu.org/facts-about-voter-suppression-infographic
Follow the link above to the ACLU's excellent graphs explaining how the wave of voter suppression is spreading across the country.
As the ACLU says:
SPREAD THE WORD: LET PEOPLE VOTE.
Note these graphs from the ACLU don't appear to address what can happen at the county level, as is the case locally. in Wake County the GOP controlled Board of Commissioners simply reduced funding forcing cutbacks in support for the local Board of Elections.
How many other counties in NC have done the same thing to reduce accesibility to the polls through Early Voting?
Martha Brock
Party of job destruction
BUT ONLY WITH REPUBLICAN COOPERATION
ISAIAH J. POOLE WITH OUR FUTURE.ORG
“ President Obama could rightly claim that if he had been
able to sign into law a jobs plan along the lines of what the
House Progressive Caucus has proposed for the past two years
we would likely see two million more people employed today.”
President Obama sent to Congress the American Jobs Act, estimated by experts to create 1.3 Million jobs in 2012 and 800,000 in 2013. The bill was filibustered by a united Republican minority in the Senate; none (not even one) would cast one of the 60 votes needed to allow the legislation to go forward to full debate and an up-or-down vote. House Republicans kept a companion bill from even reaching the floor in that body.
Great jobs creation could have occurred from job proposals in the Caucus “People's Budget” in 2011 and “Budget For All” in 2012. VP Candidate Paul Ryan was a key in opposition to those bills.
These facts should be known by the voters before they vote. Democrats fail if they do not use these horrid facts to reveal the “true” character of Republicans in today's Congress.
The do not deserve re-election.
clarence swinnney
clarence swinney
Republicans are lost in darkness of greed
America’s moral compass is no more. Psychopath Republicans no longer fake their disdain for the poor and middle class taxpayers. Over the past decade they have launched a war against these people unprecedented in American history.
Secondly, Republicans absolutely hate the President of the United States and use the vilest racial rhetoric in an attempt to remove this man from Office, all at the demise of economic stability for tens of millions of American families. Republicans hate black people, immigrants, Muslims, labor unions, women and gays, but they ‘say’ they are not racist, they say they are not ‘bigots’.
Thirdly, they say they are for ‘small government’ but massively expand Federal and State government to take control of women’s bodies, bust unions, remove democratically elected officials and seize control of municipalities. They use their government positions to take away health care from children and working families as they support huge profits for health insurance companies. They take away food from the poorest among us leaving 25% of hungry children in the U.S. struggling in what many call ‘the richest country in the world’.
They fight for MORE tax cuts for America’s wealthiest selling their deceptive theology that rich people are job creators, yet for more than a decade the rich have created few jobs, opting instead to pocket their accumulated greed. The rich pay little in taxes as their tax rates are the lowest in decades and Republicans continue to give them many options to avoid supporting the US Treasury with slick tax breaks, so much so that many of America’s wealthiest corporations pay no taxes such as Exxon-Mobile and GE. They are so slick that Americans actually give tens of millions in tax dollars back to these corrupted corporations who now own America.
How it is the Republicans ‘civil war’ is successful? Republicans such as Mitt Romney, Mitch McConnell, John Boehner, Eric Cantor and Paul Ryan have a divide and conquer strategy that pits Wall Street against Main Street, billionaires against working people, ignorant racist and bigoted people against the rest of us in a meaningless battle of wedge issues and the already proven-to-fail of the George W. Bush agenda of tax cuts for the rich, deregulation, privatization and war profiteering and nothing else. This is the exact same draconian agenda Mitt Romney is pushing. Rather than tell the truth, Republicans play the blame game. They blame unions, firefighters, teachers, police officers, Planned Parenthood, ACORN, gay marriage, the bad ole U.S. Government, anybody and everyone else for their own failings. Republican would rather pay ZERO taxes than see a new born baby, the poor or senior citizens get access to quality health care; they “cheer” when health care for young people with preventable diseases is denied, and they “boo” the First Lady’s plan to cut back on childhood obesity.
Americans elect members of Congress to lead this country, not appease Wall Street and rich Corporations, but through our history it is rare for Congress to make the right decisions for the majority of citizens. All of the victories of civil rights whether it be mixed marriages, voting rights for women and black Americans, integration, etc. only came about because the people forced Congress and the Courts into action.
Republicans like the Constitution when it can be used to endorse the way they want to govern, but they ignore it when it supports Americans’ rights they oppose, such as in the 14th amendment, which states “No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States.”
It is more than obvious Republicans care more about themselves and the top 1%, than they care about our country. The Republican Party does not give a damn about the 99%. Republicans want complete control over America, like they did in the 1920’s when drove the U.S. into bankruptcy. Republicans are taking our government away from the taxpayers and selling it to the highest bidder and are supported by the activist Republican dominated Roberts Supreme Court. Republicans for more than a decade have created no jobs, they have consistently opposed job creation by President Obama, yet they continue to support the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in shipping American jobs overseas and giving corporations massive tax credits who do.
There has scarcely been a U.S. Family that has not been adversely affected by the obstructionist GOP and their Wall Street cronies; the young and old continue to be taken to the cleaners by being forced to pay taxes to the rich, as Republicans launch a war to take away the financial and health care safety nets for U.S. citizens.
Make no mistake, Republicans have launched a civil war against the people, all hardworking Americans and their agenda of tyranny and terror threatens to destroy every wage earner, every senior and every child in America, all for profit, greed and control.
This Republican Civil War must be fought by every citizen in the ballot box, in every election; to root out those subversives who stand in the way of progress, health care and financial security. For those who love freedom, fairness and equal opportunity; voting out Republicans, who have launched this war, is imperative if American families are to survive this war. This is the people’s war, it is our war; we are the fighters; fight with all that is in us and save America for the taxpaying families who pay the bills.
clarence swinney
s&p
S&P 500--
CNBC.com compared S&P 500 gains under late presidents for first 43 months in office
Obama—68%
Clinton—51%
Bush II---45%
Reagan—23%
Carter----20%
Bush I----17%
clarence swinney
Waste fraud abuse
MONOPOLY=WASTE-FRAUD-ABUSE
Here is an example in Government
Today 5 Big Banks hold 50% of all Bank Deposits in about 7000 banks
and 10 hold 80%.
It goes on in Insurance. Health Care Insurers. Food. Fuel. Housing.
Example, I had a $50,000 Life Insurance policy with one of largest insurance companies.
I got a notice in 2010 the policy would be canceled if I did not pay $15,000 as required in the act part. State insurance commissioner said it is fraud. He got it withdrawn after my policy had been canceled. Then, to reinstate, I had to pay $1600. Fraud. How many millions got this?
Medicare is ripped off big time by doctors, especially, and hospitals . Sleep test. Eight hours in bed, mask on face small monitor cost $5500. Three staffers work all night. If you need it at home Medicare pays. Dinner our of town. Wife blood pressure high. Two tests. Bed 9 hours-$6000.
Obamacare has already recovered $8 Billion from overcharges in Medicare. Petty change.
Here is part of a record in 1980s---Pentagon is filled with overcharges and bribery for contracts.
We need a very active Justice Department.
PRESIDENT REAGAN SCANDALS
INVESTIGATIONS OF IMPORTANT OFFICIALS
Attorney General—Cabinet--two OIC investigations-no charge
Asst. Attorney General—No Charge
Secretary of Defense—Cabinet—Pardoned
Asst. Sec. Of Defense—Guilty--to Prison
Secretary of Labor—Cabinet—Not Guilty
Secretary of Interior—Cabinet—Guilty—fined
National Security Agency--Director----Cabinet—Guilty
National Security Agency--Director----Cabinet—Guilty—Pardoned
National Security Agency—Director---Cabinet---Resigned
Asst. Secretary of Navy—--Guilty—Fined
Dep. Secretary of Air Force-Guilty—Fined
Director of CIA—Cabinet—Died during investigation
Asst. Director of CIA—Guilty—Fined
Director of HUD—Cabinet--Pled Fifth
Asst. Director of HUD—Guilty
Director of Superfund—Guilty—to Prison
Director of FAA—Guilty-Fined
Director of NASA-Guilty—Fined
Special Asst to President—Guilty
Communications Director for President—Guilty
EPA Administrator—Resigned
Asst. Secretary of State—Guilty
9 Cabinet Members—
REAGANGATES (32)
Illwind-gate
Superfund-gate
Hud
Wed-Tech
Interior
Labor
Oval Office
Lt Colonel
Iran-Contra
Basement
Faa
Nasa
Pentagon
Korea
S & L
Epa
Postal
Agriculture
Hhs
Home loan
Veterans
Fema
Legal Services
Civil Rights
Transportation
Product Safety
Economic Development
Synthetic Fuels
Social Security
Land Management
Osha
Cia
Sources—
Haynes Johnson book “Sleepwalking”
“When The Pentagon Was For Sale”—Andy Pasztor—(awesome list of criminals)
2 books titled “Scandals”
“The Clothes Lost The Emperor”-Paul Slansky (day by day chronology of 1980’s)
“Stealing From America”—
“Landslide”-Jane Mayer & Doyle McManus
Nathan Miller book states 233 were investigated
Haynes Johnson states 138 were --charged--indicted--found guilty -- investigated
clarence swinney
Bad gone very bad
America’s moral compass is no more. Psychopath Republicans no longer fake their disdain for the poor and middle class taxpayers. Over the past decade they have launched a war against these people unprecedented in American history. Secondly, Republicans absolutely hate the President of the United States and use the vilest racial rhetoric in an attempt to remove this man from Office, all at the demise of economic stability for tens of millions of American families. Republicans hate black people, immigrants, Muslims, labor unions, women and gays, but they ‘say’ they are not racist, they say they are not ‘bigots’. Thirdly, they say they are for ‘small government’ but massively expand Federal and State government to take control of women’s bodies, bust unions, remove democratically elected officials..
clarence swinney
good news
Between Aug. 26-28 and Sept. 5-7, the Gallup economic confidence index rose by 17 points -- from -33 to -16 -- a remarkable jump in just over a week.
It's the highest level of economic confidence in the Gallup tracker since earlier this year when jobs were growing more quickly.
The measure could be an outlier as there's little other evidence to suggest a spike in economic confidence. But if it's accurate, changing views on the economy could have a major impact on the election.
clarence swinney
good bad
GOOD OLD DAYS CLINTON 8
BAD OLD DAYS 3 REPUBLICAN 1980-2009
took 600B budget to 3500B
took 1000B debt to 10,000B
took surplus to 1400B Deficit
took Carter 218,000 jobs per month to 99,000
took us into 10 foreign conflicts
took us into recession in all or part of 7 of 20 years
took us into Great Recession
took us into Smashing s&l—housing industry—banking industry-
took us into third lowest taxed in oecd via debt
clarence swinney
why
would anyone but rich vote a R in washington????
clarence swinney
Plutocracy
MIDDLE CLASS BROKE BROKE
Burdened with record debt
Wages not keeping up with costs
OWNED by Top 10%--who own 73% Net Wealth—83% Financial Wealth-Take 50% Individual Income
We must get Spending down but just as important get Revenues up to eliminate deficits and start paying down Debt.
It will take real Leadership to do it. Obama cannot do it with a Republican House or Filibustering
Senate.
Obama American Jobs Program was killed by Republicans for no other reason than not let Obama have any success. It was a disgrace. When will these people start Putting People First.
We must go back taxing wealth. We did it 1945-1980 to pay off WWII Debt. We can do it again
to pay off Reagan + Bush II created Debt.
The goal must be fair and more economically just and equitable for all the people.
It will never get done as long as Wealth controls our Congress
TAKE BACK OUR GOVERNMENT
clarence swinney
You know, I like and agree with almost all of what you
post, but it would be nice if you could start your own threads.
I actively oppose gerrymandering. Do you?
US NET WEALTH-$59,000
US NET WEALTH-$59,000 Billion
5% CONTROL –74%
Stocks & Mutual Funds—1% own 50%--90% own 10%
Financial Securities—1% own 60%--90% own 2%
Trusts—1% own 38%--90% own 20%
Business Equity—1% own 65%--90% own 5%
Non-Home Real Estate—1% own 28%--90% own 23%
Derivatives—5 US Banks hold $250,000 Billion of $600,000 B world wide
Is this a crazy financial system or what? Rich Gamblers Heaven.
Problem each winner has a loser.
clarence swinney
I second persondem's request
While the numbers you post are interesting, without discussion on a topic, it's just annoying. Please consider starting a thread instead of dropping unrelated content any old place. Thanks.
liars
LIARS LIARS
Continental Resources CEO and Romney adviser testified in Congress to preserve the oil industry billions in tax breaks. He said “Continental's effective tax rate is 38%”
Continental paid 2.2% tax rate over five years. It has paid as low s 0.1% in the the past 5 years.
Over those 5 years it had pretax profits of $1.872 Billion and paid $40 million in taxes.
The two most profitable oil companies pay less taxes than the average American.
Thinkprogress.org 9-12
How low will they get for the almighty $$$$$$$$?
Romney will repeal Obamacare?
Congress will say what?
clarence swinney