tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post6275480893589542089..comments2024-03-17T08:27:53.658-05:00Comments on Stonekettle Station: The Unsinkable Mitt RomneyJim Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11259550121437562338noreply@blogger.comBlogger147125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-83504226640383874892012-08-27T21:39:44.814-05:002012-08-27T21:39:44.814-05:00The main reason that many people seem to like Mitt...The main reason that many people seem to like Mitt Romney has nothing to do with his qualities as a person or what he would do as POTUS if elected. <br />It is because He Is Not Barack Obama. <br />Remember Mitch McConnell's statement "our strategy is to make Barack Obama a one-term President"? That encapsulated the entire attitude of the GOP and many of their followers. A treestump could be nominated by the Republicans for President and they would vote for it, because That Damned TreeStump Is Not Obama. <br />The whole GOP proposition is nihilism writ large. <br />Grahamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03381732937562781174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-16804661115056600352012-08-27T21:37:04.324-05:002012-08-27T21:37:04.324-05:00You did leave out the most compelling qualificatio...You did leave out the most compelling qualification that Mitt Romney possesses in this election cycle. <br />He is not Barack Obama. <br />Based on some of the arguments that I have heard and read from people on the internet (including some of my Facebook friends), the only thing that matters this electoral cycle is Getting Rid Of Obama. That being the case, the GOP could nominate a dead treestump for President and those people will vote for it. I suspect that a lot of Romney supporters are not exactly enthused by him, but right now, the only thing that matters is that He Is Not Obama. (They wouldn't admit that anyway if you challenged them on it). <br />Grahamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03381732937562781174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-40802028816597396032012-08-27T21:36:47.054-05:002012-08-27T21:36:47.054-05:00You did leave out the most compelling qualificatio...You did leave out the most compelling qualification that Mitt Romney possesses in this election cycle. <br />He is not Barack Obama. <br />Based on some of the arguments that I have heard and read from people on the internet (including some of my Facebook friends), the only thing that matters this electoral cycle is Getting Rid Of Obama. That being the case, the GOP could nominate a dead treestump for President and those people will vote for it. I suspect that a lot of Romney supporters are not exactly enthused by him, but right now, the only thing that matters is that He Is Not Obama. (They wouldn't admit that anyway if you challenged them on it). <br />Grahamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03381732937562781174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-3013463306195274902012-08-23T15:49:58.627-05:002012-08-23T15:49:58.627-05:00@Jim Wright, I know you are already married, but t...@Jim Wright, I know you are already married, but this post has made me fall in love with you. You are one of the most prolific writers I have read in a long time. Your unique perspective and comments are AMAZING! Thank you for serving the American people twice, once in the military and again with this blog. You sir have my utmost respect and appreciation. Thank you again. :-)Sandy Stauffacherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07464867879524507972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-40955552247504526972012-08-20T14:46:30.393-05:002012-08-20T14:46:30.393-05:00Excellent post Jim! I admire your ability to artic...Excellent post Jim! I admire your ability to articulate your ideas in a way that is both poignant and humorous; I only wish I had your level of skill. I agree with the point that Kenneth Head made, “…utterly-dependent upon a voter base that is unschooled in even the most fundamental principles of basic economics.” I see that as the greatest threat, the fact that people are willing to watch the “news” and take whatever they say at face value without questioning the source and the inadvertent or intentional slant with which they report. I’m skeptical by nature and “take it on faith” is not something that I do well. Ok, really, it’s worse than that, I’m horrible at it. On the other hand, it appears that a large percentage of my fellow countrymen have no issues with it at all. Dana Teelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02686989075671803137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-67717913449368254982012-08-19T13:51:45.477-05:002012-08-19T13:51:45.477-05:00Could I point out that Michele bat sh-t crazy hold...Could I point out that Michele bat sh-t crazy holds dual citizen ship, and nobody seems to think that disqualifies her. And she did it as an adult, not as a child.Warnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16588657943011198242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-19763642376034976712012-08-19T10:45:50.536-05:002012-08-19T10:45:50.536-05:00The full metal wingnuts go for "Barry Soetoro...The full metal wingnuts go for "Barry Soetoro", not only for the sneering putdown of using a child's diminutive but to flog their fevered claim that (a) he was legally adopted by his mother's second husband while in Indonesia, which (b) thereby made him an Indonesian citizen and thus (c) even more ineligible to be president than the whole Kenyan birth thingie.Never Ben Betterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17814767173601107270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-70636035091862129142012-08-18T19:46:44.693-05:002012-08-18T19:46:44.693-05:00I thought the Barry thing was because he went by t...I thought the Barry thing was because he went by that at one point many years ago, and insisting on using it now was some kind of attempt at diminishment, since it is basically using a childhood diminuative that he long since left behind. I didn't realize it was *gasp* part of the Birther Mythology. Learn something every day. Much of it depressing.<br /><br />Re derogatory names for political figures: at a political discussion board I run we long ago decided to forbid the twisting of names (of anybody, not just political figures) since it usually served to refocus the discussion on namecalling. But I have to admit, I had a hard time lowering the boom on "Chimpy McFlightsuit." It was just so...perfect. :):):)<br /><br />RosemaryFCnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-67033362028979642722012-08-18T10:08:21.647-05:002012-08-18T10:08:21.647-05:00I think Romney is not incredibly smart or incredib...I think Romney is not incredibly smart or incredibly stupid, but rather, as you suggest, took a chance because he must. Beating an incumbent isn't an easy game to play. John Mystehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16263634313238599515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-22609328235493846252012-08-16T16:43:47.577-05:002012-08-16T16:43:47.577-05:00i just want to tell you how much i admire you for ...i just want to tell you how much i admire you for being able to rip these people and their effed up ideas to shreds so beautifully. i get so enraged i feel like my head will explode and anything i utter comes out completely inarticulate. plus, you have a certain street cred on account of actually having served in the military, which doesn't hurt.<br /><br />and having majored in economics in college, i <3 your description of trickle-down economics so hard it hurts.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-8811382759893225352012-08-16T04:11:07.681-05:002012-08-16T04:11:07.681-05:00Exactly. I've been saying for years that it&#...Exactly. I've been saying for years that it's not "Supply and Demand", it's "Demand and Supply". As more people "demand" a certain product or service, more business people will have to "supply" more of the product or service, which obviously means they have to hire more workers, who now can buy more, which means more hiring. (sigh) It's really rather simple when you think about it. IllanoyGalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05460713691700156707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-40233019424310186212012-08-16T00:13:52.022-05:002012-08-16T00:13:52.022-05:00While your description of trickle-down economics i...While your description of trickle-down economics is apt, the sad reality is that it's a doctrine utterly-dependent upon a voter base that is unschooled in even the most fundamental principles of basic economics. Little wonder that the perennial darling child of Republican budget cuts is education. <br /><br />Supply-side is an economic 'theory' that would have people believe the only reason buggy whip manufacturers aren't hiring more people is because the poor factory owner is taxed into some weird hiring stasis. No. The reason why more Americans aren't industriously churning out buggy whips is because some inglorious bastard named Henry Ford went & introduced the abomination known as the automobile to the masses. You can't sell buggy whips anymore. <br /><br />HP wasn't started by two guys trying to decide what to do with the millions of dollars they had just lying around; it was started by two nearly-broke guys in their garage because they were certain the market was ready to buy the product they were seeking to produce. That is the reason for the existence of every business, company or corporation in the entire history of mankind. You want to see your lawn care guy hire more people? Don't give him a tax break, give him fifteen more customers. He'll get around to hiring after he gets tired of working 20-hour days. <br /><br />Jobs are the result of market demand for the products & services the new employees are to produce. Shifting tax burden from a handful of rich people onto millions of middle-and-working-class (read: the people who comprise the market for goods & services) will do nothing to increase demand for goods. It will result in lower demand and more layoffs. Kenneth Headhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00059569430098216658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-32605843888219099002012-08-15T18:47:39.958-05:002012-08-15T18:47:39.958-05:00I admire your salty and aptly descriptive lingo, J...I admire your salty and aptly descriptive lingo, Jim. Hey, I even learn a few new spicy terms I didn't pick up in Navy days to describe the GOPs daring duo w/ their putrid social agenda.. Yes the ship of state has these starched Titanic plutocrats who shout on the old 1MC: " CEOs and CFOs to the life boats and bring your Remy Martin."Just wish Joe Biden could get away with a few quips like,let's see, 'hairy donkey balls." Love it. Might wake up some of the dozing off non voters sitting around scratching their groins and wondering, shuckeedarns, just who IS this Romney dude, and what is his grand plan to er " bring back all those overseas jobs." <br />Horsehockey and horsepuck have been the theme for so long, I am wondering what parallel universe stable we live in. So. Keep up with the spicy verbal spitballs,we need them and your sound analysis now as never before. AlohaHawaiigentnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-55617012090852924762012-08-15T13:40:18.354-05:002012-08-15T13:40:18.354-05:00Don't forget the hard work he did saving up So...Don't forget the hard work he did saving up Social Security survivor benefits after his father died, which is how Ryan got through college. My family used the SocSec money after my father died to put food on the table and not lose our house. I guess we squandered it, so according to Ryan, other people shouldn't get it in the future. But I forgot, he's a self-made career politician. Jerry A.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01835584492326180042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-5318860518533456182012-08-15T13:33:28.096-05:002012-08-15T13:33:28.096-05:00Jim,
The same argument can be made for not cuttin...Jim, <br />The same argument can be made for not cutting (most) public sector worker's benefits. I'm not talking about the rare but egregious cases of managers making high 6-figures or making more in retirement than while working. I'm talking about the abuse being heaped upon local workers like teachers, police, and firefighters for negotiating good benefits in exchange for lower salaries and lousy or dangerous working conditions. (The same can be said for federal government workers.) They're being called greedy or lazy when the reality is their unions signed contracts similar to what most workers used to have before private industry killed pensions, killed vacations, killed health insurance, killed the retirement plans that replaced pensions, blocked minimum wage increases for a decade and then demonized unions and anyone who demanded a decent life in exchange for a lifetime of work, all so a tiny minority of the population could keep all of the profits produced by everyone else. Minimum wage working poverty with no job benefits a la Walmart is the new normal, only if you're an idiot with no memory of anything better. The mouth-foaming "job-killing feminazi commie-socialism" idjits calling to eliminate VA benefits are the same GOP/Tea Party/Libertarian/Ayn Randian crowd. They have fallen for the big lies about tax cuts for 'job creators', when most of the millionaires who would benefit have either inherited their money or made it through gaming stock options at glorified temporary management jobs. 97% of small businesses make under $250k, not millions. Sorry, I'm going off on a rant here, but the vast majority of these people objecting to the VA and fair wages and benefits have never seen a million dollars in their lives. The way they vote, they are guaranteeing they never will, but protecting the Paris Hiltons of the world while cutting their own throats. Signing off now, before I get really pissed off (not at you, Jim). regards, Jerry<br />p.s. The Right Wing Assh- I mean Authoritarians and their politicians are already calling for eliminating VA benefits. They're just doing it in stealth mode, because it wouldn't look good for their chickensh- hawk wrapped in a flag carrying a cross image to be honest about it. Ryan's budget protects the active military (bases, weapons & contractors, anyway) but everything else has to go to hit his fantasy number targets. Where do the "savings" go? Not deficit reduction, but tax cuts at the top. -JAJerry A.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01835584492326180042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-69616445310130567312012-08-15T12:39:17.839-05:002012-08-15T12:39:17.839-05:00Anonymous,
Give us a specific example of how Mr. ...Anonymous,<br /><br />Give us a specific example of how Mr. Obama is socialist or communist. Also, just so you know, socialism and communism mean different things. Also, it's moronic, like the entire tea bagger movement is.LCShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06230899522753297278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-80708262188272989752012-08-15T11:31:50.154-05:002012-08-15T11:31:50.154-05:00Ah, you mean the family road construction business...Ah, you mean the family road construction business built on government contracts? That one? <br /><br />Ryan worked for Ryan Inc. for a very brief period, less than a year, in 1997 as a "marketing consultant" while he was between government gigs - and for <i>most</i> of that period he was running for congress. Ryan left employment with Senator Sam Brownback's Office in 1997 and was elected to Congress in 1998. <br /><br />His family company gave him a paycheck, but he didn't really do much to earn it other than fill out the appropriate tax forms and printout campaign posters. <br /><br /><br />Jim Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11259550121437562338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-89128407158786760762012-08-15T10:14:44.762-05:002012-08-15T10:14:44.762-05:00Actually Ryan worked for his family's construc...Actually Ryan worked for his family's construction business for a number of years after college.ParatrooperJJnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-59380820277619717222012-08-15T09:29:22.339-05:002012-08-15T09:29:22.339-05:00Thain. Urf. Thanks. It's fixed.Thain. Urf. Thanks. It's fixed.Jim Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11259550121437562338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-10697835090580953802012-08-15T09:02:47.758-05:002012-08-15T09:02:47.758-05:00That pisses me off to no end. The Weinermobile is...That pisses me off to no end. The Weinermobile is my dream car.OtterQueennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-90989552973867063812012-08-15T05:54:57.010-05:002012-08-15T05:54:57.010-05:00John Thain's name is misspelled. As long as I&...John Thain's name is misspelled. As long as I'm commenting at all, I'll just say that I have only just found your site very recently, and like it very much. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-27025556978767261252012-08-15T00:33:11.346-05:002012-08-15T00:33:11.346-05:00Put. Za. Candle. BACK!Put. Za. Candle. BACK!Jim Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11259550121437562338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-47521305115756306222012-08-15T00:30:42.796-05:002012-08-15T00:30:42.796-05:00You people are sick! Funny as hell, but sick. Mel ...You people are sick! Funny as hell, but sick. Mel Brooks RULES (but only as Jim's Second in Command).<br /><br />Sedagives? SEDAGIVES?!?<br />South Jersey Docnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-17881765105413147252012-08-15T00:16:53.946-05:002012-08-15T00:16:53.946-05:00This site was referenced in another blog that I li...This site was referenced in another blog that I like to frequent, and I'm glad it was, I just wished it was introduced to me sooner, you're a riot, and I mean that in a good way.<br />To get on topic, Rubio could never have been seriously vetted for VP. To nominate him would have deflated one of the Teapubs most famous arguments for Obama's ineligibility for office, his father's citizenship. If Obama is ineligible because his father wasn't a natural born citizen, than Rubio sure as hell isn't, neither of his parents were. <br />What I find funny, is not one Republican, that I can recall, please correct me if I'm wrong (have a funny feeling I will be..lol) jumped up and banged that drum, while all the rumors were swirling about Romney's VP candidates. Where oh where were all the birthers then?<br />I'm not sure what the Republicans are hoping to gain this election, but I don't think it's the Presidency, not with this lot, not with this platform. <br />It's also refreshing to hear a service man acknowledging the fact that we need to cut military spending. When did it become our job to rebuild nations? And why is that money being funneled through the DOD and the Army? If we choose to give aid to these countries, after we, rightly or wrongly, bombed the hell out of them, let that money be approved through Congress like the rest of it. <br />I concur, let them start making cuts to their pet projects, then I will take them seriously and start contemplating letting them regulate my reproductive rights, after all, my womb has the capacity to create a lot of jobs and balance the national deficit...lolAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-69103648595330363552012-08-15T00:01:27.386-05:002012-08-15T00:01:27.386-05:00It's all part of a set piece, Anonymous@8:46.
...It's all part of a set piece, Anonymous@8:46.<br /><br />Just as Tea Party Patriot uses "Barry" to dismiss and diminish the president's legitimacy, he uses "patriot" in reference to himself to diminish <i>my</i> patriotism and service to country. When these people call themselves Patriots, they're implying directly that I, and you, are not. <br /><br />Patriot's statement, "We are hard working Americans who are seeing our Constitution trashed everyday, and you served to protect and preserve it? <i>I ?? that</i>" (emphasis mine) is unnecessary, his or her labeling of himself as a "Patriot" <i>already</i> implies the question about my fidelity to my oath. But then Barack (Barry) is also redundant, this seems to be a habit with Tea Party Patriots in general. <br /><br />It's the Bush doctrine, the philosophy of Ayn Rand - i.e. you're either with us or against us. There is no middle ground, if you're not my friend, you're my enemy and by extension not a real American. Therefor you cannot be trusted. You are <i>other</i>.Jim Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11259550121437562338noreply@blogger.com