Watch "Fareed Zakaria GPS" Sundays at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. ET on CNN.
By Fareed Zakaria
Sometimes the conventional wisdom is right. Minutes after the Denver presidential debate, the pundits declared Mitt Romney the clear winner. And he was. He seemed engaged, forceful and punchy. President Obama seemed passive, detached and glum.
But what's more significant than how Romney said things was what he said.
Romney repeatedly insisted that he was not advocating a big tax cut. In fact, he declared unequivocally that he would not cut taxes at all if they added to the deficit at all. Now, as the Washington Post's Glenn Kessler points out in his fact checking column, for two years Romney has been campaigning on a tax cut that that would cost around $5 trillion over 10 years. Romney does claim that he would eliminate deductions and cut spending to pay for it but he hasn't given any details. Well, he offered one at the debate. He would cut funding for public broadcasting, which was 0.01% of federal spending in 2012. Medicare was 13%.
But, anyway that appears to be off the table. Romney is also in favor of regulations, including parts of the Dodd-Frank bill, and repeatedly held up as a model his health care plan in Massachusetts, which has at its center the individual mandate, and on which Obamacare is based.
Romney's transformation did not happen overnight. The candidate has been reworking his stump speech. In a very smart analysis, NPR pointed out that Romney now has a five-point stump speech. The first four points are actually identical to Barack Obama's stump speech: he argues for (1) Exports (2) Domestic energy (3) Retraining and (4) Deficit reduction. It's only on the 5th that they diverge. Romney talks about small businesses, Obama about national security.
I've long argued that Romney is an intelligent man trapped in a party that has forced him to embrace extreme and impossible positions. One of his advisers had predicted that once the Republican primaries were over, Romney would erase the image from the primaries and, like an Etch-a-Sketch, just draw a new one. Well, he appears to be doing just that. The Republican Party might hate Obama enough and be frustrated enough, to wink and let him do it.
If so, Obama faces something far more challenging than a good debater in the last weeks of the campaign. He faces a moderate Republican.
More:
- 5 reasons Obama fumbled
- Reality check: Romney's tax pledge
- What's next in the White House race?
- Face check: Pink slip for Big Bird?
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Ryan will gafffe and could loose this election for Romney. After all, many think that the tea party needs to loose big in this election for America to begin moving forward.
You may be right. With the country so divided it is impossible to really move forward.
So who decides who's going to be the next president of the United States? The Electoral College! Does this system really reflect the will of the voters?
If Fareed is right about Romney's qualities, perhaps the GOP candidate could run again in 4 years. Hopefully he would have learn the lessons and be better prepared next time.
Romney is the only one who has any experience in compromise and working to unite different groups. Obama truly has been divisive for this country contrary to his vision portrayed in 2008. The Health Care law is a vivid example as it was shoved through with no compromise. His supposed Health Care "Summit" was a joke for any who watched it. Simpson-Bowles ignored; grand deal with Boehner botched; etc., etc. Cannot blame this solely on Republicans JUST because they have been against raising tax RATES (not against finding ways to increase revenue).
Steve is correct, the health care summit was a joke as my state's Cantor continuously acted childishly not allowing any real discussion to happen. I think the real issue is that there is too big of a split on the goal. We can have compromise on how to reach a goal but not the goal or vision itself. I stand with the President in setting the goal of getting everybody good quality health care and coverage. Anything short of reaching that goal is a failure, and only options that achieve that goal should be considered. I certain there are better options out there for achieving this goal, but until somebody brings them forward the current system as passed is the best we have.
With people like Zakaria i can see why the tyrrant Obama might have other problems.
You're right @SteveR. Romney really has been willing to work with others across the party line, while Obama I think tried initially, but then has just been using recesses in Congress , or simply ignoring its laws and policies and promoting his own policies. This is why there's little willingness to cooperate with the current president.
This really is why a moderate Republican, as Zakaria points out, is truly a strong opponent to Obama, since Romney will likely be able to forge policies that both sides will be able to agree.
Biden will be ALOT more forceful, in a way the Obama couldn't be. (remember "angry black man") And Biden has been around for years. He will finally put lyin' Ryan in his place, and as someone else correctly posted, Ryan won't be able to move to the center, like Romney temporarily did, because everyone knows that Ryan is pretty close to a Tea Partier.
This president has created the most divided country ever. He has never attempted to "reach" the republicans and never thought about the "transparency" he well advertised during his 2008 campaign once January 2009 happened.
this is for all those that think this president has been divisive. I would like to see proof of this. I can show you many examples of Rethuglicans being divisive.
http://www.policymic.com/articles/11510/senate-republicans-block-another-jobs-bill-face-backlash-from-american-public
http://www.policymic.com/articles/9124/unemployment-is-high-by-republican-design-as-gop-sabotaged-obama-s-job-proposals
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/10/opinion/krugman-obstruct-and-exploit.html?_r=0
let me know if this resembles the POTUS being divisive
matter of fact name me another POTUS that's been carded to prove he's a U.S citizen. which party has a base that still thinks he's a Muslim? I'll give you a hint its the party not named Democrat
Most important position in the world and these 2 fools give us half truths just so they can get elected.Whats more amazing is that the US citizens buy into it ,what a bunch of fish.
j. von hettlingen
Your comment is why civics should not have been removed from public school education. The electoral college does reflect the will of the people......all of the people and not just the people of Fl, CA and NY.
The Electoral College does not reflect the will of all the people equally. Those in swing states (myself included) get a much larger share of the political power. Those who vote in CA, NY, and TX will not influence the race much, the first two will go for Obama, and the latter for Romney. In Virginia or Ohio your vote counts more. If you assume that votes in non-swing states effectively don't matter, you are left with 60 million potential voters deciding the fate of a nation of 300 million voters. If you want to represent all the people fairly, the college needs to go.
Biden knows exactly how to get Ryan to go negative in a debate. Going negative in debates is always bad in a general election.
You've obviously never seen Ryan speak at an event with a hostile audience – the guy is unflappable. You're basically just wishing Ryan screws up when he has a history of being exceptionally cool and controlled in events that aren't exactly receptive.
Are you kidding? Biden seems to be barely aware of his own existance!
JAL,
Biden and the word "knows" can never be used in the same sentence, LOL! He's lucky he "knows" his name!
Ryan will have Biden for lunch. This won't even be a contest. Biden will be blowing smoke, and trying to yuk up the audience. Ryan has a complete grasp of the numbers, and will make Biden lokk like something less than a buffoon. Many who watch may ask themselves, "Can we risk having this i di ot as President if something happens to Obama?"
Biden will expose Ryan for the Liar and warrior against the middle class that he is, Ryan cannot defend his SS and tax plans, unless he instantly converts to a liberal like Mitt did.
Yes, I know most discount Biden and already hand over victory to Ryan. But Ryan is a number man, a powerpoint guy. Obama played that game and lost. Biden may throw the right words to get Ryan go negetive, throw numbers no one understand. I think Biden has a good chance to win the debate if right things come out of his mouth.
Evidently you have never listened to Biden.....all that ever comes out of his mouth is negative and negative BS at that.
I've seen Ryan being challenged in town hall meetings, and he really does not handle it very well. He comes off as arrogant and dismissive, whcih may be a sign that deep down he knows that many of his positions lack depth and his broader approach to government is basically indefensible.
All Biden needs to do is say, "I defer my time to Mr. Ryan so he can explain the math he could not explain on Fox because he said it would take to long....so now Mr. Ryan you have 90 minutes to explain your math to the American people."
You are kidding about Biden knowing exactly hoe to do something other than gaffe?
What is Ryan going to talk about? Romney just pulled the rug out from under his Tea Party platform.
CATSh you are the first person I've seen say what I've been thinking. Romney has put Ryan up against the wall, blindfolded, with his hands tied behind his back. Romney is now for many of the things Ryan has been expressly against for seven terms in Congress. Romney's latest plan isn't much like Ryan's budget plan. Ryan will now be in the position of having to explain what Romney didn't, and defend things he's argued against for years. Biden just needs to ask the right questions. People underestimate Biden and it's going to come back to bite them.
After Biden's "For the last 4 years the Private sector has been dead in the water"......... he's a senile old joke; he's lost all credibility and he will stand like a rabbit in the headlights of an oncoming juggernaut in the face of a debate with Ryan!
I can't wait to seeit!
Lots of people underestimate Joe Biden. Lyin' Ryan underestimates Joe Biden. You really shouldn't do that, he's a brilliant man. And no, you cannot call him "Joe". Call him Mr. Vice President.
Hey wouldn't it be great if all the new media kept their personal opinions to them selves and let voting AMERICANS make up their own minds. Don't think for one minute Obama like to have questions from PBS moderator – he didn't like that... plus he didn't have a teleprompter to read from. And who ever you support I challenge you to watch the movie 2016 – it will be shown on Fox or go to a movie theatre. and just watch . Come on CNN, CBS NBC ABC promote the movie.. got guts.. or are you afraid Obama wil come after you ?
I think some of you folks get paid every time you use the word "teleprompter"
You know that Romney uses one, too, right? Right?
Sure you do.
You do know this is an OPINION PIECE. That is why he wrote his opinion.
7.8%...
Four more years
Obama/Biden 2012!
Peter: Yeah, Romney also uses a teleprompter. But, without a teleprompter Romney can still talk and communicate in a normal fashion and all Obama does is stutter and stammer and speak incoherently.
Get help, you sad little imbecile.
@Peter: Of course he uses a teleprompter. But Obama can't seem to do a good public speech without one or his speech writers. That was clearly shown in the Denver debate.
What was clearly shown in the debate was a president who has been doing his job governing and protecting this country instead of brushing up on his debate skills and another man who has had several debates this year already and has been in full time campaign mode.
Don't need to see Obama 2016 after listening to the director/producer and seeing the trailer. It's nothing more than a complete right-wing spaz attack.
I think you should see Fahrenheit 9/11, then you can compare with 2016.
Wow, the democrats must be SPENDING millions of your $$ on covering up the '2016' movie !!!
Promote? Since when is it their job to "promote" a Republican campaign propaganda film?
true watched 2016 you will be shock.
Peter what I KNOW is that all through the debate Romney LISTENED to Obama's point, then shredded it.
Obama didn't LISTEN to Romney – he frantically looked at his notes for an answer!
Obama is a great speaker with a great speech writer and a clear autocue. When he speaks without that he is indeed dull and uninspiring!
Both use a teleprompter, but Barry is the only one lost without one. We all saw this during the debate. "If I lose a debate– I didn't loose that!"
Hey Babs, teleprompters are for stand up comics like Conan, Leno and Letterman. Yeah, Obama should have used one! Hah!
Really????!
Ryan could loose the debate for Romney? What makes you think Romney is going to win the election? He's trailing in all the swing states despite the so-called win at the debate. He just did another one of his million flip-flopping-etch-a-sketching, reversing his position on the 47% comment. He's against equal pay for equal work, he's against every issue affecting the middle class, the edlderly, the poor, minorities, women, etc. Let's face it, Romney is going to loose the election by a LANDSLIDE.
Obama/Biden 2012!
What makes you think Obama is going to win the election? Note that he AVOIDED his economic record throughout the debate, as he has throughout this campaign. It's almost comical that his campaign is rejoicing about the latest unemployment number of 7.8%. Most administrations would be embarrassed if unemployment EVER got that bad, but that's the best this administration has done. And he's added $5.5T+ to the national debt. Talk about being against the middle class – under Obama middle class income has dropped by $5000 on average per person. Please explain to me why Obama deserves a second term? What part of his record can you present that justifies another term?
I stopped reading at "loose"...LOL.
Hey fvw50, were you in a coma during the last decade? Remember 2008? We were free-falling at a terminal velocity, economy was in recession, millions of jobs were being lost. Obama can be proud of his achievements; since Obama took over things have drastically improved. You Obama-haters are making it sound like everything was lovey-dovey, then Obama came and totally wrecked everything. Oh yeah, that was Bush that did so.
Hi Roger, Things have drastically improved?! I'm not a fan of Bush and Obama has accomplished very little. Please do a little, just the bare minimum, research before you 'pin the tail on the donkey' wrt to 2008. What was the cause of the recession in 2008? Everything was not 'lovey-dovey' in 2008, but there has been no drastic improvement.
Unemployment coupled with the disenfranchised is well above 14% – it's worse than in 2008. The national debt is $5.5T+ worse than in 2008. Take your head out of the sand and do a fair assessment of Obama. His job performance does not make him deserving of another term.
Blah blah yourself....Romney supports those of us that are willing to get up in the morning and be self sufficient, versus those that expect the government to support them. We'll see come election time how many liberals actually get up and make it the voting booth, as that might take more effort than they are capable of.
Roger, obviously you live in another world. Better since Obama took over in 2008? The democrats have been in charge since 2006, the had control of both houses then. Then the got Obama in and everything went downhill even faster.
If Obama ever told the truth no one would vote for him, wait until the real unemployment numbers are revealed.
Well Said
You are totally incapable of speaking without using all the DNC buzzwords like lip-flopping-etch-a-sketching, reversing his position on the 47% comment. He's against equal pay for equal work, he's against every issue affecting the middle class, the edlderly, the poor, minorities, women, etc. You read just like the DNC daily talking points furnished to the faithful. Are you able to think for yourself? I doubt it. You haven't shown it any way. I expect after the election we will not be hearing much from you. You have made such a fool of yourself if you have any pride at all you will be ashamed to post, at least with the juvenile name you use.
fvw50 – What a great comment! And so true.
Blah blah – You forgot Biden's admission that "In the last 4 years the Private sector has been dead in the water"!!!!!! Strewth! How to let a senile old man lose the election with one sentence! He's a GIFT to Mr Romney. To say nothing of the dreadful – "If you built a business" fiasco by Obama.
The "supposed gaffe" that 47% of Americans are on benefits IS the truth. And Obama HAS got their votes, so why the fuss? Liberals can't stand the truth. is that it?
I completely agree with Romney's 47% "slipup". I see and live it every day. I lve in a far left state and 95% of my co-workers are liberal democrat. they spew liberal talking points all day about helping the poor, hope, change etc. Except one little thing the LIVE none of it. Anytime there is a donation, charty event, community volunteer day, etc the 5% conservatives in the office are the ones who volunteer, donate, step up. Probably half of them are making at least $40k per year and still live on some sort of government subsidy, whether it be rent assistance, partial food stamps, fuel oil assistance, etc. How is that possible making what they do? You tell me! and trust me, they are not too proud to tell exactly what they get, how much and how often!
Pinewalker – I agree and it's an interesting observation you've made. Joe Biden is the epitome of your observation with his charitable giving. His last tax filing shows less than 1% charitable contributions. The liberal mindset is to take everyone else's money and give it to their pet causes (which they typically don't seem to value enough to support with their own money...)
In your dreams. You expect Ryan to provide the gaffe to lose an election more so than Joe Biden? Wishful thinking. In the VP debate Paul Ryan will run intellectual rings around Biden. You think Obama looked bad when compared to Romney, wait until Ryan body slams Biden in front of a national audience. When the public is allowed to view the opposing candidates side by side, with no teleprompters to tell them what to say, the democrat candidates are exposed as to how dysfunctional they are. Romney-Ryan are clearly better prepared by life experiences, education, training, and skill sets to head the executive branch of government. Kick Obama-Biden out and let America be America again.
7.8%...
Four More years.
Obama/Biden 2012!
@blah blah......7.8% doesn't even include those that stopped looking or are no longer eligible to collect unemployment and it DOES include people working PART-TIME........not something to be proud of to be sure. And if you still think so, just ask the guy who is STILL out of work and can't feed his family.......and can no longer collect unemployment because he's run clean out of benefits................
Romney and Ryan are only better prepared because they have inherited huge sums of money,not because of hard work!
You're right Ryan will be matching wits with a totally witless opponent. Everytime Joe opens his mouth he sticks both feet in it. Even if you don't like Joe it will not be a pretty thing to watch. I hope Ryan takes some pity on him.
I love how the liberals have been ignoring the jobless % until it shifts down a little. Then they're all over it. I guess to them it doesn't matter until it goes their way. Then they'll use it. If it went back up again, they'd never mention it again.
Blah blah – If you hadn't flunked Math, you'd KNOW that the real unemployment figure is 19%! You would also KNOW that 50% of this years college Grads alone will be 50% un- or under-employed! Stop spouting untrue propaganda.
Maybe "Old Joe" SHOULD have a teleprompter – or he wouldn't have uttered the mind-boggling gaffe that "For the last 4 years, the Private sector has been dead in the water!"
canisprudence – Excellent comment, well said!
You honestly think a gaffe by Ryan will lose Romney the election? You can't possibly be serious.. Oh wait you are.. You are still implyimg everyone who doesn't like the social ways of OMGbama is a Tea partier. Geeesh
7.8%
Obama/Biden 2012!
For some reason this 'blah blah' person thinks 7.8% is good? And, by the way, in his use of 'loose' is supposed to be spelled 'lose', which is something Romney will not be doing.
Let the fiscal cliff sort it out.
Doubt Ryan will gaffe. From all accounts he is rather brilliant. It is Biden who is more likely to gaffe. Romney is a moderate who got shoved around by zealots during the primaries. He can work with Democrats. Obama has shown repeatedly that he does not have the political skills to work with Republicans. He seems like a nice guy and he's done some good things, but he makes Bill Clinton look like Orrin Hatch. He has openly embraced wealth redistribution. He is campaigning on class warfare, demonizing successful people, and deliberately misleading an ignorant electorate on the true nature of our catastrophic deficit, with a simplistic "All We Have to Do is Tax the Rich and Our Problems are Solved." I voted for him in '08. Not this time. He wants a Euro style welfare state, and and I don't want my kids working half the year to pay for it.
He is not a nice guy and he hasn't done anything good. He and his team are Chicago thugs that have labelled Romney as a felon, as someone that hasn't paid taxes in 10 years, and of being responsible for that ladies cancer death, all of which has been proven as wrong, but the lies keep coming.
Ryan is an ideologue. A rigid, dogmatic thinker who conforms reality to match his beliefs. For that reason, he is going to be vulnerable in the debate with Biden. The core of Ryan's beliefs is that the federal government is bad and too big. The problem with that is that the federal government does a lot of good things for a lot of people, and it does most of those things much more efficiently than a profit-driven private sector. Biden is going to have Ryan's lunch.
Repling to JohnRJohnson, you are about as wrong as anybody could possibly be. Only a totally uninformed person or a charlatan would make such a statement. The Federal Government doesn't do anything well. It used to be except fight wars but history shows that it does not do that well since WWII. Medicaid is about to go broke while fraud is running rampant and it takes forever to find it out years too late. Just read the news about the latest fraud which stole 400 million or more. Any branch of the government you choose to look at is so poorly managed that they have little to no control over spending and cannot account for their assets. There are billions of dollars that cannot be accounted for from the defense dept. Look at the killing of the ambassador to Libya. He did not have adequate protection. Marines are charged with guarding the embassies around the world and our ambasadors. There were no marines in Libya. P:ick any thing the government does that you think they do well and an investigation will show widespread incompetence and fraud. If government did what they do well there would not be a massive national debt.
@ JohnRJohnson
"Biden is going to have Ryan's lunch."
Only because of redistribution. Not because he will earn it.
You mean lose
I doubt if f..... word will come out of Biden. For Biden tongue goes before brain can do a thing.
Bring back ron Paul!
Loose? Really? Learn how to speak english!
You must be joking! I can see Obama buring Romney in debates, but Biden win a debate with Ryan? Put down the pipe. Surely you realize the best Deomcrates can hope for is that Biden doesn't go off and say something crazy! Good luck.
Doubtful. Nobody cares about the VP debates. Let's face it. Other then the fact they replace the president if something happens, they really have little purpose.
Bill, I really DO CARE about the VP. I am Seriously worried if something happens to Obama !!!
Use you imagination if its 'President Biden' !
BamBam is one big gaffe – more like a buttend pimple. But the unemployed dead beats love him so he will win and give them more welfare and bankrupt us. Be proud of your fool leader.
I like to go to the beach in speedo and cowboy boots.
It's "LOSE" not "loose". Do you have a screw loose?
Memo to JAL and a whole bunch of other posters: The work is "lose". –>LOSE<– "Loose" is the opposite of tight.
ziegfeldf's motto is "Compensating for our cra**y school system one person at a time"
dERP
My thanks to the other proper-English-speakers.
We can hope.
dERP.
I don't think that hoping that Ryan fails is a very good strategy – he may have some "almost over the top" ideas but he has been solid as a rock in interviews I have seen – even when pushed very hard. I'll bet he (also) does better than expected against Biden. No, I am not a Romney OR Obama fan.
Why is it that nobody can spell 'lose' anymore?
Listen, there is only a 12% chance that Democrats will control the House of Representatives so don't act like the Republicans are on the way out. Most of the country likes what they stand for, Tea Party and all. This isn't like the Republicans are only attractive to Tea Party extremists.
You obviously mean Bidin. He is the biggest gaffer on the planet. Obama would like to cut him loose now;but it is too late. Joe is an idiot. My dad's family is from Johnstown and they are embarrassed by no knowledge Joe
The main thing that the Tea Party advocate is fiscal responsibility by not spending more than we take in and not to pile up national debt in ways that we cannot recover like Greece, Spain, Italy...etc. How can anyone disagree? Let me know why you support huge national debt?
Actually jobs and the most important thing right now... not the deficit. Large deficits are obviously a problem but a long term one and should ONLY be tackled in an economy with robust growth. A perfect time to do that would have been with the large surpluses during the Clinton years but that was squandered (thanks in part to the Bush tax cuts, 2 unfunded wars, etc). Cutting government spending in a recession or slow growth environment like now just leads to greater job loss and a weaker economy which leads to larger deficits (essentially bleeding the patient)! Austerity is a horrible idea. Quite frankly during these times we need more targeted government spending (especially in education which lays the groundwork for the future of the economy). The Tea Party's idea of squeezing government merely shifts the concentration of power into large corporations and the wealthy as the middle class and poor get stuck paying for everything (and they've been getting squeezed for the past 30 years).
To mike_jones – I have a fairly substantial difference of opinion. Early in his term Obama had the chance to do what you are suggesting and attempted some of it, but this 'targeted' spending did not really make much of a difference. Economically speaking, the US is quickly reaching a point where the impacts of our national debt will dwarf the ability of a President to do much about jobs and yet, the two are closely linked. Deficit spending has not worked and the proof, on a scale larger than ever tried before in history, is this Administration. The budget needs to be balanced and government needs to undergo a spending 'gastric bypass.' There will be pain with a reduction in government, but that pain is probably nothing compared to what it would/will be if we have a total economic collapse, which this country is facing if it does not get its financial house in order – soon.
No idea if Ryan is a good debater, and his youthful enthusiasm could get him in trouble, but do remember, Joe Biden is INSANE. He might strip naked and roll on the floor, there is just no telling.
"lose" not "loose"
Really ??? Will that be before or after Biden "puts him in chains " ? Hahahahaha. I might have to come back and emancipate everybody again ....Hahahahaha
The many you speak of are the dims and RINOs, basically the uninformed who make decisions based on what somebody tells them. The conservatives and most of the moderates know what the TEA party stands for and support their aims of smaller government and lower taxes.
Uh...Ryan is 41, and kind of brilliant. Ryan has all the facts and figures, and can think on his feet. Biden is about 70, gaffes all the time, and has to be programmed for debates. I would be more worried about Biden getting beat up than Romney beating Obama. It probably wont be a nice night for Biden. Also, Ryan has won a predominantly democrat district in Wisconsin many times now..he's not a "stupid conservative"
Right, because we all know Ryan is the king of gaffes. Oh, wait... That's Biden.
Ryan gaffe? Really? Against Biden? Seriously? Hillarious..................
I felt the big Tea Party win in 2010 was the first step in this country moving forward. The time for a third party has come now that the difference between the two parties is narrowing.
Not a single person commented on the 3-f "gafffe". All these comments are very impressive. I am wondering why the world is not doing so well...?
First, It is possible to get out of this mess. The U.S. can move forward...
1. We must have a budget... something neglected by Obama for 4 years.
2. We must STOP borrowing money from China to give as foreign aid, and to pay for things that are not absolutely needed at this time. Tighten up the belt !
3. We need to shut down the IMF and take back our sovereignty....
4. Bring Tariffs back immediately and stop policing the world for the Corporations that have moved from America to set up shop elsewhere. Let those corporations lose a few factories and watch how they hightail it back to the SAFE arms of the U.S.A...
We need to turn this around... And Obama has not even picked up the fight to get started as proven with his SIMPSON -BOWLES Comment.
4 Years after we paid for the committee, he has NOW sent it to Congress...
Way to be pro active Barry!
I'm curious, how is the tea party 'holding America back?' Do you even know what the tea party represents?
You must have the IQ of a gnat to think Biden will out debate Ryan. Only dimwits can understand and agree with Biden.
you are assuming that Romney is going to win???, all Obama needs is to put an end to Romney's lies.
Romney's lies? You ARE joking!
Obama:
[1] 1999 to a reporter "I was born in Kenya" – 2009 "Oops actually I was born in Hawaii – I misspole!"
[2] "ACA is not a tax" – declared untrue by SCOTUS
[3] "ACA will lower costs!" [already added $340 Billion to deficit predicted to rise to $1.5 Trillion]
[4] " I support Traditional marriage"
[5] "An undivided Jerusalem MUST be the Capital of Israel" ....Later to Fareed Zakaria on CNN "I didn't really sat that – it
was the result of "poor phrasing!" Yeah right!
[6] " I WILL be transparent"
[7] "I will halve the deficit or not run for a second term"
[8] "I will close Gitmo" Has recently approved a multi-billion facelift and upgrade for Gitmo.......................................etc etc etc
Actually – far more know that the liberals have to be defeated for the country to move forward.
It is funny that you say Ryan will Gaffe. Look who he is debating, the biggest goofball of all time.
How will Obama explain his lies about the killing of our ambassador in Benghazi? Will he claim he did not know it was a planned Al Quaeda attack, which would mean he is incompetent or will he admit he lied to us? Those are the two choices.
Exactly right! If the Tea Party loses big, the USA Will move forward – RIGHT OFF THE CLIFF.
how does one "loose" an election?
Thanks for your input. I guess I was tired, when I made that comment.
Are you serious? Biden can't speak for more than 5 minutes without sticking his foot in his mouth! As we say in the South, Biden doesn't know "come here" from "sic um"
I'm just so happy 60 million people really got to see Obama can not think on his own, and needs a telepromter. I've never in my life seen a president look so lost in my life, and people really want 4 more years of dreams...
Paul Ryan gaffe?? C'mon, he's going to be debating the King of gaffes in Joe Biden. Just the other day ol' Joe said that the middle class has been "buried" the last 4 years. On second thought, i think he was just being uncharacteriscally honest.
The problem is not the fact that Romney maybe a moderate repub.....The problem is that NO One knows exactly what Romney is....Today he's a moderate....Tomorrow he's an extreme conservative......That My Friend is the PROBLEM!
I am a conservative in Ohio, buI t am supporting Obama this time. I am sick of Romney's flip-flops.
This country IS toast if Odumba wins. Yo do know that, right?
I believe "gaffing" is Biden's area of expertise.
So Biden is where your money is? LOL
Until the Tea Party and ALL their rabid lemmings are sent back to Newt's Moon Colony, permanently, America is going to remain divided, Congress will stay dead locked and America will not move forward...
JAL – RYAN could gaffe????? When Biden stated clearly 3 days before the first debate that "For the last 4 years the Private sector has been dead in the water!!!!!!"
C'mon, you're having a laugh! Biden's gaffe plus Obama's glum, miserable performance pretty well put the writing on the wall! What a Muppet you really are.
JAL – Ryan will gaffe? Really? Against JOE BIDEN? ROTFLMAO LOL... I can't contain my laughter, I just fell of my seat.
Youthful responses can look very idiotic is all I am saying. Biden is more mature and Ryan is fighting an uphill battle.
What's Biden's excuse then?
Uphill battle? You must've missed watching the debate.......
the uphill battle is trying to talk sense to Biden. If his IQ was one point lower he'd be a vegatable
Youthful responses huh? He's 41. 41. I think he might be past youthfulness by now...
Um, Ryan is a wizard at numbers, budget, finances, etc., so I very much doubt that Joe-The-Gaffer will trip him up.
Ryan a wizard with number? Tha is a new one to me, because non of his numbers add up..
Exactly! Like how he ran an entire marathon in under 3 hours, LOL!!!
Your numbers guy said there were 57 states, and that was 4 years ago, not something he did 20 years ago.
Oh yes Ryan is a real whiz with numbers and figures.....yet he can't remember his own marathon time? Hmmmm
Marathon times? Is that really what liberals have to take on Ryan? That's what you're focusing on? LOL. Good luck with that.
Did bump you head again? I thought so. You sound foolish.
7.8%
Game over.
Four more years.
Obama/Biden 2012!
7.8%? After 42 months, this is Too Little Too Late. So Obama ordered the government to do some hiring to get the unemployment numbers up. These jobs were $13 an hour or less. He pressures Bernanke to print a few trillion dollars to jack the stock market up, all for Campaign 2012. We hear about students on parents plans and no pre existing conditions, but hear nothing about the massive tax increases starting Jan 1, 2013 , to fund Obamacare. Interesting how the media does not report on this. These are all fundamentally dishonest, used car salesman tactics. What a legacy.
I'm confused. 4 years above 8%, one month it drops .3%, and suddenly everything's better? What are you smoking? That's like saying "we were losing by 81 points, now only losing by 78, yay us!".
7.8% of the workforce who is looking for work not being able to find it is horrible. Considering that number is based on what is essentially a poll, not real hard numbers, not sure how much faith to put in it, but let's go with that number. The same agencies reporting that number report that "real" unemployment (which includes those who have given up looking for work) is still around 11%, and the U-6 number (which includes underemployed people, such as those with part-time work who are still looking for full-time work) is around 14.7%.
How is this good news?
Welcome to the new America ... where failure is the new success.
In July, 181,000 jobs added, rate stayed @ 8.1%. In September, 114,000 jobs were added, dropping the rate to 7.8%.
Something doesn't add up.
Keep the winning spirit going – we ALL know Obama is way ahead of Romney – no way Romney can smarten up in time to win. We're already voting here in my state and others. FOUR MORE YEARS!
Psst... People who are out of work get up early to vote out a sitting president. Unless you are FDR. Obama is no FDR. So get ready to pack.
No one would believe if they faked it to .78% so they had to fake it to 7.8%
When will we find out the real percent??
And if he does it will probably still be 7.8% in four more years. He has no plan to make it any better.
Youre happy with 7.8%? Haaaaaaaaaa! Now go cash your welfare check.
It just shows you how bad things are that we really think 7.8% is a good number. Also, only a paltry 114,000 jobs were created in September (mostly in service industry, i.e., Taco Bell). You need to create at least 140-150k / month just to keep up with those trying to enter the work force.
Biden performed extremely well in the presidential primary debates in 2008, and he also did quite well against Sarah Palin in the VP debate - even though Palin "went all mavericky" in that debate and decided to disregard the questions that were put to her. The fact is that Biden is quite good with facts and he is able to deliver them with emotional content. The notion that he's a lousy debater because he's made a few gaffes in the past is ridiculous. If Paul Ryan comes into this debate thinking like you, he's going to underestimate Biden and get his lunch handed to him.
Yeah, Biden is a cool guy and a lot smarter than we all give him credit for being! I think he'll make Ryan look like a sullen school boy!
The only thing alot of people know about Joe Biden is that once in a while he makes a gaffe and then it's all over the news. They don't know how experienced he is and that he's an expert in foreign policy. I think they are going to be suprised during the debate. Though you can be sure that Ryan will lie like he did in his convention speech.
Hardly. Biden had Sat. Night Live do the leg-work with all their bias negativity towards Palin. Besides, the conversation here is about Ryan and NOT Palin so if all you can do is use the Palin debate as comparison you really are having difficulty defending....or attempting to prop up Biden.
All Biden will do is stand up and and do his weasel grin and turn his face red with anger and then actually believe that will amount to something to be proud of. Face it, the guy (Biden) is a disaster.....
SNL didn't make Sarah Palin look bad or provide the leg up, Sarah did that all on her own every time she opened her mouth!.
Biden has made a "few" gaffes? That's like saying that Bill Gates is worth a few dollars. The man is a board certified gaffester. You know, kind of like the court jesters of yesteryear. He is just very lucky that the MSM ignores most of his faux pas. I'll bet BO and Axlerod will be sweating like a cold beer on a hot day throughout Thursday's debate.
Expect Ryan to LIE just like Romney did at the debates. But this time Biden will not stay quiet about that like Obama did. Obama wanted to remain presidential, but Biden doesn't have to do that. Let Joe be Joe!
If all of you Lyin' Ryan fanatics think this wonky, "don't have time to do the math" preppy and arrogant robot is going to best Joe, either on style or substance -he's the male version of Palin – then you probably still believe the earth is flat...
you mean "off" my seat brains
Ryan will turn Biden into chopped liver. Obama better come out with a different ballgame or he will end up like Carter.
Always amusing to read fanboys and their flip flops.
Just days ago, right wing fanboys were complaining that the big, bad media was writing off Romney without counting any votes. Now, the same people are writing off Obama after one event. Too funny.
I will also remind everyone that Mondale trounced Reagan in the first debate of 1984 and Kerry trounced Bush II in the first debate of 2004.
This is history.
However, many Americans either flunked history or have amnesia.
Actually the history on 'winning' the opening debate is a lot starker. Only once in the last seven times did the perceived winner of the first debate go on to win the election. History (and the truth) is not on Romney's side.
7.8%
Game over!
Obama/Biden 2012!
What you're saying doesn't make a lot of sense. Biden has significantly more experience at debating that Ryan, and he performed quite well in the 2008 primary debates. You underestimate Biden's ability to recall facts. He's quite good with them and it would be a big mistake for Ryan to underestimate him going into this debate. Ryan comes off a arrogant, unempathetic, and insincere. Biden is exactly the opposite.
If he was as good as Carter he would not be as bad as he is.
I know, the dems will need a special class to figure that out.
Mitt Romney has been shape-shifting and changing his views non-stop now for months (years, actually). So now he's moderate again? How long will that stick? How can he be trusted to follow through on anything he says, if elected? A simple answer: he cannot. Let's also not forget whom he'll be beholden to, should he win. The Tea Party, the Koch brothers, etc. A GOP presidential win would be a major victory for the haves, and a crushing blow to the have-nots.
That's what mature people do: change their positions based on experience. One of the biggest problems we have as a country is politicians that are so afraid of admitting a mistake that they both double down on their opinions and support programs that should have been cancelled years ago.
@Tim, Romney changes his mind back and forth so much that he is nicknamed 'flip flop' and 'etch a sketch'. Constant flipping on the issues is detrimental to a candidate. Romney looks like a liar who will say anything just to get a vote. People cannot trust Romney to follow through with his so-called promises that are likely to change on a daily basis, as per what Romney feels the next audience wants to hear. As a candidate for Presidency, Romney lacks a stable unwavering policy upon which to run his campaign and gain the trust & support of American voters.
Tim wrote: "That's what mature people do: change their positions based on experience."
Yes, but not THIS often with THIS many things!
Disturbing.
hahaha @ Tim – you repubelickers are hilarious, you defend a position like it was absolute truth, but then when he changes his position to the arguement you were JUST argueing against, you side with him again and argue FOR it. Repubelickers don't know which way they're going. These are the different types of Repubelickers: 1.Only the rich matter 2.only white people matter 3.only christians matter 4.only wars matter 5.we get to do what we want and the rest of the world isnt allowed to do it too. As long as they get policies that support some of these views then they're happy.
Just not 10 times in five months; that's just having no convictions.
If you change your position every other day it's not called being mature, it's called lying.
Isn't that exactly what Clinton did? Is that not what made Clinton not only a powerful politician, but an effective leader as well.
Wen you elect an ideologue – reguardless of ideology – you get inflexibility that leads to gridlock.
Romney has shown that he will do whatever he needs to do to get the bottom line to where it needs to be. That is what made him successful on Wal Street and it will likely do the same on Pennsylvania Avenue as well.
That make Romney terrible for the Republican ideologues (the anit-abortion crowd, or other inflexible elements), but great for the larger philosophical goals like smaller government and deficiet reduction.
Do we really need four more years of a President who believes compromise and bipartizenship means convincing the other guy why you are 100% right? Who stares at a Congress who disagrees with him and wonders why they don't see the enlightened truth of his posistion?
I would rather have the guy willing to sell out his beliefs if it means getting things done for the American people, who is willing to put cherished ideals on the table to bargin out compromize, and who measures greatness by the quality of the accomplishments rather that the purity of the dream.
You're missing a key point. He isn't willing to say or do anything to get America on track – he's willing to say or do anything to get elected. If elected, he will push his own agenda. Whatever his agenda happens to be. You cannot trust a man who won't make his principles known. At this point I don't even care what they are, I just want to know if he has any.
The narrative that Clinton was a moderate triangulator is one that has only recently been accepted by Republicans in a bit of convenient revisionism which is useful to them in pushing their baseless meme that President Obama is an extremist ideologue. The reality is that President Obama's constant watering down of progressive policies and in some cases his outright adoption of conservative policy prescriptions has been every bit as frustrating to liberal Democrats as Clinton's Presidency was – if not more so. However, just as Republicans and right wing commentators ignored the plain facts while Clinton was President, and constantly portrayed him as a liberal extremist (go back and listen to an archived talk radio show circa 1997), so too they are taking that tact with President Obama. However, the plain facts cannot be brushed aside for too long, and in the same way that with the passage of time they had to come around and admit the truth about Clinton, they will also have to do so with Obama, as I'm sure that 10 to 15 years from now there will be some new liberal boogeyman that they will feel the need to characterize as a subversive anti-American, and they will contrast him/her with the more moderate Obama.
I'll take a flip flopping, etch a sketching Mitt Romney over an Obamacare ramming, Simpson Bowles ignoring, Class Warfare Mongering, Wealth redistribution embracing, tax and spending,Euro Welfare state emulating, makes Bill Clinton look like Orrin Hatching, flooring his Thelma and Louise T Bird toward the Big Greek Cliffing Barack Obama any day of the week.
If Obama is reading you, he'll tell you that you didn't write it, and that he has an invisible friend of a friend that says you haven't paid your taxes, that you're a felon, and that you cause people to die from cancer.
Could you get any further from reality? One guy said he doesn't care about 47% of the country, while the other governs over all of it. But the latter is the one fostering this idea of class warfare? What color is the sky in your world? Clearly it's not blue.
Obama did push a version of Simpson-Bowles, but the House republicans didn't like it, because Simpson-Bowles asked for tax increases, which goes against the Republicans' mantra of not even a penny of tax increase even for the richest. Please try to base your opinions on reality.
Allan, I dare you to look up Obamas speaches and opinions BEFORE 2008 !
Of couse we won't say anything about someone who started as a muslim and switched to christan. Except maybe 'did he really switch'? Will he flip back after his political life?
The point is: Romney is shifting multiple positions every month. You don't have to go back to 2008.
Jon, at least he's admitting when he's wrong about something.....which is a HUGE difference from Obama who's ego won't allow him to admit he's wrong about anything, at all, ever.....ever.....nevermind he's driven the country into the toilet of total division.....nope, that overinflated self-serving ego just won't allow it.........
How can you debate a guy that change positions all the time? Wanted tax cut before the debate, now no. Wanted deregulation, say regulation is holding back jobs, now want regulations. Say he worked across the isle to pass Mass healthcare, which is the same as ObamaCare. Now he embrace it. Oh please. He change positions/lie so many times you cant even keep up w/ him.
Hey Conservative. You should of known that he's a moderate in hiding. He screwed you over to get the nomination. You should of known when he was running for Governor in MA. Now you are going to lose this election because you nominated a moderate. You can't even lose w/ a true Conservative on the ticket. You won't see another chance @ the Presidency till 2024 when Hilliary finished her 2nd term.
Thank You, Thank You, Thank You for speaking the Truth! It is evident that the Romney Lovers of the country can't see this.
Romney will embrace all Obama's popular policies and successes and at the same time aggressively blame Obama for the failures or un-accomplishments. So he will sound like a moderate republican just to get the center votes. Wondering what will happen to Tea Party? They won't say a word because they don't care what Romney says as long as Obama is defeated. They hate Obama more than they like Romney. IF Romney can "fool" the independents and manage to get elected ...Which Romney he will become then as a president? That's a 5 Trillion dollar question.
I think is great... I like Obama back. but if Mitt wins at least we will have a moderate in the WH and not tea party nutjob..
But we don't want him back. If he really did come back what could we expect? He's flip-floped to the point that nobody knows just what he would decide to be! Even every one of the journalists knows that he tailors his "opinions" exactly to what he thinks it will take to be elected! FOUR MORE YEARS OBAMA~!
What's wrong with a moderate? After 4 years of destroying our country, we now know that a pure liberal is NOT the answer.
Thanks to Obama the US has not gone the way of Europe. Of all the advanced economies the US is the one that is the least scarred. Obama has brought stability to the markets and stability to the dollar inspite of the massive Fed printing. The US dollar has remained the dominant currency in the world.
Obama has embraced republican principles whole heartedly. It is funny to see republicans painting Obama as an extreme liberal. How can you even compare the US economy under Obama to that of Europe. We have lower taxes now than during the Reagan adminstration. I fail to see how this can be even classified as socialist.
The US is steadily climbing out of the hole it was put in during the Bush administration. It has done leaps and bounds better than other advanced economies which have still not recovered from the financial crisis.
Umm, no. I'm independent and rather glad to see him traveling a bit more towards the middle of the isle which is a far cry better than Obama has ever done.....ever....not even a little.
It's a dangerous thing to assume it's acceptable to say things like "All of you Republicans" blah blah and more of your spewage. There's a heck of a lot of people that just can't stand the bickering and righteous indignation screaming from the left.
If Zakaria's right, we wouldn't have to worry. What the nation needs is a moderate. Which is what Obama is. But what IS consistent about Romney is that he has, for 2 years, said whatever he thought the audience of the moment wanted to hear. The man has demonstrated not one iota of principle, actual belief, or goal - except to get elected. So what will happen if he does and then he has the Tea Party, the group in charge of his party these days, yelling in his ear? He has NEVER shown a trace of spine. Are we do believe he'll grow one magically?
Obama is a moderate? Do you pay any attention at all to what the man has done and said for the last ten years? I can't believe that people are this blind to what this man really is!
If anything, Obama is on the conservative side of moderate. Review the actual actions he has taken as President – they could just as easily have been things advocated and done by Mitt Romney. What got lost amid all the talk of Romney and Obama's respective performances in the debate a couple of nights ago is that on substantive policy matters, if you slice through the rhetoric, there is actually very little distance between the two in what they are advocating.
True! Obama really is a moderate no matter what the GOP say! He's always steady, never too far left or too far right. We do not need an etch-a-sketch like Mitt!
joejeffery, are you serious. I dare you to look up Obamas speaches and opinions BEFORE 2008 !
Of couse we won't say anything about someone who started as a muslim and switched to christan. Except maybe 'did he really switch'? Will he flip back after his political life? Obama is NOT a moderate.!
Are you serious sir? What has he ever done while in power that can remotely be construed as nothing but middle of the road? Obama has never pushed an extremist liberal agenda while in power. You guys really need to look beyond GOP rhetoric.
MG12345
Are you serious? What has Obama done since taking office that can remotely be construed as nothing but far left of center? Obama has never pushed anything but an extremist liberal agenda while in office. Healthcare (the PPACA with zero votes by a Republican or RHINO), never submitting an approved budget while in office, never having a budget under $1,000, 000, 000, 000, absolutely no government transparency or accountability, government buyout of private companies (the auto industry quickly comes to mind), etc.
I can't fathom where you come up with anything moderate in this Administration, so please tell me what this Administration has done that could be considered moderate.
And Obama has never said anything but what the "lower class" wants to hear. So get real.
If elected president, Romoney would never veto a bill from the republican controlled house.
You're right...he wouldn't. That's because bills from the House have to go to the Senate first.
Romney reminds me of GHB when GHB lied about no new taxes. Romney's constantly revising his position on important issues, which demonstrates a lack of integrity and courage. Romney dodged the draft in 1966 and his character remains unchanged.
The people are accustomed to Joe's gaffes and accept them. That's just being Joe, to them. They will not be as tolerant of Ryan's gaffes. Ryan lacks charisma. Ryan's image was crafted and overseen by Koch, his mentor and Tea Party creator..
truegrit11, I believe GHB did not want to pass any taxes. Also since it seems you do not know, that 'TAX bills' come from the houses and then passed to the president. So since the democrats controlled both 'Houses' in 2006 they did NOT NEED GHB to sign anything, they could pass their 'bills' without his signing it.
Wow!! I cannot believe this guy is still employed by a major newss org. to write articles since he plagiarized so much!!!
As long as he keeps his nose up obamasass CNN will allow it.
Like what?? explain..
Maybe you've been away on vacation.......you didn't hear that Fareed just got suspended by CNN for plagiarism?
Eddie, CNN has ceased to be a major 'news' organization and has become a biased presentation of liberal talking points. If you don't agree, look at the written opinions and 'news' presented on this website. No balance of presentation, very skewed in presenting 'fact-checks' on Romney without any of the same treatment of Obama's debate 'whoppers.'
Tell us, will Joe be debating with or without the football helmet?
Dang, Fareed sounds like he belongs to the RNC. Romney is nothing more than a hypocrite and liar. If elected, there will be nothing moderate about his actions. He will be in lockstep with Ryan and the Republican party to drive the 'Every Man for Himself' and the 'I've Got Mine, I Want Yours Too' and the 'Women are Chattel' and the 'We Love Our Theocracy' agendas forward. The challenge to Obama is not an intellectual moderate for an adversary but rather a self-agrandizing theocrat who isn't called to task for what he truely represents.
Let's see, the Obama campaign want us to give them our wedding gifts, and skip provising meals to our families so as to send the money saved to them.
And Lee here says Republicans have an 'I've Got Mine, I Want Yours Too', agenda.
Project much?
Fareed–your articles were much more interesting when you were plagerizing....
Very sound opinion coming from a plagerist.
Is this article plagiarized like the other articles from Zakaria?!?! Why is he still employed after admitting it.
But Mr. Zakaria, it is clear no matter how moderate Gov. Romney claims he is, he cannot be a better alternative over the President for the middle class for the following reasons:
- he is hiding the tax cut in his unclear gibberish. He needs to reveal details.
- he drove profit over people. So his policies will create corporate profits but not jobs here in America.
- he constantly changes his position based on what suits the audience at that particular moment. Can America trust such a person?
CitizenJP – pretty much all your talking points are true of the President...
- tax cut – unclear gibberish. He needs to reveal details. Answer: Please show a clear presentation of how Obama reduces taxes. Everything he has done has caused pain to the middle class. Middle class wages are down 5K/yr on average under Obama.
- he drove profit over people. So his policies will create corporate profits but not jobs here in America. Answer: corporate CEOs have a job to earn profit; that is what the shareholders expect. Btw, Obama has driven far more jobs overseas than Romney ever dreamed of doing. It is the President's job to create an incentive for business to operate in a more favorable environment – something that Obama has failed to do since taking office.
- he constantly changes his position based on what suits the audience at that particular moment. Can America trust such a person? Question: do you really trust Obama, who also is known for taking positions or making statements to please a particular audience. I'm not making excuses for Romney, but Obama is just as guilty of this charge as any other politician.
And if "moderate" Romney wins, does he face the same conservative wall telling him how to think? If he succeeds in thinking for himself, how disingenuous to have duped both conservatives and the American people trying to figure out who he is for a year and a half. Maybe the lesson of this is that "good business men" are chameleons. I don't think good presidents are.
who did you plagarize this from, you jihadist?
Now he's a jihadist!
Some of you posters are truly psycho.
I suppose if he had an Irish last name you would accuse him of being a member of the IRA.
Peter – the onus is on you to prove he's not a jihadist. Last time I checked – if you're not American, you're a jihadist.
oh and you think I'M a psycho? No No No, not me! I'm a psycho! you liberals and your think bucket...it's meant for bashing into walls not for thinking!
People crack me up. Romney has one debate that he doesn't sound like an amature and now he's going to win. Have any of you been listening for the past few months. He can back peddle all he wants in the debates, but that doesn't change his ture feelings and policies. Give me a break!
You are a hunderd percent right!!
I meant Hundred
I will not vote for Romney, in spite of his overexposure over the last 24 months. The bottom line is that I don't know who he is and what he really thinks. In spite of Obama's perceived inadequacies, he has at least been consistent throughout. Although I may not entirely agree with him, I agree with him enough to know what I agree with will actually be acted upon. Such actions will be consistent with what has said all along, and that's enough for me.
Besides, I do not want a boardroom bully in the Oval Office.
Nelson, look up Obama's speaches and opinions BEFORE 2008 ! He was in politics before his election to president.
What is your opinion about someone who started as a muslim and switched to christan. Except maybe 'did he really switch'? Will he flip back after his political life?
So you think he has been consistent? A consistent switcher?
IMO he will say and do anything to stay elected. He would be unemployed if not elected. Think.
In other words, Obama is facing an Obama V.2
Romney was on the advisory committee for John McCain in 2008 when the economy collapsed. He has been touted as the man who knows business and the economy better than any other for a long time, but when the committee was asked for their advise at this crucial juncture, Romney didn't whisper a word. In other words, after the collapse, Romney didn't have any idea how to fix any of it.
If Romney would of stayed moderate from the begining he would of got my vote. Once he went to the Tea pumkins I was out.
I think the Americans are smart enough to see through Romney for waht he is. He changes his policies like his shirts. It is the same as he did for the Senate racr against ted Kennedy and now doing it against Barack Obama. Romney has a policy:" if you can't beat them, jopin their positions and win. Then, who car what you do". He has already flip-flopped on all major issues, including immigration: now he will let those who have been given temporary visa stay. He was for abortion when he was running against Kenneday, now he is against abortion. he accepted the republican platform, now he does not accpet that platform.
So, how can Americans in their good thinking mode vote for a man who does not stick to anything and says what will make him win the election. That is what he did in the debae. he had forcefully nprepared his positions that he thought the public wanted to hear and he did that. The real loser in the debate was the moderator Jim Lehrer who let Romney dominate the debate and also the American public as they did not hear the real Romney because of Jim Lehrer's incompetency that night.
Whatever, we cannot let this flip-flop to win the WH and hence must vote for Obama and the democrats in the November elections.
Yes, but are Americans smart enough to see what Obama is? If he had a plan, he would have laid it out during the debate. The only things he presented was the same question multiple times to Romney and then he told the American people to 'trust him' for another four years. What is Obama's plan? The plans he has presented to the Democrat run Senate were voted down 99 – 0 and 97 – 0 (with the second budget plan getting a 414 – 0 vote of disapproval by the House). After nearly four years in office he still has nothing.
The 'Bam has little to fear regardless of debate outcomes. His backers in the Bilderberg Group, Davos Economic Summit, and elitists like The Council on Foreign Relations have a lock on their sock puppet in the White House. No body outside those tight circles has a clue on their next step to vault the faux messiah back onto his throne. I'm looking for a flood of really great economic news from around the world for the next few weeks, all of it contingent on him being re-electd. Woo hooo! free cell phones for everybody!
RE Free cell phones....how many times do we have to go over this? This is not an Obama Plan...if you want the truth check this out:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/taxes/cellphone.asp
But if you want to keep on lying..nothing I can do about it.
Americans: we cannot make a decision to vote on the basis of one debate which may be a fluke. Just think about it that your professor says that your grade depends on the solution to just one problem. That could be quite distrubing. You need to look at the enrire portfolio of what the candidates stand for all the years and what they have done and will do in the future, not just the clever statements in one debate which are prepared in advance and tested several times to say them correctly.
So, see through the real Romney and vote for Obama in November election and also to elect other democrats to get the economy moving in the positive direction.
Jeetu, I agree that folks should not vote on the basis of one debate and should look closely at each candidate. Your closing statement about voting for Obama and democrats to get the economy moving really undermines your first paragraph. Obama and the democrats had a filibuster-proof Senate and solid majority in the House during the first two years of this administration. Democrats held the Senate, but lost control of the House the second two years of this administration. Unemployment was a 8% or worse for 44 months (and you're cheering about 7.8%), the federal deficit has increased $5.5T+ since Obama took office and the number of people collecting food stamps has ballooned to 47 million under Obama. Is that your definition of 'getting the economy going?'
Romney didn't do a thing for Mass except make it worse. He even tried to take credit for the schools the other night. Talk to just about anyone that lives there and you will hear a different story. That is why he is 24% behind the Pres. That speaks in volumes if you ask me!
If Romney and his republican friends thinks that Government is a problem and is too large, then why do they wish to join it? Why don't they just stay out of the Govenment? After all, if all republicans leave the government, then it iwll become small automatically. Also, why would government workers vote republicans when they know that their jobs may be cut by the republicans?
I think when one answers the above questions objectively, it is clear that tehreal choice is to vote for Obama and the democrats in the November elections.
Romney will say anything and everything to become elected.Anyone who can't see through his shallow game is not very perceptive.He should receive an Oscar for playing the part of Pinocchio in that first debate, lying, contorting and twisting his message,just like when he said he was a 'severe conservative' in the Republican primaries, if ever there was a political con artist you've found one in Romney.
Who knows who the real Romney is. There is no doubt about his ambitious nature. He is too opportunistic and comes across as inauthentic and manipulative. Obama has not performed to expectations, but maybe we just believed too much last time. Even so he is a better choice for the country.
All Biden has to do is give an executive summary of the RYAN budget over and over.
Joe Biden is a joke
You're a joke, Beavis!
And you're never gonna score!
Romney's transormation isn't one to "Moderate Republican." He's been transformed back into the Massachussetts liberal that he once was, arguing on stage that he won't pass a tax cut if it harms the deficit (e.g. suggesting therefore, that he won't pass a tax cut!), stating the benefits of government regulation, and praising his health care program in Mass with it's individual mandate. Yes, the calculation is that the "Base" has no choice at this point. They're not voting for Obama, so Romney may as well make a grab at Obama's base.
West: Before you comment on websites, please learn proper grammar and spelling. For the record, Obama's campaign is making enough $ so keep your "wedding gifts" and PROVIDE for your family Buddy! Don't you know republican's are for the rich and you're grammar/spelling leads me to believe you're not rich or possibly ignorant so how could you vote Republican??? They don't care about middle class or poor people, like us. They've never had to worry about medicare, medicaid, affordable healthcare, unemployment, etc....How could they make choices for the majority of Americans when they've never walked a day in our shoes?
I really wish Republicans would do some research before jumping on the bandwagon. They aren't for ordinary people, they're for the rich and/or elite! One last thing, how can anybody expect our President to work a miracle in 4 yrs when it took 8 yrs and 2 pointless wars to get into this mess?!?
During the VP debate Joe Biden is going to destroy Paul Ryan!
# fareed : judge romney by the looney tune he sings at the moment regardless of the past years of looney tunes.
I actually had to google and see if there was a vice presidential debate between Biden and Palin, and I followed that election quite closely!
Brilliant article Zakaria. First, embrace Tea Party ideology and get the nomination...second embrace poplar moderate or even liberal ideas to become the President as Tea Party blinded by their hate for Obama. Brilliant strategy.
So which Romney he will become as a president if he indeed gets elected? Well that's a 5 trillion dollar question.
Hmmmmmmmm...is he really a moderate..or only a pretender....or is a pretender pretending to pretend...or....Hmmmmm...
The Tea Party supporters' heads must just be spinning. In the end they may end up voting for Romney because they hate Obama more. One thing is for sure....nobody really knows who Romney or what Romney stands for...although if I was obscenely wealthy I would have no doubt.
The RIGHT-WING nuts are going crazy this year: they got fooled into think Mormon Bishop Mittens was actually *severely* conservative like them.
So now their choices boil down to:
a BLACK Democrat vs. a Mormon Bishop Flip-Flopping Democrat Wannabe
Buzz off you racist pig. All comments like yours have one intent only and that is to be as antagonistic as possible......which is quite telling of your own spineless, uneducated, ignorant, love the anonymity of the internet persona instead of actually contributing something worthwhile to the forum.
Obama lost because he has no experience in anything.
RIGHT-WING nut wrote: Obama has no experience.
Except ... Obama has experience being President. He got the job on his FIRST ATTEMPT.
Mormon Bishop Mittens has 6 years of experience campaigning to be president.
In 2008, he couldn't beat old man John McCain. That's sad. Took 2 tries to win the GOP nomination.
And what is Bishop Mitten's so called business success? NOTHING.
Google: Federal Bailout 10 MILLION that SAVED Bain Capitol and Mitt Romney
Mittens was a FAILURE at Bain Capital. Its in the FEDERAL RECORDS and Bain Capitol records. That is why Mittens begged for a FEDERAL BAILOUT. The worst part: Mittens never paid back us ... the TAX PAYERS.
Google: Federal Bailout 2.7 BILLION that SAVED Utah Olympics and Mitt Romney
Bishop Mittens once again went to his GOP buddies in Congress and George Bush for a FEDERAL BAILOUT.
Mormon Bishop is CORPORATE WELFARE BUM who benefited from his rich and politically connected father. He is no Steve Jobs. He isn't even a Donald Trump!
Terry, you need to speak in a language he understands: "baaa baaaa baaaaaa baaa"
BREAKING NEWS...BREAKING NEWS...BREAKING NEWS...BREAKING NEWS...
The unemployment rate is 7.8%
FOUR MORE YEARS...FOUR MORE YEARS...FOUR MORE YEARS...FOUR MORE YEARS...
Obama/Biden 2012 by a LANDSLIDE.
You need help.
Exactly why does he need help? Is it because he disagrees with you?
What is Mormon Bishop Mittens plan for cutting the deficit?
Fire BIG BIRD and the Sesame Street Gang ... plus add 8 TRILLION in unpaid spending over the next decade.
What is Mormon Bishop Mittens plan for creating his 12M jobs?
Get tougher on China ... Fire BIG BIRD and the Sesame Street Gang ... plus add 8 TRILLION in unpaid spending over the next decade.
Nice try, Fareed, but it's absurd to christen yet another 'new Romney' as the rebirth & return of the long extinct "moderate Republican' who will miraculously make all those difficult but sensible decisions the country's been waiting for since W. tricked and stole his way into the White House to mismanage the nation for 8 years. Please recall how the pundits and the mainstream media fell for W's fraudulent pose as a "compassionate conservative" and fiscally prudent chief executive who knew how to 'work with Democrats'. Fareed glosses over the fact that once again Romney misrepresented facts & reality, and short on details and principled commitments-while 'going long' on overly-simplistic promises. Don't be taken in by a Wall Street financier and film-flam artist.
In your dreams. You expect Ryan to provide the gaffe to lose an election more so than Joe Biden? Wishful thinking. In the VP debate Paul Ryan will run intellectual rings around Biden. You think Obama looked bad when compared to Romney, wait until Ryan body slams Biden in front of a national audience. When the public is allowed to view the opposing candidates side by side, with no teleprompters to tell them what to say, the democrat candidates are exposed as to how dysfunctional they are. Romney-Ryan are clearly better prepared by life experiences, education, training, and skill sets to head the executive branch of government. Kick Obama-Biden out and let America be America again.
I find it interesting that you couch your predictions in pro wrestling terms. It probably indicates your intelligence level.
Yes, you are right Fareed. But Ryan is in his back. He will never be a moderate republican. Next week is Ryan-Bidden debate. The theme will change from moderation to extreamism again. Obama has to point out the Etch-A-Sketch Romney that if he change the theme and be a transactional candidate, that American people should not trust him. Man is good as his words. Those words has spoken loud and clear for months. He can not just change 360 degrees few weeks before the election and assume people to buy him. Obama needs to constantly attack that fact and make him a unreliable lier who's only interest is to win the election by saying what ever people wants to hear.
Well, Mitt would have to explain that "I'm a SEVERE CONSERVATIVE!!" rhetoric of just a few months ago.
If he's not willing to be consistent, what kind of leader is that?
RIGHT-WING nut wrote: Obama has no experience.
Except ... Obama has experience being President. He got the job on his FIRST ATTEMPT.
Mormon Bishop Mittens has 6 years of experience campaigning to be president.
In 2008, Mittens couldn't beat old man John McCain. That's sad. Took 2 tries to win the GOP nomination.
And what is Bishop Mitten's so called business success? NOTHING.
Google: Federal Bailout 10 MILLION that SAVED Bain Capitol and Mitt Romney
Mittens was a FAILURE at Bain Capital. Its in the FEDERAL RECORDS and Bain Capitol records. That is why Mittens begged for a FEDERAL BAILOUT. The worst part: Mittens never paid back us ... the TAX PAYERS.
Google: Federal Bailout 2.7 BILLION that SAVED Utah Olympics and Mitt Romney
Bishop Mittens once again went to his GOP buddies in Congress and George Bush for a FEDERAL BAILOUT.
Mormon Bishop is CORPORATE WELFARE BUM who benefited from his rich and politically connected father. He is no Steve Jobs. He isn't even a Donald Trump!
I totally disagree with Fareed..What Romney is doing is publicly showing what a liar he is?
People can see right through. Even if Obama does not attack him. His words speak for themselves...
what really worries me if Americans are so dumb as to buy ROmney lies. I have seen politicians come and go frmo 1980...and I have never seen something Like Romney. I hate Newth, but at least I knew what he sttod for..from very beginning. All politicans lie, even Obama has.. But ROmney goes beyond lying. I tell you.. I would take BUSH over Romney..Here's why. I know what you get..
Obama has failed to turnaround the economy, more Americans living in poverty and on Foodstamps. His foreign policy has been a disaster, latest coverup in Libya Diplomat pleaing for more protection was denied after attack Obama blamed a video. Obama should take the advice of his own Simpson Bowles commission as a start and learn how to work with Republicans ala President Clinton
When Obama took office: 8M+ jobs were lost.
Now 5M+ jobs created.
Unemployment today is 7.8%.
The GOP claim 23M are unemployed. Once again, the math does not add up!
Total US Population 2012: 314M
314M x 7.8% = 24M
So for the GOP math to add up, you must count every child, baby, senior, college student, everybody ... as people currently seeking employment.
So what are the real job numbers? There are 12.5M unemployed, 2.5M underemployed, and 7M part-time workers.
But that only adds up to 20M people.
So once again, the GOP is no good at math.
And if the GOP of 23M was TRUTHFUL, that means 28M people were unemployed because Bush-onomics. The same policies that Mormon Bishop Mittens wants to do but more EXTREME.
*Yawn*
Tim, you are a sheep. You do not think for yourself. Your opinion is worthless. Thanks for regurgitating RNC/Fox talking points.
Among other things the biggest difference between Pres Obama and Gov. Romney. Is Romney's proven track record of working and compromise with Democrats, a stark contrast with Obama's inability or unwillingness to work with Republicans. You can see Pres Obama's body language and expressions he did not like the debate. He rather dictate than compromise...as a result Gridlock in Washington. Obama has passed legislation via executive order (immigration) and bribery (Obamacare). Compromise is a huge part of our democracy and Obama just won't have it as a Result Americans continue to suffer.
Obviously, you are unaware that prior to Obama even taking office the Congressional Republicans self-admitted #1 priority was to make sure he was not re-elected. This led to unprecedented obstructionism by Republicans in Congress, making it impossible to move forward on any important legislation. Now, you might ask yourself, shouldn't the #1 priority of government at that time have been to actually DO THEIR JOBS and govern and try to fix the mess of an economy that was shedding jobs at a historical rate? Instead, they blocked everything, putting their political ideology far far ahead of their resposibilities as representatives of the people of this country. Absolutely shameful and absolutely disgusting. This is the reason for gridlock...one party unwilling to get anything done as it doing so would impede their ability to accomplish their admitted #1 priority
Your inaccurate recounting of Romney's one term as Guv of Mass is truly laughable. By the time he left office he was despised by Dem and Rethuglican legislators in MA because Republicans felt he was personally aloof and without principles, while the Dems knew Mitt was unpredictable (i.e., without principles) and too much of a grandstander-trying to take credit for everything that worked well in the state, while blaming others for unfinished business. All you need to know about Rmoney's performance in Mass is summed-up in his last public approval rating before he left office: 34%.
You tell the truth Jeff. Romney was not popular with the electorate and that's why he decided not to seek a second term ... he knew he couldn't win.
Yeah, he didn't raise taxes to lower the deficit. . . he doubled fees to do it... same thing as taxpayers still ended up paying more. No skill or corporate expertise here, just passing the buck/taking easy route as he did with Vain.
As for working with Dem. controlled Congress, he had a group willing to compromise which made it easy for him. They understood it takes COMPRISE to achieve a greater good... something the obstructionists Tea Party don't care to do. Their agenda has nothing to do with genuinely solving our problems.
If Romney is elected he will experience their wrath if he isn't lock step with their agenda, which is the opposite of his promises made during the debate. So, we could see deja vu the next four years. Think about it!
You are a sheep. You are also in denial. You lack personal responsibility. You're a liar. You're not a conservative, because each one of those points is supposed to describe something they see as vile...oh, wait...
A moderate Republican in office? I would LOVE that!
Then vote for Obama.
The problem is Romney's 5 point economic plan includes 5 of the 6 items that President Bush had as his economic plan in 2004.
Not sure why Romney has been campaigning to do 5 of the 6 items that President Bush did.
In addition, I'm not sure why Romney campaigns against President Reagan's fair tax act that would treat capital gains the same as a working American's income.
It's very strange when a Democrat endorses one of President Reagan's proudest achievements and Romney campaigns against Reagan's solution.
Because the Bush's own the GOP party.
You want the GOP nomination, you need to embrace the Bush's.
What Mormon Bishop Mittens doesn't realize, is that the Bush's only endorsed him because they knew he would fail and disappoint the GOP base because he is actually a wannabe Democrat in disguise.
This sets up perfectly Jeb Bush run in 2016.
JEB BUSH 2016!!! LOL
For those that didn't understand what happened at the debate.
Obama was clearly letting Mormon Bishop Mitten's words speak for themselves.
Everybody knows this: Mittens is a FLAWED politician. He has no discipline or principles. If you let Mitten's speak long enough, he will bite himself in the buttocks like he did with his *47% VICTIM* moment of truth.
Mittens gave the media and Obama campaign plenty more new materials to throw back at himself.
Tax-cut lies. 8T in new spending. And ... fire Big Bird? Really?
Tim..You do know when
Well, my biggest problem with Obama since he was elected has been that he sometimes doesn't stand up for himself. He probably thinks he doesn't need to – but look at the fall-out from this debate – Romney lied his a$$ off and largely got away with it. I agree that Romney is probably a much more decent guy than his caricature, but why take a chance on him claiming to be like Obama when we can just vote for Obama. If Romney turns out to be a Tea Party puppet then the damage inflicted on this nation by George W. Bush will pale in comparison.
Very good article, i always look forward to reading something which has an original take on the issues.
I am really surprised at the arguments between the states rights vs. federal powers, an argument which used to be between the whigs and the democratic republicans.
It would be nice to get an article looking at the history of these sorts of debates.
The Republicans DON'T care what form Mitt takes – their hatred of Obama (for "unmentionable reasons") is all-consuming, and all that matters to them.
How does a fli flopper = moderate republican? He isn't a moderate. He's a scammer, he'll say whatever it takes to win. However if he wins and starts making decisions, he's going to be a republican which favours the rich over everyone else in america. Moderate means he's gonna do some of the things that Democrats would do, but we already saw 4 years of Republicans blocking any progress or decision made by Democrats and Obama. So what makes you think they'd support him when he tries to do the same? well they wont have to try because he wont try, the economy is getting better thanks to Obama and the fruits of it will be evident in the next term, so if Romney wins he'll claim them as his own, when infact his policies are going to recreate another recession for another president. These policies arent over night, they take time for results to show up. Obama was president during the results of Bush's policies, if Romney wins he'll be president during the results of Obama's and Bush's policies. Romney's policies wont show up until the next president.
RIGHT-WING nuts cry: the world is on fire! the US is dying! And it's all Obama's fault!
When Obama took office: 8M+ jobs were lost.
Now 5M+ jobs created.
Unemployment today is 7.8%.
The GOP claim 23M are unemployed. Once again, the math does not add up!
Total US Population 2012: 314M
314M x 7.8% = 24M
So for the GOP math to add up, you must count every child, baby, senior, college student, everybody ... as people currently seeking employment.
So what are the real job numbers? There are 12.5M unemployed, 2.5M underemployed, and 7M part-time workers.
But that only adds up to 20M people.
So once again, the GOP is no good at math.
And if the GOP of 23M was TRUTHFUL, that means 28M people were unemployed because Bush-onomics. The same policies that Mormon Bishop Mittens wants to do but more EXTREME.
LOL! lib math...never adds up maggot boy...why are so many people out of work under ovomit...answer that for me and don't blame Bush he hasn't been president for 4 years...vote Romney.
Once again, these are the numbers:
7.8 % unemployment rate
There are 12.5M unemployed, 2.5M underemployed, and 7M part-time workers.
So really, there are 15M people currently unemployed or underemployed.
Bush-onomics lost 8M+ jobs.. So tn 2009, that number was 15M + 8M = 23M.
So are we better off today? You bet! 5M+ people of the 8M+ that lost jobs under Bush-onomics have jobs today.
"maggot boy" and "ovomit"?
Are you still in the third grade, or is that simply the last grade you completed before working in the mine?
Marley Wrote: When Obama took office: 8M+ jobs were lost.
Now 5M+ jobs created.
Answer: So Marley, by your accounting Obama is still down 3M jobs in nearly 4 years in office...
Marley Wrote: Unemployment today is 7.8%.
The GOP claim 23M are unemployed. Once again, the math does not add up!
Answer: Learn the basis for the numbers and you might understand where they come from. By definition, people that are no longer seeking employment are dropped from the unemployment numbers. A much better statistic is the (employment) participation level which is at it's lowest point since record keeping has been kept (and that includes the Great Depression).
Marley Wrote: Total US Population 2012: 314M
314M x 7.8% = 24M
Answer: Your numbers are wrong because you are using the wrong numbers. Unemployment is not based on the total US population.
Marley Wrote: So what are the real job numbers? There are 12.5M unemployed, 2.5M underemployed, and 7M part-time workers.
But that only adds up to 20M people.
Answer: You're not including individuals who have given up and left the work force. You also incorrectly use the entire US population in your calculations and the BLS only uses the population of working age.
You clearly are clueless.
To even get close the GOP number of 23M unemployed, you have to include the entire US population.
Which is WRONG!
There is no way you can get to that 23M unemployed figure that GOP keeps throwing around.
And like I said, if the GOP numbers are right (which they are not), then in 2009, there were 28M+ people unemployed because of Bush-GOP-onomics.
So you want to go back to 28M+ unemployed? Vote for Bush-II ... I mean Bishop Mittens.
Marley, multiply the U6 unemployment rate times the BLS eligible working population and the number is above 23M. Clearly you don't understand math or know how to do basic research...
Obama is facing someone with experience and workable ideas. Hope and Change were a fiasco, a failure. The empty chair is leading America. Romney knows how to be an executive and make a business grow. Obama has proven he knows how to waste money on bad business!
Except ... Mormon Bishop Mittens has no actual business success.
Google: Federal Bailout 10 MILLION that SAVED Bain Capitol and Mitt Romney
Mittens was a FAILURE at Bain Capital. Its in the FEDERAL RECORDS and Bain Capitol records. That is why Mittens begged for a FEDERAL BAILOUT. The worst part: Mittens never paid back us ... the TAX PAYERS.
Google: Federal Bailout 2.7 BILLION that SAVED Utah Olympics and Mitt Romney
Bishop Mittens once again went to his GOP buddies in Congress and George Bush for a FEDERAL BAILOUT.
Mormon Bishop is CORPORATE WELFARE BUM who benefited from his rich and politically connected father. He is no Steve Jobs. He isn't even a Donald Trump!
Anybody with rich parents who have all the political connections ... can make a lot of money of ... through FEDERAL BAILOUTS.
If you don't want Republicans to win, get out there and vote. It doesn't take alot of time. Even if it takes a whole day its just one day of your life that will affect years of your life! Don't give up or not care! Obama 2012! Hillary Clinton 2016!
Who cares what this lib says...he is always wrong...vote Romney.
Except ... Mormon Bishop Mittens has no actual business success.
Google: Federal Bailout 10 MILLION that SAVED Bain Capitol and Mitt Romney
Mittens was a FAILURE at Bain Capital. Its in the FEDERAL RECORDS and Bain Capitol records. That is why Mittens begged for a FEDERAL BAILOUT. The worst part: Mittens never paid back us ... the TAX PAYERS.
Google: Federal Bailout 2.7 BILLION that SAVED Utah Olympics and Mitt Romney
Bishop Mittens once again went to his GOP buddies in Congress and George Bush for a FEDERAL BAILOUT.
Mormon Bishop is CORPORATE WELFARE BUM who benefited from his rich and politically connected father. He is no Steve Jobs. He isn't even a Donald Trump!
Anybody who has rich parents that have all the political connections ... can make a lot of money of ... through lobbying for FEDERAL BAILOUTS.
The "debates" if you want to call them that are a damn joke and have been since the advent of the radio. The presidency of the United States of America is not something to be taken lightly in 1 hour long increments with pre-fabricated questions, 2 minute answers, and sound bytes. It needs to go back to the way it was with 4 hour meetings with candidates going city to city. But the American culture is such that no one would bother to go or learn about who they were voting for. Now its nothing more than a beauty pagent, and all the contestants aren't even allowed it, just two.
Tim..Can you touch more on Romney's proven track record compromising with the Dems. I did some research and there was very little passed during his time in Mass that help the state. I have a lot of friends that live their and they have nothing good to say about him. I blame congress more than the Obama for not getting things passed.
I heard that he was gov for only 1 term, he didnt even try running again because he knew that he was exposed for the flip flopping snake that he is.
Obama's problem during the debate was he was self depreciating or what ever its called. He kept saying how wrong he was about this or that and how similar he is to Romney. Go on the offensive and mark the line in the sand. Attack Attack Attack. No retreat! No surrender!
Obama's problem during the debate was that he has no record to run on. He AVOIDED his record, because it's pitiful. Romney attempted to make Obama account for his Presidential record – tough for Obama to do when there's virtually nothing positive on the resume to present.
Obama did more positive in 4 years than Bush did in 8! Iraq war: done, Afghan war: soon pulling out, Bin Laden: dead, Health care: passed reform democrats have been trying to pass for a loooong time, Jobs: recovered all the jobs lost by Bush, Military: Assets moved to the pacific to balance a big potential threat (China), Iran: no nuke, Energy: investment in domestic energy and renewable energey so we dont rely on the other countries for oil. All this with republicans standing in his way on everything for 4 years, there was absolutely no cooperation from republicans.
Hi right, You said, "Obama did more positive in 4 years than Bush did in 8!" The problem is that this isn't about a comparison between Obama and Bush. My comment had to do with Obama's worthiness to stay in office. None of your so-called achievements is an indication of Obama having a resume deserving of a second term. Iraq is going downhill; bin Laden was good (but please give credit to the SF who accomplished this); health care had absolutely no support 'across the isle' and that's almost always the sign of a bill/law with problems (and 'Obamacare' has numerous problems); the jobs lost by Dodd-Frank have not been recovered – they've been replaced by low skill/temp jobs in large part; the Pacific re-balance may or may not be a wise move (time will tell); Iran with no nukes – you really want to claim this one?; energy investments – that's a mixed bag with some successes and some fairly major mess-ups (Solyndra quickly comes to mind); no cooperation/Republicans in the way – Obama had a filibuster proof Senate and solid House majority his first two years, so that claim is weak. Senator Obama stated that adding to the national deficit was wrong and puts the future generations in a debt they should not have to pay. Why did President Obama add more debt than any other President?
The affirmative action college groupy couldn't hang with the corporate ceo. Simple as that. Obama is out of his league with Mit. McCain was a dottering, old man. Mit is smoother than Obama ever will be..
Yea Mitt's smooth...as smooth as a snake...
Taking a look at the past, Mitt Romney has never and will never a Republican but has always and will continue to ride on republican platform. Fareed Zakaria you are absolutely correct.
These brainless liberals are bragging about 7.8%. that's how lousey the economy has been under Obama that 7.8 sounds good. It's horrible!, I sure wouldn't be proud of that.
7.8% is a hell a lot better than the GREAT RECESSION trajectory of 25% unemployment, don't you think?
You remember, the GREAT RECESSION that Bush-onomics created? The same policies that Mormon Bishop Mitten's wants to pursue.
And remember the GOP attack line ... If the unemployment rate isn't in the 7% range, then Obama has failed. Now it's in the 7% range ... so there goes the GOP attack line! LOL
7.8% is a pathetic number to brag about after nearly 4 years in office and $5.5T+ added to the national debt. Worse yet is the employment participation level which is at its worst level EVER (thanks to Obama and Dem Congress policies).
You remember, the GREAT RECESSION that Clinton-onomics created with great help from Dodd/Franks – that 'thing' about housing for all regardless of ability to pay with Fanny and Freddie holding the Federal gov't responsible for assumed debt? These are the continuing policies that Obama wants to pursue in the name of wealth redistribution.
And remember the Dem attack line when Bush Jr was President... Unemployment rate at 5.3% is unacceptable (Pelosi quote circa 2006)..
Ummm ... except Bill Clinton created 23M new jobs and didn't cause the GREAT RECESSION.
Yeah, FACTS would be helpful.
Here is another FACT:
13/14 RECESSION in US history – including the GREAT DEPRESSION and GREAT RECESSION – have occurred under GOP administrations.
In MATH and SCIENCE, 13/14 is not a coincidence. GOP-onomics do not work. Its in the historical data.
Hi Marley, that's a nice assortment of useless data and does not in the least bit refute the FACTS as I stated them. You clearly have no argument to put forward in support of Obama and I see nothing in Obama's record as President deserving of a second term.
Funny, when Reagan ran for reelection in 1984, the Republicans thought 7.8% unemployment was an absolutely peachy number, even though Reagan didn't inherit half the mess that Obama did. If you tag Obama as a first term failure, then you have to regard Reagan as a first term failure as well. And Reagan also had the marine barracks bombing happen (the biggest single day loss of US military personnel since Iwo Jima) on his watch, which he responded to by cutting and running.
Gary, what was the inflation rate that Reagan inherited? And what was the inflation rate Obama inherited? The two situations are very different and Reagan arguably inherited a much worse mess from Carter than Obama did from Bush. Obama had a filibuster proof Senate and solid House majority, both under Democrat control, his first two years in office.
Moderate Republican? Like Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, tolerant evangelicals..such a thing does not exist.
Mitt Romney has a problem with people collecting welfare who are down on their luck while he has absolutely NO problem for collecting corporate welfare from the government to help his business (i.e. Bain).
'...he faces a moderate Republican' – Who if God forbid something happens to him while in office would be replaced from a NOT moderate Republican. The VP selection isn't a 'show stopper' but you do have to always keep in mind who the 'backup' is for both men. I'll take Joe Biden over Paul Ryan any day of the week.
You would take Biden over Ryan? Ryan has made a couple of mistakes when speaking, but Biden could fill a moderate sized library with his gaffes – if they really are gaffes.
DD...Do you realize Romney ideas have changed mulitiple time since last week. He's never really grew a business either unless you want to count Bian gutting companies as job growth. This guy even has the balls to complain about the bailout and stimulus paymnets. He actually collected two bailouts for his companies. One was in the millions and the other in the Billions.
Mormon Bishop Mittens thinks spending a few millions to keep Big Bird and the Sesame Street gang employed fails the China test.
But apparently, 5T in new tax cuts, 2T in new military spending, and 1T in Bush tax cuts passes the China test.
Yeah, let's borrow from China so we can build up our military to attack China. Let's see how well that strategy will work.
moderate republican yuppie elitist. yeah thats exactly what we need.
Proud of 7.8 after four years? Low expectations from liberals. They are grabbing for straws
Romney may have a problem, after all the cheering over his "win" at the debate dies down. The Tea Party and religious right want to hear about their own ideology from Romney, and he may be too concerned with going to the middle and looking like a moderate Republican to please them anymore. Not that they'd ever vote for Obama, but the GOP doesn't need more divisiveness either.
His problem has already begun. His win may be his failing. Because he ran away from his own tax plan he has proposed aggressively throughout this campaign Wednesday, it is being more scrutinized. The media, other than FOX, are pointing out that he has been proposing a 20% tax deduction, across the board, and increase military spending. Yet, there are no real details on how he would keep these cuts revenue neutral. When he does provide a sliver of information, the offset is no where near enough to offset the revenue reduction he seeks. Other parts of his plan are being scrutinized. His pledge to create 12 billion jobs by the end of his proposed first term, 2016, has been in the public since January from independent analysis, backed up by two other independent reports this past Summer. He is now claiming that as his proposed plans, trying to win on something that would happen with or without him in office. This guy is as subtle as the serpent in the Garden of Eden. Beware.
This should say the "appearance of a moderate Republican". Romney is, of course, far more moderate than he made himself appear earlier in the campaign. He has been lying to the GOP which made many of them understandably uncomfortable. But to all the moderates out there who think he is a sheep-in-wolf's-clothing it would be wise to rethink that a little. Ultimately Romney has demonstrated that he is extremely disingenuous so trusting anything about how he has presented himself is a dangerous game. "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."
Things have been so bad that the liberals think 7.8% unemployment is good.
Oh Jack, don't be such a moron. But, just like people forgetting that gas was at $1.50 a gallon in the Spring of 2005, 7.8% is better than the 10% it peaked at. But, no, no one thinks that is a good number. Remember, if you are old enough, that no one thought 5% unemployment was good. People are happy to see it going down, it is good for the economy, good for the country. What say you Jacky Boy?
7.8% is better that 10.1%, but neither are good. $5.5T+ added to the federal deficit isn't good. The employment participation rate being the worst ever in history (a much better indicator of employment than the unemployment rate) – not good.
So ya, it's an improvement until the real numbers come out in 2 or 3 months and revise them one way or the other.
You can look at the handshake above, notice the body english and facial expressions. I know who the real joker is... and if you think its Obama then your would be incorrect. Mitts little monster lies just above the surface and he gives himself away all the time ...if you have eyes to see. Obama's body english and facial expression is complete and whole no doubt ..what you see is what you get and if you don't like it then ...its your problem not his, mine or the rest of his posse.
If the President can successfully reveal, either in the next two Presidential debates or in campaign ads, that he is running against an chameleon, it will be over. People don't like their leaders who say one thing, one day, and another the next. This guy backed away from his tax plan like he saw a ghost Wednesday night. A 20% tax cut across the board is paid for how? He claims from increase in revenues from job creation. Well, no economist has come out and supported Mr. Romney's "theory". I haven't heard his own running mate support this claim. It will be interesting to see how Paul Ryan answers this question next Thursday evening. Will he run from the tax plan too, like the head of the party, or will he try to defend, come up with the "arithmatic" to make it work?
If Romney can ever get Obama to reveal his economic plan THAT will be interesting. Is it the economic plan that the Reid controlled Senate voted against 99 – 0 or the second one that the Reid controlled Senate voted against 97 – 0 (and as a bonus the House voted 414 against the second one). Yes, it could be interesting. Am I a Romney fan? Not really. We've seen Obama for 4 years and he is the ultra-spend and tax liberal. He has no peer in the spending. Obama had one undeserved chance and does not deserve another – nothing in his Presidential resume stands out as deserving of another term.
Hmmmmmmmmmmm...where did I read this before?
A second term for O'Boma or the first term for a moderate republican would have the identical problem. Congress is and most likely will continue to be controlled by the extreme right wing. Romney is beholding to those tea party members as well as the religous zealots. If he wobbles to the center after the election he weill find similar difficulties our current president faced and still faces in getting things through congress this nation truly needs. R&D, rebuilding our aged infrastructure, modernizing and the education our youth who will at some point be at the controls, but be too uneducated to compete with msot other countries. China will make us look like USA in the year 1910.
If that is so...then why vote for Romney? Keep Obama because the results would be the same....guaranteed.
I don't want romney's foreign national NON-skilled αss sitting in the oval office.
Huge Yellow Birds with giant Goofy Orange Feet terrorize the young almost-human children on planet Kolob ...so its just Mitts repressed feelings coming up.
Apparently, things have gotten so GOOD, that RIGHT-WING nuts have forgotten about the GREAT RECESSION created by Busho-GOP-onomics ... the same policies that Mormon Bishop Mittens wants to go back to.
7.8% is a hell a lot better than the GREAT RECESSION trajectory of 25% unemployment, don't you think?
You remember, the GREAT RECESSION that Bush-onomics created? The same policies that Mormon Bishop Mitten's wants to pursue. The same policies that lost 8M+ jobs!
The unemployment rate trajectory during the GREAT RECESSION was 25%. Had there been no stimulus and policy changes, we would have reached 25% unemployment ... which would be GREAT DEPRESSION levels.
And remember the GOP attack line ... If the unemployment rate isn't in the 7% range, then Obama has failed. Now it's in the 7% range ... so there goes the GOP attack line! LOL
Things have gotten so GOOD, the GOP no longer uses the 7% range unemployment target as an attack line.
They now have to make up fake unemployment numbers of 23M.
The math does not add up! You can't even get to 23M using any of the employment statistics.
The only way you can get even close to 23M is to use the entire US population figure:
7.8% x 314M = 24M
Using real unemployment figures:
12.5M unemployed
2.5M underemployed
7M part-time workers ... these folks are not underemployed.
Marley – You are really good at name calling – shows such strong character! Way to go!
Mr. Zakharia I agree 100% but…DOESN'T CHARACTER COUNT FOR ANYTHING!!!!
To me Mr. Romeny lacks CHARACTER because he doesn't not stand by his own words and positions . It is one thing to have a change of heart every now and then, but this guy is intentionally catering to whatever audience he needs to , in order to get elected.
How can America trust a spineless man like Mitt Romney?
Amazing how things arent along your opion so that person is wrong we should all be honest with ourselfs an listen. Cause no one here has all the facts.
What is Mormon Bishop Mitten's health care plan to replace Obamacare?
He repeal Obamacare, but keep all the good stuff in it! LMAO
Then Mitten's own campaign advisors had to FACT-CHECK Mittens and tell the media that NO ... Mittens cannot afforad to cover people with PRE-EXISITING conditions ... because he has already allocated 8T in spending for other priorities.
Marley – Just maybe if you were familiar with some of our State laws, you would see that Pre-X is already covered!
Leaving the choice to the States makes alot of sense! My State made it work. Guaranteed coverage here.
Oh, keep up the name calling, makes you look even smarter! Nice job!
according to the government the the unemployment rates for Teens, Blacks, and Hispanics hasn't changed, so why are Teens, Blacks, and Hispanics praising Obama putting more adult whites to work?
Obama's silence during the debates about the Romney 47% remark was a lot louder than getting into the trenches with the man about it. It has been examined, reexamined and brought to the fore ALL THE MORE because Obama was quiet about it. Now Romney follows up (AS EXPECTED BY THE DEMS) with a FLIP FLOP. America gets it. Relax Dems. America gets that Romney is a flip flopper. Now today they also know that he is sometime a TARDY flip flopper. How long ago was that remark made? How long has it been in the public domain?
Obama's silence on his own economic plans is also curious. He's been in office nearly four years and after two budget submissions to the Democrat controlled Senate has a combined vote of 196 – 0 rejecting what he put forward. Are we supposed to just take it on face value that after adding $5.5T+ to the national debt in under 4 years and unemployment being worse than 8% for 44 straight months that Obama has some magic to turn the economy around?
But you choose to listen to a rather poorly worded comment by Romney, taped in secret and taken out of context as your complete basis for voting against Romney (but not really offering any reason why anyone should vote for Obama)?!
Obama won't talk about his largest tax increase on the middle class in the history of the world to pay for his government takeover of private health insurance. The job numbers posted today as phony because the economy would need to be growing at 5% for those numbers to be anywhere near 7.8% unemployment. Obama won't talk about forcing military contractors to delay their layoff notices until after the election. Obama won't talk about having complete control of the house and senate for two full years and could have passed anything he wanted without needing a single republican vote. He won't talk about all the bribes and kickbacks it took to get Democrats to vote for his obamacare. He won't talk about why there are 47 million people on food stamps twice what it was when he was elected but unemployment is now lower than when he took office. Curious questions the liberal media won't ask and he won't answer. Romney will beat him again in the next debate because Obama con't defend his failure as a president.
You know little of Government and even less about history. Getting bills out of Committee to be voted on by the "Democratic" Congress in those 2 years became impossible due to the obstruction of Republicants. The Dems did not have 60 votes to stop the pack o' politick Republican worms.
Dave – Obama had a filibuster proof Senate for nearly his first two years in office. If you want to discount Lieberman, that's quite disingenuous, since he ran for office as a Dem and was defeated in the primary. He then won that seat as an Independent (which he is in name only).
Yea Obama faked the job numbers just like he faked Bin Laden's death. The Moon landing? Fake. Who faked it? Obama.
Don't forget the Supreme Court faking the election in 2000 and Bush 43 faking victory or "Mission Accomplished" on an aircraft carrier.
I have not seen such a pile of manure since I worked on a horse farm.
Accepting your logic about the delayed military contractor layoffs then President Bush 43 entered a second war to keep employment levels up due to the numbers of personnel in the military and civilian contractors necessary to support both the first war in Afghanistan and the second war in Iraq.
Romney is doing the same thing Casey Anthony, spin the truth with lies and have you American believing it then is sounds plauseable " HMMM"
Then like how she got off with the lies, He will be elected with the same lies.
AMERICANS THE WORLD LAUGHTS AT YOU ( WHAT ARE THE AMERICANS DOING NEXT? ELECTING ROMNEY)
LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL, SITTING AROUND BON FIRES AND SWINGING FROM ROPES WITH FEATHERS IN OUR NOSES.
On Willards 2008 taxes ( hacked from the IRS by the "anonymous" hacking group and put onto the web for a short period of time), he deducted a large amount for a Psychiatrists treatment for Pathological Lying. That and an $80,000 wig and $40,000 for a stylist.
A wig and a liar. Seems sooo Republicant.
Apparently, to RIGHT-WING nuts these days, cutting jobs in the PUBLIC SECTOR is a BAD.
Shame on Obama! All the jobs losses in his first term have occurred in the PUBLIC SECTOR.
The GOV"T PAYROLL has shrunk under Obama. There would actually be more people employed, if the GOP Congress wanted to add more PUBLIC SECTOR jobs (like construction, teachers, firemen, etc ...)
But GOP doesn't believe it can create jobs (remember Boehner's admission?)
So make up your mind RIGHT-WING nuts!
What do you want?!!
Over time Romney's positions and message have become more and more like Obama's. It is as if the best strategy the Romney campaign has come up with is to copy Obama. When it comes to who's the next president, I want the original. Who in their right mind would want the most expensive imitation that money can buy? Not I.
Perhaps Romney was set free by the truth. I think Obama should give him a cordial invitation to join the Democratic party, since Romney embraces most of their program anyway. If you can't beat them, invite them to join.
Obama's greatest challenge is his own incompetence and massive lack of leadership skills. Hopefully America will wake up and vote this clown out of office.
May e you had no problem with the incompetent GWB letting 9/11 happen, getting us into unfunded wars and giving huge tax breaks to the rich in the middle of recession.
RIGHT-WING nut wrote: We've seen Obama for 4 years and he is the ultra-spend and tax liberal.
Except ... that is not even factual.
TAXES have DECREASED under Obama.
Obama inherited a 1.5 TRILLION budget DEFICIT from Bush failed policies.
This means, in 4 years, Bush/GOP failed policies from the last decade have added about 6T in the federal deficit.
4 yrs x 1.5T = 6T
The budget DEFICIT has decreased slightly but there is no way we can get back to the Clinton budget SURPLUSes without:
1. Making sure the GREAT RECESSION is completely over.
2. A BALANCE approach to reducing the deficit.
A BALANCE approach requires:
1. Repealing Bush Tax Cuts
2. Repealing Bush unpaid wars
3. Repealing Bush Prescription drug plan for seniors
and ... NO MORE RECKLESS WARS with any new nations ... like how the GOP wants to go to war with Libya, Syria, and Iran.
Marley, taxes have not decreased under Obama. Tax intake has decreased because fewer people are employed in skilled, full-time jobs than when he took office. The rest of your comments are total fabrications. Obama, Reid and Pelosi (all Democrats) had complete control of the Executive and Legislative Branches for Obama's first two years and Reid and Pelosi controlled the Senate and House for Bush's last two years. Bush gets no kudos for the debt accrued while he was President, but Obama has far exceeded the amount any other President has added to the national deficit.
Flip Flop Mii is a wolf in sheeps clothing. He will say anything and do anything to get to his agenda. He was a moderate Republican but far Right now that his party has gotten a hold of him. Should he become president, he will be so shackled by his party and from his big money friends interests that the middle class will further suffer financially.
Carefull for what you wish for
RoMoney is a Masterdebater
I've said for a long time that Romney wasn't electable in his own party. The guy was essentially Obama policy wise when he was in Massachusetts. His party is so full of angry lunatics he has hard time presenting an electable image of himself during the primary. So what we see is the end result is republicans realize their true core beliefs are not electable. But they can live with an Obama policy but they just want a rich white guy to do it. then they can live with it.
Romney has become a democrat now; May be he can join forces with Obama to improve economy and keep the Obamacare and well can go home happy except the right wingers.
He already did join Obama forces. Didn't you hear what he said at the debate?? I likes many part of obamacare and keep all the goodies of obamacare, he will NOT raise taxes of the middle class and will NOT cut any deduction for middleclass, he now supports dodd & frank – even wants more of it, he will NOT cut taxes for the rich, will cut loopholes...he has already become Obama's mirror copy...EXCEPT he would like to kill the Big Bird.
Obama faces a moderate Republican (for election purposes only), who if he becomes President would return to being an extreme conservative, controlled by the rightwing of the Republican party.
Paul Ryan will mop up the floor with put your foot in your mouth Biden.
Romney/Ryan 2012
Could be a very entertaining "debate".
Uncle Joe cracks me up when he's off his meds.
you repubelickers are hilarious, you defend a position like it was absolute truth, but then when he changes his position to the arguement you were JUST argueing against, you side with him again and argue FOR it. Repubelickers don't know which way they're going. These are the different types of Repubelickers and their views: 1.Only the rich matter 2.only white people matter 3.only christians matter 4.only wars matter 5.we get to do what we want and the rest of the world isnt allowed to do it too. As long as they get policies that support some of these views then they're happy.
You're funny too, I like you.
Can you also enumerate the definitive list of Democrats (or however you care to cleverly mangle the spelling)?
Support the democrat who you know is a democrat, not the democrat who's going to flip again and implement the views of the extreme right wing.
About half way through that debate I turned to my friends and said... "He sounds like a Republican." Romney's problem is noone believes him. Pull out the etch-o-sketch after running from President for six years...and you may find that you shake it and nothing happens.
I meant... "He sounds like a Democrat."
Even if the almighty Obama wins, the nation will lose. Perhaps it takes turning our country into another Greece will wake up the sleepers when the time comes for them to lose their Obamaphones.
You Democrats are sound like a bunch of sore looser after a pee-wee football game.
Your boy lost the debate.
So what? You don't really care what any Republican has to say anyway.
Dry your eyes, put on your big boy undies and move on.
I think you're describing Republicans when McCain lost.
No, I said what I meant.
Although I would have agreed with you if you has said something along the lines of "neither party cares what the other party says".
Our country is already losing. Terrorism is being overlooked as domestic violence. Taxes going up for everybody come Jan 1. Jobs are not available despite what media portrays. Wake up people and don't be lead like sheep by a false prophet Obama.
Don't worry about what Romney says. He will change his mind or apologize shortly.
He was my governor at one time, when we had the second worst job growth in the naation.
Romney has no idea about the average person or their problems.
Be sure to vote, no matter how you feel.
We want a doer not a debater. Obama = doer. Robmey = debater. At best Robme = debater and doer of bad.
Obama is a doer?! I guess if you want to say his DOER activities include keeping unemployment above 8% for a record 44 months in a row or adding $5.5T+ to the national deficit or increasing the number of people on food stamps to ~47 million people or reducing average income of the middle class by $5K since taking office... I don't think that's anything for a president to brag about, but if that's your definition of 'doer'...
Romney moving to the center demonstrates repeats the pattern that he will do and say anything to get elected. I am not sure what he stands for anymore. If he does get elected, he go right back to keeping his party happy which is dominated by Tea Party folks who do not know the word compromise. This move to the center is based on regretting his 47% comment, as he knew that he had isolated many folks. I do not trust him.
Unemployment down from 9% to 7.8% in one year.
That will win votes. Likely be down another point by next month.
Flip's numbers obviously don't add up, so until he tells us where he can manufacture $5 trillion he's just lyin' again.
"I've long argued that Romney is an intelligent man trapped in a party that has forced him to embrace extreme and impossible positions." After long arguing, aren't you just a bit tired of being wrong? Such divisive language you use, tsk, tsk, tsk
Why do we have to read dumb articles about Sesame Street all week? Good work, media. After a debate that really talked about fundamental issues between the parties (tax increase vs. tax cuts, big federal government vs. state government), we hear about one dumb punchline. By the way, anyone talking about Romney's idea of cutting taxes not creating revenue obviously only fell for Obama's trick about repeating something until it has to be right. Cutting taxes on small businesses (taxed like individuals in many cases), would allow those businesses to invest in different things, including jobs, and grow. More jobs = More people paying taxes = More revenue for the government. That was Romney's point. Obama refused to acknowledge it. Listen to the businessman on that one, Obama's a lawyer who can flaunt big words and logic at you even if he isn't an expert on something.
Signed,
A Moderate Independent
Captain Jack – nicely put. Thanks
I'm 100% unemployed and when it happens to you you might not care so much about big bird. Big bird makes plenty of money..he cant have any of my great grandchildrens
Robmey is a masterdebater
I don't trust Mutt, Ryan or the establishment GOP but I do have a couple of points. First tax cuts aren't a "cost". They're only a cost if your mindset is the government owns the fruits of your labor. It's the "you didn't build that" mentality of socialists. Second of all, Ryan is intelligent and Joe Biden isn't. Biden is going to lose, likely worse than the guy who was missing his teleprompter the other night.
you liberals and your think bucket...it's meant for bashing into walls not for thinking!
tax cuts ARE a cost when you have a budget that isnt being paid for by anything else.
Who wrote this article for Fareed?
I can't wait to see Obama get his butt kicked two more times
HELLO EARTH TO ROMNEY SUPPORTERS!
Can you not see that he is the all time flip flopper? He says whatever he thinks people want to hear, I have a Boss like this he is always throwing his people under the bus just to make himself look good! As for the talk radio "HATE SPEWERS" Get a grip, stop telling your listening audiences that if they are not republican they are stupid. Stupidity is not allowing people to have their own opinions. No one knows what else may have been on Obama's plate the other night. All the puppet man had to do was prepare for the debate. I am like everyone else, I want a better life forward but the backward ways of the previous admin. is not going to go forward only backwards for the middle class & especially Women. Hey Gals, we are invincible, let Obama finish what he has begun.
Check his real record as gov.... Moderate on all issues. He faked the conservative stuff to get the nomination.
So Fareed, "National Security" is now the new code word for "Socialism"?
Romney is not a moderate anything. He is a money grubbing pig, like most of the 1%. What he HAS proved is that he cannot be trusted. The things he talked about in the debate were views diametrically opposed to what he has been saying for the past 18 months. He is a liar. I am the 47%. I take responsibility and care for my life. AND I VOTE. And I will be voting Obama because Mitt cannot be trusted and I certainly don't want Queen Ann and her dancing horses in the WH.
Michele – I agree, Romney is not a moderate. As for the issue of trust... So you trust Obama? What exactly has he done in his nearly 4 years to earn anybody's trust. His handling of the economy is a disaster and now he's telling us he needs another four years – to do what? He hasn't presented a plan that anybody in Congress voted in favor of (not that I put a lot of confidence in Congress). What exactly do you trust about Obama?
7.8%, let us all rejoice!
Now we only have 20 million people getting help from the government, or should I say taxpayers!
Thanks for the stimulus Obama, you have really turned our coutry around.
That money gurbbing pig has given more money in taxes to the people of this country than you have in your entire life, but that doesn't count does it! You are right in that you are the 47% that drank the koolaid and think Obama give two cents about you, other than your vote!
Doris...are you aware Obama supports partial-birth abortion? Hopefully Romney can atleast get that HORROR off the books.
Partial Birth Abortions only happen when the fetus is seriously deformed and/or the mother's life is in serious danger. No one elects to have a partial birth abortion. That being said I wouldn't want to be in the room where one's happening. The fact is, there are a lot of things that happen in medicine that are really heart-breaking. I think it's really, really distasteful that your side politicizes this issue. People lose their babies and you guys exploit it. Nuts to you.
Ryan is vulnerable on Medicare. Biden given his age should capitalize on that. I'm concerned of course that Biden with his off chart one liners that he will look stupid and demented. And Ryan will bring youthful energy and fresh current generation ideas that will win over the younger crowds. Also, 4 years can make a big difference, here came this 47 yr old ALL pepper hair guy bringing hope and change. Obama has lost that youthful look, has more salt than pepper hair, and doesn't look so energetic anymore. He looked tired and worn out at the debate. Unless, he changes direction and channels some fresh energy into the electorate, he's looking at long end of the year til Inauguration Day 2013 when he's no longer president. He has to WAKE THE F- UP like Samuel L Jackson says!!!!!
I love how someone can give 2Million per year in taxes and someone else give nothing, but he's is money grubbing!
How about this, pay for an education, work hard, make $250,000 per year and give 75K back and have someone accuse you of not giving enough and see how it feels!
So does this mean, if Mitt is elected and sits in the Oval office, he will once again change directions. First I will tell people what they want to hear for the votes and then I will do what I want. No thanks, I want a leader I can trust. I have never trusted Mitt, from the beginning and that has nothing to do with Obama
Early polling on the effect if the debate: nothing.
Today's Rasmussen poll shows Obama with the same +2 lead over Romney he has had for several days.
Today's Gallup? Had been Obama +4 for several days, but today bumped up to +5.
Basically no effect!
Ok
I voted for Romney in the primaries in 2008 – Why because he was more moderate and a businessman. This year I have found that he would sell his soul to get elected. First he kept a low profile at debates in the primaries. Then after he became a conservative. Now Romney is taking all the points as if he is a White Barack Obama and hoping people who do not like Obama because he is black will vote for him. I mean many of his points during the debate were the same as Obama. Only thing was Obama was stunned to debate against himself. Watch the first part Romney repeats what Obama just said
Actually Obama's greater challenge is defending the Bengazzi cover-up in the next debate, any guess as to how that will turn out? lol
What was your first clue that he is a moderate? But, I agree, he had to pander to the republican base to win the primaries and I don't think the republican party in general will abandon him as they did McCain in 2008. The irony is in both previous elections, citizens aligned to the republican party picked a moderate. That says allot about both those citizens and those who run the party. They definite disagree at a specific level on where they would like to see the party fundamentally.
Romney changes his position every time the political wind changes direction. So much so that you can never tell if he means what he says. How can you trust anyone like that? Especially anyone who wants to be President of the United States of America.
Obama won that debate. i bet Obama campaign is very busy right now making ads from all those lies Romney been spewing during the debate.
The VP debate should be interesting. Ryan is a policy wonk. He likes running around showing PowerPoint presentations to people. Biden is the Obama campaign's official attack dog. Normally the VP is the campaign's official attack dog so that the presidential candidates (either party) don't appear to be going too negative.
The real question is whether Ryan will be lying and back-tracking even more than Romney did. I have to admit it is difficult in an debate to attack an opponent who is so aggressively lying and running away from their prior statements.
Romney is not just a liar but also a fabricator.
YOU DEMS ALL SOUND LIKE A BROKEN RECORD - ROMNEY LIES, ROMNEY LIES, ROMNEY LIES. SHOW ME SOME CONCRETE PROOF? STOP JUST BEING A LEMMER JUMPING OFF THE CLIFF WITH THE OTHER IDIOTS! OBAMA IS THE LIAR! I VOTED FOR THAT PATHETIC HAIRCUT OF A MAN! BEEN A LIFELONG DEMOCRAT VOTER ALL MY LIFE–NOT THIS TIME! OBAMA AND THE LIBERAL MEDIA IS TWISTING EVERYTHING AND YOU FOLLOWERS ARE LIKE THE PROPHETS FOLLOWING THE MESSIAH . . .PATHETIC!
ROMNEY 2012
Romney just proved his flip flop instinct in the debate. He just flipped form his position of 5 Trillion tax cuts to increase deficits. So now he changed to the same policies as Obama. His 5 point plan is the same as Obama. Except he is going to do away with the Obama care which is the same as his Romneycare In Massachusetts. Go figure.
Obama – hasn't met with his jobs Council since JANUARY – yet maintains he is "laser focused" on economics/job situation. A pathetic excuse for a commander in chief.
Gary Johnson > Obama > Romney
Gary Johnson 2012
Mitt is like that idiot governor, ricky perry; they're both exactly like the move, "the Wizard of Oz" – all frauds!!! If voters elect Mitt, the United States will stoop even lower in rankings with all the other countries of the world. The State of Texas we have the idiot ricky, whose proud of being the 49th state in the union in education; last place in caring for it's elderly and sick and first place for hiring people for jobs – except he doesn't tell you the jobs he gets for people are for minimum paying positions and they don't last for any length of time. Mitt is the Wizard on a larger scale; he's a phony & he can't remember what he wore yesterday, much less try to declare what his policies will be – GOD forbid!! Ya basta con el!!!
YOU ARE ONE EL STUPIDO FOOL! I HOPE OBAMA GETS BACK IN AGAIN SO THAT I CAN SPIT ON PEOPLE LIKE YOU AS YOU START CRYING, "WHAT HAPPENED?" MISGUIDED IS BEING NICE. . .
bang on Fareed. Infact, here in Canada, the Globe and Mail had "Romney the Moderate" as a headline. There is no doubt that Romney knows that some in his own party may not support him. He is trying to appeal to 'right of center' people who liked Obama but would try out Romney, if he is not rightwing. In fairness, Romney came across so convincing because, he wears the clothes of a moderate quite naturally. He was exactly that as Governor! Obama will find it hard to attack the man. Romney is clearly enjoying this ride more than the primaries
YOU ARE SO RIGHT! ROMNEY IS EXTREMELY MODERATE, OTHERWISE MASSACHUSETTS WOULDN'T HAVE PUT HIM IN AS GOVERNOR. I THINK HE'S A PRETTY COOL GUY! OBAMA IS TRULY PATHETIC! HOW CAN SO MANY PEOPLE EVEN CONSIDER HIM PRESIDENTIAL MATERIAL? FOOLS!
You're right, they elected him as Gov. but couldn't wait to get rid of him. He had a likeability rate of 34% when he left office which is reason he knew he couldn't win a second term.
Speak about things you know have truth rather than hurl talking points. You'll appear more credible as well as educated.
Romney is doing what every nominee has done since the country was born, in BOTH parties. Pander to the radicals, and move to the center just before the elections. DUH! People in this blog seem to suffer from massive amnesia, or are just plain hypocrites. The problem we have this time is that Obama is actually much more radical than he says he is, and we're going to see what radical left wing is when he gets elected, and has nothing to lose! Brace yourselves idiots. Think Reverend Wright; that's the kind of "American" we will see in the White House.
Biden will win next week! Biden is abiding by the law.
Biden is the funniest joke in politics. the man has an IQ of less than 100.
Romney is not the only politician boxed in by extremist. Obama is forced to deal with the Dems own subgroups also. Truthfully the reason we have Obama and not Hilary is the result of such catering.
It is a little to let to apologize the 47% remark he made, I am confident that even if Obama does not pull out big in a last debate, he will prevail and be our President for the next 4 years. We don't need a leader who has been running for 6 years just to be the President...no...it's not going to happen, America deserve a President like Obama.
You know I actually could vote for a moderate Republican. If there were such a thing.
Yeah, they sure gave Huntsman the bum's rush, didn't they?
THERE IS . . . OPEN YOUR MIND.
ROMNEY 2012!
This is what the last GOP WH did....
see youtube - CIA Asset Susan Lindauer Can Now Speak 10 years after 9-11.
Yeah, they did it. Lied about everything. Most of Congress knew / knows.
More on Veterans Today site.
If America deserves Obama then we all should hang our heads in shame. This grroup that has us all behind in ever event in the world now is has ne real idea or is there just for the free limos and the big parties while the rest of us count our pennies just to pay for fuel ,food and taxes. This is not the AMERICA to be proud of. Get him out while we have anything left I hope it is not to late.
So Fareed, I think all I have heard Romney say from the beginning was that he was in favor of not letting the Bush tax cuts end, and that they should be extended for everyone. Obama wanted the tax cuts not to extend for those above a certain income level. So I don't know where the tax cut discussion originates from, but like all rhetoric, once you say it enough its perceived real. Please share actual facts where Romney stated before he was going to make more cuts. Because he supported extending the Bush cuts and Obama didn't for the "rich", then that gets verbalized by Obama supporters as a tax cut for the rich. Please educate us. He also always stated that he supported medical care run at the state level, and that he supported his program for his state, but not for a federal run program – each state should run its own program. So that got verbalized and branded by everyone that wanted to, that he was flip flopping and didn't even support his own program. Its amazing how shallow we can be in listening to what others actually say and letting the media write the truth and brand it for us. Thank goodness for debates, with an actual dialogue.
Obama claimed to be better at math during the debate – I think he is.... here's why.... Obama adds to the deficit, he subtracts from consumer confidence, he multiplies the national debt, and I'm not sure what he's dividing to get the new 7.8% unemployment rate. I'm rooting for the square
(sorry, it was the only way I could get in square root).
He may face a moderate Republican candidate, but would we the people wind up with a moderate Republican president if he won? Or just someone who will say whatever is required to please whoever he's talking to at the moment ...
I am starting to get afraid... yes indeed... very afraid... That Romney will not just clip a hair from Obama's head... nor many... but give Obama a complete buzz-cut. Yes indeedy. He will treat Obama like his dog. Which is unfair.
Ok Fareed. This is just your opinion. And we all know what opinions are like.
IF.... a very big if.... Romney does turn around and suddenly hold the same positions and same governing philosophy that he had when he was Governor here in Massachusetts, I would consider this a Good Thing. But I would expect a schism in the Republican party if that were to happen. The evangelicals would consider that an unforgiveable betrayal for at least a decade, and the "Tax cuts cure everything" crowd would probably choke on actual fiscal prudence.
i have no idea what Biden is planning on doing against Ryan LMAO
Far too many are simply blind cheerleaders for one party or the other, when it should be who would make the better president at this time. Obama has helped to fuel the divide. Romney has proven that he gets along well with the other party at getting things done. Given Obama's lack of success in 4 years, the debate moderator was correct in saying, "Sorry mister president, your time is up."
OK, I'm with you a little. I liked Romney in the debates and he seemed reasonable. Not a fool like george bush jr anyway. However, he belongs to the party that created the recession and unapologetically interfered with the recovery with obstructionism. How many jobs bills got killed in the House? It was like in the 40s at one time this year. Therefore, I cannot in good conscience vote for a republican because one should not reward that sort of behavior. They put party before country. WAY before country. George Washington, who abhorred the party system, would not approve.
He also said "your time is up,Gov.Romney"...In fact it was up before he ever got into the race!
Go back to plagiarizing Fareed... That will work better for you.
President Hussein, time for you to go.
We all would like to see your backward,illiterate comments gone also.
So basically your telling us that Romney is a watered down version of Obama because Romney said he would keep the good things from the Frank Dodd bill and although Romney said he would kill Obamacare he would keep the good parts of Obamacare such as no denial of insurance for preexisting conditions, no lifetime cap on insurance expenditures and allow parents to keep their adult children on their insurance until their 26 instead of 21. So Romney is just Obama-lite. No thanks! I don't like lite beer and I don't like lite candidates.
The democrats are engaging in wishful thinking that Ryan will gaff. So far in this debate Obama is down. Not logical. But that's liberals.
One debate out of three does not mean defeat.There are two more left,or can you count that high?...A debate is also not the election,and Romney sure has not won that and may not at all.He is still behind in the polls and only the Republican candidate by default not by choice.Fast talking and deceptive lying by Romney does not make him a winner in this race.
Dennis, I have no argument with you about this being a single debate completed with three more to go. But, Obama has not presented anything thus far in his own political ads or the lone debate telling anybody why he should be elected based on his record. Tell me, what has Obama done in his first term that is deserving of a second term?
Why is self-avowed plariagist Mr. Zakaria still writing for CNN?
Will the real Mitt Romney please show up?!!!
Mitt should focus on "Fast and Furious". The biggest lie of all time...right up there with the Clinton and Lewinsky love affair.
I think your memory is slipping or very selective.Instead,don't you mean the biggest lie of all time the WMD fiasco as an excuse to invade Iraq resulting in the loss of nearly 4500 Americans with so many more numerous maimings,paralyzing injuries,and traumatic brain injuries suffered?..Get real,clown.
I wonder how Mitt will legislate if he is elected since he goes back and forth on what he is going to do? I wonder if he knows?
Actually I think if he does (Gov. Romney) go this route, Obama will easily beat him in the remaining debates and also in the general election. So bring it!!!
Obama/Biden 2012
SGT RAYRAY
Now wait everybody. You really think his debate was an unintentional gaffe? By the same man who has wowed the nation previously during debates and speaking engagements? The one who was jokingly coy during the White House Correspondents Dinner all the while knowing exactly what Seal Team 6 was about to do? His debate Wednesday night — call it "rope a dope" for those that remember the great Muhammad Ali tactic in 1974 — is a perfect setup for Romney who is going to "punch himself out". BO knows all too well this is a heavyweight fight and the rounds are not over yet. Oh, and as a point of history, go read what happened in the 8th round of "the rumble in the jungle"...
dconover-
What Kool-Aid were YOU drinking ? I was embarrassed that I was watching the President of the United States look and act a fool in front of a world-wide audience ! Is he not capable of speaking his own mind-to know what HE believes in and stands for-without a teleprompter ? He certainly cannot run on his record of abject failure in regards to the economy, his foreign policy, placing us in debt past our eyeballs while wasting piles of money on boondoggles like Solyndra-the list goes on. He got called out-in front of the World-and had..........nothing other than a scowl on his face. He will not be MY President much longer, God willing.
Fareed, This is the #1 reason Romney is going to loose. He is fake. He cannot be trusted and He had been dishonest all along. As far as the debate goes Obama will chew Romeny is upcoming debates, yet Obama will only win with 51 % margin.
No tax breaks. Close loop holes, keep parts do Dodd frank? What the? Theme song should be flip flop and bye.
Or Flip Flop and lie.
Like closing GITMO. Lol!
His campaign manager said it was going to happen and lo and behold, here it is. Romney whipped out his Etch-a-Sketch! Romney is a ship without a ruddier and will sail in the direction of any political wind that blows. That is no way to lead a country
Especially when that lack of ability to think for himself makes him do stupid things that get you way more negative attention than any debate. I would mention a few but given how many times Romney has put his foot in his mouth trying to prove himself a die-hard conservative I don't think anyone who isn't a mental defective can't remember enough.
Should be interesting to see Romney try to wipe out all those times he insulted the very people he's not trying to court. He pandered to the far-right to get the nomination and that is going to end up being what cuts his throat when it comes to the general election.
The Obama economy has pulled us out of the Bush disaster and dropped unemployment from almost ten percent to 7.8%. Obama policy has decreased the government workforce by around four hundred thiusand jobs according to Labor Department. America created 4.6 million new jobs over the last 32 months, including over a half a million in manufacturing, and well over 1 million jobs in 2012 – a direct result of liberal economic policy, again according to the Department of Labor. Oh yea, stock market has rebounded to over 13K, and all other market indicators are through the roof. Most of the economy saving bail outs have been paid back to the federal government. Oil prices dropped for 10 consecutive months until the recent bump up, but energy prices will drop this winter. Borrowing interest rates at record lows. Much of this liberal economic success is due to the initial implementation of the Dodd/frank bill, the Affordable Care Act, and other initiatives. As the economy continues to grow, we will be able to pay down the national debt. The economy is clearly improving overall, but all the right wants is complete failure by the president and will never admit when the president has been successful at anything. This is one of many reasons why these radicals are so detrimental to America’s economic recovery. The increase in food stamps and poverty overall in the U.S. is a lingering effect of Bush economics The central ignorance of rightist conservatives is that president Obama is responsible for our national economic woes and joblessness in recent years, but this has been a global crisis.. Obama polices have lifted America’s economy out of the disaster left behind by Bush, even though much of the world is in recession and the Euro is collapsing. The labor force participation rate is now at about 63%, lowest level since 1981, which is the result of (1) unemployed baby boomers who want to work but will be forced to retire early and (2) economic policy created by Bush and all previous Administrations. Conservatives like to say that the “real” unemployment is about 14% or 18% which might be correct, but these numbers have been dropping, too. Saying that the economy is improving “in spite of” Obama policies is the ultimate denial of president Obama’s success.
BIDEN DOES NOT LOOK WELL. HE LOOKS SO WORN OUT.
0bama's biggest worry should be that he is a habitual liar and empty suit.
Testing
Romney may be tacking toward the center, but he has an enthusiastic tea-party "favorite" as his running mate. Ryan had better get on message or this strategy will fail.
A moderate Republican is the least of Obama's worries. I'll take a moderate Republican over a self-hating, radical Communist with Islamic "tendencies." The truth is coming out about who this man really is. There's a very simple explanation for Obama's poor debate performance: indifference.
He might also have been up all night trying to prevent the outbreak of World War III.
Romney / Ryan got this one in the bag!
Can't wait to see Biden put his foot in his mouth during the VP debate. That guy under-whelms on a scale not seen in the last 20 years.
If Obama didn't think it important enough to study and prepare, as we are now finding out, for the debate that would play a major factor in his reelection, what does that say about his being worthy of the office he holds? What does it say about Obama's priorities if he played golf, basketball and practiced bowling, as we are also informed, while disregarding and refusing to take part in his Presidential Daily Brief (PDB) even as reports from unimpeachable sources, including our Ambassador to Libya himself, were expressing near-manic concern that lives were in danger and that terror attacks were being planned?
What does it say about a sitting president who had the absolute worst debate performance in the history of modern debates - a president who had no intelligible response to the questions he was asked during the debate - a debate performance so bad that even the staunchest of his supporters condemned his performance - to then the very next day go to campaign rallies and lie as casually about what the nation and the world had seen take place - as though he were saying hello?
Shouldn't we, as a nation, be greatly concerned that if Obama has such little discipline, and if his legions are willing, en masse, to knowingly lie and shield him from the consequential reality of his disregard, be concerned pursuant to what other lengths they have gone to cover up other even more damaging misdeeds?
And specific to these questions alone, how can America trust Obama to do anything substantive for Americans if he is reelected? I have been around and involved in politics spanning some 40 years and I can say, without fear of over-statement, that I have never in that time witnessed the unabashed dishonesty and disrespect for the Office of President and the American people that Obama and his administration are guilty of. Never - I swear to you - I have never witnessed anything like this.
Americans really do need to be afraid. But, they need to be afraid not of the darkness that occupies the White House nor even of those who cover up for him, but rather they need be afraid because there are people so blind that they will vote for him even if he were to commit murder.
Obama has a job. Romney doesn't.
As I mentioned above, Obama may also have been up all night trying to prevent the outbreak of World War III.
If you don't know want I'm talking about, I wouldn't be surprised.
True. I'd be exhausted too after dealing with foreign/domestic policy, and run for re-election. Obama's so-called "loss" in the debate was just a symptom of the weight of his role. Mittens Flip-flopney was just being a blowhard on caffeine during debate night, spewing much and saying nothing...in fact he made the Pres look even better. We ALL have witnessed what Mittens' true threads are–and they're not pretty. I'd hate to see him try dealing with what Obama has to deal with the Flip-flopney way....shoot first, aim later. This is exactly what Mittens did in the debate. We're doomed if he carries out this tradition during his watch over a national crisis...under Mittens, WWIII for sure.
Lost, you make a good point. Obama does have a hectic schedule. He had to forgo meeting any foreign dignitaries during the UN General assembly meeting because he had an appearance on The View. He missed in-person Intelligence briefings for the last ~6 months for important campaign stops. It's also tough to debate when you're trying to figure out the best excuse to give the American people as to why our Ambassador was killed in Benghazi when the Intelligence community gave ample warning to beef up security. Ya, I think I understand what you're saying...
The one area where I can agree with Obama's philosophy of having to control everything centrally is when it comes to Biden's big mouth.
Romney's transformation did not happen overnight. The candidate has been reworking his stump speech. In a very smart analysis, NPR pointed out that Romney now has a five-point stump speech. The first four points are actually identical to Barack Obama's stump speech: he argues for (1) Exports (2) Domestic energy (3) Retraining and (4) Deficit reduction. It's only on the 5th that they diverge. Romney talks about small businesses, Obama about national security.
this is hilarious...................................THEIR STUMP SPEECHES ARE THE SAME ACCORDING TO FAREED....THE DIFFERENCE????
BARACK OBAMA HAS BEEN IN OFFICE FOR 4 YEARS SO WHY HASN'T HE ACTED ON ALL THE THINGS HE CLAIMS HE WILL DO IN HIS STUMP SPEECH???????
Stop making sense! Libs don't like it.
All this shows is that Romney will say anything to win. He changes his position on a dime. You don't flip-flop constantly and expect people to trust you or take you seriously.
What the wise Mr. Zakaria says nothing about is that the new "moderate Republican" Romney is lying through his ears, and the electorate–which is a very different one from what the GOP keeps dreaming it still is–is not a fool. Proof? Look at the numbers–despite everything the GOP has thrown at BO.
No other comment needed.
It doesn't matter how far anybody thinks Romney will come back to the center. He is still owned lock, stock, and barrel by the extreme right ring of the GOP because without their support he doesn't get the nomination or pick Ryan as his VP. The Romney we saw during the debate was exactly the same Romney we have always seen; he adjusted his rhetoric to the occaison. This just concludes what a lot of people have already pointed out; Mitt Romney is nothing more than an opportunistic power seeker. A common trait shared by most of these types of personalities is the inability to acknowledge and take responsibilities for mistakes (ex:47% comment) unless there appears to be a potential gain to do so. So ask yourselves; where is this "moral compass" and "personal integrity" Mitt talks so much about because I just don't think he has either of those qualities.
Biden said, "they're gonna have ya'll in chains"
@Lost, Please look up the word "metaphor" and I'll give you a link just to make it easy, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metaphor
I know that it's a metaphor, cupcake.
Has anybody thought about duels? Andrew Jackson was involved in several defending his wife's honor. Aaron Burr was the first vice president that shot someone on purpose, albeit about 10 years too late. Duels could be the only thing that saves CNN.
Obama is about to be exposed for election fundraising fraud this week.
One can only "hope".
Obama is about to be exposed for election fundraising fraud this week.
No, but I am interested in hearing more about this company that continuously changes its name and is rehired by the GOP year after year, getting caught submitting thousands of fake voter registrations. I would also like to see the lawsuits the GOP filed in 31 states attempting to keep other candidates off the ticket. I would also like to know more about this company which tore up voter registration for registered Democrats. Turns out this company was also involved in FL during the hanging chad incident, and if the Republican supreme court would have done it's job, Bush wouldn't have gotten a second term and we wouldn't be in this mess today.
Before claiming that Mr Obama is truly threatened by a moderate Republican, you might want to ask Dick Lugar about where those moderate Republicans are hiding.
YOU REPUBLIKKKANS ARE REALLY RIDICULOUS!!!
ROMNEY LIES FOR 38 MINUTES AND YOU THINK HE GOT A VICTORY AND HE DID FOR TEA PARTY RACISTS AND MINDLESS AMERICANS WHO DONT FACT CHECK AND LISTEN ONLY TO FOX AND RUSH!!!
REALLY SMART AMERICANS WILL CHECK OUT HIS DOUBLE TALK LOOK AT HIS RECORD AS GOVERNOR OF MASSACHUSSETTS AND SEE HIM FOR THE LIAR AND FLIP-FLOPPER HE IS!!!
I REALIZE OBAMA PERFORMANCE IN THE DEBATE WAS POOR TO SAY THE LEAST BUT AT LEAST HE HAS THE LAST FOUR YEARS OF REAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO BACK HIM UP!!! HE DID QUITE A LOT OF GOOD THINGS DESPITE THE OBSTRUCTIVE ENVIRONMENT IN WASHINGTON. AND IF THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE WOULD START WORKING FOR AMERICANS INSTEAD OF THEMSELVES THEY WOULD DO THEIR DAMN JOB AND SUPPORT THE PRESIDENT OR AT LEAST OFFER VIABLE OPTIONS TO BENIFIT US!!!!
WAKE UP AMERICA MITT=BUSH....IS THAT REALLY WHAT YOU WANT!!!!!
What exactly has Obama accomplished in his first term that is a good reason to vote for him? From my vantage point this Administration's highlights are: a record 44 months of 8% or worse unemployment, $5.5T+ added to the national deficit, 47 million people now on food-stamps, and three budgets submitted to and reject by Congress (the first rejected by the Senate 99 – 0, the second rejected by the Senate 97 – 0 and by the House 414 – 0, and the third budget not voted on by the Senate in order to save this Administration any further embarrassment on that topic).
Oh, by the way, if you're going to talk about an 'obstructionist' Congress, I hope you realize that Obama had a filibuster-proof Senate for nearly his first two years and a solid Democrat majority in the House his first two years. Obama still enjoys a Democrat controlled Senate. So yes, the Democrats are obstructing their own Democrat President. That's all you really need to know what Congress thinks of this President...
You mean the FAKE, moderate Republican!!
I juz wantz one of thoze free phonze that the govrnemt is givn away!
The author claims that Romney's 5 point plan is the same/similar to Obama's? Get real, on energy alone they are very far apart. For example Romney is for domestic oil, pipelines, etc, Obama? You gotta be kidding...
Obama has chosen to push his personal agenda damn the torpedoes....When he did not fix the "doughnut hole" "That was there before me....' We do not have green tech that can be done on a mass scale...so start shutting down the energy we HAVE now driving up the prices on EVERYTHING! "Energy prices will NATURALLY SKYROCKET under my plan..."(NOTHING TO REPLACE IT WITH DAMN STRAIGHT IT WILL!) "Europe will not allow us to drive our SUV's ..."
At the end of my Grandma end of life care we(Obama's Family) would have to had made decisions..Meaning "IF" you're RICH you can PAY for the care...if NOT...well you're going in front of a panel..they will look at "You"(Poor,old,uneducated.. handicapped)... and your "chances"(Maybe Vegas can set the odds) instead of "TRYING" your gonna be DIEING!
We could do SOME of this in a STRONG market...in THIS ONE!
The BIG LIE is conservatives like myself see NO roll for goverment or regulations...NOT TRUE! We JUST want to use the energy we HAVE while Green Tech is developed for Mass Production.
In the three years I have been under "Government run healthcare"(Department of Veteran Affairs)..I had my spine damaged by malpractice...had a heart attack because test could not be scheduled correctly,several unexplained infections and THREE spinal cord surgeries. I went from a Picture of health to taking 20 pills a day. YOU WILL REGRET!
So, let me get this straight. This is a long sentence. We’re going to be gifted with a healthcare plan that we’re forced to purchase and fined if we don’t, which purportedly covers at least 10 million more people without adding a single doctor but provides for 16,000 new IRS agents, written by a committee whose chairman says he doesn’t understand it, passed by a Congress that didn’t read it but exempted themselves from it, and signed by a President who smokes — [laughter] — same sentence! — with funding administered by a Treasury chief who didn’t pay his taxes, for which we will be taxed for four years before any benefits take effect, by a government that has already bankrupted Social Security and Medicare, all to be overseen by a Surgeon General who is obese — [laughter] — and finally, financed by a country that’s broke. So what the blank could possibly go wrong?
Jason – although we've been privileged to pay for this (not-yet-existent) health care for several years already, none of that already paid tax money has been saved to offset the cost of this health care. It's long gone and, as a bonus, the federal deficit has grown by over $5,500,000,000,000 since Obama became President. And there are people who still believe that he deserves another chance – amazing! I can think of 5.5 Trillion reasons why he doesn't deserve another chance...
Who is Mitt Romney? Completely changing his stance an everything he has been saying all along. He can lie on everything, his numbers do not add. How cutting taxes for every one which decreases deficit? How will he kill Obamacare that most of it that he supports? Never mind that it is based on his Romneycare. He is now going to withhold the dream act. Is he already etch-a-sketching conservative values?
He is trying to emulate Obama, hoping to sway some of the great uneducated that voted for him in 2008. He thinks if he cam mimic Obama it might confuse some dimwits. He is forgetting many voted for Obama because of the color of his skin. If this doesn't work for him he has plans to switch to the democrat party for the 2016 election. He knows that all the Obama supporters will love him as soon as he calls himself a democrat.
Obama is such a silly nigra.
He is not, he is less than half black.
Is so! Silly nigra, silly nigra, silly nigra!
Barack has lied through his teeth for years....why try to defame Mitt for allegedly using Obama`s medicine on Obama ?
I don`t care what Mitt says, anyone who votes for Barack is just flat out wrong.
Everyone says Mitt is a liar when in FACT it's Obama who has been shady. All I have seen is the Obama camp avoiding the issues by engaging in negative propaganda against Mitt. A man who has nothing to hide will look at you directly in the eye unlike Obama.
Michelle wants me to tell her if her b u t t looks too big. I cannot tell a lie.
Joe Biden sez he is going to emancipate everyone. Don`t make me come back there.
JR Johnson, you say that Ryan is an ideologue? News flash – Obama is an ideologue! Biden will be unrestrained in his debate with Ryan, but Ryan will have a better command of the facts. Biden will deliver some good one-liners, but Ryan will present a cogent case.
You really believe that the federal gov't is more efficient than private industry?! Please show me the private industry that can operate with four $1T+ deficits in a row and stay in business. There's only been one President to have a $1T+ deficit and he's done it four years in a row.
Romney is a LIAR. He admitted he is completely wrong on the 47% as freeloaders; he is completely on the creation of 12 mil jobs. Even Ali of CNN will wear a dress for a month if he is elected and able to create 12 mil jobs over 4 years; he is completely wrong on 5 trllion tax cuts and reduction of the deficits; he is completely wrong on obamacare. If he is ever elected as President, the unemployment will balloon to over 10% just like Bush last few years. jimmy from malaysia
You have no idea how ridiculous your blathering is. Why don't you look up the unemployment numbers f0r 2000 thru 2008 and come back and talk to us. This info can be found online at a government website. Google will help you.
Biden will tear into Ryan's Budget. Game over!
Thanks for the laugh. I have too much pride to make such a stupid ridiculous statement like that, but It gave me a good chuckle. Biden is the poster child for the ignorant people of conneticut., I have met more than a few of them but I haven't met any that I thought could chew gum and walk at the same time.
Umm. Isn't Biden from Delaware? Not Connecticut. I say Biden wins the next debate, then the president will finally wake up & win the next two.
In my opinion neither candidate gave any stellar commitments that have the American people believing that we are going to be okay. Gas prices are still rising, our sons and daughters are still being shipped over seas, jobs are still hard to come by. Why do we continue to be forced to listen to cross talk with no solid vision of where we stand or where we are headed. Level with us. We are adults. Let us know what we can do to help you accomplish what you need to do. Regardless of who is in charge. I love my country. I'm sure everyone on the hill does too. Love us enough to ask for our cooperation.~
I missed the debate but I have since heard more about how poor Obama was tired from just getting to Denver, his teleprompter was not there, what a great success .3 % change in one month exonerates his failed term of folly. Folks, I can hardly wait for the entertainment from the recap of the next debates. If the entire 1% gave 200 % of their annual income it would not change the deficit one bit. They really do not make that much money. The tax increases for the average person and the higher cost of health care under the Obama care does not even hit until after the next President is sworn in. I have lost more money in the past week due to indecision of Obama and I am not in the 1%. I am in the lower 25% class. The real-estate bubble was created by Bill Clinton. My brother had a small business that had about a dozen employees. His business went out the window during Obama administration and their policies against small business. The Obama care will prevent a restart up in in good times. He will not be able to rehire those who are still out of work because of the DNC policies,
I can see how that debate will go now... Biden "unemployment went down".. Ryan "it's a conspiracy"...at this point most Americans turn the channel. People are sick of listening to the lies on medicare, tax breaks for the rich, birther nonsense, etc. Facts are, Romney is dishonest..period. If he had nothing to hide, he would produce his tax returns. No matter what he says people just do not trust him.
I see the debate going in a different direction, something like: Biden "unemployment went down".. Ryan "it's about time, you had a record 44 months of 8% or worse underemployment " Biden " a few expletives"
People are sick of listening to the lies on not increasing middle class taxes, cutting the federal deficit in half during his first term, transparency (if he had nothing to hide, Obama would have produced his college transcripts like every other President in the last 50+ years has, would have produced a notarized version of his birth certificate without being coerced, and would have televised the health care debates AS HE PROMISED TO DO), etc. Facts are, Obama is dishonest..period. If he had nothing to hide, he would produce the numerous items he's kept hidden since winning his first Democratic nomination for President.
RUSH SAVE GLOBAL ECONOMIC TSUNAMI
M.S.Mohamed Ansari 13 April 2009
All press and Media Arabs leader and G20 leader at. Headquarters of All association
AND ELECTRONIC VOTE. CONTROLL BY CONGRESS.
A TO Z + 8. QUEEN + 8
Royal wedding. And royal security force 10 generation total cost $ 57 trillion.
Each every politician rolling 8 years only just like chess board Game.
But queen family rolling 10th generation y??
GLOBAL ECONOMIC COLLAPSE, REASON WAR. Improve Economy only by 6 points. Peace, prayer
Liberty, Unity, friendly And simplicity.
Please take 1.open immigration and emigration to All country 2. Free trade business policy to All country as global law 3. All country should have same currency.
I am also Happy to kill osma bin laden
Turing point of global Economy. Islam not allowed to be Terrorist and Terrorist people are not a Muslim
1. Please avoid war. Day by Day war cost increase $ 3.5 trillion
2. Global economy and food price every Day increase
3. International job less unemployment Y. All businessmen effected business.
4. Global financial crisis every CNC manufacture. New technology energy product Effected FDI investors.
5. Every Day OPEC Oil Price Increase
6. World poverty problem. Bankrupt 170 Bank overalls 87000 Branch
7. Each every single man Effected
8. Ignore future Death million of already Death
9. Million of People Wounded
10. Global environment climate will be change this will lead Global Agriculture problem
Copy. INTERNATIONAL ALL GOVERNMENT
A. International criminal court. B. white house. global human right association .C.IMF
D. euro union. E. united nation F.ALL international famous press and media
JUSTICE IS IN PERIL. SAVIOUR OF INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE ALONE CAN PROTECT HUMANITY
From. Mr.M.S.Mohamed Ansari,
154, Angappa Naicken Street,
Chennai – 600 001.
Tamil Nadu,
INDIA..
To , The Hon’ble Chief Justice,
The Supreme Court,
United States of America,
Washington, D.C.
Fax no: 213.547.8080
Dear Sir,
Sub: Prosecution of previous President Mr. George W.Bush, for violation of International Code of Conduct.
Mr. George W.Bush, the previous President of United States of America, initiated a war against IRAQ, without obtaining the previous sanction of United Nations Organization (UNO) on the pretext of having nuclear weapons, even though the then IRAQ government openly exhibited to the whole world that it has no nuclear weapons.
According to the CNN WORLD report, in the war 6, 75,000 civilians killed, 7500 troops of USA and its allied forces killed 3 25 000 people wounded and $ 3.5 Trillion Dollar spent for the war. This spending of $ 3.5 Trillion Dollar is the main cause of action for the present economic crises prevailing all over the world.
After winning the war against IRAQ, the United States of America’s President Mr. George W.Bush, also admitted the same fact, and he openly stated that the Intelligence agency misguided him.
Later on, even the United Nations Organization (UNO) also certified that the IRAQ has no nuclear weapons.
Then it is the bounded duty of the United States of America and its allied forces to withdraw from IRAQ.
But instead of withdrawing from IRAQ, the United States of America and its allied forces formed a government in IRAQ, under their control and administered the entire IRAQ, and its peoples.
This indicates a clear violation of duty by the President of United States of America Mr. George W.Bush and also a clear case of violation of the International Code of Conduct for UNO members.
Thus Mr. George W.Bush attracts prosecution for the above said offence.
Thus I hereby pray this Hon’ble Court initiate criminal proceedings against Mr. George W. Bush, and give him maximum punishment for
a) initiating the war against the IRAQ
b) killing its innocent IRAQI peoples civilian 6, 75 000
c) Killing troops of USA and allied forces and 7 500
d) The present economic crises.
e) 3 25 000 civilian and coalition 39 000 wounded
Dated on this day of 13th day of April, 2009.
Yours truly, (M.S.MOHAMED ANSARI)
COPY TO
The Chief Justice, the International Court of Justice, The Hague, Netherlands.
The Secretary General United Nations Organization
The Chief Justice, the Supreme Court, IRAQ.
His Excellency Mr.Barack Obama, the President of United States of America, White House, Washington D.C.
Mohammed Ansari, You have written a huge letter without any proofs. If you really want the truth, type "Bill Clinton Weapons of Mass destruction" in the youtube search area, you will get the evidence. 9/11 happened on US, not on UN. Did UN came forward to protect America? NO. It was President's responsibility to protect US and GWB did admirably. I wished India had a PM with the similar guts, Pakistan wouldn't have been a threat by now.
It was the act of Congress to give power to the President to go to war. Why was Saddam Hussain refusing inspectors if he didn't have WMD. If we didn't WMD, doesn't mean they didn't have. There is a general belief that all Saddam's WMD were movable and they were moved to a different country. Since we don't have any proof of that I wouldn't go there.
Why are Muslims involved in every violent situation whether be it Pakistan, India, Lybia, within Iraq, Indonesia, Syria, Lebabon; you name it.
I do understand that it has a lot to do with lack of education. Not to my surprise, early Muslims were very progressive and then slowly slowly radicalism has taken over the masses by the religious leaders.
Lastly, religion is a tool that can be used for useful things and it can be a very dangerous thing. Unfortunately, when religion is controlled by organized religion, it's sole aim is to control people which is happening in all the religions. Most of the other religions have come out or coming out of that bondage but Islam is the only religion which is getting more and more in the hands of the clerics.
My advice to President Obama:
1. Please, please, President Obama, get your hair dyed. You are almost 2 decades younger than Romney, but you look older. In 2008, your youth and vitality were appealing. You need to get that back.
2. While, yes, many of us just "like" you, so your likability matters, but NO ONE LIKES A WIMP! You need to be tough on Romney in the future.
Thank you.
I recommend he go with blonde hair dye and for vitality a feather boa..........
Obama seemed disinterested in the debate bcos Romney is such a wimp n dishonest. Come 6 Nov, I predict that Obama will win the election with more than 54% of the votes as he is seen as honest, reliable and able to deliver whilst Romney is dishonest, unreliable and a liar.
I predict that on the evening of November 6, 2012, the horror you feel due to nigra Obama's defeat will be exacerbated when your gay lover informs you that he is HIV-positive.
sorry to hear that , i suggest you get tested jim111506 .
and you can come out of the closet too .
while Americans lost their jobs and houses , the republicans were building iraq and and afghanistan , paying terrorists to blow it up so they could rebuild them . smart people , that will be the romney way . the rest of you republican minions , i suggest you stop complaining about the unemployment rate , ignore uncle sam and get creative . build it yourself ! if you can . the same government you hate is keeping you from destroying each other and the world around you . go on , roll your sleeves up and rebuild what bush tore down .
Scooby swallows hot loads.
like yo daddy made you do ?
Hey, Scooby, why do you space between your punctuation marks? Are you mentally retarded? Are you a nigra?
what does it taste like ?
Scooby IS a nigra! Do a little nigra dance for me, Sambo!
Remember, the terrorist attacks started under Clinton and not Bush. Everyone is forgetting the bombing of the World Trade Center................
I watched the debate on Thursday evening and in my view, Obama had the intention on letting Romney win. Obama was fully prepared, because every item and idea Romney brought up, Obama could give arguements against it. Obama knows how to lose! He gave the impression of weakness and slow defence, but he could "count" – knew exactly what decision and what bill he signed in congress and knew about the trouble to get at least anything done, because of the reaction of the Republican party in congress. He is fed up with hearing Romney's ideas.
What should a president do, if a party like the tea-bags are so devastating in blocking every political issue? This isn't fun – it is exactly that what President Obama showed: it is making him tired, it is boring, it is always the same blablabla – ! As a leader and political idealist, you would prefer to run away, you could just let it go and even be prepared to open the door for them, if they are so eager to run against the wall with their fifty-year- old phrases and ideological stuff! They don't face reality: not everybody is able to become rich in a global connected world! Free- markets and liberty talk, is nice, but we reached the end of this terms already, if the causal consequence of this phrases harm the majority of the people. The positions of the parties driven by ideological thinking, left wing, right wring and religious dogmen of the necessities of war, this is already over. James Bond was coming from the cold war times with is lousy heroism, advance in technical standards and machoism. We don't need another Cold War time! We don't need people like Bond feeling attracted on every female pusy-cat running around, instead of working on the issues which help all the people. So if Romney can't offer real solutions and plans, before the elections and come up with realistic ideas how the debts should be reduced, his promises form a rosy cloud, but don't last!
Personally I'm sure it is not easy to want to be re-elected in a country, that has so many debts and unemployment, so much poverty and problems for the individual people. Saying that and being honest in that, needs courage and a strong personality. Romney hasn't much to offer in foreign politics, either, it's devastating if the president Obama tried to bring down tension in foreign policy and raise the reputation. America was hated in the last years of the Bush area even here in western Europe! But Romney has nothing else to do as to say that Russia is the worst american enemy...- Let Romney be Mr. Bond, but we needn't watch that movie..
Besides if the individual person is hungry and needs a solution, the All-term phrase "Americans" don't help much, if some one lost hope. The detail, the spontanous action and the possibility to help makes the difference: if the individual person is able to realise his change, this is not only american, but human and offers a wide range of opportunities.
I think we have to live with a fact about the GOP. The party cannot ever tell people, even their supporters, at least the ones that aren't millionaires, what they will actually do if they have the chance. If they did, they would never elect another Republican to national office. They get away with it in some congressional districts – the ones gerrymandered to the point of idiocy. But, not with most Senate races and definitely not for President.
Consequently the GOP must lie, obfuscate and demonize the opponent to elect a President. We get lies about them wanting to preserve Medicare. They can't tell the truth – they want to eliminate it, they always have. They can't tell the truth about lowering taxes for the wealthy – it's not about creating jobs, it's about taking care of their big donors. They can't tell the truth about global warming – they know it's happening, they don't care because any action to save the planet would hurt profits. They can't tell the truth about spending – they are not against spending, they just want to spend on the military and their corporate sponsors. The can't tell the truth about the size of government – they don't want a small government, they want a government so big it can police every womb.
To elect a President, Republicans have to lie because no one in their right mind would buy what they are actually selling.
Not really. Politically Romney is dead.
If the voters don't know who Romney and Ryan will support than we are truly doomed.
They are at the beck and call of the extreme right wing and will do everything the evangelical and tea party tell them to do.
I'm not sure why this keeps getting repeated. Sure, he has a BA. And at one time he admitted to having a grad degree in education, (which has strangely disappeared from the public portion of his wiki site). But brilliant? Intelligent? Look, he speaks well. He's quick on his feet. But the loudest voice in the room, nor the most articulate voice in the room, are not always the smartest people. They baffle others who aren't as quick (which says a lot about the current Republican cadre in Congress if he's their smartest)–but really...an intellectual? Is this his reputation because he studied Economics and Political Science? Is it because he read Ayn Rand and may pronounce her name correctly? PEOPLE. RAISE YOUR STANDARDS A BIT. He's NOT an intellectual. He's just the kid on the playground who could beat off the bully with words. You all remember that kid. He's not an intellectual, just quick with a snarky answer. And he used that skill to his advantage when he got to Congress.
Ryan is demonstrably innumerate.
That he would read Ayn Rand and take it to heart, then end up in "public service" (aka politics) hints that he has problems with reading comprehension as well.
Democrats should be forced to have abortions so the rest of us won't have to deal with their ugly, stupid, disgusting little criminals and future lazy unionized parasites.
Why do liberals mention Romney's money like it's a reason to not elect him. As if Obama isn't rich. Obama is the most arrogant and aloof President we've ever had. He acts high and mighty way more than Romney does.
Many mentions here of the "Obama 2016" movie and how shocking it is. It's shocking only if you assume it's true. If you look into the allegations, many evaporate because they're baseless. Another piece of groundless right-wing hysteria. Deal with the issues that are real, like Romney's constant lying (I'll make a 20% tax cut across the board" followed by "A $5-trillion tax cut? That's not my plan.") - not issues that exist in right-wing fever dreams.
You shouldn't be allowed to vote, parasite.
If Obama opens his yap out comes a lie........like five days on the website, cspan cameras during all healthcare debate that alwaays includes both sides and no backroom deals, close gitmo, no military action ever without congressoinal approval, NEVER raise the debt ceiling, NEVER raise taxes during a recession, change the atmosphere in D.C. and five hundred other whoppers. As far as Romney Lying explain where the five trillion dollar tax cut statement came from? When ALL personal income taxes collect are less than 1.5 trillion per year from EVERYONE?? Five trillion really over what period? You just regeritate propoganda..............so get a clue.
Five Trillion does not compute, ALL personal income taxes FROM EVERYONE per year is less than 1.5 trillioin in ten years even at 1.5 tillion that is 10.5 trillion dollars being ALL OF THE PERSONAL INCOME TAXES and what is 20% of that? Newflash it's not 5 trillion............
What you have to consider is Romney has been so inconsistent in his message and platform. He has had to pander to all divisions in the GOP to get this far. How do you trust someone that has changed his position so many times? You don't. Whether you agree or disagree with Obama his message has been consistent and no hidden agendas. Judging Obama over a 90 min debate just shows what our democracy has become, a big show. A ninety min debate does not show all the hard work it took to rescue and stabilize our economy and get jobs moving in the right direction.
That Obama was elected in the first place shows what our "democracy" (actually a republic) has become. Don't re-nig in 2012!
My biggest concern as a journalist are people who plagiarize and the actually receive the backing of their employer when they do it. It's the new standard of the cut-and-paste era.
Ryan and Biden VP debate is going to be like a first year college student trying to argue with a veteran professor.
This article begs the question of who could execute their programs better? So far the only thing Obama seems to have executed properly is Osama bin Ladin
America right now is a mere example of Benjamin Franklin's "Join or Die" flag. A separated country is nothing. Politics these days are about, "Who's side are you on?" When instead of choosing for a particular political party, we need to compile are thoughts together and work as a union.
Repeated studies have shown that there is a greater incidence of child molestation and incest among southern white evangelical christians than in any other group that participated in the study. Living in cramped quarters (such as trailer parks) is one of the main causes of perverted behavior among christians. Those requiring further proof need only to take a casual drive south of the Mason-Dixon Line. The abundance of toothless christian cretins you will encounter are a direct result of generations of inbreeding. Historians have long theorized that the south lost the civil war because of the many mentally challenged soldiers in the Confederate army, also a result of this inbreeding.
Oddly enough, many of these christian misfits make their way north or west where they can be found working in gas stations and car washes. And yes, some do end up in Congress on the republican side of the aisle. And some end up in mainstream cinema, appearing in such classics as Deliverance, Smokey and The Bandit and the Dukes of Hazzard.
Dat rite! Rupublcnas beez stupit 'n sheeit! Dey beez afrade of a niggga! I takes my welllfare monies an buys a 40 oz. an sits baks an lafs! Dey stupit!
Zakaria, You're lying that Romney would not cut taxes. You can revisit the debate again. He clearly said that he will cut taxes more for the middle class and fix loop holes for rich. He has said he will abolish (or reduce) estate tax and capital gains tax.
He has gone ahead and explained how he would do it.
Zakaria, why don't you ask tough questions from this most inapt WH administration, you know whom I am mean? Your job is to report fairly and analyze fairly. If you're so inclined against Republicans then you should work for democratic party openly which you're already doing it behind the curtain. Pathetic.
Fareed,
You are naive. Romney is a died-in-the-wool conservative. His allegiance is to conservative principles...not liberal. The difference between Romney and Obama is as clear as night and day. If the conservatives win, we will erase many of the gains of the past 4 years. Plain and simple.
Fareed Zakaria weren't you charged with plagiarism? why would anybody listen to anything you have to say.
Who really wrote this?
The last four years have ben painful for America. We have suffered economically and our standing on the world stage seems to have diminished. President Obama's policies have proven hallow towards improving the average lives of Americans.
As we debate how to best proceed forward, we need to remember during President Obama's first 2 years in office the Democrat party had full control of government (the White House, Senate, and Congress), and were able to enact their policies as desired. And Yes, President Obama has faced GRIDLOCK the past 2 years, as the American people decided Democrat or sngle party control of the non-judicial government branches unwise and handed responsibility of Congress to the Republian party. This mid-term action by the American people provided President Obama an opportunity to prove his leadership and governing abilities, similar to the opportuity President Clinton siezed after his first mid-term elections. Unfortunately, unlike President Clinton whom proved exceptional leadership and skill to bridge Democrat / Republican party differences to accomplish win-win outcomes for greater America, President Obama failed to pivot and worsened the American situation.
Hope and Change is a fantastic talking point, but we as Americans need to understand "Hope" is not a strategy and that change is the outcome of vision, collaboration, planning, and execution. Based on this weeks debate, it appears Mr. Romney has the experience needed to work across party-lines to lead America – even per President Obama's admission on the design and implemetation of Romney care in Massachusetts,
For those in the NYC area, Mayor Dinkins, a very nice and well-meaning gentleman, like President Obama showed inadequate leadership and ability to drive needed change. And perhaps like Mayor Dinkin's successor, Mr. Romney will prove to be marvelous leader and the right person to re-ignite the greatest country on earth.
Cogent points. Maybe the noblesse oblige of the Bloombergs and Romneys is an actual motivating force though cynics would disagree.
The Democratic Party in recent times has seemed to function as an advocacy group for those disadvantaged by the success of others. The owner of the strip mine NEEDS his Republican representation in office.
Those owning homes next to the proposed site of the strip mine NEED their Democratic representation in office.
Basically Democrats need Republicans and Republicans need Democrats, assuming we agree against communism which though tried has yet to show it is viable alternative.
It seems odd that there are Americans that want to begrudge success obtained by legal means, which includes Bloomberg, Romney, Vanderbilt, Carnegie, Hollywood players, and arguably the current Kennedy's (though teir fiscal seed for wealth is interesting history). These persons have donated much to their communities in ways they see responsible and prudent. Overall, American stories of success need to celebrated not demonized. Perhaps, the interest in the tax records of our elected officials should NOT be what they paid in taxes as a percentage of their income, but how much they have given towards programs to assist and educate others. An individual, whom earns a $1,000,000 but gives it all away effectively has a tax rate of ZERO. I guess I need to look at tax records of my elected officials and candidates to better understand their innate humnaistic tendencies as opposed to their stump speeches to ensure against voting for those with a "Do as say, but not as I do" mentality.
Romney's tax cut for the wealthy just DOES NOT translate to more jobs for those not now working unless he is talking about someone to clean and lubricate his garage elevator. Romney and his friends squirrel away their newly gotten gains investing in offshore accounts and expensive imports, not necessarily employing more workers. U.S.
Corporations are similar in their behavior. Tax relief from state and local government affects location of new plants.
New businesses ARE often started by those recently laid off but the market will only support so many gourmet cookie makes and landscape maintenance companies.
A moderate Republican would be refreshing, but hardly a threat to Obama's re-election. A moderate Mitt would get less votes from the fire-breathers than a red-meat Mitt. Either way he loses. But as a hard-over conservative he at least pulls in 100% of the right wing lunatic fringe vote which, today, is a dismally large chunk of the entire Republican vote.
Watching Ryan tear Biden apart is going to be the best TV viewing since....well, since Romney tore Obama apart.
I just don't see how you Obama lovers can get so excited over him. Obama doesn't have a clue how to balance a budget. He says it was immoral for Bush to get us in so much debt and that we are putting a huge burden on our kisds and future generations. Now four years later, we are $6 Trillion more in debt and no one seems to care. Obama speaks out of both sides of his mouth. He wa sall over Bush and then he spends our money like a drunk sailor.BTW, he has gotten a free pass from the stinking media over all the companies he gave stimulus money too and they subsequently went bankrupt. How many Billions of dollars have gone down the tubes with Obama and his Chicago mafia making terrible decisions? Isn't it a coincidence that these companies gave a lot of $$ to Obama's campaign? We talk about corruption in third world countries liek Mexico. I have a news flash for all of you, we have plenty of corruption right here in the USA!! If you have an IQ over 50, you will agree that our country is, by far, the most divided it has ever been. Obama has definitely been the great Divider-in-Chief!! We just can't take four more years of Obama's free spending habits. We are headed down a very dangerous path and while Romney may not have all the asnswers, he is so much more qualified to make economic decisions than Obama, it isn't even funny. Obama and his advisors don't have any idea how to create jobs and improve our economy in my opinion.
Funny how Democrats talk about the real Romney, when the truth of tyhe matter is that you've seen the real Obama for almost four years. Obama...the president tho proclaimed to the Republicans on day three that he had won the presidency, and thus would not work with them on anything...the president who chose to ignore the ecnonomy so he could focus his attention on his personal agendas...the president who talked about transparency but chose to protect Holder from having to discuss the Fast and Furious and thus hide the facts of the death of a border agent...the president who held two cabinet meetings this year...the president who thought it more important to fundraise in Vegas the day after an American ambassador was sodomized, murdered and dragged through the streets...a president who talked about his foreign affairs success knowing that he had his cohorts lie about the facts that al Qaeda was alive and well...the president who blamed a video but bragged at his convention (and other Dems a total of nineteeen times) that he had taken Bin Ladin out...a president that chose not to provide security overseas on the anniversary of 9-11...a president who set a record for fundraising and chose not to be a president...America, if you support this fool, you deserve what you'll get...a pro-Muslim, socialist. As your currency has devalued over 30% since he took office, would you like to come to Canada to beg for some "change"?
Terrance, You raise so many very valid points. I doubt if you will hear form any Obama supporters because you are so right. Obama going to Vegas after the killings of INNOCENT Americans in Libya spoke volumes about his priorities in my opinion. No doubt about it, He has failed as a President in so many ways.Obama's priorities are number one to get reelected and then to spend more money. Our system is so broken. Obama and I know Repub Presidents before him spend the last 18 months of their first term raising money and giving campaign speeches. This is not what a President should be doing 30-40% of the time. Sure wish we could change the Presdiency to one six year term and do away with the electoral college. With the demographics in Calif., what realistic chance does a Republican Presidential candidate EVER have of getting the electoral votes in this state? The answer is NONE!
Politicians do not increase GDP. No tax policy will do it. Efficiency and imagination will always be better than what's buried in the ground. A country that sees its people as its best investment forms policy around only that which will succeed. A good leader inspires but never leads. A good leader never distorts facts for the sake of victory. A good leader is in it for us no for herself or party. A good leader has not existed for some time.
this Fakker is back? Didn't the author get fired for cheating?
Zakaria is a partisan shill and has no credibility.
He should have to pay for placing these obama ads.
The lefties don't get fired for lying and cheating – it just wouldn't be fair. Besides, it would hurt their feelings – Can't have that.
Only CNN would have this plagerist writing an opinion for them....or is it someone elses' opinion?
It is The Economy, Mr. President. Your Economy, Mr. President. You built that.
Yes, exactly, in 2008 everything was perfect. George W. Bush, one of the great minds of the 21st century, left the country wealthy and at peace. Then in Jan 2009 Obama took over, the economy crashed, somehow we got involved in 2 wars, Muslims were dancing in the street, and women got FREE birth control. We must put the Republicans back in the White House, and Mitt's the obvious choice.
You are joking right? Bush left us the 2 wars, with no planned way out. The recession also began under him, back in 2008 (some say earlier in 2007) . So I am sure you were being sarcastic.
Great article Fareed! I think you are right on point. I voted for Obama in 2008, but I am not afraid of change and that is why I am willing to give Romney a chance. Not something you suggested in your article, but my vote is my own to cast. My personal voting policy is 4 years in and 4 years out till someone gets its right. No one is OWED a second term when my country and its citizens are suffering. The President needs to EARN IT it both domestically and in foreign policy.. I am sorry but I am not feeling Obama earned another term,,,And if Romney fails in the next 4 year he will not see my vote again! My alliegence is not to a man or a party, it is to my country and my neighbors and right now they are struggling to pay their bills!
Romney and Ryan ........ Laurel and Hardy of the 2012 Presidential Campaign
Romney ..... No honesty No integrity
Does it not matter that Mr. Romney will say ANYTHING to get elected? He's the ultimate snake oil salesman, and the pundits seem to applaud his tactics simply because they work.
Romneyhood ....... Give to the Rich take from the poor
I had to explain to my child, why the media says the person who lies the most is the winner, when its clear the American people lose to the corporate geed and dishonesty, win indeed !
"If so, Obama faces something far more challenging than a good debater in the last weeks of the campaign. He faces a moderate Republican." And who nominated Romney to challenge Obama? The Republicans of course. And yet many liberals and their security blanket aka the media never miss a chance to smear the GOP as off the rails party. Should Obama lose it will be because he believes all this nonsense lies about the conservative movement. Nonsense most citizens accept as nonsense.
So really we are talking semantics aren't we. He is advocating a 500 million dollar tax cut. As we get the deficit and out of control government programs rained back in to exceptionable levels it equals out over two and a half terms to about 5 trillion. I can live with that.
Government is to big. It needs it's own down sizing to get his country going again. The fact we are seeing the federal government, which was born of the states go after a states sovereignty is proof enough.
Romney has always been a moderate Republican. This is why I always said that of the contending Republican candidates (that is, ignoring Huntsman and Paul who had no chance), Romney was by far the most acceptable.
The Tea Party got Romney to move right, but he has moved back now. The downside is that this extreme move will cement his 'flip-floping' reputation which you can assure the Obama campaign will use against him before the next debate.
The first debate was not a knockout for Romney, but it was surely a knockdown. Obama needs to get up again and take the fight to Romney in the next two debates or he is done. The Biden/Ryan debate will have little effect.
I am amazed that people are so enraged that they do not even see or hear how foolish they sound. Wow! God Please Bless America! What a mess.
Watch this video about Paul Ryan by Erskin Bowles Bill Clinton's White House Chief of Staff on Paul Ryan.
http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/cut-ad-clinton-cos-ryan-guy-amazing_649942.html
I watched the debate and was simply amazed at the new transformed "Romney". The "New Liberal Romney" who sounds almost like a carbon copy of Obama with a few minor differences on minute economic issues.
So.....as Fareed said – has this guy Romney played the whole GOP into thinking he is a hard-core conservative when in fact he is nothing more than a moderate Republican......the same kind that Republicans seem to detest, so much so that many do even feel welcome in the GOP anymore.
" the pundits declared Mitt Romney the clear winner. And he was. He seemed engaged, forceful and punchy."..........
Are Americans so superficial that they believe that? They elected Tricky Dick Nixon by a landslide so they must be. Oh, pardon me.
This is what the last GOP WH did...
see youtube - CIA Asset Susan Lindauer Can Now Speak 10 years after 9-11.
Yeah, Bush WH gang did it... Israel connections. Lots more on Veterans Today site.
Most of Congress knew/ knows. Does nothing.
Why is Fareed Zakaria even allowed to write articles for CNN anymore? If a college student had pulled the same stunt as him, he would've been expelled. Barely a month later Fareed is making headlines again...
Gov Romney has always advocated tax reform the would lower rates, but eliminate deductions and keep high income earners paying exactly the same total amount of taxes, or more. In addition the tax rate cuts would stimulate, real stimulous not the fake wasted Obama stuff, small businesses to expand and hire more people. More people working means more taxes. Of course don't expect Mr Zakaria to understand any of that he is a total Kool-Aide drinker that is 100% working to reelect Obama, and so its not really surprising to see Obama's talking points the day after the debate in a Zakaria column. Cutting and pasting Obama's talking points into his article, I'm sure, was a lot easier than a real analyses and a fair evaluation of Gov Romney's proposals.
I truly feel sorry for Biden. He is soooo incompetent! It's shameful what comes out of his mouth. Ryan will eat him for lunch. And how can anyone ever think that Obama has been a good president. The worst the US has ever had. GO ROMNEY GO!!
Is this original or did Fareed copy this from someone else?
I agree, a moderate republican may be bad for Obama. But, speaking as a died in the wool liberal, would the moderate republican who did pretty well in Massachusetts be all that bad? I don't like the environmental stance, but he was pro-choice, fiscally conservative and came up with a good health care plan. Maybe that Romney, if he still exists, wouldn't be that bad...if he comes with a legislature that is 87% democrats, like he had to work with in Massachusetts.
Romney did "fairly well" in Massachusetts? Is that why he served only one term and had 39% approval when he left?
Hmmmmmmmmmmm, where have I read this before?
Wrong! The REAL challenge for Obama is to convince people that he knows what the heck he's doing, and not just living off bashing the opposition! 114,000 jobs created per month is about half of what we need! So, if they cooked the books, they didn't do a very good job!!
without a teleprompter, obama is dumb, it was embarrassing watching obama, he was lost and confused, didn't know where to go or what to say, again, obama was embarrassing to watch. looks as if obama forgot his lines.
and without a teleprompter, biden is worst off than obama: just to name a few gaffee: gone put yall back in chains. can't wait for Biden/Ryan
See a great post-debate ad from RNC: Youtube – The Smirk.
Romney 2012 – We don't need four more years of Obama... It took Obama the next day to be able to answer Romney... He had not one clue...
OBAMACARE: affordable care with nobody to deliver it after doctors and hospitals go bancrupt. Plus millions layouts accross the country (started already). That's really affordable...
The one omission from Mr. Zakaria's analysis is a moderate who votes for him has no assurance what the "etch a sketch" candidate is really for. In other words, if he always just says what he thinks people want to hear so he can be elected, who really knows what policies he will promote once he is in office?
I remember a candidate who billed himself as a "compassionate conservative" who turned out to be far more conservative than moderates were led to believe during the presidential debates and in speeches in the months leading up to the general election. Shame on any moderates who get fooled again.
G o d help us if we elect Mitt "say anything to get elected" Romney. He won't be able to follow through on anything he's said (except that he won't represent half the country – oops, he backtracked on that one, too).
I'm discussed by both parties, that they play "its the economy stupid" when they never truly made it about the brave man and women that Died and injured for America. It is now known the war was an accident, bad Intel they said, buildings fell, a lied war, banks and wall-street were rewarded bonuses. In less then .5 of a decade they say its all about the money and do not even count or mention those men or women!
"Obama faces something far more challenging than a good debater in the last weeks of the campaign. He faces a moderate Republican. "
Spot on, Fareed. I realized Romney's moderate character awhile ago. However, Romney is a flip-flopper. If he is elected, I suspect that he will do what is right for all Americans, as he has appeared to do as governor of Massachusetts. The danger is the he also could side with the more extreme elements of his party and that would not be good for us 99%'ers!
NICK
Lets assume that what you write are ROMNEE's intntions. But as you very rapidly realized such, the moronic ultraright supporters will do so at little later and of course, stamp him as a traitor (which they already suspected) and stay home!!
And if not and he wins, who in Congress will support him?? Unless he govern with the Democrats!!!
MR ZAKARIA
Sometimes, it seems that your Indian ancestry shines trough. If you really think that the US electorate is soooo stupid to tolerate such super BACK- flip flop, the conservatives extremists, as the supporters of SANTORUM and GINGRICH are, which never had confidence in ROMNEY, WOULD STAY HOME!!!!!
The beiggest danger for Obana is the lLACK OF INTELLIGENCE OF HIS SURROGATES to manage this situation. Meaning to show the intelligent independent voters that ROMNEYS position is a mask, but to suggest to the unintelligent conservatives tha ROMNEY IS A TRAITOR!!! So the first measure for OBAMA would be fire AXELROD and CUTTER and ask BILL CLINTON to take charge of the strategy!!
Why doesn't Obama get grilled over his handling of the BP oil spill.....He did nothing for months?
About the only thing Obozo worries about is what delicacies to serve Beyonce and Kanje when they visit.
Anything else is too much like a job
Affirmative Action President
fareed, you are such a fraud
why does CNN put up with your goofy articles?
Probably didn't even write it, who did you pilfer from this time?
NO ONE will ever beat Sean Connery as the slickest best portrayal of James Bond.
No one will ever beat Clinton as the slickest bipartisan artist.
No one will ever beat Carter as the dumbest President who made Iran our enemy.
No one will ever beat Einstein as the icon of scientific ingenuity.
No one will ever beat Romney as the slickest snake in the Garden of Eden.
I hope that the Obama campaign will connect the dots between:
a. Etch-a-Sketch comment
b. The fact that now Romney is saying something different from what he was saying several months ago.
Seriously, they SAID they were going to do EXACTLY THIS: just shake up the etch a sketch. And Romney does it, "$5T tax cut? What $5T tax cut?" And somehow the Democrats aren't forecefully saying "JESUS YOU'RE DOING JUST WHAT YOU SAID YOU'D DO – -say whatever the hell resonated, even if totally different from what was said earlier.
RUSH: 'Obama Came Off Worse Last Night Against Mitt Romney than He Did in His Debate Against Clint Eastwood'
Romney zingers are a joke, they will fade in couple of days. He may appear intelligent in a day but fake in his entiire life i know many Evangelicals support him because they hate Obama and the Repulican Party declared that Obama will be one term President on the outset by means of abstraction He changed on the voters on the Debate stage after telling voters he will cut taxes, he will appeal Obama care in totality for 18 months what a scam ! Romney can fake a character but he cannot fake intergrity .What in the world is revenue neutral? Let him tells us clrealy which programms he going to cut to the tune of 5 trilion dolars let himl come arithemetically clean. Yes Fareed has made a very good point "The way he said it" like a pathological business bogus CEO
Obama will say anything to get reelected. He is a desperate liar who has been cought in so many lies, he would't know where to begin.
New Obama song:
O my darling, O my darling, O my darling teleprompter
You are lost and gone from debates, dreadful sorry my re-election!
The pundits all think it is about how well the politicians speak, and what they promise. But it isn't. It's mostly about what they have done in the past. Romney spent his life amassing a personal fortune. He campaigned against his fellow Republicans twice with carpet bombing ads when it was supposed to be a contest of ideas among colleagues.
He is not an honorable man, but will say or do anything to avenge his father's defeat in 1968. I do not want that kind of man leading this country. He is dangerous and could get us into another war. And his policies will in any event increase the maldistribution of wealth that is wiping out the middle class.
2016 is a must see if you truely love America and not just its hand outs.The claims made are very easy to research through various foreign government sites on the internet.
With some movies you need 3d glasses, but for that one you just need a hat made of tinfoil!
See the obama for what he is?Not what you wish or thought he was.
If Romney is elected you can all kiss your mortgage interest deduction goodbye.
Ya! romny want ta takes aways all da free stuff! Yu beez a dum niggga ta votes fo he azz!
With comments such as yours, why would you be surprised when the entire GOP is labeled a front for bigots and racists?
Let's not forget your party is also pushing stringent (and obviously racial) voter ID laws for imaginary fraud, supports cracking down on the rights of gays and women, and that Romney routinely cracks jokes about Latinos.
Yu a craka. Yu beez using yo big words 'n sheeit .... Yu a cracka!
Obama's greatest challenge is Obama
- His failed economic policies
- His failed international policies
- His failed social policies
He is his own worst enemy, along with his abysmal record.
I am an independent, with all due respect, i think it is silly to belong to a political party, so, i enjoy reading some of the posts, i can tell who is a fanatic, and who has an opinion based on reality.
I saw the debate, i actually saw it twice, and for me this debate was a lot more important, than what people think.
The audience witnessed what a well prepared man has to say, and i believe caught Mr Obama off guard, he stumbled, studdered and looked uncomfortable, just like when he was interviewed a week before by Jorge Ramos of univision.
Maybe it is time to elect a businessman, a governor who succeeded and was respected by his oponents in a state where 87 per cent were democrats.
We all know, that both of these men stretch the truth, but let us not forget, Obama in his first two years had everything, and like Mr Bob Woodward states in his book "the price of politics", his "arrogance" betrayed us, lets vote in the man with experience, with character and quite candidly, a man that looks "presidential", lets get the moderate in the white house.
Obama beez ma niggga! Yu crakas beez afrade o he azz! He ma niggga! He ma niggga! He ma niggga!
Is anybody deal with the federal governments responsibilities while the elections are going on? I have never seen the government so narsistic.
Both are right but it depends on individuals how they are thinking because everyone having their own needs and responsibility.
DEFEAT DEPRESSION REPUBLICONS AND THEIR FAILED CORRUPT POLICIES. WHAT W M D ? THREE TRILLION DOLLARS WASTED ON THREE FRAUDULENT WARS AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS DEAD AND WOUNDED. THIS FRAUD HAS COST AMERICA ITS BUDGET SURPLUS UNDER CLINTON AND ITS STANDING IN THE WORLD. DEFEAT CON REPUKES FOR THEIR COSTLY LIES AND DECEIT. VOTE TO MAKE IT A BETTER TOMORROW.
the same person obama used to falsify job numbers also counted up his campaign contributions than multiplied by 10 again!
The biggest challenge for Obama is Obama. I hope President will be less friendly with Mr. Romney during next 2 debate, with much more energy and with less words to say more…( in 2008, 15% voters make there decision in last 30 days)… Good news: Obama adm. add 5,2 million jobs during last 31 mo… I still believe that F. Pr. Bill Clinton is a huge help for Obama re-election, and I have NO doubt that Obama will be re-elected…Go Obama.
The top five nicknames for Mitt Romney.
1. Flip Robme
2. Mit Rommel
3. Mittens
4. RomKKKney
5. Flipper
i'm thinking Flipper is pretty good!
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KARL ROVE
“He therefore is the truest friend to the liberty of this country who tries most to promote its virtue, and who, so far as his power and influence extend, will not suffer a man to be chosen into any office of power and trust who is not a wise and virtuous man….The sum of all is, if we would most truly enjoy this gift of Heaven, let us become a virtuous people.” -Samuel Adams
Now, you have the reason why the tyrant deceiver-in-chief has no belief in virtue. He knows that its destruction is a key to the destruction of lLiberty and therefore of our Republic. He also has no belief in sin, most certainly not in the sin you may commit. He has ensured that millions of you have been led into the sin of envy, knowing full well that such is the destroyer of freedom at the expense of enslavement to the socialist state. Sleep well, cupcakes.
Romney is able to completely switch positions without much fear, because Republican backers are classic low information voters. They seek simplistic (and unworkable) solutions to complex problems, and end up voting based on their perceived religious and political fantasies. When they then get screwed by the people they voted for, they tell themselves "that's Politics". People they call Liberals dislike the same things they do, but put more thought into solutions. It's not that the Democrats are very good, it's that the Republicans are nightmares.
So true!1 God help your country if the Republicans get voted back into office. They and their unworkable, not-thought-out policies caused this recession and then your idiotic financial system exported it all over the world. I haven't heard one apology, one new policy that would tell onlookers and investors that they have something, anything new that could fix what they did.
All they've done is stamp their feet and throw a tantrum that electors chose Barack Obama, and make outrageous statements like they're going to make him a one-term President. They have gone out of their way to obfuscate and deflect and make it impossible for ANYTHING to get done because they refused to co-operate in a bi-partisan manner.
Why would anyone think they can suddenly now fix the mess they made four years ago and were lucky enough to walk away from??
I see that CNN is turning back on the Fareed Zakaria spigot to full force. No one has forgotten Zakaria is a plagiarist, CNN, and every new article of his that you publish tarnishes your reputation as a reliable source of news (and opinion).
Obama wanted the position but not the job.
Time to retire him with his Golden Parachute and Michelle.
The country needs someone to do the work not just enjoy the perks.
oh surely you're talking about Dubya?? He has the record for taking the most vacation days of all the Presidents!! He did plenty of damage on the days he actually worked, can you imagine how much worse it would have been if he'd been dedicated to work instead of taking time off??
Fareed, I've watched your show since CNN started airing it. You have often let your political opinions show as subtext, but you've always been scrupulous about presenting facts, and that has made you as close to an unbiased journalist as it's possible for a human to be.
So it's with huge disappointment that I heard you say the following: "...for two years Romney has been campaigning on a tax cut that that would cost around $5 trillion over 10 years. Romney does claim that he would eliminate deductions and cut spending to pay for it but he hasn't given any details."
You know perfectly well that Romney has **always** coupled his 20% rate reduction with offsetting reductions in tax expenditures. It isn't like he subsequently "claimed" that he'd reduce those expenditures; the tax reform idea doesn't work without them, and Romney has always been up-front about that.
You have now mouthed the scurrilous of the Democratic talking points on your show. You have turned yourself into a Democratic Party apparatchik. You can't take that back. It was really nice to watch **one** of the Sunday morning news shows without my thumb on the fast-forward button the entire time. You've ruined that.
And in the end all those reductions in tax expenditures will affect the same people and achieve the exact same thing as repealing the Bush Tax Cuts? Let's do the same thing and call it something different, right? Repeal Obamacare and create Romneycare. First of all we haven't really had the opportunity to feel the affects of Obamacare just yet as the majority of it isn't even implemented yet.
I guess maybe Fareed is guilty of the same thing most of us are guilty of and that is Romney coming up with stuff interestingly identical to Obamacare, criticizing Obamacare and offering Romneycare. What is the difference other than there are a few lies to Mitt's plan! Not ALL preexisting conditions wil be covered. If you were one of unfortunate folks to lose your health care from the loss of a job, were unemployed for a specified amount of time then I guess you don't count. SO it's not true! What makes you think you're anywhere near qualified enough to jump on Fareed???????? THAT's a joke!!
Debates are worthless if you are a pathological liar like Romney. Obama's challenge is trying to catch Romney- like a pig at the fair. Romney is all greased up with lies and he squeals when someone merely hints at straightening out his corkscrew tale (sic). Good luck Mr President. Romney has been pulling this stuff since childhood.
Romney beez a pathillogical liar! He a craka! Wen I votes, I'z gunna rapp: "Oboma beez ma niggga! Oboma beez ma niggga! Take dat, craka! Oboma beez ma niggga!"
Romney look like a scared craka! He beez all "Oh I'z afraide of Oboma." He a scared craka!
Romney was a yappier dog during the debate, but he can't keep the momentum for long. The Tea Party will tell him what do think and do. and if he doesn't they will pull support. His original position statements put him just about where Obama is, and I don't see the point in electing Republicans to office.
They caused this recession, and exported it all over the world. They've offered nothing new except the same old, same old so just how would they be able to solve the problems they walked away from 4 years ago??
Isn't "bowing" to another person "paying tribute" to the other person?
"It is a principle incorporated into the settled policy of America, that as peace is better than war, war is better than tribute." –James Madison, letter to the Dey of Algiers, 1816
After ALL of his very expensive education at Columbia and Harvard, paid for by the communists and the Arabs, we guess the obama thing must have missed this one. Who'd a thunk it?
save America vote for Romney
Obama needs to learn from Chavez, a leader with cojones.
obama's greatest challenge is himself...
pathetic record
gi-normous ego
empty chair/suit etc etc
the celebrity-in-chief has been exposed for the imposter that he is...
sadly i voted for him in 2008... won't be fooled again...
Obama beez ma niggga! Yu crakas just jelus!
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Finally, a niggga that rite good.
First debate is really not that of a big deal. Lot of white people do say private slavery is a blessing in disguise. Not publicly like arizona republican. Obama don't need to look for another tape romney saying something racially controversial like arizona republican or other controversial stuff to win election. Massive fundraising from over half a million new donor is a proof that he's safe.
Obama ma niggga! White peoples beez stupit!
Looking at your grammar, calling stupid would be a compliment – it would imply you have a brain. Your racist "all encompassing" statement calling white's stupid demonstrates clearly that you don't have a heart. That leads to the most obvious conclusion that you are a gorilla: nasty, short tempered and known to throw excrement at those that annoy him.
If you were listening–not just to one debate but throughout the campaign–you will know that Romney panders and distorts. Just depends on who he is talking to at the time. He is aggressive, not assertive, and most important–he and his pals would head us down a seriously sorry path. If for no other reason than the potential for several Supreme Court judges to retire in these next years; if for no other reason than the healthcare mandate now in place is light years better than what the Romney-Ryan team will have, especially for the middle class; if for no other reason than for moving our economy into the 21st century with dignity and compassion (as opposed to "what's the bottom line and where can I shelter my millions"): Obama, now more than ever, in 2012. Remember in the Clinton era "it's the economy, stupid!"? Well, while the economy is ever-so slowly improving, the deeper issue would suggest: "It's policy and governance, America!" Don't sit out the vote if you care. Vote to choose our direction. It's as plain as that.
Sorry, parasite: go beg elsewhere. Americans who work for a living are tired of pulling your dead weight. Now be a good parasite and have yourself "fixed" to spare us your little parasitic progeny.
You know, you're speaking to many millions of us who work in excess of 50 hours per week. We are the ones who cannot afford to buy a home anymore, or a car or medical coverage. Maybe we don't have an education, but I would think ones integrity means something when you're willing to physically work hard? Isn't that and hasn't it ALWAYS been respected in America?
So what is the true intent? For anyone who doesn't have an education but work in excess of those 50 hrs/wk. to live in dire poverty. THAT is where we are and it is getting worse!!! Elect Romney and hard work will mean nothing as this trend originated with Republicans and will end with Republicans. If you're not in our class you better wake up and take another snapshot of what is important to you, because you're going to surround yourself with millions of hungry wolves. I'm pretty sure the laws of nature will determine you'll be eaten alive!
You know, I'm an independent voter, neither Dem nor Rep nor anything else. I've been feeling like I would just not vote. And then the debate: a disaster all around. I know the Romney game, so I couldn't support him (I live in Massachusetts...). But I do think, after watching the debate WITH THE SOUND OFF, and then bites with the sound on--I get it: I have to focus on the plans these two have for us, not their showmanship. So I'm going to vote. And for me, that means a vote for President Obama. You said it, JD. Reluctantly I have to say I think you're right. Oh for the days when there was one candidate whose personality and experience and just the whole picture stood out head and shoulders above the rest! Rarely happens. But it's a dream. I think the best example is in fiction, the television series The West Wing....
"The West Wing"? You ridiculous twit!
Obama's real challenge is to STOP THE WAR (let's pause there for a second....shall we) and we the people have heard NOTHING about that since he's been in office. All he has done is spent MORE money on the debacle in Iraq and Afghanistan while our economy crumbles. In fact, he's spent more on the war in 4 years than dumb dumb Bush did in 8, don't believe me googoo it, it's out there!!
Biden is probably the biggest moron in politics. Ryan will probably make a fool of him and, if he does it correctly, could claim that Biden is smarter than Obama. That is probably true. Obama has been the empty chair creating polarized chaos in the World and in the US. Obama's EPA is even performing illegal human medical experiments in violation of international law. Ryan could have a field day with that topic alone. He could ask Biden if he wants to be Obama's cellmate when the Hague convicts the Administration of crimes against humanity!
I was surprised at Mr. Zakaria's take on Romney's performance. Mr. Zakaria, usually so perceptive, seems to think it heralds a shift to the center, while it is abundantly clear to me that Romney is winking at his "base." In effect, saying: Look, I gotta say this stuff or I won't get elected. You understand. Save Medicare, guarantee coverage for pre-existing conditions, no tax cuts for the wealthy, concern for the middle class...blah blah blah. You and I know that when I'm elected, the Tea Party can set up shop in the west wing. Winning!
From Zakaria's article one gets the predictable impression that the November presidential election winner will be Obamney/ Rombama.
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I keep hearing about the massive tax increases to fund Obamacare. Just saying it means absolutely nothing. Can someone please list the massive taxes we'll all be paying in 2013 to fund Obamacare????
Anyone who say's it but can't list them is absolutely FOS. a parrot without a mind of their own. So where are they?????
Here is my Challenge for our President-
Mr. President please lend me your ear, or in this case, your eye’s and mind.
Dear sir I have a word for you to speak upon at this time, race. I am puzzled why someone so “PERFECTLY” able to speak to both, if not all sides, has not. Health Care is important and well worth your time, not all of it.
Campaigning is needed close to election time, not all the time. TV shows, radio, many public appearances before and after we elected you. Why no talk on race? We all belong to one while still divided. The bathrooms names are now the same, while the same bad odors are in the air.
Four years after the election of the hope inspiring, proof America walks the talk, Mr. B H Obama has remained mum. I ask you why? With you facing reelection now is forcing this letter publicly. I apologize for seeming to be disrespectful, it is not personal, its for our country, perhaps the world.
The world looks to us, home of the free and the brave. We need you to man up, approach the base and hit one out of the park. Who could stop you now from speaking the words out loud? Your our president. OUR the key word. All. Every. Chose any word to describe the unique mixture making America great for its citizen’s and the world. Say the words out loud and often. Use no teleprompter. Speak from your heart. For our hearts so often needlessly broken by real or suspected racial divide.
Open the web/air/stage, every person connected at once, it is very easy. You only have to start, now, this day. None of us are insured the next breath, or election, so time is essential. Many have lost lives in one form or another due to the silence till date. What are the odds in your risking to wait for election result? One more day of unnecessary strife is simply not worth the wait. Let us be honest here, what are the chances of the next elected being as qualified as yourself for this purpose, slim to none.
I must end here as words are limited to space, yours are not. Please help America heal from within. I thank you in advance, your citizen.
I hear a lot of talk here about how the president made this country more divisive. Talk as much as you want about it. In the end, it was the republicans who banded against the USA for spite against the other party winning the 2008 election by saying "Our only goal is to make this a single term president". Disgusting. I say, boot them all out of office and re-elect politicians that work for the people.
Exactly....that's why I'm voting party line....Democrat
That kind of rhetoric flies from either side regardless of who the loser is.
Obama's greatest challenge is himself. He doesn't need to prove he's better than Romeny. He can't do that until he proves that he's worth being president "at all".
Romney MAY at heart be a moderate Republican who has been doing a great job of masquerading as a "serious conservative". BUT whether he is or not, he now owes his soul to the ultra conservatives. Once in office, he will have to pay them back big time. And THAT does not bode well for most Americans.
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The people behind hawkish Gaffey Mitt are jumping for joy – because soon more incindiery bombs, fighters, guns, missiles, agent orange, tanks, warships, military vehicles, will be on the way to the country President Gaffey choses to attack first.
War is the only way "America must show the world we are a powerful and strong country".
There will be Americans in body bags, oh well ...so long as war is creating business and jobs, its a neccessary tradeoff.
US will need 200 billion dollars worth of tanks and fighters to demolish Iran, I guesstimate.
The problem with this new and those hawkish President is they dont care that Americans are paying for every dollar spent on any foreign invasion and wars. There is no profit for the people, or the Government.
And the Presidents who ordered the invasion and slaughter are not held accountable for the sqandor and killings of millions of innocent foreign civilians – women and children included.
And this is why USA is cursed with this terrible financial mess – the worse of it if not resolved soon may sink the nation into a depression.
As if Gaffey cares about the future.
I find it funny to be reading an article by Fareed calling someone else a liar. I wonder who he had write this story for him?
As usual, the liberal writer of this article is wrong. Republicans do best when they stand strongly for conservative priniciples and don't apologize for them. Ronal Reagan is a great example of this. He campaigned a strong conservative and he thumped Carter and Mondull. Look at the Republicans who have lost since then: G.H.W. Bush, Dole, and McCain. They were moderate establishment Republicans. All the talk about moderation and bi-partisanship is BS to try to get Republicans to campaign as moderates and not conservatives, because Fareed knows if Republicans run as conservatives, they will win.
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