Mitt Romney

The Capture Of The Republican Party By Right Wing Zealots: A Threat To America’s Future!

Ronald 2 Comments

Sadly, as has been stated in many posts on this blog, the Republican Party of Lincoln, TR, Ike, and even Ford, Reagan, and the Bushes, has been taken captive by right wing zealots, who have managed to make Mitt Romney follow their lead, and add ideologue Paul Ryan to his Presidential ticket for 2012.

The fact that Romney and Ryan are peddling propaganda, lies, and myths at an extraordinary rate, and managing to fool millions of Americans to think that the party represents their interests, is mind boggling.

This week, at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, we have an opportunity to explode the myths that have been built up by the GOP, and to show just how dangerous the party has become, as it has left the mainstream and become a party no one with intelligence and a sense of history could possibly endorse.

There is a need to purge the evil elements of the party, in order to save it for the future competition for power, or else a new party will have to replace it sometime soon!

When a party can allow religious conservatives to control a woman’s future even on the subject of rape as suggested by Missouri Congressman Todd Akin, and to demand vaginal probes before an abortion will be allowed, as Governor Bob McDonnell of Virginia promoted, then we know that the party has been seized by the extremism of Tony Perkins and the Family Research Council.

And the Family Research Council, judged a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center for its extreme promotion of hatred toward LGBT people, and lacking concern for teenagers harassed for their sexuality to the point of suicide, adds concern for the future of tolerance and open mindedness in America.

The growing influence of a supposed historian, David Barton, who is rewriting the history of America as a “Christian” nation, and has been denounced by reputable historians for his distorted views of all kinds of personalities and issues, is having an effect on the Texas schoolbook adoption of standards of what is taught, which affects the whole nation. Barton has no credentials to be called an “expert” on the truth and reality of American history, but carries a lot of weight in GOP circles, nevertheless.

Meanwhile, Kris Kobach, the Kansas Secretary of State, has gained a lot of influence in promotion of anti immigrant legislation, including the laws in Arizona and Alabama. He has also been a leader in voter suppression activities, action against gay rights, support of no limits on guns, and has also promoted hysteria against so called “Sharia” or Muslim religious laws, which actually have no effect or impact, but are talked about to stir up insecure citizens to think we are about to be taken over by Muslims.

Additionally, Dick Armey, former GOP House Majority Leader in the 1990s, has worked to promote Tea Party takeover in the House and Senate, and is actively involved now in the races that led to Richard Mourdock, Debbie Fischer, and Ted Cruz winning Senate nominations in Indiana, Nebraska, and Texas.

Additionally, the no tax increase crowd, no matter what the circumstances, continues to hold sway with the power and influence of Grover Norquist of Americans For Tax Reform, as his group is called.

The dangers represented by what Bob McDonnell, Todd Akin, Tony Perkins, David Barton, Kris Kobach, Dick Armey, and Grover Norquist promote is massive, and Americans need to understand the threat to our social, economic and political future represented by the right wing zealots in the Republican party that has fallen on difficult times, and needs to be cleansed!

Romney And Ryan: Spreading Lies And Myths Unashamedly!

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Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan are setting a record for spreading the most lies and myths of any Presidential campaign team in American history!

Apparently, it does not matter that even Fox News Channel and the Wall Street Journal are calling them out for making their own facts, along with other news media!

What are the lies and myths?

Barack Obama is cutting Medicare benefits for recipients, when Paul Ryan’s plan is to make Medicare a voucher system and raise the age for eligibility for future recipients from 65 to 67.

Barack Obama is to blame for the downgrading of America’s credit rating, when it was the GOP Congressional leadership that refused to raise the debt limit before the deadline, and everyone knows that to be the fact.

Barack Obama has added more to the national debt than all Presidents before him, while in reality the Republican Presidents are responsible for more debt than Democratic Presidents, and much of the debt increase is due to Bush policies, including war spending, the unpaid for prescription drug plan, the Great Recession that occurred under George W. Bush, and the constantly growing interest on the national debt, no matter who is the President.

Barack Obama is ending the work requirement under welfare, while in fact that is not the case, and many GOP Governors have asked for the right to use different plans on welfare that change the requirements under the Bill Clinton welfare to work plan.

The Janesville, Wisconsin auto plant, in Ryan’s home district, was shut down by Barack Obama, while it was actually ordered to close in 2008 during the Bush Administration, and Obama worked to save the auto industry in the Midwest successfully, once he came to office, and Mitt Romney wanted the industry to go bankrupt.

The Republicans want to protect the poor and the sick, when in actual fact, they wish to cut food stamps, Pell Grants, and other assistance to the poor, including a drastic cut in Medicaid, under the Ryan budget plan.

Barack Obama raised taxes on the middle class, when in actuality, he LOWERED taxes for the middle class.

Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney are against the statements of Todd Akin about rape and abortion, when in reality Ryan sponsored legislation on the matter with Akin, and both Ryan and Romney had no problem with the party plank on abortion, which opposed abortion on any grounds whatsoever.

Higher taxes on the wealthy and corporations harm economic growth, when pursuing exactly that policy spurred the greatest economic growth in American history under Bill Clinton in the 1990s.

Barack Obama has created no job growth, when he has, in reality, presided over greater job growth in the past three and a half years than eight years under George W. Bush.

Barack Obama has been involved in his administration in an “apology tour”, and has favored Muslim nations, when in fact he has never “apologized” for America, and has been aggressive in pursuit of Muslim terrorists in Al Qaeda and the Taliban, killing more terrorists than anyone could ever have imagined, and also was able to get rid of Osama Bin Laden and Moammar Gaddafi.

Both Romney and Ryan and other Republicans wanted Obama to succeed, when there is no doubt that all Republicans made it their mission to insure that Obama would be a one term President with no accomplishments, which they well know has not been the case, as he has accomplished more in one term than any President since Lyndon B. Johnson domestically, has changed the image of America to a positive one in the world, and has made as much progress in the worst times of an economic downturn as Franklin D. Roosevelt did in his first term during the Great Depression, similarly making progress against difficult economic times, but not resolving the crisis in one term, but being attacked as Socialist, Communist, radical, Fascist by right wing critics!

The lies and myths will not carry the day, and Barack Obama will be reelected as FDR was in 1936, although not by the massive landslide of FDR!

The Blue Collar White Vote Up For Grabs!

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The blue collar white vote is up for grabs in states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Missouri, North Carolina, Virginia, and Florida, among other states.

The argument is that blue collar whites are turned off to Barack Obama, with part of the reason being racial, the feeling that nonwhites have been, somehow, gaining unfair advantage in job opportunities, and too many favors and benefits from the government.

That may be the perception that some blue collar whites have, and if so, that makes them resistant to voting for Obama. Of course, Vice President Joe Biden helps greatly to overcome this perception, because of his own roots, and the fact that he is the rarity in politics, not even a millionaire, as most politicians are!

But even if there is a racial component that enters the scene, there is another perception that might make many blue collar whites think twice before voting for Mitt Romney.

Mitt Romney represents to many blue collar whites the image of the uncaring “boss”, ready and willing to fire them and undermine their security and safety, whether young, middle age, or elderly. Romney represents the plutocracy, only interested in making money, and having no concern for human beings and the effect on their lives of what the wealthy corporations and banks have done to millions of Americans!

So to say that blue collar whites will vote overwhelmingly for Romney over Obama is likely to turn out to be totally untrue!

What Republicans Will Never Understand: The Role Of Wealth In Politics!

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Let’s face the facts: People who become politicians invariably are wealthy, or become wealthy, before they serve in public office.

The fact that politicians are wealthy is not a problem. What IS a problem is when they fail to understand the daily struggles of average Americans, and go out of the way to benefit their new status–wealthy Americans, who do not need political favors because they are already privileged!

These politicians in the Republican Party all love to talk about the struggles that their grandparents and parents went through, which is fine and good. Marco Rubio talked about it; so did Tim Pawlenty, Chris Christie, and numerous others who gave speeches at the Republican National Convention. But to get them to translate to the idea that today there are millions of people who are not as fortunate as they are, to be born to wealth as Mitt Romney was, or to live a prosperous middle class existence, and then inherit millions from family or in laws, as Paul Ryan has experienced, shows that they have no concern for the average American who is not born to wealth, or does not inherit money!

Let politicians have their wealth, but let them, as Franklin D. Roosevelt or Ted Kennedy or many other wealthy Democrats, not be so selfish and greedy as to only care about people of their social class, as wealthy Republicans have proved is their only motive in life!

FDR and Ted Kennedy demonstrated real concern and desire to help those not as fortunate as themselves and made America a better place, and that is a lot more admirable than Mitt Romney or Paul Ryan or others in the GOP having no concern about those below their class, and in fact, condemning middle class and poor people to the bottom of the pile, forgetting it is not only adults, but children and the elderly being abandoned in the name of greed, selfishness, and lack of compassion!

The Egotism And Ambitions Of Republican Speakers At Their Convention: Embarrassing, But Also Revealing!

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When one looks back at the Republican National Convention, which finished last night, what will stick out the most in our memories will be the egotism and political ambitions of many speakers at the convention, who touted their own background and credentials to be considered for the Republican nomination in 2016!

It is clear that many Republicans believe Mitt Romney is going to lose the election, and therefore, the battle for the future leadership of the party was in full demonstration.

The Republican speakers were falling over themselves, trying to out brag each other!

This included Vice Presidential nominee Paul Ryan, Chris Christie, Marco Rubio, and Bob McDonnell. It was embarrassing how much of their speeches was about themselves, only mentioning Romney briefly at the end of their presentations.

The best speeches by far were by Condoleezza Rice and Jeb Bush, who dealt with really important issues, rather than displaying their egotism.

So the battle for the future is in full forward motion, even before the election is held!

Mitt Romney: How Did He Do In His Acceptance Speech?

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Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, now the GOP Presidential nominee, has given his acceptance speech, and it was a masterful performance in many ways.

He seemed more relaxed and happy than he has ever been in a public speech before tonight, and the teleprompter certainly helped, even though the Republicans have constantly attacked Barack Obama for using a teleprompter.

He certainly wowed the crowd at the convention, but the question is whether he convinced the American people that he is up to the job of being our President for the next four years, as he failed to be specific on his plans, used high powered rhetoric instead, and left us wondering who the “real” Mitt Romney is! At the same time, he seemed ready to commit US military forces against Iran and Syria, at a time when we can ill afford further military intervention, with our longest war in Afghanistan still raging, and the nation tired of war.

An odd but telling moment was when Romney talked about caring about the sick, the poor, the elderly, and the needy, and the convention audience remained totally silent in reaction. This was embarrassing, and showed that the well healed delegates were not what George W. Bush promoted when he ran for President in 2000—“compassionate” conservatism!

At least, Romney told fewer lies in his speech than his running mate did last night, when Paul Ryan told at least six lies or mistruths in his speech, and even Fox News Channel called him out on many of these distortions or pure fabrications.

So the battle is on, and now Romney and Ryan will face two accomplished debaters in Barack Obama and Joe Biden in October, and we shall see how they perform under fire, when they will be questioned on specifics and on their manipulation of the truth on so many areas of policy!

What The Republican Party Used To Be And No Longer Is–Rest In Peace!

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The Republican Party of the past stood against slavery and slavery expansion, and for racial equality and civil rights, in the age of Abraham Lincoln.

The Republican Party of the past stood for progressive reform in the Progressive Era of Theodore Roosevelt, for conservation of natural resources, labor rights, and the rights of women.

The Republican Party of the 1960s and 1970s used the words “moderate” and “progressive” in its party platforms, and backed wage and price controls under Richard Nixon; support for an equal rights amendment for women; called for help for minority groups; federal funding for mass transit projects; advocated voting rights for Washington, DC in the House of Representatives and US Senate; promoted environmental standards; supported civil rights protesters; backed immigration and rights of workers in a broad context; supported expansion of Social Security; called for campaign finance reform to overcome the power and influence of political action committees; and avoided a stand on abortion rights, acknowledging the controversy over it after Roe V. Wade in 1973, but not condemning abortion until 1980.

The Republican Party of past eras—Lincoln, TR, and the 1960s and 1970s—was a moderate, mainstream party, and could work and negotiate with Democrats.

That is no longer true in the age of Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan, where even a “moderate” Republican in Massachusetts ten years ago is now selling his soul to the emergent right wing of the party, against all of the principles of the historic Republican Party!

One could say that the GOP is in a state where it could be declared RIP–Rest in Peace!

Paul Ryan: Good Delivery, But No Facts Or Truths! Condoleezza Rice: Best Speech, Should Have Been Vice Presidential Nominee!

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Republican Vice Presidential nominee, Congressman Paul Ryan, gave a rousing speech tonight at the Republican National Convention.

There is no question of his oratorical ability and his handsome presence, and the scene of his mom being there with his wife and children was a very pleasing and emotional moment.

But Ryan, despite his great delivery, had no facts or truths, and instead continued to spread propaganda about Medicare, and complained about Barack Obama not backing his Debt Commission, headed by Alan Simpson and Simpson Bowles, but Ryan himself also refused to back the commission results, so it is hypocritical to attack someone for something you also did–rejection of the commission report!

Meanwhile, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice gave, easily, the best speech of the entire convention, showed brilliance and the desire to promote unity in America, and also spoke on foreign policy, which has been ignored in this convention. She emphasized the importance of education and immigration, not the kind of points that Republicans have been willing to make.

So it is clear that Mitt Romney made a mistake in picking Paul Ryan to be his Vice Presidential choice, and should have selected Condoleezza Rice instead!

Three Subjects Ignored At Republican National Convention: George W. Bush, Foreign Policy And Constitutional Law

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The Republican Party is holding its national convention in Tampa, and so far has not mentioned President George W. Bush by name, or referred to the issues of foreign policy and constitutional law.

It is as if Bush was never President, and instead Democrat Barack Obama is being blamed for everything, including original sin! The economy was apparently fine, until Obama became President in 2009. This is what is called the rewriting of history, and making Bush a non person.

But Bush also took us into two foreign wars that have bankrupted us, and caused a large portion of the national debt growth, but neither Paul Ryan nor Mitt Romney seems anxious to run a campaign on foreign policy, something neither have them have any experience in dealing with. Of course, the critics say what experience did Barack Obama have, forgetting that he did serve on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for four years, and did important work with the respect and support of Indiana Republican Senator Richard Lugar, who was, for a period of year, the Chairman of that committee. This, of course, probably helped to contribute to the defeat of Senator Lugar in the Indiana Senatorial primary this year, leading to his forced retirement this December.

And, of course, to bring up constitutional law would make people realize that the President, whoever he is next term, will have a dramatic effect on constitutional law and the Supreme Court, and that this matters more than economic policy in the long run!

So the GOP is ignoring these three issues, hoping to sail through to victory on promotion of ignorance of the citizenry, and creating falsehoods and myths about the Barack Obama record!

Will they succeed? That seems highly doubtful!

The Republican Party Totally Changed From Its Founding: More Southernized Than Ever Before!

Ronald 1 Comment

The Republican Party started as a party of anti slavery and anti slavery expansion, and became anathema in the South, fighting the Confederacy during the Civil War, and imposing military Reconstruction on the South after the Civil War.

For a century, the South was solidly Democratic in reaction, and the South subjugated African Americans in segregation and discrimination, while the GOP abandoned African Americans after 1877.

In the 1960s, moderate and liberal Republicans supported the passage of the civil rights laws, but southern Democrats started to veer to the Republican Party in reaction to President Lyndon B. Johnson’s advocacy and promotion of civil rights, with Senator Strom Thurmond of South Carolina leading the march to the GOP.

Richard Nixon pursued a Southern strategy, and after Ronald Reagan became President, the trend to “Southernization” continued, and now it has reached full development, even though we have two Northerners–Mitt Romney of Massachusetts and Paul Ryan of Wisconsin–on the Presidential ticket.

The Republican Party of 2012, based on its platform and its rhetoric, has hostility toward minorities, promotion of racism against Barack Obama, hatred of national government, belief in exploitation of low wage workers, and promotes religion over science, all reflective of the backward traditions of the Old South, which remains the poorest part of the nation economically, and yet is willing to support the Republican Party out of fear of change and modernization.

But, ironically, this is the last gasp of this trend, as the country is changing to a multi ethnic society, and the white population that is so anti change is rapidly becoming a smaller portion of the nation, and will be so, in a very obvious way, by the time of the Census of 2020 and after, when the Hispanic and Latino population of Texas and Arizona and Florida will likely turn those states “blue”,. from their momentary “red” status.

So the Republican Party is in the death throes of its Southernization, as even Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia are being changed demographically, rapidly before our eyes!