What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas...Hopefully

On the evening that Mitt Romney officially garners the delegatges required, he continues not to disavow the birther comments from the bloviate Trump. I am sorry, but this diminishes whatever other potential characteristics his canididacy may have for some. Mitt Romney through his silence, by his parading at a fund raiser with the low life, multi bankruptcy filing reality TV idiot Donald Trump, he distances himself from the mainstream normalcy that happily makes up the American electorate. For Romney to think his affiliation with the Donald works for him, is another indication of how totally underqualified and how awful a man, Mitt Romney really is. He should have stayed in Vegas. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Class Size

Mitt Romney says class size matters little in the ability for students to achieve. When was the last time he taught a class of 35 students at once? This man, born to wealth, educated in prep schools, thinking it cool to bully others, is speaking as if he has credibility on the issue? With each passing day, Mitt Romney shows his inadequacy and unpreparedness for higher office. As a teacher, I am insulted that he speaks to me, a voter, with such an obvious lack of understanding or conviction on every major issue. Back to School for you Mr. Romney, or else you'll find yourself the richest Presidential election loser in history.....and I hope so. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Mr. Education

Mitt Romney is attempting to develop bonafides for every issue that he has zero experience with. First, foreign policy and his statements have been reckless at best. Next, he touts his job creation performance and we know what the real numbers say. Now he is trying to distinguish himself as an education expert...there is a role to play for the Fed. and lets keep local control. Standard BS. Oh, and by the way, he blames the teacher unions for blocking progress. More demonization from the phoniest fake of a candidate in my lifetime. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Mr. Tweet

If you follow Twitter as a political geek, you would notice that Mayor Cory Booker from Newark is a gold medal twitterer. Whether it be at a fire, or a restaurant, or shoveling snow, he uses this form of instant media activity with much vigor. Mr. Booker is considered a rising star in Democratic circles and a supporter of the President. The kerfuffle over his criticisms of negative advertising as nauseating are being used by the conventional media to drive a wedge between him and the President. It is the topic of the next few days for sure. Romney will use this in his ads to suggest the negative influences in media by Obama while ignoring the constant vitriol and bull coming from their ads and there it goes. What is most striking however, is the way Booker's comments are being portrayed. He condemned the negativity on both sides , not just the Dems. and it is being suggested that he is critical of Obama and therefore this could be a great media wedge issue as they battle for network superiority. No big deal. Political advertising is nauseating and so are the five justices that let this all happen. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Republican Anti Regulation Attitudes

A two billion dollar loss at JP Morgan Chase may not be much for the behemoth bank, but its leader has been considered one of the geniuses of the industry. In front of his nose, the loss happened. What about other banks? Just as we turn a corner from severe financial distress and a deregulatory atmosphere toward at least rhetoric for change, another scam, yes scam occurs, jolting our confidence in the financial sector. The President has been calling for tighter reigns on the industry and the public seems to endorse this, but no matter what happens, short of a repeat of 1929, Republicans will fight tooth and nail, anything that regulates or controls banks. Even Dodd/Frank, ridiculed by Republicans, is giving us a watered down approach to regulatory needs. Many Democrats in fact avoided support for the tougher controls that we need. The problem is that we as citizens think of banks as safe havens for our money, for our mortgages, for small business loans and for our basic money needs. What has happened, is that they have become purveyors of financial scams that we simply do not understand. Ask the average citizen about synthetic derivatives as hedges against loss and they would think you are speaking Klingon. As such, we have become slaves to an industry that develops portfolios and risky financial ventures that go unchecked and unexplained. Why the Republicans continue to shy away from needed reform and why Mitt Romney endorses such recklessness is reason enough to condemn this approach and stay the course with the President. Good Luck to my AP Government students who are about to take their test. They worked hard and my thoughts are with them. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

The President's Role

As my Advanced Placement Government students finish their preparation for next week's test, I cannot depart from the fact that President Obama's declaration in favor of same sex marriage is an issue appropriate for our final discussions. It is being complicated due to the diverse moral and religious opinions and interpretations that exist but it is really simple. Let us suppose, today, a woman and a man who cannot bear children decide to marry and a State Government decides to disallow the infertile from marrying. Would those who view marriage as a union for the purpose of propagation be offended? Maybe so. and if not,they are hypocrites. Suppose a black man were to go to the polls to vote and immediately as in days past was excluded based on race, would segregationist bigots have a problem with this? Probably not. These two extreme views that exist within a minority of our people today, would have been mainstream opinions during periods of our history. Yet, today, laws to protect the rights and liberties of individuals have been passed to insure the American mosaic is protected as part of our diversity. To treat one individual or group differently because of a characteristic, is anathema to most of us and our nation continues to march slowly toward acceptance, tolerance and a higher sense of right and wrong. A President is in the job to execute the laws and the laws of this great nation are designed to protect our rights and liberties, not to make decisions based on religious fundamentals. I do not quarrel with or object to anyone whose faith and conscience does not have room for same sex partnerships but I do quarrel with those who use these ideas to deny others the freedom to be who they are and to have the rights they are equally entitled to. The President is just doing his job. Thankfully so. Mitt Romney has no understanding of the role he feels entitled to have. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Civil Rights

The President supports civil rights for all Americans, Mitt Romney for selective Americans. No matter how you try and spin it, no matter what forces religious conscience may compel, no matter what your fears of gay people are, one thing is clear, you cannot in America, deny basic rights to any one group, one orientation or one ideology. Our civil rights and liberties are guaranteed and protected by our Constitution and our Bill of Rights. Politics aside, homophobes aside and religion aside, people are people, not animals not property and not able to be denied the freedoms and liberties due to us all. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Seniors

President Obama is losing amongst senior citizens. None that I am affiliated with, but across the nation he is. Now this makes no sense and I hope it isn't because the most capable and most experienced amongst us have lost their way, but rather due to a temporary case of amnesia. Mitt Romney supports the Ryan plan which would gut Social Security as we know it. Mitt Romney condemns Obamacare and Government run programs but Medicare is single payer and follows the pattern that Romney callously dismisses. Seniors tend to be fixed income focused and yet Romney supports the old tired and failed trickle down economic theories that gut the programs seniors most dearly rely on while trickling wealth into the pockets of the few. Mitt Romney would have allowed the auto industry to fail and there are many seniors today whose working lives relied on the manufacturing jobs that used to be in America. Instead, Romney's experience as a venture capitalist supported jobs overseas and shrunk companies or destroyed them, favoring productivity increases at all costs. President Obama has protected this nation from terrorism and seniors have a disproportionate belief in American security moreso than other age groups. So, once this case of amnesia clears, seniors will do the right thing, and that is not to support Mitt Romney. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Let's Play Gotcha

While Presidents attempt to do their jobs in an election year, the opposition loves to play gotcha, often because they just don't have anything original to offer. This is obviously more intense when it is a first termer running for reelection. So the advisors to the opposition listen all day to news reports, and look for verbal gaffes or made up issues so that they can enter the news cycle to embarrass their foe. Republicans are much better at this than Democrats. Yesterday, the Flunkies in the Romney campaign took the monthly jobs numbers and went on their talk shows and spun the numbers to make it appear as if it is all Obama's fault. Gotcha Mr. President. Well, let me play Gotcha too. This President more than any other, knows that there are jobs waiting to be filled, but we simply do not have the trained experts to fill them. He talks about funding community colleges and training programs and offers stimulus to do it. Romney's party says No, college is elitist. Gotcha. The March jobs report which caused consternation for many, was yesterday revised upward to the original consensus estimate, therefore not making it so bad after all. Republicans ignored that. Anyhow, we have had eight consecutive months of over 100,000 new jobs, the longest streak in a long while. Gotcha. Republicans like to blame the shrinking unemployment number on people leaving the work force as both sides always do. If you look at who is leaving, it is mostly the expected baby boomer retirees who perhaps see a better time to do so now rather than compete with soon to graduate college kids willing to work for less. So, in essence, it is real reduction in unemployment, the lowest in three years. Gotcha. Gas prices are starting to come down and whereas Obama deserves the same non credit for this as he did for the rise, it still helps Americans at the pump. Gotcha. Game over today. Mitt, go campaign in Kansas where their legislature passed the most extreme and nonsensical non scientific abuse of womens' rights in recent history. This seems to be your kind of legislature since you have denied, forgotten and condemned your own moderate credentials. Leave the rest to the President. Gotcha. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

The Opposite

Yesterday in Virginia at a campaign rally, Mitt Romney was asked what he would do about the economy. His answer was that whatever the President did, he would do the opposite. So here is the Romney Plan....Study it well: -Tax Increases for every American. -The Dow at 6000. -Auto Industry left destroyed. -4 million less private sector jobs. -Unemployment trending up instead of down. -TARP program dismantled instead of continued. -Unemployment insurance extensions voided for long term unemployed. -Kick off all college grads. under 26 from their parents' Health plan. -Record corporate profits reversed. -Reliance on foreign oil to again go above 50% GREAT PLAN MITT. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Getting Worse and Worse

On September 11, 2001, over 3000 Americans were killed by Osama Bin Laden. After failed attempts to kill him, President Bush backed off from the priority of finding and killing him trying to change the narrative to hide his failures. As a candidate for President, Obama vied to get Bin Laden and to act alone if there was actionable intelligence to do so. Rudolph Giuliani supported this policy. Mitt Romney did not. Today marks the one year anniversary of President Obama's order to carry out the ultimately successful mission to kill Bin Laden and offer some sense of closure and revenge for that awful day. Presidents always take credit for their successess and try to mask their failures both during, after and separate from a campaign. The mean spirited swipes at this President by his enemies to deny the success and minimize it not only does an injustice to the bravery of those involved, but shows how singular in focus these people are. They care less for our country and more for their own self preservation. Particularly Mitt Romney who gets worse and worse and worse each day. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Chutzpah

The same aide to Mitt Romney who declared his candidate an etch a sketch in terms of his views...shake them, they disappear, and start anew, has the utter gaul, the utter chutzpah to say that the auto bailout was Mitt Romney's idea. Folks, when you stop laughing, get serious. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

A Calculator

When I need to do complicated arithmetic and my head is a little slow, I use a calculator. It is an object, without a soul, without remorse, without a conscience. I do not need or want a calculator for President, and we have in Mitt Romney, a candidate who acts like a calculator, without a conscience and without a soul. Mr. Romney looks at each issue as a calculation, a number in his vote tabulating head. He doesn't answer a question with any specificity or offer any opinion other than what today's numbers say. He looks at his stance with young people and says to himself, "Am I better off supporting the President on lower college loans or supporting the extremists who I need for the nomination." He doesn't say to himself..."Is an affordable education an important American value that is right"? When he goes around with potential VP candidate Marco Rubio, in an attempt to be seen as a supporter of Latin voter issues, he says to himself "since I do not have support from Latinos and have bowed to the right on immigration issues, I can reject immigration compromises and look like I support Latinos by going around with one". He doesn't say to himself "Isn't it morally right to allow people who for no fault of their own reside in this country due to their parents' decisions, with basic education and a positive pathway to citizenship because it is right to do". Mitt Romney is nothing more than a privileged American, wanting to be President and offering no vision of his own. He offers us a calculator. I can buy one in Staples. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

It's Our Time?

When Diane Sawyer interviewed the Romney's, the most extraordinary comment was made by Mrs. Romney. "It's our time" as if the Presidency was some mantle piece moving from one royal family to another. I was stricken by the pompousness and ridiculousness of such a comment. Mitt Romney has been running for the Presidency for almost a decade, spending millions of other people's money to buy the victory. He will get as close as ever this time, with a fifty fifty shot at succeeding but this interview was quite disturbing to me. The Presidency isn't a joke, it isn't something that is given to someone because of their age, or wealth or their name. The Romney's are due nothing from the American people. They represent the privileged few and this may entitle them to build elevators for their cars in their vacation home, but it doesn't entitle them to the White House. That must be earned and by my account, they have a long way to go. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

The Making of a Man

It is no doubt that women have gotten the shaft in the history of American culture. Even today, board rooms, legislatures and think tanks remain in male hands. Improvements, without a doubt. Near equality? Getting closer, but even though rules and laws are in place to approach real equality, it eludes us. When you look at the issues that women are more motivated by...health care, education, peace, you see a gender that gets it. My gender, tough as nails, willing to fight, willing to nurture Don Draper has a different agenda. One may ask, why is Anne Romney seemingly running for President while her husband pretends to be the nominee? Why have women become the focus of this election thus far? It isn't because the issues are different, it is because Mitt Romney is different. Historically, this decent man, moderate to the core has become a rabid conservative to win the election. People are making judgements about him based on what he is saying now and comparing it to the past. They do not like what they see. No matter how he will try and spin it, the new Mitt Romney has been made by his party's extremists. It will take more than an etch a sketch and a wife to change this. Sorry Mitt, you have let yourself be made by the right and neither your spouse or your super pac commercials can change this. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

The Youth Vote

One of the great successes of the 2008 Obama election, was his ability to mobilize the young voters in this country. Not to acceptable levels, but to improved levels. In the upcoming election, most unbelievable to me, the race will probably be close and the pundits are predicting that the President won't be able to rely on the energy of youth at the same level. There is concern that they are disappointed and disengaged and may skip the election altogether. I do not think the President is unaware of this and he will do what he can, but it is unthinkable to me, that with everything at stake, younger voters will allow their frustration to result in a no vote. This helps, obviously, Mitt Romney. So, young voters, hear me roar.

There is nothing wrong with going to college. It is not an elitist thing to do, not something to be condemned, but nurtured. If you chose not to go to college, then frankly you are hurting yourself. It is your choice, but education is a blessing and something that is good. Only one candidate, President Obama encourages and supports it. If you want loan money available, vote Obama. If you care about the environment, green jobs, an overreliance on polluting fossil fuels that we love so much, then vote Obama. His energy policy contrary to the lies of his enemies, is balanced and supports future initiatives in solar, wind and other clean technologies. It is your future, your air, your environment. The choice is clear, vote Obama. If you care about jobs and careers, only one candidate is willing to invest in infrastrucure repair, improved technologies and funds for science, innovation and exploration. These are not witchcraft as the Republicans would have you believe. Vote Obama. I can go on, and will in future posts, but the youth of this country cannot sit idly by, cannot get discouraged because of the politics of destruction, they cannot fall prey to ignorance and stupidity. They must vote. I will vote for the President. I simply ask the youth of this great nation to listen to Mitt Romney, compare what he says today with their ideas for the future, and the choice will be clear. Mitt Romney will say anything that Conservatives want to hear, in a phony and completely disingenuous way. Listen young people, hear and make the right choice not for me, but for you, your generation and your country. There is still time. Get psyched, get excited and get involved. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

A Bad Guy

In his job at Bain Capital, Mitt Romney was a business barracuda. He cared about one thing only, to make money for himself, his company and his clients. In that focused world, he was successful. As a politician and a man who wishes to lead the free world, he is just a bad guy. He has no conviction. He says the most preposterous things about the President, the country and himself wihout any connection to the common man. He is not trusted by his own base, denies his previous moderate convictions out of an "I'll do anything to win the nomination" philosophy and is content to buy the election through his super pac support. (In fairness, so too will the President have super pac money). Mitt Romney denies being a flip flopper but on every single major issue he has shifted his positions and just is not a trustworthy type. The narrative about his great business skills may be correct with the Olympics (where he went borrowing Federal dollars by the way) and Bain, but as for running the nation, a whole different story. The more we see of Mitt Romney, the less we like of him. I have no faith in his ability because I just do not trust him. He is too slick, too polished, too robotic and too disingenuous for me. He is just a bad guy for the job. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Priorities

Rick Santorum was not my kind of candidate but he certainly has his priorities straight. May his family find strength during their challenging time.

The Romney Dilemma

In an effort to win the nomination, Mitt Romney has embraced, to use Chuck Grassley's sentiments, stupidity. Not of the President but of the electorate. He has jumped on the Republican bandwagon of Obama bashing with fervent and relentless fiercity. These rants, however, will be a problem for the eventual nominee. Forget the fact that he has lost women and hispanics with his non criticism of Limbaugh Beck rants and support of gender politics and immigration politics at their worst. Forget the fact that he is already an unlikable and reluctant choice of his own base. He is facing a big dilemma. How does he convert to his original moderate core after having embraced such extremism? Contrary to the narrative, Mitt Romney when working for Bain capital was more of a destroyer of jobs and opportunities than a creator. He did the dismantling of companies quite well and made a lot of money for himself and his clients. No crime, but now as he pivots toward the real election he will find himself having to explain why he criticizes the President's committment to the future excellence of our nation. Obama supports community college, supports high tech industries such as alternate energy, he supports tax credits for businesses that move us toward modern roads, rails and runways. He supports funds for updating our antiquated air travel GPS system, an improved electric grid and other engineering type projects. He supports huge commitments to education and teachers. Romney is only about deregulation, trickle down and nurturing ignorance as a candidate. There are approximately 5 million unfilled jobs in this country. With 15 million un or underemployed Americans, it seems as if it is a no brainer. BUT, companies cannot find people who fit the mold for these jobs of the future. We are uneducated, untrained and unprepared. Mitt Romney supports nothing to remedy this situation. President Obama does. Who is stupid Senator Grassley? Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

The Romney Rule

The Romney rule...Just tell people who hate Obama what they want to hear, true or not and then lie. Also, ignore any good news, including today's announcement that we had the lowest unemployment claim level in four years, and the Fed. decided growth is strong enough, not to engage in QE 3. You go Mitt. Keep hating, keep lying and keep being you. I love it. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?