RNC Heave Ho

I haven't been moved to make a blog entry in quite some time, obviously. Since my last post in 2014, both my parents passed away and I've also made a major move to a new home.

But after the conclusion of tonight's Republican National Convention, I was forced to express my opinion. How could I not after such a ridiculous debacle?

Every presidential election cycle, I listen to and/or watch both the Democrat and Republican conventions. I want to hear both sides. However, this year's RNC can be summed headlined in one sentence: "2016 Gag-Almighty Puke-Fest."

Trump is the biggest phony I've ever had to endure listening to, and his audience is comprised of what can only be described for the most part as rabid dogs who, while claiming to be Christians, chanted "lock her up" when Hillary Clinton was referenced even though she has never been convicted of any crimes. The alleged "crimes" have been perpetuated by right wing nuts for so long that their body-snatcher followers actually believe their merits despite the failure of multiple congressional inquiries - and millions of taxpayer dollars - to prove otherwise.

The time between now and the November election is going to seem like an eternity.

Back to Basics

I gained a modicum of respect for Chris Christie during Hurricane Sandy and the aftermath, but I should have known better:

• How Chris Christie's Plan To Replace Senator Lautenberg Will Waste Millions In Taxpayer Dollars

I suppose he just can't help himself. True colors will out.

Faux Plots

What happened in Benghazi was a terrible tragedy, but I'm heartily sick of the right-wing trying to manufacture a faux cover-up or "scandal" out of the incident by politicizing it. They can investigate and question the timeline of events to their hearts content, yet the story does not belong in the headlines front-and-center when compared to other issues facing the country.

GOP senators not satisfied with Rice explanation of Benghazi aftermath

I used to respect John McCain even though I never agreed with most of his views. However, every time he steps out in front of TV cameras to make comments about Benghazi he comes off like a bitter, old fool. McCain has made himself less than credible in recent years and has become increasingly irrelevant on the national stage. It's very sad to witness.

Perhaps it's time he retired with a semblance of dignity.

Rock On, Godless Heathens!

I like the looks of today's forecasts on Five Thirty Eight:

 

Keep your eyes peeled!

Beyond the ongoing estimates, I'm truly dumbfounded that anyone – most especially women – would vote for a candidate who believes pregnancy-by-rape is still a "gift from God." There seems to be a collective boiling rage against women festering within the GOP, almost as strong as their racially motivated hatred of President Obama.

How can we move forward when the right-wing fringes are fueled by rabid hatemongers that vehemently believe those disagreeing with their views are nothing more than Godless heathens?

Campaign Plagiarism

Even though they have received a "cease and desist" letter from the creator of Friday Night Lights, Mitt Romney's campaign has continued to use the plagiarized slogan "Clear Eyes. Full Hearts. (America) Can't Lose!"

According to Daily Kos:

As you might have heard, this slogan was actually "borrowed" word for word and without permission from the television program Friday Night Lights, in which the high school football team would chant "Clear Eyes. Full Hearts. Can't Lose!" as a rallying cry.

As you might imagine, this did not sit well with the show's creator, Peter Berg. In fact, Berg was so upset that he penned an angry letter to Mitt Romney, accusing him of plagiarism, saying that his campaign's values were antithetical to the themes of the show, and demanding that the campaign stop using those words and instead come up with its own, original slogan.

The Romney-Ryan campaign has instead doubled down on using the pilfered slogan, and has even started selling merchandise emblazoned with the words.

It's just another example of how Romney does what he damn well pleases without thought to others, despite possible legal ramifications. His sense of entitlement and "better-than-thou" attitude is repugnant and indicative of his true personality and moral values.

Dim Penchants

Idiocy runs in the family:

• Tagg Romney wanted to "take a swing" at Obama during debate

I don't mean to be petty and churlish, but the statement gives credence to the phrase "idiot son like idiot father." If the unthinkable happens and Romney is elected, he'll deserve just as much respect and deference as he and his right-wing nut pals have always given to President Obama – which is absolutely zero. Because of their deranged slurs and latent racist agenda, Republicans have tainted the sacrosanct respect due the President of the United States whether one agrees with his policies or not. They opened the proverbial door, so they shouldn't expect anything different for one of their own – if that time ever comes.

Can you tell I'm not the type to turn the other cheek?

By the way, my favorite moment of the debate was when President Obama nailed Romney on his Libya posturing. He really thought he was going in for the kill, didn't he? Romney looked like a complete fool. But then again, what else is new?

Blurbs Et Al

Recent articles and headlines that have caught my eye:

• Romney web site silent on closing tax loopholes
• Gingrich Concedes Romney Wasn't Honest About Tax Plan During Debate
• 7.8 Percent Unemployment News Gets To Mitt At His Home On Island
• Americans' Preference Shifts Toward One-Party Government
• Albright: Romney would get a C on foreign policy

Fast Forward: In regards to Romney’s "foreign policy" speech today, all I can say is he looked anything but presidential (no matter how many flags appeared in his backdrop) and worse, he sounded like a complete and utter fool. He wants to build fifteen new battleships each year to strengthen the navy…Where will the money to achieve such a goal come from? His rich friends or the middle class? As I predicted the other day, electing Romney will undoubtedly ensure the United States entering into another unnecessary war. Does the Republican pissing contest never end? Mitt Romney: Failing the Commander-in-Chief test.

From Daily Kos:

Throughout the campaign, Romney has vacillated between making a fool of himself and engaging in dangerous saber-rattling. Perhaps the reason is that he really doesn't have any foreign policy experience, period. Unless, of course, you count investing in companies that were pioneers in outsourcing as foreign policy experience. Or, for that matter, having accounts in Switzerland and the Cayman Islands. And, while we're at it, let's not forget where he got the money to start Bain Capital.

And finally, Five-Thirty-Eight is currently predicting President Obama will win the electoral vote come Election Day (307.6 to Romney's 230.4 as of today).

I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

Nightmare Scenario

If Romney manages to fool a majority of the populace and the electorate by Election Day, the United States will be thrust into a world of hurt much worse than the state Bush left us in. Either way you look at it, it's a nightmare scenario. Imaginary tax cuts for the middle class will translate into even more easy bounty for the wealthiest echelons of society, seniors will be forced to pay more for healthcare because of Ryan's plans to slash Medicare and Medicaid, not to mention food stamps and other temporary relief from dire straits, along with a Wall Street being free of most regulations, and less serious attention paid to education and green energy.

Worse, I think a "President Romney" would be only too eager to prove his "power" as commander-in-chief by involving us in another war, with Iran and Syria topping the list of possibilities. Never mind the cost of human lives and billions of dollars – just as long as he is seen as a "bold and decisive" leader. To put it mildly, he is anything but "bold and decisive." He reminds me of Chief Inspector Dreyfus (aka Herbert Lom from the Pink Panther movies), his hand itching at the switch complete with a tic in his eye and a pronounced childlike giggle.

 

 

Debbie Wasserman Schultz:

[During the debate] Romney repeatedly and blatantly lied to the American people about his plans and the President's record. He failed to deliver the specifics that voters deserve to hear, and he doubled down on the same failed policies that hurt the middle class and led to the economic crisis.

God help us all.

Sacrifice in Reverse

Chris Christie on Meet the Press this morning:

He (Romney) believes everyone should have skin in the game; he stands for shared sacrifice to make this nation great again.

Shared sacrifice? Those living on the financial edge already have more than their share of "skin" in the game. The term "shared sacrifice" needs to be pointed directly at those who knowingly avoid paying their share of taxes instead of expecting America's working class and poor to shoulder the burden - again.

Losing homes, jobs and health benefits isn't enough for Romney? He wants these same people to sacrifice even more while he and others like him sit in their flush financial lofts?

Political Puffery

I'm not sure why, but I'm interested in two election results that are nowhere near my current place of residence. In fact, I could care less what happens in local races because one of my primary goals is to get the hell out of dodge sooner rather than later.

Anyway, I've been keeping track of senate races in Massachusetts and Missouri. Perhaps because both exhibit cases of extreme right-wing nuttery, such as Todd Akin's inflammatory remarks about women and rape among others, and Scott Brown's focus on his opponent Elizabeth Warren's claims of Native American heritage rather than the issues at hand. My first instinct is to think Akin feels threatened by women, thereby having the need to belittle them as a whole, and that Brown has no specific answers ready to serious questions.

Maybe the most striking theme about right-wing stump speeches is consistent emphasis on the national debt. For the average person, the main area of concern is providing for their own families first. Worrying and casting blame over the debt is fair game, but it hardly ranks as a priority in the daily lives of people just trying to survive. They want answers and results now, not promises that may or may not come to fruition many years hence.

To be honest, politicians from both sides try to use distraction tactics but it's just not working anymore. Their assumption that the average American voter is too dumb to grasp various nuances will hopefully come back to bite them when Election Day dawns. There are those who seize on any excuse to hate or vilify the other side, but rational folk see the political puffery for what it is.

Whine Extraordinaire

This made me chuckle:

Ann Romney to critics: 'Stop it. This is hard. You want to try it?'

If Mrs. Romney and her husband are finding life difficult now, how can they possibly think it will be any easier in the White House?

A couple of comments following the Politico article also drew a guffaw:

If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. (Kostas Moros, California Western School of Law).

I don't think she knows where the kitchen is. (Dan Sylvester).

 

And so it goes…

Lame Rebuttal

What is the big deal about a recording of Barack Obama talking about redistribution, which contains the statement "I actually believe in redistribution, at least at a certain level to make sure everybody's got a shot"?

Does Romney actually believe the idea of redistribution from the wealthy to the middle class and poor will have the same high impact his disparaging comments about the 47 Percent has unleashed? Not a chance. It merely confirms his lopsided position, making laughable his most recent remarks that his campaign is all about the 100 Percent.

In truth, the counter-attack against President Obama has likely left Romney wide open for more criticism about his preference for the wealthy and dismissal of the rest of us.

Scary Citizens

More about the 47 Percent:

Mitt Romney tells donors his job is not to worry about Obama-voting freeloaders who depend on the state

Big surprise that most of the nasty comments about President Obama come from people living in the South, which follow the Daily Mail article linked above. Some things never change in America, I agree – such as hateful racism dressed as political outrage. Southerners are the first to complain they are labeled "racist" when they disagree with the President's policies, but the intense hatred emanating from the right-wing since President Obama took office lends little credibility to the faux protests. The misnomer of pious southern "Christians" is the biggest outrage of all and is nothing more than hypocrisy at its best (second only to Mormon mantra).

There were literally hundreds of comments following the Daily Mail article. Here's a snippet, both good and bad (my side-remarks are bolded in red):

• Alex from Louisville, Kentucky: I love all the Liberals ranting over this as if it will drive off Conservatives. 68% of America is conservative leaning (according to whom?) and most are not happy with paying to keep able bodied people at home, watching TV and playing video games while the rest of us work 40+ hours a week. It's the staple of the Tea Party Movement and the reason the Liberals LOST most of the elections in 2010 and we gained the HoR back. Please Mitt, more, more, let Paul Ryan go to be your attack dog to chew up the biased news media and spit them out.
• Sakara from Kentucky: THE TRUTH HURTS----Obama's biggest fans are the unemployed, and the people who work for the government.
• Cowboy Mouth from Ft. Worth, Texas: The tattoo-getting, nose-piercing nimrods wonder why they can't get jobs? They are physically able to work but don't want to do a Mexicans job because it is beneath them. Idiots. If you add them all up 50 % seems a little low.
• Taylor from Atlanta, Georgia: So many people think that they are owed everything instead of going out and working for what they get.
• Tiffany from Alabama: I'd like to know how what Romney said about the "poor" is any different from how Obama demonizes the "rich"?
• Plumpy from Lafayette, Louisiana: Romney speaks the truth. All of Obama's supporters are depended on government. They are the leeches sucking the economic blood out of the producers.
• K.M. from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho (skinhead country!): He is 100% correct and decent, hardworking Americans are getting more and more angry about being forced to subsidize lazy freeloaders.
• Zhang from Lumberton, North Carolina: Fact check - many of Romney's Mormon voters are dependent on government entitlements to support their unusually large families. Very true!
• T.J. from Atlanta, Georgia: What a bastard. I'm voting for Obama and I paid over $30,000 in Federal Income Tax last year so he can shove it up his golden-spooned ass. My favorite comment to date.
• Ian from London: When he talks about the 47% of Americans who don't pay tax is he including himself? From what I can see he has done everything possible to avoid tax through offshore bank accounts and offshore companies. Does America really want this guy to be President?
• Betty Blue Eyes from San Jose, CA: What about multi-millionaires who pay only 14% tax rates because their loopholes are "legal?" Do they think it's unfair that people making much less are in higher tax brackets? How do they feel about people who pay no federal tax legally? These include people on Social Security, people who are disabled, people who are in the lower ranks of the US military, who have low-wage jobs, etc. Why do these unfortunate people have to be kicked for taking advantage of their own legal rights?
• Penelope from Australia: America- your entire political, social, education and LACK of a health system are a joke most of the rest of the Western world. It's a shame it's not all that funny in that you erroneously pride yourselves on being the greatest democracy the world has ever known when you despise almost half of your own citizens and blame them for being poor, unemployed, sick and poorly educated. Ever thought of trying to solve these shortfalls in infrastructure instead of just blaming so many individuals? Perhaps the most rational comment so far.

Instead of attacking fellow citizens less fortunate than themselves, why don't various right-wingers stop whining and simply pay their fair share of taxes? Or voluntarily relinquish their Medicare and social security benefits if they feel so strongly about the matter? Their savage lack of compassion and burning hatred of anyone slightly different than themselves divides the country, along with their seemingly inherent selfishness and greed.

True Colors Will Out

He just can't help himself:

Romney Tells Wealthy Donors That 47% of Americans Are Lazy Moochers

The blog post relating to my experience with Mormons doesn't sound so far-fetched now, does it?

As I've said before – along with many others - the GOP is a gift that just keeps on giving.

Delusional Grandeur

I have a feeling I'll be screaming at my television set in frustration and disgust nearly every day from now until election day. I was incredulous when Romney was trotted out to make a statement about the violence and loss of American life in Libya. His action was little more than a political tactic in the face of a tragedy, an undignified maneuver that was as obvious as the day is long. He is highly offensive and desperately self-serving, a foolish wanna-be who imagines his statements are just as important as those given by the President of the United States.

Romney assumes most Americans are idiots who don't have a clue to what is really going on, just like many of his right-wing counterparts. It's as if he expects the masses to swallow every word that comes out of his mouth without question, even in regards to the mysterious plans he has to dig America out of its economic slump.

At least President Obama had the grace and dignity not to seize on political opportunity when he made his own statement today, which is the only one that counts anyway.

Gifts Aplenty

The GOP is a gift that keeps on giving…

GOP Senate Candidate: Victims of 'Legitimate Rape' Won't Become Pregnant

No matter who you are, it's basically impossible to hide your true personality or beliefs for a long stretch of time in a close personal relationship. It's especially difficult to hide your true self if you live and work in the public eye.

I have a feeling that the middle-aged white men who comprise the GOP would rather revert to laws that governed the Wild West. Specifically, laws forced upon women whereby it was not a crime to beat or rape your wife, and then blaming her to justify the abuse.

They might not come out and say it – and actually pay lip-service to the rights of women – but it doesn't take an idiot to see where the GOP mind-set aligns itself.

And true to form, Fox News glossed over the "legitimate rape" comments. According to Think Progress:

Fox News is following its well established pattern of underreporting stories that don't appeal to its conservative base, instituting a virtual blackout of Rep. Todd Akin's (R-MO) controversial — and widely condemned — comments about "legitimate rape."

What's next? Taking away a woman's right to vote? Considering their track record of voter suppression with low-income communities and minorities, it's not such a far-fetched notion.

Yee-Haw!

Oh, come on! It can't be this easy…

• Mitt Romney set to name Paul Ryan as running mate

Romney has no idea what it is to struggle on a day-to-day basis, and now he picks a VP running mate who wants to single-handedly minimize social security benefits?

Good God, I can't wait to see just one debate between Joe Biden and Paul Ryan. I don't care how smart the right-wing thinks Ryan is, when he comes to the national forefront as someone who wants to mess with senior benefits he's all but finished.

And don't think President Obama's campaign won't take advantage of the easy pickings.

Rock on!

More: Paul Ryan's Strengths & Weaknesses.

Debatable Intentions

I'm not sure if it’s my predisposition to the left or if I'm among the many who feel this way, but I find it very hard to take any of the Republican candidates seriously.

I keep imagining future Presidential debates, and inevitably Barack Obama always comes out the winner. Whoever wins the GOP primary – Romney, Santorum, Gingrich, Paul – will never be able to hold a candle to the President in a serious, one-on-one debate. He'll simply wipe the floor with them. It's not just his forward accomplishments and track record – which cannot be factually disproven no matter how much negative chatter emanates from the right – it's his innate calmness, gift-of-gab, natural command and clear grasp of all political scenarios. None of the Republican candidates seem to have a deep understanding of the issues, nor do they appear to have a sincere connection with common, everyday people.

I listened to all the "Super Tuesday" coverage yesterday, and one theme seemed to be prevalent amongst most of the political pundits: The majority of conservatives are desperate to remove President Obama from office, even if means casting their vote for an unqualified right-wing candidate. Silly me - I thought doing right by the American people was top priority, not personal career advancements. It speaks volumes about the right-wing agenda, frankly, which is fully demonstrated by their ineffectual version of Congress.

Some might argue that replacing President Obama is "doing right" by the American people, which I heartily disagree with. Can you imagine going back to the days of an unchecked Wall Street, cuts in benefits for the poor and elderly, reversal of stem cell research, religious and moral bigotry, dismissal of global warming and free tax rides for the rich, just to name a few?

A return to right-wing policies will throw our nation backward, not forward, and bodes nothing but ill for the future of our country.

Clown Show

I've tried to keep my mouth shut about the assortment of clowns vying to be the GOP party candidate for President, but I can no longer bite my tongue.

Let's get real. None of the right-wing candidates inspire a great deal of confidence. In fact, I find most of them to be a major joke, some less than others. It's not my intention to unleash personal attacks per say, but please....can you imagine the robotic Ken-doll Mitt Romney as leader of the free world? Or Michele Bachmann - who likens herself to Margaret "Iron Lady" Thatcher - sitting in the Oval Office? And honestly, do we need another gunslinger wanna-be (Rick Perry) running the country? The scenarios are laughable, plain and simple.

All of them refuse to acknowledge the work President Obama has done, hiding their true feelings of ugly racism by attacks on his policies. I don't care how often or how vigorously they try to deny it, most wealthy (eg: white) people sitting in the right-wing echelon will never accept the President. We have the virtually non-functioning and aggressive blockage of Congress as a case-in-point. The right-wing mantra of Christian values et al is a load of hooey, conveniently used to suit their purposes in the moment.

I had to laugh out loud the other night when one of the candidates - can't recall which one - said it was time "to take our country back." Back from who, or what? If one of "them" is elected, does it mean we are to return to the destructive policies of George W. Bush via the demented Dick Cheney?

Who are they kidding?

Shiver Me Timbers

I hope he stays true to his word:

• Mitt Romney says publicly he's not considering another presidential campaign

I cannot imagine a worse representative of the United States to the world than Mitt Romney, except perhaps for Sarah Palin or Bobby Jindal.

However, I'm confidant Romney will go back on his word and be amongst the candidates in the 2012 presidential election.