Mitt Romney hands Newt Gingrich his head over investments

Don't be fooled by Mitt Romney's "innocent" looks. There's some "fight" in that man, especially over his investments. During the Florida debates when Newt Gingrich tried to raise doubts about investments by Mitt Romney, as shared on CNN.com, the ex-governor gave Gingrich a verbal spanking in front of millions—and Gingrich took it.

File:Mitt Romney 2007 profile portrait.jpg
Photo credit: Steve Jurvetson

During the video, the look in Romney's eyes is unmistakable. He was offended and unwilling to take any more of Gingrich's mud-slinging. The tone in his voice demonstrated he wasn't giving memorized lines provided by a speech-writer. He spoke from his gut, and—by golly—the audience liked it. It was a joy to watch someone neuter the Newt in front of so many.

Accentuating Gingrich's faults, as demonstrated in the South Carolina debates when Newt Gingrich exposed himself as a candidate above questioning, is easy. He seems to believe himself above questions which journalists and Americans want to ask. What Mitt Romney did, though, was even better. He showed himself as willing to face off with a little man who believes himself better than the same questions every other candidate has ever endured. Mitt Romney showed the nation he's willing to fight back.

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President Obama Rubs America's Gullibility In Our Faces

After shooting down the Keystone XL pipeline, which would have created more jobs and lessened our dependence upon OPEC for our oil, Obama's first re-election campaign ad brags about the effectiveness of his energy policies. *Author scratches head.*

Yeah. That piece made me do a double-take too.

I especially loved how he bragged on – wait for it – Solyndra! For those who don't pay much attention, they're a solar energy development firm in Arizona whom after having received millions in guaranteed loans from the Obama Administration conveniently went into bankruptcy.

You'd think a re-election campaign ad would perhaps, oh I don't know, talk about something he might have done right? But no, not this president. And to think, I was beginning to like President Obama. Then he rubs it in our faces just how big of suckers we all are.

Maybe his next ad will celebrate how big of a success he was at getting Guantanamo closed or how pleasant Joe Biden is. We Americans are certainly gullible to play along.

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So, Rick Perry dropped out. Was it from the backlash over “Strong?”

COMMENTARY | With today's resignation of Rick Perry, America breathed a collective sigh of relief that there's now not a Republican's chance at an orgy of the man becoming the next Republican nominee for the office of the presidency. Anyone who would pander so hard for the Christian vote that he would stoop to the level of doing his “Strong” ad on YouTube must seriously be in love with the idea of power.

He just about had a chance for the nomination too, until that ad came out. In a nutshell, he told America he'd inflict his personal religious beliefs on everyone else, whether we wanted to be a Christian or not. It's not that Rick Perry (or anyone) doesn't have a right to believe as he sees fit. It's that he wasn't “Strong” for what he said. He was wrong for what he said. And his poll numbers showed it from then on out.

When he decried “gays serving openly in the military,” he was disrespecting men and women who were serving at the time he said it. He was telling some of the very people who were currently fighting overseas he had no use for them.

When he accused Obama of “waging a war on religion,” he simply wasn't acknowledging the truth of the matter, in that there isn't one. All Obama's done to be accused of “waging a war on religion,” is to recognize that Christianity isn't the only religion in America. (Heck, some of us practice no religion) What Perry was really whining about was that his team wasn't so all-powerful anymore.

When Rick Perry said he “wasn't ashamed to admit he was a Christian,” millions of minds in America thought “How brave to admit he's a Christian in America.” Try that in Saudi Arabia. Now, that would've shown some balls.

When Rick Perry did his “Strong” ad on YouTube, he actually managed to get more “dislikes” (747,612 as of this blog posting) than Rebecca Black's “Friday.” He set a record for disapproval on YouTube. History will show that his message in that particular ad was the down-turning point for his campaign. I'm just glad we got to see what sort of a bigoted turd he was before he got the job. Now, on to destroying his endorsement, Newt Gingrich.

Come visit me on DonPennington.info.

Ron Paul is Facing Something Less Than a Conspiracy

COMMENTARY | According to The Washington Post's Mention Machine, the media has only mentioned the name Ron Paul 2,821 times - but as of January 17, 2012 - his name has been invoked 266,874 times in general. Still, the headline reads as if it's Mitt Romney's big week. Right. Obviously, Romney may be the media darling, but it's Ron Paul who's the people's candidate-of-choice among the Republicans.

Anybody else also notice it was Ron Paul who received Senator Tom Davis' endorsement? In a powerfully-worded statement on SenatorTomDavis.com, he states "I'm endorsing Ron Paul because enough is enough. Despite this wave of unprecedented government spending, our unemployment rate has remained above 8 percent for the last 34 months and 146.4 million Americans - one out of every two people in this country - are now classified as poor or low-income."

Before he chose to endorse the Texas Congressman, the Senator's endorsement was "vital." Now, conveniently, it's not all that important. Is there anything the Libertarian candidate can win which doesn't immediately get downgraded to unimportant? Has there been a debate, poll or survey where Ron Paul has done well, but another candidate's horn gets tooted? No, not one. Why?

My guess is it's not a conspiracy, in any way. A "conspiracy" would imply some sort of secret plan to engage in criminal behavior. And all of this is not the criminal behavior - the criminal behavior is reserved for after a candidate wins the office. No, this is no criminal conspiracy.

From what I've surmised, the media - every website, newspaper, radio and television station in America - is no longer in the news business. They're now strictly advertising - all advertising, all the time. And while Ron Paul is popular among the voters of the U.S. because he has honesty, consistency and more than one good idea, other candidates simply bought their favor. Mitt "Waffles" Romney is in the pocket of every media outlet he can be. Nothing personal. It's just business.

It's understandable. Every business on Earth must pay their employees, bills and also earn a profit. So, saying and doing what a sponsor says is their job, like it or not. But, has Romney spent enough to guarantee he'll out-shine a candidate who makes all other politicians look bad in comparison? Or, will Ron Paul offering a good plan trump the power of the almighty dollar?

Come visit me on DonPennington.info.

Have We Been Unfair to President Obama? Exposing Three Myths

Here we are in yet another election cycle. With November 2012 coming sooner than we'll really be ready for, we're going to have to once again choose who holds the Oval Office and the nuclear codes. So far, the incumbent President Obama has had the position and in spite of what many may claim, he hasn't done too terrible of a job.

I don't believe in much in life, but I do believe in being fair. And, if President Obama isn't re-elected on the basis of the issues, that's fine. I don't believe in re-electing anybody, really anyway. Still, even though I've done what I can to support my guy Ron Paul, I think we Americans should consider the job President Obama's actually done so far.

I've heard three major complaints from those who don't like the president, and at one time I bought into them too, until I started looking into the stories myself. Those three topics which wrankle the most cankles of the Tea Party movement in the US are: Obama's “apology tour” in his early presidency, military spending and of course, jobs. Let's look at them, shall we?

President Obama myth number 1) Obama went on an apology tour when he first became president. - This just doesn't pan out. According to Washington Post's Fact Checker blog, as a new president, Barack Obama was expected to travel the world and meet with heads of state of other nations, so it wasn't an “apology tour,” but simple diplomacy. As well, any quotes used against him were taken out of their original context.

President Obama myth number 2) Obama cut military spending and weakened Americn defenses. - This one is blatantly wrong. Anyone making this claim (Mitt Romney) needs to be aware that military spending is – in fact – public knowledge and therefore easily checked. Herp Derp.

According to U.S News and World Report, not only has military spending not been cut, under President Obama, it's gone up – significantly! In 2008 the Pentagon spent $594 billion then $666 billion. And in 2011, it was $739 billion! If you can convince me the increases are a cut, I'll eat my nacho hat.

President Obama myth number 3) Jobs - Holy crap, where do I begin? This might upset some folks, but when President Obama first took office, he actually was straddled with the after-effects of former President Bush. Just because he had taken the Oath of Office didn't mean there were any policies in place yet. Again, according to the previously referenced U.S. News and World Report article, the president has ended up creating an estimated 3 million private sector jobs over the last 22 consecutive months. (Actually, the businesses doing the hiring are the job creators. But that's a fine point which seems to confuse some folks so I'll just play with the same terminology folks are used to.)

Granted, all of those jobs aren't the type which might feed a family and fund the dreams of an Ivy League education, but when times are tough, even a part-time job can make all the difference. The jobs are there. Corporations are turning profits under President Obama. The economy is recovering. Granted, I might've done it differently, myself. But it seems like America is almost working again.

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Top 5 Reasons Ron Paul Should be President in 2012

I have a lot of difficulty imagining a system so borked as ours allowing a guy like Ron Paul to survive a victorious presidential campaign. He simply has far too many financial interests threatened by his proposals. He's too honest. He's not crooked enough. Many have even called him naive.

I'll even agree with having some issues of my own with the guy. I don't really think he'll succeed in keeping every campaign promise. And if he lets our school's science classes get screwed up with creationist's demands to be included in curriculum, he'll have done a terrible disservice to our youth.

But even with all of these factors considered, we could still stand to learn a few things from him. Hear my 5 reasons I feel we should give him the job for four years, at least, and feel free to comment on the video page. I don't block comments or video responses.



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Famous Quotes About Sarah Palin, the Candidate

We don't really know for sure, if Sarah Palin is going to also throw her hat into the already crowded race for the G.O.P. Presidential nomination, but in a report from ABC.com, former Bush adviser Karl Rove made the prediction she would. We can't really know for sure if she's going to announce her candidacy until she does, but imagine if she did. What kind of a candidate would she make? There's only one way to have any sort of an idea, and that's to look at what kind of an effect she had as McCain's running mate in the 2008 presidential election.

In response to her political gaffes on the McCain campaign trail in 2008, we have:

"If Palin were a man, we'd all be guffawing, just as we do every time Joe Biden tickles the back of his throat with his toes. But because she's a woman - and the first ever on a Republican presidential ticket - we are reluctant to say what is painfully true."

-Kathleen Parker, Nationally syndicated columnist with the Washington Post Writers Group

Then there's a fellow Republican from her home state of Alaska:

"She's not prepared to be governor. How can she be prepared to be vice president or president? Look at what she's done to this state. What would she do to the nation?"

-Lyda Green, State Senate President

Admittedly, those first two quotes could just be the natural course of politics-as-usual. So, let's hear from someone who worked closely with her:

"She is a diva. She takes no advice from anyone. She does not have any relationships of trust with any of us, her family or anyone else. Also, she is playing for her own future and sees herself as the next leader of the party. Remember: Divas trust only unto themselves, as they see themselves as the beginning and end of all wisdom."

-An anonymous McCain adviser, from a CNN report

Ouch. Well then, let's hear what Conservative commentators have to say about candidate Palin. Mind you, David Brooks is as conservative as conservative can be:

"[Sarah Palin] represents a fatal cancer to the Republican party."

-David Brooks, Conservative Commentator for The New York Times

What list of famous quotes would this be, without the musings of funny man Jon Stewart?

"Actually, when I think about it, Alaska's also near the North pole, so she she must also be friends with Santa." (In response to a Fox News commentator's remarks during the 2008 campaign, about how she knows international relations, because Alaska is so close to Russia.)

-Jon Stewart, from the Friday, August 29, 2008 episode of 'The Daily Show'

Thus far, we've seen a few quotes on Sarah Palin which mentioned her personality, and the viability of the woman as a presidential candidate. So, what is the amazing appeal she holds over so many? We might have the answer right here:

"I'm sure I'm not the only male in America who, when Palin dropped her first wink, sat up a little straighter on the couch and said, "Hey, I think she just winked at me." And her smile. By the end, when she clearly knew she was doing well, it was so sparkling it was almost mesmerizing. It sent little starbursts through the screen and ricocheting around the living rooms of America. This is a quality that can't be learned; it's either something you have or you don't, and man, she's got it."

-Rich Lowry, in The National Review

Could it be, so many relish the idea of a presidential candidate, on nothing more than charm and good looks alone? She certainly has those qualities, and she has them in boat-loads, too. But to not only be a viable candidate, the one who knocks an incumbent out of power, it's going to take a lot more than good looks and a charming personality.

And once won, it would take a lot more, in order to handle the job-at-hand of running the federal government of the world's greatest superpower. Perhaps the G.O.P. Might want to focus more on the candidates currently running, already.
Some more thoughts for Sarah Palin.

Patriot Depot

Election 2012: Why I Really Am Afraid President Barack Hussein Obama is Going to Be Re-elected

President Barack Obama Will Find Himself Working Another Four, as a Lame Duck President, Sadly President Barack Obama has low approval numbers in slanted polls, but folks are carrying more wealth around on them, than they were during the Bush administration. Even those who have endured majorly catastrophic job loss are finding themselves employed again. Although the money isn't what it used to be, it is what it is. We make due with what we have around here, but money's not the reason he'll be re-elected.

President Barack Obama still has the majority of the "minority" vote. I get it. I'm also perfectly fine with it. I'm glad to see the chance for a non-European, person to have the chance to introduce African-American lineage to the American presidency, and vice-versa. But even with all of the intense emotions a racially-directed discussion will no doubt ensue, skin color still is not the reason he'll be re-elected.

Although the job has aged him, like it does all, he still carries televisable charisma, and will use the tv pulpit. He still, in the words of S. Colbert " 'looks presidential.' " But were Barack H Obama's looks to remain near "Howdy-Doody" state of perpetual existence, his looks would not be the answer as to why He's going to find himself re-elected, as America's latest lame duck presidential retard.

The main reason President Barack Hussein Obama is going to be re-elected as President of the United States of America in 2012, to serve out four final years of the greatest enemy American industry and business has ever known, because Republicans will not advance a credible opposition candidate. We're stuck, working with our Catfish-in-Chief.

While the country is in need of a business-minded leader on the executive end of government, who also considers our uniquely American, exceptional, individual rights, what we all too often get from both Republican and "independent" candidates, is someone whose beliefs get in the way of their political functionality. It's not some small group of men in Western Germany, Switzerland, or Austria who decide our chosen leader for each of the next four years. We'll be picking President Obama again, because Republicans won't leave the abortion and gay rights issues alone, and get back down to business.

Rather than get a money-focused candidate like Dr Ron Paul, or Donald Trump (Trump/Paul? Paul/Trump anyone?) the Republican leadership will advance a candidate who "speaks the right magic words" to the religious extremists in the country, thereby having the effect of getting support from other quasi-idealistic type public figures' support.

It would be nice to see the Republican leadership to rubber-stamp a presidential candidate for 2012 who speaks to the not-as-silent-anymore-majority of Americans. But sadly, no. The only opposition up against President Barack Obama will be an idiot, with several consuming distractions. Even if one of the "big 10" were to win, we'd only be worse off. And I am sad for it, sort of. Still, I have no doubt we'll negotiate our way around Obama, as the lame duck he will be, like we've had to, with so many others before.

Source:
Personal opinion

Originally published on the “Yahoo!®” Contributor Network.
Additional resources
Twitter.com/#!/BarackObama

Election 2012 Already Has Me Pissed Off! April A to Z Blog Challenge April 6, 2011 “E”

I wouldn't be so upset about the very real possibility our current President Barack Obama were probably going to be re-elected because he had managed some improvements in the overall health of America, but he hasn't. It wouldn't yank my chain that Obama will likely sit out his next four as a lame duck president, spewing his socialist agenda as far and as wide as possible, were it due to any sort of positive achievement on his end.

No, what has me wrankled about President Barack Obama possibly winning the presidential election of 2012 is it will be due to no viable political opponent coming from the GOP. They're just not going to introduce an electable enough candidate, who is going to have the good sense to let the gay rights, abortion rights, or other religiously-transfixed topics go, and get down to business.

Just as soon as a presidential candidate from the Republican camp steps forward, the third word out of his mouth is something about pleasing the Lord®, or “defending this great nation” from the “perils of Satan®,” or some crap like that. How about an opponent against the business-hating Barack H Obama, who understands principles like individual liberty, the free market, and who doesn't play with imaginary friends, as a grown up?

What if we, as a people, began demanding the political parties of the US advance a candidate to out-campaign Obama, and not try to pander to delusional extremists of any special interest? What a thought, huh.

I've already griped about this once.