1st day wrap-up

[bruce MN]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/29/opinion/how-the-republicans-built-it.html/?_r=1&hp

Times blogger from the depths of the netherworld adds:

The GOP campaign is based on five main themes, three negative and two positive.

Negative:

The claim that Obama denigrated businessmen, saying that they didn’t build their own firms — which isn’t true.

The claim that Obama has gutted Medicare to pay for the expansion of health insurance — which isn’t true.

The claim that Obama has eliminated the work requirement for welfare — which isn’t true.

Positive:

The claim that Ryan has a plan to balance the budget — which isn’t true.

The claim that Romney has a plan for economic recovery — which isn’t true. (The Economist: “The Romney Programme for Economic Recovery, Growth and Jobs” is like “Fifty Shades of Grey” without the sex).

[bruce MN]

The platform?  It passed.  That would be the platform that is full of every item on the thumper and bat-crap crazy nationalist movement shopping list.

It would be the platform that Ryan and Romney are going to spend the next 2 1/2 months denying that they know anything about in speeches and in the debates.  It will just be "....some stuff that some other guys want.  You don't need to worry that we'd ever try to do any of it".

And even though it is an openly drafted and approved product, right out there for everybody to see and actually does indeed reflect the political views fo those who were delgated to compile it,  political opponents and members of the press who try to get the Bobbsie twins to respond to qustions on whether or not they support this plank or the other will be vilified for being devisive and negative.

[bruce MN]

Platforms and issues are window dressing.  According to this guy, who seems to have experience on the inside of the machine and knows many of the players, poitics is more about careers and acheivement than issues or policy.

Pretty good non-partisan piece. 

http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2012/08/the-real-rationale-for-the-romney-campaign-a-consultant-money...

[ollie2655]

like the demorats so there is a huge difference in the parties ---just think deny catholics and allow muslims --but then that would be the choice for obalmo a muslim kenyan---libs why not debate this

[Jim B. in Iowa]

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@bruce MN wrote:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/29/opinion/how-the-republicans-built-it.html/?_r=1&hp

Times blogger from the depths of the netherworld adds:

The GOP campaign is based on five main themes, three negative and two positive.

Negative:

The claim that Obama denigrated businessmen, saying that they didn’t build their own firms — which isn’t true.

The claim that Obama has gutted Medicare to pay for the expansion of health insurance — which isn’t true.

The claim that Obama has eliminated the work requirement for welfare — which isn’t true.

Positive:

The claim that Ryan has a plan to balance the budget — which isn’t true.

The claim that Romney has a plan for economic recovery — which isn’t true. (The Economist: “The Romney Programme for Economic Recovery, Growth and Jobs” is like “Fifty Shades of Grey” without the sex).

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@bruce MN wrote:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/29/opinion/how-the-republicans-built-it.html/?_r=1&hp

Times blogger from the depths of the netherworld adds:

The GOP campaign is based on five main themes, three negative and two positive.

Negative:

The claim that Obama denigrated businessmen, saying that they didn’t build their own firms — which isn’t true.

The claim that Obama has gutted Medicare to pay for the expansion of health insurance — which isn’t true.

The claim that Obama has eliminated the work requirement for welfare — which isn’t true.

The above ARE all true, and it takes semantics to say that they are not. 

Positive:

The claim that Ryan has a plan to balance the budget — which isn’t true.

The claim that Romney has a plan for economic recovery — which isn’t true. (The Economist: “The Romney Programme for Economic Recovery, Growth and Jobs” is like “Fifty Shades of Grey” without the sex).

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I'd say you are right on the second part...no way we come close to balancing the budget, though if we can just get down to deficits in the hundreds of billions versus TRILLIONs, they will have accomplished something.  As for Romney's plan for recovery, who knows, but it sure looks like Obama's plan of everyone depending on the government isn't going to be the answer. 

[bruce MN]

The process of discovery on those things which have been mis-represented and posed in only very partial context (but as Stalin said, and you prove true...a lie if repeated  enough times become truth) is going to play big once the debates start.

They've gotten to a very critical point where there is no backing out fo the hole that the GOP campaign has dug for itself.  Understandably now, they HAVE to stand by those allegations, the facts or the entire context that they are selctively snipped and paraphrased from be damned.

The rebutal will be simple to make.  But those doing so will very likely have to bring it up themselves. as the GOP surely won't and the media fears looking unfair, even if the truth is at stake.  And, again, in time and with frequency, the lie becomes truth.  Your almost instantaneuos aceeptance of those fabrications and misrepresentations is living proof of that.

[dagwud]

I think Matt Stroller brings up some pretty good points.   Once again we see how little difference there is between the politicians of the two political parties.  In many ways Obama's first term could be seen as Bush's third term as Hope and Change gave way to more of the same. 

As Stroller points out many of the big issues are suspiciously absent this election.

"But the messaging that would be devastating – on housing, unemployment, incompetence and corruption on the bailouts – hasn’t been used systematically. There must be a reason."

I am still amazed how neither party seems to have the gumption to go after the crooked Wall Street bankers that cost tax payers dearly and bring about our country's huge financial problems requiring massive bailouts for these to big to fail banks. 

[Nebrfarmr]

1) I agree with Bruce, politics is now more about building one's own career, and what's in it for me, than how do we solve the big problems.  As a neighbor of mine had said, the Statesmen are gone, and replaced with politicians.

2) Dag also hit the nail on the head.  There really isn't all that much difference between the parties, on most things, except for wedge issues that neither side really wants solved anyway, because it brings in lots of $$$ to both sides.

Personally, I think the single biggest issue as of right now is the deficit, and the national debt, and I guess I'll have to go with whoever I think will do the best on that, since really, on most other issues, things are pretty much determined, regardless on how I vote.   Trying to decide which side to support, is like trying to decide if you'd rather have a one-striper or two-striper skunk under your porch, just hold your nose, and take the one that seems to stink the least.  All the partisan politics has gotten me away from either party, and there are individuals on both, that I'm likely to vote for, just am not sure yet.

[bruce MN]

As for the 2 campaigns and any plans or proposals they've put forward the one that assures the most deficit down the road is the Ryan plan with it's disdain for revenue.

Think of what Ike told the big industro as told of in the American Conservative piece.

[Nebrfarmr]

I'm not sold on that belief. 

On the other side, we have 'spend more money, and send the bill to the rich'.  What happens when the rich find some tax loophole, to quit paying taxes, move their HQ overseas, or just plain run out of money?  We'll be in the same boat, except with increased 'critical' spending, for things like turtle crossings and Chinese hookers.

If you spend less, but take in less, the debt goes up.

If you take in more, but spend more, the debt goes up.

Find someone who is willing to cut spending responsibly, and raise revenues in a fair and even manner, and they have my vote.  I can't think of one running for President, but right now, Bob Kerrey for Senate, is saying the sort of things that just might work.