Mitt Watch - A Staggeringly Ugly Reveal

May 26th, 2012

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Websters defines the word game as an "activity engaged in for diversion or amusement."

Games are fun.

They are also frivolous.

This matters.

In an interview with one of his fawning water-carriers, the WSJ's Peggy Noonan, the GOP nominee for the most powerful position in the history of world said the following a few days ago:

"I think the game is like a sport for old guys. I mean, you know, I can’t compete in competitive sports very well, but I can compete in politics."

This should end Mitt Romney right here.

The shocking elitism in his statement is only matched by its craven stupidity. It's bad enough to consider his even thinking this way. But, to have so little regard for the people that he would say it aloud is unlike anything I have witnessed in the last quarter century.

Politics, by his own proclamation, is simply his latest hobby. While wife Ann spends part of their fortune on her "dressage," Romney has set out to saddle the people with a more hopeless future for his own gratification and that of his monied friends.

After all, it's just a "game."

We are the pawns and pieces. We are the poker chips. He likes a good bluff so why not truck with "birthers" and "tenthers" and propagandists? Anything to win.

After all, it's just a "game."

This serves to explain Romney's staggering mendacity. Why bother to tell the truth?

It's just a "game."

Wild proclamations that Russia is our "number one enemy" don't really mean anything.

It's just a "game."

Promising the last administration's neo-cons that he will give them their third war in the Middle East is of no consequence.

It's just a "game."

A worldview in which leadership of the United States is just a shiny prize during times this turbulent and potentially transformative should preclude eligibility for any office, much less Commander in Chief.

To doubt that a Romney presidency would be a disaster of previously un-imagined proportions is increasingly naive.

What Does The 1% Know?

Dec 12th, 2011

Sometimes, not very much. Yglesias made this catch:

"Next time you read an article about the behavioral response to marginal tax rates on high income earners, I would urge you to refer back to JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon's fine whine that "most of us wage earners are paying 39.6 percent in taxes and add in another 12 percent in New York state and city taxes and we're paying 50 percent of our income in taxes."

The thing about this is that the actual top marginal income tax rate is 35 percent. The entire debate in congress over taxes is that President Obama wants to restore the top marginal rate to the level that Dimon thinks it already is. Meanwhile, Dimon doesn't even know what tax rate he pays. Just saying."

Hey Rudy, There Aren't Enough Jobs For Us To "Occupy A Job"

Nov 5th, 2011

The dishonorable former Mayor of New York City, Rudy Giuliani, gave a glib and spittle-dribbled performance at the annual "Americans For Prosperity" gala in Washington this weekend. He used his time on the dais to smear the Occupy movement. His most crowd pleasing riff? "How about you go and occupy a job." Before watching this vulgar bit of agit-prop (video below), let's look at the most recent job numbers, shall we?

Via The Economist:

"In the month of October, nonfarm payroll employment rose by 80,000 jobs—less than economists expected. The report was less disappointing than might be imagined given that number, however. The initial zero-job figure from August has now been revised up to an increase of 104,000, and September's total has also been revised up, to 158,000. That pace is scarcely enough to keep up with population growth, but it's considerably better than the economy managed in the early summer." EMPHASIS OURS

For over a decade now, the American economy has not added the minimum number of jobs to simply accommodate new entrants in the labor force. Even if we exclude the Wall Street driven disasters of the last three years, there aren't enough jobs to "occupy." That didn't stop Rudy. Why should it? Facts never have gotten in his way.

The Epidemic Of Not Watching, cont...

Sept 22nd, 2011

Yes, the #OccupyWallStreet protest is still happening. The "liberal" MSM might not be paying attention. However, a lot of us are.

Class Warfare?

Sept 19th, 2011

Poor Rep. John Flemming (R-LA) is barely getting by. After "feeding" and taking care of his family, he only has about four hundred thousand dollars a year left over from his businesses. He just can't "create jobs" on that net profit. Mind you, he runs UPS stores and Subway sandwich franchises. Those workers are at or even slightly above the minimum wage.

I am sure you are weeping at the mere thought of his struggle.