James B. Catledge is quite a guy. He is a motivational speaker, into real estate and is the head of a couple of marketing companies. He also went into partnership with a Canadian named Derek F.C. Elliott. Together they started an outfit called EMI Sun Village Resort and Spa.
Through Sun Village, Messrs Catledge and Elliott took out a loan in 2005 to buy a hotel in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic which they named Sun Village Juan Dolio Resort. It was an older place and needed some renovations. So, being the wiley businessmen they are, they began to recruit investors through Catledge's marketing firms.
Sales presentations were made. One video pitch was titled, "Real Estate Secrets of the Wealthy." Investors were urged to use their home equities and savings to buy into securities tied to the resort.
Unfortunately for the marks, one of the real estate secrets of the wealthy they weren't told about was that Catledge's firms were taking up to a 44% commission on their investments. Sun Village also failed to fully fund the renovations with the money and in fact used the cash on some other projects and to pay off early investors to keep them happy. This is what is known as a Ponzi scheme, or in some quarters, business as usual.
Investigators, that would be the FBI and the SEC, don't really know where a lot of the money is, however they do know the location of at least $15 million of it. It is sitting in a trust held in the South Pacific nation, Cook Islands. The beneficiaries of the trust are James B. Catledge and various members of his family.
Estimates of the scam range up toward the $164 million dollar mark, although in the indictment, Elliott and Catledge have been accused of fraudulently soliciting a little over $91 million. Both gentlemen are looking at 20 years and fines that are twice the value of the property involved.
The hotel in the Dominican Republic never opened and ended up being sold at auction in 2009, effectively wiping out everyone except Catledge and Elliott.
I suppose I could begin moralizing at this point about greed and avarice and a complete lack of ethics in the business world. I could rail about how Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney want to let slimy bastards such as Catledge and Elliott run around without any government restrictions whatsoever, although government restrictions didn't seem to slow them down in this instance.
I could, but I won't. I'll just mention that in 2008, James B. Catledge donated $100,000 to the Republican National Committee, John McCain's presidential campaign and a couple of other republican causes, one of which was Mr. Romney's failed presidential run. In May of 2008 he and his wife Tiffany attended a little suaret at Mr. Romney's Deer Valley, Utah vacation home that featured George W. Bush. The price of admission was $70,000 per couple. As late as 2010, even after the Sun Village Juan Dolio Resort tanked, he gave California republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman $30,000.
The old saying is that you are known by the friends you keep. I would suggest that you are even better known by the people who give you large amounts of cash.
That is all. Over and out.
9-27-12
(Information contained in this post was gathered from NBC News)
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Bad Numbers For Mitt, Bad Vibes For Voters, and It Ain't Over
The numbers continue to sour for Mitt Romney. The latest poll out, one by the New York Times/CBS/Quinnpiac, paints a picture of a ship taking on heavy water. The poll shows the president ahead in Florida 53% to 44%, in Ohio 53% to 43% and in Pennsylvania 54% to 42%.
The initial reaction of the Romney people to these results is quite simple. They don't believe them. An anonymous staffer told Politico, "There hasn't been any national news, anything that would push these numbers from 3% to 9%. You've got to have something to precipitate that kind of sea change." According to NBC news, Romney's Politcal Director, Rick Beeson told a press contingent, "Public polls are what public polls are. I kind of hope the Obama campaign is basing their campaign on what the public polls say. We don't. We have confidence in our data and our metrics."
So, has Rick Beeson taken a hit of acid, or is he naturally delusional? Probably neither. He knows that those numbers reflect the people in those states who think they are going to be able to vote. He also knows that republican law makers and operatives have been working like beavers whacked out on amphetamines in all three states trying to make sure as many Obama supporters as possible are disenfranchised.
In Ohio precinct voting hours, especially in heavily democratic areas, are being restricted. Florida traditionally has allowed voters to go to the polls on the Sunday before national election day. It has also been a tradition for predominantly black churches to bus their congregations to the polls on that Sunday after services. Florida recently did away with voting on the Sunday prior to election day. And we know what is going on in Pennsylvania where there is a brutish and overt effort to make sure Mr. Romney carries the state by enforcing a photo ID system.
NBC news recently followed a hospital worker as she went through the process of securing that ID. She had to burn a vacation day and spend four hours waiting as the wheels of the Pennsylvania election commission ground away ever so slowly. I don't have any real numbers, but I would hazard to guess that she is the exception. How many low income employees at places like Wal-Mart and McDonalds are going to be able to spend a half day away from work during the week while they wait on the state of Pennsylvania to decide whether they can vote or not? Somehow I think the management of places like Burger King will discourage that sort of thing
No, Rick Beeson isn't living on his own little fantasy island. He just knows how many people in Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania his party is going to fuck over. Those are his "metrics."
That is why Obama needs a slam dunk in the debates, the first of which is a week from today. If his core supporters aren't allowed to vote it really won't matter what the polls say now, or even the day before the election.
In the mean time, The National Memo is reporting that the non-partisan, Tax Policy Center is saying it is literally impossible for Mr. Romney's tax plan to achieve its stated goals. The Romney people promptly accused the Tax Policy Center of having a liberal bias, although back in November the Governor's campaign proudly stated that the organization was "an objective third party."
Well no one has ever accused the Romney machine of consistency when it comes to such things. After all this is the same guy who spent a day praising the health care system in Israel while he was visiting there. Israel, of course, has had universal health care since it's inception.
The election would appear to be slipping further and further away from Mr. Romney, but you can never under estimate the depths to which his party will sink either ethically, or legally. These are, after all, the direct descendants of Richard M. Nixon and Ron, the contraman, Reagan.
It ain't over until it is over, someone said. That adage has never been truer than right now.
9-26-12
The initial reaction of the Romney people to these results is quite simple. They don't believe them. An anonymous staffer told Politico, "There hasn't been any national news, anything that would push these numbers from 3% to 9%. You've got to have something to precipitate that kind of sea change." According to NBC news, Romney's Politcal Director, Rick Beeson told a press contingent, "Public polls are what public polls are. I kind of hope the Obama campaign is basing their campaign on what the public polls say. We don't. We have confidence in our data and our metrics."
So, has Rick Beeson taken a hit of acid, or is he naturally delusional? Probably neither. He knows that those numbers reflect the people in those states who think they are going to be able to vote. He also knows that republican law makers and operatives have been working like beavers whacked out on amphetamines in all three states trying to make sure as many Obama supporters as possible are disenfranchised.
In Ohio precinct voting hours, especially in heavily democratic areas, are being restricted. Florida traditionally has allowed voters to go to the polls on the Sunday before national election day. It has also been a tradition for predominantly black churches to bus their congregations to the polls on that Sunday after services. Florida recently did away with voting on the Sunday prior to election day. And we know what is going on in Pennsylvania where there is a brutish and overt effort to make sure Mr. Romney carries the state by enforcing a photo ID system.
NBC news recently followed a hospital worker as she went through the process of securing that ID. She had to burn a vacation day and spend four hours waiting as the wheels of the Pennsylvania election commission ground away ever so slowly. I don't have any real numbers, but I would hazard to guess that she is the exception. How many low income employees at places like Wal-Mart and McDonalds are going to be able to spend a half day away from work during the week while they wait on the state of Pennsylvania to decide whether they can vote or not? Somehow I think the management of places like Burger King will discourage that sort of thing
No, Rick Beeson isn't living on his own little fantasy island. He just knows how many people in Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania his party is going to fuck over. Those are his "metrics."
That is why Obama needs a slam dunk in the debates, the first of which is a week from today. If his core supporters aren't allowed to vote it really won't matter what the polls say now, or even the day before the election.
In the mean time, The National Memo is reporting that the non-partisan, Tax Policy Center is saying it is literally impossible for Mr. Romney's tax plan to achieve its stated goals. The Romney people promptly accused the Tax Policy Center of having a liberal bias, although back in November the Governor's campaign proudly stated that the organization was "an objective third party."
Well no one has ever accused the Romney machine of consistency when it comes to such things. After all this is the same guy who spent a day praising the health care system in Israel while he was visiting there. Israel, of course, has had universal health care since it's inception.
The election would appear to be slipping further and further away from Mr. Romney, but you can never under estimate the depths to which his party will sink either ethically, or legally. These are, after all, the direct descendants of Richard M. Nixon and Ron, the contraman, Reagan.
It ain't over until it is over, someone said. That adage has never been truer than right now.
9-26-12
Monday, September 24, 2012
The Coming Debates: Someone Needs to Hit a Home Run
Slate's David Weigel quotes an unnamed member of Mitt Romney's staff as saying, "People are holding back until the debates. In 1980 Reagan was trailing Carter in the polls 39% to 47% until their debate."
Weigel points out the staffer's facts were wrong, that the Carter lead wasn't eight points, but rather three, within the margin of error of most polls.
Of course a Romney staffer getting his or her facts wrong isn't surprising, or even news. I mean they're the same ones who would have you and I believe that Obama wants to eliminate work requirements for all welfare recipients. Then there is the odious 47% comment made by their candidate to the fat cats in Boca Raton. Someone fed him that info, he didn't just drag it out of the great blue sky.
Details aside, the essence of that staffer's statement is absolutely true. The first face to face meeting between the president and the republican nominee is coming up in nine days. With things as tight as they are the three debates loom as the key to victory in November.
Mr. Romney's message, or messages, depending on what day of the week it is, has failed to inch him any closer in the polls. In fact in some states like Ohio he is slipping. The last two weeks worth of self inflicted damage have left people talking about everything but the things he wants them talking about. Suddenly, just breaking even with the president during the debates isn't an option. He has to decisively win at least two out of the three and maybe all of them.
Things are nearly as dire for Mr. Obama. He may lead in several swing states, but those leads are slim. In Florida, depending on which poll you read, he is either tied or his lead is well within the margin of error. Even in Ohio, where he seems to be gaining momentum, there are only five points separating him from Mr. Romney.
The president has another worry also. Legislatures in places like Pennsylvania, Florida, and Ohio are busily trying to disenfranchise many of his supporters. The Pennsylvania voter ID act is an over the top effort to hand that state's electoral votes to the Mitt. Hell, republicans there have bragged about it openly. In Ohio there are reports that the state election commission is shortening the hours of heavily democratic precincts. In Florida new restrictions have been put on early voting that will primarily impact black, lower income, and elderly voters. There may be hundreds of thousands, if not millions of voters nationwide who instead of casting their ballots for the president will be turned away, or unable to reach the polls at all.
The fact is there are probably very few truly undecided voters left. However, there maybe a significant number who are leaning one way or the other so tepidly that they can be swayed by a decisive win in the debates. The aim of both campaigns is to make those people think to themselves, "well you know I was going to vote for so and so, but now I think I'm going the other way."
It is too close to call, despite all the optimism on the left. The debates will probably seal the deal, but we don't know who for. Four years ago I thought Joe Biden would hand Sarah Palin her head during their appearance. Biden seemed afraid to come down on her hard and Palin, as we have since learned, simply rolled out a bunch of nonsense she'd learned by rote and didn't understand at all. The result was at best a draw, although most, including myself thought the edge went to Ms. Palin. Back in 1960 if Dick Nixon hadn't had that sweaty upper lip and the screen presence of someone waiting to be dipped in boiling oil history might have turned in ways we can't even begin to imagine.
In nine days things will start to slide downhill quickly for someone. Just who it will be is a matter of conjecture at this point.
The jury, as they say, is still out.
9-24-12
Weigel points out the staffer's facts were wrong, that the Carter lead wasn't eight points, but rather three, within the margin of error of most polls.
Of course a Romney staffer getting his or her facts wrong isn't surprising, or even news. I mean they're the same ones who would have you and I believe that Obama wants to eliminate work requirements for all welfare recipients. Then there is the odious 47% comment made by their candidate to the fat cats in Boca Raton. Someone fed him that info, he didn't just drag it out of the great blue sky.
Details aside, the essence of that staffer's statement is absolutely true. The first face to face meeting between the president and the republican nominee is coming up in nine days. With things as tight as they are the three debates loom as the key to victory in November.
Mr. Romney's message, or messages, depending on what day of the week it is, has failed to inch him any closer in the polls. In fact in some states like Ohio he is slipping. The last two weeks worth of self inflicted damage have left people talking about everything but the things he wants them talking about. Suddenly, just breaking even with the president during the debates isn't an option. He has to decisively win at least two out of the three and maybe all of them.
Things are nearly as dire for Mr. Obama. He may lead in several swing states, but those leads are slim. In Florida, depending on which poll you read, he is either tied or his lead is well within the margin of error. Even in Ohio, where he seems to be gaining momentum, there are only five points separating him from Mr. Romney.
The president has another worry also. Legislatures in places like Pennsylvania, Florida, and Ohio are busily trying to disenfranchise many of his supporters. The Pennsylvania voter ID act is an over the top effort to hand that state's electoral votes to the Mitt. Hell, republicans there have bragged about it openly. In Ohio there are reports that the state election commission is shortening the hours of heavily democratic precincts. In Florida new restrictions have been put on early voting that will primarily impact black, lower income, and elderly voters. There may be hundreds of thousands, if not millions of voters nationwide who instead of casting their ballots for the president will be turned away, or unable to reach the polls at all.
The fact is there are probably very few truly undecided voters left. However, there maybe a significant number who are leaning one way or the other so tepidly that they can be swayed by a decisive win in the debates. The aim of both campaigns is to make those people think to themselves, "well you know I was going to vote for so and so, but now I think I'm going the other way."
It is too close to call, despite all the optimism on the left. The debates will probably seal the deal, but we don't know who for. Four years ago I thought Joe Biden would hand Sarah Palin her head during their appearance. Biden seemed afraid to come down on her hard and Palin, as we have since learned, simply rolled out a bunch of nonsense she'd learned by rote and didn't understand at all. The result was at best a draw, although most, including myself thought the edge went to Ms. Palin. Back in 1960 if Dick Nixon hadn't had that sweaty upper lip and the screen presence of someone waiting to be dipped in boiling oil history might have turned in ways we can't even begin to imagine.
In nine days things will start to slide downhill quickly for someone. Just who it will be is a matter of conjecture at this point.
The jury, as they say, is still out.
9-24-12
Friday, September 21, 2012
Lynching Chairs in Texas and Virginia and Racist Zombies on Facebook
It has been ugly out there ever since Barak Obama was sworn in as the President of the United States. You didn't have to look far for it. Now it is being shoveled right into our faces on a nearly daily basis.
After Clint Eastwood rambled on at the republican convention to an empty chair some conservative wits have taken a liking to that metaphor for the president. In Austin, Texas some guy hung an empty chair from a tree branch in his front lawn. In Centerville, Virginia another hung one from a tree near a park with a hand painted sign that said, "Nobama." Funny stuff right? Of course the symbolic lynching of the first African American president has nothing to do with racism, especially down south where the lynching of African Americans was once nearly as popular as football.
Tech News Daily is reporting a sharp spike in racist activity on social media outlets such as Facebook. It notes that a study done by Baylor University found wide spread racially stereotyped photo shopped depictions of the president doing things like wearing a flat billed baseball cap while eating fried chicken. Another shows him sporting a mouthful of gold teeth while asking, "where are the white wimmin?" A third portrays Mr. Obama as an African witch doctor wearing a necklace of skulls and sporting a large bone through his nose.
Mia Moody Ph D, who headed the study, pointed out that some groups on Facebook claim not to be racist, such as a bunch called, "I don't hate blacks, I just think Barak Obama is a terrible president" However despite the denial "I don't hate blacks.."
is chock full of bon mots such as, "Obama needs to step down and go back to Africa with the rest of the coons." Another post there claims, "He's nothing but a jigaboo and spear chucker." If those clods don't hate blacks, God only knows what they say about the people they do.
A quick glance at the comments section of the Tech News article provides a glimpse of the outrage felt by conservatives about such accusations. Most commenters believe the article was severely biased. As one person wrote, "Hate speech is defined as anyone who disagrees with Obama's policies. However the vast majority of racism I see on social networking sites is coming from the left." Another stated that he, "saw far worse when Bush was president. Far, far worse." Both authors failed to provide any examples, or proof of their statements. Well why muddy up the waters with such details?
It is an old conservative trick to play the martyr and wail about how they are persecuted by a vast leftist cabal. Yes, we're all just a bunch of poor white people suffering from discrimination ourselves. Hell, we even have to let black people eat in the same places we do now days.
Do I think, Mitt Romney and all republicans are racist? No, I don't. However they've attracted every closet and overt racist in the country to their cause. And now, thanks to places like Facebook, any loon with a home computer can spew his, or her bullshit out to millions of people without taking any sort of responsibility for it at all.
The election of Barak Obama has ripped apart the myth that racism is dead in this country. It has reared its ugly, lice ridden, head like some flesh eating zombie rising from the grave. Not that it was ever really gone. All you had to do to realize that was sit around a cigar store lounge with a bunch of other old white guys who assumed you thought just like they did and still do.
A democratic blogger down in Austin called the guy who lynched the empty chair and explained to him her concerns. His response was, "You can take it (her concerns) and go straight to hell and take Obama with you."
Nice.
A year or so ago a fellow asked me, probably not rhetorically, "Where is Lee Harvey Oswald when we need him?"
Oswald is dead. Luckily, someday that gentleman will be too. Maybe then we can move forward and be done with all this hateful crap. America may be the home of the brave, but we'll never be the land of the free until we are.
9-21-12
After Clint Eastwood rambled on at the republican convention to an empty chair some conservative wits have taken a liking to that metaphor for the president. In Austin, Texas some guy hung an empty chair from a tree branch in his front lawn. In Centerville, Virginia another hung one from a tree near a park with a hand painted sign that said, "Nobama." Funny stuff right? Of course the symbolic lynching of the first African American president has nothing to do with racism, especially down south where the lynching of African Americans was once nearly as popular as football.
Tech News Daily is reporting a sharp spike in racist activity on social media outlets such as Facebook. It notes that a study done by Baylor University found wide spread racially stereotyped photo shopped depictions of the president doing things like wearing a flat billed baseball cap while eating fried chicken. Another shows him sporting a mouthful of gold teeth while asking, "where are the white wimmin?" A third portrays Mr. Obama as an African witch doctor wearing a necklace of skulls and sporting a large bone through his nose.
Mia Moody Ph D, who headed the study, pointed out that some groups on Facebook claim not to be racist, such as a bunch called, "I don't hate blacks, I just think Barak Obama is a terrible president" However despite the denial "I don't hate blacks.."
is chock full of bon mots such as, "Obama needs to step down and go back to Africa with the rest of the coons." Another post there claims, "He's nothing but a jigaboo and spear chucker." If those clods don't hate blacks, God only knows what they say about the people they do.
A quick glance at the comments section of the Tech News article provides a glimpse of the outrage felt by conservatives about such accusations. Most commenters believe the article was severely biased. As one person wrote, "Hate speech is defined as anyone who disagrees with Obama's policies. However the vast majority of racism I see on social networking sites is coming from the left." Another stated that he, "saw far worse when Bush was president. Far, far worse." Both authors failed to provide any examples, or proof of their statements. Well why muddy up the waters with such details?
It is an old conservative trick to play the martyr and wail about how they are persecuted by a vast leftist cabal. Yes, we're all just a bunch of poor white people suffering from discrimination ourselves. Hell, we even have to let black people eat in the same places we do now days.
Do I think, Mitt Romney and all republicans are racist? No, I don't. However they've attracted every closet and overt racist in the country to their cause. And now, thanks to places like Facebook, any loon with a home computer can spew his, or her bullshit out to millions of people without taking any sort of responsibility for it at all.
The election of Barak Obama has ripped apart the myth that racism is dead in this country. It has reared its ugly, lice ridden, head like some flesh eating zombie rising from the grave. Not that it was ever really gone. All you had to do to realize that was sit around a cigar store lounge with a bunch of other old white guys who assumed you thought just like they did and still do.
A democratic blogger down in Austin called the guy who lynched the empty chair and explained to him her concerns. His response was, "You can take it (her concerns) and go straight to hell and take Obama with you."
Nice.
A year or so ago a fellow asked me, probably not rhetorically, "Where is Lee Harvey Oswald when we need him?"
Oswald is dead. Luckily, someday that gentleman will be too. Maybe then we can move forward and be done with all this hateful crap. America may be the home of the brave, but we'll never be the land of the free until we are.
9-21-12
Thursday, September 20, 2012
George Zimmerman's Pistol and A Chameleon Named Mitt
NBC News and just about everyone else reported yesterday that more evidence has been released to the public in the Trayvon Martin killing. Apparently tests show that the grip of George Zimmerman's pistol, the one used in the shooting, had no traces of Martin's DNA on it. Tests on the holster were inconclusive. Brother Zimmerman maintains that he shot Martin in self defense as the teenager was banging his head against a sidewalk while trying to snatch his gun.
In addition, a security tape at the 7-11 convenience store Martin visited immediately before the shooting showed him buying Arizona Ice Tea and a bag of Skittles. Unlike Zimmerman, the clerk found young Mr. Martin so non-threatening that he maintains he doesn't even remember selling the items to him and couldn't pick him out in a photo array. In other words he was just another kid buying junk food like so many others.
Zimmerman's defense team, in an ongoing effort to put the victim on trial, have subpoenaed Martin's Miami school transcripts. They want to look specifically at his disciplinary notices, suspensions, and tardiness records. It is part of their plan to portray Martin as a gangster wanna be cum drug fiend who was on the prowl for a burglary score and no doubt, some Caucasian victim to shake down or worse.
No one has ever maintained that Trayvon Martin was a perfect kid. In fact the reason he was in Sanford, Florida that night was that his father didn't want to leave him at home alone in Miami while he visited a friend up state. I just hope Zimmerman's defense team doesn't ever want to look at my high school records. To be truthful, if a suspension or two, tardiness to class, and mediocre grades make you a dangerous thug I'll have to plead guilty. So will a lot of us.
Meanwhile Mitt Romney did a one hundred and eighty degree turn last night during a Univision Forum back in Miami. Despite video evidence to the contrary, Mr. Romney reportedly told the audience, "That this is a campaign about the 100%." He also took credit for and praised the Massachusetts health care law he enacted as governor. In front of a primarily Hispanic audience he said he wasn't in favor of mass deportations of illegals and instead favored something called "self deportation." He babbled about people making their "own choice as to whether they want to go home." Why someone who took the risk and spent the time and money to get here illegally would want to go "home" remained unexplained. Finally, he claimed that while he wanted to make sure the word "marriage" applied to one man and one woman, he said, "that certainly doesn't prevent two people of the same gender living in a loving relationship in a gay domestic partnership."
Those angry rumbles you hear are coming from the far right of his party. The liberal Mitt has resurfaced and every suspicion and fear has just been realized. As I type conservatives everywhere are wondering why they didn't vote for Rick Santorum in a primary.
Of course if we've learned anything in the last year, Mitt Romney doesn't just want it both ways, he wants it every way. He is a political chameleon who changes shades depending on his audience and the polls. At the moment he is reeling, his numbers dipping as the center responds negatively to his arch conservative pitch. Now he appears to be shifting to the center. Make no mistake about it though, when the hard right reacts like they always do to such heresy we will be back to the Mitt who has written nearly half of us off as being a bunch of loafers who refuse to take responsibility for our lives. The more he talks the more he sounds like a used car salesman who is desperately trying to get you behind the wheel of that Saturn Ion with only 175,000 miles on the odometer.
Yes, after yesterday's performance one thing is certain. Mr. Romney is slick and his hair is perfectly coiffed, but he is lying to someone. And everyone, I mean everyone, knows it, even the people who will vote for him.
So there we have it. Another day in the rock 'em sock 'em world of American justice and politics. It is better to be all things rather than just one. Everyone plays to the press. Public opinion is all important. When crunch time comes you want the masses on your side and whipped into a proper pep rally frenzy. Hold that line and block that kick. Go, go, get 'em, ugh, ugh.
Sic vita est
9-20-12
In addition, a security tape at the 7-11 convenience store Martin visited immediately before the shooting showed him buying Arizona Ice Tea and a bag of Skittles. Unlike Zimmerman, the clerk found young Mr. Martin so non-threatening that he maintains he doesn't even remember selling the items to him and couldn't pick him out in a photo array. In other words he was just another kid buying junk food like so many others.
Zimmerman's defense team, in an ongoing effort to put the victim on trial, have subpoenaed Martin's Miami school transcripts. They want to look specifically at his disciplinary notices, suspensions, and tardiness records. It is part of their plan to portray Martin as a gangster wanna be cum drug fiend who was on the prowl for a burglary score and no doubt, some Caucasian victim to shake down or worse.
No one has ever maintained that Trayvon Martin was a perfect kid. In fact the reason he was in Sanford, Florida that night was that his father didn't want to leave him at home alone in Miami while he visited a friend up state. I just hope Zimmerman's defense team doesn't ever want to look at my high school records. To be truthful, if a suspension or two, tardiness to class, and mediocre grades make you a dangerous thug I'll have to plead guilty. So will a lot of us.
Meanwhile Mitt Romney did a one hundred and eighty degree turn last night during a Univision Forum back in Miami. Despite video evidence to the contrary, Mr. Romney reportedly told the audience, "That this is a campaign about the 100%." He also took credit for and praised the Massachusetts health care law he enacted as governor. In front of a primarily Hispanic audience he said he wasn't in favor of mass deportations of illegals and instead favored something called "self deportation." He babbled about people making their "own choice as to whether they want to go home." Why someone who took the risk and spent the time and money to get here illegally would want to go "home" remained unexplained. Finally, he claimed that while he wanted to make sure the word "marriage" applied to one man and one woman, he said, "that certainly doesn't prevent two people of the same gender living in a loving relationship in a gay domestic partnership."
Those angry rumbles you hear are coming from the far right of his party. The liberal Mitt has resurfaced and every suspicion and fear has just been realized. As I type conservatives everywhere are wondering why they didn't vote for Rick Santorum in a primary.
Of course if we've learned anything in the last year, Mitt Romney doesn't just want it both ways, he wants it every way. He is a political chameleon who changes shades depending on his audience and the polls. At the moment he is reeling, his numbers dipping as the center responds negatively to his arch conservative pitch. Now he appears to be shifting to the center. Make no mistake about it though, when the hard right reacts like they always do to such heresy we will be back to the Mitt who has written nearly half of us off as being a bunch of loafers who refuse to take responsibility for our lives. The more he talks the more he sounds like a used car salesman who is desperately trying to get you behind the wheel of that Saturn Ion with only 175,000 miles on the odometer.
Yes, after yesterday's performance one thing is certain. Mr. Romney is slick and his hair is perfectly coiffed, but he is lying to someone. And everyone, I mean everyone, knows it, even the people who will vote for him.
So there we have it. Another day in the rock 'em sock 'em world of American justice and politics. It is better to be all things rather than just one. Everyone plays to the press. Public opinion is all important. When crunch time comes you want the masses on your side and whipped into a proper pep rally frenzy. Hold that line and block that kick. Go, go, get 'em, ugh, ugh.
Sic vita est
9-20-12
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
The Truth, The Whole Truth, and Nothing but the Truth According to Mitt
Well if we accomplish nothing else this week, at least all of us slackers now know exactly what Mitt Romney really thinks about us. The magazine "Mother Jones" glommed onto a surreptitious cell phone video of the Mitt speaking to donors in Florida this past May. It was not a gathering for the hoi polloi. Reports are the Romney people charged $50,000 a plate to be there. Given the price of the chicken served Romney no doubt felt quite at home and comfortable. He was, after all, among "his people."
This is what he had to say, "There are 47% of the people who will vote for the president no matter what. All right, there are 47% who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe government has a responsibility to take care of them, who believe they are entitled to health care, food, to housing, you name it. That that's an entitlement. And the government should give it to them. And they will vote for this president no matter what."
"My job," he continued, "is not to worry about those people. I'll never convince them they should take personal responsibility for their lives. What I have to do is convince 5 to 10% of people who are independent, that are thoughtful, that look at voting one way or the other depending on, in some cases, emotions, whether they like the guy or not."
Sports fans, you have just caught a glimpse of the true soul of Mitt Romney and the republican party. On MSNBC and CNN the talking heads are yammering about what a gaffe it was, how it capped off a couple of bad weeks for the candidate, yada, yada, yada. Make no mistake about it, Mr. Romney, in the company of a bunch of very well to do white folks, said, with perfect diction and in a relaxed and polished delivery, exactly what he really believes. He can claim it was "not elegantly stated," as he did in a hastily called press conference last night, but the fact of the matter is, given the crowd he was speaking to, it was perfectly stated.
Of course his facts were utterly false, but that has never stopped any conservative, or at least any wealthy conservative from considering them pure gospel.
MSNBC's Alex Wagner broke down the statistics this morning. 44% of those who don't pay any federal income tax, or payroll tax are elderly and retirees. 30.4% are the working poor, you know those people who serve up your hamburgers, and restock the shelves at Walmart. They are receiving tax credits for their children. Another 5% are students. The other categories are splintered and include 3,000 Americans who made over $2 million last year, but because of deductions got out of paying any taxes. A total of 18.1% of Americans pay no federal income taxes, or payroll taxes, not 47%. 25% of Americans get tax refunds at the end of the year, but do pay payroll taxes.
Mr. Romney's own running mate had to use federal money to get through college. Did that make him, at least for a while, part of the mythical 47%? I hate to tell you this Mittster, but the vast majority of us aren't sitting around on our arses waiting for the old welfare check to come rolling in so we can buy more cheap beer and pork rinds.
Obama's campaign manager, Jim Messina said, among other things, "Its hard to serve as president for all Americans when you disdainfully write off half the nation." He threw out other words like, "shocking" and such. I don't know why he, or anyone else in the Obama campaign should be shocked. Who did they think they were running against, the ghost of Mother Teresa? The fact is, when it comes to real life for most Americans, Mr. Romney is a complete sociopath. He is utterly disconnected with every citizen of this country who makes less than $150,000 or so per year. If you aren't in the country club with him, you are part of the problem. And he is here to make sure the problem goes away, or at least shuts up.
Mitt has hinted that the offending statement was taken out of context and to understand what he was truly trying to say you have to see the whole video. At the same time he stood by the substance of his "inelegant" words. Oh just fess up buddy, you put it exactly how you see it from your perspective.
One can say many things about this presidential election. What we can't say is that there is no real difference between the candidates, at least not any longer.
Just don't grow old, become disabled, get sick, or lose your job to some guy in a Hanoi sweat shop. If you do you'll become another member of the cursed 47%. You'll be one more drag on the economic dynamic who refuses to take responsibility for him or herself. You will be one of the shunned who is called "unclean."
And people wonder why I'm a democrat.
9-18-12
This is what he had to say, "There are 47% of the people who will vote for the president no matter what. All right, there are 47% who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe government has a responsibility to take care of them, who believe they are entitled to health care, food, to housing, you name it. That that's an entitlement. And the government should give it to them. And they will vote for this president no matter what."
"My job," he continued, "is not to worry about those people. I'll never convince them they should take personal responsibility for their lives. What I have to do is convince 5 to 10% of people who are independent, that are thoughtful, that look at voting one way or the other depending on, in some cases, emotions, whether they like the guy or not."
Sports fans, you have just caught a glimpse of the true soul of Mitt Romney and the republican party. On MSNBC and CNN the talking heads are yammering about what a gaffe it was, how it capped off a couple of bad weeks for the candidate, yada, yada, yada. Make no mistake about it, Mr. Romney, in the company of a bunch of very well to do white folks, said, with perfect diction and in a relaxed and polished delivery, exactly what he really believes. He can claim it was "not elegantly stated," as he did in a hastily called press conference last night, but the fact of the matter is, given the crowd he was speaking to, it was perfectly stated.
Of course his facts were utterly false, but that has never stopped any conservative, or at least any wealthy conservative from considering them pure gospel.
MSNBC's Alex Wagner broke down the statistics this morning. 44% of those who don't pay any federal income tax, or payroll tax are elderly and retirees. 30.4% are the working poor, you know those people who serve up your hamburgers, and restock the shelves at Walmart. They are receiving tax credits for their children. Another 5% are students. The other categories are splintered and include 3,000 Americans who made over $2 million last year, but because of deductions got out of paying any taxes. A total of 18.1% of Americans pay no federal income taxes, or payroll taxes, not 47%. 25% of Americans get tax refunds at the end of the year, but do pay payroll taxes.
Mr. Romney's own running mate had to use federal money to get through college. Did that make him, at least for a while, part of the mythical 47%? I hate to tell you this Mittster, but the vast majority of us aren't sitting around on our arses waiting for the old welfare check to come rolling in so we can buy more cheap beer and pork rinds.
Obama's campaign manager, Jim Messina said, among other things, "Its hard to serve as president for all Americans when you disdainfully write off half the nation." He threw out other words like, "shocking" and such. I don't know why he, or anyone else in the Obama campaign should be shocked. Who did they think they were running against, the ghost of Mother Teresa? The fact is, when it comes to real life for most Americans, Mr. Romney is a complete sociopath. He is utterly disconnected with every citizen of this country who makes less than $150,000 or so per year. If you aren't in the country club with him, you are part of the problem. And he is here to make sure the problem goes away, or at least shuts up.
Mitt has hinted that the offending statement was taken out of context and to understand what he was truly trying to say you have to see the whole video. At the same time he stood by the substance of his "inelegant" words. Oh just fess up buddy, you put it exactly how you see it from your perspective.
One can say many things about this presidential election. What we can't say is that there is no real difference between the candidates, at least not any longer.
Just don't grow old, become disabled, get sick, or lose your job to some guy in a Hanoi sweat shop. If you do you'll become another member of the cursed 47%. You'll be one more drag on the economic dynamic who refuses to take responsibility for him or herself. You will be one of the shunned who is called "unclean."
And people wonder why I'm a democrat.
9-18-12
Monday, September 17, 2012
The Monday Blitz: Obama Si, Romney No; Finger Pointing Republicans; Thin Ice Overseas; Superbugs and The Topless Duchess
It is a scatter shot sort of day. There are a myriad of things happening, none of them completely detailed, all of them rather fluid.
A recent poll by an outfit known as impreMedia/Latino Decisions was released and Mr. Mitt Romney did not fare well. In fact he is getting killed in the Latino community, especially when it comes to Hispanic women. According to the results, the president leads Governor Romney 74% to 21% among Latinas. In addition his numbers are not a whole lot better when men are included. Overall he trails Mr. Obama 68% to 26%. I suppose this is what happens when you've sold out to a bunch of anti-immigration lunatics who want to deport just about everyone who speaks Spanish as a first language. Mr. Romney spent the day in Los Angeles trying to court Hispanic voters. Looking at the current numbers that makes about as much sense as it would for Obama to come to Oklahoma in an attempt to convert white republicans into liberal democrats.
Given recent revelations, however, confusion, befuddlement, and outright delusions seem to be part and parcel with the Romney campaign. Politico is reporting that several senior Romney staffers are unhappy in the extreme with not only the direction of the campaign, but also its chain of command, or rather lack thereof. Chief campaign strategist, Stuart Stevens was specifically accused of screwing with the nominee's acceptance speech at the convention and the bizarre Clint Eastwood appearance with the notorious empty chair. He is also taking heat for Mr. Romney's ill timed condemnation of the president's foreign policy immediately following the murders of a United States ambassador and three of his security personnel. The staffers claim there is a serious lack of cohesive management within the campaign itself. That is not something you want to hear when your candidate is running on his supposed business management skills. Indeed, desperation seems to be seeping into the Romney camp even before the debates. After all they've been spending huge sacks of money, but their man continues to inch backward in the swing states. It is unclear what will happen, but if the palace guard is in revolt fifty days out, look for heads to roll in some sort of decisive reorganization. We know the Mitt isn't shy about doing things like that.
Of course the president himself is skating on some thin ice. He has to tread lightly, but steadily with a cool, firm hand in the middle east and one has to think that the teacher's strike in Chicago isn't doing him any good. Yes, the whole world is a mine field. Even the Japanese and Chinese are at odds over some two bit islands. The islands are unoccupied, however a 1969 U.N. survey indicated the possible presence of sub soil resources. That would be oil and natural gas and as we know all too well that is a teat no industrialized nation can turn away from. Any of these issues could mushroom into full fledged disasters for Mr. Obama in the next two months.
Meanwhile a seventh person has died at The National Institute Health Clinic in Maryland. Internet news sources are calling, Klebsiella Pneumoniae a "super bug" that is highly resistant to anti-biotics. And yes, the dead are really dead and not turning into flesh eating zombies.
The Duchess of Cambridge is suing a French publication over photos taken of her on the sly while she was lounging topless during a vacation. The magazine should have the money to pay her off because issues featuring her are flying off the shelves in France. One would assume Kate Middleton Windsor has just learned a valuable lesson about being a celebrity. The Frogs are a wiley bunch, so don't take your top off unless you are in the shower or bathtub and even then make sure the blinds are pulled tight.
Indeed, it has been one of those haphazard sort of days. Perhaps things will grow a little more defined, or at least clearer as the week progresses.
We can only hope. Onward and upward.
9-17-12
A recent poll by an outfit known as impreMedia/Latino Decisions was released and Mr. Mitt Romney did not fare well. In fact he is getting killed in the Latino community, especially when it comes to Hispanic women. According to the results, the president leads Governor Romney 74% to 21% among Latinas. In addition his numbers are not a whole lot better when men are included. Overall he trails Mr. Obama 68% to 26%. I suppose this is what happens when you've sold out to a bunch of anti-immigration lunatics who want to deport just about everyone who speaks Spanish as a first language. Mr. Romney spent the day in Los Angeles trying to court Hispanic voters. Looking at the current numbers that makes about as much sense as it would for Obama to come to Oklahoma in an attempt to convert white republicans into liberal democrats.
Given recent revelations, however, confusion, befuddlement, and outright delusions seem to be part and parcel with the Romney campaign. Politico is reporting that several senior Romney staffers are unhappy in the extreme with not only the direction of the campaign, but also its chain of command, or rather lack thereof. Chief campaign strategist, Stuart Stevens was specifically accused of screwing with the nominee's acceptance speech at the convention and the bizarre Clint Eastwood appearance with the notorious empty chair. He is also taking heat for Mr. Romney's ill timed condemnation of the president's foreign policy immediately following the murders of a United States ambassador and three of his security personnel. The staffers claim there is a serious lack of cohesive management within the campaign itself. That is not something you want to hear when your candidate is running on his supposed business management skills. Indeed, desperation seems to be seeping into the Romney camp even before the debates. After all they've been spending huge sacks of money, but their man continues to inch backward in the swing states. It is unclear what will happen, but if the palace guard is in revolt fifty days out, look for heads to roll in some sort of decisive reorganization. We know the Mitt isn't shy about doing things like that.
Of course the president himself is skating on some thin ice. He has to tread lightly, but steadily with a cool, firm hand in the middle east and one has to think that the teacher's strike in Chicago isn't doing him any good. Yes, the whole world is a mine field. Even the Japanese and Chinese are at odds over some two bit islands. The islands are unoccupied, however a 1969 U.N. survey indicated the possible presence of sub soil resources. That would be oil and natural gas and as we know all too well that is a teat no industrialized nation can turn away from. Any of these issues could mushroom into full fledged disasters for Mr. Obama in the next two months.
Meanwhile a seventh person has died at The National Institute Health Clinic in Maryland. Internet news sources are calling, Klebsiella Pneumoniae a "super bug" that is highly resistant to anti-biotics. And yes, the dead are really dead and not turning into flesh eating zombies.
The Duchess of Cambridge is suing a French publication over photos taken of her on the sly while she was lounging topless during a vacation. The magazine should have the money to pay her off because issues featuring her are flying off the shelves in France. One would assume Kate Middleton Windsor has just learned a valuable lesson about being a celebrity. The Frogs are a wiley bunch, so don't take your top off unless you are in the shower or bathtub and even then make sure the blinds are pulled tight.
Indeed, it has been one of those haphazard sort of days. Perhaps things will grow a little more defined, or at least clearer as the week progresses.
We can only hope. Onward and upward.
9-17-12
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