Begin studying — there will be more, much more to learn about the (monkey) business experience of this guy! This isn’t the ‘business experience’ anyone wants in a leader of the free world.
The information is extremely complex but shows that one of Romney’s driving forces was (legal) tax avoidance at all costs through the use of exceedingly complex financial instruments (often in the Cayman Islands), use of the carried interest provision in the Internal Revenue Code, and other similar maneuvers. Even if all these things are legal, one can ask the question of whether a person who has apparently devoted much of his life to paying the absolute minimum tax possible by using every trick in the book is setting a good example for everyone else. The document dump also exposes the lengths to which the very wealthy will go to avoid paying taxes by using methods available only to the very wealthiest Americans. It also raises the question of whether the laws should be changed to prevent this kind of tax avoidance.
And, another ‘take’ on this (monkey) business experience —
Inside Mitt Romney’s Bain Files
In a massive document dump, Gawker has published 950 pages of confidential files related to Mitt Romney’s finances. Alex Klein on what’s notable in the cache—and what to ignore.
Poll: Female voters say Romney ‘out of step’ on women’s health issues
That number increased as women heard “specific information about Romney’s on-the-record statements about women’s preventive and reproductive health,” the Hart polling memo says.
After hearing those descriptions, 64 percent of respondents said Romney is out of step.
President Obama had a 13-point advantage over Romney, which grew to 22 points after women heard a description of Romney’s positions.
Voters in Nevada have to choose a candidate for President. So what, you might think. Don’t they have to do that in every state? Yes, but in Nevada, there was an option “None of the above” until a judge struck it down yesterday at the request of the Republican Party. The Republicans feel that voters who know Obama and don’t like him but also don’t like Romney might chose this option. In its absence, they think more voters will choose Romney. In previous elections, it has never gotten even 1% of the vote, but in a close election, 1% could matter. The state will appeal the decision.
To me it is more like they are simply not voting at all so it is the same outcome. Statements are good for the soul but if the result is the same as no statement at all then what is the statement?
But if Republicans are trying to get rid of the NOne of the Above choice and hoping that those people will vote for Romney because they hate Obama more than Romney – if these people just don’t vote for the presidential race – then this Republican pipe dream will be just that – a dream.
So far, 80 people, businesses and organizations have contributed $1 million or more to Super PACs, which can raise unlimited amounts of money to influence elections. Those donors have given nearly $200 million total since 2011. The table below shows the details of those contributions as of July 31:
*** Breaking down the nine toss-up states: One way to look at the nine toss-up states is in the likelihood of Romney being able to flip them from blue to red. Here’s our list (from most likely to least likely):
1. North Carolina
2. Iowa
3. Florida
4. Colorado
5. Virginia
6. Nevada
7. Ohio
8. Wisconsin
9. New Hampshire
What’s striking about this list is if you give Romney the Top 4 (NC, IA, FL, and CO) that only gets him to 250 electoral votes. And if you give him the next two on the list (VA and NV), he’s still one short of 270 (bringing us to that 269-269 tie). That means he has to put one of Ohio, Wisconsin, or New Hampshire into the mix to get past 270.
The first three will speak at the upcoming Republican National Convention. They will carefully be quiet and distance themselves from the fourth man who was brave enough to voice their shared belief out loud. Yes, it’s the belief they all share, but don’t want to talk about!
So when these Tea Party Mad Hatters keep yammering that they are the only true patriots and lovers of our Constitution and yet come to the government they hate so much for their special tax cuts and those taxpayer-funded subsidies – then can I tell them they are NOT true patriots of the Founding Father’s vision of a Republic?
Isn’t it ironic that those who yell the loudest about how much they hate the government are those same folks who have their snout in the taxpayer trough the most?
But – this majorty rule thing – while I agree that is what true democracy is – there is also a representative government, which I thought we had in America. That is why our Congressional elected officials are set up the way they. The House members are elected by the population of the people – which is why the districts are redrawn. But each state has only two Senators – regardless if they gain or lose population numbers.
And each elected official has a vote – which, is democracy in action, but depending on how the votes come out – the majority often has to compromise with the minority to govern.
But – it does not really matter what type of government we have – IMHO. Whenever one political party refuses to compromise – there is no possibility of government that truly works for the people.
What we get when that happens is what we have seen since Obama’s first day as Presidnet – a Do Nothing Congress.
Remember, indy, the Senate was not directly elected by popular vote of the people until ratification of the Seventeenth Amendment. The purpose of two Senators per state was to ensure each state had equal representation in the Senate, irrespective of its population. A compromise, to be sure.
I’ve a bit of a problem with the Roman Republic discussion. The commentator ignores, whether by omission or commission, a few things. First, the Romans relied upon the taxation of the conquered territories for financial support of the government and citizens. Second, the decline was also attributable to the barbarians attacking the Roman forces (overextended in all ways) which was responsible for control in those areas where Roman hegemony existed, which adversely affected the revenues supplied from said lands. Third, to preserve the Empire (which it was under the Republic), the Romans employed mercenaries as part of the occupying force.There are more issues, but I’ll stop there.
As to the five forms of government, I agree, as well as the decline of a republic into an oligarchy. Historically, a republic has a life span of about 200 years, the USA being on borrowed time imho.
There is still hope justice and reason will prevail!
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court said Thursday that it will hear a case over Pennsylvania’s controversial voter ID law in Philadelphia on Sept. 13, according to the Pennsylvania ACLU. The state had requested that the hearing take place in October, just a few weeks before the election.
Sorry, posted that in the wrong place. Not enough coffee, yet.
Indy, I agree. The GOTV mobilization, registration and rides to the polls, used to be the specialty of the minority advocacy groups and the unions. Both are under fire (Think ACORN and any union you can list) and they don’t have the members or resources they used to access.
But more important now than rides to the polls are getting everyone acceptable ID and getting them to bring said ID to the voting booth. That has to start early, and I’m not sure the Democrats or liberals are that well organized or have enough volunteers to walk people through that arduous process. And early voting has been cut short in many places. That’s where the elderly and working folks get cut out because they can’t stand in those deliberately and insufferably long lines on election day, so they give up and go home before their ballot is cast.
And since we know the repukes control so many local and state offices, we need LOTS of poll watchers to challenge them on every ballot denied or marked provisional. We also know the repukes intend to make voting as difficult as possible. Low turnout always benefits them.
Bass-turds.
To 617’s most excellent analysis above, this is how we sink into oligarchy. When only oligarchs can vote, we sink to live at their mercy.
PrairiePopulistsAndProgressives.net 
Begin studying — there will be more, much more to learn about the (monkey) business experience of this guy! This isn’t the ‘business experience’ anyone wants in a leader of the free world.
The information is extremely complex but shows that one of Romney’s driving forces was (legal) tax avoidance at all costs through the use of exceedingly complex financial instruments (often in the Cayman Islands), use of the carried interest provision in the Internal Revenue Code, and other similar maneuvers. Even if all these things are legal, one can ask the question of whether a person who has apparently devoted much of his life to paying the absolute minimum tax possible by using every trick in the book is setting a good example for everyone else. The document dump also exposes the lengths to which the very wealthy will go to avoid paying taxes by using methods available only to the very wealthiest Americans. It also raises the question of whether the laws should be changed to prevent this kind of tax avoidance.
Bain documents show Romney investments
http://www.boston.com/businessupdates/2012/08/23/bain-documents-show-romney-investments/2mdEgqIvj0BFXrMLIXdKVL/story.html
And, another ‘take’ on this (monkey) business experience —
Inside Mitt Romney’s Bain Files
In a massive document dump, Gawker has published 950 pages of confidential files related to Mitt Romney’s finances. Alex Klein on what’s notable in the cache—and what to ignore.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/08/23/inside-mitt-romney-bain-files.html
No shit, Sherlock!
Poll: Female voters say Romney ‘out of step’ on women’s health issues
That number increased as women heard “specific information about Romney’s on-the-record statements about women’s preventive and reproductive health,” the Hart polling memo says.
After hearing those descriptions, 64 percent of respondents said Romney is out of step.
President Obama had a 13-point advantage over Romney, which grew to 22 points after women heard a description of Romney’s positions.
http://thehill.com/blogs/healthwatch/politics-elections/244981-poll-female-voters-say-romney-out-of-step
A little tidbit I didn’t ever know about —
Nevada Voters Have to Pick Somebody for President
Voters in Nevada have to choose a candidate for President. So what, you might think. Don’t they have to do that in every state? Yes, but in Nevada, there was an option “None of the above” until a judge struck it down yesterday at the request of the Republican Party. The Republicans feel that voters who know Obama and don’t like him but also don’t like Romney might chose this option. In its absence, they think more voters will choose Romney. In previous elections, it has never gotten even 1% of the vote, but in a close election, 1% could matter. The state will appeal the decision.
http://electoral-vote.com/
I would think if any person uses the None of the Above is basically making a statement.
So if that choice is taken away – these people will simply not cast a vote in that particular race. That makes a bigger statement.
But, leave it to the Republicans to figure out a way they can get more votes – even if those voters do not like their guy.
To me it is more like they are simply not voting at all so it is the same outcome. Statements are good for the soul but if the result is the same as no statement at all then what is the statement?
But if Republicans are trying to get rid of the NOne of the Above choice and hoping that those people will vote for Romney because they hate Obama more than Romney – if these people just don’t vote for the presidential race – then this Republican pipe dream will be just that – a dream.
Donors would benefit from Romney energy plan
So far, 80 people, businesses and organizations have contributed $1 million or more to Super PACs, which can raise unlimited amounts of money to influence elections. Those donors have given nearly $200 million total since 2011. The table below shows the details of those contributions as of July 31:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/story/2012-08-23/romney-energy-donors/57255332/1
*** Breaking down the nine toss-up states: One way to look at the nine toss-up states is in the likelihood of Romney being able to flip them from blue to red. Here’s our list (from most likely to least likely):
1. North Carolina
2. Iowa
3. Florida
4. Colorado
5. Virginia
6. Nevada
7. Ohio
8. Wisconsin
9. New Hampshire
What’s striking about this list is if you give Romney the Top 4 (NC, IA, FL, and CO) that only gets him to 250 electoral votes. And if you give him the next two on the list (VA and NV), he’s still one short of 270 (bringing us to that 269-269 tie). That means he has to put one of Ohio, Wisconsin, or New Hampshire into the mix to get past 270.
http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/23/13433948-first-thoughts-unchanged?lite
The first three will speak at the upcoming Republican National Convention. They will carefully be quiet and distance themselves from the fourth man who was brave enough to voice their shared belief out loud. Yes, it’s the belief they all share, but don’t want to talk about!
The Republicans have the perfect solution to our country’s energy problem – and it is staring them in their face.
Let’s line up all those Hate Radio shock jocks and put a wind turbine on their mouths.
With all that hate 24/7 and 365 days a year – can yoiu imaginag all the wind energy we could get from this bunch?
Hey – at least with my plan, all that hot air would be put to good use..
So when these Tea Party Mad Hatters keep yammering that they are the only true patriots and lovers of our Constitution and yet come to the government they hate so much for their special tax cuts and those taxpayer-funded subsidies – then can I tell them they are NOT true patriots of the Founding Father’s vision of a Republic?
Isn’t it ironic that those who yell the loudest about how much they hate the government are those same folks who have their snout in the taxpayer trough the most?
But – this majorty rule thing – while I agree that is what true democracy is – there is also a representative government, which I thought we had in America. That is why our Congressional elected officials are set up the way they. The House members are elected by the population of the people – which is why the districts are redrawn. But each state has only two Senators – regardless if they gain or lose population numbers.
And each elected official has a vote – which, is democracy in action, but depending on how the votes come out – the majority often has to compromise with the minority to govern.
But – it does not really matter what type of government we have – IMHO. Whenever one political party refuses to compromise – there is no possibility of government that truly works for the people.
What we get when that happens is what we have seen since Obama’s first day as Presidnet – a Do Nothing Congress.
Remember, indy, the Senate was not directly elected by popular vote of the people until ratification of the Seventeenth Amendment. The purpose of two Senators per state was to ensure each state had equal representation in the Senate, irrespective of its population. A compromise, to be sure.
I’ve a bit of a problem with the Roman Republic discussion. The commentator ignores, whether by omission or commission, a few things. First, the Romans relied upon the taxation of the conquered territories for financial support of the government and citizens. Second, the decline was also attributable to the barbarians attacking the Roman forces (overextended in all ways) which was responsible for control in those areas where Roman hegemony existed, which adversely affected the revenues supplied from said lands. Third, to preserve the Empire (which it was under the Republic), the Romans employed mercenaries as part of the occupying force.There are more issues, but I’ll stop there.
As to the five forms of government, I agree, as well as the decline of a republic into an oligarchy. Historically, a republic has a life span of about 200 years, the USA being on borrowed time imho.
There is still hope justice and reason will prevail!
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court said Thursday that it will hear a case over Pennsylvania’s controversial voter ID law in Philadelphia on Sept. 13, according to the Pennsylvania ACLU. The state had requested that the hearing take place in October, just a few weeks before the election.
In the meantime – every state should have some type of organization to help all voters get the required photo I.D. and take no chances.
Good analysis, 617. It all sounds chillingly familiar.
Sorry, posted that in the wrong place. Not enough coffee, yet.
Indy, I agree. The GOTV mobilization, registration and rides to the polls, used to be the specialty of the minority advocacy groups and the unions. Both are under fire (Think ACORN and any union you can list) and they don’t have the members or resources they used to access.
But more important now than rides to the polls are getting everyone acceptable ID and getting them to bring said ID to the voting booth. That has to start early, and I’m not sure the Democrats or liberals are that well organized or have enough volunteers to walk people through that arduous process. And early voting has been cut short in many places. That’s where the elderly and working folks get cut out because they can’t stand in those deliberately and insufferably long lines on election day, so they give up and go home before their ballot is cast.
And since we know the repukes control so many local and state offices, we need LOTS of poll watchers to challenge them on every ballot denied or marked provisional. We also know the repukes intend to make voting as difficult as possible. Low turnout always benefits them.
Bass-turds.
To 617’s most excellent analysis above, this is how we sink into oligarchy. When only oligarchs can vote, we sink to live at their mercy.
I believe we are more than halfway there…