Puterbac News Network and Political Discussion Thread

[Professor Tiger]

Nah, Given the choice between an obvious liberal and a stealth liberal, I'll vote libertarian again.

One more ideological moderate will put the final nail in the GOP's coffin.

[Dr. Strangelove]

Romney could win the nomination the same way McCain: let the wackos take each other out.

If he's the nominee, Obamacare is off the table. He's got zero ground to stand on

[Dr. Strangelove]

A study showing income/social mobility is weaker in the US than many European countries. My generation is likely to make less than my parents, the first American generation in probably more than a century that could say that.

Of course, the stall in income isn't across the board. It's mainly the middle class. The wealthy in America are still probably better off than the rich in any other country

http://www.economicmobility.org/assets/ ... Report.pdf

[innocentbystander]

A study showing income/social mobility is weaker in the US than many European countries. My generation is likely to make less than my parents, the first American generation in probably more than a century that could say that.

That is only because gasoline was so cheap in the 1980s and in 1986, you could still get a 3-bedroom house for 3 year's salary. Even with the housing market bubble utterly busting, you are looking at 4 or 5 years salary for that same 3-bedroom house.

Other things are much cheaper today, particularly vacation travel. Rental cars are fraction of the cost of what they used to be. Everyone can afford to fly (thank you Southwest.) And everyone can afford to take cruises (something only the richest people could do in the 1980s.) This is entirely the result of Capitalism mixed with supply and demand. There are ten times as many cruise ships, rental cars, and jet airlines today than there were 25 years ago.

It isn't how much you make, it is how much you have to spend of what you make to have the lifestyle you want. Our folks had a lot more house with a lot less money back in the day, but we can afford to fly to Disney every year and rent a 3-bedroom Orlando timeshare for $500. Going to Disney happened once every five or ten years back in the 80s. Oh and cars last on the road like 12 years now (not 4 years like they did in the 1980s.)

[GBJs]

Wish a Ford and a Chevy, would still last ten years, like it should...
Is the best of the free life behind us now...
Are the good times really over, for good.

[Professor Tiger]

Ah, great Merle Haggard song.

Romney on Health care:



Romney on gun control:



Romney on abortion:



It's amazing to me how anybody - especially a conservative - can take anything he says seriously.

[Dr. Strangelove]

The WSJ's misleading graphics -- lying through statistics

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/ten-mi ... 029609.php

[Dr. Strangelove]

Paul Ryan tries to stop the bleeding

At this point, more prospective Republican presidential candidates have endorsed some form of an individual mandate — Romney in his state, Gingrich nationally — than have endorsed Ryan’s Medicare plan. In fact, Gingrich has come out against Ryan’s Medicare plan, calling it “right-wing social engineering.” John Boehner has walked back his support for it, saying he is “not wedded to one single idea.” Michele Bachmann says she’s “concerned about shifting the cost burden to senior citizens.” Ryan’s plan appears to have turned a special election in an extremely Republican district into a dead heat.

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/politi ... 029599.php

[Dr. Strangelove]

Fox News isn't buying Romney

[youtube]elxddw5h4k4[/youtube]

[Owlman]

best GOP debate should be between Romney and Romney. The pro-choice Romney can debate the pro-life Romney. The pro-gun control can debate the pro-2A Romney. The pro-government-run-health care Romney can debate against the anti-government-run health care Romney.

I can see a great commercials to that effect in the primaries

[Owlman]

My question, if not Romney, who?

[10ac]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/video/vid ... 1281456364

[Jungle Rat]

The Pubs have no chance whoever they decide on. This is a given.

Can the world stand 4 more years of puters posts?

[innocentbystander]

My question, if not Romney, who?

Question is moot.

It will be Romney.

[Dr. Strangelove]

My question, if not Romney, who?

Question is moot.

It will be Romney.

Fox News doesn't seem to think so. And Newt hung himself by calling Paul Ryan's plan "right-wing social engineering"

[Owlman]

Christian Right Nightmare:

Mormon versus Muslim

[TheBigMook]

Magic undies!

[bluetick]

Yes, I still miss Big Love.

[TheBigMook]

[youtube]ixvi4sQx-aA[/youtube]

[innocentbystander]

My question, if not Romney, who?

Question is moot.

It will be Romney.

Fox News doesn't seem to think so. And Newt hung himself by calling Paul Ryan's plan "right-wing social engineering"

Look, it took an unholy primary alliance between McCain and Huckabee to stop Romney at all costs in 2008, or Mitt (with little to no name recognition) would have "cut-in-line" and would have been the GOP nominee in 2008. Huckabee knew he couldn't win. He could ONLY play Primary kingmaker. So Huckabee's entire goal in 2008 was to steal just enough of Mitt's votes in key southern states to make sure that McCain won. That is how much McCain and Huckabee hated Romney.

And why did they hate Romney? Well McCain hated Romney for one reason (primarily): because Romney is too smart for him. McCain could never defeat Mitt Romney in any debate, never-ever. And he knew it. And Romney knew it. Romney hurt McCain's "pride." And as George Will said in 2008, McCain is a very angry, bitter man, a man who felt he was entitled to the Presidency. Romney almost stopped him and that really pissed him off.

Why did Huck hate Romney? Two reasons: Mitt would constantly embarrass Huckabee in the debates mentioning inane things that Huck did while governor of Arkansas and #2) Huckabee thinks Mormons are leading all true believing Christians to Hell. Huckabee is a Christian minister. They have no use for the LDS, none what-so-ever. They think the Mormons are a bunch of blasphemous heretics leading all the weak in spirit straight to eternal damnation. So Huck was (in his mind) doing God's work by trying to end Romney. And now, he'll use his program on Fox News to do the same thing for 2012.

Fox News is wrong about 2012. They keep forgetting how good a communicator Mitt Romney is. They keep forgetting that Mitt never loses debates, ever. They keep forgetting that Mitt understands government, business, and (most importantly) economics. They obviously weren't listening to New Jersey Governor Chris Christie when he all but endorsed Romney after the speech he gave on Thursday. It was that lecture that got him all those $2500 donations yesterday.

Mitt is the nominee. He is one of the very few GOP candidates that can actually snatch away those true moderates that voted for Obama so the GOP better get wise and realize they have a winner here.